Editorial Review

Itzhak Perlman is the greatest living exponent of the Romantic, sentimental style of violin playing. As in his reading of the Brahms concerto, he shows sovereign mastery in these accounts, which are characterized by intense emotion and heated expression (Perlman's warm vibrato and carefully placed portamentos quickly give him away), but are also gripping in the quiet, meditative pages. The first two sonatas' relationship to songs could easily be guessed from the way Perlman plays them in a single, seamless line, marked by soaring climaxes and tender, haunting pianissimos. The treatment sometimes does seem a bit premeditated, but it is so compelling as to sweep aside any criticism. In this 1983 recording (sonically superior to Perlman's later remake with pianist Daniel Barenboim, for Sony), the violin sounds slightly forward, though not unpleasantly so. Warm, supportive, lyrical playing from Vladmir Ashkenazy rounds out a marvelous offering. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

these are really good sonatas
These three sonatas are in my opinion some of the best compositions of Brahms.They are wonderfully tunefull and each sets a distinct mood (although all three are somewhat melancholic).The interaction of the violin and piano is just fantastic and Perlman and Ashkenazy pull it off well.Sound quality is great as well.

Brahms
I bought this for my college age daughter's music class and I am enjoying it as well.Violin music, of any sort, is enjoyable to listen to and this one is a wonderful addition to a music library.

Finest Brahms
I've always enjoyed Brahms' chamber works more than his symphonies. Somehow his intent comes off more clearly; the desperation and anger and melancholy of the music is more exposed, as if juggling an entire orchestra in the composition could dull the edges of these emotions. Of course the quality of any piece is tied with the quality of the performers (who invariably stamp then with their own personalities), and here we have a brilliant union: Perlman and Ashkenazy play flawlessly. Perlman's tonality is clear and sonorous, but never treacly; it still maintains the edge that these pieces require. From the sweet lilting melodies of the first sonata to simmering violence of the third, it is a commanding performance. The piano part in these works is equally demanding, and Ashkenazy is more than a match for Perlman's virtuosity.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Violin with Keyboard   

Editorial Review

This performance is also available on Deutsche Grammophon in an earlier,mid-price incarnation, but this version is clearly the one to own, since theremastered sound is a definite improvement over previous issues. Herbert vonKarajan always did a good job with this symphony, and his performances are quiteconsistent, even down to the very backward-balance of the chorus. By generalconsensus, though, this is the best of them. Read more

Reviews (29)

Absolutely amazing
This is a great interpretation of the piece (which is admittedly my favorite piece of all).The tempi are faster than other recordings, but the orchestra never really lags or slows down.The level of musicianship throughout are exactly what you'd expect from one of the world's leading orchestras.
If One Must...
Knowing that this reviewer's view of this internationally popular favorite of every concertgoer is that of a curmudgeon, this recording is as acceptable as any of the ones available. Herbert von Karajan is at the helm of the trusty Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Singverein, and a cast of soloists that are the envy of any conductor - Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Rossel-Majdan, Waldemar Kmentt and Walter Berry, stalwarts all and obviously veteran performers of this regularly programmed piece.The interpretation is brisk and lively and yet lingers over the inner two movements that gives some solace between the sandwich ends of the first and fourth movements.It is a fine recording.
First time I have ever switched preferences for a symphony
I have almost always stuck by the first recordings I buy for classical music. The only exceptions being the cheap Laserlight cd's I would buy in high school and college.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral    5. Romantic Overture for Orchestra    6. Romantic Symphony    7. Symphonic   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

Good selection
I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples.I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it.That's why I gave it 5 stars.It's worth more than it costs by far.

thunderous applause

Good Music at a Great Price
I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD(by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. Ballet    3. Band    4. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Classical    7. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    8. Classical Music    9. Concert/Brass/Marching Band Music    10. Etude for Keyboard    11. French Romantic Opera    12. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    13. Italian Romantic Opera    14. Keyboard    15. March for Band    16. Opera    17. Orchestral    18. Orchestral Music    19. Polka for Orchestra    20. Romantic Orchestral Music   

Editorial Review

Among the concertos of Beethoven and Brahms, these two have always been stepchildren. One reason is their extreme difficulty; both composers were pianists, so Beethoven wrote an idiomatic part only for the piano. Brahms's friend Joseph Joachim offered advice for the violin concerto, but not for the Double Concerto, which was written as a peace offering after a falling-out.The Beethoven Triple Concerto demands utmost virtuosity, as well as intimate teamwork among the soloists, and that is exactly what these three supreme masters of their instruments bring to it. Free--indeed unaware--of technical problems, they give it a joyful, sparkling lightness. The piano ripples, the cello sings gorgeously, the violin soars ecstatically, the tone is intoxicatingly beautiful. The Finale is wistful, charming, lyrical, gently humorous; the ending is a big joke, with the cello and piano rumbling in the bass, while the violin whistles forlornly in the dark until they all join together. The Brahms is grand, majestic, dreamy, radiant, triumphant; the slow movement warm as dark velvet, the Finale genial and relaxed. Though the orchestra never covers the soloists, it explodes in the tutti passages, especially in the Beethoven, so you might keep a finger on the volume control. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (20)

Beethoven? Brahms? Karajan? Oistrakh? Richter? Rostropovich? Szell? On One CD? Talk About Star Power!
All those big names wouldn't mean a thing if the performances themselves were throw aways or showed little commitment, but that's hardly the case, this is probably the finest recordings of both works. Karajan and Richter for one had some rocky interpretative relations in their recording of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto on DG. That was not a great record, where both musical giants pull and push to try and get their way. So yes, in some ways this Beethoven Triple Concerto presents even more challenges because there are four minds, four egos pitted together in one piece of music and that's not counting the greatest ego, Beethoven himself! Luckily everyone melds beautifully together, the three Russian masters are at their best, with Rostropovich a stand out and shining brightly. Meanwhile Karajan, the Austrian master conductor gives them his usual, grand, lush orchestral backdrop via the Berlin Philharmonic. This is warm-hearted, generous music-making between four fearsomely talented musicians.
Glorious
The unbroken tradition of Russian string playing is well-represented on this disc. The Double Concerto is especially wonderful, even rapturous. The two players are beautifully meshed, and Szell and the Cleveland sound warm and emotive, which they sometimes did not, on records and "live". The sessions they recorded for EMI (including a wonderful Dvorak Eighth, far surpassing their recoridng for Masterworks), captured something that often was not well projected.
Brahms - Double Concerto
It's interesting that there are quite a number of negative comments about this performance of the Beethoven here. I didn't dislike it, but it is true that I almost always jump straight to the Brahms' Double Concerto. The piece and the performance are beyond praise, quite frankly.
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Subjects:  1. Cello Concerto    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Concerto    6. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    7. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Reviews (8)

from texas--AND FROM A MUSIC LOVER
ANDRE RIEU TAKES US ON A WONDERFUL TRIP BACK IN TIME TO THE MOVIES YOU CAN=T FORGET AND THE MUSIC THAT MADE THEM CLASSICS.DO BUY IT.IT IS A TREASURE...

Andre Rieu - Music for the masses
Sometimes you just want enjoyable music as a backdrop to the job at hand.I turn to Andre to get me through these events.Probably not a glowing endorsement, but if you know of Mr. Rieu's feelings about music, he would just smile and nod his head.This is music to just enjoy for the sake of music - and that is a good thing.

Great Sound As Usual
This Cd is everything I thought it would be. I have enjoyed listening to it many times already. Any Andre fan will love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Film    5. Film Music    6. Miscellaneous    7. Miscellaneous Music    8. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    9. Orchestral    10. Orchestral & Symphonic    11. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    12. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    13. Suite for Orchestra    14. Vocal    15. Vocal Music    16. Waltz   

Editorial Review

This moderately priced package gives you the best of Herbert von Karajan's Tchaikovsky performances, and when he was "on" with this composer, he was very impressive indeed. These are exceptionally well played, exciting, even noble versions of the composer's three most popular symphonies, and although Karajan recorded each of them four or five times, this least expensive edition is still the one to get. Read more

Reviews (31)

Much too fastly played for a true Russian flavour.
The problem with Karajan is that late in his career, he seems to look for the inventive by doing some extreme things with the music he is well capable of conducting. Although these recordings of the 4-6 of the Tchaikovsky symphonies were done in the seventies, the greatly exaggerated tempi is one of those features of his style that will drive you mad as a Russian afficionado.
The best recording of von Karajan
I have always been thinking that Tchaikovsky exists between Hollywood movie composers and Broadway musical writers; after all he was a man who wrote Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
The most penetrating account of the 6th on record
All three symphonies are superbly realized in this set. But the great climax in the 4th movement of the 6th symphony will simply leave you paralyzed. Karajan records Tchaikovsky's agony like no other conductor ever has or likely ever will. ... Read more

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

Features

• Hybrid SACD

Reviews (1)

Great Mahler from a surprise orchestra
This is an absolutely stunning Mahler 6.Quite simply: great sound, great playing and a winning interpretation by a conductor who understands Mahler. This certainly beats recent accounts by Thomas and Abaddo.All four movements have ideal tempos, though Eschenbach is very flexible and knows where to let it breath.Although the andante is liesurely in tempo it is incredibly moving and never drags.The hammer blows in IV are like a bomb blast.Too often we have to settle for poor sound or a dull interpretation, but here we have a great American orchestra and a top recording team.Don't miss it! ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

It's hard to believe now that Walt Disney's bold 1940 impressionistic experiment in wedding then-state-of-the-art animation with classical music was a rather resounding failure upon its release. The cliché proves the rule: Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack

Reviews (15)

Fantasia soundtrack
I'm a massage therapist and i bought the cd to listen to while working on my clients and both me and my clients like it alot.

Complaint
I thought that I was ordering a DVD of the original movie, which I remember seeing when it first was screened. To receive only the sound track, without any animation, was annoying to say the least. Your description of the offered product could have been more explicit.

Unlistenable.
Don't get me wrong, Fantasia is one of my favorite movies and Stokowski my favorite conductor--a true genius. The problem is that these CDs were "restored" ("destroyed" would be a better word) by someone who has no idea what music sounds like. In a desperate attempt to preserve our ears from any (gasp!) noise, a brutal gating filter was used to destroy any semblance of the sound of real instruments. And, since optical recording of the time had very poor treble response, what treble there is has been boosted mercilessly, resuting in shrill, screechy strings. I really cannot bear to listen to these CDs.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. Ballet    3. Classical Crossover    4. Film Music    5. Italian Romantic Opera    6. Keyboard    7. Music for Organ    8. Neo-Romantic    9. Opera    10. Orchestral    11. Pop    12. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    13. Romantic Symphony    14. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    15. Scherzo for Orchestra    16. Soundtrack    17. Soundtracks & Film Scores    18. Suite for Orchestra    19. Symphonic    20. Vocal   

Reviews (7)

Typically gorgeous Rutter
I love John Rutter's music.Especially the "For the Beauty of the Earth" that is on this CD.Rutter is not the most inventive or varied composer of modern music, but if you have a taste for traditional choral writing with some angelic children's chorus singing, then you will probably share my enjoyment of Rutter's writing.Unfortunately I cannot give this CD 5 stars when it seems there is a drum set tapping annoyingly away on several of the songs.I do not understand this at all and am bothered by it every time I listen to those songs.It's a shame, because otherwise I love the music, and think it is lushly written, and simply but beautifully performed.I would highly suggest listening to sample track 3 before purchasing -- you can hear what sounds like a ride-cymbal right at the very end of the sample.This sound occurs in several of the songs on this recording.

Wonderful!
I am a huge John Rutter fan.The lilting melodies, the poignant lyrics and the lush orchestrations make his music not only accessable but also uplifting.This compilation, although drawing from many other previous recordings, is a great composite of his wirk.The sound is exquisite.Even if you own other recordings of this music, this is worthwhile.

To sample Rutter's best music, this is the one.
I purchased this CD as an introduction to the music of John Rutter and went on to purchase many more of his compositions. Still, this remains my favorite collection. It is choral music at its absolute finest. Far from "just church music", this CD has songs of faith, a few Christmas carols, a Celtic song for lovers, and even a child's tune or two. While most of the pieces are peaceful, warm, and thought-provoking, a few are up-tempo and lively. In my opinion, it is a perfectly balanced collection in which one song flows beautifully into the next with no sense of a jarring change of pace. If you have any interest in choral music, begin with the best...John Rutter... and this superb arrangement. Highly recommended. ... Read more

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

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (14)

Barbirolli at his most warm-hearted and passionate
In some ways the greatness of Sir John Barbirolli was masked by his devotion to the HalleOrchestra, an ensemble that was in a shambles when he arrived in WW II and was raised to the level of pretty decent. Despite their love affair, the Halle wasn't worthy of Barbirolli's talents, and on the rare occasions when he recorded with other orhestras--especially his late-life engagements in Berlin--the veil dropped away.
Desert Island Disc
If I were stuck on a desert island and could only have 1 disc, this would be it.Sublime.Words won't do justice.

Music to break your heart
I was able to attend several of Sir John Barbirolli's concerts in the last ten years of his life and particularly remember his Verdi's "Requiem" and Schubert's Ninth Symphony. He was, however, most noted for his Elgar. On this disc Elgar's already heartbreaking music is invested additionally with Barbirolli's own sense of "the tearfulness of things". His interpretation of Vaughan-Williams' "Variations on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" is sublime. These performances go beyond what is on the page and become transcendental. Anyone not moved by this disc truly has a heart of stone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Concerto    6. Concerto for Three Solo Instruments    7. Elegy for Orchestra    8. Orchestral    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Romantic Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    11. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra   

Editorial Review

The clear-cut rhythms, riveting articulation, and contrapuntal acumen ofGlenn Gould's 1955 debut Read more

Reviews (68)

WHAT ARE WORDS?...
Reading some of the other reviews for this CD, one can't help feel amused by the sheer intensity of the enthusiasm.I believe one other customer even hinted that this is music that belongs to the sphere of God...
THE FIIS TOO HI
Before we even get to the performance, this is a rather odd production in two ways. The first oddity is that a short description of each variation goes across the display on one's cd unit, rather like the news and stock-market announcements in Times Square, before settling back to the normal display of cd-number, track-number and time taken. These abbreviated descriptions are only what we can read perfectly well from the back of the box - indeed they're not even that because they get truncated to the right. When it comes to the canons this docks them of the significant distinction among the canons, namely the pitch-intervals at which the canons are set, (4th, 5th, octave etc). Even with the `normal' variations all that either the box or the display tells us is the number of keyboards that Bach specifies for each, which is relevant only to a harpsichord and not to a piano. The other unusual extra is much more important. After the performance ends the theme starts again but taken much faster. This is Gould himself in his 1955 performance, and it leads in a discussion with the critic Tim Page. I was completely fascinated to hear one of the 20th century's greatest players tell us so much about his thinking. Gould comes across as not only intellectual but as friendly and affable. There are background issues mentioned, and I was more than pleased to find that he shares my own thorough dislike of the minimalist school, but the main topics are central to the work on the disc - the questions of tempo, of expression, and of how to play Bach on the piano.
Keats, Augustine, Dumas
Keats said, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty". Augustine said, "Beauty is Unity in Diversity". Dumas said "Simplicity is always perfection". Perhaps Gould's 81 variations is one of the magnum expressions of these statements in the history of mankind. He is evidence of man's highest ability to create at a level that reaches out to the Divine, falling just short of the creation of the Universe and mankind itself. And the sound is excellent too. All I can say is I listened to the 81 variations for the first time last night; I was primed for them (through a few years of listening to classical music) and I had a look of awe and a childish smile on my face the whole 51 minutes. Treat yourself to beauty and buy it.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (11)

Not A Music Critic ... But A Lover Of All Music ...
Let's not be too harsh regarding this CD. I purchased this as my first baby step into the classical genre and it absolutely made me fall in love with classical music and appreciate it in a way I never could when people tried to make me like it.It is such a wide variety of classical music and I find romance to be joyful, tragic, gentle, harsh & a complete roller coaster that I found all in this ONE CD!It also made my boyfriend who hates, or shall I say HATED classical music NOW like it!That was an amazing feat!We now have many classical cd's and we always go back to this one for dinner parties, romantic baths and other things...I played this CD so much, that it got damaged and I just purchased another one to replace the one I bought years ago.If you are a critic, stay away from this cd, you will rob it of its beauty & innocence. If you are a beginner and want to open your mind to all that classical music has to offer, then this is the best money you can spend.BUY & ENJOY!!!

Misleading title scheme
This is what bothered me about the CD.Three of the biggest eras in classical music were: the baroque era, the classical era, and the romantic era.Now, with CD's titled baroque favorites, classical favorites and romantic classics, one would expect these CD's to be era specific.Such is not the case.If you read the back of the CD it even says "from the romantic era of music", but the there are composers like Vivaldi (baroque) and Debussy (impressionism) on this CD.About more than half are from the wrong eras.So this music is romantic in the non-musical sense of the word, which is fine, but a little bit misleading.

Don't Bother...Really!
Not what I call classical composers! THis cd is annoying in a way I really can't stand. It lacks the pure elegance of the classical days. Don't buy this cd unless you want a phony all around bad album played by cheap ameteurs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bagatelle for Keyboard    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. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    10. Classical Period Symphony    11. Concerto    12. Concerto Grosso    13. Concerto for Two Solo Instruments    14. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    15. Keyboard    16. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    17. Music For String Orchestra    18. Oboe Concerto    19. Opera    20. Orchestral   

Features

• Live

Reviews (16)

Live in Dublin
This concert is magnificent in its energy and in the great performances by Andre Rieu and the Johann Stauss orchestra.I watch it when I need lifting up.I love the audience interaction which makes me feel as if I'm there in person.

Live audience is great.
This has to be one of Andre's best. The live audience adds much to the music being played. I wish I had been there for the performance.

Worstrecordingin my collection
After watching the video on PBS I rushed to buy this CD.It sounds like an amateur sat in the back row and recorded this.And whats with the dubbed clapping.Surround sound?Strange effects.Sounds better in stereo.This CD does no service to Rieu or the wonderful composers that wrote the music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Classical Music    4. Folk Song    5. French Romantic Opera    6. German/Austrian Operetta    7. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    8. March for Orchestra    9. Miscellaneous    10. Miscellaneous Music    11. Opera    12. Orchestral    13. Orchestral & Symphonic    14. Polka for Orchestra    15. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    16. Romantic Orchestral Music    17. Romantic Symphony    18. Symphonic    19. Vocal    20. Vocal Music   

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   

Reviews (1)

I'm a fan of slow songs in latter half
I prefer the slow songs, they seems to be a better fit for my baby. I also bought The Mozart Effect: Music For Babies: Nighty Night which I like a lot. The performances are well played by talented musicians. (I have a degree from Peabody so that's a true compliment) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ambient    2. Chamber    3. Children's Collections    4. Childrens    5. Classical    6. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    7. Classical Period Symphony    8. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    9. Classical Pop    10. Keyboard    11. Music for Glass Harmonica    12. Orchestral    13. Symphonic   

Editorial Review

This seminal disc now almost seems like the manifesto for a whole new strain of minimalism that has found an enormously receptive audience. It represented a breakthrough for Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, whose music--like that of his European colleagues John Tavener and Henryk Górecki--pursues an austerely beautiful simplicity that suggests spiritual illumination. Read more

Reviews (18)

This is one for everybody
I'm not completely dug on classical and contemporanean music, ECM stuff included. Lygeti, Xenakis they make me sense, all along american minimalists like Reich or Cage. Electro-acustic is more ear-friendly for me (Ferrari, Parmegiani) but...All this speech just to say that thsi is one ECM record I own - the 1977's Tabula Rasa. The great Gidon Kramer (check out "Silence" from Nonesuch who has another version of tabula rasa) is here with all his magic, even the world-piano-star K. Jarrett plays piano, and everything makes sense. The music is so cold and complex, ethernal yet listenable for the common of mortals. Give a try, i did and i'm inloved with.

should be accepted by any rational person as strong evidence for God's existence.
arguably, it was THIS music by THIS composer that Manfred Eicher's label, ECM, was meant for. If an album was released on ECM, no doubt it sounds lovely, but when purpose is paired so perfectly with sound, even ECM attains something angelic and beyond. Arvo Part's non-modulating approach to harmony, great care and attention with so few notes, and the reverent spirit that carries through his efforts encompasses a catalogue of works so great and beautiful I'm not sure any 20th century composer can remotely compare.
Fill in your blank slate with some innovative music...
This CD started it all. In 1984 it introduced the then little known Arvo Pärt to a new western audience. Pärt had long before made his "tinntinnabulation" discovery (around 1976). Before this pivotal epiphany, the majority of Pärt's work fell into the serialist category. His early work shows all of the grinding atonal experimentation of the 1950s. It thus lies in stark contrast to his later work as presented on this CD (he shares this same evolutionary path with the Polish composer Górecki).
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Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Concerto    5. Concerto for Two String Instruments    6. Jazz Music    7. Multiple String Instruments without Keyboard    8. Music For String Orchestra    9. Orchestral    10. Orchestral & Symphonic    11. Violin with Keyboard   

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

Editorial Review

This sonically spectacular disc features three of Aaron Copland's most beloved Americana scores. Drawing on American folk themes, Read more

Reviews (6)

Review of Aarom Copland CD: Appalachian Spring
I used this CD as part of a dance history class on American Modern Dance, in conjunction with a DVD on dance pioneer Martha Graham.The music stands alone, and my students got a bit of music history along with their dance history.

Appalacian Spring
I bought it as a gift and the receiver LOVED it and plays it frquently.

Copland performed at its best
This CD is one of my favorites in my classical collection.Several years ago, I borrowed this recording from the library, and enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought my own Copland CD.I got the CD containing the New York Philharmonic's performance of Appalachain Spring (conducted by Bernstein), but was sorely disappointed.After a few months of searching (this was pre-Amazon days), I tracked down this CD and bought it.The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is superb.I highly recommend this CD for any Copland fan, or anyone who wants to have a "token" classical CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. Ballet    3. Band    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Concert/Brass/Marching Band Music    8. Orchestral    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Suite for Orchestra   

Reviews (1)

Joyous Mozart
I bought this cd in 1982 when it was first released at a much higher price.It quickly became one of the family's favorite recordings.It's Mozart at his most social and a mature and self-assured Sir Neville giving an energetic and upbeat interpretation of these works. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    4. Opera    5. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (5)

Love this music!
Love the CD (it has two rare favs of mine... the faster Black Swan Variation and the extended Russian Dance) however, I was shocked not to find Black Swan Pas de Deux. How can you have a COMPLETE Swan Lake recording and not include that?!?!?!

Which bargain Swan Lake to choose?
This Swan Lake, now offered at super-bargain price, was one of Sawallisch's better ventures in Philadelphia. The orchestra is superlative, the recorded sound quite good, and Sawallishc's conducting fairly spirited. He is by nature a foursquare interpreter, so this Swan Lake doesn't dance as lightly or vivaciously as it might. Even so, I can see why someone would be enthusiastic about it.
The Best Swan Lake!
In my opinion, the greatest of Tchaikovsky's three ballets is "Le Lac des Cynges (Swan Lake)" (Op. 20). This ballet is the longest and the most interesting, exhilirating, and beautiful music he has ever written.
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Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Orchestral & Symphonic    5. Romantic Ballet