CD-Charts Position 1

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Handel: Solomon

Search: Once
from: Philips

Release Date October 11, 2004

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Handel: Solomon

Search: Once
by: Nancy Argenta Barbara Hendricks Carolyn Watkinson Anthony Rolfe Johnson The Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner

Release Date May 15, 2006
Reviewing a PG Rosette recording in detail after more than two decades would be superfluous. This being my first SOLOMON, I confess that I didn't find much of the score entirely memorable at the beginning, but those gems revealed themselves on repeated hearings; however, my all-time favourite Handel oratorio is still THEODORA. Though I can't find fault with its performative and sonic qualities, this classic recording has to lose a star on account of Gardiner's fatal decision to eliminate five arias: in the accompanying booklet, JEG defends sanctioning the cuts, arguing (unconvincingly for me) that they were composed for specific singers (aren't many of those singer requests masterpieces?), and that they hold up the action (if this were the case, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Handel: Oratorios

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by: John Eliot Gardiner

Release Date September 19, 2005
Reviewing a PG Rosette recording in detail after more than two decades would be superfluous. This being my first SOLOMON, I confess that I didn't find much of the score entirely memorable at the beginning, but those gems revealed themselves on repeated hearings; however, my all-time favourite Handel oratorio is still THEODORA. Though I can't find fault with its performative and sonic qualities, this classic recording has to lose a star on account of Gardiner's fatal decision to eliminate five arias: in the accompanying booklet, JEG defends sanctioning the cuts, arguing (unconvincingly for me) that they were composed for specific singers (aren't many of those singer requests masterpieces?), and that they hold up the action (if this were the case, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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WATCH IT HAPPEN

Search: Once
by: Mazarin

Release Date December 15, 2008
...I thought I'd pipe up for this little CD that makes me real happy when I can't be bothered with anything else in this life. It may not really be worth 5 stars, but the rating system is pretty arbitrary anyway, and at least it got you reading the review right?

NME single of the week 'Wheats' is sodding ace. A real upbeat stomper with a lovely lyrical twist that I won't reveal here, it nestles in your head like a horny cat. I dig it. 'Chasing the girl' is a cool rocker too. The rest is great and I can't be troubled to go into depth about each one, but it's short, sweet, and makes you feel clean and wholesome and happy in the murk of a dirty, ugly world of self-obsession...

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Brady Bunch Movie [CASSETTE]

Search: Once
by: Original Soundtrack

Release Date February 28, 1995
...I thought I'd pipe up for this little CD that makes me real happy when I can't be bothered with anything else in this life. It may not really be worth 5 stars, but the rating system is pretty arbitrary anyway, and at least it got you reading the review right?

NME single of the week 'Wheats' is sodding ace. A real upbeat stomper with a lovely lyrical twist that I won't reveal here, it nestles in your head like a horny cat. I dig it. 'Chasing the girl' is a cool rocker too. The rest is great and I can't be troubled to go into depth about each one, but it's short, sweet, and makes you feel clean and wholesome and happy in the murk of a dirty, ugly world of self-obsession...

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Mandy Patinkin

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by: Mandy Patinkin

Release Date December 23, 1999
Mandy has a very unique style of singing. Simply put he goes from tenor to baritone with such ease it's uncanny! I love his take of Sonny Boy the old Joly classic sang with great bravuro. There are so many pleasures on this cd including, surprisingly a Gilbert and Sullivan song "Unrequited Love". Buy it now it's well worth it.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Mandy Patinkin [CASSETTE]

Search: Once
by: Mandy Patinkin

Release Date October 17, 1990
Mandy has a very unique style of singing. Simply put he goes from tenor to baritone with such ease it's uncanny! I love his take of Sonny Boy the old Joly classic sang with great bravuro. There are so many pleasures on this cd including, surprisingly a Gilbert and Sullivan song "Unrequited Love". Buy it now it's well worth it.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Handel: Athalia

Search: Once
by: Christopher Hogwood, Joan Sutherland, Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Aled Jones, George Frideric Handel

Release Date September 22, 2003
It won the Gramophone choral award in 1987 but the star of this recording is the sublime and truly heavenly singing of Emma Kirby. The recording is a well balanced whole of exquiste moments. Sutherland's slightly deep toned color (a touch of mezzo-soprano color) and her slight vibrato technique make a wonderful counterpart of the evil queen contrasted to the group of the righteous. The choral singing is sublime, clear, direct and vibrant. This is must have for any ,not only for Handelians.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Handel Ortorios (Messiah / Athalia / Esther / La Resurrezione) / AAM, Hogwood

Search: Once
from: Decca (Universal Classics)

Release Date June 13, 2005
It won the Gramophone choral award in 1987 but the star of this recording is the sublime and truly heavenly singing of Emma Kirby. The recording is a well balanced whole of exquiste moments. Sutherland's slightly deep toned color (a touch of mezzo-soprano color) and her slight vibrato technique make a wonderful counterpart of the evil queen contrasted to the group of the righteous. The choral singing is sublime, clear, direct and vibrant. This is must have for any ,not only for Handelians.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress

Search: Once
from: DG

Release Date August 09, 1999
This set captures such excellent, vivid and clear performances that the story leaps out by just listening. You won't really even need to follow the printed libretto. Every single character is perfectly sung and the orchestra and conductor are in top form. The whole thing brims with wit and charm making it very very enjoyable. I have listened to it several times already.