CD-Charts Position 41
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The Only Classical Album You'll Ever Need

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

Release Date November 03, 2003

The budget price doesn't reflect the quality of this 2 disc collection of classical music highlights, for the soloists, orchestras, conductors and the recordings themselves ensure it is a good quality selection of mostly familiar music from the classical music repertoire.

The choices lean heavily towards the opera style, so for that reason alone will not be the only album necessary to cover everyone's taste - even the complete classical beginner will find many of their familiar favourites are absent.

The tracks are mostly single movements from the whole score, which may not please the more enthusiastic classical fan, but it's unavoidable given the short time permitted by only 2 CDs. In any case, this album really ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 42
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Living A Dream

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

Release Date October 31, 2005
Una de las mas maravillosas voces que he escuchado en toda mi vida, este es uno de esos albumes que nunca se olvidan y le llegan a uno al fondo del corazon; Katherine le ha dado un nuevo lugar en el mundo a la musica clasica; temas magnificos como el NESSUM DORMA, grandes baladas como OVER THE RAINBOW, ALL THINGS ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL o AMAZING GRACE, la tonada clasica italiana TORNA SURRIENTO (una excelente competidora de la version de Elvis Presley "Surrender"), en resumen, una preciosa coleccion de bellas melodias de ayer y hoy en una voz que pareciera venir de los ángeles; imprescindible para todo amante de lo clásico y las melodias romanticas.

CD-Charts Position 43
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The John Rutter Christmas Album

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

Release Date November 04, 2002
I thought this CD had got lost in our recent house move and was delighted when it turned up in one the last boxes to be opened. I immediately rushed to listen again even though it is early March and am once again entranced by the warmth and beauty of the music and the singing. You really can play this CD anytime in the year and that is what I am doing now! If you buy it you will not be disappointed!

CD-Charts Position 44
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Vaughan Williams - Tallis Fantasia etc

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

Release Date October 13, 2003
I thought this CD had got lost in our recent house move and was delighted when it turned up in one the last boxes to be opened. I immediately rushed to listen again even though it is early March and am once again entranced by the warmth and beauty of the music and the singing. You really can play this CD anytime in the year and that is what I am doing now! If you buy it you will not be disappointed!

CD-Charts Position 45
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New Dawn

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Libera

Release Date March 03, 2008
Where does one begin. The latest album from LIBERA (new dawn) is out of this world. The selections are wonderful and Robert Prizeman as usual, has given us more of his wonderful music, that I personally feel, comes from God. The harmonies are breath taking and each solo is beautiful. I would like to say something about every soloist, but that would take way too long. From the six soloists I have chosen two to tell you about. The first is Tom Cully. Tom's voice will send shivers all over your body. He has a beautiful voice and his range will astound you. He also hits a few notes that will amaze you. In my opinion, his voice gets better every time I hear him sing. The other soloist I enjoy hearing, and watching is Josh Madine. Josh has a beautiful voice, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 46
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Bernstein: West Side Story

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

Release Date August 10, 1998
This recording is simply superb. What some of the reviews seem to forget is that this is a recording of the *music*, not the musical. And in this sense, to my mind at least, the performers' accents are irrelevant. What matters is the fact that this recording brings together a group of some of the most talented singers of the time, and boy does it show.

The luscious soprano voice of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is, as always, simply superb, as is the rich tenor sound of José Carreras; these are complemented nicely by Troyanos' mezzo and Ollmann's baritone voices. The orchestra, featuring Miles Davis on trumpet, is similarly exceptional - their prowess and cohesion is demonstrated particularly in tracks such as "Jump".

Finding faults with this recording is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 47
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Beethoven - Piano Sonatas, Vol 4 (Paul Lewis) Winner of the Gramophone Award for Record of the Year 2008

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: Paul Lewis

Release Date April 28, 2008
The reviewer above is spot-on in his assessment of this set. Lewis' virtuosity allows him to sound spontaneous, secure and sensitive at the same time. He presents Beethoven as a much more agreeable character than we are used to when listening to more extreme interpreters such as Kovacevich or Pollini.

The flipside of the human Beethoven is that the frenzy that can be created in the Hammerklavier (one of the previous volumes) or the last movement of Op 111 is replaced by a range of more down-to-earth emotions. Lewis' Beethoven doesn't do jazz. It's different, but extremely impressive nonetheless. And in further agreement with the other reviewer: the ending of Op111 is pure magic...

CD-Charts Position 48
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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
by: London Philharmonic Orchestra

Release Date September 20, 2004
and I like the box too: I can always pick it out among the other VW sets ;-)
A wonderful evocative 3rd, a tense war study. Not very pastoral, nor bucolic or lyrical: I do not agree much with Vernon Handley's interpretation. Rather it is the past remembered, resigned melancholy that something is not quite right, yet with self-discovery and steely determination that is discussed and evolved by the soloists. Never forget that a war demands and makes a different mindset we do not understand. I find Rued Langgaard's deeply disturbing 4th Symphony, "Leaf Fall" 1916, to be in good company here.
Haitink's take on things generally differs just a bit from the English conductors, but I think "In the Fen Country" in particular justifies buying the set. Yeah, I know it's Cambridge but ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 49
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Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas

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

Release Date January 18, 1994
Brendel sets the mark for other performers for seven of Beethoven's finest piano sonatas.

Although brendel sticks to the notes, he still manages to leave his mark on the music.

recommended !

CD-Charts Position 50
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Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On Christmas Carols, Hodie

CD-Charts > Music > Opera and Vocal
from: British Composers

Release Date October 02, 2000
I bought this a couple of years ago and return to it regularly - a sure sign of a good recording. I like the music of Vaughan Williams and this is a good example of his music. The Fantasia was a big surprise - its a lovely setting of some well known carols. John Barrow has a superb baritone voice. The Hodie takes a little more getting into but it is worth the effort. Both choirs and orchestra have good sounds. At this price you can't go wrong!