Concert for the Kelzmer [Import] [Live]

1. Chagall-Zyklus I, for clarinets, harp, harpsichord, percussion, & deep string instruments
Composed by Wilfried Hiller
with Stefan Gagelmann, Werner Grobholz, Helmut Nicolai, Gudrun Haag, Matthias Weber, Anna Gourari, Giora Feidman
Conducted by Michael Helmrath

2. Overture on Hebrew Themes, for clarinet, string quartet & piano, Op. 34
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
with Anna Gourari, Giora Feidman
Conducted by Michael Helmrath

3. Blessed are your sons
Composed by Ora Bat Chaim
with Stefan Gagelmann, Anna Gourari, Edgar Guggeis, Giora Feidman, Peter Sadlo, Gudrun Haag
Conducted by Michael Helmrath

Concert for the Kelzmer,Giora Feidman,Ora Bat Chaim,Wilfried Hiller,Sergey Prokofiev,Michael Helmrath,Matthias Weber,Gudrun Haag,Anna Gourari,Edgar Guggeis,Peter Sadlo,Stefan Gagelmann,Helmut Nicolai,Werner Grobholz,BMG,Chamber,Chamber Music,Israel,Jewish,Jewish Music,Klezmer,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,Mixed Chamber Ensemble with Keyboard,World Music

Average customer rating: Great CD Simply the Best Inconsistent, but mostly excellent "Celebration" is not strong enough a word A maginificent evening, a magnificent album

Sondheim - A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1992 Concert Cast) Stephen Sondheim , Betty Buckley , Paul Gemignani , Patti LuPone , Liza Minnelli , and Bernadette Peters Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sondheim, Stephen | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music 1990-1999 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Side By Side By Sondheim (1976 Original London Cast) Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute (1973 Concert Cast) Send in the Clowns: The Ballads of Stephen Sondheim Sondheim - A Celebration at Carnegie Hall Sondheim, Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall ASIN: B000003FDW Release Date: 1993-02-23

Tracks:

1. Symphonic Sondheim: Sweeney Todd--orchestra, Jerry Hadley ("Johanna"), Eugene Perry,Herbert Perry ("Pretty Women")
2. Evening Introduction--Bill Irwin
3. Loveland/Getting Married Today--Ensemble, Jeanne Lehman, Mark Jacoby, Madeline Kahn
4. Waiting for the Girls Upstairs--George Lee Andrews, Michael Jeter, James Naughton/Love, I Hear--Michael Jeter/Live Alone and Like It--James Naughton
5. Someone Is Waiting--Richard Muenz/Symphonic Sondheim: Barcelona--orchestra
6. Being Alive--Patti LuPone
7. Good Thing Going--The Tonics
8. Losing My Mind/You Could Drive a Person Crazy--Dorothy Loudon
9. Our Time--Boys Choir of Harlem/Children Will Listen--Betty Buckley
10. Anyone Can Whistle--Billy Stritch
11. Water Under the Bridge--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch
12. Back in Business--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch, Ensemble

Tracks:

1. Symphonic Sondheim: Comedy Tonight--Bill Irwin, orchestra
2. Sooner or Later--Karen Ziemba
3. Pretty Lady--Mark Jacoby, Eugene Perry, Herbert Perry
4. Green Finch and Linnet Bird--Harolyn Blackwell
5. The Ballad of Booth--Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber
6. Broadway Baby--Daisy Eagan
7. I Never Do Anything Twice--BETTY
8. With So Little to Be Sure Of--Jerry Hadley, Carolann Page
9. Not a Day Goes By--Bernadette Peters
10. Remember?--Ron Baker, Peter Blanchet, Carol Meyer, Bronwyn Thomas, Blythe Walker (Quintet)/A Weekend in the Country--Kevin Anderson, George Lee Andrews, Mark Jacoby, Beverly Lambert, Maureen Moore, Susan Terry, Quintet
11. Send in the Clowns--Glenn Close
12. Old Friends--Liza Minnelli
13. Sunday--Bernadette Peters, Broadway Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2006-08-06

This is a wonderful double CD of fabulous musical numbers performed by theatre greats and directed by a legandary musical director.

Simply the Best.......2005-06-29

First, to the person who criticizes the recording b/c of "Broadway Baby." Daisy Egan (who sings in in this recording) sounds like she's 10 becuase she IS young. She had just appeared on Braodway in Secret Garden and won a Tony for it. It's a joke...Broadway BABY...hello, it's a joke.

In a compilation of songs like this you're always going to have tracks that you prefer over others, but the majority of the renditions in this CD are great. This is simply one of the best collections of Sondheim out there. You get interpretations that span from "classical" (Green Finch), to bordering on insane (Anything Twice). This is to demonstrate how versatile this composer really is.

In my opinion, some of the best renditions are "Not a Day Goes By," "Anyone Can Whistle", "Girls Upstairs Medley," "Losing My Mind/Drive a Person Crazy," and "Weekend inthe Country." Makes me wish I had been there to witness it first hand.

If you love Sondheim and enjoy hearing Broadway performers, get this CD. A great recording.

Inconsistent, but mostly excellent.......2004-03-21

I am sure no knowledgeable person would deny how absolutely perfect all these songs are. However, the performances on this album are extremely inconsistent. It will go from an excellent rendition (Waiting for the Girls medley, Sunday, With So Little To Be Sure Of, Sooner or Later, Green Finch, Send in the Clowns, Pretty Lady) to the weird (I never Do Anything Twice), to the bad (Broadway Baby, Our Time). I still have absolutely no idea how they managed to butcher one of the best songs ever written--Good Thing Going--and turn it into smooth jazz elevator music. Why would they give Broadway Baby to someone who sounds like she's 10? That said, Liza Minelli, Glenn Close, Karen Ziemba, Dorothy Laudon and the "Waiting for the Girls" performers are all very good. And ending with Bernadette Peters and "Sunday" ends the set on a absolutley fabulous note.

"Celebration" is not strong enough a word.......2003-04-30

This review is by Crosley.

I have been a major Sondheim fan for quite some time, and I finally obtained a copy of this album. I was blown away by the excellent cast and phenomenal selection of music. It is obvious how much work went into this production, considering that this is the live recording of a one time show, and it's flawless. The songs cover all of his shows with the exception of "Passion," which was released 3 years after this show. Also, the shows for which he wrote only lyrics are ommited, like West Side Story, Gypsy, etc. Thus, you can find material from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Merrily we Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Assassins.

There are two striking things about this CD (besides the music and performers themselves). First of all, some of the songs are completely stylistically reworked. The most obvious are "Good Thing Going" and "I Never do Anything Twice." Both are traditionally very ballady with a piano accompaniment, but here they have been redone as jazzy tunes. The result is excellent. Such reworkings demonstrate that Sondheim writes music for virtually any style, and in these cases, across several styles. It's a great example of his variety. The other interesting thing is how many songs have overlapping melodies of songs from different shows. Case in point, "Our Time" and "No one is Alone" are sung seperately by the Harlem Boys Choir and Betty Buckley (the original Grizabella in Webber's atrocious "CATS," although Buckley was excellent) respectively, and then combined. Putting these two songs together offer different meanings to each, and the music is only enhanced. Another example, the trio of "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs," "Love, I Hear," and "Live Alone and Like It" are sung in that order, and then the latter two are combined. Again, the meanings of the songs change, this time in an almost narrative style, and offering different takes on love in the same montage. Lastly (at least for this review, there are more), Dorothy Laudon's (the original Ms. Hannigan in Annie) combination of "Losing my Mind" and "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" is brilliant. Those who are familiar with these songs will wonder how exactly they fit, but trust me, they do. She swtiches back and forth between melodies to create a number that starts poignant and beautiful, and soon moves to become uproariously funny. Both the song reworkings and overlapping melodies of unrelated songs are all for the better.

I recommend this recording to anyone wanting to get better acquainted with some of Sondheim's best work, or those already familiar who want to hear a tour de force of phenomenal music. It has been said that Sondheim is a masterful lyricist (which he is), but lacks real talent for music. This CD is the final proof that such critics are wrong. His music may take a few listenings to get into, contrary to Webber or Wildhorn, but unlike those two, he doesn't cater to the audience. He challenges them to think outside of traditional musical theater in a glorious repertoise of shows that reach for a smarter, more sophisticated form.

A maginificent evening, a magnificent album.......2001-12-16

There's something to be said for the first concert you ever see at Carnegie Hall. I was fortunate enough to have this be my first. This entire evening was devoted to his genius and the performers did not disappoint.

This wonderful double CD shows off the best and brightest of the musical theatre composer and it is, as one person put it, "an embarassment of riches." With songs from his finest works done in amazing arrangements (listen to that harmony in "We Had a Good Thing Going"!) combined with fabulous performers this is a Sondheim lovers delight.

My favorite song is, without a doubt, Dorothy Louden and her wonderful medley of "Losing My Mind" into "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" followed very closely by the recently departed Madeline Kahn singing "Getting Married Today."

Average customer rating: Excellent performances, both audio and video Great music, lousy format!

Romance Of The Violin (Live From New York In Concert) Joshua Bell Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Borodin | Borodin, Alexander | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bell, Joshua | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Voice of the Violin Ladies in Lavender The Essential Joshua Bell Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B00076ZZB6 Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

1. O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi
2. The Girl With Flaxen Hair
3. Nocturne
4. The Swan
5. Serenade
6. Casta Diva from Norma
7. Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
8. Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orfeo ed Euridice
9. Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major
10. Songs My Mother Taught Me
11. Pur ti Miro from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea
12. Elegie: O doux printemps d'autrefois
13. Trerei

Album Description

CD AUDIO SIDE: Entire Album

DVD SIDE: * Entire album in Enhanced LPCM Stereo * Video of highlights from Joshua Bell Romance of the Violin Live from Lincoln Center with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra * Complete Discography This disc is intended to play on standard DVD and CD players. May not play on a limited number of models.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent performances, both audio and video.......2007-01-09

I was delighted with this Dual Disc. Performances are excellent, both audio and video. Recording quality is very good.

I must report some problems with CD side (cracks) on older CD player.

Great music, lousy format!.......2007-01-03

I love the music, but was VERY unhappy to be unable to play this CD on my computer. The DVD side works okay, but I can't load this to itunes on my macintosh. And I can't load the DVD to my computer and store this disk at home. If I had it to do over, I'd buy the plain vanilla CD!

Average customer rating: Quite average A world rhapsody All that a performance can be. Good music, engineering could be better a classical-Latin music blend

Obrigado Brazil Live in Concert Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Piazzolla, Astor | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ma, Yo-Yo | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Obrigado Brazil Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla Amorosa Paris La Belle Époque Entre Amigos/Among Friends ASIN: B0001CCX4S Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

1. Libertango
2. Chega de Saudade
3. Merengue
4. Menino
5. Aguas de Marco
6. Wapango
7. Doce de coco
8. Cristal
9. Andante and Allegro from Tango Suite
10. Afro
11. Bodas de Prata & Quatro Cantos
12. Aquarela do Brazil
13. Zita
14. So Danco Samba

Customer Reviews:

Quite average.......2007-06-27

It's not a bad quality CD but the music is variable and different. Even though I like most types of music, I think the composition is just average.

A world rhapsody.......2006-12-28

This is suberbly enhanced performance CD that captures Yo-Yo Ma and friends at their musical heights. The accompanying musicians, the Assasds, Paquito you-know-who, Kathyrn Stott and others add beautiful textures to the compositions of Piazzolla and Jobim to create a Latin influenced classical painting. This is music to play, go about your business at home and enjoy the different influences coming together. The sadness and happiness blend to reveal the emotions of life. Favorite songs include D'Rivera's "Afro" that sneaks up on you like breaking dawn to reveal the sunshine and life anew. Also Piazzolla's "Tango Suite" is a frenzied Yo-Yo Ma performance with suttle breaks on cello giving way to the Assadd's beautiful quite work on guitars to spike and peak your interest numerous times.This is good background music but it grabs your attention and makes you listen carefully so it can turn on you and be very demanding. Good for those quite times of work or reading.

All that a performance can be........2006-02-11

Keep in mind that The studio version of this performance is nothing short of brilliant. The material includes pieces from the likes of Astor Piazzolla, Jobim and Paquito D'Rivera. Then you come to discover that there is a live concert version (and Dvd) of the disc. There is nothing like having your cake and your ice cream in the same bowl. Well that is what the release of this disc is, Cake and Ice cream with the cherry on the top.

Peace:
The*Hot*Wax*Kid

Good music, engineering could be better.......2005-05-05

I bought the disk after hearing about the colaboration on NPR. The songs and performances are impecable, the variety is satisfying and fun. My only complaint is that the quality of the recording leaves something to be desired. Several times the recording level is not balanced between the instruments so that when listening to YoYo Ma playing, when joined by the saxaphone, it comes in too loud and ruins the mood.

I almost always prefer the live perfomances when the energy of the audience carries over to the performers. This is one case when I wish I had gotten the studio version.

a classical-Latin music blend.......2005-04-22

Yo Yo Ma and his fellow musicians make beautiful music in this mellow adaptation of melodies that have their origin in Latin America.
The opening track is a version of "Libertango", heard in the fabulous soundtrack of the film "The Tango Lesson", and one of the three compositions by Astor Piazzolla, in this concert that was recorded live at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall in 2003. The group of assorted and marvelous musicians toured the world with this music, and there is a cohesion between the performers and the material they are playing that is evident, and a pleasure to hear. One hears the applause, but it is not obtrusive, and the sound is excellent for a live recording.

Very impressive is the clarinet of 6 time Grammy Award winner and composer Paquito D'Rivera, who wrote 3 of the tracks, and shows his virtuosity and Cuban soul in 7 pieces, and I especially like his "Merengue".
Rosa Passos sings and plays guitar on 4 tracks, and has a soft, clear, and pleasing voice, and 3 of the songs she interprets so well are by her fellow countryman and Brazilian bossa nova artist Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Other musicians are Sergio and Odair Assad on guitars, Kathryn Scott on piano, Nilson Matta on bass, and Cyro Baptista on percussion. Yo Yo Ma is of course the household name among them, and is masterful in his interpretations throughout; I especially like him in D'Rivera's "Afro", a fascinating piece with some experimental sounds.
Other favorites for me are D'Rivera's "Wapango", and "Cristal" (Camargo Mariano), a rhythmic duet between Ma and Scott that is terrific.
This CD has the feel of a classical chamber concert, with the warmth of melodious Latin compositions, and is a nice and unique musical treat.
The foldout insert has liner notes by D'Rivera, recording info, and mini bios of Ma's 7 fellow musicians; total playing time is 72'07.

This package contains a bonus DVD, that includes 3 videos:
1. Piazzolla's "Libertango", from the original soundtrack of Sally Potter's film "The Tango Lesson", with clips of the great tango dancer Pablo Veron.
2. "Brasileirinho", by Waldir Azevedo, featuring Paquito D'Rivera, from the "Obrigado Brazil" CD.
3. Jobim's "Chega de Saudage" interpreted by Rosa Passos, from the "Obrigado Brazil" CD.
It also includes a very short interview with Yo Yo Ma.

Average customer rating: Priest's 1st visit to Denver USA

Live In Concert 25th June 1980 Judas Priest Manufacturer: Store for Music UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Black Rain Ram It Down United Abominations Humanity-Hour 1 Snakes & Arrows ASIN: B000NJVWUK Release Date: 2007-03-12

Tracks:

1. Hell Bent for Leather
2. Ripper
3. Running Wild
4. Living After Midnight
5. Sinner
6. Beyond the Realms of Death
7. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise
8. Grinder
9. Victim of Changes
10. Steeler
11. Genocide
12. Tyrant
13. Green Manalishi - Judas Priest,

Album Details

There was a Time When British Steel was the Hottest, Hardest, and Most Awesome Substance on the Planet. On Judas Priest "Concert Classics", Here it Is, in Its Most Appropriate Circumstances: Live, on Stage. Judas Priest Re-invented Heavy Metal. The First Band to Use the Twin-guitar Attack, They Built on the Foundation Black Sabbath Had Laid and Moved Metal to a New Level. Looking Back on the Body of the Work that the Classic Priest Line-up of Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.k. Downing, Ian Hill and Dave Holland Has Left Us, Nobody is in Any Doubt that the "British Steel" Album was the Finest Studio Work the Band Produced. There Are also Those People who Will Tell You that British Steel was the Finest British Studio Album Ever Made.this Album is Taken from the Tour that Supported the Release of "British Steel" and it Takes the Majesty of that Album Into Its True Context: In Front of a Paying Audience.

Customer Reviews:

Priest's 1st visit to Denver USA.......2007-07-02

Not a bad recording considering it sounds like it was made directly from the sound board. New drummer Dave Holland sounds boring compared to the excellent drumming heard on "Unleashed in the east". The set list is pretty good and the sound level has some unexpected spikes. Rob Halford's voice is in good shape for most of the songs. Diehard fanatics should like this release that comes with a written history of the band including comments about post-Halford affairs. Rock out out if you can find this one anywhere!

Average customer rating: Technical virtuosity! GREAT STUFF A Walk in the Park A Master shines !!! Supreme artist and virtuoso playing spellbinding music!

Midori - Live at Carnegie Hall Ludwig van Beethoven , Richard Strauss , Claude Debussy , Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst , Fryderyk Chopin , Maurice Ravel , Midori (Goto) , and Robert McDonald Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ernst, Heinrich Wilhelm | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Midori | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Midori ~ Encore! French Violin Sonatas Midori ~ Sibelius - Violin Concerto · Bruch - Scottish Fantasy / Israel PO · Mehta Mendelssohn, Bruch: Violin Concertos Dvorák: Violin Concerto, Op.53 ASIN: B0000027CW Release Date: 1991-04-19

Tracks:

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30/3 No.3
2. Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18
3. Nocturne for piano No. 21 in C minor, B. 108
4. Variations on "The Last Rose of Summer" for violin solo
5. Beau soir ("Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivihres sont roses"), song for voice & piano, L. 6 Transcribed for violin & piano
6. Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert for violin & piano (or orchestra)

Customer Reviews:

Technical virtuosity!.......2005-11-26

I'll preface this review by saying that I've been disappointed in the past with some of Midori's recordings. She was never lacking in technical skill, and RARELY does she have intonation problems. I did have issues with her musicalty. It is in technically difficult pieces (like the Paganini caprices) that her skills shine.

This recording is a dazzling display of technical ability and artistry. Midori has the audacity to attempt Ernst's 6th polyphonic etude (The Last Rose of Summer) in a LIVE recital. She pulls it off without error except intonation issues on a few notes (easily forgiven!). The CD is worth owning for this one piece alone.

The Beethoven and Strauss sonatas are played with wonderful clarity and.. dare I say... musicality. The sound quality is excellent save a few audible coughs from the audience which come with live recordings.

GREAT STUFF.......2003-11-02

This CD is ample evidence of Midori's virtuosity, coupled with first-rate musicality. However, I have to disagree with one reviewer's assertion that she is non-pareil. Indeed, her Ernst is not perfect, though it comes very close. Careful listening will pick up slight intonation errors.Ricci performed with more facility. It is utterly ridiculous to place her above Heifetz, or even Perlman. And it is even more ridiculous to suggest that those two violinists were afraid to record the Ernst. Midori is great, but not as great as Heifetz or Perlman or Ricci.

A Walk in the Park.......2001-08-07

Not to toot my own horn; I play four instruments for over forty years. So what? Don't just listen to the music. Listen to the notes. Midori miss a note? I rather doubt it. The orchestra may be taking a day off for a walk in the park; but, Midori's persisting drive brings them back time and time again. All of the artists seem to be a bit stiff in their presentation. It's noticeable if you listen. One never knows if their review will be implemented. Mine will always deal with the worlds of difference between hearing the work and listening. This reviewer is not concerned with Midori's ability to equal or surpass another's work. I am interested in what her presentation does for me on it's own merit. Frankly, I am surprised that she doesn't catch her instrument on fire much like the rubing of sticks together until the heat brings forth fire. Midori is fire.

A Master shines !!!.......1999-06-12

What can be said about Midori that a fan doesn't already know ? Again, her unique, beautiful style is on display.

I've listened to this Strauss Sonata many many times and I feel Midori has created a miracle on a CD. Such emotion, timbre, richness of tone... a violin can NOT sound better...

I luv Midori..... !!

Supreme artist and virtuoso playing spellbinding music!.......1998-09-10

Four days before her nineteenth birthday, standing for the first time on the stage of a legendary building, in front of a sellout crowd (3000), Midori delivers an extraordinary 100-minute long program, from memory. Unfortunately, the CD version can only include 75 minutes of it, and thus excluded Mozart's sonata K.301 and a resplendent tour de force of Sarasate's Zapateado. Therefore, I sincerely exhort anyone who's interested in Midori to buy the LD or VHS version.

The second piece of the program is the magnificent, hyper-romantic, yet seldom recorded sonata by the young Richard Strauss. In contrast with the previous piece, this ultra-dramatic sonata is marvellously rich in content and expressive opportunities, and one can scarcely imagine it being played more effectively by someone else. Midori's technical finesse and enchanting tone, governed by a contemplative mind and a feverishly ardent heart, ready to pump out into the rapt audience at any moment, culminate in an immensely moving rendition. The listener must also credit the pianist Robert McDonald's spirited and sensitive playing. One can't help wondering why one so rarely hears this splendid piece.

This enigma is not so confounding after one listens to Heifetz's 1954 studio recording of the same piece. Seasoned critic Henry Roth declares that the Strauss Sonata "belongs" to Heifetz in the sense that few would dispute his supremacy. Indeed, Heifetz championed this work throughout his career, yet apparently to little avail; were Midori in Heifetz's position, she would positively have widely popularized the work.

Midori begins the second half with Beethoven's Sonata No. 8. She captures the gaiety and animation of the outer movements as well as anyone else, yet they are not fully gratifying. In the first movement, the exposition is repeated, later recapitulated, but unbelievably, her interpretations-though individually superb-of these three times are virtually the same, lacking in variety. In the third movement, her pursuit of wanton vivacity in a certain passage sacrifices the tone quality. Yet her slow movement is super-sensitive, particularly in transitional passages; it is the finest rendition of this movement I've ever heard--even superior to Szeryng's.

The following piece--Ernst's Variations on "The Last Rose of Summer"--I consider to be one of the three most technically demanding pieces ever written for the violin, together with Paganini's variations on Nel cor piu non mi sento and God Save the Queen.

The most horrendous part is about halfway through the middle, when the left hand plucks the celebrated theme, and the bow plays legato arpeggios across all four strings as an accompaniment at the same time. Don't forget that the left hand also has to press the swift arpeggio notes! Then the left-hand pizzicato is exchanged for artificial harmonics, singing the melody while the arpeggios still whirl around. The pizzicato returns to repeat the dumbfounding passage, and then she heads into the final variation, designed to exhibit the violin's kaleidoscopic tone colors: Harmonic staccatos-one of the ultimate tests in precision and coordination of both hands-juxtaposed alternately with a blizzard of double-harmonics, huge octave leaps, full-pelt runs up and down a single string, fingered octaves, pizzicato, etc.

Midori audaciously elected to play in her New York debut this terrifying piece which, as far as I know, only Ricci, Kremer and Vengerov to date have recorded in history; Heifetz and Perlman undoubtedly have never dared to take up its stratospheric challenge. Double-harmonics often make a good violinist sound like two bad ones, but Midori, with her exceptionally lengthy, slender, and agile fingers, effortlessly negotiates these intricacies and makes them sound as if they were played by two fine flutists. This will no doubt render multitudes of violinists, such as Heifetz, green with envy. The fiendishly difficult fireworks are all tossed off with lithe gracefulness and seeming ease; the left-hand pizzicatos are articulate, the harmonics pellucid, the octave shifts pure in intonation, and the tone quality immaculate. To be relentlessly critical, in this live concert, there were a paltry two or three fleeting notes that weren't of perfect pitch. See if you can find an edited studio recording closer to perfection.

Midori's prodigious prowess lies not only in her ability to make the most herculean pieces sound easy, but make them sound musical. We can try to forget about all the pyrotechnics; rather than marvel at her unprecedented instrumental mastery, we can immerse ourselves in the wonderfully beautiful music, and savour the bountiful nuances.

Anyone would badly need a respite after performing such a strenuous piece, and Midori gave her hands--but not her mind and heart--a brief relief in Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor. Here's another meticulously thought out and superbly expressive rendition that, complemented with a most sympathetic tone, can hardly fail to melt the attentive listener's heart.

Ravel's Tzigane [gypsy] begins with a long oration of the solo violin, the first part of it entirely on the G string. In some other versions, e.g. by Francescatti, the solo part sounds inert, mundane, and monotonous; certainly that is not what I expect from Midori. Even solely on one string, Midori, by dint of divergent bow pressures, portamentos and vibrato, plus rubato, creates a most colorful, elastic, luscious, bewitching, yet doleful tone. Throughout the piece, she perpetually captivates the audience with her breathtaking technical wizardry, variegated and multi-dimensional tone, boundless array of expressive devices, stark dynamic contrasts, and subtle phrasing.

Due to the limited space here, I cannot pinpoint several startling details of Midori's innovative rendition. To sum up, one can only be awe-struck by her sophisticated mind, natural gypsy spirit, and dazzling virtuosity, which results in a performance that brought the house down.

It seems that the 19-year-old Midori has nearly reached the pinnacle of violin art. Every rational, experienced and impartial person who had the privilege to witness this unforgettable concert will have to concede that, at least in expressive and virtuosic music, Midori is already a nonpareil.

Average customer rating: Extraordinary music Excellent Good program, occasionally shaky performance Eastman another very good cd... simply magnificent ! ......

Eastman Wind Ensemble Live in Osaka Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Grainger | Grainger, Percy Aldridge | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ives, Charles | ( I ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sousa | Sousa, John Philip | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Shostakovich | Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Ives, Charles | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Fugues | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Fugues | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Grainger, Percy Aldridge | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ives, Charles | ( I ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Sousa, John Philip | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Grainger, Percy Aldridge | ( G ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fennell: Suites 1 & 2 / Folk Song Suite / Toccata Marziale Eastman Wind Ensemble Plays Husa, Copland, Vaughan Williams, Hindemith British and American Band Classics Frederick Fennell & the Eastman Wind Ensemble: Grainger; Persichetti... British Wind Band Classics ASIN: B0000027IY Release Date: 1992-05-19

Tracks:

1. Toccata & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565
2. First Suite In E-Flat Major For Military Band, Op. 28, No. 1: I. Chaconne
3. First Suite In E-Flat Major For Military Band, Op. 28, No. 1: II. Intermezzo
4. First Suite In E-Flat Major For Military Band, Op. 28, No. 1: III. March
5. ...And The Mountains Rising Nowhere
6. Cantata No. 147: 'Herz und Tat und Leben': Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
7. Lincolnshire Posy: I. Dublin Bay (Lisbon)
8. Lincolnshire Posy: II. Harkstow Grange
9. Lincolnshire Posy: III. Rufford Park Poachers
10. Lincolnshire Posy: IV. The Brisk Young Sailor
11. Lincolnshire Posy: V. Lord Melbourne
12. Lincolnshire Posy: VI. The Lost Lady Found
13. 'Country Band' March
14. Festive Overture, Op. 96
15. The Lads Of Wamphray March
16. Flight Of The Bumblebee
17. Glory Of Catalonia
18. The Stars And Stripes Forever!

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary music.......2006-08-08

Thoroughly enjoyable. I play it all the time at work - and I'm a legal assistant so I NEED stress relief!

Excellent.......2005-08-04

This is a good CD that offers a broad range of literature. As for Eastman Wind Ensemble, they seem to lack a little emotion, but they sure have the technical aspects down. But this consists of classics from centuries of music, from Baroque (Toccatta in D Minor by J.S. Bach) to the postmodern (...and the Mountains rising nowhere). So if you are a fan of timeless wind ensemble, then this is the CD for you (and fortunately, it's inexpensive :-).

Good program, occasionally shaky performance.......2004-06-22

Any Band enthusiast knows that the Eastman Wind Ensemble is the back bone of what we do, they were the first "wind ensemble" and the recordings are still standard. The original Mercury Monos of the 50s are all must-owns despite the poor recording quality occasionally. "Live in Osaka" is an outstanding cd, and is a great crash course in band music (who ever dreamed of putting the Holst Suite, Lincolnshire, Stars and Stripes and Festive all on ONE CD?!) but the performance falls short in a few places. There is some brass inaccuracy in Festive Overture, Stars and Stripes and a BIG splat at the end of the "March" in the Holst Suite #1. Don't get me wrong, this is overall a solid performance and a CD I enjoy listening to. I also question Hunsburger's tempos in Lincolnshire a tad, he takes off for the races in the first movement! Even though its great to have them all on one cd, get yourself a good mix of the Mercury Monos and some Cleveland Symphonic Winds cds if you want "standard band lit".

Eastman another very good cd..........2002-10-18

Eastman Wind ensemble is one of the best wind orchestras in the world ,in the same class as the Tokyo Kosei wind orchestra.
As always the eastman wind amazes us with theyr very good musicality and ensemble...another very good cd to own for any wind player....

simply magnificent ! .............2002-06-04

That an ensemble could play this beautifully is hard to imagine. If you've ever enjoyed a wonderful ensemble, a perfect concert, or a the thrill of a "tight", well-rehearsed concert band, you know then what to expect from this CD. The performances are great and the sound magnificent. The selection of music spans traditional to modern, and the ensemble rises to the occasion no-matter what the piece. A must-buy CD.

Average customer rating: Arguably "The Best" English "Merry Widow "

Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights) Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus; The Gypsy Baron (Highlights) Offenbach: La Belle Hélène; Orpheus in the Underworld; La Vie Parisienne (Highlights) Music of Sigmund Romberg Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld / Burgess, Watson, etc (Highlights) The Best of Operetta, Vol. 3 ASIN: B00009KHY2 Release Date: 2003-09-02

Customer Reviews:

Arguably "The Best" English "Merry Widow ".......2006-09-12

This is the "Merry Widow" with English translation by Christopher Hassel sung by June Bronhill. I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it in about 1960. What's to love? First the translation is the best I've heard. The language doesn't sound "stilted" as some others. And, you can understand almost every word sung. Plus, the famous song, "Vilja" has some wording that moves me every time I hear it: The soprano sings, "Love me and I'll DIE for you!" with the word "die" somewhat emphasized. I don't know, there's just something "powerful" about someone saying they'd "die" for love! AND, at the end of "Vilja" the chorus and soprano raise to a crescendo hitting a high note together. In many renditions the chorus is heard but not the soprano on the final high note. In THIS version, the soprano, June Bronhill, can be heard rising to the final high note with an incressing crescendo and fortissimo louder than the chorus and holding the final high note---which gives a very thrilling effect as she holds that final note, I assure you!

The "problem" is that this June Bronhill, Reid, and Hassel version is hard to find on CD. For example, this CD is made in Holland and "there is one left" so it says on Amazon. But, if you can find it, I think it would be very much worth a listen. Then, after hearing it, if you think there's a "better" Merry Widow, please let ME know! Thanks. Email:boland7214@aol.

Average customer rating: Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead. 6, or Even 7 Stars! A must have for Piano and classical music lovers Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you Review from a spoiled modern listener

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Stores | Music Similar Items: Beethoven: 29 Piano Sonatas / Gilels Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov--Ampico Recordings (1919-29) Liszt: Piano Works Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff Shostakovich: The String Quartets ASIN: B000003FB7 Release Date: 1992-09-15

Tracks:

1. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Moderato; Allegro
2. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
3. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
4. Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
5. Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Intermezzo: Adagio
6. Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Finale: Alla breve

Tracks:

1. Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Vivace
2. Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Andante
3. Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro vivace
4. Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
5. Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Largo
6. Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
7. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Introduction: Allegro vivace
8. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation I: (Precedente)
9. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Tema: L'istesso tempo
10. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation II: L'istesso tempo
11. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation III: L'istesso tempo
12. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IV: Piu vivo
13. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation V: Tempo precedente
14. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VI: L'istesso tempo
15. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VII: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
16. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VIII: Tempo I
17. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IX: L'istesso tempo
18. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation X: Poco marcato
19. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XI: Moderato
20. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XII: Tempo di minuetto
21. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIII: Allegro
22. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIV: L'istesso tempo
23. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XV: Piu vivo scherzando
24. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVI: Allegretto
25. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVII: (Allegretto)
26. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
27. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIX: A tempo vivace
28. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XX: Un poco piu vivo
29. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXI: Un poco piu vivo
30. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXII: Un poco piu vivo (Alla breve)
31. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIII: L'istesso tempo
32. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIV: A tempo un poco meno mosso

Tracks:

1. Isle Of The Dead, Op. 29
2. Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
3. Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Lento; Allegro moderato
4. Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Adagio ma non troppo
5. Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Allegro

Tracks:

1. Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro assai
2. Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
3. Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro vivace
4. Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro moderato
5. Sonata D. 574 In A: Scherzo: Presto; Trio
6. Sonata D. 574 In A: Andantino
7. Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro vivace
8. Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro molto ed appassionato
9. Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
10. Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro animato

Tracks:

1. Partita No. 4, BWV 828: Sarabande
2. Harpsichord Suite No. 5: Air And Variations - 'Harmonious Blacksmith'
3. Sonata, K. 331: III: Turkish March
4. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Thema: Allegretto
5. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation I
6. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation II
7. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation III
8. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IV
9. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation V
10. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VI
11. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VII
12. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VIII
13. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IX
14. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation X
15. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XI
16. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XII
17. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIII
18. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIV
19. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIX
20. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXII
21. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIII
22. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIV
23. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXV
24. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVI
25. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVII
26. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVIII
27. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXI
28. 32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXII
29. Return Home
30. Polish Songs: The Maiden's Wish
31. Die schone Mullerin: Das Wandern
32. Schwanengesang: Serenade
33. Polonaise No. 2 In E
34. Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
35. Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 4 In A Flat
36. Concert Etude No. 2: Gnomenreigen
37. Orfeo ed Euridice: Melodie
38. Etude, Op. 104b, No. 2 In F
39. Etude, Op. 104b, No. 3 In A Minor
40. Spanisches Liederspeil: The Smuggler
41. Minuet, Op. 14, No. 1 In G
42. Liebesfreud

Tracks:

1. Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Grave; Doppio movimento
2. Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Scherzo
3. Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Marche funebre
4. Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Presto
5. Carnaval, Op. 9: Preambule
6. Carnaval, Op. 9: Pierrot
7. Carnaval, Op. 9: Arlequin
8. Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse noble
9. Carnaval, Op. 9: Eusebius
10. Carnaval, Op. 9: Florestan
11. Carnaval, Op. 9: Coquette
12. Carnaval, Op. 9: Replique
13. Carnaval, Op. 9: Sphinxes
14. Carnaval, Op. 9: Papillons
15. Carnaval, Op. 9: A. S. C. H. - S. C. H. A. (Letteres dansantes)
16. Carnaval, Op. 9: Chiarina
17. Carnaval, Op. 9: Chopin
18. Carnaval, Op. 9: Estrella
19. Carnaval, Op. 9: Reconnaissance
20. Carnaval, Op. 9: Pantalon et Colombine
21. Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse allemande
22. Carnaval, Op. 9: Pganini (Intermezzo)
23. Carnaval, Op. 9: Aveu
24. Carnaval, Op. 9: Promenade
25. Carnaval, Op. 9: Pause
26. Carnaval, Op. 9: Marche des 'Davidsbundler' contre les Philistins
27. Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2 In E Flat
28. Waltz, Op. 64, No. 2 In C Sharp
29. Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3
30. Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 In A Flat
31. Mazurka, Op. 68, No. 2
32. Waltz, Op. Posth. In E Minor

Tracks:

1. Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Preludio
2. Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gavotte
3. Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gigue
4. A Midsummer Night's Dream: Scherzo
5. Liebersfreud
6. Die schone Mullerin: The Brooklet
7. Polka de V.R.
8. Etude-tableau, Op. 39, No. 6 In A Minor
9. Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
10. Sorochintsy Fair: Hopac
11. Lullaby, Op. 16, No.1
12. Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee
13. The Ruins Of Athens: Turkish March
14. Scherzo In A Flat
15. The Seasons: November: Troika
16. Prelude No. 8, Op. 11, No. 8 In F Sharp
17. One Lives But Once
18. Powder and Paint
19. Polka italienne (Piano 4 Hands)

Tracks:

1. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Maderato; Allegro
2. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
3. Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
4. Prelude, Op. 23, No. 10 In G Flat
5. Prelude, Op. 32, No. 3 In E Major
6. Prelude, Op. 32, No. 7 In F Major
7. Prelude, Op. 32, No. 6 In F Minor
8. Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 2 in C Major
9. Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 7 In E Flat
10. Daisies, Op. 38, No. 3
11. Oriental Sketch
12. Melodie, Op. 3, No. 3 in E
13. Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
14. Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5 In G
15. Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
16. Moment Musical, Op. 16, No. 2 In E Flat

Tracks:

1. Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 3 In C Sharp Minor
2. Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 2 In F Sharp
3. Waltz, Op. 18 'Grande valse brilliante' In E Flat
4. Waltz, Op. 34, No. 3 'Valse brilliante' In F
5. Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute'
6. Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 In B Minor
7. Waltz, Op. 70, No. 1 In G Flat
8. Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39 In C Sharp Minor
9. Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute' In D Flat
10. Le coucou
11. L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: Minuet
12. Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
13. Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
14. Waltz
15. Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: Elfin Dance
16. Etude, Op. 28, No. 6 In F Minor
17. If I Were a Bird
18. La jongleuse
19. Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum
20. Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cakewalk
21. The Seasons: November: Troika
22. Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 2 In G
23. Waltz, Op. 40, No. 8 In A Flat

Tracks:

1. Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5 In G Minor
2. Prelude, Op. 32, No. 12 In G Sharp Minor
3. Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
4. Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5 In G
5. Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
6. Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
7. Polichinelle, Op. 3, No. 4 In F Sharp Minor
8. Polka de V.R.
9. Liebesleid
10. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
11. Pastorale In E Minor
12. Theme and Variations
13. Waltz, Op. 42 'Two - Four' In A Flat
14. Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3 In A Flat
15. Polka de V.R.
16. Bacarolle, Op. 10, No. 3 In G Minor
17. Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor

Amazon.com

We remember Rachmaninov today mostly for the music he wrote. But as this set quickly reveals, he was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, able to play his own music and a great variety of others with tremendous personality and a technique that is still astonishing. There's no point picking highlights from this set, since they are everywhere. But if you've never heard Rachmaninov play Schumann's Carnaval, try starting there for one of the most imaginative recreations of a piece of music ever recorded. The set also includes Rachmaninov's only recordings as a conductor in two of his own major works. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead........2006-05-17

At the time of this review, whenever you search for a phrase such as "Rachmaninoff Complete", amazon's search engine always lands on this out-of-print recording (ASIN: B000003FB7) . It's also no fun to see that it costs more than a hundred bucks! But if you type "B000A2AD2S" in the search box, you'll see the new reissued set for half the price. It's the exact same 10 CDs. Just the cover art is different.

Unfortunately, this situation is a common pattern with amazon's listing of classical music: when you use your intuition and type in common-sense search phrases for Bach, Mozart, etc, you often get the ultra-expensive out-of-print ships-in-4-weeks items as the default item. It takes a lot of detective work to find the newer reissue recordings. For example, to find the new reissue without knowing the ASIN, I had to enter just "Rachmaninoff" in the search text (deliberately left the word "Complete" out of the search) so it would no longer lock me into this item page that you're looking at and give me a full listing instead. I then sorted the listing by "Original Release Date" and found it on the 2nd page. There's no picture on the new item which doesn't give you any confidence that you found the right one. Don't worry, B000A2AD2S is what you want.

For product research, it's good to have both ASIN product listings because the older out-of-print B000003FB7 has the sound samples (and also all the helpful customer reviews) while the new B000A2AD2S has the better price and availability.

To make things even more confusing, the amazon staff sometimes copies entire customer reviews to the new item which would then make THIS review seem strangely out of place. If that happens and I notice it, I will delete this review for B000003FB7.

(In another strange twist, amazon searches in rock/pop usually points you to the newer cheaper remastered/repackaged/reissued/whatever of a particular recording. I don't know why it works the opposite way in classical music?!?!)

6, or Even 7 Stars!.......2005-06-04

Hofmann hit the nail on the head when he said Rachmaninov had "arms of steel and heart of gold". From this album, we can have a clear picture of Rachmaninov's vison of music, of his musical mind and thoughts and moreover his own playing.

While Kempff's playing would often remind of the protestant church music, Rachmaninov bring to our mind the chanting of the Orthodox church, which is much thicker and darker. On top of that, his playing is orchestral which is so powerful and full colours. Yet, it is nothing like Richter, where often the whole piece is just one phrase.

Here each piece has it's own life and identity each with a focal point. It is water tight compact and yet very much natural and alive, never as hair-raising as Horowitz. But, it is not natural in Arrau's way. It is somewhere in between, closer to Argerich but with more consistency and depth. And like Casals' playing, it keeps our attention from the first note up to its focal point until its very end. But unlike Casals, he touches our hearts. It is very emotional but never to the point of being sentimental-- the performance of his own concertos, for example, can tell you that.

Sure, he did have fingers of steel that helped him to bring out whatever colour or atmostphere as appropriate. And despite that fact that there are some minor alterations on the scores like his Chopin, he is one of the few pianists who could really show you every note on the score counts and, above all, how it counts...

His Chopin may not be as neurotic as Cortot. Nonetheless, he sheds light on the dark and nervous side of Chopin so well: a very throbbing interpretation that is so unique. We also have him accompanying Kreisler on some violin sonatas, something that one could turn to time and again, year after year. What a great chamber musician and accompanist he was...!

The recorded sound of the CDs do vary, and some are more acceptable than the others. But for genuine music lovers, they should be able to get over this very soon: how else would they benefit from one of the greatest legacies of a genuinely great musician!

A must have for Piano and classical music lovers.......2005-04-04

To respond to a review about the sound quality-for those people who have no experience with historical performances i.e cortot-hofmann-etc these discs are for the most part much better recorded. There are the inevitable pops and hisses but if these things disturb you, or you cant get past them, then you shouldnt be listening to this kind of thing anyway. the importance here is in the playing, and the playing is extra ordinary. I you want to buy a disc for the reperatoire then i can think of hundreds of performances that will satisfy, but only people with a true interest to hear and study these pieces will be beyond satisfied. I know that may not sound like a lot of fun, but these discs are fun, great, and for me, almost too good to be true. Again, if sound disturbs you, then you may be listening to the music for the wrong reasons. Take from it the playing, the revelations that Rach provides to his pieces, and how fortunate we are that it sounds as good as it does.

Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you.......2003-09-14

The music of Rachmaninoff is beyond words, furthermore, beyond imagination. He was a genius, no doubt, and nobody will ever understand how incredibly lucky we are to be blessed with his compositions. Furthermore, it is truly astonishing to hear Rachmaninoff play his own work. There is nothing so beautiful on this earth and there never will be.

Review from a spoiled modern listener.......2003-07-13

I'll admit that I'm a spoiled modern listener, accustomed to having the bang and hiss edited out of a recording, and it took me a while to warm to these. Rachmaninoff's performances are splendid, but if you can hardly hear them over the cacophony of background noise, what's the use? His performance of his own, often overlooked Concerto No. 4 finally made me sit up and listen, even though I've owned two versions of this piece for a number of years (Ashkenazy & Wild).

Average customer rating: The penultimate collection ... Muisic of the Spheres The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection SciFi Album gift Away From to be a Collectible Peace

The Science Fiction Album Various Artists Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Trek | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Science Fiction Album, Vol. 1 Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: Final Frontiers Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 4: Defenders Of Justice Fantastic Journey Sci-Fi Channel - Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: The Dark Side ASIN: B000066HE5 Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. Aliens
3. Sound Effect - The Nostromo
4. Alien
5. A.I.
6. Armageddon
7. Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Lift-off
8. Apollo 13
9. Back To The Future
10. Battle Beyond The Stars
11. Battlestar Galactica
12. The Black Hole
13. Contact
14. Capricorn One
15. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
16. The Day The Earth Stood Still
17. Dune

Tracks:

1. Galaxy Quest
2. Sound Effect - Dogfight in Space
3. Enemy Mine
4. Ghostbusters
5. Gremlins
6. Heavy Metal
7. Independence Day
8. E.T.
9. Judge Dredd
10. The Last Starfighter
11. Lifeforce
12. Sound Effect - Crash Landing
13. Lost In Space
14. Mars Attacks
15. The Matrix
16. Predator
17. The Right Stuff

Tracks:

1. Moonraker
2. Robocop
3. Silent Running
4. Sound Effect - Alien Organism
5. Species
6. Stargate
7. Starship Troopers
8. Starman
9. Star Trek - TV Theme
10. Star Trek: The Motion Picture End Title
11. Klingon Attack
12. Sound Effect - Warp Drive
13. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
14. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
15. Star Trek: Generations
16. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Tracks:

1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
2. Sound Effect - Transporter Crew
3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Theme
4. Star Trek First Contact
5. Star Wars
6. The Empire Strikes Back
7. The Empire Strikes Back
8. Return of the Jedi
9. Sound Effect - Battle Stations
10. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade
11. Anakin's Theme
12. The Adventures of Jar Jar
13. Duel of the Fates
14. The Time Machine
15. Things to Come
16. The Thing From Another World
17. War of the Worlds
18. When Worlds Collide
19. Total Recall
20. You Only Live Twice
21. Superman

Customer Reviews:

The penultimate collection ..........2006-12-07

Generally I agree with Strategos in his ecstatic Spotlight Review above. It is a joy to here some of the most memorable themes and cues from some of the most memorable science fiction and fantasy movies (re)recorded in great sound and in lavish (re)orchestrations, played by renowned classical orchestras, namely the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra, no less.

I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.

This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...

But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)

If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).

But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.

Muisic of the Spheres.......2006-11-06

You wonderful four disk collection of SF music. It startsa up the the grand master of SF music, 2001: A space Odyssey all the way to Superman. This is all American SF music and several themes I would have liked to have included are not there. All in all though, a collection you will enjoy.

The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection.......2005-10-23

If one person gives great gifts, it's the illustrious Codemaster Talon. I've received a fair number of gifts in my lifetime, but so far, my older sister's take the cake. Take this one for instance. I'm real big on orchestral music, to the point where I listen to them more than any other kind of music. I've got orchestral versions of video game themes, orchestral soundtracks to truck-loads of anime shows (Big O, Escaflowne, and Giant Robo are incredible), and could probably spend the rest of my life just trying to study the nuances of all the classical music I've got. Being such a huge fan of orchestral music, I also have come to believe that orchestra music produced for movies and television is the new classical music (or as someone once said, Mozart would be making music for movies if he were alive today). Being a huge sci-fi fan, that kind of music has always been particularly near and dear to my heart. But were I to buy each and every soundtrack for every sci-fi I liked it would cost quite a bundle, and would include a lot of sub-par music along with the grandiose and fantastic main and memorable themes. That's where this beauty comes in.

The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.

Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.

Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).

Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.

Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.

And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.

I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).

I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).

I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).

If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.

SciFi Album gift.......2005-07-20

I bought the Science Fiction Album as a gift for my son who is twenty-one years old. He is a musician, and also a huge fan of many SciFi shows and movies. I thought this would be the perfect thing for him and I was right. He loves it!

Away From to be a Collectible Peace.......2004-12-16

If you like Sci-Fi movies and want a compilation of their important scores, this is the CD-set to buy. But let me warn you about that very few songs in the cds are from the original soundtracks. Most of them is re-recorded by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. But the sound quality of cds are very good, because they have HDCD and Dolby Surround labels. This set is away from to be a collectible peace, but it is a good general compilation of favorite Sci-Fi movie scores.

Average customer rating:

Tomita Live In New York Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dukas | Dukas, Paul | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Debussy: Snowflakes Are Dancing, Prelude, etc / Tomita Tomita's Greatest Hits CD ASIN: B000002WBJ Release Date: 1990-10-25

International Music:

1. Correnteza De Emoção [Import]
2. Czy Odnajde Inny Swiat [Import]
3. D'r Rhing Erop [Import]
4. Das Beste: Bis Jetzt [Import]
5. Das Konzert
6. Das Kriegen Wir Schon Hin [Import]
7. Dbjali
8. Der Blonde Hans [Import]
9. Die Beste Volksmusik [Import]
10. Direktor Deg [EP]

International Music

International Music