CD-Charts Position 51
Average Rating:

The Chopin Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: RCA Victor Europe

Release Date October 07, 1991
This is a bargain for the price, with GREAT sound quality! Warm, but also clear. The perfomances are great, specially the mazurkas and waltzes and sonatas. I thought the noctures where played a bit to "straight", but it depends what one compares it to. I prefer Cortot for about all the Chopin I've heard of him before 1934 (Although I like Rubinsteins sonata better) and brazilian G. Novaes for the nocturnes.

CD-Charts Position 52
Average Rating:

Beethoven: Symphonies 2 and 7 [Hybrid SACD]

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

Release Date August 26, 2008
Despite their ecstatic reviews when they go to New York, I am baffled by the reception accorded Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orch. in Beethoven. To my ears, this isn't new, adventurous, groundbreaking performance style. It's a throwback to the days in the Eighties when Roger Norrington was making waves with HIP Beethoven. As in that era, tempos are fast, expression flat (no personality, please, we're being authentic), ensemble crisp, and no hint that Beethoven was a revolutionary -- everything is done to squash his heroism.

If you already own -- and have had enough -- period-style Beethoven from Norrington or Gardiner, if you've already experienced the "updated" traditionalists (Abbado, Rattle, Haitink), there's little of note here. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 53
Average Rating:

The Magic Of Lang Lang

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date February 05, 2008
What a terrific gem of a CD! The compilation, arrangement and acoustical recordings are purposeful and greatly appreciable. Opening with Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody (Horowitz arrangement) is a stunning and bracing performance which I do not recall having ever heard better. Chopin and Rachmaninov pieces here are familiar but have new and subtle interpretations and they are lovely. It has been said the human vocal cord may have as many as 5000 vibrations per second and you will surely believe it when you hear the last piece featuring Andrea Bocelli along side Lang Lang's accompaniment. Brilliant.

CD-Charts Position 54
Average Rating:

Chopin: Favorite Piano Works

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

Release Date February 13, 1996
This is a masterful performance by the great Vladimir Ashkenazy of Chopin's favourite piano works. If you love Chopin's music and Ashkenazy's magic touch, this 2-disc CD is a must. Apart from all the all-time favourites such as grande valse brillante, op 18, nocturne in E flat major, op 9 no 2, Minute, Black Key, Military, Raindrop, Tristesse etc etc, it's interesting to note Ashkenazy's interpretation of Ballade in G minor, op 23 vis-a-vis Janusz Olejniczak playing it in the poignant scene of the award-winning Polanski's film "The Pianist" ie the piece played by Adrien Brody in his role as Szpilman, the Jewish pianist in hiding, to the German officer Hosenfeld. Enjoy!!

CD-Charts Position 55
Average Rating:

Sousa's Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
by: John Philip Sousa, United States Marine Band

Release Date September 07, 1999
Great CD I've read the other reviews and though the sound quality isn't as good as top 40 pop the sound is true to the music and that can't be beat. These classic American songs remind us of the strong heritage we come from. Just like these melodies that dance through our history, this album is the sound track to that history and it's depth reflects the depth of our history. This a great album anyone who loves our heritage will enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 56
Average Rating:

25 Wedding Favorites

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

Release Date September 05, 2000
CD has a good selection of songs, particularly for a formal wedding; however the last 5 songs on my CD were garbled so I can't evaluate those.
Worth the money, and I would buy again (hoping that the entire CD was clear and easy to understand.

CD-Charts Position 57
Average Rating:

Chant II

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
by: Gregorian Chant, Ismael Fernandez de la Cuesta, Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos

Release Date October 17, 1995
If you like this type of modern music presented in a unique style with some excellent voices give this a try. the style is not to everyones tast, I'm hooked and my usual preference for music is more like linkin park and evanescence. But i love this in heavy traffic on the way home, it keeps down the road rage without having to listen to archaic religious latin verse.

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

Bernstein Favorites: Children's Classics

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

Release Date May 03, 1991
My children and I really enjoy this CD. It has lots of useful information about instruments of the orchestra. The children love the Peter and the Wolf story the most, but the individual instruments section is very interesting for them (and adults) as well!

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

25 Vivaldi Favorites

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

Release Date December 13, 1999
This the worst CD I've ever had...terrible doesn't begin to describe it. There was nothing even remotely enjoyable..soothing to the ear would NOT be a description that I would give it.

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

Leonard Bernstein - Young People's Concerts / New York Philharmonic

CD-Charts > Music > Forms and Genres
starring: Bernstein, New York Philharmonic

Release Date September 28, 2004
This is an outstanding series which all parents should share with their children. Our society (children and adults) need music. Maestro Bernstein is a genius. How could parents NOT expose their kids and themselves to this series!