Shostakovich: Chamber Music

On this CD:

1. Pieces (2) for double string quartet, Op. 11
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Jane Atkins, Alexander Baillie, Brodsky Quartet, Jacqueline Shave

2. Quintet for piano & strings, in G Minor, Op. 57
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Brodsky Quartet

3. Pieces (5) for 2 violins & piano (arr. from theater music by Atovmian)
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton

4. Movements (2) for string quartet
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Brodsky Quartet

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 2 in A Major
String Quartet No. 2 in A Major
String Quartet No. 2 in A Major
String Quartet No. 2 in A Major
String Quartet No. 12 in D flat Major
String Quartet No. 12 in D flat Major

Tracks:

String Quartet No.8 in C Minor
String Quartet No.8 in C Minor
String Quartet No.8 in C Minor
String Quartet No.8 in C Minor
String Quartet No.8 in C Minor
String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp Minor
String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp Minor
String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp Minor
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major

Customer Reviews:

sheer brilliance and range, brilliantly performed.......2003-11-16

These five Shostakovich string quartets were recorded by the Borodin Quartet in London in 1990, and the performance and recording are absolutely brilliant, to match the compositions. (The earlier complete cycle of 15 quartets, recorded in the 1980s by an earlier line-up of the Borodins, is no longer available.)

Quartets 2 and 3, which open and close this set, were written respectively in 1944 and 1946, expressions of DSCH in his prime, during the war and its immediate aftermath. They are among his finest works, too rich in mood and style to summarize briefly. The 8th Quartet of 1960 is his best known, and it was publicly dedicated to "the victims of war and fascism." Of course the interpretation of that phrase by the Soviet officials was at variance with what we now know to be DSCH's view. I heard the Kronos Quartet recording (on BLACK ANGELS) before this one -- by comparison it is harder-edged, emphasizing the bitter rage at the perpetrators, while the Borodin recording emphasizes grief and quiet desolation. Or in other words, the Kronos recording is strong in the louder passages, while the Borodin recording is more expressive and convincing in the slower, quieter passages, which predominate. The 7th Quartet (also of 1960), in honor of Shostakovich's first wife Nina, who died in 1954, is in three movements, and concludes with a powerful raging allegro. Finally, the 12th Quartet, completed in 1968, is in two movements. It can here be seen to represent the "late quartets," 12-15, all of which are dark works written as Shostakovich's health failed and he was in and out of hospitals. The 12th is a powerful, memorable work that continues to show an amazing range, the baring of a complex soul.

Along with the best of Shostakovich's symphonies, his best string quartets are among the finest music of the 20th century, and should be heard by absolutely all music-lovers. Though chronologically later, this is not music that extends the radical innovations of Schoenberg (and Bartok's string quartets). Shostakovich's music is not exactly neo-classical, or neo-romantic, but the modernist elements in his work are integrated seamlessly into a mainly tonal, lyrical conception that makes it more acceptable to the average concert-goer than the music of many of DSCH's contemporaries in the West. Dark and gloomy, yes, but not a radical departure from "the classical tradition."

A PILGRIMAGE.......2003-08-17

This 2-disc selection of 5 Shostakovich quartets is arranged with quartets #2 and #12 on the first disc, #8, #7 and #3 (in that order for some reason) on the second.

It seems to me that far and away the best sequence for listening to them is the chronological sequence of publication, which to the best of my knowledge is also the sequence of their composition. Shostakovich's output is a pilgrim's progress. His music tracks his states of mind, and with the quartets we can try to follow those comparatively free from external political influences and the pressing practical need to adopt public and official personae. These quartets have far more unity and consistency of style than do the symphonies and concertos, and it is far easier for the hearer to gain a feel for the composer's real private identity. 3 of the 5 here are in major keys, but the prevailing mood is sombre and introverted in all of them. It almost goes without saying that this is not `absolute' music - the music by itself is not the whole story as it is in the quartets of Borodin or Brahms. The listener needs to read the composer's mind-set as best he can, with or without help from the composer's biography. If anyone wants my advice, it would be to persevere without that for a while, as music of this stature demands to be heard for itself.

There are no early works here - the second quartet has the opus-# 68 - and one of the things I like best about them is that they are `genuine' quartets, if that expression may be excused. More or less nobody's quartets consist of absolutely pure four-part writing, but there are cases, even including such great works as Franck's quartet or Schumann's quintet, where the string-writing is really for a miniature string band or orchestra rather than a distinctive quartet. Shostakovich is not afraid to relax the idiom at times, notably in the recitative movement of the second quartet (and why should he be? - neither was Beethoven, neither was Brahms), but fundamentally he is as faithful to the quartet concept as Haydn himself.

The recorded sound is excellent without drawing attention to itself in any way, as it does in the Borodins' great disc of Borodin's own quartets. The performances strike me as exemplary in their sympathy and understanding as well as proficiency, and the whole production ranks as what Thucydides called `a possession for ever', meaning by that a thing to be returned to over and over again. It's a classic that will not soon be supplanted.

Beautiful recent recordings by the Borodin Quartet.......2000-04-17

This 2-CD set contains the 1990 recordings by the Borodin String Quartet of 5 major Shostakovich Quartets for Virgin Classics (now EMI/Virgin Classics). The Borodin String Quartet recorded a complete cycle in Moscow between 1978 and 1983 (originally released in the west as an EMI box set, but now availabe as a BMG/Melodiya box set through Amazon). These beautiful 1990 digital recordings of 5 of the 15 quartets represent the best anthology of the Shostakovich quartets available today and should not be missed. Although the readings are different--less emotional, more meditative--these performances are as intense and committed as the earlier ones and should not be missed, not even by those who own the complete set recorded by the Borodin String Quartet. All the more tempting by the fact that this 2-CD set is offered for less than the price of 1, an incredible bargain!

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues op. 87 / Jarrett

Average customer rating:

It doesn't get any better than this.
IMPROVISED CLASSICAL MUSIC
A great combination...
My pick from Jarrett/Ashkenazy/Nikolayeva
far and away the best, and don't give me no lip!

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues op. 87 / Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Manufacturer: Ecm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Handel: Suites for Keyboard
The Carnegie Hall Concert
Bach: Six Sonatas
Vienna Concert
Dark Intervals

ASIN: B000006MTX
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 1 In C Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 2 In A Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 3 In G Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 4 In E Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 5 In D Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 6 In B Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 7 In A Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 8 In F Sharp Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 9 In E Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 10 In C Sharp Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 11 In B Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No. 12 In G Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.13 In F Sharp Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.14 In E Flat Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.15 In D Flat Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.16 In B Flat Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.17 In A Flat Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.18 In F Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.19 In E Flat Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.20 In C Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.21 In B Flat Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.22 In G Minor
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.23 In F Major
Preludes And Fugues Op. 87: Prelude And Fugue No.24 In D Minor

Customer Reviews:

It doesn't get any better than this........2006-07-14

I am not a music "expert" so you may take this review with a grain of salt. I know what I like and this is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. In my humble opinion, it is warmer, more nuanced, and less rigid than the Nikolaieva or Ashkenazy versions. This would be on my "desert island" Top 5 list, no question about it.

IMPROVISED CLASSICAL MUSIC.......2005-06-12

All the great classical composers were great improvisors. Because of the constraints of the academy, one wonders if most of todays players could even fake "Happy Birtrhday".

We are lucky to have someone like Keith Jarrett alive in our own time. Since he is capable of actually improvising profound music, he seems to bring a liveness and spontenaity to this Shostakovich masterpiece. The first recording I ever heard was by Ashkenazy and even then I felt that something was missing. Then I heard the Jarrett version and it came to life! I'm sure any criticism by classical purists is just jealousy...this is perhaps like hearing a great musician/composer, such as Liszt, playing Chopin...or perhaps like Chopin playing Bach!

There are so many college trained "button-pusher" pianists around today that it is refreshing to hear the emotional vividness and luminous technique displayed by Jarrett in this recording. I assumed that these pieces would be dark and posess and dated, pre WORLD WAR II quality, but like the Bach pieces that inspired them, they convey all sorts of emotions that are beautifully realized by Keith Jarrett.

He makes the other versions seem like journeyman efforts that were played by pianists who had to seek out a teacher to told them "How" they should be performed.

A great combination..........2005-05-16

- Warm spring afternoon
- Shostokovich Preludes and Fugues
- Keith Jarrett

Jarrett's peculiar bright aspect works exceptionally well with the more lyrical, optimistic pieces, (most of them, I think). For pieces having that Shostakovich life-is-out-of-kilter feel the color contrast is striking, but it's odd and unsettling in the bottomless-despair ones (few are in this category). I think Shostakovich would be pleasantly surprised by the way these sound. On the other hand, Jarrett does miss some of the curled-up dimensions in these multidimesional gems. An interesting, refreshing, virtuoso reading, but by no means definitive as some corners are left undusted. Too much reverb in the recording space for my taste.

My pick from Jarrett/Ashkenazy/Nikolayeva.......2005-01-16

I own recordings of this work by Jarrett, Ashkenazy and Nikolayeva (on Hyperion). Ultimately it is Jarrett's version that I find myself listening to most often. My main gripe with Nikolayeva is that she can be excessively slow. Ashkenazy -- though technically strong as one would expect -- has a tendency to hammer out some of the fugues in rigid staccato that suppresses the natural lyricism of the music. The flip side as argued by another reviewer is that Jarrett is sometimes "mushy", but that seems a little harsh to me. Unless you have a very particular opinion on how these pieces must sound (in which case you can listen to them yourself) this recording makes a fine choice.

far and away the best, and don't give me no lip!.......2004-11-25

Keith Jarrett himself must have expected wildly polarized reviews on his take of Shostakovich's preludes and fugues, and it's no wonder, as he is more popularly known as a modern jazz master.

As I have had access to a public radio station music library, I decided to spend a weekend comparing and contrasting the different recording of this Opus 87, with score in-hand, by Jarrett, Nikolayevna, and Ashkenazy. I rate Jarrett first, second place going to Nikolayevna, and Ashkenazy bringing up a rather indifferent rear.

Jarrett's interpretation seems to be most often panned on grounds that he "doesn't understand the music", which is sheer hogwash. Add this to the fact that most critics fail to state what are the prerequisites for understanding this music, and I suggest it's a lot more than understanding Shostakovich's "pain"; a rather over-romantic view of a composer who could and did write extremely emotional music, but also music with humor and grace. There's a lot more to Shostakovich than just "pain". Jarrett has obviously studied the pieces well, and plays each prelude and fugue with flawless technique and even daring interpretation that is notably original, the most obvious case being the C-major fugue being taken at what sounds like a *very* slow pace. But having access to the score, he's taking it at the specified tempo: 92-to-the-quarter, interpreting the "alla breve" by playing very legato. So why do the other recordings have it so fast?

Jarrett's A-major fugue shines like the sun; his A flat-major fugue becomes a giddy, but slyly understated dance. (I should add here that in the A-flat prelude Ashkenazy makes a rather shocking note discrepancy in the main theme that either passed a producer's ear or was mis-read in the printed edition.) The more somber pieces are played with respect and deep concentration.

Add to this ECM's top-shelf engineering that provides a realistic, deep piano sound, and you've got a five-star set in your hands.

The pieces were written for Nikolayevna, but her autumn-years recording seems a bit one-dimensional to my ears at times, and the dynamics are a bit narrow as well, although she obviously has played these pieces for a very long time and seems to have absorbed them to the point where her interpretations seem more introverted, if that is your taste. The piano sound is broad, though it has a bit more hammer sound than Jarrett's.

For Ashkenazy, I have nothing exceptional to report. The Decca sound is dry, his rubato doesn't work for me and almost sounds as if he is unsure of himself in places, and overall it doesn't seem to add any air of authority or authenticity. Add to this Decca's assertion that since Askenazy is Russian, his recording is the final word on it, which is pretty trite.

Jarrett gives a modern, up-to-date performance that I think will stand the test of time, while the Askenazy will ultimately be re-packaged as a budget set.

Go with Jarrett; the man who dares to play classical music that is absolute, stripped bare of tuxedo snobbery. He gives his all for this one, and it shows.

Average customer rating:

Cruel Joke
The first--and still greatest?--modernist readings
Great music, great performance
Re-release of a Fantastic Collection

Shostakovich: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: DG
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Shostakovich: The Complete Symphonies - Mariss Jansons (10 CD)
Shostakovich/Tchaikovsky: Piano Trios
Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99
Dmitry Shostakovich: String Quartet Nos. 2,3,7,8 & 12

ASIN: B000F3T7RE
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Customer Reviews:

Cruel Joke.......2007-01-20

I heard this set of discs elsewhere. I tried to send them to my niece twice as a Christmas present in Paris, France. The delivery by U.P.S. was never accomplished owing to U.P.S. retuning the items to your warehouse too rapidly for my niece to arrainge delivery. I was nonetheless charged for one of these deliveries and just don't want to exhaust the energy to contest this charge, having tried that already. Be very sure that amazon won't spring back to life for my pocketbook.

The first--and still greatest?--modernist readings.......2006-11-13

This re-issue at bargain price of the Emerson's complete Shostakovich quartet cycle is a reminder that their breakthrough readings are roughly a decade old now (the set was taped in concert from Aspen 1994-99). Instead of Russian soul we get clean, often faster interpretations that brought out Shostakovich's modernist side, aided by the ultra virtuosity of the playing. In the meantime, however, other groups like the St. Lawrence and Hagen Quartets have made even more severe, biting, stark, haunted, and tragic recordings of selected works from the fifteen quartets. This doesn't mean the Emersons have been eclipsed, only that they started a trend that shows no sign of ending.

Also, I'd like to point out that if you want the best all-around modern set from a Russian group. the Shostakovich Quartet, which recorded for Olympia, can now be found on bargain reissues from Regis (Berkshire Record Outlet offers the complete quartets for $20). The SQ play beautifully, are well recorded, and imbue Shostakovich's music with more emotional intensity than the cooler Emersons. By comparison, the old standby set from the Fitzwilliam Quartet on Decca seems dated and stodgy. The choice for me comes down to 1. Emerson complete cycle 2. Shostakovich Quartet complete cycle or 3. Pick and choose among outstanding individual readings from the St. Lawrence, Kronos, Hagen, and of course older Soviet groups like the Borodin and Beethoven Quartets. That's just a thumbnail sketch. Many die-hard fans won't give up their beloved Emerson cycle, while older aficinados would never part with their traditional Soviet favorites.

Great music, great performance.......2006-10-21

I've been through this collection three times so far and am delighted with it in every aspect. True, I haven't picked up the scores yet, which would add a great deal, but even short of that I can recommend this performance both from an acoustic and aesthetic point of view. And the music, of course, speaks for itself. Big bonus which shouldn't be is that the discs are pressed (burned?) in numerical order 1 through 15 so you don't have to keep switching discs like you do with, say, the Alban Berg Beethoven integral.

Can't think of a single complaint, and I've tried! OK, there is one. I'm afraid that the notes that accompany the recording are pretty uninformative. A little historical fact followed by vague and misleading metaphorical descriptions are about the sum of it. True, Shostakovich scholarship is just beginning so there is little to draw on, but still...

Re-release of a Fantastic Collection.......2006-06-23

This is a re-release of the Emerson String Quartet's live performances of the Shostakovich String Quartets. For Shostakovich lovers this is a must buy.

Note that Amazon does offer the original as well. This re-release, however, is priced at about half of the original. There is nothing left out in this one, so if you want the original artwork and so on, pay the double price. If you want the music to enjoy, buy this one -- at least until someone realizes that the two are competing with each other. (Note that many people, after viewing this album, purchased the more expensive one!)

That being said, many reviewers of this and other editions have compared Emerson's against Borodin String Quartet among others. The Emerson String Quartet is as perfect as one can get during this lifetime. It may lack "Soul," as some reviewers put it, but if it does, then I don't know what "soul" means. Different interpretations? Yes. Lack of soul? No. Americans can perform Russian works with dexterity. Incidentally, I also enjoy these same works produced on a budget label by an relatively unknown string quartet. I love them, too, and I'm keeping them both.

Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky and Tchai
Teatime...or otherwise.
Tchaikovsky's Dreamier Music: A Soothing Album
Beautiful
Tchaikovsky's Most Enchanting Tunes

Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading
Bach for Breakfast
Chopin and Champagne: Set Your Mood for Romance
Debussy for Daydreaming: Music to Caress Your Innermost Thoughts
Mozart for Morning Coffee: Freshly Brewed to Perk Up Your Day

ASIN: B0000041FC
Release Date: 1996-06-11

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 In D: Andante Cantabile
Swan Lake: Odette And The Prince (Act II)
Piano Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor: Andantino
Swan Lake: Pas de deux (Act III)
The Sleeping Beauty: Panorama (Act II)
Violin Concerto In D: Canzonetta (Andante)
The Nutcracker Suit (Selections): Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
The Nutcracker Suit (Selections): Coffee Dance
The Nutcracker Suit (Selections): Tea Dance
The Nutcracker Suit (Selections): Dance Of The Reed-pipes
Rococco Variations: Final variation
Piano Trio In A Minor: Andante con moto
Piano Trio In A Minor: Variation I. L'istesso tempo
Piano Trio In A Minor: Variation IX. Andante flebile, ma non tanto
Piano Trio In A Minor: Variation XI. Moderato
The Sleeping Beauty: Vision Of Aurora
Serenade For Strings In C: Elegie: Larghtto elegiaco

Customer Reviews:

Tchaikovsky and Tchai.......2006-07-17

I wondered what do Tchaikovsky and Tea have in common, and then I remembered that in many countries across the world - the word for tea is "tchai". That aside, yes, this is a refreshing blend of music, perfect for tea time - relaxing and reviving at the same time, and quite a bit dreamy.

Teatime...or otherwise........2005-11-02

I've owned this for years & play it often. It IS perfect for teatime, as it makes pleasant background music which you can talk over....but is also great w/volume up in car w/it's rambunctious side and incredible instrumentation. A really nice blend of Tchaikovsky's pieces.

Tchaikovsky's Dreamier Music: A Soothing Album.......2005-07-31

"Set your Life to Classical Music" is a fine album series that feature beautiful classical music for background music of any occasion- weddings, barbecues, breakfast, beauty sleep, bathtime, reading a book, romantic dinner, massages you name it. And indeed many classical pieces are perfectly therapeutic sessions in themselves. This album features the more intimate-sounding, soulful, sweet and relaxing tunes of Tchaikovsky. He did compose heavier and more dramatically intense music- his later symphonies, his Overtures and operas. But here we hear no Russian fire or harshness. Instead we are treated to the charming Mozartian style works of the Roccoco Variations and the Piano Trios. The disc also features the Andantino from his Piano Concerto No. 1 - and that piece is almost a Chopin Nocturne, with beautiful soft rubato and dream-like qualities. Included here is also the Pas De Deux and Odette and Siegfried theme from his ballet Swan Lake, lilting and graceful as the dancers movements themselves. The dance divertissements from Nutcracker round out the ballet segments with charming allure. The melancholy String Quartet and Serenade For Strings is here as well and not to mention the beautiful, wistful excerpts from the ballet Sleeping Beauty, his greatest ballet. The Panorama and Vision of Aurora played with delicate strings and sublime technicality. This is indeed a "refreshing blend for body and spirit" and is in fact perfect to listen to while drinking tea cosnidering you drink tea. I have tried it and believe me the experience is very soothing and refreshing. Try putting this on in your miniature CD player with headphones, then go out into an outdoor, natural environment, a park or a backyard garden or patio, and drink tea or read a book and you will find this is a fine companion.

Beautiful.......2003-08-25

One of the best aspects of Tchiakovsky's music is the ocnsistency: he just DIDN'T compose any bad pieces. And with such consistency, you can compile a CD such as this.
THis CD gives you a proper taste of Tchaikovsky's style, and is a very nice sampler of some of his most famous works. This CD lacks some of his more energetically volatile works, but it thus lives up to its title. It is extremely relaxing, and soothes you as you listen to it. The works are melodic, and the orchestras and soloists are superb, especially in the Serenade and the Rococco Variations. I highly recommend this CD for anyone, even if you aren't a huge classical music fan.

Tchaikovsky's Most Enchanting Tunes.......2000-08-19

Like the title suggest, a good companion for tea time. Or any time. The music of Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky is beautiful, lyrical and full of a grace and charm that parallels to Mozart's. A great collection of music by the legendary Russian composer. He had a gift for making music in a style that did not sway away from Russian folk music but that added a Classical perfection, or better yet a Romantic mastership. Who can forget the Sleeping Beauty suite. Here is the Panorama scene.. gorgeous music. I recommend the entire ballet score. The Nutcraker and Swan Lake are also here. The Piano concerto no. 1 in B, Andante Cantibile and so much more. I garauntee any listener satisfaction.

The Music of Cosmos: Selections from the Score of the PBS Television Series Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Average customer rating:

Cosmos CD
Not The Original TV Series Soundtrack !!
The Music of Cosmos Original CD from PBS series
The Music of Cosmos
Cosmos Remastered Edition

The Music of Cosmos: Selections from the Score of the PBS Television Series Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cosmos: Carl Sagan (7 DVD Set)
Heaven and Hell
Cosmos
Albedo 0.39
Spiral

ASIN: B00004WFPW
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

Heaven And Hell, Part 1/Symphony No.11/Alpha - Vangelis/Houston Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski
Depicting The Cranes In Their Nest/Canon A 3 On A Ground In D/The Four Seasons: Spring... - G. Yamaguchi/Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields/Neville Marriner/Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra...
Partita No.3 - Arthur Grumiaux
Symphony No.19/Legacy/Russian Easter Festival Overture/Inside The Heart Of The Universe - Sevan Philharmonic/Alan Hovhaness/Synergy/L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet...
Fly Night Bird/Beauborg, Part II/The Rite Of Spring - Roy Buchanan/Vangelis/London Symphony Orchestra/Eduardo Mata
Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer?/Bulgarian Shepherdess Song (Izlel Je Delyo Hajdutin)... - Vangelis/V. Balkanska/L. Kanevski/S. Zakmanov

Customer Reviews:

Cosmos CD.......2007-01-04

I love the music of Cosmos and was happy to see it on CD

Not The Original TV Series Soundtrack !!.......2006-05-06

Contact Cosmos Studios ... They may have copies available ...

The Music of Cosmos Original CD from PBS series.......2004-12-31

Have the original LP Soundtrack. Do not want the remake CD. Would consider a used CD.Want the original with the black background and bursting constellation. Wish I could download my original LP but not possible. Also looking for the CD for the original (once again - no remakes)BBC series "The Singing Detective" with the old tunes. Any suggestions?

The Music of Cosmos.......2004-12-16

I'm desesperatly looking for the soundtrack of Cosmos "The Music of Cosmos"

Cosmos Remastered Edition.......2004-02-23

When I went to finally buy the CD version of this disc I noticed there were two versions- the one above and the newer remastered edition which has the same cover as the dvds do. I also own the old vinyl version of this from the 80s. First off between the original release on vinyl and the new CDs, it is obvious there are more new tracks on the CDs. Also the songs listed are longer versions of what was originally released. The fidelity is obviously improved, as the vinyl did have a softer sound to it. But as with CDs the sound quality at times does have edgyness that the record did not. The first thing I noticed was they reshuffled the tracks from the original release. I'm not sure the new track order works as well as the old, as the old had a good pace to it. Also another thing is there are some rather annoying transitions between songs that sound rather cheezy and do not suit this album. They break up the pace and rhythm of the album and don't always fade out during the next song which can ruin the beginning of it. The sound byte transitions turn a rather classy album into something of science fiction for teens. This selection could have been mixed without them and work better in the mood the album presents. Also keep in mind not all tracks are the original songs presented on the vinyl version, and possibly even the tv series itself. Some are newer recordings of the same song, and its noticable they are not the original. One track that comes to my mind right off the bat is track 15 on the first CD. But the newer editions are fine, but it can be jarring if you have a auditory memory of how the older version sounded- especially if you liked it that way. All in all its still an excellent assortment of songs on two discs, and I would recommend it on that basis. If you already have the DVDs, I would suggest these CDs as well. But after hearing this new disc, Im keeping my old vinyl record for sure.

The Glory of Rostropovich: 80th Birthday Tribute

Average customer rating:

The Glory of Rostropovich: 80th Birthday Tribute

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000M05VP2
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Average customer rating:

Delightful and energetic performance
World Class Musician
22 Bravos
You'll stand and shout "encore!"

Horizons - Leif Ove Andsnes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Grieg: Lyric Pieces (Performed on Grieg's Piano)

ASIN: B000HC2PBS
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Sibelius: 13 Pieces Op. 76, No. 2 Etude
Scriabin: 2 Impromtus Op. 14, No. 1
Mendelssohn: Songs Without WordsBook VI Op. 67 - No. 2 in F Sharp minor
R. Strauss/Gieseking: Standchen (No. 2 of 6 Lieder, Op. 17)
Mompou: Paisajes - No. 2, El lago
J. S. Bach/Bussoni: Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (from 10 Chorale
Chopin: Impromptu No. 1 in A flat Op. 29
Liszt: 3 Liebestraume S541 - No. 3 "O Lieb, so land du lieben kannst!"
Shostakovich: The Golden Age Op. 22 - Polka
Albeniz: Espana Op.165, No. 2 Tango
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 1
Chopin/Liszt: 6 Chants polonaises s480 - No. 5 Meine Freunden
Liszt: Valse - impromptu S213
Antheil: Toccata No. 2
Trenet: Chanson: Coin de rue
Halvorsen/Andsnes: Suite de morceaux caracteristiques for violin &
Grieg: Humoresque Op. 6, No. 3
Smetana: Am Seegestade ("At the Sea") - Concert Study in G sharp minor
Scott: 2 Pieces Op. 47, No. 2 Lotus Land
Ibert: 10 Histoires No. 2 Le Petit Ane blanc
Debussy: Suite bergamasque No. 3 Clair de lune
Grieg: Stemninger Op. 73, No. 4 Folketone

