CD-Charts Position 201

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Sondheim - The Story So Far...

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Masterworks

Release Date November 03, 2008

CD-Charts Position 202
Average Rating:

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Mozart: Requiem

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

Release Date November 05, 2001
Where to start? It seems sensible to review both the work itself and this performance of it here, although the score I have given it relates only to the performance.

The work itself is a masterpiece. As you probably know, Mozart left this unfinished when he died, and it was completed by Franz Sussmayr, supposedly to Mozart's plan. However, the work certainly flows as a whole, and all of the individual sections work well. The highlights of the piece are, unsurprisingly for Mozart, the cannons and fugal passages, perhaps most notably in the Domine Jesu and Kyrie. Mozart was a master of weaving lines together to create complex polyphony which is simultaneously exciting, melodic and jaw-dropping. His greatest skill was to create melodies ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 203
Average Rating:

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Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Polish Festival Orchestra Krystian Zimerman

Release Date October 18, 1999
I have gone through all available different interpretations of these wonderful concertos, spending days to find the best. This one is by far the best. Too many other interprets sadly limit themselves to a technical play (the faster, the better) and see this as the ultimate challenge. Not so Krystian Zimerman! Beside technical perfection, he gets so much emotion and fine tension out of the concertos, it gives them another dimension. This is music! It is incredibly beautiful and fascinating to listen to, and you just wish it would never end...

CD-Charts Position 204
Average Rating:

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DV8 - Three Ballets By DV8 Physical Theatre

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
directed by: David Hinton, Clara van Gool

Release Date February 05, 2007
I have gone through all available different interpretations of these wonderful concertos, spending days to find the best. This one is by far the best. Too many other interprets sadly limit themselves to a technical play (the faster, the better) and see this as the ultimate challenge. Not so Krystian Zimerman! Beside technical perfection, he gets so much emotion and fine tension out of the concertos, it gives them another dimension. This is music! It is incredibly beautiful and fascinating to listen to, and you just wish it would never end...

CD-Charts Position 205
Average Rating:

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Beethoven - Symphonies 1 - 9

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Classics for Pleasure

Release Date September 16, 2002
I have given some time to this box set and found the orchestral playing to be foursquare and the conducting not particularly inspired. How on earth anyone can pretend to compare these to Rattle's wonderful (more expensive) VPO set is beyond me. The sound is pretty good in Liverpool and Manchester studios/concert halls.

Like Mackerras' Haydn on Telarc, this does nothing to me, despite its popularity. His Mozart symphonies on Telarc, and Handel etc are wonderful, but this Beethoven is dull and obvious, to my ears. Sorry.

Instead I recommend the following for the budget concious:

Hogwood (nice budget slimline reissue set) - sensible affectionate performances, about the best of authentic, esp for the price

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CD-Charts Position 206
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Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Berliner Philharmoniker Herbert Karajan

Release Date October 11, 1999
I recently purchased this box set, knowing that Karajan is one of the all time greats. The performance its self is very good, however on my high quality audio equipment I was diappointed by the sound quality of the recording. There is a constant noise of static in the background of every single recording... it is very off putting during the quiet sequences eg. opening of the 9th. I do not know what to do now, should I put up with it or seek another recording? Disappointed.

CD-Charts Position 207
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Carols from King's

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: The Choir of King's College Cambridge

Release Date November 18, 2002
I recently purchased this box set, knowing that Karajan is one of the all time greats. The performance its self is very good, however on my high quality audio equipment I was diappointed by the sound quality of the recording. There is a constant noise of static in the background of every single recording... it is very off putting during the quiet sequences eg. opening of the 9th. I do not know what to do now, should I put up with it or seek another recording? Disappointed.

CD-Charts Position 208
Average Rating:

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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 209
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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Classics

Release Date October 27, 1997
While there are some lovely pieces of music on these CDs they don't match the titles. When I bought this 2-set CD I thought that maybe I had received Vol2. or something by mistake as none of the tracks match the information on the CD insert. I decided to check by listening to the samples here on Amazon & discovered that they too are incorrect. Just to ensure I wasn't going mad I found the CD set on a US website and listened to their samples & they were correct!!! I wish someone could explain.

CD-Charts Position 210
Average Rating:

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Elgar - Enigma Variations; Cello Concerto

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: London Philharmonic Orchestra

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.