Schumann: Piano and Chamber Music

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Micaela Gelius on the Piano, Sreten Krstic on the Violin, and Stephan Haackon the Cello, Cover Pieces from Child Prodigy Pianist, Clara Shcuman (1819-18960).

Tracks:

O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux delin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957
Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')

Amazon.com

Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens the disc, with Bell delicately accompanied by a harp and spinning the long melody with great sensitivity. Bellini's "Casta diva" from Norma lives up to its reputation as the epitome of bel canto in Bell's hands; his violin sings. The middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto takes well to the violin, and Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is played with great warmth and sensuality. It would be easy to turn a recital like this into treacle, but Bell is wise enough to realize that the music is already sweet enough and he plays with great reserve and a minimum of sentimental slides. The light accompaniments always support, with woodwinds prominent but used with grace. This CD, in short, is a beauty: a fine gift, a lovely mood setter. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

End of the Day.......2007-06-08

I am a Joshua Bell fan, and this album is the one that I enjoy with my dessert, it calms me at the end of the day, and makes me think of my 6 year old granddaughter's visit. She has to have music on during meals at her home. Usually it is some kid stuff, but I do not have anything like she has at home, so I chose to play Joshua Bell during our dinner. When I placed the dessert before her, she looked up at me and said: "This music is so beautiful, I want to play the violin just like that". What more could I say.
He is inspiring, and she is right. This album is beautiful.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-30

I play this for my grandson to nap by. It is so relaxing and wonderful!

Over and over and over...........2007-05-17

That's how I want to play this CD! It's a wonderful line-up of rich, mellow, captivating compositions played with a warmth and vibrancy that is seldom heard. Joshua at his very best. You won't be disappointed.

Non-standard CD format.......2007-04-22

The music on this CD deserves five stars, but the CD itself is a non-standard format that doesn't work on all players. There's a tiny warning on the back of the CD. You won't notice the warning until you discover that the CD doesn't work on your player. My Macintosh computer wouldn't read the non-standard format so there was no way for me to listen in my office or put the music on my iPod.

A friend's PC was able to read the CD and make a copy in standard format that can be read on any player, including my Mac. The story had a happy ending, but I can not comprehend why the publisher chose the oddball CD specification.

The music is excellent and worth the trouble of making a copy, but the publisher really shouldn't make you go to that effort just to listen to a CD that you paid for.

wonderful surprise.......2007-04-13

This recording has quickly become a most favorite cd in my collection. My personal preference had always been for opera and not symphony concert. To hear the violin replace the voice and line of the opera singer (in two of the excerpts) was a wonderful surprise for me, and has enhanced my enjoyment of all of this recording.

Average customer rating:

Grandmother's Review
great cd!
Absolutely Love It!!!
My daughter loved this before she was born
enjoyable

UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Reverie
Suite No. 3: Air On The G String
Kinderszene-Traumerei
Thais-Meditation
Sonata For Two Pianos, K.448-II: Andante
Lullaby: Cradle Song
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Ave Maria

Amazon.com

While many hospitals across the country send new mums and babes home equipped with discs of classical music to soothe and gently stimulate babies' tender minds, Ultrasound brings together a delightfully well-rounded set specifically chosen for those still in the womb. Expectant moms will appreciate the effects of the mellow strains of Bach's Suite No. 3, the delicate playfulness of Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," and Mozart's proven-to-make-you-smart Sonata for Two Pianos featuring André Previn. Debussy's "Clair de lune" is especially lovely as conducted and fluted by James Galway, and Leontyne Price is a warm blanket of comfort giving voice to Schubert's "Ave Maria." Indeed, these songs are aural balm to both parent and child long after birth. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Grandmother's Review.......2007-05-21

I purchased this product for my expectant daughter, and she says that it is the best gift she has ever received. She, herself, finds the music very soothing and relaxing, and she is certain that it is wonderful for her child.

great cd!.......2007-05-14

This is a fantastic product! I bought it to play for my unborn daughter and I started it when I was around five mos. pregnant. She moves all over the place when I put the headphones on my belly and I can even tell by her movements that she likes some songs more than others. I have done a lot of research into playing music for unborn babies, including the helpfulness as far as birthing positions when the music is played regularly. This cd fits the bill for all of the research I've done. It is completely worth the money!

Absolutely Love It!!!.......2007-04-02

I have a 6 month old daughter. I first purchased this CD when I was pregnant and would place my earphones on my belly for her to listen. I now use it in her room at bedtime and I absolutely love it. I have a collection of other CD's, but honestly this is my favorite. It is a very nice blend of songs. It is soothing for baby and parents. If you only buy one CD I would recommend you make it this one.

My daughter loved this before she was born.......2006-12-15

When I was about 18 weeks pregnant I bought this and two other CDs of gentle classical music and played one of them for her every 2nd or 3rd night, putting headphones on my belly. I was actually skeptical about this being "music for the unborn" but she really did react to this one much more than anything else I ever played for her. If she hadn't been very active that day I could always lay down in the evening with the headphones and play her music, and she's wriggle around. She especially liked #5 and #10. :)

She didn't seem to have much connection to it after she arrived, but she does enjoy music in general. (She's currently almost 11 mo old.)

enjoyable.......2006-08-03

I have enjoyed this cd thus far. If you have the money to spend, this is relaxing and enjoyable, however you can get similar music for free on your local classical station. So if you would rather save your money...just tune in on your radio dial. I am glad I bought the cd for the familiarity of the songs, but I also love just plain old classical radio.

Average customer rating:

Music to my ears!
Legend!
Probably the Best Piano CD ever!
An exquisite recording...read on!....
BRILLIANT!

The World's Favorite Piano Music

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Piano Favorites

ASIN: B000003F8F
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

Liebestraum No.3
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Fur Elise
Turkish March
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Reverie
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Waltz In A-flat
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Moment Musical No. 3
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Kinderszenen opus 15 Tramrei
Barcarolle
Intemezzo In C-sharp Minor
Prelude In C-minor
Fantasie-mpromptu

Customer Reviews:

Music to my ears!.......2007-04-04

I bought this CD as a "treat" for my 16 year old son, who has just finished a homeschool music course for one of his electives. The last part of the course required listening to music from all the great composers, Baroque through contemporary periods, and identifying the more famous pieces by name and composer. He not only enjoyed the course, he now actually listens to this CD for his own enjoyment (when he's not playing 80's rock). What more could a mother ask for? (I'll tell you. I ask him to borrow it, it's lovely.)

Legend!.......2006-10-11

This is the greatest compilation of recordings ever made by the legendary pianist Van Cliburn. Although I am a cellist, I wear this cd out on a regular basis both at the office and home. I actually have an extra copy to play at the office. All of these recordings are superb in sound quality, performance and incredibly inspiring. The Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Liszt pieces are stellar and my personal favorites. I only wish there were dvd's with Cliburn's performances for those of us too young to have seen him perform live. CD is a must-have for any classical music lover's collection.

Probably the Best Piano CD ever!.......2006-04-13

If you like Piano music, this is the CD for you. Van Cliburn is at home with great songs that anyone will recognize. It is a masterfully performed set of songs for anyone.

An exquisite recording...read on!...........2005-03-13

Contains a masterful rendition of Beethoven's "Fur Elise", which happens to be one of my favorite classical pieces -- I have a smooth-jazz-pop-dance version of this tune on my own album, "Classy Cool: Classical Favorites, Made Cool" (Google keyword "Motionizer" to find it)

BRILLIANT!.......2004-12-01

usually i don't listen to classical music that much.. i'm 14! but i really enjoy piano so when i saw this music i started to listen to it and i cant beleive how fantastic it is! It is a must have for piano lovers, because the mood of the music varies so much that there is something to suit every mood! My personal favourite is track 2 i can't stop listening to it! I really recommend this cd it is so good.

Average customer rating:

Elegance at the piano
VALUE FOR MONEY
Good bang for the buck.
Really good price.

Piano Favorites

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000UVY
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Fantasie Impromptu in C-sharp minor, OP.66
Waltz No.15 in A-flat, Op.39
Rondo all turca from Sonata in A, K.331
Minuet in G
Traumerei Op.15 No.7 (from Kinderzenen)
Un sospiro
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op.10 No.4
Etude in G-flat, Op.10 No.5
Humoresque, Op.101 No.7
'Fur Elise' (Bagatelle Wo0.59)
Claire de lune (Suite Bergamasque, No.3)
Golliwog's Cakewalk (Coin des enfants, No.6)
Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op.3 No.2
Melody in F, Op.3 No.1
The Cuckoo
La fille aux cheveux de lin (from Preludes Book I)
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op.64 No.2
Waltz in G-flat, Op.70 No.1
Jeux d'eau
Gymnopedie No.1 (Lent et douloureux)

Customer Reviews:

Elegance at the piano.......2007-06-16

I grew up listening to Moura Lympany's playing, especially Litolff's Scherzo. Never could understand how a person could play with absolute control at high speed. In this recording, most (though not all - the Etude in C# minor an obvious exception)of the music is more laid back, and played with great grace and with the controlled touch of a pianist at the peak of her career.
The ambience of the recording is a wide open one, giving us the full clear sound that makes listening to a grand piano to enjoyable.
If you enjoy listening to good piano music, this is a recording that you will enjoy a great deal.

VALUE FOR MONEY.......2006-08-24

Dame Moura is my favourite pianist. Her great style and sublety of expression comes out in all her recordings. this CD is the best value for money ever!!

Good bang for the buck........2005-12-07

I was killing some time in the store the other day and was in the mood for a cheap CD for the car for the ride home. I ran across this and saw a few recognizable titles so for about $5 I figured I'd take a chance. I'm fairly impressed, I wasn't crazy about some of her dynamics in Un Sospiro plus her little added frill in there but still enjoyed it...I'd learned that piece myself years back, still can't play it and probably never will! Another piece I've known for years is the infamous Rachmaninov Prelude in C#m. Again, I wasn't crazy about some of the dynamics of her style but she still nails it without a hitch. Then I got to some other interesting pieces, I love the Debussy Golliwog's Cakewalk...really sticks in your head. Sort of a classisized (?) ragtime and it's cool enough that I'm going to dig through my music and see if I don't have it somewhere. I thought the Chopin Etude in C#m was absolutely fabulous, she just cooks through it from beginning to end. I probably have the music for that too...I'm not even going to attempt it! ;-) In fact, I liked all the Chopin she plays here, it seems she had a real flair for his music. Without going on forever here I'll just say that there are several tracks I listen to extensively on here and I'm fairly impressed. For a lousy $5 how can you go wrong? Just buy the thing! I'd never heard of her before so I just did a little 'net searching and I'm saddened to find that she just passed away about 8 months ago at age 88, truly a loss to the classical music world. In any case, even at twice the price I doubt anyone would be disappointed with this CD.

Really good price........2002-06-15

This is a great CD and you can't beat the price. These piano compositions are great for restful backgroud music after a hard day. I want to get a second one for when this one wears out.

Average customer rating:

Baby Einstein
I'm so glad I bought this cd, my son loves it!
Great Music

Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics, Vol. 2

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Album Fur Die Jugend, Op.68, No.1, Melodie
Piano Sonata No.7, Menuetto
Piano Sonata Op.120, Movement 3 D664
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My Neighborhood
Ave Maria, Meditation On Bach Prelude BWV846,
Piano Concerto No.27, Larghetto
Silent Night
Hush Little Baby

Customer Reviews:

Baby Einstein.......2007-05-16

These are so good for the young kids in your family!!! I love all their products

I'm so glad I bought this cd, my son loves it!.......2007-03-20

I bought both of the Lullaby Classics. Sometimes I put them on during the day when my son is playing, it keeps him from becoming too hyper in the house and gives him a feeling of contentment. I also like the mood it gets him in before bedtime. He also loves the Barney cd's for more interactive, upbeat music. Music is really so important for children when they are small. You can see the difference it makes right away.

Great Music.......2007-03-08

We own several of the cds so we can have them in the babys room and in the car. They really help sooth our newborn. Love the Baby Einstein products!