Amazon.com

A great player can give meaning and substance even to lightweight miniatures. Andsnes says that his musical "horizon," at first limited to "big, important" music, opened to the appreciation of the short "salon" pieces and arrangements assembled on this record only as he got older, though they had accompanied him since childhood. The program features original compositions and transcriptions, including many familiar favorites. They span several centuries and come from every corner of Europe. Andsnes' virtuosity is breath-taking, his tone is beautiful, and his legato sings regardless of the accompanying texture. Above all, he captures every style, idiom, and mood. Andsnes' phrasing, dynamics, and liberties are balanced and poised, and his love for the music speaks through every note. Listeners will choose their own favorites among these 22 very different pieces, but surely no one will be able to resist Gieseking's spectacular arrangement of Richard Strauss' "Serenade," which adds torrents of notes to the virtuosic piano part and incorporates the vocal line as well. The fleetness and clarity of the Chopin "Impromptu" here never touches the ground, while Ibert's "Little White Donkey" has charm and delicacy and Liszt's "Liebestraum" resounds with ardent passion. Andsnes' brilliant, captivating performance will induce smiles of admiration and pleasure as well as a new respect for this versatile and colorful repertoire. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Delightful and energetic performance.......2007-03-11

I like the way he made the songs come to life. They were filled with energy and feelings.

World Class Musician.......2007-02-07

Leif Ove Andsnes is an incredible artist on the piano and his talents are showcased in this cd. His artistry has an extensive range as exhibited in the diversity of this repertoire. This is classical piano at its best.

22 Bravos.......2007-01-22

22 piano encores some familiar most not, at least to me, played with manly beauty by Leif Ove Andsnes. A treasure chest. A horizon expanding recording. 22 Bravos

You'll stand and shout "encore!".......2007-01-03

The appearance of this disk on many Best of 2006 lists came as no surprise. I heard Andsnes perform several of these selections in Chicago and Kalamazoo early in the year, and in Michigan even got a sampler CD of "Horizons" as we left the recital that whetted my appetite. Everything that makes Andsnes' playing compelling is here, but listen in particular for how, in so many of the pieces, he's able to bring out the left hand that are clearly not just microphone/recording studio wizardry. A true gem.

Average customer rating:

It was faulty on the last title to be played The Carnival of Venice
Awesome Collection!
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Quite the CD

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classic Wynton
Famous Classical Trumpet Concertos
Trumpet Concertos
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ASIN: B000002AVK
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.2, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine
Concerto For 2 Trumpets In C Major, RV 537: 1. Allegro
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Petrushka: Dance Of The Ballerina & Waltz
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30: Introduction
Lieutenant Kije: Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Kije's Wedding
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Swan Lake, Op. 20: Naepolitan Dance (Act III) - Tchaikovsky
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Tsar Saltan: Flight Of The Bumblebee
The Three Aces - Clarke
A Bugler's Holiday
Variations On The Carnival Of Venice

Customer Reviews:

It was faulty on the last title to be played The Carnival of Venice.......2007-06-01

I returned this to New Castle. Box 15550. I have heard nothing. The date of the return was 15/05/07 from my Throop postoffice in Dorset. I sent it recorded delivery. Over to you. There was nothing on the return screen to explain the fault. ie faulty track. So after many attempts to get intouch I sent it to the address on the paper inside the parcel. Please help.
I am a Grandmother so I am over 13 ???

Awesome Collection!.......2006-07-04

As a young boy I would play my trumpet from my father's old Arban's method book. My private trumpet teacher (Mr. Bonfield) would love to play duets with me from the Merchant of Venice. One day I heard Wynoton Marsailas play a a flawless rendition of The Merchant of Venice on my local clasical radio station. It was flawless and brought back many fond memories of studiying the trumpet as a youngster with my beloved teacher. This collection contains that rendition and a wide selecton of clasical trumpet pieces. You may not recognize every song, but you will enjoy the high quality of the music and artists on this CD. Anyone looking for an introduction to quality, classical, trumpet music should buy this CD. The price also makes this an affordable must for any true trumpet fan.

A Wonderful Collection.......2004-01-26

This is a splendid anthology of music. Traditional Baroque and orchestral pieces up front, and a few surprises nearer the end. A splendid work. The price makes it a steal. Add it to your cart. You will not be sorry. There is technical excellence - peace in some of the songs and real energy in others.

Wonderful edition to your trumpet collection........2003-10-21

Trumpet fans should all own this album, that is if they don't already own all of the pieces on here on separate recordings (it would take a while to obtain them all). This recording features a bunch of great classical trumpeters and innovators such as Armando Ghitalla, Phil Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Mark Gould, H.L. Clarke, Ron Romm, Charles Schleuter, William Vacchiano, and more. Great performances of Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2", the Haydn and Hummel Concertos, Wynton's excellent performance of J.B. Arban's "The Carnival Of Venice", the New England Brass Ensemble performing "Trumpet Voluntary", a very good job done by a Baroque Orchestra of the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Trumpets, "The Three Aces" played by H.L. Clarke, and Leroy Anderson's classic "A Bugler's Holiday".

Overall this is a great listen to some of the best trumpet players of all-time in this idiom. All of the pieces are impeccably played by some of the best. I didn't discover this tape in my collection until recently, and boy I'm glad I did.

Quite the CD.......2001-04-17

If I were you, I would buy this CD. It is a diverse collection of amazing performances of quintessential pieces - an important addition to any classical music fan's collection. Heck, even if you're not big on classical music (or trumpet music or brass music or music at all) you should purchase this compact disc.

And comrades, let me say that you can't call yourself a member of the human race until you've heard Wynton Marsalis' performance of JB Arban's "Variations of Carnival of Venice." It's literally perfect. Buy this today.

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87
Average customer rating:

Beautifully done

in the abscence of Woodward's famous account this will do nicely.

A Twentieth Century Piano Masterwork

Delightful, completely satisfying

Such austerity! Such riddles!

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000050XA2
Release Date: 2001-02-20

Tracks:

Moderato
Moderato
Allegro
Fugue
Moderato Non Troppo
Allegro Molto
Andante
Adagio
Allegretto
Allegretto
Allegretto
Moderato
Allegro Poco Moderato
Allegretto
Allegretto
Andante
Moderato Non Troppo
Allegro
Allegro
Moderato
Allegro
Allegro
Andante
Allegro

Tracks:

Moderato Con Moto
Adagio
Adagio
Allegro Non Troppo
Moderato Non Troppo
Allegretto
Allegro Molto
Andante
Allegretto
Allegretto
Moderato
Moderato Con Moto
Allegretto
Moderato Con Moto
Moderato
Moderato
Allegro Non Troppo
Allegro Non Troppo
Moderato Non Troppo
Moderato
Adagio
Moderato Con Moto
Andante
Moderato

Amazon.com

Shostakovich performed at a Bach bicentennial festival at Leipzig in 1950. Under the spell of Bach, he quickly wrote this homage, which contains some of his most consistently inspired and inventive music. After half a century, it is now accepted as a timeless classic, a sincere homage to Bach, still individual and expressive. Shostakovich wrote the music for his student Tatiana Nikolayeva, who performed the world premiere. Her three recordings of the cycle are close to definitive, especially the set on Melodiya, which is economically priced but uneconomically spread over three CDs. Scherbakov, who has already made some impressive discs for Naxos, provides a very strong challenge. No recording of this cycle has captured the brooding, inward quality of some of this music as well as Nikolayeva's, but Scherbakov comes close. Where virtuosity is required, he actually surpasses the impressive Nikolayeva. Considering the fine sound quality and extremely reasonable price of this set, it's at least a clear second choice for the ultimate recording of the series, and probably a good first choice for an introduction to the music. The performances are even superior to the well-known versions by Keith Jarrett and Vladimir Ashkenazy. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully done.......2007-03-01

Nothing wrong with the playing here. I love Sherbakov's technique playing the fast Preludes with fluency. I love the last Fugue especially for its incredible weight. He almost screams out the theme, saying (implicitly) "THIS IS SHOSTAKOVICH'S LAST FUGUE."

I agree with the other reviewers here, in his attention to detail. What a great buy!

in the abscence of Woodward's famous account this will do nicely........2006-10-24

Roger Woodward was the first pianist outside of the USSR to record the complete Preludes and Fugues of Shostakovich (RCA) and in some ways his fresh faced account from the 70's still stands up well (alas,STILL unavailable)

In the meantime,Scherbakov's thoughful and beautifully articulated set will do nicely.The introverted side to Shostakovich suits him particularly well:the opening prelude in C is marvellously sustained at quite a slow tempo.An oasis of calm.The Bb fugue feels like gentle wisps of colour but doesn't flow quite as naturally as Woodward.

For my tastes,the famous Dflat prelude and Fugue lacks the final sense of abandon (Woodward is marvellously unhinged here)and the part writing gets a bit muddled.Perhaps the resonant recording is partly to blame.

highlights:breathtakingly deft handling of the Aminor prelude.
innocent,exquisitely neat in the Amajor Prelude and Fugue,and for the ultimate raunchy swing Scherbakov is every bit as extrovert Woodward in the G#minor Fugue.

A Twentieth Century Piano Masterwork.......2004-07-15

Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) is best-known for his symphonies and for his difficult political life in the former Soviet Union. Between 1950-1951, while his work was under a performance ban, Shostakovich composed a work for solo piano, the "24 Preludes and Fugues" Op. 87, which is remarkable for its intimacy and devotion to the art of pure music. It is one of the great piano works of the twentieth century. The complete work is performed on this 2-CD collection by Konstantin Scherbakov, a young Russian pianist.

Shostakovich's work consists of a prelude and a following fugue in each major and minor key. It is modeled after Bach's two-volume "Well-Tempered Clavier" which consists of two volumes of preludes and fugues in each key. (Shostakovich was asked after completing this work whether he would compose another set, to parallel Bach's two sets. "Never!", he replied.) Chopin's 24 preludes is another model. I found Shostakovich's work closer in spirit to Chopin than to Bach.

Unlike Bach's collections, which proceed in order on the chromatic scale, (c major and minor, c-sharp major and minor,d major and minor, etc) Shostkovich's cycle follows the circle of fifths. Thus, the first prelude and fugue is in C major while the second is in the minor key with the same signature as C major -- A minor. The work then proceeds up by fifths -- to G major and its relative minor of E-minor througout the 24 major and minor keys.

In some instances, (such as nos. 3,6, and 10) the prelude and the fugue are written to contrast with each other. But most of the sets, I found, were complimentary in character with both the prelude and fugue expressing different aspects of the same emotional mood. Several of the fugues are based upon and develop the melodic material presented in the prelude. And some of the music does seem to be a deliberate recollection of Bach.

There is a great deal of variety within the set, with some pieces ironic, some humorous, some sad and quiet, and others virtuosic and showy. The final work in the set, no. 24, is appropriately, the most triumphal in the collection; the work marking the mid-point, no. 12, also reaches a climax. The prevailing tone of the collection, for me, is one of deep introspection. It is as if Shostakovich was not writing to please an audience or to adjust to the vagaries of the political censors but only for himself -- to capture in the quiet of his own study and heart what he wanted to say musically without pressure from anyone. Bach's volumes are the model for this type of attempt at "pure" or "abstract" music. Shostakovich's writing reflects his own character as a composer of the twentieth century. No listener will mistake Shostakovich's fugues for Bach's.

I thought Scherbakov's playing quiet, restrained, and thoughtful. It captures the character of this difficult work.

This work is tonal in character and more accessible than much contemporary music. Nevertheless, it will bear repeated listening. I approached the work by listening to it through, and then by listening separately to each half (i.e. dividing it into two sets of twelve). This CD is available at a budget price and will offer the adventurous listener the opportunity to explore a masterpiece of 20th century piano music.

Delightful, completely satisfying.......2004-06-23

This disc is a revelation for me: I had no idea that Shostakovich wrote so wonderfully for solo piano. He wrote all of the work collected here early in his career (he wrote the impressive, joyous "Three Fantastic Dances" at the tender age of sixteen). Most of these pieces are lyrical and tonal and draw from a wide array of styles, from from Bach to Chopin to jazz. Yet they are original, clearly the work of a great musical mind. Generally affirmative, they are nonetheless personal and the work of--and for--a virtuoso. Fortunately, Scherbakov is well up to the demands, and the recording is, like many Naxos discs, excellent.

Such austerity! Such riddles!.......2004-01-11

These are probably my favorite work by Shostakovich. Not being too big a fan of the more-celebrated symphonies, I believe that this work reveals much more of the man then most people think it does.

Shostakovich once said that his symphonies ultimately represented "a set of tombstones" to him. I mention this not, of course, to detract from those who praise those works. Shostakovich lived through the twentieth century as a Russian and a Soviet, so it's easy to see the root of all the angst and sadness he expressed through them. That, in short, is why they're still istened to even today, because of the level of emotion which was expressed with the aid of his musical genius. I can't help but view the symphonies as amazing in their own right.

The preludes and fugues, op. 87, couldn't be more different. They were written for solo piano, and are mostly subdued pieces where the symphonies are perfectly cacphonous. What I'd like to suggest, is that these pieces represent a kind of photo negative of the symphonies. Take a listen to a few of them. They sound so delicate - so full of innocence and youthful ardor! And yet so precise! One can scarcely believe they weren't written by a 20-year old prodigy. Where the symphonies drown you in a direct emotional assault, the preludes are like a light sprinkle of rain, often merely hinting at the emotions behind them. This of course is just what makes them such wonderful pieces to listen to, time and again. Each fugue behaves in much the same way that those of Bach did, with a well-defined subject and counter-subject, and yet so much arises out of this simple dynamic it is hard to put into words the effect they can have on a person.

Tracks:

Strauss & Co: A Bright Young Man - Along The Wonderful Blue Danube - Roses From The South - Viennese Blood - Lips Are Sealed ...
During Thunder And Lighting
The Third Man
The Second Waltz
Come On Gypsy
Swallows From Austria
Song Of Vilja
The Life Of Artist
Persian March
The White Horse Inn
Vienna, Vienna Just You
Today Angels Come To Vienna On Holiday
My Mother Was A Viennese
Rose From The South

Customer Reviews:

Simply Breathtaking !.......2000-05-14

I have always been a lover of classical music, but had never been truly introduced to the waltz until my wonderful father sent me this CD. After one time through it...I was in love. The romance...the feeling...the images of days gone by. Ladies in long, flowing gowns, men in black tails and white gloves...swirling around a ballroom floor. It's all right there for you to hear. Just lovely. My personal favorite is Song of Vilja, composed by Lehar. I think this to be the most beautiful piece of music ever written. This collection is a must for any lover of the classics....but for waltz enthusiasts, it is Heaven !

Fantastic!.......1999-12-27

I am a great fan of Andre Rieu and his Orchestra and this in possibly their best. I changd the CD's in the changer in my vehicle about once a week but this one usuallly occupies the honored number one spot for months at a time.

Pure Viennese Magic!.......1999-03-01

A wonderful find for any lover of Viennese music, particularly of the "Silver Era" of operetta. Great renditions of operetta fare by Strauss, Lehar, Kalman, Stolz and Benatzky. Also charming Viennese songs, such as "Die Engeln Kommen auf Urlaub Nach Wien," "Meine Mutterl war eine Weanerin," and other "heuriger" wine garden favorites. The whole thing is a delight!

Music Review:

Music Review

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