This CD brings two great musical loves
together: Bach and the cello. The fact that the cello is unaccompanied, and
played exquisitely by Yo Yo Ma, makes listening such pure joy. You‘ve
probably heard the prelude to Bach‘s Cello Suite #1 in G, whether you know
the title or not; it‘s been featured in many movies and advertisements.
Suite #1 is absolutely gorgeous and full of emotion, and absolutely worth
your time to listen to - and Yo-Yo Ma plays not just the first but all six
suites wonderfully on this two-disc album.
In these performances the flutist is the
renowned French player, Patrick Gallois, student of Jean-Pierre Rampal and
former principal flute of the Orchestre National de France. He is a subtle,
technically secure and musical player and he does a superlative job here. He
is joined in the flute and harp concerto by Fabrice Pierre; together they
perform admirably, accompanied by the fine Swedish Chamber Orchestra.
Sarah Chang and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
have given us an absolutely fabulous recording. There are plenty of Vivaldi
Four Seasons renditions, but this is our favorite. Sarah‘s playing is
fluid and delicate. This is not only a vibrant and fresh interpretation of
Vivaldi, but it is a well thought-out and intellectual adventure. Bravo
Sarah!
While many critique his "untrained" voice and
the fact that he made a recording too soon, the truth is that this CD is
amazing. It is an amazing gift that this man has, to elicit such a profound
emotional reaction in the listener. The Nella Fantasia is just
heartbreakingly lovely. The last note on "Music of the Night" is absolutely
beautifully rendered. A great CD especially for classical music and tenor
solos.
This thoroughly enjoyable CD has excellent
selections of some of Bach‘s most well-known pieces, with some
transcriptions to other instruments, such as guitar. All of the selections
fit together into one flowing whole, even though put together as a
compilation from different original compositions. The recording quality is
crystal clear. The quality of the performances is first rate. This CD
compares very favorably, and is equal to, "Bach for Relaxation." Definitely
recommended for soothing, beautifully played music.
Violinist Hilary Hahn performs concertos by
two predominant violin virtuosos of the early Romantic era, Italian Niccolo
Paganini and German Louis Spohr. The Paganini and Spohr are spectacular,
each in its own way. The Paganini does not fail in being a thrilling
showpiece - indeed, the orchestra and soloist become a breathtaking sort of
circus act, with the violinist as the featured performer. The Spohr, a
lesser known work, was written in the style of an opera scene and possesses
a darker demeanor.
The best arrangements on the album are, of
course, "Con Te Partiro", and then "Il Mare Calmo della Serra" (very
atmospheric, very Mediterranean) and "Machina de Guerra". It‘s an easy
song to get lodged in your head; you‘ll be humming it all day! The insert
provides both the Italian lyrics and English translations. Bocelli, whose
voice is more beautiful and clear (and less overblown) than Pavoratti, sings
with such wonderful empathy that you can not help be moved. Bocelli is
joined by several feature performers, including John Miles and Sarah
Brightman of "Phantom of the Opera" fame.
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Andrea Bocelli, the world‘s most popular
tenor (and best selling) and pop sensation as well, has recorded The Best of
Andrea Bocelli, Vivere. The Songs include a nice selection of some of
Bocelli‘s best work. Bocelli has a beautiful voice that expresses much
emotion. His tone and diction are superb. Tracks include La Voce Del
Silenzio, Songo, Il mare calmo della sera, Dare to Live (Vivere), Canto
Della Terra, A Te, Besame Mucho, Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partire), Io Ci
Saro, Romanza, Vivo Per Lei, Melodramma, Bellissime Stelle, The Prayer and
Because We Believe.
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Leinsdorf‘s Mozart is beautifully crafted.
Erich Leinsdorf is best known in the United States from his RCA recordings
of Romantic and 20th century repertoire with the Boston Symphony from the
1960s, but he also recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The
overall result is very musical, graceful, and well: Mozartean. Repeats are
almost never taken, even in 1st movement Allegros which are in
Sonata-Allegro form: the custom of the mid-late 1950s when these recordings
were made in London.
Yo-Yo Ma - Appassionato reflects an
extraordinary range of collaborators and includes so many of the most
important musical relationships of Yo-Yo‘s life. The works selected here
have never before been available on one single compilation. The album also
represents the entire span of Yo-Yo‘s recording career, beginning with his
first recordings for the label (Saint-Saens‘ The Swan) and culminating with
three new tracks recorded this past fall especially for the collection. The
most admired and beloved classical artist of his generation, cellist Yo-Yo
Ma delivers an album of romance and passion; featuring some of the most
beautiful music he has ever recorded.
The Ultimate Most Relaxing Mozart in the
Universe is, for the most part, a collection of slow movements extracted
from sonatas, chamber works, and concertos, covering a broad range of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart‘s instrumental works. For people who make few
demands of their classical recordings, this set of pleasant and melodious
excerpts will be serviceable as background music, since the playing in
almost all the selections is first-rate and the sound quality high
throughout.
Silva Screen Records has brought film music to
another level in soundtracks, flawless from the very first note to the last.
This outstanding, fantastic and moving release will have film music
collectors crying for more! Contributing to this awesome and thunderous
recording are Nic Raine (Conductor), James Fitzpatrick (Producer &
Conductor), David Temple (Choir Master), Crouch End Festival Chorus and The
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Every song is beautiful - This album is
definitely worth the wait! Amore is produced by David Foster along with
co-producers Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis and the music hear is wonderful
as well a stellar line up of the world‘s finest instrumentalists appear on
Amore, Electric and acoustic guitarists, Dean Parks (Stevie Wonder, Billy
Joel, BB King) and Michael Landau (Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis);
on Spanish guitars, mandolin, charango, bajo-sexto and vihuela Ramon
Stagnaro (Luis Miguel, Alejandro Sanz, Enrique Iglesias); on bass Nathan
East (Eric Clapton, Phil Collins); on drums Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Marcus
Miller, David Sanborn); on piano and keyboards Randy Waldman (Barbara
Streisand, Kenny G, George Benson); on percussion Paulinho Da Costa (Prince,
Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock) and Rafaela Padilla (Gloria Estefan, Alejandro
Sanz); on trumpet the acclaimed soloist Chris Botti as well as others.
This is an excellent showcase of Gould‘s
talent and his true passion, playing the works of Bach. The level of
expertise that Gould could play a Bach piece at break-neck speed was what
made him famous. This is an excellent disk that any Gould fan should own!
Excellent music when studying or relaxing and one can never tire of this
amazing and timeless recording.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, under
Solti, is in impeccable form. The entire cast is inspired under the
inimitable Solti. Tatiana Troyanos is a vocal temptress and seductress,
both irresistible and insidious in her interpretation. Domingo, a champion
of the honorable but thick role, is a definitive Don José. Few others have
captured the same explosive drama and tension Solti, a spiteful and venomous
Troyanos, and an enraged and enamored Domingo created in the homicidal
finale of Act IV.
This recording of Bruckner‘s Seventh Symphony
was Maestro Karajan‘s very last recording. Karajan, of course related to
Bruckner more than with any other composer, so what a great recording to go
out with. This album is truly majestic. Karajan, like no other, is able to
bring out the mystical aspects of Bruckner‘s symphonies that make them so
unique. Karjan is able to bring forth great emotional intensity from the
piece and all of it is recorded in superb digital sound. For fans of
Bruckner or for a great introduction to his work, this disk is a must
have.
This collection is designed to give the bridal
couple some key pointers to navigate the world of classical music for their
wedding day. The package includes over 3 1/2 hours of music on 3 CDs for
all portions of the wedding service, all from the Naxos classical label
(known for high-quality recordings at inexpensive prices). Wedding day
favorites are there, along with new discoveries and tunes you may have never
considered for a wedding. All pieces are hand selected by professional
wedding musicians and consultants. Everything you need to create your own
unique personal wedding soundtrack.
With Chopin‘s nocturnes unquestionably being
among the most graceful and beautiful compositions ever written for solo
piano, Daniel Barenboim‘s 1981 recording pretty much sums up their
"nocturnal" mood. Somber, low-key and thoughtful, these interpretations are
played to never cause much stir or startle the listener -- maybe with the
exception of the most rousing and splendid highlight, No.48/2. Barenboim
feels at ease with the pieces, never trying to astonish with the technique
in the first place.
Luciano Pavarotti will live on forever. His
powerful voice is so uplifting and soothing. One favorite track is the
lively "La Donna E Mobile" composed by Verdi. We also love Pavarotti‘s
rendition of Verdi‘s "Libiamo Ne Lieti Calici". This song is a celebration
of life. "La Danza" or the dance is an up tempo track from Rossini. "O Sole
Mio" is such a pretty romantic song. This track is a pure gem. His voice
sounds so elegant on the track "Nessum Dorma". "Mappari" is another
standout track. Pavarotti sounds so peaceful here singing about a place
where sound never dies. This is beautiful music from a singing legend.
This is a bizarre and relentless opera-as the
surreal title implies, more dream than drama. Where the earlier recording
had an abrasive edge, this new one is more refined, melding the different
elements, electronic alongside acoustic, more subtly and persuasively than
before. Even so, the first train episode, over 20 minutes long, remains
mind-blowing in its relentlessness. The impact is heightened by the
vividness of the recording, with spoken voices in particular given such
presence that they startled me as if someone had burst into my room. The
vision remains an odd one, but with a formidable group of vocalists and
instrumentalists brilliantly directed, often from the keyboard, by Michael
Riesman, the new recording certainly justifies itself.
|Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone (CD)| Ennio Morricone (Conductor), Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra (Ensemble), Gilda Butta (Performer) and Yo-Yo Ma (Performer)
2004-09-28 Sony Classical
Celebrate the career of indelible musical
impressions courtesy of the most renowned film score composer of our time
Ennio Morricone [conductor], Yo-Yo Ma [cello], Gilda Butta [piano] and Roma
Sinfonietta Orchestra...each cue released into six film and director
categories by "The Mission", "Giusppe Tornatore Suite", "Sergio Leone
Suite", "Brian De Palma Suite", "Moses and Marco Polo Suite" and "The Lady
Caliph"...Maestro Morricone creates visual moods for each film he scores,
Yo-Yo Ma taps into each track with brilliant performances that will leave
you spellbound. Yo-Yo Ma has done a magnificent job in bringing the music
of a composer who wrote for over 250 films to a new level of appreciation to
film-lovers worldwide.
Deutsche Grammophon has united all of
Abbado‘s Mendelssohn recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra in this
inexpensive 4 CD set. Without question, Abbado‘s Mendelsson symphony cycle,
recorded in the mid 1980‘s, remains among the best. The highlights include
splendid performances of the 2nd, 4th and 5th symphonies, with the others
almost as fine, with Abbado opting for brisk tempi and emphasizing the
scores‘ broad orchestral textures. A splendid surprise is the inclusion of
the orchestrated version of Scherzo in G minor for the Octet (Opus 20),
which Mendelssohn regarded as an alternative 3rd movement for his first
full-fledged symphony (Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Opus 11.). Other works
included in this compilation include all of Mendelssohn‘s overtures, most
notably "The Hebrides" (Opus 26), and the overture to Shakespeare‘s "A
Midsummer Night‘s Dream" (Opus 21).
This is a wonderful disc, whether you are a
serious classical/opera fan, or just want to add some variety to your
collection. Domingo‘s rendition of "E lucevan le stelle" is very fine, as
is Carreras in "Granada" and "Il lamento di Federico". Pavarotti‘s voice is
fresh in "Recondita armonia", "Rondine al nido", and "Torna a Surriento".
They are all beautifully done and they mostly stick to opera arias, with
thankfully few Popular/Broadway tunes thrown in.
This is the ultimate Carmina Burana rendition
for the millennium. Eugen Jochum handles the orchestra and choir superbly
and the soloists Fischer-Dieskau, Stolze, and Janowitz perform with
first-rate magnificence. There have been other recordings (Dutoit,
Thielemann, and Pople) that are also brilliant through presentation, but
these simply do not come close to Jochum‘s excellent version. This one gets
an A+!! Absolutely outstanding!
"The Perfect La Bohème." Bohème is easy to
pull off, but nearly impossible to get right! It requires more than just a
great cast and a great conductor. It requires a certain something more, a
sort of magical spark that makes it ring true. Most productions fail in
this. This one gets it right. The fireworks between the voices of Tebaldi
and Bergonzi make them possibly the greatest opera duo ever to collaborate
on stage. They match each other magnificently. Bastianini is flavorful and
funny as Marcello, and the soprano playing Musetta is perfect for the role.
The entire supporting cast is marvelous.
![O Holy Night [Special Edition] (CD) ~ O Holy Night [Special Edit... Cover Art](http://i43.tower.com/images/ss106523217/o-holy-night-o-pavarotti-cd-cover-art.jpg)
