CD-Charts Position 1

.

Striking 12 [Us Import]

Search: Gone
by: Striking 12

Release Date March 22, 2005

CD-Charts Position 2

.

Russian Melodies

Search: Gone
by: Boris Christoff Balalaika Orchester Dima Liakhoff Dima Liakhoff

Release Date March 19, 2007

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Ultimate Handel

Search: Gone
by: Various Artists

Release Date May 14, 2007

This set provides a selection of some of George Frideric Handel's best music. The 5 CDs are each supplied in standard single jewel cases and packaged into a card sleeve with a somewhat garish picture of the composer printed on the cover, making a slightly bulky but colourful set.

The decision to offer 5 CDs, instead of the typical 2CD `Best Of' sets, has enabled this compilation to score highly over its competitors by giving a greater depth of music than is usually found in collections such as these, and with over 6 hours of music it provides a good representation of the composer's works without having to resort to editing down to the minimal highlights, which so often does an injustice to the piece of music.

Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Handel: Messiah

Search: Gone
from: Double Decca

Release Date September 18, 1995
The singers in this recording deliver beautiful performances, both the soloists and the chorus - good phrasing, diction, and ensemble singing. However, I didn't realize before buying this CD that, as the liner notes say, "Neville Mariner's recording is based on the first London performance of 1743, and several numbers are markedly different from the more familiar later versions." Some pieces are sung by different voice parts, and others include bars of music that Handel cut or changed later. The most disappointing part for me was "But who may abide," (sung by bass instead of alto) which lacks the prestissimo "refiner's fire" section that most of us are used to (and which I really enjoy!) This would certainly be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Handel: Messiah /Gritton · Röschmann · Fink · C Daniels · Davies · Gabrieli Consort & Players · McCreesh

Search: Gone
by: Gabrieli Consort Gabrieli Players Paul McCreesh

Release Date August 09, 2004
I agree with the other reviewers in that there are some very good things in this recording, but the overall performance is, for me, very disappointing. It gets off to a bad start with the first recitative "Comfort ye" being taken at a funereal pace, and followed by "Ev'ry valley" sung as though the last train was due in a few minutes, and everyone had to be through in time to catch it! Other tempi are likewise somewhat, to say the least, unusual, and the setting of the words in the aria "The trumpet shall sound" is completely bizarre. The soloists are, on the whole, good, though soprano I is inferior to soprano II, and the contralto is variable. The orchestra and chorus are good, but it is the overall performance that, for me, is not satisfactory. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

You Must Remember This

Search: Gone
by: Gregg Nestor, William Kanengiser

Release Date December 12, 1995
I agree with the other reviewers in that there are some very good things in this recording, but the overall performance is, for me, very disappointing. It gets off to a bad start with the first recitative "Comfort ye" being taken at a funereal pace, and followed by "Ev'ry valley" sung as though the last train was due in a few minutes, and everyone had to be through in time to catch it! Other tempi are likewise somewhat, to say the least, unusual, and the setting of the words in the aria "The trumpet shall sound" is completely bizarre. The soloists are, on the whole, good, though soprano I is inferior to soprano II, and the contralto is variable. The orchestra and chorus are good, but it is the overall performance that, for me, is not satisfactory. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

Renée Fleming - I Want Magic

Search: Gone
from: Decca

Release Date October 12, 1998
I agree with the other reviewers in that there are some very good things in this recording, but the overall performance is, for me, very disappointing. It gets off to a bad start with the first recitative "Comfort ye" being taken at a funereal pace, and followed by "Ev'ry valley" sung as though the last train was due in a few minutes, and everyone had to be through in time to catch it! Other tempi are likewise somewhat, to say the least, unusual, and the setting of the words in the aria "The trumpet shall sound" is completely bizarre. The soloists are, on the whole, good, though soprano I is inferior to soprano II, and the contralto is variable. The orchestra and chorus are good, but it is the overall performance that, for me, is not satisfactory. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Lawrence the Kat and the Bible

Search: Gone
by: Carman

Release Date August 20, 1996
I agree with the other reviewers in that there are some very good things in this recording, but the overall performance is, for me, very disappointing. It gets off to a bad start with the first recitative "Comfort ye" being taken at a funereal pace, and followed by "Ev'ry valley" sung as though the last train was due in a few minutes, and everyone had to be through in time to catch it! Other tempi are likewise somewhat, to say the least, unusual, and the setting of the words in the aria "The trumpet shall sound" is completely bizarre. The soloists are, on the whole, good, though soprano I is inferior to soprano II, and the contralto is variable. The orchestra and chorus are good, but it is the overall performance that, for me, is not satisfactory. ... Read More: