CD-Charts Position 61
Average Rating:

The Story Of Handel

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

Release Date April 16, 1995
The content is terrific. This CD is one of a series of classical music masters. The only problem is that tracks 38 and later have a lot of distortion/static. I returned thinking it was a problem with the disc, but the replacement disc had the same problem. If not for that, I would have rated 5 stars.

CD-Charts Position 62
Average Rating:

The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
by: Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis

Release Date May 02, 2006
I was disapointed in the musical interpretation used in this disk. The selections are fine but the arrangements could be much better.

CD-Charts Position 63
Average Rating:

Kapell Rediscovered

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

Release Date May 06, 2008
The recording is wonderful despite the noise, and the performance is masterful. But while the mp3 files contain information for each track (album, performer, title, opus, movement), there is no mention of the composers. Most of the pieces are popular enough it's obvious. But really, this is basic and should be a part of each file.

CD-Charts Position 64
Average Rating:

Classic Williams: Romance of the Guitar

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
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 65
Average Rating:

Essential Bach

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
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 66
Average Rating:

Vivaldi's Cello

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
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 67
Average Rating:

25 Handel Favorites

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

Release Date September 05, 2000
This a wonderfull Handel CD, a great mix of his songs both uptempo and sacred. I don't really know much about his works but i thought this cd as a casual fan of the artsist was a very good mix of songs.

CD-Charts Position 68
Average Rating:

American Angels

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
from: Harmonia Mundi Fr.

Release Date February 10, 2004
I admit it: this is less a review and more of a compulsion to weigh in on the debate, as both a performer of early music and a longtime shapenote singer.

First of all, this is Anonymous 4, and these women are much to polished and professional to do anything less than magnificent. That being said, this is Anonymous 4, and they worked for years on perfecting their sound and in particular the blend of their four voices. They cannot be expected to sound like four random singers at a Sacred Harp convention, where anyone and everyone is welcome. Those who have said that this sacred music is for everyone are right: it is for everyone, back porch singers and trained professional alike. Anonymous 4 just happens to fall into the latter ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 69
Average Rating:

Artur Rubinstein in Concert

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

Release Date June 10, 2008
Following their release of Artur Rubinstein's Grieg, Chopin and Saint-Saëns concertos, Deutsche Grammophon issues another fascinating programme about the great pianist, recorded two years earlier, in August 1973, at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Rubinstein can be heard and seen in Beethoven's 3rd and Brahms's 1st, both accompanied by the Concertgebouw Orchestra under Bernard Haitink.

Produced by the same team, with Hugo Käch directing, the great Max Wilcox who had been recording Rubinstein since 1959 as audio producer, and Robert Hofer responsible for the photography, this DVD provides further insight in the artistry of one of the most significant pianists of the previous century in the indian summer ("autumn" would be too strong ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 70
Average Rating:

Works of Igor Stravinsky

CD-Charts > Music > Vocal Non-Opera
from: Sony Classics

Release Date July 23, 2007
I consider this release\compilation to be the greatest classical bargain of 2007-a year of many complete issues such as Bach and Mozart on Brilliant classics(before 07).
Stravinsky is the conductor for almost all the performances with the CBS orchestra and, though recorded in the early to late 60's, the sound is spectacular. I am listening to disc 1(for the tenth time) and still love the ambience of old tape recordings(which I find far superior to much of today's DDD and DSD. I will take warmth, substance, and presence over clinical precision and unrealistic detail any day of the week.
Much of the works here are the performances of said works. Of course the rite of spring has been reproduced about as many times as the bible, so it is difficult ... Read More: