Simply Romantic

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Born to a musical family in Manchester, England, Joe Burkes talent for singing was always just one of those natural things. We always had a piano in the front parlor because my father was a pianist. Many a time he would finish playing in a pub and friends would want to continue the musical evening so they would bring two or three crates of beer back to our house and my father would play `til the wee hours of the morning. People have always asked me how I came to know so many standards. Since I slept directly above the parlor, I used to listen to them `til 3 in the morning.

Although formal lessons were not a part of Joes early training, he nonetheless was infatuated with music. Wherever live music was I wanted to go there. I couldnt wait for weekends because then I became alive. I would visit the local dance halls, which were huge places, full of people, all enjoying themselves, and there before your very eyes were the big bands with all the colored spotlights reflecting off their instruments. That was magic to me. Those were the best times of my life.

After two years in the British Army, Joe returned to Manchester and sought out his old haunts. He also started frequenting workingmen's clubs. Says Joe, they are huge clubs which cater to the working class, run by a committee of working-class people, and are indigenous to England like baseball is to the States. On weekends you cant move in their midst. Youd have a gig at one club, do 45 minutes, pack up and go to the next club, just a few miles away. Two gigs per night, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is where all the stars of England started -Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones.

In his twenties, Joe decided to augment his natural talent by studying voice and piano, and also the vibes with a percussionist with the BBC. However, formal lessons were not to become a major part of his training: After work, this guy would gig around with his big band. He invited me to sing with his outfit because he didn't have a male vocalist. At first I was apprehensive, but I did it. Once I started with his band Im afraid musical lessons just went out of the window. It was this type of practical experience that led to the perfecting of Joes natural and unique style.

My voice is my voice, and my phrasing is my phrasing, says Joe, but the appreciation of other great vocalists is evident in Joes mastery of the melodic line and in his impeccable interpretations. He credits Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Fred Astaire, and especially Frank Sinatra as being lifetime musical influences. In addition, the only great British singer to influence me was Matt Munro. I had the pleasure of working with him on several occasions and my respect for him grew as his career flourished.

Since leaving his 28-piece band in England and moving to the States, Joe has performed regularly with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and has worked out with some local big bands in his adopted state of South Carolina. In addition to his live performances, Joe believes it is now important to commit his vast repertoire to Compact Disc. Revere Records, naturally, supports Joes decision, and looks forward to serving his growing legion of fans. Featuring: Joe Burke, Tommy Newsom, Bill Watrous, Charlie Miller, Billy Degnats, Steve Watson, Kim Ruppe, and a 23 piece string section.

Album Description
A voice, in order to be called "glorious," must be bestowed with a rich and relaxed tone and the ability to soar and dive with abandon. Such a voice, coupled with expressive phrasing, can actually hold a listener spellbound. Have you heard Joe Burke?

Tracks:

Theme From Mission Impossible - Schifrin
Theme From Gladiator - Zimmer
Hedwig's Theme - Williams
Harry's Wondrous World - Williams
Allegro Moderato - Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished' - Schubert
Suite From Shakespeare In Love - Warbeck
Out Of Africa - Barry
Requiem, Rex Tremendae - Mozart
Prelude In E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 - Chopin
Suite No. 3 In D, Air On The G String - J.S. Bach
I Will Always Love You - Parton
Symphony No. 40, Molto Allegro - Mozart
Finlandia - Sibelius
My Heart Will Go On - Horner

Tracks:

Theme From Lord Of The Rings - Shore
Overture To All That Jazz - Kander & Ebb
'Trout' Quintet, Theme, Andantino And Variations - Schubert
Prelude No. 15 In D-Flat - Chopin
Windmills Of Your Mind - LeGrand
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - KAMEN
Theme From Schindler's List - Williams
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Excerpt - Strauss
Symphony No. 3, Lento Cantabile - Semplice - Gorecki
Die Walkure, Ride Of The Valkyries - Wagner
Goldberg Variations, Aria Da Capo - J.S. Bach
Theme From License To Kill - KAMEN
Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, 'Pathetique,' Andante Cantabile - Beethoven
Die Another Day - Arnold
Symphony No. 9, Ode To Joy, Excerpt - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Movie Themes CD.......2007-03-10

Very nice CD with beautiful music from past movies. Very relaxing music to listen to.

"three decades of film composers ~ Simply The Best".......2004-03-06

Rhino Movie Music presents "Simply The Best Movie Themes", featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other various artists ~ within the realm of the following composers David Arnold, John Barry, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Wendy Carlos, Fred Ebb, James Horner, James Newton Howard, Michael Kamen, John Kander, Michel Legrand, Alex North, Basil Poledouris, Howard Shore, Wladyslaw Szpilman, Stephen Warbeck, John Williams and Hans Zimmer ~ each composer has created one or more of the scores in this twenty nine classic line up.

Film scores covering over three decades with "2001:SPACE ODYSSEY", "A CLOCKWORK ORANGE", "APOCALYPSE NOW", "THE BODYGUARD(I Will Always Love You)", "CHICAGO(Overture to All That Jazz), "DIE ANOTHER DAY", "EYES WIDE SHUT", "FEARLESS", "GLADIATOR(Theme)", "HANNIBAL", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Hedwig's Theme)", "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE(Harry's Wondrous World)", "THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER", "JURASSIC PARK:THE LOST WORLD", "LICENSE TO KILL, "LIVING DAYLIGHTS", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS(Theme)", "MINORITY REPORT", "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Theme)", "OUT OF AFRICA", "THE PIANIST", "ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES", "SCHINDLER'S LIST", "SE7EN", "SHADOWLANDS", "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE", "THE SIXTH SENSE", "THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR"and "TITANIC(My Heart Will Go On)" ~ a mixture of original compositions and classics of the old masters. Loaded with not just themes, but full of orchestral arrangements that are fresh and rewarding ~ sure to bring back those special moments from the film.

The presentation is superb with every cue inclusive with spectacular performances from suspense, romance and adventure all rolled into a two disc package. Rhino must be commended on doing such a great job and doing it well. Most serious "film-score-buffs" will welcome this compilation, has many cues available all under one banner ~ Rhino Records...gotta love it!

Tracks:

Requiem: Dies Irae
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
The Planets: Mars
The Ride Of The Valkyries
Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
Fanfare For The Common Man
Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Aida: Grand March
Summer - Four Seasons: Presto
Te Deum: Prelude
The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
Symphony No. 5: First Movement
Spartacus: Adagio
Sabre Dance
Symphony No. 40: First Movement
Zadok The Priest
Turandot: Nessun Dorma

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathoustra
Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Knights
Requiem: Dies Irae
1812 Overture
Piano Concerto
Spring - Four Seasons: Allegro
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
The Royal Fireworks: La Ruissance From Music
Flight Of The Bumble Bee
Symphonie Fantastique: March To The Scaffold
Carmen: Overture
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Jerusalem
The Planets: Jupiter
Symphony No 9, 'Ode To Joy'
Swan Lake: Scene
Enigma Variations: Nimrod
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Variation 18]
Pictures At An Exibitions: Promenade
Symphony For Organ No 3: Finale, Symphony For Organ No 3

Customer Reviews:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation.......2007-06-11

We were concerned after reading some other reviews that this version of Pomp and Circumstance wouldn't be the correct movement or the full length version. This selection has the song for graduation AND the extended length, so it gives plenty of time for processionals. If this is what you need, this is the CD to get.

Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices.......2004-08-13

"Simply the Best Classicial Anthems" is exactly what the title indicates. This is a collection of what the CD says are "36 of the most powerful classics on Earth". My review of this CD comes from someone who is a Classical Music Novice. I'm familiar with some of the composers, musical styles, musical periods, and some of the terminology that is key to understanding Classical Music. By no means am I an expert. I have basically popped in this two CD collection into my player and have enjoyed the sounds it produces. If you are in the same category as I am or maybe just wanting to be introduced to Classical Music - this is going to be a very good CD to have in your collection. For the more seasoned Classical Music fan, this could be either enjoyable or overkill.

The CD contains 36 songs composed by the legends of Classical Music Composers from the past. The bulk of the works come from Composers in the the 19th and 20th century, but there are works from the Romantic and Classical eras of the late 18th and early 19th century (such as Beethoven and Mozart). In general you will find most of the major names of Composers you would expect to find - names such as Tchiakovsky, Handel, Verdi, Strauss, Elgar, and Bach are all there. The only major composer who I would have expected to see on this CD that I don't see is Frederic Chopin. The composers of the late 20th century are not included on this collection - so you won't see Leonard Bernstein or John Williams on this set. While these Composers are excellent, I do think style of the tracks on this collection pre-date their style.

The recordings themselves are done by the great Orchestras around the world. For the most part, European Orchestras were used to deliver the tracks. There are a few exceptions: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra delivers "The Ride of the Valkyries"; The Toronto Symphony Orchestra delivers "Dance of the Knights"; and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Some of the European Orchestras that are well known include: BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Choeur Philhamonique de Strasbourg, and more. Also included are performances by well known names in the Classical space such as Marie-Claire Alain (Bach's "Toccate and Fogue in D Minor" and Saint-Saens' "Symphony for Organ No 3"), Piero Toso (Vivaldi's "Allegro From Spring - Four Seasons"), and Placido Domingo appears on Puccini's "Nessun Dorma".

The 2 Disc collection contains a total of over 2 hours and 6 minutes of music. The selections that are included in the set will sound very familiar to you when you play them. You probably have both heard and seen the names of tracks such as: Oref's "O Fortuna"; Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Beethoven's "First Movement from Symphony Number 5" and "Ode To Joy"; Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Many of the other tracks will also sound familiar, but maybe not so much by name - such as Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries", Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathoustra"; Grieg's "Piano Concerto", and "Dies Irae" (versions included by Mozart and Verdi - you can compare the two and judge for yourself). As for the Discs themselves, I think most of the casual fans will like the selections on Disc Two better, but Disc One is still very good. On a sidebar, the Israel Philharmonic's version of "1812 Overture" is by far the best you will hear - particularly at the end, the booming drums create almost a 3 dimensional vision of fireworks being launched into the air.

There one big negative on this collection is some of the recording quality. The clarity of the recording is there, but some of the recording levels leave a lot to be desired. On some of the softer parts, it is barely audible without significantly turning up your volume. This is very evident on "O Fortuna" where you will hear almost dead silence during from the 30 second to 1:30 mark of the track unless you crank your volume up. Same with the first few seconds of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathoustra" and Tchiakovsky's "1812 Overture". When the volume is cranked up you will hear them - but then the other sections will be way too loud. I'm surprised with modern technology that this couldn't be addressed better.

The liner notes are pretty thin. You do get the Composers, Performers/Orchestras, and recording dates. There isn't any more details than that and you won't learn anymore insight on the tracks than this information. Despite some of the shortcomings of the liner notes and recording volume, I still think this is an excellent place to start and do recommend this CD if you are a novice to Classical Music and are looking for a great place to start listening to what the Classics have to offer.

**An Exquisite Album**.......2004-02-21

Simply The Best Classical Anthems

Simply The Best Classical Anthems is a compilation album of `36 of the most powerful Anthems on Earth'. But, it is also said to be something else. It is said to be a gateway. A gateway to another world. A world where our imagination can run free without being shackled down by any borders or boundaries or rules or limits. A world that we have all seen or perhaps more accurately have all heard of but for many of us a world that we have never dared to enter. Never dared to enter because of fear. The fear of being ostracised and shunned by our community.

THE MYTH
`Classical Music!', I can hear some of you cry. `That isn't another world. That's just music for the upperclass, the high-brow, and the pompous.' Surprisingly, I too felt this way for a long time until I accepted the invitation made to me by Simply The Best Classical Anthems. I always felt that Classical Music was nice to listen to as background music for a Levis ad or a Car ad but I would consider people strange if they chose to hear it on its own. However, after having listened to this album I realised how wrong I was in my assumptions.

THE TRUTH
Music as with all forms of amusement helps to take you away from where you are now. It helps to relax you when you are stressed with anger; it helps to give you strength when you are vulnerable; it helps to keep your spirits up when you have faced tragedy or loss. It helps. And, for me the type of music that best conjures up the most passionate emotions (love, hate, courage and anger) at our most testing times is Classical Music.
How? I don't know.
Why? I don't know.
I can only promise you that in my experience it does.

THE CHEST
The album, in visual terms, is very difficult to overlook amongst the plethora of records that may surround it. This is because the album has a very distinct purple sleeve cover. Not any kind of purple mind you but the Cadbury's kind of purple. The kind of purple that carries with it an invitation. An invitation that if accepted promises you a treasure inside.
And since, I have always enjoyed the treasure within the purple Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper, I asked myself why would an album carrying the same invitation promise to be anything different? Thus, I parted with my tuppence worth and went back home to open this purple chest of promised treasures.

THE PROMISED TREASURE
As you may have guessed, the contents of the album are somewhat different to the contents of a Cadbury's bar. When I opened the album, I was presented with two compact discs. At first glance, there did not seem to be anything special about them. They were just your average, everyday, run of the mill compact discs. To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed because I suppose I had hoped for something more.
However, looks can be deceptive. (Afterall, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk does not seem very appetising until you taste it!) And, also come November each year, I am always bemused and surprised at how the shabby contents of a cardboard box can both light up the sky and light up the faces of the neighbourhood. Thus, I pushed aside my assumptions and I ignited the discs (not literally of course, I just pressed the play button on the CD player). And, I let the fireworks begin.

THE KEY
From the very beginning, you will feel like you have unlocked the doorway to something special. And, after a full two hours of listening to both discs, you will feel like you have been taken out of this world and transported to another. Welcome to the world of Classical Music.

GUIDANCE
In the beginning, continue to listen to both discs in one go (i.e. one after the other). After a while, you will know which tracks you enjoy listening to the most. For those tracks you enjoyed the most make a promise to yourself that you will listen to the whole of the piece from which that track came from.
Good Luck on your quest if you choose to accept it.
Ride amongst the Valkyries, listen to the Flight of the Bumblebees, and use The Planets to keep you on the path.

I am not a good reviewer because as with all of my reviews I refuse to comment too much about what is inside the product but rather more about what effect the product has had on me. (Me, me, me. Vain & Egotistic, I know, so my friends and family keep telling me). But, I just want to cause a raucous about the product, enough not to spoil but enough of a raucous to let you experience it for yourself.

So my final words are:
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is an invitation. An invitation to the world of classical music. A world where you can begin a never-ending quest of curiosity. A curiosity that will always be rewarded with fulfilment.

Do you accept such an invitation?

Hope you found this review helpful.

Samples.......2003-11-23

The samples are too short and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that the choices are wonderful and the price is great. If you're looking for a overview of the best of classical music then this is for you. However if it's quality you're looking for then spent the extra money and look at other choices.

Great Sampler!.......2002-03-20

This is a good sampler, since it covers what you would want in a classical music CD. Looking at the tracks, it has the classic hits, such as "Ride of the Valkyries," "Toccata and Fugue," "Fanfare for the Common Man," "'Jupiter' from `The Planets,'" "Eine Klein Nachtmusik," and "Hallelujah Chorus."

There are also some new pieces that I have fallen in love with, such as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," "'Promenade' from Pictures at an Exhibition." The compilers did an interesting double take by including both Verdi's and Mozart's "Dies Ire." I'm not sure which is better.

This music is good for the brain and good for the soul. There is a power and passion that the blaring and glaring music that makes up most of the FM band. I'm reminded of the religious man who said that there is no music in hell. Probably because they wouldn't appreciate it there.

Tracks:

Vivaldi: Allegro (I) from Violin Concerto No. 1 in E major, RV269 "Spring" (Four Seasons), Trondheim Soloists
Mozart: Rondo (III) from Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 3 in G major, K. 216, LPO
Mozart: Adagio from Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A major, K. 219 Turkish",LPO
Beethoven: Romance for Violin in F major, op. 50 NYP/Masur
Massenet: Meditation from Thais, VPO/Levine
Kreisler: Liebesleid, Orkis
Previn: Song. Simply Previn
Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D flat major, Orkis
Gershwin: Summertime from Porgy & Bess, Previn
Sarasate: Introduction. Allegro moderato: Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
Sarasate: Moderato: Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
Sarasate: Lento assai: Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
Sarasate: Allegro moderato: Carmen Fantasy, Op.25
Sarasate: Moderato: Carmen Fantasy, Op.25

Amazon.com

Although this CD's title, Simply Anne-Sophie, implies trifles, and the selection here, taken from the violinist's previous recordings, is not challenging, there's nothing simple about Mutter's virtuosity or commitment to the music. The Meditation from Thais is ravishing, "Summertime" sings as it should, the Four Seasons excerpt is fresh and dashing, the Rondeau from Mozart's Third Concerto is filled with energy, and the Adagio from the Fifth is warm and meltingly played. The CD ends with Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy, which makes up in jaw-dropping skill what it lacks in musical substance. Accompanied by orchestras led by Kurt Masur and James Levine and with pianists André Previn and Lambert Orkis, this collection is a great introduction to Mutter's gifts and a grand entertainment. --Robert Levine

Album Description

ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER is one of the best-known classical musicians in the US, and her concert appearances here are sold-out events. Her contributions to the violin repertoire, her extraordinary collaborations with the most accomplished and elite of musical partners, and her unstinting devotion to excellence point to a legacy of unequalled brilliance.

2006 is the 30th anniversary of the beginning of Ms. Mutter's public career, which has intersected with and influenced the lives of so many important musicians of the era and inspired the minds and hearts of millions of listeners around the globe. Simply Anne-Sophie offers a great musical overview of her brilliant career.

Customer Reviews:

Exciting Splashes of Brilliance and Extended Sensuousness from Prior Recordings.......2007-03-09

This is my favorite CD by Anne-Sophie Mutter. I hope you'll have the pleasure of listening to it.

Simply Anne-Sophie would be more aptly named, Gorgeous Excerpts of Anne-Sophie's Best Recordings. Five segments are five minutes or less. The longest section clocks in at 12 and a half minutes.

I thought the selections were well chosen to present a wide range of her abilities and musical subjects. How many recordings do you own that contain on a single CD part of The Four Seasons, two Mozart violin concertos, Beethoven's romance number two for violin and piano, Meditation from Thais, Brahms' Hungarian Dance number six, George Gershwin's Summertime, and Pablo de Sarasate's Fantaisie de concert sur des motifs de Carmen?

The order of the selections is interesting. Ms. Mutter begins as close to classical roots as her style ever does, then slows down into expressive pieces, and ends with rousing energy and joie de vivre.

As a result, I often play this CD as a mood piece to inspire me during a difficult task. By the end, I'm filled with enthusiasm, energy, and a sense of unlimited confidence. Those are all good feelings to have as a writer sits down to face a blank computer screen.

The other advantage of this work is that you can sample her styles to see if you might be interested in buying a CD that provides more in that style. From my perspective, I thought that only the excerpt from The Four Seasons is misleading about the joys that the full CDs offer. For me, the first allegro from Spring is by far the best part of her Four Seasons CD; the rest is not nearly so enjoyable.

Simply Anne-Sophie Review.......2007-01-06

Typical excellent work by a uniquely gifted artist. Not for the person who wants whole concertos, but a nice selection of favorites.

Nothing New.......2006-12-02

Anne Sophie is among my favorite violinists and she is nothing but excellent throughout this whole cd. But the recordings are pulled from previous releases. The Carmen sequence suffers badly from the recording and contains the identical flaws that the original release did on her previous Carmen Fantasy cd. As an introduction to ASM I recommend it. Her playing is as great as ever. But you will not find anything new here and the recordings are less than stellar.

Average customer rating:

At best these are okay performances...
Simply Sarah is simply delightful!
Fantastic! Most Thrilling!
Simply Dazzling!

Simply Sarah

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Sarah Chang - Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 ~ Saint-Saëns: Havanaise / Sawallisch
Sarah Chang - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35; Brahms: Hungarian Dances

ASIN: B000002RWO
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

The Dance Of The Goblins, Scherzo Fantastique, Op.25
Cantabile In D Major
Introduction & Tarantella, Op.43
Waltz-Scherzo, Op.34
Berceuse, Op.16
Hora Staccato
Romeo And Juliet: Masks
Sonata No.12 In E minor, Op.3
On Wings Of Song, Op.34, No.2
Sonata Movement (Sonatensatz), Op. posth
Melodie
Banjo And Fiddle
Nocturne, Op.51, No.3
Zapateado, Op.23

Amazon.com

This is Sarah Chang's second encore collection, recorded when she was all of 15. (The debut recital was made when she was 9.) As in the previous collection, and most of her other recordings, Chang stays mostly with the Romantic era, although she does play the March from Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges with a good deal of bite. This disc doesn't offer a profound musical experience, but if you like to be amazed by dazzling violin playing, it's a treat throughout. Bravo to Chang for reviving showpieces like those by Bazzini and Sarasate. Charles Abramovic, whose name you have to search for, plays well but could be more assertive. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

At best these are okay performances..........2006-12-04

...of these pieces...for some reason some of the recordings have a particularly dry sound -- "Hora staccato" and "Valse scherzo" sound like the bow was haired with sandpaper...much better performances can be found elsewhere -- look for Michael Rabin and, of course, Heifetz.

Simply Sarah is simply delightful!.......2005-12-21

I couldn't stop smiling while I listened to these bon-bons. She is an outstanding musician and the material, while definitely on the light side, is totally pleasing.

Fantastic! Most Thrilling!.......1999-01-06

This album features mainly bravura showpieces and lyrical pieces. In the showpieces, Sarah Chang's virtuosity is second to none. Her flawless, electrifying accounts of Bazzini's Dance of the Goblins, Sarasate's Tarantella and Zapateado, etc., are very likely the best ever. In contrast to the dazzlers, she makes listeners realize her remarkable versatility when she sings most winsomely in the lyrical pieces, with a spellbinding tone. Two seldom recorded pieces, Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song and Sibelius's Nocturne, are simply mesmerizing.

In conclusion, this disc contains many familiar encore pieces as well as some lesser-known ones. Miss Chang breathes invigorating new air into the well-known pieces, and makes obscure pieces sound equally compelling. Every track on this CD is a gem. Sarah Chang demonstrates (as usual) her peerless, stupefying technical mastery, which is well blended with her marvelous tone and mature musicianship. IMHO, this is probably Miss Chang's finest disc so far. A CD to treasure!

Simply Dazzling!.......1999-01-01

Another wonderful showcase of Ms. Chang's superb and passionate musical talent.

Average customer rating:

"Simply a Stunner"
Good choice for opera lovers.

Simply the Best Night at the Opera
Giacomo Puccini , Jacques Offenbach , Gaetano Donizetti , Georges Bizet , Gioachino Rossini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , George Frideric Handel , Igor Stravinsky , Jules Massenet , Antonin Dvorak , Camille Saint-Saëns , Benjamin Britten , Claudio Monteverdi , Giuseppe Verdi , Hector Berlioz , Charles Gounod , Henry Purcell , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Richard Wagner , English Chamber Orchestra , Munich Bavarian State Orchestra , Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra , Lyon National Opera Orchestra & Chorus , Prague Symphony Orchestra , Orchestre National de France , Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , and Halle Orchestra
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | 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

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000J9HR
Release Date: 1999-07-06

Tracks:

Turnadot: Nessun Dorma
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Les Conte d'Hoffmann: Messiers, Silence!
L'Elisir diAmore: Una fortiva lagrima
Carmen: Je Dis que rien ne m'epouvant
Les pecheurs de perles: Au fond du temple saint
L'Inganno felice: Al piu dolce
Cosi fan tutte: Soave sia il vento
Xerxes: Ombra mai fu
The Rake's Progress: Quietly, night
L'Italiana: Gia d'insolito ardore nel petto
Les Contes d'Hoffmann: Les oiseaux dans la charmille
Werther: Pourquoi me revieller
Rusalka: Song To The Moon

Tracks:

La Boheme: O soave faciulla
Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix
La nozze di Figaro: Voi, che sapete che cosa e amor
Billy Budd: Look! ... Through The Port Come The Moonshine Astray!
L'Incoronazione di Poppea: Lameto di Ottavia: 'Diprezzata Regina'
Rigoletto: Gaultier Malde ... caro nome
Manon Lescant: Donna on vidi mia
Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedreno
La Damnation de Faust: D'amour l'ardente flamme
Faust: Vous qui faites l'endormie
Dido's Lament: Thy Hand, Belinda - When I Am Laid In Earth
Yolanta: Scene & Monologue By Ibn Hakia
Carmen: Votre toast, je peaux le rendre
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Tannhauser: Wie Todesahnung Damn'rung deckt die Lande ...

Customer Reviews:

"Simply a Stunner".......2006-07-21

Ideal for an opera lover, or for anyone who loves gorgeous singing. I am an opera nut and was introduced to this one by accident; "Au gond du temple saint" from Pearl Fishers (selection #6, disc one) was playing on the stereo in the Metropolitan Opera giftshop when I walked in at intermission one night. I thought it was so stunning I bought my first copy of the CD then and there; and have bought 2 other "back-up copies" since then, as well as having it on my iPod.

Good choice for opera lovers........2001-08-16

If you are in search of a cd containing various popular pieces from the greatest operas in the world, then search no more. This cd contains classic operatic pieces, sung by some of the most talented tenors and sopranos out there, including Placido Domingo. Madame Butterfly's Un Bel Di and Turandot's Nessun Dorma are, without a doubt, two of the most emotional and dramatic songs ever composed. Fortunately, this inexpensive two cd set includes those songs and many more. This cd is a delight to own, whether or not you've ever attended an opera.

Average customer rating:

Simply Christmas

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Classical 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
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James Taylor at Christmas

ASIN: B000B8I85K
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

Jingle Bells
Joy To The World
Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
Angels We Have Heard On High
Concerto Grosso In G Minor, Op.6 No.8 'Christmas Concerto': III. Adagio-Allegro-Adagio
O Holy Night
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Silent Night
Ave Maria
Peace/I Saw Three Ships
Deck The Halls
White Christmas
Concerto Grosso Per Il Santissimo Natale In C Major, Op.3 No.12: I. Pastorale. Largo
Concerto Grosso In G Minor, Op.6 No.8 'Christmas Concerto': V. Allegro
Concerto Grosso In G Minor, Op.6 No.8 'Christmas Concerto': VI. Largo. Pastorelle Ad Libitum
Prelude No.1/Ave Maria