CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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The Very Best of English Song

from: EMI Classics

Release Date June 02, 2003
Understated, underrated.

Understated is one thing, underrated is another.

In fact, it's a masterly selection. Why doesn't it have more reviews? Why isn't it top of the pops? Oh, I see. Not good Enough for the Great British Public. Silly of me not to realise.

A rich range, containing Home and Away, Sea and Empire, war and love, history. Should be a compulsory part of the National Curriculum. Bet there's plenty of stuff they could ditch that covers the same ground [or less] much more boringly.

The music shows the man: one who knew his country and loved it.

I didn't know the English had so many good songs. I knew they had a few, but thought the Celts were the only ones in these islands ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Anderson, L - Orchestral Works, Vol 1

by: David McCallum, John Blackshaw, Derek Hannigan, Jenny McLaren, Neville Graham

Release Date December 31, 2007
To those of us of a certain age, the music of Leroy Anderson represents the ne plus ultra of American light symphonic music. From the mid-1930s on Anderson was encouraged and his music was played frequently by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. It wasn't long before his music was being played by practically every ensemble in the country. One of his pieces, 'Blue Tango', even topped the popular hit parade for almost four months in the early 1950s. This CD is said to be the first in a series that will present all of Anderson's extant works, and it contains not only such familiar pieces as 'Fiddle-Faddle', 'Bugler's Holiday', 'Belle of the Ball', 'Blue Tango', and 'The Classical Jukebox' but others that are almost completely unknown, including his only ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Vivaldi: Six Double Concertos

from: Philips

Release Date January 01, 1986
I have disliked more of Marriner and the ASMF's Vivaldi than I have liked. The fabulous La Stravaganza recording on Decca from 1975 has thus far been the only one of the Academy's vivaldi recordings that I haven't sold on - it is actually an essential Vivaldi purchase in many ways.

Additionally, now, this wonderful more recent recording of a selection of outstanding double concertos by the Venetian master.

It is the finest double Mandolin concerto recording I know. I have heard excellent other period instrument renditions, but somehow the sprightly use of a modern instrument orchestra, but without the over-gloss of many I Musici and ASMF recordings, gives this concerto a greater weight but still with bounce - it's wonderful, really. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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The Very Best of English Song with Orchestra

from: EMI Classics

Release Date April 05, 2004
I have disliked more of Marriner and the ASMF's Vivaldi than I have liked. The fabulous La Stravaganza recording on Decca from 1975 has thus far been the only one of the Academy's vivaldi recordings that I haven't sold on - it is actually an essential Vivaldi purchase in many ways.

Additionally, now, this wonderful more recent recording of a selection of outstanding double concertos by the Venetian master.

It is the finest double Mandolin concerto recording I know. I have heard excellent other period instrument renditions, but somehow the sprightly use of a modern instrument orchestra, but without the over-gloss of many I Musici and ASMF recordings, gives this concerto a greater weight but still with bounce - it's wonderful, really. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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The Academy Plays Opera

from: Royal Classics

Release Date January 01, 1996
I have disliked more of Marriner and the ASMF's Vivaldi than I have liked. The fabulous La Stravaganza recording on Decca from 1975 has thus far been the only one of the Academy's vivaldi recordings that I haven't sold on - it is actually an essential Vivaldi purchase in many ways.

Additionally, now, this wonderful more recent recording of a selection of outstanding double concertos by the Venetian master.

It is the finest double Mandolin concerto recording I know. I have heard excellent other period instrument renditions, but somehow the sprightly use of a modern instrument orchestra, but without the over-gloss of many I Musici and ASMF recordings, gives this concerto a greater weight but still with bounce - it's wonderful, really. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Perfect Bach

from: Angel

Release Date
I have disliked more of Marriner and the ASMF's Vivaldi than I have liked. The fabulous La Stravaganza recording on Decca from 1975 has thus far been the only one of the Academy's vivaldi recordings that I haven't sold on - it is actually an essential Vivaldi purchase in many ways.

Additionally, now, this wonderful more recent recording of a selection of outstanding double concertos by the Venetian master.

It is the finest double Mandolin concerto recording I know. I have heard excellent other period instrument renditions, but somehow the sprightly use of a modern instrument orchestra, but without the over-gloss of many I Musici and ASMF recordings, gives this concerto a greater weight but still with bounce - it's wonderful, really. ... Read More: