In Recital: Beethoven, Shostakovich, Et Al

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
These broadcast performances preserve the short-lived William Kapell in works he did live to record commercially. The second and third movements of Beethoven's Third Concerto reveal a talented 14-year-old work in progress. Within eight years the unbridled puppy matured, as borne out in this riveting Shostakovich First Concerto. A 1951 Pictures at an Exhibition is notable in its freedom from the Horowitzisms of Kapell's two extant 1953 airchecks, and the pianist's luscious yet centered Bach-Busoni "Nun komm der Heiden Heiland" sings with quiet urgency. Pianophiles will want this as a matter of course. --Jed Distler

Tracks:

RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto #2, Adagio
VERDI Preludio
PAGANINI "Introduzione e tema con variazioni"
BRAHMS Sonata for two pianos, Andante
MOZART Adagio in E Major
BEETHOVEN "Pathetique" Sonata, Adagio
YSAYE Sonate #2, "Malinconia"
BACH Prelude #22, Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
VERDI "Quando le sere al placido" (When the Evening Becomes Peaceful)
BACH Orchestral Suite #2
SIBELIUS The Swan of Tuonela
PROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet
MASSENET Meditation from "Tha
RACHMANINOFF Prelude

Tracks:

TRADITIONAL Catalonian Folk Song
CHOPIN Piano Concerto #1, Larghetto
PUCCINI "Crisantemi" (Chrysanthemums)
SCHUMANN "Traumerei" (Dreaming)
TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake (excerpt)
K. YAMADA ''Chugoku-Chiho No Komoriuta" Lullaby
DEBUSSY "En Bateau" (By Boat)
BEETHOVEN Symphony #6 "Pastoral", Andante
MENDELSSOHN Songs Without Words
WEBER Introduction, theme and variations
GRANADOS "Goyescas" (Sketches on the works of Goya)
TCHAIKOVSKY Nocturne in F
HOLST The Planets, "Neptune"

Customer Reviews:

Better than most.......2007-02-08

This is a good mixture of elevator music, and some soft relaxing melodies.

Wonderful Music.......2007-01-18

Wonderful music for your listening pleasure. Very relaxing and soothing. Nothing beats classical music.

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)

Average customer rating:

AN OPERA OPUS THAT'S A MUST!
The Best
Superb Modestly Priced Favorite Arias Collection!!!
Wonderful introduction to opera

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)
Puccini , Thomas Harper , Ingrid Kertesi , Scholars Baroque Ensemble , and Hungarian State Opera Orchestra
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

A to Z of Classical Music
The Most Famous Opera Duets
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs
The Best of Italian Opera

ASIN: B00004YYRR
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

L'Orfeo: Sinf/Ecco Pur Ch'a Voi - Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
Dido And Aeneas: When I Am Laid In Earth - Kym Amps
Rinaldo: Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Ingrid Kertesi
Serse: Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Ingrid Kertesi
Orfeo Ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - Slovak State PO/Johannes Wildner
Alceste: Ombre Larve - Theresa Ringhoz/Drottningholm Theatre Chor
Don Giovanni: Madamina! (Catalogue Aria) - Andrea Martin
Cosi Fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento (Terzetto) - Joanna Borowska/Rohangiz Yachmi/Peter Mikulas
The Marriage Of Figaro: Non Piu Andrai - Natale De Carolis
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache (Aria Of The Queen Of The Night) - Helen Kwon/Hungarian Festival Chor
Fidelio: Abscheulicher! - Inga Nielsen/Hungarian Radio Chor
Der Freischutz: Huntsmen's Chor - Slovak Phil Chor
The Barber Of Seville: Largo Al Factotum - Roberto Servile
L'Elisir D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Vincenzo La Scola
I Puritani: Qui La Voce Sua Soave - Luba Orgonasova
La Traviata: Un Di Felice (Love Duet) - Monika Krause/Yordy Ramiro
Nabucco: Va Pensiero (Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves) - Slovak Phil Chor (Bratislava)
Aida: Grand March - Nat SO Of Ireland/Rico Saccani
Falstaff: E Sogno? O Realita - Roberto Servile

Tracks:

Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Yordy Ramiro/Slovak Phil Chor
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Uwe Mund
Tannhauser: Begluckt Darf Nun Dich (Pilgrims' Chor) - Slovak Phil Chor
La Wally: Ebben, Ne Andro Lontana - Miriam Gauci
Rusalka: O, Silver Moon (Song To The Moon) - Jana Valaskova
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Luba Orgonasova
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Jonathan Welch
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo - Miriam Gauci
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Giorgio Lamberti
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Thomas Harper/Slovak Phil Chor
Lakme: Dome Epais (Flower Duet) - Adriana Kohutkova/Denisa Slepkovska
Thais: Meditation - Janos Selmeczi
Carmen: L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera) - Graciela Alperyn/Slovak Phil Chor/Bratislava Children's Chor
The Pearl Fishers: Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Duet) - Janez Lotric/Igor Morozov
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Nicola Matinucci/Slovak Phil Chor
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Thomas Harper
King Roger: Roxana's Aria - Barbara Zagorzanka
Die Tote Stadt: Gluck, Das Mir Verblieb (Marietta's Lied) - Katarina Dalayman/Thomas Sunnegardh/Tomtberga School Children's Chor/Royal Swedish Opr Chor

Album Description

A-Z of Opera is a 762-page, illustrated book, accompanied by two-and-a-half hours of opera's most glorious and moving moments on two CDs, and reflects the ever-growing Naxos catalog of recordings ranging from Monteverdi to the contemporary. A-Z of Opera provides a wide range of information on operas and their composers, from Handel's Rinaldo to Mozart's Die Zauberflote, and beyond. It features plot synopses, background details and cast lists for hundreds of operas including well-known standards as well as opera rarities. In addition, there is a wealth of information about all the great composers and a glossary of key musical and operatic terms.

Customer Reviews:

AN OPERA OPUS THAT'S A MUST!.......2003-01-19

Oh, such letter-perfect perfection! This marvel features a two-hour-plus showcase of well-known arias from "Cosi Fan Tuti," "Aida," "Carmen," "Madame Butterfly" and "The Barber of Seville." It also comes with a book --- 762 pages of remarkable facts, figures and illustrations.Encore!

The Best.......2002-06-09

This is, by far, the best introduction to opera on the market. It also contains some gem performances for anyone who already has a serious opera collection. Several tracks on this collection of mostly Eastern European singers rival those of their Western counterparts. This is a collection for EVERYONE - from the opera novice to the person who has long collected all the major Western stars. At this price, it's the best opera bargain in the world. GET IT NOW!!! Thank you, Naxos! I hope that some of these Eastern European singers at last get the attention they deserve.

Superb Modestly Priced Favorite Arias Collection!!!.......2001-02-12

I received this as my 20th birthday gift from my bestfriend and I was amazed at the quality and the content of this CD. Some of the arias which I am immensely fond of are included, i.e. "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen." And who would have guessed that the soprano on track 10 performing Queen of the Night's Aria from Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" was none other than Hellen Kwon? Amazing!

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!

Wonderful introduction to opera.......2000-12-16

More than just a promotional sampler, the Naxos (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.

Tracks:

Antony & Cleopatra: 'Give Me My Robe' - Leontyne Price
Fidelio: 'In des Lebens Fruhlingstagen...' - Ben Heppner
Fidelio: Act II Quartet: 'Ach, du bist gerettet...' - Deborah Voigt
Norma: 'Casta Diva' - Rosa Ponselle
Candide: 'Glitter And Be Gay' - Harolyn Blackwell
Candide: 'Make Our Garden Grow' - Jerry Hadley
Carmen: Flower Song - Placido Domingo
Carmen: Habanera - Rise Stevens
Carmen: Toreador Song - Robert Merrill
Les pecheurs de perles: Duet: 'Oui, c'est elle, c'est la deesse...' - Robert Merrill
Mefistofele: 'Ecco il mondo' - Samuel Ramey
La Wally: 'Eben, ne andro lontana' - ONLY OPERA CD YOU'LL EVER NEED
Lakme: Bell Song - Lily Pons
L'Elisir d'Amore: 'Una furtiva lagrima' - Tito Schipa
Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Chi mi frena in tal momento...' - Carlo Bergonzi
Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Spargi d'amaro pianto' - Anna Moffo
Martha: 'M'appari tutto amor' - Jussi Bjoerling
Porgy & Bess: 'Summertime' - Leontyne Price
Porgy & Bess: 'Bess, You Is My Woman' - William Warfield
Andrea Chenier: 'Come un bel di di maggio' - Ben Heppner
Romeo et Juliette: Juliette's Waltz; 'Je veux vivre' - Ruth Ann Swenson
Salammbo: Aria - Kiri Te Kanawa
Hansel & Gretel: 'Suuse, liebe Susse - Helen Donath
I Pagliacci: 'Vesti la giubba' - Enrico Caruso
Cavalleria Rusticana: 'Viva il vino' - Jussi Bjoerling
Cherubin: 'Lorsque vous n'aurez rien' - Dawn Upshaw
Manon: 'Ah! Fuyez, douce image' - Richard Crooks
Cosi fan tutte: 'Come scoglio immoto resta' - Leontyne Price
Don Giovanni: 'La ci darem la mano' - Edith Mathis
Don Giovanni: 'Deh! vieni alla finestra' - Ezio Pinza
Don Giovanni: 'Non mi dir' - Carol Vaness
Le nozze di Figaro: 'Non piu andrai...' - Alan Titus
Le nozze di Figaro: 'Porgi, amor' - Carol Vaness
Le nozze di Figaro: 'Deh vieni, non tardar' - Bidu Sayao
Die Zauberflote: 'Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schon' - Fritz Wunderlich
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Zdislawa Donat
Die Zauberflote: Papageno - Papageno Duet - Christian Boesch
Boris Godunov: 'I v ljutomgore, nisposlannom Bogom...' - Alexander Kipnis
Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - Montserrat Caballe
La Gioconda: 'Cielo e mar' - Beniamino Gigli
La Boheme: 'Che gelida manina' - Giuseppe Di Stefano
La Boheme: 'Mi piaccion quelle cose...' - Licia Albanese
La Boheme: 'Fremon gia nell'anima' - Luciano Pavarotti
La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song - Judith Blegen
Gianni Schicchi: 'O mio babbino caro' - Angela Gheorghiu
Madama Butterfly: 'Ah, ti serro palpitante' - Placido Domingo
Madama Butterfly: 'Un bel di' - Leontyne Price
Manon Lescaut: 'Donna non vidi mai' - Jussi Bjoerling
La rondine: 'Chi il bel sogno di Doretta - Anna Moffo
TOSCA: 'Recondita armonia' - Placido Domingo
TOSCA: 'Vissi d'arte' - Irina Oudalova
TOSCA: 'E avanti a lui...' - Zinka Milanov
TOSCA: 'E lucevan le stelle' - Mario Lanza
Turandot: 'Signore, ascolta' - Renata Tebaldi
Turandot: 'In questa reggia' - Birgit Nilsson
Turandot: 'Nessun dorma' - Jussi Bjoerling
Dido & Aeneas: 'When I Am Laid In Earth' - Leontyne Price
Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Largo al factotum' - Robert Merrill
Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Una voce poco fa' - Roberta Peters
Samson et Dalila: 'Mon coeur s'ouvre' - Christa Ludwig
The Bartered Bride: 'Wenn ich das einmal erfahre' - Teresa Stratas
Elektra: 'Agamemnon' - Inge Borkh
Der Rosenkavalier: 'Ist ein Traum' - Erna Berger
Salome: 'Nicht in der Welt...' - Inge Borkh
Eugene Onegin: Lenski's Aria - Placido Domingo
Eugene Onegin: Tatiana's Letter Scene - Leontyne Price
Aida: 'Celeste Aida' - Jussi Bjoerling
Aida: 'Ritorna vincitor!' - Leontyne Price
Aida: 'Gloria all'Egitto' - John Alldis Choir
Aida: 'O patria mia' - Leontyne Price
Un Ballo in Maschera: 'O docezze perdute! O memorie...' - Robert Merrill
Don Carlo: 'Dio, che nell'anima infondere' - Placido Domingo
Ernani: 'Emani, involami' - Leontyne Price
La forza del destino: 'Or muoio tranquillo...' - Robert Merrill
La forza del destino: 'Pace, pace mio dio' - Zinka Milanov
Nabucco: 'Va, pensiero' - Oleg Reshetkin
Otello: 'Credo' - Tito Gobbi
Otello: Willow Song - Leonie Rysanek
Otello: 'Niun mi tema' - Jon Vickers
Rigoletto: 'Qesta o quella' - Alfredo Kraus
Rigoletto: 'Caro nome' - Anna Moffo
Rigoletto: 'La donna e mobile' - Jan Peerce
Rigoletto: 'Bella figlia dell'amore' - Alfredo Kraus
La Traviata: Brindisi - Montserrat Caballe
La Traviata: 'Di provenza' - Sherrill Milnes
La Traviata: 'Sempre libera' - Eleanor Steber
La Traviata: 'Addio del passato' - Anna Moffo
Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus - Moscow Classical Chorus & Ensemble
Il Trovatore: 'Di quella pira' - Placido Domingo
Il Trovatore: 'Tacea la notte placido - Leontyne Price
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlicht leuchtend' - Set Svanholm
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Staatskapelle Dresden
Die Walkure: Wotan's Farewell - Lawrence Tibbett
Siegfried: Song Of The Forest Bird - Norma Sharp
Gotterdammerung: 'Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort' - Kirsten Flagstad
Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus - Robert Shaw Chorale
Lohengrin: 'In fernem Land' - Lauritz Melchior
Tannhauser: 'Dich teure Halle' - Waltraud Meler

Customer Reviews:

Not worth buying!.......2007-05-29

I found this recording basically worthless. It contains only very short excerpts of the song. Not enough to get into and enjoy!

Don't waste your money.......2007-01-18

This is the worst purchase I have ever made. It is a truly dreadful piece of work.I was so disgusted with it that I threw it into the trash can.

Perfect for "drop the needle" style tests.......2006-11-19

If you want to hear full recordings of arias, then this disc is not for you. It plays only tidbits of 99 arias. Contrary to the title, this is definitely not the only opera disc you'll ever need. You shouldn't take it seriously. This disc has next to no value for an opera neophyte. But for opera fanatics, there has never been a better test of your knowledge of operatic repertoire and singers. It's a great challenge for opera buffs. Sit down with your opera loving friends for an hour, play this disc, and try to be the first to identify the singer, composer, opera, and piece. If you're a music professor, this disc would make for an awesome pop quiz. Find out how well your students really know their opera repertoire.

A CD with Attention Deficit Disorder.......2006-10-02

I don't know anyone who would enjoy this CD. It will drive opera fans nuts with a hundred exerpts that run about 30 seconds each, then fade out without the singers even finishing a single verse. It's more like an index of arias, or a volume of teasers that hucksters might use to sell opera CDs.

I never realized how much Bernstein's "Glitter and be gay" sounded like Delibes' "Bell Song" until I heard 35 seconds of one, followed 23 seconds of the other.

Maybe the TV show 'Jeopardy' could use this CD. 'What is "Hush little baby don't you..."??'

What a waste of beautiful voices and great music. 38 seconds of Enrico Caruso, followed by 31 seconds of Jussi Bjoerling, followed by 38 seconds of Dawn Upshaw.

My copy is going to go sailing into the wastebasket as soon as I finish this review.

This sucks..........2006-03-31

I should only blame myself for not checking out more reviews... this is a CD filled with short, little snippets of great operas songs... and I mean SHORT, LITTLE snippets of 30 seconds or so, each. Don't buy this CD... it is a complete rip off... and that is saying ALOT since it is only $4.00... Again, my fault for not reading the reviews but I trusted that something called a "Music CD" would actually have complete songs... What else does this company offer? A "Music CD" that only has the intros or applause tracks to great songs...?

Move on to something else... Amazon has a great selection... just not this one.

Klemperer Legacy - Beethoven: Symphony no. 9, Prometheus Overture / Ludwig, Hotter, Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, et al

Average customer rating:

One of the greatest interpretations - ever!
An historical must-have for devotees of Klemperer

Klemperer Legacy - Beethoven: Symphony no. 9, Prometheus Overture / Ludwig, Hotter, Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, et al
Otto Klemperer , Aase Nordmo-Lovberg , Christa Ludwig , Waldemar Kmennt , Hans Hotter , Philharmonia Chorus , and Philharmonia Orchestra
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6 "Pastorale"
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Symphony no 9 / Furtwangler, Schwarzkopf
Klemperer Legacy - Beethoven: Symphonies no. 2 & 5 / Philharmonia Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7
Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven - Beethoven: symphonies no 3,4,5, & 9, Leonore

ASIN: B00000DFO4
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso
II: Molto Vivace
III: Adagio Molto E Cantabile - Andante Moderato - Adagio
IV: Finale: Presto - Allegro
Overture

Amazon.com

The Philharmonia Orchestra was in superb form in the autumn of 1957 when the opportunity came for it to perform all nine Beethoven symphonies, plus the five piano concertos, in a series of 10 concerts at London's Royal Festival Hall under the baton of Otto Klemperer. Credit for that certainly should go to Herbert von Karajan, who had been the orchestra's principal conductor since its founding a decade earlier, and had recently been tapped by the Berlin Philharmonic as its conductor for life. Karajan had molded the Philharmonia players into a cohesive, responsive, and potently sonorous body, but Klemperer brought something new to the party, a gravitas and bearing that encouraged the orchestra to play with inner warmth and lent tremendous authority to this reading of the Ninth, recorded in Kingsway Hall during the course of the cycle. Klemperer's conception is monumental, but never ponderous or self-consciously weighty: he is, if anything, understated in the climaxes, but the account is nevertheless towering in its cumulative effect. In the symphony's first movement, he observes the tempo marking "Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso" with rare self-control; there is no rush, and the movement takes on a granitic purposefulness as a result. The scherzo is animated without being frenzied, and the adagio is simply beautiful--direct, full of warmth and nobility. With a mostly splendid set of soloists, and a brilliantly prepared chorus, the finale, that splendid hymn to joy, becomes a gesture of real magnificence. Klemperer makes it one sweeping utterance, with none of the choppy, episodic feel one so often finds in it. EMI's recording is beautifully balanced and presents an outstanding stereo image. Klemperer's left-right seating of the violins registers to great effect, and the winds and brass are precisely placed, with every detail in their parts coming through clearly. A triumph, considering the vintage, and beautifully restored in this new 24-bit remastering. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest interpretations - ever!.......2007-03-17

In my view, here we have the greatest Beethoven ninth on record - next to Klemperer's own live version (Testament), made just before the present recording in 1957. Unlike all other conductors, Klemp demands clear articulations from all departments, which results in an outstanding performance. This interpretation moves me like no other.

If you haven't heard this ninth or its live counterpart, you haven't heard Beethoven's ninth at its very best. The difference consists partly in the fact that Klemperer lets the trombones and percussion play as they should, according to the score - i.e. clearly audible. Most other conductors tend to ignore this. On the present recording, the result is just amazing.

The recording quality is very fine, despite its age. It is far better than many other, later recordings (e.g., Karajan's). Compared with the live version from Testament, which has an identical orchestra, choir and set of soloists, the stereo picture is slightly more balanced, with the timpani somewhat less articulated. (But isn't that how it should sound in a real concert situation? Beethoven demands clearly articulated timpani - thus the Testament disc sound utterly realistic to me.)

But the main thing concerns the interpretation, which is same on both recordings. This interpretation is simply the one to have (alternative: the live version on Testament, which adds the special frisson of a live performance).

If you look for the ideal Beethoven ninth, this is as close as it ever gets. Grab it now: your're close to the ultimate musical experience in world history.

An historical must-have for devotees of Klemperer.......2006-06-18

Otto Klemperer was so lionized in London when he took over the Philharmonia in the mid-Fifties that it's hard to realize how little his name must mean to younger American listeners. This 1957 Beethoven Ninth was arguably the first famous recording of the work in stereo, bought by nearly every serious music lover and compared endlessly to Toscanini and Furtwangler. Now it's something of a hisotrical document, and appreciating it requires a taste for the Klemperer mystique.

He didn't care for beauty of sound or romantic sentiment. His conducting was serious and sober; as the 15-min. Scherzo here demonstrates, his tempos were often quite measured (even when Beethoven marked the tempo as Presto). Textures were at times rough, especially in the choral singing in the finale, and dynamics tended to hover around mezzo forte. Yet despite the lack of finish, Klemperer's performances seemed totally genuine, as if he personally knew Beethoven's vision. That's especially true in the slow movement, which is expressed as if one phrase followed another effortlessly (the flow is helped by Klemperer's tempo, which in this case is 2 min. faster than Karajan's in his 1963 recording from Berlin).

I think any listener would be impressed by the strength and power of the first movement, too. There's no attempt att mystery and not much drama in terms of dynamic shading from soft to loud, yet the heroic spirit of the music is captured perfectly. Another highlight is the choral singing from the newly founded Philharmonia Chorus, whose German is excellent, as is their diciton. The highest praise one can give any chorus is that they phrase like one singer, which is true here. Among the soloists Hans Hotter is eloquent and secure in the bass solo, and everyone else is never less than very good--happily, they don't try to outshourt each other when Beethoven gives them overlapping lines.

As a side note, a live peformance given at the same time in Royal Festival Hall was taped by EMI engineers but never released. Now it's available on Testament. It's said to be identical in terms of interpretation but with a tauter edge and engineered with prominent winds and timpani. Such is Klemperer's fame as a Beethoven conductor that Testament has yet another live reading from 1961. Competing Amazon reviewers insist that one is far superior than the other, but it costs about $40 to buy both recordings and judge for yourself.

Average customer rating:

If you're really in a hurry to get over Pachelbel's Canon
A beautiful way to spend some time
Gentle, Slow, Reflective...and Wonderful
If you wish the moderate baroque music,
* * * * *

Karajan: Adagio

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GMK
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5: Adagietto: Fourth movement
Canon & Gigue In D Major: Canon
The Opera: Thais: Meditation
Sypmhony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90: Andante
Sinfonia In B Minor, RV 169 - 'Al Santo Sepolcro': Adagio molto: First movement
Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1, Op. 46: Ases Tod - Ases's Death: Second movement
Divertimento In B Flat Major, K. 287 (271H): Adagio: Fourth movement
Adagio In G Minor For Strings and Organ
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Allegretto: Second movement
Suite For Orchestra No. 3 In D Major: Air
Valse Triste, Op. 44

Customer Reviews:

If you're really in a hurry to get over Pachelbel's Canon.......2006-05-01

Karajan was an amazing conductor. Precise, demanding, exacting, but also emotional and deeply sensible to nuances and subtleties of the various works and comosers he conducted. He's amazing with Beethoven and Wagner, for instance.

With Pachelbel, however, something didn't click. I have at least three Karajan recordings of the Canon in D -as well as over 50 other versions- and none are as brief, "martial", cut-and-dry, hurry-up-and-leave like Karajan's. Don't ask me why, but it would seem that conducting Pachelbel was something he didn't enjoy.

The rest of the album, however, is very enjoyable, smooth, melodious, and thoroughly enjoyable and commendable.

So, in a nutshell: if you've had it with Pachelbel's Canon in D, this is a great recording for you. If, on the other hand, you really love the Canon, skip it while playing this album or, for that matter, any of Karajan's recordings of it, where you'll also find this report, as I have collected them all: my acoustical masochism knows no boundaries.

I hope this helps you in your selection. Enjoy!

A beautiful way to spend some time.......2005-09-05

Unlike some recordings of works that demand your attention, as one reviewer pointed out this can be the backdrop for romance, (dare I say) easy listening, or playing with the kids or grandkids. It is a wonderful canvas upon which to paint your day.

von Karajan and the Berliner Philharminiker are probably the only remnants of a time that shook the world, both before, during and after. They and their progeny stayed the course. The DG recording is wonderful, kind of a collection of other tracks on other recordings.

von Karajan has always worked towards the prize of achieving the most perfect musical sound. He does not fall short here. 5 Stars. Wonderful music. Larry Scantlebury

Gentle, Slow, Reflective...and Wonderful.......2003-09-04

Karajian's Adagio is, as the title of this 1994 album culled from previous recordings of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, a CD devoted to the "adagio," a slow, gentle tempo that first became widely used in the Baroque period of music. An adagio can be either part of a greater whole (the Allegretto or 2nd Movement from Beethoven's Seventh Symphony in A major) or a complete self-contained composition (the "Valse Triste/Sad Waltz by Sibelius).

The best known pieces in this collection from Deustsche Gramophon are perhaps Pachelbel's Canon in D, which features a gentle melody that is played first by one section of the orchestra, then repeated and taken up by other sections, becoming more intricate as the piece ascends to a shimmering conclusion. The other widely known composition, Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio in G minor, sounds as if it was a Baroque piece from the late 17th Century, but it was neither composed by Albinoni nor is it a Baroque-period work. It's actually a 20th Century forgery executed by Albinoni's biographer Remo Giazotto. Nevertheless, it's a powerful and deeply moving piece, marked by the somber interplay of organ and strings. (This piece was used, with great effect, in the latter section of Australian director Peter Weir's 1980 film Gallipoli.)

Karajan's Adagio spans several centuries and musical eras, from the aforementioned Baroque to the post-Romantic 20th Century. In addition to Albinoni/Giazotto, Pachelbel, Sibelius, and Beethoven, listeners will find compositions by Mozart, Massenet, Vivaldi. Brahms, Grieg, Mahler, and J.S. Bach. With such a diverse group of composers, even though the pieces are leisurely and gentle, they also express a wide range of musical moods, ranging from the pathos of Grieg's Anse's Death to the pastoral tranquility of Mozart's 4th Movement from his Divertimento in B-flat major.

If you wish the moderate baroque music,.......2002-07-23

Disappointed is the Canon of Pachelbel. The score is partly omitted and the temp is too rhythmical like a march. On the other hand the Adagio of Albinoni is orchestrated beautifully except the pipe organ which sounds after-recording. The Air is normal.
If you wish the baroque music above, compare others.

* * * * *.......2001-09-23

This CD is a wonderful compilation of amazing and beautiful pieces and movements. The Massenet is gorgeous, Grieg is breathtaking, and Mahler... well all I can say is WOW ::sigh:: The Beethoven was performed a bit fast for my personal tastes but still a beautiful performance. This is definitely a disc no one should be without.

Cecilia Bartoli - The Impatient Lover (Italian Songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn)

Average customer rating:

Better of two collections of songs in Italian.
Intimate Italian Recital By Cecilia
Recommended to Bartoli fans
Enjoyable album . . . . great musicians

Cecilia Bartoli - The Impatient Lover (Italian Songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn)
Ludwig van Beethoven , Cecilia Bartoli , and András Schiff
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Bartoli, Cecilia | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cecilia Bartoli - Chant d'amour (Mélodies française) / Myung-Whung Chung
Cecilia Bartoli - An Italian Songbook (Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini)
Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Arias
Cecilia Bartoli - If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs
Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski

ASIN: B000004221
Release Date: 1993-10-12

Tracks:

La partenza, Wo0 124: Ecco quel fiero istante!
L'amante impaziente I, op. 82 no. 3: Che fa il mio bene?
L'amante impaziente II, Op. 82 No. 4: Che fa il mio bene?
Liebes-Klage, Op. 82 No. 2: T'intendo, si, mio cor
Hoffnung, Op. 82, No. 1: Dimmi, ben mio
In questa tomba oscura, Wo0 133
Ridente la calma, K152
Vedi quanto adoro
Se dall'Etra
lo vuo cantar di Cadmo
La pastorella
Non t'accostar all'urna
Guarda, che bianca luna
Da quel sembiante appresi
Mio ben ricordati
Pensa, che questo istante
Mi battle 'l cor!
Arianna a Naxos

Customer Reviews:

Better of two collections of songs in Italian........2006-06-15

'The Impatient Lover' sung by Cecilia Bartoli is a collection of 18th and 19th century songs in Italian which were written by the predominantly German composers, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Hayden. Oddly, this is very seriously a better, or at least a more enjoyable collection, to my ear, than the 'If you Love Me' collection of Italian songs written by Italians, including Scarlatti, Caldera, and Vivaldi. And, neither collection of Italian songs is as interesting as Mme. Bartoli's collection of French love songs, 'Chant D'Amore'. All are done on London, but with three different accompaniests. I think the French material is just better than the Italian.

Intimate Italian Recital By Cecilia.......2004-06-09

This disc offers a recital of Italian songs set to music by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Haydn. Beethoven and Schubert may come as a surprise to the listener here in regard to Italian repertoire, but Mozart and Haydn had already set Italian texts to music. Actually Beethoven and Schubert are each featured here with several songs, Mozart is represented by 'Ridente La Calma' and Haydn with the poignant cantata 'Árianna a Naxos'. These songs are mostly set to music on texts by Pietro Metastasio, which deal with such universal themes as love, grief, death and loss.

The four composers and their songs are with Cecilia Bartoli in attentive, careful and tender hands. Her musical integrity clearly shines through on this disc. She is in glorious voice as she took me with her through all the emotions which are distilled here, going from lightness in several of these songs to the fierceness and poignancy of Arianna in Haydn's cantata. Bringing out every shade and nuance for this listener (as these songs also allow her to display the dark depths of her voice). Andras Schiff lends her a sparkling and wonderful support on piano. Singer and musician are very much in harmony here with each other.

The booklet contains information about the composers and their songs and also the texts of the songs with translations in English, French and German . I do not have a particular favourite among the songs of Cecilia's intimate Italian recital. This is all in all an excellent disc.

by stardustraven

Recommended to Bartoli fans.......2000-10-30

This really is, as Gramophone says, a satisfying recital. In fact, it is really quite compelling, perfect for evening contemplation. Bartoli's voice sounds great, as always, and this recital demonstrates an advance in her artistry over previous efforts. Schiff plays a Bosendorfer, which sounds a bit like a fortepiano, not at all inappropriate for this repertoire of classical era composers. I enjoy its slightly woody timbre. I guess if I had any criticism, it is of Bartoli's somewhat strenuous, aspirated expression. It would be nice to hear her sing more simply and straightforwardly.

Enjoyable album . . . . great musicians.......2000-05-10

This album includes a number of rare pieces in the Italian repertoire. Written by standard composers (Haydn, Shubert, Beethoven, and Mozart), they accompany the Italian words of Pietro Metastasio, a prominent poet in the early to mid-1700's. Metastasio's poetry was used until the mid 1840's as lyrics to classical songs. These texts are archetypes of the 'opera seria' libretto in both form and content. So some might find this album peculiar, particularly since you are most likely not used to hearing Italian words with Shubert melodies. Don't be timid! Bartoli's voice is incredible, and free from many of the terrible habits that have characterized her lately (swallowed low notes, breathy pianissimo sound, etc). She sounds rich and expressive, and as always, her interpretive techniques are top-of-the-line. The Mozart "Ridente la calma" will especially warm your heart.

Dies Irae-The Essential Choral Collection

Average customer rating:

Dies Irae-The Essential Choral Collection Review
The Greatest Choral Masterpieces
Not that bad... at first
Gread Idea, Great Performance
Dies Irae

Dies Irae-The Essential Choral Collection

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sutherland, Joan | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The #1 Choral Album
Mass: The Most Powerful, Uplifting & Passionate Music You Will Ever Hear
Choral Masterpieces
Simply the Best Classical Anthems
Tears from Heaven

ASIN: B0000041NV
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Dies Irac: Requiem - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Chorus Of THe Hebrew Slaves: Nabucco - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Entrance Of The Toreadors: Carmen - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
An die Freude: Symphony No. 9 - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Zadok the Priest - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Bridal Chorus: Lohengrin - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Easter Hymn: Cavellera Rusticana - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Requiem Aeternam: Requiem - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Pavane - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Gloria In Excelsis Deo: Gloria - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
For Unto Us A Child Is Born: Messiah - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
O Isis und Osiris: The Magic Flute - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Credo: Messe Solennelle Di Sainte Cecile - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
I Vow To Thee, My Country - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL
Final Chorus: Turandot - DIES IRAE-ESSENTIAL CHORAL COL

Tracks:

O Fortuna: Carmina Burana - Various Artists
Trimphal March: Aida - Various Artists
Deus in adiutorium - Domine ad adiuvaum: Vespro Della Beata Vergine - Various Artists
See, The Conqu'ring Hero Comes: Judas Maccabeus - Various Artists
In The Hall Of The Mountain King: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 - Various Artists
Magnificat anima mea: Magnificat - Various Artists
Agnus Dei: Requiem - Various Artists
Humming Chorus: Madama Butterfly - Various Artists
Ich will hier bei dir stehen: St. Mathew's Passion - Various Artists
Entry Of The Guest: Tannhauser - Various Artists
Auto0da-fe' Chorus: Don Carlo - Various Artists
Polovtsian Dances: Prince Igor - Various Artists
Anvil Chorus: Il Trovatore - Various Artists
Land Of Hope And Glory: Pomp And Circumstance - Various Artists
'Hallelujah' Chorus: Messiah - Various Artists

Amazon.com

This certainly is a desirable compendium of some of the most famous large-scale choral pieces, primarily drawn from Deutsche Grammophon's catalog of operas and oratorios. Among the 30 selections on this two-disc set are choruses from Carmen, Lohengrin, Aida, Madame Butterfly, and Il Trovatore, as well as Messiah, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, and Verdi's Requiem. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Dies Irae-The Essential Choral Collection Review.......2007-07-07

This 2 disc collection of Choral music is a great introduction to classical music. Many of these selections have been made famous in movies and will be recognizable to even the most casual listener. I bought this album for O Fortuna by Carl Orff, a song that is featured in Excalibur and Jackass: The Movie. The music on these CDs is great. I especially like Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg, and Requiem by Mozart.

Other albums recommended:
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording
25 Beethoven Favorites
Excalibur: Original Movie Soundtrack

The Greatest Choral Masterpieces.......2005-10-02

This collection is outstanding, featuring the best choral works from operas and oratorios in classical repertoire. It begins with the fiery and intense Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem. This piece is sublimely performed by the Berlin forces. It's followed by the anthem-like Va Pensiero from Verdi's early opera Nabucco, as conducted by Sinopoli and sounds maravelous. A brief excerpt from Beethoven's Ninth "The Ode to Joy" is a treat. The Coronation Anthem from Zadok The Priest by Handel is well-executed and powerful. The famous Bridal March (better known as "Here Comes The Bride") from Wagner's opera Lohengrin is sumptuous. A lot of this music is grandiose, and all the famous grand choruse from the grand operas like Aida (The Triumphal March scene) and the Inquistion Scene from Don Carlo. What is missing however, and I would have enjoyed, is the wondrous Finale to Wagner's Die Meistersanger which features a great chorus in praise of art. My favorite piece on here is the little known Mass of Saint Cecilia by Charles Gounod. It is absolutely gorgeous and epic sounding. The underrated but great conductor Igor Markevitch conducts. The famous O Fortuna from Orff's Carmina Burana is also on here, not to mention Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus from Messiah and other pieces from Judas Maccabeus. This is a great collection of chorus masterpieces that any fan would appreciate or if you are studying to sing in chorues yourself.

Not that bad... at first.......2005-03-26

There's plenty of free samples to this CD, and I agree that this is a great collection of music. Chances are you won't find a collection of songs, all of them with angelic choirs, as great as this. When I got it I was quite happy with it, but when I heard the same songs done with different conductors I thought to myself: 'Hey, why doesn't it sound like my CD?' It's the quality that I don't like. For example, Dias Irae is a great song, and it sounds pretty good on the CD, but compare it to another version and this one is slower, the chorus is off key, and it doesn't have that intense emotion. Same thing with O Fortuna, it's a great song, but the chorus is just terrible on this CD, the instruments are lacking in emotion: percussion doesn't add that extra 'oomph' to the bass drum, the cymbals don't have enough emphasis, the chorus sounds like they're about to go asleep, and the dynamics between fortissimo and pianissimo have little effort.

I'd recomend this if you have little cash to blow on a lot of good songs, otherwise you might want to search for a bunch of seperate CDs with the same songs.

Gread Idea, Great Performance.......2003-03-03

This CD should move people in a way that few other recordings can. The one word to describe many of the works is "exalted". This is not music for dinner parties but instead should be heard in solitary contemplation of all the great artists and their efforts in creating such an inspiring recording.

Dies Irae.......2000-03-07

I have an extensive CD collection, but since purchasing this CD, it has become my very favorite. This music sent chills down my spine. I felt transported to a different world....What amazing voices! I intend to give this cd as xmas presents to family and friends.

Average customer rating:

Awesome musicality
Fabulous? Yes!!!

The Fabulous Victoria De Los Angeles

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Songs Of Spain / De Los Angeles, et al
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
Massenet: Werther

ASIN: B000002S5G
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Sheherazade: Asie
Sheherazade: La Flute enchantee
Sheherazade: L'Indifferent
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Le Reveil de la mariee
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: La-bas vers l'eglise
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Quel galant m'est comparable
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Tout gai!
Duex Melodies hebraiques: Kaddisch
Duex Melodies hebraiques: L'Enigme eternelle
L'Invitaiton au voyage
Phidyle
L'Enfant Prodigue: Recit. & Air de Lia: L'annee en vain chasse l'annee
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Fleur des eaux
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: Interlude
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Mort de l'amour

Tracks:

Cinco Canciones Negras: Cuba dentro de un piano
Cinco Canciones Negras: Punto de habanera
Cinco Canciones Negras: Chevere
Cinco Canciones Negras: Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito
Cinco Canciones Negras: Canto negro
Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Llorad corazon
Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Iban al pinar
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Con que la lavare?
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Vos me matasteis
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De donde venis, amore?
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De los alamos vengo, madre
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Rutas
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Pregon
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Las 12
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: El pescador sin dinero
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Coplilla
Quatre cancons: Canco de grumet
Quatre cancons: Cancon incerta
Quatre cancons: Maig
Quatre cancons: Anacreontica
La Dama d'Arago
El can dels ocells
Canco de Sega
El combat del somni: Damunt de tu nomes les flors
El combat del somni: Aquesta nit un mateix vent
El combat del somni: Jo et presentia com la mar
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: L'Harpa Sagrada
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Lo violi de Sant Francesh
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Sant Fransech i la cigala

Tracks:

Chansons de Bilitis: La Flute de Pan
Chansons de Bilitis: La Chevelure
Chansons de Bilitis: Le Tombeau des Naiades
Fetes galantes: En sourdine
Fetes galantes: Fantoches
Fetes galantes: Clair de lune
Noel de enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons
Chants populaires: Chanson espagnole
Chants populaires: Chanson francaise
Chants populaires: Chanson italienne
Chants populaires: Chanson Herbraique
Trois jours de vendange
Le Rossignol des lilas
Tristesse, Op. 6, No. 2
Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8, No. 1
Les Roses d'Ispahan, Op. 39, No. 4
Troujours (No. 2 de Trois Poemes d'un jour, Op. 21)
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: El pano murano
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Sequidilla murciana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Asturiana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Jota
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Nana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Cancion
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Polo
Doce canciones gallegas: As florinas dos toxos
Triptico, Op. 45: Farruca
Villancicos: Pastorcito santo
Psyche
Soneto a Cordoba

Tracks:

Proserpina: E dove t'aggiri
Le violette
Joshua: Oh! had I Jubal's lyre
Der Tod und das Madchen, D. 531
Die schone Mullerin, D. 795: No. 2: Wohin?
D. 547: An die Musik
Op. 59, No. 8: Dein blaues Auge
Op. 84, No. 4: Vergebliches Standchen
Op. 27, No. 1: Chanson d'amour
Op. 46, No. 2: Clair de lune
Let Us Wander
Lost Is My Quiet
Schlaf in deiner engen Kammer
Ah! lamenta, oh bella Irene
Irish Songs: Oh! Would I Were But That Sweet Linnet
Irish Songs: He Promised Me At Parting
Irish Songs: They Bid Me Slight My Dermot Dear
Welsh songs: The Dream
Mignon und der Harfner, D. 877: Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Les Fleurs des landes: Le Trebuchet
Moglichkeit
Der Apfel
Schottische Ballade
Pastorale
Pleurs d'or
Sapphische Ode
La Partenza

Amazon.com

The word "fabulous" seems vulgar when applied to the Spanish diva whose delicately shaded voice encompassed music from the middle ages to the present. This four-disc compilation emphasizes her song repertoire, to which she brought warmth, intelligence, linguistic integrity and irresistible sincerity. Her dignity makes listeners want to come to her, and she rewards them with an intimate, personal experience, especially in this small-scale repertoire by Ravel, Debussy, Duparc, Fauré, lots of Spanish composers and German masters such as Schubert and Brahms. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Awesome musicality.......2006-07-26

This 4-CD set is a tribute to the concert career of the great Victoria de Los Angeles. The first 3 CDs show her totally at home in the art song of France and of her native Spain. In the French art songs, her silvery, creamy tone, her legendary legato and her perfect French diction make for wonderful and unforgettable performances. These include a sensual Scheherazade, magnificient singing in the Duparc songs and a phenomenal Poeme de L'amour et de la mer of Chausson (try to keep your eyes dry by the end of La mort de l'amour). In the Chausson, while de Los Angeles does not opt for the intensely Wagnerian approach, her sensitive singing more than does justice to the poetry and the feelings of the character. The Spanish songs showcase de Los Angeles at her most natural, flamboyant and attractive singing. The tunes are catchy, full of bouncy rhythms and De Los Angeles's fabulous voice never ceases to amaze. The 4th CD shows the wonderful chemistry between de Los angeles and the great Gerald Moore. While she does not erase memories of Fischer-Dieskau and Schwarzkopf in the Schubert selections, the Brahms songs are excellent and her Faure songs here are earth shaking in their elegance and refinement. The Italian and the famous Handel aria helps to prove De Los Angeles's reputation as an excellent bel canto singer. Her duets with Fischer-Dieskau are absolutely memorable and gorgeous.
The set comes with booklet including full words plus translations, helpful notes on De Los Angeles's concert career and a dozen of beautiful and rare black and white photos. Victoria de Los Angeles's concert career was as prolific as her legendary operatic performances and continued well after her retirement from the operatic stage. This introspective and almost encycopledic release is a real treat and is absolutely recommended. I totally agree with the editor's review who states that the word "fabulous" fails in every respect to fully capture the artistry of the Spanish soprano. Victoria de Los Angeles is definitely one of the most wonderful lyric sopranos of the 20th century and is one of the most heavenly artists to have ever graced the concert scene. A must-have for any collection.

Fabulous? Yes!!!.......1999-09-13

The album is a marvelous sampling of this great singer's artistry. Her performances of the French and Spanish composers are something special. The De Falla "Seven Popular Folksongs" are powerful, passionate; the last song, "Jota," raised the hair on the back of my neck.

I was delighted to see Faure's "Claire de lune" on the album, and equally delighted with De Los Angeles' elegant rendition of this work. The only recording of the song I've liked better is from an LP featuring Frederika Von Stade.

