CD-Charts Position 161
Average Rating:

SYR 4: Goodbye 20th Century

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: Sonic Youth / Syr

Release Date November 16, 1999
The best thing with this product is undoubtly the names to whom it is contributed. One should really sincerely appreciate the good taste of SY to lift up and include such grand modern masteur composers as Wolff, Cardew, Cage and etc. Less successful however is the attempt to translate these 40 or so years old, mainly score, compositions and replace their original instrumentations and to attempt to change their structure to "rock".

Sometimes it does get endurable but at other times it completely falls out to miss the mark. Even if Wolff himself appears at times and also the renowned Marclay contributes it doesn't even come close to the originals at any time. It may be said that some of the tracks more demolishes than recaptures ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 162
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Régine Crespin

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

Release Date April 26, 2005
This is one of the best collections of Regine Crespin. Of course, her Berlioz/Ravel set with Ansermet is definitive, but the beauty and soft womanliness of her voice can be heard in all the selections on this disc. The engineers went for her vocal best and they created a fine collection aptly titled "The Best of..." One would be unduly captious to find Crespin "brittle" of tone here.

It is by now, very difficult to imagine anyone singing "Il est doux" with more apt expression of the line than La Crespin. Wagner's Wesendonk lieder is simply sublime from start to finish and the Faure takes on new meaning. That she is comical, melancholy, fun and happy by turns singles her out. This collection captures all her awesome talent. Underneath ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 163
Average Rating:

The Art of the Oboe

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: Naxos

Release Date June 01, 1999
For those who are not familiar with Albinoni, Concerto in D Minor, Op 9 Number 2, Adadio; for me--I find many documentary films that want to cause your heart to stop and listen--this song is the one that stirs my emotions of all the music on this CD. The artist, has to use much discipline in his breath to make the notes seemless. Bravo.

CD-Charts Position 164
Average Rating:

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

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
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 165
Average Rating:

Horizons - Leif Ove Andsnes

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

Release Date September 12, 2006
According to the notes in this release the selections contained therein are a personal collection of piano encores selected and wonderfully played by pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. Indeed it is a rich and full recording (close to 70 minutes in length) of short (each averaging about 3 ½ minutes in length) piano works composed by (or arranged) composers such as Jean Sibelius, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, Edward Grieg, Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt--to name a few. All of the selections are played very beautifully by Leif Ove Andsnes always with gorgeous tone through out the recording. Plus the encores on this disc are very interesting musically from the virtuosic Franz Liszt "Valse Impromptu" to the introspection and beauty of Debussy's "Clair de lune"
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CD-Charts Position 166
Average Rating:

Copland: The Music of America

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: Telarc

Release Date January 28, 1997
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)was the quintessential American composer of the 20th Century, and conductor Erich Kunzel with his Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is the leading popularizer of classical music.

This album brings together some of Copland's most well known pieces like "Fanfare for the Common Man," along with his three great ballets: "Billy the Kid," "Appalachian Spring" and "Rodeo." [The "Rodeo" extract "Hoe-Down" will be immediately recognized as the American Beef Council's theme music.]

Copland reamins the defining sound of American concert music and this recording is both accessible and very enjoyable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

CD-Charts Position 167
Average Rating:

American Adagios

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: Telarc

Release Date August 05, 1998
Many of the pieces of music on this disc are masterpieces and all are played to perfection.Barber's Adagio appears twice:in orchestral and choral versions,and the Agnus Dei choral is given loving treatment by the Robert Shaw festival singers.The familiar but never tiring Shaker variations of Copland and the exquisite Lullabye for strings of Gershwin are two quintessential slices of Americana performed by the Cincinnati Pops under Eric Kunzel.The most beautiful work of the collection may be the Anhran from flute concerto by Christopher Rouse.This little piece may find its way on many recordings in the coming years.With all around excellent performances and gorgeous sound this disc is definitely a keeper.

CD-Charts Position 168
Average Rating:

Copland: The Populist:

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: RCA

Release Date May 16, 2000
Before lavishing too much praise upon these recordings, I should say that I'm one of the few who actually prefers the original pared-down (or 'pit') orchestration for Appalachian Spring. Copland was an exceedingly efficient and deliberate composer (always looking for 'the note that costs,' as his teacher Nadia Boulanger directed) and there's great beauty in Copland's ability to make such fabulous, expansive music with limited voices and resources. It's also worth having a quick read through the plot lines to these three ballets (as it's easy to forget, now, that that was their original purpose) to really get a feel for what Copland and his collaborators were going for. That said, these pieces that sounded lowbrow and reprehensibly populist to many of Copland's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 169
Average Rating:

CHRISTMAS at King's College

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

Release Date September 15, 1998
It's in there.. this is a great collection of Anglican Cathedral Christmas music. Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 170
Average Rating:

La Folia, 1490-1701

CD-Charts > Music > ( C )
from: Alia Vox Spain

Release Date February 09, 1999
The quality of the recording is very good. The performance has high points and low points. For one thing, someone keeps moaning and sighing loud enough during the performance so as to distract the listener at times. Sometimes the castinets and percussion seem to be a bit awkward. The music is beautiful and haunting enough to overlook these minor shortcomings. I still loved it!
Gil Sarabia