Moon River Collection [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
HDCD, gold disc collection featuring 44 tracks on a 2-cd set. Sony. 2004.

Tracks:

Haunted Heart
River
When Did You Leave Heaven?
You've Changed
Answer Me
My Cherie Amour
In My Life
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Wozzeck/The Midnight Sun
Liebst du um Schit
My One And Only Love/This Is Always
Can do Amor
Psych
Hard Times Come Again No More

Amazon.com

While countless fans flock to see soprano Renee Fleming's performances of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro because she's got the voice and the dramatic ability to handle such meaty roles, the versatile singer throws her fans a curveball on Haunted Heart, singing popular standards and ballads as well as a few altered classical pieces. In her liner notes, Fleming calls this album a "look back at the road not taken" -- she played a weekly gig in a jazz club while in school. Nonetheless, her feel for the material here is undeniable. Interestingly, she drops her voice a full octave from her usual tessitura, and the change reveals a robust gospel-oriented approach filled with dramatic breaths and moans. The lyrical Fred Hersch (piano) and the idiosyncratic Bill Frisell (guitar) provide support, and both are adventurous jazz players who create subtle and uniquely haunting backdrops. It adds up to an interesting cross-section of ideas well carried off by the generous talents of all involved. --Tad Hendrickson

Interview with Renee Fleming
Renee Fleming speaks about recent projects, including her memoir The Inner Voice and her recent Handel CD, in our interview.

Customer Reviews:

Sublime and ridiculous.......2007-06-13

The sublime: much of the artistry of this recording is about sound, and the subtle blending/responding of voice with guitar sounds and / or piano sounds. It is in the sensitive musical interplay between the artists where this effort shines. Definitely not recommended for road trips!

The ridiculous: Fleming ended the majority of most phrases in most of the songs with a guttural of some sort which for me becomes irritating to the point of distraction. These punctuations are mostly quite awful: really tasteless, clumsy, and overused big time and I'm amazed at how this ever got released. Without these ersatz testifyin' noises this CD would be stunning.

So, if you have the ability and inclination to edit out this garbage from your perception as you listen I think you'll be glad you experienced these artists at work together. (Unfortunately I'm not up to it).

Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww.......2007-06-06

Ugh. Like a manufactured home vs. a stick-built house, Fleming's manufactured (aka "training and technique") blues voice compares unfavorably to other jazz/blues singers/lounge acts. Would not, COULD not, listen to this recording straight through--one big long, breathy, minor key train wreck in the making. Took the CD on a road trip and had to pull over and remove from queue--either that or drive into a wall.

Better than I thought it would be.......2007-04-10

I have to admit, Haunted Heart was a lot better than I thought it would be,especially her recordings of "River", "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress, "My Cherie Amour" and "In my life".
I think this is the most artistically successful recording of Pop/Jazz by a classical singer. I enjoyed it even better than the Anna Sophie Von Otter'/ Elvis Costello CD.
The perspective I am coming from is that of a classical singer who started out as a pop singer/songwriter. I perform and teach cross-genre but love a world class instrument such as Flemming's
I wanted to get the perspective of a friend who used to sing jingles and is also a trained singer but is usually critical of any attempts that opera singers make at crossing -over.
My friend is very familiar with Flemming's voice, but did not recognise it in this context when I played the CD for her. Her reaction was very complimentary, although she did comment that the diction was a bit strange.
She then played it for her brother a well known jazz singer and arranger who had a somewhat negative reaction.He found the singing to be overly dark and round. He prefers a cleaner more 'spoken' approach to this style of singing. I understand this perspective and therefore personally prefer Ella to Sarah as well, but let's not get too picky. Obviously, Rene Flemming is of the Sarah Vaghan School of jazz singing, which is not too shabby.

I will continue to enjoy this CD and will wait for another opera diva to top this one. But, somehow I think the next really good CD of Pop/ jazz from an opera star will also come from Rene.

To those who have been unreasonably mean and negative towards her, I can only say you are not fit to polish her shoes!

Brava Renee.......2007-04-09

This talented woman can sing anything. I really enjoyed this cd with the lights turned down and a glass of wine to relax after a very stressful day at work. Renee could definitely have another singing career outside of opera should she choose. Hearing her drop that gorgeous voice down one octave rivals the best chanteuses in the business - Cassandra Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Regina Belle, Sarah Vaughan, etc. This cd of different musical styles reminds me of Nina Simone and Cassandra Wilson, two great singers whom could interpret any song genre and make their versions special. I loved all the songs and the standouts here are "Haunted Heart", "River", "My One and Only Love", "My Cherie Amour", "Cancao do Amor", and Beatles "In My Life", and "Hard Times Come Again No More".
I hope Renee keeps recording whatever catches her fancy because I'll certainly always listen.

Art is always new. .......2007-03-10

Renee Fleming is an artist bringing us something new, and beautiful. The poor will always be with us as manifest in those who resent other's movement from their established zones. Renee Fleming is a great female voice with accomplishments her detractors will never have, but in their dreams.

I welcome Renee's elan demonstrated with her recent recordings, Love sublime with Brad Mehldau, and Haunted Heart with Fred Hersch and Bill Frissell. Bravery, fun, and talent combined by artists and for people who are listening. Hearing long time favorites Mehldau, Hersch, and Frissell is all the more sublime.

The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection

Average customer rating:

Well worth the price
Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection...
Where's the chicks?!?!
Not quite the ultimate....
Great Music - Questionable Selection

The Ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan Collection
Arthur Sullivan , Isidore Godfrey , Royston Nash , New Symphony Orchestra of London , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Colin Wright , Donald Adams , George Cook , Gillian Knight , Jean Hindmarsh , Jeffrey Skitch , John Ayldon , John Reed , Joyce Wright , Kenneth Sandford , Lyndsie Holland , Owen Brannigan , Pauline Wales , Peggy Ann Jones , Thomas Round , Valerie Masterson , and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan
Gilbert & Sullivan - Highlights from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Trial of Jury
Topsy-Turvy - The Music of Gilbert & Sullivan: From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Topsy-Turvy
The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

ASIN: B000007OU0
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

H.M.S. Pinafore: We Shall Sail The Ocean Blue
H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm Called Little Buttercup
H.M.S. Pinafore: My Galant Crew, Good Morning
H.M.S. Pinafore: I'm The Monarch Of The Sea
H.M.S. Pinafore: When I Was A Lad
H.M.S. Pinafore: Nevermind The Why And Wherefore
H.M.S. Pinafore: Kind Captain, I've Important Information
H.M.S. Pinafore: Carefully On Tip - Toe Stealing
H.M.S. Pinafore: For He Is An Englishman
The Pirates Of Penzance: I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major - General
The Pirates Of Penzance: When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
The Pirates Of Penzance: With Cat Like Tread
The Sorcerer: My Name Is John Wellinton Wells
The Gondoliers: Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes
Patience: If You're Anxious To Shine
The Mikado: If You Want To Know Who We Are
The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel I
The Mikado: Behold The Lord High Executioner
The Mikado: As Someday It May Happen
The Mikado: Three Little Maids From School Are We
The Mikado: The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze
The Mikado: Here's A How - De - Do!
The Mikado: From Ev'ry Kind Of Man Obedience I Expect
The Mikado: A More Humane Mikado Never Did In Japan Exist
The Mikado: The Criminal Cried As He Dropp'd Him Down
The Mikado: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring, Tra La
The Mikado: On A Tree By A River A Little Tom Tit
The Mikado: There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast
The Mikado: For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price.......2006-04-13

I love this CD. No, despite its name it is not the "ultimate" collection, as scarcely could be expected from a single CD. It is heavy on Mikado, as others have stated. It leaves out things I would have included and includes things I would have left out. But the performances are wonderful, traditional and all you expect from G&S. Considering the low price, it is well worth including in your G&S collection ... as PART of your collection. After the disappointment of the godawful Opera World video series (Don't buy it!) this CD is a joy and a relief.

Not Exactly "The Ultimate" Collection..........2004-12-23

It seems that a collection of Gilbert & Sullivan music that has the name "The Ultimate Collection" in its title would boast a wide range of music, but I found the selection disappointing. Half of the tracks are songs from The Mikado, and the other half is divided between five... yes, FIVE other operettas. This means that the representation from each operetta is awfully scant. I would have liked to see less Mikado and more of everything else, and perhaps some highlights from the more obscure operettas (Princess Ida and The Sorcerer, namely).

In addition, while most of the music is very well performed, some of the vocalists either go a bit overboard or, at the very opposite end, seem to lack expression. For example, this Nanki-Poo (in The Mikado) seems to be overly occupied with vibrato. Katisha's voice is annoying, and The Mikado's low voice often seems to lack feeling and humor. The other idiosyncracies, like the very frightening evil laughing during "A More Humane Mikado" and hissing during "Three Little Maids" really bug me.

Then again, I'm new to Gilbert and Sullivan, and was introduced to the music through the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, which has a noticeably less operatic style, and hardly includes "stage noise"... so perhaps all this is the norm. Do listen to the tracks for yourself, though, before you purchase the CD. Personally, I find that the Topsy Turvy soundtrack, while considerably less ecompassing, is much lighthearted and easier listening.

Where's the chicks?!?!.......2003-05-15

It wouldn't be G&S if not for the ladies - so where are they? How could they leave out Mabel's aria - or Josephine's!? The only female aria included on this disc comes from Mikado, which is the least exciting (if G&S could be un-exciting) of the three! Everything else on the recording is great, but I am still quite disappointed.

Not quite the ultimate...........2002-03-25

This is a great collection, but unfortunately it doesn't have songs from all the works of G&S. Most notably, there is nothing from the "Yeoman of the Guard". I still reccommed it however as John Reed is wonderful!!

Great Music - Questionable Selection.......2002-02-05

It's an ongoing challenge to find a recording of Gilbert and Sullivan that combines premium musicality and great theatrical performance. This recording is a true gem on both fronts. My only complaint is that for a "Best of" collection, this compilation is Mikado-heavy and scarcely touches on highlights from other masterpieces, particularly The Pirates of Penzance. This would be my favorite G&S CD of all time, of only it included tracks like "When the Foeman Bares his Steel," "Poor Wand'ring One," and "Dry the Glist'ning Tear," but then again, I guess there's no real consensus as to which are Gilbert and Sullivan's best works, and there are too many to fit on one CD.

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores

Average customer rating:

Great Movies have Great Soundtracks!
Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything
More of a propaganda CD
Great selection of Film Hits!
Older recordings, main themes only

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration
Simply the Best Movie Themes
Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
The Incredible Film Music Box

ASIN: B000068TN9
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

Saving Private Ryan 'Hymn To The Fallen' - John Williams
Double Indemnity 'Prelude' - Miklos Rozsa
The Lost Weekend 'Finale' - Miklos Rozsa
The Heiress 'Departure/Morris Suggests Love/The Proposal/Finale' - Aaron Copland
Sunset Boulevard 'Prelude' - Franz Waxman
The Ten Commandments 'Prelude' - Elmer Bernstein
Breakfast At Tiffany's 'Moon River' - Henry Mancini
Hatari! 'Baby Elephant Walk' - Henry Mancini
Rosemary's Baby 'Main Title (Vocal)' - Christopher Komeda
Romeo & Juliet 'Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet' - Nino Rota
Once Upon A Time In The West 'Once Upon A Time In The West' - Ennio Morricone
Love Story 'Theme From Love Story' - Francis Lai
The Godfather 'Main Title (The Godfather Waltz)' - Nino Rota
The Godfather 'Love Theme From The Godfather' - Nino Rota
Chinatown 'Love Theme From Chinatown (Main Title) - Jerry Goldsmith
The Godfather - Part II 'End Title' - Nino Rota
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 'End Title' - Jerry Goldsmith
Raiders Of The Lost Ark 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' - John Williams
Terms Of Endearment 'Theme From Terms Of Endearment' - Michael Gore
Flashdance 'Love Theme From Flashdance' - Giorgio Moroder
Beverly Hills Cop 'Axel F' - Harold Faltermeyer

Tracks:

Witness 'Building The Barn' - Maurice Jarre
Children Of A Lesser God 'Main Title' - Michael Convertino
The Untouchables 'The Strength Of The Righteous (Main Title)' - Ennio Morricone
Fatal Attraction 'Fatal Attraction' - Maurice Jarre
The Addams Family 'Main Title' - Marc Shaiman
Dead Again 'Winter 1948' - Patrick Doyle
Indecent Proposal 'Flashback & Photos' - John Barry
The Firm 'How Could You Lose Me?-End Title' - Dave Grusin
Clear And Present Danger 'Main Title/A Clear And Present Danger' - James Horner
Braveheart 'For The Love Of A Princess' - James Horner
Primal Fear 'Courtroom Montage' - James Newton Howard
Mission: Impossible 'Zoom B' - Danny Elfman
Star Trek: First Contact 'End Credits' - Jerry Goldsmith
Titanic 'Hard To Starboard' - James Horner
The Rugrats Movie 'Baby Shower Happenings' - Mark Mothersbaugh
The Talented Mr. Ripley 'Italia' - Gabriel Yared
Rules Of Engagement 'Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)' - Mark Isham
Mission: Impossible 2 'The Bait' - Hans Zimmer
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 'Main Titles' - Graeme Revell
Vanilla Sky 'To The Roof' - Nancy Wilson
The Sum Of All Fears 'The Mission' - Jerry Goldsmith
Forest Gump 'I'm Forrest...Forrest Gump' - Alan Silvestri

Amazon.com

Granddaddy of the Hollywood studios, Paramount Pictures is rightfully proud of its century of contributions to both American cinema and the art of film scoring. But the first disc of this 43-track double-CD anthology merely hints at the studio's musical peaks, blithely skipping through its first seven decades in just 17 tracks. Indeed, the package as a whole seems more interested in marketing its post-'70s catalog of hits and blockbusters than it does in paying real homage to history and roots. Even rarities like Double Indemnity and The Lost Weekend are served up via modern budget-line rerecordings, as is Ennio Morricone's epochal Once upon a Time in the West). Contemporary recordings of Aaron Copland's rare score to The Heiress and Franz Waxman's great Sunset Blvd. fare better, but soundtrack fans may miss the originals. The studio's rich pop-crossover successes in the '60s are documented via Breakfast at Tiffany's "Moon River" and excerpts from Romeo and Juliet and Love Story, while successful franchises like Star Trek and Raiders also get their due. Too often the '90s-focused second disc only underscores some uncomfortable trends in contemporary scoring--orchestral nervous tics punctuated by booming crescendos, treacly piano Muzak--and makes one wonder if the music of The Rugrats Movie and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider are really film music milestones. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great Movies have Great Soundtracks!.......2007-05-10

If you love movies and movie music, you can't go wrong with this two cd Paramount Anniversary set.

Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything.......2006-07-19

Normally I have a lot to say in my reviews, but not this time. The main problem with this collection is that all the most memorable film scores are just on one disc, with the second used mostly to play out stuff from the last ten years that, really, musically isn't very memorable and only includes three pieces anyone will recognize just because, like the movies they come from, they're based on old TV shows - The Addams Family, Star Trek, and Mission: Impossible.

And that brings up another problem. With all due respect to the late Jerry Goldsmith, who has provided some truly great classic movie scores, was it REALLY necessary to include TWO versions of the SAME Star Trek march in this collection? This seems evocative of the milk-it-for-all-its-worth attitude Paramount has had lately toward its now-tarnished crown-jewel franchise. Where's James Horner's theme music from Star Trek II and III? If they're gonna put Star Trek on here twice, they should have provided a little diversity. It wouldn't have taken much, I'm sure.

I'm sure that Paramount's had other films with far more memorable music (even Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem could have helped on Disc 2). This just seems like a lazy attempt at something that really could have been great.

More of a propaganda CD.......2002-10-30

There are some really great songs on this 2 CD set. However, those really great songs seem to be lightly interspersed amongst a large number of forgettable songs whose main purpose seems to be to remind you of those movies you enjoy(ed) so much.

It seems a little odd to me that out of 90 years of film making the most memorable scores have been largely released within the last few years. I was pleased to find themes from the Godfather, Indiana Jones and Witness. I was perplexed with the inclusion of songs from Rugrats, both Mission Impossible movies (one would have been more than enough) and Tomb Raider (memorable???).

This is my own personal bias, but I do prefer movie soundtracks that evoke a feeling of excitement. With this collection I just couldn't get excited. I kept finding myself being let down by songs that didn't in some way complement the preceeding song.

There are certainly some great tracks here, but overall I was disappointed. My advise would be to look elsewhere.

Great selection of Film Hits!.......2002-09-25

This one was a pleasant surprise! I thought- how could any CD that had "Baby Elephant Walk" be all that good? This one is. Lots of great scores- classics and a few hidden treasures. After hearing the beautiful title score for "Children of a Lesser God", I had to buy the entire soundtrack - very soothing. There are a few that may seem too overplayed ("Love Story", "Raiders of the Lost Ark",), but most are a welcome addition to any compilation. Try NOT loving "Building the Barn" from "Witness" or the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan". Hours of great listening.

Older recordings, main themes only.......2002-08-27

This is a great album concept, but I really wish Paramount had re-recorded these scores as they deserve to be heard. The tracks range from 1944 to the present, and the older recordings sound just like the cleaned-up older recordings that they are.

I would also personally have enjoyed more "secondary" music themes (otherwise it becomes like reading book summaries that always only quote the opening paragraph), and I could easily have done without the "pop" tunes (like Baby Elephant Walk and the Rugrats theme). In fact, it would have been very nice to listen to an album comprised of tracks chosen for their strong musical value rather than apparently for their box office and/or hit song popularity. But, to be fair, that may be precisely what draws some people to this CD set.

Tracks:

Pink Panther Theme - Plas Johnson, Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
Moon River
Days of Wine and Roses
Baby Elephant Walk
Theme from Hatari
Charade - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Thorn Birds Theme - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Blue Satin
Two for the Road
Mr Lucky
Theme from the Molly Maguires - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Moment to Moment
As Time Goes By - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Shot in the Dark
Misty
Theme from Love Story
Pennywhistle Jig - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Everything I Do (I Do It for You) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Moonlight Sonata
Tender Is the Night - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Theme from "Mommie Dearest" - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
Crazy World
Mona Lisa

Tracks:

Peter Gunn
Unchained Melody - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Summer Knows
Experiment in Terror
Windmills of Your Mind
Till There Was You
Speedy Gonzales - Henry Mancini,
Sweetheart Tree
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Lonesome
Pie in the Face Polka - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Dear Heart
Charade [Opening Titles]
Shadow of Your Smile
One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini
Breakfast at Tiffany's
That Old Black Magic
Evergreen
Midnight Cowboy

Album Description

1995 compilation on RCA Victor featuring 46 of the composer's finest & most memorable recordings from 1956-1991on two digitally remastered, full color picture CDs. Contains 'The Pink Panther Theme', 'Moon River', 'A Shot In The Dark', Wine And Roses', 'Baby Elephant Walk', 'Peter Gunn', 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)', 'Mona Lisa', 'Unchained Melody', 'Midnight Cowboy' and much more. Well over two hours of easy listening ecstasy! Double slimline jewel case. The full title is 'In The Pink: The Ultimate Collection'.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Double Anthology of the Pop and Soundtrack Composer from the 50's and 60's. Perhaps his Best Counterpart of Today Would Be John Williams. A Film Maker Could Always Rely on Mancini to Deliver a Composition that Hit the Mark for a Film and Conveyed Exactly What was Required and More. He also Filled the Role of an American Mantovani, Recording 'muzak' Versions of Popular Hits. He was Handsome, Personable, but Most of All, Well Respected for his Craft.

Customer Reviews:

not enough Galway.......2003-10-02

There are only four songs with James Galway. The way this recording is presented is misleading and buyers should be aware that this is NOT a joint effort between these two great artists.. I was totally disappointed. I think Henry Mancini is wonderful but was expecting to hear a collaboration. So if you're looking for flute music this isn't it. However it's a great collecton of Henry Mancini's work.

Too Good to Last.......2000-03-03

I heard this on PBS. Galway and Mancini may be two of the most talented musicians of our century. Galway for his complete mastery of the flute and Mancini for his ability to arrange , produce and in this instance direct the orchestra while Galway performs. They do several duets of a comical nature as well. This is important because it is one of Mancini's last efforts prior to his unfortunate passing.

Average customer rating:

The Essential Wedding Collection

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical Wedding
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings
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Call Me Irresponsible

ASIN: B0001U0GCG
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Aria (Air On The G String) - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Air - Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Richard Farnes
Canon in D major - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Bridal Chorus - Stephen Cleobury
The Prince Of Denmark's March - Michael Laird Brass
Trumpet Tune And Air - Peter Hurford
Panis Angelicus - Luciano Pavarotti
Ave Maria - Wandsworth School Boys' Choir, National Philharmonic Orchestra and Luciano Pavarotti
Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165 - Leontyne Price
Water Music - Stephen Cleobury
Wedding March - Peter Hurford
The Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society
Laudate Dominum - Wren Orchestra
Let The Bright Seraphim - Dame Joan Sutherland
Abide With Me - Anthony Way
Ombra Mai Fu - Anthony Way
On Wings Of Song - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Toccata - Stephen Cleobury
Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven - Richard Farnes

Tracks:

My Heart Will Go On - James Horner
I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton
Love Theme - Nino Rota
Up Where We Belong - Will Jennings
As Time Goes By - Herman Hupfeld
Take My Breath Away - Giorgio Moroder
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? - Elton John
Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
Love Is All Around - Reg Presley
Maid Marian At The Waterfall (Everything I Do) I Do For You - Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Moon River - Henry Mancini
Where Do I Begin - Francis Lai
When A Man Loves A Woman - Andrew Wright
The Way We Were - Marvin Hamlisch
Unchained Melody - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

All My Heart: Deborah Voigt Sings American Songs

Average customer rating:

Mixed results
Like driving a Ferrari in a school zone.
Stellar Soprano Applies Her Considerable Talent to a Lightning-Quick, All-American Repertoire
May have a heart but what good is it if the artistic results are a void?
Great new context for Voigt

All My Heart: Deborah Voigt Sings American Songs

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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My Name is Barbara

ASIN: B000AQACM0
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

The Side Show
Two Little Flowers
Down East
The Circus Band
Berceuse
At The River
The Children's Hour
Piccola Serenata
Greeting
So Pretty
In The Dark Pine-Wood
The Ivy-Wife
The Cloak, The Boat, And The Shoes
I Am In Need Of Music
To The Virgins To Make Much Of Time
This Heart That Flutters
Darkling, I Listen
Bright Cap And Streamers
The Half-Ring Moon
Pierrot
Cleopatra To The Asp
Evening Song
Ah, Love, But A Day
I Send My Heart Up To Thee
The Year's At The Spring

Amazon.com

This collection of American songs spanning 150 years shows Deborah Voigt, one of the world's leading sopranos, in a new light. She successfully achieves the transition from the larger-than-life operatic stage to the intimate world of song, especially in the more outgoing, dramatic pieces. Voigt enters into each composer's style with complete empathy. Charles Ives was an irrepressible maverick and a stylistic chameleon. Voigt captures the songs' hymn-like simplicity and irreverent rambunctiousness, though her voice is a bit too heavy for them. Leonard Bernstein's jazzy irony also needs more lightness, but the slow love songs are done beautifully. Voigt really comes into her own in Charles Griffes's lush impressionism, evoking the sultriness of Cleopatra and the rhythms of a Spanish dance, and Amy Beach's unabashed effusive romanticism. Composer Ben Moore is a child of our own time, born in 1960. He moves between many styles with natural ease. Set to great English and American poetry, some of his songs were written for Voigt, and she sings them to perfection. The splendid pianist Brian Zeger provides both leadership and support. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Mixed results.......2006-02-22

This is an interesting collection of American songs, but I don't feel that Ms Voigt sold these selections to me. She still sounds like an opera singer trying to squeeze a very powerful and large voice into smaller setting for these songs, with mixed success. She is much, much better than many of her fellow sopranos that tried such repertoire, but I feel that she only gets it right in Amy Beach and Griffes songs. And even there, she does not have a sound that would make every song recital fan happy.
And what's with the title of this album? I think she is a classy artist and deserves better than such silly title, her label probably came up with that.
Nice try overall, but I hope Ms Voigt will do more Strauss and Wagner from now on, not more songs like these.

Like driving a Ferrari in a school zone........2006-02-02

Like a lot of big operatic voices, Voigt is hard to capture on CD; her recordings of Wagner and Strauss excerpts are good, but they can't convey the experience of hearing her live in an opera house. And singing with only piano accompaniment, as here, she simply can't use most of the power in her voice. As sensitive as her performances are I can't help feeling that she's having to hold back. For American song sung with more delicacy and grace I would suggest Barbara Bonney or Dawn Upshaw (I can't agree with previous reviewers' suggestion of Cheryl Studer's Barber, though Hampson is wonderful on that set).

Stellar Soprano Applies Her Considerable Talent to a Lightning-Quick, All-American Repertoire.......2005-11-08

It's a shame that soprano Deborah Voigt hit her greatest notoriety last year for being fired by the Royal Opera House for being too fat for the title role of "Ariadne aux Naxos" by Richard Strauss. She subsequently lost eighty pounds but luckily none of her vocal prowess as can be heard to great effect on this intriguing collection of American songs, 25 in all and averaging a little over two minutes each. It would have seemed like a mismatch to apply her powerful voice - famous for her big Wagnerian roles - to sometimes delicate tunes. Voigt, however, confounds expectations with a surprisingly nuanced performance that showcases her interpretative skills on a diverse set of musical styles.

Similar to what countertenor David Daniels did with his 2003 disc with guitarist Craig Ogden, "A Quiet Thing", Voigt and pianist Brian Zeger have created a wide-ranging lyrical repertoire that encompasses significant vocal demands while remaining intimate in setting. In fact, both Daniels and Voigt cover Leonard Bernstein's anti-war lullaby, "So Pretty", with haunting aplomb. She also manages to dance effectively over the "Da-ga-da-ga-dums" of Bernstein's challenging "Piccola serenata". Voigt does wonders with the opening Charles Ives selections by not overplaying the innate sentiment of the tunes, in particular, soaring with the highly dramatic "The Children's Hour" by Longfellow and even covering the churchy warhorse, "At the River", with conviction.

There are eight highly individualistic songs by Ben Moore that stretch Voigt with bountiful results. The standouts of the Moore set are the English sea chantey-like "The Ivy-Wife" by Thomas Hardy, the lushly romantic "I Am in Need of Music" by Elizabeth Bishop; the sweeping "Darkling, I Listen" by John Keats; and the discordant waltz, "Bright Cap and Streamers", by James Joyce. For me, the highpoints of the recording are the last two sets by Charles Tomlinson Griffes and Amy Beach, both of whom tap impressively into Voigt's natural theatricality proven especially by her performances of Griffes's lush "Cleopatra to the Asp" and Bishop's rolling "I Send My Heart Up to Thee".

The one shortcoming of the recording overall is that the briefness of the songs does not really capitalize on Voigt's impressive dramatic capabilities in showcasing changes in characters she would have been allowed in her opera roles. For all the limitations it represents, this is a genuine recital album, and truly transcendent moments are fleeting at best especially given the variety of moods that need to be expressed in lightning-flash strokes. However, taken for the genre it represents, this is a stellar recording to appreciate a singer who is able to do more than Wagner and lose weight.

May have a heart but what good is it if the artistic results are a void?.......2005-10-31

The header says it all. Thumbs down all the way. Get instead the Samuel Barber double set with Cheryl Studer and Thomas Hampson if you wish to experience true heartrending Americana. As another reviewer put it, you get no gimmicks and no camp from these two distinguished artists.

Great new context for Voigt.......2005-09-30

It is great to hear Voigt in an American lieder recital. She is a top vocalist in her vocal prime. I think this is a lovely disc, and it really takes off especially with the songs of Ben Moore who has written many works just for Voigt. She tones down the volume of her sound and reins in the dramatic aspect of her soprano to give these songs a proper context and remains in service of them throughout the recital. Give this one a try! EMI - Release her Marshallin from Der Rosenkavalier, I think it would be wonderful. I know she just took on that role this summer.

Average customer rating:

Collection: Say It With Music (Dlx)
Andr Kostelanetz
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00007L8X4
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

Say It With Music Remember Blue Skies
Top Hat White Tie And Tails How Deep Is The Ocean (How High
This Is The Army Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning Soft
Whatll I Do Always The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers
The Piccolino Cheek To Cheek
White Christmas
The Girl That I Marry Say It Isnt So Mandy
Give Me Your Tired Your Poor God Bless America
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Yesterdays
Ive Told Every Little Star The Song Is You
The Night Was Made For Love She Didnt Say Yes All The Things
Look For The Silver Lining They Didnt Believe Me Long Ago (A
I Dream Too Much The Jockey On The Carrousel
Why Was I Born The Way You Look Tonight Who
Make Believe Bill
Why Do I Love You You Are Love Ol Man River
Fascinatin Rhythm
Mine
The Man I Love
Embraceable You Soon
I Got Rhythm
Bess Oh Wheres My Bess
S Wonderful
Maybe
Someone To Watch Over Me Oh Lady Be Good
Embraceable You
Strike Up The Band
Begin The Beguine
All Through The Night
I Concentrate On You
I Love You
Night And Day
In The Still Of The Night
Ive Got You Under My Skin
Blow Gabriel Blow
Just One Of Those Things (Bonus Track)
Hallelujah Time On My Hands
Tea For Two
Carioca
Without A Song
More Than You Know
Orchids In The Moonlight
Sometimes Im Happy I Know That You Know
Through The Years Drums In My Heart
Malaguena
La Cumparsita
Mexicana Medley
Yours (Quiereme Mucho)
Siboney
Caminito
Adios
No Taboleiro De Bahiana
The Moon Of Manakoora
Lotus Land
Kashmiri Song
Jamaican Rhumba
Flamingo
Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)
Andalucia
Sweet Leilani (Bonus Track)
Frenesi (Cancion Tropical) (Bonus Track)
Show Boat
South Pacific
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
An American In Paris
Porgy And Bess

Album Description

The multi-faceted Andre Kostelanetz left his mark on the music world as an acclaimed conductor/arranger/accompanist. His most notable contribution is the creation of the Easy Listening genre, done by bridging the gap between Classical and Pop music. Highlights on this 6 CD box set include Irving Berlin's 'Cheek To Cheek', George Gershwin's 'The Man I Love' and Jerome Kern's 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. Includes 3 bonus tracks 'Just One Of Those Things' (Cole Porter), 'Sweet Leilani' (from Waikiki Wedding) & 'Frenesi' (Cancion Tropical). Standard jewel cases housed in a deluxe wooden box w/hinged lid (approx. 6 x 5''). Collectables. 2003.

Average customer rating:

Great Collection

Moon River Collection
Andy Williams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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B-Sides and Rarities
The Very Best of Frank Sinatra

ASIN: B00022W55O
Release Date: 2004-05-03

Tracks:

Moon River
Where Do I Begin
Time For Us
My Way
Speak Softly Love
Tonight
Summer Place
Charade
Man & A Woman
As Time Goes By
Days Of Wine & Roses
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
Never On Sunday
Exodus Song
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Three Coins In The Fountain
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In
Theme From Summer Of 42
On The Street Where You Live
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Impossible Dream
Last Tango In Paris
Look Of Love
Feelings
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Up Up & Away
Can't Get Used To Losing You
Dear Heart
Somethin' Stupid
My Cherie Amour
Killing Me Softly With Her Song
Candida
Music To Watch Girls By
Shadow Of Your Smile
More I See You
What Now My Love
You've Got A Friend
You Are My Sunshine
More
Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
Solitaire
I Think I Love You
Happy Heart
May Each Day

Album Description

Special 2006 Tour Edition of this wonderful double CD compilation featuring virtually all of his big hits mixed with key album tracks. Andy Williams scored hits throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s, had his own TV show (where he helped discover The Osmonds) and is one of the most successful performers in Branson, MO. In fact, his very own Moon River theater in Branson is also one of the longest-running!. On top of all that, Andy still finds time to record and has released a new album in 2007 and is more popular in the UK than ever before. This collection features 44 classics including 'Moon River', 'Where Do I Begin (Theme From 'Love Story'), 'Music To Watch Girls By', 'Can't Get Used To Losing You', 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing' and many more. Sony.

Album Details

High-definition digitally remastered 2 CD set.

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection.......2006-02-01

Love this collection of Andy Williams - it includes all the best and favorites. Quality of CD is excellent.

BEACHED "EP" Radio version / Long version / Doctor Look Out

Average customer rating:

BEACHED "EP" Radio version / Long version / Doctor Look Out
ORBITAL , and ANGELO BADALAMENTI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000JM9V4A

My Native Land: A Collection of American Songs

Average customer rating:

Very Good Intro to American Art Songs
Excellent recording, lots of photos, partial texts.
Terrific Songs, Great Artistry

My Native Land: A Collection of American Songs

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Larmore, Jennifer | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Faces of Love ~ The Songs of Jake Heggie / Fleming, McNair, Larmore, von Stade, Forand, Cao, Clayton, Vaness, Asawa
But Yesterday Is Not Today-The American Art Song 1927-1972
A Month In The Country
Stefano Donaudy: Amor mi fa cantare
All My Heart: Deborah Voigt Sings American Songs

ASIN: B000000S9V
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

He's Gone Away
The Little Horses
Ching-a-Ring Chaw
At The River
Zion's Walls
In The Fields
Bessie Bobtail op 2, no 3
I Hear an Army, op 10
Sure on this Shining Night op.13, no 3
Rain Has Fallen, op.10
To Say Before Going To Sleep
White in the Moon
The Leather-Winged Bat
Barb'ry Allen
Sleep Now
Winter Song
Twentieth Century
A Letter
The Astronomers
T'is Winter Now
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day
Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace
Black is The Color of My True Love's Hair
Soldier, Soldier
Heart! We Will Forget Him!
Richard Cory
Fee Simple
My Native Land
The Things Our Fathers Loved
Memories

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Intro to American Art Songs.......2006-04-02

'My Native Land', a collection of 30 pieces sung by mezzo soprano Jennifer Larmore, accompanied on piano by Antoine Palloc is an excellent tutorial in the American art song. As the introduction states, the art song is as much or more at home in America than any other form of 'classical' music. This became quite clear to me the moment I realized that Stephen Foster's songs were as much of the style of Shubert as they were of native American gospel songs.

This makes it especially odd that there are no Stephen Foster songs on this album. I take this to be an effort on the part of the artist and her producers to focus on less familiar material and thereby educate us about Jake Heggie, Lee Hoiby, John Duke, Richard Hundley, Lora Aborn, John Jacob Niles, Robert Abramson and Charles Naginski and thereby concentrating on 20th century composers joining the better known Charles Ives, Samuel Barber, and Aaron Copeland.

Larmone is not my favorite mezzo and, like another reviewer, have found her doing things I did not totally enjoy, but it seems as if the material in this album fits her to a Tee. It makes me wish she would do a Stephen Foster album.

Recommended.

Excellent recording, lots of photos, partial texts........2005-06-09

I defer to the excellent review below, and to that in the December 1997 Gramophone 12/1997. Just a brief note for purchasers that, for reasons not totally justified by copyright concerns, only nine of the thirty sung texts are reproduced in the original Teldec release booklet - and none at all in the Elatus reissue. Generous total timing 74'58.

Terrific Songs, Great Artistry.......2000-09-25

In an effort to promote American culture abroad, I purchased this CD as a gift for a European friend. After two weeks of previewing it in my home, I'm keeping it for myself! Simply put, I can't remember the last time I have enjoyed a disc of songs as much as this one. No one is more surprised than me, since in the past I haven't always warmed to Larmore's singing, live or on record. Even here there are times when her vocal idiosyncrasies get in the way of what she wants to do. The lower register often takes on a strangely occluded quality, while some of her high notes slice the air with piercing shrillness. It's a highly accomplished voice that, to my ears, lacks consistent beauty. But to be fair, for much of this disc she sounds perfectly fine: a handsome, pleasingly dark sound, notable for its flexibility and legato.

What earns her five stars, however, is her artistry. She brings an arrestingly broad range of responses to this music. Like the nation that produced them, American songs are highly diverse, drawing from folk, European, religious, and pop idioms, to name just a few. Larmore is in full command of this diversity and alters her tone and delivery to bring each number home. Furthermore, she seems really to have read and thought about the texts. Every word counts. When the music can handle it, she lays it on thick and "acts" her way through the song, such as in Copland's "Ching a Ring" or Heggie's "Barb'ry Allen." But she wisely knows when to to hold back and let the melody carry the point, as in Barber's famous "Sure on this Shining Night" or Ives's "My Native Land." (Many accomplished Lieder singers never learn this lesson.) Once or twice she's a little off target (the first track, unfortunately), but this disc gave me a new respect for her art.

It helps that she's chosen such a fascinating group of songs. The Copland and Barber are well known, and recently Heggie is on everyone's lips, but much of the rest rarely makes it to disc. I particularly liked the gorgeous Aborn numbers, with their wistful sentimentality, and the quirky Duke pieces. Hundley's "Astronomers" is a haunting, unforgettable piece. Her inclusion of three Ives songs reminds us that it's time singers of her caliber returned to his oeuvre. Many of her choices stress different kinds of longing, that most American of emotions, but there's enough of a variety to prevent sameness. She also shines in several "patter songs," delivered with lightning wit. Palloc performs his role admirably.

I enthusiastically recommend this disc. Brava Jennifer!

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