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   

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   

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

This is an astonishing collection of works - or parts of works - by Mozart that covers almost every aspect of his creative output: symphonic, religious music, concerti (for piano, horn, violin, clarinet, flute), chamber music, serenades (for strings; winds), a couple of opera overtures and more. Those who know and love Mozart's music will not need this, but it's a great introduction, a great overview. The selections are well-chosen and interestingly organized, with familiar pieces splrinkled among some not-so well known. A good primer. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (14)

Nice Mozart selection - Nice price
Nice selection of Mozart work that give us inner peace...
MozartListener
This is a good CD if you like Mozart's music.It is not the best CD I ever purchased.It is nice to listen to it in the morning before I go to work.And I sometimes listen to it in the evening before I go to bed.It is relaxing and soothing.I am not amusic major or therapist.This is the best review I can write.Mary Agnes Cross

Don't buy this CD
Quality is poor. Some songs are not playing. Avoid buying @Amazon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Clarinet Concerto    5. Classical    6. Classical Composers    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    9. Classical Period Symphony    10. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    11. Concerto    12. Flute Concerto    13. French Horn Concerto    14. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    15. Keyboard    16. Opera    17. Orchestral    18. Piano Concerto    19. Quartet for Four String Instruments    20. Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet   

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

Have some friends who still haven't discovered what the Sarah Brightman fuss is all about? You'll find the perfect introduction to make converts of them all in Read more

Reviews (139)

Pleasently Suprised
I am a new fan to Sarah Brightman, this is the first CD I have purchased, I am delighted to say I LOVE IT,, her voice is haunting and the lyrics are amazing... I am now a Sarah Brightman FAN... Great CD I higly recommend it!!!

I love this !
This is an amazing cd. Sarah Brightman is a great vocalist, who already is a household name in classical music. There are good songs and I finally found the song i was looking for- from the Secret Garden "Anytime, Anywhere." It's an amazing song and alsoAva Maria. A good song. Some other opera singers don't really know how to make their voices pure... as they grow up into woman. But, Sarah has accomplished this role in making her voice still pure, but amazing.

Fails to impress...
Now I'm as much a Sarah Brightman fan as the next guy; thought she was terrific vocally as "Phantom"'s Christine.Listening to this CD helps me to remember that was *20* years ago.What Sarah lacks in vocal control and tonality she makes up for in breathiness and her infamous "swooping" up into high notes.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Adagio for Orchestra    3. Adult Contemporary    4. Chamber    5. Choral    6. Classical Vocal Crossover    7. Czech Romantic Opera    8. Etude for Keyboard    9. Guitar Solo    10. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    11. Italian Baroque Opera    12. Italian Romantic Opera    13. Keyboard    14. Musical Theater    15. Musicals    16. Opera    17. Operettas    18. Orchestral    19. Pop    20. Pop Vocals   

Editorial Review

Sarah Brightman's career was launched by her success in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Read more

Reviews (86)

The Best You'll See from Sarah
This CD is - wow!I have so much to say about it and so little time!This album features three pieces from "The Phantom of the Opera" - Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Music of the Night, and The Phantom of the Opera theme.They're all beautiful.The second piece on the album is "Unexpected Song".It has beautiful octaves and orchastrations.Chanson d'Efance is an amazing French piece with vibrato - and then some.I forgot to mention that there is another piece from The Phantom of the Opera - All I Ask of You - except that the song is not sung by the original cast from the musical.The next few pieces are fairly decent, until you get to Memory from Cats.WOW - is it spectacular!Then we get to two other pieces from Cats - Gus: The Theater Cat and Macavity: The Mystery Cat.Gus is a song that just tells about a cat and his history.A man speaks the lines that Gus would say in the actual musical - and it makes the song interesting.Macavity is AWESOME!I know that I said that I didn't prefer this song for Brightman on her album "Surrender". I finally listened to it more carefully, and found that it's really interesting to listen to!My favorite song on the whole entire album - however - has to be "Tell Me on a Sunday".Beautiful lyrics, orchestrations, and overall spectacular voice talent ties the whole song together.Pie Jesu is a fairly nice piece from both Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston - the 16 year old boy soprano.His voice is pure and straight with minimal vibrato.However, Brightman's voice shows a little bit TOO much vibrato!Overally, it's a good piece from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requium.THIS CD IS AMAZING!If you love Sarah from the Phantom of the Opera, then this collection of Lloyd Webber's work is just for you.
The Angel of Music
This is the third copy of this I've purchased. I wear them out listening to them. Awesome, Awesome music. Sarah's range and depth is so powerful!

Love makes blind, but....... deaf as well???
Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is excellent, but here it's wrapped up in a voice that doesn't do the music any justice at all. There are so many great sopranos out there, but perhaps he chose his wife out of duty or like I suggested before, because love makes deaf as well as blind....?
Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Choral    3. Classical Vocal Crossover    4. Easy Listening/Vocal    5. Miscellaneous    6. Miscellaneous Music    7. Music Theater    8. Musical Theater    9. Musicals    10. Pop    11. Pop Vocals    12. Popular Music    13. Requiem/Requiem Section    14. Show Tunes   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (18)

Great Price
Great price for the product.I am so glad I logged onto Amazon.com for things like this.It arrived faster than expected.I will definitely continue to buy more in the future.

An excellent soundtrack and an excellent film!!
Eventhough many kids in school listen to rap and all, I listen to classical. After watching Amadeus, I was moved by the pieces selected to be played in the film. I especially liked Symphony No. 29 1st Movement. Also, when Salieri is at the Archbishop of Salzburg's palace and reads Mozart's piece, Serenade for Winds, is among my favorites. In Serenade for Winds, Mozart creates a very emotional and almost night music feel to it. I was surprised that the director/conductor did not put in a few more famous pieces into the album . . . ex. Symphony No. 40, The Magic Flute, etc. This is an excellent album and anyone who wants to enjoy the genius of Mozart should purchase this. Take it from me, you will enjoy this album immesensely.

If You've Seen The Movie....
Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart's nervy youthfullness went far beyond his personal life.His choice of music very much reflectsRead more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    5. Classical Period Symphony    6. Concerto    7. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    8. Mass    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Opera    12. Piano Concerto    13. Requiem/Requiem Section    14. Sinfonia Concertante    15. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    16. Soundtrack    17. Soundtracks    18. Soundtracks & Film Scores    19. Symphonic    20. Vocal   

Editorial Review

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Read more

Reviews (122)

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias
Excellent listening.Voice quality and tone is superb.Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias
I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent
worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Christmas    3. Christmas Music    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Crossover    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Vocals    9. Holiday    10. Italian Baroque Opera    11. Italian Romantic Opera    12. Italy    13. Mass    14. Miscellaneous    15. Miscellaneous Music    16. Motet    17. Opera    18. Oratorio    19. Requiem/Requiem Section    20. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard   

Reviews (8)

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II
Good selection of music, poorly performed and badly arranged.Good album for a tag sale.Same comment applies for Volume I.

Great music listein to while you read in bed
I have listened to this CD for the last several years before going to sleep at night.I love classical music, and this is great music to help make my soul feel at peace and unwind after a taxing day.

A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan.
I bought Vol. 1 of this series and was quite satisfied, but I have to say I'm more than satisfied with this one. If you can just mellow out and enjoy some great pieces, you'll love this CD. #15 on Disc 2 is almost worth the price alone! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Choral    3. Christmas Music    4. Anthem    5. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    6. Cantata    7. Cello Concerto    8. Chamber Music    9. Classical    10. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    11. Classical Music    12. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    13. Concerto    14. Concerto for Two String Instruments    15. Film    16. Film Music    17. Keyboard    18. Keyboard Music    19. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    20. Miscellaneous   

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (21)

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

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

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

Editorial Review

There's no arguing with the power of Sissel's voice. The Norwegian soprano brought James Horner's Read more

Reviews (18)

Absolutely one of the world's BEST voices
Everything about this woman is beautiful!
wonderful
I bought this as a gift for my husband and had the added advantage of enjoying it myself.This young woman is very talented and a joy to listen to.
Powerful Voice
It amazes me that she isn't more well known. Ask the millions of people who saw Titanic and virtually everyone of them wouldn't know it was Sissel's haunting voice that was such a beautiful ending to a great movie.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Crossover    7. Classical Pop    8. Etude for Keyboard    9. Film    10. Film Music    11. French Romantic Opera    12. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    13. Italian Baroque Opera    14. Keyboard    15. Opera    16. Pop    17. Pop Vocals    18. Requiem/Requiem Section    19. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    20. Vocal   

Reviews (6)

Now THIS is Paradise!
I was first made aware of this CD by "Book and Music Lover" while reading through the reviews of Charlotte Church's "Tissues and Issues.""Book and Music Love" recommended Sissel's "Into Paradise" CD.I fell in love with it just by listening to the excerpts, and when amazon.com had a special sale on it, I took that opportunity to nab it!
One of the best discs to hit the market in years
Yes, I am a Sissel fan, and have all of her US releases, and a few imports as well.I am writing this review for those who are not yet Sissel fans."Into Paradise" is exactly that, one of the best discs in years with a classical flavor.Everything about this release is first rate, from song selection right down to disc mastering.Sissel seems to find herself on this disc.Her first US release was pop songs, the second release a mix of pop and classical.Don't get me wrong they were both pretty good albums, but not a five star performance like this one.I really love the arrangements on many of the selections, and the string solos are wonderful.I am not a classical music fan, most of my music collection is pop and classic rock.I agree with Sissel, anybody who loves beautiful music will enjoy this album.

Sissel continues her successful foray into the International Market
This is a lovely collection of semi-classical and light pop which does a good job of showcasing Sissel's lovely voice. I especially enjoyed "In Paradisum" and "Vitae Lux". The album ends with a lovely version of Andersson & Ulvaeus' "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room", a lullaby originally sung by Anni-frid Lyngstadon ABBA's farewell album "The Visitors" (not Agnetha Faltskog as I originally thought - Thanks to Jeff R. Dunn for the correction). If anything, this version is even more beautiful than Frida's already lovely original, taken slower, much more expressively and evoking an even deeper sense of loss.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Adagio for Orchestra    2. Adult Contemporary    3. Cantata    4. Choral    5. Choral Music    6. Classical Crossover    7. Classical Pop    8. Miscellaneous    9. Miscellaneous Music    10. Norway    11. Orchestral    12. Pop    13. Pop Vocals    14. Requiem/Requiem Section    15. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    16. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    17. Vocal    18. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

Two of John Rutter's most popular large-scale choral works are paired in this bargain-priced CD. Requiem, his first composition written without being commissioned, is a convincing affirmation of Christian doctrine on death and eternal life. It is also a substantial and sincere work that strives to be widely appealing while preserving a spiritual context centered on themes of light and consolation. Highlights include "Out of the Deep," its modal tune and harmonies giving it the flavor of a spiritual, and the wonderfully gentle and restful 23rd Psalm. Rutter personalizes his Requiem by adding movements not traditionally part of the Requiem Mass--passages from the 1662 Read more

Reviews (22)

Two glorious pieces by Rutter
This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter.The Magnificat is Rutter's version of a standard piece of liturgical music, an intersection of old and new.This was recorded at one of the Cambridge Singers' favourite venues, the Great Hall of University College School, London; the Requiem was recorded in 1986, and the Magnificat in 1991.
John Rutter at his best
I love this album.After singing 'Requiem' several years ago, it brought it all back to me.Amazing soloists, superb sound, the next best thing to hearing it live (or performing it myself).A must have for any John Rutter fan, or choral singer.
Music has never reached sublimity such as this
Truely, what other words can one use?When I first heard this, i was doing my homework after this years superbowl at about midnight.i was done celebrating the patriots win, and i had to get forth on my homework.. I was listening on the radio, and i heard this peice.I leaned back, closed my eyes, and let the notes come to me. Of course i have also studied the works of many other composers, and this has come to be my second favorite requiem mass. (mozart's is my favorite) and i implore all who read this to get this cd, because you will be blown out of your mind, especially with the sweet melody of the first movement but its allgood. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Magnificat    6. Requiem/Requiem Section   

Editorial Review

A film about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Tony Blair in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death had potential for a pretty turgid soundtrack, but fortunately director Stephen Frears called on Alexandre Desplat. The Frenchman has emerged as a composer with a light tough (recall his score for Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtrack    3. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (23)

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

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

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

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

Editorial Review

John Rutter's groundbreaking research and subsequent performing edition of Fauré's beloved Read more

Reviews (6)

OK, I'm a sucker for the 1893 version
John Rutter made substantial changes to the previously most-performed version of the Faure Requiem when he recorded this.He went back to the version of 1893 to do so, rather than using the more famous, more heavily orchestrated later version.One difference is that the violins in the Sanctus are transposed up an octave on this CD compared to the way in which they were played in the later Requiem.I find this recording to be beautiful and timeless, and definitely not over-orchestrated.
Life has been engulfed in time
This requiem represents a complete shift in the general tone of the requiem as a genre. The vision of life and death is impregnated with a feminine light, the light of the ocean softly illuminated by the sunshine of Normandy, of the Graceful Coast. The figure that stands behind the music, that accompanies the dead person into the grave is no longer the masculine Germanic death that punishes man, nor even the furious feminine French death that challenges man, but the soft and comforting figure of the mother Mary, the universal comforter who takes the hand of each one of us, as if we were crying lost children, to make us pass the dangerous door that leads beyond life. This Holy Mary for whom Faur� has written so many Ave Marias, is promising us the end of time and our introduction into an everlasting stormless, painless and noiseless world that represents the very positive vision of a real world that is the negative vision of life. Photography is not far away. Everyday life becomes a life of strife, struggle, noise, violence, war, speed, work, exploitation and alienation, all elements seen as negative, and death is the negation of it all, is the positive virtuality that has to become our reality overthere. It is thus in perfect agreement with the vision the impressionists introduced to defy photography and bring art beyond the blaring image of reality a photographer brings up with his machine. The eye of the artist goes beyond those crude colors and forms to find light and life in the depth of his retina. Faur� is the impressionist painter of death as the real life beyond the surface we have to contemplate and suffer everyday. In other words virtual is beautiful and real is dreadful. Happiness has to be found in virtuality and not in reality. Faur� is bergsonian, who sees eternity beyond the flow of time. Faur� is proustian, who sees life beyond the loss of memory. This explains the erasing of the Dies Irae because there is no anger any more in the ascent to the eternal memory of what does not exist yet. This is a requiem of timelessness and nightlessness. Requiem- a masterpiece.
This exquisite collection has so many gorgeous songs that move me to tears. In Sanctus, the violin is so pure, so beautiful, its wrings my heart. This is real music, real art, crafted with such care, that it is a true privilege to hear it, not to mention sing it (which I have done, and I loved it). It is an encredible CD, and I would encourage anyone to buy it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthem    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Mass    7. Requiem/Requiem Section    8. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    9. Sacred Choral Music    10. Sacred Music for more than one Soloist & Chorus    11. Vocal