CD-Charts Position 281

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Christus Natus Est: An Early English Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Sixteen

Release Date November 01, 2004

CD-Charts Position 282
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Bach: Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Channel Classics

Release Date September 30, 2002
This is one of those recordings which transforms a work. I had struggled for years to like the Sonatas and Partitas, but a succession of recordings by great violinists had left me feeling thoroughly excluded by them. When I heard Rachel Podger, I suddenly saw the utter delight and involving beauty in the pieces. She loses absolutely none of their intellectual weight, but makes them dance, glow and sparkle. In the great Chaconne from the D minor Partita, for example, I had always previously reached the end feeling rather wrung out and exhausted with the effort of trying to penetrate a difficult and forbidding piece. With Podger’s recording I find myself engaged, carried along and very sorry when the final, breath-holding not dies away.
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CD-Charts Position 283
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The Best of the Red Army Choir: the Definitive Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Red Army Choir

Release Date July 01, 2002
Fantastic! Takes me back to 1957 or so when we saw them in London. Wow! What a performance! this CD is great.

CD-Charts Position 284
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Cavalleria Rusticana - Mascagni / Pagliacci - Leoncavallo [1983]

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
starring: Yelena Obraztsova, Plácido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Fedora Barbieri, Axelle Gall
directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

Release Date May 09, 2005
I was very disappointed. Admittedly the filming was very good, but I was expecting much more. In future I will stick with grand opera. Am I wrong but did not Domingo have a famous aria to sing in Pagliacci? Where was it?

CD-Charts Position 285
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Nigel Kennedy - A Very Nice Album

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Nigel Kennedy

Release Date June 16, 2008
I bought this after watching Nige on the last night of the proms. His virtuoso talent is unrestrained on this album, and is very impressive. The instrumental tracks have strong melodies which are easy on the ear, and quite memorable. I felt the vocal performances were not up to the mark (especially Nigels'), perhaps the money he saved on the DIY album cover would have been better spent on a stronger vocalist to match Nigel's own talent.

CD-Charts Position 286
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Pachelbel's Greatest Hit

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Red Seal

Release Date October 13, 2003
It goes without saying that if you like Canon, you'll love this CD. It contains fifteen delicious variations of the Canon (and one Gigue). There are one or two versions that are bound to become your favourites. For one of the most repetitive songs around, I'm amazed to say I've never tired of this song. You know where it's going, but it's still relaxing and uplifting, whether as background music or to listen mindfully (try listening through headphones to feel ultra calm and wonderful!). Would probably make great background music at a party or wedding reception, shop etc. This CD is a regular feature on my CD player. It's great value for money too. There should be more like it!

CD-Charts Position 287
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Beethoven - Piano Sonatas, Vol 4 (Paul Lewis) Winner of the Gramophone Award for Record of the Year 2008

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Paul Lewis

Release Date April 28, 2008
The reviewer above is spot-on in his assessment of this set. Lewis' virtuosity allows him to sound spontaneous, secure and sensitive at the same time. He presents Beethoven as a much more agreeable character than we are used to when listening to more extreme interpreters such as Kovacevich or Pollini.

The flipside of the human Beethoven is that the frenzy that can be created in the Hammerklavier (one of the previous volumes) or the last movement of Op 111 is replaced by a range of more down-to-earth emotions. Lewis' Beethoven doesn't do jazz. It's different, but extremely impressive nonetheless. And in further agreement with the other reviewer: the ending of Op111 is pure magic...

CD-Charts Position 288
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Lang Lang: Nigel Hess Piano Concerto

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Lang Lang

Release Date August 04, 2008
Nigel Hess's piano concerto was commissioned in memory of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: hence the somewhat portentous titles for each of the movements. It is a shame that it occupies a CD all on its own (at under 23 minutes) and it would make an excellent coupling with Howard Blake's, the latter piece having been dedicated to Princess Diana.

Hess is primarily a film music composer, and clearly needed the `hook' of a extra-musical concept in order to get his creative juices flowing, however he wouldn't be alone amongst composers in this. Certainly the concerto itself shows no signs of being any kind of detailed narrative.

If you're expecting a deep and intellectual work, then this isn't for you, but if you value melodic interest and an ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 289
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The Best Opera Album In The World Ever

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 28, 1996
As a novice listener of opera, this collection has been ideal in learning to appreciate the wealth of fantastic music that is out there. I can heartily recommend this!!

CD-Charts Position 290
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Eden Roc/I Giorni/Le Onde/Stanze: 4cd Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Ludovico Einaudi

Release Date February 14, 2005
Each of the cds has a different theme but they are all very relaxing, evocative, moving pieces of music, mostly piano. Just imagine yourself lying back in a candlelit room (perhaps with a glass of wine in your hand)and let the music wash over you and let your mind wander. This selection is a wonderful addition to any music collection.