Con Amor

1. Corpus Christi

2. Nada Me Importa

3. Otro Carino

4. Para Que

5. Cuidate

6. Seras

7. Tu Amor

8. Tu Gran Querer

9. You Send Me

10. You're The One

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
George Jay has finally come home to Corpus Christi and is proud to announce the release of his new CD - "CON AMOR" containing both English and Spanish original compositions once again showing his musical diversity.

Corpus Christi's native son, Jorge Alberto Andres Balli got his start in 1962 in Corpus Christi after having his name changed to George Jay which allowed him to enter the Anglo pop market. Always on the cutting edge for it's time, his highly successful band, the Rockin Ravens received national and international recognition with hits such as Cross My Heart and Me Piden. These signature songs continue to be re-recorded today by a new generation of recording artists. After 7 years in the exclusive Tejano circuit, Domingo Pena introduced George Jay to the big time night club circuit starting in Miami performing with the likes of Rick Nelson, Lou Rawls, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Vicki Carr, KC and the Sunshine Band, plus many others. George was soon discovered by Miami insiders who signed him to an exclusive 7 year contract which would take him around the world. Recording for RCA, Peerless, Falcon and ARV International, George Jay gained recognition as a legendary performer. Doing studio work in San Antonio quickly earned George an International Globe Award that catapulted his career to a level not often seen in such a young performer. As one of the first crossover artists in both English and Spanish markets, his stage persona and uncanny impersonations soon earned him the name Mr. Entertainment. Before returning to Corpus Christi, George graced the stage with the likes of Don Ho, Sarah Vaughn, and Tony Bennet and became a staple in the Hawaiian Islands which kept him performing in the Pacific Islands for 10 years.

Product Description
Straight forward Tejano music from South Texas touching on international and crossover pop R&B

Tracks:

Clair de Lune
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Romance: Andante
Moonlight Sonata: Adagio sestonuto
Minute Waltz
On The Beautiful Blue Danube
The Nutcracker Suite: Russian Dance
El Amor Brujo: Danca del Terror
Grand Valse Brillante, Waltz No. 1 op. 18
Scenes Of Childhood Op. 15: Knight Of The Rocking Horse; Important Event
Goldberg Variations: Aria
The Nutcracker Suite: Chinese Dance
Symphony No. 7: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 94: Menuetto: Allegro molto
The Nutcracker Suite: March
Sonata In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': Adagio cantabile

Customer Reviews:

Awesome CD.......2007-05-11

Have enjoyed this CD immensely with our four-year old. Great price for the quality. Thank you.

He started dancing as soon as we put it on!.......2007-01-09

My 12 month old loves this CD and happily bops away to the music (in the car he sometimes even starts singing!). We like it too and not being very well versed in Classical music, it is a nice mix for us.

Better than baby einstein.......2006-02-26

This is a great CD, with great music, at a great price. Everyone seems to love Baby Einstein, but I don't like the plinking music on those CD's, I like real orchestral pieces to stimulate my child. This is exactly what parents need, at a good price!

great music at a great price.......2006-02-02

I got this cd to use as background when putting my 18 month old to sleep and for car rides. So far it has not made it out of the car. The cd is wonderful. The first song is the Luftansa airline comercial song (that is what my husband calls it) and is beautiful. I didn't think my husband would enjoy the cd at all but he doesn't mind one bit listening to it, he actually will put it on himself when we get in the car. My daughter loves it and will often start nodding her head back and forth to songs. I actually listen to it even when my daughter is not in the car. The music is soft and relaxing but not boring. It is also one of the only cd's that my in laws don't mind listening to when they are in the car with us.

I only paid like $4 here on amazon for it and I gladdly would of paid more for such a great cd. Its a great cd for such a great price!

A Wonderful CD for all ages.......2002-11-03

My whole family has enjoyed this CD. It is very upbeat and easy to listen to. I think there is something for everyone on this one.

Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla

Average customer rating:

Excellently performed, Not much Variety
A Classy CD
Great Music BUT - Stupid Sony CD
Very good but not what I heard live in Cerritos
Fantastic Marriage of Two Worlds

Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Obrigado Brazil
Tango: Zero Hour
Astor Piazzolla - The Soul Of Tango: Greatest Hits
Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
Classic Yo-Yo

ASIN: B0000029XQ
Release Date: 1997-10-02

Tracks:

Libertango
Tango Suite: Andante
Tango Suite: Allegro
Tango Suite: Sur: Regreso Al Amor
Tango Suite: Le Grand Tango
Tango Suite: Fugata
Tango Remembrances
Mumuki
Tres Minutos Con La Realidad
Milonga Del Angel
Cafe 1930

Amazon.com essential recording

Yo-Yo Ma might seem like an unlikely protagonist for the tango, but this intrepid musical explorer has taken his task seriously, collaborating with experienced tango musicians. Ma even participates in a posthumous collaboration with one 1987 Piazzolla recording. Furthermore, while he's obviously the headliner here, he doesn't dominate the arrangements nearly as much as he does the billing and photography of the disc. While the result isn't your essential Piazzolla album (that would have to include more of the composer's own playing), it's an atmospheric and convincing collection, perhaps a good introduction for those who don't know the music. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Excellently performed, Not much Variety.......2007-01-12

Yo-Yo Ma leads an all-star cast in his "Sould of the Tango" project. He offers fresh new arrangements of Piazzolla's masterpieces including "Libertango," "Tango Suite," "Fugatta," and more. The arrangements are expertly performed and the playing is exciting and energetic. There is a lush palatte of sound colors coming from guitars, cellos, pianos and the bandoneon. The music is beautiful and flashy. Pieces are reorchestrated such as the "Tango Suite" pieces which are originally guitar duos now with a cello in the mix and the last track on the album, "Cafe 1930" was originally flute and guitar but Ma performs it on cello and bandoneon. The result is freshly interpreted Piazzolla masterpieces that feature new sound color and new perspective. The music is really quite enchanting.

