Two Words, One Answer.
children's group
 Torchwood: Children of Earth $29.98 If I could give it less than one star I would. Children of Earth was the first Torchwood I'd ever seen. I did not know much about the characters or have any previous attachment. And yes, at first I thought it was brilliant, I was on the edge of my seat. However, I realized that the action, violence, and shocking themes was *distracting* me from the poor writing and massive plot holes. It was all a smoke screen to cover up the mediocre script. All about the shock value. Now, I discuss the lame plot devices with others and have a good laugh over the stupidity of it. In the UK they're selling a box set of series 1 and 2 for 10 pounds *more* than one that includes COE. They're paying people to take Children of Earth! That ought to tell you something. So, I guess if you like action and violence and don't really care about good writing, you might enjoy COE. But if you want something that's well written too, don't bother wasting your money.  Prokofiev's Music for Children $12.98 Though most devotees of Sergei Prokofiev are committed to the acerbic, gritty, and wondrously dramatic symphonies and ballets, this fine recording - by title - reminds us that Prokofiev had a highly successful side of his composing that was intended for the child in each of us. This delightful recording includes not only the very popular 'Peter and the Wolf', Opus 67, for narrator and orchestra - here performed by narrators Oleg and Gabriel Prokofiev with Ronald Corp conducting the New London Orchestra - but also rarely performed similar diversions such as 'Winter Bonfire', suite for boy's chorus & orchestra, Op. 122 with the same forces but adding the Finchley Children's Music Group, and 'The Ugly Duckling', a song for voice and orchestra, Op. 18 well performed by Penelope Walmsley-Clark. The latter pieces may be slight in stature in comparison with the major Prokofiev works, but they certainly are an appealing introduction for children to grow into classical music. For this listener the genuine surprise is 'Summer Day', suite for orchestra, Op. 65, a work based on children's pieces for the piano and later orchestrated. The series of tunes show hints of the lighter moments in his 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Cinderella' ballets and the sassier portions of his symphonic works, but in this setting they can be appreciated for the fine manner in which Prokofiev could treat the melodic line. Ronald Corp conducts the New London Orchestra in a polished reading of some very lovely music. This is one of those CDs that may be overlooked as something for children alone, but just listen to the recording and be enchanted with the sophisticated simplicity that was so readily apparent in Prokofiev's facile hands. Grady Harp, August 06 |
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