Editorial Review

Having left medieval chant and somewhat later polyphony behind and moved, musically, across the Atlantic with their last CD (Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautiful, but may not be your cup of tea
This is another gorgeous set of music from Anonymous 4. However, these ladies do come from the classical rather than the vernacular tradition. If you're very committed to either performing style this album may not appeal to you.
Ethereal contentment
Once again A4 has outdone themselves. Following in the tradition of 'American Angels' they have created a wonderful continuation of Sacred Harp traditions. May the Creator of the universe give them health and goodness to keep on praising creation and recording for us lowly mortals. Bless A4 and their poise, grace and heavenly sound.
"Accurate"?
I'm not sure what the Amazon reviewer means when he says that the music on this CD is "accurate," but one thing is for sure: it's not authentic.Anonymous 4 seems to have contempt for the sources of some of the material on this CD (NY Times 13 Sept. 2006: " 'When I first heard the shape note recordings, I ran screaming,' Ms. Horner said. 'It's a gutteral [sic] sound, very raw.'"No word on whether Ms. Horner thinks Anonymous 4 has "improved" the songs with their arrangements, and their flutey, polished renditions of the shape note songs included here and on their previous release may appeal to their fans - but they are in no way "accurate" and lack the power and drive, and feeling, of traditional shape note singing.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Vocals    6. Medieval    7. Vocal    8. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

This, Anonymous 4's final recording, is a break from their usual "early music" periods and locations; it presents American music, religious in nature, from the 18th and 19th centuries. And it's absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Their normal, exquisite technique and purity here blend to sound the way we imagined the ladies' choir in church meetings in America past might have sounded: sweet, sincere, and with harmonies recognizable yet somehow fresh. Some of the songs begin with the women singing "fa, so la" exercises, which was called "shape note" singing because some places taught singing with notes as shapes--circle, rectangle, diamond, triangle. But it's the music that counts, and there are treasures here. They include two versions of "Amazing Grace," one familiar, one with an unusual melody and a piece called "Blooming Vale" which is as sophisticated as anything on their previous albums. "Shall We Gather at the River" is performed with a clarity and loveliness that makes us forget that it's normally sung as background to movies about the Great Depression. The foursome sometimes sing in rich harmonies and occasionally alone or in pairs or trios. This is glorious Americana and highly recommended. Read more

Reviews (22)

Rich Heritage
Anonymous 4 consistently produces exquisite and authentically beautiful recordings and this one presents early American hymns in ways few groups can manage. Some tunes are highly recognizable while others are 'new' to me but a refreshing reminder of the singing heritage of religious societies in times past. For those who enjoy old hymns and authentic renderings, this is a must buy.

Superb
This collection of American Christian music is not only an enthralling musical experience but a spiritually uplifting one as well. Anonymous Four have transferred their luminous vocal quality to a new space with perfect success.

Can't walk away from it!
My only "complaint" about the CD is that I absolutely HAVE to sit and listen to the entire thing whenever I start it up!I usually have music playing in the background while doing other things, but not this one!There are no tracks that I find myself wanting to skip over as in most collections.In fact, I usually find myself going back and listening to selected tracks again (and again and...) after taking the hour+ to listen to the whole thing through once.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Early Music / Chant    6. Folk Song    7. Miscellaneous    8. Miscellaneous Music    9. Vocal    10. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

The labels that are now gathered under the Universal Classics umbrella have a pretty impressive scorecard in the area of classical compilations. We've seen Read more

Reviews (31)

Bought This & Kid's and I Love It - a review of "The # 1 Opera Album"
We just purchased this 2 CD set so we'd have something to listen to in the car (other than The Wiggles and Barney - lol) and we couldn't be happier.The offerings are great and include so many of the 'popular' arias that I wanted to introduce to our children:boy and girl; 4 and 6 y.o. respectively.
#1 Opera Album
Great collection of performances by some true legends in the opera world. The entire album is very well done.

Wonderful Compilation
A wonderful compilation of some of the most beautiful music in the world. One reviewer panned the selection of voices, but that sounds like sour grapes. While you might be disappointed if your favorite artist is not included, there's no doubt that this collection will entertain the listener for many hours. You'll enjoy this music over and over again. Buy it and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art Song (General)    2. Classical    3. Classical Music    4. Czech Romantic Opera    5. French Romantic Opera    6. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    7. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    8. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    9. Italian Romantic Opera    10. Opera    11. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    12. Opera/Operetta Collections    13. Vocal   

Reviews (11)

Chopin: Favorite Piano Works
An excellent complilation of Chopin works which includes 3 of the pieces I am currently learning. Definitely has encouraged me to improve my piano skills and allow me to better appreciate his style of music.

Chopin: Favorite Piano Works (London 2 CD)
Beautifully done 2 CD of Chopin works.I've played it every weekend since I got it, loving every track.It's well performed and recorded, and is an excellent collection for anyone interested in Chopin or his adopted homeland of Poland.And, of course, you can't often go wrong with the London Label.

chopins Mazurkas
this is a wonderful collection of the mazurkas but Ashkenazy plays a lot of them too fast my music teacher played these with more pathos he seems like he cant get done fast enough with some of them some introductions should be slower with more feeling otherwise all the mazurkas i wanted are in this disc just wish i had gotbetter artist like Claude Arrau ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Balladefor Keyboard    2. Barcarollefor Keyboard    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Etude for Keyboard    8. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    9. Keyboard    10. Mazurka for Keyboard    11. Nocturne for Keyboard    12. Polonaise for Keyboard    13. Prelude for Keyboard    14. Scherzo for Keyboard    15. Waltz for Keyboard   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

terrific
Vivaldi 25 favourites is marvelous ,it has been digitally enhanced and is certainly a keeper.Really am pleased with anything i have purchased from Amazon

Get what you pay for.
This CD is decent but does NOT sweep you off your feet into a soaring concert hall with your heart beating loudly and your breaths coming in faster. Why? I think its the quality of the recording and the caliber of the musicians maybe? But hey,$4.98 does not buy much more than a fast food meal- so no harm done! Happy Listening!
Wonderful!
I couldn't believe the wonderful, pure sounds that came from this low-priced CD.I absolutely love it and highly recommend it!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cello Concerto    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Classical    6. Classical Composers    7. Classical Music    8. Concerto    9. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    10. Gloria    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. Oboe Concerto    14. Orchestral & Symphonic    15. Piccolo Concerto    16. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    17. String Concerto    18. Violin Concerto    19. Vocal   

Editorial Review

A great player can give meaning and substance even to lightweight miniatures. Andsnes says that his musical "horizon," at first limited to "big, important" music, opened to the appreciation of the short "salon" pieces and arrangements assembled on this record only as he got older, though they had accompanied him since childhood. The program features original compositions and transcriptions, including many familiar favorites. They span several centuries and come from every corner of Europe. Andsnes' virtuosity is breath-taking, his tone is beautiful, and his legato sings regardless of the accompanying texture. Above all, he captures every style, idiom, and mood. Andsnes' phrasing, dynamics, and liberties are balanced and poised, and his love for the music speaks through every note. Listeners will choose their own favorites among these 22 very different pieces, but surely no one will be able to resist Gieseking's spectacular arrangement of Richard Strauss' "Serenade," which adds torrents of notes to the virtuosic piano part and incorporates the vocal line as well. The fleetness and clarity of the Chopin "Impromptu" here never touches the ground, while Ibert's "Little White Donkey" has charm and delicacy and Liszt's "Liebestraum" resounds with ardent passion. Andsnes' brilliant, captivating performance will induce smiles of admiration and pleasure as well as a new respect for this versatile and colorful repertoire.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. Ballet    3. Chamber    4. Chamber Music    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    7. Classical    8. Classical Artists    9. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    10. Collection of Contrapuntal/Improv. Pieces for Keyboard    11. Etude for Keyboard    12. Impromptu for Keyboard    13. Keyboard    14. Keyboard Music    15. Nocturne for Keyboard    16. Song Collection for Solo Voice and Piano    17. Song Without Words for Keyboard    18. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    19. Transcription for Keyboard    20. Vocal   

Editorial Review

This recording of the Süssmayr completion of Mozart's beloved Read more

Reviews (21)

Review of Mozart: Requiem CD
Arrived in excellent condition--brand new--arrived in a very timely manner.Excellent service.

Mozart: Requiem
It sounds good.It skips track #2 sometimes on one of my cd players but on an older cd player it plays it.oh well life is tough if this is all I have to complain about Mozart: Requiem/McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd;Mariner
this is definitely the best performance we heard.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Requiem/Requiem Section   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (13)

Two Beethoven cycles from the Alban Berg--which one is better?
Founded in 1971, the Alban Berg Quartet of Vienna was the dominant ensemble in the quartets of Mozart and Beethoven for two decades. Such was their pre-eminence that EMI recorded two complete Beethoven cycles with them over the span of less than five years. The first was made in the studio in 1985, the second was recorded live at the Mozart Saal in Vienna in 1989--since the latter contains applause, it's obvious which is which upon hearing htem. But online stores like Amazon, Tower, and Crotchet do not distinguish between the two.The one pictured herer is the studio cycle.
Great music - quality control problem with CDs
These are wonderful renditions of these Quartets.I had worn out my records and finally decided it was time to get a CD version of this fantastic music.The first thing that came as a surprise was when Disk Number 4 would not load into Itunes on my Mac.I was able to get it to work on my Wife's PC and copy it onto a new CD and get past the problem that way, but it seemed odd my MAC could not read this disk.Then I discovered all the tracks on each disk are mislabeled after the first quartet.This meant manually correcting each entry on every disk (7 of them) which was labor intensive.I love the music but any potential buyer who purchases these with the intention of loading them into their IPOD should be aware of this quality control problem.

The Top Cycle
This set is one of those opportunities to get in on wonderful performances at a great price. I had to weigh in because I was surprised to find some less than stellar reviews of this set- one reviewer below actually wrote a review for a completely different recording, giving this one 3 stars not even having heard it.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Chamber    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Orchestral & Symphonic    7. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Editorial Review

This sonically spectacular disc features three of Aaron Copland's most beloved Americana scores. Drawing on American folk themes, Read more

Reviews (6)

Review of Aarom Copland CD: Appalachian Spring
I used this CD as part of a dance history class on American Modern Dance, in conjunction with a DVD on dance pioneer Martha Graham.The music stands alone, and my students got a bit of music history along with their dance history.

Appalacian Spring
I bought it as a gift and the receiver LOVED it and plays it frquently.

Copland performed at its best
This CD is one of my favorites in my classical collection.Several years ago, I borrowed this recording from the library, and enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought my own Copland CD.I got the CD containing the New York Philharmonic's performance of Appalachain Spring (conducted by Bernstein), but was sorely disappointed.After a few months of searching (this was pre-Amazon days), I tracked down this CD and bought it.The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is superb.I highly recommend this CD for any Copland fan, or anyone who wants to have a "token" classical CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. Ballet    3. Band    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Concert/Brass/Marching Band Music    8. Orchestral    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Suite for Orchestra   

Editorial Review

Claudio Arrau considered the Read more

Reviews (32)

Returning the "night" to the night piece
Arrau's playing of the Chopin nocturnes emphasizes the extent to which these wonderfully well-crafted works belong to the realm of the night in all its Romantic mystery and, especially, longing (what an odd-seeming word for the 21st century!). Despite what some have claimed, his exquisite rubato is always musically justified and recalls Chopin's pupil Mikuli's comment that "Chopin's rubato possessed an unshakeable emotional logic.It always justified itself by a strengthening or weakening melodic line, by exaggeration or affectation." Always observing a fine cantilena, Arrau repeatedly works wonders in these marvellous pieces, making each into its own unique little self-contained variegated musical universe. In doing so, he fully realizes Liszt's apt depiction of Chopin as "a divine aristocrat, a feminine archangel with prismatic wings!"

Don't know what to make out of it
I've always had mixed feelings about Arrau's playing. While at times it can be indescribably beautiful and revealing, which is often the case with his sublime, if controversial, interpretations of Liszt, Arrau nonetheless seems to lack the necessary technique (I don't think that's the case) or the proper understanding to play certain works. Even though his uncanny ability to grasp the spirit of each composer whose music he plays is widely stressed, I think he's not that respectful of Chopin's music on this record - he does turn it into something else. To be sure, Chopin's works are obviously open to various interpretations and it would be risky to finger such or such pianist as having reached the 'true', 'real' Chopin - no one knows exactly what Chopin sounded like and the best we can do here is guessing - but this openness can't be understood as meaning that anything goes, that one interpretation is as good as the other, that there are no bounds or limits to interpretation. Here I think Arrau overasserts himself at the expense of what we know about Chopin's musical identity, as it were, though we can surely be proven wrong in the future. Who knows?

Undisciplined Sentimentality
Claudio Arrau takes vast artistic licence here.He is not playing what Chopin wrote, but an abstraction all his own.I know this to be true as I have studied and mastered all of Chopin's nocturnes.Chopin required his pupils to play accurately and in strict time, only adding rubato as was fitting.He despised arbitrary rubatos taken to the extreme, or dragging.Arrau does plenty of dragging. All of the runs are loose, unpolished, metrically uneven,
Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    5. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    6. Impromptu for Keyboard    7. Keyboard    8. Nocturne for Keyboard   

Reviews (4)

Opera for Children
This is an excellent CD to introduce children to some of the more familiar operas.I would highly recommend this CD for children and also for adults who want to become familiar with opera.

Great Opera for Children
This CD is an excellent compilation of opera for children and adults alike. The operas that are represented on this disc are: Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Faust, Il Trovatore, Madama Butterfly, Die Walkure, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Aida, Die Zauberflote, and Hansel und Gretel. People love the Children's March, as well as the Toreador Chorus, from the opera Carmen. The well known Toreador Song is performed on this CD by great bass- baritone Jose van Dam. Children who watch Bugs Bunny will recognize "Largo al factotum" from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Sherrill Milnes performs the role of Figaro expertly, and his falsetto is evident in Figaro's famous patter aria. Great choruses, like the Soldier's Chorus from Faust, the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, the Triumphal Chorus from Aida, and the Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly make appearences on this CD. The Doll Song from Les Contes d'Hoffmann is performed by soprano Joan Sutherland. She uses her voice to rise up and down, like a mechanical doll. My favorite German baritone, Hermann prey, performs Papageno's entrance aria from Die Zauberflote, as well was the duet with Papagena. Choruses from Hansel und Gretel round the CD.

My six-year old liked it!
My six year-old son enjoyed hearing this CD. We like to sing together, so we found many of the pieces quite alot. But to be honest, when we discovered the more recently released CD, The Classical Child AT the Opera, he went wild because all the pieces have been translateded into English, so it's much more enjoyable for us to sing along. So I would recommend it, but check out the other one as well -- your kids will be glad you did. All the best, Steven ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Music    3. French Romantic Opera    4. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    5. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    6. Italian Romantic Opera    7. Opera    8. Opera/Operetta Collections   

Editorial Review

The chorus is at center of Shaw's reading of the score, presumably the more lightly scored 1893 version that Fauré‚ himself created (Telarc does not specify). The account flows very well, and the work of both soloists is highly satisfying, particularly Judith Blegen's airy soprano in Pie Jesu. The recording dates from 1985-86 and is one of Telarc's best, with excellent presence overall and real bass in the organ. Read more

Reviews (23)

The Faure is Great, Not so Much the Durufle
The Faure Requiem (Op. 48) in D minor is a soft, gentle requiem unlike the powerful Verdi, Berlioz, and Durufle. The delicate qualities of this requiem are captured beautifully on this recording.
Fast and in a very good condition
Fast and in a very good condition

French Choral Classics
This disk has set the standard for performing the settings of the Requiem mass by two great French masters, Gabriel Faure and Maurice Durufle.The Faure setting is an intimate one with occasional moments of tempestuousness.This particular recording features the more heavily orchestrated edition (for an excellent chamber version see the Cambridge Singers under John Rutter).Put in seven parts, additional features include two baritone solos and a lovely soprano solo.The choral parts are not difficult, but require a delicate touch with great articulation, all provided here.The harmonies gently shift with occasional color changes and chromatic mediant relationships.The concluding movement (In Paradisum) sums up the experience with a satisfying contemplative moment devoid of bombasticity.A masterwork not to be missed.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Requiem/Requiem Section   

Editorial Review

Remember all of the year-2000 nervousness in the latter part of 1999?That was nothing. As the year 1000 approached, people all over the Christianworld were convinced that the Apocalypse--as depicted in the biblicalBook of Revelation--and the endof the world were at hand. In one of the more interesting musical program ideasto be inspired by the turn of the calendrical odometer, Anonymous 4 revisits the original"millennium madness" with a disc of chant from around the year1000--specifically, a Mass for the Feast of the Ascension, one of the fewoccasions on which the liturgy included readings from the Book of Revelation. Thisis the oldest written Western music to have survived, and it's difficult even todecipher (the original notation has no staff lines or clear indications ofrhythm), let alone perform. Yet, the challenges involved seem to have done theseladies good: not only is their performance both assured and confident, but onecan hear new facets in their vocal sound--a sound that, however beautiful itmight be, some listeners find monotonous. (One new facet is JacquelineHorner, the quartet's newest member, for whom this is the first recording.) Thesingers experiment with interpretation of ornaments that are indicated in themanuscript sources (there's a fascinating little trill that sounds rather like acooing dove); in some of the chants, they add an additional line in accordancewith the principles of improvising polyphony that were laid out in 10th- and11th-century treatises. The entire program seems thoroughly considered, as wellas immaculately executed. If you count on the consistently pure, silky tone andmeditative quality that has made Anonymous 4 world-famous, you'll definitelyfind it here; if you've gotten bored with them, you might find this disc afascinating surprise. Read more

Reviews (8)

Lovely
A lovely performance of music from the beginning of the western musical tradition.The vocal quality of the performance is first rate and the music itself is very interesting.Recommended strongly.

Perfectly lovely - wrong, but still perfectly lovely.
Year 1000--A Mass for the End of Time
The year AD 1000 appeared to be an apocalyptic harbringer of destruction to the devout Catholics of Western Europe.This collection of medieval chants based on themes of God's impending wrath and the judgement of the world are excellent primary sources for understanding the mystical religious mindset of the days of yore.Gregorian Chant, while different from Byzantine (Greek) and Russian chanting, is a very methodological and otherworldly form of music.It's monotone is radically opposed to the harsh discord of "rock n' roll" and "rap" music which sound like broken machinery that are so popular among all aspects of society, even the so-called "Christian rock."Although the music itself is sung in Latin, the disc is accompanied by a booklet which gives the lyrics in English translation (along with a few other languages). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Music    6. Early Music / Chant    7. Vocal    8. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

This offbeat disc of seasonal songs and carols by the Anonymous 4 will delight their fans and please everyone else. The 19 selections include traditional folk melodies and texts, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, interspersed with fitting selections by contemporary composers including John Taverner, Benjamin Britten, and Peter Maxwell Davies, whose ethereal a cappella A Calender of Kings gets its first recording.Andrew Lawrence-King, playing Irish harp, Baroque harp, and psaltery with his accustomed finesse, is a major reason for the disc's success, accompanying most of the vocals and contributing three lovely solos. The disc is crammed with highlight tracks, like the lilting Cornish Wassail song and the Irish Good people all, and haunting numbers like "Flight into Egypt," sung in Gaelic, and "Behold, here is the best morning," sung in Welsh. Excellent sonics and Harmonia Mundi's typically fine production values also help make this a Christmas disc that will give joy in July. Read more

Reviews (4)

Wolcum Yule
The recording is fine . . . it just didn't appeal to me personally

lovely and unusual Yule album
Anonymous 4 has brought us a beautiful selection of 19 traditional songs from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.These include a lesser known work by Henry VIII as well as more contemporary songs by John Tavener, Richard Bennett, Geoffrey Burgon and Benjamin Britten, and a piece commissioned for the group from Peter Davies.Andrew Lawrence-King accompanies on Irish harp, Baroque harp and psaltery.There is a short essay on the traditions and legacy of the concept of Yule, a Cetic midwinter celebration, and this and the informative liner notes are given in English, French and German, accompanied by Celtic drawings. Goose Flesh!
This is a remarkable quartet, singing with purity and style, from the haunting to the merry, medieval chant to modern settings of Celtic religious texts.Where there are arrangements, they are lovely and the instrumental pieces are simple and beautiful.This is the first time I have heard this group of women, and I am enchanted.It's a cappella at its very best: look to your laurels, King's Singers and Chanticleer, here come the ladies! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Choral Music    6. Christmas / Chanukkah    7. Christmas Music    8. Classical    9. Classical Artists    10. Concerto    11. Concerto Grosso    12. Concerto for Three Solo Instruments    13. Keyboard    14. Keyboard Music    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Orchestral    18. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    19. Sacred Choral Music a cappella    20. Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo)   

Editorial Review

Record-label politics prevented this awesome recording of Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich from being released for 34 years. The spitfire musician delivers a powerful set of Chopin's best-loved works that still sounds riveting today. Intense and gorgeous. Read more

Reviews (30)

A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog
If I had to pick a single CD to win awed admiration for Martha Argerich, this Chopin recital would be it. Only 24 when she made these long-suppressed recordings, Argerich's musicality and dazzling technqiue defy belief. Every ounce of praise for her Third Sonata is deserved--it's spontaneous, flexible, intense, by turns tender and declamatory.The most blessed quality is that she doesn't bang or harangue us--not always the case in later years. Her sense of urgency doesn't become eckless; the bursts of excitment aren't oerly explosive.
Not Argerich at her best, but still very impressive.
Argerich's playing is nothing short of miraculous. It's as if God's most precious gifts had been all bestowed upon her - she makes other pianists pale in comparison. This record is no exception, even though it's not Argerich at her best. At times her playing here is too straightforward, too agressive, yes, even too intimidating, and I don't know if she's really being faifhtul to Chopin's music. It sounds as if she's intent on shunning people away from playing the piano and effacing every other interpretation from the face of the earth. It just doesn't fit Chopin's music all that well, but it's still worth buying and listening to thousands of times.

Buy for the third sonata
Buy this disc for the third sonata. Its chopin's best, and she owns it so hard. Her playing of the last movement puts anyone else's to shame, playing the finale with ridiculous speed and most of all, in rhythm. I hate when i hear that ending slowed down, and softened, it sounds like garbage like that. She is unreal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Classical Music    5. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    6. Keyboard    7. Nocturne for Keyboard    8. Polonaise for Keyboard    9. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Scherzo for Keyboard   

Reviews (13)

Impeccable - scholarly yet perfected performances
I've listened to Ashkenazy's renditions of these pieces for quite some time of this disk, and I was extremely impressed with his force.He does not skimp on volume when volume is needed (the brutal chords in the third movement of Moonlight is what I was really looking for).I've also used his rendition of the Pathetique as a guide for my own learning of the piece.The man's technique is absolutely beyond belief, his clarity, his voicing, his touch, it fits so perfectly with these fine works by Beethoven.The Hammerklavier is sadly missing, but that is to be expected because of its length.Overall, these are powerful recordings and I highly recommend them.I hope to reach such a pinnacle of artistry some day in my own playing.

Excellent Double CD
This double CD is exquisite.Vladimir Ashkenazy plays Beethoven with sensitivity and dynamic intensity.The quality of the CD is excellent, the playing sublime, and the value outstanding.
Favourite Piano Sonata's Beethoven's Best on 2 CD's
Of the 32 Piano Sonata's composed by Beethoven this two CD set includes 7 of the best pieces of a most influential corpus of work.These are stunningly recorded and they are arranged to provide the listener with a dynamic experience.Interestingly the composition of the Sonata's began only a decade after Mozart. Juxtaposing the two composers we can readily see the split between the 18th and 19th centuries.Beethoven's work is solidly in the 19th century style with the technical and romantic sentiments of this period well expressed in these sonatas.We can see this turn towards romanticism in the titles of the pieces like "tempest" and "Pathetique" oh and of course "Moonlight" are evocative to say the least.Beethoven also really "pushed the envelope" in respect to exploring the limits of the piano in range and technique.The piano forte, was truly a revolutionary keyboard instrument, and although other keyboards had beeen around for ceturies, it wasnt until the piano that the keyboard could be so versatile - and loud enough to be the only instrument on stage.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Keyboard    5. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

This sampler album of excerpts from seven other Anonymous 4 releases is a good introduction for anyone who is unacquainted with the A4's startlingly pure singing and virtually celestial blend. But if you fall under the spell of this outstanding a capella quartet, the present disc will become extraneous because you'll want to own the complete recordings from which it's drawn. If you prefer complete works to samplers, try taking the plunge with "An English Ladymass" or "On Yoolis Night." Read more

Reviews (3)

If Angels Ever Recorded A CD
Four female voices have never blended together so perfectly and beautifully as do those of the 'Anonymous 4.' Their CD titled, 'Portrait' contains a selection of tracks from seven other previous CD's, kind of a "Best Of" you might say.
another exquisite performance
This amazing quartette is so talented.The Christmas cd reminds me of Christmas 50 years ago in rural England where I grew up.It contains the only rendition of The Holly and the Ivy I have heard that actually does the carol justice.

Anonymous, but in no way generic
I learned about this quartet though a review in Stereophile magazine. Although they don't publish a lot of reviews, I've had exceptionally good luck with their past picks and have been able to branch out successfully in new musical directions as a result.Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Classical Music    5. Mass    6. Miscellaneous    7. Miscellaneous Music    8. Response   

Reviews (21)

An easy first choice
If you are looking for a standard stereo recording of the four concertoes, you don't have to look hard to realize that this set would be a nice and easy choice.Ashkenazy's performances of the Rachmaninov concertos are poetic, full of passions and yearnings, and technically excellent.This 2CD set is sold at the price of one full-priced CD, so it should be a good bargain.If you are a newcomer to Rachmaninov, this set is highly recommended.Later on when you have become familiar with these concertos you might also want to check out the renditions by Argerich and Horowitz, both of which contain some of the most spectacular displays of keyboard fireworks.These recordings by Ashkenazy have been reissued many times and the most recent one I believe is the 2 separate disks in the Eloquence series.Sonically the Eloquence reissues were artificially reprocessed in order to create wider dynamics and better sense of immediacy.Get either this one or the other, it doesn't matter which, what matters is that every Rachmaninov lover should have these recordings as basic items in his/her collection.

The champion of Rachmaninov's music.
This is a very good set of Rachmaninov's piano works for a very reasonable price indeed. For those who are unfamiliar with the great russian composer's piano works, from the blazing horns, swelling piano chords and seductive strings opening the first piano concerto you feel right away you're in for a very special musical experience.
Thoughtful but passionate interpretations
After listening to a recording of Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto and hearing a lot about the 3rd concerto, I jumped at buying this CD because of the low cost for two CDs - I was not disappointed.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Concerto    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Piano Concerto   

Reviews (8)

This is not Arrau, this is Beethoven himself
First of all I would like to say, I have to disagree with a reviewer that says Arrau plays "too slow" this I can handle although I consider his speed is fine... but mostly when he says something like "he gives a romantic touch to these sonatas that were dedicated to men".