The Three Violin Sonatas

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
These three works represent two different stages of Bartók's creative life: the Two Sonatas for Violin and Piano, from his most radical and experimental early period, and the Sonata for Solo Violin, one of the four last great works written shortly before his death.

Tracks:

Allegro (Sonata in E flat, K. 302 (293B)
Rondeau: Andante grazioso
Allegro spiritoso (Sonata in G, K. 9)
Andante
Menuet I & II
Allegro (Sonata in E minor, K. 304 (300c)
Tempo di Menuetto
Allegro molto (Sonata in D, K. 29)
Menuetto & Trio
Molto Allegro (Sonata in A, K. 526)
Andante
Presto

Average customer rating:

Mostly good
Look at the List of Performers First
this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France
You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks!
Buy my box Set!

Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLHE
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Mostly good.......2007-05-26

A bit of a mixed bag. The symphonies are superb. This is one of the great symphony cycles. The piano sonatas are good, very good (analog) sound. The quartets are well recorded indeed, but there are better cycles out there. The rest is OK, and the sound is genrally good.

Look at the List of Performers First.......2006-11-17

If you want most of Beethoven sitting on one bookshelf, this is a great bargain (especially if you shop for it on amazon.de). But few if any of the performances represent the pinnacles of interpretation that most listeners demand when Beethoven is the composer. The symphonies for instance: can Blomstedt be compared to Furtwangler or (if you lean toward historically informed instrumentation) Gardiner? Most amazingly, the artists who perform the quartets -- the heart of Beethoven's music -- are not even named in the listing.
On the other hand: Vivaldi: The Masterworks is a collection including the very best interpreters, such as Fabio Biondi! Bach Edition (complete Bach) is a fabulous selection of recordings made over 20 years, and almost the same praise can be given the Complete Mozart.

this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France.......2006-05-28

there are several sets in this series and it's much cheaper to buy these from Amazon France.

included are bach, beethoven, vivaldi, brahms, dvorak, schubert, handel, hayden, and mendelssohn.

they're even cheaper than the list price once u go through the checkout (VAT is removed for overseas (out-of-france) purchases).

**also, the 'complete works of mozart' set is much cheaper there (or at Amazon Germany), too. the 'complete works of bach' is due out later this year.

You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks! .......2006-04-07

There is quality beyond the Austrian green cardboard (which is lovely to look at, to say the least). In fact, the performance of the symphonies (Dresden Staatskapelle and Herbert Blomstedt) is alone worth the price. The Staatskapelle is a solid group, and Blomstedt, although less wellknown, holds his own. It should be mentioned that Blomstedt recorded many of the most celebrated 20th composition CDs on the market, and definitely knows his stuff. Peter Wohlert recorded mostly for compiliation lables, but to be selected by the Berlin Phil shows that he is a formdiable conductor in rank as well.

Should you buy this collection then? Given the fact that each CD cost $1.75, there is definitely the bargin factor. However, Beethoven's music desveres the top interpreters and musicians of our time - and this applies for all of his music, not just the symphonic. If you are into bargins, then proceed to buy this collection. However, if you save up a bit more, you can buy Karajan's 1963 Beethovens symphonies along with Kempff's 1956 sonata cycles for just a bit more than 70 bucks. Shop around for the string quartets, and the complete overtures should range anywhere from 15 to 30 bucks depending on the conductor/ensemble.

Overall, this is certainly an exceptional bargin. However, quality matter more than money. Besides, chicks dig people with sophisticated tastes.

Buy my box Set!.......2006-03-21

Awesome deal, 40 CD box set of me, Beethoven! There are 3 principle reasons you should buy this box set:

This box is QUALITY my friend, made of the finest, Austrian cardboard with a lovely green finish, it is made to last! You can just set it on your dresser and whenever you need a Beethoven fix you can just pull a CD out. But don't you hate getting your CDs out of order so you can't find what the hell you're looking for?! Not with this set! They are well organized into symphonies, concerti, sonatas and such, so you can find EXACTLY what your looking for, and they have big numbers on them so you can put them right back where they belong.

And the music! Need we go into this, composed through the inspiration of God himself and penned by the greatest composer who ever walked the streets of Vienna, me, Beethoven! Top notch, all done by top performers and recorded at high, clear, digital quality, stick one in your stereo and rock out man! All of my great and mighty works are here, absolutely sublime!

Lastly, you'll be supporting me, I need those royalty checks to keep rolling in!

Buy it if you love me or just buy it if you want people to think that you're sophisticated (the chicks also dig it, I should know: Antonie Brentano, giggity!), you can't go wrong!

Mozart: Violin Sonatas; String Duos & Trios

Average customer rating:

Mozart: Violin Sonatas; String Duos & Trios

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: Quintets, Quartets, Trios, etc.
Mozart: String Quartets; String Quintets
Mozart: Violin Concertos; Wind Concertos
Mozart: Divertimenti for Strings and Winds; Divertimenti & Serenades for Winds
Mozart: Piano Music

ASIN: B00004YSBH
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Tomaso Albinoni: Baroque, Volume 1: Concertos & Sonatas

Average customer rating:

A Good Albinoni Disc (one of the few remaining) . . .
Buy it just for "Saint Marc"
Very Enjoyable
Maurice Andre is another reason to buy this one
The ECO is the reason to buy this one

Tomaso Albinoni: Baroque, Volume 1: Concertos & Sonatas

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Albinoni: Oboe Concerti, Vol. 2
Albinoni: Oboe Concerti, Vol. 3
Telemann: Concertos & Sonatas
Adagio & Concerti
Albinoni: Sinfonie e Concerti Op. 2

ASIN: B000002S5X
Release Date: 1995-02-14

Tracks:

Adagio For Organ And Strings
'San Marco' Trumpet Concerto: I: Grave
'San Marco' Trumpet Concerto: II: Allegro
'San Marco' Trumpet Concerto: III: Andante
'San Marco' Trumpet Concerto: IV: Allegro
Concerto For 2 Trumpets In C (Concerto a cinque), Op. 9 No. 9: I: Allegro Non Presto
Concerto For 2 Trumpets In C (Concerto a cinque), Op. 9 No. 9: II: Adagio
Concerto For 2 Trumpets In C (Concerto a cinque), Op. 9 No. 9: III: Allegro
Oboe Concerto, Op. 7 No. 3 In B Flat: I: Allegro
Oboe Concerto, Op. 7 No. 3 In B Flat: II: Adagio
Oboe Concerto, Op. 7 No. 3 In B Flat: III: Allegro
Concerto grosso, Op. 5 No. 5 In A Minor: I: Allegro
Concerto grosso, Op. 5 No. 5 In A Minor: I:Adagio
Concerto grosso, Op. 5 No. 5 In A Minor: III: Allegro
Sonata a cincue, Op. 2 No. 3 In A Major: I: Grave
Sonata a cincue, Op. 2 No. 3 In A Major: II: Allegro
Sonata a cincue, Op. 2 No. 3 In A Major: III: Andante
Sonata a cincue, Op. 2 No. 3 In A Major: IV: Allegro
Sonata a cinque, Op.2 No. 3 In G Minor: I: Adagio
Sonata a cinque, Op.2 No. 3 In G Minor: II: Allegro
Sonata a cinque, Op.2 No. 3 In G Minor: III: Grave
Sonata a cinque, Op.2 No. 3 In G Minor: IV: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

A Good Albinoni Disc (one of the few remaining) . . ........2002-02-14

This ADD disc provides a nice overview of Tomaso Albinoni's musical output. It certainly isn't all-inclusive, but it's a nice place to start. Albinoni's most recognizable piece, his 'Adagio in G Minor,' is of course included, as are selections from some of his lesser-known works (e.g., Opus 2, Op. 5, Op. 7, etc.).

The performances on this disc are fine. Since it's a compilation, it features a variety of performers (Maurice Andre, Xavier Darasse, Pierre Pierlot) and conductors (Jacques Rousell, Raymond Leppard, etc.). Although the majority of these recordings were made in the late 1960's and early 1970's, the sound quality is good. True, there are plenty of DDD discs out there offering Albinoni's 'Adagio,' and the sound quality on these discs is superior. But with the exception of the Philips (Op. 9) and Erato (Opus 9, 10) labels, this is the only disc avaiable (that I'm aware of) that offers the listener more than a mere taste of Albinoni's work.

So if you're a fan of Baroque music, I recommend that you give this disc a try. It's nicely priced, and worth the investment.

Buy it just for "Saint Marc".......2000-06-13

This collection contains an exceptional performance of Albinoni's Concerto "Saint-Marc" in transcription for the piccolo trumpet. The work appears here in the valve-friendly key of B-flat, in comparison to the original key of A for the violin. The work has almost no significance in that instrument's repertoire. The trumpet community has adopted it as its own, and although it is quite a blow on the brass instrument, the work is frequently performed. Jean Thilde did the editing and Maurice Andre has done the beautiful embellishments. He is one of the master's of the instrument afterall, and a great contributor of transcriptions to the trumpeters' library of works. I find the rest of the disc forgettable - but at this price, buy it for Andre's performance.

Very Enjoyable.......2000-04-01

I agree that the Adagio is not that inspiring. The rest of the CD however is great. The highlights for me are the trumpet concerto and the concerto for 2 trumpets. They are precise, relaxed, and fun. I have several hundred classical CD's and I've listened to this one more than about 90% of the rest.

Maurice Andre is another reason to buy this one.......2000-01-20

In follow-up to my prior review, the San Marco Trumpet Concerto has really grown on me. It's a nice combination of lush harmonies and Maurice Andre's technical brilliance.

The ECO is the reason to buy this one.......1999-10-24

Our friend from Ottawa is correct. This version of Albinoni's Adagio is rather weak. Better is the 1974 version by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (available on "Classical Favorites", Seraphim Classics label). The main reason I bought this CD is the Sonata a cinque in A, performed by the English Chamber Orchestra under Raymond Leppard. The last movement, especially, is just plain straight-ahead happy, and the ECO plays it with joyful intensity.

Beethoven: Piano Trios; Violin & Cello Sonatas

Average customer rating:

With minor reservations, "excellent"

Beethoven: Piano Trios; Violin & Cello Sonatas

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim

ASIN: B00005MIZQ
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

Pno Trio in E flat, Op.1 No.1: I. Allegro
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.1 No.1: II. Adagio Cantabile
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.1 No.1: III. Scherzo: Allegro Assai - Trio
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.1 No.1: IV. Finale: Presto
Pno Trio in G, Op.1 No.2: I. Adagio - Allegro Vivace
Pno Trio in G, Op.1 No.2: II. Largo Con Espressione
Pno Trio in G, Op.1 No.2: III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Pno Trio in G, Op.1 No.2: IV. Finale: Presto
Vars On Dittersdorf's 'Ja, Ich Muss Mich Von Ihr Scheiden' in E flat, Op.44

Tracks:

Pno Trio in c, Op.1 No.3: I. Allegro Con Brio
Pno Trio in c, Op.1 No.3: II. Andante Con Brio
Pno Trio in c, Op.1 No.3: III. Menuetto: Quasi Allegro - Trio
Pno Trio in c, Op.1 No.3: IV. Finale: Prestissimo
Pno Trio in B flat, Op.97 'Archduke': I. Allegro Moderato
Pno Trio in B flat, Op.97 'Archduke': II. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Pno Trio in B flat, Op.97 'Archduke': III. Andante Cantabile Ma Pero Con Moto - Poco Piu Adagio...
Pno Trio in B flat, Op.97 'Archduke': IV. Allegro Moderato - Presto
Allegretto in B flat, WoO 39
Allegretto in E flat, Hess 48

Tracks:

Pno Trio in D, Op.70 No.1 'Ghost': I. Allegro Vivace Con Brio
Pno Trio in D, Op.70 No.1 'Ghost': II. Largo Assai Ed Espressivo
Pno Trio in D, Op.70 No.1 'Ghost': III. Presto
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.70 No.2: I. Poco Sostenuto - Allegro, Ma Non Troppo - Tempo I - Tempo II
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.70 No.2: II. Allegretto
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.70 No.2: III. Allegretto, Ma Non Troppo
Pno Trio in E flat, Op.70 No.2: IV. Finale: Allegro
Vars On Muller's 'Ich Bin Der Schneider Kakadu' in G, Op.121a: Intro: Adagio Assai - Tema: ...

Tracks:

Vc Son No.1 in F, Op.5 No.1: I. Adagio Sostenuto -
Vc Son No.1 in F, Op.5 No.1: Allegro - Adagio - Presto - Tempo I. (Allegro)
Vc Son No.1 in F, Op.5 No.1: II. Allegro Vivace
Vc Son No.2 in g, Op.5 No.2: I. Adagio Sostenuto Ed Espressivo -
Vc Son No.2 in g, Op.5 No.2: Allegro Molto Piu Tosto Presto
Vc Son No.2 in g, Op.5 No.2: II. Rondo: Allegro
Vc Son No.3 in A, Op.69: I. Allegro, Ma Non Tanto
Vc Son No.3 in A, Op.69: II. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
Vc Son No.3 in A, Op.69: III. Adagio Cantabile - Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Vc Son No.4 in C, Op.102 No.1: I. Andante - Allegro Vivace
Vc Son No.4 in C, Op.102 No.1: II. Adagio - Tempo D'andante - Allegro Vivace
Vc Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: I. Allegro Con Brio
Vc Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: II. Adagio Con Molto Sentimento D'affetto -
Vc Son No.5 in D, Op.102 No.2: III. Allegro - Allegro Fugato
Vars On Handel's 'See The Conqu'ring Hero Comes' in G, WoO 45
Vars On Mozart's 'Bei Mannern, Welche Liebe Fuhlen in E flat, WoO 46
Vars On Mozart's 'Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen' in F, Op.66

Tracks:

Vn Son No.1 in D, Op.12 No.1: I. Allegro Con Brio
Vn Son No.1 in D, Op.12 No.1: II. Tema Con Var: Andante Con Moto
Vn Son No.1 in D, Op.12 No.1: III. Rondo: Allegro
Vn Son No.2 in A, Op.12 No.2: I. Allegro Vivace
Vn Son No.2 in A, Op.12 No.2: II. Andante, Piu Tosto Allegretto
Vn Son No.2 in A, Op.12 No.2: III. Allegro Piacevole
Vn Son No.3 in E flat, Op.12 No.3: I. Allegro Con Spirito
Vn Son No.3 in E flat, Op.12 No.3: II. Adagio Con Molt'espressione
Vn Son No.3 in E flat, Op.12 No.3: III. Rondo: Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Vn Son No.4 in a, Op.23: I. Presto
Vn Son No.4 in a, Op.23: II. Andante Scherzoso Piu Allegretto
Vn Son No.4 in a, Op.23: III. Allegro Molto
Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24 ('Spring'): I. Allegro
Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24 ('Spring'): II. Andante Scherzoso Piu Allegretto
Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24 ('Spring'): III. Allegro Molto
Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24 ('Spring'): IV. Rondo: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Vn Son No.6 in A, Op.30 No.1: I. Allegro
Vn Son No.6 in A, Op.30 No.1: II. Adagio Molto Espressivo
Vn Son No.6 in A, Op.30 No.1: III. Allegretto Con Var

Tracks:

Vn Son No.7 in c, Op.30 No.2: I. Allegro Con Brio
Vn Son No.7 in c, Op.30 No.2: II. Adagio Cantabile
Vn Son No.7 in c, Op.30 No.2: III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Vn Son No.7 in c, Op.30 No.2: IV. Finale: Allegro
Vn Son No.8 in G, Op.30 No.3: I. Allegro Assai
Vn Son No.8 in G, Op.30 No.3: II. Tempo Di Minuetto, Ma Molto Moderato E Grazioso
Vn Son No.8 in G, Op.30 No.3: III. Allegro Vivace
Vn Son No.10 in G, Op.96: I. Allegro Moderato
Vn Son No.10 in G, Op.96: II. Adagio Espressivo -
Vn Son No.10 in G, Op.96: III. Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Vn Son No.10 in G, Op.96: IV. Poco Allegretto - Adagio - Tempo I. - Allegro - Poco Adagio - Presto

Tracks:

Vn Son No.9 in A, Op.47 ('Kreutzer'): I. Adagio Sostenuto - Presto
Vn Son No.9 in A, Op.47 ('Kreutzer'): II. Andante Con Var
Vn Son No.9 in A, Op.47 ('Kreutzer'): III. Finale: Presto
Pno Trio in a, Op.50: I. Pezzo elegiaco: Moderato Assai - Allegro Giusto - Adagio Con Duole E ...
Pno Trio in a, Op.50: IIA. Tema Con Var: Andante Con Moto - Piu Mosso - Allegro Moderato - Tempo...

Amazon.com

In the main, the youthful Beethoven chamber music collaborations between Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zuckerman, and the late Jacqueline du Pré are characterized by broad, liberally fluctuating tempos, ripeness of tone, and a tendency to place expression ahead of stylistic considerations. Zuckerman's sweet vibrato, for instance, seems misplaced in Beethoven's terse, combative syntax (the earlier trios and violin sonatas, for example). Likewise, du Pré's throbbing solo lines impose a late-Romantic patina on the music that some listeners will find more appropriate to Arensky or Glazunov. More often than not, Daniel Barenboim's piano provides the decisive voice, by way of setting tempos and effecting transitions.

While the leaner, more economically expressive Abegg Trio (Tacet) and Vienna Piano Trio (Nimbus) Beethoven Trio offerings better reflect the composer's headlong brio and nervous energy, the Barenboim-Zuckerman-Du Pré team oozes sheer musicality and involvement in every bar. For this reason, one might well prefer Zuckerman and Barenboim's overwrought rapport in the Violin Sonatas to the violinist's tighter RCA remakes with Marc Neikrug at the piano. Du Pré's tragic illness prevented her and Barenboim from tackling the Cello Sonatas in the studio. Happily, their exciting, communicative live 1970 Edinburgh Festival traversals (plus the variation sets) were broadcast by the BBC and captured in excellent sound. So was a touchingly indulgent Tchaikovsky Trio preserved from one of Du Pré's final concerts, included as both a bonus and a memento. Tully Potter's excellent booklet notes give equal time to music and artists, and rightly discuss the performances in the context of their time. It's good to have these recordings gathered in a budget-priced, space-saving box. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

With minor reservations, "excellent".......2004-05-16

As noted above, this 9 CD set resulted from the youthful collaboration of Barenboim, du Pre (soon to wed Barenboim) and Zukerman. Clearly Barenboim is the driving force. As the info booklet asks: "Would Beethoven have approved of what Barenboim does here? Perhaps not, although he would surely have applauded the young man's courage".

Sadly, du Pre's illness (she had MS, forcing her retirement in 1973 and ultimately causing her untimely death) seriously limited the collaboration. Because her illness prevented a studio recording, the cello sonatas are from 1970 live recordings taped by the BBC. The audience noise is distracting, and I simply cannot understand why the coughs and chair scrapings could not have been edited out.

Barenboim and co really do drag out the slow movements; sometimes to good effect, and sometimes too much in my view. For example, the third movement of the Archduke Trio goes for 12:07 on the Naxos recording but extends to 16:02 here (but this one is still a better rendition).

To fill out the last CD, EMI includes Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio Op 50 (taped from a live performance in Tel Aviv in 1972), which is not in the same league as Beethoven's (but I guess they had to do something with the space).

My main complaint is that the thick 3-language info booklet is devoted entirely to the history of the performers and includes not a single word about the music itself!

Tracks:

Sonata No.1 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Adagio ma non troppo
Sonata No.1 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No.1 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Larghetto
Sonata No.1 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro assai
Sonata No.2 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Andante
Sonata No.2 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No.2 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Andante
Sonata No.2 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No.3 In B Flat Major For Violin, Oboe, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Adagio
Sonata No.3 In B Flat Major For Violin, Oboe, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No.3 In B Flat Major For Violin, Oboe, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Largo
Sonata No.3 In B Flat Major For Violin, Oboe, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Tempo giusto

Tracks:

Sonata No. 4 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Andante
Sonata No. 4 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No. 4 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Adagio
Sonata No. 4 In G Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No. 5 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No. 5 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Adagio
Sonata No. 5 In F Major For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In C Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Andante
Sonata No. 6 In C Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In C Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Adagio
Sonata No. 6 In C Minor For Two Oboes, Bassoon And Basso Continuo: Allegro

Amazon.com

Oboist Heinz Holliger created quite a stir when he first recorded the impossibly difficult trio sonatas of Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) in the early '70s, and this recording for ECM proves he hasn't forgotten the magic of the baroque composer. Zelenka--a lesser-known Dresden court composer--is perhaps best remembered for his numerous vocal works, but his trio sonatas (and his orchestral music, for that matter) is memorable, to say the least. Highly expressive, loaded with demanding passages (the over-the-top but lovely Sonata No. 5 should be heard by all baroque fans), and downright peppy with a dancelike structure, these are great compositions. Holliger and his ensemble are in top form, embracing this innovative but underheard music to its fullest potential. A highly recommended disc. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary!.......2005-10-07

These pieces are so difficult and are played here with such ease and grace that the virtuosity is almost invisible. The best available.

Not broke, but baroque..........2005-07-16

Having played the oboe for numerous years (but not in several), I was curious about this title when I heard some of it on NPR. Put it on my wish list, and behold... Santa dropped it down the chimney!

I am not a hyper-critical music nut, but I do enjoy listening to a variety of music types. While I agree (to some extent) about the excessive use of vibrato, etc., this CD set is a delight to listen to. It has a different feel or edge than the Pachebel Canon most people think of when they think of baroque music. I can listen to it for hours. Oh yes... LOTS of oboe playing too!

Virtuoso Baroque on Modern Instruments.......2004-08-15

These compositions are marvellous for their elaborate counterpoint and high spirits. Played by Holliger and his ensemble, Zelenka's polyphonic melodies seem to spiral, weave and modulate indefinitely, having an academic sophistication comparable to Bach and energy level comparable to Vivaldi.

Of course, historical instruments might be preferred. Holliger doesnt have the same goosyness of a baroque oboe. But who has made a recording that compares to this? Ensemble Zefiro may be strong competition, but they don't make it sound as easy and fluid (though I strongly recommend Zefiro for their Vivaldi concertos).

Holliger was an early advocate of Zelenka's instrumental work, and this is his second recording of the sonatas. The new performances are more polished and consistent, and with the addition of a lute to the continuo, more historically informed. The entire ensemble is a cast of accomplished veterans, and these sonatas allow plenty of opportunity for exhibiting their skills. Tempos are paced for a complementary balance of clarity and excitement, and Klaus Thunemann's agility on bassoon is especially astonishing. ECM's production is typically refined and clearly images the entire ensemble.

If you consider the DG box reissue of Holliger's earlier recording plus Camerata Bern's orchestral works, you'll get more music for your money, but the orchestral works are slightly inferior to the sonatas, in my opinion. Also, a 1-CD reissue of CB's Zelenka is now available as an import on the low-price Eloquence label. So with its 21st century sound quality weighing heavily in its favor, this ECM set has to be my favorite choice for the complete sonatas.

For modern-instrument or oboe aficionados only!.......2004-05-25

I have to agree with the reviewer below (click on "See All Reviews") that this recording is "dull as dishwater."

Of course, I am a great fan of period-instrument and "historically informed" performances. I have nothing against modern instruments, but I do dislike modern performance practices such as excess vibrato and flat, even phrasings (such as one finds on this Holliger/Zelenka recording).

Zelenka's music itself is wonderful -- but I would first and foremost recommend the CPO label's 3-disc recording of Zelenka's orchestral music, with the "Neu-Eroeffnete Orchester" ensemble.

I suspect that my review will be rated as "not useful," because that's how most negative reviews seem to be judged here on Amazon. But I want to warn the tentative purchaser of this set that they may not find it money well worth spent. I listened to the first few tracks of Holliger's recording, and really tried to like it, but tossed it on the "discard" pile almost immediately.

Love it!.......2003-12-04

No where else will you find this concentration of music with a predominence of oboe (of course I am an oboe music junkie)! I find Zelenka's compositions to be refreshing, and listen to this at least twice a week.

Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas no. 1 & 2, Five Melodies, etc. / Amoyal, Chiu

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Prokofiev: Violin Sonatas no. 1 & 2, Five Melodies, etc. / Amoyal, Chiu
Pierre Amoyal , and Frederic Chiu
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IL11
Release Date: 1999-05-11

Tracks:

Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Opus 80: Andante assai
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Opus 80: Allegro brusco
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Opus 80: Andante
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Opus 80: Allegrissimo
March From Love For Three Oranges
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, Opus 94: Moderato
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, Opus 94: Scherzo
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, Opus 94: Andante
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, Opus 94: Allegro con brio
Five Melodies, Opus 35BIS: Andante
Five Melodies, Opus 35BIS: Lento, ma non troppo
Five Melodies, Opus 35BIS: Animato, ma non allegro
Five Melodies, Opus 35BIS: Allegretto leggero e scherzando
Five Melodies, Opus 35BIS: Andante non troppo

Joseph-Guy Ropartz: The three sonatas for violin & piano

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Joseph-Guy Ropartz: The three sonatas for violin & piano

Manufacturer: Pavane
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Joseph-Guy Ropartz: Quatuors No. 2 & No. 3
Joseph-Guy Ropartz: Symphonies No. 2 & 5
Ropartz: Symphonies No. 1 & 4
Ropartz String Quartets Volume 2
Joseph-Guy Ropartz: PÃªcheur d'Islande; Rhapsodie pour Violoncelle; Oedipe Ã Colone

ASIN: B000B0WOLW
Release Date: 2005-09-27

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Schumann: Violin Sonatas/Three Romances

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005COXK
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tippett: Piano Sonatas 1-3; String Quartets 1-3; Fantasia Concertante; etc.

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Great performances of some mostly great music

Tippett: Piano Sonatas 1-3; String Quartets 1-3; Fantasia Concertante; etc.

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Britten Conducts Britten
Britten Conducts Britten: Operas 1
Britten Conducts Britten
Dukas: Piano Sonata; Decaux; Clairs de Lune
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs

ASIN: B0009A41W4
Release Date: 2006-03-08

Customer Reviews:

Great performances of some mostly great music.......2006-01-01

The late Michael Tippett (1905-1998) had one of the most instantly recognisable musical voices of the twentieth century. Although his stylistic concerns may have shifted radically from the radiant, tonally-inflected lyricism of the Concerto for Double String Orchestra to the thorny and ascetic Concerto for Orchestra (and the opera King Priam), the intense and passionate vein of ecstatic musical lines never left his music. This box set collects most of his major orchestral works (with the unfortunate exception of The Rose Lake), and the first three of his piano sonatas and string quartets. Firstly, the performances are universally excellent (all the artists being long associated with Tippett's music). Mention must be made of Sir Marriner's passionate and wonderfully- nuanced reading of the always enjoyable Fantasia Concertante, and Colin Davis' energetic and joyous interpretations of the first three symphonies. He makes the diffuse and poorly- constructed Third Symphony seem more logical than the only rival recording- Hickox on Chandos. Heather Harper, whilst no Blues singer, gives a valiant effort to articulate Tippett's frankly vulgar Blues songs, interpolated between quotes from Beethoven's 9th. Solti's recording of the 4th symphony is everything you'd expect from CSO in the late seventies: power, virtuosity and that famous sheen that obviously inspired Tippett to write the work for them. Unfortunately, the "breathing effect" is a disastrous failure, sounding like a dying bronchitis patient, rather than the "gently breathing" sounds presumably intended by the composer. The first three Piano Sonatas are played beautifully by Paul Crossley, making the most elegant case possible for the average first and second sonatas. The third, truly a great work, is given an electric reading. The string quartets, played by the Lindsay Quartet are also given dynamic, thoughtful performances, the second and third quartets containing some of Tippett's most inspired counterpoint.
All in all, a set well worth investigating, if you do not have any orchestral/instrumental Tippett in your collection, though not every work on here is of the highest compositional quality.

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