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
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Beethoven:The Five Piano Concertos/Triple Concerto
I owned the recording of Piano Concert No. 5 (Emperor) on CBS tape, way back when in the 70's, and bought it again on cassette tape when the first one wore out. Then the 2nd tape wore out, and I could not find it anywhere. I had to do without for like 15 years until not too long ago, doing a search on the web, discovered that it had been reproduced on CD and owned now by Sony. I was ... Regular Price : $23.98
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Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2
Edvard Grieg, recognized for his luscious Nordic musical soundscapes and devotion to Scandinavian folk-myth, rarely seems to receive much recognition anymore. Grieg’s music, which last saw real popularity during the earlier part of this last century, is now often heard as a backdrop for television commercials or tacky ice skating competitions. Is it the relaxing, playful nature of Grieg’s melodies, or the lilting, mischievous rhythm of his Suites that lend themselves to consumerism? ... Regular Price : $7.98
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Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin: Hush
The idea here was to put two masters together--one classical cellist, one improvisational singer/sound-effects performer--and voilà! instant amazing, unique, hip--and, hopefully, hit--record. The intriguing setup was to see what would happen when each led the other through the unfamiliar territory of his own specialty. The success of this recording lies not so much in the music or even in the overall performances, but in the fascinating and fun opportunity to sit in on the musicians' good-natured, respectful give-and-take, to ... Regular Price : $17.98
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Philip Glass: Glassworks
Glassworks remains Philip Glass's bestseller from the middle period of his career, the recording by means of which many listeners familiarized themselves with his music. Conceived as a thematically whole instrumental studio album taking advantage of the promotional and marketing capabilities of what was then Glass's new major label (CBS, now Sony Classical) and targeted at consumers intrigued with his newfound notoriety, Glassworks features six parts (three per side on the original LP and cassette), alternately meditative and ... Regular Price : $9.98
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Schubert: Symphonies No.8 "Unfinished" & No.9 "The Great"
Schubert's two greatest orchestral works on one CD at budget price--if the performances were indifferent this would be no bargain at all, but they are superb. In fact, these versions may have been equaled, but they have never been surpassed. George Szell understood intuitively how to balance Romantic passion with intellectual discipline. In difficult pieces like the Schubert Ninth, he rose to the challenge like an Olympic athlete after a new world record. The recordings he made in his ... Regular Price : $7.98
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Tschaikovsky: Ballet Suites / Rostropovich, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Shortly after recording these three ballet suites in 1978, Mstislav Rostropovich likened conducting the Berlin Philharmonic to driving a locomotive. You get on, and you go where it takes you, he said--but in this case, the orchestra went where he wanted it to go. The playing is magnificent, but it is the characterization, the things Rostropovich gets the players to do that they wouldn't otherwise have done, that makes these accounts so memorable. As you listen, you are transported to ... Regular Price : $11.98
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Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 2
As you play these Gregorian Chants, think of the days when the monastic people worshipped their God in a divine manner. Picture the morning mist rising outside of some stone Monastery in the forest, and picture the sound of the chants of these devout men worshipping their creator. This CD caputres all of this and more. It calms your spirit and gives you such soothing peace that it is no wonder not more people are buying this CD. I ... Regular Price : $5.49
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Schubert: Quintet, op. 114 "The Trout" - Sonata, D. 821 "Arpeggione" / Ax, P. Frank, R. Young, Ma, E. Meyer, Bonney
Schubert wrote the Trout Quintet as a carefree young man still untouched by ill health and poverty; it radiates golden sunshine, confident hope, and high spirits. His earliest large-scale composition, it is among his most popular works. Its variation movement is the first of several in which he used one of his own songs as the theme, and this record includes the song itself--an inspired idea. It also includes the Arpeggione Sonata, the ... Regular Price : $11.98
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Chopin: Favorite Piano Works
In this recording we hear one of the great piano performers in Vladimir Ashkenazy playing pieces from one of the greatest piano composers in Fryderyk Chopin; with the utmost quality in recorded sound. And if one needs more convincing, you get two hours of music for the price of one cd. Hard to find a better buy in classical music. Moreover, this cd not only looks good on paper, but it ... Regular Price : $17.98
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