Schmidt: Symphony 2

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 2 in E flat major
Composed by Franz Schmidt
Performed by Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Ludovit Rajter

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: I. Allegro Con Brio - Concertgebouw Orch/Bernard Haitink
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: II. Allegretto - LSO/Antal Dorati
Romance No.2 in F, Op.50 - Arthur Grumiaux
Pno Son No.14 'Moonlight' in c#, Op.27 No.2: I. Adagio Sostenuto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Fur Elise (Bagatelle in a, WoO 59) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Pno Son No,17 in d, Op.31 No.2: III. Allegretto - Stephen Kovacevich
Spt in E flat, Op.20: V. Scherzo: Allegro Molto E Vivace - Members Of The Berlin Phil Octet
Pno Con No.3 in c, Op.37: II. Largo - Alfred Brendel
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: IV. Allegro Vivace - Chicago SO/Sir Georg Solti
Ov 'Egmont', Op.84 - VPO/George Szell
Vn Con in D, Op.61: III. Rondo: Allegro - New Philharmonia Orch/Alceo Galliera

Tracks:

Pno Con No.5 'Emperor' in E flat, Op.73: II. Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Sym No.6 'Pastoral' in F, Op.68: V. Allegretto: Shepherd's Song. Happy And Thankful Feelings... - Staatskapelle Dresden/Colin Davis
Pno Con No.2 in B flat, Op.19: III. Rondo: Molto Allegro - Radu Lupu
Pno Son No.8 'Pathetique' in c, Op.13: II. Adagio Cantabile - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Str Qt in B flat, Op.130: V. Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo - Qt Italiano
Bagatelle, Op.126 No.6 - Alfred Brendel
Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24: IV. Rondo: Allegro Ma Non Troppo 'Spring' - Itzhak Perlman/Vladimir Ashkenazy
Minuet No.11, WoO 7 - ASMF/Neville Marriner
Pno Son No.14 'Moonlight' in c#, Op.27 No.2: III. Presto Agitato - Vladimir Ashkenazy
In Questa Tomba Oscura, WoO 133 - Luciano Pavarotti
Mir Ist So Wunderbar - Hildegard Behrens/Sona Ghazarian/David Kuebler/Hans Sotin
Oh Welche Lust (Prisoner's Chor) - Robert Johnson/Philip Kraus/Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hillis
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: Chor Finale (Excerpt) - Joan Sutherlan/Marilyn Horne/James King/Martti Talvela/Wiener Staatsopernchor

Customer Reviews:

Excellent sample.......2005-10-25

This two disc set is a good sampler of Beethoven; I had forgotten how inspiring his work could be. This set has motivated me to order all three of the Deutch Grammaphone two disc which together include all 9 of Beethoven's symphonies.

Some of the Best.......2005-09-11

Some of these songs are the best that I've heard. I also enjoy the fact that this album provides the ENTIRE movement or selection, unlike some of the other albums that I've heard that only play for a little bit of the song. One example is Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major Second Movement, this movement is one of my favorites to begin with and hearing it so smoothly and masterfully recorded made my heart sing the first time I heard this all the way to end (the other recordings usually stop after the major key shift after the first theme). Also the Egmont Overture is one of the best full versions that I've had the pleasure of enjoying performed this well. The Moonlight Sonata First Movement I found to be nice, but there are better versions out there. For those people just looking for a nice collection of Beethoven songs that are well recorded and well performed, I stronly suggest that you purchase this album.

Storms.......2005-03-09

Classical music compilations are extremely difficult to review. You are always fighting with someone else's opinion of what is "Best of" material. And why should we buy selections when we could buy the entire pieces and hear them played as the composers intended?

A quick answer would be simple: we simply cannot afford to purchase every single piece by every single composer we love. And if the buyer is familiar with the music, he or she would perhaps only want the famous selections everyone knows. In my case, I am particularly picky with recordings and don't have the time to meddle with libraries or going to stores that offer listening stations. Recordings vary greatly and so does playing ability. So why did I go with Essential Beethoven?

It is released with Decca, one of the finest classical music companies out there. You are guaranteed no gimmick or inexpensively recorded tracks on this compilation. Essential B. also has a wider selection than other compilations I looked at. For once, there isn't a movement to be found from the Fifth Symphony. If that's all you want to buy, look elsewhere. Essential B. has pieces I was not familiar with, so here I am listening to it.

Regrettably, there are three distinct issues with this recording, and I want to get them out of the way. 1. Für Elise is atrociously boring to listen to. As a pianist, it is fun to play and almost required learning for the beginner. It should've been dropped. 2. Piano Concerto No. 5 is missing the third movement. It is common to drop the first movement here, but the second and third movements are programmatically tied, providing some of the most emotionally charged music ever put down on lined paper. Also, this rendition of the concerto is less than inspiring and I regret that it is the famous Ashkenazy playing this version. There is almost no life in the playing. 3. The remastering could've been better. The listener will enjoy the loud and boisterous pieces, but the quieter parts, and even the soft piano solos, will have him straining his ears to the point of exasperation. Because of this, I recommend listening on headphones or in a place where you can turn the volume up a little more than usual.

That aside, the rest of the tracks are well recorded, extremely well played, and varied enough to quench even the most learned ears. Decca has included pieces conducted by Sir Georg Solti, one of the greatest conducters in my opinion. (Another "collection" solely conducted by Solti is the "Immortal Beloved" soundtrack.) The orchestral pieces are lush and the range is dynamic. (A little too dynamic, like I stated above, in some areas.) The inclusion of movement IV from Symphony no. 8 pleases me, as I feel this is the least appreciated symphony, overshadowed by Symphony no. 9

The piano pieces are some of the best renditions I've heard. I own all of Ashkenazy's sonatas, so it was nice to hear a movement from "The Tempest" played by Stephen Kovacevich, who plays with fierce determination. Selections from B's piano concertos are fantastic and have prompted me to delve further into listening to more concertos from him. The Rondo from Piano Concerto No. 2, played by Radu Lupu, is one of the most upbeat and wonderfully played pieces here.

To round things off nicely is a movement from the Violin Sonata No. 5, played by the one and only Itzhak Perlman! The piano is caressed by Mr. Ashkenazy himself, and he does so lovingly. You will also find pieces from a string quartet, a violin Romance (and orchestra), and one overture: the "Egmont." I'm not a huge fan of this rendition either, but that's probably because I've heard the Egmont a thousand times.

A huge bonus with this collection are the three choral selections at the end, two of which are from "Fidelio," an opera I've yet to hear in its entirety. The Prisoners' Chorus is beautiful. The introduction sounds very much like a major contribution to Charles Ives's 1906 piece "The Unanswered Question." The compilation ends with Symphony No. 9's finale, but unfortunately, it is a horribly edited excerpt, and mixed extremely hot. I have to turn my volume down everytime this comes on.

I would like to make a little note about the art design, however. Credit here is given to Mark Millington, who did a fine job blending black & white photos of storm clouds, an inspiring sculpture, and blackletter-styled fonts. The CDs themselves are a contrasting bright orange. As a sucker for marketing, I would've plunked money down for this compilation just for the art!

Wonderful selections.......2003-11-08

My kids and I have really enjoyed this CD. This is a great collection of music with high quality performances.

Great intro to Beethoven.......2003-04-05

Great intro to beethoven. There are many great performances by Ashkenazy, Academy of Saint Martin in the fields, Concertgetbouw Orchestra and many other exceptional artists. I would recommend this disc as it contains the masterpieces of beethoven, even though not all of them.

Build your baby's brain through the power of Mozart: Brain 2

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable Classical Music
Beautiful Collection of Classical Music
Build baby's brain with Classics Vol 2

Build your baby's brain through the power of Mozart: Brain 2

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Build Your Baby's Brain
Beethoven: Build Your Baby's Brain 3
Bach:Build Your Baby's Brain 4
Build Your Baby's Brain 5
Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child

ASIN: B00000IPZA
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Tracks:

Overture To The Marriage Of Figaro
Piano Sonata No. 15, K .545
The Sleigh Ride (From Three German Dances, K. 605)
Horn Concerto No.4, K.495
Variations On Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, K. 265
Violin Concerto No.4, K. 218
Piano Sonata No.10, K. 331- (Rondo Alla Turca)
Piano Concerto No.21, K.467
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - (Romance)
Serenade For Winds, K.3 75 - (Adagio)
Selections From The 'Marriage Of Figaro': Cavatina - ('Se Vuol Ballare, Signor Contino')
Selections From The 'Marriage Of Figaro': Aria - ('Non Piu Andrai')
Selections From The 'Marriage Of Figaro': Terzetto - ('Susanna Or Via Sortite')
Symphony No. 38, 'Prague' - (Andante)
Ave Vernum Corpus, K. 618

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable Classical Music.......2006-10-26

This cd is great because unlike other classical music cds made for babies, this one even adults can enjoy. Sometimes they change the song so that it sounds more like something a baby will appeal too, but this one just keeps the original song format which means even people without babies would be able to enjoy some of Mozart's classics.

Beautiful Collection of Classical Music.......2006-08-07

This is a fantastic CD of beautiful music. It is uplifting and soothing at the same time. I have several good classic music compilations CDs, but this is my favorite and the one that gets played daily! When the littlest one is napping, it goes on. When I'm cooking, it goes on. When we have the TV off and the kids are playing games or making puzzles, it is on! It stays in my kitchen CD player so at a touch of a button, lovely music can fill the house.

Check out the samples above (my [...] especially likes #5, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). It is not "children's music," a disc of lullabies, or something to reserve for baby shower gifts. I cannot say enough good things about this disc! This is great music that makes you feel good - if it is building our brains too, all the better! Try it and enjoy :)

Build baby's brain with Classics Vol 2.......2006-07-25

I am a true fan of Classical music and this was purchased as a gift for a co-worker who is adopting a child from China. Therefore I did not open it nor listen to it. The recipient is now overseas picking up their daughter so I know they haven't had the opportunity to listen to it. I think it's a great idea, though.

Karajan Forever: The Greatest Classical Hits

Average customer rating:

Classical music CD for everyone
... in a nutshell
Karajan Forever: The "Eternal" Classical Music Album
Meditation!

Karajan Forever: The Greatest Classical Hits

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Karajan: Adagio
Famous Overtures
Karajan Conducts Grieg & Sibelius
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ASIN: B00008CLNO
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Spring - Michel Schwalbe
Adagio In G Minor For Strings And Organ - Leon Spierer
Valese
Menuetto
Morning Mood
Valse Triste
Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K. 550 (Molto Allegro)
Symphony No. 9 'From The New World' In E Minor
Intermezzo
'Carmen' Suite, Prelude I (Allegro Giocoso)
Bolero (Conclusion)
'The Sleeping Beauty', Valse
'La Traviata', Prelude To Act III
Symphony No. 3 'Organ', In C Minor (Finale) - Pierre Cochereau

Tracks:

'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Introduction)
'Cavalleria Rusticana', Intermezzo Sinfonico - Wolfgang Meyer
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Allegro)
Swan Lake, Suite Op. 20, Scene 1 (Swan Theme) - Michel Schwalbe
An Der Schonen, Blauen Donau
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major (1rst Movement)
Meditation - Michel Schwalbe
Badinerie From Suite No. 2 In B Minor - Karlheinz Zoeller
Barcarolle From 'La Gaiete Parisienne'
Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor (Ex. 1rst Movement) - Lazar Berman
Adagietto From Symphony No. 5
Symphonie Classique (Finale. Molto Vivace)
Dance Of Teh Blessed Spirits From 'Orpheus And Eurydice - Karlheinz Zoeller
Danse De La Fee Dragee
Valse Des Fleurs

Customer Reviews:

Classical music CD for everyone.......2007-01-09

A great selection. I bought one for my husband, and later the other one for my parents.
Quality, and a superb selection of masterpieces.
A must have for classical music lovers, and for everyone who wants to get introduced to classical music.

... in a nutshell.......2006-09-08

Probably the best one-volume compilation of Karajan available, with the most broad-based approachable track list currently being offered to the general enthusiast/collector. Back in the vinyl days, there were two-disc sets available like the "Karajan Super Concert" or the three-volume "Karajan Conducts" set on Angel. Some of these have been re-arranged and re-released with new or different cover art on CD too, but here is a newly remastered set just as good or better than any of those.

It also contains probably the best short essay on what Herbert von Karajan was all about by Axel Bruggemann, that I have ever read. A CD or two of the "Adagio" set by this conductor (also on DG) may be a nice supplement too, otherwise you can't really go wrong with this two-disc set at a fairly affordable price.

Karajan Forever: The "Eternal" Classical Music Album.......2005-09-26

Another fine recording of classical music, as conducted by the man considered to be the greatest conductor of the 20th century- Herbert Von Karajan, whose position as conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic made that particular orchestra unbeatable and at number one in the list of world's greatest orchestras. Karajan was involved with the Berlin Philharmonic's musical development for years, until his death in 89, before the Berlin Wall fell, an event he did not live to see. This recording has to the best of Karajan's many collected classical pieces on record. It is a perfect introduction to classical music itself and to Karajan's style. A plethora of composer and time periods- from Baroque, to Classical to Romantic- are all on here. Vivaldi's Spring opens the CD, and is followed by the melancholy and fatalistic sounding Baroque classic Albinoni Adagio in G. This is followed by Mozart's 40th symhony. The first Romantic Era symphony on here is Dvorak's famous New World Symphony, which Karajan conducts with supreme mastership. The Intermezzo from the verisimo opera Cavalleria Rusticana is on here and sounds absolutely breathtaking. The suite of Bizet's Carmen is musically intoxicating and the Bolero has never sounded hotter, except for maybe Zubin Mehta conducting it which I've heard live and know is absolutely wonderful. The famous Waltz from Tchaikovsky's ballet masterpiece Sleeping Beauty is on here as well as the Third Act Prelude to Verdi's Traviata. The final track on CD 1 is Saint Saens Organ Symphony Finale.

The second disc opens with a masterful version of the powerfully evocative Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, another Austrian composer Karajan championed. The Swan Theme from Swan Lake is on here, as well as the Viennese Waltz favorite On the Beautiful Blue Danube- something I didn't know Karajan even conducted. But being Austrian, I'm not surprised. Karajan even conducted Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus as well as other waltzes. Back to Baroque, he continues with the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by Bach and the gorgeous and somewhat gloomy Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orpheus and Eurydice by Gluck. The CD ends with the elegant and beautiful Waltz of the Flowers from Tchaikovsky's Nutracker. This is a must have for fans of classical music, as a lot of favorites are on here.

Meditation!.......2003-07-20

A veritable who's who of pieces & composers, the CDs Karajan Forever will hopefully live forever.
Herbert VonKarajan was the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1955 until his demise in 1989. His vision & helmsmanship of this magnificent orchestra have literally changed the way a whole generation heard music.

Tracks:

1. Allegro
2. Larghetto
3. Gavotta: Non Troppo Allegro
4. Finale: Molto Vivace
1. Allegro Moderato
2. Largo
3. Vivace

Tracks:

1. Allegro Ben Articolato
2. Tema: Andante/Var.I: L'istesso Tempo/Var.II: Allegro Non Troppo/Var.III: Allegro/Var.IV: Larghetto/Var.V: Allegro Con Brio/Var.VI: Allegro Moderato/Tema: Andante Molto, Doppio Movimento
1. Moderato
2. Allegretto - Allegro
3. Andante Espressivo
4. Vivace - Moderato Marcato

Tracks:

1. Moderato
2. Andante
3. Allegro Agitato
4. Andante Mosso
1. Andante - Allegro Eroico
2. Andante Tranquillo
3. Moderato, Quasi Allegretto
4. Allegro Risoluto - Andantino - Allegro Come Prima

Tracks:

1. Andante - Andreas Schmidt
2. Allegro Marcato - Andreas Schmidt
3. Adagio - Andreas Schmidt
4. Allegro Giocoso - Andreas Schmidt
1. Kije's Birth - Andreas Schmidt
2. Romance - Andreas Schmidt
3. Kije's Wedding - Andreas Schmidt
4. Troika - Andreas Schmidt
5. Kije's Burial - Andreas Schmidt

Customer Reviews:

The Berlin Phil. isn't enough--where's the spirit of Prokofiev?.......2006-07-14

I hope Seiji Ozawa is happy that there's one place in the world, [...] where his Prokofiev symphony cycle fills people with joy. Most critics were quite disappointed in his approach, which veers erratically between the genteel, the bland, and the explosive. You can hear all three styles in the opening movement of Sym. #1, which jolts from one mode to the next. Ozawa seems at a loss to find eihter the wit or the classical elegance of this beloved student work.

The companion symphony on CD 1 is Sym. #6, which typifies the strength of the whole set--outstanding playing from the Berlin Phil.--as well as Ozawa's besetting weakness: he can't find a consistent style for the work. As a result, he tends to fall back on generalized music-making. You can't tell which sections are meant to be elegaic, mysterious, witty, satiric, or romantic.

Ozawa does well when the music is lyrical, brisk, or lightweight. He softens the brutality of the machine-driven idiom of Sym. #2 and #3, which spares our nerves; I am grateful for that, and for the Berliners' fearless execution. The Third emerges as a sonic blockbuster with great impact--I was genuinely thrilled by Ozawa's reading.

By general consensus the masterpiece among Prokofiev's symphonies is the Fifth, which has had some great performances over the years, including Karajan's famous 1968 account with the Berliners. Ozawa's agreeable, suave conducting isn't in the same league, but his performance is better recorded, and for sheer impact it can stand with the best. If only he could have found more bite and elan in the music.

In sum, I can see why critics were decidedly mixed about this set and why the new one from Gergiev is likely to eclipse Ozawa totally.

Stunningly good set.......2005-10-21

This really is an untterly fantastic box set. I am just learning Prokofiev's symphonic cycle with these, and I would certainly enjoy hearing something better than this!

The sound is exquisite, the orchestra is utterly tops, the music (other than the 1st and 5th of course) is a bit inaccessible for the neophyte (although I did love my mother's old LP of the 4th as a kid) but is glistening here so brightly it's undeniable.

Recommended.

Prokofiev Symphonies.......2005-08-09

Ozawa conducts Prokofiev complete symphonies in Berlin. You can't get any better than that! In true Ozawa fashion, you can hear just about every line, every staff, every note. He is such a perfectionist that if you haven't seen him conduct live, you don't know what orchestral perfectionisim is. Get the scores and follow along and you will see what I mean.

Best complete set, but this isn't your grandpa's "Lt. Kije".......2004-09-29

I concur with the reviewers who saw exceptional merit in the (undeservedly) obscure symphonies (namely, those other than 1 & 5). Each sound-world has its own charms. One can hear antecedent rumblings of the 5th lurking in the 4th -- as if in nascent form, waiting to open the matrix of the womb. The melodic invention seems bottomless, and the penchant for boldly painted colors never flags. The low brass surprised me at many points -- it seems Ozawa (or his engineers) had coaxed something out of them that was hard to come by under Karajan's baton. While one can argue over Ozawa's take on individual symphonies (e.g., I'd take de Burgos over Ozawa on the 1st), a Complete Set has to be evaluated on its own terms. This one is a true five-star find.

The Lieutenant Kije suite will shock anyone expecting to hear excerpts from Woody Allen's "Love and Death." In two movements (the Romance and the popular Troika), a baritone vocalist covers the main themes (following the 1933 original version). When a previous reviewer lamented the coupling of the symphonies with yet another Lt. Kije, I found it to be a premature judgment. I've heard a half dozen other versions, but this is the first I've heard the original version with the baritone singing the Russian text. Frankly, I don't even think I like the original 1933 version -- but I certainly can't complain that this seventh Lt. Kije Suite was a redundant addition to my music library!

There's a reason for everything........2003-11-27

Prokofiev was a great composer. His first and fifth symphonies can be found everywhere. The others are much harder to come across. I always wondered why. Now I know; they're not nearly as good.

Tracks:

Parade March (No.1) For The King's Cavalry Regiment Without Op. No.AV 97
Parade March (No.2) For Cavalry Without Op. No.AV 98
'De Brandenburgsche Mars' (Free Arrangement Of An Old Display March) Without Op. No.AV 99
Military Festival March (Imperial March) Without Op. No.AV 100
Processional For The Arrival Of The Knights Of St. John Of Jerusalem (Investiture March) Without...
Processional For The Knights Of St. John Of Jerusalem (Investiture March) Wihout Op. No.AV 103
Vienna Phil Fanfare Without Op. No.AV 109
Fanfare For The Beginning Of Music Week In Vienna, Without Op. No.AV 110
Vienna Fanfare (Fanfare For The City Of Vienna) Without Op. No.AV 134
Festival Music For The City Of Vienna Without Op. No.AV 133
Ste in B flat, Op.4: Prld (Allegretto) - Blaser Ens Amade/Klaus Rainer Scholl
Ste in B flat, Op.4: Romanze (Andante) - Blaser Ens Amade/Klaus Rainer Scholl
Ste in B flat, Op.4: Gavotte (Allegro) - Blaser Ens Amade/Klaus Rainer Scholl
Ste in B flat, Op.4: Intro Und Fuge (Andante Cantabile-Allegro Con Brio) - Blaser Ens Amade/Klaus Rainer Scholl

Average customer rating:

Uneven quality but great value
A superb collection of Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLJ2
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Uneven quality but great value.......2007-04-30

Brilliant Classics has found a niche with their extremely low-price multi-disc collections of the work of a single composer or performer. The Bach, Mozart and Chopin Complete Editions are legitimately considered to be artistic and economical triumphs. But the Masterworks series are more uneven. Currently available from Amazon France at about a buck per CD, they're still a bargain for those interested in quickly building a music library. But it's worth keeping a few things in mind. Unlike the Bach and Mozart Editions, these are not always historically informed performances. In this Mendelssohn set, the Hanover Band puts in a cameo (in Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), but most of the ensembles use modern instruments, techniques and proportions. This doesn't always work out, as in the case of the ponderously heavy recordings of the String Symphonies by an apparently full complement of Gewandhausorchester Leipzig strings (Mendelssohn likely wrote these early works for a much smaller group). The caliber of the performances varies too, ranging from good to poor, and from marquis musicians such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to a few Dutch who-dats. The chamber musicians generally acquit themselves well (though the Octet recording is marred by an engineering flaw in the last movement, distortion, at least on my copy). But the symphonies suffer from some substandard performances, such as the Italian Symphony's live recording with not only audience noise but also ensemble flaws such as a distracting clarinet squeak in the first movement's recapitulation. Another strike is the lack of program notes. Brilliant's Complete Editions provide a booklet or CD-ROM with program notes, but here you'll need to do your own research.

Despite these shortcomings, this set is still good value (at least at Amazon France's current price of 31 Euros). And it's a fine way to become acquainted with Mendelssohn's music.

A superb collection of Mendelssohn.......2007-03-24

Let me preface this by saying that most of these works were not new to me - I own many other Mendelssohn CDs and have enjoyed his compositions for some time now. Also, this set is available much cheaper elsewhere, particularly from European retailers.
The symphonies are well-performed. 'Reformation' is an inspired live recording. The 12 string symphonies, written in Mendelssohn's youth, are also included. The concertos are exceptional - the violin concerto is as good as you'll find anywhere. The oratorios Elijah and Paulus are included, as well as the complete chamber works and a diverse assortment of choral works. The last few discs include the Lied ohne worte, the epic organ sonatas, and excellent renditions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Fingal's Cave. While there are a few sketchy performances in the choral and chamber works, the performances and recordings are generally very solid, and the body of work couldn't be better.

Fritz Wunderlich sings Beethoven, Haydn, R. Strauss

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A great voice from the past silenced too soon

Fritz Wunderlich sings Beethoven, Haydn, R. Strauss

Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00000E3M3
Release Date: 1988-04-14

Tracks:

Auf Dem Hugel Size Ich Spahend, An Die Ferne Geliebte Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Wo Di Berge So Blau, An Die Ferne Gelibte, Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Leichte Segler In Den Hohen, An Die Ferne Gelibte, Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Diese Wolken In Den Hohen, An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Es Kehret Der Maien, Es Bluhet Die Au, An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Nimm Sie Hin Den, Diese Lieder, An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98, Ludwig Van Beethoven
Fleiss Leise, Mein Bachlein, Schottische Und Walisische Volkslieder, Juseph Haydn
Ein Wandere Kommt, Schottische Und Walisische Volkslieder, Joseph Haydn
Ich Stehe Auf Der Heide, Schottishe Und Walisische Volkslieder, Joseph Haydn
Es Widen Meine Schafe, Schottishe Und Walisische Volkslieder, Joseph Haydn
Im Schlummern, Schottische Und Walisische Volkslieder, Joseph Haydn
Mein Susses Liebschen, Schottische Und Walisische Volkslieder, Joseph Haydn
Rose Rot, Rose Weiss, Schottische Und Walisische Volkslieder
Heimliche Aufforderung Op. 27 No. 3, Richard Strauss
Ich Tragemeine Minne, Op. 32 No. 1, Richard Strauss
Standchen, Op. 17 No. 2, Richard Strauss
Morgen, Op. 27 No. 4, Richard Strauss
Zueignung, Op. 10 No. 1, Richard Strauss

Customer Reviews:

A great voice from the past silenced too soon.......2006-05-24

Here is a selection of popular lieder by Fritz Wunderlich, who died tragically at age 36, silencing one of the century's great voices. Surely no accounting of great artists who died before their maturity could be complete without Wunderlich's name.

Here he displays the wonderful timbre, range and sensitivity in his voice, which was conspicuously consistent across the range, regardless of the music he was interpreting or the venue in which he performed. The character of his voicing, enunciation and the structure of his tone and vibrato are virtually without fault throughout this recording, made in the studio with both accompanist and orchestra in 1963, three years before his untimely death.

I bought this to hear his interpretation of Beethoven's only song cycle, "To the Distant Beloved." The notes to this issue concentrate on the music-drama inherent in the songs. I wouldn't call this accounting of the Beethoven as dramatic as singers perform today. It is miles ahead of the inadequate concert performance recorded a year or two back by Goerne and Brendel but, in terms of drama, Wunderlich's work is neither as dramatic or episodic as recordings by Stephen Genz and Thomas Allen.

However, no singer quite has Wunderlich's instrument, a firm, supple and sensitive voice that adjusts to any music and any situation. It is also a bit unfair to compare the baritones above to Wunderlich's tenor.

I found equal pleasure in his renditions of Haydn's lesser known and lesser quality songs and the group of orchestral Strauss lied performed on this disk. Wunderlich performs the Strauss with far more drama and flair than the Beethoven, where he seems almost an introverted lost sould seeking lost love.

All told, this is a treasurable tome from one of the great singers in history in good mid-1960s sound that has dimension, quality and depth. The soloist may be a bit more forward than we epxect in the period-influenced new century but this is no matter. Here is an exhibition of singing that is above criticism and beyond approach. Even the greatest singers in history would weep gladly upon hearing this CD. So will you.

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MY OH MY!
Rich, rewarding music that deserves to be better known

Schmidt: Symphonies Nos. 1-4

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000000B1V
Release Date: 1997-10-21

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In E Major: I. Sehr langsam - Sehr lebhaft
Symphony No. 1 In E Major: II. Langsam
Symphony No. 1 In E Major: III. Schnell und leicht
Symphony No. 1 In E Major: IV. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In E Flat Major: I. Lebhaft - Schmidt
Symphony No. 2 In E Flat Major: II. Allegretto con variazioni: Einfach und zart - Schmidt
Symphony No. 2 In E Flat Major: III. Finale: Langsam - Schmidt

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In A Major: I. Allegro molto moderato
Symphony No. 3 In A Major: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 3 In A Major: III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 3 In A Major: IV. Lento - Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 In C Major: I. Allegro molto moderato
Symphony No. 4 In C Major: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 4 In C Major: III. Molto vivace
Symphony No. 4 In C Major: IV. Tempo primo un poco sostenuto

Customer Reviews:

MY OH MY!.......2002-11-08

Schmidt studied with Bruckner for a few years and played cello under Mahler. His other famous work is "The Book with Seven Seals" Oratorio.

So many things happen when you listen to these four symphonies and there's no way that you will be dissapointed with this set (which is the only complete set). My only recommendation is to try to find it used because it will kill your wallet to buy it new!

