Editorial Review

The Paganini concerto, with its combination of wild virtuosity and fatty, gushy melody, is a favorite of audiences and violinists; fiddlers love to strut their stuff and the public can't resist anything so juicy. Hilary Hahn here throws her violinist hat into the ring with Perlman, Kogan, and Gil Shaham and comes out looking just fine. She handles the incredibly showy outer movements with flair, poise, and startling precision, and spins out the long, Italian melodies in the middle movement beautifully. Similarly, she handles the Spohr almost as if it were composed for the voice--it's an enchanting performance. Simply stunning and highly recommended. Read more

Reviews (1)

The Storm Before The Calm
Well, its mostly a happy, festive storm (the Paganini) and a sometimes melancholy, but sometimes tense calm (the Spohr).
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Orchestral & Symphonic   

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   

Editorial Review

Put together by Abba's own Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Read more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (150)

cd
I love this music and had recently been to the stage play with friends.This was a wonderful way to keep the memory of the music for myself.. AND to give another copy to our hostess as a thank you.

Mamma Mia - the CD
Having seen the show in London, I was looking forward to the CD.I did not purchase the CD at the show, and was suprised that your price was less.
For those who hate musicals
I love this CD.You have to like ABBA.If you don't, don't buy it obviously.It's great to listen to even if you don't like musicals.This is another broadway soundtrack that my fellow workers don't mind me putting in the CD player while working in the kitchen.They like ABBA and hate musicals, so this is right up their alley.The story is a little hard to follow by the songs, but you can get the very basic plot from them.I think you'll like it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cast Recordings    2. Music Theater    3. Musical Theater    4. Musicals    5. Original Cast Recordings    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Showtunes / B'way    9. Soundtracks    10. Swedish Pop/Rock   

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

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Features

• Enhanced
• Soundtrack

Reviews (45)

Little Boy and I love it!
My 3 YO son, who wouldn't sit through the whole movie, still loves everthing CARS. He knows and plays with all the characters, enjoys the video game, and LOVES the CARS the music soundtrack. He dances to the songs or has me play it while he eats his lunch or dinner. It's fun to watch him enjoy this album so much, especially when his second favorite is a toddler tunes CD that sings ABCs and 123s.
Out for a Drive.
small towns, and Route 66.Like most Pixar pictures, the music from CARS captured on the soundtrack is a delightful musical representation of what happens in the film; an audio figment embodying the film's spirit.Unlike previous Pixar soundtracks, about half of the music on the soundtrack are songs sung by various artists, with the rest of the music being parts of the score.The songs on this album range from rocking country to classic oldies to a lonely, longing folk medly.I especially like the following tunes:
Fasten your seatbelts
Unless you're a die-hard country music fan, you'll need to watch the movie first to fully appreciate this fun album.However, if you've seen the movie as often as my family has, the soundtrack becomes part of your daily life.
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Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Miscellaneous    4. Miscellaneous Music    5. Pop    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks    8. Soundtracks & Film Scores    9. Vocal    10. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

As gleefully silly yet wickedly smart as the beloved British comedy troupe and their 1975 cinematic savaging of the Arthurian legend that inspired it, this adaptation ofRead more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (117)

Monty Python's Spamalot
I love the songs on Monty Python's Spamalot . It's so great with wonderful actors & singings on here & I think it's a win for everyone who buys Monty Python's Spamalot . So , go get your money for this cd & get it fast. You will not go home unhappy with hearing Monty Python's Spamalot . Always look on the bright side of life :)
Could you think of a better soundtrack that could define Monty Python any better?
I recently purchased "Monty Python's SpamAlot" and that was money well spent.The lyrics are hilarious and couldn't define the humor of Monty Python any better.It captures that greatness of the 1970s movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and adds new laughs.Sara Ramariez has an amazing voice and (if you didn't know) I truly understand why she won the Tony in 2005 for her portrayal as The Lady of the Lake.If you are a Musical Theatre Junkie, like myself, then I highly suggest that you order this soundtrack.

Way too funny!!
I purchased this CD after seeing Spamalot because the songs from the show are clever, witty and, well, just plain funny. Listening to the CD at work or in the car just sends me into a great mood as I remember the show and how funny and entertaining it was.Anyone who has seen Spamalot will know what I mean and will want that same recollection over and over as they listen to the tracks.If you loved the show this CD is a must. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Britain    2. Cast Recordings    3. Music Theater    4. Musical Theater    5. Pop    6. Show Tunes    7. Showtunes / B'way    8. Soundtracks    9. United States of America   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (41)

Bear McCreary is a genius composer
The soundtrack sounded refreshing and unique. Many of the tracks left a chilling impression on me, especially Passacagl ia, Kobal's Last Gleaming, and The Shape of Things to Come.
Better than the miniseries!
I loved the miniseries soundtrack, but I love this one even more.I love the war drums, they are awesome!

the first review/kagemusha
well, this is the first time for a review, and i was recomended to this review. so here it goes.First of all wow!!! i mean wooow
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Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Pop    4. Soundtrack    5. Soundtracks & Film Scores    6. TV Soundtracks   

