Chanson Flamenca [Import]

1. Y Ahora Que

2. No Me Arrepiento De Na

3. Intro El Extranjero

4. El Extranjero

5. El Aguila Negra

6. Color Cafe

7. Con El Tiempo

8. Boheme

9. Mas Azul Que Tus Ojos

10. No Me Dejes

11. Hojas Muertas

12. C'est Si Bon

Chanson Flamenca,Various Artists,Night & Day,World Music

Average customer rating: The Andrew Lloyd Weber Collection Andrew Lloyd Webber The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection The Best You'll See from Sarah The Angel of Music

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Brightman, Sarah | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Brightman, Sarah | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Love Changes Everything: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, Vol. 2 Sarah Brightman Classics Time to Say Goodbye La Luna Harem ASIN: B00000I0XW Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

1. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera
2. Song & Dance: Unexpected Song
3. Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'enfance
4. The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You
5. Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina
6. Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall
7. Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything
8. Friends For Life
9. Cats: Memory
10. Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat
11. Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely
12. Cats: Macavity: The Mystery Cat
13. Tell Me On A Sunday/Song & Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday
14. The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
15. Requiem: Pie Jesu
16. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night

Amazon.com essential recording

Sarah Brightman's career was launched by her success in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, so it's no surprise to hear the soprano paying homage to the composer on this disc. Really a Brightman best-of, the album includes the Phantom theme (a duet with Michael Crawford), the light-opera fare of "Chanson D'enfance" from Aspects of Love, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from Evita, and numerous other Lloyd Webber classics. Throughout, Brightman's diminutive voice lends a fragility to these musical theater tunes that you'll either love or despise. On Evita's "Another Suitcase, Another Hall" and Cats' "Memory," she literally chirps through the vocal lines. No matter. The growing legion of Brightman fans wouldn't have it any other way. --Jason Verlinde

Album Details

Another Compilation of Stage Favourites - Some Tracks Are Hard to Find Elsewhere.

Customer Reviews:

The Andrew Lloyd Weber Collection.......2007-05-12

Sarah Brightman sings in good form classic songs and does a great job!!

Andrew Lloyd Webber .......2007-02-12

Excellent Broadway music--a true master. Sing along or just listen. First heard her on PBS.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection.......2007-01-05

Sarah Brightman has always been a favorite of mine, and this CD is outstanding. The duet with Jose Carreras (Friends for Life) is especially good--worth buying the CD for that song alone.

The Best You'll See from Sarah.......2006-09-09

This CD is - wow! I have so much to say about it and so little time! This album features three pieces from "The Phantom of the Opera" - Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Music of the Night, and The Phantom of the Opera theme. They're all beautiful. The second piece on the album is "Unexpected Song". It has beautiful octaves and orchastrations. Chanson d'Efance is an amazing French piece with vibrato - and then some. I forgot to mention that there is another piece from The Phantom of the Opera - All I Ask of You - except that the song is not sung by the original cast from the musical. The next few pieces are fairly decent, until you get to Memory from Cats. WOW - is it spectacular! Then we get to two other pieces from Cats - Gus: The Theater Cat and Macavity: The Mystery Cat. Gus is a song that just tells about a cat and his history. A man speaks the lines that Gus would say in the actual musical - and it makes the song interesting. Macavity is AWESOME! I know that I said that I didn't prefer this song for Brightman on her album "Surrender". I finally listened to it more carefully, and found that it's really interesting to listen to! My favorite song on the whole entire album - however - has to be "Tell Me on a Sunday". Beautiful lyrics, orchestrations, and overall spectacular voice talent ties the whole song together. Pie Jesu is a fairly nice piece from both Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston - the 16 year old boy soprano. His voice is pure and straight with minimal vibrato. However, Brightman's voice shows a little bit TOO much vibrato! Overally, it's a good piece from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requium. THIS CD IS AMAZING! If you love Sarah from the Phantom of the Opera, then this collection of Lloyd Webber's work is just for you.

I also recommend Charlotte Church - (in her earlier career) - including Voice of an Angel and her self-titled album. I also recommend Love Changes Everything - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection Vol.2 - just another grouping of Webber's classics. I also recommend Andrea Boucelli - he's awesome!

The Angel of Music.......2006-03-13

This is the third copy of this I've purchased. I wear them out listening to them. Awesome, Awesome music. Sarah's range and depth is so powerful!

Average customer rating: Great Jazz Great Stuff Harry Connick, Jr.- Chanson du Vieux Carre See What Happens Sweet New Orleans jazz

Chanson du Vieux Carre Harry Connick Jr. Manufacturer: Marsalis Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music New Orleans Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Oh, My Nola Not Too Late Harry On Broadway Act 1 Occasion: Connick on Piano, Vol. 2 Call Me Irresponsible ASIN: B000ICMFNK Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

1. Someday You'll Be Sorry
2. Panama
3. Ash Wednesday
4. Chanson du Vieux Carré
5. Bourbon Street Parade
6. Petite Fleur
7. Fidgety Feet
8. Luscious
9. New Orleans.
10. I Still Get Jealous
11. That's A Plenty
12. Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Amazon.com

As a Sinatra-molded swinger, Harry Connick, Jr. may have had some of his thunder stolen by young star Michael Buble. But with his raved-about performance on Broadway in Pajama Game and his continuing development as a jazz pianist, he's doing quite nicely, thank you. Chanson du Vieux Carre is one of two new simultaneously released big band tributes to his hometown of New Orleans by him. Released on Marsalis Music, it is a largely instrumental big band session divided between originals and classics that shows off his writing and arranging skills while featuring his longtime trumpeter Leroy Jones and trombonist Lucien Barbarin on incidental vocals. (Connick is in full vocal mode on Oh, My Nola, released by his longtime "A" label, Columbia.) Though his surprisingly few turns at the piano are mostly Basie-like in their edgy economy, his coloristic, sectional approach on tunes such as his own "Luscious" and Hoagy Carmichael's "New Orleans" evokes Duke Ellington. Named for the storied old section of the French Quarter, the album takes a few songs to get going, but once it does, it has plenty of spark and swagger--and heart. The ghostlike background voicings on Sidney Bechet's "Petite Fleur" seem to embody spirits of New Orleans past while it's always great to hear Connick honor his onetime mentor, Professor Longhair, on Longhair's bumptious "Mardis Gras in New Orleans." --Lloyd Sachs

Album Description

For Harry Connick, Jr. and the members of his big band, New Orleans has always been a constant state of mind. Connick's hometown, the birthplace of so much of America's musical culture, defines all of his performances, but never more so than on Chanson du Vieux Carré, the third disc in the Marsalis Music label's Connick on Piano series. The album was conceived and executed in May 2003, well before Hurricane Katrina, and showcases Connick's talents as a pianist, arranger of favorite New Orleans classics, and composer of three titles in debut performances. While Connick does not sing on the recording, key band members Lucien Barbarin (trombone) and Leroy Jones (trumpet) do. Chanson du Vieux Carré is a Crescent City love letter, composed two years before the deluge yet never timelier. The album will be released on January 30, 2007, the same day Columbia Records issues Connick's vocal tribute Oh, My NOLA. A portion of Connick's royalties from both discs will benefit New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village.

Customer Reviews:

Great Jazz.......2007-06-30

Another great album in the Connick series. This one is more upbeat than Other Hours and alomost as good. If you don't have Other Hours, get that one too.

Great Stuff.......2007-05-13

No vocals from Harry, but it's great to hear his band at the forefront. Very unique and interesting arranging.

Harry Connick, Jr.- Chanson du Vieux Carre.......2007-05-02

I have mixed feelings about Harry Connick, Jr. The jazz lover in me often pleads with other aficionado's to not shoot the innovative piano player, but please off the reckless crooner Connick can be.

Fortunately, Connick sticks to the ivories in his more lucid moments and on his latest effort, Chanson du Vieux Carre', he makes his grand piano perform wondrous magic along with his sensational big band.

Chanson du Vieux Carre' is a tribute to New Orleans and the cross cultural hybrid of blues, old time spirituals, and honky-tonk that earned the moniker of New Orleans jazz. Connick and his band rip several pages from past giants such as Louis Armstrong and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to make Chanson, however, this doesn't diminish the amazing power and overflowing spirit that lifts Chanson du Vieux Carre' to masterpiece status.

Like many of Connick's past big band efforts, he is nearly imperceptible, working as a small piece of an ensemble musical landscape. The band features some incredible players, including regular Arthur Latin on drums, Dave Schumacher on baritone saxophone, Mark Mullins, Craig Klein, John Allred, and the incomparable Lucien Barbarin on trombones, Jerry Weldon and Mike Karn on tenor sax, and the steady backbeat of Neil Caine's standup bass. Together, they navigate the salty waters of standards like Armstrong's "Someday You'll Be Sorry", Sidney Bechet's "Petite Fleur", Hoagy Carmichael's "New Orleans", and Sammy Cahn's "I Still Get Jealous"; plus about half dozen of Connick's original compositions. Each song is arranged brilliantly, making the most of the steamy sensuality of Crescent City jazz.

It's hard to know where not to recommend this album, but standout performances include Barbarin's vocal and solo trombone tracks on Connick original "Luscious", the unexpected horn blasts on "Someday You'll be Sorry", and the jump up and shout enthusiasm of the final track "Mardi Gras in New Orleans". The entire album succeeds in weaving a voodoo spell that will have jazz fans grooving zombie-like under its myriad charms.

Connick himself finds a groove too, and is smart not to hog the show with his solo work. When he does solo, it's simple and non-obtrusive, showing a great loyalty to the sound that has captivated him since childhood.

If all of that's not enough to convince you to buy this album, then you should also know that the profit from this album will go to building an old musicians home in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, and to help with the reconstruction of the area in general.

So as much as I'd like to see Harry Connick the singer laid to rest, the pianist has made a huge contribution to jazz preservation with Chanson du Vieux Carre'. In so doing, he has earned his place among the legends of the musical form, and for the heart that has driven him to make this album.

See What Happens.......2007-04-19

It's been rumored that reviewers in these parts can get away with making passing references to *other* titles that cross their minds while enjoying the release at hand. Proof of that can be seen elsewhere on this very page, and it's a great thing. Here's the kicker - go so far as to actually "insert a product link" and your review will be deemed subversive, doomed to censorship at best, and probably completely annihilated by the time you come around to looking at it again. So here goes nothing...

"Chanson du Vieux Carré" is a wonderful collection of Crescent City big-band charts by Mr. Connick, Jr. and company. Having nothing to do with Katrina as the sessions themselves date back to 2003, you can nevertheless feel the teamwork and dedication put forth by players who respect each other and love the music they are making. Turns out that having this disc handy provides one with the perfect tonic for a fine gin like Tom Sancton's 2006 account "Song For My Father: A New Orleans Story in Black and White" (Other Press). Later we'll add a product link here and see if the whole review dies.

How about one more? Fans of Harry Connick, Jr. the pianist and composer can also be abundantly rewarded for their time and effort by another of his instrumental albums from yesteryear, "Lofty's Roach Soufflé", a trio outing on Columbia made in 1990 that reveals the not-so-subtle impact of Thelonious Monk on Connick's music-making. It's lots of fun, as is "Chanson". Both come highly recommended. Now watch - soon as we add a link for LRS this thing is DOA.

Sweet New Orleans jazz.......2007-04-18

"Chanson Du Vieux Carre" is wonderful, traditional New Orleans jazz. Classic pieces written by jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael are inter-mingled with Connick compositions that not only pay homage but sound right at home next to the old favorites. This was recorded in 2003, according to Connick's liner notes, during the same studio sessions in which he and his band recorded "Harry for the Holidays," and "Only You." For the most part, this album is without vocals, with notable exceptions on "Someday You'll Be Sorry," "Luscious" (sung by trombone-player extraordinaire Lucien Barbarin), and "Bourbon Street Parade," which showcases trumpet-player Leroy Jones. The haunting Connick title composition was previously released on the album "Occasion," a piano/saxophone pairing with Branford Marsalis. If you're looking for songs you can sing along with, don't miss "Oh My Nola," the Connick album released on the same day as this one.

Average customer rating: Music to your ears... Very relaxing to listen to Outstanding program Andre Rieu's Tuscany "Tuscany" is one of Andre Rieu's best shows! Excellent CD!

Tuscany Andre Rieu Manufacturer: Denon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Respighi | Respighi, Ottorino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Rieu, Andre | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | 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 Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Respighi, Ottorino | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | 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: Live In Dublin Romantic Moments At The Movies The Christmas I Love The Flying Dutchman ASIN: B0002SXIQ8 Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

1. Romance Anonyme - Jeux Interdits
2. I Love You
3. Italiana
4. Barcarolle
5. La Paloma
6. Lagune Waltz
7. Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
8. Roses From Tyrol
9. Chanson d'Amour
10. O Mio Babbino Caro From Madame Butterfly
11. William Tell Overture
12. Opera Medley
13. Italian National Anthem
14. Light Cavalry
15. Ode To Joy From Symphony No. 9

Customer Reviews:

Music to your ears..........2007-04-05

I can't say enough about this musician. The music will sooth your soul. A must have for your car CD player, it will help you through the traffic :}

Very relaxing to listen to .......2007-03-07

I'm a new fan to Andre Rieu. I didn't start getting into his music until I caught his Christmas special on my local PBS station last year. I found his performances highly energetic and playful which is rare in this often serious musical genre. After catching a repeat performance of "Tuscany", I decided to make the cd version my next Andre Rieu purchase. Whenever I listen to "Tuscany", I can easily see Andre Rieu performing with his orchestra. His skills as a violinist is exquisite. He is very subtle and is never out of tune. "Tuscany" begins with three of the most beautiful classical numbers I have ever heard. The beautiful orchestral melodies puts me at ease. I wished that the cd included "The Rose" (the Bette Midler tune) that can be seen on the dvd. I loved the operatic version. It would have been a nice addition to the cd. Of all the operatic numbers my favorite has to be "Ode to Joy". I have to admit though the singers have a terrible tendency to caterwaul on the songs which can be quite disconcerting for these ears. On the other hand the same can be said about a lot of opera singers as well as modern pop singers. There wasn't a single song on the cd that I didn't enjoy listening to. Andre Rieu's love for music really does shine through his music here. I hope some day I will have the opportunity to see him perform live. I don't think nothing can compare to seeing this talented artist live. Until then his cds will do nicely.

Outstanding program.......2007-02-10

What wouldn't I give to have been enjoying this magnificent program in that beautiful square in Italy? Fantastic performance of unbelievabe quality and program choices. I wouldn't trade this DVD for anything.

Andre Rieu's Tuscany.......2007-01-10

Haunting melodies taking you to the hills of Tuscany where this concert was originally held. Plays well while travelling as well as at home.

"Tuscany" is one of Andre Rieu's best shows! Excellent CD!.......2007-01-10

I'm an Andre Rieu fan and can definitely review this CD as one of his best! It was well-recorded with good sound quality, and you can hear the excitement of that evening in Tuscany as you listen to this CD. I would also recommend the DVD/Video of that performance.

Average customer rating: Bright Star Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias First DGG album--very promising Remarkable! Beautiful voice, beautiful girl

Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias Anna Netrebko , Elina Garanca , Gianandrea Noseda , Wiener Philharmoniker , and Hector Berlioz Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Sempre Libera Russian Album Violetta: Arias and Duets from Verdi's La Traviata [Includes DVD] Anna Netrebko - The Woman, The Voice Verdi - La Traviata ASIN: B00008MLSH Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

1. Idomeneo: Recitativo ed Aria "Quando avran fine omai" - Mozart
2. Don Giovanni: Recitativo accompagnato e Rondo "Crudele!" - Mozart
3. Benvenuto Cellini: Cavatine "Entre l'amour et le devoir" - Berlioz
4. La Sonnambula: Recitativo e Cavatina "Care compagne, et voi, ternei amici" - Bellini
5. Manon: Air du Cours-la-Reine "Suis-je gentille ainsi?" - Massenet
6. Lucia di Lammermoor: Scena e Cavatina "Ancor non giunse!" - Donizet
7. Faust: Ricitatif "Les grands seigneurs ont seuls des airs..." - Gounod
8. Rusalka: "Mesicku na nebli hlubokem" - Dvorak
9. La Boheme: "Quando me'n vo' (Musette's Waltz)" - Puccini

Amazon.com

Here, a year after her sensational Metropolitan debut as Prokofiev's Natasha from War and Peace, comes the debut solo recital album of 30-something soprano Anna Netrebko. She hails from southern Russia, and her emergence from the life of a conservatory student has a touch of the Cinderella tale—the bit, that is, about being discovered by Gergiev mopping floors for the Kirov as a part-time job and making her way into the Kirov's ranks. Later she became a favorite at San Francisco Opera, trying on for size a swath of comic and dramatic roles. Opera Arias parades Netrebko's way through a spectrum of vocal styles and characters. This mesmerizing lyric soprano engages--at times thrillingly grips--the listener with an imagination far greater than the disc's title (couldn't someone have dreamt up a less ridiculously bland handle?), but most significantly leaves an impression that the enterprise here isn't merely about singing. Netrebko's Ilia and Donna Anna are flesh-and-blood characters in real situations, as Mozart wanted them to be. The results are a bit more uneven with her bel canto heroines, where the required balance between Netrebko's emotional identification, so obviously a forte, and the musical phrasing thereof is a delicate one. Her shading of Lucia's mood swings, vocal and emotional, isn't consistently compelling. On the other hand, Netrebko uncovers gemlike facets not just in Gounod's "Jewel Song" but particularly in her stunning, passionately realized and beautifully phrased Manon (even if her trills disappoint). A shame that samples of her Russian repertory are missing here, though Netrebko's "Song to the Moon" from Dvorak's Rusalka concentrates and sets a mood with enviable mastery. Netrebko's musical intelligence and theatrical savvy seem destined to ensure her a magnificent career, so it's no surprise that many fans are already clamoring for more than the tease of an aria collection. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Bright Star.......2007-07-13

If you like opera, if you like the lyric soprano, if the vocal range of the colortura causes goose bumps to rise, Anna Netrebko is a must. Roberta Peters, Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, Joan Southerland, Maria Callas, she takes a back seat to none of them,she sits he front seat with the best of them and guess what? She is beautiful too.

Anna Netrebko: Opera Arias.......2007-03-29

Her voice takes my breath away, I fell in love with her.
I highly reccomend it.

First DGG album--very promising.......2007-02-01

Anna Netrebko has rapidly become a first tier star in opera. This album, her first at DGG, illustrates why some rate her so highly; it also illustrates some of the questions that some have raised about her. All in all, though, a very nice CD.

A few selections illustrate:

Mozart, Idomeneo, "Quando avran fine omai." She displays a rich and clean voice. There is a very attractive quality to her voice manifest in this work.

Mozart, Don Giovanni, "Crudele? Ah no, mio bene!...Non mi dir." This is Donna Anna's poignant aria, given her circumstances. Netrebko displays rich tones. This is a well sung cut. "Non mi dir" shows off some agility in her voice.

Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor. "Ancor non giunse!. . .Regnava nel silenzio. . .Quando rapito in estasi" Something of a disappointment. Coloratura is not her forte (and see her "Sempre Libera" CD for further confirmation). She clearly shows off a rich and lush voice. I think that she displays some characterization here that is compelling. She hits high notes cleanly. But her ornamentation is indifferent, and she appears unable to trill. I know, some say that that is irrelevant. But compare Beverly Sills' version of this work, with almost too many trills extraordinarily well sung and her florid technique, and this version simply pales.

Bellini, La Sonnambula. "Care compagna. . .Come per me sereno." Again, Netrebko displays a rich voice. She displays an agile voice and the ability to hit the high notes. Her rendition of "come per sereno" is spirited.

Gounod, Faust. "The Jewel Song." Very smooth singing; animated singing. But the technique does not measure up to Anna Moffo's version--let alone Joan Sutherland's.

Puccini, La Boheme. "Musetta's Waltz." Yikes! What a version. Brava Netrebko. Her darker voice is very well suited to this. The characterization of Musetta seems on the mark. A wonderful cut.

All in all, this shows the promise of Netrebko. It also indicates where her strengths are and where she does not do so well (coloratura work). However, this is a very nice introduction to her work and her art.

Remarkable!.......2006-11-02

Perhaps her voice is not as candid as some other sopranos, but her rendition of the score and interpretative expression make her and exquisite hearing pleasure. This recording shows a more matured artist capable of capturing the role dynamics and emotions.

Yes, her voice is not as lyric as you might expect, and some roles may sound a little big heavy (sometimes maybe bordering verismo), but definitively at stated before hearing her is a gloriuos pleasure, almost as good as looking at her.

Beautiful voice, beautiful girl.......2005-11-22

When I heard Anna Netrebko singing Quando Men Vo I was stunned by a voice of stunning purity, great power and sheer beauty. The best Musetta I've heard! Her Song to the moon is stunning and I love her Bel Canto! Anna Netrebko has a very bright future ahead of her. Her Mozart is top class!

Average customer rating: Marvellous! The best violinist ever!

Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Kreisler | Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sarasate | Sarasate, Pablo de | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wieniawski | Wieniawski, Henri | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Perlman, Itzhak | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Sarasate, Pablo de | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wieniawski, Henri | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Perlman, Itzhak | ( P ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits Itzhak Perlman - Greatest Hits ~ "Carmen" Fantasy · Havanaise · Poème · and more Cinema Serenade Cinema Serenade II: The Golden Age Itzhak Perlman - A la carte / Lawrence Foster ASIN: B00004XST2 Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. Chanson Sans Paroles
2. Polonaise De Concert No.1, Op.4
3. It's Peaceful Here, Op.21 No.7
4. Chanson Russe
5. Liebesleid
6. Slavonic Dance In E Minor, Op.46, No.2
7. Tempo Di Minuetto (In The Style Of Pugnani)
8. Romanza Andaluza, Op.22
9. Melodie
10. Serenade Espagnole
11. Serenade (Frasquita)
12. La Capricieuse, Op.17
13. Sicilienne
14. Molly On The Shore
15. Andantino (In The Style Of Martini)
16. Marguerite (Daisies), Op.38, No.3
17. Melodie, Op.42 No.3
18. Estrellita
19. Spanish Dance No.5
20. Berceuse Sfaradite
21. Caprice In A Minor

Customer Reviews:

Marvellous!.......2005-11-26

I don't play violin, and I can't even read music, but as a classical music amateur I find this CD outstanding. Even an incompetent like myself can easily understand why Perlman is regarded as one of the greates violinists ever. This is a marvellous collection of pieces. The rendition of "Chanson Russe" by itself is, in my opinion, worth more than the price of the CD. If you listen to the audio samples on Amazon's pages and you like violin you will surely understand why I like this CD so much. I am grateful to People like Perlman, who make this world a better place to live in.

The best violinist ever!.......2001-01-26

All I can say to this CD is it's the best I've ever heard. In this CD, Itzhak Perlman truly demonstrates his best performances of the past years. I have always been a great admirer of Perlman, but since I own this CD, it's all I've listened to for the past three months. I myself play the violin and Perlman has become an inspiration to me, almost a musical idol. For any of those violinists out there, especially young musicians, who don't feel any excitement about playing the violin, listen to this CD and I promise you, you will strive to being able to play like this man does. He is truly the best musician I've ever known.

Average customer rating: One of Savall's finest Nearly every night for 6 months! Diáspora sefardí / Hespèrion XXI

Diáspora Sefardí Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Orient - Occident Villancicos y Danzas Criollas El Cant de la Sibil-la, Mallorca & València, 1400-1560 Isabel I: Reina de Castilla Elizabethan Consort Music ASIN: B00004RBWV Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

1. El Moro De Antequera
2. Levantose El Conde Nino
3. El Rey De Francia
4. Por Alli Paso Un Cavallero
5. Por Que Llorax Blanca Nina
6. La Guirnalda De Rosas
7. Nani Nani
8. El Rey Que Tanto Madruga

Tracks:

1. Las Estrellas De Los Cielos
2. En La Santa Helena
3. A La Una Yo Naci
4. Improvisacion
5. Paxarico Tu Te Llamas
6. Yo Era Nina De Casa Alta
7. Longe De Mi Tu Estaras
8. Hermoza Muchachica
9. Axerico De Quinze Anos
10. Improvisacion Sobre 'Axerico'

Amazon.com essential recording

The Sephardic Jews, scattered through the world after their expulsion from Spain in 1492, kept alive for centuries not only their language, Ladino, but an extraordinary repertory of "folk" songs, many of them quite sophisticated. As Ladino culture began to slowly fade away over the course of the 20th century, musicologists collected and transcribed these melodies from Ladino-speaking communities in Sarajevo, Sofia, Salonika, Smyrna, Jerusalem, and other cities. Beginning in the 1970s, these extraordinary songs were revived (to considerable excitement) for concert audiences--a revival sparked in large part by a 1976 recording by Hesperion XX. This now-legendary early music ensemble, renamed Hesperion XXI for the new century, has returned to the music of the Sephardic Diaspora with this beautifully produced and packaged release. Disc 1 contains eight songs performed lovingly by the magnetic Montserrat Figueras (who sings with an appropriately unstudied tone). The second disc includes eight more melodies performed instrumentally; the choice of instruments reflects the influence of the Muslim-ruled areas where the Sephardim settled with the oud, rebab, and qanun (Middle Eastern equivalents of the lute, fiddle, and dulcimer) performing alongside harps, lutes, flutes, and frame drums. (Inexplicably, however, the final track of this second CD--an improvisation for the sarod and tabla--sounds nice but feels completely foreign to the theme of this release.) It may have been more effective programming to mingle the vocal and instrumental tracks across the two CDs rather than segregating them. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

One of Savall's finest.......2004-05-19

Hespérion XXI (formerly Hespérion XX, but renamed to honour the new century) is one of the most accomplished ensembles specialising in the early music of the Iberian peninsula. It is one of the ongoing collectives led by the formidable Jordi Savall, renowned for his interpretations on the viol da gamba. The members are always changing, which makes the ensemble simply a name for a grouping of artists and interpreters of this immensely rich musical heritage, yet always under Savall's masterful direction. Diaspora Sefardi is a double-CD of music of the Sephardic Jews, a diverse culture originating in Spain and later settling in countries around the Mediterranean after their expulsion from most of Spain in 1492. Never losing sight of their basic identity as Jews or their awareness of their Spanish origins, the Sephardic culture gradually incorporated numerous influences from the peoples among whom it evolved: from the Arab culture of north Africa, from the Turks, Greeks, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Serbocroats, etc. In short, Sephardic music is an amazing blend of all these influences, immediately recognisable for its unique manifestation of this diversity.

Led by the impeccable soprano Montserrat Figueras, a generous collection of sephardic romances resides on disc one, and ten instrumental pieces are found on disc two. Savall (performing on lira, viola and rebab) is joined by some virtuoso players here: Pedro Estevan on percussions, Yair Dalal on oud, Andrew Lawrence-King on arpa doppia, Pedro Memelsdorff on flutes, and a handful of others on psaltry, qanun, laud, sarod and medieval harp. This recording differs in kind from other interpretations (by Savall or by countless other interpreters of this music) in that it employs a more diverse instrumentation that lies beyond the standard western European grouping of percussion, viol, flutes and harps, and rather embraces the instrumentations of eastern influences of this music (oud, qanun, sarod, etc.).

Disc one, subtitled "Por que llorax blanca nina" (Why do you weep fair child?) is a selection of beautiful songs, mostly from 16th and 17th century documents, though all of them look back much earlier to a very old tradition of songs. Montserrat Figueras is full of vitality, her breathtaking voice and accomplished techniques show her complete mastery of this challenging material.

Disc two, "Las estrellas de los cielos" (The stars in the sky), is a diverse collection of instrumental pieces, interpreted and performed to perfection by this ensemble. This second disc is the real jewel here. Even in the complexity of rhythms, fostered by Pedro Estevan's challenging techniques, the rhythms are extremely accessible, allowing the listener to move around within the multifaceted and subtle instrumentations. Some are traditional dance pieces, while others more meditative reflections and variations on the music of the popular romances.

Listening to this music is always a rewarding enterprise. Full of surprises, it never provokes the same response twice. This release comes highly recommended for the curious listener. It comes beautifully packaged with lyrics and an informative essay by Paloma Diaz-Mas.

Nearly every night for 6 months!.......2003-05-01

After owning this CD for about 4 years, when my newborn daughter needed bedtime soothing I grabbed this (the 2nd CD). We listen to it nearly every night and I am never bored with it. It only bothers me a little when I find it getting stuck in my head during the day. I still enjoy sitting in the dark listening to it after 6 months. Beautiful moving music.

Diáspora sefardí / Hespèrion XXI.......2000-11-13

En este disco Jordi Savall y su grupo retoman el trabajo que emprendieron en discos anteriores sobre la música de origen judío ("Secular music from christian and jewish Spain" y los dedicados a la Sibila). El primer disco está compuesto por obras vocales que pertenecen a distintas expresiones de la diáspora judía a través de Europa, pero todas en ladino (lengua de los sefarditas o judíos españoles), interpretadas con una gran variedad de instrumentos (percusiones, flauta dulce, salterio, arpa, laúdes, etc.) sobre las que se alza la voz de Monserrat Figueras, que maneja bastante bien el estilo y el dramatismo requeridos, a pesar de que a mi juicio su interpretación es poco variada, y no se distingue tanto de sus versiones de música barroca italiana, por ej. El segundo disco trae sólo obras instrumentales, en las que se da un mayor espacio a la improvisación y la ornamentación, lo que considero bastante pertinente pare este tipo de música, y que realmente está muy bien lograda en este caso, permitiendo trabajar toda suerte de matices (el uso del aire por parte del flautista Pedro Memmelsdorff, por ejemplo). En todo caso, es necesario señalar que éste es un disco muy fresco, donde realmente se percibe un compromiso emotivo de los músicos con las obras, que pertenecen a un repertorio bastante poco trabajado en el campo de la música antigua, y sobre el cual todavía debe quedar mucho por investigar.

Average customer rating: poor recording Travel to the Old Vienna Only Kreisler Can Play Kreisler ***** Perfection disappointing technical quality

Fritz Kreisler Plays Kreisler Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Kreisler | Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Kreisler, Fritz | ( K ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Heifetz Showpieces Kreisler plays Kreisler The Kreisler Album Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos The Kreisler Album ASIN: B000003G1K Release Date: 1997-01-14

Tracks:

1. Liebesfreud
2. Liebesleid
3. Tambourin chinois, Op.3
4. Caprice viennois, Op.2
5. Chanson Louis XIII And Pavane
6. Variations On A Theme Of Corelli
7. Rondino On A Theme By Beethoven
8. Schon Rosmarin
9. The Old Refrain - Wiener Volkslied - Le vieux refrain
10. Andantino
11. Berceuse romantique, Op.9
12. Aubade provencale (In The Style Of Couperin)
13. Apple Blossoms: Who Can Tell?
14. Toy Soldiers' March
15. Aucassin And Nicolette (Medieval Canzonetta)
16. Shepherd's Madrigal - Altdeutsches Schafermadrigal - Madrigal du berger
17. Gypsy Caprice - Zigeuner Capriccio
18. Polichinelle
19. La precieuse (In The Style Of Couperin)
20. La gitana
21. Marche miniature viennoise
22. The King Steps Out: Stars In My Eyes
23. Viennese Rhapsodic Fantasietta

Customer Reviews:

poor recording.......2007-04-30

Besides the bacground hiss, I found I had to turn the volume up to max just to hear it. So when you play more than one CD the others will be normal volume but when Kreisler starts you hear nothing and have to turn the volume all the way up to have it at low normal levels. So I recommend passing on this one.

Travel to the Old Vienna.......2006-01-26

Sometimes the author isn`t the best performer of his own works. That`s not the case. I completely agree with the previous reviewer: yes, only Kreisler can play Kreisler.
While listening to this music you so wounderfully feel the spirit of the old Vienna, that most technically perfect record couldn`t compare with this impressions. Treat surface noise of the records made in 1912-1946 as the scent of that distant time (by the way, nearly the age gone) - and you would be completely satisfied, because the playing by Kreisler is so scincere and soulful. So if you like Kreisler - don`t think twice. This is CD for you.

Only Kreisler Can Play Kreisler *****.......2005-05-08

What can I say? Only Kreisler can play Kreisler. Get a discography of Fritz Kreisler and start hunting down everything you can find by this man. You can compare violinists; Heifetz has astounding technique, Milstein's always wonderful, Oistrakh is a favorite of many, Kogan can play anything, etc., etc., etc.. But Kreisler... is a unique personality of the violin. Yehudi Menuhin said of him in his autobiography, there are many great violinists with perhaps greater technique in this area or that; but "Kreisler mystifies me." Bruno Walter, the great conductor, said of Kreisler, "He did not play the violin; he BECAME the violin." and this is true. There is something special about Kreisler that transcends violin playing itself. Something heavenly is communicated by him with his instrument. Transfers from old disks are always of varying quality. Kreisler lived a long time ago and recording techniques were very primitive; but Kreisler even seems to rise above the pops and the clicks. Other artists are drowned out by them but Kreisler soars above them and makes one forget they are there. You're focused on the beauty and the background noise seems to disappear entirely. Other violinists have tried
to play Kreisler and perhaps get the notes right, most notably among them, Zino Francescatti (who plays Kreisler better than any other man except Kreisler), but only Kreisler can play Kreisler.
If you want to hear it best, put up with the background hiss. It's worth it. If you want a modern recording, see if you can find Francescatti's tribute album to Fritz Kreisler. it's OOP, but an LP in mint condition sometimes appears on an online auction service. Why the Francescatti album ever went OOP I do not know. He is the only modern violinist that ever really tapped into the soul of 'Fritz' when he plays Kreisler. If the disk is ever again released, snap it up before it goes OOP again. In the final analysis, modern violinists, at most, will give you a representative selection of only about 16 tracks and usually you get the worn chestnuts over and over again. Enough of Kreislers own recordings are still available that you can still get the whole gamut of his discography if you just look. Do so!

Perfection.......2004-03-08

No crap...really? OF COURSE THIS RECORDING IS A TRANSFER! YOU THINK THEY HAVE DIGITAL RECORDING TECHNOLOGY BACK THEN???? Man, that review from Delaware annoys me.

Go with the first review. This recording is a must. It is one of the great violin recordings. Even my old violin teacher advise me to play some of Kreisler stuff to improve techniques. Kreisler is a legend. Lesson and appreciate the beauties of the violin.

disappointing technical quality.......2000-08-29

I realize that this cd was a transfer, but I have other music that was transferred from old recordings, and they sound much better than this. The disappointing technical quality of the sound on this CD disturbs me. In fact, it sounds worse than the vinyl I already own. Very loud hissing, some popping. The music doesn't actually sound like it's been recorded in a tunnel, but the sound is not as full as I had hoped.

On the other hand, I bought this after comparing Kreisler's performance with Joshua Bell on the samples; and I find I always prefer Kreisler. With no disrespect to Mr. Bell, I find I prefer the composer performing his own music.

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: Great choral music CD a voice teacher and early music fan Lovely!!! Beautiful, but a little cold The Greatest Hits of a Pioneer Ensemble

The Essential Tallis Scholars Manufacturer: Gimell UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Allegri | Allegri, Gregorio | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Cornysh | Cornysh, William | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lassus | Lassus, Orlando di(Lasso) | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sheppard | Sheppard, John | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tallis | Tallis, Thomas | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by White | White, Robert | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Tallis Scholars | ( T ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Tallis Scholars sing Palestrina Tallis: Spem in Alium Christmas With the Tallis Scholars Allegri: Miserere The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis ASIN: B00009NJ20 Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

1. Miserere
2. Ave Maria For Double Choir
3. Sicut Lilium I
4. Praeter Rerum Seriem
5. Pater Peccavi
6. Ego Flos Campi
7. Tota Pulchra Es
8. Descendi In Hortum Meum
9. Alma Redemptoris Mater
10. Salve Regina
11. Ave Regina Caelorum
12. Gloria

Tracks:

1. Media Vita
2. In Manus Tuas
3. O Nata Lux
4. Audivi Vocem
5. Exaudiat Te Dominus
6. Ah, Robin
7. Salve Regina
8. Kyrie
9. Gloria
10. Credo
11. Sanctus
12. Agnus Dei

Customer Reviews:

Great choral music CD.......2007-01-26

This CD is excellent - a "must have" for every collection. Beautiful voices, relaxing music.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-01-08

The pieces on these two discs are taken from over fifteen years of recording by the Tallis Scholars, startng with the now-famous recording of Allegri's 'Miserere' from 1980. Allegri lived well into the Baroque era, dying in 1562, Therefore, he did not write the 'Miserere' in renaissance polyphony; and his chordal structure leaned toward the Baroque.
Victoria's 8-part 'Ave Maria' and Palestrina's 'Sicut lilium' are both pieces iln a contemplative mood, the first making direct reference to the Virgin Mary, and the second indirect reference to her via the poetry of the 'Song of Songs'. The remaining selections on Disc l, maintain the consistent, intense sonority of Flemish polyphony.
Disc 2 falls into two parts. The pieces by Sheppard, Tallis,White and Cornysh come from the first half of the sixteenth century and are part of the 'English School' of writing. Here the music is made up of long lines, more notes than syllables, with the emphasis on the part-writing and not the harmonic background.
The second part of Disc 2 is Byrd's five-part Mass, which was written in the 1590's for a recusant Catholic community. Byrd's music has drawn closer to the Flemish style; that is imitative voice parts, largely syllabic in setting with the occasional examples of word-paintings, and the voice parts closer together. But the mood has a different intensity than the writing on Disc one; darker and more questioning. Never was polyphony more passionate than in Byrd's masses,of which the five-part is the crowning achievement.
The members of the Tallis Scholars vary from year to year, and the list of participating singers is included in the accompanying booklet; but it does not tell you which singers are singing each year. That bothered me somewhat because I like to know to whom I am listening specifically. It does mention, however, that the solo group in Allegi's 'Miserere' is Alison Stamp (treble), Michael Chance (countertenor) Jane Armstrong and Julian Walker.
The recording is outstanding in every way. Perfect balance between the voices, perfect emotional investment, flawless dicton and the most beautiful vocal sounds you will ever hear; just Two and One-half hours of pure pleasure!!!!!

Lovely!!!.......2006-06-02

This set of CDs is truly wonderful. I am fond of sacred choral music and purchased the CD mostly to obtain the recording of Gregorio Allegri's "Miserere Mei." This song alone is worth buying the set. I heard it live by an excellent college choir in my hometown and immediately set out to find the best recording of it. Most buyers recommended this recording over the others. (By the way "Miserere Mei: by Gregorio is hard to find.) Additionally the other songs are also so relaxing, flowing, and meditative. I will be honest . . .the Tallis Scholars sing well but not as flawlessly as the Cambridge Singers. You will note that not every consanant is hit in unison, but this is not overly disturbing. (Still that is the only reason for giving four stars instead of five.) The sound is still lovely and the songs gorgeous. In Media Vita is another gorgeous song (first on second CD). If you haven't heard it, I'm sure you'll love the flowing melody!

Beautiful, but a little cold.......2006-02-06

The Tallis Scholars are the zenith of this type of singing, but sometimes they lack the vocal warmth that they probably could achieve if they were guided to do so. Still, this is a great CD, and even better for the 2 CDs of fine and uplifting singing.

The Greatest Hits of a Pioneer Ensemble.......2005-09-27

For years, Tallis Scholars have been quietly revolutionizing our recovery of sacred music. This is their "greatest hits" collection and quite great indeed. The Miserere which begins the set is alone worth the price of the set. The only fault with it is that it is so startling, so obviously genuine, that you will still be hearing it as you play through the rest of the set. The Scholars' ongoing recovery project only proves how integral music is to the human psyche, how essential the sacred is to basic human sanity. And how the severence of the two in the public space and the popular imagination -- the sacred from music -- has severely damaged us all en masse.

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The Story of Tchaikovsky Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Edouard van Remoortel , and Arthur Hannes Manufacturer: Vox (Classical) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Divertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | 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 | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs Under $7 | Symphonies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Symphonies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Symphonies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Story of Mozart The Story of Beethoven The Story of Bach The Story Of Handel Story Of Chopin In Words And Music ASIN: B000001KD9 Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

1. Finale
2. Overture
3. June (Barcarolle)
4. Andante Cantabile
5. Waltz
6. Romeo and Juliet (Overture-Fantasy)
7. None But The Lonely Heart, Op. 6 No. 6
8. Allegro Non Troppo
9. Waltz
10. Andante cantabile
11. Chanson Triste, Op. 40 No. 2
12. 'Pathetique' Allegro Con Grazia
13. Andante Sostenuto
14. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
15. Finale
16. Marche Slave, Op. 31
17. Excerpts
18. 1812 Overture, Op. 49
19. 'Pathetique' Excerpts
20. Scene
21. Valse
22. Dance Of The Swans
23. Scene
24. Hungarian Dance
25. Panorama Andantino
26. Tempo Di Valse

International Music:

1. Chantons Francais 1934-1936: Gold Collection [Import]
2. Chantons Francais: Gold Collection 1937-1944 [Import]
3. Circulado De Fulo [Import]
4. Colecao 4 Rodas [Box set] [Import]
5. Dance of Love
6. Declaracao De Amor [Import]
7. Delaney [Import]
8. Elas Cantam Caetano - Arquivo Warner [Import]
9. Essencial De [Box set] [Import]
10. Essencial [Import]

International Music

International Music