Romantic: Strauss; Rachmaninoff

On this CD:

1. Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zoroaster), tone poem for orchestra, Op. 30
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by Rochester Pops

2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Garrison Kent

3. The Sorcerer's Apprentice, for orchestra
Composed by Paul [composer] Dukas
Performed by Denver Symphony Orchestra

4. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov)
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Ljubljana Radio Orchestra

5. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera Un bel di
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Slavonic Philharmonic Orchestra with Vanda Gerlovic

6. Rigoletto, opera Questo a quella
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra with Jose Maria Perez

Tracks:

Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.29: Anakreons Grab
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.26: Die Sprode
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.27: Die Bekehrte
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.24: Blumengruss
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.7: Mignon III
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.25: Gleich Und Gleich
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.28: Fruhling Ubers Jahr
Poems By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: No.50 Ganymed
Drei Lieder Der Ophelia, Op.67a: No.1: Wie Erkenn Ich Mein Treulieb Vor Andern Nun?
Drei Lieder Der Ophelia, Op.67a: No.2: Guten Morgen, 'S Ist Sankt Valentinstag
Drei Lieder Der Ophelia, Op.67a: No.3: Sie Trugen Ihn Auf Der Bahre Bloss
Six Songs, Op.38: No.1: In My Garden At Night
Six Songs, Op.38: No.2: To Her
Six Songs, Op.38: No.3: Daisies
Six Songs, Op.38: No.4: The Pied Piper
Six Songs, Op.38: No.5: A Dream
Six Songs, Op.38: No.6: 'A-oo'
Berceuse
The World's Highway
Berlin In Licht-Song
Je Ne T'aime Pas

Customer Reviews:

Upshaw's first recording. Good stuff........2006-04-28

'Dawn Upshaw Sings Wolf, Strauss, Rachmaninoff, Ives, and Weill' seems to hedge its bets by touching many of the important modern art song bases. By so doing, it demonstrates Upshaw's range in conveying the romantic angst of Wolf's interpretation of Goethe poems to the stark modern angles of Kurt Weill's two songs.

While I believe Upshaw is not as strong as, for example, Anne Sofie Von Otter, I think her interpretation of Wolf songs comes off just a bit better. At least it is a very nice contrast. I also think she will not displace Ute Lemper as a Weill interpreter, but for us Weill fans, every new interpretation is welcome.

If you like female art song vocalists, Upshaw is definately worth your time and money.

Average customer rating:

Liberace and the Lond

Manufacturer: Entree (Soh)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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16 Biggest Hits

ASIN: B0000695V1
Release Date: 2002-06-05

Tracks:

Classic Concertos: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat/Hungarian ...
Chopsticks
Die Fledermaus
Strauss Medley: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Opening Fanfare)/The Blue ...
Gershwin Medley: Rhapsody in Blue/Embraceable You/Swanee/The Man I ...
I'll Be Seeing You

Tracks:

Mexican Fanfare: Spanish Eyes/La Paloma/Mexican Hat Dance
Fire Dance
Stardust
Chopin Medley: Nocturne in E Flat
Chopin Medley: Minute Waltz
Chopin Medley: Polonaise in a Flat
Chopin Medley: Claire de Lune
Cats Clown Medley: Memory/Send in the Clowns
New York, New York
As Long as He Needs Me
Chariots of Fire
Chopin Nocturne in E Flat
Boogie Woogie
You Made Me Love You
Beer Barrel Polka

Average customer rating:

Romantic: Strauss; Rachmaninoff

Manufacturer: Intersound Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Also sprach Zarathustra - Rochester Pops
Pno Con No.2: Moderato - Garrison Kent/LSO
Pno Con No.2: Adagio sostenuto - Garrison Kent/LSO
Pno Con No.2: Allegro scherzando - Garrison Kent/LSO
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Denver SO
Sels from 'Prince Igor' - Ljubljana Radio Orch
Madame Butterfly: Un bel di - Vanda Gerlovic/Slavic PO
Rigoletto: Questo a quella - Jose Perez/Nuremberg SO

Average customer rating:

Words cannot explain how great his playing is!
Buy it if you like Rachmaninov (which you should)
A Mild Disagreement
An Essential Recording
Overall, a satisfying set!

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Maurizio Pollini I (Great Pianists of the Century) - Chopin / Debussy / Liszt / Schumann / Stravinsky / Webern (2 CDs)
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Andre Previn: Great Pianists Of The 20th Century (Music Of Mozart, Poulenc, Shostakovich, Gershwin)

ASIN: B00000DI3E
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Tracks:

Theme & Variations 1-14, 19-28, 31 & 32: Variations In C Minor, WoO 80 (Excerpts)
Ballade No.3 In A Flat, Op.47
Scherzo No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
Waltz No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op.64 No.2
Waltz No. 8 In A Flat, Op.64 No.3
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35 'Funeral March': 1 Grave. Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35 'Funeral March': 2 Scherzo - Piu lento - Tempo I
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35 'Funeral March': 3 March funebre. Lento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35 'Funeral March': 4 Finale. Presto
Carnaval, Op.9: 1 Preambule
Carnaval, Op.9: 2 Pierrot
Carnaval, Op.9: 3 Arlequin
Carnaval, Op.9: 4 Valse noble
Carnaval, Op.9: 5 Eusebius
Carnaval, Op.9: 6 Florestan
Carnaval, Op.9: 7 Coquette
Carnaval, Op.9: 8a Replique
Carnaval, Op.9: 8b Sphinxes
Carnaval, Op.9: 9 Papillons
Carnaval, Op.9: 10 A.S.C.H.-S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes)
Carnaval, Op.9: 11 Chiarina
Carnaval, Op.9: 12 Chopin
Carnaval, Op.9: 13 Estrella
Carnaval, Op.9: 14 Reconnaissance
Carnaval, Op.9: 15 Pantalon e Colombine
Carnaval, Op.9: 16a Valse Allamande
Carnaval, Op.9: 16b Intermezzo: Paganini - Valse allemande (reprise)
Carnaval, Op.9: 17 Aveu
Carnaval, Op.9: 18 Promenade
Carnaval, Op.9: 19 Pause
Carnaval, Op.9: 20 Marche des 'Davidsbundler' contre les Philistins
Chants polonais de Frederic Chopin, S.480: 1 The Maiden's Wish
Chants polonais de Frederic Chopin, S.480: 6 Return Home

Tracks:

Violin Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Preludio
Violin Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Gavotte
Violin Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Gigue
Flight Of The Bumble-bee
Scherzo From 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Man lebt nur einmal (Valse caprice, Op.167 No.2)
Lullaby, Op.16 No.1
Novembre: Troika (From 'Les saisons,' Op.37b)
Rachmaninoff: Polka de V.R.
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. No.2
Melody In E, Op.3 No.3
Humoresque In G, Op.10 No.5
Moment Musical In E Flat Minor, Op.16 No.2
Prelude In G Flat, Op.23 No.10
Prelude In E, Op.32 No.3
Prelude In F Minor, Op.32 No.6
Prelude In F, Op.32 No.7
Etude -Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2
Etude - Tableau In E Flat, Op.33 No.7
Daisies, Op.38 No.3
Oriental Sketch
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud

Amazon.com

The commercial success of the Rachmaninoff disc A Window in Time defied the odds and became a chart topper: here were recordings not of the great pianist-composer but of his piano rolls. Only problem: they were just piano rolls. By contrast, these discs (part of Philips's comprehensive Great Pianists series) offer an affordable chance to hear the real Rach in action, and they're not to be missed. The composer's big hands tackle Chopin's Funeral March Sonata with a sobering grace and power that still sound timeless. Schumann's Carnival, despite low fidelity, is breathtaking in Rachmaninoff's colorful hands. Hearing the composer play his own works on disc 2 is a revelation: his style is neither flashy nor subdued. Oriental Sketch is expressive and rollicking but never overdone. The sound quality on these recordings ranges from fair to good (surface noise is always apparent), but to fans of Rachmaninoff (and great piano playing), a little hiss can be easily ignored. These recordings have a ton of character and life. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Words cannot explain how great his playing is!.......2004-01-01

It would be worth creating a time machine just to go see Rachmaninoff play! The playing on this set is truly spectacular. I had the same problem as the earlier reviewer, I regretted buying this CD because I could have bought his complete recording from RCA. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent sample of the playing of one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. It's a shame that Rachmaninoff didn't record any other large-scaled works other than the Chopin Funeral March Sonata and the Schumann Carnaval.

The recording of the Chopin Sonata is my favorite favorite recording along with the Horowitz recording on Sony. The Schumann Carnaval is my absolute favorite of this work, there is no comparison!
All the other smaller pieces on this set are played to perfection. The Chopin ballade and scherzo are beautifully played. It's a joy to hear some of these transcriptions played, some of them are neglected these days. Everyone interested in Rachmaninoff should own recordings of him playing his own music, the selections here are wonderful.
The sound quality is obviously nothing near todays standards, and understandably so considering the recording dates range from 1921-1942.

