No Boundaries

No Boundaries

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #89624 in Music

Released on: 2006-04-04

Number of discs: 1

Format: DualDisc

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Editorial Reviews

Album Description
CD AUDIO SIDE: Entire Album

DVD SIDE: - Music Videos: "Simple Gifts/ Going Home", "Firebird" and "Rhapsody in Blue" - Photo Gallery - PCM Stereo and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound mix

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Customer Reviews

No Boundaries
Take five young adult siblngs, each a virtuoso in his/her own right; put them together with five Steinways, and what do you get? No Boundaries. In fact, I could almost be convinced that they found some notes that are not on the keyboard.
Not being a pianist myself, I cannot comment on their technique. But, an outstanding piano teacher of my acquaintance raves about them. So, it must be good.
The opening "Rhapsody in Blue" gives promise of more fine music to follow. And the promise is certainly fulfilled. Personally, I found the pairing of "Simple Gifts" with "Going Home" to be enchanting. Not all of the selections on the recording were familiar to me; but they were certainly all enjoyable.

no boundaries
The music is soothing and energetic all rolled up in one. The 5 Browns are great and they are youthfull and do music justice in an age or music that is loosing it's creativity. The videos are inspiring.

Excellent recording! 5 Stars for 5 Browns
The 5 Browns are nothing short of fantastic. A marvel of 5 virtuosos, playing symbiotically as one is amazing to me (me being a pianist as well), with all the subtle nuances in their performance, yet they sound as one piano (5 grand pianos could sound like a train wreck with some of the helter skelter, crazy piano passages), but no, they are seamless and perfect.

It has been a long time since I have been excited about a classical music recording of any kind. Although a novelty to have 5 Julliard virtuosos from one family is enough of a gimmick to launch this crew, but it is also quite another to actually move beyond the gimmick and perform the classics and present them in a refreshing way. They certainly make a refreshing contributution to the world of classical music recording where they straddle the world of classical music and that of pop culture with their young appeal and look. They have an ability to reach many audiences and inspire a new generation of young classical piantists, my daughter included! 5 Stars for 5 Browns!

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Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers

Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #35437 in Music

Released on: 1997-01-14

Number of discs: 1

Format: Original recording remastered

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This classic disc has been the prime recommendation for Barber's short orchestral pieces since the early 1960s. Remastered onto CD for the first time, and with the addition of some other items conducted by Thomas Schippers, it sounds better than ever. All of Barber's music is blessed with the virtues of impeccable craftsmanship, tunefulness, and, above all, brevity. Although a Romantic by temperament, Barber had the gift of being able to fit a lot of emotional impact into a very small space. The famous Adagio for Strings and the Second Essay actually sound much bigger than they are, but they don't go on a second too long--which means you can play them again right away! You'll want to. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com
The most beautiful recording ever made of the Adagio for Strings is at last on CD, thoughtfully coupled with some of the other recordings the young Thomas Schippers made for Columbia Masterworks--of the music of Barber and others--between 1960 and 1965, at the start of his all-too-brief career. Although he was never on personal terms with Barber, Schippers had the ability to put Barber's music across in just the right way, with the perfect blend of energy and lyricism, toughness and warmth, and, above all, the feeling that its sentiment was real, yet ineffably contained. The performance of the New York Philharmonic (in the Adagio, as well as in the Second Essay for Orchestra, the Overture to the School for Scandal, Andromache's Farewell, and Medea's Dance of Vengeance) is aglow with inspiration, and the sound is exceptionally vivid, with a palpable sense of presence and space. --Ted Libbey

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Customer Reviews

an exceptional recording!
this is an absolutely phenomenal collection of compositions recorded by thomas schippers during his regrettably short career. there is not a false note among the offerings. for me, "medea's meditation and dance of vengeance" is the highlight of the disc. however, all of the other pieces are at a similar plane of all-around excellence both from performance and recording standpoints.

all in all, a disc to own, treasure, and play again and again!!

A Perfect Barber Disc
I own many cds of Samuel Barber, and of all of them, this is my favorite.
I can't think of a single complaint, except perhaps that the inclusion of small pieces by three other composers was somewhat unnecessary, and broke the mood of the Barber.

There are several must-have CDs of Sam Barber's music, and this one is at the very top. I consider this to be the best single CD of his music, though you will no doubt need a supplement or two.

This CD contains the famous Adagio for Strings, op.11, the scena "Andromache's Farewell," the Intermezzo from his opera 'Vanessa,' Medea's Meditation & Dance of Vengeance, the School for Scandal overture, and a very powerful Second Essay for Orchestra.

A newer release from Sony containing orchestral and chamber works duplicates the performance of this Adagio, but both CDs are different and are must-haves.

As for the music itself, how can you not be moved by Martina Arroyo's spellbinding singing in "Andromache's Farewell," or the Bartokian "Medea's Dance"? or the the great sadness of this Adagio, which is perhaps the best there is. Thomas Schippers and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra play Barber as true believers in his greatness. Barber deserves the title as The Greatest American Composer. Perhaps a title like that is subjective, but Barber's greatness is not.

A sparkling remaster
This disc showcases a spectrum of talent from the young Schippers before his tragic death. However, contrary to the other reviews, this is not the best version of the "Adagio" that I have ever heard. The other tracks on the disc are a nice complement and some are hard to find on CD. All in all, a decent buy.

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Copland: The Music of America

Copland: The Music of America

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #25226 in Music

Released on: 1997-01-28

Number of discs: 1

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When it comes to light, folk-flavored listening, the music of Aaron Copland is some of the best and most popular. When it comes to crowd-pleasing conducting, Erich Kunzel is one of the great successes. This album contains most of Copland's essential compositions, in all or part: "Fanfare for the Common Man," four movements from "Rodeo," "Quiet City," "Billy the Kid," and "Appalachian Spring." All are performed in fine form; it would be nice to have all of "Rodeo," but this is otherwise all the Copland that most folks will need, and in one package. --Sarah Bryan Miller

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Customer Reviews

+ 1/2 stars...The Dean of American Composers
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)was the quintessential American composer of the 20th Century, and conductor Erich Kunzel with his Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is the leading popularizer of classical music.

This album brings together some of Copland's most well known pieces like "Fanfare for the Common Man," along with his three great ballets: "Billy the Kid," "Appalachian Spring" and "Rodeo." [The "Rodeo" extract "Hoe-Down" will be immediately recognized as the American Beef Council's theme music.]

Copland reamins the defining sound of American concert music and this recording is both accessible and very enjoyable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is not Copland at his best
Aaron Copland is without a doubt my favorite composer of all time. I have collected many CDs of his work over the years, and have therefor have many recordings of all his most famous works. With that knowledge, I have to say that this is not the best recording on the market.

The sparkle and jazz of Copland's style is missing from this CD. The orchestra doesn't show off the playful side of Copland's work, which is what I think sets Copland apart from every one else. That is why I don't feel that is the best Copland CD availiable today

The title says it all
Aaron Copland created classical music for about and by America. This extremely well performed and well selected album served as my true introduction to Copland's work. Vibrant,dramatic, passionate and utterly beautiful, this sampler of Copland's oevre really captivates the listener. I have lost many hours listening to "Quiet City" and "Appalacian Spring" two breathtakingly poetic pieces that approach religious like rapture. I have also used this CD in both my Writing and Acting classes as stimuli designed to inspire original performances and short stories. In short, this is a must own CD.

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George Enescu: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1; Suites 2 & 3

George Enescu: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1; Suites 2 & 3

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #24971 in Music

Released on: 2006-06-13

Number of discs: 1

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Editorial Reviews

Album Description
George Enescu (1881-1955) is still remembered today, fifty years after his death, as Romania’s greatest classical composer. He was also a virtuoso violinist. His many works in numerous genres remain largely unknown outside his native land except for the immensely popular Romanian Rhapsodies, but they deserve wider circulation in view of the beauty of their melodies, their brilliant orchestrations, and their strong characterization and originality. This recording offers two of Enescu’s orchestral suites in addition to the beloved Rhapsody No. 1. Dancing vivacity and colorful instrumentation are characteristics of these effervescent orchestra pieces. The Romanian Philharmonic Society was founded in 1868. Its conductors have included significant figures in Romanian music not to mention Enescu himself, whose name the orchestra incorporated into its title in 1955 as the George Enescu Bucharest Philharmonic. The current conductor is Cristian Mandeal, who studied with both Karajan and Celibidache. He has conducted numerous major orchestras and more than forty world premieres.

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Customer Reviews

Highly Entertaining
This CD brings out the best of George Enescu; his always in vogue Romanian Rapsody No. 1. High quality composition and sound.

Good recording
I bought this cd mainly because it was a CD with only the music of Enescu, and I wanted to hear some more of his orchestral music and it had a Romanian group performing the 1st Romanian Rhapsody. This recording is very good for the most part, nice tempi and execution of the Romanian folk charateristiques. My only complaint is that in some sections, there are some intonation issues mostly noticable in the clarinet part (and the horns), which isn't bad but it sticks out and draws attention away from the good performance it is. There seems to be a slight blance issue between the winds and strings in some parts, which might correlate to the location the microphones when the cd was recording. This is a good recording, and the price makes this cd worth the purchase. It is good to hear a Romanian orchestra playing this beautiul work. Toata Buna!

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Spanish Night - Domingo

Spanish Night - Domingo

The Berlin Philharmonic's annual summer concert at the city's Waldbühne has long been a Mecca for classic fans. To crown the season each year, the orchestra offers 22,000 attendees a very special concert, featuring the greatest conductors on the podium of Berlin's favorite outdoor theatre. The concerts are always sold out months in advance. Since 1984, each summer concert has had a particular theme -- for example, there was an Italian Night with Claudio Abbado, an American Night with Simon Rattle, a Russian Night with Seiji Ozawa and a French Night with Georges Pretre. Then, in the summer of 2001, Plácido Domingo joined the phalanx of podium greats. In recent years the celebrated tenor has also been attracting attention as a conductor, and many performances in leading opera houses have shown that wielding the baton is no mere sideline for him. And now the Berlin Philharmonic invited him for the first time, a happy circumstance; as a guest on their rostrum, the Spaniard conducted a Spanish Night and delighted his audience by dint of his musical competence and temperment.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #17557 in DVD

Released on: 2003-11-25

Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Aspect ratio: 1.77:1

Formats: Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC

Original language: English

Number of discs: 1

Running time: 102 minutes

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Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Time! REPEATEDLY!!!!
This DVD is a true gem. Everyone, from the individual members of the orchestra to the tiniest of the audience members seems to have a glorious time at this event! Domingo is delightful, the soloists are inspiring and "fun".........altogether a joy, to be watched/heard.......over and over.

I cherish Sarah Chang's play ...
and this DVD is so vivid ... and the sound is so incredible.
I feel like I am sitting in front of the stage.
so nice to listen and watch her play.

Spanish Night - Domingo
I sent this to a friend of mine and she absolutely loved it. Wonderful quality.

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Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Elogio de la guitarra; Fantasía para un gentilhombre

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Elogio de la guitarra; Fantasía para un gentilhombre

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #12323 in Music

Released on: 2005-03-01

Number of discs: 1

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Customer Reviews

Fantastic Music by Angel Romero!
I bought this album before his live performance in Carmel, California. He is getting old graciously and his stage manner was great. Most of all, his music is the one of the most fantastic guitar music that I have ever listened! I would recommend this to anyone who likes guitar.

Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez; Elogio de la guitarra; fantasia para un gentilhombre
Wonderful! An excellent arrangement with beautiful orchestration. The title piece: "Concierto de Aranjuez" is a genuinely moving piece of music. This is one CD which is going to be getting A LOT of play in my home. And it was delivered in a very timely manner. A+

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Albinoni: The Complete Concertos Op. 9; Adagio For Organ And Strings

Albinoni: The Complete Concertos Op. 9; Adagio For Organ And Strings

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #27022 in Music

Released on: 1997-08-12

Number of discs: 2

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Customer Reviews

pristine

I Musici is rivaled perhaps only by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields when it comes to predictably crystalline performances of the Baroque masters. When I Musici, Felix Ayo, Heinz Holliger, and Maurice Bourge turn to Albinoni's concerto repertoire, the outcome is never in doubt.

Let me clarify that these comments do not in any way suggest that this Philips two-disk set is 'standard' in any pedantic way. Emphatically, it is not.

Rather, the artists team with Philips' Duo Series to render access to a masterful rendering of one of Early Baroque's unsung great ones affordable to the masses, of which this reviewer is a card-carrying member.

One can only say 'Bravo!'.

outstanding oboe concerti
This is a re-issue of recordings made in the mid 1960s, so they are 40 years old; however the sound, while not as good as one can expect from a current CD, is quite good. Albiboni's Opus 9 is a set of 12 concertos, 4 for violin, four for oboe and four for two oboes with orchestra. They are in 5 parts, and rather simple when compared with Bach, for example. They are not written for virtuoso soloists, rather for oboe with orchestra. In my opinion the violin concertos, while pleasant enough, do not compare with those of his contempories, such as vivaldi and Bach. However the oboe concertos are outstanding, and while I could nominate the odd baroque 0boe concerto that is as good or better, the set of six stand alone.
The 12 concertos are played by I Musici, a long established modern instrument group that specialises in music of this period, the violin solo is by Felix Ayo, their first violin, and the oboes are played my the great Heinz Hollinger and Maurice Bourgue. So I can find little to criticise with the performance, I Musici and Hollinger were/are world class. Deciding on a rating was not easy, but taking the recording of Opus 9 as a whole I gave it 4 and feel a little mean, the 6 oboe concertos alone would get 5.

best Albinoni ever
Tomaso Albinoni is best known for his Adagio, that is actually an arrangement by Giazzoto. His real masterpieces are the Concertos Opus 9(recorded here by I Musici). The sound of this recording is very good considering its age (mid 1950s and 1960s). The Concerto Op. 9/2 is the most beautiful oboe concerto ever composed. Heinz Holliger is explendid as soloist. If you like baroque music played in a old-fashioned way (rather romantic), it's for you. If you like baroque music played accordind "authentic baroque techniques it's not for you.

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Anderson: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3

Anderson: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #96430 in Music

Released on: 2008-06-24

Number of discs: 1

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Editorial Reviews

Album Description
Leroy Anderson etched out his own unique place in American music - a composer rigorously trained in the classic tradition whose records topped the pop charts, a meticulous arranger of music whose own melodies were crafted with inventive precision. Here, in the first complete cycle of Anderson's orchestral music, the Anderson family has made available several pieces that the composer did not release, with some first recordings scattered among the familiar and not-so-familiar titles. Volume Three includes the notorious musical gem The Typewriter in which the machine is transformed into a relentlessly busy percussion instrument, the tasteful and soul-satisfying Suite of Carols for Brass Choir and Anderson's biggest hit, Sleigh Ride.

MusicWeb-International, Ian Lace, August 2008
There are yet more Leroy Anderson favourites to be found in this album including: The Typewriter, a huge Anderson hit, that had another unusual sound effect - the inclusion of an actual typewriter as a percussion instrument; The Penny Whistle Song one of Anderson's catchiest tunes with the flutes given some of the most endearing material; The Phantom Regiment with its march tune that stirs and haunts; and Plink, Plank, Plunk! another bubbly, witty tune for plucked strings. A wonderful Anderson tune and a popular hit, the Sandpaper Ballet reminisces over old vaudeville acts when dancers sprinkled sand on the stage during their routines. A Trumpeter's Lullaby is another lovely piece with the slow lullaby theme contrasted with a much more lively and colourful Latin central episode. The Syncopated Clock is another firm favourite with woodblocks depicting a clock that sometimes ticks on the wrong beats - and it has three terrific melodies in its short two minute span! Serenata is yet another unforgettable Leroy Anderson hit with its sinuous romantic Latin hedonism. And then there is that other terrific, joyful Christmas celebration that is Sleigh Ride with its merry horses' hooves patterns and whip-cracks.

Additionally, Promenade is a bracing walk, a little pompous but jaunty and memorable. Saraband begins in stately seriousness but high jinks intrude before long. The amusing Old MacDonald Had A Farm begins ostentatiously but soon degenerates into a cacophony of farmyard imitations and cheeky syncopations. Anderson's arrangement of Willson's Seventy-Six Trombones adds glamour and colour to the original and Sousa gets a look-in!

The concert's most substantial item is another Suite of Carols, this time for brass choir; Volume II of this series included a suite for String Orchestra. The Suite of Carols is imaginative writing of a high order lifting the usual arrangement of these popular yuletide songs to an altogether different level.

As with Vols 1 and 2 of this Naxos series, Slatkin delivers all these tuneful Leroy Anderson hits in uninhibited performances full of joie de vivre. Altogether, the three volumes that comprise this series must figure in my Recordings of the Year list.

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Customer Reviews

Leroy Anderson, America's Iconic Light Music Composer
In the wake of two lauded earlier volumes of Leonard Slatkin's recordings of orchestral music by Leroy Anderson comes this volume containing such favorites as 'Plink, Plank, Plunk', 'Sleigh Ride', 'The Typewriter', 'The Syncopated Clock' and 'A Trumpeter's Lullaby'. Of the three volumes this is the one with the largest number of the best-known pieces and it is, of course, self-recommending. And, as in the earlier volumes, Slatkin and the BBC Concert Orchestra, supply the music with all the light-heartedness, élan and suavity one could wish for.

Lovely as the well-known pieces are, for me the best parts of the CD are those less familiar but equally attractive pieces, the ones that many of us have never heard before. 'Serenata' is drenched in Spanish atmosphere and features two marvelous tunes. 'Mother's Whistler' (pun intended) is an early piece that Anderson withdrew but it was found in the library of the Boston Pops and saw the light again years later; it features an insouciant whistling tune in the high violins. 'The Phantom Regiment' features muted trumpets and depicts a ghostly troop of marching onto the scene and then off again. 'Sandpaper Ballet' requires the percussion section to use three grades of sandpaper to imitate the rhythms of a soft-shoe routine.

Anderson's take on 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm' is laugh-out-loud funny with its imitations of barnyard sounds. And his arrangement of Meredith Willson's 'Seventy-Six Trombones' cleverly mixes Willson's tune with some of the familiar marches of John Philip Sousa. And then Anderson wrote an endearing arrangement of 'Wintergreen for President', from George Gershwin's 'Of Thee I Sing'. Altogether more staid, but equally attractive, is the longest piece on the CD, Anderson's 'Suite of Carols for Brass Choir'.

No doubt about it, this is a CD to lift one's spirits and set one's toe tapping. Anderson is indeed an American musical treasure and his music is always welcome, particularly in such fine performances by Slatkin and his orchestra.

Heartily recommended.

Scott Morrison

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Mahler - Symphonies No. 1 and 2

Mahler - Symphonies No. 1 and 2

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #53302 in DVD

Released on: 2006-07-04

Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Aspect ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Formats: Classical, Color, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC

Original language: English

Number of discs: 1

Running time: 152 minutes

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Customer Reviews

Mahler's Second with all the frills
First, let me reply to one of the reviews that stated that this was good music, but a bad picture or image. Perhaps it was just that reviewer's equipment or a bad DVD, for both audio and video quality on my copy were excellent.

In fact, the sound quality and the close-up photography were so well-done that, even though this is a large orchestra undertaking, at times it was so clear and easy to hear individual instruments that I thought it was a chamber orchesta I was hearing. O.K. when conductor Bernard Haitink really "let the horses loose" it was very clear from the power and majesty that this was Mahler's Second Symphony with all the frills.

In the Fifth Movement, the music moved from Haitink's controlled quiet to Mahler's glorious explosion of cymbals and brass. But Haitink did not really give up control, for minutes later we can hear very clearly some of the lowest audible harp notes, which introduce the "all-penetrating" drumroll of the Day of Judgment.

Soloists: The contralto, Jard Van Nes sings with every word cleanly-articulated--it's a joy to hear it so well-sung. Next, it's beautiful soprano Sylvia McNair in a stunning white brocade dress who tenderly "hits all the high notes."

