CD-Charts Position 31
Average Rating:

Britten - War Requiem / Vishnievskaya · Pears · Fischer-Dieskau · LSO · Britten

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Melos Ensemble of London, London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Release Date October 25, 1990
Britten's reading is raw, transparent, vicious, thunderous, and very original. Especially nice is to actually understand the words of the two male soloists without having to refer to the booklet. His soloists are strong and clear, his choruses are tip-top perfect, the LSO is divine. It's hard to say something bad about this performance, except perhaps that Vishnevskaya can be slightly grating in certain sections.
In a lot of ways I like Robert Shaw's more "glossed" "mainstream" performance, and that performance also has a lot of punch behind it, especially the purely orchestra/chorus sections. Britten's of course, is definitive. It certainly is the strongest case to convince you of the effectiveness of the integrated texts. In the Shaw ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 32
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Mendelssohn: Elias

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
from: Philips

Release Date August 10, 1993
Dentro de las pocas grabaciones que existen de esta obra, esta es probablemente una de esas que se acostumbrar llamar como "de referencia". Excelente la interpretación del barítono "Elías" y en general lo solistas La orquesta emociona e impacta en todo momento. Unico detalle, en algunos momentos la cuerda de sopranos se pierde un poco.

CD-Charts Position 33
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Old Friends

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: John McDermott

Release Date January 30, 1995
This early release of John McDermott's is as fine a collection of beautiful music as you may ever hear. As a followup to his unexpectedly successful debut album, "The Danny Boy Collection," "Old Friends" again features McDermott's glorious tenor on (predominantly) traditional Scottish and Irish favorites. His quiveringly lovely treatment of "My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose" is just as beautiful to me as when I first heard it seven years ago and the poignant rendition of "The Old Man" still has the power to bring a tear to my eye. In truth, there are so many highlights it is difficult to name them with any semblance of accuracy and fairness to those I neglect. Some of my other personal favorites, though, are "The Skye Boat Song," "Dark Loch Nagar" and "Massacre ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 34
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La Damoiselle elue / Opera Arias

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
from: Sony

Release Date December 09, 1997
....is a joy forever. Since Madame Sayao sang her last notes more than 50 years ago, few will know her. That is truly sad...from the mid 1930's to the early 1950's, Bidu made the lyric soprano repertoire her own. Trained in Europe as the last student of the great Jean de Reszke, she combined a beautiful voice with a perfect technique. Bidu sang the whole lyric gamut, from Mozart to Puccini, but Violetta, Juliette, and Mimi were roles for the ages. To my mind, she remains the absolutely definitive Mimi....

In this absolutely wonderful collection, we get to hear arias from two of her three greatest roles, Juliette being found elsewhere. In addition, her Mozart sparkles, and the "Butterfly" and "Gianni Schicchi" selections will make your heart flutter. [OK, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 35
Average Rating:

Haydn: The Seasons

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date March 17, 1998
I disagree that this work is 'primarily' a choral piece.
Whatever problem there existed in the chorus, it did not marr the performance in any significant manner, since the orchestral work and the three soloists were astoundingly superb.
Tavela had been Boehm's top bass in many of Boehm's recordings. He possessed one of the richest bass voices ever heard, with a deep tone that could be gruffy and serious, as well as vivaciously funny. The requisite versatility demonstrated in this piece and the expressiveness are simply stunning. His timbre is unlike another great bass of that era - Cesare Siepi, who possesses a more lyrical sound - basso cantante.
Gundula Janowitz has been a top-notch 'classical' soprano. Her interpretive abilities for Mozart, Haydn and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 36
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Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: George Frideric Handel, Robert King, Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, The King's Consort, Oxford Choir of New College, Aidan Oliver, John Mark Ainsley, Michael George

Release Date November 19, 1993
AND THE 'WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN'- BUT NOT MUSICALLY SPEAKING!

'Joshua'was one of a quartet of oratorios written consecutively between 1746 & 1748 which has heavily militaristic overtones. Through the years it has been rather neglected in the line-up of Handel Oratorios and unfortunately so, because the quality and excitement that is Handel is contained within it just as in other works. It contains two unforgettble scenes: the fall of the walls of Jericho and the halting of sun and moon. Here also is the famous march 'See the conquering hero comes,'which the Victorians used 'add nauseam' to open new public works. It occurs in almost exactly the same position in ActIII as the purely orchestral 'Dead Marches' in 'Saul' and 'Samson'. Handel uses a full complement ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 37
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Wagner - Der fliegende Holländer / Morris, Voigt, Heppner, Rootering, Groves, Svendén, MET, Levine

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: Deborah Voigt, Richard Wagner, James Morris, Ben Heppner, James Levine, Brigitta Svendén, Paul Groves, Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Jan-Hendrick Rootering

Release Date April 15, 1997
This recording, featuring noted Wagnerians James Morris and Deborah Voight, is a great recording of Dutchman. I can't figure out why there are so many negative reviews here.

Morris' Dutchman is nothing short of stunning and Voigt makes an amazing Senta (her rendition of Senta's Ballad is just perfect). Dismiss the naysayers and add this to your collection.

CD-Charts Position 38
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Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Credo

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: P.N. Tolstyakov, M. Burmagin, Dobri Hristov, A. Nikolaev-Strumski, Yuri Sergeyevich Sakhnovsky, Alexander Andreyevich Arkhangel'sky, Pavel Grigor'yevich Chesnokov, Kosolapov, Nikolai Korniev, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, St. Petersburg Chamber Choir

Release Date October 15, 1996
This CD sounds at times as if one is hearing angels sing ! Very moving, this is sacred music at its best, with the phenomenal Hvorostovsky singing with tenderness and passion. To quote what he wrote on the liner notes: "I believe...in the power of the Russian sacred music to transport the spirit, to open our eyes to the mysteries of faith and to teach us, as Dostoevsky believed, that 'beauty will save the world'". And there is so much beauty in this recording ! This is more than music, it's an experience.

CD-Charts Position 39
Average Rating:

Vesselina Kasarova - A Portrait

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
by: George Frideric Handel, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini, Munich Radio Orchestra, Friedrich Haider, Vesselina Kasarova, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Tim Hennis, Isolde Mitternacht-Geibendorfer, Barbara Muller, Dankwart Siegele, Leonid Savitzky, Andreas Schulist

Release Date November 12, 1996
Vesselina Kasarova has been one of the most sublime and radiant mezzos in years. Divine majesty, fascinating timber, wide range tonality, warm tune, engaging expressiveness spiced with high musical sensitivity are some of her virtues that undeniably have led her to that coveted status in the musical stages.

This album was the debut on RCA label and presents a marvelous of renowned and well known selections. Special kudos for her memorable Rossini and radiant Mozart.

Friedrich Haider remarks too with his precise attacks and notable accompaniment.

Acquire without hesitation this radiant and inspired album that surely will reward you every time you return for it.

CD-Charts Position 40
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Gabriel Fauré: Mélodies / Barbara Hendricks

CD-Charts > Music > Voices
from: EMI

Release Date August 05, 2002
Some critics have said that her vocal capabilities are limited. To be quite honest, I don't know if that's true or not, but whatever gifts God has given her, she exploits them to the full. This is a very good recital of Faure's songs, one of the best I've heard in fact (and I've heard quite a few.)

Dalberto is also very good.

Yes, highly recommended.