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.
Read more

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   

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!!
Read more

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   

Reviews (18)

Just some coverage.
Going over what most people have already said.
Gorgeous Choral Music
Eric Whitacre is an amazing composer.He uses just the right amount of tension and release in his chord structures, creating the kind of beauty in music that gives you goose bumps. Some of the cluster chords and progressions are absolutely breathtaking. If you have ever sung in a choir or enjoy choral music, you will understand and appreciate the talent used to sing cluster chords as in tune as the choir on this CD. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes choral music and anyone else who would like to expand their level of music listening.

Cloudburst and other Choral Works/Eric Whitacre
These beautiful songs transported me into a whole new space. The well-chosen poetry (eg. Rumi) and the magnificent harmonies demand well-focused attention. This is not "background music". Not recommended for driving! ... Read more

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

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   

Editorial Review

Although it squarely falls in the "jukebox musical" category, Read more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (71)

OH OH OH THOSE JERSEY BOYS!!!
THE BEST SHOW ON BROADWAY I HAVE SEEN IN YEARS.FROM BEGINNING TO END!LISTENING TO THE CD BRINGS BACK THAT WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AT THE THEATER.I WAS ONLY ONE WHEN SHERRY CAME OUT SO, I OF COURSE DIDNOT GROW UP WITH THIS MUSIC BUT, LOVE IT!. IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE BROADWAY SHOW BUY THE CD (ALSO GET THE BEST OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS) OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!

Those Jersey Boys!
I never thought that Jersey Boys would be such a hit on Broadway enough to win Tony Award for Best Musical. Although Broadway has not really brought out anything spectacular but everybody who has seen it live as loved it. If you can't spend money on tickets to see the show, you might as well by the compact disc and just imagine the live performance. The Four Seasons were one of the biggest music groups of the last century. Who would have thought that these four Jersey boys from Belleville, New Jersey also hometown to actor Joe Pesci would become such a huge hit. The show and the compact disc show how it began for them with all the trials and tribulations. If you can't see the show regardless of cost or travel, why not buy the compact disc? I have bought two for other people.

Jersey Boys Rule
Great show and great CD.
Read more

Subjects:  1. American Popular Song    2. Cast Recordings    3. Music Theater    4. Musical Theater    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Showtunes / B'way    8. Soundtrack   

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

Editorial Review

Read more

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.
Read more

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   

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   

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   

Reviews (35)

This is an incredible recording.
Heart-wrenching, soul-touching harmonies.This is everything a choral recording should be."When David Heard" is one of the most haunting, gut-tearing pieces of music I have ever heard.What an incredible experience.

Excellent Buy
I'm a high school student and recently our choir performed "Lux Aurumque" for our annual Christmas concert. In the months preparing for this I fell in love with the piece and decided to purchase this CD. I couldn't be more happy.
A most intense and emotional experience!
There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, that is second rate about this superb recording, or this monumential composer, Eric Whitacre.If you are familiar with the incredible quality & interpretation of Robert Shaw or the Corydon Singers you will not be disapointed with this awesome CD.Someone, maybe even Eric himself, chose the Brigham Young University Singers to produce these recordings of his acappela works, and it is an unbelievable success.I would challenge anyone to find a professional choir that could produce a more mature & fully satisfying rendering of these inovative compositions, it can't and won't be done.
Read more

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

Editorial Review

Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (196)

Excellent concept/rock opera
I am a major fan of The Who and have been since their debut lp in 1965....however....while this may be considered the first rock opera ....it is NOT the first rock concept album.
The album that immortalized The Who forever and spawned the ROCK OPERA GENRE
The Who's fourth studio(and fifth overall) album Tommy was released in May of 1969.
Yes, I think it's (more than) Alright!
The Who are one of the greatest rock bands of all time.If you want amazingly great classic rock and roll, buy every single Who album (along with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan).Townsend, Daltrey, Enwhistle, and Moon formed one of rock's greatest foursomes.Townsend's compositions could range from straight, pure, raw rock ("The Who sing My Generation") to complex and inspiring ("Tommy" and "Quadrophenia")."Tommy" is my favorite of the Who's work, followed closely by "Who's Next", "My Generation", and "Quadrophenia".
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Opera    2. Album Rock    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Mod    6. Opera    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    10. Rock    11. Rock & Roll    12. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

It's no mean feat being the world's foremost crossover artist--a task that risks alienating two disparate audiences and everyone in between--but Read more

Reviews (47)

Music that catches the heart!!
I am a newcomer to this artist and recently heard him during a skating event...wonderful!!This was a beautiful CD and altho primarily in Italian, wonderful listening!!I keep it in my car and am blown away every time.Have ordered two of his CDs and not been disappointed!!The reviews on Amazon.com also helped me decide...along with the music snippets...which ones I wanted to try.

Andrea Bocelli's Andrea is the most awesome album from him yet!
It's true.This is Andrea's most sophisticated and, I think, most personal album to date.Fans who have been waiting since his Cieli di Toscana will not be disappointed.This is a genuine pop album.Definitely not crossover.I've let many people listen to it who thought that they wouldn't like it because it is an "opera singer," but most of them have thoroughly enjoyed it.It is a true relief from the noisey and meaningless music and lyrics of most pop music today.Definitely a must for any great music lover's collection.

Five stars for a duet
I purchased this album for one reason only: Bocelli's "Go Where Love Goes" duet with Holly Stell. I don't mind buying CDs with one good song, I'm used to it, and I'm not on ITunes yet. I like this duet so much, I'll try to have my brother, Filipino-American tenor Marius Evangelista, record it some day with our friend, soprano Melody Versoza, to see what it sounds like when the tenor and soprano are about the same age. Also, the last note of the duet sounds unresolved to me. It's a high Bb, but I keep waiting for it to resolve to a high C. I'm not sure why they didn't, but maybe we will. By the way, Marius's debut album is available on Amazon if you care to take a look.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Classical Crossover    4. Classical Vocals    5. Euro-Pop    6. Holiday    7. Italy    8. Opera    9. Vocal    10. Vocal Music   

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   

Editorial Review

Leonard Bernstein's musical update of Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack

Reviews (54)

Excellent
Great music.Each number is worthy of singing to!West Side Story should be a classic in every musical home collection.
Brilliant show music

BEAUTIFUL
This isn't Joseph. This is his oldest daughter.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Cast Recordings    2. Film    3. Film Music    4. Musicals    5. Original Score    6. Pop    7. Show Tunes    8. Soundtrack    9. Soundtracks    10. Soundtracks & Film Scores    11. United States of America   

Reviews (11)

A nice introduction
This is a good well rounded collection to dip you into the classical world of Mozart.

Mozart is the reference point for good classical music.
A good collection of his best work and I find it helps me focus when I'm writing or contempating life.
Mozart's music
This is a review of Mozart's music, not the cd.Mozart is praised to the skies by all and sundry, including most musicians, including my father, who no doubt has his reasons.But my feeling about Mozart has always been that there is nothing in Mozart's music that is other than music.There is no logical impressionism, there are no events that seem to be transpiring as in, for example, Beethoven.Mozart is just music.Mozart is to music as pure mathematics is to science.It hints of nothing else and has no application.I find some of his music irritatingly trivial, for example, Eine Kleine Nachtmuzic.This is mechanical music that one can imagine being piped in by a totalitarian government that insists everyone be cheerful.If Disneyland was an eighteenth century totalitarian state, Mozart would be its Muzak.The populace would be awakened, like Chinese train passengers, at 6AM by the strains of some allegro.They would arise and busy themselves with their ablutions in a state of thoughtless cheer, never for one moment leaving the surface of things.That being said, the second movement of Mozart's clarinette concerto is the music that one will hear on going into heaven. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Clarinet Concerto    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    8. Classical Period Symphony    9. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Concerto    11. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    12. Dance/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Orchestra    13. French Horn Concerto    14. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    15. Keyboard    16. Miscellaneous Sacred Choral Music    17. Motet    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Editorial Review

After Read more

Features

• Cast Recording

Reviews (194)

Wonderful Recording!
I do musical theatre with a small group,and they were doing Les Miserables.When I was cast as Young Cosette my dad thought it would be good to buy the cast recording since I was in more than one song.When it came; I listened to it i fell in love with the music.If I were to rate the songs for the top 10 I would do it like this.
My favorite song
I love the whole thing but my favorite song would have to be on my own.

AMAZING!!!
This was the first CD I purchased of Les Misérables, my first exposure to the music was a local High School performance which didn't do it justice, but I bought this CD after seeing it. It took awhile to get really into it for me, but this is incontestably my favourite musical of all time (yes even more than phantom of the opera).