Da Capo

1. Stadt Em Niemandsland

2. Fortsetzung Folgt

3. Shanghai

4. Op Da Deckel Vum Clown

5. Raats Un Links Vum Bahnda

6. Sandino

7. Dat Daat Joot

8. Saison Der Container

9. Fluchtig

Tracks:

Theme From Mission Impossible - Schifrin
Theme From Gladiator - Zimmer
Hedwig's Theme - Williams
Harry's Wondrous World - Williams
Allegro Moderato - Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished' - Schubert
Suite From Shakespeare In Love - Warbeck
Out Of Africa - Barry
Requiem, Rex Tremendae - Mozart
Prelude In E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 - Chopin
Suite No. 3 In D, Air On The G String - J.S. Bach
I Will Always Love You - Parton
Symphony No. 40, Molto Allegro - Mozart
Finlandia - Sibelius
My Heart Will Go On - Horner

Tracks:

Theme From Lord Of The Rings - Shore
Overture To All That Jazz - Kander & Ebb
'Trout' Quintet, Theme, Andantino And Variations - Schubert
Prelude No. 15 In D-Flat - Chopin
Windmills Of Your Mind - LeGrand
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - KAMEN
Theme From Schindler's List - Williams
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Excerpt - Strauss
Symphony No. 3, Lento Cantabile - Semplice - Gorecki
Die Walkure, Ride Of The Valkyries - Wagner
Goldberg Variations, Aria Da Capo - J.S. Bach
Theme From License To Kill - KAMEN
Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, 'Pathetique,' Andante Cantabile - Beethoven
Die Another Day - Arnold
Symphony No. 9, Ode To Joy, Excerpt - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Movie Themes CD.......2007-03-10

Very nice CD with beautiful music from past movies. Very relaxing music to listen to.

"three decades of film composers ~ Simply The Best".......2004-03-06

Rhino Movie Music presents "Simply The Best Movie Themes", featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other various artists ~ within the realm of the following composers David Arnold, John Barry, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Wendy Carlos, Fred Ebb, James Horner, James Newton Howard, Michael Kamen, John Kander, Michel Legrand, Alex North, Basil Poledouris, Howard Shore, Wladyslaw Szpilman, Stephen Warbeck, John Williams and Hans Zimmer ~ each composer has created one or more of the scores in this twenty nine classic line up.

Film scores covering over three decades with "2001:SPACE ODYSSEY", "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE", "APOCALYPSE NOW", "THE BODYGUARD(I Will Always Love You)", "CHICAGO(Overture to All That Jazz), "DIE ANOTHER DAY", "EYES WIDE SHUT", "FEARLESS", "GLADIATOR(Theme)", "HANNIBAL", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Hedwig's Theme)", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Harry's Wondrous World)", "THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER", "JURASSIC PARK:THE LOST WORLD", "LICENSE TO KILL, "LIVING DAYLIGHTS", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS(Theme)", "MINORITY REPORT", "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Theme)", "OUT OF AFRICA", "THE PIANIST", "ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES", "SCHINDLER'S LIST", "SE7EN", "SHADOWLANDS", "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE", "THE SIXTH SENSE", "THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR"and "TITANIC(My Heart Will Go On)" ~ a mixture of original compositions and classics of the old masters. Loaded with not just themes, but full of orchestral arrangements that are fresh and rewarding ~ sure to bring back those special moments from the film.

The presentation is superb with every cue inclusive with spectacular performances from suspense, romance and adventure all rolled into a two disc package. Rhino must be commended on doing such a great job and doing it well. Most serious "film-score-buffs" will welcome this compilation, has many cues available all under one banner ~ Rhino Records...gotta love it!

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Performances.......2007-06-22

This disc of Carl Nielsen's music has as a focus his music for the theater and contains some music that is not often recorded. The disc begins with a rousing performance of the Maskarade overture and Cockerel's Dance from act 3 of the opera. This is followed by the prelude to Hr. Oluf Han Rider (Sir Oluf He Rides), written in 1906, written for a play which was composed during the rehearsals for Maskarade. The suite for the play Snefrid was composed in 1893 following the First Symphony and was his first music for the stage. The music is lyrical and charming, conveying very beautifully the love story of the play.

The prelude to act 2 of Saul and David is a more familiar piece and occurs in the opera prior to the scene where David is playing for the king when a messenger announces the challenge from Goliath. The Rhapsody Overture: An imaginary journey to the Faroe Islands, the next piece of the CD, is from late in Nielsen's career (1927) and has the more advanced harmonies of the Fifth and Sixth symphonies. The short rhapsody was written for an actual visit from the remote Faroe Islands for the Royal Theater. Willemoes was for a play written to celebrate the centennial of the death of the Danish naval hero Peter Willemoes and was used as a prelude to the third act. Willemous dies in the Battle of Zealand Point during the Napoleonic War and the music Nielsen provided described the hero's love for a young girl.

Pan and Syrinx is an atmospheric piece for a large orchestra that describes the tale told by Ovid in the Metamorphoses. The scoring is imaginative, particularly the various sounds of the tambourine, and aurally tells the story of how Pan attempted to seduce the nymph Syrinx and who removed herself from his advances by being transformed into a reed - the birth of the Pan pipes. Cupid and the Poet, Nielsen's last orchestral work, was written in 1930 for a play celebrating the 125th birth of Hans Christian Andersen, and is an interesting short piece somewhat reminiscent of the Fifth Symphony with the prominent use of the snare drum. The Helios Overture closes the disc and the music reminds me of the Second and Third Symphonies. The overture was written in Greece and is a celebration of ancient Greek culture with the music depicting the coming of light, the transit of the sun and its disappearance into the sea at the close of the day.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra under Thomas Dausgaard is superb and the recording clarity could not be better. This CD was an editor's choice by Gramophone magazine; it is a must for anyone interested in Carl Nielsen's music and provides a good introduction to his works.

This is a No-Brainer. It's the Best Current Collection of Nielsen Orchestral (Non-Symphonic) Music.......2007-04-20

Nielsen is, of course, primarily known to non-Danes as the composer of six marvelous symphonies, and there is no dearth of recordings of the whole set of them. But there aren't all that many recordings of his non-symphonic orchestral music except for perhaps the two most popular of them -- the overture to his comic opera 'Maskarade' and the evocative 'Helios Overture.' Those two works anchor this CD: the Maskarade Overture begins the disc, and Helios closes it. One is rarely likely to hear such ebullient high spirits in the Maskarade Overture. Thomas Dausgaard, who has to be considered one of the hottest conductors around these days, gets his Danish National Symphony Orchestra to play it like the exuberant pièce d'esprit that it is. And it is followed by the equally exciting 'Cockerel's Dance' from the same opera. As for the 'Helios Overture', I have always thought it one of Nielsen's greatest inspirations, describing musically as it does the sun's course through the heavens from dawn to dusk. Did you know that early afternoon is ushered in by an exciting fugue?

But it the musical contents in between 'Maskarade' and 'Helios' that makes this disc all the more special. There is the prelude to 'Sir Olaf He Rides', from incidental music to Drachmann's play, a genre which engaged much of Nielsen's efforts during the years that he was associated with the Royal Danish Theater first as violinist and later as music director. The piece evokes the Fairyland of the play with grace and craft.

Following this is a suite taken from Nielsen's very early (1893, rev. 1899) suite 'Snefrid', again incidental music for a theatrical production. It includes a jaunty prelude, a yearning andante, another depicting sleep (or perhaps dreams), a funeral march and a postlude. The prelude to Act II of Nielsen's opera 'Saul and David' is full of conflict and dissonance -- it precedes the scene where David plays for Saul and a messenger brings news of the depredations of the giant, Goliath. Dausgaard's talent for maintaining great beauty while limning tension is in evidence here.

The worthy but rarely heard ten-minute 'Rhapsodic Overture: An Imaginary Journey to the Faroe Islands' was written near the end of Nielsen's life, after he'd finished his sixth and last symphony and in his most advanced idiom. In three sections, it paints a tone picture of a sea voyage to the isolated Faroes, a Danish possession, in the North Atlantic. It includes a quiet passage, not without its apprehensions, in which the ship sets off. One hears seabirds, the majestic roll of ocean waves that become more and more turbulent, the rising winds and a terrifying storm. There is a welcome admixture of brash and naïve folksong along the way; perhaps the sailor's singing to calm their fears? Arrival in the Islands is greeted with both pride in the crew's accomplishment and relief at reaching a safe haven. This is a startlingly effective piece of tone painting.

The Prelude to Act III of 'Willemoes', a play about a Danish naval hero, is a quiet interlude describing the protagonist's love for a young girl. 'Pan and Syrinx' (1917-18) occasionally figures on concert programs outside Denmark. It depicts Pan's attraction for the nymph Syrinx, a story in Ovid's 'Metamorphosis', and the music is one of the first by Nielsen to use a large percussion section (later to figure so strongly in such works as the Clarinet and Flute Concertos), surely influenced to some extent by Stravinsky's ballet scores, although used in a style all Nielsen's own. There are also echoes of Debussyan impressionism here. One particularly striking instrumental effect is toward the end of the piece where high strings play what amounts to tone clusters during which they gradually eliminate any vibrato.

The next to last selection (just before 'Helios') is Nielsen's last orchestral work, the 1930 overture 'Cupid and the Poet' written to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth. A light-hearted work, it is nonetheless in Nielsen's spiky late style. This is one of Nielsen's works I don't recall ever hearing before and I was quite taken by it.

Once again I must comment on how wonderful these performances are. They are enhanced by extremely rich and vibrant sound on both the plain stereo and SACD layers. I for one would love to have a follow-up disc in which Dausgaard and his orchestra play some of Nielsen's other non-symphonic works including such pieces as the 'Saga-Drom' and 'At the Bier of a Young Artist'. Oh, and also the suite from 'Aladdin.' They have all been recorded before, but this conductor and ensemble seem to have real insights into Nielsen's sound world.

Scott Morrison

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

Mill. Classical review
classical music for the unitiated
Some little gems there that I had forgotten!
A very helpful collection
Excellent!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000K1C9
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
Violin Concerto In E First Movement
Prelude In C minor
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
Easter Oratorio - Overture
Minuet In D minor
Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
Water Music - Air
Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
Piano Concerto in A - second movement
Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
Serenade - Minuet
Violin Concerto - first movement
Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
Clarinet Concerto - second movement
Turkish March
Divertimento - Minuet
Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
Overture
O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
German Dance No. 1 In C
Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
Heidenroslein
Ave Maria
Der Lindenbaum
Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
German Dance No. 2 In G
Piano Sonata In B-Flat
Nachtgesang Im Walde
Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
Violin Concerto - second movement
The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Swan Lake - Waltz
Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
Hungarian Dance No.5
Lullaby
Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
Die Fledermaus - Overture
Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
AnnenPolka, Op. 117
Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Don Juan, Op. 20
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
Angelus
Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
Les Préludes
Boléro
Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
La Valse
Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
Humoresque, Op. 101
Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Carneval Overture, Op. 92
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
Nordic Melody Op. 63
Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
Frühlingsgruss
Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
Die Rose stand im Tau
Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating:

Unjustifiably Overlooked
It must be Love...
Arthur Lee's first journey through brilliance
Tied with Foursail

Da Capo
Love
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Love
Four Sail
Forever Changes
False Start
The Forever Changes Concert

ASIN: B000066CQ9
Release Date: 2002-06-03

Tracks:

Stephanie Knows Who (Mono Mix)
Orange Skies (Mono Mix)
Que Vida (Mono Mix)
Seven And Seven Is (Mono Mix)
The Castle (Mono Mix)
She Comes In Colors (Mono Mix)
Revelation (Mono Mix)
Stephanie Knows Who (Stereo Mix)
Orange Skies (Streo Mix)
Que Vida (Stereo Mix)
Seven And Seven Is (Stereo Mix)
The Castle (Stereo Mix)
She Comes In Colors (Stereo Mix)
Revelation (Stereo Mix)
Seven And Seven Is (Bonus Track) (Tracking Session)

Album Description

2002 reissue of 1967 classic features the original seven tracks in mono & stereo with 'Seven & Seven Is' (Tracking Session) added as a bonus.

Album Details

Includes both original Mono & Stereo mixes.

Customer Reviews:

Unjustifiably Overlooked.......2006-12-31

Standing in the shadow of an established genius can be a difficult thing. Even more, coming into contact with someone that expects you to measure up to or even surpass said genius can also be difficult if not daunting. While specific examples of this motif escape me right now, it has been used countless times in literature and film to produce some incredibly memorable characters and storylines. And it's justifiably so: in some ways, standing in the shadow of the established sort of dooms the reception of some works by default. (In my opinion, the most recent and glaring of this would be Neutral Milk Hotel's excellent On Avery Island.) However, sometimes it is wise to forget that the established exists to judge the music on its own merits. Other times, however, the two can be compared to reveal that the subordinate has its own eccentricities/traits that sets it completely apart for its "big cousin," if you will. I shall be going the comparative route.

De Capo's "big brother" is obviously Love's widely acclaimed magnum opus Forever Changes. It's known for utilizing grandiose Sgt. Pepperesque orchestration to accompany and ultimately illuminate Lee's tender orchestrations. However, to many modern ears that I encounter (those detached from the world of critics, I mean) it sounds "dated" or "old fashioned." This makes sense to me since while Forever Changes is a GREAT album, the session musicians sound fairly separated from the band. This is okay since it still works great for the album. However, with De Capo, we simply have two extra musicians. These musicians bring classically-trained harpsichord, jazzy saxophone and sparse/hip organ playing into the mix. As a result, the extra musicians sound more organic; they actually sound as if they are a PART of the music. As a result, the songs--at their very base--are given much more dimension and a sort of (for rock music, anyway) inexplicable charm/class.

Whether it's the harpsichord-reinforced screamer rock of "Stephanie Knows Who," the riff driven madness of "Seven & Seven Is" or the semi-baroque "The Castle," a listener quickly becomes aware that you're listen to music written by someone whose musical knowledge extends beyond doo-wop and mere psychedelics. (Though the music most certainly isn't devoid of these influences.) You hear showtunes, classical music and jazz all mixed into the cauldron and dispensed through a healthy medium of great pop music. Even with Revolution, while it may not be a piece of clever songwriting, it still gives the musicians to showcase the musical virtuosity that wouldn't readily be apparent in the songs they play. And finally, there's my personal favorite "Que Vida," which never fails to make me feel as if I'm spiraling through the star-filled heavens. (Considering the amount of drugs taken during the writing of these songs, I wouldn't be surprised if Lee were feeling the same thing.)

All in all, this is an amazingly creative psychedelic masterpiece that is frequently overlooked thanks to its successor. I really do not have to say much about the aftermath since the rest, as they say, is history.

R.I.P Arthur Lee

It must be Love..........2004-02-15

This cd is truly a measure of how big a Love fan you are... 6 of the 7 tracks from _Da Capo_ appear on the excellent _Love Story_ anthology, so if you're buying this for "Revelation", I think the word "fanatic" can safely be applied to you (grin).

Personally, I think the seven-person lineup heard here was Love's best. Side one is perhaps the best 17 minutes of music the group ever made. The arrival of Tijay Cantrelli (woodwinds) and Michael Stuart (drums) really expanded their sound and raised the level of musicianship. Nowhere is this more eveident than on "Revelation", that sprawling reminder of a bygone era. The song is too long and never really goes anywhere, but Stuart's drumming and Cantrelli's saxophone solo are definitely worth listening for (John Echolls complains loudly in the liner notes that Paul Rothschild ruined the song by moving sections of it around, but, really, it's hard to imagine it having turned out too much differently).

As always, Rhino's packaging and sound are excellent. I thought hearing the remastered stereo mix would prove them wrong for having used the mono one on _Love Story_, but... they were right, the mono does sound better (except "Revelation").

Arthur Lee's first journey through brilliance.......2003-12-26

Love's first album had its moments but was possibly too much of a muchness with some of the folk rock numbers being too similar among themselves."Da Capo's"diversity is its winning point with each song having a distinctive identity. That said,only"Revelation",a 19 minute jam,is a half realized concept,for the remaining 6 tracks all reach glorious heights.

STEPHANIE KNOWS WHO-Deft time changes power this rocker.Possibly the closest to their first album,though more embelished than any track on their rough edged debut.
ORANGE SKIES-A jazzy,laid back melody showcasing Arthur Lee's dexterity.Moreover it presents us with the inspired image"Orange Skies,carnivals and cotton candy and you".
QUE VIDA!-This spanish flavored tune is another standout.The guitar riff driving this song is as beautiful as it is superb.
7&7IS-Proto Punk,a relentless 2 minute assault with werdifying guitars and a bass with an odd revving vibe as backdrop to Arthur's sped up vocals.It turned out to be Love's only hit single.The remaster's liner notes cleared up at last the meaning of the decades long mystery"My dad's is in the fireplace and my dog lies hypnotized"(it turned out to be quite simple,you'll see when you read it)
THE CASTLE-75% of this song is instrumental but since the interplay between the guitar,the bass and the harpsichord is so close to perfection it would be unfair to ask for more.
SHE COMES IN COLOURS-One of Love's top compositions and the album's high water-mark.From the emotionladen vocals to the strangely adequate flute nothing here descends below excellence.
REVELATION-Love decided to recreate on an album their onstage gimmick in which every element of the band had his moment in the spotlight.Predictably the magic didn't pass entirely unto the the recording.Moments of brilliance are interspersed with tedious and redundant segments giving "Revelation"a flawed final form.
"Da Capo" and its successor,the celebrated "Forever Changes",still come through(more than 30 years after after their release)as the most vibrantly original works released in the 60's.
The Beatles had a more coherent career but Love's best work can feasibly surpass the Fab4's best releases.
Essential Stuff.

Tied with Foursail.......2003-09-20

for my favorite Love album. Trippy, dippy, raging, jamming, insane, fired-up stuff--- GET IT!!!! Forever Changes is cool and all, but this one and Foursail are my idea of prime Love. [I can't believe nobody's reviewed this yet!?]

...and go see Arthur Lee and the new version of Love if you can-- you will NOT be disappointed. People your father's age should not be able to blow the younger rockers off the stage, but there you have it!

Rock on!!!!!

Tracks:

Cantata No.147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
The Anna Magdalena Notebook, Ang. 114: Minuet
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565: Toccata
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565: Fugue
Orchestra Suite In D Major, BWV 1068: Air
Orchestral Suite In B Imonr BWV 1067: Badinerie
Cantata No.208: Sheep May Safely Graze
Invention No. 1 In C Major, BWV 772
Magnigicat In D Major, BWV 243: Magnificat
Sleepers, Awake (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)
Invention No.4 In D Minor, BWV 775
Invention No.8 In F Major, BWV 779
Concerto For Two Violins, Strings And Basso Continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Allegro
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, BWV 846: Prelude In C Major
'Brandenburg' Concerto No.2 IN F Major, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, BWV 302
'Brandenburg' Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: II. Allegro
Fugue In G Minor, BWV 578, 'Little'
Suite For Lute In E Major, BWV 1006a: Gavotte en Rondeau
Concerto For Harpsichord, Strings And Basso Continuo No.5 In F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo
'In dulci jubilo,' BWV 751
'Bist du bei mir' (If Thou Be Near): Aria
Italian Concerto In F Major, BWV 971: III. Presto
Sinfonia
'Goldberg' Variations, BWV 988: Aria da capo

Customer Reviews:

Teeming with classics.......2007-03-01

I purchased this for track #10, which I'd happened to hear on the radio...it stayed in my head until I tracked down the CD. I have a relatively basic working knowledge of classical music, so this long playing collection was an excellent and surprising introduction to several of Bach's diverse works...both well known and more obscure. Certainly a worthwhile addition to your classical collection.

Excellent Introductory CD!.......2006-06-29

This CD is an excellent introduction to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. It's certainly not exhaustive, but it's a start. It also includes pieces from Johann Michael Bach, as well as another composer (whose name escapes me at the moment) whose work was once mistakenly attributed to JSB. This entire series of CDs is perfect for those who wish to learn more about the Classical Masters. Start with this series, and then by all means, delve deeper into their respective repetoires. You won't be disappointed.

Good Introduction to Bach........2006-02-27

I don't want to repeat what has been said already but this is a great indroduction to Bach. The variety on this release is good, but like has been said numerous times before, the amount of variety fails to set a single mood. But with a low price and a great deal of variety this is a great CD for those who want to start getting into Bach. Recommended.

Bach For Dummies?.......2002-07-18

A smattering of short excerpts -- many not on their native instruments -- to introduce the great literature left to us by J.S. Bach. Some of the versions are truly inspired, a few are not.

If you like what you hear here, by all means seek out the full-length, original instrument versions!

A super introduction to Bach.......2002-03-04

For someone who knows little about Bach and wants to learn something, you couldn't do better than to give them this CD. Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra give their signature warm, plush sound to the work of the great Johann Sebastian Bach, making him sound very nearly like a Romantic rather than a baroque or classical composer. This is not a bad thing--some complain that Bach, with his mathematical leanings, leaves them cold. That isn't possible with the inviting material on this CD.

György Ligeti Edition 2: A Cappella Choral Works - London Sinfonietta Voices

Average customer rating:

Surprising Variety in Modern A Capepella Choral works
Mostly unlistenable....
a handful of great Ligeti works.
brilliant choral music
Exquisite use of the voice

György Ligeti Edition 2: A Cappella Choral Works - London Sinfonietta Voices

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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György Ligeti Edition 4: Vocal Works (Madrigals, Mysteries, Aventures, Songs) - The King's Singers / Philharmonia Orchestra / Esa-Pekka Salonen
György Ligeti Edition 1: String Quartets and Duets - Arditti String Quartet
György Ligeti Edition 3: Works for Piano (Etudes, Musica Ricercata) - Pierre-Laurent Aimard
György Ligeti Edition 6: Keyboard Works (Piano, Harpsichord, Organ) - Irina Kataeva / Pierre-Laurent Aimard / Elisabeth Chojnacka / Zsigmond Szathmáry
Ligeti: Mechanical Music

ASIN: B0000029OX
Release Date: 1997-01-21

Tracks:

A Cappella Choral Works: Night
A Cappella Choral Works: Morning
A Cappella Choral Works: Far from home 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Far from home 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Far from home 3
A Cappella Choral Works: Far from home 4
A Cappella Choral Works: Solitude
A Cappella Choral Works: Two Canons 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Two Canons 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Kings of Bethlehem
A Cappella Choral Works: The Fugitive
A Cappella Choral Works: Lux aeterna
A Cappella Choral Works: Wedding Song
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Inaktelke 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Inaktelke 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Inaktelke 3
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Inaktelke 4
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Matraszentimre 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Matraszentimre 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Matraszentimre 3
A Cappella Choral Works: Songs from Matraszentimre 4
A Cappella Choral Works: Widow Papai
A Cappella Choral Works: Three phantasies after Hrlin 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Three phantasies after Hrlin 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Three phantasies after Hrlin 3
A Cappella Choral Works: Hungarian Etudes 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Hungarian Etudes 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Hungarian Etudes 3
A Cappella Choral Works: Heigh, Youth! 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Heigh, Youth! 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Easter
A Cappella Choral Works: Hortobagy 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Hortobagy 2
A Cappella Choral Works: Hortobagy 3
A Cappella Choral Works: From a high mountain rock
A Cappella Choral Works: Double-Dance from Kallo 1
A Cappella Choral Works: Double-Dance from Kallo 2

Amazon.com essential recording

A vast audience received its first exposure to the music of György Ligeti through Stanley Kubrick's use of his haunting "Lux Aeterna" (despite the composer's lack of consent) in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This collection--part of Sony's invaluable Ligeti edition--places "Lux aeterna" in the context of Ligeti's other a cappella choral works, which together provide an overview of the evolving phases of one of the 20th century's most intriguing composers. In his booklet notes to the disc, Ligeti recalls the influence of Bartók and Kodály on his early folkloric compositions, from arrangements of traditional material to free, polyrhythmically inflected inventions on Hungarian folk texts, a format that allowed him some degree of experimental freedom from the strictures of "socialist realism" before he fled the Hungarian Communist regime. The breakthrough "Lux aeterna" is a classic example of Ligeti's trademark technique of "micropolyphony," enveloping the listener in mesmerizingly dense textures of cloudlike harmonies. From Ligeti's late period comes a triptych of "Hölderlin Phantasies." Their 16-voice polyphony transcends the simplistic distinction between tonality and atonality to explore "new kinds of half diatonic, half chromatic harmonies." The resulting sound world of fragmentary, dislocated epiphanies mirrors the unfathomable richness of the great visionary poet to uncanny effect. Throughout, the acoustical balance and conviction of the London Sinfonietta Voices give vivid shape to Ligeti's genius. -Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Surprising Variety in Modern A Capepella Choral works.......2006-08-24

This 'A Cappella Choral Works', the second volume in a collection of Gyorgy Ligeti compositions contains one of the pieces of music which contributed to making '2001, A Space Odyessy' such a profoundly interesting film. This piece, 'Lux aeterna' which is the textbook example of 'SciFi' music, is very different from many of the other pieces on this recording. In fact, one is really impressed by the wide variety of styles, where you have some peasant songs which sound a lot like sea chantys and other pieces which are definitely liturgical. One can certainly thank Stanley Kubrick for bringing Ligeti to our attention.

Mostly unlistenable...........2006-08-23

Not even good for background music/noise as the voices get really loud in certain parts and almost silent.

I bought this CD and am returning it. It's just more & more of the sameness throughout the whole CD.

I realize that Ligeti is avant garde but I heard that if you like Gregorian chant (which I do) this CD is similar. I don't think it is. It's very disquieting and full of tension (great, if that's the mood you're looking for).

a handful of great Ligeti works........2004-09-06

As a compilation, musically speaking, Edition 2 is probably my least favorite of the Sony Ligeti Edition collection. Many of the pieces come from traditional Hungarian sources, conceived while Ligeti was still in his early years. They are pretty, but also pretty straightforward and conventional, and other than their simple pleasantness and occasionally yummy dissonances, they aren't really mindblowing like the best Ligeti. They are often very beautiful though. However, Edition 2 DOES feature one of the most harrowing, apocalyptic compositions of 20th century Western music, _Lux aeterna_. The profound tension in the quiet web of micropolyphonic voices is just devastating. Also great are the other later pieces, _Drei Phantasien nach Friedrich Holderlin_, three wild polyphony pieces from German literature, and _Magyar Etudok_, three very complex Hungarian etudes for 16 voices. Those pieces are all outstanding but honestly I think everything I've heard by Ligeti is worth hearing. Check out Ligeti edition 4 for more vocal works, some of which are the best of Ligeti's works.

brilliant choral music.......2003-07-21

This cd is beautiful to listen to.From Ejszaka to Kallai Ketto
is brilliant. Ligeti choral works is the first cd have got choral music on it and i love it.Now im going to get the other two cds in the ligeti edition.
(the vocal works & le grand marabre)

Exquisite use of the voice.......2002-07-11

Bringing Ligeti's works to a wider public was one of the great services Stanley Kubrick performed for the world when Lux aeterna was included in the soundtrack for 2001: a Space Odyssey.

This album is a collection of a cappella choral works and which highlights Ligeti's great talent and skill in the use of the voice as a musical instrument. He, together with Yoko Ono, have excelled in this field though from different, sometimes conflicting directions.

When I listen to this I revel in it's glory. The sounds are ethereal and atmospheric, ghostly and angelic in a way that no-one but the composer can make them sound. I never want those sounds to end and in a way it is like having a sort of dependence.

I could go on and on and on about this but I had better stop. This is one essentila component of anyone's classical music collection yet it really defies categorisation. This is timeless, awesome music, not just for a generation but for a world. Lest Zeus strike me with a thunderbolt, these voices are sweeter and more angelic than the voices of the angels themselves.

Exquiiste. Words are insufficient to describe such beauty.

Riley: In C
Average customer rating:

A Unique, Stunningly Original Rendition: via Reich & Indonesia

Riley: In C

Manufacturer: Da Capo [Naxos]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000KJTPY8
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Customer Reviews:

A Unique, Stunningly Original Rendition: via Reich & Indonesia.......2007-03-09

A local newspaper classical music critic called this recording "ravishing beautiful" and the effect "stupendous." What? How can that be? I was curious. Riley's In C is a composition with a set of instructions rather than a score per se. He set up 53 different melodies, short and long, in a sequence to be played by any assortment of instruments, each independently per number of repetitions of each stanza and transition to the next. There have been many recordings of In C, all different. I have the original recording on CBS and one with Bang on the Can that seemed more precise in tempo and less chaotic with expanded instrumentation, including Wu Man on pipa. Now, this Ars Nova rendition takes a page from fellow minimalist Steve Reich with sole use of voices and marimbas. What an amazing difference! It reminds me of Javanese gamelan music and, in fact, there is a Balinese gong among the percussion; the mentioned critic thought it much like Medieval vocal music. If you like Reich's works, such as Music for 18 Instruments and Drumming, then this recording belongs in your collection, no matter how many versions of In C you have. Beautiful and stupendous? Remarkably, yes, indeed. In C, that seminal work, once again proves how special it is, for despite being 40-years old, it is yet ageless, continually reinventing itself.

Average customer rating:

Nice Set...not a great performance
Much unknown music to assimilate
the greatest penny a note composer
The best complete set of Haydn Sonatas at any price
Excellent performances of rarely heard works

Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Haydn: Complete Piano Trios
Works for Solo Piano
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Liszt: Piano Works
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas

ASIN: B0000041KC
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 1 In G Major (Hob.XVI:8): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 1 In G Major (Hob.XVI:8): II Menuet
Piano Sonata No. 1 In G Major (Hob.XVI:8): III Andante
Piano Sonata No. 1 In G Major (Hob.XVI:8): IV Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 2 In C Major (Hob.XVI:7): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 2 In C Major (Hob.XVI:7): II Menuet
Piano Sonata No. 2 In C Major (Hob.XVI:7): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Major (Hob.XVI:9): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Major (Hob.XVI:9): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Major (Hob.XVI:9): III Scherzo: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 4 IN G Major (Hob.XVI: G1): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 4 IN G Major (Hob.XVI: G1): II Menuetto
Piano Sonata No. 4 IN G Major (Hob.XVI: G1): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 5 In G Major (Hob.XVI:11): I Presto
Piano Sonata No. 5 In G Major (Hob.XVI:11): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 5 In G Major (Hob.XVI:11): III Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 6 In C Major (Hob.XVI:10): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 6 In C Major (Hob.XVI:10): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 6 In C Major (Hob.XVI:10): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 7 In D Major (Hob.XVII:D1): I Moderato (Tema con variazioni)
Piano Sonata No. 7 In D Major (Hob.XVII:D1): II Menuet
Piano Sonata No. 7 In D Major (Hob.XVII:D1): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 8 In A Major (Hob.XVI:5): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 8 In A Major (Hob.XVI:5): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 8 In A Major (Hob.XVI:5): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 9 In D Major (Hob.XVI:4): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 9 In D Major (Hob.XVI:4): II Menuet And Trio
5 Variations In D Major

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 10 In C Major (Hob.XVI:1): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 10 In C Major (Hob.XVI:1): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 10 In C Major (Hob.XVI:1): III Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:2): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:2): II Largo
Piano Sonata No. 11 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:2): III Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Major (Hob.XVI:12): I Andante
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Major (Hob.XVI:12): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Major (Hob.XVI:12): III Finale: Allegro molto
Piano Sonata No. 13 In G Major (Hob.XVI:6): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 13 In G Major (Hob.XVI:6): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 13 In G Major (Hob.XVI:6): III Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 13 In G Major (Hob.XVI:6): IV Finale
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C Major (Hob.XVI:3): I Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C Major (Hob.XVI:3): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C Major (Hob.XVI:3): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 15 In E Major (Hob.XVI:13): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 15 In E Major (Hob.XVI:13): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 15 In E Major (Hob.XVI:13): III Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 16 In D Major (Hob.XVI:14): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 16 In D Major (Hob.XVI:14): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 16 In D Major (Hob.XVI:14): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 17 In E Flat Major (Hob. deest): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 17 In E Flat Major (Hob. deest): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 17 In E Flat Major (Hob. deest): III Menuetto And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major (Hob. deest): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 18 In E Flat Major (Hob. deest): II Menuetto And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 19 In E Minor, Major (Hob. deest): I Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 19 In E Minor, Major (Hob. deest): II Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 19 In E Minor, Major (Hob. deest): III Finale: Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 20 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:18): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 19 In E Minor, Major (Hob. deest): II Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 28 In D Major (Hob.XIV:5): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 28 In D Major (Hob.XIV:5): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:16): I Andante
Piano Sonata In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:16): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:16): III Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 29 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:45): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 29 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:45): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 29 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:45): III Finale: Allegro di molto
Piano Sonata No. 30 In D Major (Hob.XVI:19): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 30 In D Major (Hob.XVI:19): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 30 In D Major (Hob.XVI:19): III Final: Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:46): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:46): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 31 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:46): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 32 In G Minor (Hob.XVI:44): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 32 In G Minor (Hob.XVI:44): II Allegretto

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 33 In C Minor (Hob.XVI:20): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 33 In C Minor (Hob.XVI:20): II Andante con moto
Piano Sonata No. 33 In C Minor (Hob.XVI:20): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 34 In D Major (Hob.XVI:33): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 34 In D Major (Hob.XVI:33): II Adagio: Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 35 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:43): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 35 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:43): II Menuetto
Piano Sonata No. 35 In A Flat Major (Hob.XVI:43): III Rondo: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 36 In C Major (Hob.XVI:21): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 36 In C Major (Hob.XVI:21): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 36 In C Major (Hob.XVI:21): III Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 37 In E Major (Hob.XVI:22): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 37 In E Major (Hob.XVI:22): II Andante
Piano Sonata No. 37 In E Major (Hob.XVI:22): III Finale: Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 38 In F Major (Hob.XVI:23): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 38 In F Major (Hob.XVI:23): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 38 In F Major (Hob.XVI:23): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 39 In D Major (Hob.XVI:24): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 39 In D Major (Hob.XVI:24): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 39 In D Major (Hob.XVI:24): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 40 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:25): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 40 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:25): II Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 41 In A Major (Hob.XVI:26): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 41 In A Major (Hob.XVI:26): II Menuet al rovescio
Piano Sonata No. 41 In A Major (Hob.XVI:26): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata In B Flat Major (Hob.XIV:17): I Allegro
Piano Sonata In B Flat Major (Hob.XIV:17): II Andante
Piano Sonata In B Flat Major (Hob.XIV:17): III Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 42 In G Major (Hob.XVI:27): I Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 42 In G Major (Hob.XVI:27): II Menuet
Piano Sonata No. 42 In G Major (Hob.XVI:27): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 43 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:28): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 43 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:28): II Menuet And Trio
Piano Sonata No. 43 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:28): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 44 In F Major (Hob.XVI:29): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 44 In F Major (Hob.XVI:29): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 44 In F Major (Hob.XVI:29): III Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 45 In A Major (Hob.XVI:30): I Allegro - Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 45 In A Major (Hob.XVI:30): II Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 46 In E Major (Hob.XVI:31): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 46 In E Major (Hob.XVI:31): II Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 46 In E Major (Hob.XVI:31): III Finale: Presto
7 Minuets From 'Kleine Tanze fur die Jugend' (Hov. IX:8: Allegretto giocoso (I) - Allegretto risoluto (II) - Allegretto (V) - Allegro vivace (IX) - Moderato (XI) - Allegro vivace (X) - Allegro giocoso (VII)

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 47 In B Minor (Hob.XVI:32): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 47 In B Minor (Hob.XVI:32): II Menuet
Piano Sonata No. 47 In B Minor (Hob.XVI:32): III Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 48 In C Major (Hob.XVI:35): I Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 48 In C Major (Hob.XVI:35): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 48 In C Major (Hob.XVI:35): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 49 In C Sharp Minor (Hob.XVI:36): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 49 In C Sharp Minor (Hob.XVI:36): II Scherzo: Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 49 In C Sharp Minor (Hob.XVI:36): III Menuet And Trio: Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 50 In D Major (Hob.XVI:37): I Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 50 In D Major (Hob.XVI:37): II Largo e sostenuto
Piano Sonata No. 50 In D Major (Hob.XVI:37): III Finale: Presto, ma non troppo
Piano Sonata No. 51 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:38): I Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 51 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:38): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 51 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:38): III Finale: Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 52 In G Major (Hob.XVI:39): I Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 52 In G Major (Hob.XVI:39): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 52 In G Major (Hob.XVI:39): III Finale: Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 53 In E Minor (Hob.XVI:34): I Presto
Piano Sonata No. 53 In E Minor (Hob.XVI:34): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 53 In E Minor (Hob.XVI:34): III Finale: Vivace molto
Piano Sonata No. 54 In G Major (Hob.XVI:40): I Allgretto innocente
Piano Sonata No. 54 In G Major (Hob.XVI:40): II Presto
Piano Sonata No. 55 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:41): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 55 In B Flat Major (Hob.XVI:41): II Allegro di molto
Piano Sonata No. 56 In D Major (Hob.XVI:42): I Andante con espressione
Piano Sonata No. 56 In D Major (Hob.XVI:42): II Finale: Vivace assai

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 57 In F Major (Hob.XVI:47): I Moderato
Piano Sonata No. 57 In F Major (Hob.XVI:47): II Larghetto
Piano Sonata No. 57 In F Major (Hob.XVI:47): III Finale: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 58 In C Major (Hob.XVI:48): I Andante con espressione
Piano Sonata No. 58 In C Major (Hob.XVI:48): II Rondo: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:49): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:49): II Adagio e cantabile
Piano Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:49): III Finale: Tempo di minuetto
Piano Sonata No. 60 In C Major (Hob.XVI:50): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 60 In C Major (Hob.XVI:50): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 60 In C Major (Hob.XVI:50): III Finale: Allegro molto
Piano Sonata No. 61 In D Major (Hob.XVI:51): I Andante
Piano Sonata No. 61 In D Major (Hob.XVI:51): II Finale: Presto

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:52): I Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:52): II Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major (Hob.XVI:52): III Finale: Presto
Variations In F-Minor (Hob.XVII:6)
Fantasia In C Major (Hob.XVII:4)
12 Variations In E Flat Major (Hob. XVII: 3)
Adagio In F Major (Hob.XVII:9)
6 Variations In C Major (Hob. XVII:5)

Tracks:

20 Variations In A Major (Hob.XVII:2)
Capriccio In G Major On The Song 'Acht Sauschneider
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: I L'Introduzione: Maestoso et adagio
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: II Sonata I: Largo
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: III Sonata II: Grave e cantabile
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: IV Sonata III: Grave
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: V Sonata IV: Largo
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: VI SonataV: Adagio
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: VII Sonata VI: Lento
The Seven Last Words Of The Redeemer On The Cross: VIII Sonata VII: Largo -- attacca subito - II Terremoto (Presto)

Amazon.com

Haydn was not a pianist of any distinction, nor a very successful composer of instrumental concertos, but his piano sonatas--and there are more than 60 of them--are much finer than those of Mozart, who was one of his era's greatest keyboard virtuosos. The reason for this is simple. Mozart wrote his keyboard concertos for himself and his sonatas for students. Haydn, on the other hand, was constantly stimulated to write piano music for gifted amateurs, though in those days amateurs were often as good as the professionals, particularly women for whom a concert career was out of the question. This is great music then, charming but never trivial, and John McCabe plays it with impressive style and vigor. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Nice Set...not a great performance.......2005-05-08

As a pianist myself, I was very interested to listen to Mr. McCabe when preparing my M.M. degree recital, in which I performed Haydn's Sonata in E minor, Hob:XVI/34 (I will refer to the sonata by the Landon number rather than the older Hoboken number).

Mr. McCabe certainly plays quite cleanly, as one would expect in this day and age. In addition, he provides extensive program notes (Mr. McCabe is a respected musicologist)

Unfortunately, Mr. McCabe isn't quite the performer one would expect to produce the entire output of Haydn's Sonatas. First of all, his tempos are usually not well suited to the music's style (whether in the Allegros or Adagios). Though this has somewhat to due with his lesser technical ability, it also has to do with his idea of interpretation, which to say the least, is quite boring. In the Sonata No. 34, the opening movement has a very particular character. Though it is one of Haydn's few sonatas in a minor key, the opening motive returns in many forms throughout the first movement. Mr. McCabe seems to miss the point of this, along with the importance of articulation (which is of utmost importance in the music of Haydn).

Mr. McCabe uses far too much pedal throughout (especially in the first movement). In the second movement, his imprecise pedaling detracts from the recitative quality (this movement being influenced from Haydn's knowledge of vocal writing and operatic traditions). The third movement is quite slow and the lively character is missing.

I don't believe that one can put Mr. McCabe's recordings on a level with great Haydn interpreters such as Ax or even Richter (with far more color and more adherence to the musical style). This is unfortunate as it comes from such a respected musicologist.

As a final note, it is nice to own this collection to have all Haydn's Sonatas and his output for piano at your fingertips, but I would recommend Ax (or Andsnes in the future...his Haydn Concertos are fantastic).

Much unknown music to assimilate.......2005-04-19

I can partially share one reviewer's opinion that much of this music seems repetitive and certainly that is somewhat the case, but I only listen to one disc at a sitting. It takes time to get to know these sonatas. The Mozart sonatas are more widely performed, and therefore known to the music listening public. At this point in my experience, I must admit that I prefer the Mozart sonatas, but I am gaining an appreciation for those of Haydn.

The quality of the recording is good with very little background noise or noticeable distortion. The piano seem OK for the type of music and if one reviewer thinks these are twangy, listen to these sonatas on an eighteenth century pianoforte.

Mr. McCabe is a competent player without any idiosyncracies which seems in keeping with these sonatas.

I received a boxed set that had two disc sixes and no disc three. Ah, German precision.

the greatest penny a note composer.......2005-04-02

I have listened to all 62 sonatas for keyboard and perhaps 3 of them rise to the level of wonderful composition. If you listen to them you hear he doesn't really "get started " until about sonata 32, compared with say Beethoven who except for 3 or 4 composed 32 of the greatest piano sonatas the world will ever hear. I have attempted to give Haydn a fair hearing for symphonic ( boring ) and keyboard works but for the most part he must get the award for not really being able to put 2 consecutive asthetic notes together. The Nelson Mass is very nice. And I know in his last years, Europe just adored him. He was earning upward in todays dollars of $85,000, which just galled Mozart.Finally the sonatas are performed and recorded well.Before purchasing these sonatas listen to the clips and see if you dont want to run screaming into the night, but if you are a boring person with absolutely no musical asthetic, these sonatas cant be beat!

The best complete set of Haydn Sonatas at any price.......2004-05-22

Other individual performances may "grab" you more than these, but as a whole I could not find fault with these performances. They are particularly satisfying if you follow with a score - you get to see the choices in ornamentation, dynamics, etc. that McCabe makes compared with what is on the printed page. I did several comparisons with other performers (I own 4 complete sets of these sonatas and several smaller compilations), and McCabe consistently comes out on top overall, in my opinion. Haydn's best sonatas are consistently more inventive, witty, and daring than Mozart's and are definitely worth your attention.

Excellent performances of rarely heard works.......2004-05-16

Rich & delicious entertainment. Delighted that one can enjoy this beautiful music of pieces which are rarely publicly performed.

Average customer rating:

I'm Mad About Baroque
Amazing!

Mad About Baroque

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GKF
Release Date: 1993-07-13

Tracks:

The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Canon In D
Rondeau (Masterpiece Theater Theme)
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Water Music: Allegro-Andante(Allegro da capo)
Water Music: Air
Water Music: Bourree
Water Music: Hornpipe
Xerxes: Largo
Sound Of The Trumpet, Sound
The Four Seasons 'Winter': Largo
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
Adagio In G Minor
Music For The Royal Fireworks: La Rejouissance
Concerto For Lute In D Major: Largo
Christmas Concerto: Allegro, Pastorale. Largo
Concerto No. 1 For Oboe & String Orchestra: Adagio - Allegro
Concerto No. 12 In B Minor: Aria. Larghetto e Piano
Le Coucou
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

I'm Mad About Baroque.......2007-01-05

I love this CD and am so pleased to have purchased it. I put it on almost daily at work -- it is the perfect length equipt with the perfect choice music.

Amazing!.......2002-12-18

I thouroughly enjoy this CD! The music is beautiful enough to listen to all by itself, but also quiet and peaceful enough to listen to while studying for exams or doing homework. Mad about Baroque has been in my discman for many weeks and accompanied to the library many times. This is a great CD!

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 (with the Documentation of the Finale Fragment) [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Harnoncourt's Bruckner, a viable alternative to Karajan?
Depends what you consider good
Terrific performance!
Unconvincing performance; interesting commentary
Harnoncourt roars, but Wildner rages

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 (with the Documentation of the Finale Fragment) [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000AF1IG
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Warum Hat Man Eigentlich 100 Jahre Lang Gedacht, E - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. T. 1-278 - Wiener Philharmoniker
Gegen Ende Eine Extreme Dissonanz In Den Trompeten - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nach Dem Ende Der Durchfuhrung Folgt Eine Wilde Fu - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. T. 279-342 - Wiener Philharmoniker
Quasi En Schreckensbild Des Todes - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. T. 343-478 - Wiener Philharmoniker
Danach Fehlen 16 Takte; Dazu Ist Nichts Zu Erklare - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. T. 479-510 - Lucke/Fehlender Partiturbog - Wiener Philharmoniker
Why Did We Think For Over Hundred Years That Nothing... - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
WAB 109: Finale. MM. 1-278 - Wiener Philharmoniker
Extreme Dissonances In The Trumpets Towards The End - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
At The End Of The Development A Wild Fugue Begins - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. MM. 279-342 - Wiener Philharmoniker
A Sudden Vision Of Death - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. MM. 343-478 - Wiener Philharmoniker
Then There Are Sixteen Bars Missing. We Will Just... - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Finale. MM. 479-510 - Gap/Missing Score Bifolio - Wiener Philharmoniker

Tracks:

I. Satz. Feierlich; Misterioso - Wiener Philharmoniker
Scherzo. Bewegt; Lebhaft - Trio. Schnell - Scherzo - Wiener Philharmoniker
Adagio. Langsam; Feierlich - Wiener Philharmoniker

Customer Reviews:

Harnoncourt's Bruckner, a viable alternative to Karajan?.......2006-03-19

Even Karajan's detractors, except for the most severe, generally concede that he was supreme in Bruckner. His various performances of the Ninth Sym. with the Berlin Phil. are commanding in their huge scope, yet Karajan was also capable of delicate phrasing and had an intuitive grasp of how to organize these gigantic, sprawling movements. No one has quite reached that magistreial level since. To his credit, Harnoncourt doesn't try to. This is, for him, a straightforward performance that relies on some qualities Karajan's Bruckner doesn't possess.

First of all, Harnoncourt has his own instincts about phrasing and organizing the music. Contrary to a reviewer below, he doesn't exploit extreme rubato or sudden tempo changes. There are some quirky moments where the tempo speeds up unexpectedly, but overall, Harnoncourt's timing of 58 min. is dead center among various recordings (as much as I admire Giulini, his 68 min. traversal drags). Harnoncourt favors brash outbursts from the brass, particularly in the Scherzo, my least favorite movement here. But his main intent is to keep Bruckner simple, to impose himself far less than Karajan did with his ultra-control. This Bruckner Ninth is a bit plain at times, but it always breathes.

As to the recorded sound, I have only heard the regular two-channel CD, which is quite clear; the Vienna Pphil. is placed a bit far back on a wide soundstage. I would have liked to hear the solo winds up closer, but that's a quibble. This Bruckner Ninth satisfied me as much as the great accounts by Walter, Klemperer, Giulini, and Boulez. I sitll feel more thrills from Karajan's analog reading from the Sixties, yet Harnoncourt provides a viable alternative in itnerpretation.

In theory it was an exciting notion to provide a free bonus CD containing Harnoncourt's defense of Bruckner's surviving sketches for a fourth movement, never completed. Could it really be that his ocntemporaries were wrong and that Bruckner left us pages of great music begging to be revived? Harnoncourt's talk is highly persuasive, but when the Vienna Phil. actually plays what survives of the finale, it proves as sorely disappointing as its reputation would lead one to believe.

Depends what you consider good.......2004-06-14

Harnoncourt has done some great things for music in his career, but I would not consider this one of them. He achieves an "authentic" performing style from the Vienna Philharmonic with a thin string sound and little or no vibrato. So anyone expecting that sweet Vienna sound will be disappointed. But his conducting does not meet that goal of authenticity, because he varies tempos too much. It draws attention to itself and weakens the cohesiveness of the work as a whole.
There are other versions, many of which are mentioned by the other reviewers below (Giulini, Karajan, et al.), which communicate this great work more simply and effectively. They are also unique and full of interesting details (some attention to detail is good). In light of them, Harnoncourt's view is radically different. Experience has taught me that subtle differences in interpretation give pleasure with repeated listening. Radical differences are OK in a live performance (which this is), but do not stand the test of time. So I do not recommend this as a first recording to have of Bruckner's 9th.

Terrific performance!.......2004-02-25

The symphony recording is damn good, and the extras are very interesting (to hear Harnoncourt speaking German and English, to hear the sketches of the last movement). In my mind, this ranks among the very best -- with Celibidache on EMI, Giulini on DG, Bernstein on DG, and don't forget the second movement of the Jochum on EMI.

Unconvincing performance; interesting commentary.......2004-01-15

First off, I do not like the performance. Harnoncourt's tempi are erratic, particularly in the adagio (where he speeds up the second theme-group to the point he cheapens it).

Secondly, I found his commentary on the 4th movement "chunks" informative. They could easily have been printed in liner notes; instead, we have each of the chunks played twice, followed first by commentary German, then in English.

Thirdly, I see no reason why he should not have recorded the full movement as completed by someone -- by William Carragan (Chandos: Yoav Talmi, Oslo Philharmonic); by Nicola Samale & Giuseppe Mazzuca (Teldec: Inbal, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orch [with the 5th Symphony]); or by Samale, Mazzuca, and John A Phillips (Camerata: Eichhorn, Linz Bruckner Orch). My first choice is the Carragan: though the Oslo band takes third place among those in these recordings, it is good enough and I find Carragan's completion the most convincing.*

(In January 1984 I went to New York and Carnegie Hall to hear the American Symphony Orchestra perform the premier of the 9th with Carragan's finale. The performance was reviewed the next day in the Times. I immediately wrote Joel Flegel, editor of Fanfare, asking if he knew whether a recording was planned. Joel was dubious and dismissive: "If that college professor really....")

As Carragan noted in his program notes for the ASO "premier," the finale includes the greatest of Bruckner's chorales. That magnificent theme cannot be understood or appreciated by hearing it only in Harnoncourt's chunks. It needs to be heard in context -- and that context can only be provided in a "performing version."

In my opinion, Harnoncourt does a disservice to Bruckner and to listeners by not offering a completed finale. There is certainly room for one in this two-disk set.

* But Carragan will either produce a new version or be superseded as pages not available to him have since been found -- and as still more come to light.

Harnoncourt roars, but Wildner rages.......2004-01-05

As the other reviewers note, this release is essential for anyone interested in this work, for the workshop and documentation of the currently surviving material from the final movement of the symphony. Another important aspect of the release is the use of a new "critical edition" of the initial three movements of Bruckner's 9th, which contains a number of very evident modifications, particularly in orchestration. All the same, it is a concert recording, and, at least in the usual CD format, balances aren't always optimal, trumpets and trombones often too forward, at the expense of the Vienna Phil's strings and (especially) glorious horn section, and timpani are somewhat reticent, especially in the first movement. Harnoncourt also tends to push a bit hard, lacking the natural plasticity in tempo that marks the greatest performances of the first three movements of this work. The impression is one of roaring power, building and receding throughout. Of the 4th movement sketches, Harnoncourt plays exactly what survives, except he omits the 50-odd bars of three coda fragments that have turned up.

Just a few months ago, a recording of the 9th including a reconstruction/completion of the 4th movement, based on the same body of fragments and sketches (including the coda) and prepared by the same editors, was released on Naxos(8.555933-34). The orchestra is the New Philharmonia of Westphalia (Germany) and the conductor is Johannes Wildner. Now, finally, we can hear this work in a form tantalizingly close to the way Bruckner intended. Furthermore, unlike Harnoncourt's Vienna Phil performance, Wildner and his astonishiingly capable Westphalians present what I can only describe as a ferocious performance, with horns and timpani cutting through the fabric of the orchestra at key points, and effectively flexible tempos. It's a performance unlike any I've heard since Furtwangler's furious and terrifying recording made in Berlin during the darkest days of World War II. If you've gotten the Harnoncourt (or even if you haven't), you have to get the Wildner, too.

As an aside, these recordings render superfluous the 1986 Chandos recording by Yoav Talmi and the Oslo Phil of a 4-movement version of Bruckner's 9th. That documented a brave effort by William Carragan to reconstruct a finale. Unfortunately he had barely 3/4 of the body of sketches to work with that we have now, and nothing of the coda at all.

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