Overall this set his HIGHLY recommended, if you wouldn't be bothered by the poor sound quality. Rachmaninoff's playing has what many pianists today lack, which is individuality and imagination.

Buy it if you like Rachmaninov (which you should).......2001-07-07

Rachmaninov is one of the very greatest piano artists of the twentieth century. He was a complete piano artist, rather than a specialist, in the sense that he was both a piano composer and a piano virtuoso. Any serious piano collection is not complete without some Rachmaninov recordings. The only reason I regret buying the present disk is because now I prefer to buy the complete recordings of Rachmaninov, which subsumes this disk. The highlights of the present disk in my mind is (1) the Chopin funeral march sonata, (2) the Schumann "Carnaval", and (3) Rachmaninov's performances of his own compositions. The best recordings of the chopin sonata in my mind are the present recording, recordings by Cortot, and more recently, by Pollini and Ashkenazy. The best recordings in my mind of "Carnaval" are the present recording, and again Cortot's rendition. There aren't many comparable modern recordings of "Carnaval", which is disappointing since this is such an incredible piece. Of course there are many outstanding performances of Rachmaninov's compositions, my favorite being Richter; but of course anyone seriously interested in Rachmaninov's piano compositions will be very interested in hearing the composer perform his own works. An outstanding, albeit dated, set of recordings.

A Mild Disagreement.......2000-12-30

I just want to enter my mild disagreement with the "Music Fan from Pittsburgh", whose less than total endorsement of this recording might put off some folks, even though the reviewer did recommend it. These performances of Carnaval and the Chopin Sonata are two of the most astonishing piano performances I have ever heard, and I've been a student of the piano and pianists for well over 50 years now. Yes, Rubinstein's Scherzi are also essential; I'm not so sure about Pollini's Sonata (fabulous pianism that just leaves me cold). Rachmaninoff is in that rarified category of the 5 or 10 greatest pianists of the 20th century, and like each of them, he was absolutely unique. Anyone who wants to collect the work of the greatest pianists needs to have every note that Rachmaninoff recorded.

An Essential Recording.......2000-09-04

It depends on what you want. If I wasn't a collector of piano works in particular, I would look elsewhere for the particular pieces on this disk. In particular, I'd choose Rubinstein for Chopin's Scherzi and Ballade and Pollini for the Chopin Sonata. The main reason is the sound quality on this disk is inferior to other first rate recordings. On the other hand, if you are a collector to some degree, this disk really is essential. The choice of pieces is wonderful. The Chopin, Beethoven, Schumann, and Liszt and all very wonderful pieces, and indeed the playing is more than first rate. Not to mention the interest of hearing Rachmaninov playing his own works. I enjoy listening to this cd despite the sound quality, and as long as you aren't looking for exactly the best recordings of these particular pieces, I'd suggest you put it on your buying list.

Overall, a satisfying set!.......2000-07-28

I subtracted one star for sound quality. In spite of that, this is a wonderful set. No one will ever replace Rachmaninoff: his distinctive, top-notch pianism and his mostly-melancholy compostition genius.

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: I. Largo
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: II. Allegro molto
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: III. Adagio
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: IV. Allegro vivace
Sym No.1 in D, Op.25 'Classical': I. Allegro
Sym No.1 in D, Op.25 'Classical': II. Larghetto
Sym No.1 in D, Op.25 'Classical': III. Gavotte (Non troppo allegro)
Sym No.1 in D, Op.25 'Classical': IV. Finale: Molto vivace
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

Customer Reviews:

Right up there.......2000-06-29

The legacy of William Steinberg has gone into a kind of eclipse, but maybe, just maybe he's beginning to emerge.

This issue goes some way toward that end. The '57 stereo sound is lovely, the Pittsburgh Symphony at its considerable best, Steinberg at his most inspired. The maestro's view is ultra-Romantic, of an older school, at a time when the dramatic thrust and elegant sheen of Paul Paray had just come on the scene with a Mercury issue that blasted preconceptions of what this work is all about.

I prefer the Paray approach since it brings out far more of the dramatic and kinetic as well as the spit and shine in the work, but Steinberg's way harks back to a deeply-felt tradition. If you have Paray, Steinberg, and the excellent Wallenstein, all your Rachmaninoff Second moods will be covered.

And in thinking about that, isn't it nice to know that the orchestras of Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles did all this vintage work?

Music Review: