Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser

Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser

On this CD:

  1. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Berlin State Opera Orchestra
    with Arnold Schremm, Gerhard Unger, Reiner Suss, Marianne Schech, Lisa Otto, Karl-Heinz Voortmann, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Elisabeth Grummer, Hans Hopf, Rudolf Gonszar, Manfred Koop, Fritz Wunderlich, Michael Wein
    Conducted by Franz Konwitschny, Karl Schmidt

Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser,Gottlob Frick,Richard Wagner,Franz Konwitschny,Karl Schmidt,Berliner Staatsopernorchester,Lisa Otto,Gerhard Unger,Hans Hopf,Arnold Schremm,Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,Elisabeth Grummer,Fritz Wunderlich,Karl-Heinz Voortmann,Manfred Koop,Marianne Schech,Michael Wein,Reiner Suß,Reiner Süss,Rudolf Gonszar,Angel Records,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Miscellaneous Music,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio


Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • masters of classical music
  • A good basic collection
  • An excellent introduction to classical music
  • Very Beautiful!!!!!1
  • Still Stuck on Beethoven
Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

MazurkasMazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000001VU5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  2. Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  3. Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  4. Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  5. Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  6. Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  7. Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  8. Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  9. Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  10. Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
  11. Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

  1. Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
  2. Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
  4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
  5. Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
  6. Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
  7. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
  8. Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
  9. Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
  10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
  11. Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
  12. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
  13. Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
  14. St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  2. Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  3. Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  4. 'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  5. Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  6. Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  7. Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  8. Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  9. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
  10. Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

  1. Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
  2. Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
  3. Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
  4. The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
  5. The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
  6. Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
  7. Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
  8. The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

  1. Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  2. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  3. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  4. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  5. Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  6. Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  7. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
  8. Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
  2. String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  3. Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
  4. The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
  5. The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
  6. The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  7. Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
  8. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
  9. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
  10. Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

  1. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
  2. Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
  3. Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  4. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
  5. Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
  6. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
  7. Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  8. Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
  9. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

  1. Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
  2. Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
  3. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  4. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  5. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
  6. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  7. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
  8. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  9. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  10. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
  11. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
  12. Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
  13. Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
  14. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
  15. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

  1. Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
  2. Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
  3. Standchen - Franz Schubert
  4. Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
  5. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
  6. Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
  7. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
  8. Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
  9. 'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
  10. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

  1. Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
  2. Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
  3. Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
  4. II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
  5. II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
  6. Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
  7. La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
  8. La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
  9. La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
  10. La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
  11. La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

5 out of 5 stars A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

5 out of 5 stars Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

5 out of 5 stars Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!




Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful collection and price!
  • Awesome collection!
  • Helicopters? Marines?
  • A great addition to my music collection
  • Quintessential Wagner
Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
National Philharmonic Orchestra LondonNational Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
New York Philharmonic OrchestraNew York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Wagner: Overture & Preludes
  2. The Best Of Wagner
  3. Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words
  4. Wagner without Words
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ASIN: B000009ON7
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

  1. The Valkyries: Ride Of The Valkyries
  2. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Funeral March
  3. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
  4. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
  5. The Flying Dutchman: Sailors' Chorus
  6. The Rheingold: Journey Down To Nibelheim
  7. The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg: Overture
  8. Tannhauser: Overture
  9. Tannhauser: Entry Of The Guests
  10. Tannhauser: Tannhauser's Pilgrimage
  11. Siegfried: Act III Orchestral Interlude
  12. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
  13. Twilight Of The Gods: Finale
  14. The Rheingold: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla

Tracks:

  1. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
  2. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
  3. Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
  4. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
  5. Parsifal: Transformation Scene
  6. Tannhauser: Venusberg Music
  7. Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus
  8. The Mastersingers Of Nuremburg: Prelude To Act III
  9. The Rheingold: Vision Of Valhalla (Scene II Introduction)
  10. Siegfried Idyll
  11. Siegfried: Brunnhildes Awakening
  12. Tristan And Isolde: Prelude To Act III
  13. Tristan And Isolde: Death Of Isolde

Amazon.com

If you like your Wagner served up in bleeding chunks or if you're simply in a hurry to hear the tunes, then this compilation is for you. The performances, drawn from the Polygram (mainly Deutsche Grammophon) back catalog, are for the most part authoritative. They feature the likes of Herbert von Karajan, with the Berlin Philharmonic, and Karl Böhm, with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (and chorus), in extracts from recordings of complete operas, and conductors Giuseppe Sinopoli, Otto Gerdes, and Antal Doráti in some of the more familiar overtures and preludes. Singing, without which it is impossible to get the full flavor of Wagner's work, is skirted whenever possible: this is an unapologetic tribute to Wagner the orchestral genius. At times the salesmanship is a little overblown--the glitzy packaging includes a cover shot of the helicopters from Apocalypse Now--and the sound, some of it from very good originals, seems to have been juiced with a little added digital reverb, resulting in an overall glassiness. The gaps between tracks are minimized, disco style, so there's no dead air, and the whole thing has an Entertainment Tonight feel to it. Were he around, Wagner would have screamed bloody murder, then happily taken his cut of the action. For today's on-the-go listener, this may well be the most practical way to enjoy Wagner's music, but we won't be happy until it motivates at least one newcomer to seek out a recording of a complete opera. Anyone who does that will find out what "apocalypse" really means. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

5 out of 5 stars Awesome collection!.......2007-01-10

This is a great collection of some of Wagner's most memorable songs for those of you who do not want to buy the whole opera's for some of his works.

4 out of 5 stars Helicopters? Marines?.......2006-12-05

Do those infotainment marketing mavens ever get it right? Talk about Hollywood disconnect! Not only are the helicopters irrelevant, but to quote from the gushy drivel on the jacket, "The gripping power of Richard Wagner's music was demonstrated with spectacular effect in...Apocalpse Now, when the "Ride of the Valkyries' became synonymous with the chilling journey of Marine 'Huey' helicopters into battle..."

Marine? Marine? Them Hueys in the movie was ARMY Air Cav, slick! "First of the ninth--air mobile." If you're going to dally down that primrose path, at least get it right.

Better yet, drop the choppers. Most people who listen to Wagner probably realize that quality of an artistic work has a mystically inverse relationship to the number of helicopters contained in it.

As for the music, it is good, but the operatic equivalent of sound bites, which may be just right for people who are new to Wagner or just can't take very much of him. Hmm...perfect for a helicopter ride, perhaps?

5 out of 5 stars A great addition to my music collection.......2006-07-20

This CD takes the place of all my other Wagner music. VERY well done. Somehow I didn't realize that there were two cds in the package--what a pleasant surprise! Of the two cds, I like the first one best, but they are both good. I listen to this cd daily on my way to work. Stirring! I am so glad that I purchased this. Some purists might have a problem with the fact that some of the selections are not there in their entirety. I have no problem with that though. I recommend this to anyone who loves Wagner.

5 out of 5 stars Quintessential Wagner.......2006-05-15

Okay, so I like Wagner. I LOVE "Ride Of The Valkyries". Do I want to go out and buy every single stinkin thing Wagner did? No. If you are a die-hard Wagner fan you probably will not think much of this collection.

But if you like Wagner and appreciate "Ride Of The Valkyries", and maybe require it in just a little more substance than what is included in "Apocolypse Now Redux", then this is what you want. The extra tracks are bonuses and are quite good. Meets my needs, presentation great, performance excellent. I recommend it for anyone that needs a Wagner fix.
Wagner: Overtures & Preludes
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A well-kept secret
  • Essential Wagner
  • Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!
  • Go For Boult
  • Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans
Wagner: Overtures & Preludes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser
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  5. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

ASIN: B000002S08
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Tannher: Overture
  2. Tannher: Grand March
  3. Der Fliegende Holler: Overture
  4. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 1
  5. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 3
  6. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Overture
  7. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act 3
  8. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 1

Tracks:

  1. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
  2. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
  3. Parsifal: Act 1 Transformation scene
  4. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 3
  5. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
  6. Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods
  7. Die Walkure: Ride of the Walkyries
  8. Siegfried: Forest murmurs
  9. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
  10. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral March

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A well-kept secret.......2007-05-18

Everyone wants to have a crack at the "bleeding chunks" eventually, and while I love the flashier Stoky and Furtwangler approach, I wouldn't want to be without the Boult. He's a great Wagnerian, strange as it may seem. Who could blame him for not wanting to go down in history merely as the finest Holstian? As long as this stays in print, Ormandy will still be considered the least sexy conductor. (I heard CBS researchers found an Ormandy fan once!)

5 out of 5 stars Essential Wagner.......2006-06-17

As a child, this set was my first experience of Wagner's music, and it made quite an impression on me. However, as I grew older and began to collect the full operas I felt I could surely do better than Adrian Boult and the British for a collection of the preludes, overtures, and orchestral music from the operas. I was wrong. I have yet to here any recordings that can match the power and intensity as demonstrated in these discs from Boult and the LSO (and LPO). The Meistersinger prelude alone is worth the price, and the only version of the prelude to Tristan which outdoes the one here is Bohm's live 1966 Tristan. The Solti, Karajan, and Klemperer highlight discs have their moments (and truthfully, I do prefer Solti and Karajan for the "Ring" highlights), but their contributions are greatest in the full operas, and overall, they simply can't muster the power and intensity that Boult brings to these preludes, overtures, etc.

Even if you have other compilations of Wagner's music in "bleeding chunks", I can assure you they don't come close to this one; and with two discs (the second containing mostly music from Parsifal and the "Ring") at 14 bucks, there is absolutely no excuse not to have this essential recording. So go ahead and buy this disc, never buy another Wagner compilation again, and with the money you save get started on the more important task at hand: the full operas.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!.......2004-09-27

Does Sir Adrian Boult conjure up of images of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn Williams, but not Wagner? You're not alone! Nevertheless, this is a double CD set not to be missed! Many years ago, I was listening to a classical radio music station in NYC that was playing the music of Wagner. The performance was so good, that I wouldn't leave the radio until I found out the name of the conductor. When the announcer said the conductor was Sir Adrian Boult, I was quite surprised. I had recordings of English music from Sir Adrian on Angel/EMI, but I never associated that conductor with Wagner. Having been blessed with a friend who had knowledge of classical music way beyond his years, I gave him a call to find out more about the recording. He told me that, Boult had solid expertise in the area of Germanic music, but, in England, had been overshadowed in that repertoire by Otto Klemperer. He told me not to be surprised about Boult's very fine Wagner, it was an excellent recording to purchase and, indeed, search out Sir Adrian's wonderful performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (now available on Vanguard). Fast-forward many years and I find myself browsing through Amazon for a recording of Wagner's Overtures and Preludes. Like everyone else I know, I foolishly jettisoned my LPs in the 1990s and have been "back-filling" ever since. Well, I was able to obtain this splendid set for less than $7 per CD! There are a total of 18 selections covering most of Wagner's operas including five excerpts from the Ring Cycle. The performances are excellent coming from no less than three British orchestras, and the sound is top-shelf EMI. Sir Adrian's pacing is measured and his vision is broad and sensitive, highlighting the beauty and grandeur --rather than just the fire-- of this glorious music. I heartily recommend this two-CD set, and at this price, I think it's a steal.

5 out of 5 stars Go For Boult.......2003-07-08

Sir Adrian Boult is best known for his recordings of the British repertoire, and his performances, particularly of Holst's "The Planets" and Elgar's Symphonies and Orchestral Works, are legendary. But Boult was also an excellent conductor of Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, and this 2-CD set collects the Overtures and Preludes of the latter German titan. These stereo recordings from the early to mid-1970s with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras are truly first rate. EMI's set compares nicely in terms of price, quality and musical offerings with competing sets by DG (Bohm, Kubelik, et al) and Sony (Ormandy & Szell). You might have reservations about getting German music conducted by a Brit, but you really can't go wrong with Boult.

