Ao Vivo No Ccb [Import] [Live]

Product Description
The Former Singer of the Legendary Trovante and One of Portugal's Best-loved Pop Singers, Lufs Represas Continued his Former Group's Best-selling Tradition When He Started his Solo Career in 1993, Introducing in his Music Latin and Jazzy Accents Through his Collaboration with Prestigious Cuban Musicians Such as Pablo Milants. Three Years Later, this Double Live Album, Recorded at Lisbon's Prestigious Ccb Auditorium During a Sold-out Four-night Residency, Confirmed his Status as Great Musician.

Ao Vivo No Ccb,L Represas,EMI,World Music

Average customer rating: Magnificient, Crowning Conclusion to Haitink's LSO Beethoven Symphony Cycle Haitink & Beethoven going stronger than ever Superlative

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral" Manufacturer: Lso Live UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5 Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'; Leonore Overture No. 2 Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral"; Symphony No. 2 Beethoven: Symphony No. 7; Triple Concerto Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 8 ASIN: B000HDR7GA Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Scherzo: Molto vivace
3. Adagio molto e cantabile
4. Presto - Allegro ma non troppo- Vivace- Adagio cantabile

Customer Reviews:

Magnificient, Crowning Conclusion to Haitink's LSO Beethoven Symphony Cycle.......2007-01-27

Distinguished Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink's latest, truly relevatory, traversal of the Beethoven symphonies ends with this triumphant, enthralling interpretation of the 9th "Choral" Symphony in D minor. His magnificient interpretation is unquestionably one of the finest accounts of this symphony ever recorded, and definitely the best I have heard since Claudio Abbado's two distinguished recordings on Sony and Deutsche Grammophon with the Berliner Philharmoniker, using the same Jonathan Del Mar-edited Barenreiter Edition. Although strongly influenced by period instrument practice, Haitink strikes a fine balance between that and more traditional accounts of this symphony, without ignoring the swift tempi required of it from the relatively new Barenreiter Edition, and yet, yielding an awe inspiring, truly magisteral performance (Personally, I've fallen in love with Haitink's interpretation, finding it somewhat more engrossing than either of Abbado's.). Indeed, this latest recording of the Beethoven 9th Symphony may be the most dramatic, most exciting account that I've heard, and one that's worthy of all the critical and popular acclaim it has earned so far. Moreover, the sound quality is exemplary thanks to the superb job in recording this performance live during two concerts in late April 2006 by producer James Mallinson and his team of engineers on behalf of the LSO Live label.

Haitink's interpretation is a no-nonsense, technically brilliant, yet still most mesmerizing, account of this symphony. He opens with a vividly intense first movement (Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso) dominated by exquisite playing from the winds and strings. His treatment of the second movement (Scherzo; molto vivace) is neither as ponderous as any I've heard from the likes of Giulini and Karajan, nor is it as swift as Zinman's or Abbado's, but instead, sounds just right, showcasing once more the exemplary playing from the London Symphony Orchestra's winds and strings. Haitink's interpretation of the third (Adagio molto e cantible) and fourth (Presto - Allego ma non troppo - Vivace - Adagio cantible) movements are the most electrifying accounts I have heard, replete with excellent performances too from both the soloists and the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus in the memorable "Ode to Joy" which encompasses virtually the entire fourth movement (I haven't heard of the soloists before, but their singing is comparable to the finest I have heard in Abbado's and Karajan's recordings.).

Haitink & Beethoven going stronger than ever.......2006-11-19

With this magnificently fresh but powerful Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven (and maybe with this whole cycle in general, but I don't know, because up till now I have heard only this recording), maestro Bernard Haitink has delivered what could maybe be called the 'ultimate' in this work, to stand aside any of the best.
This recording surely is a culmination and a crowning achievement of, firstly, a more than 50 year conducting career; secondly, a vision of a conductor who has been 'working with Beethoven' for more than 30 years (when Bernard Haitink recorded his first Beethoven cycle); and thirdly, the growing insights of period instrument practice slowly melting with 'traditional' performing tradition, cumulating into what could only be called 'the best of both worlds'. But the 'live' element must probably be taken into account here as well, as it is known that, generally, a 'live' Bernard Haitink is a 'better' one, coaxing the maestro to give his utmost. The man Bernard Haitink, it is known, really lives with and for his music, truly coming alive before the orchestra with attentive present audience to witness the man and the maestro at recreating the fruit of genius that is the music of Ludwig van Beethoven (Gustav Mahler, Anton Bruckner, ...).
The orchestral playing is - as is so often the case with Bernard Haitink - absolutely clear, honest, with noble sentiment, but without any excess, which is good. There is no unnecessary lingering or dawdling at any time in this recording, always going purposely forward toward our goal. Above this, like a Dutch commentator said, we have 'warm strings, layering of different orchestral voices and transparent woodwinds and brass.' Combine this with the above said achievements of a long and impressive conducting career and the growing insights and mergings of performance practices, and you get maybe the best Beethoven imaginable.
This Beethoven 9 sounds fresh and athletic, completely alive and brimming with youthful energy (Haitink is 77!): the 'muscle tone' directly 'visible' underneath the tight and smooth 'skin' of the wonderfully attentive and fresh playing of the London Symphony Orchestra, as it were. To my ears, it is almost incredible what unimagined orchestral colors, inflections and nuances maestro Haitink coaxes (if I may call it that ;-) out of the (obviously very willing) orchestra sometimes, things one has never before heard in this music in this way (a result of maestro Haitink's careful abovementioned layering of orchestral voices?), but always absolutely gorgeous. Listen, for example, to the magnificent third movement Adagio, which is taken at naturally flowing speeds, not as slow as von Karajan (1984) [15:54] or as fast as Philippe Herreweghe (1998) [12:26].
This Beethoven is so freshly inspired, 'healthy' and with so much spring in its step, that it will probably (hopefully?) last as a benchmark for a whole generation of listeners and performers. For fans of the LSO and devotees of Bernard Haitink, I think this is unmissable. I for one love this recording and as a result I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone without any reserve.

Superlative.......2006-11-03

This crowning glory of the Haitink/LSO Beethoven cycle is truly a magisterial account. Haitink has taken on board the strictures of the period brigade while retaining the weight and heart of the more traditional Beethoven protagonists. The result is a Beethoven 9 of power yet humanity, of intimacy yet impetus.

Don't sniff at the sharp-edged textures of the 1st movement, nostalgic for the denser, more homogenous sound of earlier recordings. For this movement has ample weight and profundity, which is only enhanced by the clarity of interplay between the various sections of the LSO. Equally to the point, it is the starting point of Haitink's grand architectural understanding of this piece. (An analogy can perhaps be drawn with his approach to the first movement of the Brahms 4 also on LSO live.) He is taking us on a journey which conceuptualises this grandest of symphonies as one whole, not four (or even five) different parts.

The second movement perfectly balances the deep-seated anxiety inherent in the music with is elements of joy and hope. The LSO's playing is crisp and egdy.

In the wrong hands, the third movement of the 9th can be - let's face it - boring. But here, the tempi are efficient. Not only does Haitink not, by taking this movement quite briskly, lose the heart of these gorgeous variations; but he brings it to the fore. The LSO strings are sweet and rich as we have come to expect, the sound of the orchestra as a whole pure, deep and affecting.

The fourth movement is stunning. Haitink and the orchestra balance sounds in unexpected but wholly convincing ways. The variations on the famous theme are played with crushing beauty by the orchestra, the melodic lines wonderfully balanced and shot through with empathy and rapport - between orchestra, composer and conductor, and between individual sections. Gerald Finley begins the choral section with a warmth I have never before heard, and his fellow soloists are all impressive (though, it has to be said, not equally so). The London Symphony Chorus is on top form, singing with soul, power and accuracy. Reaching the end of this movement will leave you breathless.

It will also confirm the Haitink's architectural vision. Like no other performance I have heard, live or recorded, this is a thoroughly satisfying whole. The emotional depths are plumbed with tenderness and determination; yet the propulsion and momentum remind us of Beethoven's overall vision. Moreover, Haitink, the LSO and the LSC manage to make this familiar music sound revolutionary again.

This, of course, is a live recording and one can feel it. The benefits are immediacy, the genuine sense of the moment. The disadvantages are barely perceptible. The LSO is a virtuoso orchestra; it has never seemed willing to forsake energy, drive and spirit for the gentile precision of some of the world's other great orchestras and it has never needed to. But for the thrill, one would barely realise that this recording was live, so accomplished is the playing. I was at the concert and it left me stumbling out of the Barbican Hall; this CD will never compensate for a live performance, but it as close as you are going to get.

Average customer rating: It's Dreamy My Favorite Composer of all time An American classic from Hampson that brings smiles and tears OMG!!! More than 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 stars, one of the best album in the world!!! It's simply lovely

American Dreamer: Songs of Stephen Foster; Thomas Hampson; Jay Unger; Molly Mason Thomas Hampson , Jay Ungar , Molly Mason , Garrison Keillor , David Alpher , Mark Rust , Michael Parloff , Peter Ecklund , John Kirk , Arnold Kinsella , and Stephen Foster Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Hampson, Thomas | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Tin Pan Alley | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hampson, Thomas | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Song of Home Song of America Harvest Home Civil War Classics Stephen Foster Song Book ASIN: B000002SK7 Release Date: 1992-10-20

Tracks:

1. Opening Solo Violin
2. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
3. Hard Times Come Again No More
4. The Voice Of Bygone Days
5. Foster Favorites Medley (Ring, Ring The Banjo (1851) Oh! Susanna (1848) Camptown Races (1850)
6. Open Thy Lattice, Love (1844)
7. Beautiful Dreamer (1864)
8. That's What's The Matter
9. Old Home Medley (Old Folks at Home (1851) My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night (1853)
10. Molly! Do You Love Me? (1850)
11. Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair (1851)
12. Comrades, Fill No Glass For Me (1855)
13. Dancing On The River (Nelly Bly (1850) The Glendy Burk (1860) Angelina Baker (1850)
14. My Wife Is A Most Knowing Woman (1863)
15. Gentle Annie (1856)
16. Linger In Blissful Repose (1858)
17. Ah! May The Red Rose Live Alway (1850)

Customer Reviews:

It's Dreamy.......2007-01-10

This is a very wonderful recording of Stephen Foster by a master singer.
Foster's songs are of a more innocent and naive time in the American psyche, a time that it would not hurt us to remember, given the wretched brutality of American culture today (something you'll appreciate after listening to this recording).

The songs are beautifully sung by Mr. Hamspon, and the musical accompaniment with piano, mandolin, tuba, banjo, etc. seems a perfect setting for this period music. I enjoyed the musical interludes of Foster songs (not sung by Mr. Hampson), such as "Oh, Suzanna", "My Old Kentucky Home", and "Camptown Races." They are foot-stompin' and finger-snappin' good in a non-syncopated way.

Mr. Hampson's voice is so beautiful, and he has done such a wonderful job with these song's you'll just have to hear it, and when you do, tell me that you're not dreaming.

I remember reading a quote by John Phillip Sousa that decried the use of syncopation in American popular music. I never understood it until listening to this recording. The richness and intensity of American popular music (as experienced in the work of Stephen Foster) has been lost.
Everything has to be so cool today, thanks to syncopation, and "cool" really means no emotion.

If emotion is what you want, emotion is what you'll get with Stephen Foster's songs. It was a time when the death of loved ones (especially those who died in their youth) was experienced more often (see "I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" and "Gentle Annie"). And we were not protected from the vicissitudes of fate by myriad government programs, modern medicine and universal prosperity (see "Hard Times").
Husbands and wives had their differences then, as today, (see the amusing song "My Wife is a Most Knowin' Woman") The passion of the Civil War (Foster was a Unionist),is reflected in a wonderful, fun song, "That's What's the Matter."

If you love good music, and you have heart which can be stirred, and you love your country, this is for you.

I love this recording. It has opened up the door to my "beautiful dreams," dreams of bygone days, lost love, and whatever else we pine for.

I wanted to buy several copies for my friends, but somehow I felt that the impact of this recording was so personal, that it could not be shared with others. Not that they couldn't enjoy it, but that I could not begin to share the intense emotion and reverie stirred in my heart by these beautiful songs.

My Favorite Composer of all time.......2006-08-20

Growing up playing his stuff on piano, I love the instrumentality of this CD..the violins give off that wail that he speaks of..I am not sure what it is about Stephen Foster but these verses..grab me like no other..there is so much sensitivity to it..

I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
Born like a vapor on the summer air
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour

but the violins in this CD make this CD the best out there..
FYI should you be into astrology Stephen Foster is definition of Cancer...Sun and Moon conjunct in Cancer with mars in Scorpio..i love his lyrics..almost to the point of obsession..

An American classic from Hampson that brings smiles and tears.......2006-07-17

Stephen Foster was the greatest American composer of sentimental parlor ballads--he so perfectly imitated folk songs that his music wound up turning into them. In an age of home music-making and later of families sitting around the radio, Foster's songs were a staple, often performed by crossover artists from opera like Lawrence Tibbett. Those were plump, ripe styles of singing, highly flavored by church hymns.

In this 1992 collection of 17 Foster favorites, plus a few rareties, Hampson drops the platform manner and goes straight for heartfelt sincerity. His tone is plain yet sweet, his expression intimate. He is accompanied by instruments redolent of the Victorian drawing room (guitar, fiddle, upright piano), and the mood they create brings tears and smiles of remembrance. This music is embedded in America's genes, and it's wonderful to realize that every note is still alive and throbbing with feeling.

OMG!!! More than 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 stars, one of the best album in the world!!!.......2005-11-25

Simply one word, WOW!!!
Thomas Hampson's voice is simply fantasic. His voice is very different from regular operatic baritone voice, very sweet, and rich. I really cant believe an operatic baritone can sing folk song like THIS good, in my opinion he sounds even better than his opera works in this album. His voice and the background music matches perfectly, the outcome would move u to tears, and u can feel the origin of MUSIC. This album really shows what the word MUSIC means, and the songs simply just ALL beautiful. I like his "beautiful dreamer", "my life is well knowing woman", and "jeanie with the light brown hair" the most. When I listen the songs I would just imagine that I am in the world of past USA, and I can feel the life of the ppl in the past USA~ just like watching an old classic movie, it would touch ur heart and fall in love with this album.

It's simply lovely.......2004-12-14

I didn't know Stephen Foster (I thought): wrong: Oh Susanna, etc, I knew, but had no idea who the composer was.

This CD is a revelation. The melodies are so beautiful, as are the poems, and Thomas Hampson just brings them to life as wonderfully as ever. I especially love "Beautiful Dreamer" - it gives me butterflies - and "My wife is a most knowing woman" - the way he makes the voices and the indignation is just brilliant. If one needed reminding what a brilliant singer Mr Hampson is - this disk does it.

Average customer rating: NO Limits is a POWERHOUSE Ministry CD Excellent no limits live martha munizzi No Limits is GREAT

No Limits: Live Martha Munizzi Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Live Recordings | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best Is Yet to Come A Piece Of My Passion Alive in South Africa Say the Name When He Came ASIN: B000EF5MQI Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

1. No Limits (Breakthrough)
2. Till The Walls Fall
3. Till The Walls Fall Reprise
4. Name Above All Names
5. Great Exchange Prelude
6. Great Exchange
7. Renew Me
8. Prophetic Interlude
9. Forever You're My King
10. What He's Done
11. Amazing Love (And Can It Be)
12. Amazing Love
13. Always Welcome
14. Holy Spirit Fill This Room
15. Come Holy Spirit
16. He's Already Provided
17. I Believe God
18. While You Worship (Chandler's Song)
19. You've Been So Good
20. You've Been So Good Reprise
21. Jesus Is The Best Thing
22. Chosen Generation

Customer Reviews:

NO Limits is a POWERHOUSE.......2007-05-16

SPIRITUAL WARFARE indeed! "I will not be defeated; I will NOT be destroyed! Praise is the weapon--the battle is the LORD's! I will not back up, NOT back down! Stake my claim; stand my ground. I will praise You till the walls fall down!!!!!"

WOW. You get the idea!!! And that's just ONE song!

I'm so thrilled that God is raising up powerful women such as Martha Munizzi (who happens to be Mary Alessi's sister, I hear--Wow, the anointing runs in the family, GLORY! If they are not biological sisters, they are certainly related in spirit!), Mary Alessi, and Darlene Czech to exhort the saints and help us rise to our place of leadership as kings and priests who reign with the Most High God!! Hallelujah!

GET it. LISTEN. Sing along! It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Tonja Taylor, author of LEGACY: Crafting Your Child's Future With Words

Ministry CD.......2007-02-28

This Cd was okay to me but I know God is still working on us all. This Cd is a cd that goes into worshiping God in the mist of a storm or the fire experience that you are in. This is a cd that we need when we are going through a Job experience. The Bible tells us in Job 1:20 Then he shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. I know it is hard to worship God in the mist of a storm but your worship and praise is what gets God attention. Don't wait until on Sunday to worship God worship him daily. This is the cd is to help you while you are worshipping God. I personally enjoyed The Best is yet to Come CD and Say the Name the best of all her cds to me

Excellent.......2007-02-15

I love this. I'm a big Martha Munizzi fan and this album is excellent!

no limits live martha munizzi.......2007-02-07

way way over my expectations. very uplifting and encouraging. martha truly has the spiritual gift of exhortation in addition to her fantastic singing ability. the musicians and singers were also fantastic.

No Limits is GREAT.......2007-01-05

First, the only thing I didnt like about the CD was the attempt at rap on Jesus is the Best Thing. At first she was doing well with the caribbean flavor/steel drum approach, then a rapper (?) began to attempt to rhyme and it was just 'too much'. That was the only flaw.
NOW ON TO THE GOOD STUFF -
This 2 album CD was such a blessing to me. I listen to it quite often. I liked it better for the worship songs: Renew Me, Forever You're my King - (LOVE IT)!!, Holy Spirit Fill This Room, I Believe God (LOVE IT MORE!!).

These works are a confirmation of the word of God and she does use opportunity to witness and minister. If you are a person who attends a 'no limit' church service, the time she spends witnessing seems minimal compared to the wealth of praise and worship on this CD.

Average customer rating: Would you like ketchup with your bug? he makes you get up and dance Live in Dublin Live in Dublin Live audience is great.

Live In Dublin Andre Rieu Manufacturer: Denon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Rieu, Andre | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rieu, Andre | ( R ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tuscany Andre Rieu in Concert The Flying Dutchman The Vienna I Love, Waltzes From My Heart At The Movies ASIN: B0000CABHH Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

1. Dark Eyes
2. Thunder & Lightning
3. The Merry Widow
4. Song of the Volga Boatman
5. Hor Ich Zimbalklange
6. Espana Cani (Bull)
7. O Mio Babbino Caro
8. The Blue Danube Waltz
9. Announcement Olympia Song
10. Song of Olympia (puppet)
11. My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)
12. All Men Shall Be Brothers - Beethoven 9th
13. Radetzky March
14. Opera Potpourri
15. The Red Rose Cafe
16. The Marino Waltz
17. Irish Washerwoman
18. The Last Rose
19. Chianti Song
20. Lullaby

Album Description

Recorded at the filming in Dublin's famous downtown train terminal, LIVE IN DUBLIN features Andre and the orchestra performing a collection of old favorites and exciting new selections. Already a smash PBS program LIVE IN DUBLIN captures Andre Rieu and his magical live performances at their most elegant best!

Customer Reviews:

Would you like ketchup with your bug?.......2007-05-05

The person who sang O Mio Babbino Caro is Carmen Monarcha. Do a search for her on YouTube; she's really fantastic!

Anyway, I saw Andre Rieu on a PBS special on television and it looked like such an awesome, high-energy concert! The CD is not so exciting, but it is worth buying just for that beautiful aria.

he makes you get up and dance.......2007-04-10

my 3 yr old enjoys this as much as us

Live in Dublin.......2007-02-17

The music is really toe tapping and excellent. Andre Rieu is a master of music.

Live in Dublin.......2006-07-05

This concert is magnificent in its energy and in the great performances by Andre Rieu and the Johann Stauss orchestra. I watch it when I need lifting up. I love the audience interaction which makes me feel as if I'm there in person.

Live audience is great........2006-05-03

This has to be one of Andre's best. The live audience adds much to the music being played. I wish I had been there for the performance.

Average customer rating: A beautifully played and recorded Sibelius Second

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2; Pohjola's Daughter Manufacturer: Lso Live UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Strauss: Josephslegende, Op.63 [Hybrid SACD] Piano Concertos by Tchaikovsky & Medtner [Hybrid SACD] Carl Nielsen, Orchestral Music Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 Piano Quintet in F Min / Complete String Quartets (1, 2, 3) ASIN: B000O78IWQ Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

1. Pohjola's Daughter
2. Allegretto
3. Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato
4. Vivacissimo
5. Finale: Allegro Moderato

Customer Reviews:

A beautifully played and recorded Sibelius Second.......2007-05-20

British critics are slavish admirers of Colin Davis's Sibelius, and this CD is touted as a Gramophone Selection of the Month. I began listening with doubts, since to my ears Davis's Sibelius can be stodgy and uneventful. However, it's hard to resist the utterly clear and natural sonics that the LSO Live engineers deliver, far better than anything Davis got form Philips or RCA/BMG his first two times out--this is his third complete Sibelius cycle.

As for the interpretation, it's patient and measured, but with lots of inner detail and great pacing for effect. I don't know if Davis has become a master or if I am simply more tolerant of his understated style. Barbirolli brought a similar measured individuality to the Sibelius Second in his famous recording (Chesky), but he was more emotional and rhythmically free than Davis. Davis doesn't give us much drama from moment to moment (The Gramophone turns this lack into a virtue, claiming that it's all about long-term buildup and architecture), but the LSO musicians play beautifully, and the engineers keep up the sexcellent sound.

Is there a great buildup to a cathartic climax? In the first movement I'd say yes, although Bernstein is more hair-raising and Karajan more grand. English restraint still counts for a lot in Davis's style--the second movement doesn't pull you back and forth as violently as it could, but the orchestral sound is deep and rich. The Vivacissimo scherzo should be a whirlwind; here it's only a strong breeze, and the gorgeous oboe melody in the trio is lethargic. The finale should burst on the scene in tidal waves of brass chords and swooping strings, but Davis's retraint holds the tide in check. NOt fatally, I should add. Wtihout being volcanic, this Sibelius Second ends with a triumphant sweep.

I am no expert in Davis's other Sibelius cycles, having owned them only for a while, but if knowledgable critics claim that this is his best Second, I don't mind agreeing. It certainly sounds grand.

Average customer rating: wallpaper simply beautiful, so just enjoy it Sloppy renditions and amateurish Great songs reinvented, with a twist Praise for Beyond Imagination

Beyond Imagination Opera Babes Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Opera Band Defined Renaissance (Eng) Summer Etterna ASIN: B00007MB2F Release Date: 2003-01-14

Tracks:

1. One Fine Day (Un Bel Di From Madame Butterfly)
2. Sempre Ricordo (Piano Concerto in A minor)
3. There's A Place (From The New World Symphony)
4. Beyond Imagination (From A Midsummer Nights Dream)
5. O Fortuna (From Carmina Burana)
6. Lakm2O (Flower Duet)
7. Ebben?..Ne Andro Lontano (from La Wally)
8. You Live On In My Heart (Cinema Paradiso)
9. Chanson Boh (From Carmen)
10. Remember Me
11. Stranger In Paradise (From Kismet)
12. Ode II Joy (From Symphony No. 9)
13. 1001 Nights (From The Nutcracker Suite)
14. Barcarolle (From The Tales Of Hoffman)
15. LakmVibeTribe Mix)
16. Ave Maria
17. Vittoria! (Aida 2002)

Amazon.com

Plucked from a wet afternoon of busking Bizet and Puccini to passersby on the Piazza in Covent Garden in the spring of 2001, soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo Karen England soon found themselves singing in slightly larger venues: the FA Cup and Champions League soccer finals. That the management company doing the plucking had recently performed a similar Cinderella crossover act for Russell Watson offered portent, and indeed the Babes--the moniker began as a joke--were soon on their way to this recording debut. The marketing shtick and its soccer connections may offend purists, but it's the football hooligans that the Babes are trying to win over here; can Borodin soothe the savage Manchester United fan? Their classically trained voices mesh gloriously, with England's warm mezzo showing particular character in her solo turns.

The repertoire choices here cover material that may already be familiar to fans of Charlotte Church (i.e., Delibes "Flower Duet") and other crossover acts, but they do include some pleasant surprises, like Offenbach's Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann and "You Live On in My Heart," a reworking of Ennio Morricone's enchanting Cinema Paradiso theme with lyrics by Knight. But in a rush toward the musical middle of the road, it's the productions themselves that sometimes overwhelm the Babes with bathos ("Ave Maria"), hollow thunder ("Aida 2002"), and electro club kitsch (the 'Vibe Tribe' mix of "Flower Duet"). Former Art of Noise mainstay Anne Dudley's tastefully restrained coloring of Tchaikovsky's "1001 Nights" is one of the notable exceptions. They're babes, they sing opera--with fair promise--for the masses, and if they turn one in a hundred from football hooliganism to a well-mannered appreciation of Grieg and Dvorák, won't it all have been worth it? --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

wallpaper.......2007-07-12

overorchestrated, overproduced aural wallpaper...that said, still, these women have wonderful voices and are worth hearing. They are oversold,too...Opera Babes! Indeed. Folks who like Enya will like this.

simply beautiful, so just enjoy it.......2007-06-11

my daughter has taught me to love opera. this immediately captured me. the Babes' voices blend so beautifully. I love it! who cares about Puccini, Classic Opera, blah, blah, woof, woof. I love this album

Sloppy renditions and amateurish.......2007-05-15

I heard one of the selections on Sirius and liked it so I bought the CD. Upon hearing the entire CD I was disappointed that the only selection I liked was the one that prompted me to buy the product. The voices are nice but they are simply adding voice to opera masterpieces that do not fit. They are certainly not of the caliber of Sarah Brightman or Charlotte Church and don't look for that. Their sound is mellow, dim and without the emotion that does an inservice to the opera pieces they sing. I found the CD lackluster and in all honestly very "amateurish".

Great songs reinvented, with a twist.......2006-09-30

Expanding upon the recent interest in Gregorian chant fusion as well as rich-voiced solo vocalists such as Josh Groban, operatic soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo soprano Karen England offer full-vibratoed, somewhat modernized interpretations of favorite classical themes. Backed by chorus, orchestras, keyboards and drums, they draw from such diversely satisfying works as Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly," Grieg's "Piano Concerto in a minor," Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream," Orff's "Carmina Burana," Delibe's "Lakme," Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman," Schubert's "Ave Maria," and Verdi's "Aida." Some of the arrangements are fairly traditional, while others are noticeably enhanced. The emphasis tends to be on pretty pieces with sweet melodies, though a few are more intense in nature (#1, 4, 5, 15 and 17). A couple of pop songs, still sung in operatic style, are thrown in for good measure, although they don't have the same appeal and mystique as the old favorites. All of the selections feature both vocalists together, singing in lovely, close harmony. The arrangers of this elegantly hip music include Jon Cohen, Noely, Frank Gallagher, Deni Lew and Anne Dudley, with multi-language lyrics (for the adaptations of instrumental works) by Rebecca Knight and others. I have to admit that I occasionally found myself longing for the modern additions to be more consistently interesting and distinctive--in other words, equaling the artistry of the classics that they're accompanying. Track #1, which really shines, is a well-done example. Alternately, perhaps the source songs might have been better off left in their pure, original styles rather than watered down with schmaltzy, predictable underpinnings that don't add much to the music. But like Enigma did for medieval chant, the Opera Babes are endeavoring to bring some wonderful, time-tested music to a wider audience, fusing it with modern idioms in way that is artistic and generally appealing. For more opera fusion, compare the work of Amici Forever (a group of five singers, both male and female), and the oddly packaged but similar-in-concept album "Coco de Mer" by Adam Plack.

Praise for Beyond Imagination.......2006-02-26

What I really enjoyed about this album was its distinctive sound and arrangement of the material. I enjoy classically performed opera and was surprised how much I like the Opera Babes' versions. Of course, the wonderful voices added immensely to the high quality of this product.

Average customer rating: Sibelius: Symphonies 5 & 6 Hum Along With Colin Great sound and playing in Sir Colin Davis' most recent Sibelius 5 and 6 Superb performances of Sibelius's 5th and 6th Symphonies

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 Manufacturer: Lso Live UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Symphonies 3 & 7 Sibelius: Symphony No. 2; Pohjola's Daughter Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'; Leonore Overture No. 2 Sibelius: Karelia, Tapiola, Les Oceanides, Valse Triste, etc. / Davis, London SO Schubert: Symphony No 9; Wagner / Solti, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra ASIN: B00026KGX8 Release Date: 2004-06-08

Customer Reviews:

Sibelius: Symphonies 5 & 6.......2007-06-27

This is a wonderful album for a Sibelius fan or any lover of classical music. The sound quality is fabulous, capturing a marvelous performance with crystal clarity. The liner notes are very informative, too!

Hum Along With Colin.......2007-03-27

With the semi-chaos that's become of the recording industry, and as do a few prominent orchestras nowadays, the London Symphony Orchestra is producing and distributing live recordings on their own label. Colin Davis has recorded the entire cycle of Sibelius' symphonies twice in his career; this is the first installment of what may be his third cycle. However, for much of the popular Symphony No. 5, it's "Hum Along with Sir Colin". The No. 6 is one of my personal favorites with a delightfully disarming poco vivace third movement.

I love the performances; the acoustic is decidedly dry, but it complements Davis' cerebral take on these two symphonies. If one can inure themself to the conductor's "verbal accompaniment" in No. 5, these are most enjoyable.

Great sound and playing in Sir Colin Davis' most recent Sibelius 5 and 6.......2005-09-20

This is a beautiful CD in every way, and my first exposure to the LSO LIVE label. I am familiar with this label only from reviews I've read in AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE of Sir Colin Davis's recordings of Berlioz operas, Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, this Sibelius disc, and Sibelius Symphonies 3 and 7. I am very impressed with the whole production: the graphics/design of the disc cover, insert, and program notes on the music and conductor. The disc inside, too, does not disappoint. Both sound and playing are great in this, Sir Colin's most recent Sibelius 5 and 6.

Davis is no stranger to Sibelius Symphonies, having recorded the complete cycle for Philips with the Boston Symphony (Duo Series, 2 double CD sets) in the late 1970s, and again with the London Symphony for RCA (available individually, and in a 7 disc set with other orchestral works). Now, LSO Live has released live concert performances of Symphonies 5 and 6; these are not the same as the RCA recordings. Davis uses lean orchestral textures, and taut, muscular phrasing resulting in Sibelius which is clear and fresh, like ice, or pure crystal: very beatiful and true to the spirit of Sibelius's music and his native Finland.

I have heard the Davis/Boston recording of these works, and here Sir Colin is clearly better in Symphony 5 than he was 25+ years earlier. Symphony 6, previously well played and recorded in Boston, is here very fine, yet different. I can't articulate why the more recent LSO recordings are superior; perhaps longer study with the works at hand, and the presence of a live audience has the London Symphony playing at a higher level than the Boston Symphony had in the studio in the late 1970s.

You can't go wrong with this: grab it while it's still available, and at an almost give away price to boot.

Superb performances of Sibelius's 5th and 6th Symphonies.......2004-08-06

Critics are hailing Sir Colin Davis's ongoing cycle of Sibelius's symphonies as his best (I saw a very favorable review of this recording in The New York Times over a month ago.), eclipsing in quality his critically acclaimed recordings with the London Symphony (RCA) and Boston Symphony (Philips). I haven't heard the CD of the 3rd and 7th symphonies, but am eager to hear it, after hearing these splendid live recordings. Sibelius was one of the few composers who wrote evocatively of nature repeatedly. His most "pastoral" symphony has to be the 5th symphony, with a recurring motif based on swan calls repeating through all three movements. Here Sir Colin Davis does an excellent job capturing the lyrical, dramatic aspects of the score with the London Symphony Orchestra. The more traditional 6th symphony is also well played. LSO Live sound engineers - or rather, those contracted to the LSO - have produced yet another well-balanced live recording that is as fine as any from a recording studio.

Average customer rating: God Bless Daniel Rodriquez Music From and For the Heart Daniel Rodriguez Some definite winners on this album The Spirit of America

The Spirit of America Daniel Rodriguez Manufacturer: Manhattan Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: In The Presence From My Heart God Bless America The Impossible Dream My Life Belongs to You ASIN: B00005Y1YC Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

1. God Bless America
2. We Will Go On
3. Ave Maria
4. This Is The Moment
5. Danny Boy
6. Bring Him Home
7. Shenandoah
8. America The Beautiful
9. The Lord's Prayer
10. Into The Fire
11. You'll Never Walk Alone
12. The House I Live In

Amazon.com

It's said politics makes strange bedfellows. But it's got nothing on the peculiar marriage of art and history inspired by the tragic events of 9/11/01. Before that day, Daniel Rodriguez was a member of New York's finest, working as an NYPD security officer at the Manhattan South precinct. If it seemed an odd calling for a gifted, operatically trained tenor, it was employment many a journeyman artist could relate to: the proverbial "day job." As it turns out, no police academy in the world could have trained Rodriguez for the crucial role his city's darkest hour thrust upon him. While his colleagues mourned their staggering losses and toiled around the clock in rescue efforts, Rodriguez delivered renditions of "God Bless America" that rallied both his city and his country, much as Kate Smith's version of the Irving Berlin patriotic standard had done at the dawn of WWII.

Contemporary jazz great-producer Tom Scott took it from there, showcasing Rodriguez's powerful voice in this deftly arranged album focused sharply on personal and national inspiration. Taking his cue from his own hero, Mario Lanza, Rodriguez instills no small amount of drama in his performances, and it serves him well on tracks like the American folk classic "Shenandoah," a rousing take on Scarlet Pimpernel's "Into the Fire," and the relative Sinatra rarity "The House I Live In." The "God Bless America" here varies from the original single release, with Rodriguez reading the spoken intro once delivered by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Is Rodriguez the greatest tenor of modern times? No. But it's hard to imagine a talent better suited to the challenge history has thrust upon him; we're lucky--make that blessed--to have him. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

God Bless Daniel Rodriquez.......2007-07-16

This alblum is a treasure to own and listen to. He really captures the spirit of patriotism. I have played his songs at a local fireworks show that I DJ at and his songs are up there with the other songs by artists by Mr. Lee "God Bless The U.S.A." Greenwood and other great artists. New York City and the nation needed him at a time when we were trying to recover from the worst tragedy in the history of the U.S.A. and he was there for us.

Music From and For the Heart.......2006-11-25

Daniel's album is music to be shared with family and with friends to help further ensure warmth, strong family ties, and love of our beautiful country. His voice is magical, skilled, rich and so memorable that it can take one on a journey from yesterday to promise for a bright tomorrow. This is a superb rendering of past unforgettable music. His solemn rendition of the peace song "God Bless America" is the album's centerpiece and truly unforgettable....

Daniel Rodriguez.......2006-11-11

I first heard of Daniel Rodriguez a couple of months ago when he sang on Jay Leno's show. He was/is WONDERFUL! His voice is beautiful, but he sings from the heart, and that makes him exceptional.

Some definite winners on this album.......2005-12-14

My favorites are "Ave Maria" and "The Lord's Prayer" where Daniel truly shows off his vocal talents. I could have done without the choir backup on "Ave Maria" but nonetheless a great rendition.

The ending that he has for the "The Lord's Prayer" almost brings a tear to my eye each time I hear it. Well done Daniel.

The Spirit of America.......2005-10-10

This is a great CD...of course, Daniel Rodriquez is the best!!!
As much as I enjoyed it, I do think "In the Presence", also by the same vocalist, is the ultimate. That could be because "In the Presence" was the first CD I had of this tenor vocalist, who is outstanding!

Average customer rating: One of my all time favorite recordings! One of Rostropovich's Best Recordings But at what sound! Powerful a gorgeous, powerful performance

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 Manufacturer: Lso Live UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Rostropovich, Mstislav | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Shostakovich | Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Shostakovich, Dmitri | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rostropovich, Mstislav | ( R ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Symphony 11: The Year 1905 Schostakowitsch: Symphonie No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad" Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99 ASIN: B0006OR0EO Release Date: 2005-02-08

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Rostropovich's authority in Shostakovich's music dates back to his Soviet days and his friendship with the composer. So it comes as no surprise that this, his third recording of the Fifth Symphony, may also be his best, blessed with a fully matured interpretation, the excitement of a live concert, and a first-class orchestra. There's a grimness of approach that registers with the low, rumbling notes of the opening movement and doesn't stop until the final hammer blows of a decidedly ironic finale are sounded. There's a Mahlerian spaciousness in a long first movement packed with incident, along with a relentlessness shared with the sardonic last movement. While a bit more uncouth wildness wouldn't be out of place in the bitterly sarcastic Allegretto, Rostropovich's slower-than-usual tempo does allow for more careful delineation of detail. The brooding Largo is powerful, and the last movement makes a tremendous impact. The LSO is outstanding, with well-turned solos and the terrific brass section making hay with its opportunities in the outer movements. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

One of my all time favorite recordings!.......2006-11-12

This recording impeccably expresses all of effects and affects in this work: joy, wit, fear, sadness, sarchasm, and bitter irony. Many other interpretations seem to treet this piece more as a collection of melodies, but this interpretation expresses the sinister sneering of the lower octaves of the piano in the first movement, and the epic rises and falls between trebble and bass, the infectuous fun of the second movement's dancing up and down the octaves, the brooding of the third movement, the signaling of the fanfare of the typical Beethovenian finale, the changing of tone as this falls to the sneering of the bass, and the sarchasm of the timpani in the final cadential notes of the piece, ending the piece on more of an uneasy question mark than on the forced exclamation point heard in other interpretations.
The tempo is very natural; it never feels rushed, and yet the music keeps flowing steadilly. I have 4 complete recordings of this work: this one conducted by Rostropovich, the one from the Kondrashin set, the one from the Barshai set, and the one by Bernstein that seems to get the best reviews. I am also an audiophile and have a decent system, decent enough to be dissapointed int the recording quality of many of my classical recordings - in particular, many digital recordings tend to sound irritatingly dry and glassy. This recording is among the absolute best I have in terms of sound quality; sound quality really doesn't get much better than this, it's lucious. Unless there is something faily specific you're looking for in a recording of this work, you will not be dissapointed.

One of Rostropovich's Best Recordings.......2006-05-01

Acclaimed cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich leads the London Symphony Orchestra in a vibrant performance that should be regarded as distinguished for the conductor's emphasis of the score's rich architecture, via somewhat slower tempi than similar recordings I have heard from the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Bernard Haitink. Still, Rostropovich manages to capture the spacious, almost Mahlerian, quality of the symphony's first movement. The symphony's second movement sounds like some crazy dance mixed with drunken waltz and march rhythms, with less than a brisk Allegretto tempo than I have heard elsewhere, but under Rostropovich's superb conducting, it still sounds quite credible. For me, the most viscerally moving movement is the symphony's third movement, a Largo which is emphasized via Rostropovich's slow tempi, accentuating the score's pathos and despair. The symphony's fourth movement is a dazzling rush of sound, with an ending that sounds most reminiscent of the final notes of Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra. Composed in 1937, Shostakovich's 5th Symphony was his understated tribute to fellow Soviet citizens ensnared by the deadly bureaucracy of Stalin's dictatorship. Needless to say, Rostropovich has led the London Symphony Orchestra in a quite moving, dramatic performance of this symphony that has been recorded well by the LSO Live sound engineers. Indeed, without question, this splendid performance is Rostropovich's dignified musical tribute to his late friend and mentor, Dmitri Shostakovich.

But at what sound!.......2006-03-05

No qualms on the performance. My deep reservations pertain these awful LSO live recordings; horribly dry this time, no bloom, no perspective, everything flat. Kills the performance. Shostakovich symphonies need much better, and at any price.

Powerful.......2005-08-09

I heard it live in London with same conductor. Unforgettable. A fine recording.

a gorgeous, powerful performance.......2005-05-30

This is the third recording Mstislav Rostropovich has made of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony, and of the three it is the most beautiful. The LSO's musicians are superb, and Rostropovich, who knew Shostakovich and knows what the symphony is about, leads them in one of the best performances available. Why then only 4 stars? The problem is, Rostropovich is competing against himself. His first recording with his National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C. in 1983 is the most powerful performance of the many I have heard. It is not beautiful, but given the nature and subject of the work, beautiful is not the most important attribute -- what it has is relentless momentum and streamlined power. It is the most complete realization of Rostropovich's vision of the 5th. Unfortunately that DG disc is out of print.

Of the currently available recordings, this one, live in July 2004, takes its place as one of the finest, along with Mravinsky, Haitink and Gergiev (see my reviews). If you have not heard the 5th, or if you are collecting superior versions, do not hesitate! So far, Rostropovich and the LSO have brought forth great Shostakovich in the LSO Live series -- their 11th Symphony is one of the finest ever (see my review). In July we have their latest, the 8th Symphony, to look forward to!

See my SHOSTAKOVICH: A LISTENER'S GUIDE for more on the great Dmitri Shostakovich.

Average customer rating: Worst Wanderer Fantasy EVER? Pianistic Glory at its best!!!! An outstanding performance and story of a child prodigy Most Impressive! Trust the peanut gallery? Or trust experts. Your choice ...

Lang Lang Live at Carnegie Hall Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Memory [Includes Bonus CD] Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2; Paganini Rhapsody Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3, Scriabin Etudes Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev / Lang Lang ASIN: B00017NLHG Release Date: 2004-03-02

Tracks:

1. Applause
2. Abegg Variations, Op.1
3. 1. Allegro [Piano Sonata in C, H.XVI No.50]
4. 2. Adagio [Piano Sonata in C, H.XVI No.50]
5. 3. Allegro molto [Piano Sonata in C, H.XVI No.50]
6. 1. Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo [Fantasy in C Major "Wanderer"]
7. 2. Adagio [Fantasy in C Major "Wanderer"]
8. 3. Presto [Fantasy in C Major "Wanderer"]
9. 4. Allegro [Fantasy in C Major "Wanderer"]
10. 1. Missing Moon [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
11. 2. Beans [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
12. 03. Herdboy's Song [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
13. 4. Blue Nun [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
14. 7. Red Wilderness [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
15. 5. Ancient Burial [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
16. 6. Floating Clouds [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
17. 8. Sunrain [Eight Memories In Watercolour, Op.1]
18. Nocturne No.8 In D Flat Op.27 No.2
19. Reminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418 (after Mozart)
20. 7. Tr=E4umerei [Kinderszenen, Op.15]
21. Horses (after pieces by Huang Hai Hwai, Chen Rao Xing and Shen Li Qun) - Arr. by Lang Lang and Lang Guo-ren
22. Liebestraum No.3 in A flat, S.541 No.3

Amazon.com

This is a dazzling recital, taped live at Carnegie Hall in November 2003--complete with applause. Lang Lang's virtuosity is almost frightening: the Liszt "Reminiscenses du Don Juan" is a showpiece when played "normally." Here, Lang plays it to its extremes, with soft passages amazingly soft and subtly delineated and the bigger moments heaven-thundering. And it is played so fast, and so accurately (a cascade of notes in mid-"La ci darem la mano" sounds like a waterfall), that it leaves the listener breathless--surely just what Liszt wanted. In a Haydn sonata, Lang's classical line is impeccable, but he's not afraid to shine through the music and embellish occasionally. The Schumann "Traumerei" is suitably dreamy and hushed; Schubert's "Wanderer" Fantasy, a real crowd-pleaser, is just that--beautifully played, familiar yet fresh sounding. And an encore, with Lang's father playing a two-string fiddle called the erhu, is a fascinating look into Eastern music. There's more (this is a 2-CD set), and it's stunning--and highly recommended for all admirers of great piano playing. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Worst Wanderer Fantasy EVER?.......2007-02-14

I can't believe the positive reviews this recording has gotten. Don't believe the hype folks; Lang Lang may have technique to burn, but most 1st-year conservatory students possess at least the same interpretive depth, if not more. When he isn't indulging himself in interpretive excess, then Lang Lang is playing as if he really doesn't care much at all.

His Schubert is garbage. Let him stick to playing Chinese compositions unknown to Western audiences, because virtually none of us will have any way of drawing comparisons between his interpretation and that of others. I can only assume that his interpretation of Dun Tan is the definitive version --- but I doubt it.

Pianistic Glory at its best!!!!.......2006-11-07

Wow!!
I have read several of the 'negative' reviews here and can only conclude (after viewing the DVD four times and counting) that what may be going on with these folks is something they themselves simply don't understand (about themselves!). They cannot or will not accept that here with Lang Lang, as with Evgeny Kissin (ever notice?) the world is being introduced to the next and even greater generation of pianistic virtuosos, young prodigies who can do everything that Horowitz and even Lizst ever did and more... I have no doubt those two would agree were they alive today. Karajan wept (for joy)when he heard the young Kissin perform Chopin's Fantasy in F# minor, Mehta was so taken with Kissin's performance under his baton that he could not refrain from hugging the young boy after a stellar performance... Andre Watts, not often praising his contemporaries, mused about finding the nearest bridge to jump off after hearing Kissin play realizing he was not in the same league and one other recent winner of an International Competition had to pull his car over to the side of the road, he was so taken with Kissin.... yes, I know it seems like I forgot we are talking about Lang Lang.... Lang Lang can do everything Kissin can and maybe more...Are we to believe that these aforementioned individuals are musical idiots prone to such actions?!!

Folks! accept it, embrace it and thank God for it!... just as he did when simultaneously brought Chopin and Liszt to our world in the early 1800's (they were the same age except for a year) He has now given us another Double Blast of Pianistic Glory in Kissin and Lang Lang! Pity those who can't get beyond their envy, jealously, general jadedness with life... or whatever ails them... they need help, lots of help!

As for me and many like me (BTW, it doesnt count for much but I am a pianist myself)... we are so grateful and blessed to have these 2 young men and the miracle of DVD technology to bring their concerts right into our living room!

An outstanding performance and story of a child prodigy.......2006-06-14

Lang Lang has the charm of an ebullient child as he plays the piano. I have never seen a pianists enjoy himself with such gay abandon, a delight that lured me into a space of complete attention. I sat with a smile on my face thoughout most of the performance. However, his wonderful performance air was only second to his pianism. You will gasp in awe during Reminiscenses de Don Juan. Lang Lang conveys powerful energy though the piano without losing the delicate touches and grace. The skill is a contradiction that few virtuosos have. Bravo!

Most Impressive!.......2006-05-18

When I first heard Lang Lang on the Internet, I thought he only played fast. When I heard him again (this time live), I thought, wow! He really is amazing! Lang Lang was born in 1982 in Shenyang, China. He started piano at the age of three, and played in his first public recital at age 5. He studied piano with many teachers. I love piano, too. Although I am not going to be like him, I must say that he is one of a kind. When he plays, he doesn't just play. He feels it, too, and uses his body to show his different emotions. And he's only 23!

Trust the peanut gallery? Or trust experts. Your choice ..........2006-01-05

o Lang Lang. German Echo Klassic 2004 Award Winner. Best Pianist.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_Klassik

o About this Carnegie Hall recording? The one given some pretty bad reviews from the peanut gallery? Well, the recording won a 2005 Amadeus Austrian Music Award. And a DVD of this recital with documentary footage won the 2005 "Music DVD of the Year" Echo Klassik Award.

Music has always been interpretive and a vital mark of virtuosity is having your own voice - Lang has his own voice and he masterfully distinguishes himself with it. Lang is a refreshing draft of fresh air in a typically stagnant arena. Technically, the kid can flat out play. Period. Interpretively, he is bold, unafraid, and lets it all hang out.

Nuff said ...

Cheers!

International Music:

1. As Mais Bonitas [Import]
2. Asas Fechadas [Import]
3. Asevi Troparia [Box set] [Soundtrack] [Import]
4. Biografia Do Fado [Import]
5. Cancoes Escolhidas [Import]
6. Com Tradicao
7. Csipna Ftasame [Import]
8. Dadra Tal - Tabla for Accompaniment or Practice
9. Der Ganze Lechtenbrink [Box set] [Import]
10. Eagle Song: Powwows of the Native American Indians

International Music

International Music