CD-Charts Position 31

A Christmas Festival

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Collegium

Release Date November 04, 2008

CD-Charts Position 32
Average Rating:

Messiah Comp

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Universal Music Group

Release Date August 18, 2008
As has been previously mentioned, this version has some notable differences from more familiar versions, my favorite being the air "He shall feed His flock/Come unto Him" which is for contralto only. The recitative "And lo, the angel of the Lord..." is somewhat longer and more arioso-like. The air "How beautiful are the feet..." is a duet for contralto and soprano, followed by a chorus. The tempi are rather brisk, which works for the most part (especially in the opening sinfonia, which is often performed excessively slowly), however the air and chorus "Oh thou that tellest good tidings" is supposed to be adante and is much closer to allegro, and the chorus "His yoke is easy" while marked allegro, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 33
Average Rating:

Souvenirs (W/Dvd)

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date December 01, 2008
I have listened to the tracks on Deutsche Grammophon's site for this album(http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/html/special/netrebko/us/sites/tracklist.html) and must rush to give this review. I have followed all of Anna Netrebko's career and I am amazed at how this amazing and beautiful singer never ceases to amaze. The sensational beauty and clarity of her voice shines brighter than the exquisite diamonds she often wears. After the milestones of her Russian album, her Traviata at Covent Garden, her Manon in Vienna and Berlin, her Berlin concert with Domingo and Villazon among other gala performances, it was difficult to imagine how she was going to stay at such superlative heights. Her sortie into operetta does just that, and takes us in a particularly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 34
Average Rating:

The Copenhagen Ring

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Decca

Release Date September 09, 2008
I have listened to the tracks on Deutsche Grammophon's site for this album(http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/html/special/netrebko/us/sites/tracklist.html) and must rush to give this review. I have followed all of Anna Netrebko's career and I am amazed at how this amazing and beautiful singer never ceases to amaze. The sensational beauty and clarity of her voice shines brighter than the exquisite diamonds she often wears. After the milestones of her Russian album, her Traviata at Covent Garden, her Manon in Vienna and Berlin, her Berlin concert with Domingo and Villazon among other gala performances, it was difficult to imagine how she was going to stay at such superlative heights. Her sortie into operetta does just that, and takes us in a particularly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 35
Average Rating:

Baroque Masterpieces (W/New Pa

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Legacy

Release Date March 12, 2002
As I have stated in many of my previous reviews, I am a huge fan of the Sony Essential Classics (SEC) budget series. Most of the recordings feature classic and often definitive performances featuring the likes of George Szell, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Casadesus, Isaac Stern and Rudolf Serkin among others. Here we get a variety of orchestras and conductors including big names like Jean-Claude Malgoire, Raymond Leppard, Pierre Boulez, Sir Charles Groves and the great Eugene Ormandy. This disc features excellent performances of what is arguably the most popular Baroque music ever written. I am not usually one to give five-star ratings to greatest-hits style collections (particularly in classical), but the half-dozen performances by Ormandy make this disc ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 36
Average Rating:

L' Donizetti: L'Elisir d'Amore Eschwe/Schenk

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Virgin Classics

Release Date November 28, 2006
I have seen three different productions of "L'Elisir D'Amore", not including countless renditions of "Una furtiva lagrima", and this traditional production is by far the best. Beautifully conducted by Alfred Aschwe, this performance at the Vienna Staatoper is a delight in every respect.

- The casting is perfect. It goes without saying that Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko are both stellar performers with amazing voices. Their acting and interpretations of the main roles, Nemorino and Adina, is vivaciously bang-on, and there is never a dull moment when they are on stage. Nor when they are off it, for that matter! Leo Nucci is a bit old for Belcore, but splendid none-the-less, and carries a very amusing pomposity. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo plays ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 37
Average Rating:

Christmas From Buckingham Palace

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: UCJ Music

Release Date October 21, 2008
I have seen three different productions of "L'Elisir D'Amore", not including countless renditions of "Una furtiva lagrima", and this traditional production is by far the best. Beautifully conducted by Alfred Aschwe, this performance at the Vienna Staatoper is a delight in every respect.

- The casting is perfect. It goes without saying that Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko are both stellar performers with amazing voices. Their acting and interpretations of the main roles, Nemorino and Adina, is vivaciously bang-on, and there is never a dull moment when they are on stage. Nor when they are off it, for that matter! Leo Nucci is a bit old for Belcore, but splendid none-the-less, and carries a very amusing pomposity. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo plays ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 38
Average Rating:

Legends

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Opening Day

Release Date September 16, 2008
I have seen three different productions of "L'Elisir D'Amore", not including countless renditions of "Una furtiva lagrima", and this traditional production is by far the best. Beautifully conducted by Alfred Aschwe, this performance at the Vienna Staatoper is a delight in every respect.

- The casting is perfect. It goes without saying that Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko are both stellar performers with amazing voices. Their acting and interpretations of the main roles, Nemorino and Adina, is vivaciously bang-on, and there is never a dull moment when they are on stage. Nor when they are off it, for that matter! Leo Nucci is a bit old for Belcore, but splendid none-the-less, and carries a very amusing pomposity. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo plays ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 39
Average Rating:

New Dawn

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 25, 2008
After a succession of unadventurous "greatest hits" CDs, finally the mold is broken (intended pun!) with the "New Dawn" release.

For me, "New Dawn" comes as a mix of relief, joy, and a slight disappointment. The joy is that there is plenty of new material with wider-ranging styles, and even the older material has a new feel. Disappointment, that they still didn't dare to go beyond excellent and all the way to thrilling. But only somebody familiar with the earlier Libera releases would understand... The level of musicianship remains astounding.

Some things (mostly) new on this album: some tracks such as "Gloria" feature full orchestra backing; "Orinoco Flow," "Love and Mercy," and "Rest in Peace" derive from popular sources; "Little ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 40
Average Rating:

Party at the Palace: Queen's Golden Jubilee / Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Queen, Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Opus Arte

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Kultur Video

Release Date August 19, 2008
After a succession of unadventurous "greatest hits" CDs, finally the mold is broken (intended pun!) with the "New Dawn" release.

For me, "New Dawn" comes as a mix of relief, joy, and a slight disappointment. The joy is that there is plenty of new material with wider-ranging styles, and even the older material has a new feel. Disappointment, that they still didn't dare to go beyond excellent and all the way to thrilling. But only somebody familiar with the earlier Libera releases would understand... The level of musicianship remains astounding.

Some things (mostly) new on this album: some tracks such as "Gloria" feature full orchestra backing; "Orinoco Flow," "Love and Mercy," and "Rest in Peace" derive from popular sources; "Little ... Read More: