It was in Paris, France, probably on June 8th 1964. For the first time four ladies and four mans on stage in Cite Universite as vocal group Les >Swingle Singers. They open his first public appearance with Fugue in D Minor. Thirty seven years later I am seeing very clear those shine faces of artists, joyful that his project vocalize J. B. Bach is a true. I am hearing now one of the best singers in Europe, not only at that time, Christiane Legrand (sister of famous composer, conductor, piano player an even excellent singer M. Legrand). Hers voice in Aria is simply fantastic. I have the chance to hear this group on his second concert in Paris, several months later. This was also an excellent concert, but without unforgettable fire of the first one. I have 12 LP of this group even this performed by the group called Swingle II. If you hear the CD Jazz Sebastian Bach you would understand what told ones Charlie Parker. J. S. Bach is the greatest composer in the history of mankind. You would understand one other miracle, why last year Bobby McFerrin were able to improvise on Bach and at the same time the public on the square in Dresden sings Gounod's Ave Maria. > Igor Catic, Zagreb Croatia From time to time jazz presenter on Croatian broadcasting systems.
I really love this gift from my bestfriend for it was thoughtful and well, what can I say that this makes an excellant gift for opera neophytes (though I am not an opera neophyte).
The highlight of this CD is track 13, Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" from "The Barber of Seville." When I first heard this, I was contemplating to myself as to where have I heard this before. Then it hit me: Michigan J. Frog's signature tune! (In case people are wondering who on earth is Michigan J. Frog is, he is the Warner Brother's frog; the frog can be seen on WB network channel). I love this track! Buy this for yourself if not this makes a perfect gift for your opera neophyte friend(s)! This track brings joy and smiles on my face everytime I hear this piece!
(8.555037-38) contains not only 2 CDs crammed with 39 excerpts from that company's seemingly bottomless catalogue, but also a 762 page book. The text offers plot summaries of almost every important opera and many of far lesser renown (Delius' "The Magic Fountain," Mascagni's "Iris," for example), a brief biography of the composers, a glossary, and finally a discography. The recorded examples are in chronological order from Monteverdi to Korngold. The entries in the book, however, are in alphabetical order--so be careful to look for "Zauberflote," not "Magic Flute," and so on.
Of course, Big Names do not appear on many Naxos opera sets; but this set is an introduction to that vast area of culture and is meant to be an educational (and of course a promotional ) device. Nevertheless, many of the selections on the CDs are beautifully sung, a very few lack characterization (the arias from"Don Giovanni" and "Nozze di Figaro" for two). But at this incredibly low budget price, who can complain?
As soon as I saw what this set had to offer, I immediately ordered a copy as a seasonal gift for a friend who wants to "get into" opera. I could think of no better gift.
There is a sister set titled
(8.555319-20) that uses the same format. There are 2 CDs with 36 selections from Gregorian Chant to Glass. The 562-page book gives us the major facts about "the Great Composers and Their Greatest Works, " a glossary, and a 45-page list of classical music heard in films. The discography is included in the composers section. Again, the value of this set as an educational tool is enormous and well worth the extremely low price Naxos is asking.
Average customer rating:
- Clear recording
- Brilliant Corelli from lesser known Dutch musicians: a great bargain
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Corelli: Complete Works
Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
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ASIN: B0009IW8SK
Release Date: 2005-05-31 |
Customer Reviews:
Clear recording.......2006-07-08
I bought this set after hearing Grosso Concerto op.6 no.8 conducted by Karajan. Since it is recorded very recently, the quality of the sound is brilliant. However, you should not expect Karajan type performance, but after listening two or three times to the works, you will enjoy it more and more.
I strongly recommend this product for Baroque lovers.
Brilliant Corelli from lesser known Dutch musicians: a great bargain.......2006-05-13
Brilliant Classics 10 disc compendium of the complete works of Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) is a bargain. The performances are by members of Musica Amphion, a Dutch period instrument orchestra, conducted from the harpsichord by Pieter Jan Belder.
These may be lesser known musicians, but their performances are excellent, and this set is consistently good, and a wonderful bargain, at under $40.00.
This is my first recordings by these musicians, and I sampled the Opus 6 Concerti Grossi, Corelli's most recorded works. Nos. 1, 4 and 8 (Christmas Concerto) do not pale in comparison with recordings of better known ensembles: I Musici (Philips),
Pinnock/English Concert (Archiv/DG), Shepherd/Cantilena (Chandos), or Krcheck/Capella Istropolitana (Naxos). Musica Amphion may be a small orchestra: about 15 players, I'm guessing, but their sound is full and rich, and though period instruments, they are expressive, and not wimpy sounding; you will not hear the scraping and noise which accompany some period recordings.
I especially like Musica Amphion's recording of the Opus 4 Trio Sonatas: Nos. 1, 2, and 3, which hold real nostalgia for me from Max Goberman's famous CBS Odyssey recording (on modern instruments, of course), popular on LPs in the early 1970s. I find Musica Amphion's recording superior, both in playing and recorded sound, to the IL Ruggiero recording, released in 1995 by an Italian firm in a complete recording of Corelli's Opus 4 Trio Sonatas.
The price is low, performances excellent, and Brilliant's recorded sound is all one can ask for. Unless you really HATE period instruments - and these are musical, and so well played - best to grab it while you can. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Most enjoyable CD
- CORNUCOPIA
- A wonderful sound.
- Great Album
- Superb on All Counts
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Schumann, Handel, Haydn, Telemann: Concertos for Four Horns
Manufacturer: Naxos
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ASIN: B000BRJY0Y
Release Date: 2005-12-13 |
Tracks:
- Lebhaft
- Romanze
- Sehr Lebhaft
- Concerto In F Major
- Overture
- Die kanonierende Pallas
- Das Alster-Echo
- Die Hamburgischen Glockenspiele
- Der Schwanengesang
- Der Alsterschafer Dorfmusik
- Die Konzertierenden Frosche Und Krahen
- Der Ruhende Pan
- Der Schafer Und Nymphen Eilfertiger Abzug
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Menuet
- Finale: Moderato
Customer Reviews:
Most enjoyable CD.......2007-03-10
One of the best CD's heard. I've been looking for something this good for a long time.
CORNUCOPIA.......2006-05-18
This disc is perfectly brilliant, and I can't recommend it strongly enough. Strictly speaking, only two of the four works given here are concertos, the other two being standard orchestral pieces with prominent work for the horns. Haydn's is one of his early symphonies from his Esterhazy period featuring also solos for cello and violin in its slow movement and a long finale consisting of a set of variations in a kind of gavotte rhythm giving the spotlight to various other members of the orchestra, notably flute and viola da gamba. The Telemann `overture' is a suite in nine movements, along the lines of Handel's Water Music or Fireworks Music but with more pictorial and representational elements. The contribution from Handel himself is a short introduction and andante, suggestive of a formal occasion and with the introduction using material familiar from the Fireworks Music.
The real cracker is Schumann's short concerto, in the usual 3-movement layout. This was described by Tovey as nearly unplayable, but today's virtuosi seem to be afraid of nothing. They even restore some high notes that Schumann revised out of the score, and what a thrilling effect they make. The four soloists are the lead horn-players, American by nationality, in various European orchestras, and they cover themselves with distinction from start to finish. Four virtuoso horn solos naturally take the limelight off the orchestra, but the Sinfonia Varsovia acquit themselves splendidly, particularly in the Haydn symphony where the treatment of the instruments is more democratic and all sections of the band get their chance to shine.
The recording, from Warsaw in 2003, is excellent, and the liner-note, although brief, is helpful and informative, although I would have been glad to be told more about the Handel piece. There are also horn parts of startling difficulty in two of Handel's Concerti a Due Cori, and it would have been interesting to know how he managed to find players of this calibre. It is unusual for him to over-tax his English orchestral players, no doubt for sound reasons of experience, and he surely must have felt a high degree of confidence to write in this way for horns.
As usual with Naxos, there are potted biographies of the soloists and the conductor plus a short history of the orchestra. Also as usual, I wish to praise Naxos in the strongest terms for the imagination and flair they dependably display in finding unfamiliar music of high quality, making a superb job of the production of it, and giving it to us at such a modest cost - apart from anything else there is a full hour and a quarter of music here. I make no apology for constantly repeating this sentiment, indeed I only hope I shall still be doing just that for a good few years to come.
A wonderful sound........2006-03-24
This CD recalls the reason I had my daughter play the horn in school. The horn is one of the most important and lovliest instruments in an orchestra. Four is that much better.
Great Album.......2006-02-19
This is a great, explosive album. The choice of music is, of course, fantastic, and the execution of them pieces is well done. I highly reccommend it.
Superb on All Counts.......2005-12-23
As a long time horn player and fan of Naxos, this is the perfect recording for those music lovers who don't know the richness of the four-horn literature. It it indeed limited when compared to most other interumental ensembles, such as a string quartet, but this is the best and most accessible recording on the market to introduce neophytes to this sonic wonderland. The playing is exceptional, as the AHQ is a solid, professional, touring outfit, the balances fine, the interpretations solid, and above all FUN. Buy it. Enjoy it. Encourage your friends and children to learn to play the horn, if they dare and want to play like this.
Average customer rating:
- Music and the Great War
- How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War
- Excellent Recording!
- Good music, bad title
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The Great War: Classical And Popular Selections From The Time Of World War I (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)
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ASIN: B00000HXKX
Release Date: 1999-01-12 |
Tracks:
- Military March No. 1 In D Major, Op. 39: Pomp Ad Circumstance
- Waltz Fom Der Rosenkavalier Suite
- 'Von der Schonheit' From Das Lied von der Erde
- 'De l'aube a midi sur la mer' From La Mer
- Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 'Classical Symphony': III. Gavotta. Non troppo allegro
- L'histoire du soldat Suite - IV. The Royal March
- L'histoire du soldat Suite - V. The Little Concert
- Le tombeau de Couperin - V. Menuet
- Le tombeau de Couperin - VI. Toccata
- Sinfonia From Pulcinella Suite
- Walzer From Funf Klavierstucke, Op. 23
- Interlude From Wozzeck, Act III
- Prologue From Music Ffor The Theatre
- 'Shine On Harvest Moon'
- 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' - Irving Berlin
- 'Over There'
- 'How You Gonna Keep'em Down On The Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?'
- 'The Man I Love' From Stride Up The Band
- 'West End Blues'
Amazon.com
The first two-thirds of this disc is a fascinating cram course in concert music around the time of World War I. The programmer has put together some fascinating juxtapositions--for example, Strauss's Rosenkavalier leads almost seamlessly into Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, and Schoenberg sounds out of context with everybody (including Berg). The selections are all short, and performance quality runs from great to mediocre, but this is still a thought-provoking educational experience, even though Bartók and Ives are conspicuously missing. The popular selections are less interesting, often campy, and although vintage recordings are used, they aren't always the right vintage. And someone missed a point by separating Copland's jazzy "Music for the Theatre" from Louis Armstrong, who could have followed immediately. --Leslie Gerber
Customer Reviews:
Music and the Great War.......2007-05-14
This is a fascinating compendium of popular and classical music from the World War One period. It evokes all the turmoil, anguish, and also humor, of the age, and is a vital CD to own if you have an interest in the Great War and the music it inspired or was inspired by.
How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War.......2005-10-29
War. Tough subject these days - tough subject since the beginning of time. Yet Americans tend to mend wounds and gradually allow the atrocities of yesteryear to fade into coated cases that signal more memories of 'how things used to be' rather than learning from the tragedies with which war has scarred the planet. National Public Radio issued this excellent memoir at the turn of the millennium and one wonders if it now has the same response that greeted it in 1999.
Linda Kobler reconstituted this mix of classical and popular music with a keen sense of history. The CD is twice divided (in both the classical and the popular music) into 'Before the War' 1901 - 1917, 'During the War' 1917 - 1922, and 'After the War' 1922 - 1928. In the first era are the works of Elgar ('Pomp and Circumstance'), Strauss (a waltz from 'Der Rosenkavalier'), Mahler (excerpt from 'Das Lied von der Erde'), and Debussy ('La Mer') joining the songs 'Shine On Harvest Moon' and 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. The War period is represented by Prokofiev's 'Symphony No. 1', Stravinsky's 'L'histoire du soldat', and Ravel's 'Le tombeau de Couperin' in tandem with 'Over There'. After the war include Stravinsky ('Pulcinella Suite'), Schoenberg (Waltz from 'Five Piano Pieces'), Berg (excerpt from 'Wozzeck') and Copland ('Music from the Theatre') with popular songs 'How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm', 'The Man I Love', and 'West End Blues'.
The excerpts selected for this survey are exceptionally good: orchestras include NY Phil, LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra, London Symphony, and the Columbia Symphony under such batons a Ormandy, Bernstein, Salonen, Tilson Thomas, Schippers and Stravinsky; soloists include Glen Gould, Robert Casadesus, Lili Chookaskian, Louis Armstrong, et al. The sonics are very fine and the performances are each from significant full recordings remaining in the catalogue.
The booklet accompanying this concert of memories is written by Linda Kobler who uses each selection as a pivotal point in the atmosphere of the globe that accompanied the Great War: it is very well written and informative. This is one of those recorded collections that goes far beyond an accumulation of bits and pieces and instead gives food for thought about how our political and social actions intertwine with the arts in a prophetic way. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05
Excellent Recording!.......1999-03-13
(It was called The "Great" War, because nobody knew about WWII at the time and it was the biggest war anyone had ever seen.)
I think this CD may be a bit choppy to "easy" listeners, but for anyone who has a sincere interest in delving into the musical senses of earlier generations it's VERY good! I recommend the entire NPR Milestones of the Millennium series to such aficionados.
Good music, bad title.......1999-02-11
Since when is war great? Life in the trenches waiting for the germans to attack you worrying about whether mustard gas is gonna loft your way isn't exactly like sipping chablis.
Average customer rating:
- Truly a Festival for the Ears, Hearts, and Soul!
- So You Thought Bach Couldn't Dance!
|
A Bach Festival for Brass & Organ
Johann Sebastian Bach , and Empire Brass
Manufacturer: Angel Records
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ASIN: B000A9QLB8
Release Date: 2005-08-16 |
Tracks:
- Jauchzet, frohlocket! (Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248)
- Wie will ich mich freuen (Cantata BWV 146, Wir mussen durch viel Trubasal)
- Sleepers, Awake! (Cantata BWV 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)
- Concerto and Alleluja (Cantata BWV 142, Uns ist ein Kind geboren)
- Three Chorales: Nun lob', mein Seel', den Herrn; Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern; In dulci jubilo (Brass only)
- In dulci julibo, BWV 129 (Organ solo)
- Nun danket Alle Gott (Cantata BWV 79, Gott, der Herr is Sonn' und Schild)
- Sinfonia (Cantata BWV 29 Wir danken, dir, Gott, wir danken dir)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Cantata BWV 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben)
- Sinfonia (Easter Oratorio, BWV 249)
- Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr', BWV 664 (Organ solo)
- Three Chorales: Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr', Christ lag in Todesbanden, O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (Brass only)
- Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten (Cantata BWV 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele)
- Shee May Safely Graze (Cantata BWV 208, Was mir behagt)
- Wir glauben all' in einem Gott, BWV 680 (Organ solo)
- A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Cantata BWV 80, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott)
Customer Reviews:
Truly a Festival for the Ears, Hearts, and Soul!.......2007-01-04
I spent a looooooooong time hunting the "perfect" recordings of "Jesu..." and "Sinfonia" for our wedding. I knew just what I wanted but I had NO IDEA there were so many different (and substandard!) versions of these songs available. THIS one was EXACTLY it. The horns are simply fantastic. If you're a musician, you'll love it.
So You Thought Bach Couldn't Dance!.......2005-12-20
This recording is almost certainly the same as the one listed as Angel 47395, with the same title. Along with several others, I reviewed that CD, and for your convenience I echo my remarks below:
If you think of Bach as a dry-as-dust, longhair composer you should stay away from this album, for it will prove you wrong, time and time and time again. On the contrary, this is one of the most exciting recordings around, featuring matchless performances by the superlative Empire Brass (my favorite brass group) and the talented Douglas Major playing the great Aeolian-Skinner organ of the Washington Cathedral (in D.C.) in some of the best-loved works of the old master, Johann Sebastian Bach.
But unfortunately this disk seems not to be in EMI's (Angel's) current catalog, so if you want to enjoy it, you'll probably have to try to track down a used copy. If you like Bach and brass and organ as much as I, you'll find it worth the effort. And we may hope that it will be reissued again soon.
In general, the music here is lively, tuneful, and joyous in character, starting from the very first selection, a fully satisfying transcription of the well-known "Jauchzet, frohlocket" (Exult, rejoice) from the Christmas Oratorio. But there are a few more somber pieces, such as the chorales "Christ lag in Todesbanden," (Christ lay in the bonds of death) and "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden," (O bloody and wounded head).
The music features basically three kind of excerpts from Bach's cantatas: choral preludes, chorales, and sinfonia. The choral preludes were written as organ introductions to the sung chorales (here "sung" by the brass quintet alone); the sinfonias were instrumental interludes in the cantatas. Most of the choral preludes here are played by the brass with the organ, though there are a few played by the organ alone. This combination of performances by the brass alone, the organ alone, and the two together offers delicious variety.
As a glance at the program will show, most of the big favorites in this genre are included, the best known being titled in English, as "Sleepers, Wake," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," and "Sheep May Safely Graze." The others are titled in Latin ("In Dulci Jubilo") or, mostly, German ("Nun danket Alle Gott," [Now let all thank God], "Wie schn leuchtet der Morgenstern," [How beautifully the morning star shines], and "Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten" [We hasten with feeble, but eager footsteps].
It is the last-mentioned piece that suggested the title of this review, for in interpreting the text Bach and the performing artists give us such a rhythmic and lively bit of music that I find it hard to sit still while listening. This piece rocks!
The recording is excellent in all respects: the balance between organ and brass is right, the sound quality is all you could want, and the acoustics of the Washington Cathedral provide about the right amount of reverberation. (You will, by the way, hear the brass players taking breaths at several points, especially in the chorales.
The sound of the Empire Brass seems uniquely fine to me; though there are several other excellent brass groups around, this one I can usually recognize almost immediately because of the quality of their sound. And the 10,650-pipe cathedral organ presents under Douglas Major's fingers all you could wish for.
Average customer rating:
- Relaxing music at its finest!
- Get it for $9.99 at Sam's Club!
- Beautiful, moving music! You'll recognize many of the pieces
- Meditative, But Not Boring
- A Bargain and Beautiful
|
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set)
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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Similar Items:
- Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)
- Classics for Relaxation and Meditation
- Chopin For Relaxation
- Beethoven for Relaxation
- Vivaldi for Relaxation
ASIN: B000001VUT
Release Date: 1991-10-11 |
Tracks:
- Canon
- Andante From Piano Concerto No. 21: Elvira Madigan
- Coppelia: Notturno
- String Quintet In C: Adagio - Schubert
- Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air - Bach
- Clarinet Concerto: Adagio
- Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished': Andante con moto - Schubert
- Concerto, Op. 9 No. 2: Adagio
- Orpheus And Eurydice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Tracks:
- Thais: Meditation
- Romance In G, Op. 26
- The Last Spring
- Minuet
- Serenade, Op. 3 No. 5
- Poeme, Op. 41 No.6
- Elegiac Melody No. 1
- Serenade For String Orchestra: Elegia
- I Love You
- La Gioconda: Dance Of The Hours
Tracks:
- Adagio
- Romance In F Minor, Op. 11
- Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
- Romance For Violin No. 2 In F, Op. 50
- Rosamunde: Ballet Music In G
- Symphony No. 5: Adagietto
Tracks:
- Peer Gynt: Morning
- Standchen (Serenade)
- Mozartiana Suite: Preghiera (Ave Verum)
- Moonlight Sonata: Adagio sostenuto
- Piano Concerto No. 23 in A: 2nd Movement
- Rosamunde: Intermezzo
- Violin Concerto In E Minor: 2nd Movement
- Serenade For String Orchestra: 1st Movement
- L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2: Intermezzo
- Concierto De Aranjuea: 2nd Movement
- Trout Quintet: Theme And Variations
Tracks:
- The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle
- Valse Triste
- Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat
- Minuet
- Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Oboe Concerto In D Minor (Excerpt)
- Piano Sonata No. 8: Pathetique: 2nd Movement
- Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo sinfonico
- Christmas Oratorio: Sinfonia
- Ave Maria
- Horn Concerto No.3: 2nd Movement
- Symphony No. 1: 3rd Movement
- Traumerei
- Peer Gynt: Ase's Death
- Xerves: Largo
- Symphony No. 9: From The New World: 2nd Movement
Tracks:
- Swan Lake
- Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Romance
- Nocturne In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3
- Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus
- A Midsummer Night's Dream: Notturno
- Symphony No. 35: Haffner: Andante
- Carmen Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
- Piano Sonata In B-Flat Major, D.960: Andante sostenuto
- Sinfonia Concertante In E Flat Major: Andante
- Piano Concerto No. 2: Larghetto
Tracks:
- Impromptu In G Flat Major
- Evening Song
- Serenade No. 1: Adagio non troppo
- The Merry Peasant
- Flute Quartet In G Major
- Symphony No. 7: Allegretto
- Cradle Song
- Quartet in G Major: Theme And Variations
- Barcarolle: The Seasons: June
- Symphony No.36 'Linz': Poco adagio
Tracks:
- Prelude In C Minor - Meditation
- Piano Concerto In A Minor: Adagio - Meditation
- Flute Concerto No. 2: Adagio non troppo - Meditation
- Andante - Meditation
- Impromptu In B Flat Major - Meditation
- Clair de lune - Meditation
- Divertimento In D, K.251: Andantino - Meditation
- Caro mio ben - Meditation
- Piano Concerto No. 9: Jeunehomme: Andante - Meditation
- Theme And Variations - Meditation
Tracks:
- The Sleeping Beauty: Panorama
- Waltz, Op.39 No.15
- Flute Concerto In G Minor: Andante
- Impromptu In A Flat
- Violin Concerto No. 5: Adagio
- Symphony No. 3: Allegretto
- Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Andante
- Piano Sonata No. 3: Largo
- Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
- Piano Concerto No. 3: Largo
Tracks:
- La Traviata: Act 1: Prelude
- Kinderscenen: Foreign Countries And People
- Chanson triste
- Symphony No. 5: Andante
- La Campanella
- Flute Concerto in B Flat: Adagio
- Piano Sonata No. 2: Funeral March
- Symphony No. 94: Surprise: Andante
- Concerto for Flute and Harp: Andantino
- Symphony No. 6: Pathetique: Adagio lamentoso
Customer Reviews:
Relaxing music at its finest!.......2005-10-14
This is a GREAT 10-CD set!The performances are top-notch, the music is varied, and the feelings engendered are wondrously beautiful.
Get it for $9.99 at Sam's Club!.......2005-06-22
Very nice set of CD's, very beatiful and relaxing, but don't pay $27, get it for $9 at Sam's Club. I know this will be censored but come on, how can you guys charge those saps that much! Amazon should try to find the best price for its customers, even if it sends them to different vendors. Censoring this message is a crime, DON'T DO IT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Beautiful, moving music! You'll recognize many of the pieces.......2004-02-24
John Cheng's review, below, said it's "an undeniable bargain," and I whole heartedly agree! I especially LOVE Volume 5. I have a Typing/Resume business, and I listen to Volume 5 ALL the time on my computer while I'm doing my work. It inspires me to be creative and calms me down when I'm stressed.
I would say I've _easily_ listened to Volume 5 at least 100 times, and I'm still not tired of it. That's amazing for me, because I'm also a musician (singer/pianist) and I get bored easily. I actually found the Volume 5 CD at a Thrift store, and loved it so much that I bought the whole set recently. So I've only listened to a few of the other CD's in this set, so far, and they're also great.
This is NOT boring music. My clients and family have heard it also, and they've also mentioned how soothing and wonderful these pieces are. Most of you will probably recognize a lot of these songs! You'll be saying, "OH! I remember THIS one! I haven't heard this for YEARS!!!"
It's well worth the money for 10 very full CD's!!! Try it! You won't be disappointed!
Happy listening!
Betty, Owner of Betty's Desk Typing Service and Quality Resumes
Meditative, But Not Boring.......2002-06-21
Here's the deal: If you check out the individual CDs of this collection, you'll pay way too much. That said, compare this price, and realize it is a steal at twice the price.
The list of selections is immense. 101 selections. Most of it you've heard before, but that's OK. Despite the various cute names -- quite creative -- "Vol. 9"!... you can load your CD player and enjoy them without feeling a transition of style.
It's true these aren't meditative in the sense of a Gregorian chant. Anyone familiar with classical music will recognize the composers and various movements to know this. What is true is that you can sit down and write Amazon reviews with it in the background quite comfortably. No weird interpretations, just the music as you know it.
It is also meditative in the sense of popping on it your portable player as you go for a Sunday afternoon walk. The music has just the right pacing: no quite aerobics class, but not ready for the office elevator either.