Tracks:

Adagio
Air on the G String: Air on the G String, Excerpt
Brandenburg Concerto: Third Movement, Excerpt
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Excerpt
Tocatta & Fugue: Excerpt
Adagio for Strings: Excerpt
Synphony No. 5: First Movement, Excerpt
Symphony No. 9: Fourth Movement, Excerpt
Fse: Excerpt
Turkish March: Turkish March, Excerpt
Moonlight Sonata: Excerpt
Symphonie Fantastique: March Ot the Scaffold, Excerpt
Damnation of Faust: Excerpt
Carmen - Habanera: Habanera, Excerpt
Toreador Song [From Carmen]
Minuet: Minuet, Excerpt
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dance No 17, Excerpt
Hungarian Dance No. 5: No 5, Excerpt
Lullaby: No 4, Lullaby, Excerpt
"Minute" Waltz: Excerpt
Grande Valse Brillante: Excerpt
Marche Fune: Marche Fune
Appalachian Spring: Excerpt
Fanfare for the Common Man: Excerpt
Clair de Lune: Excerpt
Prelude to the Afternoon: Excerpt
Lakm Flower Duet: Flower Duet, Excerpt
Symphony No. 9 "New World": Second Movement, "Going Home" Theme, ...
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Excerpt
Pomp & Circumstance: Excerpt
El Amor Brujo
Pavane: Excerpt
Rhapsody in Blue: Excerpt
American in Paris: Excerpt
Funeral March of Marionette: Excerpt
Piano Concerto in a Minor: Excerpt
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 - Morning: Morning, Excerpt
Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus: Hallelujah Chorus, Excerpt
Water Music - Hornpipe: Hornpipe, Excerpt
Symphony No. 94 "Surprise": Second Movement, Excerpt
The Planets - Mars: Mars, Excerpt
Sabre Dance: Sabre Dance, Excerpt
Pagliacci: Vesti la Giubba, Excerpt
Hungarian Rhapsody
Liebestraum No. 3: No 3, Excerpt
Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo: Intermezzo, Excerpt
Midsummer Night's Dream - Wedding March: Wedding March, Excerpt
Symphony No. 4 "Italian": Fourth Movement, Excerpt
Rondeau: No 1, Rondeau
Piano Concerto No. 21: Andante, Excerpt
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: First Movement, Excerpt
The Marriage of Figaro - Overture: Overture, Excerpt
Sonata in A - Rondo Alla Turca: Rondo Alla Turca, Excerpt
Symphony No. 40: First Movement, Excerpt
Night on Bald Mountain: Excerpt
Pictures at an Exhibition - Great Cave of Kiev: Great Gate of ...
Barcarolle: Barcarolle, Excerpt
Orpheus in Hades - Theme II: Excerpt (Theme)
Carmina Burana - O Fortuna: O Fortuna, Excerpt
Canon: Canon, Excerpt
Romeo & Juliet - Montagues & Capulets: Montagues & Capulets, Excerpt
Lt. Kije's Wedding: Lt. Kije's Wedding, Excerpt
Turandot - Nessun Dorma: Nessun Dorma, Excerpt
Piano Concerto No. 2: Second Movement, Excerpt
Symphony No. 2: Third Movement, Opening, Excerpt
Rhapsody on a Theme: Variation 18, Excerpt
Bolero
Flight of the Bumblebee
Concierto de Aranjuez - Adagio: Adagio, Excerpt
The Barber of Seville - Overture: Excerpt
The Barber of Sville - Largo Al Factotum: Largo Al Factotum, Excerpt
William Tell Overture - Theme II: Excerpt
Danse Macabre: Excerpt
Gymnope No. 1
Symphony N0. 8 "Unfinished": Excerpt
Ave Maria: Excerpt
Finlandia [Finale: Finale, Excerpt]
Valse Triste: No 1, Valse Triste, Excerpt
Stars & Stripes Forever: Excerpt
Semper Fidelis: Excerpt
Blue Danube Waltz: Excerpt
Tales from the Vienna Woods: Excerpt
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Fanfare, Excerpt
Firebird - Infernal Dance & Main Theme: Infernal Dance & Main ...
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers: Waltz of the Flowers, Excerpt
Swan Lake - Waltz: Waltz, Excerpt
Sleeping Beauty -: Waltz, Excerpt
Romeo & Juliet - Theme II: Theme LL, Excerpt
Piano Concerto No. 1 - Opening: Opening, Excerpt
1812 Overture - Finale: Finale, Excerpt
Fantasia on "Greensleeves": Excerpt
Alda - Grand March: Grand March, Excerpt
Il Trovatore - Anvil Chorus: Anvil Chorus, Excerpt
Requiem - Dies Irae: Dies Irae, Excerpt
Rigoletto - La Donna Mobile: La Donna Mobile, Excerpt
The Four Seasons "Spring" - Allegro: Allegro, Excerpt
The Four Season "Winter" - Largo: Largo, Excerpt
Lohengrin - Bridal Chorus: Bridal Chorus, Excerpt
Die WalkRide of the Valkyries: Ride of the Valkyries, Excerpt

Customer Reviews:

I can name that tune in three notes.......2005-02-19

My family likes to put this disc in on shuffle and play name that tune. I wish they made more discs like this, only with more obscure works.

A Fabulous CD.......2004-10-14

The Idiot's Guide to Calssical Music is an awesome Cd for those people who want to have a tiny sample of all the great classical compositions. Track 61 and 63 are my favorite.

Mega-Sampler! This really does have 99 tracks!.......2002-03-20

Yes, this CD really does have 99 tracks. How do they do it? Each is about a minuet long. Some are longer, some are shorter, but you get the micro-essential moments of the music.

If you like burning your own CDs, then this is a great source for intra-track fillers, along the lines of They Might Be Giants' "Apollo 18" album, which has all of those short tracks on the end. The idea is to put your CD player on shuffle, so the short tracks get mixed in with the bona fide songs. The result being a very unusual album.

The booklet gives an explanation of the track, where you heard it (i.e. the Warner Brother's Cartoons, or on famous films), and where you can get the full piece of music. So it's a mega sampler CD.

I can honestly say that this CD is a great gift for the friend who has everything.

Fun Sampler.......2001-11-09

For the beginner. You will be surprised at how many of the 99 themes you recognize here. It is an easy introduction to classical music. Nice booklet too.

Useful........1999-03-22

Take it for what it is, a clever and useful GUIDE to classical music. No, it is NOT an uncut rendition of Beethoven's 9th symphony. It IS a cd that will jog your memory. You have heard many of the tunes presented here, but not always knowing what the work was. This is your chance to catch up with all the great classical music you have been exposed to. Cheap too.

The Classical Collection, Part 1 / Vanessa-Mae (3 CD Box Set) (EMI Classics)

Average customer rating:

Unnecessary
Vanessa-Mae as a Child Prodigy at 12 and 13
Vanessa-Mae as a Child Prodigy at 12 and 13
Great early recording

The Classical Collection, Part 1 / Vanessa-Mae (3 CD Box Set) (EMI Classics)

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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The Classical Album 1 / Vanessa-Mae
Choreography
The Original Four Seasons And The Devil's Trill Sonata / Vanessa-Mae
Subject to Change
Classical Album, Vol. 2: China Girl

ASIN: B00004W47H
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In C Op.48: I. Allegro
Violin Concerto In C Op.48: II. Andante
Violin Concerto In C Op.48: III. Vivace Giocoso
Russian Dance (Swan Lake)
Violin Concerto In D Op.35: I. Allegro Moderato
Violin Concerto In D Op.35: II. Canzonetta (Andante)
Violin Concerto In D Op.35: III. Finale (Allegro Vivacissimo)

Tracks:

Schon Rosmarin
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Violin Concerto In D 'Adelaide' (In The Style Of Mozart) KAnh.294a1: I. Allegro
Violin Concerto In D 'Adelaide' (In The Style Of Mozart) KAnh.294a1: II. Adagio
Violin Concerto In D 'Adelaide' (In The Style Of Mozart) KAnh.294a1: III. Allegro
Violin Concerto In D Op.61: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Violin Concerto In D Op.61: II. Larghetto
Violin Concerto In D Op.61: III. Rondo (Allegro)

Tracks:

...Inspired By The Classics: Salut D'amour
...Inspired By The Classics: Lullaby
...Inspired By The Classics: Air On The G String
...Inspired by Cinema: My Favourite Things
...Inspired by Cinema: The Pink Panther
...Inspired by Cinema: Les Parapluies De Cherbourg
...Inspired By Pop Culture: One Moment In Time
...Inspired By Pop Culture: Yellow Submarine
...Inspired By Folk Culture: Frere Jacques
...Inspired By Folk Culture: La Campanella
...Inspired By Folk Culture: Chinese Folk Tune
...Inspired By Folk Culture: Tambourin Chinois
...Inspired By Opera: Figaro
...Inspired By Opera: Summertime
...Inspired By Opera: Concert Fantasy On 'Carmen' Op.25
...Inspired By Opera: Fantaisie Brillante On Themes From Gounod's 'Faust' Op.20

Customer Reviews:

Unnecessary.......2001-04-18

While it would be, of course, somewhat unfair to rate this CD recording of some of the world's most famous pieces for virtuoso violin the same way one would for a mature, older artist's recordings, it is horrendous marketing strategy on the part of Sony Classical to release this three CD set on the premise that they are "brilliant," as stated on the back of the CD case. They are anything but, as a quick listen to any one of the three CDs will reveal to the discerning ear.

The first two CDs are mainly concerned with Mae playing the Kabalevsky, the Tchaikovsky Concerto in D, and the Beethoven Concerto in D -- all highly acclaimed pieces aimed at showing off not only the speed, strength, physical and mental endurance of the violinist, but also, certainly, the tone production and "fingers," as Sarah Chang would have liked to put it. Mae fails on almost all the above counts. While she professes to have a high degree of passion for the Tchaikovsky and the Beethoven (Mae gushes about learning them by heart long before her instructor had the chance to teach them to her), the pieces are a great disappointment. The first thing to jarr the ear is her tone (a scratchy, unconfident, and extremely tinny one, at that) and, rather surprising, her lack of capability at pulling off the cadenzas. It is beyond anyone's understanding how the then young Mae's speed and technical accuracy could be so highly acclaimed as they are by some quarters when she falters and stumbles along the notes, mainly in the higher registers. This is most apparent in the extremely poor playing of Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy, where she sometimes lags behind the entire orchestra by a few wrenching notes as she struggles to catch up and keep in tempo.

The pieces on the Virtuoso Album CD aren't worth much -- colourless, soulless renditions of miniatures that have been performed better by countless of other violinists, at every measure of age (Chang does a splendid job of the Carmen Fantasy, and she recorded it in the studios when she was only nine years old).

The only redeeming piece of the entire three CD set I can think of must be the Russian Dance from Swan Lake. Although her bowing is rarely, if ever, confident and full, her thin, wavering vibrato ever used effectively, she opens the piece with a vigour that isn't seen in any other of the pieces.

It is rather unfortunate that Mae has never really progressed far, classically -- a look at her later recordings (the Classical Collection 2) and her live performance at the Royal Albert Hall (where the Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2, Moses Variation on a G String, and a few others were played) drives the point home painfully. I am a fan, of course, but not one of her classical side -- the techno-pop-fusion music masks her flaws well enough to allow one to forget that one is listening to a very mediocre violinist at work.

Vanessa-Mae as a Child Prodigy at 12 and 13.......2000-11-14

Vanessa-Mae: is the beautiful young Singaporean violinist with her flowing hair, gorgeous figure, pop star clothes, electric violin, laser and light shows, websites, and rock band just a media creation, or is she instead a modern-day Pagannini or Liszt, a true virtuoso with a flair for showmanship? In other words, can she play? This three CD set of her early recordings, made when she was only 12 and 13 years old, answers the question authoritatively. Although there are, of course, some flaws, the fact remains that even at this early age Vanessa-Mae was a stunning performer. At thirteen she played better than many profession musicians have at thirty, myself included. Listen, for example, to the stunning beginning of Sarasate's Concert Fantasy on `Carmen".

There is a certain tension between the interpretations of the soloist and the conductor occasionally, especially when Vanessa-Mae wants to play faster than the conductor will allow. This is in fact my biggest criticism of the recording; but these ego wars are not only the bloodiest but also the most common of musical slaughterhouses, and it is no surprise that such a young performer would get caught up in it. Otherwise, the performance is terrific--intonation is impeccable, interpretation confident. In particular, Vanessa-Mae has a commanding technique in the highest range, where her tone absolutely soars. Only very rarely, and then only at the very end of a rising run, does her intonation slip slightly. And she varies her style appropriately to suit the music--at the time of this recording she'd not yet gotten to playing Vivaldi with a rock band. In Fritz Kreisler's Schon Rosmarin, I can practically see her in a ball gown with her hair up in ringlets, performing this for the Viennese elite at a society soiree. It seems appropriately schmatzy to me, and it provides a link between the Classical and popular sides of Vanessa-Mae featured in this collection.

The set consists of three CDs, the first the Russian Album, the second, the Viennese Album, and the third, the Virtuoso Album. This last title is somewhat curious, as only two-thirds of the way through do the selections take a virtuoso turn. Otherwise, they are pops and light classics that are not at all demanding of the performer. This CD has a theme of inspiration from various sources, and the selections are categorized as "inspired by the classics, inspired by cinema, inspired by pop and folk culture, and inspired by opera" and include such things as arrangements of Brahms Lullaby, Mancini's theme to The Pink Panther, and Richard Rogers' My Favorite Things. Unfortunately, the Beatles also make an appearance--I love the Beatles, but Lennon and McCartney's Yellow Submarine is a testament to the perils of drug use. Whatever fondness society has for this piece--and I know they do, as my 10 year old daughter is learning it on recorder for her music class at school--this affection must come from our memories of youth, the fun of the 70's and the association of the imaginative animation by Peter Maxx of the movie, perhaps even the symbolism, arcane as it may be, of the text. Objectively, though, the tune is as trivial and banal as anything ever written, and here it gets turned into a sort of mini-violin concerto. Call the Blue Meanies and the Apple-Bonkers to put a stop to that!

But the other performances and pieces on this CD more than make up for this miscue. The first CD features Violin Concerti by Kabelevsky and Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven's violin concerto is featured on the second CD with a gorgeous performance. Vanessa-Mae clearly *can* play--she is much more than just a media creation. This collection, a portrait of the artist as a young woman, proves the point admirably.

Vanessa-Mae as a Child Prodigy at 12 and 13.......2000-11-14

Great early recording.......2000-11-11

I should of course first disclose that I do not know very much about classical music, but as far as I can tell this is a fantastic recording.

This 3-cd set is a reissue of the early classical recordings that Vanessa-Mae made before crossing over into pop. It is a fantastic set because it offers a wide range of music: Tchaaikovsky, Kreisler, Beethoven, Paganini, Sarasate, Bach, Brahms and others. Vanessa-Mae's playing is fantastic throughout. I have always felt that she is a much stronger classical than pop player -- she really does not bring much uniqueness to pop music (just electronic supporting instruments) -- however, her remarkable classical mastery is easily evident even to an inexperienced person like me.

All-in-all, the recording is remarkably mature and holds up well in comparison to VM's later classical recordings. Most highly recommended!

Music Track: