Nightgrooves: Berlin [Import]

Nightgrooves: Berlin [Import]

Track Listings

1. Here in Paradise [Kraut Edit]

2. Nothing Since Then

3. It's Just Turning

4. I Wanna Break Out [Album Version] - Whip Culture

5. Submarine - Liongold

6. Only One [by the Wall Remix]

7. Nouvelle - Mystery Machine

8. Minds [Farewell Mix]

9. Steady Trumpet

10. X Love [Gusz Echo Version]

11. Sex Parade

12. Kress

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Cosmopolitan Deep House for Your Late Night Listening. The First of Five Volumes. "Nightgrooves" Captures the Nocturnal Sound of Five Reference Points of Worldwide Dance Each with Its Unique Sound and Ambiance. An Album for Both the Dancefloor and Home Listening. Includes the Contagious Latin House of South Dolphins "Sex Parade", Old Skool from Liongold "Submarine" and Ambient House from Aural "Kress". Nightgrooves is a Collection that Every Electronic Music Lover with Diverse Taste Should Possess to Be in Touch with the Global Vibe.

Nightgrooves: Berlin,Various Artists,PMB,Dance,Rock/Pop Collections

Face the Music (2007 Encores! Cast Recording)
Average customer rating:

Can't face the liner notes

WONDERFUL - JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED . . . .

Face the Music (2007 Encores! Cast Recording)

Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000R9R4RG
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Customer Reviews:

Can't face the liner notes.......2007-07-06

It is always terrific to have another "Encores!" recording; if one includes the Broadway transfer of "Chicago" this makes the thirteenth CD. The usual talent onstage and off are apparent, but the score this time seems distinctly second-rate Berlin (which is still beter than first-rate most everyone else). There is a sameness to the tunes and flatness in orchestration that is not apparent in, say, "Louisiana Purchase." Worst of all, though, is the sloppy packaging by the usually impeccable DRG: the tracking goes wrong midway (cuts 6 and 7 are linked together, throwing all subsequent numbering off); songs that are solos as presented are listed with multiple artists (e.g., "Crinoline Days," etc) and vice versa ("Soft Lights & Sweet Music"); an entire verse is left off of the libretto to "Crinoline Days;" and there are textual errors throughout ("I needed a faithful lover/And..." rather than "lover/Who." Not quite a glittering diamond, this is more of a rhinestone disc.

WONDERFUL - JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED . . . . .......2007-07-03

I defy anyone to listen to this glorious show and not sustain a wall-to-wall grin from beginning to end. Written (in 1932) to lift the spirits of depression-weary Americans, FACE THE MUSIC is a brilliant example of a bygone Broadway era and the genius of one of America's greatest songwriters, Irving Berlin. I can picture Berlin and his collaborator Moss Hart, one of America's most successful playwrights, doubling over with laughter while putting this show together, a show that ". . . sends up showbiz, political corruption, Helen Morgan, nudity, optimism, parades, chorines, cows, and Catskill Resorts, among other things." (The quotes come from David Ives' terrific liner notes.) Ives further writes, "Frankly, I'm a sucker for any show with an elephant and somebody named Meshbesher, even when I have to adopt out the elephant for budgetary reasons. Of Mrs. Meshbesher, the more said the better." Mrs. Meshbesher, incidentally, is played by the incomparable Judy Kaye.

In these times of "budgetary restraint," one might have to make do without the elephant, but thanks to City Center Encores!, you can hear this marvelous score in all its glory, with orchestrations faithfully restored by Bruce Pomahac and vocal arrangements by Guest Musical Director Rob Fisher. Just close your eyes and let your imagination take over, furnishing the sets and costumes (and the elephant) missing from semi-staged concert versions. And if its necessary to choose between extravagant sets and costumes, lackluster "new" orchestrations & choral arrangements, puny pit bands and decimated choral forces OR legitimate voices that don't require amplification, a sparkling 30-piece orchestra [not a synthesizer in sight], and a singing ensemble numbering at least 20, then it's goodbye helicopters, falling chandeliers and the aforementioned elephant and hello concert versions.

FACE THE MUSIC reveals Irving Berlin as a superlative tunesmith and an unparalleled lyricist. Besides producing at least three bona fide standards ("Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee," "Soft Lights and Sweet Music," "If You Believe" - with Judy Kaye doing some marvelous Florence Foster Jenkins trilling above the chorus and orchestra), the show is chock-full of splendid novelty numbers like "The Police of New York," "Two Cheers Instead of Three," "How Can I Change My Luck," "I Don't Wanna Be Married (I Just Wanna Be Friends," the truly amazing "Torch Song," "Toast to Prohibition," "Manhattan Madness," and "I Say It's Spinach (And To Hell With It)." There's also a wonderful rumba, sung by ingénues Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson, entitled "(Castles in Spain) on a Roof in Manhattan."

Some sample lyrics: "While the panic's on/If you look for Otto Kahn/You will find that Otto's gone/To the automat" . . . "I longed to sit upon a piano or an organ/Pouring out my heart - the same as Helen Morgan" . . . "Here's to the eighteenth amendment/Long may America be dry!/Things are going very well/For the gentlemen who sell/To the many thirsty gentlemen who buy" . . . and, from the Gilbert & Sullivan-ish finale, "Once scene in Eden/The girls were naked, I know./One girl, your honor, /Who had nothing upon her/Is here to prove that it's so./Please tell the jury/How you came from Missouri/And joined this terrible show."

Yes, FACE THE MUSIC is just what the doctor ordered for the depression blues and just what we need today. With the price of gasoline and tickets to Broadway shows going through the roof, perhaps we, too, might sing . . . "So when we cheer the stars and stripes/Here's what we'll do,/We'll cheer the red and cheer the white/But not the blue."

Extremely highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Those who ignore repeats should be taken outside and shot
One of the best cycles out there - if not the best!
Excellent set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies
SACD set is better
one of the best beethoven cycles

Beethoven: 9 Symphonies
Ludwig van Beethoven , Herbert Von Karajan , Gundula Janowitz , Waldemar Kmentt , Hilde Rossel-Majdan , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
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Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000001GBQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 2. Andante cantabile con moto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 4. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 1. Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 2. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 4. Finale. Allegro molto - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Larghetto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Menuet & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: I. Adagio - Allegro Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Adagio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Allegro Vivace: Un Poco Meno Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphonie No. 5: 1. Allegro Con Brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 2. Andante Con Moto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 3. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 4. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 1. Erwachen Heiterer Empfindungen Bei Der Ankunft Auf Dem Lande (Allegro Ma Non Troppo) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 2. Szene Am Bach (Andante Molto Mosso) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 3. Lustiges Zusammensein Der Landleute (Allegro) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 4. Gewitter - Sturm (Allegro) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 5. Hirtengesang, Frohe Und Dankbare Gef Hle Nach Dem Sturm (Allegretto) - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphony 7: 1 Poco Sostenuto - Vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 2 Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 3 Presto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 4 Allegro Con Brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 1 Allegro Vivace I Con Brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 2 Allegretto Scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 3 Tempo Di Menuetto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 4 Allegro Vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Molto vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Adagio molto e cantabile - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Presto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Presto. - - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Amazon.com essential recording

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 case for it. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Those who ignore repeats should be taken outside and shot.......2007-06-07

Karajan shows no respect for the balance of Beethoven's score. Overall, there is little here to laud or hate......a bonus second star for spectacular execution by the Berlin Phil, without actually playing any music. Glossy, zero rubato, zero sforzati, continuous mezzo forte.

In 20 years, music notation software with masterful samples will sound exactly like this: the most perfect and beautiful sounds a computer can generate. These performances are soulless.

Give me Bernstein/VPO or Solti/Chicago any day over this rubbish.

One of the best cycles out there - if not the best!.......2007-05-05

The 9 Symphonies play a great role in my life because of their sheer beauty and touching deepness. So I have obtained a lot of recordings of these pieces through the years, some of them on CD, some on casette, some on LP. And there are the concerts, of course. As a natural consequence, I have listened to a lot of different interpretations of these masterpieces. All interpretations (well not all but a great majority) have their moments but when I listen to Maestro Karajan's recordings of these, I always discover something that wasn't there the last time I heard. Karajan has always been critiqued for being too mechanical, too much in control but he always introduced something new to the music through his interpretation... The artistical point of the 1963 Karajan cycle has already been talked about a lot, I've got nothing more to say about it, I can only repeat that this cycle is perpahs the best cycle you will ever find. It is one of those works which become to be the yardstick for the later recordings to be compared with.

I was most pleasantly surprised to discover that the sound quality is phenomenal for a 1963 recording, it is better than more recent ADD records. The sound engineering is also very good, it is like having the full orchestra play for you in youor living room. The deep notes of the double basses go right through you while the violins tease your ears in a most pleasent way. So, the sound quality is just great.

I also would like to talk about the CD design, which is something very important for me. I know it is strange but I like to own CDs that have good design. Of course the included material is a lot more important but... Anyway, there are two CD cases with the first one including the first 6 symphonies on 3 CDs, and the other presenting the remaining three on 2 CDs, with the last CD contains the 9th. CDs have mirror surface with the classic DG logo and the contents are listed on the CD itself as well as the booklet. The booklet offers a good read on the 9 symphonies and the cycle presented with the set.

I hope you will enjoy the set as much as I do...

Excellent set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies.......2007-04-12

I have only one complaint: the first part of both the 5th and 6th
symphonies feel a bit rushed in my view, the tempo seems just a
little fast. Other than that, this is an excellent set of
Beethoven's 9 symphonies, well worth it.

SACD set is better.......2007-03-30

Beethoven's 5th by Karajan was my first classical record purchase.
Thousands of analogue and digital discs later, I again purchased the same 5th and eight others on this CD set.

Karajan lived through the eternal dilemma of the all artists who came after the great predecessors.
At his last Saltsburg Festival, after conducted "Don Giovanni"He said to his wife,

"Furtwangler would have said it wasn't all that great."
She consoled the Maestro,
"It was! It was!"
Karajan had a life long struggle with legacy of Furtwangler and was not too sure if he won.

Well, his style and interpretations are definitely non-Furtwangler, or to more precisely put non-German.
It seems to me that Karajan tried to avoid playing Beethoven's music in conjunction with German culture and spirituality.

Whether his attempt was successful one or not, has been a topic of many music critics and connoisseurs.

Personally, I have a mixed feeling toward this cycle.
I like No.1, 2 and 7 very much. However, there are some flaws; for instance in the fourth movements of 5th and 9th,
cello, bass, tympani and all lower notes suddenly disappear. All you hear is the first violin all the way to coda with painfully
bright tone.(This is more obvious if you own high resolution Audiophile stereo system)

Wonder if this deletion of bass is a part of Karajan's interpretations or a fault of old analog recorder, which is incapable of
recording loud passages?

In each symphonies, the first violin is always exaggerated over other instruments. I think that is the reason why some people
call these recordings "light" Beethoven.

If you must listen to Karajan's Beethoven Symphonies, I would recommend SACD reissue, which is more expensive and bass is
still thin but tonal quality is somewhat more acceptable.

And if you want to listen to the best Beethoven cycle, do yourself a favor:
Obtain the 9 symphonies by Furtwangler.

This set is not my first choice.

one of the best beethoven cycles.......2007-02-22

generally this set is one of the best beethoven cycles, audio is good considering that this recording was done in the 60's. though the string section of the orchestra was quite dominant, the wind instruments were sonically weak maybe due to placements of microphones during recording( compare with carlos kleiber beethoven symphonies). Last movement of symphony no. 9 seems to be lacking of the high frequecy content of the sound. it seems that there was a cutting of the full audio frequency. maybe they were trying to suppress the noise but the fidelity of the audio was sacreificed. overall this cycle is a must for a beethoven fan.

Average customer rating:

Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh"
Fantastic!
HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND
"Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!
Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality

The Ultimate Puccini Collection
Giacomo Puccini , Herbert von Karajan , Riccardo Chailly , Stephen Barlow , Tullio Serafin , Lorin Maazel , Sir Edward Downes , Giuseppe Patane , Zubin Mehta , Alberto Erede , John Mauceri , Plácido Domingo , José Carreras , Kiri Te Kanawa , John Alldis Choir , Luciano Pavarotti , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Bologna Community Theater Orchestra , Ettore Bastianini , Carlo Bergonzi , Renato Cesari , Fernando Corena , Cesare Siepi , Renata Tebaldi , Gianna D'Angelo , Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra , Franco Corelli , Alfredo Mariotti , Regine Crespin , Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden , London Symphony Orchestra , Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra , Rome Opera House Orchestra , Pilar Lorengar , Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble , Mirella Freni , Rolando Panerai , Jussi Bjorling , Leontyne Price , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The #1 Opera Album

ASIN: B000007OU1
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Tracks:

Turnadot: Nessun Dorma!
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Turandot: In Questa Reggia

Amazon.com essential recording

Ordinarily, it pays to be wary of collections such as these, which often promise a lot but deliver a mishmash of disconnected excerpts. This disc, however, is something of an exception: you really do get just about all of Puccini's best arias, which is possible, because he didn't write so many operas that choosing the best moments becomes a matter of the producer's personal taste. Also, Puccini's operas are so popular that every major label has excellent complete recordings of all of them, so in making this compilation it was possible to cast from strength: all the singers here are fine. In fact, the only proviso that needs to be made before you rush out and add this disc to your collection is that it's wrong to assume that all of Puccini's best tunes lie in his arias. The opening 10 minutes of any one of his operas will tell you that's not true. So by all means enjoy this disc--then start sampling the operas complete. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Correction to the entry by "sergiocqh".......2005-11-08

"Quando m'en vo" is not omitted from this CD; it is just called "Musetta's waltz song." It is the same aria.

Fantastic!.......2003-10-14

This is one of the first opera CDs I ever got. It's wonderful for just about any body;from the newbies like me or the opera fanatics. I especially like 'In Questa Reggia'. Buy it now!!

HATE OPERA? THIS ONE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.......2003-09-04

The Ultimate Puccini Collection features some of Puccini's most arias and will appeal to even the most ardent operaphobes.

A great listening experience featuring some of the greatest opera performers of all time.

"Ultimate" only if you like your opera "al fresco"!.......2002-06-13

The music is without question, among the most beautiful ever written. But the quality of the fidelity tells me that many of the selections were recorded live in concert in outdoor venues. I wish that was clear to me before I bought the disc. So, is the music the ultimate? YES! Is the recording the ultimate? NO!

Wonderful Performance but Average Recording Quality.......2002-02-18

I love opera! I love Puccini! Not only is the vocalism important to me, but the quality of the recording as well. I enjoy my hi-tech sound system. I like to feel as if I am sitting in the front row of the first balcony when I listen to opera. This CD is excellent! The vocalists were well chosen. The technical performances are eloquent and emotional, as Puccini should be. However, the quality of the recording is not very good. No matter how you adjust your sound system, the recording is a bit tinny and as a result, the emotional high points of the arias are not as vibrant as they could be if the recording were of better quality. I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves Puccini and who is not as finicky as I!

Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO

Average customer rating:

Karajan- Brahms symphonies
Symphonic Heaven
A great part of your collection!
The greatest Brahms twofer you could imagine
Very polished Brahms

Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Schumann: The 4 Symphonies
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies
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ASIN: B000007ODY
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 1. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 2. Andante sostenuto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 3. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 4. Adagio - Piu Andante - Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
Symphony No. 3 In F Major op.90: 1. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 3 In F Major op.90: 2. Andante
Symphony No. 3 In F Major op.90: 3. Poco Allegretto
Symphony No. 3 In F Major op.90: 4. Allegro

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 1. Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 2. Adagio non troppo - L'istesso tempo, ma grazioso
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 3. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi Andantino) - Presto ma non assai - Tempo l
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 4. Allegro con spirito
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 1. Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 2. Andante moderato
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 3. Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo l
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 4. Allegro enerico e passionato - Piu Allegro

Amazon.com

These 1977-78 recordings are Karajan's best Brahms--better than his somewhat mannered digital set. The Berlin Philharmonic, as ever, is amazingly smooth and accomplished, playing with great class without losing any power--as an example, just listen to the finale of the second symphony. DG's engineers have turned this always-good recording into something truly magnificent to hear, and, at the price, this is a sure bet. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Karajan- Brahms symphonies.......2007-01-03

No matter who plays, Brahms always satisfies. This edition, however, is superlative! Highly recommend.

Symphonic Heaven.......2005-10-13

Karajan is largely considered the greatest exponent for mainstream symphonic works- Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky Mahler, Dvorak and Bruckner. This collection is a terrific buy and it's affordable. You can't go wrong. Recorded in 1977 and 1978, Karajan delivers all the rich melody, grace, grandeur and musical harmony that Brahms suffused his four symphonies with. The Berlin Philharmonic are trained so that even the strings move with miraculous exactitude. The only other worthy set is Solti's. This one has everything one can hope for in Brahms symphonies.

Karajan was always a champion of his own German music's history. He is still regarded as the first-rate exponent of Wagner and Strauss for example. Brahms, born in Austria, was another composer whose Germanic music Karajan was able to aptly depict through the magic of his baton. The impressive parts of this set include the entire 1st symphony- not reduced to the Beethoven parody some make it out to be. Instead, it holds its own as a work of compelling power. The finale is inspirational. The finale to the second is equally as moving. The 4th symphony is my favorite symphony of the post Beethoven Romantic Era. In this symphony we find a mixture of mysticism, romantic beauty and classical balance. In it we also find, in the last movement, the greatest example of theme and variations, Brahm's strongest suit as a composer. Karajan knows his stuff. You can never go wrong with any of his interpretations, though he, too, has his detractors. His Tchaikovsky tends to be too fiery and melodramatic for example and he was never at home with Italian opera as he was in German. Karajan is brilliant and his Berlin forces electrify. At a cheap price, this is a must have if you call yourself a true classical music fan.

A great part of your collection!.......2005-10-07

This is an easy, afforable way to get all four Brahms symphonies on two great quality cds. Each symphony is recorded with the passion and fire you get from Brahm's music, although I have heard better recordings of the symphonies,I would still buy these cd's for the price.

If I have to say the worst thing about these recordings is the first movement of the third symphony is not what I was expecting ( I was expecting much more on the recording)

The greatest Brahms twofer you could imagine.......2005-09-24

DG's catalog is overflowing with Brahms performances from Karajan, and although this late-Seventies cycle of the four symphonies is not esteemed as highly as his earlier analog recordings, the truth is that Karajan had few real competitors in these works during the postwar era--except himself. He was the greatest Brahms conductor after Walter and Furtwangler, bar none, and these are outstanding performances in every way. The best are the First and Thrid symphonies, two works that Karajan was peerless in.

Very polished Brahms.......2004-08-28

Wonderful performances from the finest of the Brahms conductors...Herbie Karajan. Wonderfully straightfoward performances without the wayward stylings of the 63 set....

That being said the Fourth and First of the 63 set are incredible and deserve to be in any serious Brahms collection ...

sonincally these are very fine readings!!!

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

Average customer rating:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II
Great music listein to while you read in bed
A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan.
A bliss of spirit.
Boring

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
Gabriel Faure , Frederic Chopin , Antonio Vivaldi , Gustav Mahler , Claude Debussy , Sir Neville Marriner , Maris Jansons , Lorin Maazel , Sir Adrian Boult , Miklos Rozsa , Riccardo Muti , Stephen Cleobury , Sir John Barbirolli , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus , Academy of St. Martin in the Fields , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!
Mozart for Relaxation
Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00002439O
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
Serenade In G 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Sir Neville Marriner
Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor, Op.26 - II. Adagio - Yedudi Menuhin
Nocturne No.2 In E Flat Op.9 No.2 - John Ogdon
Miserere Mei, Deus - Stephen Cleobury
Schindler's List - Tasmin Little
Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
Dance Of The Sylphs - Sir Neville Marriner
Water Music - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphony No.9: II. Largo - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean De Florette - Toots Thielemans
Concerto For Lute And Two Violins - II. Largo - Anthony Bailes
Cello Concerto In E Minor Op.85 - III. Adagio - Jacqueline De Pre
Waltz No.15 In A Flat - Dame Moura Lympany
Romance - Piers Lane
Pavane - Maurice Handford
Woodbrook - Micheal O Suilleabhain
Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra

Tracks:

The Four Seasons - Concerto No.1 In E 'Spring' - Yehundi Menuhin
Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Double Violin Concerto In D Minor - II. Largo Ma Non Tanto - Yehudi Menuhin
Prelude No.7 In A Op.28 No.7 - Tzimon Barto
Cantique De Jean Racine - MONKS AND CHOIRBOYS OF DOWNSIDE ABBEY
The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean
'Pathetique Sonata Op.13 - II. Adagio Cantabile - Leonard Pennario
Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Salut D'Amour - Richard Hickox
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (The Girl With Flaxen Hair) - Dame Moura Lympany
The Coventry Carol - Medeval Babes
Pavane For A Dead Princess - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Liebestraum No.3 In A Flat - John Ogdon
Panis Angelicus - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Piano Concerto No.2 In F Op.102 - II. Andante - Dmitri Alexeev
Agnus Dei - Peter Barley
Symphony No.5 In C Sharp Minor - IV. Adagietto - New Philharmonia Orchestra
My Heart Will Go On - Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II.......2006-08-28

Good selection of music, poorly performed and badly arranged. Good album for a tag sale. Same comment applies for Volume I.

Great music listein to while you read in bed.......2005-08-21

I have listened to this CD for the last several years before going to sleep at night. I love classical music, and this is great music to help make my soul feel at peace and unwind after a taxing day.

A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan........2004-10-22

I bought Vol. 1 of this series and was quite satisfied, but I have to say I'm more than satisfied with this one. If you can just mellow out and enjoy some great pieces, you'll love this CD. #15 on Disc 2 is almost worth the price alone!

A bliss of spirit........2004-09-18

That's disc will open You a wonderful, beautiful world of sounds, their harmony & emotion : you'll feel your heart full of
Joy, Tears, Love.
Good LUCK!

Boring.......2004-05-11

Yes this CD will put you to sleep in minutes. Its the most boring uninspiring classical music. The first CD was very good but this Vol. 2 is like most movie sequels....AWFUL !

Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan

Average customer rating:

Nice version of a classic opera
Pavarotti and Freni at their very best
Buy, listen, treasure
Cat's Meow
Beautiful

Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan
Giacomo Puccini , Mirella Freni , Luciano Pavarotti , Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Herbert von Karajan , Elizabeth Harwood , Rolando Panerai , and Nicolai Ghiaurov
Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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Puccini: Madama Butterfly (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Lucia Danieli, Nicolai Gedda, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Georges Pretre, Paris Opera Orchestra
Verdi - Rigoletto / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, LSO, Bonynge

Accessories:

GPX C3948BI Ultra-Slim CD Player with 40-Second Anti-Shock Protection and Car Kit

ASIN: B0000041TD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

La Boheme: Act One - Questo mar rosso
La Boheme: Act One - Pensier profundo!
La Boheme: Act One - Legna!
La Boheme: Act One - Si pu
La Boheme: Act One - Lo resto
La Boheme: Act One - Chi a?
La Boheme: Act One - Si sente meglio?
La Boheme: Act One - Che gelida manina
La Boheme: Act One - SMi chiamano Mim
La Boheme: Act One - O soave fanciulla
La Boheme: Act Two - Aranci, ninnoli! Caldi i marroni e
La Boheme: Act Two - Chi guardi?
La Boheme: Act Two - Viva Parpignol! Parpignol! Parpignol!
La Boheme: Act Two - Oh! ... Essa! ... Musetta!
La Boheme: Act Two - Quando men vo
La Boheme: Act Two - Chi l'ha richiesto?

Tracks:

La Boheme: Act Three - Ohle guardie! Aprite!
La Boheme: Act Three - Sa dirmi, scusi, qual''osteria
La Boheme: Act Three - Mim
La Boheme: Act Three - Marcello. Finalmente!
La Boheme: Act Three - Mim una civetta
La Boheme: Act Three - Mim tanto malata!
La Boheme: Act Three - Donde lieta uscl tuo grido
La Boheme: Act Three - Dunque roprio finita!
La Boheme: Act Four - In un coup
La Boheme: Act Four - O Mim tu pi torni
La Boheme: Act Four - Si sgombrino le sale!
La Boheme: Act Four - C'im.. c'imhe mi segue
La Boheme: Act Four - Vecchia zimarra, senti
La Boheme: Act Four - Sono andati? Fingevo di dormire
La Boheme: Act Four - Che avvien?

Amazon.com essential recording

The score for La Bohème comes to glowing life under Herbert von Karajan's baton, and Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti make beautiful music together as the ill-fated lovers. The smaller parts are wonderfully sung, the comedy sharply profiled, and the pathos contained in such a way that the opera's ending proves remarkably gripping. London's sound is excellent. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Nice version of a classic opera.......2007-03-02

This is a worthwhile and strong version of a great opera, Puccini's "La Boheme." For the most part, the cast is nicely up to the task of making such a familiar opera interesting to attend to. Elizabeth Harwood is not up to the same standards as some of the other singers, such as the redoubtable Luciano Pavarotti, the wonderful soprano Mirella Freni, and the steady Rolando Panerai. Von Karajan does a fine job conducting his Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Act I is exceedingly well done. It begins with the Bohemians fooling around. The singing is nicely in character, as Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard cavort. There follows the trio of works, "Che gelida manina" (sung by Pavarotti as Rodolfo), "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" (sung by Mimi), and the passionate duet "O soave fanciulla" (Rodolfo and Mimi). The final high notes are normally sung offstage, but in this version, they seem a bit more muted than in some other versions. Nonetheless, Mimi and Rodolfo are glorious in this set of arias.

The second scene is at the Cafe Momus. It begins with a lively, energetic street scene. Well sung by the ensemble. The high point is "Quando men vo" (Musetta's waltz), sung in this instance by Harwood. Her singing is a bit harsh; the pace is a bit lugubrious. Not a high point. The ensemble singing after that among Mimi, Rodolfo, Marcello, Musetta, and the other Bohemians is nicely done.

Act III is most poignant. Marcello and Mimi share a scene, and their singing is well done; a bit later, Mimi hides while Rodolfo joins Marcello. Rodolfo sings of his fears of Mimi's precarious health; as he pours out his fears, of course, Mimi overhears. She and Rodolfo join in, to overuse the term, a poignant scene. Meanwhile Marcello and Musetta share insults, in a wickedly sung duet, over the latter's flirting with other men.

Finally, Act IV. This is one of opera's most touching moments. Suffice it to say that the Bohemians and Mimi sing well and bring this opera to a melodic and affecting conclusion.

This is one of the best versions of "La Boheme." Pavarotti is in his prime; Freni is still singing well (although I thought that her and Nicolai Gedda's version of this opera was even better). Well worth listening to. . . .

Pavarotti and Freni at their very best.......2007-02-24

Karajan always provided a musical featherbed for his singers when he conducted opera, and here he takes La Boheme carefully, with measured tempos to wring every last tear. If you love the opera, this is a wonderful approach (at the very opposite of Beecham's famed mono account with Bjorling and de los Angeles, which is brisk and unsentimental. Well, as unsentimental as one can be with Boheme). On the twentieth hearing I am as moved by this performance as the first time I heard it. Pavarotti in prime voice and Freni as a Mimi to tear your heart out make an unmatched pair--how amazing that they both come from the small north Italian town of Modena.

The orchestra and Decca's sonics are vast for such an intimate opera, but that only adds to the emotional excess--a compliment in this case. Harwood isn't the Musetta of my dreams, but she was a Karajan favorite and does well here, far beter than her embarrassing Merry Widow under him. The La Scala veteran Rolando Panerai couldn't be bettered as Marcello, and he can stand up to Pavarotti's overwhelming presence.

In sum, I wouldn't change a thing, but canny buyers might anticipate that Decca will release a remastered version someday in their Originals line. The sound is fine already, but sonic updating never hurts. Highly recommended.

Buy, listen, treasure.......2006-11-04

A long time ago, my father was driving my teenaged self somewhere as he listened to a cassette of "Pavarotti's Greatest Hits" on the car stereo. During "Che gelida manina", he tried to enlighten my ignorance as to what was special about it. "This is one of the great moments in opera," he explained. "The man sings this beautiful aria. Then the woman sings something even more beautiful. Then the two of them sing together and it's even more beautiful than that." I grunted in assent that it must be a whole lot of beautifulness and then returned my attention to whatever science fiction novel I was reading at the time.

Many years have passed since then. My father is dead, and I probably know more about opera now than he did. But, perhaps because of that conversation, the end of Act I still defines "La Boheme" for me. [Moral of the story for parents of teens: Keep sharing yourself with your kids, no matter how much they grunt at you. There's no telling what will stick.] If a performance doesn't convey Dad's Guinness-Book sense that opera really doesn't get any more powerful or moving than this, I have to consign it to the "Not Quite" file. Sorry Tebaldi/Bergonzi and Callas/di Stefano.

All of which is to set up my claim that Freni/Pavarotti are the ones who truly deliver the goods in this virtually impossible-to-sing scene. While di Stefano's voice has a marvelous bronze gleam and crisp pronunciation, he simply doesn't have the sheer tone power to compete with the strength of Puccini's melodies. When Rodolfo sings "In te ravviso / Il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar!", the heroic notes demand that the tenor produce a sound that you would follow into battle. Here Pav unforgettably brings da noise - and "Yes, Giorgio" is forgiven all over again.

Freni is equally virtuosic in the soprano's milieu, somehow managing to convey a waifish bohemian as she robustly full-lungs her way through some of the most cruelly exposed high notes in the music. And how euphoniously their two instruments mesh in the duets! How confidently they surf the surging waves of Karajan's conducting!

I don't know what else to say except that it's all here. Every component of the recorded operatic experience - composer, conductor, musicians, and singers - exercising mastery at world-class levels. There is nothing to impede the plucking of your heartstrings until they fray and snap. If you can listen to the final offstage "Amor!" with dry eyes, there is something dead inside you - I'm sorry to say. I'm verklempt now just thinking about it.

So, yes - all the raves here are true. This is not just the best "Boheme", but one of the best opera recordings ever made. You know what to do.

Cat's Meow.......2006-08-15

This is the one, especially if you are a Pavarotti fan. In this recording everyone acquits themselves with style. Pavarotti is magnificent, Freni is gorgeous, as is Harwood, Ghiaurov...well the whole gang is great.

Beautiful.......2005-05-03

I own two recordings of Puccini's La Boheme, and this one is my favorite. I love this set, the recording is excellent. Pavorotti and Freni are magnificent in this version. This is just an excellent opera. It is so beautiful and touching. It is one of my all time favorite opera's.

Average customer rating:

One of the best ever!
Kristen Chenowith
Has its moments
Great CD!
This woman has what it takes, and then some...

Let Yourself Go
Kristin Chenoweth , Jule Styne , George Gershwin , Richard Rodgers , Jeanine Tesori , Kurt Weill , Jerome Kern , Vincent Youmans , Ricky Ian Gordon , Richard Dworsky , Lawrence Ellington Duke / Brown , Harry Warren , Bobby Troup , Jason Alexander , Irving Berlin , Rob Fisher , and The Coffee Club Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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As I Am
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ASIN: B000059T4T
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Let Yourself Go
If
How Long Has This Been Going On?
My Funny Valentine
Hanging Around with You (with Jason Alexander)
The Girl in 14G
I'll Tell the Man in the Street
I'm a Stranger Here Myself
Nobody Else But Me
Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me/Why Can't I?
Should I Be Sweet?
He's Just an Ordinary Guy
Going to the Dance with You
On a Turquoise Cloud
You'll Never Know
Daddy

Amazon.com

Kristin Chenoweth won a Tony for the supporting role of Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, made a memorably vampy Lily in the 1999 television film of Annie, and had an NBC sitcom created for her, Kristin! Now she grabs the spotlight in Let Yourself Go, her first solo recording. She mixes torchy standards ("My Funny Valentine," "How Long Has This Been Going On?") with Faith Prince-style sauciness ("If"), gets to show off her operatic and scat chops in the miniplay "The Girl in 14G," and shares a light duet with Jason Alexander (reviving his musical theater career post-Seinfeld). Perhaps her "Stranger Here Myself" isn't the weightiest you've ever heard, but this is an enjoyable album with a good deal of old-fashioned class, expertly accompanied by Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

One of the best ever!.......2007-04-24

Do I mean the best album or the best singer? You are correct if you said both! I saw Kristin Chenoweth on a PBS show "Broadway's Best at the Pops," (though it was not the first time I had heard her) and decided to check out the offerings here. This is a collection of the kind of music and performances I love. She has a great range, a precise pitch, and a great style that is at the same time true to the music and to herself. In an era when singers try to outdo each other re-interpreting the composer's original work, not usually with great success, she is a blessing!

Kristen Chenowith.......2007-02-26

I bought this CD for the Girl in 14G. Yes, it's that good...

Has its moments.......2007-02-19

After watching Candide endlessly and going to see Ms. Chenoweth in The Apple Tree, I was hungry for something more portable to listen to. At times this fits the bill, but what surprised me the most is how thin her voice comes across on this recording. Perhaps it was the joy of seeing her live that has ruined this listener; perhaps I need to upgrade my aging music system. Then again, maybe the recording is just not as good as Ms. C singing Bernstein or as good as staring at Ms. C command a Broadway stage.

Great CD!.......2007-01-19

I truly enjoy listening to this CD. Kristin Chenoweth's vocal style and abilities are very well-matched to the songs selected for this album. If you enjoy classic, older-style Broadway/popular tunes, I would highly recommend this CD. Ms. Chenoweth has a bright, expressive voice and does a fantastic job with this material.

As with any full-length CD, there are a couple of songs I am not as crazy about, but that has to do with the songs themselves, not Ms. Chenoweth's vocal performance. Overall, I love this album and have listened to it several times now, since receiving it as a Christmas gift last month.

This woman has what it takes, and then some..........2007-01-12

Kristin Chenoweth brings new life to some timeless Broadways tunes while introducing a few wonderful new ones. This high pitched vocal goddess effortlessly provides for a nearly flawless and easy listening experience. I definitly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys jazz vocals, showtunes, or just a new spin on some old classics.

Average customer rating:

Probably the best compilation of a single composer's works. Ever!
This is a brilliant assembly of Debussy.
THIS IS THE STUFF RIGHT HERE!
Debussy is the best. Ever.
i am dumb

Debussy's Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002A23
Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Preludes, Book One: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Two Nocturnes: Fetes
Preludes, Book One: The Sunken Cathedral
Suite Bergamasque: Claire de lune
Children's Corner Suite: Golliwogg's Cake-Walk
Reverie
Iberia: Le Matin D'un Jour De Fete
Deux Arabesques: Arabesque No. 1: Andante Con Motto
Martyrdom Of Saint Sebastian: Prelude To The Council Of The False gods
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 10: Scherzo. Assex Vif Et Bien Rythme
La Mer: I. De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer
La Mer: II. Jeux De Vagues
La Mer: III. Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best compilation of a single composer's works. Ever!.......2007-05-06

Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.

Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all of Debussy's catalog, it does certainly contain some of his best work. There is actually only one track on this CD that I don't care for; that would be Golligwogg's Cake-Walk; it is just a bit annoying to me.

Beyond my dislike for that one track, the entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.

"Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, which I prefer, but the piano version is nice. "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.

The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.

I would recommend this to any classical lover.

If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately.

The man was a genius.

This is a brilliant assembly of Debussy. .......2006-07-08

After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.

THIS IS THE STUFF RIGHT HERE!.......2005-09-12

I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???

THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.

OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.

Debussy is the best. Ever........2004-07-23

I love Debussy and all of his brilliant work. I barely listen to any other classical music, so I am not an authority, just an honest lover of music. I play piano and love piano music, so I was not disappointed at a piano Flaxen-Haired Girl. I've never heard an orchestrated version and don't need to. This is a good introductory CD to Debussy's work, I love it! The only thing I don't care for is the Arabesque #1 (Track 9). The horn is kind of grating and clunky to hear in such an otherwise beautiful piece. Still, its interesting and different. Everything Debussy made is purest gold.

i am dumb.......2004-07-01

And I'm a doomass because I didn't proof-read my other review and I wrote that Clair de Lune was performed by piano on this disc, which it isn't. Anyway, the piano version is better.

Average customer rating:

Splendid !
It is the best... but it isn't
This is what it was supposed to sound like
Music to my ears...
Not the Best Version by a Longshot

Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

ASIN: B000001GQP
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Fortune, Empress Of The World: O Fortune
Fortune, Empress Of The World: I Bemoan The Wounds Of Fortune
I Spring: The Merry Face Of Spring
I Spring: The Sun Warms Everything
I Spring: Behold, The Pleasant Spring
On The Green: Dance
On The Green: The Noble Woods Are Burgeoning
On The Green: Shopkeeper, Give Me Colour
On The Green: Those Who Go Round And Round
On The Green: If All The World Were Mine
II In The Tavern: Burning Inside
II In The Tavern: Once I Lived On Lakes
II In The Tavern: I Am The Abbot
II In The Tavern: When We Are In The Tavern
III The Court Of Love: Cupid Flies Everywhere
III The Court Of Love: Day, Night And Everything
III The Court Of Love: A Girl Stood
III The Court Of Love: In My Heart
III The Court Of Love: If A Boy With A Girl
III The Court Of Love: Come, Come, O Come
III The Court Of Love: In The Balance
III The Court Of Love: This Is The Joyful Time
III The Court Of Love: Sweetest One
Blanchefleur And Helen: Hail, Most Beautiful One
Fortune, Empress Of The World: O Fortune

Amazon.com

Yes, here it is folks--that irritatingly catchy chorus you first heard in the film Excalibur, or as the background music to the HBO Boxing Specials, and in zillions of other places. What it's not is the music from The Omen, which it clearly inspired. All pieces of music that feature choruses chanting in Latin are not the same (in fact, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms is much closer to The Omen than this). Orff actually wrote a lot more music, but here's a case where his reputation as a "one work" composer really is justified, for nothing else comes close in musical or popular appeal. This performance was authorized by the composer himself, and that's recommendation enough. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Splendid !.......2007-06-27

It's definitively the best adaptation of Carl Orff's masterpiece with astonishing vocal parts.Surely a "must have" CD for everyone who loves classical music at his best.

It is the best... but it isn't.......2007-06-08

A confusing review title, I'll grant that. And if it is the best, the why isn't it, and why only 3 stars?
For me, Eugen Jochum's rendition of Carmina Burana is easily the best one. Approved by Orff himself that was invited to assist the premiere. Unlike several other performances, this Carmina Burana was raw, even violent at times. All the energy that Orff had put into it, all the joy and jokes of the text where lived by the performers. There was no worry on softening the sound in order to look more "polite" or classical. It was raw, it was energic, it was Orff's intention live on stage. That's why it is said Orff was so pleased with it.
However, some people criticized it. Said it was too violent, too unprofessional, too raw after all. That it was not a proper classical music interpretation. It lacked detail, politeness and "education". After all, it was just not "proper" to play classical music "like that". It is a stigma this performance has suffered for years, regardlessly of being the composer's approved one.
When I got this new DG release something sounded different. The sound was perhaps cleaner, but surely something was wrong. And it was easy to find out what. The remastering altered the original, by softening it. It was now slightly slower, more polite, there is not so much violence in the voices sometimes, nor in some of the instruments. DG tried to please everybody with this re-release, including the critics of the original 1988 release, the one faithful to the original performance.
So, that explains the title, it is the best performance, but not the best edition, as it has been remastered, and, in my humble opinion, adulterated.
For me, the best one overall: best performance and best edition is still the 1988 release of this same recording also by DG and available here at amazon called Orff: Carmina Burana.

This is what it was supposed to sound like.......2006-10-16

Maybe just like most other people, I heard bits of the first piece of "Carmina Burana" - I think it was as part of a chocolate commercial (back in Germany). When I saw that that was actually the very first piece, I wondered what could possibly come after that, and I did a bit of research into what the music was all about. The result of that search made it all the more interesting: It's medival poems and songs, partly in Latin, partly in old German, set to the music of Carl Orff.

I went through a bunch of other recordings of "Carmina Burana" until I finally found this one. This one is the best. I mean you can complain about aspects of it, but with the composer working with the conductor it's a bit hard to say anything meaninful. If you don't like the way this sounds then maybe you just don't like the full piece. For example, I've seen people praise other recordings because they sounded "less teutonic". That's quite a ridiculous comment - after all, that's what it's supposed to sound like. And it's Latin (or old German) and that's just what Latin sounds like.

So I can only recommend this recording, it's quite impressive, and it's quite heavy in the percussion - make sure to listen to it loud at least once.

Music to my ears..........2006-06-25

Great CD, great price, fast delivery -- what more is there?

Not the Best Version by a Longshot.......2006-05-13

I have six different recordings of this masterpiece, and this particular recording is probably my least favourite of them all. It's jarring to hear sprightly passages played too slowly, making them seem to plod along -- and it's even worse to hear sensuous and languid portions like "Cour D'Amours" and "Uf Dem Anger" played too quickly, as if they were all in a hurry to get home. It ruins the effect completely.

And Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau? I actually winced, hearing him in his solo passages, where he's supposed to sound impassioned and suffering, to hear him warbling away like he thought he was singing lieder. Sorry, no. If you want to hear how it all SHOULD sound, buy the CD with Charles Dutoit conducting the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, which is the finest version I've ever heard -- the best use of tempo, the best diction, and the best soloists by far.

And PLEASE, let's get something straight: "Carmina" does NOT rhyme with "Christina", it rhymes with "stamina". "Carmen" is a second-declension neuter noun in Latin, as is "stamen", and in the nominative plural, the stress falls on the first syllable. It's CAR-min-a, not car-MEE-na. It makes my hair stand on end to hear someone pronounce it like they think the "-ina" is an Italian diminutive ending, like in "manina". It is NOT.

[ADDED LATER: How pathetic that so many people have thought my review was "not helpful". Did they expect lies and smiley faces? They probably went right ahead and wasted their money anyway. I tried to warn them. Chances are, though, they have no idea what the lyrics mean, so it won't matter to them that Dietrich F.-D. sings them like he doesn't know what they mean either.

I even hope they will also ignore my correction of the frequent mispronunciation of the title, because it can be quite hilarious to hear pseudo-sophisticates mangling pronunciations and thus announcing to the world that they really don't have a clue.]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Terrible overture, okay symphony.
As Promised
Don't Listen to The Hype!
Absolutely amazing
If One Must...

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Janowitz, Gundula | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Symphony no 9 / Furtwangler, Schwarzkopf
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6 "Pastorale"
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrouchka/ Le Sacre du Printemps

ASIN: B000001GPY
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Ouverture 'Coriolan', Op.62: Ouverture
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 2. Molto vivace
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 4. Presto
Symphony No.9 In D Minor: Presto - 'O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!' - Allegro assai - (Final Chorus From Schiller's 'Ode To Joy')

Amazon.com

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. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Terrible overture, okay symphony........2007-07-11

I do not wish to discredit Herbert von Karajan, who is simply one of the most versatile and talented conductors the world has ever seen. His Mahler and Sibelius possess a charm that I just cannot resist, though this does not mean I do not prefer other conductors. However, it must be noted that Karajan himself always felt as if he would never fill Furtwangler's shoes, and he simply does not. Most people criticize Karajan's readings of anything to be shallow and "string-laden," and while some of the allegations are unjust, in this case they are definitely true.

The overture is almost a grotesque caricature of what Furtwangler, Mengelberg, or even David Zinman can do with it. the brass players strain to the extent that they almost squeal, and the Berlin players would definitely not do so unless ordered by the maestro to give the tutti an "oomph!" Fluctuations of dynamics and tempi are grossly exaggerated and clearly not well thought-out. This is certainly one of Karajan's worst outings, and actually it is my experience with this performance a few years back that compelled me to abandon Karajan's Beethoven.

While the 9th symphony fares a bit better, there are nonetheless hallmarks of Karajan's art that may prove to be slightly annoying to some listeners (such as me)
The first movement will surprise you with what seems to be a superficial treatment of Beethoven's score. The opening tremolos are fine. The crashing chords that follow, not so. They are not given the position they require to exhibit a certain degree of inevitability or naturalness. This impression is retained throughout the entire performance, and peaks during the last movement. Compare Karajan's last five minutes with Klemperer, Fricsay, or Furtwangler. The tempi are not merely badly judged - they do not seem to be judged at all!
If I sound harsh it is only because better, greater performances litter the market. Take anything by Wilhelm Furtwangler, Otto Klemperer, Erich Kleiber, Arturo Toscanini, Ferenc Fricsay, Sergiu Celibidache, Rafael Kubelik, Charles Mackerras, David Zinman, and even John Gardiner. True, a recording of this quality does not deserved to be condemned to the ranks of obscure, pathetic performances. It just doesn't have what it takes to be great. Three stars for a performance that deserves neither two nor four.

As Promised.......2007-05-14

I received the CD quickly and in perfect condition. Just what I ordered, as promised.

Don't Listen to The Hype!.......2006-12-10

I listened to the other reviewers and purchased this Ninth as my first version of Beethoven's great symphony. It's something I really regret. There are at least two very irritating flaws in this recording that you should know about:

1) The second movement is played with a ludicrously fast tempo that's sounds obviously unnatural. I played it to friends who never listen to classical music and even they felt that something didn't seem right. You almost get the sense that Karajan didn't like the 2nd movement nearly as much as the others and therefore wanted to skip over it. It's played in maybe 11:00 flat, if that.

2) Karajan truly ruins the fourth movement by completely nullifying the beautiful choral performance. He overpowers the humanity of the piece, drowning out what would be a divine, effulgent chorus in an almost bludgeoning display of orchestral power. You would think that in a long, grandiose symphony with very few choral action until the end that you would want to emphasize or at least preserve the human voices, but Karajan treats them as if they are just a few more violins joining the fray.

3) Lastly, I can't really put my finger on it but something about Karajan's style just seems to lack an underlying soul. The strings sound wonderful and the sound quality is top-notch...and it's still Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a wonderful piece of music obviously! Yet Karajan's performance lacks the desperate zeal and awe-inspiring outrage of Furtwangler's 1942 recording. Solti's early 70s version of the Ninth may have a weaker 3rd movement than this Karajan recording, but Solti's first and final movements are both better performed. Solti's Ninth has the best choral peformance of any of the Ninth recordings hands down.

I would recommend Solti's early 70's rendition, Furtwangler 1942, or Fricsay before buying this recording. Only after owning these other great recordings would I round out my collection with this version of the Ninth.

Absolutely amazing.......2006-05-30

This is a great interpretation of the piece (which is admittedly my favorite piece of all). The tempi are faster than other recordings, but the orchestra never really lags or slows down. The level of musicianship throughout are exactly what you'd expect from one of the world's leading orchestras.

The truely stunning thing about this recording is the solo quartet. Now I have many recordings of this symphony, with many different soloists (Domingo included), but this is the best. The solo tenor here (Waldemar Kmentt) is truely brilliant. His voice is loud, booming, and full of life. The same can be said about the whole group. The group dynamic in general is something special, though I wish the alto would show off her tremendous voice more.

This is HIGHLY recommended.

If One Must..........2006-05-13

Knowing that this reviewer's view of this internationally popular favorite of every concertgoer is that of a curmudgeon, this recording is as acceptable as any of the ones available. Herbert von Karajan is at the helm of the trusty Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Singverein, and a cast of soloists that are the envy of any conductor - Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Rossel-Majdan, Waldemar Kmentt and Walter Berry, stalwarts all and obviously veteran performers of this regularly programmed piece. The interpretation is brisk and lively and yet lingers over the inner two movements that gives some solace between the sandwich ends of the first and fourth movements. It is a fine recording.

For this listener this is Beethoven's least impressive symphony. While there are moments in the 'Adagio molto e cantabile' that justify the Elysium reference in the final movement, and yes, there are interesting inner fugues and some lovely solo lines for paired celli and double basses, the popularity of the piece seems to be the much recorded last movement 'An die Freude'. It is big, loud, long, and uses massive forces and it does gratefully terminate a 70 minute piece. Heresy? Yes, for most listeners these words are scandalous. But just getting trough the first movement's wandering ideas and then waiting for the climax can be wearing. Does anyone else agree? Probably not. But if you must your own #9, this recording is as fine as they come. Grady Harp, May 06

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