Tavener: Lamentations & Praises
The composer calls this work 'a liturgical drama,' but there is nothing dramatic about it; it is more aptly described by the title of its three main sections, 'Stasis.' Set to texts from the Greek and Russian Orthodox Easter service sung in English interspersed with ancient Greek words, it is scored for male voices and an odd combination of strings, winds, and extra-large percussion instruments including a Byzantine monastery bell, a Tibetan temple bowl, a tam-tam, and a simantron (a ... Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $14.88
(17
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Beethoven:9 Symphonien
By general consensus, Herbert von Karajan's first (1963) Beethoven cycle for Deutsche Grammophon is the best of the four (!) that he recorded. The Berlin Philharmonic was in top form, and they had not yet made an artistic fetish out of the bland smoothness that typified the conductor's later recordings of this music (and just about everything else). Karajan's squeaky clean, emotionally cool Beethoven will always be something of an acquired taste, but this set makes the best possible ... Regular Price : $39.98
Amazon.com Price : $28.55
(29
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Appalachia Waltz / Ma, Meyer, O'Connor
I've always been a fan of Mark O'Connor and Yo-yo Ma, and when I first discovered this album, I couldn't wait to get it. Working with bassist Edgar Meyer, the men created a beautiful, lilting album that salutes the best of what instrumental folk music can be--and elevating it beyond that 'bluegrass jugband' stigma.
A classical album that promises to be nothing more than a shining example of virtuoso playing by three incredible musicians, 'Appalachia Waltz' leaves very little to ... Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $10.95
(39
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Classical Music For People Who Hate Classical Music
It frightens me that so many musicians and aspiring musicians below me (and no doubt, by now above me too) are praising this CD. If you want to learn about this music, as they claim they do, here's a radical thought: why not go out and get the actual recordings? The ones here are just excerpts, from no-name performers and orchestras. If you were interested in Shakespeare would you read one soliloquy from Hamlet? If you were interested ... Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.99
(26
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Happy Birthday
To celebrate its sixth anniversary as an ensemble, Kremerata Baltica presents a light, loving, and musically interesting confection. After an opening polka by Schnittke (who knew he could be so frothy?), we get 11 variations on the song 'Happy Birthday' by Peter Heidrich, à la Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, and some dance movements. Delightful. Elsewhere, Franz Waxman's Variations on 'Auld lang syne' are as clever as they are unexpected and charming. More variations--this time ... Regular Price : $16.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.48
(21
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Bride of the Wind / Fleming, Thibaudet, Endelman (2001 Film)
In telling the story of Gustav Mahler's socially tempestuous wife and fellow composer-songwriter Alma, director Bruce Beresford faced great challenges. But they would seem to pale in comparison to the task of composer Stephen Endelman, who was variously asked to highlight Alma's largely unfamiliar songs, economically echo Mahler's most sweeping works, and compose an original score that meshed seamlessly with the Mahlers' music. Though purists may grumble somewhat, Endelman has largely succeeded here, capturing the rich drama and ... Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $5.55
(71
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
25 Romantic Classics
The quality of how these pieces are played is incredible. I am moved to tears every time I listen to Canon in D. I have other recordings of these same pieces, but they do not come to life the same way they do on this recording. The only recording I am disappointed with is Fur Elise, which is the only piano solo on the CD.
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
Karl Bohm was one of this century's great Mozart conductors--a fact that's apt to be forgotten in the flood of authentic instrument productions, many of them on DG's associated labels. He conducted Mozart with real love and affection, maintaining moderate tempos, allowing each work's gorgeous melodies a chance to sing and breathe. Mozart's symphonic music has its roots in the opera house, and so did Bohm. Listening to the witty woodwind interjections in the finale of Symphony No. 39, ... Regular Price : $23.98
Amazon.com Price : $18.95
(21
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Chopin: 4 Ballades / Perahia
Chopin's Ballades are imaginary short stories that leave the plot to the listener's imagination. The trick to a successful performance of such freeform compositions depends on the pianist's ability to realize all the color and variety of the various episodes while at the same time retaining control over the narrative structure of each piece. In short, it requires a classical poise and balance in projecting the relationship between form and content. This is just the sort of thing that ... Regular Price : $11.98
Amazon.com Price : $9.94
(17
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
Beethoven:The Five Piano Concertos/Triple Concerto
This surely rates as one of the great Beethoven piano concerto cycles of all time. It's a pity Sony hasn't remastered it using the latest digital image bit technology, but the sound quality sounds quite clear and pure, inspite of its age. Fleisher offers dramatic performances which are replete with ample lyricism and warmth. He comes across more as an American Wilhelm Kempff than as an Alfred Brendel; like Kempff, there is much passion ... Regular Price : $23.98
Amazon.com Price : $20.38
(15
%) VISIT AMAZON.COM'S PAGE
