French Opera Overtures [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Australian pressing. 9 total tracks. Features the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Decca. 2004.

Tracks:

Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
II. Andante - Stephen Hough
Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
The Swan - Osian Ellis
II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
II. Andantino - James Galway
II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Tracks:

Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
II. Andante - Nigel North
II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

Amazon.com

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04

This CD is a great way to enjoy a large variety of Classical Composers & many of their best known pieces. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," is an all time favorite. There are vocals, Piano pieces, & some fine Violins. I found the latter the most enjoyable. Here you can find Rodrigo & Pachelbell. Samuel Barber's haunting Adagio will make your skin tingle. This may not be to everyones taste, but if you wish to relax? Give this a couple of listens.

Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17

I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I decided to buy the album from amazon. All the songs you would expect from a "best album in the world" are there and they are not boring to listen to like a lot of other classical albums. I now play this album in the car constantly and the wife requested it be played at the hospital during the birth.

Too much opera.......2007-01-10

If it wasn't for the opera this would be a great CD.

Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10

This album along with Volume 2 are now the two most valued albums in my music collection. I have all of the songs contained on these two albums but they are scattered through at least a dozen different albums and several are not performed by artists such as those that recorded this album and Volume 2.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Fabulous
Andre Rieu "Fiesta"
Fiesta
Not the best versions available
This is a great album!

Fiesta
André Rieu , Johann Strauss Orchestra , Georges Bizet , Gioachino Rossini , Mikis Theodorakis , Pascual Marquina , Vincent Youmans , Leo Ferré , E. Ramirez , Filippo Marchetti , Emmerich Kalman , Jacob Gade , P. Shott , Gerhard Winkler , Louis Louiguy , Glanzberg , Vincent Scotto , Luigi Denza , Scottish Traditional , Friedrich Schroder , and Anonymous
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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

The Vienna I Love, Waltzes From My Heart
Andre Rieu in Concert
At The Movies
Roses from the South
Tuscany

ASIN: B000031WXB
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Clavelitos
Espana Cani
Cielito Lindo
Seventh Heaven Of Love
Carmen: Ov
Hava Nagila
Tea For Two
Moulin Rouge/Paris Canaille
Sirtaki (Zorba's Dance)
Fascination
The Gipsy Princess Medley: Love, Love, Love!/The Swallow Song/How Could I Know?/Love, Love, Love!
William Tell: Ov
Jalousie
The Canals Of Amsterdam
Let's Go To Varasdin
Chianti-Lied
La Vie En Rose/Padam Padam/Sous Les Ponts De Paris
Funiculi Funicula
Auld Lang Syne

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous.......2005-10-23

This DVD is spectacular. Andre Rieu is absolutely fascinating to listen to and the costumes of the orchestra as gorgeous. Well worth every penny.

Andre Rieu "Fiesta".......2005-09-20

This CD is absolutely fantastic. There is no musician quite like Andre Rieu. His music does indeed lift the spirit.

Fiesta.......2005-09-12

The music lifts my spirits! It is fun and lighthearted. I sincerely recommend this CD by Andre Rieu.

Not the best versions available.......2002-02-12

First of all, why call this recording
"Fiesta"? only for the first four latin-american
works? because the rest of the cd is of
German music.I you want a real "Fiesta"
disc, I recomendation is that disc
of Keith Lockhart, is much more fun and
much more in a fiesta spirit than this one.

This is a great album!.......2002-01-02

I highly recommend this album. Andre Rieu is a great violinist. If you buy this album you will not be dissappointed. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

Average customer rating:

Great Teaching Tool
Donna Diana
William Tell & Other Favorite Overtures
Blockbuster demo disk!
Fantastic!

William Tell & Other Favorite Overtures

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Famous Overtures
25 Thunderous Classics
Rossini: Overtures (14)
Orchestral Spectaculars
Symphonic Spectacular

ASIN: B000003CTP
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Light Cavalry
Daniel-Francois Auber
Zampa
Poet And Peasant
Donna Diana
Orpheus In The Underworld
William Tell

Customer Reviews:

Great Teaching Tool.......2007-05-29

The pieces on this disc represent some of the more intersting and dynamc overtures, very suitable for music appreciation classes to point out use of classics and neo-classical music in contemporary culture

Donna Diana.......2005-07-28

This CD has a nice mix of the familiar and unfamiliar --- but all are upbeat and fun to listen to. Well worth the price.

William Tell & Other Favorite Overtures.......2002-09-10

Suppe's Light Calvary and Poet and Peasant Overtures were absolutely grand, as were Daniel-Francois Auber's Fra Diavolo, Herold's Zampa, Reznicek's Donna Diana, Offenbachs Orpheus in the Underworld, and the magnificent William Tell Overture by Rossini. One word of caution: this CD will really test your stereo, the bass actually thunders, and will blow your socks off. Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Orchestra did a fine job, I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves the thunderous music of an orchestra, you cannot go wrong buying this CD, I love it on the car stereo and at home.

Blockbuster demo disk!.......2000-09-22

The Telarc label does it again. This is the perfect disk for showing off your sound system. Great recordings and great selection of overtures. I've been listening to this CD for about 15 years now and the Orpheus in the Underworld track still sends chills up my spine.

Fantastic!.......2000-05-26

Couldn't ask for anything more from a CD full of famous overtures. Kunzel and co. rock my world yet again.

Average customer rating:

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

Simply the Best Classical Anthems

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | 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

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Thunderous Classics
Thunder & Lightning
25 Thunderous Classics
Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder
Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00004SUVI
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Simply The Best Classical Anthems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do you accept such an invitation?

Hope you found this review helpful.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tracks:

An Untold Story: Assaggio No.1 In G Minor - Johann Helmich Roman
The Legend Of Casanova: Tambourins I/II From Daro - Jean-Philippe Rameau
I Yield To Love: Cello Concerto No.3 In D Minor - Leonardo Leo
Eternal Damnation: Overture From Les Fetes De Polymnie/Overture From Platee/Overture From Zoroastre - Jean-Philippe Rameau
The Doge's Decree: Concerto In C Major - Antonio Vivaldi
A Venetian Virgin - Alexandre Desplat
San Cremori At Dawn: Concerto In C Major For Harpsicord And Strings - Giovanni Paisiello
A Lover's Duel: Overture From La Madrilena - Vicente Martin Y Soler
A Terrible Mistake: Concerto A 5, Op.9, No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
A Secret Lover?: Sinfonia From The Opera Farnace - Antonio Vivaldi
Marriage Is A Safe Haven: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
Trailing Guardi: Sonata For Violin And Bassocontinuo, Op.5 No.11 In E Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
The Noble Pig: Concerto Per Quartetto No.8 - Francesco Durante
Paprizzio's Arrival: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.2 In D Minor - Tomaso Albinoni
Inquisitor Pucci - Alexandre Desplat
: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 - Tomaso Albinoni
A Big Idea: Harpsicord Concerto In B Flat Major - Francesco Durante
A Nom De Plume/Carnivale!: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.6 In G Major/Bouree From Les Plaisirs Champetres - Tomaso Albinoni
The Plume's Nom Is Casanova! - Sonny Kompanek
Dancing At The Doge's Ball: Riguadon From Water Music Suite, No.3 In G Major/Bouree From Music For Royal Fireworks/Loure From Tafelmusik1 - George Frideric Handel
One Step Closer To Heaven: Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 In A Major - Tomaso Albinoni
Casanova's Confession: Sonata Op.5 No.7 In D Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
The Hanging: Violin Concerto 'Il Cimento Dell'Armonia E Dell'INvenzione' Op.8 No.11 In D Major - Antonio Vivaldi
A Great Escape: Overture From Zais/Overture From Nais/Overture From Achante Et Cephise Ou La Sympathie - Jean-Philippe Rameau
My Place Is With Casanova: Overture From Le Temple De La Gloire/Overture From Zais/Sonata For Violin And Bassocontinuo, Op.5 No.7 In D Minor - Arcangelo Corelli
All's Well...:Concerto A 5, Op.9 No.4 In A Major - Tomaso Albinoni

Amazon.com

The action in this tale about the 18th century adventurer and (at least in popular lore) seducer is set in Cassanova's native Venice in the mid-1700s, so it makes sense that the soundtrack would be loaded with Baroque pieces. The Venice-based Tomaso Albinoni is featured prominentaly, along with heavyweights such as Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Baptiste Rameau, and George Frideric Handel, and lesser-known composers such as Arcangelo Corelli, Francesco Durante, and Alexandre Desplat. Er, actually Desplat is a contemporary French film composer who also released his score for the couldn't-be-more-different Syriana shortly after Casanova came out. Of the two pieces he penned here, "A Venetian Virgin" is in pure Baroque style, while "Inquisitor Pucci" betrays a more modern film-music vibe. Meanwhile, orchestrator Sonny Kompanek rearranged a couple of the tracks and authored the tense "The Plume's Nom Is Casanova," which doesn't sound embarrassing sandwiched between pieces by Albinoni and Handel. Overall, it would have been nice to get longer excerpts from the pieces--many feel chopped into too-small fragments--but the music's innate grace and elegance can't be beat for a period film. Or for any film, really: Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major ("The Doge's Decree") will be familiar to buffs, who will remember it featuring prominently in the Dustin Hoffman-¬Meryl Streep showdown Kramer vs. Kramer back in 1979. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Sheer Beauty for the Ears.......2006-07-25

For those that purchased this CD, I need not get into how masterfully infectious the movie was. After the first viewing, I found it charming, but after the second, I was hooked by the witty, clever story holding fun twists all along the way. So while I could go on and on about the movie and all of its wonderful aspects, the score was simply priceless. Apt in every scene, and all done with incredible baroque music that I had never had the opportunity of hearing before the film.

The disc walks you through the movie with no changes that I could tell from the original score. The only omission I found was that the song dubbed "Casanova's Theme" is played in much greater length in the closing credits, and that didn't seem to make it to the CD. Not a terrible loss.

Authenticity can sound great as well!.......2006-07-11

As an avid baroque music listener and performer, I can attest to the delightfully pleasing performances on the soundtrack as well as the painstakingly accurate performance practices utilized in the recording of this soundtrack.

The producers of this film fortunately went to the trouble of hiring some of the top period performance musician-specialists in the country (perhaps in the entire world) to record the soundtrack to Casanova. I know, because several of them were faculty members of the Oberlin Conservatory Baroque Performance Institute who went AWOL to Hollywood in June 2005 for the recording sessions. We all forgave them, and were actually quite excited that period music performance was having its day on the silver screen.

Do not miss this exquisite potpourri of wonderful baroque composers' works performed as closely as humanly possible to the way that they heard their works during their lifetimes! The film may not have been intended to be historically accurate (part of the fun), but the music certainly ended up that way. Not only that, but it sounds heavenly (unlike Casanova's antics) and up-to-date, not musty and old as if it were sealed in a museum case.

a little world of baroque sound.......2006-02-26

Lots of interesting baroque music unknown to me and
put together in dramatic sequences that add zest and
class to the listening experience. Also wonderful to
play in auto while driving thru boring country or in
slow moving traffic!
This CD will get a lot of play from me.
5 Stars!

Wonderful relaxing music........2006-02-25

Saw the movie and had to have the soundtrack. Great music to relax by. When you need to get away from the cares of the day the classics can't be beat. The producers of this movie certainly chose wonderful music to accompany it.

-.......2006-02-18

Good music but each is too short.
The original version of each may be better.

Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) / Solti, Troyanos, Domingo

Average customer rating:

Nice music, nice voices

Bizet: Carmen (Highlights) / Solti, Troyanos, Domingo

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Berlin Phil., Karajan [Highlights]
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Puccini: Tosca (Highlights) / Freni, Pavarotti
Carmen / Troyanos, Domingo, van Dam, Te Kanawa; Sir Georg Solti

ASIN: B000006P4O
Release Date: 1998-05-12

Tracks:

Carmen: Act I: Prelude
Carmen: Act I: Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita! ... - L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)
Carmen: Act I: Parle-moi de ma mere
Carmen: Act I: Pres des remparts de Seville (Seguidilla)
Carmen: Act II: Les tringles des sistres tintaientI
Carmen: Act II: Vivat, vivat le torero! ... Votre toast (Toreador song)
Carmen: Act II: Nous avons en tete une affaire
Carmen: Act II: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower song)
Carmen: Act II: Non! tu ne m'aimes pas!
Carmen: Act III: Melons! Coupons!
Carmen: Act III: Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante
Carmen: Act IV: Les voici, les voici
Carmen: Act IV: C'est toi! - C'est moi!

Customer Reviews:

Nice music, nice voices.......2000-06-15

This is Georges Bizet! He doesn't need any special advertising!

Average customer rating:

Well-recorded, jolly music
excellent value

Suppé: Famous Overtures

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Suppe: Overtures
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Rossini: Overtures (14)

ASIN: B0000014FP
Release Date: 1997-02-04

Tracks:

The Beautiful Galatea
Light Cavalry
Fatinitza
Bocaccio Marsch
Fortune's Labyrinth
Morning, Noon And Night In Vienna
Jolly Robbers
Queen Of Spades
Gay Blades
Poet And Peasant

Customer Reviews:

Well-recorded, jolly music.......2006-06-19

Yet another Naxos jem. This collection of famous operetta overtures by Austrian composer Franz von Suppe is not only an exceptional value, but the music included is just plain fun.

While his complete operettas are rarely performed, much of the music Suppe wrote for them has become famous, in particular LIGHT CAVALRY (which we've all heard in countless cartoons) and POET AND PEASANT. Suppe's overtures brim with good humor and infectiously catchy tunes; I would challenge anyone not to be uplifted by this recording.

The over-all technical qualities of this album are excellent. Not only does the (very talented) Slovak State Philharmonic play with enthusiasm, but audiophiles will appreciate the roudy brashness of the sound.

excellent value.......2000-05-29

This is an excellent value [...]. The Slovak Philharmonic is quite good. Recording quality is very good. Many of these Suppe' pieces are hard to find. It you like the composer, you will like this recording. Suppe' wrote many operettas and Slovak Philharmonic has recorded several volumes of the Suppe' overtures. I plan to purchase more in the series.

Average customer rating:

Interesting Mix, but not for serious classical music listeners
a must have flute cd
takes you to another place and time!

Flute Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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60 Years 60 Flute Masterpieces (Highlights)
The Best Of Jean-Pierre Rampal
Flute For Relaxation
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ASIN: B000002AVM
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Flute Concerto In D Major, RV 428 'The Goldfinch': I. Allegro
The Four Seasons ('Spring') RV 269: III. Allegro (Pastoral Dance)
Flute Concerto In G Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo
Orchestral Suite In B Minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie
Flute Sonata In E-Flat Major, BWV 1031: II. Siciliano
Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Flute Concerto In G, KV 313: III. Rondeau. Tempo di Menuetto
Greensleeves
The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Chinese Dance
The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Dance Of The Reed Flutes
Sicilienne, Op. 78
Entr'acte To Carmen, Act III
Syrinx
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: III. Menuet
Thais: Mediation
Piece In The Form Of A Habanera
Carnival Of The Animals: The Birds (Aviary)
Maple Leaf Rag
Concerto For Flute: II. Allegretto - Adagio ma non troppo
Porgy And Bess: 'Summertime'
Density 21.5 For Solo Flute

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Mix, but not for serious classical music listeners .......2005-08-08

Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart are all too well known, but less known musics are blended well into this CD. That's why I bought this CD. I think this is a good CD to familiarlize myself to flute pieces, but as a serious classical music listener it may come in short as more than half of pieces in this CD are something too famous and were listened so many times. This CD can be used to know what I like and then move forward from there. I am the type of listener who listen to the entire Carmen of Bizet instead of listening to only one part or two of it. If a listener is unfamiliar with clessical music, I think this is a good one to start.

a must have flute cd.......2001-07-23

this is a great flute cd. i enjoy the fact that the cd has many preformers rather than just one. Jean-Pierre Rampal, of course probably the most famouse flutist, and William Bennett, an amazing flutist who I was fortuante enough to hear in person, are both on this cd, as well as a few other great flutist. i especially enjoyed Siciliene, because i have never heard it played with flute and hard, and because i have played the piece myself.

even if you haven't heard of some of these songs it is wonderful to listen to them. i recomend this cd for flutiests of all levels.

takes you to another place and time!.......2000-08-25

This cd is by far the most beautiful that I have ever heard! It just takes you away to another place and time, far from your worries, very relaxing. I highly reccomend this to anyone who loves beautiful music!

Suppe: Overtures: Light Cavalry, etc.; Auber: Overtures

Average customer rating:

A fabulous vintage recording; this is among the best
Paul Paray/Detroit To The Finish Line.......
Paul Paray Brings Rare Overtures To Life
Pure, Unrestrained JOY...
Nice CD

Suppe: Overtures: Light Cavalry, etc.; Auber: Overtures

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000057LK
Release Date: 1992-05-12

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 26 : Vorspiel. Allegro moderato - attacca:
Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 26 : Adagio
Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 26 : Finale. Allegro energico - Presto
Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 64 : Allegro molto appassionato
Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 64 : Andante
Concerto For Violin & Orchestra No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 64 : Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace

Customer Reviews:

A fabulous vintage recording; this is among the best.......2006-12-06

From beginning to end, this is an excellent disc, perhaps the best of its kind. The 1959 recording is amazing; Mercury has done wonders with the sound. I bought this recording despite the fact that I own all but four of the overtures (Boccaccio & the Auber), and have not regretted it a bit. I had bought Mehta's recording previously, but Paray wins in most every regard. The former seems lackluster when compared to Paray, especially when it comes to The Beautiful Galatea. Pique Dame is also quite a bit more energetic in Paray's version.

As for the others, Light Cavalry is joyously executed, Poet and Peasant the same. Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna is neglected far more than it should be. The same goes for Boccaccio: this is one of the two recordings of it available. This is the starting place in this repertoire.

And all this does not even touch on the Auber overtures! Auber's overtures sound almost a cross between Rossini & Suppe at times; yet they are very individual. Curiously, The Bronze Horse is an overture to an oriental opera. Auber does not treat it as such, that is for sure. Fra Diavolo begins with a bit of percussion, then leads into its first piquant melody. Masaniello is a bit more familiar; Johann Strauss's Op. 34 is entitled "Schwarttsche Ball-Tanze," Cotillons on themes from "La muette de Portici" (this is the other name for Masaniello). Give them a listen, all three are fabulous. It is surprising these concert pieces are not more well known.

Overall, this disc is a must for the lover of the overture, or any such music. Paray and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra do the music full justice, as Mercury do to the players. Enjoy.

Paul Paray/Detroit To The Finish Line..............2005-09-29

If Paul Paray was a race horse, I'd place my bet on him each time to win...and indeed I would. This former conductor of the Detroit Symphony has the "Midas Touch", for everything he touches turns to gold. This CD of Suppe and Auber Overtures is no exception, and belongs in everyone's musical library. No matter how many other recordings of these warhorse pieces you own...these renditions are essential. Consistently, each Paray/Detroit recording is a gala event. The overtures contained on this CD are all very familiar to me, and yet it's as though I'm hearing them through a different set of ears. Conductor Paray brings out orchestral nuances like few other conductors can. Each well-known overture is played with energy, finesse, impeccable interpretation, and with extraordinary sound, which is a Mercury Living Presence trademark. Do yourself a favor, anything that Paul Paray and the Detroit Symphony have recorded...BUY!!! I have not lost a race yet. Very Highly recommended.

Paul Paray Brings Rare Overtures To Life.......2005-08-15

This recording, digitally remastered from the old 50's or 60's LP, is more than anything a joyous discovery of rare overtures conducted by an excellent and much admired conductor, the Canadian-born Paul Paray. Paray shaped the Detroit Symphony and since his death in 1979, a conductor of his magnificence has yet to be found for that particular orchestra. Though Paray's home was Montreal, Canada, and he conducted the Montreal forces in his younger days, he became a big name in American conducting. He found a home with the Detroit Symphony and even recorded several fine works of classical music on LP. Many of these- Scheherazade, French Orchestral Music, Carmen Suites and others are on CD and available on Amazon.com.

In this recording, Paray treats us to finely executed overtures by the operetta composer Franz Von Suppe. Suppe was not a big star in his day. His operettas were early Viennese operettas before the more famous Johann Strauss ever staged Die Fledermaus and the dozens of other operettas that followed. Suppe was an Austrian man but very French in his attitude (hence the last name Suppe)and even had French opera-bouffes in his musical styling. Like Offenbach, his operettas were charming, engaging works of fantasy. Consider "The Beautiful Galatea" which is the first track. The Overture is ebullient and energetic, describing the magical forces behind the story which is basically the ancient Greek myth that inspired Pygmalion- an aged inventor who builds the perfect woman. Consider also his "Boccaccio" based on the late Renaissance collection of mildly erotic poetry which read more like the Italian version of the English Canterbury Tales. Boccaccio is amusing, with music expressing adventure and romantic entanglements. The Light Cavalry Overture is actually quite familiar to the trained ear. Its militaristic theme has been used haphazardly in cartoons when a cavalry on horse would appear. His Pique Dame (Queen of Spades) is not the same subject matter as Tchaikovsky's later opera which is far darker opera. Suppe's is charming comedy about a gambling salon. The Poet and the Peasant Overture is festive and brilliantly played, in fact, the best I've heard. Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna foreshadows Strauss waltzes. The album concludes with overtures from an even lesser known composer Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber. Auber was a French composer who wrote early opera-buffes, though most assuredly he was eclipsed by Offenbach and Halevy. His Fra Diavolo and Masaniello Overtures are effectively engaging with their colorful phrasing.

Paul Paray brings life to these overtures, making them appear as if they are not old or obscure at all. He has genuine chemistry with all the musicians in the orchestra and the music is bright, energetic and even a pleasure to hear because it would appear it was a pleasure for Paray and the Detroit forces to make this recording.

Pure, Unrestrained JOY..........2003-02-27

I bought this CD beause I'm working on collecting the Mercury Catalog, and when I bought it, I paid no attention to what the actual pieces were because I had no idea who Suppe was or what his overtures were.

I can't tell you how happy I was when I was surprised upon first listening... Not only is this music the type of music that is inherent to people from its use in background music to cartoons, TV, movies, etc... but it is so very enjoyable because it exhudes an amazing, unadulterated amount of PURE JOY and EXCITEMENT... with no attempt at being high-brow, or overly serious music.

The good news is that even though this music might be considered to be more "common" among classical elitists, Paul Paray treated it as he would any great art. This recording gives you such beautifully refined sound, such truly INCREDIBLE energy and exhuberence, all with stunning precision and control- that you will be sold upon first hearing.

As other reviews mention- there is no need to look at other recordings of these works, because you will mosy likely get a cheap "pops" orchestra recording that treats the music cheaply beacause of its unabashed "happiness" and accesibility. The result is fun, but trite and gets old fast. With this Paray, the energy seems to remain fresh every time you play it. You can't go wrong with this orchestral uplifter to cleanse your palate between your serious Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Mahler symphonies.

So, elitsts... forget your pride and buy these CDs. Fun is not a crime. And, beginners, this is a GREAT way to find how truly fun and emotive classical music can be. Enjoy it.

Nice CD.......2002-08-13

In high school, I played Suppe's "Light Cavalry". So I wanted to get a copy for years but just hadn't bothered. This music recorded on this CD is good quallity (sometimes classical music CD's aren't as good a quality) and the music is very enjoyable. Lovers of classical music or Suppe will enjoy this CD. It is a worthy addition to any music collection.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic
Famous Overtures
Spectacular
Excellent
The best Overture Album !

Famous Overtures

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Suppe: Overtures

ASIN: B00002MXN4
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Light Cavalry - Suppe
Ruslan and Lyudmila - Glinka
La Traviata - Prelude, Act I - Verdi
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg - Prelude, ACt I - Wagner
Les Francs-Juges - Berlioz
Le nozze di Figaro - Mozart
Egmont - Beethoven
Oberon - Weber
Academic Festival Overture - Brahms
Pique Dame - Suppe

Tracks:

Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna - Suppe
Il barbiere di Siviglia - Rossini
Prince Igor - Borodin
Carmen - Prelude, Act I - Bizet
Der fliegende Hollander - Wagner
Leonore No 3 - Beethoven
Hansel und Gretel - Humperdinck
Khovanshchina - Mussorgsky
Poet and Peasant - Suppe

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic.......2006-06-30

First of all anything with Sir Solti's name on is worth purchasing. Solti has such a way with interpreting music! If you like overtures this CD is for you. It has the best overtures here in one collection. With orchestras like chicago, london, and the vienna you cannot argue with the performances. There are a few "weaker" ensembles, but when compared with the other ensembles there are few that will not sound weak. Again any work Solti has done is worth purchasing!

Famous Overtures.......2005-08-16

Did not like the way these musical pieces were "interpretted".
Did not like the tempo and in one piece one of the instruments played a portion which I would say they played a flat instead of a natural note. This is based on hearing the same pieces played by someone else, it's just my opinion.

Spectacular.......2003-09-25

Not only does it include some of the most famous overtures, but they are played in such an exciting style, full of life and passion. The Suppe overtures are superior and the Wagner overtures are wonderful as well. There is not a bad point to this recording - highly recommended!

Excellent.......2002-06-11

This is an excellent collection of overtures, especially of Von Suppe's overtures. Solti truly brings out life in these pieces.

The best Overture Album !.......2000-02-28

If you like overtures, here is the album. Never have these been performed so musically and with such excitement. The orchestras involved vary in their abilities, yet the Chicago, Vienna, and London Symphony perfom with style. Solti loves this music and it shows.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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