Indeed, the only thing missing on this recording is subtitles. There are none at all. Although I would have appreciated them, in at least English and German, I can live without the subtitles. If you prefer a copy WITH subtitles, I would recommend Claudio Abbado's DVD with the Lucerne Festival. It features subtitles in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Good Music Bad Image
It is very good With Berliner Philharmonic, but the quality of the DVD is very bad. I think is because of the DVD record in 1990.

Outstanding Mahler
The performance by the Berlin Philharmonic is superb as usual. Bernard Haitink gives an excellent reading of Mahler's first two symphonies on this disc. I do prefer Bruno Walter's and George Solti's interpretations of Mahler (particularly the 2nd), but Haitink is a very close third in my book. The production (both visual and audio) is top notch. They did change camera angles a little more frequently than I like to see (almost MTV hyper-style), but mostly they did it because Mahler just has so much going on in his work that the cameras need to keep up visually with the individual orchestra members. That's one thing I especially like about Mahler, is he gives the whole orchestra a real workout and every instrument gets a chance to contribute and shine. While I can't say that I'm an overall fan of Mahler's works like I am of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, I am a real fan of his first two symphonies, and for a concert DVD of these extrodinary pieces, you probably aren't going to get much better than this.

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Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD]

Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD]

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #11090 in Music

Released on: 2008-02-12

Number of discs: 1

Formats: Hybrid SACD, Import

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Customer Reviews

Exciting performance, stunning sonics
Organ performance is thrilling. Recording sonics are perfect - SACD and CD versions are stunning. After years of listening to original instrument performances, I still am not used to the whiny string sound found on these early music recordings. The performances here are so exciting and the recorded ambience so delicious that for the first time, I can understand why these works were so popular in their time.

Handel,Organ Concerto,s.Opus 4
I am pleased that I heard a small portion of this album whilst listening to Public radio whilst driving my truck !.The music made me smile and of course I ordered it the following day.I was NOT disappointed!.This is a lovely,light performance, and very easy listening.

Absolutely terrific!!
Heard about this recording on NPR and ordered it immediately. It is true to the review and a wonderful addition to any collection.

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Ultimate Rachmaninov: The Essential Masterpieces

Ultimate Rachmaninov: The Essential Masterpieces

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #16891 in Music

Released on: 2007-09-11

Number of discs: 5

Format: Box set

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Customer Reviews

Fantastic collection for a beginner
Although I know a lot about popular music, I have rather less exposure when it comes to classical music. That said, this box set knocked me off my feet. On all four CD's I was consistently blown away by the passion and the quality of the music. I am no technical critic, but in general I know great music when I hear it!

This set of CD's really inspired me to find out more about Rachmaninov and classical music in general. As a pleasant side effect, my baby absolutely loves this CD - gets very chilled out when I play it.

Excellent purchase and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Wonderful Value, Great Performances
This set combines Zoltan Kocsis' fine set of the piano concertos with his stunning solo recital album (containing one of the best interpretations of the 2nd piano sonata anywhere) along with a fine version of the 2nd Symphony and the Rock. The sent concludes with the Vespers performed by the St. Petersburg Chorale. Until just recently, the Kocsis albums were only available as an import. If you know your recordings (even if you don't), this is an incredible deal. Don't miss it.

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George Gershwin - Complete Music for Piano and Orchestra

George Gershwin - Complete Music for Piano and Orchestra

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #37609 in Music

Released on: 2008-03-01

Number of discs: 1

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Ode to Freedom: Symphony No. 9

Ode to Freedom: Symphony No. 9

Leonard Bernstein's historical concert in celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has long become almost as legendary as the revolutionary moment that it celebrated. Recorded at the beautiful Schauspielhaus right on Gendarmenmarkt in the centre of Berlin on Christmas 1989, it has now become available on DVD, along with a short documentary film as bonus. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 1989 unleashed a wave of democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe that radically transformed the world order and Leonard Bernstein spontaneously accepted an invitation to conduct a performance to mark this new era. It was only fitting that East Germany's new-found freedom should be celebrated with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The monumental work, perhaps the world's most famous Symphony, was inspired by Schiller´s poem "Ode to Joy", a passionate eulogy to freedom. Adding to the symbolism of the event, Bernstein conducted an orchestra and chorus formed from musicians from both East and West Germany (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden), as well as the United States (New York Philharmonic), Great Britain (London Symphony), France (Orchestre de Paris) and the Soviet Union (Orchestra of the Kirov Theater).

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #41322 in DVD

Released on: 2006-07-25

Rating: NR (Not Rated)

Aspect ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Formats: Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC

Original language: English

Subtitled in: English, French

Number of discs: 1

Running time: 90 minutes

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Editorial Reviews

MusicWeb-International
Bernstein is a master theatricalist in his conducting; he sweats, grimaces, smiles, swoons, leaps, and crouches, his stick technique is at many points firm and decisive, at others floppy and vague...The experience of watching and listening to this performance will go some way to enable us all, German or non-German, to relive those truly momentous days.

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Customer Reviews

Ode to the crumbling Wall
This monumental Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is given here with a monumental chorus, a monumental orchestra, for a monumental occasion: the fall of the Berlin Wall. The performers are conducted by Leonard Bernstein, who died a few years after this concert.To give appropriatness to the occasion, Mr. Bernstein had the bass soloist substitute the word Freihit (Freedom) for the usual Freude (Joy) in the opening of the fourth movement Many reviewers before me have dissected this performance in more detail than I care to give. Suffice it to say that it is an electrifying performance, brought about, probably, by the emotional music performed on an emotional occasion. This is a historical concert and should be in everyone's collection

mixed quality
Bernstein was past his height when he conducted this performance, and definitely showing his age, but it is still Beethoven's Ninth and it is well worth seeing.
A word of warning however: the quality of the vision on this DVD is particularly poor. Often the film is out of register, leaving ghostly lines around performers, and just a blurred mess when the orchestra is viewed as a whole. Frequently it is hard to see the nuances of Bernstein's facial expression because of this problem.
But the strength of this performance is its raw passion. It is not clinically perfect, but very moving.
To see Bernstein at his best, it is hard to beat his set of the Mahler symphonies - recorded in the mid 1970s..

The last Symphonic Opus: a relevant historical document!
This symphony is not only a huge and variegated tapestry of cosmic thinking, emblematic poetry and sublime penchant. Each one of the movements expresses much more than words can say. But what Bernstein legated us in 1989 with motive of the fall of Berlin's wall when was the first conductor to argue with reasonable evidence, the famous "Ode to joy" should be changed as "Ode to freedom" , because basically while the joy is an emotion, the freedom is a value. Under this point of view, the movement reacquires a still major connotation.

The more you listen Beethoven's Ninth, the more one realizes how difficult is to conduct brilliantly the famous Adagio without falling into sentimentalist outbursts of cheap exhibitions.

This was no more nor less the first recording that kept in mind this argument.

So, don't miss this DVD that defined a before and an after at the moment to judge, appreciate and listen this Op. 125.

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Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero

Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #9294 in Music

Released on: 2006-09-12

Number of discs: 1

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is closer to a jazz improvisationalist than a classical pianist merely embellishing, alters rhythm as well as melody, and the results are invariably both surprising and delightful. The Presto from the Italian Concerto is positively wacky, but "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" sticks to the piece's mood with truth and originality. Montero plays "beyond" Bach with good taste and respect, and always with intense musicality. The results may seem improvised, but I doubt they are---they seem to well worked through---but that is more of a plus than a minus. You'll revel in hearing old favorites "interpreted" and find some unexpected pleasures here. --Robert Levine

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Customer Reviews

Back to Bach, Please.
I wasn't as over-joyed with this CD as I expected to be. I bought it after hearing the title track on FM radio. The title track is, indeed, a jewel; the rest is, in my view, only high-grade "background" music.The pianist is a marvel (and a beauty, too!) - her popularity is easily understandable. She possesses a remarkable gift for transposing and transcribing classic keyboard to "swing" keyboard. Many Bach purists (this one, for example) don't appreciate that, even though we have to admit that a lot of Bach swings, anyway, without transcribing. Lsten to tracks 3 and 4 and you will get your money's worth - they're worth the price.

Fantastic improv
I heard Gabriela on the public radio station where she asked the host to pick a tune and she would improvise on it. He chose the theme song of the program and she just took off with it for several minutes. She also played one of the songs on the cd which impressed me enough to buy it. The choice of songs and the way she plays them is a dynamic mix ranging from an ethereal adagio to the fun and funky Two-Part Invention in D minor. Never a dull moment, Gabriela is a superbly talented pianist who doesn't disappoint in spicing up some timeless classics.

Beautiful. Fresh. Spiritual. Music as pure as you ever heard before.
This is a true masterpiece. The artist takes themes from Bach and transforms them in trully original compositions, beeing hard to beleive they are improvisations. They are never boring, always beautiful. She takes one or several Bach themes, puts to work her classical backround, adds some jazz and south american rythms, and comes up with some of the most moving and inspirational music I ever heard. Bravo for Gabriela, this CD is a must for every music lover, classical or not.

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The Very Best of Lucia Popp

The Very Best of Lucia Popp

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #106927 in Music

Released on: 2003-09-02

Number of discs: 2

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Customer Reviews

Lucia Popp
This is a magnificent album; she had a superb voice and the person who selected the songs of this album picked her "very best."

Beautiful compilation (4.5 stars)
Lucia Popp came from my home country of Slovakia. In 1963, she took her chance and, as the amazingly talented 24-year-old ingenue, accepted the offer to sing in Vienna. She crossed the iron curtain. This for a long time made her and undesirable element in the Communist Czechoslovakia. Only after the collapse of Soviet block in 1989 she gained the due recognition also in her homeland. Tragically, just four years later she died of cancer, aged only 54...
What she left is the great body of work. She specialized on German and Austrian composers, which is evident also from this great compilation. However, anything she touched, she turned into gold.
On this double CD you can find many of her glorious recordings. Especially high recommended are all Mozart's (among them the famous Queen aria from Magic Flute) and Handel's songs, unsurpassable Dvorak and Smetana, the definitive Richard Strauss' 4 Last Songs and the beautiful Letter Scene from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Also here we have her famous Carmina Burana arias from 1960's.
What is missing, though, is some more of Italian opera, represented only by one piano-accompanied Rossini. I would love to hear Lucia singing "Brindisi" from Traviata as she did to Queen Elizabeth II alongside Placido Domingo in 1986, or listen to her playing Tosca or La Boheme by Puccini. Still, a wonderful CD worth almost five complete stars.

Wonderful introduction to the art of Lucia Popp
Lucia Popp was a fine soprano in her day. Her repertoire was broad--from Grieg to Tchaikovsky to Mozart to Dvorak to Smetana to Orff to Mahler to Handel to Strauss (Richard and Johan, Jr.). This 2 CD set shows her talents off nicely. Some exemplars of her art:

Solveig's Sing, from "Peer Gynt" by Grieg: Hers is an affecting version. Popp had a rich voice that worked very well in this piece. She sings this smoothly.

"Stetit puella" from "Carmina Burana" by Orff: Well sung. She gives life to Orff's work. She displays a rich voice which produces a smooth sound in this cut.

Mahler's 4th Symphony: The vocal part of Mahler's 4th symphony is affecting and effective. Popp sings this well, an enchanting version in fact. She handles the vocal challenges of this work well.

"Voi che sapete" from Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro": Her rich voice fits this aria well. It's almost weird that she can sing this so well--and then do the Queen of the Night effectively! This is an evocative piece, and she captures the character pretty well, in my judgment.

"Der Holle Rache" from Mozart's "Magic Flute": And now for something completely different. . . . What a change of pace! She does a superb job in this difficult singing role; she is a credible Queen of the Night. Her staccato technique is strong; she handles the difficult and treacherous passages well--and nails the high notes cleanly and crisply.

So, what can one say after listening to this 2 CD set? Lucia Popp had considerable talent and fine technique. She was clearly one of the finer soprano talents of the latter part of the 20th century.

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