CD-Charts Position 171
Average Rating:

Vivaldi's Cello

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
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 172
Average Rating:

Leos Janacek - From the House of Dead / MCO, ASC, Boulez, Chereau (Festival Aix-en-Provence 2007)

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
starring: Olaf Bär, Peter Straka, Heinz Zednik, John Mark Ainsley, Pierre Boulez
directed by: Patrice Chereau, Stephane Metge

Release Date April 22, 2008
This, one of the greatest operas of the twentieth century which, because of its language and setting, is not performed as often as it should be receives a magnificent performance here: the production, singing, and orchestral performance are all superb. A must for all lovers of Janacek and of twentieth-century opera. More than just a supplement to the definitive Mackerras CD recording of the work. Most enthusiastically recommended!

CD-Charts Position 173
Average Rating:

Classic Williams: Romance of the Guitar

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
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 of the evening ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 174
Average Rating:

Baby Einstein: Playtime Music Box

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Buena Vista

Release Date December 21, 2004
This one is only O.K. Gives me a headache but the babies seem to like it.

CD-Charts Position 175
Average Rating:

Essential Bach

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
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 176
Average Rating:

Pure

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Hayley Westenra

Release Date April 06, 2004
Pure represents the initial international, read US, CD release of Hayley Westenra. Other albums had been released outside of the US market, but Pure is an excellent cross-section of the wide ranging vocal talent of a sixteen year old New Zealand Popera. This is a must have CD for fans of pitch perfect singers. Her signature piece is Pokarekare Ana. This album has two versions: a basic and extended version. I recommend listening while looking at the CD cover photo. It is amazing to me that such a voice comes out of such a wonderfully talented young woman. If you fall in love with the album and the artist, you will have to have the DVD Hayley Westenra, Live from New Zealand. She is seventeen in it. She takes chances as demonstrated on the cut Wuthering ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 177
Average Rating:

Music of Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Percy Faith and His Orchestra, Adolphe Adam, Franz Xaver Gruber, George Frideric Handel, Felix Mendelssohn, Christmas Traditional, John Francis Wade, Richard Storrs Willis

Release Date October 25, 1990
I've been looking for this album for years, we used to listen to it when I was gorwing during the Christmas season, so finding it has been quite a wonderful surprise. I purchased it first so I could check the sound quality and it was awesome. Then i purchased it for mom and grandma and they love it too!

CD-Charts Position 178
Average Rating:

Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Chamber Singers

Release Date October 18, 1994
I really enjoy this CD, it reminds me of the music I grew up. I was looking for something to just have on in the background, in my home during the day. I was disappointed that there were too many songs I didn't know, but this was the best choral music CD I could find so far that included both religious carols and non-religious carols.

CD-Charts Position 179
Average Rating:

Robert Schumann - Genoveva (Opernhaus Zurich)

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
starring: Juliane Banse, Shawn Mathey, Alfred Muff, Martin Gantner, Cornelia Kallisch
directed by: Martin Kusej

Release Date October 28, 2008
I have seen this production live at the Zurich opera house february 2008.

Musically, people tend to think of Schumann as the composer of small miniatures. As a result, he is not easily associated with larger orchestral works such as Szenen aus Goethe`s Faust and the genre of opera. These works are therefore unfortunately hardly ever performed. When I heard that Mr. Harnoncourt wanted to do a scenic production of this opera and that it has been a 15-year old wish of his to do so I did not hesitate and drove the 600+ miles to Zurich to see this production twice.
Harnoncourt is a strong advocate of Schumann`s music and has been for a number of years. An older ecording of Genoveva with him is available on cd. This performance is completely different, though. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 180
Average Rating:

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

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
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
The selections chosen are, for the most part, to my taste, but the volume is comprised of fewer supurb selections, such as those masterpieces by Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart that were found in Vol. I.