CD-Charts Position 1
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The Only Guitar Album You'll Ever Need

from: RCA Victor

Release Date October 06, 2003
as the old saying goes{i may not know art but i know what i like}. i may not be an expert on spanish classical guitar music but this cd is excellent. track 5 disc 1 is 10 minutes of heaven.you may recognise it as the music from the film el cid.there are 1 or 2 tracks that dont quite hit the mark but mostly this is a fantastic compilation album and will satisfy most peoples needs. just relax with a bottle of rioja,turn off your phone and dont answer the door bell. you will be transported back to that little secret tapas bar that only you and your loved one know about. the sevilla feria 05 is where it takes us.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez

from: RCA Red Seal

Release Date August 09, 2004
Julian Bream is a hugely under-rated artist and deserves more recognition than J.Williams in my opinion. I listened to Williams playing the same piece with Barenboim, but was unimpressed by his mechanical precision ( often mistaken by listeners and critics alike for his artistic strength ) and lack of emotion and tonal delicacy. He can not match the subtlety and richness of tones Bream produce and the soulful singing quality of melodie line. This recording of Aranjuez Concerto is a good proof. J.E.Gardiner provise brilliant and deeply-felt support with the orhcestra.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Mozart for Your Mind

from: Philips

Release Date July 08, 1996
This is a great introduction to Mozart and some nice musical masterpieces that will just help you unwind! However, this CD will not do any better or worse job than anything by Mozart - and I would recommend a collection compiled by Teresa Berganza, Sony. It is affordable and quite extensive.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Bach: Christmas Oratorio

from: Archiv Produktion

Release Date November 04, 1987
This disc is a bit of an oddity. I can give it a perfectly sincere recommendation, but I think I had better explain myself carefully, and explain exactly what I am recommending.

The spirit of the selection is much what you would expect in a disc entitled `Christmas Treats from JSB' or `Immortal Melodies from The Christmas Oratorio' or something of that sort. Bach's Christmas Oratorio is not an oratorio in the Handelian sense. In the 1730's Bach faithfully turned out a cantata for each Sunday and major feast, but in one particular year he elected to reprocess some of his older music, most of it secular originally, and string the numbers together for the entire festive season under the overall title of `Christmas Oratorio'. Borrowing, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Bach: Christmas Oratorio

from: Archiv Produktion

Release Date October 05, 2000
This disc is a bit of an oddity. I can give it a perfectly sincere recommendation, but I think I had better explain myself carefully, and explain exactly what I am recommending.

The spirit of the selection is much what you would expect in a disc entitled `Christmas Treats from JSB' or `Immortal Melodies from The Christmas Oratorio' or something of that sort. Bach's Christmas Oratorio is not an oratorio in the Handelian sense. In the 1730's Bach faithfully turned out a cantata for each Sunday and major feast, but in one particular year he elected to reprocess some of his older music, most of it secular originally, and string the numbers together for the entire festive season under the overall title of `Christmas Oratorio'. Borrowing, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Handel - Dixit Dominus

from: Apex

Release Date November 25, 2002
The information given on the Amazon web page informs that this CD contains not only Handel's Dixit Dominus but also the 'Coronation Anthems', BUT watch out because it only contains one anthem. Not quite as advertised eh?

CD-Charts Position 7
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Bach: Mass in B minor

by: John Eliot Gardiner

Release Date December 02, 1985
There are some pieces you can get away with getting cheap recordings of, but when it comes to the monolothic Mass in B Minor I think it's well worth spending a few extra quid to get a good recording - or in this case, a near flawless one.

This massive, complex and enormously inflential work commands so much respect, it must be terrifying to perform it, but Gardiner's team certainly pulls it off brilliantly. Don't be put off by the authentic instruments aspect of this recording - Gardiner doesn't fall into the trap that so many other authentic instrument conductors seem to fall into: taking the pieces at breakneck speed. The speeds certainly aren't slow, but never feel rushed either. Also, despite being quite a small choir the Monteverdi's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Beethoven: Missa Solemnis /Monteverdi Choir · English Baroque Soloists · Gardiner

from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date January 08, 1991
This is a wonderful recording of what must rank as one of the most awesome pieces of music ever written. Personally I can listen to this 3 times in a row, and will have goose pimples all the way through, for 3 hours solid, every time. This music is just so jaw-droppingly, humongously, enormously, epically BIG!!! If this music was a painting it would cover a canvas the size of a football field. If this music was a sculpture it would dwarf the Eifel tower. It is truly incomprehensible. Luckily you don't have to comprehend, it's enough to fasten your seat belt, turn up the volume, and prepare to take leave of planet humdrum for an unforgettable ride.

One remark on this particular recording: some reviewers (e.g. Milan) think this recording compares ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Brahms Symphony 1 Gardiner

by: The Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner

Release Date September 01, 2008
This is a wonderful recording of what must rank as one of the most awesome pieces of music ever written. Personally I can listen to this 3 times in a row, and will have goose pimples all the way through, for 3 hours solid, every time. This music is just so jaw-droppingly, humongously, enormously, epically BIG!!! If this music was a painting it would cover a canvas the size of a football field. If this music was a sculpture it would dwarf the Eifel tower. It is truly incomprehensible. Luckily you don't have to comprehend, it's enough to fasten your seat belt, turn up the volume, and prepare to take leave of planet humdrum for an unforgettable ride.

One remark on this particular recording: some reviewers (e.g. Milan) think this recording compares ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio · St. Matthew Passion · St. John Passion · Mass in B minor

from: Universal Classics - Archiv

Release Date April 14, 2003
The other reviews here show that this is obviously a Marmite set - you either love it or you hate it. Me, I love it I treasure it and play it often. In such circumstances another review may not be of that much help to an undecided prospective purchaser because you can't know in advance whose taste you share, but for what it's worth:

The treasure of this set for me is the B Minor Mass. It has been described as the greatest work of art in any medium ever and while that may be a rather overblown claim it isn't wholly indefensible. Gardiner's interpretation does it proud. It has intensity, intellectual weight, a deep respect for the work and, above all, radiant beauty. I love it. I also have the Andrew Parrott recording (now available very reasonably ... Read More: