Reviews (2)

the last disc of 3.the greatest set in music history.
this is the last disc of the 3 disc set.its supposed to stimulate the creative juices.it gets your seritonin going like prozac.well,ok.but,anyway,its quite good.my favorite song on it just goes to show how inspirational the genius mozart was.he was alive in like 1770 and was dead by 30.he did this song and it was catchy.much later it was put to words with the tune still intact as "twinkle twinkle little star".so itll help the kids off to bed,but then someone else took the old indian created english alphabet and put it to music."the abc song" was also put to the same tune and now teaches millions of children to take thier 1st steps towards learningto read and write every day.it was also the very first recorded music when thomas edison 1st tested the phonograph sucessfully.its what he used.on this album thier are many fast paced[as fast as they get]songs that stimulate your brain.i dont personaly need any help in the creative department and just listen for the wonderful music.the twinkle twinkle little star song is like 12 minutes long and the performer uses mozarts innovative style to play it in literaly dozens of different ways.ballad,bedtime,frenzied,more notes,less notes,you name it!then theres a whole bunch of other great songs on it.if you call yourself a music lover and havent at least heard these songs,then you are sadly mistaken.a musical landmark!

Upbeat, but pleasant
I'm not the hugest classical afficianado, but this CD is very appealing. I bought the first in the series, Strengthen the Mind, and found mostly the same old crap on it that I had on three other Mozart CDs. Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Classical    4. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    7. Classical Period Symphony    8. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    9. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Concerto    11. Dance/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Orchestra    12. Keyboard    13. Orchestral    14. Piano Concerto    15. Quartet for Four String Instruments    16. Quintet For Clarinet And String Quartet    17. Symphonic   

Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Choral    5. Clarinet Concerto    6. Classical    7. Classical Artists    8. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    9. Concerto    10. Concerto Grosso    11. Italian Romantic Opera    12. Keyboard    13. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    14. Lullabies    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Nocturne for Keyboard    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Piano Concerto   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (14)

Sublime expression nourished by a colossal vision!
Thanks to this immense and untiring activity in the field of the orchestral direction, his vision as pianist has enriched himself quite a lot: Barenboim performs these well known Sonatas with a splendid architectural construction; according Schnabel `s tradition.
Performed with great enthusiasm
This is classic early Barenboim (he was just 24 when he started recording this set in 1966).He is very enthusiastic and expressive (if you don't like him, he "takes liberties" and "shows off").The slow movements are veerrry slow, and the fast ones really rip.Pianissimo is extremely soft, and fortissimo rattles the windows![My wife insists that I wear headphones for late-night listening.] Misses the point most of the time
Barenboim recorded this cycle in his twenties, and judging on the results he had better waited for a while. He aims for the same memorable results as Arrau and Kempff got, but Barenboim does not have half their experience and maturity to bring things off convincingly. His basic tempi are often annoyingly slow, and in the fast movements his tone often becomes harsh and obnoxious. He also tends to turn every phrase into a big, smooth legato, ignoring many dynamic accents and such. Most importantly, I find most of his interpretations characterless and disorganised as a whole. Many of the slow movements in the late sonatas, for instance, sound extremely glib and rather unconvincing. I rarely get the idea that Barenboim actually took his time to study the music closely and make a serious "statement" on a sonata as a whole. These interpretations, as far as I'm concerned, contain mostly superficial statements. It is rather strange to note that Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, a compatriot of Barenboim's and a much more interesting pianist, recorded Beethoven sonatas for EMI at the same age but was never allowed by EMI to do a complete cycle. For better Beethoven, just consider Schnabel, Kempff, Backhaus, Brendel, Pollini, Kovacevich, Gelber, Ciani, Goode or - perhaps best of all - Arrau and Solomon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Keyboard    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard   

Editorial Review

Two hundred years after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's death, French physician Dr. Tomatis discovered a relationship between listening and learning. Remarkably, he found that children develop their listening ability in the womb. According to medical studies, we now know that the music of Mozart in particular has a profound effect on the human mind, body, and spirit. Working in accordance with this philosophy, internationally known teacher and musician Don Campbell wrote Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (13)

We Love These!!!
Our whole famiy loves these CDs! They are very relaxing to listen to while playing games, drawing, or building! I'm no music expert, but I thought the sound quality was good. We listen to them almost everyday! In fact, our kids request 'Mozart music' when playing and it does seem to help keep them focused on one thing for quite some time. :)

Bringforth the artist within by listening to Mozart
Some scholars claimed that the Author of "The Mozart Effect", Don Campbell, overemphasized his theory. I bought his 2 books, and this set of CD to find out whether his findings are legitimate.
Absolute nonsense
I have not heard this CD but the idea that listening to Classical music in the womb has been disproven by legitimate scientists for a long time. A simple search found the following...Read more

Subjects:  1. Ambient    2. Bassoon Concerto    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Chamber    5. Children's Collections    6. Childrens    7. Classical    8. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    9. Classical Period Symphony    10. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    11. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    12. Concerto    13. Dance/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Orchestra    14. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    15. Keyboard    16. March for Orchestra    17. Miscellaneous    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Sinfonia Concertante   

Reviews (5)

I love this composer
While not all his works are to my taste, his pastoral ones are so gorgeous that you don't really care that the more boisterous ones are wanting.

Balanced & Refined English Folk Song Adaptations
Vaughan Williams is certainly one of the consummate English composers who took the folk song of his country and compsed delightful orchestra works around them.
A great CD
English Folk Song Suit is one of my favorite pieces ever! I first heard the song when I played it in Windensambe. It's an exciting piece to play and to listen to. I would recommend this Cd to anyone with an intrest in great music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Concerto    6. Concerto Grosso    7. Oboe Concerto    8. Orchestral    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Violin Concerto   

Reviews (2)

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever...
Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah
This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Oratorio    5. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Reviews (8)

You never have enough Ravel - just never.
This two disk set is one of those that you should add to your collection because it is wonderful music, sounds great, and is extremely affordable.Everyone knows and loves "Bol�ro".Commissioned by Ida Rubinstein as a ballet and premiered in 1928 was not a musical success. At another performance, led by Toscanini, Ravel complained that the tempo was too fast.Toscanini replied that it was the only way to save the work.But it soon became a mass success to Ravel's surprise and consternation.He felt they loved it for all the wrong reasons.The violinist H�l�ne Jourdan-Morhange relates this interesting story of one incident involving the work:
The Best of Ravel By Master Conductor And Orchestra
French-Canadian conductor Charles Dutoit and the Motneral Symphony Orchestra deliver what is the most musically satisfying collection of Ravel Bolero's French music. At a fine price, this is a fine jewel, with moments that sparkle and burn with a beautiful fire. The first track is of course the famous Bolero, with its hypnotic, singular theme that is expanded into a climatic crescendo which is overtly sexual, primal and sensuous. It was originally a ballet about a Spanish dancer (dancing the bolero of course) in a bawdy cafe. She is spurred on to dance even more erotically by the lusty men until we can assume the men can take no more. The Rhapsody Espagnole is an evocative portrait of Spain, with lyrical passages and tonal beauty. The Valse is another classic of French music of the early 20th century. Ravel's mother had died prior to the premiere. It is a slow, romantic waltz that escalates into a frenzied dance of death. In musical terms, there is nothing too different from La Valse and Bolero. They are both basically one motif that is repeated but changes in volume and pacing. The Pavane For A Dead Princess is my favorite work of his. It is possibly the most gorgeous funeral music one will ever hear. Far from being a melancholy piece, it is a stately, Renaissance-like work that pays homage to exoticism of the East and Romanticism of the West. The Dead Princess we assume is either Moorish or Spanish and the music is lilting and spiritual without ever reaching the heights of frustration or despair that Bolero or Valse take on. The Tomb of Couperin is also a funereal piece but its beauty lies in its imitation of Baroque music. Couperin was a Baroque composer of keyboard works. The music is aptly called neo-baroque or neoclassical since it was composed in the 20th century. This same style is embedded in Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales and Minuet Antique- all works that reflect the music of the Baroque and classical eras, an homage to Handel and Gluck. Daphne Et Cloe is perhaps his most ambitious work, as it expands on the Baroque classic and makes it more operatic and orchestrally grander. All fans of Ravel will want to own this recording. Dutoit knows this music down to a T and the orchestra captures nuance and subtlety in a variety of both light and dark textures. The music is brimming with life and the sound is crisp and beautifully remastered.
I love it
This is a great 2 disk set.I am sitting here drinking a heineken and blasting this super loud.I feel like I am marching into town with 2 briefcases jammed full of big bills. I highly recommed this.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Ballet    2. 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music    3. Ballet    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Keyboard    8. Keyboard Music    9. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    10. Minuet for Keyboard    11. Orchestral    12. Orchestral & Symphonic    13. Orchestral Music    14. Pavane for Keyboard    15. Suite for Orchestra   

Reviews (22)

"The Ring without Words" is really "The Ring without Pauses . . . "
Even Wagner had the good sense to construct his monumental "Ring" Cycle as four distinct operas!So when Loren Maazel got the idea to record a "Ring without Words," what was so important about making it one long movement?No one knew better than Wagner the emotional impact of a well-placed fermata or a crash-bang finale, but this spark of genius seems to have eluded Maazel in his obsession to keep the musical Rhine flowing from beginning to end non-stop for 67 minutes.What seems at first to be a really novel idea starts to break down early on when we begin to anticipate the throbbing final pages of "Das Rheingold," only to discover that for the sake of seamlessness, the whole dramatic passage is skipped over by an awkward leap from Donner's thunder into the depths of "Die Walkure!"Other cuts can be forgiven considering time limitations, although there is still room for ten more minutes of music on the CD.Edo de Vaart gives us something more on his "Ring" recording, since he has no fear of finales.Otherwise, Maazel's handing of the score is quite exciting, and the Vienna Philharmonic is totally responsive to his every gesture.Here's a good idea for some future recording, one I'd certainly buy and which would appeal to thousands of other "Wagnerites" like myself: why not a four-movement "Ring Without Words" across two CDs, with every possible voiceless note from the pen of the Master, one opera after the other?

The best synthesis of orchestral music from the Ring
If you're looking for a single CD of orchestral music from Wagner's Ring, I'd like to recommend this one.Here's why.
Could have been a fun ride, but...
Decades ago, Leopold Stokowski popularized opera for the general public through "symphonic syntheses." These included Wagner's Ring, Triastan, and Boris Godunov, to mention those I've heard and enjoyed. I was prepared to enjoy Maazel's modern update and expected a fun ride through the gorgeous sonorities of Wagner's score.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    5. Opera    6. Orchestral & Symphonic   

Features

• SACD

Reviews (1)

Wow, what an incredible experience.
This is easily my favorite recording of Mahler's Sixth Symphony.I just got my copy of this (in SACD), and listened to it in the surround sound.I have waited for this since Abbado left the BPO after making all his other great Mahler recordings with them.I have to say that this not only lived up to my (quite lofty) expectations, but also exceeded them.Abbado's masterly is without question.His choice to record the 2nd and 3rd movements in reverse order (as Mahler did during the world premiere, and the following Vienna premiere, both with himself as conductor) work great.He also only has two hammer blows, as he used the revised version in which Mahler took out the third hammer blow due to his superstitions about it.Speaking of the hammer blows, I can't imagine Mahler wouldn't have thought these to be most effective.He wanted a dull non-metallic thud.When the recording got to the first hammer blow, I felt it in my stomach, it was that effective.I'm not sure what Mahler specified in the revised version, but in the original, it was supposed to be three hammer blows, which each a little less, as the hero was felled with each hit.In Abbado's recording, the second hit seems more powerful than the first.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Miscellaneous    4. Miscellaneous Music    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Romantic Symphony    7. Symphonic   

Editorial Review

Mahler considered Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (20)

Stands like a mountain.
This performance sounds & feels like 'Mahler willed down by the genius of Klemperer', who had his own way with Mahler unlike any other, but here it works out to be great. Klemperer is not going about to seek mellifluousness of tone or flowing lyricism, at least not pers�; his mahler is 'chiseled out of the marble' and the end result stands like a well-built, powerfully proportioned colossus.
A miraculous recording of this work - even though it was completed over 29 months!
Gustav Mahler was a great Viennese symphonist and conductor of the late Romantic period.He said that this work was especially personal for him.It was written during one of the most trying years of his life in 1907.He resigned under pressure from the directorship of the Vienna Opera, which he had held for ten years.His youngest daughter also became ill and died.This was a severe blow for him (he was later buried next to her).And his life long heart condition took a turn for the worse.He would die in 1911 just short of his fifty-first birthday.
RICH, COLORFUL, POWERFUL
The main Das Lied I had been listening to before hearing this recording is the one with Boulez and Vienna.While his orchestration is extremely tight (as always), I wasn't aware of what was missed in his recording until I heard Klemperer's.Wunderlich, especially, exhibits such a rich, full voice.I had never enjoyed the male pieces nearly as much as I do with Wunderlich. Ludwig seems to be at her prime, perfectly capturing the "natural" feeling intended for these pieces.Der Abschied is so overpowering and always leaves me speechless.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral & Symphonic    5. Romantic Symphony with Multiple Solo Voices    6. Symphonic   

Reviews (5)

frank-symphony in d minor
one of the best pieces of music ever written and this performance is one of the best we have ever heard.

Whirlwind Romanticism
Forget the criticisms of Franck's symphony you may have encountered.This is the essence of Romantic era passion and poetry in a very accessible form.If you have ears for this sort of thing at all this Muti / Philly record will knock you off your feet.
Some of the Best Franck Performances Around--and at a Budget Price
The record of Riccardo Muti's work with Philadelphia Orchestra is variable, at least as it appears on currently available CDs, but this is certainly a disc that reminds one how well Muti and the Philadelphians performed when at the top of their game. If you want a performance of the D Minor Symphony that speaks to Franck's mysticism or the cloistered quality of his existence as organist and teacher--forget it. Muti sees the Franck Symphony as the echt-Romantic drama that Franck conceived it as, a movement from dark to light in the manner of Beethoven's Fifth or Tchaikovsky's Fifth. Along the way, Muti helps clarify the form so that the seams don't show, or as little as possible, a complaint that critics often have about this symphony. Here, the musical logic is clear and cogent. In Franck, listeners sometimes profess a preference for a Gallic approach. I find Muti's muscular "international" approach brings its own rewards, but you'll probably want another performance of the D Minor Symphony in your collection as well--perhaps Monteux's famous one on RCA or Dutoit's on Decca, to which I'm partial also. Dutoit manages to sound very French (not hard, I guess) without leaching the passion out of Franck's creation. I probably like his performance because it is similar to Muti's. (I see, however, that Dutoit's recording is currently unavailable. What about it, Decca?)
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Romantic Symphony    7. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    8. Symphonic   

Editorial Review

Though these pieces are typical of Pärt's style, they seem less bleak than those on previous discs. The Te Deum, while often in a minor tonality and sometimes imposing, has a suitable extroverted quality; the Magnificat, with its hushed intensity, does seem solemn, but its cadences are striking, typically resolving from a tonal chord to a shimmering major-second dissonance. The Berliner Messe includes not only the Mass ordinary, but also three propers for Pentecost, and displays a range of moods from nervous penitence in the Kyrie to lively good cheer in the Credo to serenity in the Agnus Dei. Best is the sequence "Veni sancte spiritus," sung largely in unison to a haunting 6/8 melody. Tiny Estonia, Pärt's homeland, has provided him with some impressive interpreters. Read more

Reviews (25)

Don't come to this music empty...
My opinion of much of the spiritual minimalist music that may be criticised as dull, boring, incomplete, or whatever adjective you care to insert, is that unlike the "great" music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc, this spiritual music requires you to bring something to it to have meaning. Anyone can listen to Mozart and get pretty much the same thing from it because it's perfect and complete. There's nothing more to add. And that's why I can't stand it. Like vanilla ice cream, the great German masters serve as nothing but a center for music to expand away from.
Gentle introduction to Pärt; terrible recording
If you've not previously listened to P�rt's music, this is a reasonable place to start.I prefer Tabula Rasa, however, and suggest that as a better alternative.
My first Part of all Part's
I have no idea why I first selected this CD while browsing in a store but I have since used Amazon to order most of Arvo Part's recordings. I am not sure how you would select a favorite -- I would certainly not agree that this is among the worst! I would say it still ranks as one of my favorites. I also agree this music is not for the car! This is certainly for when you want to be contemplative. If you feel rushed and overwhelmed by contemporary life, put on a Part CD and close your eyes and stress will melt away. This music is a ticket to timelessness and peace. Who would have thought a modern composer could have found a way to out do the Medievals this way? Progress has not stopped nor has it ignored our spiritual side. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Choral    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Jazz Music    5. Magnificat    6. Modern Mass    7. Music For String Orchestra    8. Orchestral    9. Orchestral & Symphonic    10. Te Deum   

Editorial Review

Leonard Bernstein was full of surprises. A conductor often accused ofhopeless self-indulgence, he responded intuitively to the classical aesthetic ofHaydn, and no less to the early Romantic bravado of Schumann. In fact, thesesymphonies have never been better played or conducted than they are here. Theseare performances of high passion--they're either very fast or very slow--andextraordinary color and drama. Bernstein sticks faithfully to the composer'soriginal, thick orchestrations but makes each symphony work through playing ofunflagging clarity and chamber music-like balance. That this was all done live,in performances of such wide emotional range, is amazing. But amazing was whatBernstein did best. Read more

Reviews (16)

problematics of a quasi-symphonist
it is curious to ponder what Schumann thought orchestration was suppose to be,what was in his mind when writing for the orchestra,we know these Symphonies have been "re-done",in parts touched to augment their clarity by the modern world; we know Brahms and Bruckner thought in "organ-like" formations,whatever the flute played the violins played, similarly,the violas bassoons and cellos all had the same line most of the time; hardly any(well middle -Romantic) sensitivity to the reality of timbre;only latter in life did timbre come to their imagination(as latter Bruckner, and the "chamber Brahms",Trio) Schumann as well had much difficulty with instrumental colour(the large piano repertoire solos being the exception) almost like he composed his entire oeuvre with one colour in mind,one-dimensional like a toneless "grey",and any interpretations of Schumann that have risen to the heights of intellectual interests,(or purely musical ones) ones worth a second approach are those where you have strong performers as Michelangeli,Brendel and Horowitz, and the fairly recent Pires Quintet,(with the Abbado orchestra?, DGG label)Piano and string quartet. There you find an overwhelming clarity and a sensitivity to the clarity of timbre,the performance suggests much more than what is on the page,for if your care to survey the literature of Schumann chamber, it is fairly uninteresting.
Very good...but why hasn't DG re-released the mid-60's Karajan cycle?!?
Don't get me wrong. This set is well-done. I generally do not really care for Bernstein's interpretations. His Shostakovich 5th is hilariously bad (especially the finale), and I find his Mahler overrated, dragged out and altogether too mushy (try Abbado to see how it should really be done). Lately however, I have found that I enjoyed his readings of Beethoven (with both Vienna and the NYPO recordings from the 60's), so I figured I would listen to this set to see what all the fuss was about. And I must say, I was impressed. However, shame on DG for not re-issuing Karajan's legendary Schumann cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic that dates from the mid- to late-60's. First of all, that set could use the clean-up more than these mid-80's recordings, and the readings are astounding. Schumann's 2nd sounds downright heroic in that interpretation, and while a somewhat Brahmsian read, the 3rd is exceptional as well. I am lucky enough to own the previously released Schumann-Karajan cycle, but what I wouldn't give for some of that 'Original Image Bit Processing' on those recordings. Do yourself a favor if you like Schumann - find a used copy of the Schumann - Karajan cycle if you want to hear the best readings of Schumann.

Symphonies 1,3,and 4 are the best
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) made a terrific recording of the 4 Schumann Symphonies in the early 1960s with the New York Philharmonic for Columbia records, re-released by Sony Classical in the Royal Edition series of Bernstein recordings in 1993.The Sony Schumanns are now harder to find, but DG has reissued Bernstein's 1984-85 Vienna Philharmonic Schumann Symphonies in this budget 2-fer, which is quite good.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Romantic Symphony    5. Symphonic   

Reviews (2)

Tuscany: A Romantic Journey is beautiful!!
This selection is by far the best in my collection.

Gorgeous
I took a chance on this CD (featuring popular and classically derived Italian melodies) based on the captivating cover photo of a Tuscan scene. Well, the music therein is as beautiful as the cover art, and I was delighted. The arrangements are lush and the playing by the Globalis Symphony Orchestra (whoever they are) is first-rate. Sixteen tracks in all, the selections range from opera tunes, such as the lovely "O Mio Babbino Caro" by Puccini to the popular "Con Te Partito" by Sartori (better know as the tear-jerker "Time To Say Goodbye" popularized by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman).
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    3. Concerto    4. Italian 20th/21st Century Opera    5. Italian Romantic Opera    6. Miscellaneous    7. Opera    8. Orchestral & Symphonic    9. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    10. V/a Compilations    11. Violin Concerto    12. Vocal    13. Vocal Music   

Editorial Review

When Itzhak Perlman recorded this disc, many critics were surprised by the sobriety and quiet poetry of his interpretation, as though his many fine chamber-music recordings did not provide ample evidence of Perlman's qualities as a "serious" musician. Although beautifully written for the instrument, Beethoven's sole violin concerto does not offer many opportunities for the kind of virtuoso fireworks that have made Perlman famous. But as all great musicians will, he turned this fact to his own advantage. This sensitive, profound performance has already passed into legend as a classic in every sense of the word. Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (21)

Stunning.
Some people complain that Perlman's reading with Giulini is 'boring' or 'tedious'. But to me, he grabs the primary essence of "the classical concerto" in an interpretation thats so smooth and sensitive that it can bring tears to your eyes.
OK
How about some drama? I've heard several 'dry' recordings of this concerto. You need Kreisler, Milstein or Francescatti for this one; they play Beethoven with the nobility of expression that his violin concerto requires. The Kreisler cadenzas are preferred, making best use of Beethoven's thematic material. Unfortunately, infobytes don't always include information on
Beethoven--Concerto for Violin in D
I bought this CD for my folks and they love it! ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

Brilliant collection
I've highly enjoyed this brilliant collection of Shostakovich. Recommended to every music lover!

And You Thought You Didn't Like Shostakovich!!
I'm astonished that no one has reviewed this CD (until now) which came out over a year ago. It is an astonishingly assured set of performances by the youngish cellist turned conductor, Dmitry Yablonsky, and the Russian State Orchestra. (And, even better, there is a DVD-Audio of these same performances that just came out and it is in superb surround sound. Yeehaw!)Read more

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

Editorial Review

This was one of the recordings that put Telarc on the musical map, andfirst revealed the potential of digital recording technology to millions ofmusic lovers and stereo buffs. It's still one of the very finest recordings of"Pictures" around, both as sound and performance. Lorin Maazel maintained thehigh standards of execution that George Szell inculcated during his quartercentury in Cleveland, and for sheer hair-trigger precision, the playing issimply unbeatable. In addition, Telarc captured the performance in what was thenand remains demonstration-quality sound, with the famous bass drum thwacksputting a practically subsonic foundation on the whole enterprise. Still aclassic. Read more

Reviews (17)

This CD sucks!
I regret buying this CD. I thought it would be a great CD after reading all the rave reviews in Amazon. I bought it because Maazel is coming to Kuala Lumpur to conduct the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and "Pictures at an Exhition" is part of the programme.
VERY GOOD
Sorry for my very bad english i'm a person from SPAIN (Europe). I have about of 32 discs of this compositor and of course of this tittle, I believe that the offer from TELARC is a copy that the old
Glorious Russian Masterpiece
The Telarc label should feel indebted to this particular recording, for that label became famous because of it. Lorin Maazel conducting the Cleveland Orchestra is masterful and strong, bringing out the Russian fire and majesty in this work. Moussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Pictures At An Exhibition is his best work and are popular concert pieces. On this recording, the music is bursting with life and richness. Moussorgsky's music was heavily criticized by his contemporary, the more elegant and romantically inclined Tchaikovsky, who dubbed his music, "brutal and ugly". But even Tchaikovsky had to concede that Pictures at an Exhibition was beautiful. The Great Gate At Kiev, with its regal, sonorous trumpet section and stirring string section, is among his most beautiful pieces ever. The famous Night on Bald Mountain is best remembered for its prominent use in Walt Disney's 1940 film Fantasia, in the last segment in which ghouls, ghosts and spirits come to dance on top of the Russian mountain with a great winged Devil. Their revelry is interrupted by the cracking of dawn. This music is primal, frightening and compelling. Maestro Lorin Maazel is still an active conductor eventhough he is quite old (80's ? 90's ?)and conducts music at Lincoln Center in New York City frequently. Maazel's orchestration of this work is expert and unsurpassed. His famous temper has subsided of course but it was his moods and perfectionism that got him in trouble with the Cleveland Orchestra (still one of America's finest orchestras) but he was supplanted by an even more noteworthy conductor that shaped the orchestra to what it is today- the famous Geoge Szell. But Maazel's musical genius is evident in every part of this music. I highly recommend this recording for serious fans of classical music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Classical Music    4. Orchestral    5. Orchestral & Symphonic    6. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra    7. Suite for Orchestra