The box and jewel cases are not that flimsy kind of thing often associated with box sets. It sounds silly to review the jewel cases, but I'm frustrated with the ones I've received lately that have no meat to them. This'll do the job.
I fully recommend "Meditation: Classical Relaxation, 10 Volume Set [BOX SET].
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
A Bargain and Beautiful.......2002-02-28
This is a wonderful collection of some of my most favorite classical selections. Most I already own, but still like having these all together. I could only wish that the recording level was the same for all selections. Yes, some are written to be softer, but I found it often necessary to turn the volume up or down for different selections. But aside from this minor preference, the quality, the choices, and the price are all super.
![Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21V99585FML.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Uneven quality but great value
- A superb collection of Mendelssohn
|
Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]
Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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Similar Items:
- Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set]
- Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set]
- Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set)
- Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set)
- Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set]
ASIN: B00062FLJ2
Release Date: 2004-11-30 |
Customer Reviews:
Uneven quality but great value.......2007-04-30
Brilliant Classics has found a niche with their extremely low-price multi-disc collections of the work of a single composer or performer. The Bach, Mozart and Chopin Complete Editions are legitimately considered to be artistic and economical triumphs. But the Masterworks series are more uneven. Currently available from Amazon France at about a buck per CD, they're still a bargain for those interested in quickly building a music library. But it's worth keeping a few things in mind. Unlike the Bach and Mozart Editions, these are not always historically informed performances. In this Mendelssohn set, the Hanover Band puts in a cameo (in Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), but most of the ensembles use modern instruments, techniques and proportions. This doesn't always work out, as in the case of the ponderously heavy recordings of the String Symphonies by an apparently full complement of Gewandhausorchester Leipzig strings (Mendelssohn likely wrote these early works for a much smaller group). The caliber of the performances varies too, ranging from good to poor, and from marquis musicians such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to a few Dutch who-dats. The chamber musicians generally acquit themselves well (though the Octet recording is marred by an engineering flaw in the last movement, distortion, at least on my copy). But the symphonies suffer from some substandard performances, such as the Italian Symphony's live recording with not only audience noise but also ensemble flaws such as a distracting clarinet squeak in the first movement's recapitulation. Another strike is the lack of program notes. Brilliant's Complete Editions provide a booklet or CD-ROM with program notes, but here you'll need to do your own research.
Despite these shortcomings, this set is still good value (at least at Amazon France's current price of 31 Euros). And it's a fine way to become acquainted with Mendelssohn's music.
A superb collection of Mendelssohn.......2007-03-24
Let me preface this by saying that most of these works were not new to me - I own many other Mendelssohn CDs and have enjoyed his compositions for some time now. Also, this set is available much cheaper elsewhere, particularly from European retailers.
The symphonies are well-performed. 'Reformation' is an inspired live recording. The 12 string symphonies, written in Mendelssohn's youth, are also included. The concertos are exceptional - the violin concerto is as good as you'll find anywhere. The oratorios Elijah and Paulus are included, as well as the complete chamber works and a diverse assortment of choral works. The last few discs include the Lied ohne worte, the epic organ sonatas, and excellent renditions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Fingal's Cave. While there are a few sketchy performances in the choral and chamber works, the performances and recordings are generally very solid, and the body of work couldn't be better.
Music Track:
- Soler: Nine Sonatas
- Spirals of Time
- Starer: Samson Agonistes; Concerto
- Strad To Strat
- Symphony No.1/Mozartiana
- Tchaikovsky: Complete Piano Music Vol. 2 - Early Pieces
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5/Slovonic March/Coronation March
- Tchaikovsky: The Seasons / Album for Children
- Telemann: Concertos/Suite "Don Quichotte"
- Tenores En Concierto Los Grandes, Colección De Oro, Placido Domingo - Luciano Pavarotti - Jose Carreras
Music Track
music track
Recommended Music:
The Allman Brothers Band/Idlewind South/At Fillmore East [Box set]
Opus 190
See See Rider
Music: Gregorian Chants [Import]
Mercy [Import]
Nine on a Ten Scale
Niente Da Capire [Import]
Phantom Power
Maximum Pink
Mozart: Violin Concertos / Zinman, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
Morning Prayer [Limited Edition] [Import]
My Song [Import]
Lo Mejor del Folklore Mexicano, Vol. 1
Two Gun Greene
Ritual of Love
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