Light Festival

On this CD:

1. La forza del destino, opera Sinfonia
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Berlin State Choir
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

2. Leonore Overture No. 2 in C major, Op. 72a
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

3. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, opera, WWV 96 Prelude to Act 1
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Berlin State Choir
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

4. Má Vlast (My Fatherland), symphonic poems (6), JB 1:112 Unspecified excerpt
Composed by Bedrich Smetana
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

5. Overture to Semiramide
Composed by Gioachino Rossini

Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

6. Der Freischütz, opera in 3 acts, J. 277 Overture
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

7. Die Fledermaus (The Bat), overture to the operetta (RV 503-1)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

8. Salome, opera, Op. 54 Dance of the Seven Veils
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

9. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, opera, WWV 96 Prelude to Act 3
Composed by Richard Wagner

Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

10. Künstler-Leben (Artists' Life), waltz for orchestra, Op. 316 (RV 316)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

11. Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), for orchestra, Op. 437 (RV 437)
Composed by Johann II Strauss
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

12. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Berlin State Choir
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

13. Anacréon ou L'amour fugitif, opera-ballet in 2 acts Overture
Composed by Luigi Cherubini
Performed by Berlin State Choir
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

14. La Traviata, opera Prelude to Act 1
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi

Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

15. La Traviata, opera Prelude to Act 3
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi

Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

16. Don Juan, tone poem for orchestra, Op. 20
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Tracks:

Canon In D
'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3: Allegro
The Four Seasons - The Winter: Largo And Allegro
Fanfare ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Camerata Romana: Air For The 'G' String
'Eine kleine Nachtmusik': Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 ('Elvira Madigan' Theme): Andante
Introduction To Symphony No. 5
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
On The Beautiful, Blue Danube Waltz
'The Nutcracker': Waltz Of The Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
'Light Cavalry' Overture: Finale
Carmen: The Toreadors
' Midsummer Night's Dream': Wedding March
Radetzky March
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral': Finale
'Prince Igor': Polovstian Dance No. 17
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Sleepers, Wake
Water Music: Hornpipe
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
Emperor Waltz
'Emperor' Quartet: St. Anthony's Chorale
'The Tales Of Hoffman': Barcarolle
L'Arlesienne: Farandole
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Mirlitons
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
'Rhapsody In Blue': Highlight
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Also sprach Zarathustra'
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto
Piano Concerto No. 20: Romance
'The Valkyrie': Ride Of The Valkyries
'The Four Seasons' - The Spring: Allegro
Toccata and Fugue
Trumpet Voluntary
'Royal Fireworks Music': la rejouissance: Allegro
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio Sostenuto
London Festival Orchestra: Overture To 'The Barber Of Seville'
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana'
Peer Gynt: Dawn From 'Peer Gynt'
Lohengrin: Prelude To 'Lohengrin'
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika From 'Lieutenant Kije'
Adiago For Strings
'Carmen': Habanera From 'Carmen'
'Double' Concerto: Allegro From 'Double' Concerto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture To 'The Marriage Of Figaro'
(Rondo) Alla Turca
Xerxes: Largo From 'Xerxes'
Symphony No. 5: Allegro vivace From Symphony No. 5
'Swan Lake': Scene: Enchanted Lake From 'Swan Lake'
Clair De Lune
Bolero

Customer Reviews:

CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08

They should have titled this "classical music for people who love classical music" because most of the selections are typical classical music. The title suggests it would be lively selections of "light classical" music that is more upbeat, i.e. Sabre Dance, etc. I really don't hate classical music at all and have many classical CDs in my collection but I really wanted to hear more exciting selections. I won't be purchasing any more of this set but if you like traditional classical music these are good one.

Do not Buy.......2007-02-21

I do know it says classical music for people who hate it, but serioulsly you would have better luck never listening to classical music again. The recordings are awfull and do not do justice to any of the composers. Buy something else.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30

We love this set of CD's. I just got a new copy because my kids keeping taking our first copy with them so that they can listen at work or in their bedrooms but then I can never find them.

