CD-Charts Position 181
Average Rating:

Classic Williams: Romance of the Guitar

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony

Release Date May 02, 2000
Having listened to this CD I though it was outstanding. As a John William fan myself, I always find his technique absulutely brilliant and some of the tracks on there I haven't heard before, which is a bonus. I have quite a few CD's of him playing solo and together with Julian Bream. Also the group Sky he was with back in the early 1980's. This CD I have to say has got to be the best one yet in my collection of John Williams CD's.

I would recommend this CD to all John Williams fans. All so, this CD is genuine and is not a copy from the real thing, which is nice to know. So at least you know what you are buying is worth it's value for money.

It's a good CD for background soft music to enhance the atmosphere ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 182
Average Rating:

Essential Bach

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Decca

Release Date June 13, 2000
This really has the best of Bach on one CD (compared to 150 for his total works).

CD-Charts Position 183
Average Rating:

Vivaldi's Cello

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony

Release Date March 30, 2004
Look, this cd has its bright spots, but there is so much that just didn't work out with it. Firstly, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra plays with its usual energy and authentic approach, but Yo Yo plays in a modern style. The two just don't mix. I keep expecting to hear some decorations to the cello line but there just aren't any. Some of the music is just played too fast such as the slow movement of the double cello concerto. It was almost as if playing baroque style for Yo Yo Ma just meant playing it faster. The slow movement of the winter concerto was completely empty of any kind of decoration or originality. It was just straight and flat.
And the transcriptions! Oh gosh, why transcribe music that is not suited to the cello? ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 184
Average Rating:

The Dvorak Album

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony

Release Date September 07, 2004
Yo Yo Ma has the perfect tender and romantic feel for Dvorac. Unfortunately he is not a powerful performer. He is relatively subdued and that is okay with this music. The fault on the very first selection, the concerto, is the recording. It is though he is in the middle of the orchestra playing with everyone else. There is very little presence given to him by the engineer in the mix down. This is very unfortunate. The listener must pick out the lead performer.
I used to 'bury' musicians when they weren't up to par for the good of the whole recording. Everyone including the musican were grateful for this. However, Yo Yo was not having a bad day, and you never bury the lead. Shame on you guys in the booth.
The rest of the album ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 185
Average Rating:

Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony

Release Date June 16, 1998
I'll make this brief; the other reviewer have said what I would have stated, that this is a great recording. The one thing I would like to add, as an avid violin (and cello, my sister is a cellist) fan, is that the sheer intensity and almost raw (without being crude) power of these recordings, especially the Oistrakh, put them in a class by themselves. The violin cadenza literally knocks you out of your chair. I can't think of a single contemporary violinist who could approach this. There is something from the solar plexus about it. Combined with great technique and a sound entirely his own, Oistrakh makes all of the concerto a riveting listening experience. Some of Rostropovich's playing has a similar power...a willingness to test the boundaries ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 186
Average Rating:

Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony

Release Date October 25, 1990
Yet another great recording from Murray Perahia and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields! This recording has really helped me in preparing to perform one of the Mendelssohn concertos myself; great sound quality on the actual recording as well as the superb technique exhibited makes this album one of my favorites!

CD-Charts Position 187
Average Rating:

Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Sony Classics

Release Date May 29, 2007
I agree with all of the other reviewers who were disappointed by this CD. It's is a prime example of how computers can't really touch the artistry of a human being, at this point in time. I recommend his older recordings, which are lower fidelity but capture the performance of a manic artistic genius.

The Zenph computerized piano simply does not capture the correct dynamics, nor does it feel like you're listening to an actual human being playing (obviously because you're not!). All of the warmth, humor, angst, and simple emotion behind Gould's plays is lost entirely here. The sound quality is fine, but what is sound quality without great music to back it up?

Not recommended.

CD-Charts Position 188
Average Rating:

Jean-Baptiste Lully: Psyché

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Cpo Records

Release Date July 29, 2008
I love Lully and after Thesee had to have this one. Beautiful. I love the Boston group and next time I'm in the US hope to see them. They never get to Australia so I have to go there. The recording is A1 as is the performance. The music of course is lovely and beautifully done in period performance. If you don't have it and you love Versailles operas this is one to get. The price is terrific too.

CD-Charts Position 189
Average Rating:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
by: Gabriel Faure, Frederic Chopin, Antonio Vivaldi, Gustav Mahler, Claude Debussy, Sir Neville Marriner, Maris Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Sir Adrian Boult, Miklos Rozsa, Riccardo Muti, Stephen Cleobury, Sir John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Berlin Philharmonic

Release Date March 11, 2003
Beautifully done, arranged, and selected. All are very good performances, and there are many lesser known but wonderful pieces such as the movement from Shostakovich's second piano concerto.

CD-Charts Position 190
Average Rating:

The Story of Beethoven

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Vox (Classical)

Release Date April 16, 1995
Worth your time and money. Good for kids and adults. Takes turns between story and songs.