Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
This beautifully recorded, no-nonsense, not overly sentimental, quick-tempo account of Vaughan Williams's lush choral symphony is most welcome. It's a work that matches the mystical--Walt Whitman's poetry--with some folklike sea rhythms Vaughan Williams tosses into the mix. Though it's perhaps not as warm as some versions, conductor Robert Spano opts for lots of excitement in the grand moments ('Sail forth' in the last movement, for instance). The warmth is written into the music ... Regular Price : $17.98
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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
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25 Mozart Favorites
The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the world's most acclaimed and brilliant composers, is undeniably essential in anyone's library of classical music. '25 Mozart Favorites' is a wonderful collection to start with. Not only does it include the basic necessities, but the choice and flow of the movements is perfect. Another quality of this collection is that it doesn't exploit his music and give buyers the idea that if you play ... Regular Price : $
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Beethoven At Bedtime; A Gentle Prelude To Sleep
This is a fair-to-middling CD, containing no real gems or duds. Of course, it has 'Fur Elise' and 'Moonlight Sonata,' but you can get those tunes on ANY Beethoven comp. I bought this because it was the cheapest CD I could find with the 'Pathetique' piano sonata on it--the one Karl Haas uses as the theme to his 'Adventures in Good Music.' I used it for a weeding album. So it's pop, so ... Regular Price : $11.98
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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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Mahler: Symphony No. 1, Lieder / Rafael Kubelik, Fischer-Dieskau
Here's a delightful coupling: Mahler's First Symphony and the song cycle that donated many of its themes to the larger work. Best of all, both performances are superb. Rafael Kubelik is the dark horse among Mahler conductors. His interpretations are always fresh, unforced, and seemingly without exaggeration. However, he knows how to build a climax, and his generally swift tempos never permit a minute's boredom. There are many moments to cherish in his performance of the symphony, not ... Regular Price : $11.98
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Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 4 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
When I first fell in love with classical music it was generally the more accessible 'show pieces' like Mendelssohn's overture 'The Hebrides' that stirred my soul. In fact, one of the first discs I purchased was Dutoit's recording of the incidental music from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' Besides the great Scherzo and the Wedding March, the disc also features three of Mendelssohn's overtures-'The Hebrides' included. It has remained one of my favorite discs. I never thought I would a ... Regular Price : $11.98
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Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6
These recordings by Evgeny Mravinsky and his Leningrad Philharmonic, taped in the autumn of 1960 while they were on tour in London, are among the absolute classics of the catalog. They are readings of hair-raising intensity--the finale of the Fourth is marked allegro con fuoco, and if you want to know what con fuoco means, all you have to do is listen for a moment. No one else has ever had the nerve, or the ability, to play the music ... Regular Price : $33.98
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Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits
Sergi Rachmaninoff was the last of the great Romantic composers, especially since the Romantic period had ended for European artists when he was at his height. Although a composer and a conductor, Rachmaninoff was also a virtuoso pianist, which explains why his best compositions feature the piano, either in solo work or with an orchestra. His 'Prelude in C-Sharp Minor,' which he wrote when he was 20, made him famous throughout the world. This collection also includes several other ... Regular Price : $9.98
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Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
Beethoven is my favorite classical composer and the movie 'Immortal Beloved' brought new meaning and beauty to his music, so this soundtrack is one of my most cherished classical albums. Having seen the movie, I can no longer listen to 'Ode to Joy' without sensing the awe and ecstasy at the wonder of being part of this vast and exquisite universe.
I will be honest: I am not familiar with many Beethoven recordings, so I can't say ... Regular Price : $17.98
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