CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Herbert von Karajan, George Szell

Release Date March 09, 1999
This disc is proof that EMI's venerable Great Recordings of the Century has become just another mid-priced re-issue line.

EMI went all out to celebrate the return of Karajan to the fold by engaging the three outstanding Russian soloists of their era for the Beethoven Triple. Unfortunately, it is one of those occasions when all the notes are in place but it means nothing. Oistrakh and Richter felt for Karajan's plush accompaniments out of place - Richter later going so far as to pronounce the recording "dreadful". Rostropovich was not, apparently, in sympathy with those feelings and sided with the conductor. The soloists, lacking conviction in one another, show no sense of musical teamwork whatever. Karajan turns in another slick, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Chopin: Préludes & Nocturnes

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
from: EMI Classics

Release Date May 24, 2005
You don't have to be a musical professional to appreciate this CD. I have some orchestral experience and taste, but I wanted some relaxing piano music to listen to when I want to mellow out or sit down and do homework. This Chopin album is perfect for that. It's great to listen to whether you're doing homework, reading, or trying to take a nap. If you have the ear to appreciate the musical talent of the album you will also not be disappointed. This is classical music we all can enjoy at a decent price.

CD-Charts Position 3
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True Love Waits: O'Riley Plays Radiohead

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
from: Sony

Release Date June 10, 2003
Ove the last decade or so, Radiohead has created some of the most complex and mind-blowing rock music out there, and I wondered if a solo pianist could really capture their essence. However, O'Riley does a marvelous job, and brilliantly conveys the melancholy, mysterious, and introspective qualities of Radiohead. His renditions of "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Let Down" are particularly powerful. What I really loved about this cd is while I could follow all of the songs he played, at times I felt like I was listening to a timeless piano sonata by Beethoven, and even a Nocturne by Chopin or Brahms. Overall, this is a faithful interpretation by an excellent musician who honors one of the greatest bands of recent times, while also paying hommage to his classical heritage. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Hold Me to This: Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
from: World Village USA

Release Date April 12, 2005
I don't believe you need to be ga-ga over Radiohead to enjoy this CD. This CD, it's all piano (w/o vocals) if you didn't already know that going in, will provide an even deeper appreciation of the textures & depth of the Radiohead catalog. Mr. O'Riley does takes some artistic liberties with the songs, albeit minor, but in so doing he unleashes the potential they all have. And this potential is truly staggering---some selections are nothing short of gorgeous.
Hold me to this: you WILL be floored by this CD. it's well worth the purchase.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Tchaikovsky - Eugen Onegin / T. Allen, Freni, von Otter, Shicoff, Burchuladze; Levine

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: Tchaikovsky, James Levine, Mirella Freni, Thomas Allen, Anne Sofie von Otter, Neil Shicoff, Paata Burchuladze

Release Date October 25, 1990
Tchaikovsky - Eugen Onegin / T. Allen, Freni, von Otter, Shicoff, Burchuladze; LevineWhat an impressive first encounter with Amazon!Efficient service with a wide selection of performances to choose from. Speedy delivery of the product. The recording itself is excellent: world class singers,conductor and orchestra. This beautiful delivery of Pushkin's breathtaking poetry suffers no loss of authenticity from the non-Russian soloists.Wonderful to be in the company of such consumate professionals.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Bach- St. Matthäus-Passion/Te Kanawa, von Otter, Rolfe-Johnson, Blochitz, Krause, Solti (Highlights)

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Sofie von Otter, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Tom Krause, Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus

Release Date March 30, 1990
A number of years ago, maybe 17, I had two seats at the Chicago Symphony with Sir Georg Solti the resident conductor emiritus and 2 floor seats to see Michael Jordon, Scottie Pippen and John Paxson at the Bulls. It was a heady season and I probably saw more of Jordon but only because I had more tickets.

Sir Georg was an institution, like Mazur and Bernstein. He lacked the flamboyance of the latter, and of course Kurt Mazur would on occassion address the orchestra pit with neither podium nor music sheets nor baton. That was pretty impressive too the first time I saw him (Fantasy Overture, NYP).

But it seems to me that Matthew Passion brings a need for unison between the conductor and the musicians and the chorus dare I say slightly more than other efforts and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Mozart - Mass in C minor / Te Kanawa · von Otter · Rolfe Johnson · R. Lloyd · Marriner

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Neville Marriner, Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Sofie von Otter, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Robert Lloyd

Release Date September 20, 1994
A magnificent cd. For those who find Te Kanawa a bit lifeless, this will change your view. It is a gracious performance.
There is a small, but annoying technical flaw in the track of Sanctus - which ends as if it was clipped off prematurely to avoid a cough or someone dropping a music stand. First Philips Classical CD I have bought that has exhibited a technical flaw.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Handel - Messiah / Augér, von Otter, Chance, Crook, Tomlinson, English Concert, Pinnock

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: George Frideric Handel, Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert & Choir, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, John Tomlinson

Release Date October 25, 1990
AUGER AND CHANCE ENCHANT AND ENTRANCE.
The English passion for oratorio is largely due to Handel. Every year from 1738 to 1751, he produced at least one. The 'Messiah' is THE modern oratorio, not only because of the custom of rising and stretching in the seventh inning, when the 'Hallelujah Chorus' is sung, but because of its magnificent choruses, soaring arias and orchestral accompaniment which are truly thrilling.

And that is precisely why I would not give this rendition five stars. It is incredibly 'laid back' and too 'cold' for my taste. However. let's examine the soloist's contributions one by one, for some of this overall impression has a great deal to do with them.

John Tomlinson (bass)- excellent technique with good emotional investment; tone ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Anne Sofie von Otter ~ Berlioz - Les nuits d'été / Berlin Phil., Levine

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: Hector Berlioz, James Levine, Anne-Sofie von Otter, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Cord Garben, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra & Chorus, RIAS-Kammerchor

Release Date June 13, 1995
'Anne Sofie Von Otter sings Berlioz' including 'Les Nuits D'Ete' and various other 'Melodies' is a CD I bought when I was a 'get everything by Von Otter phase, as she was the first of the modern Mezzos for whom I developed an interest, soon after I discovered that classical female vocals were a really good thing. As I am not a big Berlioz fan, I was surprised at how familiar so many of these songs sounded. This is probably since most were written post Shubert and so many of them sound so much like they were influenced by Shubert's style, especially his famous 'Ave Maria'.

But, this is not the reason you want this album. Unlike Von Otter's collections of Grieg songs, I find these really engaging. You WANT to listen to these songs over and over again, much like you want to hear your ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Monteverdi - L'Orfeo / Rolfe Johnson, Dawson, von Otter, Argenta, M. Nichols, Tomlinson, Chance, Baird; Gardiner

CD-Charts > Music > ( O )
by: Claudio Monteverdi, John Eliot Gardiner, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Lynne Dawson, His Majesty's Sackbutts and Cornetts, English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Nancy Argenta, Anne Sofie von Otter, Julianne Baird, Mary Nichols, Simon Birchall, John Tomlinson, Michael Chance, Mark Turner, Howard Milner

Release Date October 25, 1990
Monteverdi - L'Orfeo / Rolfe Johnson, Dawson, von Otter, Argenta, M. Nichols, Tomlinson, Chance, Baird; Gardiner is a splenid recording with the Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloist and His Majesties Sagbutts & Cornetts under the guidance of John Elliot Gardiner. Archiv Prouktion have done a great job with the sound quality and it truly sounds as if one is hearing this in person. The book-let is of a very high quality and one must say that Gardiner picked some amazing singers (Willard White and Ann Sofie Von Otter). The book-let is a massiv 124 pages long and is filled with many fine photographs, an excellent essay written Gardiner and the complete lyrics. This is a recording not to be missed. 5 well deserved stars.