CD-Charts Position 11
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Sacred Arias

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Katherine Jenkins

Release Date October 20, 2008
Katherine Jenkins first impressed me when I heard her sing O Holy Night on the BBC. This new album is excellent, more in the style of her earlier albums Premiere & Second Nature then last year's Rejoice. I have listened to this brilliant album several times now.
I am glad that she has returned to songs and music that suit her voice best, a voice that is growing in richness and depth.

CD-Charts Position 12
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Over the Hills and Far Away: The Music of Sharpe [SOUNDTRACK]

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Virgin

Release Date April 29, 1996
Before watching Sharpe I had never heard of John Tams, and quite frankly my music collection was the poorer for it! This album is a fantastic mix of score from the shows and traditional folk songs of the period performed by Tams and his mate Barry Coope with an amazing guest performance from the wonderful Kate Rusby. A must have for all fans of John Tams, Kate Rusby, Sharpe and great British folk music!

Nar x

CD-Charts Position 13
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Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations

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

Release Date March 11, 2002
This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?

Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 14
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Classic FM Anthems 2008

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Various Artists

Release Date July 14, 2008

Classic FM has attempted to provide the classical music version of `rock anthems' to shake your head and punch the air to, an equivalent of Rainbow's `Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' anthem of the 1970's. Does it work? Yes of course it does because the Classic FM marketing team are in touch with the needs of today's classical music listeners.

The track list is comfortably predictable - Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner), Carmina Burana (Orff), Jupiter (from Holst's Planets), Pomp & Circumstance (Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory), A Night on a Bare Mountain (Mussorgsky) and many, many more.

Those `many more' include three outstanding performances - Alfie Boe's version of Nessun Dorma, David Garrett's virtuoso (and breathtakingly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 15
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Works of Igor Stravinsky [22cd]

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Igor Stravinsky

Release Date July 02, 2007

It's common to find good value box sets from labels such as EMI Classics, Brilliant Classics and Warner Classics, but not so often on the Sony label.

In general, the bigger the set the better the value, with collections of more than ten discs often falling into the bargain category of under £1 a disc.

This collection though represents not only value for money but also provides pretty much all of Stravinsky's lifetime works (he composed around 127 pieces) in a compact box of just 5cm width thanks to the CDs being supplied in card sleeves.

The enclosed 24 booklet provides a biography of the composer, and more importantly full recording dates, venues, orchestras, soloists and conductors, and if this doesn't sound reason ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 16
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Favourite Welsh Choirs

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Various Artists

Release Date July 03, 2000
The quality of the accompanyments and the production quality are outstanding. This is undoubtedly the best Welsh Male Voice choir recording in my collection.

CD-Charts Position 17
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Classic FM Guitar - The Ultimate Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Various Artists

Release Date June 16, 2008
As the previous reviewer said, this is a great introduction to the world of classical guitar music. As usual with ClassicFM Cd's, the quality of the music on offer is superb, with a few well known pieces that have been arranged for the guitar; like Elgar's Nimrod etc.. As said before, if your new to this style, or you want something to just relax to, then you can't go wrong with this.

CD-Charts Position 18
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The Best of Arvo Pärt

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

Release Date May 03, 2004
These are deeply felt and captivating performances of Pärt's best-known works. My favourite Spiegel im Spiegel is played a bit too fast, but Tasmin Little's playing is wonderfully refined and imaginative, if not so deep as Shaham's accliamed version.

CD-Charts Position 19
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Fiesta

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Gustavo Dudamel

Release Date May 19, 2008
These are deeply felt and captivating performances of Pärt's best-known works. My favourite Spiegel im Spiegel is played a bit too fast, but Tasmin Little's playing is wonderfully refined and imaginative, if not so deep as Shaham's accliamed version.

CD-Charts Position 20
Average Rating:

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Tales from the Greek Legends (Junior Classics)

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Edward Ferrie

Release Date January 01, 2000
I bought this for my son but have also enjoyed listening to it myself.
The reader has a good reading voice (nothing like Julian Clary as another reviewer has suggested) and also does pronounce the names correctly - he uses the now generally accepted Heracles rather than Hercules and this has confused some people.