A Knight's Tale (Score) [Soundtrack]

a knight's tale (score) [soundtrack]

On this CD:

    A Knight's Tale, film score Nemesis
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Cooked Patents
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score A New Worship
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Apprenticed
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score A lance without target
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score St. Vitus' Dance (Smithy Mix)
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score To Run or Not to Run
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Modo Niger
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Dark Watch
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Guinevere Comes To Lancelot
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Cheapside Promenade
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Follow Your Feet
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score Love Reflects
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    A Knight's Tale, film score The Showdown
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

    It Could Happen to You, film score
    Composed by Carter Burwell
    Conducted by Carter Burwell, Isobel Griffiths

A Knight's Tale (Score),Carter Burwell,Carter Burwell,Isobel Griffiths,Sony,Film,Film Music,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

A Knight's Tale (Score) [Soundtrack]
A Knight's Tale
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent CD
  • less robbie williams it would have been 5!
  • 70's music didn't always suck..
  • This is a must have for your collection!
  • A rarity today - Mighty fine movie. Mighty fine soundtrack.
 A Knight's Tale
Various Artists - Soundtracks
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. A Knight's Tale
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ASIN: B00005EBIL
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

  1. We Will Rock You - Queen
  2. Low Rider - War
  3. Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
  4. Golden Years - David Bowie
  5. Crazy On You - Heart
  6. Further On Up The Road - Eric Clapton
  7. Get Ready - Rare Earth
  8. I Want To Take you Higher - Sly & The Family Stone
  9. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
  10. One Of Your Own - Carter Burwell
  11. We Are The Champions - Robbie Williams & Queen
  12. Pieces - Dan Powell
  13. Eye Conqueror - Third Eye Blind

Amazon.com

Writer-director Brian Helgeland dared to use rock music--mostly anthems from the '70s--to accompany his rousing tale of a medieval jousting champion, and this anachronistic strategy pays off handsomely by giving the film a joyful exuberance that it might otherwise have lacked. Divorced from the movie, this hot sampling of hits is just another corporate song package intended to boost the movie's profit margin, but it's still a blast to listen to. For anyone who grew up with this music--by Queen, War, David Bowie, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Heart, Thin Lizzy, and others--the lineup of favorites plays like an hour from the golden years of album-oriented-rock radio. Younger listeners can hear what they missed--the music was so much better than it was given credit for at the time--and an update of Queen's "We Are the Champions," with Robbie Williams interpreting the irreplaceable Freddie Mercury, turns out to be not half bad (especially since Brian May's guitar licks are still fantastic). "One of Our Own" is the only track to sample Carter Burwell's lush film score with a dialogue clip included, and three tracks (including "Eye Conqueror" by Third Eye Blind) are passable nonmovie songs exclusive to this CD. Cynics might argue that this music has no place in a medieval knight's tale, and that this soundtrack is entirely perfunctory. Those opinions could be justified, but it's a whole lot easier--and a lot more fun--to press "play" and groove on this energetic celebration of heroic rock & roll. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent CD.......2007-01-04

I bought two of these CDs at Christmas, one for me and one for my son-in-law. The music is great & I crank it up to my housework. Believe it or not, I'm a country music fan.

4 out of 5 stars less robbie williams it would have been 5!.......2005-12-15

yup another great soundtrack for a great film. As I said up there I'm a huge Queen fan and so when ANYONE does a copy of their songs whether they're backed by Queen or not, I think its a crime ! sorry ! but it is! You should only copy songs if you are going to make them better, and I dont think thats possible with Queen I really dont. So yes the soundtrack is great but you can scrap Robbie Williams and put the original on thankyou very much!

4 out of 5 stars 70's music didn't always suck.........2005-06-24

Very good compulation. Heart's Crazy on You is a great bonus track but I don't understand the other two bonus tracks, especially Third I Blind; who was that thrown in for? Otherwise, a highly recommended CD!

5 out of 5 stars This is a must have for your collection!.......2004-09-28

This is a fantastic movie. An excellent plot, lots of action, and a villian worthy of the name, a love interest that fits the theme of the movie, and a supporting crew of castabouts that come together for a rousing good story! A delightful twist on the rags to riches story. This is an excellent addition to any one's collection. I highly recommend it!

4 out of 5 stars A rarity today - Mighty fine movie. Mighty fine soundtrack........2004-03-15

First I bought the movie, then I bought this album which features 9 classic rock tracks, 3 new rock recordings and one song by Carter Burwell who composed the soundtrack to the film. Three songs featured on the soundtrack including two of the new ones weren't even in the film, but included here.

This soundtrack does what any good soundtrack should do; remind you of scenes of the movie AND stand on its own. The first component it does in spades as the songs put into motion key moments of this fun, romantic, action movie.

The album as stand alone does quite well with the themed classic rock, with many tracks not seen on any compilation albums before. The Carter Burwell track doesn't fit with the rest, (but the soundtrack album to the picture, also available on Amazon.com, with the rest of Mr. Burwell's compositions is worth checking out if you're a fan of the soundtrack scoring genre) and Robbie Williams rendition of Queen's "We Are The Champions" is not up to the original. The new pieces by Dan Powell and Third Eye Blind might have made more sense if they had been included in the film. Here, they're just filler.

Overall the first nine tracks would be excellent fare for a high voltage party (or a jousting tournament) you may hold.
A Knight's Tale (Score)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Knight's Tale
  • Excellent Soundtrack Masterpiece
  • Rousing and beautiful
  • Perfect soundtrack.
  • "always a fresh approach with each score...Burwell!"
 A Knight's Tale (Score)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005M0KE
Release Date: 2001-07-03

Tracks:

  1. Nemesis
  2. Cooked Patents
  3. A New Worship
  4. Apprenticed
  5. A Lance Without Target
  6. St. Vitus' Dance (Smithy Mix)
  7. To Run Or Not To Run
  8. Modo Niger
  9. Dark Watch
  10. Guinevere Comes To Lancelot
  11. Cheapside Promenade
  12. Follow Your Feet
  13. Love Reflects
  14. The Showdown
  15. St. Vitus' Dance (Grog Mix)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Knight's Tale.......2006-12-30

This is such a fun CD. Mixes, jigs, electric guitar, choirs--what more could you ask for? Oh, and fanfares, of course.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Soundtrack Masterpiece.......2004-03-12

A knight's tale is one of the best movies ever made in history. It has everything from action to comedy to romance, all which I love in a movie. The soundtrack lives up to the movie. This is one of the best soundtracks ever composed. All the songs on here are excellently performed. My favorite song would be Track #7- To run or not to run. Excellent emotional song, good love theme also. I recommend to soundtrack to all soundtrack collectors. Do not pass this one by, for this soundtrack is already hard to come bye, so if you seen the movies and loved the score get the soundtrack, i guarantee you will not be disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars Rousing and beautiful.......2003-02-22

Carter Burwell, who provided the score for A Knight's Tale, had to come up with music that would carry the film through. After all, it is the score, not the rock music that is the heart and soul of a movie. With that in mind, he succeeds. The music is heroic and romantic with lots of great sounds in it. "Nemesis" kicks things off with dramatic, medieval music, which leads to an adventurous section with plenty of horns and driving percussion. "Cooked Patents" contains an electric guitar mixed with traditional instruments from medieval times. "A Lance Without Target" is another thrilling adventure track with the same music that existed in "Nemesis." "St. Vitus' Dance" is utilized in 2 different tracks with different mixes. The Smithy mix is much better than the Grog mix. The best theme in the score is the love theme, which is a mainly string oriented 10 note motif that is the heart and soul of the film. The best tracks that showcase this outstanding theme are "To Run Or Not To Run" and the best track, "Showdown", which reprises all the other themes into one almost 7 minute track. An added bonus to this score is dialogue from the film from Chaucer, played by Paul Bettany found in the last track, after the music dies down. The director of the film, Brian Helgeland, describes the music in this way: "Carter's music has got sixth sense. It goes a level deeper than it's supposed to. It doesn't play the emotion of the character, the emotion of the moment. It plays the psyche, the consciousness of the character. Carter's music psychoanalyzes the moment. But in our hearts as well as our heads." I couldn't have said it any better.

5 out of 5 stars Perfect soundtrack........2002-09-07

If you are checking for a wonderfull soundtract you must get this. I listen this and it was so great that i'm listennung this songs alll day in the car, in my house, in school, even in the bathroom! You must have this cd at your own home. 5 stars!

4 out of 5 stars "always a fresh approach with each score...Burwell!".......2001-09-05

A talent to be reckoned with ~ Carter Burwell...who has in such a short time given filmgoers a trip and a half through his music...reaching down in his big black bag on past achievements ~ "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Miller's Crossing" (1990), "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1992), "Rob Roy" (1995), "Fargo" (1996), "Conspiracy theory" (1997), "The Big Lebowski" (1998), "Being John Malkovich" (1999), "The Corruptor" (1999), "The Generals Daughter" (1999), "Book Of Shadows:Blair Witch 2" (2000), "Hamlet" (2000), "O Brother Where Art Thou" (2000)...I only mention a few from his over fifty scores composed since 1984.

There are stand outs ~ "ST. VITUS' DANCE (SMITHY MIX)", "ST. VITUS' DANCE (GROG MIX), "THE SHOWDOWN", bringing all the counterpoints and themes together, blending each with particular care...but the highlight has to be ~ "TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN", beautiful beyond all doubt, strings open with muted brass and the theme comes through like a ray of sunshine entering a group of trees, thundering percussion abounds giving each measure strength to behold, one of the best compositions I've heard from this composer who is rising to his place in the stars.

Entire album is a must have for any "film-score-buff", don't pass this up...you'll be missing an important part in the career of the composer extradinor' ~ CARTER BURWELL!

Total Time: 43:20 on 15 Tracks ~ Sony Music Soundtrax/Columbia CK-85947 ~ (2001)
Vaughan Williams - Sir John in Love / Hickox, Northern Sinfonia
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Pros & Cons for both versions
  • Five for the work ,for Hickox at least four stars!
  • Sir John's love is more impressive the first time around
  • Five stars, but not the only choice.
 Vaughan Williams - Sir John in Love / Hickox, Northern Sinfonia
Ralph Vaughan Williams , Richard Hickox , Anne-Marie Owens , Sarah Connolly , Northern Sinfonia and Chorus , Brian Bannatyne-Scott , Donald Maxwell , Roderick Williams , Susan Gritton , Matthew Best , Mark Padmore , Stephen Varcoe , Stephan Loges , John Bowen , Richard Lloyd-Morgan , Laura Claycomb , Henry Moss , and Mark Richardson
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Vaughan Williams: Sir John In Love

ASIN: B00005M0ER
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

  1. Act I: Orchestral introduction-What hoa, what hoa
  2. Act I: Ahem
  3. Act I: This is my father's choice
  4. Act I: How now, what does Master Fenton here?
  5. Act I: Vere is dat knave Rugby?
  6. Act I: Episode
  7. Act I: How now, mine Host of the Garter
  8. Act I: I spy entertainment in her...
  9. Act I: Wilt thou revenge...?
  10. Act I: Love my wife? I will be patient
  11. Act II: Orchestral introduction-Thine own true knight
  12. Act II: Scene 1: Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more
  13. Act II: Scene 2: Bardolph! Bardolph, I say!
  14. Act II: Scene 2: Go thy ways, go thy ways, old Jack!
  15. Act II: Scene 2: Sir, my name is Brook
  16. Act II: Scene 2: Ha, is this a vision?

Tracks:

  1. Act III: Scene 1 Interlude: Orchestral introduction-Yet hear me speak
  2. Act III: Scene 1 Interlude: Fair and fair and twice so fair
  3. Act III: Scene 1 Interlude: But listen, good mine Host
  4. Act III: Scene 2: Orchestral introduction-When as we sat in Papylon
  5. Act III: Scene 2: Yonder he's coming
  6. Act III: Scene 2: Come, Master Ford
  7. Act III: Scene 2: Orchestral-introduction-What, John! What, Robert!
  8. Act III: Scene 3: Alas, my love, you do me wrong
  9. Act III: Scene 3: Mistress Ford!
  10. Act III: Scene 3: Ah!
  11. Act IV: Orchestral introduction-Pardon me, wife
  12. Act IV: Scene 1: There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter
  13. Act IV: Scene 1: Interlude
  14. Act IV: Scene 2: Orchestral introduction
  15. Act IV: Scene 2: The Windsor bell hath struck twelve
  16. Act IV: Scene 2: Ah-Who Comes here?
  17. Act IV: Scene 2: But till 'tis one o'clock
  18. Act IV: Scene 2: Dance of the Fairies
  19. Act IV: Scene 2: But stay! I smell a man of middle earth
  20. Act IV: Scene 2: Nay, do not fly
  21. Act IV: Scene 2: My heart misgives me
  22. Act IV: Scene 2: Stand not amazed

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Pros & Cons for both versions.......2005-08-30

Boito took Shakespeare's Merry Wives, added a little Henry IV (e.g. the Honour Monologue) and shaped, moulded and cut them about to make a libretto that focused tightly on the Fat Knight and was absolutely perfect for what Verdi wanted. Out of it came one of the greatest of all comic operas.

With VW, you get something much closer to the Shakespearean original, teeming with richly drawn characters and all the variety of Elizabethan/Jacobean life bustling past. Falstaff is merely the primus inter pares among them, albeit a huge one. Out of it came a great comic opera. And one that has been too seldom performed, standing in the long shadow of its predecessor.

Vaughan Williams, who was a great admirer of the Verdi piece, knew that comparisons would inevitably be made. (He would also have included his friend, Holst's, At the Boar's Head as a real rival from the Falstaff canon.) But comparisons are invidious. The VW and the Verdi operas are not comparable, either in their intentions or in their music. And both should be allowed to co-exist happily as companion pieces, not as rivals as two great comic operas we're fortunate to have.

Perhaps I protest too much. But the Vaughan Williams is such invigorating, life-enhancing, often ravishingly beautiful stuff that I'd hate to see it slip off the end of the shelf. Verdi is lauded as the great tunesmith, but how many tunes from Falstaff can you recall - Nanetta's last act aria, perhaps, a couple of snippets of Fenton, the final fugue maybe, or Sir John's 'Quand'ero paggio' which is so brief an aria that its original singer had to record it three times in succession to fill a 78 side. Perhaps that's why Falstaff is so badly represented on 78's compared to the other mature Verdi operas. Great music, yes, but singalongaFalstaff had, in his mature operas, ceased to be the composer's intention.

In Sir John in Love, on the other hand, the tunes just pour out one after the other. Which are genuine folksongs and which are VW originals is often hard to tell without a score in front of you (where the composer comes clean). Just listen to the way Dr. Caius' 'Vray Dieu d'Amour' takes over the orchestra or how 'Lovely Joan' (the tune in the trio of the famous Greensleeves Fantasia) heralds Mistress Quickly's arrival and 'Greensleeves' in situ is even lovelier than in the Fantasia. But then listen to the gorgeous tune that accompanies Ann Page's entrance, the wonderful melody for Ford's plea for forgiveness from his wife or the magical chorus that accompanies the arrival of the real bride and groom in the final scene. Those are all VW originals and great ones, to boot.

Choosing between the two performances of the piece on disc, it's a question of swings and roundabouts. This Chandos recording with Hickox at the helm benefits from his direction - a bit tauter, a little more spring to the rhythms than Davies and the choral contributions are as polished as you'd expect from a seasoned choral specialist. The Chandos recording, too, is a bit more up to date in terms of sound, a bit fuller and richer. EMI, on the other hand, probably has the superior cast with the likes of Robert Tear, Felicity Palmer, Helen Watts and Robert Lloyd seeing off their Chandos counterparts. Honours between the two Falstaffs are more even. Neither is ideal in the part. Herincx has the 'fatter' voice: Maxwell on this recording is the more characterful. But a piece like the madrigal that Sir John sings before Ford/Brook's arrival needs more warmth and more steadiness than either of them provide (would Bryn ever consider it as a partner to his Verdi Falstaff?).

It's a tough choice between the two versions. Choose the EMI for the cast (including, by a short head, Herincx's Flastaff). Choose this Chandos set for the conducting, the chorus and the more modern sound.

5 out of 5 stars Five for the work ,for Hickox at least four stars!.......2001-11-09

(Here my review for Davies - EMI "British composers" recording
of this masterwork.)
If you feel that Verdi has beautyfull music but it has a too much thick blood, and you think that beauty must be tensed by reason; You are looking at the right composer.
This opera or musical drama (in the wagnerian sense, cause it is a romantic comedy) makes a very whole unit, the "areas" and the recited-sung recitatives are in funtion of the "dramatic" momentum and inerce of the work. It's incredible how pleasently quick this work is heard, and yes it's very entretaining (I know that's not necesary a virtue for an opera, but here it is).
The music, well, is gorgeous as might be expected from V.W., transitions are well sewn, and the traditonal folk songs add a dash or elizabethian romanticism.
The cast is strong, Hendrix is very suited for the rol, but you may fantacised how well this rol will be portrayed now by Bryn Terfel, It's sad that Hickox not thinck (or did he?)of this in his new recording of this opera (perhaps Chandos not provide him with the budget that Abado's can manage for his new DG. Falstaff recording).
Maybe Langridge will sound more youthfull than Tear, but that is a small detail. Hellen Watts it's spicy and perky Mrs. Quickly, and Gerald English Caius' is is excellent!
Davies captures V.W. orchestration very well with a ADD recording that will cause envy in this days, and the price, is to laugh about.
Treat you and buy this forgotten treasure!

3 out of 5 stars Sir John's love is more impressive the first time around.......2001-08-05

While I generally agree with the review of Ahmed Ismael, I must give the nod to the earlier EMI recording, which has greater depth and spread to the sound. Chandos engineers have practically placed the voices in our laps with a resultant loss of orchestral detail. The work is, of course, lovely but if the ear is fatigued by the sound the myriad beauties cannot make their full effect. If one adds to this the fact that the EMI is a midprice reissue the choice becomes even more clear. Bravo to Hickox and company but no standing ovation this time.

5 out of 5 stars Five stars, but not the only choice........2001-07-26

Vaughan Williams's comic "Sir John in Love" is one of those true opera rarities--an opera whose highlights become more impressive as the music progresses. Indeed, the true highlight of this opera is its final "Windsor Forest" scene in Act IV, where all the action is resolved, and everyone gets their "just desserts."

If this were the first recording of the opera available, it would be easy to recommend it to any VW (or opera!) enthusiast--the orchestral details are abundant and vividly present, the choral contribution is alive and infectious, and the vocal parts are well-presented and clear. However, there is in additional recording, in EMI's British Composer series, conducted by Meredith Davies. While many comparisons are stacked in the new version's favor, there are a few shortcomings that prevent an absolute recommendation.

Where Hickox succeeds over Davies is particularly in the portrayal of Anne Page and her several suitors. Susan Gritton sings more effectively than Wendy Eathorne, while both Daniel Norman (Slender) and Adrian Thompson (Caius) seem more plausible as suitors than Bernard Dickerson and Gerald English, respectively--although overall English makes a more vivid Caius. However, there is no question that Mark Padmore is the better Fenton: as well as Robert Tear sings for Davies, I can't shake the impression that he is wooing an Amazon, and not the girl-next-door Anne.

While the supporting cast is marginally to markedly superior for Hickox, with the Fords and Pages are fairly evenly matched between the two performances, the one clear victory of the Davies version is a significant one. As the title character, Donald Maxwell's Falstaff is no match for Raimund Herincx, either in characterization or in vocal quality. Additionally, the EMI set benefits from a superior recording--there's more of a sense of a performance in a real space, which adds an extra dimension to the rather static performance as presented by Hickox. Occasionally, Hickox also omits some dramatic effects (such as gasps from the onstage characters in Act III and laughter from the chorus in Act IV) which adds to the sense that this is only a "recording" and not a "performance."

All in all, there is much to recommend the new version, but confronted with a choice between this set and the Davies set on EMI, personal taste will have to suffice in choosing between them. [You may want to sample them both before buying either.]
Medtner & Rachmaninov: Music for two pianos
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good, but there's still Ashkenazy/Previn to contend with
  • What can be better than a piano ? Only 2 pianos can.
 Medtner & Rachmaninov: Music for two pianos

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002ZST
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Tracks:

  1. Two Pieces op 58: Knight Errant, op. 58, no. 2
  2. Two Pieces op 58: Russian Round-Dance (A Tale), op. 58 no. 1
  3. Suite No 2 Op 17: Suite no. 2 op. 17 - Introduction: Alla marcia
  4. Suite No 2 Op 17: Suite no. 2 op. 17 - Valse: Presto
  5. Suite No 2 Op 17: Suite no. 2 op. 17 - Romance: Andantino
  6. Suite No 2 Op 17: Suite no. 2 op. 17 - Tarantelle: Presto
  7. Russian Rhapsody op posth: Russian rhapsody op posth - Moderato - Cadenza - Vivace - Meno mosso
  8. Russian Rhapsody op posth: Russian rhapsody op posth - Andante - Con motp - Tempo I (Meno mosso)
  9. Symphonic Dances op 45: Symphonic Dances op. 45 - Non allegro - Lento - Tempo I
  10. Symphonic Dances op 45: Symphonic Dances op. 45 - Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
  11. Symphonic Dances op 45: Symphonic Dances op. 45 - Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai - Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good, but there's still Ashkenazy/Previn to contend with.......2005-01-14

As I write this I've been listening - along with listening again and again to this CD - to the Harvard University radio station's Rachmaninov Orgy. They've been playing all of Rachmaninov's music in the order in which it was written. It's at whrb.org in case you're interested in hearing this wonderful radio station. And right now they're playing the early 'Russian Rhapsody' written in 1891, performed by Ashkenazy/Previn. Comparing Ashkenazy/Previn (as I also did earlier today, listening to my own CD) with the performance on this Demidenko/Alexeev disc the nod has to go to the older recording by A/P. Their recording of the Symphonic Dances and the Suites for two pianos has been the benchmark ever since they came out perhaps twenty years ago, and although they are getting up there in age - as recordings go - they still are potent stuff and the sound is more than acceptable. Compared to them Demidenko/Alexeev are competent if rather earthbound, but not transcendent as the earlier recordings are. They do get marvelous modern sound, though. And additionally they play marvelously the two works by Nikolai Medtner, 'Russian Round-Dance' and 'Knight Errant' (Op. 55, Nos. 1 & 2) which are every bit the equal of Rachmaninov's two-piano works.

So, if you're interested primarily in the Rachmaninov, I strongly suggest getting the Ashkenazy/Previn version. There is also a version by Yefim Bronfman and Emanuel Ax on Sony and I would also put it ahead of the present disc.

Scott Morrison

5 out of 5 stars What can be better than a piano ? Only 2 pianos can........2003-11-25

Developing the editorial opinion I can say without hesitation that all the interpretations on the disk are stunning and not only rusophiles can appreciate and enjoy it, but all the serious lovers of piano music.

I'm a true lover of both Dmitry Alexeev and Nikolai Demidenko art, and consider them to be the high class masters of the modern pianism. On this disk I enjoy again and again their brilliant and expressive playing, full of energy and beautiful phrasing. Listening to the music it's impossible to distinguish between the two pianos. Both of them seem to be merged into one powerful instrument controlled by one great master. Considering that each of the pianists has its own unique style, it's really impressive.

As the Medtner works recorded here are the rare case to find out nowdays, this disk gets even more value. Both of them, being among the last pieces composed by the composer, present Medtner at his best."Russian Round-Dance" is may be one of the most Russian pieces by the composer, while "Knight-Errant" is a real treasure of the piano classical library, revealing all the feautures of Medtner style: high craftmanship of combining different melodical lines into one whole, masterful development with counterpoint and poliphonical interflow and wisdom of the whole piece structure with final part, presenting each theme one by one for the last time and dissolving it. It always resembles me the actors last bow at the end of a theatre performance.

Speaking about Rachmaninov, I consider the interpretations of Alexeev and Demidenko to be the best among all recorded today, together with another ones by Ashkenazy and Previn. Both cases are splendid in different ways: the one by Ashkenazy/Previn shows us all the beaity of the music in the most lyrical and melodious Rachmaninov playing, while the Alexeev/Demidenko version strikes you by it's power, ravishing deep sound, masterful phrasing and sense of proportion betweeen the high class virtuosity and musicality. The best evidence to the above, is the Suite No 2 recorded here with the genious Tarantella finale.

This disk immediately climbed to the top of my collection and feels very comfortably there.
The Best of the Classical Masterpieces
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		The Best of the Classical Masterpieces

    Manufacturer: Madacy Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    PolkasPolkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
    WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by ChopinAll Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by GounodAll Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Grieg, EdvardGrieg, Edvard | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by LisztAll Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by MendelssohnAll Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by SchubertAll Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by SmetanaAll Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Strauss Jr., JohannStrauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by TchaikovskyAll Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by VerdiAll Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    EtudesEtudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    FantasiesFantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    FuguesFugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    PreludesPreludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    DivertimentosDivertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    BagatellesBagatelles | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    ImpromptusImpromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    NocturnesNocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    SonatinasSonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Tone PoemsTone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    RussianRussian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Etudes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Etudes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Fantasies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Fantasies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Fugues | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Fugues | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Preludes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Preludes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Sonatas | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Sonatas | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Waltzes | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Symphonies | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    ASIN: B000000LS5
    Release Date: 1994-09-12
    Medtner: Sonata Triad For Piano, Op. 11/Russian Round Dance (A Tale) Op. 58, 1/Knight Errant, Op. 58, 2/Quintet For Piano and Strings in C (1946)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Medtner: Sonata Triad For Piano, Op. 11/Russian Round Dance (A Tale) Op. 58, 1/Knight Errant, Op. 58, 2/Quintet For Piano and Strings in C (1946)

      Manufacturer: Carlton Classics
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      QuintetsQuintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by MedtnerAll Works by Medtner | Medtner, Nikolai | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      SonatasSonatas | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
      PianoPiano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000003YQB
      Release Date: 1997-09-16

      Tracks:

      1. SON TRIAD, Op.11: Son No.1 in A
      2. SON TRIAD, Op.11: Son-elegy No.2 in d
      3. SON TRIAD, Op.11: Son No.3 in C
      4. RUSSIAN ROUND DANCE: (A TALE) - LYUDMILA KUZNETSOVA/VENIAMIN KOROBOV/STATE PROKOFIEV QT
      5. KNIGHT ERRANT, Op.58/2 - LYUDMILA KUZNETSOVA/VENIAMIN KOROBOV/STATE PROKOFIEV QT
      6. QNT in C: Molto placido
      7. QNT in C: Andantino con moto
      8. QNT in C: Allegro vivace

      Music:

      1. Anatomy of a Murder: From the Soundtrack of the Motion Picture (1959 Film) [Extra tracks] [Soundtrack]
      2. A Nightmare On Elm Street [Soundtrack]
      3. Arizona Dream [Import]
      4. Beauty And The Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Blisterpack] [Soundtrack]
      5. Before Night Falls [Soundtrack]
      6. Carrie [Soundtrack]
      7. Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection
      8. Cirque du Soleil: Dralion [Soundtrack]
      9. Coffee and Cigarettes [Soundtrack]
      10. Con Air: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

      Music

      music