Average customer rating:

Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star
The flight of no return!
Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back

Rostropovich, Master Cellist

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000062R5A
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Tracks:

Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Allegro
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Finale. Allegro Moderato
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Tracks:

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Vocalise Op.34 No.14: Vocalise
Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899 No.3: Impromptu In G Flat Major
Kinderszenen Op.5 No.7 Scenes From Childhood: Traumerei - Dreaming

Amazon.com

Mstislav Rostropovich's 75th birthday is the occasion for this two-disc set of prime recordings by the protean artist. The Dvorák Concerto with Karajan's overrefined conducting, one of the better of the cellist's five recordings of this masterpiece, is not as lively as his version with Ozawa or as idiomatic as his early recording with Talich and the Czech Philharmonic in monophonic sound. The Schumann Concerto, here with Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, is incisively Romantic, but disciplined and done with a ravishing tone, vividly recorded. It's superior to his later, indulgent version with Bernstein. The charming short pieces by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov are also irresistible for Rostropovich's gorgeous playing. Disc two partners him in solo pieces with pianist Alexander Dedyukhin, the centerpiece being Rachmaninov's Sonata, overflowing with lovely melodies played to the hilt by the cellist. The shorter works include transcriptions, perfect encore fare perfectly played. This set is a feast for Rostropovich's fans. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star.......2007-05-20

As difficult a period as the 20th century was ... and all the more so in the soviet union -- Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star. He represented some the finest levels of musical art that man can achieve -- a triumph of the human spirit.

In the 21st century in the western world, we are witness to the decline of the art form known as "classical music"... with nothing comparable or better on the horizon to replace it. As the 6 billion people of the earth, soon to be 9 billion, struggle for light and space ... there are ominous reverberations in the arts.

Thank God the few of us left who love this music have recordings of men like Rostopovitch ... always with the hope that the fire will be passed on to new generations of performers and composers who will catch the spirit and breath new life into the world.

The flight of no return!.......2007-05-02

This genius of the cello left us April 27th. For the recent music newcomers this name is synonymous of a talented musician, but Rostropovich meant for the music much more than a privileged and sheer artist. His multiple activities as soloist performer and conductor ranked such historical achievements that hardly could be resumed in this little note.

His loss is extremely significant, due he embodied the goal of a total artist. Reader, thinker, and always worried by his country, he knew about so many unsaid details of the missed U.R.S.S, and his narrow collaboration with Dimitri Shostakovich make of him a essential part of the musical History of the last Century With his departure a cycle ends. Fortunately his enormous musical bequeath stand out through the years to come, as striking evidence of his egregious talent.

Hail and farewell!

Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back.......2003-09-19

To celebrate the 75th year of the birth of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the various labels he recorded with over his illustrious career have issued several excellent collections. EMI outdid themselves by issuing, among other sets, the breathtaking 13-CD box set "The Russian Years," featuring rare recordings and numerous premieres made by Rostropovich during his tenure behind the Iron Curtain. That set's a hard one to match, but the two-disc "Master Cellist: Legendary Recordings 1956-78" comes close. What it lacks in quantity, "Master Cellist" makes up for in quality. It contains arguably the single best recording ever made of the Dvorak Cello Concerto (with von Karajan), an excellent Schumann Concerto, and stunning shorter works for cello and orchestra by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. These are legendary accounts for sure, but no big deal to most serious collectors because they are, or have been, previously available on CD. But what made me trade in my DG Originals disc of the Dvorak Concerto, and get "Master Cellist" was disc two of this set. It features four glorious works for cello and piano, never before released on CD, with Slava's long-time collaborator, pianist Alexander Dedyukhin. They are all, along with the Rach Sonata, quite simply sublime. Rostropovich will sadly not live another 75 years, but his legacy will live on for at least that long thanks to magical recordings like these.

Average customer rating:

Children's Favorites a solid purchase
The perfect package
A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics

Children's Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Music for Children: A Toddler's Introduction to Classical Music
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Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children
Bernstein Favorites: Children's Classics
World's Very Best Opera for Kids... in English!

ASIN: B00004Y6T3
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

March Of The Tin Soldiers - Leon Jessel
Variations On 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' - Walter Klien
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Reed Flutes - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Sorceror's Apprentice - Paul Dukas
Peter And The Wolf (Extract) - Brandon de Wilde
Invention No. 8 In F Major - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 11 in G Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 13 in A Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Prelude And Fugue No. 21 In B Flat Major (Book 1) - Christiane Jaccottet
Sonata For 2 Pianos In D Major, K. 448, 1st Mvt. - Rudolf Firkusny
III. Allegretto - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Of Strange Lands And People - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Curious Story - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Entreating Child - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Perfect Happiness - Walter Klien
Introduction And Royal March - Marylene Dosse
The Elephant - Marylene Dosse
Kangaroos - Marylene Dosse
The Aquarium - Marylene Dosse
Cuckoo In The Woods - Marylene Dosse
Birds - Marylene Dosse
Fossils - Marylene Dosse
The Swan - Marylene Dosse
Finale - Marylene Dosse

Customer Reviews:

Children's Favorites a solid purchase.......2006-03-09

This CD mostly delivered what was expected of it. The only critique I have is that some of the tempos could have been cleaner, and that it should be cross-referenced by the other composers besides J. S. Bach.

The perfect package.......2005-10-23

This is the most wonderful collection to have on 1 CD. Children from birth on up can benefit from this musical collage.
Songs from the "Nutcracker" are familiar and comfortable for many children. What child wouldn't love "March of the Tin Soldiers?"
Selections from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" is a must in my creative movement library. Every child should be exposed to this music. Well,I believe every age should be.

A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics.......2003-03-11

With total playing time clocking in at 78:04 minutes of music, you'll be paying about 6-cents/minute, which is a better bargain than long distance phone calls, and often more rewarding!

This disc is far superior than most other "Classics for Kids"-type recordings I've sampled for a number of reasons:

1) This album was expertly engineered. The production quality on this disc is first-rate from start to finish with crisp, clear sound.

2) The pieces were expertly picked. There is wonderful sonic variety here, spanning hundreds of years of wonderful melodies. There are orchestral pieces, harpsichord pieces, solo piano, and a piano concerto, capped off with Saint-Seans whimsical Carnival of the Animals. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love that?

3) The performances are, without exeption, expert! The pieces were definately screened for quality as well as content. Many are simply a joy to behold. Walter Klein is a particular stand-out, almost giddily prancing through Schumann's pieces. Believe it or not, he sounds even more impressive when backed up by the always inspiring Minnesota Orchestra on Mozart's Piano Concerto #17.

Tracks:

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor (Introduction)
Brahms: Rhapsody In G Minor Op. 79, No. 2
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 15 In C (I. Allegro)
Schubert: Moment Musical No. 2
Dvorak: Humoresque No. 7
Debussy: Prelude 'La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin'
Grieg: 'Butterfly' From Lyrical Pieces
Chopin: Etude In C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12 'Revolutionary'
Scarlatti: Sonata In E
Debussy: Clair De Lune
Rubenstein: Melody In F
Rachmaninoff: Prelude In C-sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2
Paderewski: Menuett
Chopin: 'Military' Polonaise
Liszt: Liebestraum
Chopin: Etude In E, Op. 10 No. 3 'Tristesse'
Scriabin: Etude, Op. 8 No. 12
Beethoven: Minuet In G
Mozart: Sonata No. 11 In A 'Rondo All Turca'
Debussy: Rrie
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini (Variation No. 18)
Schumann: From Kinderszenen (1. Von Fremden Landern Und Menschen)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor (II. Romance)
Chopin: Waltz In D-flat, Op. 64 No. 1 'Minute Waltz'
Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue (Finale)

Customer Reviews:

25 Piano Favorites.......2007-01-09

This is my favorite classical CD since it is geared to a wide audience. Many of my friends and acquaintances enjoy it, too.

Good for the price............2005-11-30

I listen to this CD while reading or when I need inspiration to play the piano. There are many classic pieces here that will have many recognizable sections to the non classical music fans. The sound quality is not amazing but the essence and technical difficulty of these pieces can still be heard. Most of the songs are under 5 mins and there is a mix of faster and slower tempos.

This is a bargain bin CD that you usually see at Fry's Electronics. There are more detailed and comprehensive collections out there but for 5 bucks this isn't bad and you basically get what you expect. There are much better classical CD's out there of course but for a beginner compilation album, this one has a great price.

Wonderful relaxing and soothing music.......2005-09-02

This cd of piano classics has become one of my favorites. Since I am a full-time student and work out of my home the music relaxes me during times of rest.

The Sound Quality Really Bugs Me.......2004-08-26

This is a good intro CD to famous piano pieces. However, the sound quality is really *poor*. Of course, what do you expect for the price? I'm sure there are better Piano Sample CDs out there that sound much better. It's worth the extra money, trust me.

Good Disc for the Price.......2004-01-19

A good compilation of excerpts from the rich and vast piano repertoire. Sure they are merely excerpts and are meant to just introduce the piano to someone unfamiliar with the instrument or classical music, but that doesn't mean that an experienced person can't just pop it into the CD player and enjoy.

While there's no classic recordings here or big names, most of the tracks are well played and acceptable in sound quality. There are some interesting pieces here that are unfamiliar to most, such as the Dvorak Humoresque or the Paderewski Minuet, as well as classics such as the Debussy Clair de Lune or the Mozart Concerto.

Tracks:

Cello Concerto In B Minor Op. 104: I. Allegro - Dvorak
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: I. Allegro moderato
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: II. Adagio
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: III. Allegro
Cello Concerto In E Minor: I. Adagio - Moderato
Cello Concerto In E Minor: II. Lento - Allegro molto
Cello Concerto In E Minor: III. Adagio
Cello Concerto In E Minor: IV. Allegro, Moderato, Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Sicilienne
Three Fantasy Pieces: I. Zart mit Audruck
Three Fantasy Pieces: II. Lebhaft
Three Fantasy Pieces: III. Rasch und mit Feuer
Sing Without Words in D, Op.109
Elegie In C Minor, Op. 24
The Toccata: Adagio
The Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
Suite populaire espagnole: Jota
Kol nidrei, Op. 47
Piano Trio In B-flat 'Archduke', Op.97
Cello Sonata No.2 In F, Op.99
Sonata in A

Customer Reviews:

cello lover.......2007-05-31

Absoluty the best. It is no wonder she was the world premier cello artist!! Can't say enough. If you love cello, and classical music, this is a must have. Her whole collection is worth every penny!!!

99% perspiration.......2006-11-08

(4.5/5 stars) This is a two-disc collection of musical works, in which the great cellist Jacqueline du Pre plays. The first disc consists of three cello concerti by three different composers: Dvorak (Romantic), Haydn (Classical) and Elgar (Romantic). Very good music, though it might leave you wondering what all the fuss is about. Not to worry: just pop in Disc Two to find out. The second disc contains shorter works by a wider variety of composers. It also might just leave you breathless by its beauty. Saint-Säens' "The Swan" (from "Carnival of the Animals") is nearly indescribable in its elegance, with du Pre's cello dancing with a harp. This haunting recording should not be missed. Bruch's "Kol Nidrei" is magnificently gorgeous as well. Three fantasy pieces from Schumann, one of Mendelssohn's "Lieder Ohne Wörter" and a stunning Brahms sonata infuse this collection with genuine grace. Since these were recorded prior to the advent of digital recordings, you might hear a very slight hiss on some of the recordings. This is barely audible and really does not detract from the pleasure of listening to it. Each disc runs 75 minutes, making this inspiration last long indeed.

Immortal Legend.......2006-10-07

As a cellist, I grew up listening to Jacqueline Du Pre's recordings. Even now as a 35 year old, I'm still enthralled by her amazing talent. This is a great cd if one is looking for a wonderful introduction to this superb cellist or simply wants to savor her most well known recordings. Du Pre owned the "Elgar" concerto. No other words can summarize this fact. Other beautiful and moving pieces are here on this disc: Bruch "Kol Nidrei", Haydn "Concerto No.2", Faure "Elegie", Brahms "Concerto No.2". The cello is a difficult instrument to play due to the strength required in both hands. Du Pre's playing touches the heartstrings with both emotion and depth. The tone that she coaxes from her cello is amazing. Jacqueline Du Pre is a legend.

Epitome of Cello.......2006-06-23

As a cellist, I absolutely love du Pré's work. I actually found this CD when I was looking for a modern recording of "A Jacqueline du Pré Recital", a record compiled of pieces done between July 15, 1962 and April 1, 1969. The second CD in this set contains the same songs as that record.

The concertos on the first CD are spectacular, especially her rendition of the Elgar concerto which has defined the piece since she first performed it. The second CD, however, is just as wonderful as a collection of some of the most loved cello pieces. No cello recording complete without Saint Saen's "The Swan" and du Pré's version is the only one I've ever heard that I actually like. "Elégie in C minor" (composed by Gabriel Fauré) is one of my personal favorites especially since her rapport with the pianist is obvious and the two instruments blend in a way that makes the piece even more poignant.

Overall, this CD is a must-have for anyone who loves cello as a perfect sample of Jacqueline du Pré's work.

Ooo! Samples!.......2005-11-29

As far as the romantic period goes, Jacqueline Du Pre is my personal favorite 'cellist. Her sensitivity to put expression of the musical idea always outweighed the desire to appear impressive. There is a difference in being just a virtuoso and being a musician. A virtuoso has the capability to dazzle and amaze, but music is more than just being impressive, and Du Pre succeeds in becoming, in every sense, a musician first and foremost. The only complaint I have of this album is the fact that you only get one movement of each piece! Even so, this a wonderful "sample dish" of Du Pre's extraordinary playing, mainly meant to get you hooked so you can get more.

Average customer rating:

soothing
great gift idea
Everyday Cello
75 minutes of meditative music

Cello for Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005KCH1
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan - Steven Isserlis/Michael Tilson Thomas/Dudley Moore
Canzone, Op.55 - Ofra Harnoy
Sicilienne, Op.78 - Steven Isserlis/Pascal Devoyon
Caprice & Elegy: Caprice - Janos Starker
Die Zelle In Nonnenwerth - Steven Isserlis/Stephen Hough
Chant - Steven Isserlis
Adagio & Allegro, Op.70: Adagio - Steven Isserlis/Christoph Eschenbach
Concerto Militaire in G: Andante - Ofra Harnoy
Ste No.6 in D, BWV 1012: Allemande - Janos Starker
Son in g, Op.65: Largo - Ofra Haynoy/Cyprien Katsaris
Con in g, RV 417: Andante - Ofra Harnoy
Funf Stucke In Volkston, Op.102: Langsam - Steven Isserlis/Christoph Eschenbach
Con in C, H.VIIB:1: Adagio - Steven Isserlis
Morceau De Concours - Steven Isserlis/Thomas Ades
From The Bohemian Forest: Silent Woods, Op.68 No.5 - Ofra Harnoy

Customer Reviews:

soothing.......2007-05-28

It's not a bad CD, although I believe there has got to be a better rendition of The Swan somewhere out there. The problem with this version is that the piano overwhelms the cello playing.

The rest of the CD is pretty nice and relaxing. Worth what I paid for it.

great gift idea.......2007-01-13

My wife is a lover of a good cello, so when I gave her this disc for Christmas, she loved it!

Everyday Cello.......2004-03-23

I bought this CD solely based on the fact that I love the cello. I do not pretend to know classical music - I buy what I like to hear, and this CD exceeded my expectations. It is such a pleasure to listen to this disk; it is soothing and every track is worth it!

75 minutes of meditative music.......2001-12-13

The cello is almost always the instrument I turn to for relaxation. It meditates upon a deeper, slower spectrum of emotion than say, a harp or violin.

I put this CD to the ultimate test and took it to the hospital with me, to see if its music could counteract the threat and ultimate deployment of needles---and it was indeed much less painful to be poked while in a state of relaxation, as induced by these (mainly 19th century) compositions.

My two favorite selections from "Cello for Relaxation" are Camille Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" from "Carnival of the Animals," and John Tavener's "Chant," which is an unaccompanied melody, "without barlines or meter, shaped as a palindrome." Steven Isserles performs as the cello soloist for both of these compositions.

In my continuing search for relaxation music, this CD now rates as number one. Its music was selected with a sensitivity to dynamics, and beautiful, adagio playing. Its musicality is superb and unobtrusively displayed, and allows the listener to meditate, or relax into much-needed sleep.

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