La Campanella

On this CD:

1. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ("La campanella"), Op. 7/MS48 Finale
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

2. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, Op 1/6 "The Devil's Trill"
Composed by Giuseppe Tartini
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

3. Valse-scherzo, for violin & orchestra (or violin & piano) in C major, Op. 34
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

4. Souvenir d'un lieu cher, for violin & piano (or orchestra), Op. 42 No.3, Melody
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

5. Summertime, song (from Porgy and Bess, opera)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

6. Porgy and Bess, opera A Woman is a Sometime Thing
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

7. Sonatas (6) for violin solo, Op 27 No.6 in E major
Composed by Eugene-Auguste Ysaye
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

8. Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 1, in D minor, Op. 75
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by David Chan, Robert Keonig

Tracks:

Stuck In The Saddle Again (Light Cavalry March, Suppe)
Sing Verdi Very Loud (La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi)
Its The Same Every Verse (In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg)
Musical Bs (Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms)
Dont Play That Violin (Violin Concerto #2, Paganini)
Schuberts Trout (Trout Quintet, Schubert)
Dvorak The Czechoslovak (Humoresque #7, Dvorak)
A Fan of Chopin (Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin)
Please Do Not Tease The Viennese (Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss)
Its Spring! (Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi)
Wow What a Wedding Cake (Wedding March, from A Midsummer Nights Dream,. Mendelssohn)
Instrumental Performances:
Light Cavalry March, Suppe
La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi (with vocals)
In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg
Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms
Violin Concerto #2, Paganini
Trout Quintet, Schubert
Humoresque #7, Dvorak
Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin
Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss
Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Amazon.com

From a pure-pleasure standpoint, the first Beethoven's Wig was nothing to flip over, and the second disc in the series follows suit. However, that is not to say that this is not a valuable and possibly ingenious record. Those unfamiliar with the premise will quickly get the picture: Producer/writer/lead singer/chief clever guy Richard Perlmutter gathers a bundle of important classical works (Paganini's "Violin Concerto #2," Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz") and makes up silly, catchy lyrics to lay over them, informing the listener about the piece or its composer. Standing out for their offbeat brilliance this time are "Dvorak the Czechoslovak" ("Humoresque #7," Dvorak) and "Wow What a Wedding Cake" (Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn). Few stabs at mixing education with entertainment succeed so well. As a bonus, the second half of the CD repeats the symphonies straight up, presenting a neat opportunity to quiz kids 5-12 on what and who they've just heard. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Greatest baby gift ever.......2007-03-15

Both of my grandchildren (and their parents and grandparents) are hooked on this CD and all of the silliness and beauty it brings into our lives. We sing to it, dance to it, and find ourselves thinking about it at odd times. Who can't love singing Verdi VERY LOUD? I've now started giving this as a simple baby gift, especially to those with older siblings. They are already equipped with clothing and nursery gear, and Beethoven's Wig invites the whole family to gather round...even if it is just on short car rides.

Great for the whole family.......2007-01-04

My husband, 18 month old daughter and I all love this CD. It's a staple in the car. One caveat- these lyrics will get stuck in your head and I now find myself singing the "words" to these songs when I hear them in a store or commercial! I'm hoping this means my daughter will recognize these songs as she gets older.

More Great Fun.......2006-03-13

Like the first volume, this CD encourages young children to enjoy classical music. The silly lyrics sometimes impart factual information on the composer or the piece. There are 11 sing-along symphonies and then the 11 symphonies are replayed without the lyrics--total of 22 tracks. Booklet with lyrics and trivia is included. All our children (aged 2-12) enjoy this CD, as do we.

One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!.......2006-01-10

My children loved Beethovens Wig 1. I checked this one out at the library. Then, we decided we had to have this one too.
Yes, one is the best but 2 is still wonderful.
Save yourself the shipping and order both at the same time.
We all thoroughly enjoy it. My 4 yr old can name these classicals when he hears them elsewhere and he can hum these beautiful songs. Much better than kiddie rhymes and Disney jingles. Culture your children the funniest way!!

Absolute joy, and endless fun!.......2005-11-15

The tunes and word stay with you and before you know it, you are signing them along. My two kids (ages 9 and 7) ask me to put the CD on as soon as we get into the car. What a wonderful and fun way to get them to love classical music!

Average customer rating:

Don't downrate a CD because of a missing piece - please!
Bolet is outstanding
Great selections; technically great but dull performance
Great Liszt compilation
Missing The Famous Hungarian Rhapsody #2

Liszt: Favourite Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000427O
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat Major
Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Funilles
Rniscences de Don Juan
La campanella
Die Forelle
Erlkonig
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Consolation No. 3
Sonetto 104 del Pentrarca
Les Jeux d'eau a Villa d' Este
Au bord d' une source
Gnomenreigen
Un sospiro
Rigoletto
Sonata In B Minor - Lento assai
Andante sostenuto
Fugato

Customer Reviews:

Don't downrate a CD because of a missing piece - please!.......2005-07-15

This is an excellent representative 2-CD bargin set of Liszt's piano works played by a recognized expert pianist in this repertoire. The other reviewers (i.e. those w/ 5* ratings) have made their points well. What continues to bother me in many of these classical CD reviews is 'downgrading' a CD by several stars, if not more in some cases, because the listener is irked at the lack of a feature that has nothing to do w/ the performance on the recording. Such is the case here - a 3* rating because one piece was mislabelled is ridiculous - rate the music & performance first, please. If there is a problem unrelated to the performance (sound quality, liner notes, etc.), then simply state that in your review. I often look at the overall rating to determine if I even want to consider a classical CD & read the reviews - knocking off a star or two because of petty complaints is not justified.

Bolet is outstanding.......2005-01-23

There are many Liszt performers, and while Bolet was known to never substitute technical perfection for feeling, there is a great balance to his playing. 'Un Sospiro' is played on the slow side, every melody note can be heard perfectly, while his interpretation and rubato are heart stopping. While I don't agree with his Liebstraum (the honor of greatest playing is held for Cliburn on this piece, if you haven't heard him play it, go buy the CD, now), the lesser played works such as the Elf King transcription more than makes up for it. If you want a technically perfect, clear, sometimes very moving performance of Liszt, Bolet is for you (I prefer him infinitely over Cziffra, although I may be alone on that one). Postscript: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 is NOT No. 2, this is an error on Amazon's part, and also on the other Bolet albums, it is indeed no. 12 and not 2.

Great selections; technically great but dull performance.......2004-04-09

I know this pianist Jorge Bolet is supposed to be one of the world's greatest. But I bought this as a replacement set when I temporarily lost my Phillips "Best Of Liszt" set and couldn't live without Liszt. I was sadly disappointed on the selections that overlap. While some of my favorite selections (Liebestraum, Mephisto Waltz) are actually longer here, they simply do not stir my soul as much. The pressure of the notes, the timing, something indefinable just isn't the same in this recording as in the Phillips one. The quality of sound reproduction is fine, the piano-playing is certainly correct and crisp (maybe TOO crisp?), and again, the variety of the pieces chosen is commendable, but I recommend the Phillips 2-disc set over this one. There ARE some very interesting selections of not just Liszt's original works but also some of his arrangements or adaptations of other's works, i.e., the Shubert pieces and La campanella (from Paganini).

Great Liszt compilation.......2003-12-23

Bolet's finest moments on this two-fer are the Schubert-Liszt transcriptions - you'd almost think 'Who needs a voice?' But he's equally good in the aforementioned Mephisto Waltz, and the operatic journey through Mozart's Don Giovanni.

The cons are here too: Bolet's RCA Liszt recital has better, less cautious versions of Liebestraum, Un sospiro and Funerailles. The Sonata is tremendous overall but in the end I'd rank it just a little below the best - particularly Brendel, Richter and Arrau. Yet all these renditions have great merits - even the ones Bolet surpassed himself. This Liszt compilation is overall very good.

Missing The Famous Hungarian Rhapsody #2.......2003-05-27

Although the listing at Amazon.com says this CD contains Hungarian Rhapsody #12, A.K.A #2, it does NOT have the famous #2 in C Sharp Minor. It is indeed #12. Since I bought this CD specifically for Hungarian Rhapsody #2 in C Sharp Minor, I was disspointed that it was not included. It is Liszt's most famous song, at least in my opinion. If you are looking for this song, I would suggest Hungarian Rhapsodies Vol. 1, by Jeno Jando.

Average customer rating:

Perfect
Outstanding

Masters of the Bow

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Masters of the Bow: Cello
Violin Adagios
Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits
The Art of Violin

ASIN: B000060O2V
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

Introduction And Rondo Capriccioso For Violin And Orchestra - Itzhak Perlman
Violin Concerto No.2 In D Minor, Op.22: Romance (Andante) - Gil Shaham
Zigeunerweisen, Op.20 - Ruggiero Ricci
Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor, Op.7: Rondo A La Clochete 'La Campanella' - Salvatore Accardo
Thais: Meditation - Joshua Bell
Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Preludio - Nathan Milstein
Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Gavote And Rondo - Gidon Kremer
The Four Seasons: Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV 269 'Summer': Presto - Pinchas Zukerman
Sonata No.4 In G Minor, Op.1 'The Devil's Trill' - Gil Shaham
Violin Sonata No.3 In D, Op.9 No.3: Tambourin (Presto) - Henryk Szeryng
Minuet In G, WoO 10 No.2 - Arthur Grumiaux
Songs Without Words: Spring Song, Op.62 No.6 - Christian Ferras
24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.9 In E Major - Shlomo Mintz
24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.17 In E-Flat Major - Ruggiero Ricci
24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.24 In A Minor 'Tema Quas' - Salvatore Accardo

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In D, Op.35: Canzonetta (Andante) - Nathan Milstein
Polonaise No.1 In D, Op.4 - Leila Josefowicz
Ave Maria, D 839 - Christian Ferras
Hungarian Dance No.1 In G Minor - Samuel Sanders
Humoresque, Op.101 No.7 - Arthur Grumiaux
The Legend Of Tsar Saltan: Flight Of The Bumblebee - Henryk Szeryng
Hebrew Melody, Op.33 - Ruggiero Ricci
Salut D'amour, Op.12 - Phillip Moll
Waltz 'La Plus Que Lente' - Henryk Szeryng
Three Old Viennese Dances: Liebesfreud - Joshua Bell
Three Old Viennese Dances: Liebesleid - Phillip Moll
Baal Shem: Nigun - Arthur Grumiaux
Berceuse, Op.16 - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Tzigane - Concert Rhapsody For Violin And Piano - Gerhard Oppitz
Danzas Espanola, Op.37: Andaluza (Dance No.5) - Arthur Grumiaux
Hora Staccato - Christian Ferras
Six Romanian Folk Dances, Op.Sz 56 - Henryk Szeryng

Customer Reviews:

Perfect.......2005-02-15

I love classical music but I dont own very much of it, so I thought I would start my collection with Masters of the Bow. What a beautiful selection it was. I just love the sound of a Violin, Joshua Bell is my favorite,I would love to hear more from him. This collection really helps you get to know the masters. Lovely Lovely!

Outstanding.......2004-08-17

I love the violin and this collection is one of my favorites. A great choice for someone like me who doesn't know enough about music and never knows what to buy. It has introduced me to some artists and pieces that I knew nothing about and will help me know what to look for in violin music in the future. This is my favorite but I would also recommend The Cello and Voice CDs in the "Masters of" series. I can't wait for more in this series.

Average customer rating:

CD review
Excellent

Liszt: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000002A9K
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

Mephisto Waltz
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E-Flat Major: Allegro maestoso
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Liebestraume (Nocturne No. 3 In A-Flat Major)
Etude No. 3 In G-Sharp Minor 'La campanella'
Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Hungarian Fantasia For Piano And Orchestra
Les Preludes

Customer Reviews:

CD review.......2003-04-06

This CD is a mediocre compilation of liszt pieces. I have a few complaints, however. I was disappointed when I heard the Hungarian Rhapsody no.2 The piece was transcripted to orchestra. I play the piano, and wanted the piano version, which is the original version. The selection of pieces were not that great neither. It contains no excerpt from the Piano sonata in Bminor, one of Liszt's greatest masterpieces. The performances are more than satisfactory, however, and the recording is overall good.

Excellent.......2000-06-14

This CD begins with an energetic Mephisto Waltz, flawlessly conducted with a minute and meticulous attention to detail by the illustrious Eugene Ormandy. The waltz is followed by the first momvement of Liszt's first piano concerto, a foreboding, majestic monument to ingenuity and technical challenge and brilliance, played perfectly by Emanuel Ax. After gaining the listener's attention with two intense energetic pieces, the cd cools itself with a beautiful and flowing Hungarian Rhapsody (number 2 to be precise.) The Liebstraume evokes a gentle, peaceful night scene that evolves into a thunderous, tempestous storm, raging through the night sky. Perfomred to perfection by Hiroko Nakamura. Next, to show the brilliant technician and transposer side of Liszt, is the beautiful, virtuosic, and exhillerating Etude number three (La Campanella) after Paganini, which is an amazing piano equivalent of one ofPaganini's famous and infamously difficult caprices. This is my personal favorite of the pieces, which is performed with breathtaking ease by Kazune Shimizu. This masterpiece is followed by one of Liszt's lesser piano works, a slow, soft piece that is so delicately shaded it seems to lose itself in its lack of structure, although performed quite admirably by Vladimir Feltsman. this weak spot of the CD is followed by the amazing Hungarian Fantasia for piano and orchestra, which is another of my favorite works on this CD, although it does not live up to this remark on the first listen. This track begins with gently rolling hills of melody which lead into small valleys, then, with the piano and orchestra brilliantly leading each other into the next segment, lead to majestic and stupendous mountains and cliffs. This piece has excellent segments of intense virtuosity in which the listener is left gasping in a way which only Liszt, Rachmanninoff, and Beethoven can move one. An excellent CD, well worth twice the price.

Accardo Plays Paganini: Complete Recordings

Average customer rating:

Love it!
Accardo Is As Great As The Greats! A True Virtuoso of Paganini! Epic Performances!
What a man! What a Violin! What an Artist!
Definitive Recordings of Paganini's Violin Music
Magnificent for collectors

Accardo Plays Paganini: Complete Recordings

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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Binding: Audio CD

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Paganini: 24 Caprices

ASIN: B00004SA88
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 3. Rondo. Allegro spirituoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 3. Rondo

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 1. Introduzione. Andantino - Allegro marziale
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 2. Adagio. Cantabile spianato
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 3. Polacca. Andantino vivace
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 2. Adagio flebile con sentimento - attacca
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 3. Rondo galante. Andantino gaio

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 2. Andante, un poco sostenuto
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 3. Finale: Rondo. Andantino quasi Allegretto
La primavera. Sonata For Violin And Orchestra In A Major: Andante sostenuto - Larghetto - Variazione - Allegro moderato - Tema - Variazioni I-IV - Finale
Maestosa sonata sentimentale: Introduzione. Maestoso - Recitativo - Allegro agitato - Tema. Larghetto cantabile - Variazioni I-IV - Coda

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 1. Risoluto
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 3. Rondo ossia Polonese
Sonata con variazioni: Introduzione (Adagio) - Tema (Andante moderato) - Variazioni I & II (L'istesso tempo) - Variazioni III & IV (Piu mosso) - Variazione V (Tempo I) - Coda (Presto)
Non piu mesta accanto al fuoco: Introduzione (Adagio cantabile) - Tema (Moderato) - Variazioni I-IV - Finale (Allegro - Tempo del Tema - Piu presto)
Le streghe, Op. 8: Introduzione (Maestoso - Larghetto) - Tema (Andante) - Variazioni I-III - Finale (Allegretto)

Tracks:

24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Introduzione. Adagio - Larghetto - Andantino Variato - Variazioni I-III - Finale
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Larghetto Cantabile - Recitativo (Con Grande Espressione) - Tema. Andantino - Variazioni I-III - Coda
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Allegro Vivace
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Introduzione (Cappricio) - Tema. Variazioni I-VII
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Adagio - Allegro Molto
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Tema. Andante Sostenuto. Variazioni I-VI

Tracks:

24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Andante In E Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Moderato In B Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Sostenuto - Presto - Sostenuto In E Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Maestoso In C Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Agitato In A Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Lento In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In A Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Maestoso In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegretto In E Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Vivace In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Andante - Presto - Tempo I In C Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegro In A Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegro In B Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Moderato In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In E Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Presto In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Sostenuto - Andante In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Corrente - Allegro In C Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Lento - Allegro Assai In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegretto In D Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Amoroso - Presto In A Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Marcato In F Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Tema. Quasi Presto - Variazioni - Finale In A Minor

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-05-12

I really enjoy this CD set very much. Accardo is phenomenal in playing violin. I listen to thisevery morning and sometimes while I am cooking.

Accardo Is As Great As The Greats! A True Virtuoso of Paganini! Epic Performances!.......2005-10-13

Nicolo Paganini is primarily a virtuoso composer who did not compose anything other than for the violin in the early 19th century. He was a true prodigy of the instrument whose ferocious and innovative style of playing frightened many of the credulent folk into thinking he was the devil. With the increasing popularity of the waltz, he along with other romantics such as Beethoven completely revolutionized the concept of violin concertos that were still then mostly in the antiquated Roccoco menuet formulas of Mozart and Haydn. The caprices are more technical excercises for this new revolutionary style and are the cornerstones of all Romantic traditions of violin including the Romantic German and, to a much lesser extent, the Polish/Klezmer tradition of Joseph Joachim.

Salvatore Accardo is an accomplished violinist who performed many times with the most reputable groups such as I Musici di Roma and the English Chamber Orchestra. He was a long-time mentor of Anne-Sofie Mutter who performed with Karajan. Despite working often with various Baroque styles, Salvatore Accardo is primarily a specialist at Paganini and the Italian Romantic period and this is the main reason this recording is one of the best you can obtain for Paganini. Charles Dutoit is also an accomplished orchestral conductor and generally works very well with Rossini whose light romantic style in his operatic overtures have overlaps with the style in Paganini's contemporary symphonic arrangements for his violin concerti. Accardo and Dutoit were therefore a perfect match in performing Paganini and this ablum is a great example along with their other collaborations for the composer available on single CD. The music is light and joyful in its interpretation while many others tend to be heavy and sluggish. Accardo's performance is filled with vitality as he has complete mastery over the instrument and feels at ease in his performance without ever faltering. His performance brings out the fluidity and full range of Paganini's style very well. Salvatore Accardo's performance of the caprices is also legendary in which he performs all of the most difficult pieces briliantly without effort: they are truly divine in every respect!

Although it's extremely difficult to make a judgment call between these three undisputed virtuosos of the violin and Paganini, Perlman and Heifetz would not be my first choices because they are not really masters of the Italian Romantic style as that of the German/Polish/Klezmer traditions. However technical the differences might be, they do make a significant difference and so I prefer Accardo for Paganini as he is simply the foremost expert with this composer and the Italian Romantic style which Heifetz and Perlman are not. This album is a great buy where you can get all of Paganini's passionate violin concerti and caprices at a good price. There are really few if any performances equal to this one on the market other than those of Perlman and Heifetz. Such other performances, even by child prodigies, are simply beneath them in every respect to the point that they actually sound amateurish in comparison. No matter which of the three you choose, you can't really go wrong with any of them but I would really look no further than them as everything else is far beneath their legendary talents. Enjoy!

What a man! What a Violin! What an Artist!.......2002-04-06

Salvatore Accardo has played magnificently! I am not a classical music critic; I don't know what it really means to be a great violinist, but I certainly enjoy listening to every song in this 6 cd set. I am fifteen years old, but Paganini's music has a great impact on me. My mother bought me this album for Christmas, and I couldn't have received a more wonderful collection of music. I tend to have a preference for the first recording I ever hear of certain songs, and I have heard several of these songs performed by different artists. Let me tell you, these recordings are fantastic. My favorites are the 21st Caprice, the second movement of the 6th concerto, and the entire 4th concerto. Accardo's tone is rich and robust, and the orchestra behind him compliments him perfectly.
Utterly Satisfied,
Bobby

P.S. The title for my review was what Franz Liszt (classical pianist and composer) exclaimed when he heard Paganini perform.:)

Definitive Recordings of Paganini's Violin Music.......2001-10-16

Salvatore Accardo performs Paganini's scores with much elegant grace and warmth. Deutsche Grammophon has successfully assembled all of Accardo's recordings of Paganini's music. Undoubtedly, the highlights are Accardo's riveting accounts of Paganini's violin concerti. Charles Dutoit and the London Philharmonic Orchestra give splendid, warm performances of their own, without overwhelming Accardo's playing. Yet Accardo also shines in Paganini's solo works, such as the Caprices. This is absolutely an essential set of CDs for those who are unfamiliar with Paganini's music. Is it a surprise that these performances are still regarded as definitive in classical CD guides issued by Grammophone and Penguin?

Magnificent for collectors.......2001-02-01

This is a really masterpiece for collector. For the people that love the "virtuoso-violin", this is yours. If you are a fanatic of Paganini's music like me, this is your collection, because you will find the Maestosa sonata sentimentale, the Duo Merveille, "God save the King", in a perfect interpretation, only by Accardo, that are very difficult to find. The 6 Concertos, are amazing, if it is your first time hearing Paganini, you will find absolutely incredible, and remember, is only one violin performing those sounds. Double-Stops, Harmonics, Double-Harmonics, and the most colorful bowing performance. Paganini is very romantic and sentimental, the six, second movements are a jewel in your collection. I recomend you that adquire this for your personal collection, the case is beautiful, and the sound is powerful, like the recorders of the Deutsche Grammophon, Accardo plays Paganini transmiting to the listener the feeling of his performance. The 24 Caprices are interesting, and Accardo plays very clear, if you are playing the caprices, this is a good guide, please try to listen the sound of Accardo, you could find many tips in his performance. If you like the music in general, these concertos will give you a different vision and nature of the power of a violin with the London Philarmonic Orchesta. PROs - Excelent Violinist (Accardo), Excelent Presentation (CDs, book and case),Excelent Recorder, each CD has a number, the people take your time making this CD - Each Piece has a good explanation CONs - No are biography of Salvadore Accardo.

Average customer rating:

Ethereal LIszt in Superb Sound
A great collection of Liszt treasures
An excellent collection of Liszt interpretations.
Liszt for the ages.

Liszt: Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Galops | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Chopin: The Piano Works
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Works for Solo Piano
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos

ASIN: B00005ND3L
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-Sharp Minor
Liebestraum No.3
Mephisto Waltz No.1
Funerailles (No.7 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Rigoletto: Conc Paraphrase
La Campanella

Tracks:

Die Forelle
Der Muller Und Der Bach
Wohin?
Lebe Wohl!
Das Wandern
Der Lindenbaum
Horch, Horch, Die Lerch
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
Die Post
Aufenthalt
Lob Der Tranen
Erlkonig
I. Allegro Con Fuoco
II. Adagio
III. Presto
IV. Allegro

Tracks:

Lento Assai - Allegro Energico -
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Energico - Andante Sostenuto - Lento Assai
Valse Impromptu
I. 'Hohe Liebe' In A flat
II. 'Selinger Tod' In E Flat
III. 'O Lieb' In A Flat
Grand Galop Chromatique

Tracks:

I. Sposalizio
II Penseroso
III. Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa
IV. Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca
V. Sonetto 104 Del Patrarca
VI. Sonetto 123: Del Petrarca
VII. Apres Une Lecture De Dance (Fant Quasi Son)

Tracks:

I. La Chapelle De Guillaume Tell
II. Au Lac De Wallenstadt
III. Pastorale
IV. Au Bord D'une Source
V. Orage
VI. Vallee D'Obermann
VII. Eglogue (Hirtengesang)
VIII. Le Mal Du Pays
IX. Les Cloches De Geneve

Tracks:

I Gondoliera
II. Canzone
III. Tarantella
Les Jeux D'eau A La Villa D'Este (No.4 Of Annees De Pelerinage, Troisieme Annee)
Benediction De Dieu Dans La Solitude: (No.3 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Ballade No.2 In B

Tracks:

I. Preludio: Presto
II. Molto Vivace
III. Paysage: Poco Adagio
IV. Mazeppa: Allegro
V. Feux Follets: Allegretto
VI. Vision: Lento
VII. Eroica: Allegro
VIII. Wilde Jagd: Presto Furioso
IX. Ricordanza: Andantino
X. Allegro Agitato Molto
XI. Harmonies Du Soir: Andantino
XII. Chasse-Neige: Andante Con Moto

Tracks:

Zwei Konzertetuden: I. Waldesrauschen
Zwei Konzertetuden: II. Gnomenreigen
I. Il Lamento
II. La Leggierezza
III. Un Sospiro
I. Andante Con Moto
II. Un Poco Piu Mosso
III. Lento Placido
IV. Quasi Adagio
V. Andantino
VI. Allegretto Sempre Cantabile
Reminiscences De Don Juan

Tracks:

Reminiscences De Norma
Totentanz (Danse Macabre)
Malediction
Fant On Hungarian Folk Themes

Customer Reviews:

Ethereal LIszt in Superb Sound.......2006-09-29

Piano playing of extraordinary romantic depth and breadth. Bolet is inside Liszt's mind, as Liszt's romantic self unfolds on the keyboard. It is as if Bolet is the master himself. Superlative recordings to boot!

A great collection of Liszt treasures.......2004-01-12

The booklet of this set has an interesting explanation of why Jorge Bolet stayed out of the spotlights for so long before taking up his -glorious- career. It was his devotion to Liszt. By then, in the 1950s, Liszt was still regarded as a B-composer (There are still people who tend to think so: I read someone who called Liszt `the father of all bar pianists'. Now, if you know a worse offence...). Only after Liszt's reputation had increased, Bolet could enter his `Indian summer', which lasted from about 1975 until his passing away in 1990. During this period, he was finally able to perform his favourite music as much as possible. This fine 9-disc set may indeed be Bolet's most important testament. Additionally, it's one of the most important Liszt collections on the market. But beware: there's much more than just Bolet, considering Liszt's piano works. I can't say this is the perfect set or near it. Still five stars, for some astonishing piano playing that we don't come across very often nowadays.

Bolet won a Gramophone Award for his 1st book of Années de Pelerinage, which is not strange when listening to the recordings. This is a portrait of a man who's entirely on his own, looking for his soul while wandering trough the beautiful Switzerland - I can't say it better than B. Johnson already did. It's Romantic nonsense, of course, but in Liszt's days it was a common idea, and it can still sweep me away. Bolet's superior tonal colouring - beautiful, but not too far-driven, for the risk it would almost be too intimidating - and his peaceful nature lift this music to the greatest heights. My only complaint would be the `Orage' piece: Bolet's technique can't quite handle it, and its aggressive nature is much less overwhelming as a result. Nevertheless, the rest of the pieces show him at his very best. So does the second year of the Années (that is oddly placed in the set before the first year by Decca). The Dante Sonata, one of Liszt's greatest pieces, fares very well under Bolet's hands.

Equally excellent were the Schubert Song Transcriptions. The transcriptions aren't very different from the original songs, but they are definitely interesting. Especially when someone like Bolet takes them under his hands! All songs are terrifically played, with real standouts like `Auf dem Wasser zu singen', `Der Mueller und der Bach' and `Erlkoenig'. Bolet's romantic touch (he may have been the last of his kind) lets the music unendingly flow. Brilliant!

These comments also apply to Liszt's Consolations, which are placed on another disc. Liszt shows here how much he's in debt to Schubert, and wrote music of a disarmingly lyrical nature. Bolet gives almost naively innocent readings of these pieces. Talking about singing music, why not include the Liebesträume, `Venezia e Napoli' and many, many other pieces as well. Although some people still regard Liszt as a bombastic composer, he was in fact much more active on the spiritual and lyrical area. It is largely this nature of Liszt that is put into the spotlights by Bolet. He is really terrific whenever music ought to sound peaceful and meditative.

But Liszt was also a stunning virtuoso. People may eschew him for that, but that's often without any good ground. The B minor Sonata and the Transcendental Etudes, to give some names, are not only pianistically but also musically amazing works. It takes to be both a good technician and a musician to play them well, and this is where Bolet occasionally fails. He was over 65 when he made these recordings, and I can't help but say that his technique was not anymore what it used to be. In many pieces you can hear him struggle.

In what may be the most difficult music Liszt wrote, the Transcendental Etudes, Bolet takes tempi that are almost too easy (e.g. no.10 should be `Allegro molto agitato' but Bolet plays it very moderately), perhaps because his technique was by then too limited to give the pieces a really impressive treatment. Even then, I do feel a ertain nobility in Bolet's slow approach that gives every study a dignified stature (and that's something you won't find with Kissin or Cziffra!). The sonata is similarly noble and yet tremendously powerful in its scope, even though Bolet may lack some technial control at isolated spots.

Anoter treacherous piece is the `Reminiscences de Don Juan', which is a transcription of no less an opera than -of course- Don Giovanni! Bolet plays this 20-minute piece with a lot of humour and swing: it's a great way to clean up your mind! Also recommendable are the Etudes de Concert (e.g. Waldesrauschen), whose light spirit is very well captured.

A treasure trove set overall, I can recommend it without any limitations. There's no other composer that suited Bolet as well as Liszt, and the vice versa may be true as well. But the pianist also has his weaker points, particularly regarding his technique, that wasn't what it used to be. Oh, and the piano sound is not always equally convincing: the instrument sounds a little shrill at times. But there's an amazing amount of colour in the instrument, and it allows Bolet to reachfor the deepest, darkest sonorities you've heard. This collection is therefore not just THE best Liszt: there are many more pianists who made supreme recordings of him (e.g. Arrau, Brendel, Richter) and I definitely recommend searching them out as well. After you've heard this!

An excellent collection of Liszt interpretations........2003-12-03

I was very impressed with Bolet's playing. His rendition of La Campanella is the best I've ever heard.

Liszt for the ages........2001-12-05

Both for those that would like to find out for the first time what Liszt is all about, and for those few that are very familiar with the Paganini of the 88: LOOK NO FURTHER!

It doesn't get any better than this.

After I heard throughout the seventies about this "unknown" great of the romantic repertoire, I was fortunate enough to see him for the first time about a month after he recorded the first issue of this now legendary Liszt series. While his technique may not have exactly been what it used to be before (e.g. Orage in Suisse of Les Annees), all the performances benefit from the wisdom of many, many years. While all the performances are of a uniform Olympic level, two issue stand out in my mind.

First, there is the cd of Schubert Liszt transcriptions. Bolet really sets the standards for "singing" on the piano. His version of "Der Muller und der Bach" has to be believed to be heard.

Most importantly though, there is "Suisse" the first year of Liszt's years of pilgrimage. I own this disc from the day it appeared on the shelves and still listen to it every month. Surely, there are more technically brilliant versions. For the true "Liszt Nuts", I would certainly advise Leslie Howard's version of "L'Album d'un voyageur", that contains the first version of many of the "Suisse" pieces, and some additional pieces that Frenz (for reasons that escape me completely) excluded from the later Suisse. Yet, nobody, not even Brendel or Berman, have come close to Bolet on delivering on the central theme of Suisse, man finding himself back in an exploration of nature.

While they stem from the earlier days of digital recording the recordings are still more than respectable and benefit greatly from Bolet's attention for color, aided by his favorite Bechstein.

Tracks:

Violin Concerto No. 1 In D, Op. 6: 1. Allegro maestoso - Nicolo Paganini
Violin Concerto No. 1 In D, Op. 6: 2. Adagio - Nicolo Paganini
3. Rondo, Allegro spirituoso - Nicolo Paganini
I palpiti, Op.13 - Nicolo Paganini
Le streghe, Op.8 - Nicolo Paganini
Violin Concerto No. 4 In D Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso - Nicolo Paganini
Violin Concerto No. 4 In D Minor: 2. Adagio Flebile con sentimento - Nicolo Paganini
3. Rondo galante. Andantino gaio - Nicolo Paganini

Tracks:

Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Allegro maestoso - Various Artists
Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Adagio - Various Artists
Violin Concerto No. 2 in B mnor, Op. 7 - Rondo a la clochette, La Campanella - Various Artists
Caprice For Violin No. 13 - Various Artists
Caprice For Violin No. 20 - Various Artists
Caprice For Violin No. 24 - Various Artists
Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Introduzione Andante, Allegro marziale - Various Artists
Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Adagio, Cantabile spianato - Various Artists
Violin Concerto No. 3 in E - Polacca, Andantino vivace - Various Artists
Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11 - Various Artists

Customer Reviews:

Reading about Paganini.......2007-01-25

Fans of Paganini should read Julian Livingston's novel, Paganini-The Vampire Career. In this book, P.T. Barnum has sent Henry Feder to Europe to seek out a new violinist, Nicolaties, more than 40 years after Paganini died without last rites. Nicolaties looks, performs, behaves like Paganini. Could it be him? Lots of technical references to music, as Mr. Livingston is a musician and has written 2 operas. A very interesting book for musicians, vampire lovers, and macabre 19th century European tales.

Unexpected Delights.......2001-03-16

I bought this CD after hearing of the legend of Paganini - the devil on his shoulder, the playing that made people faint, the Marfan-syndrome affected joints that allowed impossible finger contortions, the immense crowds that adored him, as they did Liszt at the piano. What I expected was to hear impossible violin artistry at work, which was definitely fulfilled. What I did not expect, however, were the marvelous interludes between the violin solos. Paganini's concerti are unlike those of Beethoven and Brahms, as the violin completely dominates the attention. But the power of the full orchestra was unexpected. These are true violin showpieces, to be certain, but they are also marvelous bits of music - when the full orchestra blasts in you can't help but smile.

An unearthly hand guides his bow.......2000-08-13

"The Devil guides his bow " was what audiences said when they heard the fast fingers of Nicolo Paganini as he performed his various Caprices and Concertos. This was not an insult. He could play with demonic speed and still maintain a great sound. He is first and foremost a violinist, a superb one. Paganini's music is also brilliant and elegant sounding. In his time, audiences were moved to tears by his slower violin movements. This proves the emotional factor is present in his music, making him a Romantic composer and nevertheless a Classical composer. Stradivari violins were being made at this time. It was a great period in music and Paganini was a legend. I highly recommend this cd containing his most gorgeous works.

Excellent Introductory set of Paganini.......2000-01-14

This is a fine compilation. Not only it includes better compositions by Paganini, it also includes some of the best recorded performance of the works as well. As a musicological interest, Grumiaux and Szerying gave revival performances of no.3 and 4. The approaches the three violinists take are interesting to note as well. Szeryng and Grumiaux's playing emphasize the lyrical, aristocratic quality, whereas Gitlis emphasizes the demonic quality. And both approaches work splendidly. This set will provide an excellent introduction for people who does not know the compositions by Paganini, and will provide great pleasure for those who knows the music but has not heard them performed by these three wonderful violinists. Strongly recommended.

Fine compilation of Paganini.......1999-12-01

This is a fine collection of Paganini. Szeryng and Grumiaux gave the modern premieres for third and fourth concertos, respectively. Grumiaux's aristocratic performance of the fourth concerto has rarely been matched. In his performance, musicianship, technique and taste are balanced in an incomparable perfection. Szeryng's noble, distinguished performance of the third concerto has also very few equals. His restrained lyricism is particularly effective in the aria-like 2nd movement. As a pleasant surprise, Szeryng's performance has a great deal of charm as well (which is not always the case). Then as a contrast, this set has a hair-raisingly demonic performance of the second concerto by under-rated Ivry Gitlis. Gitlis's approach is 180 degree opposite from lyrical Grumiaux and Szeryng. Gitlis plays the concerto as if he is an personification of the devil himself, with gut-shattering vibrato and fearless abandan. Gitlis' fine performances of 3 caprices matches in every way with Heifetz's. The other recordings in this set are also distinguished, but not quite in the same level as the above mentioned. Grumiaux's lyrical performance of the first concerto sounds somewhat pale compared to young Yehudi Menuhin's 1934 performance, and so as his recording of two variations (Ricci plays a better Le Streghe, and I don't understand why Philips did not use Gitlis' version of I palpiti, which is much better). Marrinar's competent but hardly exciting perpetuo mobile (compare with Toscanini's recording!) could have been substituted with several more of Gitlis' Paganini short pieces he recorded during the 1960's on Philips. But this compilation is definitely worth getting for the concertos nos.2, 3 & 4. And the price is good too!

Average customer rating:

not too bad
A well-produced classical variety album
Great Concertos from Baroque to Romantic Era
Great cd, especially for the cost

25 Concerto Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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Symphony (25) Favorites
25 Vivaldi Favorites
25 Mozart Favorites
25 Classical Favorites
25 Bach Favorites

ASIN: B0000058IS
Release Date: 1997-07-01

Tracks:

Concerto For Two Trumpets In C Major PV 75 (1st Mvt.) - Antonio Vivaldi
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (1st Mvt.) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Lute Concerto In D Major (3rd Mvt.) - Antonio Vivaldi
Trumpet Concerto In D Major, 'Etienne Roger' (1st Mvt.) - Giuseppe Torelli
Four Seasons: Winter (1st Mvt.) - Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto For 2 Harpsichords In C Minor (3rd Mvt.) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto Grosso No. 12 In B Minor (2nd Mvt.) - George Frideric Handel
Four Seasons: Summer (3rd Mvt.) - Antonio Vivaldi
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Major (2nd Mvt.) - Franz Josef Haydn
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major (1st Mvt.) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major 'Elvira Madigan' (1st Mvt.) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (3rd Mvt.) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto In C Major For Flute & Harp (2nd Mvt.) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto (Divertimento) In C Major, Finale - Franz Josef Haydn
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major (1st Mvt.) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto Rondo For Cello & Orchestra - Jacques Offenbach
Piano Concerto In A Minor (1st Mvt.) - Edvard Grieg
Violin Concerto (3rd Mvt.) - Johannes Brahms
Cello Concerto (1st Mvt.) - Antonin Dvorak
Piano Concerto No. 2 (2nd Mvt.) - Sergey Rachmaninov
Violin Concerto 'La Campanella': Rondo - Niccolo Paganini
Piano Concerto No. 3 (1st Mvt.) - Sergey Rachmaninov
Violin Concerto In E Minor (1st Mvt.) - Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto In D Major (2nd Mvt.) - Pyotr Il'yich Tchiaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat Major 'Emperor' (3rd Mvt.) - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

not too bad.......2004-02-19

For the price, you can't go wrong.

*I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection some were better than others. This one was not too bad compared to the others, but not the best one.
I was kind of perturbed when some same tracks on this CD were on another CD, and visa versa.

A well-produced classical variety album.......2003-10-13

This album could have easily been filled with selections just from Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, and Beethoven, but thankfully the record producers chose some deeper cuts. Though the above mentioned greats are prominently featured (and rightly so), Grieg and Offenbach are welcome additions.

Like all the "25 _____ Favorites" albums I've listened to, the pieces are well-chosen, expertly performed, and excellently produced with sharp, clear sound. The album's variety is welcome as well, giving the listener 70+ minutes of a changing but continuous audio landscape.

There's not much here that will knock the socks off a classical purist, but that's part of its appeal. The pieces are good enough to satisfy the more refined classical music palate but accessible enough for those less-experienced in concertos. 25 CONCERTO FAVORITES comes recommended to those seeking a well-produced and pleasant classical variety album.

Great Concertos from Baroque to Romantic Era.......2000-08-16

The excerpts from 25 concertos range from the Baroque to Romantic Periods. They are all masterfully performed by virtuoso musicians (example: Brendel is the pianist in the last track, the Beethoven Emperor piano concerto). The violinists are skillful and well-known artists. Concerto music by Baroque legends such as Torelli and Bach. Mozart and Haydn's music is marvelous to hear. We have Mozart's piano concerto movements and flute concertos. Finally, in the Romantic field, Brahms, Mendelsshon and Tchaikovsky. This an affordable price for a cd that contains such excellent music.

Great cd, especially for the cost.......1999-05-04

25 great songs, and for $3.57, its a great buy

Average customer rating:

Very convincing Liszt B Minor Sonata
A very young virtuoso with lyrical instincts
Boring showmen, all of them
Simply amazing
What a disappointment!

Yundi Li: Liszt
Yundi Li , and Liszt
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Chopin Recital
Vienna Recital
Chopin: Scherzi/Impromptus
Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
Yundi Li: Live in Concert

ASIN: B00008GQTQ
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

Klaviersonate H-Moll / Sonate Pour Piano En Si Mineur
Grandioso - Recitativo
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Energico - Andante Sostenuto - Lento Assai
No.3 La Campanella - Allegretto
Liebeslied ('Widmung') S 566 ('Du Meine Seele, Du Mein Herz')
No.3 ('O Lieb, So Lang Du Lieben Kannst!') - Poco Allegro, Con Affetto
No.3 Tarantella - Presto - Piu Vivace - Canzona Napolitana - Prestissimo
Concert Paraphrase After Giuseppe Verdi's Opera - Preludio, Allegro - Andante - Presto

Customer Reviews:

Very convincing Liszt B Minor Sonata.......2007-05-31

Yundi Li played this piece to win the 1999 Utrecht International Liszt Competition. It is not surprising that he won.
The recording of the B Minor Sonata alone would have worth the money for this disc.
As the pianist himself said in the bonus VCD, Liszt is different from Chopin - the style is more open, more flamboyant. Li manages to play the piece with real character and impeccable technique, plus true expressiveness.
The rest of the album also showed the pianist's propensity for this composer's works, though it should be noted that special attention had indeed been paid to the B Minor Sonata. That said, since this legendary recording, Li's version of the La Campanella has already set the current standard for this beautiful piece. Not surprising, given the highly imaginative interpretation and impeccable technique employed by this young artist in playing this piece.
Heartily wish that Yundi Li would further expand his repertoire in the right direction in the years to come.

A very young virtuoso with lyrical instincts.......2006-08-31

Yundi Li made a splash with this recital three years ago when he was 22 and a fresh competition winner in Europe. DG signed him up to join their other Chinese star, Lang Lang, but it's not sheer musical politics (i.e., China's vast untapped market) that was the motivating factor. Yundi has a real personality in this demanding music, lyrical and sensitive, combined with an explosive technique that never turns into banging. He's as instinctive as Lang Lang, who is several years his senior.

Yundi's gifts come into their own in the music of Liszt, which has too often been cornered by barn-burners like Cziffra and Horowitz. It's a relief to hear the B minor Sonata played with sensitive respites in between the fireworks. In gentler pieces like the Widnung trasncription, the line is pure silk. I'm not sure I hear total maturity yet in the sonata, but Yundi Li is well on his way to making a lasting career at the highest international level.

Boring showmen, all of them.......2006-07-26

I was first acquainted with Yundi Li when he came for his Boston Debut at Jordan Hall. The program was a typically Chinese program: Chopin's Four Scherzi, and Liszt's B Minor Sonata, S.178. Having heard so much about his pianstic abilities and his victory at the Chopin Competition, I was ready for some good Chopin. Yet all four Scherzi lacked imagination, personality, and breadth. The first-half of the program was like a 40-minute exercise of arpeggios, virtuoso runs, etc...

The Liszt was fine. But everybody can play Liszt "fine". The B Minor Sonata was very well-controlled, a mature performance, but there was not much more than that. There was no inner fire, no brooding desire behind the notes, none of that magic we hear with Richter or Horowitz.

And the encores were La Campanella and Rigoletto, also represented here on this CD. La Campanella, being a mere showpiece and hence a "stupid" work consisting of all fingers and no brains, was not as scintillatingly brilliant as Cziffra's performance, just stale. Rigoletto was no longer an operatic transcription but an etude. First listen to Li, then compare his performance with Cortot's recording of the same piece. No comment, no comment at all.

In conclusion: the new crop of Chinese pianists should get brains. I suggest playing a little bit of new music, not Chopin, Liszt, then Chopin, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, and Chopin again. Let the poor man's soul rest in peace.

Simply amazing.......2006-05-17

This CD is simply amazing. The level of musicianship is stunning to say the least (especially given the performer's age), and the technique is flawless nearly all of the time. As shown by his mastery of the Liszt Sonata, Li is definitely on the track to be on par with Horowitz and Rubinstein. Truely worth the money.

What a disappointment! .......2006-04-09

After having heard so much about this pianist, I decided to use the opportunity and go listen to him in a concert hall.
Although the program included Schumann's "Carnaval" and Liszt's b-minor Sonata, it was 2 hours of total bore. And not only for me. As I was observing the audience, everybody seemed to wonder - what are we here for? The overall atmosphere in the hall was far from electrified and the response after each piece was just polite. Yundi Li's performance was uninteresting and empty. His pianism also had very little to offer - no touch, no pianissimo, poor pedaling (dry or total blur), in cords he hears only tops and basses, no sense of musical time - he often breaks it without reason - and there was no vision of structure of the piece, otherwise the tempos in the score would have been respected (after all Liszt was not an idiot and knew what HE wanted to say). I don't even mention the dramaturgy of this masterpiece, it would be too much to ask...
I wish people stop react on names and trust more their own senses. This pianist's success is clearly all about marketing.

Average customer rating:

Kathy Rocks Ever!
A wide presentation of the work of an amazing artist
A Great Coloratura Soprano
Great compilation of Kathleen Battle's work
Beautiful Voice

The Best of Kathleen Battle

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall
Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart
A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
So Many Stars
Classic Battle: A Portrait

ASIN: B00068CVF8
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

Summertime
I loves you, Porgy
Porgi amor
Welche Wonne, welche Lust
S'altro che lagrime
Una donna a quindici anni
Depuis le jour
E pur cosi / Piangeri la sorte mia
Oui! pour ce soir... Je suis Titania
Ah! tardai troppo... O luce di quest'anima
4. Pie Jesu (Sopran)
Voices of Spring, Op.410 (Frohlingsstimmen) - vocal version
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Ride Up in the Chariot
Witness "Oh, Lord, what manner of man is dis?"
Talk About a Child
He's got the whole world in His hands

Customer Reviews:

Kathy Rocks Ever!.......2006-01-01

Oh,yeah!Also here in Brazil she commanded,complained,got her tantrums as well but,she is Kathy;highly gifted,charmingly glamourous,her elegant golden singing beautifully soaring over brazilian audiences and so on.About this cd,I would prefer a completely new one.However,this is a gorgeous compilation,just perfect to Battle beginners or her fans,especially these spirituals that belongs incontestablely to her heavenly throat.I hope much more from Miss Battle just 'cause she is a great performer,in fact nobody or nothing couldn't denies that no matter she's doing backstage.Cowardly,poisonous "kid's rewiews" show us solely how empty is this quarrel.I hope a DG reissue of her beloved,out of print Schubert recital as well.

A wide presentation of the work of an amazing artist.......2005-12-23

This CD provides a sampling of Kathleen Battle's voice and interpretive abilities from coloratura virtuousity (Voices of Spring) to the simple, heartfelt spiritual (Talk about a child).

First of all, there's THAT voice. You hear a voice that is uniquely angelic and capable of expressing a wide range of moods. You hear a voice that glitters like a diamond, skips happily and effortlessly (and in impeccable tune) from note to note like it's nobody's business, one that that reminds you of moonbeams and early morning dew on pink rose petals. You've simply got to her it to believe it.

On this CD, the listener is provided with the the works/composers for which she's well known: Handel Opera (E pur cosi / piangero la sorte mia), Mozart Opera (S'altro che lagrime), Bel Canto Opera (Ah, tardai troppo...), French Opera (Depuis le jour), spirituals, and a few popular songs for sopranos such as Gershwin's Summertime and Faure's Pie Jesu

If you're just popping the CD in, try: (1) Ah, tardai troppo, (2) Voices of Spring, (3) Talk about a child, (4) I loves you, Porgy, and (5) Pie Jesu.

I suppose if you are a fan of heavy, dramatic voices, Kathleen Battle may not be to your liking. But I suspect that if you listen to her, you still might be amazed...

A Great Coloratura Soprano .......2005-04-03

Coloratura sopranos are a dying breed today. The era of Lily Pons and Beverly Sills is long gone and opera audiences favor a more "heavy" coloratura sound- or at least a full lyric one, such as the voice types of Kiri Te Kenawa, Carol Vanness and Renee Fleming. Kathleen Battle was in many ways an artist who payed homage to the coloratura queens of olden days. Only Natalie Dessay, of late, represents that kind of singer. much This album showcases her best work, and she is in fine voice, bringing a luminous and sunny quality to her interpretations, while keeping the dramatic appeal of the text. She was at best a Handel/Mozart/Strauss/Gounod singer, and never fared well in the more dramatic reperotoire of Verdi or Puccini heroines. She never sang Madame Butterfly, which if she had gone through training, she could have nailed, especially because her dramatic aspirations coupled with her soft, vulnerable sound would have suited her as Ciao Ciao San, in the way that Ying Huang interpreted the role. Verdi opera must have frightened her and she could never dream of taking on the roles that Leontyne Price performed, surely an influence in her student days made all the more credible because Leontyne Price was a "sister" African-American. So Leonora, Aida and Suor Angelica were out of her reach. While she sang with Jessie Norman in concert and recitals (like the Spirituals Concert), she must have been secretly or overtly ? jealous of the fact that Jessye Norman had a voice that could swallow the world!! A big, beautiful voice such as Ms. Norman's is closer to the true goddesses of operas in the tradition of Maria Callas, while Battle is more of the "tiny, bright, canary" voice. She ranks among the best of the lighter sopranos- Beverly Sills, and like Sumi Jo today. Her fellow co-artists used to call her the "Singing Mosquito". But she is marvelous in singing Handel oratorio(the only times I've heard her sing live), Mozart- Sussannah, Zerlina, the Countess in Figaro, Gounod- Juliette, Bizet- Micaela, but could never truly master the more difficult Mozart heroines- Dona Ana in Don Giovanni or Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte or even Konstanza in Die Entfurung, though try she did. In Strauss operas, she made a fine Zerbinetta, though she always oozed a confidence that made it seem as if these difficult pieces were a piece of cake for her. Some arias in this collection appear that way too.

Kathleen Battle has long since disappeared from the opera world, singing off and on. Her last singing engagement was for the soundtrack to the Japanese action saga "House of Flying Daggers" in which she sings in a very Japanese/poetic style. Before that she sang in Mythodea opposite Jessie Norman in a massive choral work by Vangelis, and also in Disney's Fantasia 2000. Her constant bitchiness, diva antics and disrespect to conductors and singers became too much and finally Joseph Volpe fired her from the Met. She had stayed there for so long because James Levine took a shine to her. As a singer, she was a perfectionist and in her body of work it shows. But she displayed a nasty diva temperament that does not sit well today. In the 80's, she would come to rehearsals late, would criticize everyone from conductor to costuma makers and even once disrespected the much older and experienced Rosalind Elias, a beloved mezzo at the Met. While I think that Volpe did the right thin in firing Battle, I think that Battle's voice is glorious and would buy her albums, even if she mostly poses as if she were in Vogue cover shots.

Great compilation of Kathleen Battle's work.......2005-03-26

This is a great compilation CD of recordings made by Battle, which are currently deleted by Universal Music.
The selections are first rate and capture the artistry of Kathleen Battle perfectly, a shimmering, silvery, clean and clear voice which has captivated millions of people worldwide

Beautiful Voice.......2005-02-24

I find it hard to give anything under 5 stars for any work including Miss Battle. Her technique and mastery of the female voice is quite remarkable. I am a HUGE fan of the soprano voice and I have found no one who posses the talents, skills, and interpretations of Battle. I would like to have seen more variety in this compilation CD. Her Rosina, Zerbinetta, Semele, other such roles were obviously ignored in the making of this CD. I think anyone will be hard pressed to find any lyric/coloratura soprano who amounts to the skill level of Miss Battle. Talent is talent, and she's got plenty of it. A person's attitude has nothing to do with their abilities as a performer, and I am tired of people knocking Miss Battle because of the stigma with which she is attached. Personally, she has never done anything to me nor the number of others who criticize her for her actions which took place over a decade ago. You cannot say that this woman does not posses mad skills. She is a lovely woman who has accomplished great things. I would gladly buy any CD that carries the name "Kathleen Battle".

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