Virtuoso Orchestra

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Chamber Orchestra Europe
Conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt

2. 1812 -- Festival Overture, for orchestra in E flat major, Op. 49
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

3. Symphony No. 4 in A major ("Italian"), Op. 90 Allegro vivace
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Chamber Orchestra Europe
Conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt

4. The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

5. Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride), overture to the opera
Composed by Bedrich Smetana
Performed by Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Eliahu Inbal

6. Night on Bald Mountain (Noch' na Lïsoy gore), symphonic poem, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Cleveland Orchestra
Conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi

7. Symphonie fantastique for orchestra ("Episode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties"), H.48 (Op. 14) Dream of a Witches' Sabbath: Larghetto - Allegro
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Georges Pretre

Virtuoso Orchestra, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Hector Berlioz, Gustav Holst, Felix Mendelssohn, Modest Mussorgsky, Bedrich Smetana, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Christoph von Dohnányi, Eliahu Inbal, Georges Prêtre, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zubin Mehta, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Cleveland Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, Classical, Classical Music, Orchestral, Romantic Overture for Orchestra, Romantic Symphony, Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra, Suite for Orchestra, Symphonic, Symphony

Score: XOX - 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra
Average customer rating:

VERY DISAPPOINTED

Blown away

A fantastic live recording

10 stars!

Awesome!

Score: XOX - 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra
Dream Theater
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dream Theater - Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra

Systematic Chaos

Gigantour

Falling Into Infinity

Systematic Chaos

ASIN: B000G7PMD2
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

The Root Of All Evil [Disc 1]
I Walk Beside You [Disc 1]
Another Won [Disc 1]
Afterlife [Disc 1]
Under A Glass Moon [Disc 1]
Innocence Faded [Disc 1]
Raise The Knife [Disc 1]
The Spirit Carries On [Disc 1]

Tracks:

Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence: [Disc 2]
I. Overture [Disc 2]
II. About To Crash [Disc 2]
III. War Inside My Head [Disc 2]
IV. The Test That Stumped Them All [Disc 2]
V. Goodnight Kiss [Disc 2]
VI. Solitary Shell [Disc 2]
VII. About To Crash (reprise) [Disc 2]
VIII. Losing Time/Grand Finale [Disc 2]
Vacant [Disc 2]
The Answer Lies Within [Disc 2]
Sacrificed Sons [Disc 2]

Tracks:

Octavarium: [Disc 3]
Intro [Disc 3]
I. Someone Like Him [Disc 3]
II. Medicate Me [Disc 3]
III. Full Circle [Disc 3]
IV. Intervals [Disc 3]
V. Razor's Edge [Disc 3]
Encore: [Disc 3]
Metropolis [Disc 3]

Album Description

This album marks the grand finale of the 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra--a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the members of Dream Theater meeting at Berklee School of Music. The recording was captured live at Radio City Music Hall on April 1st, 2006.

Customer Reviews:

VERY DISAPPOINTED.......2007-05-26

3 DISC SET..1 DECENT CD..2 CRAPPY CD'S..THEY COULD HAVE @ SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALOT BETTER !!!!!!!!!!!!

Blown away.......2007-04-29

This is the first Dream Theater record I ever heard and I couldn't believe how blown away I was with it. I popped the first CD in the car and listened to the first 2 songs and couldn't believe the quality of music so I went back and listened to the first 2 songs again. The same thing happened after I listened to 'Afterlife' (track 4) -- I went back to the beginning and listened to the first 4 songs again. It took about a week before I even got to the second CD.

The second CD is the 41 epic tune, 'six degrees of inner turbulence. A song about, well, the inner turbulence of life. There is a spot around the 15 minute mark where I find it too dissonant, and there is an instrument in the orchestra that is flat, but this is a very weak criticism for a absolute work of art including the fantastic 'solitary shell' and powerful climax.

The find the 3rd CD ok but not anywhere near the first 2. Octivarium takes too long to get going and 'Metropolis' starts out so promising but the wonderful keyboard riff that kicks off the song is drowned out in the dissonance.

The keys are great, the guitar playing is great, the percussion is great and the vocals are out of this world outstanding.

One of the top 3 live albums off all time on my list along with Iron Maiden's "Live after Death" and Rush's "All the Worlds a Stage."

A fantastic live recording.......2007-04-06

Simply put, this may be the best collaboration between a heavy metal rock band with an orchestra that has ever been recorded. Separation of sound is very difficult to achieve when you are dealing with high volume but here the engineers manage to pull it off exceedingly well. If you don't know about this group by now then this is as good an introduction as you will find. If you are a fan then you will appreciate the excitement that the live audience adds to the band's performances even if you know most of the songs by heart. If you can't appreciate how incredibly good these musicians are then you have my condolences.

10 stars!.......2007-04-03

Awsome, great set list. Performance Flawless!

The whole group do a great job (like always) and the orchestra does fantastic following the whole six degrees album (side 2) and octivarium and metropolis and more! They do their classics great! Buy this, and if you dont know about Dream Theater... Your world will change, proceed to buy all their albums :)

Awesome!.......2007-02-28

Awesome! That's all I need to say. I'm sure others will write a long detailed review.

Average customer rating:

beautiful ,beautiful
Great Recording

Violin Favourites & Virtuoso Showpieces

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romance of the Violin
Voice of the Violin
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Tchaikovsky, Wienawski, Brahms, Schumann: Violin Concertos
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0007WQHVW
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Variations on an original theme, Op.15
Romance, Op.78, No.2
Mazurka, Op.81, No.1
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor-Transcr. Joseph Joachim
Cantabile, Op.17
Scherzo-Tarantelle, Op.16
Nigun (Improvisation)
Perpetuum mobile
The Prophet Bird
Spanish Dance No.1
Waves at play (Wellenspiel)
Carmen Fantasy, Op.25 - Arr. Waxman

Tracks:

Praeludium and Allegro
Schosmarin
Tambourin chinois
Caprice viennois op.2
La Preuse (in the style of Louis Couperin)
Liebesfreud
Liebesleid
La Gitana
Berceuse Romantique (Caprice)
Polichinelle (Snade)
Rondino on a Theme by Beethoven
Tempo di menuetto (in the style of Pugnani)
Toy Soldiers' March
Allegretto (in the style of Boccherini)
Marche miniature viennoise
Aucassin and Nicolette (canzonetta medievale)
Menuet (in the style of Porpora)
Sicilienne and Rigaudon (in the style of Francois Francoeur)
Syncopation

Customer Reviews:

beautiful ,beautiful.......2007-05-27

I am not a music critic nor do I "know" much about music but if you love lovely violin music you will love this.

Great Recording.......2007-01-04

The Kreisler pieces are played exceptionally well. The one disc alone is worth the price of the double disc collection. Great playing.

Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso

Average customer rating:

Excellent recording
Highly Recommended!
Amazing
A gentleman musical agreement!
Extreme virtuosity

Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso
Johann Sebastian Bach , François Couperin , Gabriel Fauré , Isaac Albeniz , Anonymous , Francisco Tarrega (y Eixea) , Silvius Leopold Weiss , Claude Debussy , Maurice Ravel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gordon Young , Georg Philipp Telemann , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Manuel de Falla , Manuel Ponce , Enrique Granados , Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco , Andrew York , Fernando Sor , Gaspar Sanz , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Christopher Parkening
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002RTR
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Fugue From Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001 - J S Bach
Estudio brillante
Etude No. 1 In E Minor
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Leyenda
Romance
Rumores de la Caleta
Capricho Arabe
Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 1
Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 6
Cantata 140: Sleepers Awake
Prelude, Fugue, And Allegro: Allegro
Cantata 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
Les Barricades mysterieuses
Preambulo & Allegro vivo: Preambulo And Allegro vivo
Passacaglia
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
Gymnopedie No. 1
Empress Of The Pagodas
Afro-Cuban Lullaby

Tracks:

Fourth Lute Suite: Praludium
Fairest Lord Jesus
Praise Ye The Lord, K. 339
Simple Gifts
Hymn Of Christian Joy
Cantata 29: We Thank Thee, Lord
Cantata 156: Arioso
Cantata 99: What God Hath Done
Canon
Dolly Suite: Berceuse
La Vida breve: Spanish Dance No. 1
Terezinha De Jesus
Prelude (In The Baroque Style)
Goyescas: Intermezzo
Prelude & Fugue No. 4 In E: Fugue
Evening Dance
Variations On A Theme Of Mozart
Canarlos
La Maja de Goya
El Noi de la Mare
Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - J. Rodrigo

Customer Reviews:

Excellent recording.......2007-05-12

If you are a fan of classical guitar than this is a must own set. I enjoy every moment.

Highly Recommended!.......2006-12-23

I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music--period! Christopher Parkening is unquestionably one of the greatest classical guitarists of all-time. He embodies personal excellence like no other and is a brilliant artist. This CD is a must-have for any classical enthusiast. My favorite pieces include: Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," "Romance," Bach's "Prelude No. 6," and Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez." There are other versions of these pieces as well, but I always prefer Parkening's renditions, as they are oh so extraordinary--especially the recording of Aranjuez!! Other guitarists never seem to capture the essence of Rodrigo's musical masterpiece (e.g., Göran Söllescher in "Mad About Guitars"). But Parkening did! And the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a perfect accompaniment.

This CD is definitely worth buying. Included is a CD booklet, which illustrates the history of Parkening's illustrious career, interesting tidbits about all 25 recorded pieces, and several photos of his early life to his "breathtaking performance" at Rodrigo's 90th birthday celebration at the Royal Festival Hall in London, 1992.

Amazing.......2006-05-08

I am not going to go into great detail. I am working on a degree in classical guitar and I can say this is something to strive for. His musical interpretation of the peices represented here are some of the best I've heard. His tone,color, and phrasing is incredible.

A gentleman musical agreement! .......2006-03-16

In guitar ` s playing there have been many renowned performers, gifted of exuberant technique. But curiously the Apollonian playing is not by itself strictly enough. The guitar is the instrument which is closer to heart as any other one. It demands from you passion and sentiment. There have been three well known guitarists, one of them from England and the other one from Spain and the third one from Japan whose sensibility was totally absent in their performances.

But fortunately for us, there have been notable interpreters that have been maintained a desired balance and contrast between brain and heart, achieving great distinction and total acknowledgement around the world. I would name seven primordial names along the instrument `s story. First of all: the mythic soloist Andres Segovia, Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Alirio Diaz, Manuel Berrueco, Siegfried Behrend and Christopher Parkening, among the most representative ones of a great list.

Christopher Parkening `s career has made a brilliant colorist, an impeccable and sensitive interpreter of this well reduced repertoire. His profound artistic conviction and convincing phrasing has been a perpetual motive of constant invitations and presentations around the world.

Extreme virtuosity.......2005-09-25

CP has become my chief inspiration to improve as a classical guitarist. His performances here are, without exception, phenomenal. He makes the most difficult pieces sound effortless. I prefer CP over John Williams because, while Williams is also unquestionably a master, he sounds a bit robotic to me at times. CP, on the other hand, never sacrifices musicality to precision. He sublimely maintains both.

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
Very Informative and Enjoyable
Frank's view
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4
The Life and Works of Ludwig van Beethoven
What to Listen for in Music
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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

Icarus Dream
Fanfare Cavalino
Rampante Fugue
Prelude To April
Toccata
Andante
Sarabande
Allegro
Adagio
Vivace
Presto Vivace
Finale

Album Description

Domestic reissue of Malmsteen's 1998 album entitled 'Concerto Suite For Electric Guitar And Orchestra In E Flat Minor Opus 1'. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Album Details

'concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor Op.1 - Millennium' features Malmsteen Playing with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with Yoel Levi Conducting.

Customer Reviews:

Less than what I expected.......2007-06-12

As a long-time fan of neo-classical metal, I had high expectation for this disc. Unlike his other material, which tends to be rock/metal with overtones of classical themes and phrasing, CSfEGaO is classical music with an electric guitar added to the mix.

Strangely, I though the guitar was relatively buried among the rest of the instruments. Clearly, this is a departure from his usual guitar-centered shredding. The compositions, as classical music goes, are average at best. I found that the guitar didn't really add that much. I've heard Malmsteen do better.

Not recommended.

Swing and a miss , batter.......2007-04-06

Despite all of the talented people involved in this project , it is not a product that is greater than the sum of it's parts . Yngwie spends most the time out of sync with the orchestra . The fact that his work was recorded on a different continent shows . This is not Yo Yo Ma here . It isn't even Rick Wakeman ( am I showing my age ? ). If you like modern musicians working WITH an orchestra try Nightwish, The Moody Blues or Renaissance . I actually like Yngwie's work and have been buying his material since his 1st. Rising Force album . He is one of the most talented guitar players in the world . His Baroque style stands in stark contrast to the Blues or Jazz based chord structures that most other guitar greats use . It is just disappointing that when Yngwie gets his chance to take his material and talent to this level , it fails to impress .

Groundbreaking work.......2007-01-15

A brilliant piece of work! Excellent compositions and great guitar playing by Yngwie. A must for all guitar lovers...

Pretty but not necessarily original..........2006-12-23

I've only listened to Prelude to April, so my star rating on this should be taken with a grain of salt. However, my rating is reflective of my opinion of the one song I heard. Prelude to April is very pretty. And after listening to it for a minute or so, I realized why I thought I'd heard that haunting melody before. It's because I had. Prelude to April is entirely based on a theme from Beethoven's 7th symphony (2nd movement, Allegretto). Check it out for yourself. There's nothing wrong with being influenced by other musicians, particularly by one of the great classical music figures in history, so this is not an attack on Yngwie at all. I'm just saying to all the people who've given Yngwie a 5-star for originality, you might want to listen to what Yngwie was undoubtedly inspired by, at least on this one track.

Basically excellent--ma un poco rubato re la lingua musica..........2006-11-27

I thought Yngwie went downhill--musically at any rate--after his first record. Therefore when friends told me of this release I purchased it posthaste, predicting something sui generis. Not quite--but pretty good nonetheless.
The Icarus'Dream was great--it was nice not to hear Malmsteen rip off Albinoni as blatantly as he did on his bow. Here comes the nitpicking; caveat omni Yngwie disciples! Italian is the proper language for classical music; I'm certain Yngwie ipse is perfectly aware of such, but here goes the review proper:

Il Cavalino Rampante 'a young, wild horse) is very impressive; in the proper form of concerto, the electric guitar and its perfomer's virtuosity are intoduced upfront. In truth, gli obbligati pour orchestra are frequently written with more brio and musicality than Yngwie's arpeggios, ma his vibrato is peerless as always, con his sweep picking--something he doesn't deny in his copious liner notes! (Any amateur with interest in il Maestro's influences should read (and listen to didactally, and hopefully with ultimate pleasure and profit, the composers whom he lists in said notes.)

In 'Fugue' (Fuga) one of the Suite's nadiri is attained, with Malmsteen having composed a card-carrying melody for the orchestra while writing and performing in fine counterpoint an equally fine one for the soloist.

'Prelude to April' ( a la une title de Debussy, que??)features the performer on nylon (un po misnomre pour 'electric guitar,' suelement que me'n fous) playing a fine melody--displaying the advancement of his compositional abilities since the brief acoustic portion of 'Icarus' Dream et al.' on the Rising Force record.

For the Toccata, no Malmsteen fan who knows the Italian term shall be disappointed; the soloist shreds while playing una bona fide melodia con della orchestra. Loathers of tangentialists beware--but it's nice to hear a classical piece of many movements con each movement remaining relatively brief!
Andante: In Italian, this musical term translates as 'at the pace of walking.' Here, IMHO (Dear God, I've lived Stateside too bloody long!) the direction should have been Andante con moltissimo vivace, for rather than the'Andante' tempo, Malmsteen burns it up rather than playing the bellissima song which the aficianado predicts. As I said at the beginning of this review, one of my (relatively) few nitpicking con the record.
Sarabande: A French term roughly translating as 'lovely song'(however, le Francais c'est le unique lingue Romantique quel remaint defiante in la transducion). Here the Maestro does not disappoint. An exquisite melody (once again on nylon, c'est la guerre) with relatively sparse (for Yngwie, at any rate) orchestration. But Jesu Crist, l'homme simply cannot restrain his admitted virtuosity toward movement's end.)

Allegro: (at a rapid pace.) Lamentably enough, the Master returns to his sweeppicking of minor and diminished scales (as wrote a finer and much less verbose reviwer, whom I read pre writing this), although his technique remains jawdropping. (Can anyone say Dos Passos, mio literati?)

Adagio: 'at a dirgelike pace'. Here is where the Concerto Suite most disappointed me. Reasonably predicting a lovely, slow movement senza fortissimmi, the composer essentially gives the orchestra a tonic/dominant/relative minor progression that would have made The Ramones the talk of late 18thcentury Wien. (Not to detract, after any fashion, the peerless rocker Johnny, a musical genius in ihis own right!)

Vivace: 'at a lively tempo.' Again M. does not disappoint, playing in a fairly straightforward Ionian mode (with the predictable deviations) and having composed a legitimate melody--however, in this case tending toward use of the orchestra as a rhythm section rather than an orchestra, as said aforementioned, superb reviewer.

Presto Vivace e Finale: 'at a rapid and lively tempo.' Athe risk of a lapse into the vernacular, pretty much what you'd expect from M. at the end of anything he's ever played--he gives it all he's got until the final Beethoveenian Eb minor chord. (Musicians around the world pay heed--M. didn't write the piece in one of music's more difficult keys to make unnecessary demands upon the orchestra; never forget that from Tage Ein he has tuned his instrument down 1/2 step to facilitate rapid fretwork and vibrato, as well as using a scalloped neck and ultrissimolight strings!
All in all, I'm not quite certain whether this piece will ultimately enter the repertoire--if one listens to a Beethoven or Mozart concerto immediament after hearing this (as did this writer), he speculates as to what either immortal would have done with the electric guitar and orchestra--primarily Luigi--and, well, de gustibus non disputandum est, which epigraph should be kept in mind while reading my entire review!
In omnia, a very impressive work from a stillbudding master that, en general, should give guitarists and amours de musique durch der ganzer Welt a great deal of listening pleasure!

P. S. Pick up Keith Emerson Piano Concerto No.1 on the ELP Works Volume 1 record if you haven't done so already, and compare it to the Malmsteen concerto suite. It deploys much more atonality (bordering at times on dissonance), compositional ability, and overall virtuosity than M.--but whatever you do, don't tell Yngwie devotees that this writer said so!

Average customer rating:

Awesome French horn soloist
Beautiful Passages From Hermann Baumann
Clevenger-ok, Baumann-awesome
Once again, I'm impressed!
Good music, not-so-good quality

Virtuoso Horn

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
The Magic of the French Horn
American Horn Quartet
Horn Concertos
London Horn Sound

ASIN: B000000SMY
Release Date: 1994-07-05

Tracks:

Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 3 (1) In D Major, H VIId/3: Allegro
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 3 (1) In D Major, H VIId/3: Adagio
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 3 (1) In D Major, H VIId/3: Allegro
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In E Major: Allegro
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In E Major: Romance
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In E Major: Rondeau: Allegro
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In D Minor: Allegro Molto
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In D Minor: Romanze
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In D Minor: Rondo
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 2 In E Flat Major, K. 417: Allegro Maestoso
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 2 In E Flat Major, K. 417: Andante
Concerto For Horn And Orchestra No. 2 In E Flat Major, K. 417: Rondo
Concertino For Horn And Orchestra In D Major: Allegro Non Troppo

Customer Reviews:

Awesome French horn soloist.......2006-07-08

Anyone who knows anything about French horn soloists knows of the greats...Dennis Brain, Berry Tuckwell, Hans Pizka, and of course, Hermann Baumann. If you are a fan of the French horn, this is a must.

Beautiful Passages From Hermann Baumann.......2004-09-20

This is a beautiful CD largely featuring Hermann Baumann performing pieces by Hayden, Danzi, Rosetti, and Mozart. I admire the musicianship here, mostly from Baumann, but also noteworthy is the performance by Dale Clevenger on Haydn's Concertino for Horn and Orchestra in D major, the final track on the CD, and the only one digitally recorded. Although I think Baumann is probably the technically more proficient musician, Clevenger certainly acquits himself well, and the total lack of background noise on that track makes it an absolute pleasure to listen to. Another listener complained of excessive background noise and static, but fortunately I did not seem to have that problem on either of the systems I played it on.

I am particularly fond of the Mozart pieces presented here, although I prefer the recordings by Dennis Brain for technique. These are my favorite recordings of the Hayden and Rosetti pieces to date. This CD is an excellent value, and any serious listener will be sure to thrill to it.

Clevenger-ok, Baumann-awesome.......2003-02-25

Hermann Baumann is one of the greatest horn players ever and he shows why he has been given that honor on this cd. I don't think that there is recording of the Haydn concerto that even comes close to this masterful performance, even better than Tuckwell's. The cadenzas are absolutely awesome. I haven't listened to the Rosetti before but Baumann sounds excellent in this concerto as well. Clevenger plays ok on the Haydn but his articulation is a little sloppy. I'm a saxophone player but I can recognize true musicianship when I hear it and Baumann certainly is a brilliant musician. Highly recommended.

Once again, I'm impressed!.......2002-07-30

Hermann Baumann never ceases to amaze me, and this album is no exception. Flawless execution coupled with the highest sense of musicality make for quite an impressive display, especially with horn literature of this difficulty. Baumann rises like a colossus with this album- and if it hasn't already been said, the cadenzas are worth the price of the cd by themselves! For as long as I have been listening to horn music, I have never heard the beauty, clarity, and sweetness of tone in the clarino register as I heard with this album. The Haydn Concertino in D with Dale Clevenger was nicely executed, however my preference for this piece is in the Tuckwell recording for tempo and stylistic reasons. Cliche though it may be, this is a must have.

Good music, not-so-good quality.......2001-11-05

The music of this CD is stunningly well-done, with Hermann Baumann once again making recordings unchallenged in musical quality, making the most complicated horn parts seem effortless, the cadenzas in particular. However, the actual quality of the CD is somewhat "staticky". There's noticeable background static if played on the right (wrong?) speakers that other CDs don't produce. This CD would be perfect if the recording quality was better.

Average customer rating:

A good recording as far as it goes

Janos Starker Virtuoso Music for Cello

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Starker Encore Album
The Road To Cello Playing
Italian Cello Sonatas
Popper: Romantic Cello Showpieces
Romantic Cello Favorites

ASIN: B0000034O8
Release Date: 1993-08-27

Tracks:

Sicilienne
Variations On One String On A Theme By Rossini: Moses Fantasie
Apres Un Reve
Hungarian Rhapsodie, Op. 68
'Goyescas': Intermezzo
Danse Rituelle Du Feu
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin
Piece En Forme De Habanera
'The Barber Of Seville': Figaro

Customer Reviews:

A good recording as far as it goes.......2000-09-14

Janos Starker is undoubtedly on of the best cellists of our time, and his technique is effortless on all of these virtuoso selections. Not only is his execution flawless, he is one of a few artists who can make their individual styles come out beautifully in a recording. His tone is strong and compelling in all of the selections, never forced but also never obsessed with smoothing over every trace of an individual performance. As a result the recording has a wonderfully spontaneous and solid flavor. Highlights are David Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody and the Falla Danse Rituelle. Unfortunately, it is true that many of these virtuoso pieces simply do not hold the listener time and time again as do, for example, the Brahms cello sonatas or the Dvorak concerto. So though you may listen to this recording many times (and get to love Janos Starker's playing in the process) also buy his recording of the Dvorak.

Average customer rating:

Liona Boyd
Liona is the Queen of Classical Guitar Technique?????
GIMME A BREAK!!
Un-F***ing believable
Liona? Please...

The Spanish Album

Manufacturer: Moston Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Highlights
Passport to Serenity
The Romantic Guitar of Liona Boyd
Classically Yours
Baroque Favorites

ASIN: B00000IKTM
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

Moorish Dance
Malaguena
Gran Jota De Concierto
Capricho Arabe
The Miller's Dance (Live Recording)
Asturias
Zambra Granadina
Rumores De La Caleta
Granada
Madrilena
Campanas Del Alba
Mallorca (Live Recording)
Granada (Live Recording)

Customer Reviews:

Liona Boyd.......2007-03-26

It's interesting, I think, to note how Miss Boyd's style and technique seem to polarise the current reviews for her album "The Spanish Album". I certainly wasn't aware that Miss Boyd is regarded as "a light weight" in the classical guitar world.

I can only say that as a humble amateur classical guitarist, I remain an avid admirer of her interpretation of several of the standard classics on this album.

Her virtuosity in Gran Jota has already been referred to: may I also single out the sweet expressiveness of her playing in Capricio Arabe (which I suggest cannot be matched by any other modern recording)as well as the fascinating discords in Asturias.

Liona is the Queen of Classical Guitar Technique?????.......2006-01-20

Yes, and I'm Clark Kent, reporter for a small town daily. Liona Boyd achieved her fame through non musical means. As a musician she leaves a great deal to be desired. Her technique is modest. Her interpretive skills are nonexistent. Proclaiming her "queen of classical guitar technique" is only revealing of one's ignorance. I only wish there was a zero star rating.

If you wish to hear the real McCoy I recommend Martha Masters.

GIMME A BREAK!!.......2005-03-01

"music fan" from rochester--the coward can't even sign his name after he trashes Ms. Boyd's phenomenol talent--where's YOUR latest masterpiece?? "don't waste yer ears"--puh-LEEEZ!! AND "VINCES"--my, aren't we SNOOTY! GIMME A BREAK YOU TWO!! LIONA BOYD KICKS NYLON ASS! BUY THIS CD!

Un-F***ing believable.......2004-09-19

I had never heard of this chick until I started Flamenco lessons. All I can say is WOW!!!

Liona? Please..........2001-06-10

Boyd is, in fact, considered a lightweight in the world of classical guitar. Sure, she's sold recordings, but not anything worth listening to. If you're looking for excellent female classical guitarrists, look for Antigoni Goni and Sharon Isbin. Don't waste your ears on Boyd.

Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer

Average customer rating:

I found her
THE BEST!!!!
A Great Showcase For The Great Soprano
Virtuoso Opera Star! The Sumi Jo Album To Own!
Acrobatic singing

Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer
Giuseppe Verdi , Gioachino Rossini , Gaetano Donizetti , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Léo Delibes , Vincenzo Bellini , Richard Strauss , Leonard Bernstein , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Young-Ha Yoon , Paolo Olmi , Sumi Jo , Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra , Anne Maugue , and Marius Constant
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Sumi Jo sings Mozart
Sumi Jo - Bel Canto / Arevalo · ECO · Carella
French Coloratura Arias
Sumi Jo - La Promessa / Vincenzo Scalera
Sumi Jo - Prayers / James Conlon

ASIN: B000005EDE
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Una voce poco fa' (Rosina)
La Sonnambula (Act 2): 'Ah non credea mirarti' (Amina)
Lakme (Act 2, Scene 10): The Bell Song (Lakme)
Rigoletto (Act 1, Scene 13): 'Gualtier Maide...caro nome' (Gilda)
Giacomo Meyerbeer: 'Ombres legeres' (Dinora)
Gaetano Donizetti: The Mad Scene (Lucie)
Adriadne Auf Naxos: Zerbinetta's Aria
Leonard Bernstein: 'Glitter And Be Gay' (Cunegonde)
Die Zauberflote: 'Der Holle Rache...' (Queen of the Night)
Boribat

Customer Reviews:

I found her.......2006-12-27

I was looking for a complete recording of Zerbinetta's aria (I still don't know whether I have one, this one is 7 minutes long, 5 minutes were cut from Lucia's mad scene, I thought Zerbinetta's aria was much longer than 7 minutes), I had Gruberova singing it many years ago, but I cannot take her style and got rid of it. Sills (my main reason for buying the DVD) only sings part of it on "Made in America" which was disappointing, as was the entire DVD (all hints and glimpses and snippets, nothing, or very little, complete, very unsatisfying). So damnit just went through Strauss (ick, don't like any of the Strausses) on Amazon looking for the cheapest most likely to be complete recording of this aria and settled on the Sumi Jo. And my god what a jolt! This is the most beautiful new thing I've heard in years! She's another Pons. Good, clear, perfect separation of notes, wonderful range, warm beautiful voice, agile, wonderful Sutherland leaps to the last note of arias. This is it. This is wonderful. Just ordered 2 more of her albums. Should be here in a few days. A reviewer of another of her albums said she can't sing as fast as someone name Kirkby (or something), so immediately looked up Kirkby. Thought I'd found another jewel. Well, no. Kirkby specializes in Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music, mainly religious. That's out. But sigh maybe not. I only went through 3 or 4 or 5 pages of her stuff, then lost interest and stopped. Maybe a Meyerbeer or Donizetti popped up later. I'm not current with the world of music or any other art. No interest. Generally don't like it. And I stick pretty close to Sutherland, Sills, Callas (up to a point), and what Pons I can find. But this album is absolutely wonderful, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes coloratura singing.

THE BEST!!!!.......2005-09-24

No question about it.
Never have I heard such a pure, clean voice.
Perfect colorattura.

A Great Showcase For The Great Soprano.......2004-01-31

Born in Seoul, Korea, Sumi Jo was discovered by the famous and late conductor Herbert Von Karajan. His choices in singers has always been superb- he has been credited for launching the careers of such opera legends as Maria Callas and most recently Cecilia Bartoli. Sumi Jo is a singer of the lyric-coloratura department, but she is equally successfully in spinto, dramatic and bel canto repertoire. Her voice, immediately indicative of sweet youthfulness, passion and stratospheric high notes, can also belt out the long legato phrases of the bel canto operas of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti. She is "opera fluent" in the languages of German, Italian and French. This album showcases her versatility. It would'nt be called Virtuoso Arias for nothing. These arias are indeed studies in virtuosity for voice. Let's take a look at some of them.

Rosina's Aria From Barber Of Seville: Rossini's Barber Of Seville was the most popular opera he ever wrote. The story tells of the courtship of Count Almaviva and Rosina, with the aid of the clever barber Figaro. Rosini's first aria, "Une voce poco fa" is a beautiful aria which not only shows off a singer's talents but also the character of Rosina herself. She is charming, docile but feisty and fiery. The role of Rosina was written for the mezzo soprano voice. In fact, most if not all of Rossini's heroines were mezzo soprano roles. This is because in Rossini's day, the tenor Manuel Garcia's daughters were employed in the opera and they were both mezzo sopranos. But the allure of Rosina's character has drawn even the most dramatic sopranos, among them Maria Callas. Other interpretors include Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills and mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli, who most efficiently sings the role with more closeness to the original Rossini mezzo soprano Garcia girls. Sumi Jo is able to inflect a "mezzo" voice in the singing but she embellishes passages with dazzling coloratura. It's a tour de force from Sumi Jo.

The Sleepwalking Scene From Sonnambula: Bellini's La Sonnambula is a bel canto opera if there ever was one. It was reportedly Queen Victoria's favorite opera. The story is about a beautiful village girl who falls in love, is temporarily estranged from her love but reunited for a happy finale. The Sleepwalking Scene is a close cousin of the Mad Scene. She momentarily loses grip on reality and revels in a hallucination while she sleepswalks across a bridge in the village. The first portions call for a sweet, lyric voice with long flowing lines. Sumi Jo impresses us with this ability. The last portions demand vibrant coloratura. Sumi Jo has the right stuff for this, as has been mentioned. She leaps with her voice, runs through scales and arpeggios beautifully and ends with squillo high notes.

The Bell Song From Lakme: Delibes' Lakme is a beautiful French opera, made famous by the greatest interpretor Madie Mesple. The Bell Song is a showcase for coloratura and for lyricism. Lakme tells the story of the Pariah's daughter, beginning with tenderness and romance, which is complimented with the romantic and exotic sound of the music and finalizes the aria with bird-like coloratura. Sumi Jo's coloratura is decorative and tasteful. She is a coloratura soprano in the tradition of such names as Lily Pons, Roberta Peters and Beverly Sills.

Gilda's Aria From Rigoletto: Caro Nome is a song about love. Gilda, Rigolettos' daughter, has made the mistake of falling in love with the decadent Duke who is disguised as Gualtier Malde, a music student. Gilda's aria expresses innocent love and exuberance. Sumi Jo's voice is perfect for this kind of role. She is young and her voice comes off as young. In addition, Sumi Jo is a beautiful woman. If she trains her voice for it any further, she might become a successful Verdi heroine. Perhaps Desdemona from Othello is next ? Or perhaps the more famous Violetta Valery from La Traviata ? A great aria in Sumi's hands.

The Mad Scene From Lucia is on here and it's delivery is close to perfect. Sumi comes off as tormented, melancholy and grieving. This is preferable to radical hysteria as some sopranos have made the mistake of doing. Her elegant phrasing matches the music and she tops off the scene with coloratura and high notes.

Zerbinetta's Aria From Ariadne: This aria is considered the most difficult aria for a coloratura soprano. Why that is I don't quite understand. The music is beautiful and flowing, as is the voice that Strauss' music was written for. The aria demands breath control and soaring high notes. Sumi Jo is able to do this perfectly, ranking as one of the divas of this type of singing with such names as Kathleen Battle and Natalie Dessay.

So there you have it. This is a must have for fans of Sumi Jo and fans of virtuosic singing. It is a superb album, despite what comments say, most likely from people who haven't even heard the album and how truly great it is.

Virtuoso Opera Star! The Sumi Jo Album To Own!.......2003-10-22

Korean soprano Sumi Jo has established herself as a remarkable and gifted lyric coloratura soprano in recent years. She has a vast following wherever she goes- whether she is touring Europe, performing in American opera houses or singing in her native Korea. Sumi Jo's good looks, winning personality and acting abilities add to her allure. She's almost the equivalent of Beverly Sills in many ways. Her legato and coloratura technique is thrilling. Her vocal embellishments in any coloratura role is exceptional. Plus, as mentioned, she can really act. I first had the privelege to watch Sumi Jo in a live performance at the Los Angeles Opera. She was performing as Olympia, the doll in Offenbach's "The Tales Of Hoffman." In addition to her vibrant coloratura roulades and passages, she was hilarious and easily won the audience. Among her many roles, she has performed as Rosina (Barber Of Seville), Queen of the Night (Mozart's Magic Flute and long considered her signature role), Lucia Di Lammermoor, Gilda from Rigoletto, Zerbinetta, Lakme, and various other bel canto heroines of Donizetti and Verdi as well as her touching performance as Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme. Sumi Jo has made it as a successful recording artist as well.These days, an opera singer with huge star power cannot dismiss the temptation of recording albums, sometimes in coloraboration with other singers or contemporary rock or pop singers. This album features the best of Sumi Jo in appropriately virtuoso arias from bel canto operas. Especially dazzling is her Zerbinetta and Lakme. I urge any fan of Sumi Jo to get this album. Viva the diva.

Acrobatic singing.......2003-04-20

I love coloratura singers and I find that Sumi Jo is one of the best... in this CD we can listen to different kinds of repertoire: from mozart to bernstein to a folk korean song.
in each track she shows her amazing skill in high and clean notes. If you buy ths cd you won't regret: sometimes you will take her voice for a flute for she is incredibly clean and effortless. In Lakmé aria you will listen at the end the best E sovracuto ever heard: it's clean, it's regular in the "vibrato", it starts and ends in the exact moment it should... wonderful. Glitter and be gay it's astonishing: it seems like she never stops climbing on higher and higher!!! Maybe queen of night's aria is a little bit slower than in other records and may sound less incisive, but it's always a pleasure listening to the perfect acrobatic singing of Ms Jo. With Natalie Dessay (who is even higher than Sumi, but less clear) Sumi is the best coloratura soprano of our times, and this CD shows her ability!

Average customer rating:

Annoy Your Annoying Neighbors!
It's a Hoot!
Moshing in the orchestra pit!
Bring down the house!!!

Heavy Classix

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music
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25 Thunderous Classics
Thunder & Lightning
Thunderous Classics
Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder
Simply the Best Classical Anthems

ASIN: B000002SO9
Release Date: 1993-03-16

Tracks:

The Valkyrie: The Ride Of The Valkyries
Gayaneh: Sabre Dance
Symphonie Fantastique: IV March To The Scaffold (Conclusion)
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut On Fowls' Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate At Kiev
1812 Overture (Conclusion)
Symphony No. 6 'Pathetique': III. Allegro Molto Vivace
Espana
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dance
The Damnation of Faust: Hungarian March
The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War (Conclusion)
Romeo And Juliet: Montagues And Capulets
Lohengrin: Prelude To Act III
The Firebird: Infernal Dance
Symphony No. 1 In D 'Titan': IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Conclusion)

Customer Reviews:

Annoy Your Annoying Neighbors!.......2003-01-23

Come on - you know they're going to hate classical music, so when your annoying upstairs neighbor decides to vacuum at 1 in the morning, take out this CD and blast 'em with track 11: Mars, The Bringer of War!

Seriously, this is a great CD for getting you up and energized in the morning - and they're darned good recordings. Enjoy!

It's a Hoot!.......2000-09-25

This is highway driving music for me. I love cranking it up while I tool down the road. It's also a pick-me-up. Annoyed by the guy in the car next to you playing obnoxious noise that passes for music? Blast him back with this classical baby.

Moshing in the orchestra pit!.......1999-06-11

Let's face it, the composers of the classical era were the rock stars of their time, complete with all-night parties and illegitimate children. This collection of lease-breaking, window-rattling, ground-pounding classical selections will impress even the most hard core metal head (for whom this appears to have been released for). If the 1812 Overture (complete with cannons!) doesn't get you psyched up, nothing will. Highly reccomended for those who love classical music for the sheer thrill of it all, or those who want to make their way from "Stairway to Heaven" to "The Ride of the Valkyries"!

(I've played this at FULL BLAST on my van's stereo with the windows down and got the wildest looks from other drivers at the stop lights!)

Bring down the house!!!.......1999-03-28

Don't feel guilty, this CD really rocks! For the many people who do not listen to classical music because of a perceived boredom, listen to this CD! If you enjoy driving your car at excessive speeds, skydiving, or being shot out of a cannon, then this CD is probably for you. We are NOT kidding. This music will move you, as well as any furniture that is not bolted down!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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