The only problem with this particular recording is that I think Piazzolla is better heard in moderation. Piazzolla wrote in such a constrianed genre, (classical tango), and thus a whole hour of Piazzolla is a little much to take. This great album doesn't make for much of a great straight through listen, but is much better as a plesant surprise when the computer library or iPod is on shuffle.

A Classy CD.......2004-06-23

Great intro to tango, great to relax and read to.

Great Music BUT - Stupid Sony CD.......2003-07-16

I love this music - plays great on my CD player, but when I tried to play it on my computer at work, I wouldn't work. Sony wanted me to install something that didn't work on my machine (my computer is farely new), so I ended up having a friend copy the music over to a new CD without all that SONY stuff they use to stop pirating probably. Now I can listen at work and it is wonderful. BUT BEWARE ON BUYING CDs like this!

Very good but not what I heard live in Cerritos.......2003-03-05

When I first heard Yo-Yo Ma live in Cerritos several years ago, his closing piece was from the yet released Soul of the Tango.
With that music, the subdued audience was enlightened. With only a Cello and a Piano, the music that was created was unbelievable. It was several months before the CD came out and I was a little disappointed that the energy that was present in the live concert did not translate to the CD. I hope that a Live recording or DVD will eventually be released which does capture the real Soul of the Tango.

Fantastic Marriage of Two Worlds.......2003-03-05

I have always thought that Tango deserved a more elevated standing with both professional and amateur music lovers and what better way to attain that wish than having Yo Yo Ma join in for a session.(Is that a question or statement?) This is a remarkable CD that ranges a wide spectrum of Tango music, most of it exciting, sensual and daring.

Piazzolla, a transcendent artist, was determined to broaden Tango's appeal and he did so admirably. Lovers of jazz and classical now appreciate this fusion and nowhere is it expressed better than this offering. Ma admits he was delighted with the chance to work with the other artists and though he is the star it is never totally given over to the cello. As much as I like the cello, it cannot hold a candle to the bandoneon, perhaps the closest thing to a human voice outside of humanity.

Some of these works are magnificent interpretations and in the case of Tango, what is important is staying true to the spirit and not the letter of the note. I love the subtle, whining melodies, the rising and falling of the "voice"...the continual yearning.

An added bonus is that this CD contains an introduction for the PC. One can watch an interview with the performer, view photos or watch a video that intersperces the playing of Yo Yo Ma with cutouts from the movie. But this is something I discovered two full years after listenting to the CD. Get this recording and enjoy.

Very Best of
Average customer rating:

A great introduction to the art of Placido Domingo

This is really the best.

If you like Placido at all, you must have this CD.

Rare And Great Domingo Classics

A real Bobby Dazzler

Very Best of
Placido Domingo
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Placido Domingo: A Love Until The End Of Time

Bravo Domingo

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The Domingo Songbook

ASIN: B000083GOJ
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Ill Mio Tesoro
Un'aura Amorosa
Dies Bildnis Ist Bezaubernd Schon
La Ci Darem La Mano
Vani Sono I Lamenti...Svegliatevi Nel Core
Pays Merveilleux...O Paradis
Quel Trouble Inconnu Me Penetre...Salut ! Demeure Chaste Et Pure (Faust, Act III)
Ah! Tout Est Bien Fini... O Souverain, O Juge, O Pere (Le Cid, Act III)
None But The Lonley Heart
Lensky's Aria
Donna, Non Vidi Mai (Manon Lescauy Act, II)
Ah, Manon, Mi Tradisce
Dammi I Colori...Recondita Armonia
E Lucevan Le Stelle (Tosca, Act III)
Ch'ella Mi Creda (La Fanciulla Del West, Act III)
Dai Campi, Dai Prati (Mefistofele, Act I)
Virgini Muse...Quando Al Soave Anelito
O Sink Hernieder, Nacht Der Liebe
Was Am Besten Er Kann...Hoho! Hohei!

Tracks:

Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi!...Celeste Aida
Su, Profetessa...Di Tu Se Fedele
Forse La Soglia Attinse...Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti
O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli
Su, Cacciator...Fontainebleau!...
Niun Mi Tema
Ach, Wie So Herrlich Zu Schau'n
Sckenkt Man Sich Rosen In Tirol
Gern Hab'ich Die Frau'n Gekusst
O Vaterland...Da Geh'ich Zu Maxim
Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz
Mi Aldea
Cancion Del Sembrador
No Puede Ser
Serenata
Copillas De Belen
Coplas Del Pastor Enamorado
En Aranjues Con Tu Amor
Jealousy Tango
La Golondina

Amazon.com

Placido Domingo is a phenomenon, and every aspect of his artistry is on display in this 2-CD compilation, which includes arias from his signature roles in Italian, French, German, and Russian operas, and songs from Viennese and Spanish operettas. The original recordings range from the early 1970s to the present and show that though over the years his bright golden voice has taken on a darker, more burnished glow, it has retained the melting lyricism, the heroic ring, the thrilling top notes, and the focused intensity that make it instantly recognizable. (Comparing the Verdi arias included here with their counterparts of later vintage in the all-Verdi set The Tenor Arias bears this out.) The program demonstrates his stylistic and expressive versatility and his ability to instantly establish character and mood, from Lenski's sorrow (in Eugene Onegin), Cavaradossi's heart-rending despair (in Tosca), Otello's shattering agony, to Tristan's passion, Siegfried's exuberance, Faust's ardor (first in French by Gounod, then in Italian by Boito). In three Mozart arias, Domingo spins endless, perfectly shaped phrases with incredible breath control, then adds an oddity: the famous duet between Zerlina and Don Giovanni, a role he has not performed. Five Viennese operetta songs, one of which he also conducts, are delightful; there is a smile of pleasure in his voice, but not a hint of kitsch. By contrast, Tchaikovsky's "None but the Lonely Heart" is spoiled by an orchestration that is pure Hollywood. In the final Spanish group, he is on home ground and incomparable. This is a glorious record, a must for all lovers of great singing. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction to the art of Placido Domingo.......2007-07-04

Placido Domingo, of course, is one of the finest tenors of the latter part of the 20th century. This 2 CD set well captures his talent, showing the range of his singing. We hear cuts from Puccini and Verdi to Tchaikovsky and Wagner to Strauss and Handel. And even a traditional Spanish sung and some operetta thrown in for good measure!

This is a wonderful introduction to his artistry, and shows that he can sing well across a variety of styles and eras. Let's sample some cuts:

"Il mio Tesoro" (from Mozart's Don Giovanni) is a difficult aria to sing well. And Domingo is up to the challenge. He displays a smooth and rich voice. His is one of those distinctive tenor voices, like Tucker's or Pavarotti's, that is quickly recognizable. This is, as noted, a challenging piece and Domingo handles it well, showing off considerable vocal agility in the process.

From the same opera, "La ci darem la mano," a sweet duet with, in this instance, soprano Susan Graham. This seductive work is sung well by both parties and is a ravishing version.

From Puccini's "Tosca," "Recondita armonia." At the close, his voice rises above orchestra and chorus. Overall, well and richly sung.

And now for something very different. . . The "Forging Scene" from Siegfried. One may not think of Domingo as a heldentenor, but he does a serviceable job here. His voice sometimes appears a bit light, but, overall, he does estimable work. He catches Siegfried's spirit as he forges the shattered remains of his father's sword, "Nothung." When he sings the name of his sword at the close, with the leitmotif ringing out from the orchestra, it is an affecting moment.

Then, "Celeste Aida" (from Verdi's opera). A stentorian voice well deployed to meet the challenges of this wonderful aria. Some tenors scoop as they move from those lower to the higher notes; Domingo's voice is well controlled here. The final high note is well hit.

Strauss (Junior's) "Ach, wie so herrlich zu schau'n" is a romp! A fun piece and well sung by Domingo. He demonstrates, as before, excellent vocal agility.

Lehar's "O Vaterland" is also fun. It is a sprightly tune sprightly sung.

Finally, he ends the second CD with a traditional Spanish tune--"La Golondrina." He does not overpower this work with operatic technique. He sings it well and affectingly.

So, all in all, if one wants a good introduction to Placido Domingo's vocal oeuvre, this is a very strong starting point.

This is really the best........2007-05-16

I have many of Mr. Domingo's recordings but I really love this one. He seems to get better with age. Some of the songs are on some of my other recordings but they seem new and fresh on this CD. I really think this is the best of Placido Domingo.

If you like Placido at all, you must have this CD........2005-04-06

Placido Domingo has been around for so long, it is easy to take this great artist for granted. I totally agree with the previous reviews of this album; I can also say that I had the opportunity to hear him live in concert on April 2, 2005 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and his voice is still stunning. His opening aria that night was the prayer from El Cid, "O Souverain," which he dedicated to the memory of Pope John Paul II. This piece is the 8th selection on CD 1, and is from a 1997 live recording. His thrilling finish blew me away when I listened to it the first time, and and the crowd on the recording reacts the same way the Mississippi audience did when we heard him. That aria alone is worth the price of this CD set.

Rare And Great Domingo Classics.......2005-03-08

EMI's "The Very Best Of" series is a wonderful way for the opera lover/novice or even connoisseur in training to get acquainted with the great singers of opera in the 20th century. It is possible that in a few years, the great singers of today (from the 90's up to now and further into the future) will grace the album covers of The Very Best Of...The Very Best Of Renee Fleming, The Very Best Of Salvatore Licitra, etc. This is not exactly the best of Domingo. It is more of a collection of rare and wonderfully expressive arias from operas that range all over the map- Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Massenet. Now, here's the reason why so many people adore Domingo, myself included - Domingo is a Renaissance Opera Tenor. He has sung almost every tenor role in the opera universe. Even if he is, to some, the "tenor who sang with Pavoratti in the three tenors" he proves he's the strongest of the bunch, the most dedicated, the most prolific and most artistic. Domingo has a beautiful voice, with secure high register and dark, masculine middle chest voice and exciting dramatic electricity! He's sung more than 50 operas, in addition operetta and Spanish Zarzuela (the Spanish equivalent to musicals or operetta which is where he got started and his parents sung in Zarzuela) and he has also recorded Spanish mainstream love songs for Latin audiences. A winner of Grammies, an actor in movies about operas that he starred in (Tosca, La Traviata, Otello) and the most active tenor on tv broadcasts, he is just incredible and powerful.
He is a great force in opera.

Even in his old age, he does'nt seem to be slowing down or call it quits. Recent performances (2000-2005) include Eugene Onegin, the lead in Queen of Spades, Rasputin in Debra Dratell's Nicolas and Alexandra, Idomeneo and his next role Parsifal. He is the singular tenor who mastered every repertoire- Mozart (Don Ottavio, Tamino...unfortunately Domingo as Don Giovanni is a miscast because he is too noble and romantic and GOOD to be a bad guy)..to Puccini heros (Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Dick Johnson in Fanciualla Del West, Rodolfo in Boheme, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Calaf in Turandot) Verdi heroes (Radames in Aida, Don Carlos, Stiffelio, etc) to the French repertoire...Gounod (Faust, Romeo) Meyerbeer heroes, Massenet hero (Des Grieux, Le Cid) and Saint Saens (Samson) the list goes on and on. When this man dies, an era will die with him. His legend will live on because he will leave behind dozens of albums, movies and memories......

A real Bobby Dazzler.......2004-02-19

Fans of Mr. Domingo would be lucky to find a selection of music that more profoundly explores and exhibits the diversity of his vocal ability and interpretation than is offered on these two discs. Delicious displays of Mozart, ringing renditions of the most challenging high Italian roles, powerfully rounded accounts of some of the heavy German/Russian repetoir, and some noticably nostalgic songs from the light Spannish tradition provide an impressive catalogue of the great man's rich, focussed, technically impecable and singularly beguiling vocal talent. Those who are yet to form an opinion on any particular genre of the operatic spectrum would do well to start here, so eclectic is this album. Also, you might be reassured to know that, should you become an admirer of P.D.'s talent as a result of listening to this compilation, (it is difficult to resist), you will have no trouble finding other recordings by him. A record-breaker with more than 110 roles to his repetoir (40 is a respected total for an opera singer), he is the most recorded tenor in history, leaving more than 80 complete accounts to date of operas in the Italian, French, German and Russian traditions.

Average customer rating:

Very Enjoyable for all music fans
Absolutely Amazing! Two CDs packed with the world's most beautiful classical music...

The Classical Album 2005

Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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The Number One Classical Album 2006
Time to Say Goodbye
Vittorio
Defined
Romanza

ASIN: B000A8AXWW
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Customer Reviews:

Very Enjoyable for all music fans.......2006-03-02

This is very good collection of music that brings to life a wide variety of music that is both old and contemporary. The selections vary from composers, historical and famous such as Pavarotti and Puccini to today's James Horner (Titanic, A Beauituful Mind) and John Williams (Star Wars, Sabrina, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan).

If you enjoy the sounds of Sarah Brightman, Charlotte Church, Enya, Kate Bush, Andrea Bocelli, and various theatre music (Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Cats), then you will find this collection worthy of your appreciation.

I have often wondered why classical music radio channels do not play modern composers (i.e., Horner, Willams), and am glad that this album gives them credit that they deserve. There is so many good compositions being created every day that only appear to have a voice on the big screen, which is unfortunate.

Track 11, composed by The Doors, and is a nice version, indeed. I also enjoy the Bond players giving a new twist to some old favourites.

Ciao,
Neil

Absolutely Amazing! Two CDs packed with the world's most beautiful classical music..........2005-11-08

First, let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert in classical music, but have grown to appreciate it immensely in the past year. I can say wholeheartedly that this is the most beautiful compilation of music I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. It's simple irresistible. There are few words to describe how emotional it is to hear Pavarotti sing "II Canto", or Placido Domingo belt out "Questa o quella". You just get numb with joy!! I have NO idea what they are saying but a translation not necessary. The entire collection (TWo jammed-packed CDs) is phenomenal (excluding the selections from "Bond" which I found to be particularly annoying and not at all "classical" in the true sense of the word). There is something here for everyone, regardless of your personal musical tastes or tolerances.

A guaranteed hit -- Don't miss this one.

CD One

Andrea Bocelli "En Aranjuez con tu amor"
Bryn Terfel - "Granada"
Bond - "Viva" ( not my favorite, sounds almost disco-ish)
Hayley Westenra - "Pokarekare Ana"
Luciano Pavarotti - "Una Mattina"
Katherine jenkins - "Time To Say Goodbye" (a heart stopper - so beautiful!)
Duel - "Canon" (lovely!)
Janine Jansen - "Allegro from 'Spring'"
Andreas Scholl - "Ombra mai fu"
Nigel Kennedy - "The Unknown Soldier"
Kiri Te Kanawa - "Nuns' Chorus"
Nelson Freire - "Chopin Etude No. 1 op. 25
Julian Lloyd Webber - "Flight of the Bumble-bee"
James Horner - "For the Love of a Princess
Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard "Now We Are Free"
Renee Fleming - "Mesicku na nebi hlubokem"
Russell Watson - "Amore e Musica"

CD TWO

Luciano Pavarotti - "II Canto" (I MUST see him sing this in person!!)
Placido Domingo - "Questa o quello" (I never tire of hearing this)
Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel - "the Pearl Fisher's Duet"
Jose Carreras - "Funiculi, funicula
Dominc Miller & Kaori Muraji - "Fragile"
Tavener - "Song for Athene"
Josep Calleja - "La donna e mobile"
Jean-Yves Thibaudet - "Gymopedie No. 1"
Juan Diego Florez - "Una furtiva lagrima"
Kathleen Ferrier - "Blow the Wind Southerly"
Angela Gheorghiu - "Ave Maria"
Janine Jansen - "Schindler's List Main Theme"
Bond - "explosive"
Secret Garden - "You Raise Me Up"
Hayley Westenra - "Never Say Goodbye"
The Three Tenors - "Nessun Dorma"

Enjoy!

Cris Cunningham for Amazon.com

Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]

Average customer rating:

Fine idea, weak execution
He's magnificent
Romantic sounds!
Simply beautiful!
Average Bocelli at best

Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]
Jacques Offenbach , Francesco Paolo Tosti , Gioachino Rossini , Johann Paul Aegidius Martini , Stanislao Gastaldon , Luigi Denza , Stefano Donaudy , and Lorin Maazel
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006IX20
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor (Rodrigo)
Mattinata (Leoncavallo)
Barcarolle (Offenbach)
L'Alba Separa Della Luce I'ombra (Tosti)
Sogno d'Amore (Liszt)
La Serenata (Tosti)
L'Ultima Canzone (Tosti)
Malia (Tosti)
La Danza (Rossini)
Ideale (Tosti)
Sogno (Tosti)
Plaisir d'Amour (Martini)
Musica Proibita (S. Gastaldon)
Occhi Di Fata (Denza)
A Vuchella (Tosti)
Vorrei Morire (Tosti)
Vaghissima Sembianza (S. Donaudy)

Amazon.com

The international crossover success of tenor Andrea Bocelli has spawned any number of imitators on both sides of the Atlantic. But this collection of romantic arias and duets with violinist-conductor Lorin Maazel (who also arranges and helms the London Symphony Orchestra here) proves once again that the classical canon still offers ample room for compelling reinvention without nettlesome pop affectations. In reviving a genre (violin and vocal) largely dormant since the days of Caruso, Bocelli has taken some rewarding liberties with Rodrigo's "En Aranjuez can ta amor" and forged Liszt's familiar Liebestraume No. 3 into "Sogno D'Amore" with new, self-penned lyrics. Maazel's warm, evocative violin obligatos and sensitive, sympathetic arrangements infuse this tenor's showcase not only with unabashed romance, but as their lively romp through Tosti's "Malia" demonstrates, a sense of joyous fun. An album for romantics of all ages and persuasions--and one that gratifyingly demonstrates that crossing over is hardly the same as selling out. Enhanced CD includes a mini-documentary with comments by Bocelli and Maazel, as well as links to a more comprehensive interview with the tenor. --Jerry McCulley

Album Details

A Sensational Album featuring Truly Beautiful Songs and Arias that Evoke Feelings of Passion and Romance. The UK Special Edition of the Album Includes the Bonus Track "Non T'amo Pui" by Tosti.

Customer Reviews:

Fine idea, weak execution.......2007-04-26

Lorin Maazel, in the self-indulgent pat on the back that passes for linear notes, manages to make one good point: the tenor-violin duet was once a fine tradition worthy of exploring afresh. As an effort to revive this dusty tradition, this disc is not successful.

Maazel seems to enjoy the feel of the violin under his chin, and generally produces elegant sounds. The orchestration, which he tells us in his notes evolved amidst a hectic schedule of conducting and rehearsing Don Carlo and Don Giovanni, is basic and generally inoffensive. Good thing he tells the listener of his busy schedule, or one would have to be harsher with his sometimes dreary musical arrangements.

Andrea Bocelli is something of a controversial figure in some circles. I am a picky listener, and suffer from the maniacal ailments that afflict the opera buff. Still, I have always enjoyed Bocelli's popular recordings. I like pleasant tunes sung by a full, clear tenor voice. Having said this, I find his operatic recordings lamentable.

Though not opera per se, Bocelli sounds over-taxed by the repertory at hand (mostly lovely 19th century songs). Each track is unworthy of comparison with past performances by operatic greats-- Pavarotti, Carreras, Gigli, Di Stefano, and Schipa come to mind. Bocelli's voice is strained, and he offers nothing resembling the grace required by these three-minute masterpieces.

Those who are in love with Bocelli's voice will no doubt enjoy this recording. Still, I strongly urge exploring this repertory as it is presented by far more capable performers, and far better endowed voices.

He's magnificent.......2007-03-12

I thoroughly enjoyed this CD, especially some favorites that I haven't heard in years. I wholeheartedly recommend.

Romantic sounds!.......2007-01-12

Adrea's voice continues to enthrall me! Even if you don't understand Italian, you will enjoy this album. Highly recommended.

Simply beautiful!.......2006-07-09

I wont repeat what others with positive reviews already said. Just know that none of Bocelli's CD's have ever disappointed me, and if you are looking for as fine a piece of work as possible (thus far), THIS and "Romanza" are it.

Average Bocelli at best.......2005-01-20

I bought this Bocelli album because I truly wanted to hear him perform "Plaisir D'Amour," one of my all time favorites. While I do love Bocelli I wasn't completely impressed with the entire CD. This is not the best I've heard from Andrea and his voice is not great throughout the CD. I do enjoy it though. He's one of the few artists I can listen to these days without getting a headache.

Average customer rating:

Good job
Masterful!
Great CD of Classical music's power pieces!

Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder

Manufacturer: Time Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Thunderous Classics
Thunder & Lightning
25 Thunderous Classics
Classical Thunder II: Time Life Library of Classical Favorites
Heavy Classix

ASIN: B00081U6XC
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Introduction
Ride Of The Valkyries
Mars, The Bringer Of War
Montagues And Capulets
Sabre Dance
William Tell Overture (Conclusion)
In The Hall Of The Mountain King
The Hut On Fowl's Legs
The Great Gate At Kiev
Fanfare For The Common Man
Allegro Con Brio
Marche Au Supplice (March To The Scaffold)
Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One)
Circus Maximus
Les Toreadors
Finlandia, Op.26
1812 Overture, Op.49 (Conclusion)

Tracks:

Procession Of The Nobles
Rakoczy March
Ritual Fire Dance
The Hero's Battlefield
Pines Of The Appian Way
Dies Irae
Allegro Con Brio
Allegretto
Air Et Danse Bacchanale
Farandole
Infernal Dance Of King Kastchei
O Fortuna
The Wedding Of Kije
Hurricane
Marche Slave, Op.31

Customer Reviews:

Good job.......2005-08-26

I remember when I was little, I had this cd, but i lost it. I bought a similiar type of one through TIme Life and decided to try the Classical Thunder one. I have like it so far.

Masterful!.......2005-06-15

This two CD set is magnificent. I got the set in the early 1990's when it was advertised on television, along with other releases in Time Life's set. I was struck by the interpretations of the conductors. Whenever I hear these pieces now, I judge them against this recording. Amazing selection as well. There are staples of orchestra repetoire, like Beethoven symphonies, but also gems that are not heard very often, like the Rimsky-Korsakov "Procession of the Nobles." A very impressive recording.

Great CD of Classical music's power pieces!.......2005-06-07

I got this CD when I was around 16 because I loved a lot of the music on this double CD set. As a student pursuing a Music Education major, it has been a great asset for my musically, and just great for listening to. I will drive on short trips and take this with me and blast it louder than the guy in the next car blasting rap music. I also take it skiing as it sets a great tempo down the mountain. This is a great CD for anyone that loves music.

Average customer rating:

Sentimento--Average at Best

Sentimento
Andrea Bocelli
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sogno
Cieli di Toscana
Andrea
Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Romanza

ASIN: B000071X4U
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
Mattinata
Barcarolle
Alba Separa Dalla Luce l'Ombra
Sogno d'Amore (Liebestraum)
Serenata
Ultima Canzone
Malia
Danza
Ideale
Soyno - Andrea Bocelli, The London Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel
Plaisir d'Amour - Andrea Bocelli, The London Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel
Musica Proibita
Occhi Di Fata
Vucchella
Vorrei Morire!

Customer Reviews:

Sentimento--Average at Best.......2005-01-20

I bought this CD for one reason...Bocelli sings "Plaisir D'Amour," one of my absolute all time favorites. This isn't the best of Andrea. His voice is sometimes weak and warbly. That said, I enjoy this CD for easy listening and simply because it doesn't give me a headache.

Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort

Average customer rating:

Ahh, Florence!!
Best Italian Renaissance disc available.
Munrow is magnificent
boccacio would be proud

Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort
Antonio Zaccara da Teramo , Giovanni Da Firenze , Lorenzo da Firenze , Jacopo da Bologna , Claudio Monteverdi , Luca Marenzio , Cristofano Malvezzi , Emilio de' Cavalieri , Costanzo Festa , Bartolomeo Tromboncino , Giovanni Domenico del Giovane da Nola , Marchetto Cara , David Munrow , John Beckett , James Bowman , Nigel Rogers , Martin Hill , John Frost , Janita Noorman , and Grayston Burgess
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sinners & Saints: The Ultimate Medieval and Renaissance Music Collection
Henry VIII & His Six Wives
Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance
Music Of The Crusades
Codex Faenza: Instrumental Music of the Early 15th Century

ASIN: B000009DFX
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Ecca la primavera
Lamento di Tristano
Giuinta vaga bilta
Questa fanciull'amor
Trotto
De! dinmi tu
Con dolce brama
Due saltarelli
Rosetta
Quan ye voy le duc
Cara mie donna
La bionda trecca
La Manfredina
Donna 'l tuo partimento
Chon bracchi assai
Istampita Ghaetta
Da, da, a chi avaregia
Fenice fu' e vissi
Biance flour

Tracks:

Music For Ferdinando de' Medici: Toccata ('Orfeo')
Secondo intermedio: Sinfonia
Secondo intermedio: Belle ne fe' natura
Secondo intermedio: Chi dal delfino
Secondo intermedio: Se nelle voci nostre
Secondo intermedio: O figlie di Piero
Sesto intermedio: Dal vago e bel sereno
Sesto intermedio: O qual risplende nube
Sesto intermedio: Godi turba mortal
Sesto intermedio: O fortunato giorno
Sesto intermedio: O che nuovo miracolo
Quando ritrova
Allemana-ripresa: Quando ritrova
Io son l'occello
Pavana 'La cornetta'
Gagliarda 'Giorgio'
Tri ciechi siamo
Io non compro
Ahime sospiri
Pavana 'Forze d'Ercole'
Orsu, orsu, car' Signori
Pavana 'El colognese'
Dance Songs: Era di Maggio
Dance Songs: El marchese di Salluzzo
Dance Songs: In questo ballo
Dance Songs: Noi ci vogliam' partire
Dance Songs: Bussa la porta
Dance Songs: La pastorella
Dance Songs: E su quel monte
Dance Songs: Maggio valente
Dance Songs: Sorella mia piacente

Customer Reviews:

Ahh, Florence!!.......2002-10-14

Italian culture during the period from the 14th to the 16th centuries was a whirlwind of developing literature and art, and during this period of history Florence was a political and cultural center to rival Milan or Verona.
I love medieval and renaissance music. They are the "roots" of the great classics centuries later. One does not cultivate a complete education of art by studying only such Masters as Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Dali etc. So it is with fine music.
These CD's contain examples of Florentine musical composition from the 1300's and 1500's. The first CD, performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort, covers compositions from the 1300's, with many of the works of Francesco Landini, the most prolific Florentine composer of this period. The second covers music from the 1500's and is performed by John Beckett and the Musica Reservata. Here we can see the early development of both symphonic structure and opera.
Both discs are wonderful examples of different periods in the history of musical development, and performed by different conductors and artists. Therefore a comparison between the two is unfair and misplaced. David Munrow and the Early Music Consort are superb, as I have always found them to be, and John Beckett and the Musica Reservata are equally enjoyable.
If you appreciate early music you will find this recording to be a fantastic addition to your collection, and perhaps the definitive collection of early Italian music. If you are unfamiliar with early music or with Italian Renaissance music then these CD's would be a wonderful introduction.

Best Italian Renaissance disc available........2002-06-28

This re-issue of recordings from the early 70's by the Early Music Consort Of London is,in my opinion,the best recordings of Italian Renaissance works.It is the favorite of my eary music discs,and includes music treasures from 14th and 16th century Florence. Great listening on both discs,and worth the money!

Munrow is magnificent.......2001-11-20

The first disc in this collection is delightful. David Munrow's recorder is a genuine treat. The vocal parts blend well and create a festive atmosphere. The Early Music Consort of London offer a splendid performance. By contrast, the second disc, which features Musica Reservata, is a bit disappointing. Two of the solo voices on disc two are harsh, detracting from an otherwise pleasant recording. They may fairly represent the performing style of sixteenth century Florence, but that is small consolation for the twentieth century ear. Nonetheless, the virtues of the first disc are sufficient to warrant purchasing this collection. Munrow is magnificent.

boccacio would be proud.......2000-04-23

this is a superb recording of early music it is well performed and played. the first cd is all music from the 1300,s and the second is from the 1500,s if you like the kind of music this is the cd to get well worth it.

Average customer rating:

FABULOUS!
Eduardo Carlos Leon
Unique and pleasant.
Emotional, Powerful, Fizzy
Infernal Violins

Infernal Violins

Manufacturer: Analekta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Passion
Let's Dance
Vivaldi: Concertos for Strings
Violin Adagios
Diamond Music

ASIN: B00015EDL6
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

Danse Macabre
Allegro Con Fuoco - Lento - Allegro Vivace - Andante
Allegro
I. Larghetto Affettuoso
II. Allegro Energico / III. Grave - Allegro Assai
Les Beautes Du Diable
Pantomima
Danza Ritual Del Fuego
Mephisto Waltz No.1
Le Diable Matou
Caprice No.24
Le Reel Du Diable
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Con Molto
Paint It Black / Sympathy For The Devil
Once Upon A Time... The Devil

Amazon.com

Angèle Dubeau is a remarkable violinist, and here, she and her all-woman, 12-strong (including herself) group, La Pieta, tackle some of the showiest---and most interesting---virtuoso pieces composed or transposed for solo violin and strings, in various combinations, and occasionally featuring a piano. The violin tone at the start of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre has a warmth which stays with us throughout the disc, despite the fact that so many of the pieces are razzle-dazzle. Hearing the delicious can-can from the overture to Orpheus in the Underworld so thrillingly played, with as much emphasis on the piano as the violin, is a treat, and the "Fire dance" from El amor brujo positively throbs. There's great skill---even daring---in the Tartini "Devil's Trill" sonata and a Boccherini Sonata, but the string tone never turns strident. And as a complete surprise, Dubeau and her group offer an arrangement of The Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black" which teases and riffs before getting into the melody, then plays it in the lower reaches of the instrument, and is then joined by the piano, allowing it to reach upwards and jazzily improvise---and then she throws in a moment or two of "Sympathy for the Devil" (!) before it concludes with the original melody. There are other joys on this CD as well---this is not your everyday violin bon-bon recital. It's all highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Album Description

This mischievious recital celebrates works inspired by the Devil: from Tartini's Devil's Trill, written after the composer dreamt that he had sold his soul to the Devil, to the infernal whirlwinds of Saint-Saën's Danse Macabre and Dompierre's Les Beautés du diable, composed specifically for La Pietà. It also pays homage to Paganini, the famed violinist who once confided to a friend that the Devil led him by the hand. This program shows an impish sense of humor as well... it features a unique arrangement of The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black and Sympathy for the Devil! • Angèle Dubeau is one of Canada's most prominent recording artists. belonging to the exclusive group of Canadian classical soloists who can boast of having attained "gold" sales status. She is also the founder and director La Pietá. • This CD is packaged with a bonus DVD featuring video clips and live concert excerpts.

Customer Reviews:

FABULOUS!.......2007-02-15

I ADORE this CD. I first heard it on the local classical music station and my ears picked right up. "What IS that?" It was so alive, so vibrant. The station only plays it about once a year, but each time it catches my attention. "Ah, that's Angele Dubeau." The selections are a mix of new and old. Two of the new pieces are by Francois Dompierre; his "Le Diable matou" is one of my favorites. I play this CD over and over and over...

I disagree with the reviewer who said you must love violin music to enjoy this. I do enjoy the violin, but I think the CD's power and reach go far beyond violin lovers.

The CD also includes a DVD of concert excerpts.

Give this CD a try. I'm so glad I did.

Eduardo Carlos Leon.......2007-02-01

The sound is tight and fresh.But take heed--only a person who love`s violin works would enjoy this c-d.And i would be one of those persons.ESP.Hot Women with violins!!!

Unique and pleasant........2006-12-23

It is refreshing to hear something new. The tracks are old favorites but the sound is new. Different. And in a good way.
Not the same old interpretations sped up or slowed down. But a genuine new groove down a familiar road.
She is a great violinist and has a knack for interplay with the rest of the band. It's not a flashy highly technical performance like you may expect from Perlman or Mutter. But not on the emotional ragged edge like Sonnenberg. But something in between with a new twist.

Emotional, Powerful, Fizzy.......2005-05-19

Long a stodgy devotee of baroque music, with the first few notes of this strong stuff I became an addict. Over and over again I play this CD, never quite anticipating the power and emotional bang of the music as it plays - even though I know the notes by now. If you ever studied Walter Piston's "harmony" the structures and transitions are back-of-the-book stuff, but the push is all elemental, basic, built-in, the familiar 1-4-5 with musical sequins, trampolines, backflips, and gelginite. Wow. And then some.

I'm so besotted, I had a couple of 13-year old boys (my son and a friend) listen to it in the car one day. They were bug-eyed after a couple of cuts, and not with horror. Now they ask for it, and yell with glee when the musical tension breaks over their heads in crashing chords.

Can I add a few more stars?

Infernal Violins.......2004-04-12

This music is fantastic. Because the violin she uses is a Stradovarius, the music pours like liquid velvet out of it. The choices of compositions are fantastic also. I think her interpretation of them along with the violin and her back-up group are what make this album so outstanding.

Average customer rating:

Perfect Performances
Mucho me pesa la cabeza
Just Get it!
This is such a great recording
ýCreoleý Songs and Dances from Old Spain to the New World

Villancicos y Danzas Criollas

Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

La Folia, 1490-1701
Altre Follie, 1500-1750
Isabel I: Reina de Castilla
Harmonie Universelle
Elizabethan Consort Music

ASIN: B0000E64U4
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Chacona: A La Vida Bona
Danza Del Hacha - Hesperion XXI
Moresca: Di Perra Mora
Negrilla A 4: San Sabeya Gugurumbe
Ritual Formulario: Hanacpachap Cussicuinin
Joto
Tono Humano: Ay Que Me Rio De Amor
Mestizo E Indio: Tleycantimo Choquiliya
Negra A 5: Antonya Flaciquia Gasipa
Cachua - Hesperion XXI
Rorro: Desvelado Dueno Mio
Negrilla: A Siolo Flasiquiyo
Juguete: Un Juguetico De Fuego
Juguete A 4: Convidando Esta La Noche
Guaracha: Ay Que Me Abraso
Villancico A 8: Serafin Que Con Dulce

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Performances.......2007-07-11

Villancicos y Danzas Criollas is a homage to the cultural traditions of Iberia and Ibero-America, showing the influence of European traditions in the Americas. The Villancico (also called Chanzoneta) is a form of poetry that was adopted for use in secular songs and, in the 17th century, for Christmas carols (the modern usage of the word denotes a carol). The secular songs were gradually replaced by the Romance while the Christmas carol form became more popular. The typical lyrics of villancicos have two or three stanzas followed by a refrain. The most religious-oriented villancico of this collection is Hanacpachap Cussicuinin (from Lima) where the author asks for their prayer to be answered.

The transmission of musical culture is a favorite (and fascinating) subject for Jordi Savall and this CD includes some beautiful and rousing music. The CD begins with four selections reflecting Iberian music that sets the stage of presenting a song (usually) followed by a dance. Following this introduction we are off the Americas and music from Peru, Guatemala and Mexico.

As pointed out in the booklet, the colonial expansion that took place during the 15th and 16th centuries widen cultural connections to include Africa, Asia and the Americas, which is reflected in this collection of music. One will discover a mixing of African dance rhythms and percussion with European polyphony. This is nicely demonstrated by the first selection with its strong use of drums and bold brass playing combined with a fast-paced dance melody and mixed voices. The second work, by an anonymous composer, is quite a contrast with its more restrained and courtly rhythms played by string instruments without the percussion or brass. The Hanacpachap Cussicuinin is scored for percussion, brass and voices sounding like a solemn funeral procession and is followed by a beautifully played piece for harp and percussion from Mexico. The incomparable Montserrat Figueras sings with peerless passion and beauty, particularly in the short Tono Hidalgo of Juan Hidalgo. One could go on and on extolling the wonderful music of this CD, suffice it to say that among my collection of early music discs this one is at the top.

As with all of Jordi Savall's recordings the performance is excellent and beautifully balanced with voices and instruments receiving equal emphasis. If you do not have this disc and love early music get it without hesitation.

Mucho me pesa la cabeza.......2007-07-02

Again and again we hear "Mucho me pesa la cabeza"..... "Much it pains my head."

This music is so ephemeral... so unique.... so mind massaging..... I love reading while it softly plays in the background in the room!

The massage is quite expansive!

Not a painful massage at all, but it does get inside your head!

Just Get it!.......2006-08-20

It's hard to pick out anything special on this disk... everything is top-notch. The opening 'La Chacona' is a delight and it just gets better and better and better. The second piece definitely is having some fun setting the listener up for 'something.' The ritual piece is majestic while the tone changes again with the harp solo... Hesprion XX/XXI are treasures in the ocean of music.
Gracias, Senores!

This is such a great recording.......2006-01-10

This recording is so great and so
breath taking that leaves me with
only this to say: since the day it
arrived to my doorstep back in mid
December, I have listen to it daily,
not just few tracks, but the whole
CD several times a day.....One
of the best works of Savall and
Hesperion XXI.....

ýCreoleý Songs and Dances from Old Spain to the New World.......2004-05-16

An astonishing collection of vocal polyphony and dance music, largely from Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico. Performed with flair and feeling by the preeminent Spanish early-music ensemble of our time. Not to be missed!

My translation of the album title, given above, is not exact. "Criolla" can refer to anything Latin American, and a "villancico" is first and foremost a Spanish poetic genre from the 15th and 16th centuries. The Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia tells us that it was "originally derived from a medieval dance lyric and associated with rustic or popular themes." Certainly the rustic and popular loom large in this lively selection of Renaissance music. Hesperion XXI and its director Jordi Savall have often sampled folk styles in their imaginative reconstitutions of early performance tradition. So most of these selections get percussion accompaniment accentuating the dance element, while strumming guitars, castanets, maracas, and more are employed discreetly but effectively. Lusty and characterful vocal contributions come courtesy of La Capella Reial de Catalunya and soprano Montserrat Figueras, who takes a couple of fine solo turns. It's all recorded in a warm, resonant church acoustic.

In his liner notes, Prof. Rui Vieira Neri introduces the Spanish part of this collection by noting a long tradition of mixing high and low culture, not to mention Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultural elements in the art and music of the Iberian peninsula. And right away we get to hear a vocal chaconne (a dance imported from the Indies "by mail" according to Lope de Vega) and a Moresca "Di Perra Mora," with strong Arabic flavor and hints of 5/2 meter.

Of the New World selections, some of the most engaging combine indigenous languages with Netherlands musical style. The solemn processional hymn "Hancpachap cussicuinin," written by a native composer in the Quechua language of Peru, was also the first example of polyphony printed in the Americas. Gaspar Fernandes (1570-1629), chapel master at the Puebla cathedral, wrote a number of villancicos that mix Castilian with Nahuatl, the Aztec tongue, including "Tleycantimo choquiliua" on this recording. It is based on a local Indian dance, as is another Christmas villancico included here, "Ay que me abraso," which moves to the beat of the Mexican guaracha.

Bantu and Yoruba phrases crop up frequently in the refrains of the African-influenced numbers, so numerous in their day that they were customarily referred to in the old manuscripts as Negro, Negrilla, or Guineo. Savall includes three such pieces on this recording; they abound in the sort of rhythmic intricacies and call-and-response effects that Europeans already associated with Africa. Among the most infectious is "Antonya, Flasiquiya, Gasipá," in which the song's characters wake up after a long night of drinking and dancing in order to go to Bethlehem to pay homage to baby Jesus, where more carousing will be called for. Each refrain ends with the words "Mucho me pesa la cabeza": "Oh, my aching head."

I wouldn't want to give the impression that this music will appeal mostly to scholars. In fact, it is simply full of human joy, tenderness, and fun, qualities that leap across the centuries at us and need no special pleading, thanks to the terrific performances on this CD. You will enjoy it.

International Music:

International Music

International Music