Symphony 5 / Alto Rhapsody

On this CD:

1. Alto Rhapsody, for alto, male chorus & orchestra, Op. 53
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra with Kathleen Ferrier
Conducted by Fritz Busch

2. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 43 No 1, Von ewiger Liebe
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Phyllis Spurr
Conducted by Fritz Busch

3. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 96 No 2, Wir wandelten
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Phyllis Spurr
Conducted by Fritz Busch

4. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate") Op. 67
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

Tracks:

St. Matthew Passion: Erbarme dich
Messiah: He Shall Feed His Flock
Ave Maria
Liebesbotschaft
Wohin?
Death And The Maiden, D. 531
Stille Tranen (2 Gedichte, Op. 35: No. 10)
Der Nussbaum (Myrthen, Op. 25: No.3)
Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53 (After 'Harzreise im Winter')
Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer, Op. 105, No. 2
Morgen, Op. 27, No. 4
In The Silence Of The Secret Night, Op. 4, No. 3
Un Ballo In Maschera: Re dell'abisso affrettati
Go Down, Moses
Crucifixion
My Lord, What A Morning

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Music From an Angelic Voice.......2000-05-07

I can't add much to the superb review by lesismore26 (I give it five Stars! ) but I do have one disagreement. I LIKED the Ulrica aria. Yes, the voice is past its prime, but the artistry is very much there. In fact, the piece makes it clear that while her voice sounds perfect for her repertoire, it could have handled opera quite beautifully too. It's true that the pure, ethereal quality of her tone is DEFINITELY well suited to Baroque and Classical oratorio, and true that there simply aren't that many roles for contraltos. But it is also true that these reasons had NOTHING to do with why this particular contralto was not singing in opera houses. Another voice as dazzling as hers would have had composers creating roles tailored for them.

I wouldn't trade her spirituals and lieder, but I would have liked to hear her sing Erda, or Clytemnestra, maybe even Dalila (if you can imagine this Angelic persona in THAT role!)

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT ARTIST.......1999-12-22

Marian Anderson is remembered in too many instances for the wrong reasons: the first Afro-American artist to be engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in a leading role; the artist who sang the monumental concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after being denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution --- an action that sparked mass indignation and worldwide attention to the fact that the racial prejudice was alive and well in the United States; the artist who became a symbol of grace and dignity during the civil rights movement. While all of these things are true, they eclipse the simple fact that Marian Anderson's singularly individual and distinctive, and true contralto voice was one of the jewels of the musical century, and that her pursuasive powers as an interpreter of the lieder of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and Sibelius were the stuff of which legends are made. What is also overlooked is that the fabled voice was a long way past its prime at the time of that Metropolitan Opera debut in early 1955. The role was that of the witch Ulrica in Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera"--- not a leading role, but a very important and pivotal one nonetheless ---- but by that time the voice had become dry, unsteady, frequently out-of-tune, and very "old" sounding. Anderson was already around 58 years old, and while her "debut" was historic from a social standpoint ----- it opened the doors for such future legends a Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett, Grace Bumbry ------ it was certainly not a great vocal milestone. It was simply too late for any sort of a career at the Metropolitan Opera, and though it was the blatant racial prejudices of the times that prevented Marian Anderson from singing on the opera stage during the years of her vocal prime, it would appear, as evidenced by her work on records (even by those made in her greatest years -- the 1930's and 1940's), that her temperment and vocal demeanor was far more suited to the concert and recital platforms, and it was in this milieu that Marian Anderson lavishly demonstrated her true genius. To begin with, the excerpts on this recording from Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" didn't need to be included for the reasons cited above: they were recorded immediately after the Met debut in 1955 and the voice is in the condition one would have expected. The rest of the contents were recorded during the artist's vocal prime much earlier. Virtually all of the Schubert selectionsare beautifully done, especially the "Ave Maria", which became Anderson's trademark. The "Liebesbotshaft" (from "Schwanengesang) and "Wohin" (from "Die Schone Mullerin") show the voice at its most fluid, as do all of the items by Schumann. The Brahms "Alto Rhapsody", another Anderson speciality, haunting in its desolation and feelings of isolation, helped in no small part by Anderson's deep purple contralto tones. Selections by Richard Strauss (a beautifully realized rendition of "Morgen") and Rachmaninoff round off the lieder portion of the recording. Bach's "Erbarme dich" (with orchestral accompanyment) is one of the most beautiful ever recorded, and Handel's "He Shall Feed His Flock" illustrates vividly just how how much this music needs a true contralto voice. In this age of pushed-up and pulled-down mezzo-sopranos, it is a revelation to hear what this type of voice accomplish in all of this music. If you want to become acquainted with one of the greatest vocal phenomenons of this century, this superb RCA Victor mid-priced recording is an excellent place to start.

Average customer rating:

All the best
Truly essential

Essential Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005Y2JD
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: I. Moderato - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: II. Adagio Sostenuto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: III. Allegro Scherzando - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 - Renee Fleming
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2 - Vladimir Ashknazy
Suite No.1 For Two Pianos, Op.5: IV Paques: Allegro Maestoso - Andre Previn
Symphony No.2 In E Minor, Op.27: III. Adagio - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto In No.4 in G Minor, Op.40: II. Largo - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: I. Non Allegro - Concertgebouw Orchestra

Tracks:

Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43 - Zoltan Kocsis
Piano Concerto In No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: I. Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.44: II. Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Vivace - Concertgebouw Orchestra
Vespers (All-night Vigil), Op.37: Nyne Otpushchayeshi (Kievian Melody): Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart In Peace - St. Petersburg Chamber Choir
Prelude In G Minor, Op.23 No.5 - Rafael Orozco
Romance In F Minor - Julian Lloyd Webber
Liebesfreud - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Symphony No.1 In D Minor, Op.13: IV. Allegro Con Fuoco - Concertgebouw Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

All the best.......2005-01-29

This splendid collection of Rachmaninov is a must-have for fans of classical. Wonderful for quiet evenings at home, the background for romantic dinners, or just to enjoy on the drive to work. It's called "Classical Music" for a good reason.

Truly essential.......2004-02-22

You can see the track listing above, so you can decide for yourself if what you want it on it. I bought it mainly for the second piano concerto so I'll only review that part thoroughly.

I spent a while looking for a good Rachmaninov CD. My main objective was to find a nice version of Piano Concerto No. 2, and I can safely say mission accomplished.

Vladimir Ashkenazy does a good job with the solo piano and it moves at a pace to which I am accustomed. (Is it wrong to not like the composer's intentions? :) ) I actually prefer a performance with the London Philharmonic from the 70s slightly more than this, but all the recordings of that have a prominent hiss.

That brings me to the audio quality. Its Much better than most Rachmaninoff CDs I have found, as it has been digitally remastered. But I was a little dissapointed when playing it on my dad's audio-phile surround sound system. I felt like I was being fed the music in one lump instead of a weave of the different tones and timbres. But that's no reason not to buy it; it still sounds great on my stereo, my car stereo, and my computer speakers (I have good computer speakers) I may have been expecting too much from my dad's audio system.

In conclusion, this two disc set has nearly everything else you would want from Rachmaninoff. (They don't call it essential for nothing) There is no background hiss or hum, and the choice of performances is excellent.

Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied
Average customer rating:

For the Brahms Alone ...

Promises kept and more

Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002VYIWS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Alto Rhapsody Op. 53 For Contralto, Male Chorus And Orchestra
Der Engel
Stehe Still
Im Treibhaus
Schmerzen
Traume
Das Lied Von Der Erde: Der Abschied

Amazon.com

This stunning release by mezzo (or contralto) Stephanie Blythe shows her dark, focused tone, intelligent and musical approach to the texts, and winning involvement. Schoenberg's re-orchestration of the final song from Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde is very different from the original; though sparse (only 13 instruments), it has great color, with wind instruments importantly highlighted and piano used surprisingly and effectively. Blythe and conductor John Nelson present the narrator's resignation strongly; there is agitation before true inevitability is accepted. A re-working by Hans-Werner Henze of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder also emphasizes the wind instruments, and its refined transparency is well-suited to Blythe's mostly very lyrical, but occasionally outgoing and strong reading of the poems. Brahms's Alto Rhapsody gets a correctly intense and morbid reading, and Blythe's full sound is perfect for the occasion. The vocal group A Sei Voci and Ensemble National de Paris contribute handsomely. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

For the Brahms Alone ..........2007-05-23

Stephanie Blythe's voice is exquisite, and if you have never heard her, I can't imagine a better place to start than with Brahms' Alto Rhapsody. Gorgeous tone, such sensitivity ... if this were the only piece on the CD, it would worth the price and more. But we also have an intelligent rendering of the Wesendonck Lieder and enough of Das Lied von der Erde to have us baying for a recording of the whole. What a stunning recording -- may there be may many, many more from this wonderful person!

Promises kept and more.......2004-10-26

Stephanie Blythe further secures her position as the most exciting contralto singing today. In her previous recital album she proved that the hurdles of Bach and Handel were mere stepping-stones. Here she blossoms with extravagantly rich tone and intelligent musicianship in the Romantic repertoire of Brahms ('Alto Rhapsody'), Wagner ('Wesendonck Lieder') and Mahler (the final song 'Der Abscheid' from 'Das Lied von der Erde'). And not only does she prove that these deeply involving works lie perfectly in her control and range, she also imbues them with a rich warmth of timbre that is as fine as any recorded.

Collaborating with her again is John Nelson and Ensemble Orchestre de Paris (and the Ensemble A Sei Voci in the Brahms) and whether or not it was a joint decision between these two capable artists to use the Hans Werner Henze setting of the Wagner lieder and the Schoenberg orchestral reduction for the Mahler, the result is a freshness to the sonic approach that adds yet another dimension to this treasure of a CD. The transparency of orchestral colors coupled with the depth of Blythe's voice and interpretation are impeccable. This is a recording of tremendous importance - and beauty.

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninoff Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008RV2I
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Variation No.18 - Tamas Vasary
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2 - Lazar Berman
Prelude No.5 In G Minor, Op.23 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Allegro Scherzando - Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Adagio - Valery Gergiev
Tarantella - Andre Previn
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 - Lorin Maazel
In The Silence Of The Night, Op.4 No.3 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Allegro Scherzando - Heinrich Schiff
Spring Waters, Op.14 No.11 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart In Peace - St. Petersburg Chamber Choir
Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Tom Krause
Non Allegro - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Average customer rating:

A great conductor, but not always shown off at his best
Exceptional conductor
Exceptional issue !
Exceptional finesse
Brilliant "Artiste" Rescued From The Vaults

Igor Markevitch

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00009LW31
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

A great conductor, but not always shown off at his best.......2006-03-14

I am as great an admirer of Igor Markevitch as the reviewers below who rhapsodize over this bargain 9-CD set from DG. But in truth there are few truly great performances contained here, the best of Markevitch's large output being readily available on DG, Philips, EMI, and Testament. He had the misfortune to suffer hearing loss at the end of his career and also to be associated too often with inferoir ensembles like the Lamouruex orchestra of Paris, caught here in rather awful, wiry sonics that DG has not remastered. So despite the general elation, I think it's worth examining these 9 CDs one by one. (I am adding short comments to the list prepared by a reviewer below.)

CD 1: Mozart 34th and 38th Symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic (BP) from 1954, and Mozart's 35th Symphony (1957) and Gluck's Sinfonia in G Major (1958) with the Orchestre Lamoureux, Paris (OLP). MONO except for the Gluck
This is one of the best discs in the colleciton, featuring Markevitch's alert, lean, often rapid Mozart, played with great refinement by the Berliners. The sound is very good for the time, despite the expected edginess in the violins.

CD 2: Haydn Sinfonia Concertante (OLP, 1957), Cimarosa's Concerto for Two Flutes with flutists Aurele Nicolet and Fritz Demmler (BP, 1954) and Schubert's 3rd Symphony (BP, 1954). MONO
Unless you are a fan of spiky French instrumentalists, the elegant Haydn performance sounds cramped and sharp-edged. The much more minor Cimarosa is far better played. The Schubert Third gets the best sound by far. I'm not taken with Markevitch's clipped phrasing and lack of affection throughout, but it's a vigorous, committed performance.

CD 3 and 4: All Beethoven, with the exception of an insightful 15-minute, 1957 interview with Markveitch. Here we get Leonore III Overture (OLP, 1958), Symphony #3 'Eroica' (Symphony of the Air, 1956-57), Symphony #6 'Pastorale' (OLP, 1957), and the Coriolan, Fidelio, Name Day and Consecration of the House Overtures (all OLP, 1958). STEREO except for Sym. #3
All the overtures from the Lamoureux forces are thin and spiky, far from the usual Beethoven style. Fans may appreciate Markevitch's Russian-Gallic temperament here; I'm not so sure. The Eroica from Berlin is much better sounding, although the mono recording is boxy and somewhat muffled--in all his Beethoven Markevitch prefers fast tempi and sharp angles. Surprisingly, the Pastrole is in a different vein--warm and relaxed, with tempos often as slow as Klemperer's. But the Lamoureux orchestra's technical abilities are quite underwhelming, and I can't find a compelling reason to listen to the performance except in patches.

CD 5: Brahms Symphony #1 with the Symphony of the Air (1956), Alto Rhapsody (with Irina Arkhipova and the Russian State Academy Choir), Tragic Overture with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra (both 1963). STEREO
For the first time since CD 1 we get a compelling sense of Markevitch's stature. The Brahms First with Toscanini's (remaned) orchestra is fully the equal of anyone's--huge, heroic, and wonderfully played. The Russian performance of the Alto Rhapsody features the great Arkhipova, and for once the Soviet sonics are good. The Tragic Overture, dating from after Markevitch's decline in hearing (1963), seems a bit undernourished and is in dim, distant sound, but it casts a spell nonetheless.

CD 6: Brahms 4th Symphony (OLP, 1958), Kodaly Psalmus Hungaricus with tenor Robert Ilosfalvy (RSA Choir & USSR SSO, 1963). STEREO
The Brahms Fourth is a very good performance in the lean, propulsive Toscanini style. I don't fancy the scrappy playing of the Lamoureux orchestra, especially the coarse brass blatting away in the finale--other conductors like Szell have done better in this vein--but in its punchy, rough-and-ready way Markevitch's Brahms Fourth commands attention. We are in a differetn world with the Kodaly, however, which gets a stunning performance, and the brutish playing by the Russian orchestra really works.

CD 7: Orchestral music of Wagner--Preludes to Acts I and III of Lohengrin, Tannhauser Overture (all OLP, 1958), and Venusberg Music from Tannhauser, Siegfired Idyll and Ride of the Valkyries (all BP, 1954). MONO
The Berlin Phil. doesn't sound like the world-class orchestra it would become once again under Karajan, but these excerpts are well played and recorded for their time. Markevitch was a modernist in Wagner, favoring fast tempos and eschewing expressive profundities. The music can take it, but one is always aware that something deeper is necessary. An odd-man-out disc but enjoyable.

CD 8: French fare with Gounod's 2nd Symphony and Bizet's Jeux d'enfants (both OLP, 1957), and Debussy's La Mer and Deux Danses (both OLP, 1959). MONO except for the Debussy
These Lamoureux readings are Gallic to the core, of course, and thoroughly delightful. Everything that sounds wrong in Beethoven works perfectly here. The mono sound, however, is edgy and shrill at loud volume. Things improve for the Debussy--La Mer, a Markevitch showpiece, gets an alert, quicksilver performance with many individual otuches in phrasing. It comes closest to being great of anything in the whole ocllection.

CD 9: Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony (BP, 1953) and Francesca da Rimini (OLP, 1959). MONO and STEREO respectively.
The colleciton ends on a high note, since Markevitch was arguably the greatest Tchaikovsky conductor after Mravinsky. The mono sound for the Berliners is good for its era. This is a neurotic, anguished Pathetique of the kind we rarely hear today. Likewise the Francsca da Rimini, where the Lamoureux's shrill, thin woodwinds seem to add to the effect.

In sum, the half-dozen superior performances stand out fairly obviously, and all are worthwhile for any listener. Frankly, the rest belongs in the realm of specialty collecting, although naturally others may strongly disagree, especially anyone who likes the Lamoureux orchestra much better than I do.

Exceptional conductor.......2005-06-08

Markevitch was, once, part of Diaghilev's "Ballets Russe"'s ensemble, and understood Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and other Russian composers (and their intents) very-well, and very-dynamically. His Philips' recordings (1970) of Tchaikovsky symphonies (plus other works) are still, some of the best, integral cycles-of-interpretations to be had, and his expertise was not bounded-by Russian works - his (Berlioz) Damnation of Faust, among other interpretations - are some of the best that discipline can devise. A MARVELOUS conductor, as was the (also) Russian-born, Jascha Horenstein. ... Horenstein, Markevitch, & Sixten Ehrling were some of the BEST of the post-War (including some pre-War recordings) era, and very-much of ANY recordings of them are much worth-having ... including the present, DG set.

Exceptional issue !.......2004-09-09

Since I heard once on vynil the incredible apssionate and to me the greatest veriosn ever made of the First Symphony of Johannes Brahms ever made .
And believe me , I love this symphony and I have heard at least one hundred versions : with Furtwangler , Toscanini superb performance of the forties , Istvan Kertsez , Kubelik Chicago , Munch , and a long etc .
But the inner mood and the clear but cleverly established sequence of the right tone and the use of the concise tempo in every phrase make of that version unique and unrepeteable .
I know about the Mozart Symphonies with the Berlin Philarmonic that still in those ages sounded with the furtwanglerain mood . They are sublime .
But consider once more that only with this Brahms Symphony, all the rest of the set you may consider a special buy , a worthable and fundamental bonus. Igor Markevitch was a conductor unfairly neglected .
Watch this CD because it will let you astonished and will prove by itself all the virtues of that master conductor .

Exceptional finesse.......2003-11-14

Of all the nine, really adorable, boxed sets by DG it was this one that I hastened to grab since Markevitch's interpretations had always been to my liking.
To be more honest, it was his Lamoureux recordings that I was after. In these recordings, it is the wind sound that dominates, and especially the brass section. For this reason, his Damnation and his Mozart Coronation had always been my favourites.
The present box contains a splendid Brahms 4th with a Chaconne, at the end that really moved me with its intensity (Markevitch slows quite a lot in the middle section to allow his woodwinds express themselves and this pronounces much more the forceful brass-dominated outer sections).
By the way, this set gives quite an idea of Markevitch's popularity at the time (recordings in the US with Toscanini's NBC Orchestra - renamed Symphony of the Air, recordings in Moscow with Brahms and Kodaly plus the 2 great European orchestras: the Lamoureux and the Berliners - some years before Karajan's arrival).

Brilliant "Artiste" Rescued From The Vaults.......2003-08-13

Now that Deutsche Grammophon is part of Universal, we have seen some interesting things happen, and not all of them bad. What I'm referring to in this case is the new "Original Masters" Limited Edition Box Set series. Finally, the classical music world has taken a page out of the jazz reissue handbook -- put out a quality product featuring rare recordings but make its availability limited, and people will snatch it up.

Now in its second round of the "Original Masters" box sets, DG has chosen to follow-up on the success of the "Great Conductors of the Century" series. They have just released two glorious 9-disc collections of the performances of conductors Igor Markevitch and Ferenc Fricsay, the vast majority of which have been previously unavailable on CD.

This particular set, "Un Veritable Artiste," showcases some of the numerous recordings made by the great conductor Igor Markevitch for Deutsche Grammophon and Philips, many of which have been rare (and expensive) collector's items for years. As the track information is non-existent above, I will try to be of assistance.

The first disc contains Mozart's 34th and 38th Symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic (BP) from 1954, and Mozart's 35th Symphony (1957) and Gluck's Sinfonia in G Major (1958) with the Orchestre Lamoureux, Paris (OLP).

Disc two features Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante (OLP, 1957), Cimarosa's Concerto for Two Flutes with flutists Aurele Nicolet and Fritz Demmler (BP, 1954) and Schubert's 3rd Symphony (BP, 1954).

Discs three and four are all Beethoven, with the exception of an insightful 15-minute, 1957 interview with Markveitch. Here we get Leonore III Overture (OLP, 1958), 3rd Symphony (Symphony of the Air, 1956-57), 6th Symphony (OLP, 1957), and the Coriolan, Fidelio, Name Day and Consecration of the House Overtures (all OLP, 1958).

Disc five is all Brahms -- the 1st Symphony with Symphony of the Air (1956), and the Alto Rhapsody (with the Russian State Academy Choir) and Tragic Overture with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra (both 1963).

Disc six continues with Brahms, his 4th Symphony (OLP, 1958), and ends with Kodaly's Psalmus Hungaricus with tenor Robert Ilosfalvy (RSA Choir & USSR SSO, 1963).

Disc seven focuses on orchestral music from the operas of Wagner. Here we have the Preludes to Acts I and III of Lohengrin and the Tannhauser Overture (all OLP, 1958), and Venusberg Music from Tannhauser, Siegfired-Idyll and The Ride of the Valkyries (all BP, 1954).

Disc eight features all French fare with Gounod's 2nd Symphony and Bizet's Jeux d'enfants (both OLP, 1957), and Debussy's La Mer and Deux Danses (both OLP, 1959).

The final disc, number nine, wraps things up with Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (BP, 1953) and Francesca da Rimini (OLP, 1959).

Despite the fact that many of these recordings are in mono (mostly the pre-1957 ones), the first rate performances more than compensate for any audio shortcomings. The stereo performances are the warm, glowing and brilliant accounts that vintage collectors have appreciated for years.

Well, I guess the consolidation of the music industry isn't so bad after all, as long as I can look forward to more reissues like Igor Markevitch: Un Veritable Artiste.

Average customer rating:

What worked was great

The Very Best of Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B000B6N65E
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Allegro Mon Tanto
Bless The Lord, O My Soul
Allegro
Vocalise
Elege
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24
Non Allegro
Allegro Moderato
Andante

Tracks:

Adagio Sostenuto
Humoresque In G Major
Maestoso
Francesca's Aria
Andante Cantabile
Prelude In C Sharp Minor
Troparion For The Virgin Mary
Alla Marcia
Daisies
The Young Gypsy's Romance
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.36
Moderato
Adagio

Customer Reviews:

What worked was great.......2007-05-29

I'm not really reviewing Rachmaninov... I think the titles of the music listed speak for themselves if you know any Rachmaninov. If you don't know any Rachmaninov, I'd suggest you do so pretty quick.

Anyway, I got my CD in the mail promptly, but it was buggy. It comes in two CDs... first problem came when trying to copy the music to my computer; the names and data of each song are not loaded onto my CD properly... all the song names on the second disk were the the same as the first, so my computer just overwrote them if that makes any sense, so I had a jumble of pieces and had to end up recopying, etc., yada yada.

Second problem is that on some tracks the piece would stop in the middle, unfinished, and go on to the next track. For example, it would be listed as being 4:45 minutes long, but would stop at say, 2:24 in mid-piece and go onto the next track. Bummer.

But I don't really know much about CDs, it could just be my copy, who knows. Other than that, what I did get is gorgeous.

Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962

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Was the young Maazel also the best one?
A Young Lorin Maazel

Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Philips Recordings 1954-1958, Vol. 2
Clifford Curzon: Decca Recordings, 1937-1971, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00067GKG0
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Was the young Maazel also the best one?.......2006-11-22

I started listening to this box set of recordings from 1957-62, the years when Maazel skyrockted in Europe as an American wunderkind, with low expectations. For me, Maazel joins Mehta and Ozawa as great young promises that were never fulfilled. Thoroughly disliked by orchestral musicians (a condition that seems to have changed now with the NY Phil.), eccentric in his phrasing, often too brash but alternating with dull slackness, he has noticeably declined over the decades. Hardly a single NY Phil. concert earns high praise from the city's major critics.

With all this in mind, I was amazed at the beauty of certain recordings here. First of all, DG's transfers of the old LPs are crystal clear, and secondly, the Berlin Phil. was coming into its own under Karajan at this time and plays with great impact and excitement. But there's good news in the conducting as well. Listen to this lively Beethoven Pastorale, full of good humor and sparkling detail, then compare it to Maazel's half-dead Beethoven Ninth on BMG. Or this ebulient Tchaikovsky Fourth, which is dynamic, balanced, and, once again, full of life. These two performances rank among the best I've heard in the modern era.

Mr. Richman covers the whole box in some detail below, and I generally agree that Maazel's flaw is rushing the music and sounding too brusque. His Beethoven Fifth suffers from those faults in the first and last movements. The Brahms Third, after a terrific start and two good inner movements, turns rushed and business-like in the finale. The accompanying Tragic Over. is back in form, however. And so is the highly individual Beethoven Consecration of the House Over., which emerges as a newly dramatic piece in Maazel's hands.

We move on to almost a complete Schubert symphony cycle (minus the First and Ninth), rare repertoire from a major conductor in the late Fifties and early Sixties. Treading into prime Beecham territory, Maazel turns out to be terrific, full of energy and force but also delicate when called for, only lacking Beecham's unique affability in this music. The Berliners play much better than Beecham's post-war Royal Phil., however, Where Mr. Richman hears rushing, I hear spontaneity and verve (admittedly, some movements, like the finale of the Fourth Sym., go at a breathless Presto). If Maazel had kept evolving, he would have replaced Guido Canteli, whose propulsive neo-Tosanini style was close to this.

Next we get three Mozart symphonies, the Jupiter plus two miniatures, Sym. 1 and 28. Maazel's Mozart is considerably more forceful than his Schubert, and for me it crosses the line (as Toscanini did) into being charmless and sharply attacked. There's no doubting the skill and ensemble of the orhcestra, however, which is crisp and starched, but not to the degree that Szell, for example, demanded.

The Mendelssohn Italian Sym. is miked very closely, with lots of attention to the woodwinds. It sounds a treat, as British critics say, and Maazel isn't driven. There are dozens of excellent readings of this symphony, and his ranks among them. I am of two minds about the Reformation, however, which has been available paired with the Franck D minor on a DG Originals disc. In the past I've found its briskness and lack of religiosity refreshing, but I can see why others find it emotionally pinched. As alternatives, Munch is more buoyant on RCA, and Karajan offers more grandeur on DG.

We get three versions of Romeo and Juliet, from Berlioz (43 min. of orchestral excerpts), Prokofiev (Suite #2 and one number from Suite #1), and Tchaikovsky. The Berlioz is supply phrased and played with intensity--it's worthy to stand beside Giulini on EMI and Bernstein on Sony, but of course one wants the whole work. Maazel wnet on to record the whole Prokofiev ballet with the Cleveland Orch. on Decca, but these few excerpts sound fresher to me, less studied. I've already enthused over the Tchaikovsky Fourth, and Romeo and Juliet is similarly tangy and alert, no dawdling or swooning. However, the world has many fine recordings of R & J compared to Tchaikovsky Fourths.

The remainder of the set consists of light classics: a vigorous, detailed Rimsky Capriccio Espagnole that works well enough, a Pines of Rome that does the same (this piece, however, requires blockbuster sonics to even remotely catch my attention), a Mussorgksy Night on Bald Mountain that's zippy and lacking in atmosphere. Finally we leave Berlin for Paris and Britten's Young Person's Guide, which seems thrown in for no particular reason except to acquaint us with Maazel's speaking voice as narrator. He's as clipped and efficient as his conducting style--and just as cool--lacking anything close to Bernstein's cozy warmth.

All told, you would have no doubt that a major conductor is at work here. Would that we could say the same for the older Maazel. I'd recommend this box set to anyone who wants to hear him at his best. It contains more good recordings than celebrated Original Masters sets devoted to Fricsay and Markevitch.

A Young Lorin Maazel.......2005-06-09

The most recent batch of DG's "Original Masters" box sets boasts several titles that will leave classical collectors rejoicing. While "Lorin Maazel: Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings 1957-1962" is not as essential as the Askenase or Schneiderhan releases (see my review of the latter), it is a welcome edition nonetheless. Maazel was only in his late 20s when he made these recordings, which include performances of Mozart (Syms 1, 28 & 41), Beethoven (Syms 5 & 6, etc), Schubert (Syms 2-8), Brahms (Sym 3 & the Tragic Overture), Mendelssohn (Syms 4 & 5), and more. Overall Maazel's readings are fiery and quickly paced, causing many critics to dismiss these recordings at the time of their initial releases as the brash, overly enthusiastic statements of a boy conductor. This is just criticism for much of the Schubert, the Beethoven 5th, Tchaikovsky 4th, and Night on Bald Mountain. However, I personally enjoy the majority of these performances. Additionally, the excerpts from Berlioz's Romeo & Juliet are quite lovely (and better than the other R&J's contained here -- Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev), the Pastoral is refreshingly brisk, and the Capriccio Espagnol is a personal favorite (I previously had it via DG's "Eternal Russia" collection). Also this earlier account of Respighi's Pines of Rome is quite good (though his later Decca Legends version outshines it) but I could do without the very pronounced bird calls towards the end of the Janiculum section. Something else this set could live without is the Britten Young Person's Guide, which Maazel narrates and performs with the ONRTF Paris (hello, not Berlin). A better title to include would have been his account of Harold in Italy, recently included on the DG box set "The Berlioz Experience" (I believe it fits the "Early Berlin" criteria better than the said Brittten does). As is, this is a delightful collection, showcasing the blossoming talents of a conductor who continues to dazzle audiences from the podium nearly fifty years later.

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Ovation 1
Lawrence Cherney , and James Campbell
Manufacturer: Cbc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000667RY
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Average customer rating:

Best of Rachmaninoff

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000C8AS1
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Agagio - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Raduisya (Rejoice, O Virgin) - Bogoroditsye Devo
Prelude in C Sharp Minor, Op.3, No.2 - Wayne Stahnke
Prelude in G Minor, Op.23, No.5 - Wayne Stahnke
Allegro - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra And Chours
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 From Fourteen Songs - Sylvia McNair
Prelude in C-Sharp Minor - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Andante Con Moto - Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Andante Con Moto (Tempo Di Valse) - William Tritt
Excerpts From Piano Concerto No.2 - William Tritt
Khvalite Imya Gospodne (Praise The Name Of The Lord) - Robert Shaw Festival Singers
Finale: Alla Berve - Lang Lang

Silver Screen Classics: Great Classical Music from Great Movies

Average customer rating:

An excellent sampler to get into classical music
Ten cd's for one incredible price.

Silver Screen Classics: Great Classical Music from Great Movies
Richard Strauss , Samuel Barber , Alfredo Catalani , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Gustav Mahler , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gaetano Donizetti , Franz Liszt , Antonio Vivaldi , Johann Pachelbel , Georges Bizet , Gioachino Rossini , Johann Sebastian Bach , Richard Wagner , Franz Schubert , Maurice Ravel , Aram Il'yich Khachaturian , Pietro Mascagni , Felix Mendelssohn , Giacomo Puccini , Edward Elgar , Matthieu-Frederic Blasius , Ludwig van Beethoven , Camille Saint-Saëns , Johann Strauss II , Giuseppe Verdi , and Claude Debussy
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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Celtic Woman

ASIN: B000001VV0
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Also sprach Zarathustra: Opening Fanfare (2001 - A Space Odyssey) - Silver Screen Classics
Adagio For Strings Op.11: Adagio For Strings, Op. 11 (Platoon) - Silver Screen Classics
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz (Rollerball) - Silver Screen Classics
Wally's Aria, Act I.: La Wally (Diva) - Silver Screen Classics
Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March (Midsummer Night's Dream) - Silver Screen Classics
Symphony No. 5: Adagietto (Death In Venice) - Silver Screen Classics
Piano Concerto K.365: III. Rondo Allergo (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics
L'Elisir d'Amore: Aria 'Una Furtiva Lagrima' (Lorenzos Oil) - Silver Screen Classics
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) - Silver Screen Classics
Symphony No. 6 'Pathetique': Adagio Lamentoso (The Music Lovers) - Silver Screen Classics

Tracks:

The Four Seasons: I. Spring (allegro) (The Four Seasons) - Silver Screen Classics
Canon In D: Canon In D (Ordinary People) - Silver Screen Classics
Carmen: Habanera (Carmen Jones) - Silver Screen Classics
William Tell: Soldier's Dance (E La Nave Va) - Silver Screen Classics
Clarinet Concerto: Adagio (Out of Africa) - Silver Screen Classics
Violin Concerto No.2: III. Allegro assai (Love Story) - Silver Screen Classics
Lohengrin: Prelude Act 1 (Ludwig) - Silver Screen Classics
The Pearl Fishers: Duet ' Au Fond du Temps Saint' (The Pearl Fishers) - Silver Screen Classics
Slymphony No.8 (Unfinished): II. Andante con moto (Notturno) - Silver Screen Classics
Bolero: Bolero (10) - Silver Screen Classics

Tracks:

Gayaneh: Sabre Dance (Punchline) - Various Artists
Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo sinfonico: Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo Sinfonico (Raging Bull) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 4 'Italian': IV. Saltarello - Presto (Breaking Away) - Various Artists
Madama Butterfly: Love Duet ' Viene La Sera' (Mona Lisa) - Various Artists
Pomp & Circumstance: March No. 1 (A Clockwork Orange) - Various Artists
Gianni Schicci: Aria 'O Mio Babbino Caro' (A Room With A View) - Various Artists
Twilight Of The Gods: Funeral March (Excalibur) - Various Artists
Sinfonia concertante K. 364: I. Allegro maestoso (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Moment Musical D.780 No. 3: Moment Musical D.780 No. 3 (E La Nave Va) - Various Artists
Flute Sonata In F Major K.13: I. Allegro (Love Story) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 7 In A Major: II. Allegretto (Immortal Beloved) - Various Artists

Tracks:

Ride of the Valkyries: Ride Of The Valkyries (Apocalypse Now) - Various Artists
Piano Concerto No. 21: II. Andante (Elvira Madigan) - Various Artists
Dance Of The Toy Flutes: Dance Of The Toy Flutes (E La Nave Va) - Various Artists
William Tell: Overture (A Clockwork Orange) - Various Artists
Madama Butterfly: Finale 'Con Onor Muore' (Fatal Attraction) - Various Artists
String Quartet In C D.956: II. Adagio (Notturno) - Various Artists
Aufschwung: Aufschwung (Heat and Dust) - Various Artists
Idomeneo: March (Barry Lyndon) - Various Artists
Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan (E La Nave Va) - Various Artists
Emperor Waltz: Emperor Waltz (The Last Emperor) - Various Artists

Tracks:

Tocatta In D Minor: Tocatta In D Minor (Rollerball) - Various Artists
Mandoline Concerto: Mandoline Concerto (Kramer Vs. Kramer) - Various Artists
Symphony No 29 In A Major K.201: I. Allegro moderato (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Symphony No 9 In C Major: II. Andante con Moto (Notturno) - Various Artists
The Force Of Destiny: Overture (E La Nave Va) - Various Artists
Manon Lescaut: Aria: 'Sola, perduta, abbadonata' (Hannah And Her Sisters) - Various Artists
Clair de Lune: Clair de Lune (E La Nave Va) - Various Artists
Carmen: Seguedille of Carmen 'Pres de remparts' (Carmen) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 9 'Choral': 4th Movement (Excerpts) (Dead Poets Society) - Various Artists
Fur Elise: Fur Elise (Immortal Beloved) - Various Artists

Tracks:

The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture (Trading Places) - Various Artists
Concerto for 2 violins: II. Largo ma non tanto (Children Of A Lesser God) - Various Artists
Quintet In F Major 'Trout Quintet': I. Allegro vivace (Notturno) - Various Artists
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: II. Adagio (Lorenzos Oil) - Various Artists
Tales From The Vienna Woods: Tales From The Vienna Woods (Heat And Dust) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 9 'Choral': 2nd Movement (A Clockwork Orange) - Various Artists
l'apres midi d'un faune: Prelude (Nijinsky) - Various Artists
The Thieving Magpie: Overture (A Clockwork Orange) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 6 In F Major 'Pastorale': IV. Allegro - The Storm (Immortal Beloved) - Various Artists

Tracks:

Rhapsody In Blue: Rhapsody In Blue (Manhattan) - Various Artists
Madama Butterfly: Aria: 'Un bel di vedremo' (Fatal Attraction) - Various Artists
Adagio: Adagio (Gallipoli) - Various Artists
Turandot: Aria: 'Nessun dorma' (The Witches Of Eastwick) - Various Artists
The Marriage Of Figaro: March (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Piano Trio No. 2 In E Flat Major: II. Andante con moto (Notturno) - Various Artists
Requiem: Introitus (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Requiem: Dies Irae (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Requiem: Rex Tremendae (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Requiem: Confutatis (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Requiem: Lacrymosa (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: I. Allegro conbrio (Immortal Beloved) - Various Artists

Tracks:

Strike Up The Band: Strike Up The Band (Manhattan) - Silver Screen Classics
La Boheme: Aria: 'Che Gelida Manina' (Moonstruck) - Silver Screen Classics
'1812': Overture (The Music Lovers) - Silver Screen Classics
Ave verum corpus: Ave Verum Corpus (Lorenzos Oil) - Silver Screen Classics
Carmen: Escamillio's Song 'Votre Toast' (Carmen) - Silver Screen Classics
La Boheme: Aria: 'Addio...D'onde lieta usci' (Moonstruck) - Silver Screen Classics
The Abduction From The Seraglio: Finale (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: II. Romanze (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics
Symphony No. 25: Allegro con brio (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics
The Marriage Of Figaro: Finale 'Pace, pace' (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics

Tracks:

Peer Gynt: Morning (Song Of Norway) - Silver Screen Classics
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Menuetto Allegretto - Rondo Allegro (Ace Venture - Pet Detective) - Silver Screen Classics
Xerxes: Largo (Les Liaisons Dangereuse) - Silver Screen Classics
The Magic Flute: Aria: 'Der Holle Rache'; Aria Queen Of The Night (Amadeus) - Silver Screen Classics
Symphony No. 6 'Pastorale': II. Andante molto mosso (Fantasia) - Silver Screen Classics
La Gioconda: Dance Of The Hours (Fantasia) - Silver Screen Classics
Ave Maria: Ave Maria (Fantasia) - Silver Screen Classics
Andrea Chenier: Aria: 'Come se amare' - 'La mamma morta'; Aria Of Maddalena, 3.Akt (Philadelphia) - Silver Screen Classics
Semiramide: Overture (Unfaithfully Yours) - Silver Screen Classics
Piano Concerto No.5 'Emperor': II. Adagio un poco mosso (Immortal Beloved) - Silver Screen Classics

Tracks:

Messiah: Hallelujah (Look Who's Talking Too) - Various Artists
Serenade 'Gran Partita': III. Adagio (Amadeus) - Various Artists
Stabat Mater: 'Quando corpus morietur' (Amadeus) - Various Artists
The Magic Flute: Aria: 'Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen' (Amadeus) - Various Artists
A Night On The Bare Mountain (Fantasia) - Various Artists
Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus (Unfaithfully Yours) - Various Artists
Francesca da Rimini: Francesca Da Rimini (Unfaithfully Yours) - Various Artists
Blue Danube Waltz (Champagne Waltz) - Various Artists

Customer Reviews:

An excellent sampler to get into classical music.......2002-07-02

So often we hear classical music in the movies and wonder "What is that called?" Well now it's here - a chance to find it and listen again to something that caught your ear and your heart. While normally I'm not a big fan of sampler complication albums, I love this set because of the breadth of works represented here. While not explicitly instructional (the liner notes are non-existent, and there is no real explanation of the works beyond their appearance in a specific movie), it lets you experience many famous, and lesser known pieces of classical music. Besides just giving you a nice album to put on and relax to, it also lets you find someone that you may not have heard before, listen to a piece and maybe go off in search of more by the same composer.

The bottom line is that for this price, you have a bargain of CD's of fine quality, and extraordinary breadth, with an anchor to the movies to help put them in a place. Besides, where else can you look for a specific film to try and find out what was that piece that is stuck in your head?

Ten cd's for one incredible price........2001-08-26

Not only do you receive an entire collection of ten cds for a phenomenal value, but you get the best classical music ever composed. These are songs that have been featured in widely popular films, including Apocalypse Now, which brought fame to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. This will make a priceless gift for any lover of the cinema or of classical music. All of the songs that are included range from a variety of eras. In addition, famous composers from Mozart to Strauss make an appearance in this musical collection. These songs will remind you of the great movies that you've seen.

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