Schubert's Unfinished

Schubert's melodic gift is renowned through his many, inspired Lieder, though the Unfinished Symphony is alone sufficient to convincingly demonstrate his immense talent. The variety and immediacy of the themes suffusing its two movements are breathtaking. It is powerful, satisfying music; perhaps it was left unfinished because it could not, need not be finished.

Mozart wrote his only concerto for clarinet and orchestra in the space of about ten days, when he was at the height of his powers, and only two months before his tragically early death. It is a glorious work: the first great concerto for the instrument, and some would say still the greatest, which displays the range and agility of the instrument as well as its velvety and soulful qualities.

Borodin spent eight years composing his Second Symphony and revised it after its unsuccessful premiere in 1877. The Russian nature of the music is apparent, and Borodin used much material from his incomplete Prince Igor. It displays exceptional melodic charm (often with an appealing Oriental tang, reflecting his family pedigree) and sensuous, poetic beauty.

It was Collins’ dexterity that dazzled, fingers leaping, tossing off the decorative flourishes, impossibly nimble. - The Times.