Dvorák, Tchaikovsky, Borodin: Quartets
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Audio CD (17 October, 1995)
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Editorial Review

The Emersons offer one of the very best accounts of the popular American Quartet on disc. It is dramatic, exuberant, persuasive, and right to the point--a well-paced reading full of ravishing details (like the dueting of the violins in the slow movement) that has been beautifully recorded. Originally made for Book-of-the-Month Club in 1984, the recording was later picked up by DG and first released in the U.S. in 1990. For this reissue, it has been coupled with equally well-played accounts of quartets by Borodin and Tchaikovsky, which makes for an especially well-filled CD. --Ted Libbey ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Outstanding performances of popular quartets.
These three quartets are probably the most popular, and most appealing, quartets written by non-Germanic composers. The slow movements of the Tchaikovsky and Borodin quartets are exceptionally beautiful and so popular that they are often played as separate pieces in a variety of arrangements. The Emerson Quartet does full justice to them in their original settings. They also give a fine performance of Dvorak's "American" Quartet which is his most popular piece of chamber music. To have outstanding performances of all three of these justly-popular quartets available on one mid-priced CD makes this a rare treat, and a bargain as well.

exquisite
The Dvorak "American" is rendered exquisitely.The Emerson String Quartet makes love to the piece. There is no other way to describe the mix of tenderness and passion with which it is delivered. The Tchaikovsky and the Borodin are also rendered beautifully, but the Dvorak is splendid. The Emerson really knows how to "do" Slavic romanticism. This is one of the best music purchases I've made.

Emerson Quartet Worth Hearing
It should be no surprise that one of the worlds greatest quartets couldcome up with a recording this great.The Dvorak is very well done, withthe tempi and phrasing executed with clarity.The fourth mvt. isespesically impressive and holds your attention all the way to thebreath-taking finale.The Tchaikovsky and Borodin are also very well done,the first mvt. of the Tchaikovsky being the absolute best I've heardanywhere.This recording represents some of the very best in chamber musiccompositions (too bad it did not include a nice Beethoven Quartet also) andis definately worth listening to. ... Read more

Asin: B000001GO3
Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical   

Debussy, Ravel: Streichquartette
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Audio CD (19 September, 1995)
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Reviews (6)

this is THE one!
These two glorious works of French chamber music, both from early on in their composer's careers are made to go together. The sometimes gruff and gnarly Debussy Quartet is a perfect foil to the serenity and Gallic elegance of the Ravel.

I never thought I would hear a recording that would replace the Philips performance of the Quartetto Italiano in my affections, but this one by the Emerson Quartet is it. Splendidly played, beautifully recorded, it is just about beyond reproach. Definitely recommended for anyone who loves great quartet playing, French music, or just music of beauty and substance.

The Cream of a Very Good Crop !
For me, these readings by the Emerson Quartet constitute the finest available coupling of these two staples of the string quartet repertoire. Comparing them with other highly touted versions by the Julliard, Guarneri, Tokyo, Cleveland and Kodaly Quartets, the Guarneri (Surroundedby Entertainment 1004---yes, that's the label) seems to enjoy the richest and best recorded sound, and I would place their characterful interpretation in the second spot among these other ensembles. The Cleveland is not among the best recorded. Sometimes the strings sound relatively thin; moreover, I consider their view of these two very personal works to be a little superficial relative to the others. The Kodaly on Naxos gives a good interpretation but is somewhat outclassed by the others. They are given good sound. Both the Julliard and Tokyo Quartets provide finely crafted versions, however I'm not particularly enamored with the manner in which they render certain phrases. Obviously, since we're dealing strongly with matters of taste, others might respond differently. In closing, the Emerson Quartet's performances not only display a superb level of technical execution but also paint a marvelous canvas of vivid tonal colors, poignant inflections and stylistic dynamics. There's also a sense of freedom and spontaneity here the other groups don't match. The overall effect is cathartic.

Monuments of French Chamber Music
The string quartet is a wonderful medium; the tone is warm, vibrant, and capable of rich variety.

The history of music owes Beethoven, Bartók and Shostakovich a lasting debt, for the dramatic heights to which they took the string quartet. But I like the Mozart quartets, too, and these are often light, easy. I think there is room for light and easy on the heights, too.

Enter Debussy and Ravel. Their respective quartets are not so intense and "purposeful" as those of Bartók and Shostakovich; yet the sound of the pieces is no less rich. So, not quite so light-hearted as the early Mozart quartets, either; yet, they often dance in a welcome playfulness, which recalls that quality, which has sometimes been lost in the centuries since Mozart.

This is an inexpensive disc, of a fine ensemble, playing lovely, turn-of-the-last-century, French chamber music.

What are you waiting for? ... Read more

Asin: B000001GNA
Sales Rank: 16849
Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical   

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2
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Audio CD (12 January, 1993)
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Editorial Review

What a story there is behind this recording! When Van Cliburn won the InternationalTchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War with his playing of this concerto, itcreated an international sensation. The recording followed immediately thereafter, and Cliburn waslaunched on an international career of unprecedented celebrity for a classical musician. Perhaps theattention was too much, too soon, given his subsequent burn-out and retirement from public life.Fortunately, we have these unique recordings to document what was, by all accounts, a genuinephenomenon. This is the disc "heard 'round the world." --David Hurwitz ... Read more

Reviews (33)

The Best
This is the ultimate version of both the tchaikovsky and rachmaninoff concertos. You can clearly hear every note- even in the long runs in rachmaninoff. Cliburn plays with grace and style. A must have

Class Act
Here in one convenient package are the T1 and Rach2. If those sound to you more like sci-fi creatures in a James Cameron epic rather than the nicknames of two of the quintessential Russian works in musical literature - well, what the heck are you doing browsing in the classical aisle?Nicknames, after all, often come out of such great affection and familiarity with someone or something that formal names just no longer feel appropriate.And that's the way it is with Tchaikovsky's and Rachmaninoff's masterpieces of the concerto.And who would've thought a Texan, of all things, would be the one to bring Commie music to such popular heights? This recording has been a bestseller in America ever since it came out in the 50s. And for good reason.Van Cliburn was born to play this stuff.Infinitely classy, elegant, lovely and thoughtful playing is contained here.His is a sprightly, bright expressive tone where thoughts are intertwined with deep yet understated feeling so that musical lines flow naturally from one to the next - a beauty that is everflowing, modulated, sustained. You've got to hear it to believe it.The amazing thing is Cliburn, who possesses such nimble fingers, makes this difficult music seem so effortless.Both Kondrashin and Reiner, as conductors, know their piano man is the star; their support could not be more sensitive and both orchestras engage their soloist in lively dialogue throughout. Ah, and then there's the music.There are enough famous themes here even for the neophyte to say, "Haven't I heard this in a movie somewhere?"For the rest of us, these piano concertos take us into the depths of our Romantic soul. Perhaps a lost love, a dream for the future, a great regret, or great hope.Whatever it may be, this music takes us there.*****

Other references: Top recommendation from NPR Guide, Jim Svejda's classical guides, Penguin Guide

The Best Tchaikovsky and a great Rach no.2
This is a great C.D. In October of 2004 I saw a very good performance of the Rach 2. I nver really took an interest in piano repetoire because I myself am a violinist. But, I really liked this concerto and I heard the famous had Horowitz Toscanini Thcaikovsky recording before and really enjoyed it.So, I thought this would be a good buy. I got this C.D. for the Rachmaninoff, but I really like the Tchaikovsky. Althought I'm sure some people will disagree, I like this recording even better than the Horowitz Toscanini. Buy it. ... Read more

Asin: B000003EUG
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Concerto    3. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrouchka/ Le Sacre du Printemps
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Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Whatever the limitations of Stravinsky's baton technique, no one else on disc conjures the same bustling excitement at the outset of Petrouchka. Overlapping, polyrhythmic textures in Petrouchka and in Le Sacre du Printemps come off with Mozartian lucidity, Mendelssonian lightness, and, well, Stravinsky-esque rhythmic exactitude (notwithstanding a few hesitant entrances). The clarity partly stems from the composer's use of his leaner revised scores, helped by close-up, analytical mike work by CBS. There are, of course, slicker, more sonically opulent versions of these 20th century landmarks. And then there are Stravinsky's. --Jed Distler ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Powerful rendition
This version of the Rite of Spring, is quite simply one of the best versions out there. Stravinsky summons the raw, primitive power, and emotional intensity of this work, and gives it a fresh, almost light touch, very different from other versions of this work. The Petruska is also very good, but Stravinsky tends to take everything at a slightly too quick pace.
(Note for Robert Lewis: very few people interested in classical music would be ignorant enough to attempt to nap to the Rite of Spring, one of the most violent works ever written.)

From the Master
I had the great good fortune to attend a concert of Stravinsky's music partially conducted by Stravinsky himself in Beverly Hills, CA.I don't remember the exact year, but it would have been in the late '60s.In other words, just a few years before his passing.
He shared conducting duties with his long-time associate, Robert Craft.

Because of his obvious age and frailty, it was expected he would sort of ceremoniously conduct one or perhaps two of his shorter works, leaving the bulk of the concert to Craft.Imagine my, and the audience's astonishment when we saw in the program that Maestro Stravinsky would be the conductor for several works, culminating in the concluding work on the program,"Le Sacre du printemps".

When the time came for "Le Sacre", the maestro, assisted and with some difficulty, made his way to the podium, at which he, not surprisingly, sat.He gazed at the score for a long moment.Slowly, his gaze rose from the score to his orchestra, which he observed for a few seconds, which seemed like hours. The audience grew silent with expectation. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his baton.And it began. What followed for the next 30 plus minutes was one of the most electrifying, galvanizing, and thrilling performances of anything I have ever seen or heard in my life, before or since.

After the concert I made it a point to chat with several friends of mine who were in the orchetra.I suggested that the orchestra must have been well prepared by Robert Craft so that Maestro Stravinsky would be better able to conserve his energy.To a man (and woman) they assured me that absolutely the opposite was the case.The portions of the concert, including "Le Sacre" that Stravinsky was to conduct were rehearsed, in total, by Stravinsky himself.In addition, Stravinsky attended the rehearsals for the balance of the program and had no problem contributing whatever he felt was necessary to the procedings.They also found him to be extremely alert and utterly charming.

How can I recommend anyone else's performance of "Le Sacre du printemps"?There is only one, and this is it.

WOW!
I would like to inform "Mr. Robert Lewis" that when writing a review for a classical album you must critique the performance on just that: the performance, not the music itself; the interpretation of the music.

I loved this CD. The music is so alive, breath-taking, and the power is remarkable. The sound quality is not something that I would give five stars, but simply the effortless performance is worthy of my reccomendation. ... Read more

Asin: B0000026GJ
Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Classical   

Rimsky-Korsakov: Great Orchestral Works
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Audio CD (21 February, 1995)
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Editorial Review

Rimsky-Korsakov is universally acknowledged as a great master of the orchestra. Heeven wrote a textbook on the subject consisting entirely of examples from his own music! Heneeded some sort of pictorial or literary stimulus to really get his imagination going, however. His"abstract pieces," like Symphonies No. 1 and 3, are comparative failures specifically because hebelieved that symphonic thought was incompatible with orchestral brilliance (he wasn't the onlyRomantic composer to succumb to that fallacy). So all of his best music is either obviouslyillustrative, or taken from one of his colorful "fairy tale" operas. This two-disc set gives you anexcellent selection of works of both types at a great price. --David Hurwitz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Gran Seleccion
De Rimsky-Korsakov escuchar el Capricho espagnol, la obertura para la Pascua Rusa, el vuelo del moscardon y otras de sus obras son cosa de todo los dias, pero unir a ellos la sinfonia Nº2 Antar, la bellisima Dama de las nieves, la exquisita Sadko o la sublime Noche de Mayo es genial y todos en un Cd grandioso.
Son interpretaciones geniales con espiritu ruso, con animo universal, con fuerza con sublimidad con fervor si se quiere y de esplendida forma, la Sinfonica de Rotterdam suena genial y David Zimann se esmera en asombrarnos con obras comunes y otras no tanto, que lograran nuestra grata atencion.
Donde disminuye el puntaje y el gran logro de Zimann como siempre es en las comparaciones, el capricho español mas notable y recomendado es el de Ormandy, al igual que la Gran Pascua Rusa (de la que Järvi tambien tiene una gran version), para la Sinfonia Antar nadie mejor que Evgevni Svetlanov con la Orquesta del Estado Ruso.
De lo demas una gran coleccion en un CD de coleccion.

Excellent Recordings of Rimsky-Korsakov's Best Music
This two-CD set contains excellent recordings of Rimsky-Korsakov's best orchestral works (aside from Scheherazade, which they assume you already have) in demonstration-quality digital sound. The Cappricio Espagnole is probably the best recording I've ever heard of this work, with perfect tempos and a colorful orchestral pallette. The sound quality here is really outstanding. The May Night Overture and Sadko are done very well--exciting and colorful--and the Snow Maiden excerps are very well played. The Tsar Sultan Suite is very menacing and atmospheric--Zinman's conducting is flawless. The Golden Cockrel is very exotic and colorful, with just the right tempos(unlike Jarvi) and superb sound. The Antar is a very fine performance, if not the best one out there(try Kees Bakel and Malaysian PO). Although I understand what the customer who said it's the worse performance ever didn't like, I still respectfully disagree. Although Zinman does rush through the second and third movements, they still sound exciting and the Rotterdam Philharmonic are in top form throughout. The outer movements fare much better. The Russian Eater Overture is one of the best out there, probably second only to Spano/Atlanta(better than Zinman's Baltimore performance). Overall, this CD set is a must own for those looking for great performances of RK's best orchestral music.

A little stiff, but with some great aspects
The interpretations are a bit thick, and the conducting is a little distasteful. Its one of the worst performances of Antar I've ever heard. The third movement is moved so quickly and without any sense of majesty, and the second movement gives no sense of anticipation -- there's no buildup or satisfying apex. Overall, I think it is performed here as an ordinary symphony, ignoring the fact that Antar is actually a series of tone poems.

A few other disappointments, like a meandering "Sadko" and a few surprisingly tepid portions of "The Tsar Sultan."

I do think, however, that Capriccio Espagnol is performed very well, with great attention spent on percussion (great percussion pervails throughout both discs). The Russian Easter Overture is played with careful attention to its cultural origins and rates among the better performances I've heard. And Le Coq D'Or is overall pretty decent.

I would recommend this one to anyone who isn't offended by lukewarm performances of Rimsky, and is who is just looking for a collection of his orchestral works for less-involved purposes. ... Read more

Asin: B0000041AO
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera    3. Orchestral    4. Symphonic   

Mozart: Requiem
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Audio CD (16 May, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Between 1961 and 1986, Herbert von Karajan made three recordings of the Mozart Requiem for Deutsche Grammophon, with little change in his conception of the piece over the years. This recording, from 1975, is, on balance, the best of them. The approach is Romantic, broad, and sustained, marked by a thoroughly homogenized blend of chorus and orchestra, a remarkable richness of tone, striking power, and an almost marmoreal polish. Karajan viewed the Requiem as idealized church music rather than a confessional statement awash in operatic expressiveness. In this account, the orchestra is paramount, followed in importance by the chorus, then the soloists. Not surprisingly, the singing of the solo quartet sounds somewhat reined-in, especially considering these singers' pedigrees. By contrast, the Vienna Singverein, always Karajan's favorite chorus, sings with a huge dynamic range and great intensity, though with an emotional detachment nonetheless. Perfection, if not passion or poignancy, is the watchword. The Berlin orchestra plays majestically, and the sound is pleasingly vivid. --Ted Libbey ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Best requiem I know
This is my favorite Requiem I've heard.It far beats his 1960's recording of it, which is dry and boring but has a nice cast..and it surpasses his 1980's recording of it in it's blazing intensity.Karajan in 1975 handles and controls the choral and orchestral forces so well that he lifts them higher than themselves!

This was the first time I understood Mozart's Requiem, after listeing to dozens of recordings this was the one that did it for me...how I wanted it to sound and be.

Not for purists, but for those looking for a perfect and balanced Requiem with all the fire and beauty the Requiem calls for.

von Karajan's Mozart
Undoubtly the Requiem is one of Mozart's greatest work, so I am only commenting on this particular recording.I enjoy Karajan's Beethoven in general, but I find it difficult to listen to his Mozart work. He enlarged both the orchestra and the choir, but the balance is more favor toward the orchestra, as he did in his Beethoven symphony no 9 recordings. Resulting that you can't hear the text very well.Possibly because being a choir member myself and I sing this work many times, I am more biased toward the conventional choral recordings. The tempo of the kyrie fugue is also a bit slow, which I consider it less powerful; and the texture of the fugue is buried behind the large sound of the orchestra. For people agreeing my opinion, I recommend Marriner and St Martin in the Fields' recording, which I consider the best I've listened to.

And the Master's work lives on...
I find that this particular recording of the Requiem is quite apt to Mozart's original intentions, although I found that at times it became heavy, (expecially around the Kyrie Eleison), I am 15 and I simply can't understand the music of today, which is why I only listen to the "good" music.I also write music, and in fact, Mozart's Requiem inspired me to compose my own (a working progress considering I am currently on the Tuba Mirum)...this was an outstanding performance as I said before.Truely, on a more serious note, his Requiem will lift you up unto a heavenly peak.His death occured in the middle of this burst of organized passion.In his last days, it was said that he had become obsessed by the idea that the Requiem would be his own.He died on the morning of December 5, in the arms of his loving wife.We can, to this day, only hope that his last thoughts were ones of peace, ones of accomplishment for the short, but full life he lead. ... Read more

Asin: B000001GDM
Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical   

Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite/Mississippi Suite
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Reviews (3)

Great Kostelanetz, awful Bernstein
Given the fact that The Grand Canyon suite is a concert pops piece, it should be a piece of cake for Lenny to pull this off. Well, he can't, and it's terrible. The most famous movement, On The Trail, is lacking the excitement and spirit that this needs. His celeste solo is so over blown with extra accents and mannered phrasing, you realize just how self indulgent Bernstein is. Compare this to Stanley Black. His Grand Canyon is terrific. With Phase 4 engineering, great strings and plenty of spirit, he captures the mood of the piece with great verve. Skip the Bernstein tracks and just listen to Kostelanetz. The string sound he gets from the NYP is much better than Bernstein. It's hard to believe that it's the same orchestra. Even though this work is much shorter, Kostelanetz gives it his all. Daybreak is uplifting and majestic. Since this piece is rarely played, it's nice to have it on cd. Kostelanetz is the only version you'll need. Skip Bernstein and listen to Kostelanetz.

Yuck
Bernstein practically ruins the Grand Canyon Suite here. Never a subtle conductor, he hammers this beautiful piece into the ground.

Classic performances
Excellent, classic performances of these two works by American composer Ferde Grofe.There aren't many recordings of the Mississippi Suite available, and conductor Andre Kostelenatz conducts the New York Philharmonic this majestic and sometimes (in the final movement) light music.Likewise, the great Leonard Bernstein conducts the Philharmonic in the Grand Canyon Suite, which summons the majesty of the Grand Canyon, and includes a remarkable violin solo by John Corigliano.These are terrific performances, and available at a low price.Another solid entry is the CBS Records "Great Performances" collection. ... Read more

Asin: B0000025PE
Sales Rank: 26980
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Orchestral    3. Orchestral & Symphonic