CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Purcell: Complete Chamber Music

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Brilliant Classics

Release Date April 01, 2008
I have an enormous amount of affection for this anthlogy. The music is quintessential Purcell- ingeneous, straight-forward, the show tune king of his day. This is a seven disc set. The first four discs are performed by Musica Antiphon, one of several European H.I.P. ensembles who seem to draw personnel from the same pool. This particular group empressed me earlier with a performance of the Telemann Tafelmusik which was far more spirited and fun than the benchmark perfomance by Musica Antiqua Koln. That same sense of fun is present here as well. The final three discs are harpsichord (and a little organ) pieces played by Pieter-Jan Belder. His performances are pleasant and musical as well. It is nice to hear music in these discs (instead of a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Grieg: Lyric Pieces / Emil Gilels

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date March 11, 1997
I know that many reviewers find this to be one of the greatest piano discs ever recorded, so I hope that readers will be open to a contrary and somewhat heretical point of view.

I never heard these pieces until I bought this CD. They are basically nice salon pieces: charming, melodic, lightweight. I notice that several reviewers have pointed out that Gilels does not play up the sentimentality in these pieces. Perhaps that's what I find lacking in these performances. I guess I am saying that I would prefer to hear frankly sentimental compositions such as these played with a great deal more sentiment.

Please be aware of the very real possibility that you will find this music boring. The music has grown on me over ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Grieg: Lyric Pieces (Performed on Grieg's Piano)

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 12, 2002
Just finished listening to the disc and very pleased - lots of light and airy works some towards the end are very *soft* with surprising CRESENDOS at the end to wake u up! Another super disc to add to the andsnes collection !

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Piano for Relaxation

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: RCA

Release Date May 16, 2000
I love the entire Relaxation series of CD's but I especially like the piano.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Leif Ove Andsnes: Ballad for Edvard Grieg

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
starring: Leif Ove Andsnes

Release Date January 15, 2008
This new DVD from EMI with Leif Ove Andsnes playing the music of Edvard Grieg would make an excellent gift for any young piano student or for yourself, if you like Grieg or great pianism. The sound and picture quality are superior, and the camera work provides many shots of Andsnes' keyboard technique. Andsnes has already made a critically acclaimed studio recording of the Piano Concerto, but the live performance presented here, with the Bergen Philharmonic under Ole Kristian Ruud, is even better. The element of spontaneity adds warmth and the DVD sound allows you to hear every nuance in the score. The only slight drawback is that you need to go to the menu to find the titles of the three encores Andsnes plays (three Lyric Pieces). The performance of ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set]

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Delta

Release Date December 09, 2003
A very massive collection of classical piano masterworks. A great way to get started on your classical music collection. The one missing star on my product rating for this product is that this collection is missing is a disc of Igor Stravinski... Stravinski's Petrushka is one song that should have been included! But maybe that will be in the part 2 of the ultimate collection?

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Segovia Collection, Volume 9: The Romantic Guitar

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Mca

Release Date June 04, 1991
While Segovia's forte is Spanish music and his mastery of the Bach sonatas and partitas which were transcribed from the violin to the guitar, I keep finding myself listening to this CD on an almost daily basis. As a classical guitarist myself, hearing pieces like Grieg's piano works and Mendlesohns' string quartets played to perfection on his 1947 Herman Hauser II with such strength, clarity and authority makes me realize this man understood more about the music that went onto this one CD than most "musicians" past and present could ever hope to understand in a lifetime. His guitar sings like a human voice and when he plays it truly sounds like a choral ensemble being played through one instrument. Sweet!

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Grieg: Lyric Pieces; Sonata; 7 Fugues

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date March 14, 2000
I can imagine being there again, in Norway, contemplating the magnificent fjords in majestic silence, listening to the pure waterfalls.

There are so many sounds, many images, many moods that other pianists were incapable of capturing. Pletnev makes you dream and feel, he tells you simple stories of life, and you listen, fascinated, wondering how such simple things could be so complex.

There's a grace, a refinement, a harmony, a sensibility never heard before from Grieg. It's melancholy. It's joy. Iridescent beauty...

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Mad about Romantic Piano

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date September 20, 1994
This one will put you to sleep quicker than a glass of warm milk--certainly not something to be characterized as "romantic". Nonetheless, it is a very soothing collection of classical works that will not interfere with your conversation/thought process/sweet dreams.

Take note of the discrepancy between Amazon's listing of 15 tracks vs. the detailed listing of 14 tracks with composer/performer credits. My CD has only 14 tracks and the detailed listing offered by Amazon seems to be correct.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

CD-Charts > Music > Airs
from: Delta

Release Date August 24, 1999
i can't believe this set is selling for $80 here. i bought this set years ago at circuit city for $35. last time i visited, there was still one on the shelf. *shrug* i would definitely try and find it cheaper, but even at this price you're not getting ripped off completely. all of the recordings are of good quality and the selections are actually pretty damn good compared to other "best of" sets.