CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

One Chance

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
by: Paul Potts

Release Date September 18, 2007
A friend sent me the YouTube segment of Paul winning the 'Britain's Got Talent' show and I knew I wanted to hear more. I am not a major fan of opera music but I like it now and then and this cd by Paul is definitely one I will listen to often. I hope he does more.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Italia

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
by: Chris Botti

Release Date September 25, 2007
This CD is amazing, so well done...love the title track with Andrea Bocelli even though I have no clue what he is singing about...after a day at work, I slip this CD into my car's CD player and my frustrations melt away...lovely, lovely music...

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: SONY CLASSICS

Release Date April 01, 2008
AHN TRIO
LULLABY FOR MY FAVORITE INSOMNIAC

The Ahn Trio is comprised of three sisters born in Korea and educated in the U.S.A. at the prestigious Juilliard School. They play piano, violin and cello and their deep-roots in the classical tradition are clearly evident. But consistent with their last two albums, their fifth CD, Lullaby for my Favorite Insomniac (Sony-BMG-RCA), finds them playing everything but traditional classical repertoire. They try their hand at "My Funny Valentine," David Bowie's "This Is Not America," a Brazilian number, a couple of folk songs, and several film themes.

In addition, the Ahn Trio is joined by folk singers, DJ-beat-masters, Czech musicians and even a Korean rapper. The Ahn Trio's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Air on a G String

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: Telarc

Release Date March 04, 2008
Russell's tone always amazes me and his technique is impeccable on this CD as usual.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Luciano Pavarotti: The Best (Farewell Tour)

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: Decca

Release Date September 13, 2005
This CD of the great Maestro, features all the best arias and songs, including my favorite, Donizetti's Ah Mes Ami, which gave Pav the title of "King of the High C's". Without question, Pav is and will always remain the greatest voice in opera. This is the CD that I always start my car with! Love it and give it the highest recommendation. Any opera lover, and all Pav lovers should own this one! Val

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Kapell Rediscovered

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: RCA

Release Date May 06, 2008
The first thing that's amazing about these recordings is that they exist at all. As for the music... wow... There is sensitivity and passion which reaches through the years and the technical limits of these recordings to touch us. But what really amazes me is that even with the extraneous noises, I can still hear incredible clarity and precision in his playing.

One of the important skills of a pianist is to make the melody sing beautifully above the other notes, which frequently come across as a wave, blur or rumble of notes, especially in 19th Century music. In Kapell's playing on these recordings, not only do the melodies sing, but every single note plays a precise role with clarity, even in the Chopin Scherzo. It has given me a better musical understanding ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
starring: Renee Fleming, Ramon Vargas, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Valery Gergiev, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt
directed by: Brian Large, Robert Carsen

Release Date December 18, 2007
I dare to say that this production was the MET last year major achievement. Even though a stupendous singers set was gathered for this performance it did not necessarily guarantee it's amazing success. This dreamed cast is formed by three of the most talented singers of our time: Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Renée Flemming and Ramón Vargas.

The staging is minimalist however absolutely accurate and tasty. By adding different intelligent elements the drama flows both naturally and flawlessly, in other words impeccable. The Russian Maestro Valery Gergiev conducted the MET orchestra with full commitment and passion.
The Siberian baritone Dmitri Hvorsotovsky is enormous as Onegin completely understanding the character and making it his own. Needless to say he is at his best ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Schoenberg Violin Concerto Op.36/Sibelius Violin Concerto Op.47

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: DG

Release Date April 08, 2008
Yes, this is probably the best performance of the Schoenberg Violin Concerto ever recorded. That said, it is still a piece that looks better on paper than it sounds. The constant hype about the work does NOT make it a better piece of music. It is dull, paper music, PERIOD! This is musical castor oil played very sweetly, but even Mary Poppins won't make this go down "...in a most delightful way!!!" Hahn's hyperlyrical style makes the work sing better than ever before. The orchestra performance is excellent as is the conducting.

The Sibelius is a DUD and completely earthbound. There is NO grit in this performance, it is all oily-smooth and punctilliously played, but it NEVER catches FIRE as it can. Just listen to Heifetz or David Oistrakh or Julian Sitkovetsky. Salonen's partnership ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Wagner: The Great Operas from the Bayreuth Festival

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: Decca

Release Date June 17, 2008
This is a great bargain. The best Lohengrin available and a blazing Ring. The booklet has many errors, the biggest of which is that Rheingold and Siegfried date from 1971 while the other two parts are from 1967. Don't be fooled. The entire Ring is from 1967. Bohm did not conduct the Ring in 1971 -- Horst Stein did, Windgassen was not singing in it in '71, the 67 was Wieland's production, the 71 was Wolfgang's. And on and on. Enjoy the CD's. For less than $2 a disc, we can do with a sloppy book.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti: The Three Tenors in Concert / Mehta

CD-Charts > Music > Featured Composers- A-Z
from: Decca

Release Date September 05, 1990
Arrived in fine time. Knew what I was getting, based on several viewings and listenings on PBS. Met my expectations. Good quality of used CD.