BEETHOVEN'S LAST NIGHT

Good to come across something that's genuinely that bit different - a rock opera based around the concept of Beethoven's final night, and the mystery of his 10th Symphony. The rave reviews on this site got me to try them; it's very clever, and great fun, but the songwriting talents of Messrs O Neill and Kinkel are as Zitro says in his review, not in the same league as other prog greats, let alone Beethoven who together with Mozart has his music adapted and moulded by the Orchestra as part of this work. And they're the most enjoyable parts of the album - where the music of the old masters is re-arranged to fit the Orchestra's particular vision, with more humour and wit than ELP ever dreamed of. These parts contrast sharply with the rather weak songs penned by the band themselves. Great musicianship all round, and I imagine TSO are a treat live. A good, thoroughly enjoyable album, but not essential.