Rich, rewarding music that deserves to be better known.......2000-11-29

Franz Schmidt's music is another discovery I owe to Michael Steinberg's priceless book "The Symphony", and it's surely one the most rewarding and durable ones. Schmidt was one of the composers (Strauss, Mahler, to name just the most famous) that formed their art in the melting pot that was Vienna in the first decades of the XX century. It was a background that has remained unique : it was the twilight of an Empire but , at the same time, one of the most culturally thriving times in history, in many fields, and Austria being Austria, music was one of the principal interests. While sharing with the above mentioned composers the predilection for opulently late-Romantic orchestrations, Schmidt had an innate penchant for the abstract, traditional symphonic form. Bruckner, that he much admired, was briefly his teacher, and it shows. Schmidt made no concessions to the flamboyant, sometimes bombastic form of the symphonic poem, nor to the anguished neurosis of Mahler's meandering symphonies, which he disliked. So, think about a grand Bruckner symphony but with Viennese Romantic charm instead of the mysticism, less brass, more strings and woodwinds , lush Straussian (or Korngoldian, if you prefer) orchestration , a good amount of severe Regerian counterpoint, and you'll get a rough idea of a Schmidt symphony. This may sound like a mixed bag or like dry, academic stuff, but instead Schmidt's works are entirely personal and well-integrated: they are full of personal ideas and wonderful ( may I dare to say catchy?) melodies, and his skills in the use of a big orchestra are splendid throughout. Also, Schmidt's is a real symphonic "cycle", because each one of the four symphonies has its own individual "personality" , showing very clearly the composer's evolution. The 1st is an affirmative work : still somewhat derivative from the models mentioned above (he was just 24) , but the talent for achitectural development, the real symphonist's mark, is already apparent throughout. It has, here and there, an intriguing taste for neo-Baroque figurations, but there's no heaviness à la Reger, the effusive, post-Romantic sweep is all Schmidt's. The 2nd is the most decadently rich of the four: it's lushly sweeping , with grandly shaped climaxes which inevitably remind the listener of Bruckner (a more sensual Bruckner, if you want) If you like to wallow in lavish sounds, you'll love it, personally I find it less cogent than the 1st. The 3rd is, in my opinion, a marvelous work: it's more gracefully Viennese than sumptuous, with a leaner, more sophisticated sound. The mood is overall lighter, the tunes are often charmingly poignant (the Adagio!), the final movement (a chorale introduction followed by a noble, dignified slow dance) is, in my opinion, among this composer's very finest things. The 4th, generally regarded as Schmidt's masterpiece, stands a bit apart from the others : the mood is way darker (it was inspired by Schmidt's grief for his daughter's death), and the form is unusually innovative. This complex, massive one-movement symphony blossoms from one instrument's solo, a stupendously haunting trumpet phrase which, through wonderfully inventive developments (among them, a stunning funeral march) leads us to the shatteringly percussive climax. Once more, music fans have to thank the Jarvi/Chandos partnership for their adventurous repertoire choices, and for recording them with top-notch orchestras. I found the playing uniformly accomplished and unexpectedly idiomatic throughout, especially considering that this is not exactly "standard" repertoire outside of Austria. If the live-recorded Chicagoans their special plus of virtuosity to the 2nd and the 3rd, the Detroit Symphony more than matches them in the 1st and 4th (I'd even say that they produce a more "Viennese" sound). Chandos's engineering is approriately warm, yet well-detailed, markedly fuller in the Detroit studio recordings, Among the (too few & hard-to-find) Schmidt cycles currently on the market, this is surely a best-buy, but if you can, also get the Gramophone Award-winner 4th by Franz Welser-Most on EMI, it's something special.

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Bruckner: Mass in E minor / Te Deum

Manufacturer: Berlin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

Mass in e: 1. Kyrie
Mass in e: 2. Gloria
Mass in e: 3. Credo
Mass in e: 4. Sanctus
Mass in e: 5. Benedictus
Mass in e: 6. Agnus Dei
Te Deum: 1. Te Deum
Te Deum: 2. Te Ergo
Te Deum: 3. Aeterna Fac
Te Deum: 4. Salvum Fac
Te Deum: 5. In Te Domine Speravi

Kurt Weill: Der Lindbergflug; Ballad of Magna Carta; Weill & Hindemith: Der Lindbergflug

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Kurt Weill: Der Lindbergflug; Ballad of Magna Carta; Weill & Hindemith: Der Lindbergflug

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00002604Z
Release Date: 1995-04-16

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