Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
This performance is also available on Deutsche Grammophon in an earlier, mid-price incarnation, but this version is clearly the one to own, since the remastered sound is a definite improvement over previous issues. Herbert von Karajan always did a good job with this symphony, and his performances are quite consistent, even down to the very backward-balance of the chorus. By general consensus, though, this is the best of them.
My title pretty much sums it up. I have listened ... Regular Price : $11.98
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Beethoven for Babies: Brain Training for Little Ones
For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's ... Regular Price : $
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Classical Music for Children
A wonderful selection of classical music! I bought this one, then started searching for the other CD's in the series. My 6-year-old daughter LOVES it & I often play it when she's not home. (I even took it to work for a few weeks & my officemates all commented on the collection of songs -- there's something on here for everyone to enjoy!) This is the kind of classical music that makes you ... Regular Price : $2.98
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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
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Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.3 Opus 36
This album, which catapulted Polish composer Henryk Gorecki to into the international spotlight, takes texts born in pain and turns them into statements of affirmation through the use of music that ebbs and flows in mystic minimalism. The clear voice of soprano Dawn Upshaw, singing the Polish texts, is a large part of the success of this particular recording, but the music, contemporary without either dissonance or movie-music mawkishness, clarifies and uplifts the words. This is a ... Regular Price : $16.98
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Masters Of Classical Music, Vols. 1-10
When I bought this, I was shopping for one or two discs that I could use to introduce myself to classical music. A genre that was completely lacking in my music library. I found this collection and it's wonderful price, and bought it on the spot. I'm so glad I did! It is an instant collection.
This set includes 10 composers. So far, just by listening to this I can fially tell who's ... Regular Price : $26.98
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Classical Music For People Who Hate Classical Music
If you're looking for an all-in-one classical set, this one is probably the best you could get. There're however MAJOR omissions in this collection (as there always are):
1/ No Chopin (I mean come on, a classical collection without Chopin!)
2/ No Albinoni. Wow, how could one omit the Adagio for strings!
3/ Beethoven's work has been greatly overlooked. No Symphony no. 5. Only one piano sonata and none of the haunting violin sonatas!
Barber's Adagio
All of the reviewers have praised this CD, and rightfully so - it IS wonderful. Bernstein has done an absolutely masterful job of interpreting these beautiful, even soulful, pieces. The lead piece, Barber's Adagio is a haunting, richly melodic, very emotional piece - which incidentally was the theme from the movie Platoon (remember how haunting the music was?). This CD is perfect for relaxing, romantic evenings (just the two of you), armchair philosophizing, or for an introduction to ... Regular Price : $9.98
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Faure: Requiem and Franck: Symphony in D Minor
This CD presents Fauré's Requiem in the fully orchestrated version of 1901, though it's played on period instruments, so it seems much leaner than other recorded versions, such as Chung's on DG. This beautiful work has been accused of being too sentimental, and indeed, it is just that syrupiness that can make it appealing. But Herreweghe keeps the tempi on the quick side, while emphasizing some of the score's darker moments--the 'Dies irae' in the 'Libera me' is wonderfully grim--and ... Regular Price : $19.98
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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
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