4 out of 5 stars Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans.......2000-03-20

I bought this cd for the following reasons: 1 I'm a Wagner fan, 2 the cover looks exquisite and 3 I wanted to hear a "prelude" since it sounds fancy and never heard one. The result is great cd. The Tannhauser overture, Tristan and Isolde prelude and Lohengrin Prelude to act 3 are all very excellent. Excerpts from the Ring of the Nibelunge aren't as good as I had anticipated but are still enjoyable. The music speaks the tales of Wagner's operas. Just hear it, as slow and irksome as they maybe, these preludes make you feel the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde, the epic odyssey of Lohengrin and the holy, heavenly spirit in Parsifal as he discovers the Holy Grail. Buy this CD and you won't regret it. Except that one bit from Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral March. It does'nt quite have the feel of grand disaster as it did in John Boorman's film Excalibur. If you're hoping to find that version(which is better) stick with the Classics Go To The Movies Vol 2 cd. But all the other pieces on this CD are excellent. Go and buy this CD- now !
Tannhäuser / Domingo, Studer, Baltsa, Salminen, A. Schmidt; Sinopoli
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Best Tannhauser out there
  • Wagner's Dualism
  • A Dreamy, Beautiful, Golden Tannhauser
  • Just excellent
  • A Good, but not Great Recording
Tannhäuser / Domingo, Studer, Baltsa, Salminen, A. Schmidt; Sinopoli
Richard Wagner , Giuseppe Sinopoli , Plácido Domingo , Cheryl Studer , Agnes Baltsa , Matti Salminen , Andreas Schmidt , Barbara Bonney , and Clemens Bieber
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. Wagner: Tannhauser - Bayreuther Festspiele/Giuseppe Sinopoli
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ASIN: B000001GB0
Release Date: 1989-09-27

Tracks:

  1. Tannhauser: Overture
  2. Tannhauser: 'Naht euch dem Strande' (Act One, Scene One : The Venusberg)
  3. Tannhauser: 'Gelieber, sag? Wo weilt dein Sinn?' (Act One, Scene 2)
  4. Tannhauser: 'Dir tLob! Die Wunder sei'n gepriesen'
  5. Tannhauser: 'Dank deiner Huld, gepriesen sei dein Lieben!'
  6. Tannhauser: 'Geliebter, komm! Sieh dort die Grotte'
  7. Tannhauser: 'Stets soll nur dir, nur dir mein Lied ert'
  8. Tannhauser: 'Zieh hin, Wahnbetr, zieh hin!'
  9. Tannhauser: 'Frau Holda kam aus dem Berg hervor' (Act One, Scene 3)
  10. Tannhauser: 'Zu dir wll ich, mein Jesus Christ'
  11. Tannhauser: 'Wer ist der dort in brunstigem Gebete?' (Act One, Scene 4)
  12. Tannhauser: 'Als du in kuhnem Sange uns bestrittest'

Tracks:

  1. Tannhauser: 'Dich, teure halle, gruss ich wieder' (Act Two, Introduction and Scene 1)
  2. Tannhauser: 'Dort ist sie; nahe dich ihr ungest (Act Two, Scene 2)
  3. Tannhauser: 'Gepriesen sei die Stunde'
  4. Tannhauser: 'Dich treff ich hier in dieser Halle' (Act Two, Scene 3)
  5. Tannhauser: 'Freudig begrussen wir die edle Halle' (Act Two, Entry Of The Guests)
  6. Tannhauser: 'Gar viel und schard hier in dieser Halle'
  7. Tannhauser: 'Blick ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise' (Act Two, The Song Contest)
  8. Tannhauser: 'O Wolfram, der du also sangest'
  9. Tannhauser: 'Heraus zum Kampfe mit uns allen!'
  10. Tannhauser: 'O Himmel! Lass dich jetz erflehen'
  11. Tannhauser: 'Ha! Der Verruchte! Fliehet ihn!'
  12. Tannhauser: 'Zuruck von ihm! Nicht ihr seid seine Richter!'
  13. Tannhauser: 'Zum Heil den Sundigen zu fuhren'
  14. Tannhauser: 'Ein furchtbares Verbrechen ward begangen'
  15. Tannhauser: 'Mit ihnen sollst du wallen'

Tracks:

  1. Tannhauser: (Act Three, Introduction : Tannhauser`s Pilgrimage)
  2. Tannhauser: 'Wohl wusst ich heir sie im Gebet zu finden' (Act Three, Scene 1)
  3. Tannhauser: 'Begluckt darf nun dich, o Heimat, ich schauen'
  4. Tannhauser: 'Allmacht`ge Jungfrau! Hor mein Flehen!'
  5. Tannhauser: 'Wie Todesahnung Dammrung deckt die Lande' (Act Three, Scene 2)
  6. Tannhauser: 'O du mein holder Abendstern'
  7. Tannhauser: 'Ich horte Harfenschlag, wie klang er traurig!' (Act Three, Scene 3)
  8. Tannhauser: 'Inbrunst im Herzen, wie kein Busser noch'
  9. Tannhauser: 'Dahin zog`s mich, wo ich der Wonn und Lust'
  10. Tannhauser: 'Wilkommen, ungetreuer Mann!'
  11. Tannhauser: 'Heil! Heil! Der Gnade Wunder Heil!'

Amazon.com

Another Paris Tannhäuser recording, this one seeing the adaptable Placido Domingo take a break from the world of Italianate opera to try on the mantle of Heldentenor. Domingo's clear, manly voice is well suited to the transformation--precisely why Italians usually don't think of him as a bella voce. Agnes Baltsa approaches the role of Venus in a less shrill and more human manner than often is heard in portrayals of the excitable goddess. The sound is exceptionally clear in the recording, a comparatively newer digital mastering from the late 1980s. The chorus work is good, though not quite on the sublime plane reached in the Georg Solti recording. Maestro Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in a measured, stately manner. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Best Tannhauser out there.......2007-01-11

This is probably the best recording of Tannhauser that is out there, of which there are a fair number. First the positives. Domingo's voice is excellent for the title role with very smooth and with clear annuciation (impressive, considering it is not one of his main languages). He also inparts his professional sense of passion to all of his music, Italian or German. He also does not "overdo" his singing of the role as some do (specifically Kollo's in Solti's recording). Sinopoli's direction of the Philharmonia Orchestra is very good. I actually enjoy the Overture at a slower pace, such that it is not rushed as in some recordings (i.e. Levine with the MET on DVD). He also makes sure that the orchestra does not overwhelm the singers at any point. The Philharmonia is always technically excellent as well. Andreas Schmidt is also wonderful as Wolfram. Now for the negatives. Neither of the female leads (Studer or Baltsa) are as impressive as the male characters. The other complaint that I would have is that the Chorus of the Royal Opera House as they are technically okay, but don't seem to have much passion for the music. I can't recall a Pilgrim's chorus that was tame as this one. However, all in all, this recording is probably the best that is out there because of the orchestra and male leads.

5 out of 5 stars Wagner's Dualism.......2006-10-08

In Willa Cather's fine story "A Wagner Matinee," a 19th century woman isolated on a farm in Nebraska is starved for great music. She has been acquainted with Mozart from earlier in life. She gets a chance to travel to Boston where she hears a concert featuring the Tannhauser Overture. The result is the thrill of a lifetime. We can imagine how Wagner's grand overture would impact such a person. The sophisticated grandeur and power of Wagner's music would sound like an apocalyptic event.

For me the one drawback of this opera is its thematic dualism between religion and sex. The dualism derives, in my opinion, from a deepseated association between German Christianity and monasticism despite Luther's acceptance of a married clergy. German culture interprets Christianity as a devotional discipline which translates into the slow tempo of the opera's Pilgrim Chorus. This sound is thrown into opposition to the giddy, ecstatic sound of the Venusberg music. Although the distinction between solemn and high-spirited music is natural enough, it is illogical to confine spirituality to slow tempi and low dynamic. The natural correlative of spirit is wind, hardly an object lesson in dour, rocklike stoicism. On the Day of Pentecost, the filling of the Holy Spirit was mistaken for drunkenness. Wagner's dualism limits his music and even gives off a stylistic "false note" as though something is not quite right in a purely aesthetic sense. The dualism is handled much better in Parsifal where the "Venusberg" alternative is replaced by futility and evil, dramatic in presentation but clearly inferior to the spirituality of Amfortas and Parsifal's Grail cult. Tannhauser is a very brilliant but immature, unresolved work based on a confused sense of priorities as though one has to choose between religious devotion and spontaneous enthusiasm. The best comment on Wagner's later resolution of religion and excitement is the exalted synthesis of Anton Bruckner's symphonies.

5 out of 5 stars A Dreamy, Beautiful, Golden Tannhauser .......2006-02-08

This 80's studio recording of Wagner's Tannhauser is not largely considered "Wagnerian" because all the talents behind it are not German, but it is a beautifully rendered opera and very moving. It stars Placido Domingo as Tannhauser, Cheryl Studer as Elisabeth, Agnes Baltsa as Venus, Matti Salminen as Hermann, Andreas Schmidt as Wolfram Von Eschenbach and Barbara Bonney as a Young "hirt". Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts. Other than the principal singers, the rest are German singers. Sinopoli conducts with great texture and subtleties. Dramatic climaxes are all in their respective place and most importantly of all, the music never drowns out the singers but, like bel canto, accompanies them well. Placido Domingo sings with passion, elegance and wonderful dramatic abilities. He has portrayed Tannhauser on stage and he fits the character well. The poet-musician who has lived with Venus, renouncing his Christian faith and love- Elisabeth- only to realize the folly of his ways is a wonderful vehicle for Domingo. Domingo is a versatile singer and one whose voice is glorious, simply beautiful and energetic. Sure, let the critics have their field days about how he can't sing Wagner. I say he can and best of all he is not "bitten" by the Bayreuth bark and is a welcome change from all the Wolfang Windgassens, Jon Vickers, Rene Kollos and James Kings on studio recordings. Mezzo soprano Agnes Baltsa as Venus is sensual, mellow and calculating. She sings with great beauty and never sounds edgy or erratic. She is wonderful and proves her own versatility as she has sung a number of roles from Dona Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni, La Cenerentola from Rossini's opera to Verdi's wicked heroine Eboli in Don Carlo and Queen Elisabeth in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda among many other roles. Matti Salminen's voice is noble and grand and Wagner goes well on him. It is a gorgeous voice, with a healing quality to it. I've seen Matti on stage and he has a regal presence. The only weak link in this cast is, unfortunately, Cheryl Studer as Elisabeth. There is no sense of true Wagnerian musicality here. Even Domingo has that. Studer sings the role with no real emotion or warmth, and sounds as if she were singing Marguerite in Faust or Donizetti's Lucia. She has a beautiful voice but it's not suited to Wagner. It's an experiment from her part to sing the role of Elisabeth. Also, she takes the "sweet and dull girlfriend" approach to the part. I like to think that Elisabeth had some spine. Yes, she represents the Christian woman, but she should be seen as a fighter, she is fighting to save Tannhauser's soul. She is a warrior of God, an angel with the weapon of love. But very few sopranos sing her as a fighter. Normally, Elisabeth is mellow, sweet and lackluster next to the more fiery and passionate Venus. But Elisabeth ought to have some passion too. I have enjoyed Studer in other roles but she does not impress as Elisabeth. But not even this is a drawback. This is a fine recording with great moments of beauty and drama.

5 out of 5 stars Just excellent.......2005-02-20

I bought this over 10 years ago; have it in the car CD player almost permanently so I hear it at least 6 times a year. Haven't got near sick of it yet. Domingo is great; Studer blows you away in act II and Baltsa is a great Venus. Both the great duets; the Tannhauser Venus in A I and the T-Elizabeth in Act II are sensational; Bonney (the sheperd in A1) is angelic; wonderful juxtaposition with the pilgrims choir. The end of A1 almost has you in tears. Sinopoli (God Bless Him) holds the whole thing together beautifully.

3 out of 5 stars A Good, but not Great Recording.......2003-09-24

The great tenor Jon Vickers once said that he would never play the role of Tannhauser since the character was so despicable. He believed that his deep religious faith would not allow him to play this role, even though he would only be singing and acting. Wagner's music is so beautiful, it hardly befits such a character, yet when we look at issues such as sin and grace, goodness and evil, how often are we reminded that evil is often disguised as beauty. Perhaps this is one reason why this opera is so intriguing.

Tannhauser is a story of sin and redemption that combines the world of myth and Christianity-a popular theme in the works of Wagner. In this opera, Tannhauser visits the goddess Venus and enjoys her allurements of the flesh. He then returns home where he is greeted by the pure and chaste Elizabeth. Just as Venus embodies all that is corrupt, Elizabeth embodies all that is good. Elizabeth is loved by two men, the good Wolfram and the evil Tannhauser. Wolfram is worthy of a woman such as Elizabeth, and certainly she deserves to be loved by such a good and descent person. However, the one she loves is Tannhauser. At a singing contest in the great hall, Wolfram sings a genuine song and Tannhauser tells of his visit to Venus, which shocks the audience. He is told of his version of love is blasphemy and such a grave sin can only be forgiven by the Pope. Tannhauser will only know if he has been forgiven if the staff of the Pope grows leaves. He then joins a pilgrimage to Rome. Elizabeth stays behind and prays so hard that she dies. Her death coincides with the moment that Tannhauser realizes that he is forgiven.

The Sinopoli recording with Domingo in the starring role was my first Tannhauser recording, and it is this recording that made me fall in love with the opera. Though Domingo is primarily known for his renditions of the Italian repertoire, when he does venture into other areas such as French and German opera, he often does an outstanding job due to his musical gifts. Though I enjoy the Solti recording with Rene Kollo, Domingo is a very convincing Tannhauser. Gueseppi Sinopli does a good job conducting, and Sinopli's handling of the score in on par with many of his other great recordings,
but the remainder of the cast does not have the abilities of the Solti recording. Certainly Domingo fans will want this recording in their collection, and those who are new to Wagner and familiar with Domingo's masterful interpretations will feel safe stepping into this territory with such a familiar and beloved voice.
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Highest Recommendation Possible
  • Great Music At Any Price!
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser

Manufacturer: Seraphim
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
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  5. Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14

ASIN: B000000UW7
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

  1. Tristan Und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod
  2. Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
  3. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
  4. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act III
  5. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I
  6. Tannhauser: Overture

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Highest Recommendation Possible.......2007-02-04

I have been ravenously studying classical music for about the last two years non stop. It has been a fantastic voyage. Out of everything by everyone, to me, this is among the very best CDs. The music is beautiful, mighty and majestic. On top of that, the CD is very inexpensive, considering it's quality.

5 out of 5 stars Great Music At Any Price!.......2004-03-14

The original EMI Seraphim budget CD line has to be the greatest value for the money in the history of music. For half the price of other so-called budget lines, including the new version of EMI Seraphim and the Sony Essential Classics series, you get first-rate performances from the golden age of stereo by some of the greatest conductors of the century. On this particular title you get brilliant Wagner performances by Rudolf Kempe and Sir Adrian Boult. This was my first disc of Wagner Orchestral Music, and I liked it so much that I eventually upgraded in order to get more terrific Wagner performances by Kempe and Boult (see my reviews). You see, Boult has a two-disc mid-priced set collecting his Wagner recordings on EMI, while Kempe has two full-priced discs on the Testament label, which licensed his EMI recordings. Granted, most will not want to pay as much as I did for their Wagner, and if you don't, just buy this title with the loose change in your pocket.
The Very Best of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fine anthology but still prefer her "Four Last Songs" recording
  • RIP DAME ELIZABETH (1915-2006)
  • SCHWARZKOPF ----- ONE OF THE GREATS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
  • ¡PERFECT!
  • PERFECTA INTERPRETACIÓN
The Very Best of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann
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ASIN: B0000AF1SC
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Tracks:

  1. Ach War Ich Schon (Fidelio)
  2. Non So Piu (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
  3. Porgi, Amor (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
  4. E Susanna Non Vien!...Dove Sono (Le Nozze Di Figaro)
  5. Mi Tradi Quell'Alma Ingrata (Don Giovanni)
  6. Come Scoglio (Cosi Fan Tutti)
  7. Leise, Leise, Fromme Weise (Der Freischutz)
  8. Dich, Teure Halle (Tannhauser)
  9. Einsam In Truben Tagen (Lohengrin)
  10. Wie Fremd Und Tot (Die Verkaufte Braut)
  11. Bruderchen, Komm, Tanz Mit Mir (Hansel Und Gretel)
  12. Da Geht Er Hin (Der Rosenkavalier)
  13. Es Gibt Ein Reich (Ariadne Auf Naxos) - Richard Strauss
  14. Das War Sehr Gut (Arabella)

Tracks:

  1. Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen
  2. Bist Du Bei Mir
  3. Ridente La Calma
  4. An Die Musik
  5. Der Musensohn
  6. Nachtviolen
  7. Der Musensohn
  8. Auch Kleine Dinge
  9. Mein Liebster Ist So Klein
  10. Verschling' Der Abgrund
  11. Ich Hab' In Penna
  12. Wiegenlied Im Sommer
  13. Mausfallenspruchlein
  14. In Dem Schatten Meiner Locken
  15. Mignon (Kennst Du Das Land?)
  16. Gsatzli (Swiss Folksong)
  17. Fruhling
  18. Im Abendrot
  19. Muttertandelei
  20. Zueignung
  21. Klange Der Heimat (Die Fledermaus)
  22. Es Lebt'Eine Vilja (Die Lustige Witwe)
  23. Im Chambre Separee (Der Opemball)
  24. Wien, Du Stadt Meiner Traume

Amazon.com

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was certainly one of the greatest singers of her own, or indeed any other time. An obsessive perfectionist, her flawless technique and intonation over a huge range, vocal flexibility, breath control, phrasing, stylistic versatility, and above all her focused, radiantly beautiful sound were matchless and incomparable. All these are on full display on this generous 2-CD set, which features over a dozen arias, songs by Schubert, Wolf and Richard Strauss, and some lighter fare. The recordings were made between 1950 and 1967, and the singing becomes better and better, the voice richer and more varied, the expression deeper and more immediate. Not surprisingly, the peaks come in the arias from her signature roles in Mozart's Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte; Richard Strauss' Ariadne, Rosenkavalier, and Arabella, which rise to real ecstasy; and arias from Weber's Freischütz and Smetana's Bartered Bride, which are wonderfully intimate and touching. She is less convincing in roles she never sang on stage, and the "childish" voice she cultivated especially for Hänsel and Gretel is unnatural and contrived. The same is true of the last two "popular" numbers, which sound condescending and artificial. The songs, however, have all her customary finesse and inwardness; the Wolf group, perhaps chosen for its gentle humor, is charming, while Strauss' "Four Last Songs" (represented by two) shimmer and soar. Schwarzkopf's singing had instantly recognizable characteristics: a tendency to hold back both vocally and emotionally, giving a sense of noble restraint, but also of cool detachment; excessive use of color and nuance, creating a fussy, calculated and somewhat artificial air. Only rarely does she "let go" with full voice and spontaneous feeling. However, as these recordings show, she invariably inspires admiration and captures ear and heart through the inimitable, glorious beauty of her voice. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Fine anthology but still prefer her "Four Last Songs" recording.......2006-11-06

The engineering and audio quality of these 1960's performances are surprisingly good. The songs are wonderfully peformed and cover a range of periods and styles, but I find myself returning to her recording (also re-released on CD) of Strauss' "Four Last Songs", which I would give 6 stars -- my favorite recording of all time.

4 out of 5 stars RIP DAME ELIZABETH (1915-2006).......2006-08-04

This set is a fine tribute to this extraordinary singer and musician. I was saddened to read about her passing. She had a long life (90 years) and inspired a whole generation of singers and music lovers throughout the world.

5 out of 5 stars SCHWARZKOPF ----- ONE OF THE GREATS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.......2006-01-29

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's career is what legends are made of. She is every bit as fundamental to classical singing in the twentieth century as is Maria Callas. Schwarzkopf sang with refinement, polish, beauty of voice, and meticulous articulation. She was the greatest Mozart and Strauss soprano of her day; her ability to sing the operetta music of Lehar, Suppe', and Johann Strauss has not been equalled; she performed with distinction orchestral compositions of Mahler, Brahms, Bach, and Handel; her Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, and Mahler lieder were exemplary. She sang many operatic roles, far more than many people realize, and was certainly the definitive Marshallin in "Rosenkavalier" throughout the 1950's and 1960'. I saw her many times in recital in Chicago, and even at the time of her farewell (which I was fortunate enough to see), she was sublime. All of the superlative qualities of Schwarzkopf are generously demonstrated throughout these two wonder CD's. Virtually every item is magnificent (though obviously some will prefer some to others) and has the detailed Schwarzkopf imprint stamped right into the music. This CD, great as it is, represents only a very small part of the greatness of Schwarzkopf. I already own tons of her operas and recitals, from which many of the items here come from. But for the sake of completeness, I will probably add it. A person who loves great singing can never have too much of the art of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. She's a vocal icon.

5 out of 5 stars ¡PERFECT!.......2005-02-10

I only want to say that you can hear, in this double cd, one of the great singers of all time. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Why? Because she sings all the arias and lieder with pure of tone, brilliance, perfect inflexion, modulation, excellent control breath, measured vibrato, and, all above, great emision of colours. She is master in this art.

5 out of 5 stars PERFECTA INTERPRETACIÓN.......2005-02-09

La mejor recopilación de la discografía de Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Su belleza de voz, la impecable hilación de frases, y, sobre todo, su expresiva interpretación son algunas de las sorpresas que se podrán escuchar en estos dos discos. Sin duda, UNA DE LAS MEJORES SOPRANOS DEL SIGLO XX.
Story Of Wagner In Words And Music
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Story Of Wagner In Words And Music

    Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000001KD3
    Release Date: 1995-04-16

    Tracks:

    1. The Mastersingers: Prelude
    2. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act III
    3. Faust: Overture
    4. The Mastersingers: 'Awake!'
    5. The Mastersingers: 'Mad, All The World Is Mad'
    6. The Fairies: Overture
    7. Siegfried: Forest Murmurs
    8. The Mastersingers: Act III Quintet
    9. Rienzi: Overture
    10. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
    11. Tannhaeuser: Pilgrim's Chorus
    12. Tannhaeuser: Overture
    13. Gotterdammerung (Twilight Of The Gods): Siegfried's Rhine Journey
    14. Tannhaeuser: Song Of The Evening Star
    15. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
    16. Tristan und Isolde: Love-Death
    17. Tannhaeuser: Venusberg Music
    18. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
    19. The Mastersingers: Prelude
    20. The Mastersingers: Prize Song
    21. The Mastersingers: Beckmesser And Sachs Duet In Act II
    22. The Valkyrie: The Ride Of The Valkyries
    23. Gotterdammerung: Siegfred's Rhine Journey
    24. Siegfried: Siegfried Idyll
    25. Parsifal: Good Friday Spell
    26. Gotterdammerung: Siegfred's Funeral Music
    27. Tannhaeuser: Overture
    28. Lohengrin: Preludes To Act I And III, And Bridal Chorus
    Jean-Yves Thibaudet ~ Liszt - Opera Transcriptions ~ Wagner · Mozart · Donizetti · Verdi · Gounod · Tchaikovsky
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Superb playing
    • Thibaudet triumphs on this disc
    Jean-Yves Thibaudet ~ Liszt - Opera Transcriptions ~ Wagner · Mozart · Donizetti · Verdi · Gounod · Tchaikovsky
    Franz Liszt , Gaetano Donizetti , Charles Gounod , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi Richard Wagner , Ferruccio Busoni , and Jean-Yves Thibaudet
    Manufacturer: Decca
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00000421C
    Release Date: 1994-01-18

    Tracks:

    1. Rigoletto: paraphrase de concert (Verdi)
    2. Valse de concert sur deux motifs de Lucia et Parisina (Donizetti)
    3. Valse de l'opera Faust (Gounod)
    4. Polonaise From Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky)
    5. Spinning Chorus From Der fliegende Hollander (Wagner)
    6. Recitative And Romance From Tannhauser (Wagner)
    7. Lohengrins Verweis An Elsa From Lohengrin (Wagner)
    8. Schluss-Szene aus Tristan und Isolde - Isoldens Liebestod (Wagner)
    9. Fantasie uber 2 Motive aus W.A. Mozarts Die Hochzeit des Figaro (erganzt von Ferruccio Busoni)

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Superb playing.......2006-12-27

    This CD consists entirely of truly outstanding playing. In fact, these recordings are so good that even Horowitz himself (who rarely said positive things about other pianists) expressed admiration for them and for the power and technique which Thidaudet demonstrates. In fact, it is not just power and technique but also lyricism and a beautiful touch which Thibaudet brings to these pieces. Every note and phrase has been assiduously judged and weighted and these really are artistic performances, full of life with never a dull moment.

    The pieces are all arrangements by Liszt of popular tunes from famous operas. Liszt wrote many such pieces and, of course it's a matter of opinion, but for my money Thibaudet has selected most of the best ones for this CD. Perhaps the least exciting one is the well-known Rigoletto paraphrase, a piece which has been done to death by so many pianists. I don't know if this is what takes the edge off it, perhaps it even took the edge off it for Thibaudet and so although his performance of this is very good, it is not inspirational like the other pieces.

    The Spinning Chorus paraphrase is played superbly and with a great deal of charm and grace. Similarly, the Concert Waltz based on tunes from 2 operas by Donizetti is played with power and charm - brilliant octave and chordal playing throughout and in the exciting finale. The Polonaise from Eugene Onegin is also excellent - you'll be humming the tune to yourself for ages afterwards and listen out for the glittering passage work in the middle of this piece, Thibaudet makes the piano sparkle and sing.

    The biggest feat of technique is in the notoriously difficult Figaro paraphrase. Here the music makes many demands of the pianist right from the word go yet when you hear Thibaudet playing it, it's hard to guess at how difficult the piece is so graceful and easy is his playing. There are a couple of minor clinkers towards the end in a fiendish passage but frankly that's neither here nor there. Particularly impressive (for the pianists among you) is his playing of the rapid contrary motion scales in thirds in both hands - such speed and accuracy and he even manages to inject some wit into it. A phenomenal performance.

    The Faust waltz is great too. Listen out for the fun glissandos in the recapitulation of the second theme towards the end.

    Finally, a word about the Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde. A very performance but the definitive performance of this is by Horowitz in his CD "The Last Recording".

    A great CD, destined to become a classic recording. Thibaudet should be proud of this superb piece of work. If only other pianists took the same care to make their playing as polished and musical and imaginative.

    5 out of 5 stars Thibaudet triumphs on this disc.......2000-05-14

    I fell in love with this CD upon my first hearing of it. First of all the transcriptions by Liszt are excellent. Secondly, the way Thibaudet plays them is just mind boggling. His pianissimos are incredibly controlled and moving, while his fortes are spectacularly powerful, bold, and commanding. The London recording catches all this detail with brilliant clarity. One example on this disc is the transcription of the Liebestod. You know it should be wonderful, but in the hands of this gifted pianist, the piano soars and aches the feelings of Isolde. It's like Lizst and Thibaudet bring out the whole of the orchestration on the piano. In the climax, I was amazed to hear the loud rumblings of the lower end of the keyboard while the soaring melody on the other end of the keyboard lifted me away. The transcription of Mozart is wonderful. It makes one wish that Mozart had lived and composed on into the Romantic Period. There are some wonderful transcriptions of Donizetti and Verdi as well. In the end, what I can say is this: Thibaudet has become a wonderful interpreter of Liszt. On this disc Thibaudet shows us the wonderful ability of Liszt and his own wonderful pianist abilities.
    The Very Best of Thomas Hampson
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • SImply Untrue
    • an extra star for all the guest artists
    • An Homage to a Great Artist
    • superb vocals
    The Very Best of Thomas Hampson
    Marc Barrard , Thomas Hampson , Csaba Airizer , Georges Bizet , Charles Wakefield Cadman , Stephen Foster , Charles Gounod , Edvard Grieg , Charles Tomlinson Griffes , Imre (Emmerich) Kalman , Erich Wolfgang Korngold , Franz Lehar , Gustav Mahler , Jules Massenet , Giacomo Meyerbeer , Gioachino Rossini , Franz Schubert , Robert Schumann , Johann II Strauss , Ambroise Thomas , Giuseppe Verdi , Richard Wagner , Carl Maria von Weber , Antonio de Almeida , Antonio Pappano , Eugene Kohn , and Fabio Luisi
    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B0006VYEI2
    Release Date: 2005-04-26

    Tracks:

    1. La Ran La Lera...Largo Al Factotum
    2. O Sainte Medaille...Avant De Quitter Ces Lieux
    3. Ce Breuvage...Vision Fugitive
    4. C'est Toi...Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Placido Domingo
    5. La Fatigue Alourdit Mes Pas...Comme Une Pale Fleur
    6. Ecoute!...Dieu, Tu Semas Dans Nos Ames
    7. C'est Mon Jour Supreme
    8. Tout Est Desert...Son Regard
    9. Ove Son Io?...Vada In Fiamme
    10. Perfidi! All'Anglo Contro Me...Pieta, Rispetto Amore
    11. Di Provenza Il Mar, Il Suol
    12. E Sogno? O Realta?
    13. Komm!
    14. Der Garten Des Herzens
    15. Lied Des Venezianischen Gondoliers
    16. Le Lazzarone
    17. L'Ultimo Ricordo

    Tracks:

    1. Mein Sehnen, Mein Wahnen
    2. Wo Berg' Ich Mich?...So Weih' Ich Mich Den Rachgewalten
    3. Wie Todesahnung...O Du Mein Holder Abendstern
    4. Gruss Op.48 No.1
    5. Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai
    6. Aus Meinen Tranen Spriessen
    7. Die Rose, Die Lilie
    8. Ich Will Meine Seele Tauchen
    9. Ich Grolle Nicht
    10. Gute Nacht
    11. Die Post
    12. Blicke Mir Nicht In Die Lieder
    13. Ich Atmet' Einen Linden Duft
    14. Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen
    15. Von Der Schonheit
    16. O Vaterland, Du Machst Bei Tag
    17. Als Flotter Geist
    18. Komm, Zigany
    19. An Old Song Re-Sung
    20. At Dawning (I Love You) Op.29 No.1 - Armen Guzelimian
    21. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
    22. Beautiful Dreamer

    Album Description

    Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars SImply Untrue.......2006-08-16

    The previous review is simply a gross falsification. I have been an obsessed opera fan for a long time, and Thomas Hampson is a truly special singer. He is not the possesor of the largest or most interesting voice, which he will tell you and indeed says so all the time. His commitment to text, his willingness to search out parts to fit his voice, and his dedication to art song make im invaluable to Americans as a ture Troubador. His light Baritone was ideally suited to Figaro and to Valentin and the art song he loves. He must stretch to sing Verdi, where his voice sounds dry and small but many singers have chanced Verdi at their peril, and his innate ablity to inhabit a song, here evidenced in Di Provenza overcomes fact that it is out of his fach. You misinformed opinion of Hampson is mean and strangly bitter. I love Opera, but I do not love every singer, which doesn't mean I debase their very artistic existance. I have seen Hampson live, and have loved him (in Thias) and somewhat disliked him (in Simon Boccanegra) As for him being pretentious, somwetimes I find him mannered, but always charming. SOmetimes Intellectualism can appear pretentious, but surely you wont hold an opera singer to the charge that he must be unintellectual. what a vitriolic review, please buy this Cd, it merits repeated listening to a true American SINGER,

    2 out of 5 stars an extra star for all the guest artists.......2006-05-08

    The title of this album is an oxymoron. Or a sick joke. I can't decide. Sure he has made millions by luring the uninitiated listener into his web of deceit and conceit, but don't be fooled any longer. How fortunate Hampson has been to sing for and with great artists to shoulder his heavy load.

    5 out of 5 stars An Homage to a Great Artist.......2005-10-30

    EMI is wisely creating a series of recordings to gather the moments of artists that showcase the very reasons they become so highly regarded. Usually these collections are produced late in careers or even posthumously, but in the case of THE VERY BEST OF THOMAS HAMPSON the artist is still one of the more active and premiere singers of our day. Yet while he doesn't still perform all of these inclusions, it is wonderful to have excerpts from various successful recordings to remind us of the artistry that Hampson represents.

    The two disc set includes arias from operas: Rossini's 'Il barbière di Siviglia', von Weber's 'Euryanthe', Gounod's 'Faust', Massenet's 'Hérodiade', Bizet's 'Les Pêcheurs de perles' (in duet with Placido Domingo), Thomas' 'Hamlet', Verdi's 'Don Carlo', 'Il Travatore', 'Macbeth', 'La Traviata', and 'Falstaff', Korngold's 'Die Tote Stadt', and Wagner's 'Tannhäuser'.

    But the rewards of a Hampson recording must include his impeccable career as a lieder stylist and on this recording are excerpts from Schumann's 'Dichterliebe', Schubert's 'Winterreise', Mahler's 'Rückert Lieder' and 'Das Lied von der Erde', as well as songs by Meyerbeer, Rossini, Grieg, Kalman, and Lehar. And very importantly there are examples of American songs that Hampson has always emphasized in his recitals. Works by Stephen Foster, and two extraordinary works with the brilliant accompanist Armen Guzelimian - 'An Old Song Re-sung' by Griffes and 'At Dawning' by Charles Wakefield Cadman - round out this fine survey.

    Not usually a collector of such 'recombinations', for this listener this album is so very fine that it deserves the attention of all those who appreciate the artistry of Thomas Hampson - then and now. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

    5 out of 5 stars superb vocals.......2005-08-07

    Mr.Hampson really gets the chance to showcase his wonderful baritone voice in this "Best of" collection which includes excellent selections from his various other CDs. I like the diversity of the selections featuring operatic arias,works from classical composers, and folk songs. For Thomas hampson fans, as well as fans of the baritone voice, this CD is for them.
    Legend: Régine Crespin [CD & DVD]
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A Grand Lady, A Grand Collection
    Legend: Régine Crespin [CD & DVD]

    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by BerliozAll Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. The Very Best of Régine Crespin
    2. Italian Opera Arias
    3. Regine Crespin Sings Berlioz, Schumann, Schubert, and Poulenc
    4. Berlioz: Les Nuits d'été; et al / Crespin, Ansermet
    5. Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson

    ASIN: B0009275XO
    Release Date: 2005-07-19

    Tracks:

    1. I. Der Engel
    2. II. Stehe Still!
    3. III. Im Treibhaus
    4. IV. Schmerzen
    5. V. Traume
    6. Einsam In Truben Tagen
    7. Euch Luften, Die Mein Klagen
    8. Eine Waffe Lass Mich Dir Weisen
    9. Ich Sah Das Kind
    10. Dich, Teure Halle
    11. Allmacht'ge Jungfrau
    12. D'Amour L'Ardente Flamme
    13. Nous Avons Vu Finir... Chers Tyriens
    14. Ah, Je Vais Mourir... Adieu, Fiere Cite

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A Grand Lady, A Grand Collection.......2005-09-28

    Few who have had the privilege of seeing and hearing Régine Crespin in person will be able to pass this fine album by. A beautiful voice, a beautiful presence, an intelligent and sensitive mind all informed her singing whether on the grand stages of opera or in recitals. Who could ever forget her inimitable Berlioz' 'Les Nuits d'été or Ravel's 'Shéhérazade'? Indeed, Crespin is a legend.

    In this very fine album we hear a stunning 'Wesendonck Lieder' of Wagner with Georges Prêtre conducting the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française. While some singers find these songs matronly Crespin infuses the poems with frail and tender love. Staying with Wagner (she was after all a reigning Sieglinde in her day) she offers arias from 'Lohengrin', 'Die Walküre', 'Parsifal', and 'Tannhäuser' (with Otto Ackermann
    conducting the Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris)
    demonstrating that this very French singer could produce a huge sound that easily sails over Wagner's orchestration. Finally she is heard in Berlioz' 'Les Troyens' and 'La Damnation de Faust' (again with Otto Ackermann). There is not a weak moment in these selections.

    Included with this CD is a well-produced DVD of Crespin singing French art songs, showing the poise and involvement she brought to every performance. This is a treasureable package and certainly commands the respect of the title 'Legend. It is brilliant! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 05

    Meditation Music:

    1. Rossini: Il Turco in Italia
    2. Rossini - L'inganno felice / Massis, Giménez, Gilfry, Spagnoli, Regazzo; Minkowski