CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Albinoni: Adagio; Pachelbel: Canon

from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date October 25, 1990
A superb CD. I am not a great fan of Albinoni's Adagio, but would recommend this CD simply on the basis of the performance of Gluck's "Dance of the Blessed Spirits". The playing captures the tranquility and serenity of the piece wonderfully. The Mozart is also performed with aplomb.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Putumayo Presents World Lounge

by: Jasmon, Nicola Conte, Gotan Project, Mo' Horizons, Mau Mau, Arling & Cameron, Montefiori Cocktail, Dissidenten, Hamid Baroudi

Release Date April 09, 2002
Love this CD. Great for background music at parties or long road trips.
Funky, jazzy, hip-hop, fun. Ethnic eclectic sound.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Strauss - Salome / Studer, Rysanek, Hiestermann, Terfel, Bieber, A. Murray, Sinopoli

by: Richard Strauss, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Cheryl Studer, Bryn Terfel, Clemens Bieber, Horst Hiestermann, Marianne Rorholm, Leonie Rysanek, Ann Murray

Release Date October 11, 1991
Cheryly Studer is an amazing Salome. I was going to write rave reviews of her and the whole cast but I see it has already be done and a lot more eloquently than I could express. Just buy it and enjoy it. It has become my favorite recording and yes I also have Nilsson's but Studer's better.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Love Is Real

Release Date March 04, 2008
Cheryly Studer is an amazing Salome. I was going to write rave reviews of her and the whole cast but I see it has already be done and a lot more eloquently than I could express. Just buy it and enjoy it. It has become my favorite recording and yes I also have Nilsson's but Studer's better.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Meier, Jerusalem, Lipovsek, Struckmann, Heilmann, Botha; Barenboim

by: Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim, Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Marjana Lipovsek, Falk Struckmann, Uwe Heilmann, Johan Botha

Release Date August 01, 1995
Recordings of Wagner's greatest masterpiece seem to come in surges every decade that some promising artist or conductor comes to the scene with a vision to offer to eager Wagnerian ears. In the earlier part of the century, Furtwängler, Solti, Böhm, and Karajan gave the operatic world their interpretations of Wagner's subliminal masterpiece, each one miraculous and disappointing in their own ways. Three of these are considered classics, and indeed such recordings deserve the praise that has been heaped upon them for the unique insight the team of artists have bequeathed to the score. Furtwängler gave the music a febrile intensity, Karajan an erotic swell, Solti an orgasmic drive, and Böhm a neurotic vehemence. Each had their merits and their imperfections, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Schubert: The 6 Latin Masses

from: Vox (Classical)

Release Date February 04, 1997
This is good but be aware that the German mass on this recording was recorded in 1962 and the rest of the masses in 1978. The sound quality isn't the best in the world but I'm sure to most people it will be tolerable. It's just that after hearing such good quality new recordings it's kind of hard to stomach an old analog recording.

The performance is good, probably not the best though. The singers seem to really over power the instruments. some times the instruments just seem a little small. There is some background noise just like on most recordings but it's nothing terrible.

I actually recommend the Brilliant Classics Schubert Masses. The sound quality is much better in that box set and it only costs a couple of dollars more.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Wagner - Parsifal / Meier, Jerusalem, Hölle, van Dam, von Kannen, Tomlinson, Berlin Phil., Barenboim

by: Richard Wagner, Daniel Barenboim, Waltraut Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Berliner Philharmoniker, Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, José van Dam, Cornelius Hauptmann, Matthias Holle, Pamela Coburn, Sally Burgess, Daniela Bechly, Constance Hauman

Release Date October 11, 1991
I've had this recording for a long while and have spent a lot of time reflecting on its relative strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I think this is a very, very good recording, but it is disqualified from being a first choice by the extremely poor casting choice of Matthias Holle as Gurnemanz. Holle is simply not up to par with the rest of the solid cast - his Gurnemanz can only be described as ordinary, underpowered, and dull - and he is especially bad here when compared with some of the outstanding Gurnemanz's that can be found on other recordings, like the legendary Hans Hotter and Kurt Moll (and more recently, Rene Pape). If this were a smaller role, it would be a more forgivable flaw, but Gurnemanz dominates Acts I and III (in fact, without Act II, I think this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Bach: Cantatas, BWV 148-151

from: Hanssler Classics

Release Date June 27, 2000
I've had this recording for a long while and have spent a lot of time reflecting on its relative strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I think this is a very, very good recording, but it is disqualified from being a first choice by the extremely poor casting choice of Matthias Holle as Gurnemanz. Holle is simply not up to par with the rest of the solid cast - his Gurnemanz can only be described as ordinary, underpowered, and dull - and he is especially bad here when compared with some of the outstanding Gurnemanz's that can be found on other recordings, like the legendary Hans Hotter and Kurt Moll (and more recently, Rene Pape). If this were a smaller role, it would be a more forgivable flaw, but Gurnemanz dominates Acts I and III (in fact, without Act II, I think this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Songs

by: John Maus

Release Date January 01, 2008
Strange brew of 70's new age synth, electro pop, and the darkest of Scott Walker or Suicide... Apparently the album took five years to make! It is getting hamered in all the reviews, but I think it is up there with Ariel Pink's House Arrest re-issue as one of the best albums this year... If you are a fan of great pop songs you must check this out!

CD-Charts Position 10
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Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 16: Lieder

by: Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Schreier, Walter Olbertz, Adele Stolte, Peter Maus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Jorg Demus

Release Date December 09, 1997
Our family subscribed to the Beethoven complete collection when it was first published on LP's decades ago. The Lieder volume (still in my possession) was one of my favorites. I have been hoping for a CD version of this collection and am so glad to see it! As the downloadable excerpts demonstrate, these songs provide a simple presentation, but with depth of beauty and accomplishment that are a delight. Sometimes majestic, often playful, each song is a gem and many are sure to become your favourite themes in the world of music. We especially love Fischer-Diescau's performances; what a voice! The quartet arrangements bring out the pathos or frivolity of the genres in which they are used most excellently. If you like Beethoven's piano music, get the Lieder CD; the piano is lovely ... Read More: