Verliebte Jungs [Import]

1. Nur Mit Dir

2. Verliebte Jungs

3. Darum

4. Kleine Seen

5. Ohne Mich

6. Der Wal

7. In Dieser Nacht

8. Durch Ruinen

9. Das Kleine Herz

10. Halt Mich Fest

11. Schone Zeit

Tracks:

Matthaus-Passion
Johannes-Passion
Weihnachts-Oratorium
Juditha Triumphans
Messiah
Crudel Tiranno Amor
Die Schopfung
Orlando Paladino
7 Lieder
Le Nozze Di Figaro
Exsultate, Jubilate Ch'io Mi Scordi Di Te, K505
Misera! Dove Son! K369
18 Lieder
Frauenliebe Und- Leben
11 Lieder
20 Morike-Lieder

Customer Reviews:

Elly Ameling now more available .......2007-03-07

I had a 33 rpm album of Elly Ameling singing Schubert lieder accompanied by piano and clarinet at times. It was one of my all time favorite albums so I have been disappointed that I have not been able to find it anywhere on CD.

Now I can just buy this excellent collection. So much music in one place! Since I confess that I am far from an expert on the rest of her records, I look forward to hearing her sing many other styles and composers.

I think it is silly to criticize her for not singing Wagner, for example, since her version of many songs, especially lieder, are nothing short of sublime. I would like to hear how many Wagnerians sing Schubert or Mozart.

I doubt if they could approach the skill and soul with which Elly Ameling sings lieder.

Delight in every note.......2006-03-10

To speak as briefly as possible about this superb collection from an equally superb singer, what can I say but that Ms Ameling possessed a voice that shone with radiant warmth and star-like shimmer? And unlike many another light lyric soprano, Elly Ameling was possessed of a very high standard of musicianship, considerable intelligence, and a sort of immediate charm that captivates the listener.

So many of her recordings have still to be released on CD, but this 5CD-set goes some way towards remedying the situation. The repertoire spans a wide variety - French mèlodies, Lieder, light-hearted "sentimental" songs, Bach, etc. - and in each piece, Ms Ameling shows that quality of pearl-like beauty. It is a beauty which is also extremely pretty - a beauty of voice that is never overbearing and over-ripe, but perfectly blossoming upon the tree of inspiration.

I recommend this set unequivocally. It truly is sheer delight.

While they last..........2005-05-17

Elly Ameling held the quiet stage for recitals of great artistry and dignity for several decades and sadly most of the enormously successful CDs of her long career output are now unavailable. For those who have little access to the documentation of this very special artist, this box set is a must. It is a compilation of many of her recordings with differing accompanists, conductors, orchestras and composers. And while not all of the choices for inclusion here would be considered her greatest moments, there are enough works that sustain the warm memories of the little Dutch hausfrau who quietly and simply paid homage to composers with her clear and intelligent musicianship and radiant voice.

Ameling was known to schedule recitals of Schubert cycles and songs and in the afterglow of her performance answer the demand for curtain calls with additional Schubert melodies: she gifted her audience with the dignity of honoring a composer's works by maintaining the focus on that composer rather than milk the audience with the usual encore applause-getting favorites. And special moments such as quietly and pensively strolling through the orchestra during the Mahler 4th symphony to arrive at front stage, unapplauded, just in time for the opening line of her singing - those simple homage to composers and collaborators made her selfless manner endearing to audiences.

Despite the fact that Ameling's voice was on the small side she was always able to muster the projection to carry her message solidly in context with an orchestra. Yes, other more famous singers have recorded Ravel's quintessentially French SHEHERAZADE, but few have the perfection of diction and aura of mystery that Ameling maintained. Whether singing with piano or orchestra, or interpreting Bach, Mozart, Handel, and Vivaldi with the same degree of involvement as Brahms and Schumann and Schubert, Elly Ameling spanned a career that engendered passionate commitment from her fans. And this boxed set is a pocket full of memories to be treasured. Buy it before this too becomes unavailable. Grady Harp, May 05

Treasures From a Treasure.......2004-09-25

Treasures from a Treasure.

Ameling, one of the world's most beloved recitalists is captured here in a 5 CD collection offering some of her most beautiful recordings of song. While we are used to her perfection in songs of Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Faure and Hahn, an added joy is her "pop" side, tackling - without a whiff of pretension, Porter, Kern, Gershwin, Ellington, et al.

What an absolute joy it is listening to this amazing artist sing these songs with an almost uncanny natural ease. There is no resorting to a "pop" voice and yet most of these pop standards songs sound as though they could have been written for her. Clean attacks, sometimes a bit of the pop technique of hanging on to a consonant longer than a classical artist normally would shows an appreciation and understanding of the style. Still, there is never once a compromise of her vocal beauty.

I like the way the songs have been arranged for her voice in that she sort of sings them clean, unaffected in the first half and then lets loose and kinda "swings" with it adding embellishments but never really changing her voice (Price, von Stade and other favorite singers of mine seem to have always added a breathy quality to much of their crossover material.)

Ameling doesn't resort to trying to "let her hair down" or get down and dirty, but rather the honest with which she approaches every one of these songs shows how much she enjoys singing them and her style is as refreshing as stumbling onto a cool spring on a sweltering summer's afternoon. A wonderful surprise.

More than fully earned praise for an exceptional singer........2003-07-15

As I had the privilige of hearing this outstanding Lied-singer during her long career in Holland and being the proud possessor of almost all her recordings, I cannot but fully agree with the professional and joyful review of Mr. Robert Holliston from Victoria, B.C. Canada.
Yes, it is unbelievable that of about the 150 recordings Mrs. Ameling made during her long career (for the greater part of course on the 'oldfashioned' LP's, as well as the innumerable Dutch live-recorded radio-concerts), so few CD's have been released.
Speaking of tradition: it was the page-turner of the Wigmore Hall in London who told Mrs. Ameling after her first recital in this hall, that she reminded him of Elisabeth Schumann. (And he certainly didn't mean her looks only!)
For those who are eager to hear her singing Ravel's Shéhérazade (just one example of stirring imagination combined with her Art of Singing) I can tell you that Philips released a 2-box CD of this work in 1999, combined with Debussy's La Damoiselle élue and a compilation of French mélodies, i.e. Debussy, Fauré, Duparc, Satie. One of the gems is Caplet's Le Corbeau et le Renard which even make children, who know the fables of La Fontaine, revel in the singing of the quarrelsome birds....
Her brilliant accompanyist is Rudolf Jansen. Let us cherish great artists in their art!

Human Element: The World's First Human Beatbox Compilation

Average customer rating:

I Really Like The Fact That They Have Blake
Finally

Human Element: The World's First Human Beatbox Compilation
Kris Jung , and DOA
Manufacturer: High Times Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
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Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts
Make the Music 2000
It Won't Be Soon Before Long

ASIN: B00024I394
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Intro/the Original Jazzy Jay & Wise (of Stetsasonic)
Scratch Intro/Scratch (of the Roots)
Heat Rocks/Kmillion
Come on Everybody/4Zone
Elevation/D.R.E.S. tha Beatnik
Category 3: Versatility/B-Shorty
Liquid Butterfly/Kris Jung
DOA/DOA
Peruddha/Chile Diaz
Interlude/B-Shorty vs. Q-Bert
Contact/Click tha Supah Latin ! amp: Fam
Autobox/Fedahi featuring Nick Dynamo & Jis the Future
Reggae Medley..Good Weed..So Many Years/Boxx featuring Ranking, Texas & Mouse

Album Description

The world's first human beatbox compilation. The fine art of Beatboxing finally gets its due on this amazing 13-track comp featuring some of the biggest names in this under-rated element of hip hop.

The use of human voices as musical instruments is becoming ever popular. Bjork's record Medulla features her singing over percussive beats created by some of today's masters of human beatboxing, including Japan's Dokaka, the UK's Shlomo, and former Roots member Rahzel. In addition to it's unique voice-based backdrops, the album features stunning vocal collaborations with an eclectic roster of performers including Faith No More/Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton, Inuit throat singer Tagaq, classical singer/human trombonist Gregory Purnhagen (Philip Glass, Gavin Bryars), legendary art-rock legend Robert Wyatt, plus the Icelandic Choir and the London Choir.

Customer Reviews:

I Really Like The Fact That They Have Blake.......2007-06-17

I really like the fact with the brand new human beat boxer Blake Lewis is already on a beatboxing cd... Because Blake just came in second for American idol about a month ago. It was very nice for (so-and-so song writer) of this cd put him on it.

Finally.......2005-03-03

Finally an album about beatboxing. I recommend it for creative inspiration. Goes to show you that you can do anything with a 4 track and imagination. This is not an album for those who love the smooth over produced studio sound of the current hip hop. This album is not perfect and it's not because it's a produced pop tart deal. It's because true creativity has rough patches.

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Quintessential Quintets
The pinnacle of Mozart's chamber works
Mozartian bliss

Mozart: Complete Quintets, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: The Complete Quintets, Vol. 2
Mozart: Complete String Trios & Duos
Mozart: The Complete Piano Trios
Mozart: The Great Serenades
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

ASIN: B0000041MQ
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 1. Allegro Moderato
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Adagio
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto Ma Allegretto
String Quintet In B Flat, KV 174 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Allegro
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 1. Allegro
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 2. Adante
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 3. Menuetto In Canone
String Quintet In C Minor, KV 406 (516h) For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello: 4. Allegro
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 1. Allegro
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 2. Andante
Quintet In E Flat, KV 407 For Horn, Violin, 2 Violas, And Cello: 3. Allegro
Adagio In B Flat, KV 411For 2 Clarinets And 3 Basset Horns

Tracks:

Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 1. Largo - Allegro moderato
Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 2. Larghetto
Quintet In E Flat, KV 452 For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, And Bassoon: 3. Allegretto
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 1. Allegro
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 2. Andante
String Qunitet In C, KV 515 For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, And Cello: 3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Allegro

Amazon.com

If I could pick a musical premiere out of the past that I could have attended, I would probably choose one of those evenings when Mozart and Haydn took the two viola parts in the first performances of Mozart's string quintets. It's something to wonder at, anyway. The string quintets are not only Mozart's greatest chamber music, they are among the most profoundly inspired pieces of music by anyone for any instruments. Three of them can be found on this budget priced set, superbly performed, along with the Horn Quintet, and the Quintet for Piano and Winds, which inspired Beethoven to compose a not quite as successful sequel. Greatness, folks, pure and simple. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Quintessential Quintets.......2007-03-07

This is an outstanding 2-disc set from Philips at an even more outstanding price! These enchanting chamber pieces by Mozart seem to float on air, and transport the listener to another place in time. While these works may not have the sweeping grandeur of his symphonies and operas, they possess a remarkable intimacy, spirit, and beauty. In a nutshell, these works capture the qualities that make Mozart's music in general so special. The vivid performance of the string version of the 1781 wind serenade K388, (which here is KV 406), may be the highlight of the entire set. Simply an indispensable Mozart compilation that will enrich your life for years to come!

The pinnacle of Mozart's chamber works.......2005-03-27

It is nearly universally agreed that Mozart's string quintets not only surpassed his earlier "Haydn" string quartets but are amoung his finest chamber compositions and in the entire clasical repetory. Particularly, the late string quintets, K515 & 516, are thought to be Mozart's pinnacle chamber compositions - exceedingly rich in texture and tone as well as perfected symmetry of form. This is a high-quality grouping of Mozart's wonderful and instrumentally-diverse quintets (strings, piano/winds and horn). One quintet in this first volume that may be the most special is the fairly unique quintet for piano and wind quartet - a composition that Mozart even thought to be his finest at the time of writing. Its delicacy and skill of blending the more complex and powerful tones of the clavier with the graceful, nuanced timbres of the winds shows Mozart's mastery of composing for winds.

The performances of the string quintets by the quintet featuring legendary violinist, Aurther Grumiaux, are cited in nearly every major review as a truly exceptional example of the art of chamber music playing. Gramophone, Jim Svejda, Penguin and Third Ear Guides all give them the highest ratings, while Gramophone concluded that, "This edition belongs in the pantheon of Great Mozart recordings." Additionally, Gramophone awarded the String Quintets here their highest award - one of the "Top 100 Recordings of All Time" - which is an accolade about as high as you can get. The performances have that distinct polished Grumiaux elegance and tonal opulance while the recorded sound is of the highest clarity.

Philip's Quintets I and II is an absolutely superb, timeless set of four CD's that contain some of the creme of the classical chamber repertoire. It will be hard to find a better compilation of this calibre. Chamber enthusiasts will want to get both Vol.I and II as each set contains 2-3 major works that are treasured by many a Mozart fan. A wonderful investment that will reward the listener for a lifetime.

Mozartian bliss.......2000-06-30

This is a particularly ethereal set of discs. The main works here are three String Quintets, played by an augmented Grumiaux Trio with total assurance & commitment. These are all ravishingly beautiful works. The Horn Quintet, where the soloist is Timothy Brown, is a happy and spirited piece, again wonderfully played. The only question mark surrounds the rather literal, even wooden performance of the Piano Quintet with Ingrid Haebler & The Bamberg Wind Quintet. Compared to Murray Perahia & his ECO Wind Players, the recoridng here sounds far too measured and unspontaneous. Nevertheless, this cannot detract from the magnificence of the other recorded works on this disc, which are all to be had a a very reasonable price.

Average customer rating:

Fresh voices, Wonderful piano

Wolf: Morike Lieder
Joan Rodgers , Stephan Genz , and Roger Vignoles
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Hugo Wolf: Eichendorff - Leider

ASIN: B00005QIT9
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Customer Reviews:

Fresh voices, Wonderful piano.......2002-05-02

These 2 discs contains all Moerike Lieder of Hugo Wolf, sung in the publish order. Two singers are at their best, especially Stephan Genz, a really good young voice.

The piano part is excellent. The booklet was designed in the classic Hyperion-lied style (thanks to Graham Johnson), beautiful, elegant and informative. All notes in the booklet were written by Vignoles himself, with somewhat stressing on the technic part. The object historical background or subject intrepretation note of each lied was often missing, compared to the notes of Johnson on Schubert.

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
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A comprehensive look at a legendary "Ring" cycle

Boulez sans Chereau; c'est bon...

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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
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Wagner: Parsifal

Wagner - Gotterdammerung

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Wagner: Das Rheingold

Wagner: Götterdämmerung

ASIN: B000I8OFIM
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Album Description

Includes: Das Rheingold * Die Walkure * Siegfried * Gotterdamerung CAST LIST Fritz Hubner, Franz Mazura, Donald McIntyre, Siegfried Jerusalem, Heinz Zednik, Manfred Jung, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Hermann Becht, Hanna Schwarz, Peter Hofmann, Jeanine Altmeyer, Matti Salminen, Gabriele Schnaut, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Pierre Boulez, conductor. "Patrice Chereau's Bayreuth Centenary Ring may be more than twenty-five years old but it remains an iconic and defining production. Both he and conductor Pierre Boulez rethought approaches to Wagner, so much so that the orchestra threatened to go on strike if Boulez did not allow them to play the way they'd always played. Chereau set the action in the Industrial Age at the time the Ring was written, relating it to the political thinking of the time and humanising the characters. The cast was the cast of the day led by Donald McIntyre's frock-coated industrialist Wotan, and a redoubtable but touching Brunnhilde from Gwyneth Jones. Boulez pared back the music to, at times, chamber orchestra proportions. The result was a triumph which redefined Wagner production for the modern era and is still as powerful today as when first seen."--BBC Radio

Customer Reviews:

A comprehensive look at a legendary "Ring" cycle.......2006-11-29

Given its somewhat dicey reputation, I think many listeners will be astonished at how good this famous Seventies Ring from Boulez sounds when stripped of its visuals. Long available on tape and DVD, it has now been fantasically well remastered for CD. Here is a comprehensive review of each installment.

'Das Rheingold.'
Donald McIntyre Wotan ; Hermann Becht Alberich ; Martin Egel Donner ; Matti Salminen Fasolt ; Carmen Reppel sop Freia ; Norma Sharp sop Woglinde ; Ilse Gramatzki sop Wellgunde ; Hanna Schwarz mez Fricka ; Marga Schiml mez Flosshilde ; Ortrun Wenkel cont Erda ; Heinz Zednik ten Loge ; Helmut Pampuch ten Mime ; Siegfried Jerusalem ten Froh ; Fritz Hübner bass Fafner

As expected, Boulez takes a swift view of Rheingold, which helps immensely to bring the drama to the fore. In this instance the absence of visuals isn't harmful. The mostly non-stellar singers are exemplary, starting with a trio of Rheinmaidens who sing absoutely beautifully and an Alberich who malevolence is totally convincing. The Bayretuh acoustic is almost as good as a studio recording, albeit some details (such as the trumpetfanfaress in Scene 1 that celebrate the gold when the sunlight hits it) can feel a bit underplayed. With the microphones in the pit, the orchestral part is neither muffled nor distant. The voices are crystal clear, and Philips has done well in softening the sharp treble that listeners complained about on the LPs. Stage noises are considerable; the audience is silent.

For once the legendary Bayreuth orchestra actually plays like a world-class ensemble, kept together meticulously by Boulez. At the time his avoidance of Wangerian convention (i.e., ponderousness and weighty 'importance') was controversial. Now it feels both natural and refreshing. Some of the major roles aren't completely satisfying on CD, starting with Donald McIntyre's Wotan. He has a strong voice and stage presence, but the pscyhological depth of a Hans Hotter is missing; fortunately, McIntyre does his best to dramatize his lines. Happily, the Loge, aided by the fast pace, sounds like a real fire spirit and ot just a retired German tenor--this one is a bit srill and sharp-voiced, which suits the role. The Mime is even stronger (to tell the truth, he should have been the Loge since he has a mellower voice).

The scene changes and prelude are excitingly played--the entrance into the Niebelugen world after Scene 1 is quqite thrilling, and the anvils come through with force, if not exactly the ring of terror the have in Karajan's recording for DG. Donner's clanging hammer in Scene 4 is feelbe, but the resulting thunder is admirably loud. As for the climax, I've heard grander and more exalted entires of the gods into Valhalla--Boulez prefers a light, lyrical rainbow bridge.

In sum, a great Rheingold that bows to none, especially in its conducting and dramatic impact.

'Die Walkür.
Donald McIntyre Wotan ; Jeannine Altmeyer sop Sieglinde ; Gwyneth Jones sop Brünnhilde ; Carmen Reppel sop Gerhilde ; Katie Clarke sop Helmwige ; Karen Middleton sop Ortlinde ; Hanna Schwarz mez Fricka ; Gabriele Schnaut mez Waltraute ; Elisabeth Glauser mez Rossweisse ; Marga Schiml mez Siegrune ; Ilse Gramatzki mez Grimgerde ; Gwendoline Killebrew cont Schwertleite ; Peter Hofmann ten Siegmund ; Matti Salminen bass Hunding

The PBS audience thirty yeaars ago was captivated by this Walkure, especially the handsome, touching Siegmund of Peter Hoffmann, then an unknown in the U.S. However, on CD there have always been complaints about the leads. Without Nilsson as Brunnhilde, we begin to run into vocal limitations in the second installment of the "Ring," a fact as true today as in 1976. So how does the Boulez version hold up without the charismatic visuals?

As with Rheingold, I have no reservations about the reecorded sound, the orchestra, or Boulez'a conducting. Everything is first-rate, despite numberous stage noises, and there is not the slightest muffle due to the covered orchestra pit--the engineers have taken care of that. Boulez's swift modernist approach sounds as gripping as ever, totally convincing except to die-hard traditionalists who might go into shock when these tempos are set against Knappertsbusch's.

These positives set the stage for the singers, and even moderately good ones will do (by no means are any as bad as the worst in Furtwangler's two Ring cycles from Italy). Happily, the young-sounding Siegmund and Sieglinde, while hardly the equal of Melcoir and Lehmann (or anywhere close) remain dramatically convincing without the aid of visuals. Altmeyer and Hoffmann really make you believe in their characters, conveying a touching vulnerability. We get really first-rate singing form Salminen's black-voiced Hunding, Schwarz's Fricka (she also stood out in Rheingold), and, with reservations, McIntyre's Wotan. He is more than respectable, but the character fails to reach the musical heights of Hotter and the superb Thomas Stewart for Karajan. His weakest moment, unfortunately, is at the end, where his farewell to Brunnhilde encoutners vocal fatigue and fails to be emotionally moving, despite Boulez's lovely underpinnings.

This Walkure has to be appreciated as a conductor-and-stage-director's performance. If you wait for a stunning Der Maner Sippe or Wintersturme, you will be disappointed. I have saved Gwyneth Jones's Brunnhilde for last, given her controversial status. First of all, she made a stunning impact on film, equalled only by Hildegarde Behrens in her generation. The good news is that this early in her career, Jones is in best voice; the bad is that she wobbles and can't be trusted to be on pitch. I would rank her far below Nilsson and well below Crepin (Karajan's compelling Brunnhilde) in the modern era, but in no way i Jones embarrassing. Her Ho-jo-to-ho's, in fact, are believable and thrilling. Where it counts most dramatically--in the confrontation with Siegmund in Act 2 and the finale scenes with Wotan--Jones comes through.

In sum, this is a completely satisfying 'Walkure' on all counts but the singing, which is never less than veyr good but doesn't reach the heights. Since I love music drama more than opera per se, I would rank Boulez's recording above Solti on DEcca or the live Bohm account, also form Bayreuth, on Philips.

'Siegfried'.
Donald McIntyre Wanderer ; Hermann Becht Alberich ; Gwyneth Jones sop Brünnhilde ; Norma Sharp sop Woodbird ; Ortrun Wenkel cont Erda ; Manfred Jung ten Siegfried ; Heinz Zednik ten Mime ; Fritz Hübner bass Fafner

With two totally convincing installments uner his belt, Boulez raised my hopes for Siegfried. As in those performances, the Bayreuth orchestra sounds first-rate and is vividly cuahgt by the Philips engineers without the usual muffled sonics on other Wanger recordings from this site. The pacing is swift and draatically pointed--in that regard boulez surpasses the overly driven Solti and the too laid back Karajan. The recent appearnace of Keilberth's 1955 live siegfried gave us one of the best sung on records, but Boulez is far ahead of Keilberth dramatically and musically.

It's a given that 'Siegfried' brings compromises, then as now. Without singers of almost superhuman ability, every prduction must settle. Fortunately, this cast has the huge benefit of sounding dramatically committed. The Mime of a young Heinz Zednik is as good as one could hope for. Manfred Jung has a light, rather shrill voice for Siegfried, but he's youthful and totally committed to the role, which counts for a lot. The forging Scene requires deft tricks for him to get through it, but that's true for every Siegfried since Melchior. In any event, nobody since 1974 has surpassed Jung, which is something. My only reget is that he runs out of steam by the last act.

Gwyneth Jones made for a thrilling Brunnhilde in all respects--she was young strikingly good-looking, and dramatically convincing. But the Waking Scene is cruelly difficult; it requires a lustrous dramatic soprano to plant her feet and let fly. Like everyone else, I wish Jones's voice didnd't wobble and that she was on pitch more often, but there's no doubt that she lets fly. She is caught at her youthful best, and in the absence of Nilsson or Jane Eaglen, I can't think of a better Brunnhilde in the modern era.

This leaves the excellent but not great Wotan of Donald McIntyre, who tends to roar and bluster--he lacks real stature aas a character. Still, there's no doubt that he has a powerful, commanding voice. The minor roles are all well taken.

In sum, what makes this Siegfried a notable success is Boulez, who dominates every aspect of this Ring cycle. We get a good cast as far as drama goes, somewhat less appealing vocally. and the finale scene between Brunnhilde and Siegfried, which needs to be the opera's crowning glory, is a major letdown. For that reason, I think three and a half stars is about right.

'Götterdämmerung.
Hermann Becht Alberich ; Franz Mazura Gunther ; Gwyneth Jones sop Brünnhilde ; Jeannine Altmeyer sop Gutrune ; Norma Sharp sop Woglinde ; Ilse Gramatzki sop Wellgunde ; Katie Clarke sop Third Norn ; Gwendoline Killebrew mez Waltraute ; Marga Schiml mez Flosshilde ; Gabriele Schnaut mez Second Norn ; Ortrun Wenkel cont First Norn ; Manfred Jung ten Siegfried ; Fritz Hübner bass Hagen

I'm going to offer the same rationale for this 'Gotterdammerung' that is regularly offered for Furtwangler's Ring cycles from Italy. Ignore the erratic singers and concentrate on the orchestral part. This is the opera to do that in, because Wagner was at the height of his mastery in every bar of 'Gotterdamemrung.' Boulez rises to such a high level of inspiration that I think only Furtwangler--his exact opposite aesthetically--offers a comparison.

After thirty years, the cotnroversy surrounding Boulez's approach (too fast, not traditional enough, spirituality shallow) is moot. What we hear now is a great musician at work. The orchestral execution is stunning and caught all but perfectly by Philips' engineers, who put their microphones directly in the covered pit at Bayreuth. If there's a modern performance that can get by entirely on the orchestral part, it's this one--for pure virtuosity the Vienna Phil. under Solti and the Berlin Phil. under Karajan are finer, but neither conductor, I feel, can match Boulez's thrilling drama.

All of which sounds like a prelude to damning the singers with faint praise. Sadly, I have to. The roles of Brunnhilde an Siegfried are too taxing for Gwyneth Jones and (especially) Manfred Jung. Her birght, youthful dramatic soprano is closer to right, even with its pronounced wobble, than his light, rather shrill tenor, but vocal glory escapes both. I must say, however, that Jones has rarely been surpassed for emotional flexibility, and her vocally flawed Immolation Scene is totally convincing at the dramatic level.

Happily, everyone else sounds very good, but it's hard to overlook the sometimes gaping hole in the middle of this reading. This may sound like half a loaf, but in its totality this recording has more going for it vocally than either Furtwangler cycle, even given Flagstad's unique contribution. It also surpasses the cycles from Haitink on EMI and Levine on DG.

In sum, this is a conductor's 'Gotterdammerung,' and by that standard it deserves five stars. It's shocking that British critics have dissed Boulez so consistently over the years as they overpraised Bohm and Solti. The singers reach a level that would be hard to equal today, much less surpass. Even so, one can't pretend that they rise to the excellence of Solti's famed cast for Decca.

Boulez sans Chereau; c'est bon..........2006-11-21

Ahhh, I've been waiting for this... Hitherto the Boulez/Chereau Bayreuth Ring of 1976 was only available on DVD; to enjoy Boulez' remarkable approach to Wagner conducting, one had to sit through Chereau's hopelessly misconceived staging of the Ring in Second Empire garb. Contrary to Chereau's assertions, Wagner was NOT writing about his time -- he started out allegorizing the events of 1848, but his own loss of faith in revolutionary politics is reflected in the sorry fate of the mortals whose rupture with the Gods he initially wanted to ennoble; Brunnhilde aside, Mankind falls, everyone is corrupted. Such a story begs for mythic archetypes, and sensibly, that's what Wagner used. Wotan in a morning coat made me think I was watching a bad East German production of "Ah, Wilderness." (Though admittedly it's better than the Kupfer/Barenboim "Blade Runner/Laserium/Chernobl" nightmare of a decade later)Anyway, enough abou the DVD -- suffice to say that when this was aired on PBS, I draped a towel over my TV screen somewhere into Valkyrie. So what about the music? Assuming this has been well-remastered (The LP's were dodgy), Boulez favors fleet tempos, crystaline attention to detail, deep structural correspondences (Boulez is fond of comparing Wagner to his acolyte Proust -- the auditor's/reader's memory of the motifs is crucial to both artist's method)and a highlighting of the forward-looking aspects of Wagner, the elements that point to Pelleas et Melisande and the 2nd Viennese School. Contrary to received opinion, I think the singing is just fine, particularly Gwyneth Jones' emotive Brunnhilde and Jeanine Altemeyer's lovely Sieglinde. The golden age of Wagner singing was now past, and subsequent sets by Janowski and Barenboim are no better vocally than this one. And both modern recording technology and the Bayreuth acoustic are kind to these light voices. In short, this is worth getting for a completely fresh take on the conducting: some may find it a race to the finish line, others, like me, yet another Ring to put on when you want to hear clarity,deftness, modernity. (I own and love equally the '56 Knappertsbusch, the Solti, Karajan, Bohm, Janowski and Barenboim sets -- I wouldn't part with any of 'em, and the Boulez will look nice up on that swollen shelf!)
Boulez sans Chereau Pt II
A brief second review is in order, since my first was based on the DVD and my old LP's -- I have since acquired and listened to the CD edition of the Boulez 1980 Bayreuth Ring, and I just want to add that the remastered sound is SPECTACULAR; the Bayreuth acoustic, Boulez's extraordinary attention to color and detail, the orchestra's virtuosity (no fluffed notes, weird entrances, etc)all make for one of the most formidable displays of RING conducting ever. All the fleetness and drama of Bohm, without the crass lack of nuance, all the attention to detail of Karajan without the somnolent stasis...if only Boulez had tackled this in the late '60's, back when he was conducting Parsifal at the festival, and would have had the benefit of a better cast...sigh. Anyway, this may not be a first choice Ring, but for addicts, I think this beats the way-over-rated, over-priced and under-conducted Keilberth stereo edition on Testament...

Carl Czerny, Vol. 1: Nonet; Grande Sérénade Concertante, Op. 126

Average customer rating:

A real masterpiece of composition and playing
Vienna-School composer finally gets his due

Carl Czerny, Vol. 1: Nonet; Grande Sérénade Concertante, Op. 126

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Nonets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Czerny: Symphonies 1 & 5
Czerny: Symphonies No. 2 & 6
Czerny: Piano Sonatas 1-4 / Variations
Czerny: Symphony in D No2, Op781; Piano Concerto in C Op153
Carl Czerny: Erika Raum, Anton Kuerti

ASIN: B0000021EI
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

Nonet: Allegro Maestoso
Nonet: Andante
Nonet: Scherzo/1. Allegro/2. Trio/3. Allegro
Nonet: Finale/1. Intro-Andante/2. Allegretto Vivace
Grande Ser Conc, Op.126: Intro. Adagio
Grande Ser Conc, Op.126: /1. Tema. Allegro Grazioso/2. Var 1/3. Var 2/4. Var 3/5. Var 4...
Grande Ser Conc, Op.126: Adagio
Grande Ser Conc, Op.126: Finale. Allegro Vivace Con Fuoco

Customer Reviews:

A real masterpiece of composition and playing .......2005-08-27

You wonder how such a wonderful piece as the Nonet could have been forgotten and it is hard to believe that this work only exists in manuscript form. And a first class performance too especially from Tanski. It is sometimes hard to imagine that you are only listening to 9 instruments with the resonance and gusto of the performance. It is filled with the most delightful melodies, virtuosic passages and worthy of any music collection. Hopfully we will hear more of this most underrated composer.

Vienna-School composer finally gets his due.......2003-01-11

Carl Czerny was pupil to Beethoven, and teacher to Liszt. He's best known for his progressive finger exercises, the bane of every piano student for the past century and a half.

Czerny's chamber music is fiendishly difficult and seldom performed. But as this recording proves, it's frequently rich and rewarding. If you enjoy Beethoven, Schubert, and other composers of the Vienna School, this CD is simply a must-have.

Tracks:

Prologue/Mich Tr Mein Traum (I Have a Dream)
Honey, Honey
Money, Money, Money
Danke F Lieder (Thank You for the Music)
Mamma Mia
Chiquitita
Dancing Queen
Leg Dein Herz an Eine Leine (Lay All Your Love on Me)
Super Trouper
Gib Mir, Gib Mir, Gib Mir! (Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!)
Was Ist das F Spiel? (The Name of the Game)
Voulez-Vous
Entr'acte
Unter Beschuss (Under Attack)
Einer Von Uns (One of Us)
S.O.S.
Wenn das Mami WDoes Your Mother Know)
Ich Bin Ich, Du Bist Du (Knowing Me, Knowing You)
Unser Sommer (Our Last Summer)
Durch Meine Finger Rinnt Die Zeit (Slipping Through My Fingers)
Der Sieger Hat Die Wahl (The Winner Takes It All)
Komm und Wag's Mit Mir (Take a Chance on Me)
Ich Will, Ich Will, Ich Will, Ich Will, Ich Will (I Do, I Do, I ...)
Mich Tr Mein Traum (I Have a Dream)

Album Details

The Original German Cast Recording of the International Hit Musical that was Derived from the Pop Band's Vast Catalog of Hit Songs and Collected Into a Satisfying Work for the Theatre.

Customer Reviews:

Purchase Error.......2007-02-08

I was surprised that this production was in German. Should have read the description more carefully. My bad. But, since I love Abba's music, even in German, it's a keeper.

Amazing.......2004-10-31

I highly reccomened this cd to you. It is excellent listening to it just after watching the actual musical in toronto. ( this is a good price too!!)
I dont only recommend you buy this album i also recommend you go and see the actual musical in toronto. The cast are amazing.
I highly and defineltely recommend this to you.
11 out of 10!!

Heinrich Schütz: Kleine geistliche Konzerte

Average customer rating:

Quite an accomplishment

Heinrich Schütz: Kleine geistliche Konzerte

Manufacturer: Cpo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Heinrich Schütz: Symphoniae Sacrae, 1629
Schütz: Geistliche Chor-Music 1648
Heinrich Schütz: Cantiones Sacrae
Schütz: Psalmen Davids
Schütz: Symphoniæ Sacræ III

ASIN: B00004S63D
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Eile, Mich Gott, Zu Erretten
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Bringt Her Dem Herren, Ihr Gewaltigen
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Ich Danke Dem Herrn
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: O Susser , O Freundlicher Herr Jesu Christ
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Der Herr Ist Gross
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: O Lieber Herre Gott
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Ihr Heiligen, Lobsinget Dem Herrn
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Erhore Mich, Wenn Ich Dich Rufe
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Wohl Dem, Der Nicht Wandelt
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Schaffe In Mir, Gott, Ein Reines Herz
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Der Herr Schauet Von Himmel
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Lobet Den Herren, Der Zu Zion Wohnet
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Eins Bitte Ich Vom Herren
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: O Hilf, Christe
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Furchte Dich Nicht
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: O Herr, Hilf
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Das Blut Jesu Christi
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Die Gottsiligkeit Ist Zu Allen Dingen Nutz
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Himmel Und Erde Vergehen
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Ein Kind Ist Uns Geboren
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Wir Glauben All An Einen Gott
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Siehe, Mein Fursprecher

Tracks:

Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Ich Hab Mein Sach Gott Heimgestellt
Erster Theil Kleiner Geistlichen Conc Op.8: Ich Hab Mein Gott Heimgestellt
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Will Den Herren Loben Allezeit
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Was Hast Du Verwirket
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: O Jesu, Nomen Dulce
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: O Misericordissime Jesu
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Liege Un Schlafe Und Erwache
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Have Deine Lust An Dem Herrn
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Bone Jesu, Verbum Patris
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Verbum Caro Factum Est
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Hodie Christus Natus Est
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Wann Unsere Augen Schlafen Ein
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Meister, Wir Haben Die Ganze Nacht
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Die Furcht Des Herren
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Beuge Meine Knie
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Bin Jung Gewesen
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Herrn, Wenn Ich Nur Dich Habe

Tracks:

Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Rorate Coeli Desuper
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Joseph, Du Sohn Davids
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Bin Die Auferstehung Und Das Leben
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Die Seele Christi Heilege Mich
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Allein Gott In Der Hoh Sei Ehr
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Ist Gott Fur Uns
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Wer Will Uns Scheiden
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Die Stimme Des Herren
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Sie Gegrusset
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Was Betrubst Du Dich
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Quemadmodum Desiderat Cervus
Anderer Theil Kleinger Geistlichen Conc Op.9: Aufer Immensam, Deus Aufer Iram

Amazon.com

Heinrich Schütz published two volumes of Kleine geistliche Konzerte ("Little Sacred Concertos") during the 1630s. They're certainly small in scale compared to the lavish Psalm settings in the composer's Psalmen Davids; these "concertos" are mostly solos, duets, and trios, with no instruments but keyboard or lute. (The Thirty Years War wrecked the economy of central Europe, and the resources for grander church music weren't available--and neither, most likely, was the inclination to perform it.) Yet this is some of the sweetest, most tender music Schütz ever wrote. For example, the way in which the melodic lines in the duos and trios wrap themselves around each other, come apart briefly, and rejoin is magical; the solo tenor in "O misericordissime Jesu" adores the name of Jesus with as much passion as anything in Monteverdi. Weser-Renaissance, a German ensemble that deserves to be much better known, gives us all the Konzerte--on three discs for the price of two, no less--in exemplary performances with careful attention to the text that was so important to Schütz. The standard of singing is generally high, but sopranos Susanne Rydén and Nele Gramß have such beautifully pure tone and musical rapport that they're surely first among equals here. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Quite an accomplishment.......2000-11-20

I bought this recording primarily for it's documentary value. Complete recordings of the Kleine geistiche Konzerte are not encountered every day, and despite knowing almost nothing of the performers, I looked forward to owning this three CD set. Much to my surprise, the performances were every bit as exciting as the recording feat is impressive. These are not sterile, academic readings but rather fully formed and moving performances of this exquisite music. The vocal style is occasionally more "modern" than one expects in early music, but I welcome the full-throated singing which is always attentive to the passion of the texts. An excellent example is the duet "Habe deine Lust an dem Herrn" by sopranos Susanne Ryden and Nele Gramss, which is one of the real highlights of this set. Alongside the many familiar favorites are many lesser known gems. Many thanks to Manfred Cordes and Wesen-Remaissance Bremen for 195+ minutes of pure pleasure.

Average customer rating:

Schreker: Complete Songs

Manufacturer: Channel Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Franz Schreker: Complete Songs for voice & piano, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000007SYH
Release Date: 1998-06-09

The Hugo Wolf Society - The Complete Edition 1931-1938

Average customer rating:

The Hugo Wolf Society Recordings
"Even little things can delight us."
"Even little things can delight us."
Wolf sung by various Lieder singers

The Hugo Wolf Society - The Complete Edition 1931-1938

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch
Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin
Wolf: Lieder (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gerald Moore)
Mussorgsky: Kovanshchina - Abbado
Handel: Messiah; Athalia; Esther; La Resurrezione

ASIN: B000009OQC
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Moerike-Lieder: 8. Begegnung
Moerike-Lieder: 38. Lied vom Winde
Moerike-Lieder: 15. Auf einer Wanderung
Moerike-Lieder: 41. Rat einer Alten
Spanisches Liederbuch: 12. In dem Schatten meiner Locken
Moerike-Lieder: 37. Heimweh (Anders wird die Welt)
Spanisches Liederbuch: 4. Die ihr schwebet um diese Palmen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 6. Ach, des Knaben Augen
Spanisches Liederbuch: Nun wandre, Maria
Moerike-Lieder: 46. Gesang Weylas
Spanisches Liederbuch: 9. Herr, was traegt der Boden hier
Italiensches Liederbuch: 1. Auch kleine Dinge
Moerike-Lieder: 7. Das verlassene Maegdlein
Eichendorff-Lieder: 4. Das Staendchen
Spanisches Liederbuch: Wenn du zu den Blumen gehst
Italiensches Liederbuch: 34. Und steht Ihr frueh am Morgen auf
Italiensches Liederbuch: 16. Ihr jungen Leute
Italiensches Liederbuch: 10. Du denkst mit einem Faedchen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 12. Nein, junger Herr
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 1: Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 2: An die Tueren will ich schleichen
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 3: Wer nie sein Brot
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 29. Anakreons Grab
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 15. Cophtisches Lied 2 (Geh! Gehorche)
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 21. Genialisch Treiben
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 11. Der Rattenfenger
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 19. Epiphanias
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 26. Die Sproede
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 27. Die Bekehrte
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 24. Blumengruss
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 25. Gleich und gleich
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 28. Fruehling uebers Jahr

Tracks:

Goethe-Lieder: 49. Prometheus
Goethe-Lieder: 50. Ganymed
Goethe-Lieder: 18. Beherzigung
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 1: Wohl denk' ich oft
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 2: Alles endet, was entstehet
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 3: Fuehlt meine Seele
Moerike-Lieder: 19. Um Mitternacht
Moerike-Lieder: 42. Erstes Liebeslied eines Maedchens
Moerike-Lieder: 45. Nixe Binsefuss
Spanisches Liederbuch: Moegen alle boesen Zungen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 24. Koepfchen, Koepfchen, nicht gewimmert
Spanisches Liederbuch: 11. Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero
Spanisches Liederbuch: 26. Bitt ihn, o Mutter
Italiensches Liederbuch: 6. Wer rief dich denn?
Italiensches Liederbuch: 25. Mein Liebster hat zu Tische mich geladen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 43. Schweig einmal still
Italiensches Liederbuch: 35. Benedeit die sel'ge Mutter
Italiensches Liederbuch: 7. Der Mond hat eine schwere Klag' erhoben
Italiensches Liederbuch: 27. Schon streckt' ich aus im Bett die mueden Glieder
Goethe-Lieder: 51. Grenzen der Menschheit
Italiensches Liederbuch: 32. Was soll der Zorn, mein Schatz
Italiensches Liederbuch: 24. Ich esse nun mein Brot nicht trocken mehr
Italiensches Liederbuch: 31. Wie soll ich froehlich sein
Italiensches Liederbuch: 11. Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 28. Du sagst mir, dass ich keine Fuerstin sei
Italiensches Liederbuch: 26. Ich liess mir sagen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 29. Wohl kenn' ich Euren Stand
Italiensches Liederbuch: 21. Man sagt mir, deine Mutter woll' es nicht
Italiensches Liederbuch: 36. Wenn du, mein Liebster, steigst zum Himmel auf

Tracks:

Italiensches Liederbuch: 20. Mein Liebster singt am Haus im Mondenscheine
Italiensches Liederbuch: 40. O waer' dein Haus durchsichtig wie ein Glas
Italiensches Liederbuch: 39. Gesegnet sei das Gruen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 2. Mir ward gesagt, du reisest in die Ferne
Italiensches Liederbuch: 15. Mein Liebster ist so klein
Italiensches Liederbuch: 46. Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebster wohnen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 4. Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt entstund
Italiensches Liederbuch: 3. Ihr seid die Allerschoenste
Italiensches Liederbuch: 13. Hoffaertig seid Ihr, schoenes Kind
Italiensches Liederbuch: 9. Dass doch gemalt all deine Reize waeren
Italiensches Liederbuch: 17. Und willst du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 38. Wenn du mich mit den Augen streifst
Italiensches Liederbuch: 41. Heut Nacht erhob ich mich, um Mitternacht
Italiensches Liederbuch: 22. Ein Staendchen Euch zu bringen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 8. Nun lass uns Frieden schliessen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 19. Wir haben beide lange Zeit geschwiegen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 14. Geselle, woll'n wir uns in Kutten huellen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 18. Heb auf dein blondes Haupt
Italiensches Liederbuch: 33. Sterb' ich, so huellt in Blumen meine Glieder
Italiensches Liederbuch: 37. Wie viele Zeit verlor ich
Italiensches Liederbuch: 23. Was fuer ein Lied soll dir gesungen werden
Spanisches Liederbuch: 7. Muehvoll komm' ich und beladen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 15. Auf dem gruenen Balkon
Spanisches Liederbuch: 14. Treibe nur mit Lieben Spott
Spanisches Liederbuch: 29. Trau nicht der Liebe
Spanisches Liederbuch: 38. Sie blasen zum Abmarsch
Sechs Gedichte: 3. Biterolf (Im Lager von Akkon 1190)
Moerike-Lieder: 22. Seufzer
Moerike-Lieder: 28. Gebet
Moerike-Lieder: 23. Auf ein altes Bild
Moerike-Lieder: 32. An die Geliebte
Moerike-Lieder: 12. Verborgenheit
Moerike-Lieder: 39. Denk es, o Seele!
Moerike-Lieder: 51. Bei einer Trauung
3. Ein Stuendlein wohl vor Tag
Moerike-Lieder: 16. Elfenlied

Tracks:

Sechs Alte Weisen: 6. Wie glaenzt der helle Mond
Goethe-Lieder: 14. Cophtisches Lied 1
Eichendorff-Lieder: 2. Der Musikant
Eichendorff-Lieder: 5. Der Soldat
Eichendorff-Lieder: 9. Der Schreckenberger
Moerike-Lieder: 44. Der Feuerreiter
Drei Gedichte von Robert Reinick: 1. Gesellenlied (Kein Meister faellt)
Goethe-Lieder: 5. Mignon 1 (Heiss mich nicht reden)
Goethe-Lieder: 7. Mignon 3 (So lasst mich scheinen)
Moerike-Lieder: 29. An den Schlaf
Moerike-Lieder: 36. Liebe wohl
Spanisches Liederbuch: 30. Ach, im Maien war's
Spanisches Liederbuch: 21. Herz, verzage nicht geschwind
Moerike-Lieder: 30. Neue Liebe
Moerike-Lieder: 48. Storchenbotschaft
Spanisches Liederbuch: 32. Dereinst, dereinst, Gedanke mein
Spanisches Liederbuch: 31. Alle gingen, Herz, zur Ruh
Spanisches Liederbuch: 33. Tief im Herzen trag' ich Pein
Sechs Gedichte: 6. Zur Ruh, zur Ruh
Spanisches Liederbuch: 34. Komm, o Tod, von Nacht umgeben
Sechs Lieder fuer eine Frauenstimme: 4. Wiegenlied (Im Sommer)
Sechs Lieder fuer eine Frauenstimme: 5. Wiegenlied (Im Winter)
Moerike-Lieder: 20. Auf eine Christblume I (Tochter des Walds)
Moerike-Lieder: 24. In der Fruehe
Moerike-Lieder: 25. Schlafendes Jesuskind

Tracks:

Goethe-Lieder: 20. Sankt Nepomuks Vorabend
Goethe-Lieder: 12. Ritter Kurts Brautfahrt
Moerike-Lieder: 47. Die Geister am Mummelsee
Moerike-Lieder: 10. Fussreise
Moerike-Lieder: 43. Lied eines Verliebten
Moerike-Lieder: 25. Schlafendes Jesuskind
Moerike-Lieder: 4. Jaegerlied
Moerike-Lieder: 17. Der Gaertner
Moerike-Lieder: 50. Auftrag
Moerike-Lieder: 9. Nimmersatte Liebe
Spanisches Liederbuch: 44. Geh, Geliebter, geh jetzt!
Goethe-Lieder: 10. Der Saenger
Eichendorff-Lieder: 13. Der Scholar
Eichendorff-Lieder: 14. Der verzweifelte Liebhaber
Eichendorff-Lieder: 15. Unfall
Vier Gedichte: 1. Wo wird einst (Heine)
Vier Gedichte: 3. Sonne der Schlummerlosen
Vier Gedichte: 4. Keine gleicht von allen Schoenen
Eichendorff-Lieder: 1. Der Freund
Eichendorff-Lieder: 2. Der Musikant
Sechs Gedichte: 1. Waechterlied auf der Wartburg
Moerike-Lieder: 40. Der Jaeger
Goethe-Lieder: 32. Phaenomen
Eichendorff-Lieder: 3. Verschwiegene Liebe
Vier Gedichte: 1. Wo wird einst (Heine)
Ueber Nacht (Sturm)

Amazon.com

EMI's "society" subscription editions in the 1930s yielded a wealth of recordings long considered gramophone classics, such as the present collection of roughly half of Hugo Wolf's lieder output. Each song occupies its own specific world, due to Wolf's resourceful word setting and his avoidance of anything generic. In turn, the performers illuminate each song's felicities with effortless authority, and they avoid overpointing or enacting. Full texts and translations are included. Ernest Newman's penetrating annotations for the original 78 albums, reprinted in EMI's 1981 LP reissue, are absent. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

The Hugo Wolf Society Recordings.......2005-12-28

The songs of Hugo Wolf (1860 -- 1903)combine great attention to textual detail with closely intertwined writing for the voice and the piano. In this small form, Wolf was a master and took song in a different direction from that of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. He wrote most of his songs in bursts of activity in five large collections, devoted to the poetry of Morike, Eichendorff, Goethe, and to collections of Spanish and Italian texts. He also composed a number of songs in shorter sets.

In the early 1930s, a young Walter Legge began a project of recording Wolf songs on a subscribtion basis to be limited to 500 sets. The recording industry was relatively new, and Wolf, then as now, too little appreciated. The result was an extensive series of recordings of issued between 1931 and 1938 consisting of 145 songs, about one-half Wolf's output, performed by fourteen singers. The Hugo Wolf Society recordings remain a high moment in the recording of song. They were remastered on LPs and, in 1998, in this 5 CD collection which includes previously unreleased selections.

The Wolf Society collection offers an unparalleled opportunity to get to know Wolf's songs performed by artists of the past that might otherwise be unfamiliar to many listeners. The performers include mezzo-soprano Elena Gerhardt, who recorded the initial volume for the society, baritones Herbert Janssen, Gerhard Husch, tenors John McCormack, Karl Erb, and Helge Roswaenge, the basses Alexander Kipnis, Frederich Schorr, and Ludwig Weber, and sopranos Alexandra Trianti, Elizabeth Rethberg, Ria Ginster, Marta Fuchs, and Tiana Lemnitz. The pianists include Conrad Bos, Gerald Moore, Michael Raucheisen, Hans Udo Muller, and Ernest Victor Wolff.

The singers perform in a variety of styles from the highly operatic to the quietly lyrical. There is a Wagnerian performance of Goethe's "Prometheus" by Friedrich Schorr with the London Symphony Orchestra -- the only track using an orchestral accompaniment. The Irish tenor John McCormack shows a more lyrical approach in his renowned performance of Goethe's poem "Ganymed". The sopranos, Alexandra Trianti, Ria Ginster, and Tiana Lemitz have light, clear, bell-like voices. I find the singers on this compilation take a much more individualized, idiosyncratic, and romantic approach to song than do their modern counterparts, who sometimes seem restrained and chaste by comparison.

Each of Wolf's great collections of songs is well-represented. Elena Gerhardt performs songs from each of Wolf's five books, with the exception of the Goethe songs. The young Alexander Kipnis gives a powerful reading of Wolf's three songs from Michaelangelo. The third CD in this collection features many songs from the Italian songbook performed by soprano Ginster, baritone Husch, and bass Kipnis together with recordings from the Spanish songbook by sopranos Rethberg and Ginster and baritone Husch. There are lovely performances by soprano Tiana Lemnitz in the previously uncollected supplementary material, which also includes several Eichendorff songs and a performance of the Goethe-song "Phanomen" by Alexander Kipnis.

There is a great amount of material in this collection, with each of the 5 CDs including in excess of 70 minutes of music. Most of Wolf's songs are highly concentrated and intense. They may prove difficult to the listener coming to them knowing only the lyricism of Schubert. I would not recommend trying to rush through this set at one or two hearings. It is best to take this music in small sections and to listen with text in hand. The compilation includes texts and translations for each of the songs together with good notes about the Wolf Society recording project. There is little discussion about Wolf or about the songs themselves.

This is an essential collection for those who love song, historical recordings, and the music of Hugo Wolf.

Robin Friedman

"Even little things can delight us.".......2003-06-02

If these six words give an approximate translation of the song "Auch kleine Dinge", then they might also describe a music lover's reaction as he makes a journey of exploration through the hundreds of little songs composed by Hugo Wolf.

Walter Legge, a very young EMI record producer in the 1930s, first made such a journey possible when he pioneered the Hugo Wolf Society and began releasing the volumes now reissued in this boxed set. Many singers were invited to participate. Legge's choice of singers was sometimes idiosyncratic. You might wonder how an Irish tenor, a Ukrainian bass and a Greek soprano were admitted to the roster. The results, however, especially in the case of the contributions of John McCormack and Alexander Kipnis, prove the sureness of his instincts.

About half Wolf's songs were made available in the original issue, between 1931 and 1938. With this reissue comes unused and hitherto unissued recordings, many by Tiana Lemnitz and Herbert Jannsen. So there is now more to discover and exploration is made easier for us in 2003 than it was in the 1930s. The remastering has improved the sound, Legge's widow Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is able to provide a perceptive introduction in an accompanying booklet, and the texts of the songs are now provided in German and English.

"Even little things can delight us.".......2003-06-02

If these six words give an approximate translation of the song titled "Auch kleine Dinge", then they might also describe a music lover's reaction as he makes a journey of exploration through the hundreds of little songs composed by Hugo Wolf.

Wolf sung by various Lieder singers.......2000-08-15

This is an extraordinary collection of Wolf songs. It is frustrating that the project was not completed, as the quality of what was recorded is so extraordinarily revelatory. My personal favourites are the Michelangelo settings sung by the bass Alexander Kipnis, although he uncharacteristically makes some textual errors. The contributions of Hüsch are numerous and thoughtfully sung, and Karl Erb, Herbert Janssen, Ludwig Weber, Rita Ginster and Marta Fuchs are all caught on extraordinary form, with accompanists of admittedly variable quality, ranging from the sublime Gerald Moore to some very interesting contributions from some accompanists who did not really capture the true essence of Lieder accompanying, which surely cannot permit the piano to be subservient to the voice!

These precious recordings offer us so much. They are a document of a golden age of Lieder singing, and they are superb recitals, sung by a variety of voices, never allowing the listener to tire of listening to a single voice for too long. They are also, of course, examples of some of the most wonderful Lieder writing of any time. These 5 cds are a must for a Lieder specialist, and can open new doors to the novice. Buy them, and never regret having this treasure trove which will give you pleasure all your life.

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