CD-Charts Position 1
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Jersey Beat: the Music of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (3CD+DVD)

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by: Frankie Valli

Release Date June 25, 2007
The three CDs are filled with superb remastered and totally authentic recordings that span the incredible career of Frankie Valli and The four Seasons. The quality is superb, the versions presented here are the originals, in stereo or mono as is appropriate. The DVD is wonderful - classic live performances of the group at its peak. Of especial note are the 1971 TOTP recordings of Let's Hang On and I've Got You Under My Skin, both live, very well recorded and very true to the 1971 stage sound. Frankie's voice is at its best and this has to be heard loud to get the full dramatic impact. Thoroughly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream

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from: London

Release Date March 22, 1990
This was the first opera I ever saw live, during its initial London run a few months after the Aldeburgh premiere. I still carry vivid memories of that evening as a magical experience. And magic certainly lies at the heart of this entrancing (almost literally) piece.

From the sounds of the forest breathing in the opening string glissandos to the fairies' glittering benediction on Duke Theseus house at the end, Britten conjures a wonderful array of colours and pictures from his relatively modest orchestra. Each group of characters is given its own distinctive orchestral palette - strings with woodwinds predominate for the Lovers, the trombone fills in its fatter, comical tones when the Rustics appear, horns add a touch of regality ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Britten conducts Britten: Opera Vol.2

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by: Benjamin Britten

Release Date November 08, 2004
This was the first opera I ever saw live, during its initial London run a few months after the Aldeburgh premiere. I still carry vivid memories of that evening as a magical experience. And magic certainly lies at the heart of this entrancing (almost literally) piece.

From the sounds of the forest breathing in the opening string glissandos to the fairies' glittering benediction on Duke Theseus house at the end, Britten conjures a wonderful array of colours and pictures from his relatively modest orchestra. Each group of characters is given its own distinctive orchestral palette - strings with woodwinds predominate for the Lovers, the trombone fills in its fatter, comical tones when the Rustics appear, horns add a touch of regality ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Purcell: Dido & Aeneas / King Arthur / Dioclesian / Timon of Athens / 3 Odes

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from: Universal Classics

Release Date November 10, 2003
This was the first opera I ever saw live, during its initial London run a few months after the Aldeburgh premiere. I still carry vivid memories of that evening as a magical experience. And magic certainly lies at the heart of this entrancing (almost literally) piece.

From the sounds of the forest breathing in the opening string glissandos to the fairies' glittering benediction on Duke Theseus house at the end, Britten conjures a wonderful array of colours and pictures from his relatively modest orchestra. Each group of characters is given its own distinctive orchestral palette - strings with woodwinds predominate for the Lovers, the trombone fills in its fatter, comical tones when the Rustics appear, horns add a touch of regality ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Handel: Messiah /Gritton · Röschmann · Fink · C Daniels · Davies · Gabrieli Consort & Players · McCreesh

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from: Universal Classics

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
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Handel: Messiah

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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 an excellent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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More Music from Braveheart [CASSETTE]

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by: James Horner

Release Date October 07, 1997
Amazing, the music really takes you back to the film and it is incredibly upseting, the haunting bagpipes and flutes. It even has speeches included from the film, ah you listen to the sensual, deep sexy voice of Mel Gibson, ah heaven! Oh yeah and the famous freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom part is on as well and if you turn that up really high on your cd player it shakes the whole house! I honestly cannot listen to it with out breaking down in tears as it really brings the film back to you! The composer is James Horner who, may i add composed Titanic and Willow so you know it's got to be good! It also includes tradditional Scottish Bagpipe music! So get your skates on and start ordering now or YOU will be the one who is missing out on such a atmospheric, breathtaking ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Handel: Jeptha

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by: Lynne Dawson Ruth Holton Anne Sofie Otter Michael Chance Nigel Robson Stephen Varcoe The Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner

Release Date June 16, 2008
Amazing, the music really takes you back to the film and it is incredibly upseting, the haunting bagpipes and flutes. It even has speeches included from the film, ah you listen to the sensual, deep sexy voice of Mel Gibson, ah heaven! Oh yeah and the famous freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom part is on as well and if you turn that up really high on your cd player it shakes the whole house! I honestly cannot listen to it with out breaking down in tears as it really brings the film back to you! The composer is James Horner who, may i add composed Titanic and Willow so you know it's got to be good! It also includes tradditional Scottish Bagpipe music! So get your skates on and start ordering now or YOU will be the one who is missing out on such a atmospheric, breathtaking ... Read More: