CD-Charts Position 151
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Shostakovich - Jazz Suites Nos 1 and 2

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Naxos

Release Date April 02, 2002
There are two sides to Shostakovich's music and most listeners tend to know only the darker side. There is wit in Shostakovich's music although usually in acidic or sardonic way. There was a time before the Stalinist purges and the Second World War when the wit really flourished and Yablonsky and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra (formerly the U.S.S.R Symphony Orchestra) give us some very fine examples of it.
The plot of "The Bolt" (evil capitalist industrialists brought low by rightous socialism) so embarassed the composer that he rarely spoke of it and never pushed for a revival after its initial run. He did realize that he wrote some very good music for it and from it he made this nearly half hour suite. The Jazz Suites are really ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 152
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Welsh Choral Classics - Land of Song

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Various Artists

Release Date February 26, 2008
This compilation offers a excellent combination of hymns and welsh folk songs, with brilliant quality sound. Unlike some other Welsh Male voice CD's the singing is not drowned out by an organ or have an underemphasis on one of the parts. Easily the best Welsh male voice I've bought and it has become a much appreciated present to many relatives.

CD-Charts Position 153
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Sweeney Todd

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Release Date May 28, 2007
Although the amazon site includes the wrong sound samples above (they are from the LaPone revival), this item is indeed the original cast recording with Lansbury and Cariou. Even better, it's been remastered and includeds 2 bonus track not featured on the original (and much more expensive) RCA double disc. What a find!

CD-Charts Position 154
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Beethoven - Triple Concerto. Brahms - Double Concerto

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: EMI Classics

Release Date October 05, 1998
I have owned this recording since it first came out and I wore out two LP's. I am not Karajan's greatest fan but here he is in the repertoire he does best and he has three soloists who all thoroughly deserve the epithet "great". The tempi are spot on. The playing of Oistrakh and Rostropovich in the slow movement still takes my breath away. Throughout the three soloists empathise and play together perfectly and in the final movement with real playfulness. I have never tired of this recording in the near 40 years I have owned it. The CD coupling with the Brahms is a sensible one and it is well played. Oistrakh remains my favourite violinist not just for his richness of tone but for his breadth of repertoire. Rostropovich was, arguably, the finest ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 155
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Andersen's Fairy Tales: The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, etc.: The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, Etc. (Children's Classics)

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: H.C. Andersen

Release Date September 01, 1994
Two stories are truly gruesome and VERY violent. Not prince overthrowing dragon in woods to save princess, gruesome and violent. I mean creeping envy, revenge and sadistic murder of an elderly lady and a young boy (amongst other things)!

DEFINITELY NOT for all children by any means. Just had to add this review so more critical (discerning?) parents could be warned if needed.

The remaining stories are great. However, The Little Match Girl is very, very sad! But, so true to how some children today must struggle while those with far more than they need walk by. A deeply poignant tale.

We were very disappointed BUT only with the two rotten ones. I've recorded the fabulous ones and chucked the discs away. Erica Johns reads beautifully. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 156
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When I Fall In Love

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Lesley Garrett

Release Date February 05, 2007
This album should not be dismissed as 'rubbish' I don't have any problem with classically trained singers recording and performing the songs on this album. However I do think that one of the preceding negative reviews raises a good point. That is whether a classically trained soprano has the right voice and technique to deliver these songs well. Although I have a fairly large collection of operas I don't see the 'opera singer' as in anyway superior vocally to a pop singer - it's a matter of taste and depending on my mood I can prefer Status Quo to the LSO.

Lesley Garrett has to change her vocal style to deliver this album and mostly she manages to make a good fist of it. The title track is well delivered and so to are most of the others. However there ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 157
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The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Isidore Godfrey, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

Release Date May 28, 2007
This album should not be dismissed as 'rubbish' I don't have any problem with classically trained singers recording and performing the songs on this album. However I do think that one of the preceding negative reviews raises a good point. That is whether a classically trained soprano has the right voice and technique to deliver these songs well. Although I have a fairly large collection of operas I don't see the 'opera singer' as in anyway superior vocally to a pop singer - it's a matter of taste and depending on my mood I can prefer Status Quo to the LSO.

Lesley Garrett has to change her vocal style to deliver this album and mostly she manages to make a good fist of it. The title track is well delivered and so to are most of the others. However there ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 158
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Mozart: Complete Violin Concertos

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: Philips

Release Date May 10, 1993
I agree with the other reviewers here: this is a marvellous set, and a real bargain, too. Not only do you get all five of the Violin Concertos, but the sublime Sinfonia Concertante too, and all in impeccable performances.

Grumiaux was universally hailed as a truly great violinist and a wonderful interpreter of Mozart, and he shows why in this set. His technique is superb, he uses his virtuosity to show the music to its best advantage rather than to draw attention to the virtuosity itself and he has real feeling without ever slipping into schmaltz. For example, the well-known (perhaps over-exposed) Adagio of K216 is sublime, uplifting and heart-string tugging stuff without a hint of sentimentality; just sheer beauty, beautifully expressed. I have never ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 159
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Fauré - Requiem

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Elin Manahan Thomas, Roderick Williams

Release Date March 03, 2008
I was present at the live concert at the Barbican in August 2007 when this was recorded. It was probably the best concert ever attended, and the recording shows this in it's energy, yet passionate and sensitive qualities.Harry Christoper ,The Sixteen and the Academy of St martin's in the field have produced a superb C.D..
J. Battershill

CD-Charts Position 160
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John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: John Williams

Release Date November 01, 1999
Bottom line up front, this is one of the best John Williams compilations available. It has not only memorable movie soundtrack songs, but also his music from the Olympics. While other John Williams music CDs have lots of songs, this one has some of the best variety compared to others.