title: great songs

text: This item was received in the time advised, and was in perfect condition (no damage, etc).  I am very satisfied with the item and seller.  Darius Rucker has a fantastic voice, I would listen to him sing the alphabet, and I was around when these songs were new, great collection and wonderful songs.


title: a great album

text: This item was received in the time advised, and was in perfect condition (no damage, etc).  I am very satisfied with the item and seller.  I greatly enjoyed this, a must for fans


title: For anyone who loves music of any kind, this is the one for you.

text: I have been in love with this cd since I first heard it 13 years ago. The music makes me think of snow, blizzards, winter fields and not for Christmas.


title: A GREAT SURPRISE(WHY DIDN'T I SEE THE SHOW?)

text: After listening to this sound tract of CHEVAL THEATRE, I could kick myself for missing the show. I have no idea what I was doing 9 years ago that I missed it. If only we could redo certain parts of our lives.... It is unexpected campy French Cabaret of a different era with a little circus and a lot of talent  mixed in. Exciting and infectious and definitely different.  If the show was even half this  good then it was totally worth seeing. I really wish there was a dvd of the show! I'd buy it in a heartbeat! Or even better I wish the show would come back!  There is a vhs of the making of CHEVAL THEATRE but it is 23 minutes of behind the scenes practicing acrobatics on horses and 3 minutes of tiny glimpes of the show. Not too satisfying. The cd, however, IS.


title: BLAND MATERIAL SET TO TECHNOPOP

text: Nothing stands out on this CD. Vocals ok,material forgettable,some of the technopop annoying. A disappointing purchase.


title: Five Stars

text: wonderful! Love it!


title: Awesome!

text: Love love love!!


title: impressive

text: This is a very impressive cd, it shows some of the many talents that this wonderful , talented, singer has.She does 14 songs and all are great and she has a good variety of stuff here.It is a good cd for a starter to this artist and her music. This album has been out for awhile now but it is easily worth the price.


title: Awesome. This CD is everything I expected it to ...

text: Awesome.  This CD is everything I expected it to be.


title: The Electra years..yes!

text: Peabo strikes again.  This is out of stock, but if you can find it, buy it! You won't be disappointed..


title: Sooo soulful!

text: I remember when this came out on lp in the early 70's.  Thank God it has been re-issued on cd.  This is what Philly sould is all about!


title: Great remix

text: These Elton John songs are not available on any other CD. So if you’re in Elton John fan you would wanna purchase this item.


title: Hard to find this gem

text: After 20 years or so we were looking for a replacement cd. Eventhough it is used, the cd plays fine with no skips or surprises. Happy with purchase.


title: Workbook Review

text: Liked the workbook style. I was able to practice in it. I couldn't get some of the on line links to work.


title: Great CD

text: Love the CD and it has songs on it I hadn't even heard! The CD came in a timely fashion with no harm done to it.


title: Top rated

text: My grandchildren benefit greatly by the teachings and praise songs of Psalty.  This was recommended by their preschool teacher, and she was right on target.


title: Four Stars

text: Great album!


title: IBMA Album of the Year

text:
The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has honored this CD as Album of the Year.  It also won for Best Graphic Design.
The track "Elizabeth" was nominated for Song of the Year.  Yeah, Statler Brothers!
[...]


title: Great Band

text: I saw Off Kilter at Epcot/Canada a few weeks ago (Dec 2006).  I didn't stop for other bands - but thier music stopped me in my tracks and I settled in for the rest of the show.  I am here on Amazon to buy a CD.  I should have just bought one while at Epcot.  I can't wait to get it.


title: Soothing classical music.

text: Soothing classical music.  Had the cassette version of this for many years, but couldn't use it any longer.  Happy I found this CD version so that I can have the music to listen to as I fall asleep.


title: Relaxing bedtime music

text: Got this years ago as a cassette and listened to it quite a bit while falling to sleep.  Finally decided to check and see if it was available as a CD and...it was.  Very happy to have this now.  The mixture of music and rain/water noises is very soothing and relaxing.


title: The best cd ever

text: My husband loves this cd


title: Suspenseful but tedious?

text: I am currently listening to this on CD in my car as I commute to and from work so it has not been the "fast read" that others have experienced. Although I agree that the suspense is there, I find I can't wait to just get it over with and find out "who dunnit?" already! The dialogue is predictable and repetitive to the point of being boring and the love scenes are ridiculous. Maybe it's because I am listening to it rather than actually reading it myself. Maybe the voice actress is my problem with it. She performs the women's voices well but every time she speaks as one of the male characters I almost laugh out loud. I'd say, if you want to enjoy this book, don't make my mistake. Read the book, don't listen to it. This is my first experience with the author and it will be my last.


title: Love Genticorum's instrumental pieces

text: I bought this CD for one song because it is not digitally available.  Love Genticorum's instrumental pieces.


title: Nolstalgic music

text: nice


title: He loves old music and Bobby Darin is his favorite. It’ll be a great way to start his ...

text: Got this as a Christmas present for my boyfriend along with a turntable. He loves old music and Bobby Darin is his favorite. It’ll be a great way to start his collection


title: Misleading

text: The description states it’s an 8 vinyl lot, but I was only shipped 1 vinyl.


title: GREAT  item, perfect shape album..

text: like it! plays well great songs.song of IRELAND will get YOU JUMPING!


title: Lee Brice

text: Great artist<br />Love the cd


title: Five Stars

text: Demos Rouses songs are my heart since I was 20 years old back in France


title: The worst of Demis Rouses

text: This is the worst CD I ever bought.. terrible sounds cannot understand the words .. worst quality I have received..Will not buy from this company in the future


title: Nice music.

text: I like the music and find it pleasant to listen to.  I wouldn't necessarily call it "meditation" music though.


title: Speeney Spawney, Go to the Moon

text:
Excellent.  Much fun.  Emil Miland on cello is absolutely superb.

--Steve Bauman


title: Excellent Album

text: Excellent quality condition! Love this album.<br />Shipping was fast, could not be happier!


title: Five Stars

text: love it


title: A truly masterpiece!!!

text: Excellent music and a good recording!!! Highly recommended!!!


title: Great compilation CD

text: Great CD from my favorite radio station—WXPN Philadelphia!


title: Five Stars

text: Thanks!


title: Five Stars

text: EXCELLENT!


title: Great Memories

text: Great music, One of my favorite singers when I was younger, arrived quickly and in great shape.


title: Zappa musical genius

text: Zappa. And more zappa.<br />U need more?


title: Everything BLONDIE you could ever ask for!

text: This is a great collection of Blondie throughout the years. It arrived in perfect condition and ahead of time. Thank you Blondie for all the GREAT music you gave us.


title: The GENIUS of  Jonathan Winters on cd what could be better!

text: I have loved Jonathan Winters for many many years. He is a genius of improv comedy without him there would be no Robin Williams. His characters are brilliant from Maude Frickert to Elwood P Suggins he could flip from character to character having you struggling to keep up.


title: Brilliant musicians!

text: This is such an amazing a Lp/cd. I am so happy to own this on the cd format now. These brilliant musicians put together one beautiful record. It arrived on time and in perfect condition. I wish these guys would of gotten the credit they deserved. Thank you so much.


title: A big hit with me.

text: I am so excited to finally have this on cd. I have owned the record since it was released. Living in Minneapolis I saw many of these bands live at local venues. It arrived on time and in perfect condition. Thank you so much for your wonderful help.


title: great cd

text: a great cd I would of loved to a been there.


title: a great collection

text: my all time favorite band! I saw them warm up the Who in 71 or 72. This is a great collection even if it does not have Phoenix. It has a lot of forgotten tunes.


title: brian wilson rocks

text:
This cd I found by accident however it is a prize in my collection of beach boy/brian wilson collection I love to hear how different musicians play the beach boys music. The service was amazing as usual with companies are are working with amazon
Thank you
darylee michlink


title: Simply Awesome

text: Dr. Pinkney is a genious in this rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.  His arrangement is beautiful.  He actually brought me to tears.  My heart fills with pride each time I hear this.  My 5 year old loves it.  Thank you for creating this work of art Dr. Pinkney.


title: A lot of sordid history here.

text:
Pretty good effort. Blind Gypsy had way better songs IMHO than the ones that made it onto this disc, but it was still a great time. BG toured endlessly for several years (hence the name of the disc, 'Never Coming Home'), and played all over the eastern half of the US.  We were apparently *just* a little too late - Nirvana and the flannel wave came in just while we were doing a development deal, and hair bands started their slow slide! It was still a great time, though, and this disc captures a lot of it - the excitement, the hope, the attitude - there's a lot of swagger in those tracks! Tim Perry's writing was spot on, Kelly was channeling a lot of heat in the vocal, and the band had that tightness that comes from 3 or 4 years of playing 4 days a week for 50 weeks a year.

I sure miss my long hair now....

attachment_type: IMAGE


title: I love Adel but this CD is questionable

text: The worst CD of Adel I have every owened  or listened to and I love Adel there is only on good song on this CD “Easy on me”


title: Five Stars

text: Good 60's folk music. I got this to preserve my first runs..my play copy.


title: Five Stars

text: Recommended


title: One Star

text: I wish it was a Japanese sample pressing as advertised!!!!!


title: Five Stars

text: Recommended. .


title: Five Stars

text: Recommended. ..


title: Five Stars

text: Recommended, fast shipping, product as stated..


title: Five Stars

text: Recommend! !


title: Five Stars

text: Recommended! !!


title: Four Stars

text: Loved his earlier albums and got this one for my son's birthday.


title: We all enjoy it!

text: Had bought this disk for my son's birthday as his mother and I had listened to filk music for years.  And Leslie Fish had been a fixture of this scene for years.  We all enjoy it!


title: You like Funkified "BadAss" Bass and Guitar with smooth as Silk vocals?  Ya'need this then!!

text: JETROCKER has got it right, I think his review nails it. If you love anything FUNK then you just have to own some SLAVE in your music collection and this set is Awesome! ! What musicianship this band had and the guitarist Mark"Drac" Hicks was one of the very best of the funky cats that layed down some badass guitar parts back in the heyday of this music. I am very fortunate to have gotten this great set of ALL their best albums before the inevitable out of print stage came to be. And as JET said..It is worth spending some extra $ to get this set.


title: Great tunes

text: Great tunes and the recording is pretty well done for a live show in 1973.


title: Charade Score a great addition to the collection

text: I love the movie and I love this score.  Once again Henry Mancini hits the proverbial nail right on the head with his score.  Having the complete score truly enhances the listening experience to the ultimate.  The sound is excellent as well as the music.


title: Great Set of CDs

text: As with all Reader's Digest CD sets, this one with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is superb.  If you do not already have the choir's CDs in your collection this is one way to get a good start to filling that void.  The sound it excellent and the music wonderful.


title: One of the Best Movies in this Genre

text: If you have not seen George C. Scott in The Changling you have missed one of the finest films of this genre.  At the risk of creating a spoiler, I will say no more, but this new release of the score is superb.  A great movie with a score that compliments the narrative beautifully.  I love the film and I am happy to have the movie score to listen to anytime I like.


title: Folk Music Sampler With Style

text: Those familier with Reader's Digest Music sets should be well aware that the sets are usually of high quality.  This set is not an exception to that rule...it sounds great.  Like most of these collections the songs included are all representative of the genre of music the collection is about.  The song choices are solid.....all are by artists famous for the folk music genre but the songs included were not always the artist who is most famous for a recording of this particular song.....however many are the originals.  Either way, this set is well worth having and very enjoyable.  It is great to pop them in the car cd player....makes for great around the town or roadtrip travel.  Great set!


title: Popular Melodies That Offer Great Variety in Music

text: This is a great collection of songs and music by famous artists from the forties, fifties, and sixties. They are not always the artists who made the songs famous but they cover those tunes with style. If you are from those eras (paricularly the 40s & 50s) you may remember that many times other artists would release their own verision (cover) a currently popular tune....I like the four cds in this set....makes for great "easy listening" and background music.  The collection includes: piano music, movie and tv themes, Broadway tunes, big band stylings, and other easy listen classics.  Well worth the purchase if you enjoy this kind of music in your collection.  Four cds....enjoyable music!


title: Classic "Mellow"dys (Melodies) Great

text: This is a great collection of songs and music by famous artists from the forties, fifties, and sixties.  They are not always the artists who made the songs famous but they cover those tunes with style.  If you are from those eras (paricularly the 40s & 50s) you may remember that many times other artists would release their own verision (cover) a currently popular tune....I like the four cds in this set....makes for great "easy listening" and background music.


title: Music for Listening and Relaxation

text: As with all Readers Digest albums/CDs, this one is exactly what the title says it is.  The music is from the 1950s or in the style of the 1950s string orchestras.  This sounds like the best of the FM stations used to sound from the late 50s and through the 70's before hard rock music invaded those airways.  Do you remember when listening to an FM station mean another way to show off your new component stereo equipment?  It also provided just the right background music for a romantic evening at home or with a special friend.  This CD does just that.  It is a  great way to relax and unwind after a long day.  I am glad I bought this CD....and recommend it to anyone looking for this kind of music.


Got it primarily for ROCKETSHIP, but it's turning out to be a nice disc overall.


title: Five Stars

text: Great music from the golden age of rock n roll.


title: What a find!

text: Classic, slightly rare. Gift for my wife who is a Soixsie fan (I'm the Morrissey fan).


title: Gloriously Romantic and Sentimental!

text:
Jerry Goldsmith knows how to tug at the heart strings with his music. The effective use of piano, brass and wind instruments elicit a wide range of moods to set the tempo for the movie or in the quite of one's listening room.

This album is an expanded version with a total of 32 tracks; tracks 23-32 being the bonus. The total running time is 74:37min. You certainly get your money's worth with this album.

I have the movie and absolutely love it. The music underpins the whole mood of the movie from start to finish and allows the viewer (or just the listener) to experience feelings of romance, happiness, loss, despondency and exhilaration. Nostalgia, sentimentality and elation are the main three that I experience listening to this album.

Perhaps I'm just a romantic at heart and hence biased when it comes to this album.


title: Good record

text: This was a gift for my wife; she enjoys playing it.


title: A Long-Time Favorite!

text:
First heard by these virgin ears in its entirety on late night public radio sometime in the early '70s, Karlheinz Stockhausen's a capella classic Stimmung still teases the intellect and delights the aural senses. (I hesitate using the term a capella lest I be scolded and reminded that the work is scored for six voices and six microphones!) That there've been at least three succeeding commercial recordings of Stimmung since this original DG release from 1969 (I'm doubting such is the case for any of Stockhausen's myriad other works) certainly attests to the work's continuing fascination among venturesome listeners and performers. Whatever its composer's influences or inspirations, several of which he imparts in the notes, I'm left smiling by its simple and seemingly inevitable conception -- exploring the artistic possibilities inherent in the merest overtones of the human voice -- brilliant! What could possibly be more fundamental, more primal, more natural?  I believe even certain Stockhausen naysayers can delight in Stimmung's simple (and often erotic!) vocal ruminations.

The only other recording of Stimmung I've heard is that of Singcircle on the Hyperion label ([[ASIN:B000002ZHD Stockhausen: Stimmung]]); it's more confident and forthright in its execution; but hardly as intimate, exploratory, and charmingly naive as this original performed by Collegium Vocale Koln. However, if one's German is as challenged as mine, Hyperion's text translation is appreciated.


title: Very Fine Performances Displaying an Equally Fine Understanding

text:
The Nielsen recordings here date from '85 during Rattle's prodigious stint with the Birmingham orchestra. Pan and Syrinx is both evocative and powerful, especially the brooding cello and marvelous brass crescendo in the middle. In my limited experience with it, this is the most effective and entertaining performance I've heard.

Rattle's rendition of the Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable" invites a special scrutiny among those who love this work.  I've read one critic describe the performance as "fussy", I suppose in reference to Rattle's tendency to deliberately fawn over certain details in sacrifice of momentum. As evidenced here, however, there's certainly much to love and fawn over.  It's true that Rattle takes the middle two movements of this seamless symphony at a pace that elicits a great deal of both loving detail and charm.  Where charm exists and flourishes, however, there's always a most effective countervailing aggression that follows -- this performance never wallows in sweetness and light.  The culminating, all-consuming tympani battle in the final movement is brought to bear with resolute meaning and results in an equally powerful victory, putatively of Man's capacity for creative good over those forces which would usurp it.  To my ears, Rattle's judgments and the orchestra's responses are much more effective than the likes of Karajan and Barbirolli in their likewise expansive and deliberative readings. Instead of "rattling" on, I'll conclude by saying that this lucid performance, as manifested by the young conductor's understanding of Nielsen's multi-fold wartime expression, is worth the "fuss"!

Note that these recordings have been re-released and economically paired with Rattle's touted recording of the Sibelius Symphony No. 5 with The Philharmonia Orchestra. ([[ASIN:B000UYWGFS Nielsen/Sibelius: Symphonies]])


title: I realize Glière's "Ilya Murometz" has its fans, but....

text:
This is an interminable, nearly 100-minute exercise in Late Romantic non-expression.  The first hour might make for good background music, but only if one can abide a persistent drone of near-Wagnerian swelling and ebbing of massed strings -- Dramamine is not included.  I realize the symphony has a program, but this might work better as a silent movie soundtrack; i.e., with a visual narrative; several grueling listens have failed to convince me otherwise.

Glière's "Ilya Murometz" has its fervent fans, but if one truly wishes to be introduced to this bloated gargantua, I'd feel comfortable in suggesting almost any other recording, apparently all of which are either appreciably amended or reinterpreted for "listening compactness". Farberman's recording is probably best left for cognoscenti...or for someone's extended sessions of morbid self-imposed sleep deprivation.


title: Uniquely Rendered Brahms Third

text: This is a uniquely rendered and beautifully recorded performance of the Brahms Third from the late '80s. Dohnányi and the Clevelanders seemingly strive for a serene, blended, and lyrical sound throughout following the symphony's stark and defining opening bars; the orchestra seems to linger just below mezzo forte as if it were a barrier not to be breached -- and it works wonderfully here! The first movement's exposition is appropriately repeated. The strings and winds interplay exquisitely for a performance that exhibits this symphony's inherent tranquil beauties, but not necessarily its deepest secrets, if there are indeed any to be found. Perhaps strangely, I found the performance as profound as Walter's, but in an entirely different way. It's certainly not as architecturally rigid as the likes of Klemperer and others. All I really know is that I enjoyed it immensely on this particular morning.


title: Five Stars

text: Good CD...always like him.


title: It's hard to beat this style of music.

text: We looked everywhere for this album and were told it was out of production. This is a wonderful Christmas album and we love it.


title: Love it!!

text: This man is SO talented.  He can take a poorly produced CD and make it amazing!!  Worth anything you need to pay to own this work of art!


title: Good pointers for aspiring film-makers.

text: Good insightful advice from professionals at the top of their game.  Very entertaining and easy to understand.  Not for beginners though.


title: great music; really bad liner notes..............

text: i remember purchasing SNAKES AND LADDERS years ago when it first came out as an album and after that you never saw a GERRY RAFFERTY album in NEW JERSEY again. in 1980 music tastes were changing drastically and a artist like RAFFERTY fell out of favor with the main stream quiickly. years latter even with C.D. S his titles were hard to find and it took his DEATH to finally right this wrong. i dont know who still owns the C.D. publishing rights between the U.S. and overseas but they need to get their act together. where are the original liner notes,artwork and song lyrics that the albums had; all you get are the front covers. if you go to the GERRY RAFFERTY WEB SITE you can see all of his albums and each one goes into detail with the original artwork for one to see. i am sorry for ranting about this but i do not DOWNLOAD, i buy C.D. S for the music and inner workings of everything else that goes with it like lyrics. artwork and such. the music on both c.d.s are excellent. his song writing and the musicians used, bring out a deapth to each song which makes them both great for driving on the backroads in the country.


title: Five Stars

text: Way better than I AM LEGEND.


title: YOU WILL LOVE IT

text: ONE OF THE BEST BALLAD SINGERS I HAVE EVER HEART. SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE ELVIS, BUT HAS IT'S PERSONAL SOUND THAT ONLY RAL DONNER CAN CREATE.


title: phenomenal performance by virtuoso musicians, they take you on ...

text: phenomenal performance by virtuoso musicians, they take you on a tour from metal to blues to jazz and back again seamlessly and in the same song! anyone who appreciates musicianship, give it a listen you won't be dissapointed.


