CD-Charts Position 181
Average Rating:

Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa Aeterna

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Naxos

Release Date February 15, 1994
I don't listen to this on a regular basis, but occasionally on a long drive, it calms the day. Very peaceful.

CD-Charts Position 182
Average Rating:

Mozart - Requiem / Augér, Bartoli, Cole, Pape, Wiener Phil., Solti

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Decca

Release Date March 10, 1992
To my great surprise, in the last two decades of his life Solti turned into a marvelous Mozart interpreter. His '80's Figaro, and '90's Magic Flute and Cosi fan Tutte are among my favorite versions, Sir Georg's sometimes abrasive nervous energy (and scholarly use of reduced orchestral forces) makes for fantastically dramatic, anti-romantic readings. This requiem, recorded on the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death in St Stephen's cathedral in Vienna benefits from an awesome reverberant acoustic, a quartet of fabluous operatic singers (and let's face it, this is an opera manque, religiose, not religious, "the sickly sweets of operatic sin" as Stravinsky called it, and a good thing too I say). Excerpts of the actual Mass ceremony are interspersed, and along ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 183
Average Rating:

Angel Voices: Libera In Concert

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: EMI Classics

Release Date October 02, 2007
Libera's live performance at St. Peter's Church in Leiden, Holland, showcased a broad cross-section of their work. Despite the similarity in titles, the track listings for this live CD and the studio "Angel Voices" (the white cover) are not exactly the same.

The fleet-footed, dexterous opening, "Adoramus" (first heard on "Free"), is almost the only number of its kind; immediately afterward, "Going Home" (based on Dvorak's "Largo" from the New World Symphony) slows the ambience down to spotlight the serene warmth of the soloist's (Joshua Madine) voice. The music for the Leiden concert is weighted toward Libera's meditative, even more melancholy work. "Lacrymosa," first heard on "Luminosa," is based on the "Aquarium" from Saint-Saens' Carnival ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 184
Average Rating:

Debut Recital / Martha Argerich

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date January 23, 1996
With Argerich you simply cannot go wrong in the world of piano.
There is so much passion, near recklessness and sheer power to rival even Liszt himself.
The Scherzo is so clean and maintains an unmatched pace throughout - yet be not deceived as some uncredibly sweet moments will catch you unaware.
The Toccata is truly devilish and one cannot comprehend how a human could reach such a tempo and yet hit all the required notes!!
The Jeux d'eau makes one wonder who might posesse all these pianistic abilities; from dreamy images to listless moments where languor is at hand, from the most fluid and yes, watery splashes to crystal clear melodies!
Finally, if for no other reason, you must have this Liszt Sonata! I have never heard any pianist ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 185
Average Rating:

Anna Netrebko & Rolando Villazon: Duets

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date September 11, 2007
Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon are today's operatic royalty and hot [stage] couple. The attention is certainly deserved; they are MAGIC. Tragedy, comedy...Perfect.

This selection of duets is a great opportunity to see what all the fuss is about...my own favorites were the cut from La Boheme, the fountain scene from "Lucia", and the duet from "Romeo et Juliette" [shades of Sayao and Bjorling]. The Rigoletto, not as good...Anna's voice doesn't quite fit Gilda.

Opera had had several legendary pairings over the years...Villazon and Anna rank with the VERY best. This record has my HIGHEST recommendation.

CD-Charts Position 186
Average Rating:

Marilyn Horne - The Complete Decca Recitals

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Decca Records

Release Date April 15, 2008
I agree with the previous reviewers about Ms. Horne's voice and performances. There are many riches here: the singing is superb throughout, one or two optional unmusical high notes aside. The range of music is enormous and Horne sings it all with style and grace, including the odd collection that is the American Songbook (Copeland, Foster, Berlin and... Malotte!?) Most of these recitals were conducted by Henry Lewis. He is fine, but I really sat up and took notice when Zubin Mehta took over for the Mahler song cycles directly after listening to Lewis conduct the Mahler/Wagner songs. Horne seemed more engaged on the Mehta led disc, too.
The unfortunate news is that some of this music is unfamiliar (Nin and Bizet songs, some of the bel canto and French arias) ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 187
Average Rating:

Christmas with Mario Lanza

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: RCA

Release Date October 25, 1990
the cd was great, also the custmer service sending the cd out right of way.

CD-Charts Position 188
Average Rating:

Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst and Other Choral Works

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Eric Whitacre, Polyphony, Robert Millett, Stephen Betteridge, Stephen Layton

Release Date February 14, 2006
What a gorgeous recording this is! The beauty of this music is absolutely stunning, like hearing music for the first time. It's really hard to believe that Whitacre is only 35--the degree of spirituality and depth of feeling here seems the product of a lifetime. And unlike many choral composers, he is not a one-trick pony. Every aspect of every composition is distinctive, even as it is always recognizable as his. And like Arvo Part, you get the overwhelming sense that every note is heartfelt, never calculated, though Whitacre's aesthetic is warmer and less austere than Part's ("Sunburst" would have been a more apt title for the CD). I am also reminded in some ways of the Bulgarian women's choirs: Bulgarian music is full of extreme dissonance, but somehow they make it seem chipper ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 189
Average Rating:

Messiah (George Frederick Handel) London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Handel, London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Alldis

Release Date March 12, 2002
Many envision Christmas when they hear Messiah spoken in reference to Handel's classical craftsmanship. I, personally, envision all year round listening rapture.

Handel's composition details various epics of Christ's life--His birth, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection and eventual Messianic millennial rule. You behold through Handel's orchestrated psalms, the Old Testament prophesies concerning Messiah encompassed with the New Testament fulfillments.

Handel's Messiah is remarkable as it is the inspired Scripture set to orchestration. Messiah is absent of Handel's words; only holding his masterful musical scores.

When you insert these CDs, Biblical truths arise in illustrious, serenading ecstasy. You immediately recognize, The London Philharmonic ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 190
Average Rating:

300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Vox (Classical)

Release Date November 04, 1992
This collection from the early years of Manuel Barrueco is one of the best values you'll find. It's 3 discs long and contains some of the best guitar playing I've ever heard. I've owned this set once before and had to buy it again because my original CDs were worn out from ware and tear. Highly recommended for anyone starting a serious classical guitar collection.