Features

• Soundtrack
• Import

Reviews (16)

A long wait, but worth it.
Prior to Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon", literary/historical epics seemed confined to action/war pictures--whether Roman, 19th century or WWII. The slower extended "Masterpice Theatre" approach wasn't thought commercial--and especially such a dry picaresque social satire as Barry Lyndon.Luckily Kubrick had the clout and experience to make it.
stunning movie, exquisite soundtrack
An absolutely superb selection of music.Again and again Kubrick revealed his genius in moviemaking with every detail, including his choice of musical accompaniment.The Handel is bold and poignant in all its variations. The rivetting Schubert Trio in E-flat IS the scene in the movie, and remains the scene on the soundtrack and is played eloquently and flawlessly with that odd droll depth which was sometimes characteristic of the Baroque. A truly amazing listen. It will transport you out of the bussle of the 21st Century with such profound delicacy. This one work alone would be worth the price of the CD, but there's so much more. There's also a Mozart march, a wonderful Bach Adagio for duel harpsichords, a gorgeous cello concerto by Vivaldi, and the hypnotically exquisite Cavatina by Pasiello. There are a couple of rare modern sublimes as well, Sean O'Riada's amazingly ethereal "Tin Whistles" and his "Women of Ireland."And then there's a few works of period traditional music which add filigree to the whole ensemble.It's a complete soundtrack, so like most soundtracks, there's a couple of pieces you probably won't want to listen to over and over again, but you can program those out with your CD or mp3 player (the two marches, while well-performed, distract from the otherwise delicate minuet pace of the whole ensemble, so I edit them out). Most of this music places you right in the period, but at the same time, much of it is so rare and wonderfully performed that it also transcends time and place with moments of the highest aesthetic pleasure. I converted it into my mp3 collection and pick and choose from its flavors for aesthetic sustenance according to my appetite.It's a small banquet. You can't help loving this collection.The Schubert trio in E-flat, especially, will stay close to your heart the rest of your life.It has to be one of the most beautiful recordings of all time--an amazing mixture of pathos and deliberation--so much like Barry and Lady Lyndon.

Excellent music/excellent movie
Barry Lyndon is one of my favorite movies and the music chosen is perfect for it.I love the part when Barry has just seen Lady Lyndon for the first time and follows her slowly outside, while Schubert's piano trio in e flat is played.That piece of music perfectly complements the scene.The Irish music by the Chieftains in the beginning is also enjoyable.I haven't been able to find the recording of the Schubert piano trio in e flat anywhere that was used in the film. The pianist is Anthony Goldstone and I love the recording in the film but haven't been able to find the complete trio with Goldstone anywhere online. Anyone know where to find it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Band    2. Band Music    3. Cello Concerto    4. Chamber    5. Concerto    6. Concerto for Two Pianos    7. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    8. Italian Classical Period Opera    9. Keyboard    10. Miscellaneous    11. Miscellaneous Music    12. Opera    13. Orchestral    14. Orchestral Music    15. Pop    16. Quartet for Four String Instruments    17. Soundtrack    18. Soundtracks    19. Soundtracks & Film Scores    20. Suite/Partita for Keyboard   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (28)

Beautiful Music, Blooper In Text On Jewel Case
I bought a 20th anniversary DVD copy of this movie last weekend, and just bought this CD today.It plays the soundtrack as beautiful as it was played in the film.One litte blooper on the box list of tracks.Track 7 is called "Room 417".In the film, Richard (played by the late Christopher Reeve) stays in Room 416 at the Grand Hotel.Except for that, this is a music set for a beautiful dream.I only wonder if I fall asleep listening to it, will I wake up 1912?Time will tell I guess. ;-)

Somewhere in Time
Hauntingly beautiful music. If you loved the movie, the CD brings it all back without the picture.So, you can listen at work, or in the car, and visually transport yourself back in time.

This one speaks to my soul.
A couple of years ago my partner and I took a cruise around the Horn (South America), and I listened to this music as we glided past the incredible wild scenery of Darake's Passage and then the Straights of Magellan.The majestic sights and the music of this album hypnotized me.Somehow I transferred this music to my memories of the tragic story I saw months ago in the film Brokeback Mountain.More often than not I still get all teary when I listen to this album, which is probably more frequently than is healthy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concerto    2. Film    3. Film Music    4. Original Score    5. Piano Concerto    6. Pop    7. Soundtrack    8. Soundtracks    9. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (9)

A little rushed sometimes, but beautiful
To be honest, I can't really figure out how much I like Katchen's performance. It's hard to gauge because Brahms's piano music is inherently exceptional played by just about any performer.
Radiant and inspired recordings
If there is a more effervescent , idiomatic , innovative and resplendently performance of the Handel Variations , I have not heard it . Katchen emphasizes with colossal scrupulosity the wide doe and the diversity spectre of the orchestral instruments . You must marvel at the technical equipment of Katchen playing .
Simply Amazing
This recording is definitive. Brahms is known to be passionate, loud, and temperamental like Beethoven. Thus, the piano playing required would have to be as such. Katchen makes full use of the range of the piano, never subduing any bass note, but rather, amplifies it. Furthermore, you don't get the over-romanticized and muddy texture of Evgeny Kissin. It is crisp, powerful, direct, and highly artistic. Truly passionate and other-worldly. But loud passion is not the only thing here; my opinion of Brahms is that his orchestral works are his best, that is, the symphonies and concertos. Yet, his intermezzi are perhaps one of the best compositions for the piano, and Katchen plays with the most careful detail to each and every nuance and phrasing for these gentle, often tragic pieces. Definetly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Balladefor Keyboard    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    8. Intermezzo for Keyboard    9. Keyboard    10. Keyboard Work Entitled "Piece" or "Stück"    11. Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard    12. Rhapsody for Keyboard    13. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    14. Romantic Variations for Keyboard    15. Scherzo for Keyboard    16. Variations for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

It's simple: in his various realizations of the piano music of Erik Satie, Aldo Ciccolini set a standard that has yet to be bettered. This compilation, drawn from recordings made between 1966 and 1971, is consequently the best of the best. Ciccolini always played Satie's music as though it had been written by Claude Debussy, not by some cheap charlatan or uneducated primitive (which, to an extent that is still debatable, Satie was). The result is that these seemingly simple piano pieces acquire a tonal allure that is as surprising as it is undeniable. They possess an understated sophistication that points directly toward Ravel and Poulenc, at the same time providing an opening to the minimalist aesthetic of the later 20th century. Ciccolini's playing is pliant and graceful, and under his fingers the music seems to breathe and come alive. What more could a composer or a listener want? Read more

Reviews (9)

Picasso in sound
Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Eric Satie were drinking buddies; it shouldn't be surprising that their work, though in different media, should bear striking similarities. This CD set replaces a very badly abused vinyl recording from the 1960s. No one plays Satie like Aldo Ciccolini. I do wish the Parade had been included, Satie wrote the music, Cocteau the libretto and Picasso did the sets and costumes-Satie's only ballet. Of course, the circa 1910 audience walked out. It's the story of an out-of-work ballet company that goes out onto the streets of Paris to try to get customers to come inside. The customers are stereotypes like the American in a cowboy outfit who adds the sound of this six gun to the music and the secretary who types through the encounter. The back wall of the theater was covered with Picasso designed neon signs flashing in bright colors throughout the performance. Across the front of the stage he'd strung acetate on which were playing street scenes of Paris from three cameras-red, blue and green. The men were way, way ahead of their times.

Great but NOT complete
Please note that this collection does NOT contain Erik Satie's complete works for piano.The collection makes no such claim, but at 5 CDs, some may assume it to be complete and none of the other reviews to date mention this.I am too lazy to do the research to come up with a complete list, but offhand I know that these songs are missing - "Je Te Veux", "Fantaisie-Valse" and "Valse-Ballet".These 3 are among my favorite Satie pieces, so yes, I think the collection is diminished somewhat by their absence.
There's only one.
If you're reading this, you've already heard Satie's music, so I needn't to go into that. I do want to say that this is the only recording of Satie that is worth hearing. Ciccolini is the only foot that will fit the Satie glass slipper.Don't waste your money on the ugly step-sisters. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Work with Descriptive Title    3. 20th/21st Century Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    4. 20th/21st Century Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem    5. Ballet    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    10. Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard    11. Keyboard    12. Keyboard Music for More Than One Player    13. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    14. Morceau for Keyboard    15. Musical Theater    16. Nocturne for Keyboard    17. Orchestral    18. Orchestral & Symphonic    19. Prelude for Keyboard    20. Sarabande for Keyboard   

Reviews (1)

A lifesaver!
Our baby loves it!We tried this CD in the car and are now avid roadsters again.This and the other soothing CD "Nursery Lullaby" are the best!Wish we tried it earlier! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    3. Chamber    4. Children's Collections    5. Childrens    6. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    7. Concerto    8. Concerto Grosso    9. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    10. Flute Solo/Sonata    11. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    12. Keyboard    13. Keyboard Music    14. Music for Organ    15. Music for Two Keyboards    16. Nocturne for Keyboard    17. Opera    18. Orchestral    19. Pop    20. Prelude for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

The title of this project is aptly-named. Regina Carter, a Detroit-born, classically-trained jazz violinist, traveled to Genoa, Italy in December, 2001, and performed on Paganini's legendary Guarneri violin nicknamed "the Canon." After winning the hearts of the skeptical Italians, with armed gunmen surveying her every move, Carter played flawlessly, and became the first jazz musician and African-American to the play the instrument. The next year, Carter returned to Genoa, recorded on Paginini's violin andperformed a pleasing program of crossover-friendly light classics, South American compositions, a movie tune, and original works. Produced and arranged by Jorge Calandrelli and Ettore Strata, and backed by a combo led by pianist Werner "Vana" Gierig, the selections, while not exactly groundbreaking, successfully show off Carter's impeccable and soulful playing, and the violin's rich and reverent tones. An 18-piece orchestra supports Carter on Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante defunte,"Piazzolla's "Oblivion," and Ennio Morrricone's Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (23)

Like a breeze, caressing you...
Well, you know how there are some songs that work best in their original form and should not be remade / remixed / jazzed up by any musician at all?Regina Carter is the exception to that rule, for her touch is magic.
Regina Carter is Fantastic!
This is one of the most beautiful collections of classical jazz in the world.The music is beyond words.Every song speaks to my soul.It is one cd that everyone needs to add to their music collection.

Music from heavens
I a Jazz fan. However, I have never though that a violin can do that magic. It is not like anything that I have listened to before. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Choral    4. Classical Crossover    5. Film    6. Film Music    7. Jazz    8. Jazz Music    9. Keyboard    10. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. Pavane for Keyboard    14. Pop    15. Post-Bop    16. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    17. Secular Choral Music with Orchestra    18. Vocal   

Editorial Review

Programmed similarly to the Read more

Reviews (7)

Our favorite CD for all occasions
This is absolutely my favorite CD that we bought for our baby! We've bought quite a few classical-music-for-baby compilations, and this is far and away the best. The music is fun, flirty, stimulating, sweet, and beautifully performed. It's not syrupy, dumbed-down, or played on electronic instruments like some of those other compilations. We listen to it all the time. I now buy this as a baby shower gift for everyone I know!

Bach and Roll!
You can't beat Bach.If classical music is the thing you want for your baby, get this CD.If you are single and have no kids, but classical music is your thing, get this CD.This is fantastic reading music, study music (regardless of what you're studying), and just plain relaxing music.I also highly recommend the CD, BUILD YOUR BABY'S BRAIN 1.

My daughter loves this CD
She's one-year-old now, and she's been listening to this CD since she was 1 month old.Recommend it for those new parents that can't come up with any other way to lay their little ones to sleep. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Cello Solo    3. Chamber    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Concerto    8. Concerto Grosso    9. Contrapuntal/Improvisatory Keyboard Music    10. Flute Solo/Sonata    11. Keyboard    12. Minuet for Keyboard    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Music    15. Music for Organ    16. Oboe Concerto    17. Orchestral    18. Orchestral & Symphonic    19. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    20. Solo Voice and Continuo   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (5)

poor sound quality
a great selection of baroque favorites, but the sound quality, especially on the pachelbel canon, not great at all.for that reason, i cannot recommend getting it.what do you expect for five dollars, right !>?i would suggest spending a little more money and getting something that you can't bear to part with, for continued listening enjoyment.

SUPERB
An introduction to the best baroque music by famous composers. In this case: I'm baroque
I'm not usually a classical listener kind of gal.The only reason I stumbled onto this cd is because my favorite tune from a movie is on it. Sarabande is also played on the movie Persuasion (author: Jane Austen).I wanted to have that tune.Followed the links and landed on the Baroque cd.Ordered it.Sarabande is my favorite, followed by Canon, four seasons: spring, etc.I love this cd!It feels happy and light.For me, as a writer and an animator, it adds extra emotional impact when creating as well as influencing my imagination more.I recommend this cd when people want to feel like spring. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adagio for Orchestra    2. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    3. Chamber    4. Chamber Music    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Classical    7. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    8. Classical Music    9. Concerto    10. Concerto Grosso    11. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    12. Italian Baroque Opera    13. Keyboard Concerto    14. Miscellaneous    15. Miscellaneous Music    16. Music For String Orchestra    17. Oboe Concerto    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Quartet for Four String Instruments   

Reviews (29)

And As For The Bernstein..........
Most music lovers who buy or seek this CD will do so for the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 and for good reason: Hilary Hahn offers a sensitive, intelligent and thoroughly informed performance as accompanied by David Zinman conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.Surely everyone has a favorite performanceof this standard repertoire work: whether or not that performance rests comfortably in memory from a live concert or is secure in the recorded catalogue is a mute point.But few could argue the beauty and skill with which Hilary Hahn caresses this work.It is a very fine performance.
How to play this recording!!!!
I was interested in the complaints about miking or mixing, but didn't think too much about it... UNTIL I got the CD a couple of months ago.
Some passion missing...
I like Hahn's choice of tempos and her vision of Beethoven op. 61. The violinist sometimes compared to Heifetz takes considerably slower tempos than him, almost like Oistrakh. In this case I happen to agree with Oistrakh & Hahn. Compared to the old Russian master, however, I think some passion is missing here. The first movement may feel long-drawn-out when not played an interesting way, and that is my feeling, especially compared to Oistrakh's passionate performance under Ehrling's baton and his almost ceremonial under Cluytens.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Work with Descriptive Title    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Music    6. Concerto    7. Orchestral    8. Violin Concerto   

Reviews (7)

Excellent for Massage!
I'm a licensed massage therapist, and I absolutely adore using this CD during my sessions!It's a great alternative to the new age-y music styles that are so pervasive in the relaxation music scene -- my clients find this CD soothing & relaxing, and not at all "weird".This music suports a "relaxed but focused" atmosphere -- it serves as excellent white noise in the lobby area, and I even use it at home as a soothing backdrop for reading/ sewing/ paperwork/ etc.Excellent arrangements & clarity -- DON'T MISS!

MOZART FOR MEDITATION
Excellent CD. Love to have it playing in the background of my daily schedule.Soothing.Gentle.Contemplative.HIghly recommend it.

Mozart for Meditation
It is not as meditative as I would have liked. Doesn't do the job I wanted it to do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    6. Classical Period Symphony    7. Classical Pop    8. Concerto    9. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    10. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    11. Flute Concerto    12. French Horn Concerto    13. Keyboard    14. Meditation    15. Mood Music    16. Piano Concerto    17. Symphonic    18. Violin Concerto   

Reviews (8)

Too busy
I was hoping for more music - there's just too much storytelling for my and my kids' taste.We love the Beethoven's Wig series and were hoping this would be similar.

good product and fast service
Product arrived in ample time overseas and was pleased with quality of product!

what a road trip
i bought this item after reading some of the reviews on amazon for my nephews who are 2 and 4 years of age.two months after christmas their mom was explaining how they request the cd everytime they are in the car.she groaned when i was in the car and they boys wanted to show me how much they liked the cd.during the trip i witnessed a mother humming along to the music with her children, the boys singing to excerpts, and an overall execptional learning experience about music, culture, and history. if you are looking for something that all children will like, passes the time on a road trip, and teaches important lessons about life without being pretentious then get this cd, it is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Children's    3. Childrens    4. Choral    5. Classical    6. Classical Period Music for Voice and Keyboard    7. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    8. Classical Period Symphony    9. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    10. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    11. Concerto    12. French Horn Concerto    13. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    14. Keyboard    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Motet    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Piano Concerto   

Editorial Review

Unlike most composer/pianists, Rachmaninoff's instrumental prowess wasfully commensurate with his creative gifts. He embraces his youthful First Concertos as ifhe had encountered an old lover, consumating his passion with stupefying fingerwork inthe first movement cadenza. Conversely, the composer seems bored in the Third. Helaconically dispatches its torrents of notes, opts for the easier ossias in difficult passages,and makes cuts in the first and third movements. And pianists like Arturo Michelangeliand Earl Wild have recorded more incisive, demonic Rach Fourths. No question aboutthe Paganini Rhapsody and Second Concerto, where Rachmaninoff's fierce authority andluscious, molten tone permeate every bar. RCA's transfers, however, could have beenbetter.Read more

Reviews (28)

Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos No.2 and No.3
I'm completely blown away this recording (Rachmaninoff playing Rachmaninoff Concerto 2+3 with Philadelphia Orchestra). I have heard so many recordings of both these concertos that I had become tired of them as they are treated as romantic virtuoso vehicles by all pianists - who - generalising though this may sound - play the Concerto No. 2 ALL IN THE SAME WAY!! So, when I heard Rachmaninoff playing HIMSELF tonight, I was completely stunned but his own interpretation which seems completely different to everyone elses. I cannot understand why other pianists who play these concertos haven't gone back to listen to Rachmininoff himself.
A moment of love
I'm not sure which version I'm going to buy, but I am on the Amazon site looking because I know the utter nutcases that write the reviews on classical works will do so with passion and unambiguous opinion.

A moment of truth
This afternoon I put on this recording of Rachmaninov, thinking I could use a little "background" music as I cleaned the living room.It stopped me dead in my tracks.For the next half hour (it was the third concerto) I sat on the coffee table, clutching my dust rag and muttering an occasional "my god!"
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Concerto    5. Piano Concerto   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (2)

Marvellous!
I don't play violin, and I can't even read music, but as a classical music amateur I find this CD outstanding. Even an incompetent like myself can easily understand why Perlman is regarded as one of the greates violinists ever. This is a marvellous collection of pieces. The rendition of "Chanson Russe" by itself is, in my opinion, worth more than the price of the CD. If you listen to the audio samples on Amazon's pages and you like violin you will surely understand why I like this CD so much. I am grateful to People like Perlman, who make this world a better place to live in.

The best violinist ever!
All I can say to this CD is it's the best I've ever heard. In this CD, Itzhak Perlman truly demonstrates his best performances of the past years. I have always been a great admirer of Perlman, but since I own this CD, it's all I've listened to for the past three months. I myself play the violin and Perlman has become an inspiration to me, almost a musical idol. For any of those violinists out there, especially young musicians, who don't feel any excitement about playing the violin, listen to this CD and I promise you, you will strive to being able to play like this man does. He is truly the best musician I've ever known. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Chamber Music & Recitals    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Concerto    9. Keyboard    10. Keyboard Music    11. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    12. Trio for Keyboard and Two String Instruments    13. Violin Concerto    14. Violin with Keyboard    15. Vocal   

Reviews (7)

great find
great music really enjoy this album and hope to hear more from this artist

a magnificent player, but not yet artistically mature
Balsom delivers an attractive disc here, with her impressive technical skill and a sophisticated seriousness of purpose in her programming, but there's something important missing from this album.Balsom plays with magnificent virtuosity, but she presents no message, no artistic voice, no aesthetic philosophy, no unique understanding of or approach to these works of J.S. Bach.I think she's overly preoccupied with proving herself.There's a Carnival of Venice sort of character to this disc: bars and bars of sixteenth notes flow effortlessly from her trumpet, and then bars and bars more, but for all that you get no sense of a distinct musical personality.(Her tone is very French as well: focused and bright.You can hear that she's been taking HÃ¥kan Hardenberger pills.Personally I'm not fond of this sort of trumpet sound, but I understand that it's a matter of taste.)
Beautiful trumpet playing
I can,t stop listening to this player.
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Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    3. Cello Solo    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Choral    7. Classical    8. Classical Composers    9. Concerto    10. Keyboard    11. Keyboard Concerto    12. Keyboard Music    13. Mass    14. Music for Organ    15. Orchestral    16. Solo Voice and Continuo    17. Violin Solo    18. Vocal   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

$70/40... you do the math.
No, I don't own this collection...yet.However, the price of the collection compels me to review it beforehand.Never have I seen such a complete collection of Vivaldi compositions at such an incredibly low price.At $1.75 dollars a CD, the record producer (Brilliant Classics) isn't making much of a profit.The compilation pulls some of its works from DG Achiv Produktion's vault (see Standage), such as the violin concertos, as well as from unknown producers (the Poland Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is heavily featured).The collection is so complete that it is academic, and I would not be surprised if music libraries quickly emptied it from Amazon's shelves.The collection is simply worth it for the incredible price (English Concert's recording of the violin concertos cost nearly 30 bucks, and is exactly featured here). Overall, the price alone makes this collection exceptionally attractive, and the ensembles featured aren't bad either. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Sinfonia for Orchestra    2. Bassoon Concerto    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Cello Concerto    5. Cello with Keyboard    6. Chamber    7. Chamber Music & Recitals    8. Choral    9. Classical    10. Classical Composers    11. Concerto    12. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    13. Concerto for Two String Instruments    14. Credo    15. Flute Concerto    16. Gloria    17. Italian Baroque Opera    18. Magnificat    19. Mixed Chamber Ensemble with Keyboard    20. Multiple String Instruments with Keyboard/Continuo   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (4)

Classic - Hold the Chills
This is a fine collection of mostly classical themes.
Packed with creepy stuff
This is an awesome album. It starts off with thunder crashing, running footsteps, a gate creaking, the wind howling, a cat screeching, a door opening, a woman crying that she needs help....and then SCREAMING! And then straight into track 2, the overture to 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Wow! The rest of the cd also features 'creepy' music from various sources, such as Alfred Hitchcock films, like Psycho, various classic works like Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Night on Bald Mountain', and also some other creepy sound effects. A good album not only for Halloween but I dare you to listen to it during a dark night with a thunderstorm raging outside.

A real work-out for your system......
I've owned the "Chiller" CD since it's release in '89.At the time, I was working for a local Audio/Video/Music dealer, and was looking for 'demo' CD's containing not necessarily heavy bass, but ones displayingincredible dynamic range, and sharp transient peaks.I already owned acopy of "Time Warp", also on Telarc, and was intrigued when Iread about "Chiller.Needless to say, I was extremely pleased withthis disc.Not only did I get a disc containing some great treatments ofclassics, but the re-make of the "Psycho" suite is wonderful (theshower sequence is very faithful to the original)!A word ofwarning.....the dynamic range of this disc is not to beunderestimated.....I drove an older amplifier into thermal shutdown VERYquickly with track #1.I haven't tried it since I've upgraded my homesystem....hmmm....might have to scare the neighbors tonight (or at leastrattle a few dental fillings)! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Music    7. Conductor    8. Electronic/Computer/Tape Music    9. Film    10. Film Music    11. Instrumental Pop    12. Keyboard    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Music    15. Music Theater    16. Musical Theater    17. Orchestral    18. Orchestral Pop    19. Romantic Orchestral Music    20. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra   

Editorial Review

This is an extraordinary recording - extraordinary in concept, planning, preparation, and execution. Orchestras have been known to let an entire violin section stand up and play Paganini's "Perpetual motion" in unison - often with dubious results - but a cello section that can transform itself into a multi-layered ensemble is unique. Of course it only works if the section belongs to a great orchestra and consists of great individual players. The sound these cellists produce is incredible, from the sonority of an orchestra to delicate, transparent lines, from somber darkness to celestial radiance. They must have very strong thumbs: much of the music lies in the stratospheric thumb-position. Indeed, it is often hard to believe that these are cellos, not violins, or flutes and oboes. Their intonation, balance and unanimity are impeccable, and their stylistic versatility equals their technical command. The program, in excellent arrangements, some by the players themselves, ranges from a 17th-century Carissimi prayer (with chorus) through Bach, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Verdi, Piazzolla, whose Tango Suite gives the disc its title, Pärt, whose "Fratres" is heard in its original version, punctuated by bass-drum thuds, to contemporary Gospel shouts (with a jazz singer) by Volker Schlott, a Berlin-based jazz musician. The program ends with a frankly emotional, beautiful piece written for the 12 Cellists by Markus Stockhausen, who joins them on trumpet and flugelhorn. The recording's only flaw is its excessive dynamic contrast; let your ears revel in the Cellists' sound, but keep a finger on the volume control. Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    5. Choral    6. Choral Music    7. Classical    8. Classical Artists    9. Keyboard    10. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    11. Music For String Orchestra    12. Oratorio    13. Orchestral    14. Orchestral & Symphonic    15. Vocal    16. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

This dazzling new CD features five Vivaldi violin concertos that have never before been recorded. (He composed almost 250!) Giuliano Carmignola, backed by the Venice Baroque Orchestra led by Andrea Marcon offer a program of such thrilling energy and virtuosity that it's impossible not to get caught up in their passion for the music. Carmignola attacks this music with the expressivity of a superb Italian tenor; his control over dynamics, fast runs, and leaps are remarkable--and he does it all without a trace of vibrato (not very Italian-tenor in that respect). The finale of RV 325 features urgent downward scales from the orchestra while the violin carries on insanely above it; the Largo of RV 303 contains some wonderfully odd chromatic writing. RV 190 is a complicated work, featuring a rich first movement cadenza by Olivier Foures, a lovely song-like Largo, and a final Allegro that will make you want to dance.In short, this is a very exciting CD. Vivaldi lovers won't have to be convinced; others will realize that not all of this composer's works sound the same. Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Concerto    5. Violin Concerto   

Editorial Review

There is a lot of really enjoyable music here. I rememberorganizing a performance of the Fifth Piano Concerto (subtitled "TheEgyptian") when I was repertoire committee chairman for a local communityorchestra. We found it not only very playable for all of us amateurs in theorchestra, but it simply blew the audience away. It's a real find. Both theSecond and Fourth concertos have been popular favorites for more than a century,but they seemed to have vanished sight in the past couple of decades. It was ourloss, but no more. And the Fifth Piano Concerto, even when played by amateurs,can blow an audience away. At two discs for the price of one, these fineperformances offer listeners a great chance to know this charming and vivaciousmusic at little or no risk at all. So why hesitate? Read more

Reviews (9)

Outstanding.
Having listened to other recordings, plus hearing live ones, of Concerto #2 (the most popular) for 15 years, it was nice to hear the entire pentalogy of the Saint-Saens piano concerti.
OK for the money
All in all, I think this is a fair value.Dutoit does a great job conducting and the quality of the recording is good.I was disappointed with the soloist's interpretation of concerto no 2 - I felt too much liberty was taken - esp on the opening passages.What should have been one long phrase building in intensity was instead practically broken into shorter phrases and any momentum that might have been gained was lost.I also felt like the third movement was not played at a tempo I would consider 'presto'.
You'll like this set even if you don't like Saint-Saens
Unlike some of the other reviewers here, I am one of those who consider Saint-Saens to be a hopeless musical lightweight, a first-rate second-rate composer (as the old saw goes), a musician of prodigious technical talent but lacking any real depth in his music.It isn't any accident that, despite the tremendous popularity of his music during his lifetime, only about 2 dozen (and that is probably being generous) of his many many pieces are performed with any consistency.Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Concerto    5. Piano Concerto   

Reviews (2)

Be Thou My Vision
Track 3, Be Thou My Vision, was a surprise as the song was the final song played at my father's funeral.It set the closing mood most fittingly.While Be Thou My Vision is my favorite the entire collection is wonderfully mellow.I recommend it for for the mellow moods.

Reverent, beautiful
After criticizing Windham Hill in the past for often recycling the same songs over and over in various collections, I have to hand it to them with the new "Prayer" CD.It's a fine set of all-new acoustic versions of hymns or spiritual song