20th Century Music for Oboe & Piano

On this CD:

1. Sonata for oboe & piano, Op. 85
Composed by Hans Gal
Performed by Fabian Menzel

2. Sonata Missolana, Op. 66
Composed by Jeno Takacs
Performed by Fabian Menzel

3. Improvisation for oboe & piano
Composed by Matyas Seiber
Performed by Fabian Menzel

4. Two Themes from Handel, for oboe & piano
Composed by Ernst Krenek
Performed by Fabian Menzel

5. Pieces (4) for oboe & piano
Composed by Ernst Krenek
Performed by Fabian Menzel

6. Duo Concertante for oboe and piano
Composed by Antal Dorati
Performed by Fabian Menzel

Tracks:

Suite No. 3 In D Major: Air On The G String - Frank Shipway
Fur Elise - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K. 488: II. Adagio - Arie Vardi
The Four Seasons, Op. 8: Summer: I. Allegro - Alberto Lizzio
Nutcracker Suite: Dance Of The Flutes - Jonel Perlea
Ombra mai fu: Handel's Largo - Philip Gibson
Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 39 - Brahms
Prelude In A Major, Op. 28 No. 7 - Chopin
Reverie - DeBussy
Canon In D - Gunter Kehr
Spring Song - Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 9 In C Major, K. 73: III. Menuetto - Gunter Kehr
Sarabande - I Musici di Zagreb
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: III. Menuetto; Allegretto - Libor Pesek
Suite No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet - Gunter Kehr
Concerto Grosso In D Major, Op. 6 No. 4: Vivace - I Musici di Zagreb
Ave Maria - Hans Hagan And His Orchestra
Sleeping Beauty Ballet Suite: Waltz - Lawrence Siegel
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Oboes & Strings, Op. 42 No. 2: I. Largo - Piero Santi
Trumpet Concerto In D Major - Gunter Kehr
Lullaby - Hans Hagan And His Orchestra
Nutcracker Suite: Chinese Dance - Don Jackson
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 107: Andante - David Zinman
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: II. Andante e spicatto - Paul Angerer
Gianni Schicci: O mio babbino caro - Nikea Baroza

Customer Reviews:

Not A Music Critic ... But A Lover Of All Music ..........2006-08-29

Let's not be too harsh regarding this CD. I purchased this as my first baby step into the classical genre and it absolutely made me fall in love with classical music and appreciate it in a way I never could when people tried to make me like it. It is such a wide variety of classical music and I find romance to be joyful, tragic, gentle, harsh & a complete roller coaster that I found all in this ONE CD! It also made my boyfriend who hates, or shall I say HATED classical music NOW like it! That was an amazing feat! We now have many classical cd's and we always go back to this one for dinner parties, romantic baths and other things... I played this CD so much, that it got damaged and I just purchased another one to replace the one I bought years ago. If you are a critic, stay away from this cd, you will rob it of its beauty & innocence. If you are a beginner and want to open your mind to all that classical music has to offer, then this is the best money you can spend. BUY & ENJOY!!!

Misleading title scheme.......2006-01-01

This is what bothered me about the CD. Three of the biggest eras in classical music were: the baroque era, the classical era, and the romantic era. Now, with CD's titled baroque favorites, classical favorites and romantic classics, one would expect these CD's to be era specific. Such is not the case. If you read the back of the CD it even says "from the romantic era of music", but the there are composers like Vivaldi (baroque) and Debussy (impressionism) on this CD. About more than half are from the wrong eras. So this music is romantic in the non-musical sense of the word, which is fine, but a little bit misleading.

Don't Bother...Really!.......2005-02-21

Not what I call classical composers! THis cd is annoying in a way I really can't stand. It lacks the pure elegance of the classical days. Don't buy this cd unless you want a phony all around bad album played by cheap ameteurs.

Could have been better.......2004-02-19

I think the quality is good, and better on a few tracks, but all these romantic tracks?? Not what I listened to. Actually I was kind of disappointed; I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection some were better than others.
I was kind of perturbed when some same tracks on this CD were on another CD, and visa versa.

Still, I suppose for the price, one can't go wrong.

Some great tracks, but flawed nonetheless.......2004-01-12

Whether or not this CD lives up to its promise of "Romantic" music is not truly a concern, being that the entire nature of classical music is that it is open to one's own interpretation. However, I can speak to the quality of the recordings themselves.

A few of the tracks (Reverie, Canon, Sarabande, a few others) are absolutely superb. Well recorded, and played with genius bravado, coupled with great arrangements (it was interesting to hear Reverie outside of its native instrument, the Piano). Most of the tracks, however, are absolutely horrid. Fur Elise for the sheer amateurish quality, Vivaldi's Concerto for oboe and strings sounds like it was copied from an old phonograph record, as does Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Suite, Mendelssohn's Spring Song, and Puccini's Gianni Schicci, and a few others. A few other tracks still are played horribly, most of them already mentioned.

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1 in E Major RV 269 Spring: Allegro - Budapest Strings
Concerto No. 1 in E Major RV 269 Spring: Largo (E Pianissimo Sempre) - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto No. 1 in E Major RV 269 Spring: Allegro - Budapest Strings,
Concerto No. 2 in G Minor RV 315 Summer: Allegro Non Molto - ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Concerto No. 2 in G Minor RV 315 Summer: Adagio E Piano - Presto E ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Concerto No. 2 in G Minor RV 315 Summer: Presto - German Bach Soloists
Concerto No. 3 in F Major RV 293 Autumn: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto No. 3 in F Major RV 293 Autumn: Largo - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto No. 3 in F Major RV 293 Autumn: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto No. 4 in F Minor RV 297 Winter: Allegro Non Molto - Budapest Strings
Concerto No. 4 in F Minor RV 297 Winter: Largo - Budapest Strings
Concerto No. 4 in F Minor RV 297 Winter: Allegro - Budapest Strings
Concerto in C Major RV 425 for Mandolin, Strings and Basso ... - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in C Major RV 425 for Mandolin, Strings and Basso ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto in C Major RV 425 for Mandolin, Strings and Basso ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto in D Minor RV 454 for Oboe, String and Basso Continuo: ... - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto in D Minor RV 454 for Oboe, String and Basso Continuo: Largo - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Concerto in D Minor RV 454 for Oboe, String and Basso Continuo: ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey
Concerto in C Major RV 537 for Two Trumpets, Strings and Basso ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey
Concerto in C Major RV 537 for Two Trumpets, Strings and Basso ... - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto in C Major RV 537 for Two Trumpets, Strings and Basso ... - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova

Tracks:

Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 1, La Tempesta Di Mare: Allegro - Monika Rost
Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 1, La Tempesta Di Mare: Largo - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 1, La Tempesta Di Mare: Presto - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Largo - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Presto (Fantasmi) - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Largo - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Presto - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Largo (Il Sonno) - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in G Minor, Op.10, No. 2, La Notte: Allegro - Budapest Strings
Flute Concerto in D, Op.10, No. 3, Il Gardellino: Allegro - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in D, Op.10, No. 3, Il Gardellino: [Without Indication] - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in D, Op.10, No. 3, Il Gardellino: Allegro - Budapest Strings,
Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 5: Allegro Ma Non Tanto - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 5: Allegro Cantabile - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in F, Op.10, No. 5: Allegro - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in C, RV 443: (Allegro) - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in C, RV 443: Largo - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in C, RV 443: Allegro Molto - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in C, RV 444: Allegro Non Molto - Budapest Strings
Flute Concerto in C, RV 444: Largo - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Flute Concerto in C, RV 444: Allegro Molto - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major BWV 1046: Allegro - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major BWV 1046: Adagio - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major BWV 1046: Allegro - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major BWV 1046: Menuet-Trio-Menuet ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major BWV 1047: Allegro - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major BWV 1047: Andante - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major BWV 1047: Allegro Assai - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major BWV 1048: Allegro - Budapest Strings
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major BWV 1048: Adagio (Cadenza) - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major BWV 1048: Allegro - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo in D Major BWV ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo in D Major BWV ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo in D Major BWV ... - The Berlin Chamber Orchestra

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major BWV 1049: Allegro - Daniel Gerard
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major BWV 1049: Andante - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major BWV 1049: Presto - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major BWV 1050: Allegro - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major BWV 1050: Affettuoso - Budapest Strings
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major BWV 1050: Allegro - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major BWV 1051: Allegro - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major BWV 1051: Adagio Ma Non ... - German Bach Soloists
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major BWV 1051: Allegro - German Bach Soloists

Tracks:

Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042: Allegro - German Bach Soloists
Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042: Adagio - German Bach Soloists
Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042: Allegro Assai - German Bach Soloists
Violin Concerto in a Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Violin Concerto in a Minor, BWV 1041: Andante - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Violin Concerto in a Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro Assai - Budapest Strings
Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: Vivace - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: Largo Ma Non Tanto - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Three Violins in D Minor, BWV 1063: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Three Violins in D Minor, BWV 1063: Alla Siciliana - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Three Violins in D Minor, BWV 1063: Allegro - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum

Tracks:

Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 1 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 1 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 1 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 - Budapest Strings
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in B Flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in G Major Op. 3, No. 3 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in G Major Op. 3, No. 3 [Contin] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in G Major Op. 3, No. 3 [Contin] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4 - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4 [Contin] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Major Op. 3, No. 6
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Major Op. 3, No. 6 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in D Major Op. 3, No. 6 [Contin]
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4a - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4a [Conti] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4a [Conti] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Concerto Grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4a [Conti] - New Leipzig Bach Collegium Musicum

Tracks:

Organ Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 1 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 3 in G Minor - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 3 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 3 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 3 in G Minor (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 5 in F Major - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 5 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 5 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings
Organ Concerto No. 5 in F Major (Continued) - Erzst Achim, Budapest Strings

Tracks:

Concerto in D Major No.116 for Flute, Strings and Continuo QV ...
Concerto in D Major No.116 for Flute, Strings and Continuo QV ... - Budapest Strings
Concerto in D Major No.116 for Flute, Strings and Continuo QV ...
Concerto in D Major for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Violoncello, Theorbe, ... - Budapest Strings
Concerto in D Major for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Violoncello, Theorbe, ... - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in D Major for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Violoncello, Theorbe, ... - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in E Minor for Flute, Strings and Continuo [Original Version] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in E Minor for Flute, Strings and Continuo [Original Version] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in E Minor for Flute, Strings and Continuo [Original Version] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in B Minor for Flute, Two Violins and Continuo [Dresden Versi] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in B Minor for Flute, Two Violins and Continuo [Dresden Versi] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger
Concerto in B Minor for Flute, Two Violins and Continuo [Dresden Versi] - Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Benjamin Schmidinger

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Major, K.207: ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Major, K.207: Adagio - Budapest Strings
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Major, K.207: Presto - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in D Major, K.211: Allegro ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in D Major, K.211: Andante - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in D Major, K.211: ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Adagio in E Major for Violin and Orchestra, K.261 - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Rondo in B Flat Major for Violin and Orchestra, K.269 - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Rondo in C Major for Violin and Orchestra, K.373 - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle

Tracks:

Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.495: Allegro Maestoso - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.495: Romance. Andante ... - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.495: Rondo. Allegro ... - New Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.447: Allegro - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.447: Romance. Larghetto - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.447: Allegro - Dresdner Philharmonic, Sebastian Weigle
Rondo in D Horn and Orchestra [Horn Concerto, K.412, Second Movement] - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.417: Allegro - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.417: Andante - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in E Flat, K.417: Rondo. Allegro - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto in E for Horn and Orchestra K.494a (First Movement; Fragment) - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto in D for Horn and Orchestra, K.412/514 (386b) [Traditional Ve] - Daniel Gerard, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Concerto in D for Horn and Orchestra, K.412/514 (386b) [Traditional Ve] - New Bach Collegium Musicum
Rondo in E Flat for Horn and Orchestra, K.371 - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto Movement in E Flat for Horn and Orchestra - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.23 in a Major, K.488: Allegro - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Piano Concerto No.23 in a Major, K.488: Andante - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Piano Concerto No.23 in a Major, K.488: Presto - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Piano Concerto No. 9 in E Flat Major, K.271, Jeune Homme: Allegro - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Piano Concerto No. 9 in E Flat Major, K.271, Jeune Homme: Andante - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Piano Concerto No. 9 in E Flat Major, K.271, Jeune Homme: Rondo. ... - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart

Tracks:

Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major: Moderato - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major: Adagio - New Bach Collegium Musicum
Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major: Allegro Molto - Rudolf Gleissner, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major: Allegro Moderato - Rudolf Gleissner, Hermann Herder, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major: Adagio - Rudolf Gleissner, Hermann Herder, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major: Allegro - Rudolf Gleissner, Hermann Herder, Hans Kalafusz, Lajos Lencses, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in C Major, Hob. Viia: 1: Allegro - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in C Major, Hob. Viia: 1: Adagio - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in C Major, Hob. Viia: 1: ... - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in a Major, Hob. Viia: 3, "Melk ..." - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in a Major, Hob. Viia: 3, "Melk ..." - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in a Major, Hob. Viia: 3, "Melk ..." - New Bach Collegium Musicum
Sinfonia in B Flat Major, Hob. I: 105 for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon - Maria Balint, Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana
Sinfonia in B Flat Major, Hob. I: 105 for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon - Maria Balint, Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana
Sinfonia in B Flat Major, Hob. I: 105 for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon - Maria Balint, Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana

Tracks:

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op.23: Allegro - Gary Karr, The London Symphony Orchestra
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op.23: ... - Maria Balint, Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op.23: Allegro - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Miklos Szenthelyi
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.35: Allegro Moderato - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Miklos Szenthelyi
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.35: Andante - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Miklos Szenthelyi
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.35: Allegro ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major Op. 6: Allegro ... - Budapest Strings
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major Op. 6: Adagio ... - New Bach Collegium Musicum
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major Op. 6: Rondo. ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Verhey
Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Rossini - Vesselin Eshkenasi, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Po, Op. 25 - Vesselin Eshkenasi, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Tracks:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op.26: Vorspiel. Allegro Moderato - Vesselin Eshkenasi, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op.26: Adagio - Wolfgang Boettcher, Ulf Hoelscher, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op.26: Finale. Allegro Energico - Wolfgang Boettcher, Ulf Hoelscher, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64: Allegro Molto Appassionato - Wolfgang Boettcher, Ulf Hoelscher, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64: Andante - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64: Allegretto Non Troppo - Allegro ... - New Bach Collegium Musicum

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.77: Allegro Non ... - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.77: Adagio - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op.77: Allegro Giocoso - - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi
Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in a Minor, Op.102 Double ... - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in a Minor, Op.102 Double ... - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in a Minor, Op.102 Double ... - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova

Tracks:

Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104: Allegro - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104: Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104: Finale. Allegro Moderato - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Cello Concerto: Allegro Moderato - Budapest Strings,
Cello Concerto: Andante Con Moto - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Cello Concerto: Allegro Marciale - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D Major Op.19 - Bulgarian National Choir, Stoika Milanova
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in a Minor Op.82 - Budapest Strings, Zoltan Tokos
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in a Minor Op.77 - Budapest Strings, Zoltan Tokos

Tracks:

Concierto de Aranjuez: Allegro Con Spirito - Monika Rost
Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - Monika Rost
Concierto de Aranjuez: Allegro Gentile - Budapest Strings,
Sonata Op.22: Allegro - Budapest Strings,
Sonata Op.22: Adagio - Budapest Strings,
Sonata Op.22: Menuetto - Budapest Strings,
Sonata Op.22: Rondo. Allegretto - Budapest Strings,
Spanish Dance No. 2 - Budapest Strings
Castilla No. 7 - Budapest Strings,
Hommage Debussy - Budapest Strings,
Spanish Dance - Budapest Strings,

Album Description

This heavenly 20-CD set brings together the most beautiful music of all time...it must be what angels listen to! Float in the clouds as you listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez... to name just a few. This Concert Collection will take a winning position in anyone's music library.

Customer Reviews:

Heavenly.......2007-06-06

A collection of masters that insist that you relax as you listen. An exquisit addition to any music cd collection.

What a value!.......2005-07-26

A wonderful collection of music spanning from the Baroque to the Modern and so Affordable. Each CD is in a full size jewel-case with beautiful cover art - paintings of Renaissance-era angels in muted, slightly reflective, metal-tone inks - all within a box that ties them all together. There are no liner notes in the booklet, just track listings, but the music speaks for itself. It's not completely apparent from the track listing who the composers are, so here's the breakdown: Disc 1 - Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"; Disc 2 - Vivaldi flute concertos; Disc 3 and 4 - Bach Brandonburg concertos; Disc 5 - Bach violin concertos; Disc 6 - Handel concerto grossi; Disc 7 - Handel organ concertos; Disc 8 - Flute concertos by Quantz, Heinchen, Buffardin, Adolph-Hasse; Disc 9 - Mozartt violin concertos; Disc 10 - Mozart horn concertos; Disc 11 - Mozart piano concertos; Disc 12 - Haydn cello concertos; Disc 13 - Haydn violin concertos; Disc 14 - Tchaikovsky violin concerto and piano concerto; Disc 15 - Paganini and Chausson violin concertos; Disc 16 - Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concertos; Disc 17 - Brahms concertos; Disc 18 - Dvorak and Hindesmith cello concertos; Disc 19 - Russian composers Prokofiev, Galzanov and Shoshakovich violin concertos; Disc 20 - Spanish guitar concertos of Rodrigo, Sor, Granados, Albeniz and de Falla.

Average customer rating:

Inspiring, noble, and also relaxing!
Beautiful Music
I love this composer
Balanced & Refined English Folk Song Adaptations
A great CD

Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies
Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; The Lark Ascending; Five Variants
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
Vaughan Williams - Serenade to Music · Five Mystical Songs · Fantasia on Christmas Carols · Flos Campi / Sixtieen Soloists · Thomas Allen · Nobuko Imai · Corydon Singers · ECO · Matthew Best

ASIN: B00000IX81
Release Date: 1999-05-11

Tracks:

Fantasia on Greensleeves
English Folk Song Suite: I. March: Seventeen come Sunday
English Folk Song Suite: II. Intermezzo: My bonny boy
English Folk Song Suite: III. March: Folk songs from Somerset
Oboe Concerto: I. Rondo pastorale
Oboe Concerto: II. Minuet and musette
Oboe Concerto: III. Finale
Concerto Grosso: I. Intrada
Concerto Grosso: II. Burlesca ostinata
Concerto Grosso: III. Sarabande
Concerto Grosso: IV. Scherzo
Concerto Grosso: V. March and Reprise
Romance (for Harmonica, Strings & Piano)
The Lark Ascending (for Violin And Orchestra)

Tracks:

Five Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus'
Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
Partita For Double String Orchestra: I. Prelude: Andante tranquillo
Partita For Double String Orchestra: II. Scherzo ostinato: Presto
Partita For Double String Orchestra: III. Intermezzo (Homage To Henry Hall)
Partita For Double String Orchestra: IV. Fantasia: Allegro
In the Fen Country
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring, noble, and also relaxing!.......2007-06-15

Hi. I am familiar with a lot of classical music. However, I knew little about the oeuvre of Vaughan Williams. What a great find! Getting so much of his instrumental work is truly a bargain. He evokes the English countryside and folk traditions very effectively. "The Lark Ascending" is relaxing while also being a virtuoso piece of work. Makes me wonder if J.R.R. Tolkien, with his love for rural England, ever attended a concert by Vaughan Williams...

Highly recommended! :)

Beautiful Music.......2007-01-29

Each piece on this CD is wonderful to listen to. My 2 year old daughter takes her nap everyday with this CD playing softly in the background. This CD is a great deal as it includes 2 CD's including Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; the Lark Ascending; Five Variants. Which is also a wonderful CD, we got it for 2 friends at our church. But better to get this CD with 2 CD's for the price of one. My favorite is Fanatasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis!

I love this composer.......2006-03-17

While not all his works are to my taste, his pastoral ones are so gorgeous that you don't really care that the more boisterous ones are wanting.

Balanced & Refined English Folk Song Adaptations.......2005-02-04

Vaughan Williams is certainly one of the consummate English composers who took the folk song of his country and compsed delightful orchestra works around them.

This budget worthy 2-CD set displays this in two parts, the first performed by the Acadamey of St.Martin in-the-Fields while the second disc features more period instruments with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra and the London Philharmonic.

Celia Nicklin is superb with the Oboe Concerto nusancing this pastoral yet lively offering. Iona Brown likewise contributes a fine solo violin performance with "The Lark Ascending"

The strings also provide a strong offering on the "Tallis Fantasia", one of his strongest compositions on this selection.

Excellent example of this prominent English composer's love with folk song interpretation, in this recording done passionately and naturally.

A great CD.......2004-02-10

English Folk Song Suit is one of my favorite pieces ever! I first heard the song when I played it in Windensambe. It's an exciting piece to play and to listen to. I would recommend this Cd to anyone with an intrest in great music.

Varèse - The Complete Works / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra · Asko Ensemble · Chailly

Average customer rating:

Superb with just one reservation
Go ahead, test your intelligence...
The definitive recordings.
Sound Splitting Music
An aural knockout

Varèse - The Complete Works / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra · Asko Ensemble · Chailly
Edgard Varese , Riccardo Chailly , Mireille Delunsch , Sarah Leonard , Royal Concertgebouw Orhcestra , and Asko Ensemble
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Octets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Anton Webern: Complete Works, Opp. 1-31
Varese: Arcana; Ameriques; Ionization; Offrandes; Density 21.5; Octandre; Integrales
Penderecki: Anaklasis; Threnody; etc.
Xenakis: Orchestral Works & Chamber Music
Arnold Schoenberg: Serenade/Five Pieces For Orchestra

ASIN: B00000AFR8
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

Tuning Up
Amques (Original Version)
Po ectronique
Arcana
Nocturnal
Un Grand Sommeil Noir (Orchestral Version)

Tracks:

Un Grand Sommeil Noir (Original Version)
Offrandes: Chanson de laut
Offrandes: La Croix du Sud
Hyperprism
Octandre: Assez lent
Octandre: Trvif et nerveux
Octandre: Grave - Animt jubilatoire
Intales
Ecuatorial
Ionisation
Density 21.5
Drts: 1st Episode
Drts: 1st interpolation of organized sound
Drts: 2nd episode
Drts: 2nd interpolation
Drts: 3rd episode
Drts: 3rd interpolation
Drts: 4th episode
Dance for Burgess

Amazon.com essential recording

For a composer who is (now) recognizably part of the 20th-century classical canon, the French émigré Edgard Varèse's output was astoundingly meager. Just 15 compositions from his entire life (he destroyed the compositions from his early years, and was a merciless editor of his own material in general) made it out to the listening world. Varèse was caught in the chasm between the music of yesterday and the music of tomorrow: scoring music for modified theremin, steamboat whistles, or air sirens, all balanced with the force of a large orchestra; writing pieces based on the flows of water and wind because that's what shapes the earth; using the concepts of chemical reactions and specific gravity as a basis for his music. Using extremes of contrast, dissonance, and variety in sound, Varèse's pieces had power in the way he attacked and shaped the sound he imagined. From Ionisation (1929), scored almost entirely for unpitched percussion, to the electronic-only, three-dimensionally produced Poeme Electronique (1958), he's provided a foundation that many genres, musicians, and composers were to build from not only for the next 40 years, but inevitably beyond. --Robin Edgerton

Customer Reviews:

Superb with just one reservation.......2006-11-10

This complete works of Varèse, superbly performed and recorded, is a fine accomplishment. My only disappointment was its version of Poème Elèctronique being the sole representation of that ground-breaking work that still holds up for me today as one of the finest pieces of electronic music yet created. It is interesting to be able to hear the version in this collection, which appears to be a loving restoration of what must have been primarily the raw, performing version, to be further enhanced during its performances in a very large space? What I miss in the present version is the more clearly heard textures of its huge sound palette; the resonant and often humerous interplay between them, and its dramatic sweep as it was presented on a sparcely documented stereo mix that first appeared on a Columbia Records LP, later reissued on a CD, now out of print. That one is surely more like an actual performance, presumably mixed to re-create as well as possible then what it might have sounded like over its four hundred loudspeakers in the Philips Pavillion. I hope there will be further reissues. To me the CBS version's drama and energy are more like that of the performances of the other pieces in this wonderful Complete Works set. -Curt Wittig

Go ahead, test your intelligence..........2006-06-18

Frank Zappa used to play Varese to test the intelligence of his friends, and most of them used to look at him like he was "out of his f---ing mind" as he put it. As a major Zappa fan, I bought this compliation, and I love every minute of it. This 2 CD set contains all of Varese's work (needless to say, Edgar wasn't very prolific). You really hear Varese's influence in Zappa's work. Some favorite pieces are Deserts, Poem Electronique, and Un Grand Sommeil Noir (Original Version). Varese's music reminds me of universes being created, in all their violence, beauty, and glory. Instruments crashing down upon one another. This music is reminiscent of Zappa's Weasels Ripped My Flesh and his orchestral work especially. Varese is one of the great American composers, like Aaron Copland, John Cage, and Conlon Nancarrow. Superb....

The definitive recordings........2005-11-09

Riccardo Chailly once said Varèse was going to be the Brahms of the XXI Century. I really don't know if he will be right or wrong, specially because of the very conservative auditoriums we have all around the world, but it should be this way, as the french composer has died too many years ago and his music should be understood but most of the public. It's sad to know that composers, like the own Mahler said, use to be years, decades, even centuries in advance to the general public .

Anyway, it's very important for the popular knowledge of this composers to have recordings like this, in which everything works perfectly as if it was a clock. After many years having some good recordings conducted by Boulez (Sony) and Nagano (Erato) mainly, we have now the possibility of listening one of the most musical and technical orchestra & baton of this time: The Concertgebouworkest and Riccado Chailly.

Most of the versions in this 2CDs set are the best I know, specially the orchestral works, played with conviction and precision by the Concertgebouworkest, an orchestra that had some problems with Mr.Chailly when they begin to play this, for them, `rare' music. The way Arcana sounds its incredible, full of power, mistery and perfection, the performing of Ameriques is breathtaking and I can only compare it with the truly outstanding version by Pierre Boulez with the CSO for DG. Deserts is a new dimension in Chailly's hands, really terrible and full of dark emotions.

Of course, there are little things that could be a bit better, like the Spanish sung in Ecuatorial, better sung in Nagano's version, but generally the performing is marvellous and the instrumental and ondes Martenot's playing in this piece is perfect in Chailly's version.

The ASKO Ensemble versions are outstanding too, showing a very modern Varèse. The performing of Ionisation, that great jewel, listened with a good Hi-Fi system is a experience not to be lost.

The recordings are very good, not outstanding, as it sounds like distant sometimes, but clear and with good definition, of course better with good electronics.

Booklet and presentation of the box is marvellous too; as it has to be in real event in recorded music in the last decades.

Sound Splitting Music.......2002-06-25

First, let me state that I am a long-time Varese fanatic. I first heard Ionisation live at a contemporary music concert in my town when I was 12, and I was hooked. I immediately bought the old Robert Craft double album on Columbia and played it until there were scratches on the scratches. So I was overjoyed to see a modern "complete" recording with up to date sonics. For the most part, I haven't been too disappointed with the performances either.

Chailly is great on much of this music. Ameriques and Arcana are sonic extravagazas. And this is the best recording I've heard of Nocturnal and Ecuatorial. Chailly does a good job with the chamber pieces of the 20s and 30s, though I agree with other reviewers, Boulez is much clearer on Ionisation. Chailly misses some of my favorite parts, and I find it hard to hear the first snare drum theme. (I'm also quite partial to Craft's version, but I don't think it's available anymore.)

I also must add to the chorus of exceptions on the questionable material. The orhestrated version of the solo song has no place on this CD. It doesn't sound like Varese, more like Debussy, and though the song is quite impressionistic, I think we presume too much to orchestrate it and pass it off as "complete" Varese. And neither Tune Up nor Dance for Burgess really add much to our understanding of Varese, and are of questionable value. I suspect that Varese would have destroyed them completely had he been able. Much better to have a recording of the revised version of Ameriques. The revision is so extensive, that a side by side comparison would be illuminating.

All in all, I like this CD. Chailly's take on Varese is big and passionate, something that I think both Boulez and Craft miss. Abravanel comes close to this passion, but Chailly wins because of the gorgeous sonics. I highly recommend this CD to those interested in exploring the unique sound world of Varese.

An aural knockout.......2002-02-01

Here are two discs with some of the most exciting 20th-century music around. Chailly and the Concertgebouw give definitive readings of Varèse's complex pieces, some written for a huge orchestra, and recorded in typically opulent London sound.

My favorites are, without a doubt, "Ameriques" and "Arcana," two explosive showpieces that will give your sound system quite a workout. But far from being merely loud, the scores have many beautiful textures (including quiet ones) scattered throughout the orchestra, and Chailly captures much of the glittering detail.

I even like "Tuning Up," which may seem like a less substantial work to most ears. To be fair, if the piece is not the last word in Varèse's imagination, it is clever enough for its short duration, and as with everything on this disc, the orchestra sounds superb and totally undaunted. Their virtuosity is both satisfying and thrilling, especially in such seldom-performed music.

Make sure your neighbors are away before turning up the performance of "Ameriques," though - the last few pages will blow your roof off.

Tracks:

De Profundis - Nova Schola Gregoriana
Alleluia - O Virga Mediatrix - Oxford Camerata
Gloria - Oxford Camerata
Pavane - Red Byrd
Canon - Capella Istropolitana
Vivace - Grave - Capella Istropolitana
Prelude - Laurence Cummings
Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Adagio - Miroslav Kejmar
Air On The G String - Capella Istropolitana
Hallelujah Chorus - Scholars Baroque Ensemble
Menuetto: Allegretto - Capella Istropolitana
Andante - Failoni Orchestra
Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Adagio - Jeno Jando
Andante - Ernst Ottensamer
Quis Est Homo - Hungarian State Opera Chorus

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Ingrid Kertesi
Un Bal - Pinchas Steinberg
Wedding March - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Minute Waltz - Idil Biret
Larghetto - Alexander Rahbari
Ride Of The Valkyries - Uwe Mund
Prelude - Alexander Rahbari
Hungarian Dance No.3 - Budapest Symphony
Scene - Ondrej Lenard
Slavonic Dance No.1 - Balazs Szokolay
Nimrod - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Clair De Lune - Keith Clark
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Opening) - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Prelude In C Sharp Minor - Idil Biret
Fountain Of The Villa Medici At Sunset - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Overture - Bournemouth Sinfonietta
O Fortuna - Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Playful Pizzicato - Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Violin Concerto - Adele Anthony

Amazon.com

Is it a two-CD set with a particularly thick booklet, or a 562-page book with a compilation album attached? Either way, the unpretentious text by Keith Anderson offers an introduction to the lives and works of dozens of composers, together with recommended recordings from the Naxos and Marco Polo catalogs. Anderson includes a useful 59-page glossary of musical terms and an extensive listing of classical pieces used in films. The odd thing about the 36 extracts and complete pieces on the CDs is that they do not form an A-to-Z at all. Rather, they are arranged chronologically, from 1,000-year-old Gregorian chant to the opening movement of contemporary composer Philip Glass's Violin Concerto. Between these two points is the early music of Palestrina and Byrd; the Baroque glories of Vivaldi and Bach; the 19th-century Romantic masters, from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky; and such 20th-century greats as Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Opera, song, and chamber music are barely represented, but only so much can fit into 151 minutes. Essentially a deluxe sampler of the vast Naxos catalogue, the discs offer a good introduction to some of the most famous and melodic music ever composed, while the book will be very useful to newcomers to the potentially confusing world of classical music. --Gary S. Dalkin

Album Description

A-Z of Classical Music is a remarkable 562-page, illustrated bok, detailing the lives of all the great composers as well as many less known, but equally fascinating, musical masters. Like the Naxos range of recording itself, A-Z of Classical Music is a rich source of inspiration for anyone either just embarking on a lifetime of musical enjoyment or for whom classical music has long been a way of life. Included within is an extensive glossary of musical terms plus a unique guide to classical music used in acclaimed films. Two-and-a-half hours of the finest music from across the centuries are contained in the accompanying CDs.

Customer Reviews:

LETTER PERFECT CLASS(ICAL) ACT!.......2003-01-19

It's only natural we sometimes hit the high seas....make that Cs. This is one box set about which we sing praises. This set features more than two hours of the finest music from across the centuries by such composers as Schubert, Chopin, Mozart, Handel, Stravinsky and Glass. The set also comes with a 562-page illustrated book, detailing the lives of hundreds of composers, a
glossary of musical terms and a unique guide to the classical music used in 360 top films.

Great Tracks -- Great Value -- Great Book, Who Can Complain?.......2002-08-30

Naxos is a fabulous label -- you will not get samples of the best classical music through the ages at no better price. These tracks are as good as any of the over-priced major orchestras and in some cases better. This is a great starter set for a beginner or anyone who just wants to "taste" the classics. If you prefer Opera I would suggest the A to Z of Opera -- most of the tracks on A to Z Classical are orchestral. I was so impressed with this collection that I purchased the Discover the Classics Vol's 1-3 which will give you a more detailed look at the great classics. Take a look at the Naxos web site at NAXOSUSA.COM -- what you will see will blow your mind -- there are literally thousands of pieces that you could listen too!

At this price, how can one complain?.......2001-09-30

This is pretty much a CD version of a mini-Naxos and Marco Polo catalog. All the pieces and extracts are ordered chronologically on the 2 CDs and are of very acceptable quality, but don't expect excellence in every track. Personally, I was particularly disappointed with one of my favourite Pachelbel pieces. The Naxos Canon & Gigue lacks all the emotion of my favourite versions.

Still, any possible weaker performances are of little importance after you get your hands on the fat booklet with over 500 pages. The booklet offers a short intro about the great composers, a glossary of musical terms, a list of works used in films and dozens of illustrations of several composers.

Overall, at this price, this is a must-have pack for any beginner, and might be useful for the occasion "quick check" of the work of many composers. Do not expect many detail, nor references to all the works of some composers; I often got frustrated with the lack of detail in some cases, but in general, the booklet is very effective for a quick reference.
You will need more titles that offer more complete information, and you won't truly learn to love classical music just by reading it, but it is small and compact.

It really puzzles me why Naxos did not include a full index of composers, a serious omission. To find a particular composer you will have to look for it yourself in over 500 pages. Also, the separation of the text is not so good, making the search even a bit slower. The lack of the index is truly annoying and I am sure it will be corrected in future editions.

Even with a few weaker pieces and the lack of the index, at this price, there isn't much to argue about. This is truly a bargain that you should not miss. I would also recommend the A-Z of Opera, which offers a bigger booklet with over 700 pages, focusing on opera works and mentioning several composers that are absent from the A-Z of Classical. That other booklet has a very complete index, and much clearer text layout and separation, that's the way both booklets should have been designed.

Tracks:

Ionisation
Ameriques
Density 21.5 For Solo Flute
Offrandes For Soprano: A) Chanson de La-haut
Offrandes For Soprano: B) La Croix du Sud
Arcana For Full Orchestra
Octandre For Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Double-bass: I. Assez lent
Octandre For Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Double-bass: II. Tres vif et nerveux
Octandre For Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Double-bass: III. Grave
Integrales For Small Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

It's OK..........2006-02-09

I can see that Frank Zappa would have been inspired by this music. As a longtime Zappa fan, I can hear plenty in Zappa's music that was modeled after Varese. Still, Varese's pieces on this CD are hardly monumental or awe-inspiring, and this seems to be the kind of music that very much depends on how it's played and interpreted. You don't get much better than Pierre Boulez; if it was, for example, me conducting an ensemble in performing Varese's work, nobody would listen. So it seems that it's not as much the music as the performance. And that Varese cannot be credited with.

definitely NOT Louie Louie.......2005-09-11

This album (CD) made it into my collection the same way as a few others who've commented here. One day after listening to Lumpy Gravy I was at the record store holding this CD in my mitts wondering if I really wanted to subject myself to one of Zappa's major musical influences.

This is music either for someone who knows a lot about the structure of sound and can appreciate it for that reason or someone who gets bored listening to the same sort of thing all the time and enjoys variety. This is not what most people would consider the easiest "stuff" to listen to. It has an overall disonance to it that many would consider an assault on their senses. At the same time it also has a mathamatical structure to it that makes it obvious to even the most musically uneducated dullard that this is unique, well thought out sound. To be honest I'd have to admit to not understanding much of this CD but it certainly is interesting and different. Arcana, for instance, reminds me a little of something Gustov Holst might have written if he had been spending time with Carlos Castenada. The entire CD takes the listener through a range of emotions that might go from sombre and desolate to momentarily uplifted likely ending up somewhere between confused and perhaps violated... maybe even satisfied.

This is NOT the sort of thing I could listen to all the time but when the mood strikes there isn't a rendition of Louie Louie that is going to hit the spot that this will. Recommended for someone with a musically adventurous disposition.

Incredible........2004-05-26

This is one of the finest set of recording of the Varese repetoire ever made. The french performances are particularly well done with right degree of ensemble and tone required of this difficult music.

The Octandre is especially good with super attacks from all players...not for the faint of heart.

absolute craziness!.......2002-04-06

I purchased this cd after reading Frank Zappa's audobiography, where he pays homage to the great Varese for inspiring him. I can see where Varese had an influence on him. This is a strange but good collection of pieces conducted by Boulez, who also worked with Zappa on "Perfect Stranger". If you like Zappa then you will probably appreciate this album. Varese was a very talented composer and this album proves it. Ionization alone proves it, but the rest of the disc is great also.

impeccable chaos.......2002-03-02

This disc doesn't contain all of Varese's music, but it comes close at 77 minutes. Varese was not nearly as prolific as he was creative! The first recorded Varese I heard was on the VoxBox (called "Ionisation"), and five of the pieces found here are also on that disk, conducted by Cerha. What a contrast! Cerha presents Varese delicately, transparently, without passion. The advantage is that the instruments are clearly delineated. But you are left wondering what the fuss is about -- it doesn't sound very radical. Boulez emphatically captures the chaos, the energy, the alien-ness of Varese! Of course the overall impact is heightened by the inclusion of "Ameriques" and "Arcana," two 20-minute pieces for full orchestra that are bigger and louder than anything included on the VoxBox. The production value is superb -- sharp and clear -- and the packaging is faultless as well. In short, if you only had one recording by Varese, this would be an excellent choice. If you like this, by all means look for Xenakis' "Orchestral Works and Chamber Music" on Col Legno. Varese is a key influence, especially the composition "Arcana"!

Average customer rating:

Magic of the Panpipes

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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Romance of the Panflute
Zamfir: Greatest Hits
Pipe Dreams
Zamfir: The Lonely Shepherd
Georghe Zamfir Panflute, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00004Z32T
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

Adagio (Arr. Giazotto)
Violin Romance No. 2 In F Major, Op. 50
Concerto In A Major For Panpipes And Orchestra: 1. Sicilienne (Arr. Jean Thilde Billandot, Paris)
Concerto In D Minor (BWV 1060) For Violin, Panpipes And Orchestra: 2. Adagio (Reconstr. Max Schneider)
Serse (Xerxes): Ombra mai fu (Largo)
Concerto In D Major For Panpipes And Orchestra: 1. Allegro
Concerto In D Major For Panpipes And Orchestra: 2. Andante
The Four Seasons - Concerto Op. 8 No. 4 'Winter': 3. Allegro (Arr.: H. van Hoof)
Kinderszenen: Traumerei (Arr.: H. van Hoof)
Ave Maria (Arr.: H. van Hoof)
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
La Traviata: Addio del passato
Hungarian Dance No. 1 In G Minor (Arr.: Tony Britten)
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Couleurs d'automne
Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina

Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company

Average customer rating:

Enjoying The Pleasures of K. Battle & C. Parkening
Great blending of the talents of two top-notch artists in their respective fields. Parkening on the guitar and Battle singing.
Superb technique, emotionally flat, but enjoyable even so.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITES
Fans will be delighted!

Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company
John Dowland , Manuel de Falla , Charles Gounod , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Enrique Granados , Fini Henriques , Jaime Ovalle , Joaquim Antonio Barroso Neto , Franz Xaver Richter , Anonymous , William Levi Dawson , Robert MacGimsey , Kathleen Battle , and Christopher Parkening
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Angels' Glory
Kathleen Battle · Wynton Marsalis ~ Baroque Duet / Anthony Newman · Orch St. Luke's · Nelson
So Many Stars
The Best of Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart

ASIN: B000002RNM
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Music By John Dowland: Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
Music By John Dowland: Allemande (Guitar Solo)
Music By John Dowland: What If I Never Speed?
Music By John Dowland: Galliard (Guitar Solo)
Music By John Dowland: Fine Knacks For Ladies
Ave Maria
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: Aria
Coleccion De Tonadillas: La Maja De Goya
Three Brazilian Songs: Boi-Bumba
Three Brazilian Songs: Azulao
Three Brazilian Songs: Para Ninar
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Cancion
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Nana
Three Spanish Folk Songs: Seguidillia Murciana
Six Spirituals: Ain't Got No Time To Die
Six Spirituals: I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray
Six Spirituals: Ain't That Good News!
Six Spirituals: Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Six Spirituals: This Little Light Of Mine
Six Spirituals: Ride On King Jesus

Customer Reviews:

Enjoying The Pleasures of K. Battle & C. Parkening.......2007-05-06

Whether you are very familiar with these two artists or have never heard either one, you will delight in this musical collaboration. Only a guitarist of Christopher Parkening's stature could be the ideal accompaniment to the perfection of Kathleen Battle's voice. The music ranges from selections by John Dowland to American spirituals, Bach/Gounod, Villa-Lobos, Granados and some Spanish folk songs. The result is a coherent, soothing and utterly delightful listening experience. You will revisit this album often, and always be glad that you have it. For fans of Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening, I think it is a must.

Great blending of the talents of two top-notch artists in their respective fields. Parkening on the guitar and Battle singing........2006-01-31

We always enjoyed seeing and hearing Battle in concerts, usually on the television and Parkening has been a favorite guitarist. To listen to these two fine artists in concert is a real treat.

Superb technique, emotionally flat, but enjoyable even so........2005-05-25

I can't imagine these songs being performed with any greater technical brilliance than they are by Parkening and Battle on this CD. Both are virtuosos, him in the guitar, her the voice. Their skill is particularly apparent in the Dowland songs, the "Ave Maria", and the Bachianas brasileiras no. 5 (for me, the high point of the recording), which are all in a formal style well suited to the talents of the performers.

I compare the Brazilian songs to the version recorded by Salli Terri with Laurindo Almeida in the late '50's on "Duets with Spanish Guitar", which I have listened to repeatedly since I first heard it in 1959. Battle's phrasing, enunciation, and vocal skill are far superior to Terri's, but Terri brought a level of emotion to her singing that Battle seems to lack. Where Battle's perfection enhances her superb performances of the Dowland and Villa-Lobos pieces, it seems to detract from her performance of the Brazilian folk pieces.

I find this to be true again in the spirituals - vocal perfection and control detracting from the "soul" required to bring out the "spiritual" feeling. Imagine these same pieces sung by Mahalia Jackson or Aretha Franklin and you'll understand my point.

Parkening's performance has the same quality - technical virtuosity, especially noticeable in his lute-like technique in the Dowland solo - but lacking in emotional depth.

The classical selections are highly recommended, the folk pieces a bit disappointing, but overall an enjoyable recording.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITES.......2004-03-19

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BATTLE ALBUMS, HER SWEET VOICE IS ACCOMPAINED BY THE GUITAR VIRTUOSO CHRISTOPHER PARKENING, TOGETHER CREATE A TENDER, DELIGHTFUL & BEAUTIFUL LISTENING EXPERIENCE. BACHIANAS BRASILEIRAS N- 5 HAS IT`S BEST PERFORMANCE IN THIS CD.

Fans will be delighted!.......2003-08-25

Fans, maybe, but I must say I'm not a huge fan of Kathleen Battle or opera or songs in different languages, either. My mom is, though. And through her I have heard Kathleen's best. And her very best (if you ask me) is one of the tracks ON THIS CD titled "Ain't that good news," even though it should be called "Ain'ta dat good news," since that is how its sung. It is a really good song (ask anybody) with a little surprise high-note at the end. If I were you I would (if not buy this CD right here and now) then go to [a book store] and see if their computers will let you hear "Ain't that good news" because that song is great.

Average customer rating:

LO MEJOR DE LO MEJOR
A Very Fine Compilation

The Essential Falla

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Albéniz: Iberia; Granados: Goyescas
Granados: Spanish Dances
Falla: El Amor Brujo; Sombrero de tres picos; Noches en los jardines de España
Manuel de Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain / Isaac Albeniz: Rapsodia Espanola / Joaquin Turina: Rapsodia Sinfonica - Alicia de Larrocha / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
Franck - Sonata for violin and piano · Debussy - Sonatas · Ravel - Introduction and Allegro / Chung · Lupu · Ellis · Melos Ensemble

ASIN: B00001X59X
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Tracks:

Love The Magician: Introduction And Scene... In The Cave
Love The Magician: Song Of Suffering Love
Love The Magician: The Spectre... Dance Of Fear
Love The Magician: Magic Circle... Midnight
Love The Magician: Ritual Fire Dance
Love The Magician: Scene
Love The Magician: Song Of The Will-O'-The-Wisp
Love The Magician: Pantomime
Love The Magician: Dance Of The Game Of Love
Love The Magician: Finale: The Bells Of Dawn
Harpsichord Concerto: I. Allegro
Harpsichord Concerto: II. Lento
Harpsichord Concerto: III. Vivace
Homenaje 'Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy'
Psyche
Nights in the Gardens of Spain: I In The Generalife
Nights in the Gardens of Spain: II Distant Dance
Nights in the Gardens of Spain: III In The Gardens Of The Sierra de Cordoba

Tracks:

La Vida breve: Interludio y Danza
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: The Moorish Cloth
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Seguidilla From Murcia
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Asturian Song
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Jota
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Lullaby
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Song
Seven Spanish Folk Songs: Polo
Four Spanish Pieces: Aragonesa
Four Spanish Pieces: Cubana
Four Spanish Pieces: Montanesa
Four Spanish Pieces: Andaluza
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 1: Introduction
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 1: Afternoon
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 1: Dance Of The Miller's Wife
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 1: The Grapes
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 2: The Neighbours' Dance
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 2: The Miller's Dance
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 2: The Corregidor's Dance
The Three-Cornered Hat: Part 2: Final Dance

Customer Reviews:

LO MEJOR DE LO MEJOR.......2002-03-29

Una grabacion
magistral de los
clasicos de Manuel de Falla.
Este disco contiene el famoso
"Homage a Debussy" la unica
obra original compuesta para
guitarra por la mano del compositor.
Tremenda grabaccion, como para no
perdersela a ese precio...

A Very Fine Compilation.......2000-05-17

"The Essential Falla" is just that, including all of Manuel de Falla's major works (performed by the likes of Dutoit, Fruhbeck de Burgos and de Larrocha) on these two CDs. Highlights are excellent performances of Falla's three most famous works: "El amor brujo", "Noches en los jardines de Espana" and "El Sombrero de tres picos". The rest of the included music is perhaps less well-know but no less enjoyable. Perhaps the only quibble I have with this CD is the enclusion of the Harpsicord Concerto. While it is an enjoyable piece, it is very much a Stravinsky-esque neo-classical work, and it seems somewhat out of place amongst Falla's other, very Spanish, works. Nonetheless, if you enjoy 20th Century Spanish music, this CD is indeed an essential.

Average customer rating:

If You Love Classical Music, This CD Is For You
Probably Decca's best "Adagios" set
One of the best CDs you'll ever own
Sublime!
GREAT MUSIC

Movie Adagios

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romantic Adagios
Evening Adagios
Violin Adagios
Cello Adagios
Guitar Adagios

ASIN: B00005OC0D
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Platoon: Adagio For Strings - Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/David Zinman
Elvira Madigan: Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 - Radu Lupu/English Chamber Orchestra/Uri Segal
A Room With A View: O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) - Renata Tebaldi/Orch Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Lamberto Gardelli
Dangerous Moonlight: Warsaw Concerto - Cristina Ortiz/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Moshe Atzmon
Dances With Wolves: John Dunbar Theme - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra/John Mauceri
Raging Bull/Godfather III: Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana) - National Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Brief Encounter: Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor: Adagio Sostenuto (Excerpt) - Jean-Yves Thibaudet/The Cleveland Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy
The Mission: Gabriel's Oboe - Prague Philharmonia/Nick Ingman
The Piano: The Heart Asks Pleasure First - Jean-Yves Thibaudet
The Gadfly: Romance - Alexander Kerr/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
Amadeus: Serenade In B Flat Major, K.361 'Gran Partita': Adagio - Members Of The Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Sunday, Bloody Sunday: Soave Sia Il Vento (Trio) (Cosi Fan Tutte) - Lucia Popp/Brgitte Fassbaender/Tom Krause/Vienna Haydn Orchestra/Istvan Kertesz
Diva: Ebben?...Ne Andro Lontana (La Wally) - Renee Fleming/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Mackerras
Hannah And Her Sisters: Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor, BWV 1056: Largo - Andras Schiff/Chamber Orchestra Of Europe
Immortal Beloved: Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor 'Moonlight': Adagio Sostenuto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Carrington: String Quintet In C Major, D956: Adagio (Excerpt) - Weller Quartet
Amadeus: Lacrimosa (Requiem) - John Alldis Choir/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Colin Davis

Tracks:

Billy Elliot: Scene (Opening Of Act 2) (Swan Lake) - Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal/Charles Dutoit
Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella): Barcarolle (The Tales Of Hoffmann) - L'Orchestra De La Suisse Romande/Richard Bonynge
Dead Poets Society/Picnic At Hanging Rock: Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat Major, Op.73 'Emperor'... - Vladimir Ashkenazy/The Cleveland Orchestra
Hilary And Jackie: Cello Concerto, Op.85: Adagio - Moderato (Excerpt) - Julian Lloyd Webber/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Yehudi Menuhin
Out Of Africa: Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K.622: Adagio - Jack Brymer/London Symphony Orchestra/Colin Davis
Children Of A Lesser God: Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins, BWV 1043: Largo, Ma Non Tanto - Henryk Szeryng/Maurice Hasson/Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Frankie And Johnny: Clair De Lune - Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra/Frederick Fennell
Cinema Paradiso: Nuovo Cinema Paradiso - Prague Philharmonia/Nick Ingman
Death In Venice: Symphony No.5: Adagietto - Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti
Seven: Suite No.3 In D Major, BWV 1068: Air - Stuttgarter Kammerorchestra/Karl Munchinger
The Shawshank Redemption: Che Soave Seffiretto (Letter Duet) (The Marriage Of Figaro) - Kiri Te Kanawa/Lucia Popp/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti
Fatal Attraction: Un Bel Di (Madama Butterfly) - Renee Fleming/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Mackerras
Ordinary People: Canon In D Major - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester/Karl Munchinger
Truly, Madly, Deeply: Cello Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: Adagio (Excerpt) - Janos Starker/Gyorgy Sebok
Shine: Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
On Her Majesty's Secret Service: We Have All The Time In The World - Prague Philharmonia/Nick Ingman

Customer Reviews:

If You Love Classical Music, This CD Is For You .......2007-01-10

This compilation of movie themes is one of the most pleasurable CD's you'll ever own.

Probably Decca's best "Adagios" set.......2006-07-26

I say "probably," since it's hard to outdo its "Beethoven Adagios" set. I've only bought a few of these "Adagios" sets because, looking over the track listings of so many, there's just so much overlap. Here, you get the best single collection of the bunch. Here, I was introduced to Addinsell's "Warsaw Concerto," and for that alone it was worth the price. But let's not forget a significant number of other gorgeous classic adagios: Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto (used in a gorgeous film, "Picnic at Hanging Rock"), Bach's "Air on a G String," Mahler's Adaghietto from Symphony no. 5, some obligatory Mozart, the Barber adagio, Debussy's Claire de lune, and - oh lovely! - Schubert's String Quintet in C. Then there are much-appreciated entries (Cinema Paradiso, Gabriel's Oboe) from a personal favorite composer, Ennio Morricone, one of the actual official film composers (as distinct from long-dead composers whose music was used in film) used for this collection, along with a couple from another personal favorite, John Barry. (You'd really need to get Barry's own set of "adagios," titled "Moviola," to get his best, e.g., the title theme to "Out of Africa" and to "Somewhere in Time." For Morricone, the master of the romantic adagio in the past century, go with "Itinerary of a Genius" or individual soundtracks like "Legend of 1900," "Lolita," "Once Upon a Time in America," "Once Upon a Time in the West," and others.)

A couple drawbacks to this set: (1) The adagio from Rachmaninov's 2nd is truncated to a mere 4 minutes. For this, one is well advised to purchase a CD with the entire concerto, or get a full version of just the adagio elsewhere (Decca does include a full version on its "Romantic Adagios" collection). (2) So much from so many composers is included, that there is too little room for more Beethoven. I'd prefer the adagio from the "Pathetique" sonata to the "Moonlight" one which was included here. For Beethoven adagios, you need the "Beethoven Adagios" set as an accompaniment (where you get, among other things, adagios for the op. 130 string quartet, the 6th symphony, the violin concerto, piano concerto no. 3, the 7th symphony, and the romance for violin no. 2, op. 50). If you're a fan of Mozart music often used in the movies, there's the "Mozart Adagios" set and/or the "Amadeus" soundtrack.

I'm a "purist" as to a few works; I'd rather hear the entirety of the "Emperor" concerto than merely the adagio, for instance. In plenty of other cases, an adagio movement is heard just fine as a stand-alone work; plenty of the most beautiful music is used for adagio movements, as these sets make clear enough.

One of the best CDs you'll ever own.......2003-03-23

This is an excellent selection of music. I listen to it every chance I get. It is great just to put in your CD player on "repeat" and allow it to soothe and inspire you for a few hours, for an evening, or an for entire day.

One reason I chose it was that I was looking for music that could simply be a nice background noise for when I'm working on things that require reading and concentration. I wanted music that would not be a distraction, and this does a good job. It is also great to listen to when doing almost anything, like even cleaning the house or doing laundry. I will admit though, that listening to the selection from Swan Lake might make you want to dance around the living room.

Also, besides the obvious ones that everybody knows (Beethoven's 5th, or Canon in D, etc.) I do not know enough to distinguish specific songs from their composers, which is why I was hesitant to buy a classical CD soley of one artist because once I got it I may not have liked it or been familiar with any of the songs. That is why I picked Movie Adagios because I knew it would be a selection of some of the best classical music from the movies, which it is.

Sublime!.......2002-09-08

Of course, I'm nuts for classical music and classic movies, so this compilation of music featured in some of the most famous movies ever made is an absolutely ideal CD.

Filmmakers have been raiding the classical music files since the days of the silents in order to heighten the mood of a scene and provide a greater emotional impact. Barber's Adagio for Strings has been used not only in "Platoon", as this CD lists, but also in "The Elephant Man". While there's only a small snippet of Rachmininoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 here, it's worth remembering that the entire piece is used throughout the magnificent "Brief Encounter" to heighten the impact of the romance. Mozart's Trio (Cosi fan tutte) was brilliantly used in "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" to comment on a complex romantic triangle.

There are also 5 pieces written directly for the screen, two by Ennio Morricone (the haunting Gabriel's Oboe from "The Mission" and the exquisite Nuovo Cinema Paradiso from "Cinema Paradiso"), two by John Barry (a lovely version of We Have All the Time in the World from the James Bond classic "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and the elegiac John Dunbar Theme from "Dances With Wolves") and one by Michael Nyman (The heart asks pleasure first from "The Piano").

I love this CD, to relax with, to read with, and just immerse myself in the spectacular sounds of genius.

GREAT MUSIC.......2001-12-03

This is a great classical piece for the lovers of classical, as well as the ones who may hate it. These Adagios CDs get beter and better each time there is a new release. I must warn you there some good as well as some bad ones. There is a certain Adagio flavor for everyones. At the present I have others, but the ones I truly enjoy are Violin Adagios, The Piano Adagios and this one. This compilation is great for reading. Furthermore this CD can be great evening music... for sleeping.

Those of you who have not got on board with the ADAGIOS, please get on board the next time you go to your favorite music store. You may be surprised at how you have enriched yourselves with great music for your listening pleasure.

You may want to check other reviews here at Amazon under my section in the customers reviews.

Thanks

TRIPP

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