THE CONCERTO

Professor Greenberg lectures on the historical development of this musical form, which was born from opera in the seventeenth century and has been popular down to the present day. Greenberg is the sort of educator for whom even the most sluggish of undergraduates will willingly rise before noon. His lectures (I’m tempted to say performances) are bravura examples of erudition put to use in the service of an audience. Rich with detail about both the works and their composers, and crackling with humor, wide-ranging cultural references, and infectious enthusiasm, these lectures are also liberally sprinkled with well-recorded musical examples. It’s all the fun of a great college class, without the exams. M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]