Spartacus

Track Listings

1. Signation Supercussion

2. Mondoline

3. kurz und b?

4. SPARTACUS - Adagio

5. SPARTACUS - Allegro - Presto

6. SPARTACUS - Lento - Presto

7. SPARTACUS - Andante - Accellerando

8. SPARTACUS - Lento - Allegro - Adagio

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Supercussion Vienna was founded in 1997 by Gerhard Windbacher and Josef Gumpinger and emerged from the ORF Supercussion. The latter was not only responsible for Austrian Radio Television productions but also for major events in the important concert venues of Vienna, Austria, and throughout Europe. The plan to expand the ORF Supercussion to other Austrian orchestras was successfully realised with the establishment of Supercussion Vienna. All the members of the ensemble hold first timpani or percussion chairs in the following orchestras: Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphonic, Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper, Stage Orchestra of the Austrian Federal Theatres, Orchestra of the United Stages Vienna and, of course, the Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO) Vienna. The main goals of the group are to work together on a broad basis, to collect and maintain percussion literature, and to promote works by contemporary composers providing models for young Austrian musicians. Five members of the ensemble also work to realise these goals through their teaching positions in Classical, Jazz and Latin Percussion at the Vienna and Linz Conservatories of Music and at the Academy of Music in Graz / Obersch? Through this pool of different approaches the ensemble is more than qualified to serve the high standards set by contemporary composers. More than ever, orchestra section percussion has seen a tremendous growth of repertoire in this century. Supercussion intends to raise consciousness for percussion music in Austria in the coming years. This idea has already found an enthusiastic response with many of Austria?s leading artists.

Album Description
Spartacus A ballet about the slave revolt in ancient Rome that has retained its social significance until today.

Bruno Hartl:
"As an admirer of Khatchaturyan it was a special challenge for me to arrange music from Spartacus for a pure percussion ensemble. This suite is the formal basis for the percussion arrangement."

Tracks:

Spartacus-Excerpts: Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia
Spartacus-Excerpts: Variation Of Aegina And Bacchanalia
Spartacus-Excerpts: Scene And Dance With Crotala
Spartacus-Excerpts: Dance Of Gaditanae And Victory Of Spartacus
Gayaneh-Excerpts: Sabre Dance
Gayaneh-Excerpts: Aysheh's Awakening And Dance
Gayaneh-Excerpts: Lezghinka
Gayaneh-Excerpts: Gayaneh's Adagio
Gayaneh-Excerpts: Gopak
The Seasons, Op. 67: Winter
The Seasons, Op. 67: Spring
The Seasons, Op. 67: Summer
The Seasons, Op. 67: Autumn

Amazon.com

Khachaturian's popular ballet scores benefit from his vigorous leadership and the surprisingly idiomatic playing of the Vienna Philharmonic. All the favorite crowd-pleasers are here, including the Sabre Dance. This pairing of ballet suites was a demonstration disc back in LP days and the engineering is still impressive. For those not on Khachaturian's wave length (he does skate perilously close to kitschy vulgarism), the generous filler is a delight--Ansermet's dynamic account of Glazunov's ballet. Its four movements depict the four seasons in an idiom flavored by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov's teacher, Rimsky-Korsakov, and the music's all the more fetching for it. Ansermet sometimes could be a bit too sedate, and his orchestra was never a world-class group, but his conducting is nothing short of vivacious here, and the orchestra, captured in vivid sound, is with him all the way. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Spartacus/Khachaturian.......2007-01-10

Portions of this work were used in the BBC Oneden Line in the 1980s. The title had me baffled for years until I checked the reviews. I was surprised and extremely pleased to have the entire version.

Poor digitalization.......2007-01-05

How nostalgic to can hear 33 1/3 rpm vinyl scratches between the selections! Also, I hear some gurgling that sounds as if a cassette tape is running through dirty heads. This is the only digitally transferred CD on which I've ever heard either of these annoyances.

flamboyant readings of Khachaturian!.......2005-10-31

This CD is really a treasure! Khachaturian's brilliant ballet scores played amazing by Wiener Philharmoniker, under the baton of the composer!

It is a little surprising that, Wiener Philharmoniker plays generally Austro-German musics, from Haydn to Mahler and Alban Berg. But they are very good in these virtuosic orchestral scores. For example, Sabre Dance is whirling, excellent! I like especially the dances "Lezghinka" which a very fast dance of Caucasian-Musluman people and the "Gopak" which starts slow and gradually go faster and faster and finishes in a hysteric tempo! There is a beautiful slow movement, "Adagio" which you can remember form the film 2001: A Space Odyseyy.

At this price and at this sound quality, you can not go wrong with this legendary recording of 1962 by Khachaturian.

Highly recommended.

Vivid performances!.......2005-04-25

The serene and exotic lyricism of this notable work has never been exhibited with so eloquence and majesty ever before. This adagio of Spartacus and Phygia's passionate performance is imbued of profane exoticism, radiant sensuality and suggested eroticism. As you know the string and winds section of the Vienna were in that decade one of the most remarkable around the world. The variation of Aegina and Bacchanalia is loaded with admirable acrobatic fierceness. Scene and dance with crotaria is simply outstanding. Kachaturian as director maintained the rigorous balance, and the muscle never shatters the expression musical. The last section Dance of Gaditane and Spartacus' victory is extremely interesting, the bass clarinet makes a rapture filigree work, anticipating the tragic ending. The whole orchestra will emerge creating a real homage to Dionysisus and surrounding the hall with that Balkan wildness.

The Gayaneh suite begins with the super known Sabre Dance, an admirable exercise of portentous sound and exhibition of high caliber pyrotechnic. The tragic and premonitory omen waltz is almost a perpetuum mobile that strikes the main melody in Aysheh's awakening and dance. In Lezghinka we have to admit the superior histamine doses given by Tekjnavorian . It' s worthy but it is not even closer to incandescence and febrile spirit demanded: I found it weak, lack of the required emotion. In the case of Gayaneh's adagio so well known for the great audiences since Kubrick 's 2001 Odyssey we have to recognize it' s simply great, serene, persuasive, intimate with admirable fond. Hopak is excellent too, reflecting the joy of living so characteristic o this slave country.

Ansermet' s Seasons is splendid though I rather choose the Albert Wolff's performance of the fifties.

And just as historical reference, it is a must for you to acquire this golden recording. Excellent sound edition.

Hudsucker Proxy.......2003-11-11

For a number of years, I've been under the impression that the "Adagio of Spartacus" was simply called "The Hudsucker Proxy Theme." Now I know that where I have been giving credit to Carter Burwell and the Hudsucker Proxy soundtrack, I should have been giving credit to this album - it has both the Adagio of Spartacus and the Sabre Dance - the two best songs from the Hudsucker Proxy, in their original forms. If you are a fan of Hudsucker, BUY THIS ALBUM!

Average customer rating:

A Little Piece of total enjoyment
Wonderful!

Flute For Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004YC3A
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Peer Gynt Ste No.1: Morning
Nocturne
Song Of The Seashore - James Galway/Susumu Miyashita/Ayako Shinozaki
Spartacus: Adagio Of Spartacus & Phrygia
Con Op.10 No.3 'Goldfinch': II. Cantabile - James Galway/Malcolm Proud
Serenade D.957 - James Galway/Philip Moll
Kinderszenen: Traumeri
La Flute De Pan: Pan And The Birds
Nocturne in E flat, Op.9 No.2
Red Dragonfly - James Galway/Susumu Miyashita/Ayako Shinozaki
Fl Qt in C, K.285b: Variation V - James Galway/Tokyo Str Qt
Orfeo Ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Messiah: Pastoral Symphony
The Firebird: Berceuse
Dolly Ste: Berceuse
The Four Seasons: Con Op.8 No.4 'Winter': II. Largo - James Galway/Zagreb Soloists
Voyage
Suo-Gan (Lullaby) - James Galway/Emily Mitchell
Danny Boy

Customer Reviews:

A Little Piece of total enjoyment.......2007-05-12

This CD is the BOMB-- I really enyoy listening to it

Wonderful!.......2001-01-29

This is a great CD. If you're a James Galway fan, this is a must have. He is, after all, THE GREATEST flutist in the world today. The CD is filled with some of the most beautiful (and relaxing) music ever written. Buy it. You will love it.

Average customer rating:

Eh, It's Okay
Better than the First Volume
An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 2
Sheila from Savannah, Georgia
A great album

Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
Simply the Best Movie Themes
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Classic Movie Themes

ASIN: B000003CYV
Release Date: 1993-06-29

Tracks:

2001: A Space Odyssey: Fanfare
Ben-Hur: Prelude
The Ten Commandments: Prelude
Friendly Persuasion: Thee I Love
Picnic: Moonglow And Theme
Around The World In 80 Days: Theme
Mutiny On The Bounty: Main Title
Spartacus: Love Theme
Zorba The Greek: Theme
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg: I Will Wait For You
Valley Of The Dolls: Theme
Midnight Cowboy: Theme
The Godfather: Theme
Modern Times: Smile
Dances With Wolves: Themes
Far And Away: Book Of Days
Grand Canyon: Theme

Customer Reviews:

Eh, It's Okay.......2007-04-24

For those that purchase soundtrack collages to have a variety of songs and themes, then this is good for you. Unfortunately, these tracks didn't have the signature Erich Kunzel version of the songs as he had on other soundtrack mix CDs. It was more like just that, a mix CD of different soundtracks and scores. However, it was a good buy in the fact that the tracks chosen had excellent sound quality and a sense of harmony.

Better than the First Volume.......2005-08-04

There is a great collection of music to be found here. There are many great renditions. The "2001, a Space Odyssey Fanfare" was outstanding. "Book of Days" from "Far and Away" had a very unique approach. I recommend this one deeply, oh yes I do, by far and away!

An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 2.......2005-06-17

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops' treatment of film scores on this second tribute to Hollywood are somewhat more pleasing than Volume I. The selections are more intriguing and demonstrate a more positive approach to film scores and their value as true musical art forms. There is quite a diverse representation of music here. The incredibly powerful main title to MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (Bronislaw Kaper) juxtaposed with the bittersweet and romantic love theme to SPARTACUS (Alex North) and the intimately tender love theme to FRIENDLY PERSUASION (Dimitri Tiomkin) are masterfully achieved. I have never been that enamored with this CD's 20-bit digital recording but it has grown on me. Still, I highly recommend and enjoy this CD.

Sheila from Savannah, Georgia.......2005-01-15

I love this cd. It is the greatest. Moonglow and Midnight Cowboy are my favorites.

A great album.......2001-01-28

Erich Kunzel, once again comes through with another terrific album of movie music. On this album you will find preludes, themes and main title music from some of Hollywood's most loved movies. Films from as early as 1936's "Modern Times", through to 1992's "Far and Away", are represented here. The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra are as wonderful as ever, and the 20-bit digital sound system makes for unequalled sound quality. A pleasing highlight for me, is the wonderful "Moonglow" which starts off track 5. The jazz trio of piano, bass and drums eventually is joined by the orchestra for the theme from "Picnic". Then we have the beautiful waltz from "Around the world in eighty days". With the wonderful accordion solo, you can imagine being on a merry-go-round. This is truly a beautiful album...a must for lovers of orcestral music.

Average customer rating:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation
Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices
**An Exquisite Album**
Samples
Great Sampler!

Simply the Best Classical Anthems

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Thunderous Classics
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ASIN: B00004SUVI
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

Requiem: Dies Irae
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
The Planets: Mars
The Ride Of The Valkyries
Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
Fanfare For The Common Man
Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Aida: Grand March
Summer - Four Seasons: Presto
Te Deum: Prelude
The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
Symphony No. 5: First Movement
Spartacus: Adagio
Sabre Dance
Symphony No. 40: First Movement
Zadok The Priest
Turandot: Nessun Dorma

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathoustra
Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Knights
Requiem: Dies Irae
1812 Overture
Piano Concerto
Spring - Four Seasons: Allegro
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
The Royal Fireworks: La Ruissance From Music
Flight Of The Bumble Bee
Symphonie Fantastique: March To The Scaffold
Carmen: Overture
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Jerusalem
The Planets: Jupiter
Symphony No 9, 'Ode To Joy'
Swan Lake: Scene
Enigma Variations: Nimrod
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Variation 18]
Pictures At An Exibitions: Promenade
Symphony For Organ No 3: Finale, Symphony For Organ No 3

Customer Reviews:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation.......2007-06-11

We were concerned after reading some other reviews that this version of Pomp and Circumstance wouldn't be the correct movement or the full length version. This selection has the song for graduation AND the extended length, so it gives plenty of time for processionals. If this is what you need, this is the CD to get.

Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices.......2004-08-13

"Simply the Best Classicial Anthems" is exactly what the title indicates. This is a collection of what the CD says are "36 of the most powerful classics on Earth". My review of this CD comes from someone who is a Classical Music Novice. I'm familiar with some of the composers, musical styles, musical periods, and some of the terminology that is key to understanding Classical Music. By no means am I an expert. I have basically popped in this two CD collection into my player and have enjoyed the sounds it produces. If you are in the same category as I am or maybe just wanting to be introduced to Classical Music - this is going to be a very good CD to have in your collection. For the more seasoned Classical Music fan, this could be either enjoyable or overkill.

The CD contains 36 songs composed by the legends of Classical Music Composers from the past. The bulk of the works come from Composers in the the 19th and 20th century, but there are works from the Romantic and Classical eras of the late 18th and early 19th century (such as Beethoven and Mozart). In general you will find most of the major names of Composers you would expect to find - names such as Tchiakovsky, Handel, Verdi, Strauss, Elgar, and Bach are all there. The only major composer who I would have expected to see on this CD that I don't see is Frederic Chopin. The composers of the late 20th century are not included on this collection - so you won't see Leonard Bernstein or John Williams on this set. While these Composers are excellent, I do think style of the tracks on this collection pre-date their style.

The recordings themselves are done by the great Orchestras around the world. For the most part, European Orchestras were used to deliver the tracks. There are a few exceptions: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra delivers "The Ride of the Valkyries"; The Toronto Symphony Orchestra delivers "Dance of the Knights"; and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Some of the European Orchestras that are well known include: BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Choeur Philhamonique de Strasbourg, and more. Also included are performances by well known names in the Classical space such as Marie-Claire Alain (Bach's "Toccate and Fogue in D Minor" and Saint-Saens' "Symphony for Organ No 3"), Piero Toso (Vivaldi's "Allegro From Spring - Four Seasons"), and Placido Domingo appears on Puccini's "Nessun Dorma".

The 2 Disc collection contains a total of over 2 hours and 6 minutes of music. The selections that are included in the set will sound very familiar to you when you play them. You probably have both heard and seen the names of tracks such as: Oref's "O Fortuna"; Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Beethoven's "First Movement from Symphony Number 5" and "Ode To Joy"; Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Many of the other tracks will also sound familiar, but maybe not so much by name - such as Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries", Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathoustra"; Grieg's "Piano Concerto", and "Dies Irae" (versions included by Mozart and Verdi - you can compare the two and judge for yourself). As for the Discs themselves, I think most of the casual fans will like the selections on Disc Two better, but Disc One is still very good. On a sidebar, the Israel Philharmonic's version of "1812 Overture" is by far the best you will hear - particularly at the end, the booming drums create almost a 3 dimensional vision of fireworks being launched into the air.

There one big negative on this collection is some of the recording quality. The clarity of the recording is there, but some of the recording levels leave a lot to be desired. On some of the softer parts, it is barely audible without significantly turning up your volume. This is very evident on "O Fortuna" where you will hear almost dead silence during from the 30 second to 1:30 mark of the track unless you crank your volume up. Same with the first few seconds of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathoustra" and Tchiakovsky's "1812 Overture". When the volume is cranked up you will hear them - but then the other sections will be way too loud. I'm surprised with modern technology that this couldn't be addressed better.

The liner notes are pretty thin. You do get the Composers, Performers/Orchestras, and recording dates. There isn't any more details than that and you won't learn anymore insight on the tracks than this information. Despite some of the shortcomings of the liner notes and recording volume, I still think this is an excellent place to start and do recommend this CD if you are a novice to Classical Music and are looking for a great place to start listening to what the Classics have to offer.

**An Exquisite Album**.......2004-02-21

Simply The Best Classical Anthems

Simply The Best Classical Anthems is a compilation album of `36 of the most powerful Anthems on Earth'. But, it is also said to be something else. It is said to be a gateway. A gateway to another world. A world where our imagination can run free without being shackled down by any borders or boundaries or rules or limits. A world that we have all seen or perhaps more accurately have all heard of but for many of us a world that we have never dared to enter. Never dared to enter because of fear. The fear of being ostracised and shunned by our community.

THE MYTH
`Classical Music!', I can hear some of you cry. `That isn't another world. That's just music for the upperclass, the high-brow, and the pompous.' Surprisingly, I too felt this way for a long time until I accepted the invitation made to me by Simply The Best Classical Anthems. I always felt that Classical Music was nice to listen to as background music for a Levis ad or a Car ad but I would consider people strange if they chose to hear it on its own. However, after having listened to this album I realised how wrong I was in my assumptions.

THE TRUTH
Music as with all forms of amusement helps to take you away from where you are now. It helps to relax you when you are stressed with anger; it helps to give you strength when you are vulnerable; it helps to keep your spirits up when you have faced tragedy or loss. It helps. And, for me the type of music that best conjures up the most passionate emotions (love, hate, courage and anger) at our most testing times is Classical Music.
How? I don't know.
Why? I don't know.
I can only promise you that in my experience it does.

THE CHEST
The album, in visual terms, is very difficult to overlook amongst the plethora of records that may surround it. This is because the album has a very distinct purple sleeve cover. Not any kind of purple mind you but the Cadbury's kind of purple. The kind of purple that carries with it an invitation. An invitation that if accepted promises you a treasure inside.
And since, I have always enjoyed the treasure within the purple Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper, I asked myself why would an album carrying the same invitation promise to be anything different? Thus, I parted with my tuppence worth and went back home to open this purple chest of promised treasures.

THE PROMISED TREASURE
As you may have guessed, the contents of the album are somewhat different to the contents of a Cadbury's bar. When I opened the album, I was presented with two compact discs. At first glance, there did not seem to be anything special about them. They were just your average, everyday, run of the mill compact discs. To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed because I suppose I had hoped for something more.
However, looks can be deceptive. (Afterall, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk does not seem very appetising until you taste it!) And, also come November each year, I am always bemused and surprised at how the shabby contents of a cardboard box can both light up the sky and light up the faces of the neighbourhood. Thus, I pushed aside my assumptions and I ignited the discs (not literally of course, I just pressed the play button on the CD player). And, I let the fireworks begin.

THE KEY
From the very beginning, you will feel like you have unlocked the doorway to something special. And, after a full two hours of listening to both discs, you will feel like you have been taken out of this world and transported to another. Welcome to the world of Classical Music.

GUIDANCE
In the beginning, continue to listen to both discs in one go (i.e. one after the other). After a while, you will know which tracks you enjoy listening to the most. For those tracks you enjoyed the most make a promise to yourself that you will listen to the whole of the piece from which that track came from.
Good Luck on your quest if you choose to accept it.
Ride amongst the Valkyries, listen to the Flight of the Bumblebees, and use The Planets to keep you on the path.

I am not a good reviewer because as with all of my reviews I refuse to comment too much about what is inside the product but rather more about what effect the product has had on me. (Me, me, me. Vain & Egotistic, I know, so my friends and family keep telling me). But, I just want to cause a raucous about the product, enough not to spoil but enough of a raucous to let you experience it for yourself.

So my final words are:
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is an invitation. An invitation to the world of classical music. A world where you can begin a never-ending quest of curiosity. A curiosity that will always be rewarded with fulfilment.

Do you accept such an invitation?

Hope you found this review helpful.

Samples.......2003-11-23

The samples are too short and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that the choices are wonderful and the price is great. If you're looking for a overview of the best of classical music then this is for you. However if it's quality you're looking for then spent the extra money and look at other choices.

Great Sampler!.......2002-03-20

This is a good sampler, since it covers what you would want in a classical music CD. Looking at the tracks, it has the classic hits, such as "Ride of the Valkyries," "Toccata and Fugue," "Fanfare for the Common Man," "'Jupiter' from `The Planets,'" "Eine Klein Nachtmusik," and "Hallelujah Chorus."

There are also some new pieces that I have fallen in love with, such as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," "'Promenade' from Pictures at an Exhibition." The compilers did an interesting double take by including both Verdi's and Mozart's "Dies Ire." I'm not sure which is better.

This music is good for the brain and good for the soul. There is a power and passion that the blaring and glaring music that makes up most of the FM band. I'm reminded of the religious man who said that there is no music in hell. Probably because they wouldn't appreciate it there.

These CDs has a good transfer from the analogue tapes; there is no hiss or fuzziness. The packaging hearkens back to 2001: A Space Odyssey, with the black monolith. And appropriately, "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is the opening track on Disk 2.

Spartacus
Average customer rating:

Ahead of it's time

TOO GOOD FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?

Stop comparing and just play it

Synthesizer Gladiator tunage

Triumvirat Fans: This CD is Great, but look for a DELUXE CD!

Spartacus
Triumvirat
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000068QEN
Release Date: 2002-09-30

Tracks:

The Capitol Of Power
The School Of Instant Pain
The Walls Of Doom
The Deadly Dream Of Freedom
The Hazy Shades Of Dawn
The Burning Sword Of Capua
The Sweetest Sound Of Liberty
The March To The Eternal City
Spartacus
The Capitol Of Power (Live In Los Angeles)
Showstopper

Album Description

2002 remastered reissue of the German progressive rock act's 1975 album. Includes 2 bonus tracks 'The Capital Of Power' (live) & 'Showstopper' (previously unreleased). EMI.

Album Details

DIgitally remastered progressive rock classic.

Customer Reviews:

Ahead of it's time.......2007-05-24

If you like progressive rock such as Yes, ELP, Spock's Beard and early Genesis, you will like this album. This album, or band did not succeed in the American market but enjoyed a relative success in Europe and GB. This import is worth your pleasure. Great Gourmet music!

TOO GOOD FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?.......2007-03-25

I have written several hundred reviews on Amazon, the majority dealing with the remastering of compact disc recordings.

As an aside, I unabashedly invite you to click on my ID above and peruse my electronic scribbling, if you, too, have an interest in remastering. Now that Amazon has added the ability to leave comments, I would be interested in hearing your opinions and possibly receiving your votes.

As a 50-year-old, lifelong music fan, an owner of a CD collection large enough to be termed a library, a crazed pursuer of tens of thousands of dollars/decades of audio equipment upgrades, and ultimately, as an intense LISTENER, I feel comfortable in my mastering observations.

However, in all those reviews, I have seldom opined to content. I've always held music criticism in various forms of contempt: I'm old enough to have read the original reviews of many albums Rolling Stone magazine panned back in the 70's that they now hail as "classic" and "must-own" recordings.

As Irish author Brendan Behan once waxed best: "Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it's done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." And, as Harlan Ellison succinctly observed, Roger Ebert, albeit one of the pre-eminent film historian/critics of our time, will also, unfortunately, always be the guy who penned the original screenplay to "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls".

Respectively, sage words and adroit perspective to live by, I always thought.

So, on to Triumvirat and "Spartacus".

Being an instant prog-fan with the first ELP, King Crimson & Yes albums in 1969, Spartacus knocked me out the first time I spun it on a turntable in `74. Yet, throughout the subsequent decades, the album always had one distinctive and unfortunate trademark for me: No matter what other prog-acquaintance I played it for, the album and band were instantly dismissed as "ELP rip-off's" (a reaction very similar to that I always received of Frank Marino via Jimi Hendrix, also quite undeserved), and you see some of that in the reviews below.

Although I understood the observation, I never agreed with it. So much so, that I feel compelled to come to the album's defense and offer my own perspective. Therefore, I humbly hereby fling my fedora into the roped canvas quad.

Put simply, Spartacus is just a really great record, and may be one of the strongest prog albums of the 70's. As Triumvirat is always compared to ELP, I would offer that Spartacus is certainly a far more concise and finished piece than some of the ELP albums, many of which contained iconoclastic compositions, but were rounded off with uneven ("Tarkus"), and sometimes hackneyed ("Works", as in both, and don't get me started on "Love Beach", which even ELP themselves detest), material.

There is not one weak track on Spartacus, and Triumvirat acquit themselves mightily as both musicians and songwriters. Nothing they did before, and nothing that followed, was as accomplished, or has stood the test of time, as Spartacus does. And, truth be told, I never particularly cared for the other albums in the Triumvirat catalog.

I consider Spartacus a perfect prog album, one that should stand proudly beside ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery", as each band's respective masterpiece. Like BSS, everything on Spartacus just jelled to perfection (although, honestly, I have always been able to do without "Benny The Bouncer", the proverbial funny-colored "pickle" in the BSS punchbowl). Am I saying is Spartacus as good as BSS? Of course not. But if Spartacus were an ELP album, my personal preference would place it behind only BSS, ELP1 & Tarkus, and ahead of all the other studio ELP albums, including Trilogy.

Yes, there are brief passages in Spartacus that are almost, or are, note-for-note ELP-esque. But if you listen to the entire recording, rather than fixate on a few bars, you will find, as I have, a work deserving of far greater recognition. I've always suspected, although not substantiated by anything I've ever read, that the incorporation of those momentary passages may have been nothing more than ELP homages, rather than plagiarization. Barclay James Harvest, another 70's prog band, did exactly that with the Beatles and The Moody Blues and I don't remember them ever getting trashed for it.

And, yes, some of the lyrics ("In the Gladiator's school, things were perfect, things were cool") will raise the corner of your mouth, as if your olfactories had been gently prodded by a rather pungent slice of pressed curd of milk.

But, anyone who considers themselves to be a fan of progressive music, and actually listens to this album, should admit to one fact: These cats were awesome players on their respective instruments. Check out the extended soloing in the live bonus tracks, if you need further convincing. The musicianship Triumvirat's members display on Spartacus is on a par with almost anything ELP ever recorded: Tight, fiery, inventive, expressive and eminently listenable... everything a prog-fan should want.

So, if you've never heard this album, or, if you have and dismissed it, PLEASE, give it a whirl/re-whirl, in both cases, with an open mind.

If you do so, IMHO, I think you will find a work that not only stands on its own, but one that is whole-heartedly, start-to-finish, just downright, doggone enjoyable.

Stop comparing and just play it.......2006-10-27

I grew up in the ELP / YES / etc. era. and yes you can say Triumvirat has borrowed some here and there. But wait what about ELP and Yes borrowing most from the great classics (Mozart etc.) Guess that's OK to their fans?.
If you think for a moment why did these guys do so well just as Starcastle did for Yes?. Well for one it was pretty hard to listen to a ELP or a Yes album though it entirety. There was some great stuff on those ELP/Yes albums but at the same time some real out of control crap filler on them also.
This is what these guy's knew and took to the next level with very well recorded and Much more even written songs and still far easier to listen to in today.

Synthesizer Gladiator tunage.......2006-03-04

If you like gutsy synthesizer tunes like Edgar Winter and Rick Wakeman used to make, you should enjoy this album. The lyrics are tangential and sometimes blushy but the tunes are really impressive.

Triumvirat Fans: This CD is Great, but look for a DELUXE CD!.......2005-12-21

If you are not familar with this album, you'll certainly learn to love it very fast. But, for people who LOVED the old LP and want to buy it again, take my advice. Look for DELUXE version of this classic recording (released by Friday Music) instead!

That includes not one, but THREE LIVE versions from this album: The Capital Of Power (same version as on this one), plus The Deadly Dream Of Freedom and (get ready for this) an Awesome version of MARCH TO THE ETERNAL CITY! They total 20 minutes of Spartacus LIVE! You also get 2 other fine studio tracks never before released: Late Again and Take A Break Today. If you are lucky (good chance), you'll find a DELUXE version even cheaper!
(To be specific: Search for the DELUXE version on Google ASAP!)

Amazon has missed the boat by not offering the DELUXE version here. I paid VERY dearly for my DELUXE CD in a bidding war on Ebay. You can probably find a New copy for 1/4 of what I paid!

True Stories: I also found an import CD around 1995 and it just made my month. When my original LP was worn out, I bought the cassette version. That transfer was SO bad, I sent it back to Capitol Records and demanded they send me another LP so that I could tape it myself on its first play. They did send that LP!

Like someone else here said... I've bought well over 1,500 LPs, cassettes, CDs and even 8-Tracks (Gulp!), but THIS Album is a Top Ten of ALL Time for me. It might even be in the Top 5! Disregard complaints from ELP fans, this is a MASTERPIECE!

Average customer rating:

Nice Mood Setting Music
This CD stays in my car player
Beautiful interpretations
great music! not so great sound variations!
A great, great collection!

Romantic Adagios

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Movie Adagios
Evening Adagios
Romantic Adagios 2
Violin Adagios
Cello Adagios

ASIN: B00004C8TG
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Adagio For Strings: Barber: Adagio for Strings
Meditation (Thais): Massenet: Meditation (Thais)
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18
Gymnopedies 1 and 3: Satie: Gymnopedies 1 and 3
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: Mozart : Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K622
Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus): Khachaturian: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight': Beethoven : Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Kol Nidrei: Bruch: Kol Nidrei
Nimrod (Enigma variations): Elgar: Nimrod (Enigma variations)
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467: Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467
Andante cantabile (String quartet No. 1): Tchaikovski: Andante cantabile (String quartet No. 1)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor: Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Symphony No. 9 in E minor ' From the New World': Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor ' From the New World'
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini: Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana): Mascagni: Intermezzo (Cavalleria rusticana)
Clair de Lune: Debussy: Clair de lune
Concierto de Aranjuez: Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez - Adagio
The Carnival Of The Animals: Saint-Saens: The Swan
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Major, Op. 102: Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, op. 102 - Andante
Pavane, op 50: Faure: Pavane, op 50

Customer Reviews:

Nice Mood Setting Music.......2007-05-25

This is a very nice cd to listen to and sip red wine in one's back yard while reading a good book. Well worth to add to your collection.

This CD stays in my car player.......2005-07-25

This CD is one that I think even non-classical music lovers would like. It isn't too "classical" and some of the songs are the kind that keep going though your head until you can't help but play the disc again. It is a two disc set and priced no higher than most singles.

Beautiful interpretations.......2004-01-25

I agree with a previous reviewer on the minor problem
of variations in volume. Beyond that, I find every
piece beautiful. This interpretation of Barber's
Adagio is the most passionate I have ever heard. I also
find the Faure selection very touching. I love the
vocals. I recommend this set to anyone, if for no
other reason than the Barber piece.

great music! not so great sound variations!.......2003-07-07

The selections and the arrangements are truly excellent. There are some hard to find (on the same CD) pieces and adagios--Spartacus ; Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez; Mascagni's Intermezzo from Cavelleria...
But, better turn up the sound and then get away from the speakers. Parts of the selections are played so very softly that, when you turn up the volume to hear them, you will get blasted by those sections that have cresendos, or just plain louder sections. Too bad!
Very hard to enjoy in a car--or, even at home. if this problem did not exist, this is a 5 star plus!

A great, great collection!.......2001-10-01

I was stunned to see only two and a half stars for romantic adagios. I don't know how much you get to know by listening to only one "song" out of so many in this collection, but in my opinion this CD collection deserves a lot of credit. I had heard of Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings many times before and I was impressed but this was the first time that I was completely mesmerized. I highly recommend to any Barber fans to listen to this interpretation by David Zinman which is incredible. There seems to be so much passion and emotion! Also others such as Adagio of Spartacus and Clarinet Concerto just make the collection even better.

Average customer rating:

... silvio!!!
El mejor travador
Silvio is Magic and is poetry
Not the one I wanted
This cd is very good

Unicornio
Silvio Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Spartacus Discos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Dias y Flores
Causas Y Azares
En Vivo en Argentina
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Oh Melancolia

ASIN: B00005J9C0
Release Date: 2001-04-06

Tracks:

Por Quien Merece Amor
Gaviota
Son Desangrado
Pioneros
Hoy Mi Deber
Primera Mentira
Cancirgente Para Nicaragua
Sol No da de Beber
Maza
Unicornio

Album Details

Digitally Remastered of the 1995 Album from the Cuban Singer/Songwriter Whose Tender Balladry Offshoots his Hard-edged, Politically-slanted Lyrics. A Spearhead of the Nueva Trova (New Ballad) Style of Nueva Cancion (New Song), Rodriguez Masterfully Blends Romantic Tunes with Protest Material Condemning Colonization and the Tyranny that Swept Through Latin America in the Late '60s and Early '70s.

Customer Reviews:

... silvio!!!.......2007-01-06

No hay mucho que decir, me encanta, sobre todo "La primera mentira", "La maza", y "El sol no da de beber"... "Unicornio (o Noticia): un clásico de clásicos,
así que es una buena opción, sólo que no lo recomendaría para quien quiera empezar a escuchar el trabajo de Silvio

El mejor travador.......2006-11-10

Pura poesía. Silvio es inigualable. Este CD tiene canciones muy buenas como: "Gaviota", "Canción Urgente Para Nicaragua" (que se acaba de poner de moda nuevamente), "La Maza" y "Unicornio."

Silvio is Magic and is poetry.......2004-09-30

...but who could buy a Silvio Rodriguez' Album hoping to find a song by Cecilia Noel? You would be the worst buyer ever. If you buy this Album, you'll enjoy Silvio's melodies that are almost magic. He is an outstanding guitarrist, he has an extraordinay dramatic sese and emotional range. But if you could understand spanish, you might understand his lyrics that actually are not simple. It is just poesy. You'll enjoy the CD twice. And It is not a personal opinion, it is Ernesto Sabato's.

Not the one I wanted.......2004-08-19

Saw the BMW film, love the song but can't find it anywhere. If anyone know where I can get the song Unicornio sung by Cecilia Noel(not Silvio Rodriguez), please email me at cmike620@excite.com.

This cd is very good.......2004-05-19

warning to all who saw the BMW flim "the follow" this song unicornio is not sung by Cecilia Noel who sings it in the movie it is sung by Silvio Rodriguez. Who does a good job but not as good as she does in the movie. So if you dont want to be disapointed do not buy this cd. but saying that, the cd is good and finding her version is really hard.

Average customer rating:

Dull Epics
Very Disappointing
Chilling versions of the best scores ever written

Epics [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000C8ASA
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Fanfare From Also Sprach Zarathustra From 2001: Space Odyssey
Parade Of The Charioteers From Ben Hur
Suite From Gladiator
Tara's Theme From Gone With The Wind
Themes From Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
War From Pearl Harbor
Love Theme From Spartacus
Overture From Lawrence Of Arabia
Love Theme From Star Wars, Episode II: Attack Of The Clones
May It Be And Themes From The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
Hedwig's Theme From Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
Prelude And Lara's Theme From Doctor Zhivago
Sean's Theme From Minority Report
The Magnificent Seven

Customer Reviews:

Dull Epics.......2006-09-27

EPICS is plagued by the muddled sound of TELARC's recordings. I noticed this trend beginning with TELARC's Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2. The recoding seems flat. Also, this recording is a bit bombastic and just not representative of the original scores. The Suite from Gladiator is a good case in point. It glosses right over the basic themes presented in the film with an annoying nonce lance.

Very Disappointing .......2006-09-27

EPICS is very disappointing. It is nowhere up to the usual standards of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The recordings are harsh and just too showy. There is no heart, only might and if these are supposed to be epics, what is MINORITY REPORT doing there?

Chilling versions of the best scores ever written.......2004-04-24

This cd is an essential for any person that particularly enjoys the score in films. Epics is a full length cd containing 14 songs performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under Erich Kunzel.

Usually, I am weary of cds that come out with songs from movies that aren't the original recordings, but I have to say there should be no worries with this cd. The songs remain exactly the same in tempo and sound as you hear them in the movies.

The choices for this cd was amazing. Every song that you hear are the songs that make the movie it is in, most often giving you chills and goosebumps as the music encompasses you into the movie (like what happened to me when I saw Lord of the Rings). From the Theme from 2001: a Space Oddysey to Star Wars: Attack of the Clones to Lord of the Rings, these songs are performed beautifully with a clear and crisp sound.

Tracks:

Pre- Historic: One Million Years B.C.
The Ancient World: The Ten Commandments
The Ancient World: Alexander
The Ancient World: Sodom And Gomorrah
The Ancient World: The 300 Spartans
The Ancient World: Troy
The Ancient World: Alexander (Eternal Alexander)
The Might Of Rome: Quo Vadis
The Might Of Rome: The Robe
The Might Of Rome: Demetrius And The Gladiators
The Might Of Rome: Cleopatra
The Might Of Rome: Antony And Cleopatra
The Might Of Rome: Gladiator (Suite)
The Might Of Rome: Gladiator (Now We Are Free)

Tracks:

The Fall Of Rome: Masada
The Fall Of Rome: Spartacus (Main Theme)
The Fall Of Rome: Spartacus (Love Theme)
The Fall Of Rome: The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Pax Romana)
The Fall Of Rome: The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Overture)
Biblical Epics: The Greatest Story Ever Told
Biblical Epics: Jesus Of Nazareth
Biblical Epics: Ben-Hur (Parade Of The Charioteers)
Biblical Epics: Ben-Hur (Love Theme)
Biblical Epics: The Silver Chalice
Biblical Epics: The Passion Of The Christ
Medieval Europe: The War Lord
Medieval Europe: El Cid (Love Theme)
Medieval Europe: El Cid (Overture)
Medieval Europe: The Vikings (Suite)

Tracks:

Medieval Europe: Flesh & Blood
Medieval Europe: The Last Valley
Medieval Europe: Prince Valiant
Medieval Europe: Taras Bulba
Pirates & Swashbucklers: The Sea Hawk
Pirates & Swashbucklers: The Crimson Pirate
Pirates & Swashbucklers: Pirates Of The Caribbean
Pirates & Swashbucklers: Captain Blood
Kings & Queens: The Lion In The Winter
Kings & Queens: Henry V (1989)
Kings & Queens: Henry V (1944)
Kings & Queens: Mary Queen Of Scots
Kings & Queens: The Private Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex

Tracks:

Heroes: Excalibur - O Fortuna
Heroes: First Night
Heroes: The Adventures Of Robin Hood: March Of The Merry Men
Heroes: Braveheart
The New Worlds: Mutiny On The Bounty
The New Worlds: 1492 - Conquest Of Paradise
The New Worlds: Captain From Castle
The New Worlds: The Mission
The New Worlds: The Alamo
The British Empire/The Orient: The Charge Of The Light Brigade
The British Empire/The Orient: Lawrence Of Arabia
The British Empire/The Orient: Zulu
The British Empire/The Orient: The Last Samurai
The British Empire/The Orient: Exodus

Customer Reviews:

EPICS THAT DO NOT DISAPPOINT.......2007-05-14

WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA TO TAKE HOLLYWOOD'S COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL EPIC MOVIES, EXTRACT THE BEST PORTIONS OF THE SCORES AND COMBINE THEM FROM THE DAWN OF MAN TO THE RECENT PAST. I PARTICULARLY ENJOY THE SUITES FROM GLADIATOR, BRAVEHEART AND THE VIKING. THE REPRODUCTION OF THESE SCORES BY THE CITY OF PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS IS BRILLIANT, AND THE RECORDING WAS EXCELLENT. I ONLY WISH THERE WERE EIGHT DISCS INSTEAD OF FOUR TO COVER THE VOLUMES OF SCORES THAT COULD NOT BE INCLUDED. LET'S HOPE FOR A VOLUME II.

Interesting selections . . ........2006-12-15

This compiiation album makes an excellent gift for that person wanting to discover great, epic scores. I'm surprised, however, that Vangelis' Alexander is included in this one. Not bad, just surprised.

The reason I give this album 4 out of 5 stars is because of the swashbuckler section. How is it that CutThroat Island - one of the greatest epics in history - was scrubbed out of the list? Pirates of the Caribbean is included on the selection but nothing from Debney's masterpiece?!

Yes, that is a huge compilant. If you haven't discovered CutThroat Island, I suggest you get it then you'll understand my frustration. Still, this album is a great buy and worth looking into!

"Epics featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra ~ 60 years of film scores".......2005-09-07

When I think of the "Golden Age of Hollywood", many composers come to mind...you gave the usher your ticket in the theater and sat down, knowingly you were going to get your moneys worth...when the curtain opened and you heard those first few notes...you sat back, watched and listened as the film score and orchestra worked their magic...now we have the ultimate from Silva Screen Classics "EPICS:THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HOLLYWOOD", featuring a four disc set of the essential film scores of the past 60 years...covering several decades right and up to the present 2005.

There are compilations and then there are "Compilations" beginning with a classics that even the youngsters today recognize...sweeping scores that capture the drama, mystery, adventure, action and romance...one great cue after another, it doesn't get any better than this...many nominated and winners by the Academy for Best Original Score...

Silva Screen Classics as usual, has put quality into this 4-CD-Set featuring The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens and Nic Raine. Recorded in "Dolby Surround" with the new technology of "HDCD", this is a "film-score-buffs" dream, one to treasure now and years to come...this collection is aimed directly at the "Serious Film Score" music fans and collectors...Silva is as always, perfect in every way...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1170 ~ (9/6/2005)

Average customer rating:

A keyboard lover's delight!
TOO GOOD FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?
It's still my favorite album.
Triumvirat/Spartacus
We wish we were ELP

Spartacus
Triumvirat
Manufacturer: Friday Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Illusions on a Double
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ASIN: B0000CD5JO
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

The Capital Of Power
The School Of Instant Pain
The Walls Of Doom
The Deadly Dream Of Freedom
The Hazy Shades Of Dawn
The Burning Sword Of Capua
The Sweetest Sound Of Liberty
The March To The Eternal City
Spartacus
The Capital Of Power (Live)
The Deadly Dream Of Freedom (Live)
The March To The Eternal City (Live)
Late Again
Take A Break Today

Album Description

Germany's superstars Triumvirat have just announced they are back together again after a very long hiatus, and Friday Music is celebrating their return with the re-release of a newly remastered version of their Prog-Rock classic Spartacus. Spartacus was their most enduring and successful album ever. It graced the upper rungs of the album charts for the better part of 1976 and gave this act a home forever in the progressive rock movement. The album based itself on the story of the historic Roman gladiator and the trials and tribulations of his war against his country. As the saga unfolds, the skillful keyboard artistry of founder Jurgen Fritz alongside his band mates Helmut Kollen and Hans Bathelt help to deliver one of this genres most memorable and important recordings.

Triumvirat began to make some credible noise with their previous release Illusions On A Double Dimple in 1973, and as the fan base and radio support began to build in time for the 1976 release of Spartacus, they were soon becoming a staple of progressive and rock playlists throughout the world. It is easy to see why, when you listen to the first few bars of the opening track "The Capital Of Power." It was common to hear tunes like this and "The Sweetest Sound of Liberty" alongside tracks from notable arena rock entities on U.S. radio in the seventies. When they arrived in the States to help promote their first couple of albums for Harvest/Capitol, their airplay dominance helped garner a solid reputation as a successful touring outfit.

This newly remastered deluxe edition of Spartacus proudly includes some very rare recordings that we have recently dug up in the EMI vaults. Three wonderful live recordings from the BBC, which have been discussed for years, rarely heard except for an inferior overseas bootleg, are now digitally rescued for your listening pleasure. Listen to the extended jam that the band delivers on "The March To The Eternal City." This is a fine trio of recordings which showcases how brilliant Triumvirat performed in concert.

As a fitting close to this deluxe edition, we have enclosed two more rarities for the die-hard Triumvirat fans. "Late Again", fom the Ala Carte sessions, is now in it's full extended-version glory, as well as the uptempo German only A-side "Take A Break Today."

This concept album continues to receive rave reviews from a whole new legion of younger Prog-rock fans. Keyboardist and founder Jurgen Fritz holds his accomplishments in some rather highly reputable company and his artistry is truly in heightened form on this great album. It has been quite awhile since this masterpiece has been available in the United States. With the addition of the recently discovered bonus tracks and the newly remastered treatment, Spartacus (The Deluxe Edition) is fit for a king.

Customer Reviews:

A keyboard lover's delight! .......2007-06-26

Triumvirat's heyday was limited to just two or three albums from the early to mid 1970's (before Helmet Kollen's departure), and "Spartacus" was their magnum opus. Despite other reviewers' unjustified complaints that they were simply an ELP ripoff band, Triumvirat proved with "Spartacus" that they could compose and play an intricate and interesting concept album on an original subject, and deliver a work that has stood the test of time as well as anything that their progenitors ever produced.

The original album contains about 42 minutes of great music, and this remastered version rewards the listener with three previously unreleased live versions of songs from the "Spartacus" album, plus two so-so bonus tracks recorded after this album (more in the prog-pop vein, and sung by the less likable [to me, at least] Barry Palmer). The highlight of the bonus tracks has to be the middle section instrumental of "March to the Eternal City" - they go from the dark and foreboding march theme to an almost funky(!) groove with a extended keyboard solo that sort of sounds like what the Alan Parsons Project would do if they had Triumvirat's chops and audacity. Pretty cool.

But back to the original album - what a fantastic treat this was for anyone into keyboard-driven prog. Jurgen Fritz was just a phenomenal keyboard player; he was fast and inventive and knew just the right time to use the piano or organ or synth or some combination of all. Helmet Kollen played a very busy and melodic bass, supplied some appropriate guitar riffs, and sang the English lyrics in a nice tenor that bore little German accent. The drumming by Hans Bathelt was crisp and clever. While some of the songs bordered on prog-pop and ballads, there were some simply stunning prog workouts throughout the album, not the least of which was the album closer "Spartacus" - layered keyboards, inspirational melodies, and a driving rhythm section make the perfect ending to a very exciting album. Even though some of the lyrics could be a little cheesy or clumsy, they nevertheless told a good story that you could not ignore despite the virtuosity of the playing.

The sound quality here is fantastic, and even more pronounced for me since the only other copy of this album that I owned was the original vinyl from 1976, the second side of which never quite recovered from the spilled beer incident... (Note to self on one foggy morning in 1977: Hide your albums after the third keg is tapped.) Surely reminiscent of ELP without overt plagiarism, this was a standout keyboard-prog jewel of the mid 1970's. Look for the mouse inside the light bulb, and ENJOY.

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 8.4/10; Performance = 9/10; Production = 9.5/10; CD length = 9/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 8.8 ("4-1/2 stars")

TOO GOOD FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?.......2007-03-26

1. Signation Supercussion
2. Mondoline
3. kurz und b?
4. SPARTACUS - Adagio
5. SPARTACUS - Allegro - Presto
6. SPARTACUS - Lento - Presto
7. SPARTACUS - Andante - Accellerando
8. SPARTACUS - Lento - Allegro - Adagio