Saint-Saëns: Spartacus

On this CD:

1. Morceau de concert, for violin & orchestra in G Major, Op. 62
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

2. Romance, for horn (or cello) & orchestra (or piano) in F major, Op. 36
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

3. Morceau de concert, for harp & orchestra in G major, Op. 154
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

4. Caprice andalous, for violin & orchestra in G major, Op. 122
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

5. Morceau de concert, for horn & orchestra in F major, Op. 94
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

6. Romance, for violin & orchestra in C major, Op. 48
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

7. Spartacus Overture, for orchestra in E flat major
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Olivier Charlier, Marielle Nordmann, Radovan Vlatkovic
Conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Simply the Best Classical Passion

Manufacturer: Warner Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000087HXC
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Gymnopedie No.1 - Michel Legrand
The Swan - Guher Pekinel
Andante - Elizabeth Leonskaja
Adagio Sustenuto - Alexei Sultavno
E Lucevan Le Stelle - Jose Cura
Lever Du Jour - Cleveland Orchestra
Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix - Olga Borodina
Nimrod - Sir Andrew Davis
Adagio - Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte-Carlo
Pas De Deux - Ondrej Lenard
Bolero (Excerpt) - Cleveland Orchestra
Prelude (Excerpt) - Theodor Guschlbauer
The Swan Of Tuonela, Op.22/2 - Sir Andrew Davis
Prelude In D Flat, Op.28 No.15 - Nikolai Lugansky

Tracks:

Andante Semplice - Alexei Sultanov
Adagio - Hugh Wolff
Romance In F Major, Op.50 - Thomas Zehetmair
Adagio - Dieter Klocker
Nocturne No.1 In B Minor, Op.9/1 - Elisabeth Leonskaja
Andante - Elisabeth Leonskaja
Notturno - Brodsky Quartet
Berceuse - Philharmonia Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis - Tasmin Little
Kinderszenen, Op.15 'Dreaming' - Cyprien Katsaris

Album Description

Full title - Simply The Best - Classical Passion - Music For Classic Lovers. This 2 CD album from Warner Music features 24 classical melodies to help you and the one you love, stimulate your senses. Slipcase. Warner. 2003.

Album Details

This Double CD Album from Warner Music features 24 Passionate Classical Melodies to Help You and the One You Love Stimulate Your Senses.

Average customer rating:

Amazing!
Could have been a lot better
The Perfect music for the Perfect Mood
Good Collection- 4.3 Stars
A pleasant compilation that could set the mood....

Sensual Classics

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sensual Classics II

ASIN: B000000SIP
Release Date: 1993-05-11

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.2: Adagio Sostenuto
Carmen: Entracte To Act 3
Mandolin Concerto In D Major: Adagio
String Quartet No. 2: Notturno
Piano Sonata Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Adagio Sostenuto
Oboe Concerto, Op.9 No. 2: Adagio
Spartacus: Adagio
Daphnis et Chloe: Lever du Jour
Symphony No. 5: Adagietto
Le Carnaval des Animaux: Le Cygne (The Swan)
Symphony No. 5: Adagio
Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 In E Minor
The Firebird: Berceuse
Kinderszenen: Dreaming
Bolero
Suite In D Major: Air

Amazon.com

The cover photo to this disc shows a woman ripping the clothes off her lover. That's how we know that the Adagio Sostenuto from Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 is about sex. So goes the logic here. But the disc's droopy account of the Entr'acte to Act III of Bizet's Carmen by Lorin Maazel and Orchestre National de France lights no fire. The Adagio from Vivaldi's Mandolin Concerto in D major has been piped into shopping malls for too many years for it to awaken much beyond the urge to buy shower curtains and blue jeans. Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is pretty convincing in his account of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Op. 27, and much has been made of the work's dedication to the lovely 17-year-old Countess Giulietta Giucciardi. As to the Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth Symphony, I always thought it was about something other than sex. Silly me! --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2006-03-20

This is fantastic music to play whilst I smash myself in the face with a hammer.

Could have been a lot better.......2004-08-29

While I like all the pieces on this CD, many of them are incomplete (i.e., they fade out before the finish) and most of the performances are not very inspiring. It's disappointing when you know they could have done a better job by leaving off a couple of tracks so everything would fit in the original length. And the cover photo is a bit much... but you can re-fold the liner so people in the office don't get the wrong idea about your taste in CD's.

The Perfect music for the Perfect Mood.......2004-02-06

A personal favorite of mine for a quiet evening with my husband when the kids are asleep and the mind turns to more romantic matters. The relaxing, melodic music herin is a wonderful way to start things off on the right foot with that special someone in your life.

This CD, along with a few candles, a bottle of champagin, a bubble bath, or a relaxing massage is the perfect recipie for a lovely time with your loved one.

Romantic Classics can also be a great selection to play for stress reduction while driving through rush hour, or just to relax and read a book.

Good Collection- 4.3 Stars.......2004-01-06

Good collection of classical songs
Review of the cd
1.Rachmaninov piano concerto no.2- 4 stars
2.Bizet Carmen- 4 stars
3.Vivaldi Mandolin Concerto-4.5 stars
4.Borodin string quartet no.2- 4 stars
5.Beethoven ((Moonlight Sonata))- 5 out of 5 stars
6.Albinoni oboe concerto- 4 stars
7.Khachaturian Spartacus- 4.5 stars
8.Ravel Daphnis Et Chloe- 4 stars
9.Mahler Symphony no.5- 4 stars
10.Saint- saens carnival of the animals- 4.5 stars
11.Rachmaninov symphony no.2- 4 stars
12.Chopin- Prelude no.4- 5 out of 5 stars
13.Stravinsky the firebird- 4 stars
14.Schumann Kinderszenen-3.9 stars
15.Ravel Bolero-4.8 stars
16.Bach -air from suite in d- 5 stars
Overall good collection of classical music/worth the money

A pleasant compilation that could set the mood...........2000-05-15

I do agree with the editorial review that most of the individual pieces do not have anything to do with sex, per se, but I am not sure that is the point. Most of the music here (along with its sequel CD) is in my (subjective) opinion, quite romantic -- soft and melodic. I am not sure what classical pieces an album like this should include if sex were the real point -- popular music gets there a lot more directly. There certainly is nothing to offend here, and perhaps something to inspire. Think of this as the album you put on while in front of the fireplace with a bottle of wine when you are with the person you love. It should set the mood for some good conversation and whatever follows.

Saint-Saëns: La Muse et le poète; Violin Concerto No. 2; Spartacus Overture

Average customer rating:

Saint-Saëns: La Muse et le poète; Violin Concerto No. 2; Spartacus Overture

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Saint-Saëns: Music for violin & orchestra
Saint-Saëns: Music for Violin
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (Hybr)
Janine Jansen: Concertos & Romance
Blood Diamond [HD DVD]

ASIN: B00005TNB5
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Tracks:

Violin Concerto No.2 In C Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro Moderato E Maestoso
Violin Concerto No.2 In C Major, Op. 58: II. Andante Espressivo
Violin Concerto No.2 In C Major, Op. 58: III. Allegro Scherzando Quasi Allegretto
Spartacus: Overture For Orchestra
La Muse Et Le Poete, Op. 132

Average customer rating:

In Saint-Saens' Case, Good Things Come in Small Packages

Saint-Saëns: Spartacus

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005GM8
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

Morceau De Concert in e, Op.62 - Olivier Charlier
Romance in F, Op.36 - Radovan Vlatkovic
Morceau De Concert in G, Op.154 - Marielle Nordmann
Caprice Andalou in G, Op.122 - Olivier Charlier
Morceau De Concert in f, Op.94 - Radovan Vlatkovic
Romance in C, Op.48 - Olivier Charlier
Spartacus: Ov - Ens Orch De Paris/Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Customer Reviews:

In Saint-Saens' Case, Good Things Come in Small Packages.......2004-04-29

Saint-Saens is often criticized for his emotional coolness, the conservatism of his musical idiom, and the, well, trashiness of some of his musical invention (a good case in point is the last movement of the beloved Organ Symphony--full of sound and fury and signifying only a good workout for the orchestra and your stereo system). But the French composer was also capable of creating music that, though by no means great, has an almost Mozartian perfection. The works I think of in this vein are concerted pieces, but not the concertos, all of which have some failing or other that make them far from perfect. No, perhaps the most perfect works Saint-Saens penned are the Introduction and Rondo Capricioso and the Havanaise, both for violin. Though the violin was not Saint-Saens' instrument, he was a virtuoso pianist and knew how to concoct a concerted work that brilliantly showcases the talent of any soloist.

So it is with the works on this disc. They're rarely if ever heard in the concert hall, so it's nice to have them on CD, especially in such sympathetic and well-recorded versions as here. All of the works have been recorded before, the Romance for Harp and Orchestra fairly often, though I think it isn't the finest of these compositions. That honor falls to the Morceau de Concert for violin. Really, it's a shame orchestras don't program works like this because it is a very strong sonata-form movement that is as rigorously argued as the best of Saint-Saens' concerto movements--I'm thinking of the first movement of the Third Violin Concerto. Like that movement, the Morceau is cast dramatically in the minor key, but it has an absolutely ravishing second melody in the major that is as important to the musical argument of the piece as the dark and brooding first melody. Olivier Charlier and the orchestra play this powerful little work to the hilt, and they're equally fine in the pretty Caprice Andalou and the tender Romance, a work that's never heard probably because it's rather short compared to the more famous Beethoven and Dvorak romances. Actually, it's not far inferior to the latter work or to Saint-Saens' own Introduction and Rondo Capricioso.

The works for harp and horn are given fine performances as well, as fine as I've heard, and probably the best sound they've ever been accorded on disc. But another incentive for buying this collection is the inclusion of "Spartacus," a concert overture that the young Saint-Saens penned for a competition. Despite the subject matter, it is more abstract than Saint-Saens' later tone poems, but it nonetheless captures the dignity and prowess of its eponymous hero. The second melody is a lovely, long-breathed, Lizstian affair with harp accents and swooning strings, while the last part of the score is an apotheosis-march that rounds off the piece in rousing fashion; this section sounds like the contemporary--and very attractive--First Violin Concerto. The recording of "Spartacus," as with the other pieces, is excellent, imparting a good sense of concert-hall realism.