The Garden

Track Listings
1. Etude in Eternal Twilight    
2. The Garden - Man    
3. The Garden - Seduction    
4. The Garden - Second Seduction    
5. The Garden - Crime    
6. The Garden - Punishment    
7. The Garden - Reunion    
8. Voice from the Annex - When Someone Comes IN    
9. Voice from the Annex - A Quiet Conscience    
10. Voice from the Annex - Everything Is Still    
11. Voice from the Annez - It's Really a Wonder    

Editorial Reviews
Paul Hertelendy, San Jose Mercury News, Nov, 1991
"...a compelling world premiere...The songs haunted me."

Sharon Mabry, National Association of Teachers of Singing Journal, Jan 1994
"Bowen has created a poignant, well-balanced cycle, addressing all aspects of the text..."

Album Description
Here are two lovely song cycles. The first (The Garden) is based on Jewish tales (midrashim) about the Adam and Eve story, and contains a fresh perspective; imagine that Eve is innocent, Adam is proud, and the serpent (who has not yet lost his legs as a punishment) is hot. Adam and Eve are dramatically sung by Greg Wait and Rachel Michelberg. Voice from the Annex is an equally fine song cycle with texts based on the writings of Anne Frank.

The Garden

The Garden, Music, Jose Bowen
Garden State
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • FANTASTIC!!!
  • Highly suggested
  • Great Soundtrack
  • Wow
  • Songs that unearth a state of mind
 Garden State
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Garden State
  2. The Last Kiss
  3. Details
  4. X&Y
  5. Scrubs

ASIN: B0002J58LK
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

  1. Don't Panic - Coldplay
  2. Caring Is Creepy - The Shins
  3. In The Waiting Line - Zero 7
  4. New Slang - The Shins
  5. I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You - Colin Hay
  6. Blue Eyes - Cary Brothers
  7. Fair - Remy Zero
  8. One Of These Things First - Nick Drake
  9. Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation
  10. The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon & Garfunkel
  11. Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
  12. Let Go - Frou Frou
  13. Winding Road - Bonnie Somerville

Amazon.com

Writer and director Zach Braff does a masterful job matching the charming, heartfelt tone of films like The Graduate and Rushmore in his motion picture debut, Garden State, so it only makes sense that the music he personally compiled for the soundtrack plays just as of big a part here as it did in those films. Simon & Garfunkel's languorous "The Only Living Boy in New York" is an obvious thread, but aside from Nick Drake's "One of These Things First," Braff is able to carry the mood without getting tripped up in the past. Frou Frou's "Let Go" and Zero 7's "In the Waiting Line" supply soft techno touches, while Iron & Wine's "Such Great Heights" and former Men at Work singer Colin Hay's "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" offer understated angst. It's the pair of emotionally racked contributions from the Shins ("Caring Is Creepy," "New Slang"), however, that really make this compilation a must-have. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!!!.......2007-05-22

I had never actually seen this movie or heard the CD. I ordered it when my new favorite male actor, Kyle Schmid - "Henry" on Lifetimes Blood Ties series listed in an interview that this was his favorite CD. I thought it would be interesting to check it out. I am definitely not disappointed. I love this CD. The songs are fantastic.

4 out of 5 stars Highly suggested.......2007-03-24

Very beautiful and relaxing soundtrack, the songs are choosen with a great class!
Manuel.

5 out of 5 stars Great Soundtrack.......2007-03-19

One of my all time favorites. Always relaxes me. I can tell every track was has a specific purpose on this album. Also, The movie is excellent!

5 out of 5 stars Wow.......2007-03-15

I don't normally write reviews, but this CD is just so great, I had to. Every song on here is gold. It makes me so happy just popping it in and listening to it straight through. If you liked Garden State, this is a DEFINITE must-buy, but even if you didn't like it or haven't see it, it's still a must-buy. It's just great music.

Zach Braff has wonderful taste in music.

5 out of 5 stars Songs that unearth a state of mind.......2007-03-14

Yes, the big guns like Coldplay and the Shins shine on the "Garden State" soundtrack, but it's the overall quality of songs by the lesser-known bands that take this CD to "such great heights" throughout. There's an introspective poignancy to all these songs that bests your run-of-the-mill soundtrack, and though I didn't care for the movie they came from, I love these tunes.

The aforementioned bands delivered the goods here, and properly lead off the album. Chris Martin's refrain of "we live in a beautiful world" rings true amid a truly chaotic time in history, and gives "Garden State" a hopeful vibe right away. For their part, the Shins contribute two cuts come from the 2001 classic, "Oh, Inverted World," which are right at home with the rest of these cerebral songs. Zero 7's "In the Waiting Line" and Thievery Corporation's "Lebanese Blonde" contain a laid-back, loungey feel that make the art of slacking seem cool, while Colin Hay's "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" is one of the saddest, sparsest, most heartfelt songs I've ever heard. The former Men at Work singer puts his scarred vocals to great use and delivers one of the finest songs on the CD.

Elsewhere there's more upbeat-sounding tunes (though not always lyrically upbeat) such as the Cary Brothers' "Blue Eyes," Nick Drake's bubbly "One of These Things First" and Simon & Garfunkel's remarkably non-dated-sounding "The Only Living Boy in New York" from 1970. Another great tune worth noting is Iron and Wine's "Such Great Heights." Don't let its dreamy appearance in a rainbow-splattered Skittles commercial fool you; this song's deep lyrics and close acoustic sound is anything but fluff, which could be said of this entire CD.

Like the Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack soundtrack 12 years before it, the "Garden State" soundtrack is the collaborative voice of angst-filled twenty-somethings looking to express their feelings through the best medium known to man -- music.

Live From Madison Square Garden
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Very bland and slow....
  • Compared to 34th and 8th and Any Time Now, Live From Madison Square Garden is Nothing Special
  • Great band, outstanding performance
  • The Whoa! factor has just been established..!
  • The Definitive O.A.R. Collection
 Live From Madison Square Garden
O.A.R.
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. O.A.R.: Live From Madison Square Garden
  2. Stories of a Stranger
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  4. Live In Dublin
  5. It Won't Be Soon Before Long

ASIN: B000OV14OQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Love And Memories
  2. Untitled
  3. Hey Girl
  4. Risen
  5. Living In the End
  6. About Mr. Brown
  7. Heard the World
  8. About An Hour Ago
  9. One Shot
  10. James
  11. Anyway

Tracks:

  1. Dareh Meyod
  2. Something Coming Over
  3. Black Rock
  4. Lay Down
  5. That Was a Crazy Game Of Poker
  6. 52-50
  7. City On Down

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Very bland and slow...........2007-06-20

OK, I am heading on vacation and making a mixed CD for the trip. I bought this album and wondered how many tracks I would use from it for my mix...I figured it would take up most of my mix CD. Well, it will take up none of it. Compared to other live OAR shows it is slowed down, flat, and generic, there is no energy to it. I love OAR and was VERY excited to get this CD as their other ones are just grand and full of catchy energy. For one thing, Mark's vocals are just like him talking not singing....he just let's the echoed mike do the output for him. He also does alot of, I don't know how to explain it, but that wordy kind of talk you hear from jazzy beatniks, where he is filling in improv stuff. Unlike other shows where the improv stuff is catchy and slide in perfectly this sounds forced. The music is flawless but uninspiring, their is nothing like the bass/saxophone improv like "Chariots of Fire" on the previous live album. They just play along. They have totally lost that reggae/pop/rock/jam vibe and are now more adult/prog/top 40's.
I heard that the band is revisiting their old material and retooling it as they get older because they were kids when they originally did it. But, I gotta say what I am hearing recently from them isn't so great, it is like "adult" versions of their songs...very over produced and plain so it is radio friendly. I found myself thinking: what would I be doing at this show live, and the answer is I could see me sitting on a couch sipping a martini talking to friends and waiting for it to be over (and I dislike martinis but it seems to go with the feel of this show).
I hate to say this but I'll have to hear their next live or studio album first before purchasing, they aren't on my "must buy no matter what" list any more.

2 out of 5 stars Compared to 34th and 8th and Any Time Now, Live From Madison Square Garden is Nothing Special.......2007-06-08

After being a fan of O.A.R. for the past four years, their latest release is a big disapointment. I attended the concert with three friends and was fairly unimpressed after the concert. It had been my 8th time seeing the band in a little under four years. I had high hopes for the Cd but was severely depressed upon hearing the first song.

Growing to love O.A.R. over the past four years enlightened me to love their live shows/ cds much more than their bad quality studio albums. Live From Madison Square Garden, in this respect, is good because it shows the band in its live atmosphere. However, compared to the band's previous two live releases Any Time Now and 34th and 8th, the Cd flat out stinks. The best examples are the older songs such as Hey Girl, About Mr. Brown, That was a Crazy Game of Poker, and City on Down. The new release has possibly the worst versions of these particular songs. The improvisation within each song sound forced and are amateurish, and it seems like the band just tried too hard to make this release a good one. The difference of quality between the older cds is vast. 34th and 8th's "Crazy Game of Poker" is remarkable and possibly the best performance of the band on any one of their cds. Other songs on 34th and 8th and Any Time Now follow suit, i cannot think of a single song that is better at the Garden. Live At Madison Square tries to pack the same energy as the previous releases but sounds too generic in the process. The tone of the instruments, the guitar/ sax solos, freestyles, and even the set list are incredibly weak and do not satisfy the inner O.A.R. Fan that i have become.

On the upside, O.A.R. packs the release with a few new (and actually good) songs. Living in the End and Something Coming Over are good tunes. "Living" is a good pearl jam inspired song, and "SCO" is a cute diddy that everyone can enjoy.

Unfortunately, the Cd still does not come close to previous releases. Instead of buying Live from Madison Square Garden, buy 34th and 8th . . . it comes with an hour long dvd and two discs worth of music for the same price range and is a heck of a lot better. Any Time Now is just as good and I strongly recommened buying both. Unless you're a young O.A.R. fan i do not see a need to purchase this cd. If you loved Stories of a Stranger you probably would like this Cd, but if you hated it or thought it was nothing special, go with 34th and 8th.

5 out of 5 stars Great band, outstanding performance.......2007-06-07

I've been a fan of Dave Matthews' infectious live energy for over a decade and have always wondered if any band could compete with DMB for title of best live band. OAR is that band. If you're only loosely familiar with them through their recent radio releases like Love & Memories, Hey Girl, and Heard the World, you're in for a very pleasant surprise. Taking nothing away from the album versions of those songs, they are considerably better live.

This version of Crazy Game of Poker is unbelievable and will have you singing along & dancing in your chair for all 17 minutes. It's worth the price of the album just for that song. Other favorites include About Mr. Brown, Anyway, Lay Down, and of course, the concert closer City on Down.

Buy this album, you won't be disappointed. After you've heard how great they are in concert, you'll be yearning to see them live yourself.

5 out of 5 stars The Whoa! factor has just been established..!.......2007-06-06

Growing up on Any Time Now, my life can be described as me being a "pupil of O.A.R." I first picked up a guitar in 2001 and I hated the damn thing until I heard this band. When 34th & 8th rolled around it was like a Sweet 16 for my musical life. After a few years of seeing them live and listening to SOAS, O.A.R. has officially proven me wrong. I thought they were a great band and then they released Live from Madison Square Garden. Now I consider them the Best Band of the Modern Age. "The New Pink Floyd" is what I call them as I consider PF to be the best of years past.

Live from MSG packs 18 hits that will knock you from room to room, beer to beer and from smiles to tears. If O.A.R. wasn't underrated this would be the Album of the Year. From Love and Memories to City On Down this CD encompasses all the emotions we experience day in and day out of our lives. Each track holds within it a beat and message that transcends pop culture, politics and even religion. This music makes you look deep inside and ask yourself, "What do I believe, and what do I feel is true because the truth is all there is?" Coming from someone who loves to play and listen to music, I can officialy say this album gets the Whoa! factor. It is a story that, in the end, shows that normal guys from a little town can make it BIG just doing what they love. I know I long for that; do you?

5 out of 5 stars The Definitive O.A.R. Collection.......2007-06-06

Having followed O.A.R. from a time when they were only a locally known band, this is a very important release for not only them but everyone from or around Rockville, Maryland. So how does this show measure up to their others? Does it pack the same energy and feel that other, smaller venues have in the past?

The answer is a resounding yes. O.A.R. brings every ounce of energy they have and bursts to life on the first track 'Love and Memories'. The energy in singer Marc Roberge's voice is intoxicating. Unlike previous albums where at times he can sound burnt-out or drunk, throughout this entire performance he is giving it 110%, flowing with the rhythms of the music while maintaining every tracks original sound. Small improvisations are something we have come to expect from O.A.R. over the years and are delivered with catchy lines that will quickly slide into the original lyrics.

Music wise, the band is on point with every single song. The added keyboards/synthesizers are a very nice touch and add depth to some of their older songs. The set-list is an amazing repertoire of their finest works; ranging from their first album to their latest release. Each song is given an updated touch while remaining true to it's roots.

Overall this two disc live release from O.A.R. is something any fan, new or old should add to their collection. Even if every song doesn't have you dancing, it will surely have you singing along to the catchy tunes from this amazing band.
The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • FINALLY, KEER AND NIXON BOTH SING
  • The King and I--a distinguished, beautiful score laced with tenderness and sorrow
  • A fine King and I soundtrack reissue
  • great album
  • a classic
 The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Deborah Kerr , Yul Brynner , Marni Nixon , Rita Moreno , and Alfred Newman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack)
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  4. My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack)
  5. The Music Man (1962 Film Soundtrack)

ASIN: B00005A7XC
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Main Title - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  2. I Whistle A Happy Tune - Marni Nixon/Rex Thompson
  3. My Lord And Master - Rita Moreno
  4. The March Of The Siamese Children - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  5. Anna And The Royal Wives - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  6. Hello, Young Lovers - Marni Nixon
  7. A Puzzlement - Yul Brynner
  8. Getting To Know You - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
  9. Garden Rendezvous - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  10. We Kiss In A Shadow - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
  11. I Have Dreamed - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
  12. Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
  13. Something Wonderful - Terry Saunders
  14. Prayer To Buddha - Yul Brynner
  15. Waltz Of Anna And Sir Edward - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  16. The Small House Of Uncle Thomas - Rita Moreno
  17. Song Of The King - Yul Brynner/Marni Nixon
  18. Shall We Dance? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon/Yul Brynner
  19. The Letter - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
  20. Something Wonderful (Finale) - Chorus/Alfred Newman
  21. Overture (LP Version) - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman

Amazon.com essential recording

Compared with the Broadway cast recording, the 1956 soundtrack to the film version of The King and I wins hands down. Yul Brynner is the king (literally and figuratively) in both formats (how could anyone else own such a role?), but the movie's score has better sonics, Brynner's voice is stronger, and the tunes are more memorable (thanks to Alfred Newman's conducting and Ken Darby's scoring) than on any of the various cast recordings. Marni Nixon sings the role of Anna (played onscreen by Deborah Kerr), Brynner delivers his hallmark performance, and the best-loved tunes--"Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and "I Whistle a Happy Tune" are the versions we'll always remember. A classic. --James Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars FINALLY, KEER AND NIXON BOTH SING.......2007-05-26

WHAT A COMPLETE JOY TO HEAR MARNI NIXON AND
DEBORAH KERR BOTH SING. TRULY A COLLECTORS
ITEM WITH ALL THE NOSTALGIA, OUTSHINES ALL
OTHER ATTEMPTS TO RE-MASTER THIS MAGNIFICANT
MUSIC.

5 out of 5 stars The King and I--a distinguished, beautiful score laced with tenderness and sorrow.......2007-04-08

The King And I soundtrack is presented magnificently on this excellent 76 minute CD. This CD offers us much music and vocals that were cut from the film as well as material that never made it to the record album release of the soundtrack back in 1956. We get stunning performances by giants including Yul Brynner, Terry Saunders and Marni Nixon. This CD is so complete and generous with it's treatment of the soundtrack that it must be considered as the definitive soundtrack edition of the music from The King And I.

The CD starts off with the music for the "main title" of the film; and this also serves as an appetizer to whet out appetites for what's to come. "I Whistle A Happy Tune" gives us Marni Nixon singing the vocals for Deborah Kerr; the melody is infectiously catchy; this song is one of the highlights of the CD. "My Lord And Master," performed by Leona Gordon who sang the vocals for Rita Moreno, is another masterpiece with a softness to it that belies the pain Rita's character Tuptim feels because she is separated from her one true love. "The March Of The Siamese Children" is performed by the 20th Century Fox Orchestra to perfection without a single superfluous note; the melody infuses this number with an Asian flavor as well.

Other gems on this CD--and that would, quite honestly, include every single track--include "Hello, Young Lovers" sung by Marni Nixon as Deborah Kerr's character Anna Leonowens laments a love gone awry back in England; the touching and heartrending "We Kiss In A Shadow;" Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang performing "Something Wonderful" with exceptional sensitivity and "Shall We Dance?" which is performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. As you listen to numbers like "Shall We Dance?" that calls for Anna, played by Deborah Kerr, to speak and then sing, you will have a hard time discerning where Deborah Kerr leaves off speaking and Marni Nixon starts singing. It's THAT good.

As long as I include the words "Something Wonderful" when writing this review I must add that the extras you get are stupendous. As I stated above, the CD boasts much that the record album soundtrack never included. Indeed, we get music that didn't even make it to the final cut of the movie! I loved the beautiful and sensitive rendition of "The Small House Of Uncle Thomas" which was previously unreleased and "Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You" is a marvelous song--cut from the final edited edition of the film--that highlights Anna's contempt for the King's backward ways.

The CD package offers more still. Along with the CD comes a generous 32 page booklet with an extensive essay by Charles L. Granata that tells the history of both the stage play and the making of the stage play into a major motion picture at Fox. In addition, you get the song credits and there are rarely seen photographs as well.

The quality of the sound shines like solid gold. These performances reflect great sensitivity to the emotions each character felt. It is a special treat to listen to Yul Brynner's songs; he infuses each song and even every word with just the right emotions so that the listener experiences exactly what his character feels at every turn.

This CD is one of the very few that truly remind me of the old MGM logo which boasted of having "more stars than there are in the heavens." Indeed, five stars are nowhere near enough for this treasure. I highly recommend this CD for people who truly loved and appreciated The King And I both in its several onstage productions as well as on the big screen; and fans of show tunes will delight in this CD soundtrack with its' diamonds scattered broadly in all directions.

5 out of 5 stars A fine King and I soundtrack reissue.......2007-02-10

Of the three recent EMI-Angel R&H film soundtrack reissues, I find that this reissue of the King & I soundtrack is the best-executed. The King and I shows a new maturing of the R&H element and this superb 1956 film adaptation more than certainly does it justice. The superb soundtrack presented here includes the complete score, along with some of Alfred Newman's underscoring, and boasts splendid performances by Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. And of course the orchestra is sumptuous and properly lush, enveloping us in sweltering renditions of some of Rodgers' most heartfelt melodies.

I won't reiterate the critic-proof performances here. Other reviewers have covered them elsewhere. Nixon as a voice-dubber is in her element as Anna, and portrays her characterfully. Brynner is in his element as the King, as firm, commanding and authoritative as we've always known him to be. This performance shows him at his best, ripe, fresh and mature. Leona Gordon and Reuben Fuentes shine as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, bringing a melancholic quality to their brief numbers. It's really a treat to hear their renditions of the omitted songs My Lord and Master and I Have Dreamed. Rita Moreno as the real Tuptim acquits herself well when narrating the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet sequence, presented for the first time on an official soundtrack recording. It's good to also hear Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang, in a heartfelt, humane and imploring rendition of Something Wonderful, and she is the icing on the cake of this superb soundtrack recording.

This EMI-Angel R&H soundtrack offers an extra benefit in addition to the extra musical sequences. Unlike the companion CDs of Oklahoma and Carousel, it presents the extra material from the original unmixed studio vault masters, except for the Prayer to Buddha and the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. This means that this reissue is blessedly free of the extraneous sound effects that plague the Oklahoma and Carousel CDs. I know that the sound effects and little snippets of dialogue drown out the music, but at least these reissues are a start in presenting comprehensive R&H soundtracks worthy of their films. What a pity that none of these R&H soundtrack reissues aren't 2-CD sets, otherwise we would have been able to hear the underscore.

In short, this is a superb presentation of a fine R&H film soundtrack.

5 out of 5 stars great album.......2006-07-15

Great songs for kids to learn to sing along, instead of bubble gum fluff.

5 out of 5 stars a classic.......2006-06-05

A true musical theater classic. Wonderful melodies that will last for years to come.
Other classics not to forget about are:
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Wizard of Oz
Chitty Chitty Bang Band
The first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Sound of Music
Oliver
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Singing in the Rain
The Wiz
Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Grease
The King and I
Oklahoma
The Music Man
South Pacific

My Voice Students are always asking me for recommendations so I though I'd post it for all! We can't forget about these great musicals!
The Secret Garden (1991 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful soundtrack!
  • MARVELOUS MUSICAL, MASTERFULLY PERFORMED . . . . .
  • THE SECRET GARDEN Is Alive With Genius
  • fantastic CD
  • Secret Garden should be revived
 The Secret Garden (1991 Original Broadway Cast)
Lucy Simon , Marsha Norman , Rebecca Luker , and Daisy Eagan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002862
Release Date: 1991-12-10

Tracks:

  1. Opening
  2. Scene: India
  3. There's A Girl
  4. Scene: The Library At Misselthwaite Manor
  5. Scene: A Train Platform In Yorkshire/The House Upon The Hill
  6. I Heard Someone Crying
  7. Scene: Mary's Sitting Room/If I Had A Fine White Horse
  8. A Girl In The Valley
  9. Scene: The Ballroom
  10. It's A Maze
  11. Scene: The Greenhouse
  12. Winter's On The Wing
  13. Scene: The Edge Of The Moor
  14. Show Me The Key
  15. Scene: Archibald's Library/A Bit Of Earth
  16. Storm I
  17. Lily's Eyes
  18. Storm II
  19. Scene: Colin's Room
  20. Round-Shouldered Man
  21. Final Storm
  22. The Girl I Mean To Be
  23. The House Upon The Hill-Transition/Scene: Archibald's Dressing Room
  24. Quartet/There's A Man-Transition
  25. Race You To The Top Of The Morning
  26. Wick
  27. Scene: Colin's Room
  28. Come To My Garden/Lift Me Up
  29. Come Spirit, Come Charm
  30. A Bit Of Earth-Reprise
  31. Scene: The Library/Scene: Mary's Room
  32. Hold On
  33. Letter Song
  34. Where In The World
  35. How Could I Ever Know
  36. Finale

Amazon.com

Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel of the same name, The Secret Garden was set apart from the beginning by the composition of its creative team. Not many Broadway shows can boast a female composer (Lucy Simon), director (Susan H. Schulman), librettist/lyricist (Marsha Norman), and producer/set designer (Heidi Landesman)--not to mention an 11-year old (Daisy Eagan) in the lead. This story of a little girl who helps her grieving uncle and sickly cousin regain a taste for life is a delicate, lovely achievement. Steeped in moody Victoriana, it should enchant those who enjoy a more understated style of musical theater. The great cast includes Mandy Patinkin, Rebecca Luker as his dead wife Lily's ghost, and the perenially underrated Alison Fraser. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful soundtrack!.......2007-05-31

I recently read the book (The Secret Garden) to my 7-year-old daughter prior to taking her to see the musical. She enjoyed the play very much so I ordered the soundtrack. She has been listening to it daily while dancing and singing along. The performances are very good and the music is lovely.

5 out of 5 stars MARVELOUS MUSICAL, MASTERFULLY PERFORMED . . . . ........2007-05-24

With 82 customer reviews already in place, it's difficult to add anything new except BUY THIS WONDERFUL RECORDING BEFORE SONY/BMG SENDS IT TO THE DUST BIN!!!!! Personally, I was enchanted by Lucy Simon's music, especially by "Lilly's Eyes" and "How Could I Ever Know?" Rebecca Luker (Lilly's Ghost) and Robert Westenberg (Dr. Craven) are in especially fine voice, and - gratefully - Mandy Patinkin isn't nearly as irritating as he so often has become. But the show rests on the shoulders of twelve-year-old Daisy Eagan, the 1991 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and she carries it very well, indeed.

Although not the stuff of which big, splashy mega-hits are made, and in spite of fairly negative reviews (I direct you to Frank Rich's "New York Times" review on theater2.nytimes.com), THE SECRET GARDEN enjoyed a modest run of 709 performances. With its gloomy story line, brooding characters, and soaring, Verdi-esque melodies, perhaps it's better suited to an opera house than to the Broadway stage. And with a few revisions, I wouldn't be surprised if THE SECRET GARDEN joins CANDIDE in opera company repertoires.

Incidentally, in case your're interested: Lucy Simon and her song writer/singer sister Carly recorded a couple of folk albums back in the 60s - "The Simon Sisters" & "Cuddlebug." Now availble on one CD entitled "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod," those 25 songs are guaranteed to delight and enchant you, as Lucy's melodies and Marsha Norman's lyrics for THE SECRET GARDEN also delight and enchant. Better order "W,B,& N" right away. In this age of bottom-line-means-everything, who knows how long it will remain availble.

Highly Recommended.

5 out of 5 stars THE SECRET GARDEN Is Alive With Genius.......2007-03-28

An Original Cast Recording of any Broadway Musical has many obstacles to overcome from the outset: not only do the music and lyrics have to be enjoyable, and the arrangements must be intriguing, but the recording also must somehow impart the feel of actually BEING in the audience of the Broadway show. Most Cast Recordings fall miserably short of these requirements. Happily, THE SECRET GARDEN, succeeds where most others fail. THE SECRET GARDEN, with music by Lucy Simon and lyrics by Marsha Norman, is a lush, magnificent recording filled with some of the most beautiful and soaring operatic music I have ever heard on or off the Broadway stage. In the classic style of Broadway genius Stephen Sondheim, there are no "puff pieces" on this CD...each song is necessary to advance the story, and once the listener has enjoyed the CD, they will, without doubt, feel they had a front row seat for this lovely bouquet of a show. Since there are 36 different cuts on this CD (after all, most of the dialogue is sung, in true operatta form) it is extremely difficult to choose the musical standouts. The opening of the CD, which sets the tone of this story, is nothing short of brilliant, as it packs a lot of information so effortlessly into song. "Lilly's Eyes" as sung by Mandy Patinkin, who's character is lamenting the death of his wife, is chillingly beautiful, as is the haunting duet "Come To My Garden". The CD's show stopper is a rousing rendition of an inspirational song called "Hold On", and is sure to become a Broadway classic. The show's cast, including Daisy Eagen as the little girl around whom most of the action takes place, Mandy Patinkin as her Uncle, John Babcock, Alison Fraser, and Rebecca Luker have some of the finest operatic voices ever heard on ANY stage. This is a show with a true heart, a brilliant soul, and is, in short a soaring celebration of the Broadway theatre at its finest! Run...don't walk...to buy this CD. I can't recommend it highly enough.

5 out of 5 stars fantastic CD.......2007-03-22

Even though this is a cast recording from the 90's,
it's absolutely wonderful. I love it and play it a lot.
After I bought mine, I lent it to my sister who asked me if I
could order 2 for her, because she wants to give one as a gift.
I highly recommend it to everyone.

5 out of 5 stars Secret Garden should be revived.......2007-01-10

This outstanding CD has a wonderfully talented cast. The songs and lyrics are excellent and a pleasure to listen to many times. I wish the musical itself would be revived.
The Garden
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • I really dig Zero 7
  • Different, yes, but excellent nonetheless...
  • My review of The Garden
  • Great ambiance!
  • Very Little For Such Talent
 The Garden
Zero 7
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Ambient PopAmbient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
AmbientAmbient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Adult AlternativeAdult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
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  1. Versions
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ASIN: B000FC2G8W
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Tracks:

  1. Futures
  2. Throw It All Away
  3. Seeing Things
  4. The Pageant Of The Bizarre
  5. You're My Flame
  6. Left Behind
  7. Today
  8. This Fine Social Scene
  9. Your Place
  10. If I Can't Have You
  11. Crosses
  12. Waiting To Die

Amazon.com

"Upbeat" seems like an odd description of a recording that includes song titles like "Throw It All Away" and "Waiting to Die." Yet fans of Zero 7 (the English sound-design duo of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker) will indeed discover that the group's third release exhibits a slightly more animated pace--more multitempo than downtempo--than its predecessors, the seductively trippy Simple Things and the like-minded When It Falls. Craving a follow-up to the breathy, interstellar soul of "Destiny" from the group's debut disc, or "Passing By" from When It Falls? You may struggle to find similar magic here. Even so, The Garden is an intriguing listen, showcasing the sophistication that makes Zero 7 the Steely Dan of chillout--wry, intelligent lyrical observations, inventive musicianship, a detached sense of cool forged by the duo's heady blend of folk, jazz, '70s soul, and electronica. The Kraftwerk-like "Seeing Things"--the disc's lone instrumental--and the pulsing "You're My Flame" are useful tracks to gauge this album's elevated vibrancy. Sia Furler is the group's only returning vocalist, and the absence of Sophie Barker and Tina Dico, the gentle Christine McVie counterpoints to Furler's rough-hewn Stevie Nicks, is noticeable. Mozez and his Seal-like soul is also gone, replaced by more folk/pop-oriented José Gonzãlez. Binns even spends 80 seconds as the quiet lead voice on the slow-building brass outburst "Your Place." Furler's up-and-down vocals on "The Pageant of the Bizarre" will stick in your mind, but her best work comes on two clever lampoons of pampered lifestyles, "This Fine Social Scene" and "Waiting to Die." (Sample lyric: "Now is a good time for tasty glass of wine; let's not worry ourselves about carbon dioxide.") Different, yes, but worthwhile. --Terry Wood

Album Description

Zero 7, aka Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns, are back with a gorgeous new album, The Garden. It was produced by Sam and Henry and mixed by Phil Brown, who has worked with such luminaries as the Rolling Stones, Brian Eno and Talk Talk. It features vocal performances by Jose Gonzalez, Sia Furler and Henry Binns. The band's previous albums, Simple Things and When It Falls, were critically acclaimed and rooted them firmly alongside Royksopp & Lemon Jelly as leaders in their field. The Garden sees Zero 7 take a fresher, more upbeat musical direction while still maintaining their trademark sound, and could well turn out to be the soundtrack to the summer.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I really dig Zero 7.......2007-06-10

The band, their music and art have found a great new, welcome home in our collection. I'm glad I was turned onto this band. Great for downtempo and coolin' out.

5 out of 5 stars Different, yes, but excellent nonetheless..........2007-06-07

I began to listen to Zero 7 around the same time that this album was released, but held off until I was able to assimilate and process their earlier releases. Clearly the band has evolved into something more complex and dynamic, while trending towards a style which put off many of its early listeners. When subjectively measured against Zero 7's previous album, this release can come off as a rude departure from their old styles. However, if objectively analyzed by its own merits, this CD easily holds up to the musical quality of Zero 7's previous releases.

Songs like "Throw It All Away" and "This Fine Social Scene" exemplify the versatility of the band and will, most likely, provide a glimpse of future albums in a style more refined and cohesive than previously explored.

3 out of 5 stars My review of The Garden.......2007-05-26

Never really was a huge fan of Zero 7 especially when they first came out with the song "Destiny". I did though like their second cd "When It Falls". A few years ago I was in to chill out music but now I am not so much in to the genre anymore. When I saw "The Garden" at my local library I thought I would check it out. "The Garden" shares the same warm vibe that "When it Falls" possesses. The music is nice to listen to on a weekend morning with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Unfortunately I just couldn't really get into the cd. I especially wasn't big on the more groove laden tracks like "This Fine Social Scene" and "Crosses". Not a huge fan of the cowbell and it really got on my nerves in the song "Crosses". It makes me think of the old Blue Oyster Cult song "Don't Fear the Reaper". The instrumental tracks were far more interesting because they weren't bogged down by such boring vocals from everyone who contributed to the album. I wish I was able to get into this album like I did with the last Zero 7 cd but I just can't. Too boring and lifeless which is what chill out music has become.

5 out of 5 stars Great ambiance!.......2007-05-07

This is one of those CDs that can stay in the spinner for months, really great for car or home.

2 out of 5 stars Very Little For Such Talent.......2007-04-05

I was surprised when I purchased this album. Not as interesting as I
thought it would be. I found it boring. The only song I liked was
"the Pageant of the bizarre"; it's truly Zero 7.
Songs from a Secret Garden
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I
  • Violins and more violins
  • Songs From A Secret Garden
  • Soothing Music, Food for the soul
  • Beautiful & romantic Waltz music
 Songs from a Secret Garden
Secret Garden
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000001GBJ
Release Date: 1996-04-16

Tracks:

  1. Nocturne
  2. Pastorale
  3. Song from a Secret Garden
  4. Sigma
  5. Papillon
  6. Serenade to Spring
  7. Atlantia
  8. Heartstrings
  9. Adagio
  10. The Rap
  11. Chaconne
  12. Cantoluna
  13. Ode to Simplicity

Amazon.com

Picture a square with Clannad, pianist David Lanz, Mannheim Steamroller, and the musicians of Riverdance at its corners. Somewhere within those stylistic borders you will encounter the European duo Secret Garden. The popular twosome--Irish violinist Fionnuala (fi-NOO-la) Sherry and Norwegian pianist/keyboardist Rolf Lovland--have attracted a sizable following with their heart-touching specialty: a wistful, violin-rooted, pop-folk-classical melange that often strikes the ear as a film score in search of some delicate romantic tale. Songs from a Secret Garden is the duo's debut recording from 1995, and it principally offers a series of pensive dialogues between Sherry's stately violin and Lovland's subdued piano, yielding equal measures of sweetness and melancholy. Whistles, pipes, percussion, strings, and ethereal voices serve as embellishments. At times you may sense you're being serenaded by strolling musicians with a heavy sentimental streak; at other times you may feel genuinely moved--perhaps by something as lovely as the reverential "Sigma" and its sublime, Gregorian-like choral passages. Only one uptempo tune, "The Rap," surfaces here; a few others would have been welcomed. And yes, this is the disc where you will find "Heartstrings," the composition that once smote Barbra Streisand's heart. She eventually acquired the rights to the piece, inserted lyrics, renamed it "I've Dreamed of You" (found on A Love Like Ours), and sang it to James Brolin during the couple's 1998 wedding. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I.......2007-07-06

Oh, Wow! This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy M E H D I, E N Y A or even Loreena Mckinnett. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed! It reminds me somewhat of Celtic Women, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8..A True Gem.

3 out of 5 stars Violins and more violins.......2007-05-29

Not quite what I had expected. A CD of violin with violins and some piano and yet another violin. Which, for some maybe just what you want. It doesn't exactly transport me elsewhere like Inner Peace by Steve Halpern. It makes great background music for our office but otherwise, I haven't put it in my car to listen to while I travel.

5 out of 5 stars Songs From A Secret Garden.......2007-05-02

I first heard this CD in a Meditation class. The haunting Celtic melodies of this CD are very relaxing and set a very quiet, calming mood. I can't wait to buy more from this group.

4 out of 5 stars Soothing Music, Food for the soul.......2007-02-09

Like most who stumbled on this beautiful CD, I bought the CD because the CD shop selling it happened to be playing it - and I was immediately captivated and deeply touched by it. It is like a breathe of freshness in the sands of commerce, a clear pond of tranquil water that reflects your soul and yet it is so deep in emotions...pulling your heart strings. Its fragile, naked and angelic...yet it is so sincere.
I enjoy MEHDl, Enya, Loreena Mckinnett, David Foster etc. But this a beautiful and rare production that I enjoy a tad more.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful & romantic Waltz music.......2007-01-23

The songs on this collection are all very beautiful. My favorite is the "Ode to Spring," an enchanting melody one cannot forget. I can listen to this CD over and over again. I bought two additional copies for my friends and have made another copy so that I can play it in my car.
The Ultimate Puccini Collection
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh"
  • Fantastic!
  • HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND
  • "Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!
  • Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality
 The Ultimate Puccini Collection
Giacomo Puccini , Herbert von Karajan , Riccardo Chailly , Stephen Barlow , Tullio Serafin , Lorin Maazel , Sir Edward Downes , Giuseppe Patane , Zubin Mehta , Alberto Erede , John Mauceri , Plácido Domingo , José Carreras , Kiri Te Kanawa , John Alldis Choir , Luciano Pavarotti , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Bologna Community Theater Orchestra , Ettore Bastianini , Carlo Bergonzi , Renato Cesari , Fernando Corena , Cesare Siepi , Renata Tebaldi , Gianna D'Angelo , Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra , Franco Corelli , Alfredo Mariotti , Regine Crespin , Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden , London Symphony Orchestra , Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra , Rome Opera House Orchestra , Pilar Lorengar , Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble , Mirella Freni , Rolando Panerai , Jussi Bjorling , Leontyne Price , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by PucciniAll Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Caballe, MontserratCaballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Crespin, RegineCrespin, Regine | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Freni, MirellaFreni, Mirella | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Gheorghiu, AngelaGheorghiu, Angela | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Nilsson, BirgitNilsson, Birgit | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Price, LeontynePrice, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Sutherland, JoanSutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Te Kanawa, KiriTe Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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  3. Puccini Without Words
  4. Puccini: Great Opera Arias
  5. The #1 Opera Album

ASIN: B000007OU1
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

  1. Turnadot: Nessun Dorma!
  2. Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
  3. Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai
  4. La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song
  5. Tosca: Recondita Armonia
  6. Madame Butterfly: Un Bel Di
  7. TOSCA: E Lucevan Le Stelle
  8. La rondine: Il Sogno Di Doretta
  9. La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina
  10. La Boheme: Si, Mi Chiamano Mini
  11. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Love Duet, Act I
  12. Ch'ella mi creda libero
  13. TOSCA: Ah, Quegli Occhi...Qual'occhio Al Mondo - Love Duet, Act I
  14. TOSCA: Vissi D'Arte
  15. Madame Butterfly: Vogliatemi Bene - Love Duet, Act I
  16. La Boheme: Donde Lieta Usci
  17. Turandot: Signore, Ascolta!
  18. Turandot: In Questa Reggia

Amazon.com essential recording

Ordinarily, it pays to be wary of collections such as these, which often promise a lot but deliver a mishmash of disconnected excerpts. This disc, however, is something of an exception: you really do get just about all of Puccini's best arias, which is possible, because he didn't write so many operas that choosing the best moments becomes a matter of the producer's personal taste. Also, Puccini's operas are so popular that every major label has excellent complete recordings of all of them, so in making this compilation it was possible to cast from strength: all the singers here are fine. In fact, the only proviso that needs to be made before you rush out and add this disc to your collection is that it's wrong to assume that all of Puccini's best tunes lie in his arias. The opening 10 minutes of any one of his operas will tell you that's not true. So by all means enjoy this disc--then start sampling the operas complete. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh".......2005-11-08

"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic!.......2003-10-14

This is one of the first opera CDs I ever got. It's wonderful for just about any body;from the newbies like me or the opera fanatics. I especially like 'In Questa Reggia'. Buy it now!!

5 out of 5 stars HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.......2003-09-04

The Ultimate Puccini Collection features some of Puccini's most arias and will appeal to even the most ardent operaphobes.

A great listening experience featuring some of the greatest opera performers of all time.

3 out of 5 stars "Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!.......2002-06-13

The music is without question, among the most beautiful ever written. But the quality of the fidelity tells me that many of the selections were recorded live in concert in outdoor venues. I wish that was clear to me before I bought the disc. So, is the music the ultimate? YES! Is the recording the ultimate? NO!

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality.......2002-02-18

I love opera! I love Puccini! Not only is the vocalism important to me, but the quality of the recording as well. I enjoy my hi-tech sound system. I like to feel as if I am sitting in the front row of the first balcony when I listen to opera. This CD is excellent! The vocalists were well chosen. The technical performances are eloquent and emotional, as Puccini should be. However, the quality of the recording is not very good. No matter how you adjust your sound system, the recording is a bit tinny and as a result, the emotional high points of the arias are not as vibrant as they could be if the recording were of better quality. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves Puccini and who is not as finicky as I!
Instrumental Paradise Volume 8
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Another Best of Mehdi
  • Delightful, Relaxing, Wonderful !
  • Nice, but not the best I've ever heard.
  • Musical Nirvana - Where sound quality, artistry and composition come together.
  • Gorgeous sound !
 Instrumental Paradise Volume 8
Mehdi
Manufacturer: SoothingMusic.Com
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000PGQEIG
Release Date: 2007-04-30

Tracks:

  1. Steps To Paradise
  2. Eternal Bliss
  3. Guiding Light
  4. Heavens Rain
  5. Utopian Dance
  6. Sacred Gathering
  7. Blossoming Flowers
  8. Connecting Prayer
  9. Trees In The Breeze
  10. Prayers Answered

Product Description

Have you ever heard music so beautiful that it captivated you, lifted you up and opened your heart and mind? As comfortable as a relaxing day on the beach or as fresh as a warm spring breeze, these rich multicultural soundscapes are the soundtrack to your dreams. It's the feeling of bliss that you wish would never end. This is the music of Mehdi. We call it, "Music that sounds the way life should feel".>>> Contemporary Instrumental: Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Cello, Flute, Live Orchestral Strings, Electric Guitar, Persian Oud, Sitar, Santoor, Hammered Dulcimer with Rhythmic Hand Percussion, Drum Kit all Placed in Lush Orchestral Arrangements.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Another Best of Mehdi .......2007-07-06

"Every album should be called Best of Mehdi," another reviewer once said.
Amen. It's everything everyone says it is. And it was absolutely worth the wait.
Yes, good cover choice; love the white horse.

Where's our DVD, Concertmaster?

5 out of 5 stars Delightful, Relaxing, Wonderful !.......2007-06-29

I also purchased this CD based on the reviews and I'm truly glad that I did. This is Mehdi at his best. I've only listened to it a a few times since I received it, but I know I'll be playing it often. It's especially nice in the car, because it brings the surrounding natural scenery to life. Recommended !

4 out of 5 stars Nice, but not the best I've ever heard........2007-06-29

I bought this based on other review I read on Amazon cold-turkey. It's nice, but not up to the calibur of other albums I have in the same genra.

I wouldn't not recommend it, but I wouldn' rave over it either.

5 out of 5 stars Musical Nirvana - Where sound quality, artistry and composition come together........2007-06-25

Power up the stereo. Turn the lights down low. Don the headphones and energize the CD player. Relax. It's time to enter a world of virtuoso musicianship, of soundscapes that take you to another world. Close your eyes and listen. You're no longer alone but surrounded by beauty and floating into Paradise. You move seamlessly between this world and the next, the music weaving a tapestry that transcends the distance and the times.

Mehdi's Instrumental Paradise is a special recording in that it captures the soul and essence of one of the great musical visionaries in our time.

Mehdi has been playing the piano since he could reach the keys and has composed music for many feature films prior to embarking on his Instrumental musical journey in the mid-90's. Mehdi's music (a mixture of Middle Eastern, Celtic, Greek, Southern European and Spanish or at times Moorish set to neo classical and more modern influences) defies the current practice of cataloging each artist into a standard category. Above all else, this is music for the adventurer in each of us.

Mehdi is the feature artist showcasing his wide-ranging Piano and mesmerizing original compositions. But this is by no means a one-person show. Flutist Dan Jenks, Violinist Tony Ragetti, Percussionist Yoshi Masayuki,Cellist Jesse Von Unwerth,Persian Oudist John Bilezikjian,Guitarist Michael Barbieri,Sitarist Daniel J Gupta are just a few of the virtuoso musicians on this master piece.
They add their tremendous musical talents to a recording that truly is more than the sum of its individual parts. Each of these musicians are talented masters in their own right and have recorded with Mehdi as well as other respected and diverse musicians ranging from Loreena Mckinnett to Yanni.

The sound quality of this recording is beyond reproach. The dynamics and spatial imaging of the recording deserve special mention. This truly is a recording without fault: Over 59 minutes of timeless excellence in sound.


Mehdi's spirituality seems to be as little understood as his music. He is a musical and spiritual adventurer. Each recording contains compositions that deal with a wide range of influences ranging from Christianity to Mysticism to Islam and other faiths. One should be careful in not labeling his beliefs as well as his music. Just listen, learn and enjoy.

If you enjoy artists such as Secret Garden, Loreena Mckinnett,Enya, David Lanz, Phil Coulter, Yanni, classical, Celtic and other world music, or if you are intrigued by a musical adventure, Mehdi's extraordinary Instrumentals should be on your short list of future musical purchases.

5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous sound !.......2007-06-25

A DJ here in Austin insists on calling Mehdi, "The Jewel of public television." While many of his fans are probably jealous that there's actually a station here that gives him airtime (KGSR, 107.1 -- a near identical twin of KBCO Boulder, 97.3), I've patiently combed public TV listings for months, and never seen his name once. Woe is me!

Ever since some cognoscenti used a snippet of his "Wedding Song" as background on an episode of "Northern Exposure," I've been hooked on Mehdi's compelling blend of inspiring melodies and middle eastern rhythms. The California Native and his bandmates are wizards with their instruments. Volume 8 Instrumental Paradise is a must for any fan of Mehdi's music; and I can think of no better way for someone unfamiliar with his sound to become acquainted.
Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • EUREKA, I've found out what is lacking.....
  • Another one bites the dust
  • Marvellous Salome
  • Disappointing Strauss: Expert-polished orchestra, Adequate Soprano
  • A gratifying new voice for Strauss
 Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  3. Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson
  4. Bellini - Norma
  5. Russian Album

ASIN: B000MV93EG
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

  1. Letzte Szene: "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund"
  2. Mondscheinmusik
  3. Letzte Szene: "Morgen mittag um elf!"
  4. Frühling (Hermann Hesse)
  5. September (Hermann Hesse)
  6. Beim Schlafengehn (Hermann Hesse)
  7. Im Abendrot (Joseph von Eichendorff)

Amazon.com

This gifted Swedish soprano, rapturously praised internationally in Wagner, is clearly eager to stake a claim in Strauss. She has the necessary vocal strength, wide range, fine musicianship, clear textual delivery, and flexibility. But listen to legendary benchmarks of Strauss singing (Ljuba Welitsch in the Salome scene, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf or Lisa della Casa in the other material on this disc) and you'll hear voices of pristine timbre and absolute steadiness, both of which Stemme lacks; her vibrato might be less intrusive in the theater, but on records it consistently puts her at a disadvantage, especially in Strauss. Even if the Salome finale offers a certainly amount of feverish excitement, throughout the program the singing generally wants variety of color. With the Capriccio Countess, the line-by-line specificity for this demanding characterization - above all, the lady's abundant charm - is conspicuously missing. Likewise, phrase after phrase of the Four Last Songs lacks profile, and here the vibrato prevents Stemme from achieving the serenity so crucial to this sublime music. EMI provides fine supporting singers (but why weren't the Capriccio Majordomo's opening lines included?) and a splendid Strauss orchestra, that of London's Royal Opera House, elegantly led by music director Antonio Pappano. --Roger Pines

Album Description

Tracklisting:

Richard Strauss- Songs & Scenes
Salome (Hedwig Lachmann after Oscar Wilde)
1. Letzte Szene: "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund"

Capriccio (Clemens Krauss/Richard Strauss)
2. Mondscheinmusik
3. Letzte Szene: "Morgen mittag um elf!"

Four Last Songs
4. Frühling (Hermann Hesse)
5. September (Hermann Hesse)
6. Beim Schlafengehn (Hermann Hesse)
7. Im Abendrot (Joseph von Eichendorff)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars EUREKA, I've found out what is lacking............2007-06-24

Timbre is to the voice what French Silk is to chocolate pudding; the difference between rich cream and skim milk, it is texture, depth and perspective, and sheen. Nina Stemme does not have the finer of those qualities, but she is not alone.

She seems to me the hope for tomorrow, so low is her tone, firm her committment, and classic her appearance - even if not on this cover. Her singing is very musical, but I don't hear beauty - the production is too narrow and this works for Wagner but not Strauss. Her phrasing is straight - very little variance and again - Wagnerian, not Strauss. Ideally, the portamento and a floating vibrato free tone (ethereal) are two of the hallmarks of Strauss singing. The most fine singer of these wonderful songs - to me - will always be the late Elizabeth Schwarzkopf but Rene Kollo (tenor) also recorded them. His Abendrot is very touchingly sung. But Nina Stemme brings her own touch that validates this attempt. Any singer who attempts Four Last Songs is brave indeed, not only for attempting the difficult music, but for the grand tradition preceeding them.

Somehow, Nina Stemme seems more serious than the airy prima donnas of the past 10 years - Fleming and Angela Alagna come to mind first -- also this young Russian woman (her name escapes me). Stemme is a classic woman, knowing, practical - she is a prima donna, an authentic opera singer - very far from Church, Bocelli, and those pop-classical people (where are they now?) --- she is the beginning of a new practical era where the Art is the measure of productivity - not the Spin Meister.

Brava Nina!!!

4 out of 5 stars Another one bites the dust.......2007-05-25

I could not believe it when I picked up this disc in my local music store to see my favourite music by Strauss on one CD. The first thing I thought is how is Nina Stemme going to pull off each of these selections. The answer is unfortunately, much to my expectations, she excels in the Salome scene, while the remainder of the CD shows her to a bit of a disadvantage. She sings the Countess's Final Scene music well enough, but just like the 4 Last Songs, she lacks the inner-most feeling and cannot penetrate the music like Fleming or Schwarzkopf. Her vibrato also seems to get in the way of most of the music, although it seems to work better in the Salome Final Scene than anywhere else. Pappano and ROH Orchestra provide worthy accompaniment.

4 out of 5 stars Marvellous Salome.......2007-05-24

Stemme makes a most dramatic, marvellous interpretation, one of the best I have ever heard, of the final scene of Salome. The sheer power in her voice points forward to Elektra and Brünnhilde. And the orchestra is in top form. The reason why I do not give this record five stars is to be found in the final scene from Capriccio. Stemme seems not quite to understand the deeps of this role. The best recording ever made of this scene is done by Elisabeth Söderström, CBE - also on EMI.
It is wonderful to hear a "Hochdramatische" sing Vier letzte Lieder! Strauss obviously wanted this kind of voice, and here Stemme, I must confess, scores over Flagstad. Ms. Stemme has to attend to a small vibrato. But: Do not miss this record!

3 out of 5 stars Disappointing Strauss: Expert-polished orchestra, Adequate Soprano.......2007-05-21

If I could only take one Richard Strauss vocal disc to my lonely desert island, I would be torn between choosing the highlights of Der Rosenkavalier, and the Four Last Songs. Come to think of it, I bet the Four Last Songs and other orchestrated songs would finally win out, though I suppose I could try to burn a personal combo disc of the four songs plus at least the bulk of the Rosenkavalier excerpts.

So we come to Nina Stemme singing both a couple of opera excerpts from Salome and Capriccio, and the songs. The orchestra is Covent Garden, with their current music director, Antonio Pappano, leading.

Right off you hear that Pappano is generating a leaner, cleaner Strauss orchestra sound than the lavish, sumptuous sound we now tend to expect. He is not asking the band for high calorie strings, and daring the woodwinds and the brass to cut through when possible. Instead he brings a clean touch that reminds a listerner of George Szell and Cleveland. The difference is that Pappano also generates more warmth of tone, and the sort of razor-edged, hair-pin precision that we associate with Fritz Reiner and Chicago in their heyday.

In sum, this combo approach works, definitely. The orchestra draws a listener in, and gets all the right Straussian juices going. One wants to hear more Richard Strauss - opera, plus orchestral, plus songs - from Pappano and Covent Garden then. Much, much more. There hasn't been such a gifted Strauss conductor resident in England, apparently, since the late, great Tommy Beecham.

Now to the soprano, Nina Stemme.

I have nothing against a bigger voice doing the songs. If only Flagstad had lived to record them in better conditions. For a hint of that imaginary blessing, check out her Mahler song cycles with orchestra, under Vienna led by Boult and Knappertsbusch.

What I think you will hear from Flagstad, that, alas, I do not hear from Ms. Stemme is yet another confidence and physical embodiment, bolstered by seasoned years of professional work, founded on unfailing vocal technique.

At first and later plays, I thought that Ms. Stemme just missed the stylistic differences between opera and lieder in her overall way with musical phrasing. And maybe the differences between Strauss and Puccini. Overall sweep and lift are there, but the focus in her voice gets to spread too much, as if general intention and vocal gesture and obvious involvement were all there was to it.

No, I am afraid I am disappointed. Is Ms. Stemme yet another gifted younger singer who is being pushed too fast into the limelight, short-cutting her technical foundations? Was she just having a bad day?

Other passing deficits, which are indeed not all that terrible but not all that great either, include a so-so take on the texts, again as if one could make the point with just singing this music and letting the texts slide into home base, whenever and however they may.

Not so, again check out other Straussians like Schwarzkopf whose way with lieder was justly renowned. Even Flagstad shows more lieder text insight in her Mahler cycles. Even Jesseye Norman, whose downside is the just okay support she gets from Kurt Masur and the Leipzig band.

One suspects that Stemme has notable gifts which still need a further technical foundation to fully realize them. Breath control is the deep foundation of tonal control. And even more focus on not just hitting the notes, but keeping them fine tuned wouldn't hurt. Now in her favor, Ms. Stemme does not sing out of tune at all, no. But she lets her tone spread and vibrate every time she reaches up, or tries to point the arch of the phrase, and this bodes ill generally for her interpretations, with ill effects in her lieder phrasing particularly.

My guess is this goes back to resale. But I will watch like a hawk or a night owl for more Richard Strauss from Pappano.

Three stars, then. Adequate. Probably for die hard fans of Ms. Stemme, and for listeners who can prize Pappano and Covent Garden as the real treasure trove here.

My recommends? Well, Schwarzkopf/Szell, plus Isokowski/Janowski, plus Norman/Masur, plus Te Kanawa/Davis, plus Auger/Previn, plus Fleming/Eschenbach, plus Lott/Jarvi, plus Brewer/Runnicles, plus Janowitz/Karajan, plus Price/Leinsdorf. Not a thin field, then. Take your pick and love it. The music is the thing.

4 out of 5 stars A gratifying new voice for Strauss.......2007-05-20

Amazon seems to have hired a new reviewer, and for once I hear what he hears. As Mr. Pines points out, Stemme's voice has a prominent vibrato that probably helps it carry in the opera house but is intrusive on CD when she sings either loud or high. It's unusual to hear a dramatic soprano undertake these songs, even though Kirsten Flagstad debuted them with Furtwangler. For anyone who wants to hear a Deborah Voigt-style voice in the Four Last Songs, Stemme does well, and Pappano provides really superior accompaniment, in a class with Karajan and Szell.

Stemme's capacious voice makes more sense in the final scene from Salome, where Pappano again provides great accompaniment, as good as anyone could want in terms of vividness and excitement. My reaction is about the same as to the songs. I like Stemme's timbre, despite the vibrato (which, alas, will probably turn into a wobble fairly soon), and she makes Salome's yearning for Jokanaan poignant rather than crazed or sexually abandoned. There have been almost no voices recently that can encompass this taxing role, so congratualtions to Ms. Stemme, who dives in fearlessly, even if her achievement is only partial. In the end, it will be Pappano's contribution and EMI's excellent recorded sound that I will remember.
Savage Garden
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Music to love to
  • best band ever
  • awesome band
  • Yes.
  • HIGH SCHOOL ALBUM
 Savage Garden
Savage Garden
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Affirmation
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ASIN: B000002BUH
Release Date: 1997-04-15

Tracks:

  1. To The Moon & Back
  2. I Want You
  3. Truly Madly Deeply
  4. Tears Of Pearls
  5. Universe
  6. Carry On Dancing
  7. Violet
  8. Break Me Shake Me
  9. A Thousand Words
  10. Promises
  11. Santa Monica

Amazon.com

As these two boys from Brisbane, Australia, know, it doesn't hurt to be endorsed by Rosie O'Donnell. When the Queen of Nice sang the words to "I Want You" and the praises of the duo behind it, the song catapulted up the charts. Largely ignored by the serious music press, Savage Garden have cultivated a vast fan base on the strength of their music--and airplay--alone. As formulaic as it may appear, the ballad "Truly Madly Deeply" was lodged at No. 1 for week after week for a reason--it's damn catchy and a welcome reprieve from overdone rock ballads. Lead singer Darren Hayes lends the same yearning vocal style to the third--and best--single from the album, "To the Moon & Back," a slice of synth-pop genius that culminates in a dramatic crescendo of strings, courtesy of coleader Daniel Jones. --Rebecca Wallwork

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Music to love to.......2007-05-13

Nostalgia got me one afternoon and I had to listen to the songs I use to listen to when I was younger. I used to swoon at the sound of Darren Hayes' voice and suddenly craved that sound again. I'd given my CD to a friend as a gift though, so I had to buy it again. I'm so glad I did.

The debut album of Savage Garden is by far their best. From "I Want You", a great song to dance to, to "Tears of Pearls" a song that may pull on your heart strings. They cover every emotion and pull some new ones from you.

If you haven't heard this CD yet, you need to.

5 out of 5 stars best band ever.......2006-10-03

I love both albums from Savage Garden. They are definitely my favourite group ever. Now I can only listen to their songs. I don't think I could go back to *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys. Savage Garden were always on the radio in Australia (I'm from Australia) and on TV. I think Daniel Jones is so talented (and HOT!!) and Darren Hayes' voice is just so amazing. I love how their songs have a deep meaning and are not just some jingle. My absolute favourite song from this album is "To The Moon And Back" because it's so catchy and my other favourites are "Break Me Shake Me" "I Want You" "Truly Madly Deeply" and "Santa Monica". Put all their albums in your shopping cart NOW!!!

5 out of 5 stars awesome band.......2006-10-03

i think Savage Garden are the best band ever. I would rather listen to them than Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC anyday. Daniel Jones is so hot and can play every instrument imaginable... and Darren Hayes' voice is heaven.

5 out of 5 stars Yes........2006-04-09

Savage Garden is just about the greatest pop band ever, and that's all you need to know. They are a masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars HIGH SCHOOL ALBUM.......2006-02-02

This band could have been so MEGABIG right now if they hadn't disbanded. The lead singer Darren has a voice that is hauntingly angelic and the songs they sang was a mix of alternative/r&b/pop/rock/dance...such a great group. I bought this CD because I had heard three of their singles and they all were phenomenal. Buy this CD if you must because it is definitely not a bore. It is great for those high school events like the Senior Prom (Truly Madly Deeply and Universe), the Halloween dance (To the Moon and Back, I Want You, Carry On Dancing), and your first date and kiss (Santa Monica), hee-hee.
I miss this group. I wish that they could have stayed together for long because their second album was also a total smash like this one. Something about Darren's vocals, the instruments, their look, the lyrics, and their aura is compelling. Even now that I am older and experienced, I would slip into nostalgia and think about the good ol' days when music wasn't so angry and competitive and recyclable. Buy this CD because it is the debut of the ones that may have influenced Hoobastank, Coldplay, and Maroon 5. Cheerios!

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