title: Look good in the treasure chest

text: A little pricey or I would have bought 2 or 3 bags.  Nice size for treasure.


title: Not original hits

text: Beware.  These are original artists, but not the original recordings.  Don't fall for this cheapie.


title: Walk Down Memory Lane

text: Great songs! Thoroughly enjoyed.


title: Good upbeat album

text: Good upbeat album, wish there were a few less curse words though.  Jason has a beautiful voice.<br />I recommend this album.


title: Five Stars

text: excellent cd


title: Five Stars

text: Best Christmas music


title: Jazz Has A New King

text: Move over Frankie, ‘cause Mike is giving you a run for your money!


title: Beautiful

text: Beautiful book. Absolutely. It is a significant part of my childhood. I loved it then, and love it now. I hope to pass it to my nieces and nephews.


title: Beautiful, Grooving, Soulful

text:
What a great cd!  I had seen C.C.White's music video of the song, "One Heart, One Chant" on youtube and then listened to a few of her other songs and decided to order the cd.  "One Heart, One Chant" is not on this cd...wish it was, but still happy to have this cd in my collection even so...lots of great singing and music.  I love how she and her Beautiful Band bring a whole new dimension to Kirtan....beautiful, grooving, soulful...and sharing the message "Be kind to yourself, be kind to one another."
Peace, Joy, Love and Many Kind Blessings To Us All,
Lisa :)


title: Super quality and an excellent selection of dance tunes from the late 20's and early 30's

text: This is a marvelous rendition; cleaned up, with no loss of the original range; and plenty of good vocals, excellent instrumentation.


title: NOT AS GREAT

text: the song not as sung in the Church.


title: I really like this double cd pack.

text: I purchased this as a gift for someone who had heard it at our house and had really liked it. I had bought my copy new a couple of years ago, but could only find used this time around. I ordered it anyway. It came on time and in excellent condition. Two years ago it had been my first "quiet time" cd purchase in years. Maybe I'm getting old, but I wanted to have something playing in the background while reading, relaxing with a cup of tea or glass of wine, talking with family...etc. For me, this cd is perfect. The songs are wordless and vary some in tempo, while still feeling relaxing. My husband, who still likes to hear pop and rock songs until bedtime says he would prefer music with vocals, but finds comfort in the fact that this cd is not elevator music. Also, I've caught him listening to it now and then, so there you go. After this purchase I also bought Lifescapes Guitar/Cello cd. It's also available as used now, but it's complementary to this 2 pk.


title: The perfect CD for relaxing.

text: I think this is a beautiful collection of gentle and relaxing songs. I use it in the evenings when I want quiet, background music to reading. This CD and a cup of tea are also a lovely combination. Occasionally I use it in the car, in rush hour traffic after a stressful day.


title: Love Bing

text: Good recording


title: It's Stray Kids what do you expect!

text: Love the album and the goodies! I got a photocard of hyunjin and dance racha and I'm totally satisfied! Also grateful for the poster because I was not sure If my order would come with one seeing some of the reviews. Only thing I could have gone without was the cheap mask, but no biggie! Everything is perfect.


title: Hooray

text: My husband was looking for this cd. Unfortunately, there is no new one available but he was so happy and grateful to have this! Listen over and over and over.


title: Five Stars

text: I LOVE this CD. Listening this music over and over.


title: Another Top Quality Teaching from Tony Robbins!

text: Tony has a unique git to synthesize information from people who are experts in their field and relay the information in an entertaining and easy to understand way.  We've yet to be even slightly disappointed in any product that Tony offers.  Top marks!


title: Beautiful music!

text: This is a hauntingly beautiful album!


title: Perfect condition

text: It was a perfectly new CD of this older album. I'm very pleased.


title: Five Stars

text: Just as I remember, an outstanding collection of international music


title: So happy was the quickest delivery

text: So happy was the quickest delivery! I bought this for my mom who loves this singer and she absolutely loves the CD! THANKS SO MUCH YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!


title: Stray Kids Mini Album

text: This was a gift for my granddaughter who likes this group.


title: My granddaughter loved it!

text: I purchased this for my granddaughter. She was very happy in getting it and am sure she will be listening to before going to bed tonight.


title: Excellent...really does relieve stress!

text: I love every program I have ordered that is narrated by Belleruth Naparstek.


title: An unexpected delight!

text: I have been an admirer of Kevin Cole the pianist for 30 years. However, I had no idea that he could sing at all, let alone well enough to take his voice in the studio. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that Kevin Cole, in addition to being one of the great apostles and champions of Gershwin-era piano playing, really can sing, and very well at that. His rich baritone voice is very pleasing on the ears and his spot-on delivery of Ira Gershwin's disarmingly touching lyrics with their deliciously clever rhymes, clearly the result of a lifetime steeped in the music of the Gershwin era, brought many spontaneous smiles to my face. Plus, the combination of Kevin Cole, the pianist, accompanying Kevin Cole the singer, backed by an excellent rhythm section and top-notch sound quality adds up to a high-quality recording that satisfies on every level. If Kevin Cole ever decides to air out his pipes on another vocal recording of this kind, I will buy it without hesitation.


title: Good song

text: I really really like it! It's definitely one of my favorite songs. Thank you so Ötzi


title: Five Stars

text: Great music for parties!


title: Amazingly Great Music

text: My husband really enjoyed this cd.


title: Fast delivery received sooner than expected

text: Gift for my daughter she loves the music


title: Great gift

text: Love it


title: Great empty dishwasher bribe😁

text: Daughter thrilled


title: Great clean empty the dishwasher bribe😁

text: Daughter is thrilled


title: Great gift

text: Daughter loves Kpop


title: Quick delivery

text: My daughter loves BTS


title: This stinker of a hose blew out after one month ...

text: This stinker of a hose blew out  after one month. Not worth sending back but don't buy it. Cheap begets cheap.


title: I just love everything Elvis sings

text: I just love everything Elvis sings, he's such a natural and extremely handsome its too bad that he left before his time, what a man!!


title: Pretty and relaxing

text: I put on this CD for some relaxing background music for times when I need to concentrate yet not fall asleep!  I listen to it all the time when I am paying bills, etc.  It is so lovely and I wish this group had recorded more because I would purchase it in a minute!


title: Five Stars

text: So glad I found this! Very hard to come by now!


title: Love piano prayer music

text: Love piano prayer music.  Dislike is the CD didn’t fit on my computer dvd drive.  The center hole was too small on the disc.


title: Heaven Can Wait -- but you should  buy it now

text: This is a fine Dave Grusin score, nicely arranged. I am glad that this was available for purchase.


title: Four Stars

text: Not what I remembered.


title: Great value

text: Great bulbs


title: Great album, bad poster.

text: The album is great but the poster is just of their logos not the guys and its folded really bad.


title: well orchestrated

text: Professionally done and nice touch for Christmas time


title: Four Stars

text: good


It is instrumentals of the theme songs, I was hoping for some other instrumentals. It is still good quality though and I enjoy it.


title: Can go wrong with Gavin!

text: This is another great CD from Gavin, I pretty much enjoyed the entire CD


title: Evanescence Greatest Hits

text: I am really enjoying this cd.  The melodies are soothing, the lead singer's voice is hauntingly beautiful.  I highly recommend this artist.


title: Phony DVD

text:
Sound quality of DVD very good but DVD feature poor in that video is only one fixed image of Botti for each song
No images of co performers no actual footage og concert.
Otherwise good product but not worth higher price than basic cd.


title: good product

text: good product


title: Great singing and messages

text: These women never fail to both entertain and inspire.  Great singing and profound words!


title: Great buy

text: Delightful recording.


title: Timeless classics and then some

text: I bought this to play for nursing home residents. Most of them didn’t know that Tennessee Ernie Ford sang hymns so we have had interesting conversation about the music. I don’t listen to it otherwise.


title: I love 80's music

text: I love the CD, great music!


title: Addicted and looking for more

text:
I bought an iPhone for Christmas 2012, so  I pretty much just went through my entire music collection in order to put everything I own into iTunes.  Of all of my CDs; Pauper's Field - Voice was one of the few that I was really looking forward to ripping into my iTunes collection. I bought the CD after seeing them live in Bay City, MI, many moons ago.  To be honest, I hadn't listend to it in years.  I haven't really been into music the last several years, so it's not just them.  Anyway - when I finally located this CD I was thrilled to rip it into iTunes.  The musicians are very talented, the writing meaningful and mature, and the energy - raw!

I figure if you took the artfull complexity of a progressive rock band like Rush, and blended in some trio based homegrown Michigan rock, then added a healthy dose of crazy, you'd wind up with this CD.

Utlimately, I don't really know what it is about this CD that grabs me.  But for some reason I've always connected with it, and it always remains one of my more memorable albums.


title: One of the best artists out there

text: One of the best artists out there.  An album that never gets played out. Can't wait for this Vinyl to arrive!


title: Five Stars

text: One of Elton John's best albums of all time. Highly recommend!


title: Where Can I Download an MP3 of This?!

text: I first heard it ONCE on the radio (AM radio) in 1969 when I was a teen & it struck me hard. I could never find it to buy it. - Never heard it again, but never forgot it. - It speaks VOLUMES: A younger brother who is frightened about a catastrophic event going on outside; an abusive older brother who he has to rouse carefully or he'll get hit, and civilization about to collapse. - I never understood why it didn't sell.


title: Nat King Cole

text: Product arrived on time and as described by seller. Great CD!!!


I thought I was getting the DVD, but this is a CD.  I listened to it for like a month straight in the car.  Then I got the DVD and I recognize the music in the show, lol!  Enjoyable background music that you can have conversations over in the car, etc.


title: Five Stars

text: Great


title: Another Great SACD from Universal Japan

text: Possibly the best album ever released by Traffic, this 2.8Mghz DSD super audio cd blows away the remastered 2-cd Deluxe Edition for sound quality. Unfortunately it does not contain the Deluxe's extra tracks. This is a stereo-only non-hybrid recording transferred from the original master tapes by Manabu Matsumura at Universal Mastering Studios, Japan. I haven't compared this to the hi-rez (24/96 and 24/192) pcm downloads available from sites such as hdtracks.com (which contain 2 additional tracks) but in general I find no other format compares to DSD for audio quality. The 'green label' disc comes in a sturdy fold-out cardboard package. Sadly, most of the liner notes are in Japanese. It's a shame Universal Music Group never made this and the many other Universal Japan sacd releases (Cream's four studio albums, Blind Faith, Free, most of The Who plus many other classic rock albums from the late '60s/early '70s) available in the US. In my opinion sacd never caught on in this country due to music companies (1) lack of advertising; and (2) their belief that high resolution audio would only sell if offered in a surround sound format. Such remastering would be a major investment. Universal Japan has shown that all that was really required was a direct transfer from the analog masters. Sony (who invented DSD/SACD) originally planned for all new cd releases (including re-releases) to be hybrid cd/sacd. Instead, they were the first major company to abandon the format.<br />If you are a fan of Traffic and/or high resolution music, this sacd is a must have.


title: Husband loved this

text: I hate that I have to type anything. The star rating should be enough. This makes me not want to rate anything...


title: Fantastic

text: My favorite music group of the 80's. Love it.


title: Good item

text: Yes I like this ítem principaly the music and beatiful voice of singer and the good rithm


title: Good compilation

text: Good compilation, would have chosen another songs


title: Great group

text: I like the music of this group, they are tow sisters that love to sing, and the letters and music is pretty likable, the disc come with a DVD with their most famous songs


title: This deluxe edition of Euphoria is the way the original album should have been released.

text:
I have enjoyed all of Enrique Iglesias English albums very much, but I was a bit skeptical about this album because it has both English and Spanish songs. After I listened to the album I liked it, but it wasn't until I purchased the deluxe edition on iTunes (also sold at Target) that I really enjoyed it. The deluxe edition comes with three extra english tracks Why Not Me, Heartbreaker, and Coming Home. All the tracks are in a different order on the deluxe edition and to me the album flows so much better. To me these three songs on the deluxe edition are some of the better songs on the album. I wonder why this deluxe album was not released instead of this regular edition. I think people will enjoy the order of these songs on this edition better. My favorite songs are Why Not Me, I Like It, Coming Home, Heartbeat, Heartbreaker, Ayer, and One Day At a Time. I highly encourage anyone who is considering getting this album to go with the deluxe edition (sold only on itunes or Target) of Euphoria due to the three bonus english tracks and the much better order of the tracks. I just wish I would have knew about the deluxe edition originally.

Track Listing of Euphoria Deluxe Edition

1. I Like It feat. Pitbull
2. One Day At A Time feat. Akon
3. I Can Feel Your Heartbeat feat. Nicole Scherzinger
4. Dirty Dancer with Usher
5. Why Not Me?
6. No Me Digas Que No feat. Wisin & Yandel
7. Ayer
8. Cuando Me Enamoro feat. Juan Luis Guerra
9. Dile Que
10. Tu Y Yo
11. Heartbreaker
12. Coming Home
13. No Me Digas Que No


title: Perfect

text: Everything I hoped it would be.


title: the force is back- but not with the luster of old

text:
This movie get a solid 4 out of 5 stars.Star Wars E2 follows
the break down of the Republic & the beging of Ankins trip toward the dark side.From the beging Ankin is shown as a conflicting padwan- Who clams too be held back by his master Obi-Wan.They are giving the task too gaurd Senator Padmee.The job falls soully too Ankin when an assain escapes.The two begin too fall in love and atthe end marry.Ankins journey too the dark side is quicken when horrible nightmares send him too rescue  his mother.he arrives too late too save her but not too late too slaughter sandpeople(this is not shown-darn).Although you knowwhat happened bye Ankins discribtion that is one of many scenes fromthe book that may have worked good if it was put in(the book is better).
notes:Lucas focus on poltics and tring for a love storie simlar in away toothe one in Empire.brings this movie down a bit.A little more action whould of been nice .Not much of Jar-Jar is a good thing.Yodas duel is that suppose too be comical?Finally I hope the third and final one fills in the many gaps still not covered from here.Welp if nothing else we still have the books.


title: Cd

text: Very happy with the CD thank you


title: Good music

text: Good music


title: We Say KaTonga!

text: KaTonga was a grand broadway style show that performed daily in the Moroccan Palace Theater! It will be missed forever and this is a great item to remember it and listen to all the classic songs that so many of us feel in love with!


title: Seems to be working

text: I have purchased this once before and both times the battery seems to work.  I never really get a chance to test it out to see how long the battery lasts but it seems to last at least one hour while using the live XM and longer for recorded XM.


title: Arrived before the estimated delivery date -

text: I received the product I ordered it was in good condition when I received it.


The final addition to any cher collection stars ,I'd rather believe in you and cherished all are very beautiful albums a must have


title: ... of cher's most rare and overlooked cd/album there's some beautifully written songs

text: This is one of cher's most rare and overlooked cd/album there's some beautifully written songs


title: Five Stars

text: Absolutely perfect it's about time it was finally released on cd perfect for my collection my favorite song on here is spring and all the other ones have a standing all their own beautiful cd


title: Finally got this their first album and I just love the song anywhere it's such a beautiful song if ...

text: Finally got this their first album and I just love the song anywhere it's such a beautiful song if you have never heard it I suggest that you listen to it


title: Sweenlink: Cantiones Sacrae, Vol. 2 ...

text: Having already Volume I, I thought I would try Volume II. It is fantastic! It is very soothing and relaxing. The flowing polyphony organum and melisimas are simply incredible. Some of these are in sad minor keys whilst others are in major keys. Ofttimes accidentally changing from major to minor and back and or minor to major and back. I am glad to see these are still offered!


title: Sweenlink: Cantiones Sacrae, Vol. 1 ...

text: The disc I had finally wore out, so I replaced it. The music of Jan Pieterzoon Sweenlink is very tranquil and soothing. Perfect for relaxing after a busy day. The flowing polyphony organum and melisimas are simply incredible. Some of these are in sad minor keys whilst others are in major keys. Ofttimes accidentally changing from major to minor and back and or minor to major and back. I am glad to see these are still offered!


title: Great Easy Listening of the Sixties Hits.

text: James Last is one of 3 conductors, Percy Faith and Ray Coniff who had many easy listening albums in the fifties, apparently Last recorded over 50 albums. This is a compilation of 50's hit songs, they mainly feature strings, but there are flourishes of brass throughout, some have vocal choirs. My favorites include: A Summer Place, compares to Percy Faiths version (born in Toronto), I left my heart in San Francisco (Tony Bennett), The Dock of the Bay (otis redding) vocal choir, You've lost that loving feeling (Righteous Brothers), In Crowd (Ramsey Lewis), A whiter shade of pale (procol harem), Blowing in the Wind, (peter, paul & mary), House of the Rising Sun (Animals and Eric Burdon) 2 Beatles songs, Hey Jude and All you need is love, I got you babe (Sony and Cher) and Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival). Excellent versions of classic hits from the sixties and easy on the ears.


title: A MUST HAVE!

text: I got this on the recommendation of my brother who got it for his daughter and she loved it. I'm not sure how he heard about it but I'm glad he did! My daughter was into audio books and music from a very early age, but there aren't that many audio books that are age and content appropriate for a 4 year old. Sir Bernard filled the gap admirably. Not only does it teach Biblical values (they're just good solid values in general, I believe these are the same values taught in Boy Scouts too), but it's got adventure, humor, suspense, singing, and action. It's so well done, even parents will enjoy listening to it. I'm surprised it's never been turned into an animated film, yes, it's that good. We listened to the CD for about a year off and on, and then we lost the CD. So this is my second purchase of the CD and my daughter, who is now 5 and a half, and who hadn't heard the CD in probably about 8 months, remembered it right away and often requests to listen to it. You really can't go wrong with this one. It's a must have!


title: Beautiful music by Love & Kisses, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

text: "Accidental Lover" and "I've Found Love (Now That I've Found You)" are 2 of the best disco songs ever released.  The beautiful orchestral sounds of both songs are a total pleasure to listen if you don't like dancing music; but at the same time the rhythm is pumping magnificently synchronized with the orchestral music that makes you feel you wanna dance right away; both songs went to the number one spot on the Billboard Magazine for a total of 3 weeks.  I still don't know why this album that has been so successful has not being officially released on CD.  I'm happy that I got a copy made in Canada that sounds awesome.  10 stars to Love & Kisses and 10 stars to both songs


title: One of the finest Counter-Tenors today!

text: One of the best underappreciated Countertenors out there! Amazing rich vocals with very emotive interpretations! Strongly recommend!


title: Diva of Spain .....Diva de España!

text: Tremenda coleccion de la Diva ...lo recomiendo!


title: BUY THIS ALBUM FOR ONLY $7.99 ON ITUNES! DON'T OVER PAY FOR THIS ALBUM!

text:
BUY THIS ALBUM ON ITUNES FOR ONLY $7.99 ..DO NOT OVERPAY FOR THIS ITEM!

THE CD SHOULD COME OUT SOON FOR ONLY $10.00.....


title: ethereal and earthy mix

text: the ethereal vocal choruses on "clair de lune" [a unique arrangement] are worth the price all by themselves. the rest is pleasant enough.


title: this has got to be the most relaxing music in the WORLD!

text: this has a hypnotic combination of echoey raindrops [dripping off of stalactites onto the cavern floor] and the "stalacpipe organ" [a type of lithophone] with its deep, DEEP tones. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


title: a rare old beauty

text: this custom pressing [for conn organs] is of virgin vinyl [I can see through it when shining a flashlight on the other side, it is translucent] has superb sound quality for vinyl, very quiet pressing, pure tone. the conn 653 organ [very rare nowadays in working condition] was The Statement Organ by conn/Kimball, and in carol jones' capable hands is put through its paces and acquits itself very nicely. this record is a document of how closely conn was capable of emulating the theatrical Wurlitzer organ using analog technology. both this record [as well as the organ] are collector's items.


title: late 60s gem

text: this album, recorded in England in 1969, has happy 60s vibes written all over it. the living strings accompanied by some kind of electric organ, with sometimes mellow/sometimes cheesy voicing, and the sounds of the seaside surf mixed in between selections, has its high tide moments, such as with the intro song, "ebb tide" which combined with the surf sound effects is relaxing and inspiring all at once. recommended.


title: sublime

text: this album is a sleeper album, I am not sure how well it sold back in the day but it is classic mellow jazz with classical pretentions. the whole album is a winner with no filler. my fave track would have to be all of them! the first cut, "the breeze and I" [based on ernesto lecuona's "andalucia"] is a great lead-in track, starting in a mellow mood and getting jazzier in a jimmy web-esque way with the horns and rhythm section ramping up later on in the song. highly recommended! this album NEEDS to be released on CD!


title: swingin' things from 101 strings rings up the ringadingding 60s :)

text: what a delightful combo of silky strings and blatting brasses! standout tracks are "harlem nocturne," "miserlou," "mood indigo," "street scene" and "that ol' black magic," all persuasively swinging and seductively slinky. this album is what used to be known back in the day as "make-out music." the sound quality of my copy was bright and brassy and clear for the era. out of all the various living strings and 101 strings albums this one rocks the most! highly recommended!


title: nobody could tinkle those ivories like the late lou bush! [RIP]

text: most of the cuts on this CD derive from fake-stereo masters, albeit comparitively well-done in that regard, with the piano represented mostly on the right channel and everything else mostly on the left. i've heard far worse, and to my ears it sounds a LOT better than monophonic. the music shines through always.


title: happy bouncy music from a gentler era

text: very delicate yet driving music on twin pianos, bass and percussions. very nice, calming music, just right to decompress with after a stressful day at work or school. it swings, also.


title: a holiday/wintery respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life

text: listening to this CD is like taking a vacation from reality, in a wonderful wintery holiday land. it is just distilled beauty in sound, like a ballet of the mind. mr. wilde's rendition of "greensleeves" is my favorite of all, economically spare yet redolent of wonder, it puts me into a reverie when i hear it. there is something unearthly/heavenly about the sound of the glass armonica when performing this genre of music. highly recommended!


title: FUNNY especially if one can think in the 60s vibe

text: i heard a cut from this album on the dr. d. show decades ago, it was hilarious! it was the one about the guy seeing the shrink ostensibly because he chewed his nails when in fact he unconsciously acted like a dog, i.e., he barked all the time and buried bones in the back yard, etc. when the "beard" [the shrink] asked the barking patient, "what about this 'bow wow business?'" the guy would ask back,"WHAT bow-wow business?" hahaha funny!


title: a rare gem from a unique organist and man of talent

text:
I ran into this gem at Golden Oldies ages ago, and i was impressed by the ambient quality of the audio- it really was superbly recorded and pressed, and the only problem is that there is a LOT of master tape hiss audible.  Aside from this quibble, the combo of the Robert-Morton organ [an offshoot of the familiar Wurlitzer, recorded at Lorin Whitney Studios in 1962], tastefully employed keyed percussions, and a harpist, makes for some transcendentally sublime music.  This was one of 13 albums Korla Pandit [born John Roland Redd] recorded for Fantasy Records, and one of his finest overall. The standout tracks of this album are-

-Ode to a desert love
-The swan
-Liebestraum
-Ode to a lotus blossum
-Ebbtide
-Schubert's serenade

This album NEEDS to be reissued on CD!  Since it has only 10 tracks at barely more than a half-hour of music, it could be combined with one of his 12 other Fantasy albums into a two-fer.  In anycase, this album is recommended highly, for any theatrical pipe organ music lover.


title: more fun than a barrel of pipe-organists

text: charlie balogh is my favorite organist, he is a wizard of the keys with the heart of a true artist and heaping helpings of jazzy razzmatazz.  the title song alone ["clap hands, here comes charlie!"] is enough to bring a smile to the face of any mugwump with ears, and to set his/her toes a'tappin' to boot, with help from the "yamaha rx-5 rhythm unit" which is used on several selections- this added percussion really livens up the presentation.  the 2nd selection, "unforgettable" - is very soulful, using the organ's keyed percussion [tap cymbal] for accompaniment.  the 3rd selection is a ragtime number, "maple leaf rag" which shows off the organist's jazz chops to good effect.  "original boogie woogie" by pinetop smith, is another rah-rah number [using the yamaha rhythm unit] which makes me want to get up and jerk around like an uncoordinated fool.  9 other selections run the gamut from pops, jazz, ballads and a march ["stars and stripes forever"].  a real keeper, if you ask me.  the [wurlitzer] organ sound on this disc is overwhelming on good equipment, especially surround-sound, making the [listening room] walls seem to disappear, with great ambience and magisterial deep bass.  YEAH!


title: flawed treasure

text: a very rare disc indeed- mercury #5543, "everybody loves that hadacol" by tiny hill AHO.  funny little ditty [about a funny little patent medicine] from a funny era of recorded music.  too bad this particular 78 is worn down to the nub, i believe it was played with a steel needle a few too many times, as it was a "party" record of its day- it deserved much better treatment.  i wonder why it has never been reissued on any record label, as it was one of his better records.


title: A mediocre Bruckner 5th and a magnificent Te Deum

text:
If only Te Deum was the bigger of these two pieces! Bruckner seemed to think it was for he told someone that, if called before God to show what his life amounted to, he would show his Master the Te Deum.

Needless to say, it is one of his greatest works and easily his greatest choral work. Its five movements are incredibly difficult for soloists and singers each (the women have to hit high C at the end), not to mention the orchestra. Yet it illuminates more than any other work of his Bruckner's solemnity and dedication to God.

This performance, by Eugene Ormandy, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Temple University Choirs with Maria Stader, Helen Vanni, Stanley Kolk, and Donald Gramm is quite simply the most magnificent rendering of this music I have ever heard.

It is fast by Brucknerian standards (18:38) and with its carries a Toscanini-like precision, intensity and power. There is no disquietude, religious slowing, or any other affect that might take away from the music's authority. The singing, both the solo and choral work, is uniformly outstanding. You can make out their Latin even though this is hardly a new recording.

Unfortunately, the main item here, Bruckner's sometimes Boa constictor-like Fifth Symphony, doesn't come off as well. Ormandy, a noted Sibelius expert who know that composer well and recorded most of his symphonies, said he never recorded the Third Symphony because he didn't understand it.

It appears that to be the same thing here -- lack of understanding, especially the cumulative power of the repetitive Liszt-like motifs that build the structure of Bruckner's most contrapuntal composition. There is no particular point in the music where Ormandy and his brilliant orchestra fail; it is just an overall impression that he did not understand the phrasing necessary to pull off this titanic symphony.

Others have done it much better, not the least of which is Jascha Horenstein's BBC recording from 1971, an overwhelming performance greatly understood, powerfully played by the British orchestra, and gratefully acknowledged by the live audience through rapturous applause at the end.

But don't sell this short for it contains the finest Te Deum you will ever heard in staggeringly good sound.


title: First recordings of two Rautavaara masterpieces

text:
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016) was one of modernity's more successful and well-known composers, a Fin whose music was influenced by Sibelius, who knew him when young; his teachers in USA, Aaron Copland, Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions; the Second Viennese School; and minimalism, the musical thought camp with which he is often associated. He can be diatonic as well as serial (witness his 5th symphony) but his most prominent pieces are considered closer to post-modernism and minimalism.

Two appear on this unique recording -- the very first (1982) recording of his most well-known masterpiece, Cantus Arcticus or concerto for birds, and the Angel of Dusk concerto for double bass -- accompanied by a less well-known piece, A Requiem For Our Time. No one should confuse the final piece for a full-blown traditional requiem; it is a tonal, tuneful item from the young Rautavaara written in four brief movements for a small brass ensemble.

Of the two bigger items, both are performed well by Scandinavian conductors, orchestras and double bass soloist Olli Kosonen, whose live recording was the first performance of the piece in 1984. The more famous concerto for birds uses taped bird sounds identified by the composer to accompany an orchestra.

While I think another recording of Cantus Arcticus -- the one led by Max Pommer -- may be more atmospheric than the one here from the Klemetti Institute Symphony Orchestra under Pertti Pekkanen, I find this version highly satisfying with repeated listening. While the aura of the music may not be as wistful as Pommer's creation it has plenty of atmosphere of its own.

The Angel of Dusk double bass concerto is sometimes considered Rautavaara's greatest masterpiece. The composer has several compositions nicknamed after angels, which play an important role in his life. He once said: “...again and again in my dreams, an enormous, grey, powerful, silent creature would approach me and clasp me in its arms so I feared its mighty presence would suffocate me. I struggled for dear life…until I awoke.

"The figure came back night after night, and I spent the days fearing its return. Finally, after dozens of these battles, I learned to surrender, to become part of it, and after a while, the nocturnal visits ended.”

I think you hear this submissive nature in the concerto itself whose movements feature the angel's appearances. The first appearance is tentative, quiet, subdued. Later appearances grow and the angel becomes more Technicolor in nature, more animated, even angry. It's an interesting piece, far more so than the concerto for birds most people contend is his greatest composition. Incidentally, the recording here is directed by the famed Leif Segerstram.

 The recording on all three pieces is fine, clearly up to standards of the day. Cantus Arcticus was recorded 1980, the Angel of Dusk 1981, and the mass was first recorded 1968 and came to CD in 1980. Typical of re-releases, there are only a couple pages of notes about the music, composer and the recordings. This is an excellent starter recording for anyone curious about this composer, his music, and his place in the 21st century world of music.


title: Autumnal Brahms

text:
Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt's Hamburg version of Brahms' Symphony No. 4 is, unlike his [[ASIN:B004XIAUSW BBC concert version]], steeped in the values of late Brahms with an autumnal glow over the whole thing that best characterizes the composer's late years. Brahms, a native of Hamburg, is exceptionally well-represented here, in my opinion. This is my favorite version of any recording of the Brahms Fourth Symphony and is the intellectual opposite of the much-praised and, in my opinion, highly overrated  [[ASIN:B000006NXP Carlos Kleiber recording]] that makes Brahms late edifice into the ravings of a madman of sorts. Knowing so much about the composer's late life, his longings and his diffidence, I simply cannot accept this interpretation of late Brahms.

Unfortunately this recording -- or its counterpart from the [[ASIN:B003YHJ6WO integral set]] of Brahms symphonies from Schmidt-Isserstedt -- is not available as a single recording anywhere but in Vox's deleted LP. For those of you that still spin LPs, this is a find in wonderful sound. The orchestra may be a tab homogenized in the recording and the sections of the orchestra don't stand out as they would in a London Phase 4 wreck. However, if you want to hear Brahms' resignation at the end of his life, here is one of the best ways to do so. Only Barbirolli's [[ASIN:B000005WG1 Vienna Philharmonic recording]], sadly also out of print in USA, compares.


title: Best Haydn singing anywhere

text:
This 1961 mono production, originally on HWV (later EMI, now I'm not sure what it is; we sometimes knew it in USA as Angel), carries 18 of Haydn's lieder and English canzonettas sorted out below:

The German songs:
Gebet zu Gott
Zufriedenheit
Das Leben ist ein Traum
Gegenliebe
Eine sehr gewohnliche Geschichte
Der Gleichsinn
Die zu spate Ankunft der Mutter
Lob der Faulheit
Auch die Sprodeste der Schonen
Abschiedslied
Gott erhalte den Kaiser (God Save the Kaiser, same tune as Germany's national anthem)

English canzonettas:
The Spirit's Song
Fidelity
Recollection
Piercing Eyes
She never told her love
The wanderer
Sailors Song

As you might expect, Fischer Dieskau's lung power, artistry and interpretive skill  exceeds any Haydn recital currently in print or probably ever recorded. While other singers struggle to find meaning in Haydn's deceoptively simple songs, Fischer Dieskau always seems to understand what's going on. He is marvelously assisted by pianist Gerald Moore, his partner on the 900 or so Schubert songs they recorded together. While Haydn's songs don't challenge the pianist like Schubert's, there are still compelling story lines to be told by the accompanist and Moore is alwasy equal to the task.

An interesting note: when Gramophone magazine reviewed this LP upon its 1961 release, the critic (who gave it a positive review) asked if it was appropriate for a man to sing She Never Told Her Love, Haydn's song after Shakespeare's text from Twelfth Night. Of course that was fine, he concluded. I agree and I wish Fish Dish had recorded all 12 of the English canzonettas during his 45-year professional career as a rectialist, opera star and lied specialist.

The 1961 sound is fantastic, ideal; Fischer Dieskau is in your living room with the instrument not far behind. As difficult as it is for me to believe, buying this LP appears to be the only way to hear this magnificent singing of Haydn's gorgeous songs. I've heard all the great singers perform Haydn's song, male and female, and none quite achieves what Fischer Dieskau did more than 50 years ago. If you think Haydn's songs are lightweight, frivolous things, it's probably because you haven't heard this record.

These are available on CD in this collection releasd in 2010: [[ASIN:B00369K2AU Recordings From the Archives]].


title: Too bad this never came back in a more accessible format

text:
Pristine Classical reconstructed two-thirds of this old Capitol LP -- the Milhaud and Chavez -- and with the dearth of recordings of the Bartok tied to lack of interest in conductor Harold Byrns, it's probably reasonable to think no other enterprising production organization would have re-released this 1950s collecton even though it has a hall of fame album cover.

The contents form an interesting concert around percussion instruments with Darius Dilhaud's 8-minute Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra kicking off the affair. The composer had used percussion in Christophe Columbe in 1928, two years before composing this concerto. Other fine recordings have come along in the intervening half century including those by [[ASIN:B000001OFP Stokowski]], who was attracted to both the composer and the piece. Under Felix Slatkin, it begins more violently than under either Stoki or [[ASIN:B000001K4D most French forces]], who generally make the piece friendlier and less fierce.

Carlos Chavez's Toccata for Percussion, from 1942, reflects the Mexican composer's interest in African music and that from Mexican history. The two-movement piece employs 11 instruments, some of which aren't tonal. The second movement especially exploits these metal instruments -- bells, chimes, gongs and the xylophone, among others. The notes say the "expressive content...is...evocative of the old Aztec civilization."

Bela Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta fits less well today into the rubric of this collection by way of famous interpretations from the likes of [[ASIN:B000003FEJ Reiner]], its use in films like [[ASIN:B001LBW9T2 The Shining]], and its scores of recordings from conductors large and small. Byrns' version, with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, seems more episodic than integrated, which was probably the goal considering the overtone of the collection. The final movement, started by percussion thwarps, is more jolly than others I've known.

Details and contents are as follows:

Milhaud: Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra recorded 1955

Chavez: Toccata for Percussion recorded 1954
Performed by Concert Arts Orchestra, Felix Slatkin, conductor, Hal Rees, percussion

Bartok: Music for String Instruments, Percussion, & Celesta recorded 1952
Performed by Los Angelese Chamber Orchestra, Harold Byrns, conductor

Total time 47:45 in 7 movements

Interested persons should beware any CD version of this advertised on Amazon. Capitol and EMI never released this on CD and the CD offerings here are not the music I've reviewed. That is only contained on the LP.


title: 5-plus stars for artistry, negative one for nonartistic considerations

text:
Any new recording from Emma Kirkby, whose elocution knotted to a sweet and clear tone distinguishes her from most singers, is in itself an event. I had high hopes for a new recital of Franz Josef Haydn's English canzonettas and other solo vocal music from the reigning queen of early music performance. While Kirkby and her accompanist didn't disapoint, my hopes for an unqualified success were dashed in the opening tune.

The main shorcoming of the Brilliant Classics' production, recorded in Switzerland in 2009 and copyrighted in 2011, is a boomy and reverberant recording acoustic, a brief recital (57:26 -- less than an hour), production that did little to amend the first shortcoming, and something less than a blast off opening. Haydn's songs, while lacking the dramatic tension and literary variety of Schubert lieder, nevertheless are different enough so a concert can be programmed sufficient that one item after another does not essentially sould alike. But that's what happened in the beginning until an overexcited version of Fidelity broke the monotony after three mellow songs.

Beginning with the fourth item, Fidelity, Kirkby proves she's still a fabulous singer with her own ideas about the music -- like her octave leaps after one stanza in the aforementioned Fidelity mated to a ringing top -- that keep your attention. Her fiery Italian in Adrianna a Naxos is also a winner, as is her prose and passion in A Pastoral Song. While the aural disappointments are insufficient to deter lovers of Kirkby's soprano, the poor sound of this album could sink your enthusiasm.

The culprit is an audio fog (maybe mud is a better word for it) that shrouds the the soundstage rendering the singer's English unintelligible and blemishing the substantial contributions of fortepianist Marcia Hadjimarkos and her delicious-sounding instrument. I can't tell if it's the recording venue (Salle Charratmuise, Charrat, Switzerland) or the engineering from Jiri Heger -- or both -- that's responsible for this travesty. Anytime you can't understand Emma Kirkby's enunciation of English language songs, something is very wrong. I turned my treble adjustment on my tuner up as far as it would go (+10 on the readout) and turned the bass up +6 and it was much better. This shouldn't be necessary in 2012, even on a discount recording.

On the plus side, this inexpensive disk comes with complete English texts, a discussion about the keyboard used (a Christopher Clarke copy of a 1795 Anton Walter), three pages of notes on the songs, and brief bios of both performers. Ironically, while engineering is definitely a problem, this recital is recorded with an extremely wide and deep soundstage.

This will doubtless thrill Kirkby's fans and song conneiseurs may find her Arianna a Naxos up there with the version I know by [[ASIN:B000003GJH Andrea Folen]] on a concert with some of Haydn's equally remarkable German language songs. Kirkby's selection from Battle of the Nile, while heady, frothy and heroic with Hadjimarkos' equally dynamic accompaniment, lacks the Haydnesque subtlety and humor of [[ASIN:B00005COYC soprano Ann Monoyios's]] from a remarkable collection with the Four Nations Ensemble.

It's a memorable collection if you can either adjust your equipment or live with the engineering faults. For those that cannot, I might recommend soprano [[ASIN:B00008F6HV Adrienne Csengery's]] lower voltage but still effective collection of the 14 canzonettas, ably accompanied by fortepianist Malcolm Bilson, as an alternative with a couple caveats: Csengery is more mezzo than coloratura soprano, her collection has only 50 minutes of music, there is a noticable balance issue in the recording, and Csengery's English (she was born German and works in Hungary), while good, requires some help from the booklet to understand all the words. All the texts are included. But she and Bilson make quite a team.


title: Wonderful performances let down by outdated sound

text:
Helmut Muller-Bruhl and the Cologne Chamber Orchestra are fairly well-known to classical music collectors from their participation in the recordings of Franz Josef Haydn's symphonies through Canadian-based Naxos; they collaborated on [[ASIN:B00008OP1Q this outstanding recording]] of Haydn sturm and drang symphonies and [[ASIN:B00005JJ40 another one]] of later vintage.

The pair made the "hunting music" recording of Haydn's 2-horn concerto, the horn-based Symphony No. 72, and a divermineto with horns in Europe. The ADD album has a 1988 date but was probably recorded earlier than that. It was imported to USA but never had wide distribution, nor has it had any profile with critics or collectors. The best part of this recording is Muller-Bruhl's vision of the wonderful Symphony No. 72, a sunny piece Haydn scholar H.G. Robbins Landon pegs from earlier in the composer's life than its relatively late number may imply. It is a lovely symphony with a hummable opening tunes for the horms, a delicate menuet, and a rollicking ending that heightens the overall good mood of the music.

I'm always surprised so few Haydn specialists have had goes with this wonderful symphony, which has less individual recordings available than No. 70, another good one from the same period with its oddball start and stop ending. Of recordings generally available individually, none match Muller-Bruhl's overall conception. One by [[ASIN:B00006RHQG Roy Goodman]] and his period band is OK but hardly the paramour of Haydnesque grace while a newer [[ASIN:B001KQHQG4 hybrid super audio]] issue is a mixed bag interpretively but a great winner in terms of sound.

The sound here lets down the listener in both the CD and [[ASIN:B003M1O1KE MP3]] versionss. The CD sound is somewhat unfocused and without ideal detail whiile the MP3 suffers from the typical problems of compressed files -- you don't hear everything that went into the original tapes. The solution would be to match the performances here with the sound on Zweeden's Extron disk. That won't happen but, hopefully, someone -- maybe Naxos -- will domestically re-release this wonderful recording in improved sound.


title: Masterful

text: Mezzo-soprano Katerina Karneus' voice is ideally suited to Berlioz's wonderful songs, especially the heart-tugging "Absence." The rest of this recording is just as good, with then-BBC Philharmonic conductor Vissaily Sinaisky conducting vigorous and exciting versions of the Corsaire, Carnival and le roi Lear overtures and the Hungarian march from The Damnation of Faust. This 2000 recording, issued by BBC Music Magazine, was never available commercially. It is a remarkable bargain in this format for these prices.


title: Another fine effort from Britian's junior players

text:
This collection of Elgar and Bach is from an unusual source -- the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain under Christopher Seaman, music director of the Rochester (N.Y.) Symphony Orchestra. This is not the first time these two have been paired together; they also recorded [[ASIN:B000000TRL Elgar's Enigma Variations]] mated to Richard Strauss's Symphonia Domestica. While the results were splendidly played and recorded but did not reflect a mature understanding of the music in the other recording, this time the two have done better.

In the two Elgar pieces, Introduction & Allegro and Falstaff, Seaman and his group of players (aged 20, none full-time musicians) turn in outstanding Elgar, especially Falstaff, where the conductor's pathos, expression, humor and drama make this a far better recording than the last one I heard by [[ASIN:B00000E42G Georg Solti and Chicago Symphony]] who were simply too virtuosic, too loud and relentlessly driven. Here, Seaman and players bring out the humor in Shakespeare's bard to much greater degree than Solti, aside from the famous bassoon belch, and Falstaff's death is much more sensitively portrayed. The orchestration of Bach's Fantasy & Fugue In C Minor is also successful even though it lacks the type of orchestral development we have come to expect in orchestrated Bach from [[ASIN:B00000428V Stokowski]] and others.

This recording, made in the U.K. during 1988-89, is outstanding with fine definition, depth and presence. The players, especially the brass, woodwinds and timpani, show everything they've got yet respond to Seaman's direction fluently and cooperatively. While their interpretations paled against more storied and successful versions in the other recording, I think this version of Falstaff can stand comparison with any recording about the Shakespearean bard.

Three pages of information notes about the music and players help but playing time of less than an hour and less consequential diskmates work against an overall recommendation at the dame exalted level. However, anyone curious about this orchestra or condcutor is encouraged to take the plunge here, in the Elgar & Strauss, or the (regrettably less successful) [[ASIN:B0001JSS54 other available recording]] Great Britain's youth orchestra has made of Stravinsky ballets.


title: A great voice from the past still reverberates today

text:
Vienna-born Anton Heiller (1923-79) was one the 20th century's greatest organists. Trained in church music and, during World War II at the Vienna Academy of Music, Heiller went on to win competitions and awards in Europe and America in the 1950s and 1960s. A concert at Harlem in New York led to a four-record box of organ music from J.S. Bach that began a career characterized by organ and harpsichord interpretations of Bach, Gabrielli, Buxtehude and Reger. Heiller also dabbled in composition though his worldwide fame rests with recordings like this one on the Vanguard label and others including the super audio remake of [[ASIN:B0002MPQQY another Bach recording]] formerly released on Vanguard.

Active during the lifetime of more well-known organists such as E. Power Biggs and Helmut Walcha, two of the 20th century's most revered Bach organists, Heiller's playing takes no back seat to either them or anyone from the later generations that include Bruce Hurford, Kevin Bowyer, Lionel Rogg and Daniel Chorzempa, each of whom recorded much of Bach's organ output. Chorzempa's out of print 1983 recording of the  [[ASIN:B00000E2RQ 3 Concerti After Vivaldi]] can still be found on Amazon. It's a fine recording in good Philips sound but no match for the expertise Heiller demonstrates here.

This collection captures three Concertos After Vivaldi -- BWV 593-4 and 596 -- and includes another shorter work formerly attributed to Vivaldi. The fleeting Concerto in G BWV 592 was based on a concerto from Prince Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar (1696-1715) whose short life was spent in the early Baroque era, being born a year before Henry Purcell's death and dying the same year as King Louis XIV of France.

These expressive concertos supplement, not supercede, the Baroque style of J.S. Bach. "One of the features of Baroque form which strongly appealed to Bach was the instrumental recitative," Joseph Braunstein's notes tell us, "as witness the recitativo in the Chromatic Fantasy and similar passages in the tocattas. It was perhaps the expressive recitative movement in Vivaldi's concerto which stimulated Bach to undertake the transcription." Bach reworked selections from Vivaldi's La Stravaganza and L'estro harmonico collections of violin concertos, once again proving Bach was the master of all instruments and counterpoint.

For these recordings, Heiller chose Marcussens famous Maria Kyrka organ in Halsingborg, Sweden that was relatively new at the time of this recording (1973), being built in 1959. Heiller demonstrates the registrations and stops to magnificent effect, not to mention adding his own trademark humanity and technique to the goings-on. The compilation was released on CD in 1988. Its master tape was made from Vanguard HM 35 SD, an LP that drew raves in its initial release including this notice in the second edition of The Penguin Stereo Record Guide: "This splendid record by Anton Heiller is one of about half a dozen of Bach's organ music which are among the most desirable on any label at any price."

I have little to add to that quotation, published 1977, other than to say it is equally true in the downloadable, super audio era that characterizes musicmaking in 2010. Heiller's playing is magnificent with appropriate accents, dynamics and ornaments. Only a four track recording with no movement tracks separates this from recorded perfection. The sound itself is a treasure, lifelike with depth and balance, and it seems barbaric that no company has come forward in the intervening years to resurrect it. This is the kind of property on which the likes of Haydn House and Arkiv Music have made their reputations by purchasing recording rights and burning CDs on demand for discerning collectors. Even Amazon has gotten into that game with [[ASIN:B001U3YLXS this recording.]] Until that happens, you have the stock of used CDs at Amazon to hear Bach playing of the highest stature.


title: A 48 unlike most others

text:
Following a trend started by Anthony Newman in his 1973-4 Columbia LPs where he used the harpsichord in Book 1 of the Well-Tempered Clavier and used clavichord and organ in [[ASIN:B00266KC5O Book 2]], Colin Tilney's 1988-9 48 are among historically informed performance renderings that used more than one instrument from Bach's time. Tilney, born 1933, is a British-born one-time student of Gustav Leonhardt that took residence in Canada in 1979 where he performed often with the Baroque period performance ensemble Tafelmusik. In this package, he recorded Book 1 on a 1767 Hass clavichord and Book 2 on a 1764 Hass harpsichord borrowed from Edinburgh (Scotland) Univeristy. An oddity, by 2010 standards, is Tilney did not record the two books in numeric order. Book 1 begins with preludes and fugues Nos. 1 and 2 but is followed by 15, 16, 5 and so on. It is similar in Book 2.

Temperamentally, Tilney's playing in this 48 is in keeping with late 1980s performance practice standards but is also songful and tilts toward lyricism as opposed to [[ASIN:B00000DS7O Gould's]] virtuosity or [[ASIN:B000026OHN Richter's]] extravagent adventures. His playing of my favorite, the Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E flat major from Book 1, is fluent, tuneful and sensitive. Tilney finds a great many resources in these ancient keyboards others seem to miss. He ornaments sparingly and holds the emotional content in check though the music is never slow, dull or academic. Tilney uses his mind, fingers and heart in these miniatures; his humanity flourishes in the fugue of Book 1's E minor (No. 10) where he is just as hale and hearty as any of today's pianoforte Bach palyers that specialize in keyboard color.

Anyone interested in this set would be pleased to know it comes with 30-page booklet, all in English, where Tilney discusses the history of Bach's well-tempered clavier and equal tuning. The fial 20 pages of the book begins with Peter Williams' discussion of the 48 preludes and fugues followed by a review of every prelude and fugue, in the order played, with a view of the opening bar of each. This is a generous package somewhat offset by the inconvenience of the booklet being oversized; the whole things comes in another box, likely small potatoes for anyone interested in this from an intellectual or historical perspective. Hyperion has given Tilney close yet realistic sound so you can hear every string plucked by the instruments as if they are in your living room. The recordings were made in London (Book 1 in 1988) and Scotland in 1989.


title: One of Noseda's best recordings in great sound

text:
This 2002 concert recording of Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 and three orchestral selections from the opera War and Peace was recorded by the BBC for circulation to subscribers of its magazine, BBC Music Magazine. It was never given a general release but, thankfully, copies are still available here new and used.

Noted in the 2010 Penguin Guide [[ASIN:0141041625 The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music 2010: The Key Classical Recordings on CD, DVD and SACD]] as one of two new superstar conductors, Gianandrea Noseda was the principal conductor of the BBC Philharmonic at the time of this concert and they paired for a splendid realization of Prokofiev's most popular symphony. With a generally slow beginning, Noseda builds momentum throughout the opening minutes and explodes into the main theme of the first movement. The conductor generates a relatively slow pace through the first half of the score that he picks up in the final two movements, where the quicker pace generates a contrast that works to his -- and listener's -- benefit.

This is music that was accepted by musicgoers worldwide almost immediately after the score was premiered during the war. Prokofiev himself conducted the in January 1945 in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, leading the USSR State Symphony Orchestra. The premiere was well received and, after Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra introduced the score to America, it was regularly played in concerts around the world, becoming one of mid-century's most quickly accepted new scores.

The War and Peace excerpts don't give a complete flavor of the opera -- how could they? -- but they add seasoning to the concert. The piece has an interesting history; it was not premiered in its entirety until 1950s, in part because of complications during the war; Prokofiev started working on it in 1941 after Shostakovich's "Leningrad" symphony shook up the world music society. Zhdanov's 1948 repudiation of Prokofiev, Shostakovich and other Soviet composers was another set back. Ironically, the first 13-set performance came on NBC television in USA in 1957.

This is my favorite recording of the Prokofiev Symphony 5 by quite a distance. It far outshines the glassy and superficial, not to mention overrated, Karajan [[ASIN:B000001GHI Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5]] and is much better than the version Gergiev put out in his box of Prokofiev symphonies a few years back [[ASIN:B000F5GJM8 Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies]]. I also prefer it to Stokowski's old LP recording.

There are scores of recordings and if your favorite is a different one, this may or may not compete with it. I can tell you it's superseded every other recording I've heard of the music and I recommend it unhesitatingly for that reason. At the price Amazon and its vendors ask here, I don't see how you could be disappointed even if you hate it.


title: My favorite Beethoven players

text:
The march of time and rush to modernity in classical recordings may have renedered the Suk Trio victims of history since their complete Beethoven piano trios are no longer available in USA or worldwide. Supraphon had the good sense to renew a couple of them in a new 2008 package [[ASIN:B0019F8HKA Beethoven: Piano Trios Nos. 3, 5, & 7; Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1]] but their integral set is NLA like yesterday's headlines.

The Suk Trio here comprises violinist Josef Suk, grandson of the composer and greatgrandson of Antonin Dvorak; pianist Josef Hala and cellist Josef Chuchro. Suk founded the group in 1951 with pianist Julius Katchen and cellist Janos Starker. Later, pianist Jan Panenka replaced Katchen. Here, Suk is abetted by later members Chuchro and Hala in what might be called the "Josef" trio.

For anyone that never discovered their greatness, take a stab with this CD which, upon this writing, Amazon vendors were selling for less than $10, to see why I'm making such a fuss. When you get it home, listen to the way these old timers play the ostinato repeating theme of the Finale: Presto of Trio No. 1 and you will instantly see what sets this group apart from all modern Beethoven players. Briefly stated, instead of overwhelming us with Ludwig van's macho senses and making more of the music than the score shows, these players perform as if the music was indeed written by a young man and constructed on an intimate chamber scale.

Instead of a manic rush under precision playing that could just as easily have been done by a computer, the way most people play it today, these old world players invest the music with lilt, joy, subtlety, nuance and patience. Never has the mercurial Beethoven sounded so enticing while being grounded in clever and sophisticated musicianship. If you listen to the Finale Presto of the Trio No. 2, you'll find these guys can play fast, too. It just sounds different than everyone else.

The sound on these recordings, which were recorded in Prague in 1983-84 and remastered for Japanese distribution a year later, is pretty good by modern standards. The dynamic range is fairly wide though you won't confuse this for a modern digital recording. The naturalness makes hearing this group's performance easy on the ear.

I haven't checked to see if this recording is still available new in Japan or Europe but it would be pricey if so. Better to get it here but be forewarned -- the playing of the Suk Trio is addictive and you may end up buying the rest of their Beethoven trios at higher prices for NLA recordings. If so, you'll find their Op. 70 trios -- one available in the set noted earlier and both available used through Amazon (Beethoven Piano Trios Nos. 5 & 6 ASIN: B001OYP25O) -- well worth whatever vendors want for them.

The Suk Trio's rendition of Beethoven's towering "Archduke" trio is included in the reissued set from last year. A word of advice is due this music, which by most critical accounts is one of the best interpretations since the invention of the gramophone. The Suk Trio recorded the Archduke at least three times -- in 1960 for Supraphon, in 1975 from a concert that was issued on CD in Japan, and in 1983 for Denon. The 1960 account is the one most critics wag their tail about and the 1975 version is about the same. The 1983 account, for me, offers a very similar conception with a bit more straightforward, and even unimaginative, phrasing in the adagio that makes it marginally less satisfying.

The 1960 account has been famous for years and is one of the great recordings of all time. Herbert Russcol, writing in his 1968 book "Guide to Low-Priced Classical Records," said this about the Suk Trio's Archduke recording: "The version by the Suk Trio stands with any recording ever made at any price, and there have been many great recordings. The group play simply, almost with understatement, their tempos and shadings are just right. The sound is fine."

More than four decades later, these sentiments hold true equally for this recording and any other Beethoven piano trio recording you can find by the Suk Trio. If you love Beethoven's piano trios and have never heard the Suk Trio play them, you probably haven't heard everything there is in them.


title: Fabulous playing, intense feelings, and Dvorakian intensity in this delightful symphony

text:
People that know me know the late Vaclav Neumann (1920-95) is one of my favorite conductors. This is, in part, because of the repertoire in which he specialized during his long career -- Czech music including Dvorak, Suk and Mahler, whose symphonies he recorded on at least two occasions with, first, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and, later, with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. As longtime music director of the Czech Phil -- where he stayed until his 1990 retirement -- most make their acquaintance with Neumann through that partnership.

And here is an examplary representation of that collaboration, a wonderful stereo recording of one of Dvoark's greatest symphonies, the alternately happy and powerful Symphony No. 6. I've  owned a lot of recordings of this music by alleged Dvorak specialists before I happily committed myself to this one. Why? Mostly because of the way Neumann gets the orchestra to alternately press and elongate phrases and emotions.

For an instantaneous example, check out the final five minutes of the second movement, Adagio. While he doesn't make time stand still a la Bruckner, the phrasing and expressiveness of the orchestra takes your breath away, right up to that final phrase first in the flute and later in the horn and strings. The contrast in the following furiant is delicious and marvelously pursued by the forces, right up to the closing pages.

In my experience, Neumann is a literal conductor, looking over scores for important points of focus, emphasis and spotlight. In Dvorak, however, he is a different man. Here is a conductor completley enmeshed in the Czech emotions inherent in Dvoark's dance rhythms. He'll build a phrase from pp to p to m to f and back down the scale in less than a couple bars where it adds important affect to the musical message. An additional point in his favor -- Neumann never fails to elicit that famous old world wail from the Czech's horns and woodwinds to wonderful effect even though such playing was considered impossibly old fashioned by the time this recording was made in 1982.

The 6th Symphony is a happy, tuneful ride -- the tunesmith Dvorak at his most effective and representative. It lacks the Brahmsian drama of the 7th Symphony and is completely in league with the fabulous Symphony No. 8. If you are looking for such an experience, or if you are looking to add to your Dvoark collection, this will be an outstanding addition for you.


title: 3.5 stars -- good performances, great sound, bizarre balance

text:
This CD was distributed to subscribers of BBC Music Magazine during February 2006 and represents a couple concert performances in London when Vissaily Sinaisky was at the helm of the BBC Philharmonic. Sinaisky was a Shotakovich enthusiast and a somewhat literal interpreter of the composer. This magazine also released a concert performance of the Shostakovich Symphony No. 4 under Sinaisky's baton around the same time.

What most typifies this recording is, unfortunately, its poor recording balance. While the orchestra plays well, the pianist does a fine job with the Piano Concerto No. 2 and Sinaisky is, at a minimum, utterly Shostakovian in his approach, the recording balance creates an unsatisfactory experience, from my perspective. It is so out of balance, with so much of the music emanating from the left channel, that this cannot be adjusted. Otherwise, this is a great concert of Shostakovich.

Here are the contents of this CD:

Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
Suite from The Gadfly, Op. 97a (extracts)

BBC PHILHARMONIC
Martin Roscoe (piano), Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)

Piano Concerto No.2 in F major, Op. 102
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Allegro

Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141
4. Allegretto
5. Adagio
6. Allegretto
7. Adagio - Allegretto

Suite from The Gadfly, Op. 97a (extracts)
8. Overture
9. Romance
10. Galop

Total CD duration 77:45


title: Wonderful recording of a modern masterpiece (?)

text:
This is my second go-round with Messiaen's "Turangalila" symphony, that odd concoction of modern influences, Stravinsky, Poulenc-like French music and Eastern mysticism. It is large scaled with 10 movements and cyclical thematic development.

Written from 1946-48 on commission by Serge Koussevitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bernstein gave the first performance when Koussevitzky was ill. The name is taken from Sanskrit words turanga (time) and lîla (duration). Some have suggested it is a love song and hymn of joy, time, life and death. The composer called it simply a love song.

Its 70-minute duration over 10 movements take the listener through a dizzying array of sounds and styles. It starts out like movie music, then evolves into something you might associate with India, and later mutates into a peer to Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring". Some time later it mimics music that could accompany the Warren Beatty film [[ASIN:B004CZZZAE Mickey One]], a piano concerto, selections from 20th century music, and French film score written by a minimalist Poulenc.

It's all over the place and demands more from the listener than just about any other symphony. For this reason, it is easy to get lost; don't multitask while you listen or you'll have no idea what's going on. Good luck recognizing the cyclical elements that appear and reappear throughout the score.

Part of both its appeal and difficulty is its instrumentation. Messiaen scored it massively for 69 strings, 14 woodwinds, 12 brass, at least a half-dozen percussionists including vibraphone, glockenspiel, triangle, temple blocks and wood block, cymbals, gong, tambourine, maracas, snare drum, bass drum, tubular bells, celesta, piano and ondes martenot, an Eastern instrument that sounds something like a zither. The piano part includes several cadenzas, here played by Roger Muraro. Jacques Tchamkerten plays ondes martenot.

I first heard this on the recording led by [[ASIN:B000004214 Riccardo Chailly]] that is still in print. This one is led by Thierry Fischer, an accomplished conductor of French music, and was recorded in concert at St. David's Hall, Cardiff in October 2006. It is a big improvement over the Chailly. Thierry and forces seem more intuitively bound to the score and its varying colors and kaleidoscopic events. While Chailly came off as a mishmash of unrelated movements, Fischer and soloists seem to have a more unified and organized traversal, if such an attribute can be laid upon this music.

As always, the BBC sound (this recording was given to subscribers of BBC Music Magazine) is fantastic -- clear, deep, brilliant and defined. You may like another version of the symphony better but you'll not likely hear one that sounds better. In addition, the BBC notes go a long way to explain what's in it and include brief introductions to the conductor and soloists and a page of "Key CD Moments" that help you make sense of what may seem like mayhem to the uninitiated.


title: 3.5 stars -- an above average rendition of Bruckner's most popular symphony

text:
Finland's Petri Sakari leads the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in this concert rendition of Bruckner's popular Symphony No. 7 in this BBC Music Magazine recording. Taken from a concerrt in January 2002, this is a mainstream rendition of the Nowak score by Sakari, who admits his influence in this music is Eugen Jochum.

As always, the sound is outstanding on this BBC recording, which was circulated to subscribers in 2006. While Sakari does not show the maturity that separates the great Bruckner conductors from others, he appears on his way to learning this technique. Using a relaxed and lesisurely approach (total time in excess of 68 minutes), only some metronomic streches in the development of the 13-minute finale keep his rendition from being considered one of the better versions among newer Bruckner 7 recordings.

Curious listeners that want to hear a new voice in Bruckner won't be disappointed by acquiring this recording. On the basis of this esquisitely recorded and played issue, Sakari -- who takes more than 23 minutes to express himself in the great adagio -- sounds like one to be reckoned with among Bruckner conductors in the next few decades.