Seek better versions.......2006-12-09

If you are fairly new to classical purchases then compilation CD's can be useful for deciding what to buy next. Sometimes you only need a small taste of a piece to inspire you to buy a release with the whole performance on. The problem with this compilation however is that most of the versions are poor in performance or recording quality (or both) when compared to the best versions and the fact that the conductors aren't even credited on the track listing made me suspect that this would be the case. One of my favorite classical pieces is Tchaikovsky's 1812 festival overture but if the first CD version I had heard had been the finale excerpt that is on this compilation I may not have gone on to buy the whole thing. Luckily I heard Adrian Leaper's version first and Adrian's version is rather good.
My classical CD buying experience is limited to only a couple of dozen discs but I have found that the Naxos and Deutshe Grammophon releases are fairly safe. Avoid any release which does not name the conductors on the track listing or sleeve notes.

It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27

It's fitting that this page is fraught with the same kind of silly snobbery that turns people off from classical music (and necessitates collections like this) in the first place.

Any criticism of this compilation, which focuses on the quality of the performances or the fact that many tracks are excerpts, misses the point. This is not a collection for people who consider such things, nor does it purport to be. The idea is to package as many ultra-famous classical melodies as possible in one affordable collection and market it to people who have never purchased a classical recording. As such, top-tier performances are likely too expensive to be sold so cheaply and are unnecessary anyway. Those of us who already know and love a piece or two can forgive the compilers the inclusion of sub-par recordings, when we are exposed to so many other beautiful pieces for the first time.

It probably comes as a shock for some to hear that most people are not familiar with these classics. We may hear snippets on TV or movies, but are left with no idea as to the composer or historical context. With that in mind, it is extremely intimidating to begin buying classical. I suppose those among us, who so thoroughly dismissed the very notion of a boxed set like this, would have us begin by buying full albums by reputable interpreters. Surprisingly enough though, the majority of people would consider that a tad cost-prohibitive.

To conclude, this is a STARTER collection. It will either affirm a listener's feelings about classical music or lead to an interest in purchasing better recordings. Ideally, I suppose the interpretations would be better, but, for reasons mentioned above, that just isn't in the cards for a collection of this nature. If you're familiar with 50 different recordings of "The Ring" series, or have season tickets to the New York Philharmonic, then this probably isn't for you. For us cretins with limited foreknowledge of classical music though, it serves as a succinct introduction with little to complain about.

Average customer rating:

What are they thinking?
Must Have for Every Patriotic American
Marching music to yawn by?
Don't Buy this Album!!!
Wake me up when it's over... (YAAWWWNNNNN)

Stars and Stripes Forever

Manufacturer: Volcano
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Stars & Stripes Forever, Vol. 2
American Anthems
Stirring Marches of the USA Services
God Bless America: Ult Patriotic Album
Stars & Stripes: America's Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00000I02F
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

The Star Spangled Banner - Stars And Stripes Forever
America, The Beautiful - Stars And Stripes Forever
America - Stars And Stripes Forever
Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Killer Cadet Band
Anchors Aweigh - Killer Cadet Band
The Marine's Hymn - Killer Cadet Band
The U.S. Field Artillery March - Killer Cadet Band
Stars And Stripes Forever - Killer Cadet Band
El Capitan - Stars And Stripes Forever
The Liberty Bell - Stars And Stripes Forever
Semper Fidelis - Killer Cadet Band
Washington Post March - Killer Cadet Band
Nat Emblem - Killer Cadet Band
Music For The Royal Fireworks (Exc) - Stars And Stripes Forever
William Tell Ov (Exc) - Stars And Stripes Forever
The Light Cavalry Ov (Exc) - Stars And Stripes Forever
1812 Ov (Exc) - Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

What are they thinking?.......2006-09-30

As a music teacher, I'm wondering about the very critical reviews about this CD. What ARE they thinking? You are supposed to MARCH to these songs - not run to them! I hear great intonation and suitable tempos to this music. The phrasing is crisp and the rhythms precise. As to taking liberties with 1812, even the master composers did similar practices. The music "flows." This is a patriotic album that you will enjoy!

Must Have for Every Patriotic American.......2002-04-12

This CD is a great collection of classic American tunes. Listening to it really makes you proud to be an American and it puts you in a patriotic mood.

I strongly disagree with some of the other reviews here and I found the quality to be great, along with the selection of songs. BUY THIS CD. YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!

Marching music to yawn by?.......2002-04-04

I completely agree with the two pans by the reviewers above -- the arrangements are completely inappropriate for the music. These pieces should be sprightly and upbeat -- instead they are schmaltzy and lethargic.

Don't Buy this Album!!!.......2001-11-03

What could have been a great album of patriotic
songs is completely ruined because of brutal
editing and may I even say deception. I almost
never return a CD, but I returned this one. And
sadly because I found the sound quality very good.
Both on the outside track listings and on the inside
pullout, there is no mention that the tracks are
excerpts. Most leave out entire strains or repeats.
But the worst offense has to be the "1812 Overture".
I was excited to be purchasing an album with this
on it. But what I got was not even excerpts from
this piece. "excerpts from" usually implies that
a specific movement is presented. But this piece
is totally mutilated. Three measures are played,
five measures are omitted, two more measures are
played, etc. If Tchaikovsky were around he'd have
good cause for a lawsuit. Pleeeaasse, don't support
a product that does injustice to the composers and
does not truthfully describe the product's contents!!!

Wake me up when it's over... (YAAWWWNNNNN).......2001-06-20

Though the first thing that I noticed while listening to this CD was the poor tonal quality of the recording, what I was most disappointed with was the overall lack of tempo in nearly every piece. To quote my husband, "It's supposed to be a marching band, not a strolling band!" Also a few of the pieces are really excerpts and not the entire piece, not good excerpts at that.

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale

Average customer rating:

Traditional Christmas Music
The quintessential Christmas recording
A Top List Christmas CD
The best
How do you describe perfection?

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
Robert Shaw Chorale
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Piano | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High
A Festival of Carols in Brass

ASIN: B000003EPA
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Medley: Good Christian Men - Rejoice - Silent Night - Patapan - O Come - All Ye Faithful
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Shepherd's Carol
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Medley: O Sanctissima - Joy To The World - Away In A Manger - Fum, Fum, Fum - March Of The Kings
I Wonder As I Wander
We Three Kings
My Dancing Day
Medley: What Child Is This? - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Bring A Torch - Jeanette - Isabella - Angels We Have Heard On High
Coventry Carol
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Carol Of The Bells
Medley: Break Forth - O Beauteous Heavenly Light - The First Nowell - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - I Saw Three Ships - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Christmas Music .......2007-01-24

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."

The quintessential Christmas recording.......2005-12-09

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

A Top List Christmas CD.......2004-12-28

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best.......2004-01-02

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

How do you describe perfection?.......2003-12-14

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

Tracks:

Light Cavalry - Suppe
Ruslan and Lyudmila - Glinka
La Traviata - Prelude, Act I - Verdi
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg - Prelude, ACt I - Wagner
Les Francs-Juges - Berlioz
Le nozze di Figaro - Mozart
Egmont - Beethoven
Oberon - Weber
Academic Festival Overture - Brahms
Pique Dame - Suppe

Tracks:

Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna - Suppe
Il barbiere di Siviglia - Rossini
Prince Igor - Borodin
Carmen - Prelude, Act I - Bizet
Der fliegende Hollander - Wagner
Leonore No 3 - Beethoven
Hansel und Gretel - Humperdinck
Khovanshchina - Mussorgsky
Poet and Peasant - Suppe

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic.......2006-06-30

First of all anything with Sir Solti's name on is worth purchasing. Solti has such a way with interpreting music! If you like overtures this CD is for you. It has the best overtures here in one collection. With orchestras like chicago, london, and the vienna you cannot argue with the performances. There are a few "weaker" ensembles, but when compared with the other ensembles there are few that will not sound weak. Again any work Solti has done is worth purchasing!

Famous Overtures.......2005-08-16

Did not like the way these musical pieces were "interpretted".
Did not like the tempo and in one piece one of the instruments played a portion which I would say they played a flat instead of a natural note. This is based on hearing the same pieces played by someone else, it's just my opinion.

Spectacular.......2003-09-25

Not only does it include some of the most famous overtures, but they are played in such an exciting style, full of life and passion. The Suppe overtures are superior and the Wagner overtures are wonderful as well. There is not a bad point to this recording - highly recommended!

Excellent.......2002-06-11

This is an excellent collection of overtures, especially of Von Suppe's overtures. Solti truly brings out life in these pieces.

The best Overture Album !.......2000-02-28

If you like overtures, here is the album. Never have these been performed so musically and with such excitement. The orchestras involved vary in their abilities, yet the Chicago, Vienna, and London Symphony perfom with style. Solti loves this music and it shows.

Average customer rating:

Overtures, The Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Gospel | Compilations | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

25 Thunderous Classics
Baroque: The Greatest Hits
Famous Overtures
Tchaikovsky: The Greatest Hits
Stars & Stripes Forever and the Greatest Marches

ASIN: B000003QWY
Release Date: 1994-04-13

Tracks:

Light Cavalry
The Barber Of Seville
The Bartered Bride
The Flying Dutchman
Egmont
The Marriage Of Figaro
Poet And Peasant
1812 Overture

Tracks:

Mastersingers Of Nuremburg
William Tell
The Italian Women In Algiers
Russlan And Ludmilla
Merry Wives Of Windsor
The Hegrides (Fingal's Cave)
Die Fledermaus
Orpheus In The Underworld

The Most Popular Classical TV Themes In The Universe

Average customer rating:

Wow....better than I first thought..

The Most Popular Classical TV Themes In The Universe

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

TV Guide: 50 All-Time Favorite TV Themes
ITV 50: The Album
One Hundred Greatest TV Themes

ASIN: B0002NRRPG
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Sesame Street - STRAUSS: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Sehr breit
Looney Tunes - SUPPE:
The Four Seasons Theme - VIVALDI; The Four Seasons, Summer, Presto
Polo - HOLST: Jupiter from "The Planets"
Monty Python's Flying Circus Theme - SOUSA: Liberty Bell March
Disney Cruises - SAINT-SAENS: "Aquarium" from Carnival of the Animals
Bank of America - SATIE: Gymnopedie No. 1
Green Hornet Theme - RIMSY-KORSAKOV: Flight of the Bumblebee
Huntley-Brinkley Report Theme - BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 2nd Movement
Gatorade - BACH: Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude
Bailey's - OFFENBACH: Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman"
AT&T Wireless - DVORAK: New World Symphony, II. Largo
Lexus - PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet, The Montagues and the Capulets
Quaker Oats - TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture (Conclusion)

Tracks:

Looney Tunes - WAGNER: Flying Dutchman Overture
M.A.S.H. - MOZART: Clarinet Quintet, I. Allegro
Scrubbing Bubbles - KHACHATURIAN: Sabre Dance
American Experience, "MacArthur" - ALFORD: Coloney Bogey March
IBM - BEETHOVEN: Fur Elise
Ren and Stimpy - TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Ren and Stimpy - TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker, Dance of the Reed Flutes
Looney Tunes - BRAHMS: Hungarian Dance
"Pizzicato Pussycat" - CHOPIN: Minute Waltz
Land Rover - HANDEL: Largo from "Xerxes"
Boursin - DEBUSSY: Clair de Lune
Peugeot - SMETANA: The Moldau
Pontiac GTO - HOLST: Mars from "The Planets"

Customer Reviews:

Wow....better than I first thought.........2007-04-12

I came across this CD (from a "Relaxation" series) by accident and thought, oh no, just another compilation of classical music tidbits---and taken from TV commercials/shows yet---oh, spare me! But how wrong I was. Despite its boast of being, "The Most Popular Classical TV Themes in the Universe" title (and because the price was reasonable for a 2-CD set), I bought the CD and was amazed by the quality of the recordings. I was disappointed when neither the manufacturer nor Amazon.com provided a listing of the artists on the recordings; as after hearing some of the tracks, I wanted to buy the artists' complete renditions. My favorite track on this CD, Debussy's "Clair de Lune," is performed so movingly, so stirringly, so hauntingly, that I wish I knew who recorded it. Not all tracks are arranged for orchestra. An example is Handel's "Largo from Xerxes," which is arranged for harp-and-flute, an arrangement which I found delightful and reminiscent of times in the 18th century when the elite held their salons and provided such music at these events. There is no singing on any tracks; it's pure instrumental. I didn't purchase my copy for "relaxation," as the series promotes, for the CD is just as enjoyable to play anytime, anywhere, and especially with a quality headset!

Average customer rating:

Great music/stories as well as sound quality
Fabulous for Kids
Music Box Series

Music Box V. 2
Classical Kids , Johann Sebastian Bach , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christian Pezold , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Spiritual Traditional , Matthias Weckmann , Errol Gay , Walter Babiak , Studio Arts Orchestra , Adriana Braun , Gordon McLeod , Marjorie Sparks , Monica Whicher , and Nils Brown
Manufacturer: Children's Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Compilations | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Music Box, Vol. 1
Mozart's Magnificent Voyage
Song of the Unicorn
Classical Kids Christmas
Beethoven Lives Upstairs

ASIN: B00000212W
Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

Lost In The Opera House: Oh Help Me (Zu Hilfe) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Papageno And The Birds: The Best Bird-Catcher (Der Voglefanger) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
The Queen Of The Night: You Must Journey (O Zitt're Nicht) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Pamina Arrives, Papageno's Magic Bells: A Girlfriend (Ein Madchen) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
The Castle Of Sarastro: O Endless Night (O Ew'ge Nacht) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
The Magic Flute: O Listen, Hear The Song (Wie Stark) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
The Escape: Let Us Hurry (Schnelle Fusse)/What Twinkles So Brightly (Das Klinget)/Sarastro's ... - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Sarastro's Welcome: The Gods Above (O Isis) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
The Attack Of The Queen: The Powers Of Night (Der Holle Rache)/Tamino's Trial: This Path... - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Pamina's Lament: Oh My Heart Is Broken (Ach, Ich Fuhl's) - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
In The Labyrinth: O Seekers Of The Light (Der, Welcher Wandert)/Tamino Mine/We Pass Proctected... - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Papageno And Papagena: Ring, O Bells (Klinget Glockchen)/Pa-Pa-Papagena - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak
Conclusion: Our Journey Is Over (Bei Mannern)/Overture - The Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak

Tracks:

Piano Concerto #1, 1st Movt/Danse Napolitaine (Swan Lake) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Trepac (Nutcracker) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot/Turkey In The Straw/Waltzes (Serenade, And Swan Lake) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Tea (Nutcracker)/Coffee (Nutcracker)/Chocolate (Nutcracker) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Danse Des Cygnes, Allegro (Swan Lake) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
1812 Overture (Excerpt) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Silver (Sleeping Beauty)/Ragtime - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Overture Act II (Swan Lake) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Girls' Chorus (Eugene Onegin) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Coda, Act II (Nutcracker)/Rag On Tchaikovsky Theme - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Marche Slav - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Violente (Sleeping Beauty)/Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Le Sommeil, Panorama (Sleeping Beauty) - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Long, Long Ago/Onegin (Girls' Chorus)/Waltz Op.20 - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Amazing Grace - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak
Serenade For Strings: Movt 1/Finale/1812 Overture: Finale - Studio Arts Orchestra/High Park Girls Choir/Walter Babiak

Tracks:

Orchestral Suite #3, Mvt. 1/Minuet In G/Gigue In G (French Suite #5) - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring/Chromatic Fantasy/Prelude In B Minor - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Introducing The Orchestra/Organ Chorale Prelude: 'Allein Gott' - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Brandenberg Concerto #5, Movt. 3 - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Flute Sonata in C, Mvt. 2/Organ: 'Es Ist Das Heil'/Orch Ste #2, Mvt. 6/Violin Sonata In E, Mvt. 2 - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Prelude In C (Book 1 Of WTC)/Orchestral Suite #2, Mvt. 2 - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Bist Du Bei Mir - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Orchestral Suite #2, Badinerie - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Orchestral Suite #3, Air For G String - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Orchestral Suite #3, Gigue - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
'Adventure In Music' - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
Goldberg Variations/Art Of Fugue - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
'Liebster Jesu': Flute Sonata In C, Mvt. 4 - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson
'We Hasten,' Cantata #78 - Studio Arts Orchestra/Walter Babiak/The Toronto Boys Chor/Ned Hanson

Customer Reviews:

Great music/stories as well as sound quality.......2004-02-11

The stories on CD are well written and very entertaining. I listened through all 3 CDs in one sitting when I got them! What's more, its sound quality is very good. I have other classical music CDs for kids and almost always I'm disappointed with the sound quality. (Violines sound like they have flu!)

This is a great buy for kids of all ages!!!

Fabulous for Kids.......2002-01-01

My two children, ages 7 and 5 received the Classical Kids Music Box, volumes 1 & 2 for Christmas this year and they can't seem to get enough of it! Each box contains 3 CD's, each on a different composer. Some are narrated by children and tell a story of the particular composer. Their popular compositions play in the background - this way the listener hears a partial biography of the composer as well as some music. Volume 1 contains stories of Handel, Beethoven and Vivaldi, and Volume 2 contains stories of Mozart, Bach and Tchaikovsky. I highly recommend this for all children who listed to music CD's, whether they're musically inclined or not.

Music Box Series.......2001-04-23

To say this series of music is "CAPTIVATING" is a total understatement. We have enjoyed these immensely for 2 years now and are hoping they will continue to release more composers. These well-told stories will hold the interest of everyone at any age while introducing them to these brilliant composers. My son is a 12 year old AAA travel hockey player and listens to these CD's while going to sleep, every night, without fail! Last week he asked if he could go online to find music and I thought he was looking for something along the line of latest hits. What a surprise to find him looking for more of the Music Box Series. These collections are as valuable to classical music as Harry Potter has become to children's reading! The story of Beethoven is especially poignant, when you realize what he accomplished with his gift in spite of his many challenges. I won't give away the plots of these wonderful stories told in this series, however I will say they will be listened to over and over again! And just like Harry Potter, you can't wait for the next one!

The Golden Age Of Light Music: The 1950s

Average customer rating:

The Golden Age Of Light Music: The 1950s

Manufacturer: Guild
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Golden Age of Light Music: The 1940's
The Golden Age of Light Music: The 1950s, Vol. 2 - Midnight Matinee

ASIN: B00020HEP2
Release Date: 2005-01-17

Tracks:

Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)
Caravan
Marching Strings - Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra
Fandango - Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra
Heart-O-London - Charles Williams & His Concert Orchestr,
Hey Presto! - Frederic Curzon,
Melody Maker - Roberto Inglez & His Orchestra
Proud Canvas - Robert Farnon, Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Festival - Mantovani,
Blue Moon - Paul Weston & His Orchestra
Dancing Bells
Granada
Petite Waltz - Billy Cotton & His Band
Shortcake Walk - Sidney Torch & His Orchestra
Flirtation Waltz - Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra
Angel Cake
Waltz of the Bubbles
Sportsmaster - Danish State Radio Orchestra, Robert Farnon
Paris Interlude
At Last, At Last - Ray Martin & His Orchestra
Roller Coaster - Henri Ren His Orchestra
Moon Was Yellow
Piccadilly Spree
Champagne March - Robert Farnon, Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
Jungle Fantasy - Percy Faith & His Orchestra
Parade of the Film Hits: Broadway Melody/Laura/Wedding of the ... - Melachrino Orchestra, George Melachrino

Average customer rating:

Where were the microphones?
I can't stop singing these tunes
Gilbert and Sullivan? No, Gilbert and Offenbach!

Offenbach: The Brigands

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

De Koven - Robin Hood / Ohio Light Opera
Offenbach - La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein / Felicity Lott, Sandrine Piau, Yann Beuron, Francois le Roux, Marc Minkowski, Paris Opera

ASIN: B00022FWVS
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

The Brigands

Album Description

Here we present the first complete CD recording with William S. Gilbert's English translation of Jacques Offenbach's 1869 comic masterpiece. Les Brigands achieved resounding success just as the Second Empire came to an end. Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy supplied Offenbach with a cheerfully amoral libretto that presents theft as a basic principle of society, not an aberration. The forces of law and order are represented by the bumbling carabinieri, who always arrive too late to capture the thieves. The carabinieri's exaggerated attire delighted the Parisian audience during the premiere at the Varietes on December 10, 1869. Only the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in the following months dampened the festivities. W.S. Gilbert's 1871 English adaptation for Les Brigands premiered on the London stage in 1889, starring Lillian Russell in the role of Fiorella. In his typical curmudgeonly fashion, Gilbert disparaged his own work and attempted to prevent use in London of his English version - happily to no avail. His arch lyrics give the Offenbach work a uniquely hilarious quality, delightful to an operetta audience happy to accept a rough-and-tumble pirate band speaking impeccable, drawing room English while describing dastardly deeds to gavottes and musical romps in three-quarter time.

Customer Reviews:

Where were the microphones?.......2005-04-20

Offenbach's music and Gilbert's libretto are both great fun, and the performances are too - especially allowing for the fact that this is really a "semi-professional" production. The acting is a little "comic opera-ish" and wooden, but this is if anything a plus. It is of couse "authentic" in that it is how Victorian and Edwardian comic opera used to be staged. I rather like it anyway.

And, as nearly always with the Ohio Light Opera, this release does not have a competitor - if you want to hear this operetta in English then this is all there is!

What lets this CD set down in my opinion - and this goes to a lesser or greater extent to all this company's recordings, at the least the three I have purchased so far, is the quality of the sound. It is recorded "live" (i.e. presumably at an actual performance - although there is little or no evidence of an audience) - I wish it had been done in a proper studio instead!

Sound levels are generally very low (although they fluctuate a fair bit) and I actually had to make a "boosted" copy onto MD when I wanted to play some tracks on our local community radio station - just to get enough volume so our equipment at the station would broadcast it at a listenable level. Clarity is poor (the fault of the sound engineers rather than the performers, in the main) and it is very fortunate indeed that the set includes a full libretto. Otherwise some of Gilbert's best lines would be lost.

Both the "lost stars" in my assessment are for sound quantity and quality, anyway.

I can't stop singing these tunes.......2004-07-02

I bought this CD as a gift but have subsequently commandeered it for myself. I find myself singing the tunes at work, in the car, while running...halfway through a 5k race last Sunday I realized I was singing the Royal Carbineers song. I "tramp-tramp-tramped" to a 3rd-place finish. The orchestra is fantastic -- I feel like I'm there. The singing is superb. I just had to say how much I am enjoying this CD.

Gilbert and Sullivan? No, Gilbert and Offenbach!.......2004-06-28

This is the only recording ever made, as far as I know, of William Schwenck Gilbert's English translation of Meilhac's and Halévy's libretto for Offenbach's 1869 operetta 'Les Brigands.' In the process the operetta effectively becomes another G&S operetta. Since Sullivan had borrowed many of Offenbach's tricks for his own music, this is not too surprising. There are, of course, identifiably Offenbachian tunes and harmonies here, but the oh-so-British lyrics tend to overcome any Gallic spirit the music might impart. Be that as it may, the piece is a hoot, with a not-quite-so-nice 'Pirates of Penzance' band of brigands whose stealing and intimidation of honest folks is presented as the norm, and honesty as some sort of aberration. The leader of the brigands, for instance, is scandalized that his daughter falls in love with 'an honest man' who then joins the brigands in order to win approval from her father and claim her hand.

This production, however, does not do justice to the piece. There is a lovely recording of the French-language original conducted by John Eliot Gardiner that puts this one in the shade musically. The only major plusses in this production are the excellent chorus, the alert conducting of J. Lynn Thompson and, of course, the Gilbert translation. Otherwise, it's a downright provincial effort with soloists that are not ready for prime time and an orchestra that sounds like a middling college group (and indeed they MAY be, since the Ohio Light Opera Company is resident at Wooster College in Ohio). The libretto is printed in full so one can read Gilbert's hilarious words, many of which are indistinct on the recording.

This recording apparently was made after the operetta was staged in Wooster, and I suspect it was much more effective in the theater, which lead to a suggestion: why doesn't OLO make DVDs of their productions?

Tracks:

F-15 Fighter Take Off / Cannons
Victory At Sea Suite
Semper Fidelis
El Capitan
National Emblem March
Light Cavalry Overture
Review Of The 23rd Infantry Regiment
Riders Of The Blue Dragoon March
Warsaw Concerto
British Eighth March
1812 Overture

Customer Reviews:

Misleading description.......2002-07-21

This is NOT the original soundtrack from the television series. If you are looking for this, the correct disc is:

Victory At Sea: Music From The Award Winning Television Series (1952 TV Series) [SOUNDTRACK]
Richard Rodgers
Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
Number of Discs: 1
Publisher: Q. Records
ASIN: B00004TSC1

A sampler of patriotic music.......2002-06-17

This is NOT the soundtrack of the TV series 'Victory At Sea'. Instead it has a medley of some of the tunes from that series, plus other patriotic and marching music. Althought the performances are OK, this is not what I was looking for. What in the world is the Warsaw Concerto doing in this collection...

You can actually feel the ships roll on the high seas.......1999-09-06

I can remember my folks (air force lt. col. & army nurse) playing this as I was growing up, and I can't recall any other album or recording of any other music that puts me there, in the pacific, on the high seas, rolling with the waves and seeing the big guns fired, the way this album does. As long as I live, this will remind me of the BIG ONE, and also of my mom & dad. There are such glorious movements that can and will move one to tears if they have any recollection of the war at all. A must for any collection.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Club Nation Ibiza [Import]

Mussorgsky: Bilder einer Ausstellung; Klavierstücke

Marini: Le Lacrime di Davide, Op. 21

Music: Suesser Die Glocken Nie [Import]

Pleasantville: Music From The Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Paint by Number Songs

Please Please Me

Last Cup of Sorrow Pt. 2 [CD-single]

O Trio 3-D Convida [Import]

Mahler: Symphony No.1/Berg: Sonata, Op.1

Kitchen Tapes [Live]

Forrocacana [Import]

Luv Me, Luv Me [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Love You So Much

Christine McVie