Reviews (13)

Almost!
I have always been a sucker for Sarah and so glad they stuck with the original duets like Jose Cura's (my favorite tenor oozing with great machismo) and Andrea Bocelli.My only complaint is the Phantom of the Opera with Steve Harley (who is he?)Pardon me, I don't want to be mean but this is soooo horrific, let alone it was on track no. 1.What a terrible thing to start the cd.When I play cd, I skip no. 1 and the rest is simply divinely Sarah.I would have seen soooo tickled if she dueted Phantom with Gerard Butler (another macho cutie pie).

Good
Well, being a fan of Sarah Brightman since her Phantom days says that I liked this album,it is not her best album, but its a good singles album and for new fans to get to know her better.She always and mainly have themes in her albums, for example, FLY, more pop sounding, TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE, more classical, or just songs from Webber, but this album is just her songs from past albums.so its good to that part.

Sarah Brightman La Diva
This is an amazing CD for new fans and for your collection if you are a fan yet, the songs are carefully selected for being a great CD!! A question of honour is different from the Fly CD, if you are a Sarah's fan this CD is perfect, if you don't you will be a Sarah's fan!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. England    3. Musicals    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Rock/Pop    7. Show Tunes   

Editorial Review

Constantly exhorted to "sing," string players naturally try to emulate that most beautiful musical instrument, the human voice; no wonder they literally want to get their fingers on the treasures of the vocal repertoire. Joshua Bell has appropriated some of its best-loved songs and operatic arias, from Mozart through the romantics to Orff. Slow, sustained, lovely and yes, singing, these beguiling melodies and wide emotional range are eminently well suited to the violin. Credit for most of the arrangements is given to J.A.C. Redford, a well-known film and television composer, and indeed the throbbing strings and jarring modulations typical of sound-tracks invade his orchestrations, in startling contrast to the composers' own. In Debussy's "Beau soir," pianist Frederic Chiu partners Bell so beautifully that one wishes he had supplanted the orchestra in all the songs with piano accompaniment. The violin transcriptions of the vocal line closely follow the originals, except for Redford's compulsive habit of adding octaves in the repeats and jumping from the lowest to the highest register. Of course, Bell is very good at all this, and it's the playing that's really the thing. His tone is ravishingly beautiful, warm on the G-string, radiant up high, and always deeply expressive. His love and innate feeling for the music---its inward simplicity, romantic yearning and passionate ardor---speak straight to the heart. In the only authentic violin part, the obbligato of Richard Strauss' "Morgen!" he is joined by the golden-voiced soprano Anna Netrebko; at first overly intense, she relaxes into a blissful, magical ending. Read more

Reviews (7)

Prolific recording artist whose entirelibrary is worth owning
Joshua Bell has this unearthly ability - almost eldritch result to his music.His violin has profound impact and hearing him play live is like a spiritual experience.This cd doesn't deviate from his formula of pouring his love of music through his instrument and conveying a joy for every piece he plays.
JB are you reading
I ordered a cd from az, then later found out bn has extra track on their edition, bought that one too.Why did they do that?But the extra track, smaller orchestra version of Mozart's laudate dominum, is worth it.Bell is breathing into his music, just like a singer put their heart in their song, just like gould humming along as he played... is that how artists enjoy their own arts, any other way?If I am the tertiary audience the artists themselves must be (what's the word for zero ordered?) audience.Anyhow, if an art is so beautiful I would like to enjoy it purely, no need of accompaniment, or just at minimum.Check out Yoshikazu Mera sings Uguisu.Check out Hong-mei Yu playing Three Sighs At The Guan Pass in String Glamour. Will Joshua Bell ever do Morgen in double track even?I was expecting voice of the violin, not human!Joshua Bell and his violin: every sound is beautiful.I just wish that there was less interference.That is why it was worth it to get the 2nd cd from bn.The 16th track is leading really gently, quietly into the beautiful voice of Bell and his violin.
Absolutely gorgeous violin music!
The violin is the instrument closest to the human voice in its ability to express a multitude of shades of emotion, with a tonal and dynamic range that allows the violin to sing with a voice unique among instruments. Joshua Bell beautifully exhibits the expressive potential of the violin's voice in the carefully chosen and sensitively played pieces on this CD.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Art Song (General)    3. Cantata    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music    6. Chamber Music & Recitals    7. Choral    8. Classical    9. Classical Artists    10. Classical Pop    11. Czech Romantic Opera    12. French Romantic Opera    13. Italian Romantic Opera    14. Keyboard    15. Mass    16. Opera    17. Orchestral    18. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    19. Sacred Choral Music    20. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra   

Editorial Review

Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is closer to a jazz improvisationalist than a classical pianist merely embellishing, alters rhythm as well as melody, and the results are invariably both surprising and delightful. The Presto from the Italian Concerto is positively wacky, but "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" sticks to the piece's mood with truth and originality. Montero plays "beyond" Bach with good taste and respect, and always with intense musicality. The results may seem improvised, but I doubt they are---they seem to well worked through---but that is more of a plus than a minus. You'll revel in hearing old favorites "interpreted" and find some unexpected pleasures here. Read more

Reviews (4)

True improvisations -- a wonder!
I struggle for the words to express how thrilled I am. Ms Montero is resurrecting the art of spontaneous improvisation in the field of classical music. Robert Levine, the Amazon site reviewer, hopefully has listened to the NPR interviews or the podcast and is now aware that Ms Montero did indeed improvise these on the spot. The only preparation lies in the fact that Gabriela Montero has been playing in this spontaneous way since before she was 3 years old! She was given a toy piano when she was 7 months and soon started picking out the songs her mother sang her to sleep with. Her talent today truly is astonishing! Give her a tune or theme never heard before, and she magically weaves a new piece out of it. We have read of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin all doing this -- it's a wonder and a fresh delight to hear how marvellously she does it for us. Kudos!

Very gifted pianist playing beautiful music
I have her CDs playing in my car and in my home.Her improvisation skills are top notch.Beyond Bach is one of my favorite pieces in this collection.Her other pieces are excellent as well.You can also find her interview on NPR.

Bach, Mozart and Beethoven Would Be Delighted...
It's an often neglected fact that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were master improvisers, and I often wonder how they would feel about 'classical music' having become so exclusively addicted to reproducing the notes on the page. It seems that the latter of the three important legs of a musician's stool -- technique, interpretation, and improvisation -- has been forgotten in lieu of endless variation on the former two legs.
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Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Cantata    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Concerto    7. Concerto Grosso    8. Contrapuntal/Improvisatory Keyboard Music    9. Invention for Keyboard    10. Keyboard    11. Keyboard Concerto    12. Keyboard Music    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Music    15. Orchestral    16. Orchestral & Symphonic    17. Toccata for Keyboard    18. Violin Concerto   

Reviews (7)

Welcome relief
I first listened at my computer and found myself slowly relaxing and really enjoying the beautiful music but wondered if it would REALLY work since I find it very hard to get to sleep and stay asleep. Well,folks, if youhave doubts about it working, throw them out the window! I did not make it through Track 1! Not only that but when I woke 5 hours later and turned it on againhoping to just enjoy the music - right----didn't make it through Track 1 again and got another 2hours of sound sleep.This CD is a godsend for those of us who have trouble getting to sleep.I highly recommend you buy this CD - you'll never find a better deal.Kudos to the Mercurios and everyone associated with it who have given us this beautiful pair of CDs. I'm getting several for friends and family.
I Haven't Heard the Second Half Yet..........
Usually, when I write a review, I like to let the songs play in the background, hoping that it will inspire me to some new revelation as I write. In this instance, though, I can't risk it; every single time I play either disk from this two-disk set, I start to drift off. I'm not kidding! For insomniacs, this collection could work better than Sominex. My normal procedure for any review is to listen straight through every note of music at least once, and then listen twice more, emphasizing the bits that made the deepest impression. Nearly a month ago, I thought I would do just that, but this disk threw that methodology right out of the window. For three weeks, I listened to this collection at home, at night, in the environment that it is intended for - my bedroom. For three weeks straight, I fell asleep before track five...
Not as tasty as Merlot...
...but it doesn't come with the unpleasant side effects either!!
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Adagio for Orchestra    3. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music    6. Chamber Music & Recitals    7. Choral    8. Classical    9. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    10. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    11. Concerto    12. Keyboard    13. Keyboard Concerto    14. Nocturne for Keyboard    15. Orchestral    16. Pavane for Keyboard    17. Piano Concerto    18. Prelude for Keyboard    19. Quartet for Four String Instruments    20. Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet   

Editorial Review

Unlike Russell Watson, to whom he is being compared (along with Andrea Bocelli), Vittorio Grigolo is a real opera singer. He sang as a boy treble with Pavarotti many years ago and has sung in Read more

Reviews (15)

A very pleasing voice, but...
I was very impressed by Mr. Grigolo's singing. I think he has an amazing voice and a very successful future ahead of him. However, I hope that his choice of songs improves. I did like Tu Sei, it was my favorite on the album. The singing was pure and the music accompaniment was very good. I also liked You Are My Miracle (duet w/Nicole Scherzinger). I was pleasantly surprised by Nicole's singing. I think they made a great collaboration on this song.
AWESOME!
This is an amazing CD. Mr. Grigolo has a marvelous voice. Cannot wait to see him in concert. BRAVISSIMO!!!

WOWWe have a new addition to the Tenors
I also saw Vittorio on PBS and just loved the music and this man's singing ability.I bought 6 cd's to give to all my friends for Christmas.When they arrived I had to listen to all the selections to make sure I had made a good purchase.Whew, Vittorio Grigolo is really fantastic and I know my friends will agree when they get their CD's. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Classical Crossover    3. Miscellaneous    4. Miscellaneous Music    5. Music Theater    6. Musical Theater    7. Pop    8. Pop Vocals    9. Vocal    10. Vocal Music   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (21)

What's not to like?
Reasons to buy this item immediately:
Tom
Okay, so why did Amazon raise the price of this sucker thirty bucks??? Was it in response to the N.Y Times review crediting them with the discount??? In resonse, I just went to Tower Records, where I did get it on sale. I used to be the #1 fan of Amazon, they were a "10", the have slipped to a "4", no longer worth the hassel.

Initial impressions.

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Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Editorial Review

If you think you've heard Handel's "Ombra mai fu" (known as his "Largo") so often, and in so many different arrangements, and sung by so many different voices, that you can no longer be moved or surprised by it, think again. This CD of Handel arias, mostly from his Read more

Features

• Hybrid SACD

Reviews (13)

Glorious singing to treasure for decades
By any measure, America's Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is at least the equal of Italy's premier diva, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, although she does not have the same superstar status.It is difficult to recall past mezzos with clearer enunciation of English text, (as favoured in nine excerpts from Theodora), the richness of voice, displayed in full-throated fortissimo and sharply contrasted pianissimo of utmost delicacy, evokes fondest memories of the tragically doomed Kathleen Ferrier.Masterfully chosen to display every facet of Hunt Lieberson's consumate command of Handel's dauntingly difficult music, the disc's repertoire - recitatives and linkig arias from the operas Theodora and Serse, and the cantana La Lucrezia - is stunning.An unsung mezzo who makes the senses tingle!

Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson (1954-2006), supreme Handelian
I have never heard a voice purer of tone, more flexible in phrasing, and so gorgeously produced in a homogeneous column of sound such as this artist in Handel's repertoire.It is very tastefully sung (unlike a certain person whose name begins with R and ends with enaaay Fleming) and so dramatically touching that one could not help but feel that this repertoire finally has found its instrument.And how sad it is to know that this instrument has passed away two days ago.Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson died two days ago in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico of breast cancer.It is such a huge loss to the opera world, as she is an artist who is still experiencing the prime of her career.The voice is just so beautiful, the tone so pure, that I lament that we can no longer hear any great roles from this artist.She will be missed.

The Stellar Hunt Lieberson
Simply put, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is one of the very best classical singers alive. She combines vocal elegance and purity with an emotional delivery that raises her above the crowd of technically proficient singers who just don't possess her depth of musical understanding or emotional commitment. Hunt Lieberson is a true artist who resists easy classfication except to say she is perfect in what she does. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Vocals    6. Italian Baroque Opera    7. Opera    8. Oratorio   

Reviews (35)

Not real music!
I bought this for our baby and like many of the reviewers, I was disappointed in the synthesized music.I have played some of the pieces, and although the concept is good, I want my child to hear music as it was on intended on the real instruments.

Musician Mom Loves - Does Use RealInstruments!
My 8-month-old son and I listen to this CD every night, and by the Pachelbel Canon (track 7) he's usually sound asleep.It is NOT ALL SYNTHESIZER.The jacket clearly states that the "Music Box Orchestra" includes flute, piano, cello, percussion, english horn, and oboe.As a musician, I am not offended by the "easy-listening" versions of these classics.In fact, I enjoy them.They introduce my son to the timeless melodies WITHOUT OVERSTIMULATING HIM at bedtime.I find them relaxing too.

Great lullaby cd!
I love all the Baby Einstein products & this is my favorite cd so far!My 10 week old son loves it & we listen to it while I'm feeding him & when I'm rocking him to sleep.The music is very soothing for baby and mom. All of the songs are great and sometimes even puts me to sleep! I would recommend to any new mom. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bagatelle for Keyboard    2. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    3. Cantata    4. Children's    5. Childrens    6. Choral    7. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    8. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    9. Concerto    10. Keyboard    11. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    12. Lullabies    13. Miscellaneous    14. Orchestral    15. Pop    16. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    17. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    18. Romantic Symphony    19. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    20. Song Without Words for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

Unlike his popular score for 2002's Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (7)

The Music Is Always A Necessary Ingredient.
Music played a big part in the illusion of this movie as it set the tone for what was taking place on the screen."Wish I Would See You Again" was effective as the two lovers meet and discover all over again that the chemistry is still there, and most effective was the train scene when "Eisenheim Disappears." It was all an illusion (the whole movie), but the music helped to try to sort things out.
Glass is a Master
The music for the film The Illusionist adds enormously to your appreciation of the film, it underlines the mystery, the illusion, in the story, and heightens the emotion and fantasy elements.I loved the film, and listening to the music has made me more aware of what I loved about it. For example, the music begins with a major chord. Followed by a minor chord. This creates a sense of drama and shadow - sunlight obscured by darkness. Glass is also a master of melody, with a beautiful theme for the Sophie music. The Illusionist theme is dramatic and portentous, perfectly suiting the magical doings of the plot. This is a skillful, seductive score. If you loved the film, you will love the music.

Bravissimo Philip Glass!!!
This is more than a score for a film, it is classical music deserving of the highest respect.Echoing sentiment of many others based on his early works, I, too, thought Philip Glass was just another minimalist experimenters with a limited ouvre.But time and time again, especially with powerful scores notably; The Truman Show, Fog Of War and now, The Illusionist, I believe Philip Glass proves his place among the finest composers of our time, period.
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Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Pop    4. Soundtrack    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson has been scantily represented on CD, and that makes this gorgeous, deeply felt release all the more valuable. Here she sings two Bach cantatas composed for solo voice. Her mezzo is not particularly heavy, but it can darken or lighten expressively, and she uses its dusky qualities handsomely. Read more

Reviews (22)

Stirring
The quality of Ms. Lieberson's singing and the emotional depth of her performance make one especially regretful that she died so young. Lovers of classical vocal music were deprived of a superb artist.

Supreme
Supreme musicianship and vocalism by the mistress of early music. A brilliant Cd and a must for every lover of Bach Cantatas.

Ethereal
I admit to being a novice at hearing a lot of classical vocal music.I do listen to operas and I quite enjoy a lot of Bach - he is my favorite composer.I have heard of Lieberson a lot over the past few years.Last week, I stayed as a guest in a house where this cd was playing and I felt my whole spirit rise up.The musical selections are truly sublime and Ms Lieberson's voice is so magical.I enjoyed listening to it in perfect silence so that each note was audible and appreciated.It's truly a masterpiece.Thank goodness that music of this quality is still produced and out there.Thanks to the great master Johann and to the ethereal and talented Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Vocals   

Reviews (1)

The Homecoming....Andre Rieu
I know it is relative, but this is the most enjoyable, exciting, inspiring, entertaining program I have watched in a long, long time. I did not get enough with one viewing, I will be watching it again and likely again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Concerto    5. French Romantic Opera    6. German/Austrian Operetta    7. Guitar Concerto    8. Italian Romantic Opera    9. Music Theater    10. Musical Theater    11. Opera    12. Orchestral    13. Orchestral Music    14. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    15. Vocal    16. Vocal Music   

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Classical Vocals   

Reviews (9)

Gabriela the Great!
I am so glad that someone recently "found" Gabriela and her work is getting published! This is some of the best piano solo I have ever heard.After hearing a spot on National Public Radio I bought the CD, and am delighted.

Absolutely beautiful
Gabriela Montero can do no wrong. She is a gifted pianist who intuitively interprets challenging piano pieces and often gives them a special twist of her own. I love her work.

Unique experience
After hearing a CD review from public radio, I decided to buy this CD. Listening this CD gave me a unique experience between classical and jazz music. This is something not to be missed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    4. Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard    5. Etude for Keyboard    6. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    7. Keyboard    8. Keyboard Music    9. Moment Musical for Keyboard    10. Opera    11. Orchestral & Symphonic    12. Prelude for Keyboard    13. Spanish/Portuguese 20th/21st Century Opera    14. Waltz for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

There are worse things in life than making your acting debut on the much ballyhooed season finale of Read more

Reviews (1017)

Move Over Pavarotti
Josh Groban has one of the most beautiful voices around. Thank God, that is spending it doing it on classical operatic styles rather than pop rock or rap that others waste their time and money. His voice sings through you. You feel like angels are singing. His voice is powerful and beautiful. I would love to see him live. I just admire him so much that I don't care that if I don't understand Italian but I would like too.
Heaven can hear his voice
What a gift Josh Groban has received. May his work continue to reach the soul's of others. His music reaches out to me and I am sure to tons of others around the world.

THE BEST SONG EVER
Joshs song "To Where You Are" was written for his grama after her death. I just lost my grama and this was the song that was sung at the chaple.It is a beautiful song that shows the love for a family member, I'm buying the CD, so that my grama will always be close to me
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Cantata    3. Choral    4. Classical Pop    5. Film    6. Film Music    7. Pop    8. Pop Vocals    9. Popular Music    10. Rock/Pop    11. Traditional Pop    12. Vocal    13. Vocal Music    14. Vocal Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack

Reviews (5)

CD lives up to the movie
"The Sound of Music" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and Julie Andrews' singing makes the movie and CD. Listening to the soundtrack takes you right back through the movie.

Masterpiece
The 40th edition of "The Sound of Music" soundtrack is a special gift for all the movie fans. Not only because of the quality of the sound ("The Sound of Music" has never sounded better), but also because all the vocal singing parts of the film are, for the first time, forever registered. So, you have the whole concert before they escape from the nazis, you have Julie Andrews coming back from the abbey and meeting the children and dame Julie singing to Charmian Carr "You are 16", all in chronological order, respecting the movie narrative. It's more than we all have been waiting for. It's a masterpiece.

The Sound of Near-Perfection
I am very happy that this 40th Anniversary edition of THE SOUND OF MUSIC Soundtrack is a vast improvement over any of the previous RCA CD issues. For the first time, it presents ALL the song cues in the order of the film, and the RCA tapes have never sounded better. Dame Julie's sterling portrayal of Maria is reason enough to plump for this CD, and her crystalline voice has never sounded better. She is ably backed by the critic-proof cast including Bill Lee's down-to-earth Captain, Margery McKay's Mother Abbess, and the glorious septet of children. This CD presents the tracks from the original RCA album, in more dynamic sound than on previous CDs, in sound that positively shines. These tracks intermingle with the Captain's first version of Edelweiss with Liesl, the Laendler and the Sixteen Going on Seventeen reprise. They are all lovingly incorporated into the soundtrack and the presentation is perhaps enough to rival the superb sounding Fox gold CD. This CD also includes the reprises of My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi and So Long, Farewell, and the Entr'acte and End Titles. They all make their CD debut, except that the tinny sound quality sounds like the producers recorded it off a videocassette or a DVD of the movie, because you can hear some dialogue and sound effects and a funny sound quality. All-told, although I do wish that the CD producers used the 20th-Century Fox tracks exclusively for this release and utilised longer versions of the Preludium and the reprise of Edelweiss, this CD offers wonderful sound quality despite some tape hiss in the RCA tracks. The booklet contains some coloured stills from the film, yet I lament that it lacks not just the lyrics but a detailed analysis of the musical, the filming and a soundtrack annotation. Overall, a wonderful presentation of a justly-celebrated soundtrack and a true sign that this soundtrack is getting the proper treatment it deserves. What more needs to be said than BUY IT NOW. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Keyboard    4. Keyboard Music    5. Miscellaneous    6. Miscellaneous Music    7. Pop    8. Show Tunes    9. Soundtrack    10. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

As the Read more

Features

• SACD

Reviews (3)

Nourishment for your Imagination
When I mention my appreciation of Danny Elfman's work to other people, a question I often get is "What kind of music does he do?"
Master piece
Serenada Schizophrana is probably the best work Elfman ever made. It is mature, virtuoso, deep and powerful. All his usuals styles are transcends, and the six mouvements are rich in shades and tones. The mouvements are all interesting in their own musical way, and invit us to a long travel inside the genius and strange brain of Danny Elfman. The fifth, "I Forget", which is probably his most wonderful piece, looks like a tragic fantasy opera with beautiful females choirs. Serenada Schizophrana is a truly amazing orchestral piece, but not easily accessible. Patience and lot of listening are recommanded in order to understand the richness of this work of art.

Music for the Hitchcock Movie Never Filmed
Danny Elfman's "Serenada Schizophrana" is best decribed as a score for the Alfred Hitchcock movie never filmed.It has all the elements of a dark and cinematic film score by Bernard Hermann.There is also the humour of Elfman's work for Tim Burton.With a total running time of about 45 minutes, this is truly a disc that leaves you wanting more.If you have an SACD system then you will not be disappointed - the 5.1 surround sound is spectacular but never forced.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists   

Editorial Review

Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Read more

Reviews (37)

Beautiful, Ralaxing and Simple
This is great collection of relaxing and beautiful songs. Joshua's violin playing is wonderful, romantic and precise. I heard my local radio station raving about this CD so I decided to buy it. This is definitely worth buying unless you already have all the songs.

Romance of the Violin
Joshua Bell plays on the violin some of the most beautiful music ever written.His violin sings when he plays O Mio Babbino Caro and Songs My Mother Taught Me.This music is a pleasure to relax by or to listen to at a romantic dinner.
Sorry But......
NO! I don't think this is a wonderful recording. Yes they are beautiful melodies but this is not how they were written. This is the same as taking beautiful natural fruits of the earth and turning them in