Editorial Review

A fascinating disc combining brilliant virtuosity and outstanding contemporary works. H.K. Gruber's Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Concerto    4. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Reviews (15)

This is a MUST for anyone who enjoys classical music ...
...BUT not if you take it SO seriously that you have lost your sense of humor.
PDQ Bach -- The Spike Jones of Classical Music
For the classical music lover, this is an amazing spoof.For those who do not know classical music well, this is still highly entertaining.

Recaptured (Twisted) Youth
My friend and I saw the good Prof. Schickelehere in Pasadena last night (March 29th-- AND the conductor of the Pasadena Symphony is Jorge Meister!)-- and the last number on the program was the WONDERFUL "The Seasonings"-- I had a very hard time even after all these years of first hearing this on a REAL record of not singing along with every little tune!!!This piece last night, being sung by singers whom I do not doubt were not even born when I first heard a recording of it, were as good asthe ones I remember from my decadent youth on the original recording.Buy this C.D. if only for this piece! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Opera    2. 20th/21st Century Symphony    3. Cantata    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music    6. Choral    7. Classical    8. Classical Music    9. Comedy    10. Concerto    11. French Horn Concerto    12. Keyboard    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    15. Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard    16. Music with Spoken Words    17. Opera    18. Oratorio    19. Orchestral    20. Orchestral Music   

Editorial Review

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. Read more

Reviews (12)

Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me)
This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.

Ode To Beethoven
The actual reason I bought this cd is for "Fur Elise" but it turned out to be much more than I bargained for.Before road rage sets in while sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour, play this.If you need to take it easy and escape from your reality, play this.Need something to play at work that's not explicit or offensive, play this.Of course, it's not Beethoven himself, but if you need some quiet time, play this.Even while you read, you could play this.If you want some authenticity to your collection, get Beethoven for Babies.

Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here
The 3 stars is only because the hucksters that put this together at least had the decency to tracks featuring Arrau & Richter on this CD.A lot of these "turn your baby into a genius with classical music" CDs and tapes feature only lousy musical performances from hack musicians you have never heard of.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bagatelle for Keyboard    2. Ballet    3. Chamber    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Flute Solo/Sonata    8. Keyboard    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Quartet for Four String Instruments    11. Romantic Ballet    12. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    13. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    14. Romantic Symphony    15. Symphonic    16. Vocal   

Editorial Review

The five extraordinary works on this disc will captivate Ligeti fans and entrance even those who don't know his music. The focus in Read more

Reviews (11)

Some major orchestral "micropolyphonic" works and a fun early piece
Teldec's THE LIGETI PROJECT II continues the collection, started by Sony's "Gyorgy Ligeti Edition", of Ligeti's complete works in performances overseen by the composer himself. This second disc contains four orchestral works, three of which were written in his "micropolyphony" style of the 1960s and 1970s, and the fourth a recently-rediscovered gem written as a student in 1951. These are performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by the young talent Jonathan Nott, and can be considered definitive.
One of the best CDs of contemporary music.
There're not many CDs like this available on the stores. It's the clear example of perfect CD in its repertoire. A wonderful composer, perfect performances and excellent recordings, together with a very good booklet and presentation.
Excellent, but only for a willing ear
Ligeti has based his style on being entirely different from anyone else.I would say that he has succeeded.His music is quite unlike anything I've heard before, and it took me a little while to warm up to Ligeti's music.The atonal washes of orchestral color can be a bit jarring at first, but can provide deep interest in the music.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Work with Descriptive Title    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Orchestral    6. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Reviews (31)

