CD-Charts Position 131
Average Rating:

Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft, Levine, Moshinsky, Metropolitan Opera

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
starring: Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, James Morris (IX), Jane Bunnell, Richard Croft (II)
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date April 13, 2004
This is probably the best "Otello" on DVD. Placido Domingo has some moments in which his voice sounds forced, particularly in "Si, pel ciel", but on the whole, the production is excellent, with great, exciting conducting by James Levine, a very good and believable Iago in James Morris, and a really good Cassio and Emilia.
The true star of the production, however, is Renee Fleming, who is simply spectacular as Desdemona. She sings like an angel, with wonderful expression and some ravishing pianissimi. Definitely the best Desdemona I've ever heard.
The staging is very lush and the costumes gorgeous, but I really can't understand why the old Met production, which was beautiful, wasn't kept on for a few more years. I'm sure there are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 132
Average Rating:

Solo Piano

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Sony

Release Date August 07, 1989
It makes me happy that I can hear what Phillip Glass heared when he composed the music, there are feelings of mystery and nostalgy.

CD-Charts Position 133
Average Rating:

Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Original Broadway Cast)

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlan, Sutton Foster

Release Date June 11, 2002
If you'd like a pick -me -up, this is the show to listen to. Great music, a wonderful score, and just fun to listen to. Sutton Foster is just great in the lead. (I think her first show.) If you saw the movie, well, not so crazy, but the basics are still there. It would help a lot if you can catch a touring company or even a high school production. Then the music would make more sense. But try it, you'll like it. I'm only sorry I missed the B'way original. But I think it will be around in revival; it's such fun.

CD-Charts Position 134
Average Rating:

Sogno

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: B. / Cogliati, D. Zambrini, Tullio / Servillo, Giuseppe Ferro, Patrick / Servillo, Giuseppe Abrial, Ennio / Bardotti, S. Morricone, Ennio / Quarantotto, Lucio Morricone, Mauro / Bocelli, Andrea Malavasi, Guido Corti, Eros Ramazzotti, Cecilia Chailly

Release Date March 30, 1999
Great to listen to when trying to relax. I listen to it at work and after work too. It eases the tension. He is an amazing artist, singer. My wife enjoys this as well.

CD-Charts Position 135
Average Rating:

Telemann: The Six Paris Quartets

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Virgin Veritas

Release Date October 10, 2000
This is a very good pair of CDs, probably very faithful to the intent of the composer, and extremely well played except... The quartet goes into a bit of a funk during Quartet Four and most of Five. For example, Movement 1 of quartet 5 is titled "Vivement": "Lively". It is played, however, barely faster than the "Modere" movements, and without any more life.

By the time they get to the second "Modere" movement of Quartet 5, and especially the "Pas Vite" (movement 5) though, they're back in gear. I think that these two Quartets must have been played at the end of a long day, or a long week. Or maybe it's just that any team has a hard time being completely "on" 100% of the time.


But that barely distracts from an otherwise ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 136
Average Rating:

Peter and the Wolf / Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra / Carnival of the Animals

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: RCA

Release Date May 10, 1994
I LOVE the narration of this version. David Bowie does an outstanding job of representing all of the different characters. My only problem is that there are some "skips" in track 1. I'm not sure if this is representative of all downloads of this MP3 CD or if something went screwy during my personal download, but it's very disappointing.

CD-Charts Position 137
Average Rating:

Richard Wagner - Der fliegende Holländer

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
starring: Donald McIntyre, Catarina Ligendza, Bengt Rundgren, Hermann Winkler, Wolfgang Sawallisch
directed by: Vaclav Kaslik

Release Date May 13, 2008
Finally, at last a video of The Flying Dutchman that satisfies! Perhaps this is a difficult opera to stage, and a film is needed. This one is excellent. The violence of stormy seas, the singing of the long-dead sailors in the last act, the hopelessness of Erik's situation, the tentativeness on both sides at the lovers' first encounter--all come through gloriously. It is a thrill to see Donald McIntyre in this. I will watch this video many times.

CD-Charts Position 138
Average Rating:

Vittorio

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Decca

Release Date September 12, 2006

This CD was enjoyable, his tenor voice is beautiful. If he has more recordings, I would definitely purchase it.
I am also a fan of Il Divo which has a similar sound.

Ken Williams

CD-Charts Position 139
Average Rating:

More Than 50 Most Loved Hymns

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Various Artists

Release Date March 15, 2005
A collection to be treasured. Very well done instrumentally and vocally. I recommend this very highly for general listening, meditation, therapy, and healing.

CD-Charts Position 140
Average Rating:

Bach: Partitas Nos. 2-4

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Sony Classics

Release Date March 18, 2008
The six partitas BWV 825-830, the third and last collection of suites, are certainly Bach's most mature achievement in this sphere. The opening movements on their own are sufficient to demonstrate Bach's fertile imagination.
Murray Perahia has chosen to perform the second, third and forth partitas, and his approach conveys a stylistic maturity, structural energy, abundant invention, and a strikingly auspicious style that is almost unequalled in accomplishment. He retains the traditional framework of the German suite in shaping the four regular movements, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue, yet takes on magnificent liberties with the form. In the second Partita, prefaced by a Sinfonia in three sections, Perahia begins the first by establishing an atmosphere ... Read More: