CD-Charts Position 111
Average Rating:

.

Elgar - Enigma Variations; Cello Concerto

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Unknown Label

Release Date July 03, 1995

Of all Elgar recordings by Du Pre, this live recording is no doubt the most deeply moving one. The slow movement is probably the slowest interpretation, yet it never loses tension as she gives everything to express the heart-breakingly poignant Elgarian longing. Despite the almost fierce outpouring of emotion, this performance never gives an impression of vulgar sentimentalism, as the sheer depth of music making transcends everything else!

Barenboim's account of Enigma is equally great recording. No over-emotionality here, yet full of grace, magical moments and noble beauty presented in Wagnerian grandeur. The famous Nimrod is played most beautifully.

CD-Charts Position 112
Average Rating:

.

Vaughan Williams: The Ultimate Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Unknown Label

Release Date February 02, 1998
Ralph Vaughn Williams music is centred in the very heart of the English character. If you can experience the presents of England in the works then you have felt your home. And known the love for its great past without regreting its loss of greatness.

CD-Charts Position 113
Average Rating:

.

Bryn Terfel - Don Giovanni - Mozart [2000] (NTSC)

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
starring: Bryn Terfel, Solveig Kringelborn, Paul Groves, Hei-Kyung Hong, John Relyea
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date March 14, 2005
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us from ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 114
Average Rating:

.

Ikon

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Sixteen

Release Date April 03, 2006
It has to be said that there is little more versatile as the human voice as an instrument. This proves the point beyond measure.
Clarity, emotion and total respect for the piece are in abundance throughout the album.
Wonderful.

CD-Charts Position 115
Average Rating:

.

Vivaldi: Four Seasons & Concertos RV257, 376 & 211

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Sony Classics

Release Date June 18, 2002
Most people reading reviews of this disc are probably more interested in The Four Seasons than anything else. As the most frequently played work in the 'classical' repertoire, it has become something of a cliché. How can any new recording offer something different? Well, Carmignola and the Venice Baroque make every effort to do so and this CD fizzes with energy. The storm in the allegro of 'Summer' really does have some clout. Carmignola's playing of the big four is virtuosic and impassioned, while the orchestra contributes massively (theirs is no mere accompaniment).The VBO always offer a multi-layered sound, recorded here in incredible detail.

But my interest lies primarily in the three world-premiere recordings also offered here. It might be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 116
Average Rating:

.

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake [1996]

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
starring: Adam Cooper, Scott Ambler, Fiona Chadwick, Barry Atkinson (II), Emily Piercy
directed by: Matthew Bourne, Peter Mumford

Release Date October 05, 1998
A truly wonderful interpretation of the timeless classic. Every bit as stunning as seeing it live. Probably not one for the children, so if you are looking for that seek out a more traditional production.

It is witty, excellently crafted and moving. A world wide phenomenon and and instant classic. It is difficult for a DVD to truly capture the magic of a live performance, but this does an admirable job.

Essential viewing for all of the Billy Elliot's out there!

CD-Charts Position 117
Average Rating:

.

Beethoven - Piano Sonatas, Vol 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Harmonia Mundi

Release Date October 30, 2006
This three-CD set is built around three of the biggest sonatas - the Pathetique, the Waldstein, and the Hammerklavier. I'm not a pianist, but I do know these pieces very well from many different performers (Brendel, Barenboim, Gilels, Richter, Fischer, Solomon, etc etc). These do sound relatively safe interpretations to me. For example, Lewis's Waldstein is perfectly decent and a joy to listen to... but compare the last movement to Barenboim's (or even Fischer's!) - that fantastically joyous bit towards the end when you feel you're listening to an entire orchestra blasting with utter joy - and you can't help but feel it's not in the same league when it comes to sparkle. Ditto the Hammerklavier. Paul Lewis gives us a nice rendition. The adagio sostenuto comes in at a nicely ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 118
Average Rating:

.

Lauridsen - Lux aeterna

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Hyperion

Release Date February 28, 2005
Quite a nice, easy sound at first but it soon wears off. I feel that there is one main compositional idea which the composer does to death. Eventually I couldn't tell one movement from the next.

CD-Charts Position 119
Average Rating:

.

Onward

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Alfie Boe

Release Date March 12, 2007

Onward is Alfie Boe's third studio album, the first was in association with Classic FM who kicked off his recording career, the following two were made after signing to the EMI Classics label. Born in 1973 in Lancashire his humble upbringing in a largely non-musical environment make his progression from apprentice worker in a TVR car factor to leading tenor in the Broadway production of `La Boheme' all the more remarkable.

The album is mostly a collection of well known pieces which will be familiar to those unaccustomed to classical music or opera, giving it broad appeal to a wide listening audience.

The sleeve notes provide a one or two line commentary on each track explaining the reason for choosing them, and some background to their appeal ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 120
Average Rating:

.

Vaughan Williams: (2CD) Lark Ascending, Tallis Fantasia, Greensleeves, Variations on Dives and Lazarus

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Double Decca

Release Date April 12, 1999
Everything you would want as in introduction to Vaughan Williams is here and it sounds fabulous. Whilst not my favourite recording of "The Lark Ascending", its still a treat and more than compensated for by the magnificent recordings of the "English Folk Suite" and "Oboe Concerto".
Disc 2 is just a sheer delight from start to finish. Every track is sublime and you couldnt ask for a better selection of Vaughan Williams on 2 discs. The only comparison I can draw is the "Abba Gold" collection. Thats how good Vaughan Williams and this cd is. Just buy it and enjoy England's finest composer. It makes my day better whenever I put it on.