Editorial Review

It's not that surprising that Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (153)

Superior to the Original
I'm not just a casual fan of Rent -- I've seen the Broadway show, I've heard the original cast recording, and I know a bit about each of the original cast members. But I must part ways with most of the fans of the stage show by saying that yes, the movie's cast recording is indeed superior.
Unbelievable
I love my OBC recording.But the production on it is less than stellar and it can sound almost "tinny" at times.So when I listened to this version, I was scared that it would not live up to the standards set by the cast album.
Loving Rent the soundtrack
Hello, My name is Michael, Im 15 years old. I love the rent soundtrack, I mainly like it becuase it has EVERY SINGLE SONG recorded for the rent movie instead of the highlited one, (I suggest you listen to Another Day and Goodbye Love if you purchace this) I've played it over a billion times by now (no joke) and it still is just plain lovely. Its a must have for all rentheads, or someone who just liked the movie. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Film Music    2. Music Theater    3. Musical Theater    4. Musicals    5. Pop    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks    8. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

Under its enigmatic title lurks a remarkably entertaining little show. Read more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (91)

Monkey song dull? Maybe cuz you haven't seen the show?
The first time I saw this show, the surprise after surprise really impressed me. When Aldolfo appeared in the Nightingale song, I asked my friend, "What's going on here, this scene does not make sense." The surprise a minute after I asked that, made me laugh and laugh and laugh.
Another 'On the Nose' show that oddly delivers
It's both perplexing and oddly reassuring to me that in today's cynical landscape musicals that are not cynical at all could be direct hits on broadway.Between The Producers and Spamalot there's been a kind of resurgence in old school humorists with a contemporary self-awareness which somehow doesn't take away from the earnesty and humor... Add Drowsy Chaperone to this list.I'll throw in my two cents- Foster is, as always, a master at her craft, the music is, if a little old fashioned, still completely satisfying... I'm kind of in love with this little show...

Wonderful Show!
It's amusing reading these reviews.So many people just don't seem to get it, but who cares? I love The Monkey Song and As We Stumble Along, the latter being a Zen masterpiece! Both reflect the genius of this show.How can you complain about something with lyrics like: "But what a thrill when lovebirds trill" or "But heartbeats rush when sweethearts gush"?Some of the jokes of course don't come off unless you see the show...otherwise, how can you possibly understand "Message from a Nightingale"?All I can say is,
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Subjects:  1. Cast Recordings    2. Music Theater    3. Musical Theater    4. Musicals    5. Pop    6. Showtunes / B'way   

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   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (43)

Wide range, Good listening
Yeah, we all know it doesn't have the Hero of Canton song on it, but the only time they recorded that song was while they were filming.You can find it sometimes online, but it'll still have the voices of the actors in the foreground.
Pretty much for fans of Firefly.
I don't think I really need to go into details that this soundtrack is pretty much just for fans of the series, if you've seen Firefly you know to expect the same beautiful and sublime music that you can find in the series. If you've never watched the series before please just stop reading this and go rent the Firefly complete series DvDs.
Excellent series
If you enjoyed the original Star Trek series, or Babylon 5 you will probably enjoy this serieas as much as my family did.The character development is exceptional as is the acting and witty banter you expect with one of Josh's shows.My entire family enjoyed every single episode! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. New Acoustic    4. Pop    5. Soundtrack    6. Soundtracks & Film Scores    7. TV Soundtracks    8. Television Music   

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 into something so processed that it takes away from the mother earth rather than shows her splendor. There are many beautiful melodies written for the violin by composers (not by Hollywood style arrangers). Showing off a beautiful Stradivari violin this way is like degrading a beautiful person into being a slave for some petty whim of an unfortunate insecure person. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Pop    7. Concerto    8. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    9. Italian Baroque Opera    10. Italian Romantic Opera    11. Keyboard    12. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    13. Nocturne for Keyboard    14. Opera    15. Orchestral    16. Orchestral & Symphonic    17. Piano Concerto    18. Prelude for Keyboard    19. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    20. Transcription for Orchestra   

Editorial Review

What's left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Read more

Features

• Cast Recording
• Original recording remastered
• Box set

Reviews (382)

Lovely Recording
I personally prefer Rebecca Caine over Sarah Brightman, but it doesn't matter.This was a beautiful recording. :D

A True Musical Phenomenon!
After 20 years since it opened, THE PHANTOM has become the longest running, most popular stage show, and highest grossing Entertainment venture of all time, bringing in more earnings than any other stage show, any movie, (including the series of Star wars, Titanic, and Lord of the Rings)!! This Double disc volume of the original London cast is a Spectacular Rendition of this timeless Masterpiece. Not only are the performances by the entire Cast including 'THE' Phantom himself, Michael Crawford, who's melodic, extraordinary range and powerful vocals, make for fantastic Vocal tracks that capture the essence of 'Phantom,' but the Score and the way the orchestra plays it is powerful and very Full. Compared to both the Canadian Cast recording and Movie Record, The London Cast's Orchestra is by far the Most Full sounding overall.
75% more words!And 20% less carbs!
At the time that I'm writing this review there are 379 reviews for the original 1986 London cast recording of "The Phantom of the Opera".It can be safely surmised that many people have opinions about this particular hallmark of musical theater.It also seems requisite that any reviews written after 2004 must bring up the movie soundtrack and compare the two leads, with varying levels of love for one and hate for the other.I shall attempt to summarize some of the more frequently repeated comments here, attempting to adhere to bare facts while impressing as little opinion as possible into what is a very personal musical.
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Subjects:  1. Cast Recordings    2. Music Theater    3. Musical Theater    4. Musicals    5. Original Cast Recordings    6. Pop    7. Show Tunes    8. Showtunes / B'way   

Features

• Enhanced
• Soundtrack
• Special Edition

Reviews (15)

Buen cd no importa la edad
Buen soundtrack de la primera pelicula de disney que no es tan infantil el cd me gusto y no importa la edad que tengas las canciones estan pegajosas y son faciles de cantar ya que no se necesita tener la gran voz

singalong non stop
The speedy delivery was indeed valued.The disc was received in perfect condition and the production quality exceptional. My son is enjoying every minute listening to it.

Best CD to BUY!!!!!!!!
This CD is wonderful! This is a wonderful cd to buy because most of the songs are karaoke too! It comes with the words and a free poster of Troy and Gabriella. My friends and I love singing and dancing to the Wonderful music. If you are an adult, you may not like it, but kids LOVE IT!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Film    2. Film Music    3. Pop    4. Soundtrack    5. Soundtracks    6. Soundtracks & Film Scores    7. Teen Pop    8. Television Music   

Reviews (24)

Hallo-wha?
Let me start by saying I've never listened to Steamroller before picking this up. I am a big fan of Halloween and have quite a collection of music/sound fx so naturally, this was a must buy when I saw it.
An interest take on the usual
I wasn't sure what I'd think of this from reading other reviews, but I really did like it.I'm not really familiar with Mannheim's other stuff (but if the rest of the Autumn cd is anything like Harvest Dance, I'm looking forward to getting it), so I didn't have any preconceived ideas.I have a lot of the classical pieces on other cds, but I like the different twist given to them here. And I did like the sound effect cd.Nicely spooky (I have enough other sound effects cds with screaming and muching ghouls, etc).

Could have been great but . . .
As a big Steamroller fan, perhaps my hopes were set a little too high.I envisioned more original music (perhaps a more scarier vibe than the silly one this CD has to it) and maybe a few covered tunes.Chips originals (from the Fresh Aire series)found on this CD outshine the weak efforts put forth on the covered and rearranged tracks.The sound effects disc sets a great(and creepy)mood, that should had been followed through with some new and equally scary compositions.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    3. Classical Crossover    4. Classical Pop    5. Contemporary Instrumental    6. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    7. Halloween    8. Halloween Item    9. Instrumental Pop    10. Keyboard    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. New Age / Meditation    14. Novelty    15. Opera    16. Orchestral    17. Pop    18. Romantic Orchestral Music    19. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    20. Scherzo for Orchestra   

Editorial Review

This stunning new collection of short pieces by Arvo Pärt covers a 30 year period of the composer's output. The listener will be both comfortable with and surprised by the changes he's made: his essential style/approach and the beauty of the music remain constant, but Pärt is no whispering new-age poster boy. Sometimes the sound just washes over the listener; more often the small complexities or intensities are the hooks by which we are captivated. "Da pacem Domine" is a prayer for peace. Its different tonal hues thrill as much as they soothe. There's much of Renaissance music in his work--under the layers of sound there is a solid, far more simple core. The Two Slavonic Psalms have a Russian feel unlike most of Pärt's other works, and the first is fleet and perky. The strange "Dopo la vittoria" tells the story of St Ambrose and St Augustine singing the Te Deum composed for his defeat over the Arians; the story part is presented in an odd, chatty manner, but the prayer itself is exclaimed with great dignity. The performances, by Paul Hillier, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and organist Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, do Pärt's ethereal, still, but ever-moving music absolute justice, and the recorded sound is crystal clear. Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Magnificat    7. Psalm Setting    8. Sacred Choral Music    9. Sacred Choral Music a cappella    10. Sacred Choral Music with keyboard (or continuo)   

Editorial Review

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. Read more

Reviews (77)

Perfect for Quieting the Noise
I play this at the office and it reduces my reaction to the stress. A keeper!

Similar to "most Relaxing Piano anywhere"
I would like to delete about half of the truly unfamiliar tracks and possibly add a couple of better known more familiar works.

My wife made me buy this!
This certainly will relax you....but don't listen to this while driving! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. 20th/21st Century Symphony    3. Adagio for Orchestra    4. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    5. Cantata    6. Chamber    7. Chamber Music    8. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    9. Choral    10. Clarinet Concerto    11. Classical    12. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    13. Classical Crossover    14. Classical Music    15. Concerto    16. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    17. Concerto for Two String Instruments    18. French Romantic Opera    19. Guitar Concerto    20. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera