CD-Charts Position 171
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Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

CD-Charts > Music > General
from: Universal Classics

Release Date September 18, 1995
The opening organ chord lasts eighteen seconds on this 1973 recording of Also Sprach Karajan. I prefer the 1984 version (also reviewed on Amazon), to which I give the full five stars. Here, the timpani are more to the fore, the sound is loftier, more stately, but not lush. One often feels in a trance as the music hangs in the air, for example at the end of the measured descent at the end of the `Song of the Grave' - and of course at the music's very end.

The performance is more restrained (if that is possible) with a greater contrast in volumes. The Midnight Bell chimes suitably loud but is less resonant than in 1984, more of a clang than a reverberative dong.

But if you simply must have Karajan (and why not? In the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 172
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Salve Regina - Gregorian Chant

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of St. Maurice & St. Maur, Clevaux

Release Date February 14, 2000
This is a must for lovers of Gregorian Chant, listen to the Te Deum, is not one's heart transported to heaven by the chant? And,the hymns, the tantum ergo, and the salutaris hostia and the salve regina. Wonderful, one's spirit is moved unto a sober inebriation

CD-Charts Position 173
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Regimental Marches of the British Army Vol. 1

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards

Release Date October 01, 1999
A tremendous collection of each British Army Regiment's own 'signature' tune.

From well known marches like 'The Radetsky' to lesser known tunes like 'The days we went a gipsying', they are all beautifully played by the Band of the Coldstream Guards in quicktime pace, ( 116 beats per minute ).

Together with Vol. 2, these great recordings will turn your living room into Horse Guards Parade !

CD-Charts Position 174
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Romeo and Juliet (Previn)

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Sergey Prokofiev

Release Date October 04, 2004
Ballet scores don't come any better than this. Prokofiev's score is an order of magnitude greater than Tchaikovsky's, and this classic version by Previn and the LSO does full justice to superlative music. It is intelligent, sensual and witty and offers outstanding value.

Prokofiev's score manages to match Shakespeare's drama in its intensity, complexity and economy. A notable feature of the play is its time compression. In the world of the play, all the action takes place in three or four days. In stage-time, this is reduced to a mere trice: 'the two-hour's traffic of our stage'. In Prokofiev's version, ideas come equally thick and fast - and enough of them to last most composers a lifetime. What's more, like the play, the ballet score is full ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 175
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Mozart for Your Mind

CD-Charts > Music > General
from: Philips

Release Date July 08, 1996
This is a great introduction to Mozart and some nice musical masterpieces that will just help you unwind! However, this CD will not do any better or worse job than anything by Mozart - and I would recommend a collection compiled by Teresa Berganza, Sony. It is affordable and quite extensive.

CD-Charts Position 176
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The Ultimate Guitar Collection

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Julian Bream

Release Date March 31, 2001
If you like classical guitar this is a must for your collection. It's got all the regular guitar classics on it played by a master.

CD-Charts Position 177
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The Very Best of Bach

CD-Charts > Music > General
from: Naxos

Release Date October 03, 2005

This Naxos double CD is effectively a reworking of the original single CD release `The Best of Bach', expanded to include more of the composer's music then attractively packaged with new artwork and a card slip-case cover showing an amusing caricature of the composer.

As with any `Best Of' compilation much of the composers work will inevitably be omitted - Bach incidentally wrote around 650 works so the 27 pieces on these CDs represent only a small proportion of his lifetime works. There are however over 2 hours of music here to be enjoyed and it's a good cross-section of Bach's style.

The sleeve notes are helpful for those wanting a little more than these highlights, for they provide recommended further listening (all Naxos ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 178
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Pride and Prejudice: Original Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

CD-Charts > Music > General
from: BBC

Release Date September 25, 1995
The music from the Pride and Prejudice 1995 tv series is good music in its own right. I really love the title theme. However, if you have watched the tv series enough times, then the music is inextricably tied to what is going on in the drama, and this serves to intensify the feelings evoked by the music.

This CD is great to own if you love the TV series, as listening to the CD almost makes you feel like you are watching it again!

It is a way of re-experiencing the emotions of the drama.

CD-Charts Position 179
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The Platinum Collection

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Karl Jenkins

Release Date March 19, 2007
I bought this triple CD collection after borrowing the "Requiem" CD from a local library and really enjoying it. Containing as it does not only the Requiem and (very different) the first "Adiemus" volume but also "The Armed Man", I found it an excellent introduction to Karl Jenkins' music. The "Requiem" CD also includes Jenkins' rich "In These Stones Horizons Sing" evocation of Wales - a great bonus. Whilst there are tracks on each CD that I don't really respond to, there is much that I really enjoy and - at the time of writing at least - was able to buy the collection at an astonishingly low bargain price.

CD-Charts Position 180
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Williams: Schindler's List Original Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

CD-Charts > Music > General
from: MCA Records

Release Date March 11, 2002
Yeah Ok the whole CD is based around one theme but it is a film soundtrack so that is to be expected. But the first track is incredible. The solo is played sublimely by Itzhak Perlman. The range on his instrument is amazing as he starts of fairly low and the piece finishes icredibly high. With Itzhak Perlman being from Israel the holocaust is probably something very close to his own heart and while listening to him playing the main theme it's almost like hes crying through the violin. Undoubtedly John William's best work.