This CD is a good introduction to Zappa for classical music fans. I've played it in the background for dinner parties and love it when someone asks what it is!Frank Zappa!? That's my cue to educate them and possibly play the "London Symphony Orchestra" CD or even better; "The Yellow Shark". I love all of Zappa's music but I have a special fondness for jazz("The Grand Wazoo") and classical ("Orchestral Favorites"). By the way, Francesco Zappa is a real composer way back. He was a cellist and these pieces were written for the cello.

Yes, Zappa did indeed do some strange things. People who enjoy only the latest pop singles on the radio would be quick to dismiss this as childish nonsense, or something that "sounds like a hoover advert."

They're truly missing out.

If you can open your mind to it a little, Francesco Zappa could very easily become one of the most treasured albums in your collection. Its one of the more obscure items in the Zappa catalogue- there's no rock, no contemporary or freeform jazz, no avant guarde... only 18th century chamber music. Sounds a bit weird and frightening? Don't let that put you off at all.

As mentioned elsewhere, this was written not by Frank but by another composer who lived in the 18th century named Francesco Zappa. I have to say myself the man was a genius. As they are presented here, his compositions were rich in texture and full of melody and structure. FZ's renditions using his trusty synclavier are full of clarity and really quite soothing. Don't expect anything other than soft electrical sounds here. No percussion, no guitars, nothing other than the synclavier. I'd daresay its probably FZ's softest release. If you're a FZ novice looking for a good FZ album to begin your collection with then I wouldn't recommend this. I'd recommend one of his more contemporary classics such as Hot Rats or Joe's Garage.

If you're debating as either a FZ fan or just someone looking for something different, a listen to this album will create images in your mind and take you to a much more pleasant place. Truly, for me it is the ultimate stress-reliever. Francesco Zappa will make you forget every worry you had prior to putting it in the player, and will leave you smiling without a care in the world.

Like I said before, it IS an acquired taste, but if you're the type of person who wants some easy-listening, beautiful, absorbing stress-relief in their music collection then this will fit the bill perfectly. Truly a theraputic, uplifting and wonderful experience.

I've listened to the music of FZ for years. Too many years to mention at this point. As a teenager my listening of his music was more of the rock and roll material he wrote and performed. He was the freak on MTV or the freak whose band would come to New York and played the crazy shows that my parents wouldn't let me go to because I was too young. When I turned 19 and heard Francesco Zappa, FZ stopped being the freak and has become to me a great American composer. No longer did I listen to music the same way again. Even now when listening to the more rock oriented albums (Bongo Fury, Them or Us, Tinseltown Rebellion) you could hear more of an orchestration happening in the arragements that was not there before. After Francesco Zappa, albums like London Symphony Orchestra, FZ Meets the Mothers of Prevention and Lumpy Gravy made more sense to me. Francesco Zappa is a beautiful album and should be required to be in anyone's CD collection.

... not what you might expect from Frank. This is certainly his most gentle recording. It started with some trio sonatas written in the late 18th c. by a namesake of the 20th c. composer and performer. These are played straight on digital synthesizers, in a variety of pastel colors. The cover art by Donald Roller Wilson places this firmly in the Zappa catalog and so does the casually ironic tone of the whole production. Enjoy.

Despite this album ususally not being taken too seriously, I quite like it & I think it should be used as lift muzak. Better than the dodgy Steve Vai rock stuff he was doing @ the time but not as good as Weasles Ripped My Flesh for example.