Joshua Trittle - who seems a bit little......................Mac Rules!
Mac has more talent on his pinky toe than most have in their entire body including "JT"....It seems the only talent you have is writing negative reviews of Mac.
Muzak to my ears...
Sappy, wordless music performed by an orchestra does NOT a classical piece make.Paul McCartney has no idea of what constitutes serious "classical" music.He doesn't understand orchestration or use of time or timbre. I always get a kick out of pop stars who have never studied music, nor can they read, write or understand musical composition, but still believe that they're qualified to write serious music.Even with the Beatles, it was the more musically astute George Martin who arranged the strings on Eleanor Rigby and others.Paul couldn't tell the difference between a French horn and a tuba.Standing Stone sounds like bad elevator music -- good for a soundtrack to a movie, sort of like "The Family Way" music that Paul put together in the 60's.The melodies are trite and the orchestration lacks depth.If one does not understand how composition works, one's music can only have so musical depth.Come to think of it, even Paul's silly love songs lack any real deep meaning.This is pretentious crap and should have been titled Standing STONED.

Ain't my Favorite
Now if you ask me, and plenty of folks what are interested in this here type of music do now and again, this here type of music is certainly interesting... but unlike what you might could except from Sir Paul.
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Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Orchestral & Symphonic    7. Pop/Rock   

Reviews (13)

Wicked!
im doing the ' pictures at an exhibition ' in music and its a fabulous peice of music ! so peaceful but exciting at the same time !!! 100 *'z lol x

likely to be surpassed
Perhaps not fair but I'll mainly comment on the "Pictures at an exhibition"
Good, but not impressive
I agree with many comments made before. This is a nice CD, with many amazing performances by superb soloists. However, it is not "perfect". There are minor problems, such as some of the tuning in the wind section, and rhythmic disruptions at some points. Reiner did a great job conducting the pieces, especially Pictures. Some of the sound and tone is not as developed as I would like, particularly in the low brass. In fact, there is little presence of horn, as well as inconsistent trombone playing(which I enjoy hearing). Don't get me wrong, there are great moments, but it's not the quality I love to hear from the CSO. I would recommend this CD to anyone interested in the music of Mussorgsky and the other composers, however, I am currently on a search to find the best performance, and I do not think I have found it yet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. March for Orchestra    5. Opera    6. Orchestral    7. Orchestral & Symphonic    8. Romantic Overture for Orchestra    9. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    10. Russian 20th/21st Century Opera    11. Russian Romantic Opera    12. Suite for Orchestra   

Reviews (14)

A Finely Tuned Harmonielehre
Should any friend ask what CD to obtain to begin an appreciation for the music of one of our greatest living composers, John Adams, this superb disc with Simon Rattle and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra would surely be at the top of the list.Rattle has selected the various sides of Adams' thoughts and offers performances that are sparkling and rich and very well performed.
Minimalist paradise
Four great orchestral works by the American minimalist composer John Adams are showcased on this CD: Harmonielehre, The Chairman Dances, and Two Fanfares: Tromba Lontana and Short Ride in a Fast Machine.
ohn Adams - Harmonielehre · The Chairman Dances · Tromba lontana · Short Ride in a Fast Machine / Sir Simon Rattle
I found these peices to be an excellent use of mild to intense tenson building, followed by a truely inspireing use of mellow releases.the chairman dances tetters on "majorness" wile convaying a wide range of moods.Truely excellent.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Fanfare for Orchestra    6. Fox Trot for Orchestra    7. Orchestral    8. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Editorial Review

Bruno Walter was always a most persuasive advocate of the gentlerBeethoven--at least, that's what everyone thought until his stereo Beethovencycle was remastered onto CD, revealing a much stronger musical profile than hadbeen suspected. But that just made the cycle's best performances sound betterstill--and here they are, together on one midpriced CD! It's amazing that a manin his 80s, as Walter was when these performances were recorded, could take whatwas essentially a pickup orchestra and turn in performances of such power andauthority. Walter and the Columbia Symphony had a genuine chemistry betweenthem--they play these two symphonies as if they had been making music togetherfor years. Read more

Reviews (13)

Beethoven 4th symphony
I was looking for the 4th specifically and happy with this recording. Entries are clear and tempos steady. Recommended

Ty[ing to Beethoven
This recording is perfect to type to!Most of my day is spent writing psychological reports that require attention, exactness, and concentration.These two Symphonies are great to have on while writing.They are not overpowering in that concentration is lost, but they are stimulating to the process.The clarity of this recording is fantastic, and for music afcianados that is important, especially when one wants to hear the music and not the "background."

A charmed moment in Walter's late Beethoven
Both these recordings of the Beethoven Fourth and Sixth were made in Hollywood in 1958, the same time that Walter was turning in rather slack and unfocused readings of the other symphonies. Here he recovers some of the dash and intensity that marked his 1930s Pastorle with the Vienna Phil. The Columbia Sym. plays with energy and inflection, even though Walter's tempos are on the leisurely side.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Romantic Symphony    5. Symphonic   

Editorial Review

In this century, few composers have been as well-equipped to perform their own works as Benjamin Britten. An accomplished pianist and conductor, he was used to working in front of the microphone and was able to record most of his own works, some more than once. Despite the continuing popularity of these scores with other conductors, the composer's own versions have held up very well. Britten's account of the Read more

Reviews (4)

Britten conducts Britten
British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was a master composer AND a master conductor.Not only did he make numerous recordings conducting his own compositions, he also conducted very competent performances of other composers, including J.S. Bach and Robert Schumann.He was an exclusive London/Decca artist throughout his life and the recordings in this compilation were originally released on LPs on that label.They have now been superbly remastered for really high fidelity sound on compact disc.
By definition...definitive
Unlike most listeners, I bought this for the 'Frank Bridge' work; I originally had it on LP, from over 20 years ago. The variations are, I think, one of the masterpieces of 20th century music. It was his first commission to receive widesprad attention and for good reason: his mastery of string instrumentation and sonics is truly astonishing. It is a piece I constantly return to. Wonderful recording
This is the absolute best recording of Simple Symphony I can find. Var. on Frank Bridge is nice and Young Person's Guide is also excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Symphony    2. 20th/21st Century Variations    3. Chamber    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Orchestral    8. String Chamber Music    9. Symphonic   

Features

• Hybrid SACD

Reviews (2)

This is probably as good as the recording can get.
The sound of this SACD is less impressive than the other Living Stereo DSD remasters I have heard - this is almost certainly due to the fact that the original tapes were not as well done as the others, and not because of poor mastering.In fact, this is probably as good as the sound of this recording can get.It certainly bests any of the regular CD editions that have been produced over the years, and lets not even talk about my ancient mouldering LP!
Excellent restoration of this vintage recording
I literally grew up on this recording (the Cliburn Tchaikovsky). I have easily played it over a 100 times if not closer to 200. I am very happy to report the SACD version is the best that will ever be available for this recording. The original master tapes were 3 channel, so that is how it is presented here...left, center, right...but no surrounds. This anchors the piano in the middle (the piano is not all from the center however). This release is much better than the previous CD release. Having that center channel to anchor the piano makes a big difference. There is hardly any tape hiss either. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is because this is a 1958 recording, the low end is not quite there....but the quality of the piano for this year is quite good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Concerto    4. Orchestral & Symphonic    5. Piano Concerto   

Features

• Hybrid SACD

Reviews (3)

Osmo Vänskä Lights up the Sky!
No wonder some wise musical critics are paying so much attention to the Minnesota Orchestra these days. Conductor Osmo Vänskä knows his way around the classics and on this recording of Beethoven's Symphonies No. 3 and 8 he infuses a degree of brilliance from the orchestra that is the envy of any conductor!
Same proficiency, same problem
After hearing Vanska's interpretations of Beethoven's Fourth and Fifth Symphonies last year, I got exactly what I expected with this follow-up effort. Vanska's claim to fame with his last disc was absolute orchestral precision à la George Szell, and he brings it to bear in this disc as well: very rarely, if ever, have I heard an orchestra so technically proficient and musically aware as the Minnesota Orchestra is here. Pianissimos are almost silent and fortissimos ring out. Every member of the orchestra hits each note dead-on and with lockstep precision. The music has well-judged tempi and a real sense of flow; many conductors fall into the trap of making Beethoven symphonies sound like a series of choppy episodes, but Vanska expertly molds everything into one coherent "big picture." So there's no lack of skill here. The problem I have with this CD is the same problem I had with Vanska's last Beethoven outing: no matter how intense the orchestra gets, it never sounds like Vanska is quite letting the reins go. There's an ever-so-slightly restrained quality to these interpretations, an overarching feel of politeness where none is needed. This isn't apparent when listening to this CD by itself, but compare this Eroica to Thomas Dausgaard's new Eroica on the Simax label to understand what sort of hell-for-leather fire a conductor can wring out of this symphony. Despite this small flaw, the technical proficiency and sense of musicality, the shaping of musical episodes, is beyond reproach with this CD, and so I give it a qualified, four-and-a-half-star recommendation. But it doesn't supplant my Szell, Dohnányi, and now Dausgaard recordings of one or both of these works.

Stunning
Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra have done it again. their recording of the 4th and 5th was absolutely wonderful, with true pianissimos, and heartwrenching fortes. They put new life into an old classic. But let me tell you, the 4th and 5th are nothing compared to this recording. You've never heard the third and the eighth properly until you've listened to this CD. Many people aren't very familiar with these symphonies, sticking with the oldies but goodies in 4, 5 and 9, but if you're looking to branch out in your Beethoven knowledge and music library, this is a must have. In my humble opinion, a better recording of Beethoven has not been made. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Orchestral & Symphonic    4. Romantic Symphony    5. Symphonic   

Features

• THE MOZART EFFECT VOL. I: TUNE UP YOUR MIND CD

Reviews (1)

Ok classical music CD.
This is a pretty run of the mill clasical music CD.The first track sounded a little rough to me (sounded like harmonica and recorder -- I was not overly impressed) but the other tracks seem more par for the course. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ambient    2. Children's Collections    3. Childrens    4. Classical    5. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    6. Classical Period Symphony    7. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    8. Concerto    9. Keyboard    10. Orchestral    11. Sinfonia Concertante    12. Symphonic    13. Violin Concerto   

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

Greatest Exercise Music Ever!
If you want great music to exercise by, this is it! It can make your time on the treadmill or exercise bike fly by. If you're new to it, try the "If You Knew Sousa" tracks. I promise you won't be sorry! Have fun! Exercise!

A fun way to introduce Classical Music
This compilation Album represents the best that the Hooked on Classics series have to offer. THis is an excellent way to make Classical Music interesting to those who might think Classical Music is "boring". Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Easy Listening    6. Instrumental Pop    7. Miscellaneous    8. Miscellaneous Music    9. Opera    10. Orchestral    11. Orchestral & Symphonic    12. Orchestral Music   

Features

• Limited Edition
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

THE VERY SOUL OF MUSIC
What you will find on this disc is A) contrapunctus I-IX played on two different organs in 1962; B) contrapunctus I II & IV from a1981 TV broadcast; C) contrapunctus IX XI & XIII in mono from a radio broadcast in 1967; D) the unfinished contrapunctus XIV from what may or may not be the same TV broadcast as B); and as a final filler E) a prelude and fugue on the name BACH from a studio recording in 1980. Items B)-E) are given on the piano.
Worth getting for Contrapunctus XIV, but for full performance look elsewhere
This is a partial performance on organ paired with a partial performance on piano. I didn't care too much for the organ (although Gould's very "un-organistic" articulation does work with these pieces, I miss the unique expression of his piano playing). Some of the piano recordings sound like somebody surreptitiously taped them on a concealed tape recorder.
The Best Bach Interpreter of the Century
I absolutely love all the works played by Glenn Gould. Why 3 stars then? For a long time I have loved every work that Gould brought to life and I still absolutely love them. However, "The Art of the Fugue" really made me see some of Glenn's dark side. The flaw is that his high speeds have absolutely no excuse on this marvelous piece of creation. It is true that Gould is the best pianist when it comes to playing Bach, but to understand what I mean, go and listen to Contrapunctus IV by some other performer who plays it much slower than Glenn. I personally recommend especially the trumpet version. It will blow your mind and convince you that Gould's performance of this piece was really hiding its magnificent beauty and drama. It is simply not possible to express something so breathtakingly dramatic by playing it staccato and also too fast. Have you ever seen someone who had a great loss crying by short stops and very fast? I don't suppose so. And the comparison is very fair because all the instruments, especially the piano, were created to resemble the human voice. `Art of the Fugue' is nothing like the Goldberg Variations where Gould's touch made the music beautiful, especially the first slow movement (which he actually plays very slowly and hence compensates for the staccato). It is much more dramatic and the performer's first goal must be to convey the drama to the listener.Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (28)

One more voice in the chorus of appreciation for this album
When I came to do a little review of Richard Einhorn's 'Voices of Light', I was expecting the usually light showing of reviews and responses we see on most classical recordings. I was delighted to find there were already two excellent reviews here and dozens of appreciative responses. To those who may be following me here from my reviews with the point of view of the interested amateur listener, my primary contribution is this. I am very fond of 'The Anonymous Four', but after listening to a dozen recordings of their interpretations of various obscure Medieval Codices, I am truly delighted to be here to hear them do an interesting modern work. 'Voices of Light' is immencely reverent, without being conventional 'occasional music' for a liturgy. It is not quite Bach 's B-Minor Mass, but then who want's to eat foie gras all the time.
Pretty good
I first heard this music on WNYC in New York. The music was captivating so I ordered the CD version I found on Amazon. Somehow the CD does not seem quite as good as the version I heard on WNYC, which I think was from a live performance in New York. Nevertheless, I find myself listening to the CD quite often, especially when I am trying to relax and focus. It is worth the purchase.

I listened to it again and again for days
There is nothing quite like this. I first bought Criterion Collection's "The Passion of Joan of Arc", and the Richard Einhorn musical accompaniment track (it is not a film score) became the most immediate part of my first-time viewing of the silent film. If ever music "spoke to me" this did.
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Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Choral Music    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

A Misfire
On paper, this looks like a dream cast, but the reality proves unfortunate. BVeverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda and Sherril Milnes are some of my favorite singers, but here, Sills sounds fatigued (though her "Un Vene Poco fa" is charming and winsome), Milnes misses the finese of Figaro, and Gedda, sad to say, sounds old and tired. Renato Cappecchi is a miscast Bartolo, but Raimondi is an imposing Bartolo, if without the nuances that Zaccaria brings to the role or the sheer glee Ramey and Montarsolo do. Levine's tempi are plodding, and Fedora Barbieri shows up in a cameo as Bertha, compleatly ill-equiped. If it were not for Sill (who can do no real wrong) and Raimondi, I wouldn't even bother looking at it. 2/5

The Incomplete Barber
The reason I call this an incomplete version, is due to the fact that the last Tenor aria which was beautifully sung by Nicolai Gedda was cut when it was transferred from Records to CD's. Unless there are two versions with the same cast.Now that I'm thinking about it, The other version was conducted by Sara Caldwell. I hope that one of the record companies will get smart and reissue it on CD.I also bought this version many years ago not realizing it was not the original recording with this cast. I recommend the Version with the " Cesar di Piu Resiste" forgive my spelling.

Rissini-in Black and White
I was really looking forward to a rousing "Barber" and I enjoyed it very much. The recording doesn't have the robust audio that I was hoping to hear because it apparently was done without the benefit of current technology and hasn't been remastered. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Italian Romantic Opera    4. Opera    5. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    3. Classical    4. Concerto    5.