Beethoven: Fidelio (performance at Vienna State Opera, 12 October 1953)

1. Fidelio, opera, Op. 72
   Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
   Performed by Vienna State Opera Choir, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
   with Gottlob Frick, Alfred Poell, Alwin Hendricks, Otto Edelmann, Wolfgang Windgassen, Franz Bierbach, Sena Jurinac, Martha Modl, Rudolf Schock
   
   

Beethoven: Fidelio (performance at Vienna State Opera, 12 October 1953),Ludwig van Beethoven,Franz Bierbach,Otto Edelmann,Gottlob Frick,Alwin Hendricks,Sena Jurinac,Martha Modl,Alfred Poell,Rudolf Schock,Wilhelm Furtwangler,Capitol,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,German/Austrian Classical Period Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

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Average customer rating: A Must Have Just enough to hear Christa Ludwig. Great conductor, orchestra and cast in classic "Fidelio" 1st half wonderful, 2nd not so great (tenorial nightmare) VICKERS IS A WONDERFUL FIDELIO

Beethoven: Fidelio Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wagner: Lohengrin Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier / Schwarzkopf · Ludwig · Karajan Missa Solemnis in D major, op.123 Wagner: Tristan und Isolde La Boheme ASIN: B00004VVZB Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

1. Fidelio: Ouveture (Orchester)
2. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 1 - Duett Jetzt, Schatzchen, jetz sind wir allein (Jaquino) (Marzelline)
3. Fidelio: Act I: Rezitativ Der arme Jaquino dauert mich beinahe
4. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 2: Arie Owar ich schon mit dir vereint (Marzelline)
5. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act I: Rezitativ Guten Tag, Marzelline. 1st Fidelio noch nicht zuruck? (Rocco) (Marzelline) (Leonore)
6. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 3: Arie Mir ist so wunderbar (Marzelline) (Leonore) (Rocco) (Jaquino)
7. Fidelio: Act I: Rezitativ - hore, Fidelio, weibt du, was ich tue?
8. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 4: Arie (Rocco)
9. Fidelio: Act I: Rezitativ - Ihr konnt das leicht sagen, meister rocco (Leonore) (Rocco) (Marzelline)
10. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 5: Terzett
11. Fidelio: Act I: Der Gouverneur ... der gouverneur sol heut' erlauben
12. Fidelio: Act I: Nur auf der Hut, dann geht es gut (Rocco) (Leonore) (Marzelline)
13. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 6 - march (Orchester)
14. Fidelio: Act I: Rezitativ Wo sind die Depeschen? (Don Pizarro) (Rocco)
15. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 7 - Arie mit Chor Ha! Welch' eni Augenblick! (Don Pizarro) (Chorus)
16. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act I: Hauptmann, besteigen Sie mit einem Trompeter sogleich den Turm
17. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 8 - Duett Jetz, Alter, jetzt hat es Eile! (Don Pizarro) (Rocco)
18. Fidelio: Act I: Nr. 9 - Rezitativ Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin?
19. Fidelio: Act I: und Arie - Komm, Hofgnung, lab den letzten stern (Leonore)
20. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act I: Rezitativ Rocco, 1h verspracht mir so oft (Leonore) (Marzelline) (Rocco)
21. Fidelio: Nr. 10 - Finale O welch Lust! (Chorus)
22. Fidelio: Act I: Wir wollen mit vertrauen auf Gottes Hulfe bauen (Zweiter Gefangener) (Chorus)
23. Fidelio: Act I: Nun sprecht, wie ging's (Leonore) (Rocco)
24. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act I: Arch! Vater, eilt! (Marzelline) (Rocco) (Jaquino) (Leonore)
25. Fidelio: Act I: Verwegener Alter (Don Pizarro) (Rocco)
26. Fidelio: Act I: Leb wohl, du warmes Sonnenlicht (Chorus) (Marzelline) (Leonore) (Jaquino) (Don Pizarro) (Rocco)

Tracks:

1. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr. 11: Introduktion (orchester)
2. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: und Arie gott! Welch' Dunkel hier
3. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: In des Lebens Fruhlingstagen
4. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Und spur' ich nicht linde (Florestan)
5. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr. 12: Melodram Wie Kalt ist es
6. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: und Duett - Nur hurtig fort, nur frisch gegraben (Leonore) (Rocco)
7. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Rezitative Er erwacht! (Leonore) (Rocco) (Florestan)
8. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr: 13 Terzett - Euch werde Lohn in besser'n Welten (Florestan) (Rocco) (Leonore)
9. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Rezitativ Vater Rocco! (Rocco) (Leonore) (Florestan) (Don Pizarro)
10. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr. 14 - Quartett Er sterbe! (Rocco) (Leonore) (Florestan) (Don Pizarro)
11. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Rezitativ Vater Rocco! (Jaquino) (Rocco)
12. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Es schlagt der Rache Stund! (Leonore) (Florestan) (Don Pizarro) (Rocco)
13. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr. 15 - Duett O namenlose Freude! (Leonore) (Florestan)
14. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Nr. 16 - Finale Heil sei dem Tag (Chor)
15. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Des besten Konigs Wink und Wille (Chorus) (Don Fernando)
16. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Wohlan! So helfet, helft den Armen! (Rocco) (Don Pizarro) (Don Fernando) (Leonore) (Marzelline) (Rocco)
17. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Du schlossest auf des Edlen Grab (Don Fernando)
18. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: O Gott! O welch' ein Augenblick! (Rocco) (Don Pizarro) (Don Fernando) (Leonore) (Marzelline) (Rocco)
19. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Wer ein holdes Weib errungen (Rocco) (Don Pizarro) (Don Fernando) (Leonore) (Marzelline) (Rocco)
20. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Act II: Ouverture - Lenore nR. 3

Amazon.com essential recording

Under Klemperer, a maestro with roots in a great operatic tradition, this is a monumental, authoritative performance. From the very beginning of the Fidelio Overture, tempi are slow, deliberate, expansive: every note is important and vibrantly alive; every vocal and instrumental line stands out; there is time for poised changes and transitions. Chorus and orchestra are splendid; not only do all the soloists sing fabulously, but using all their vocal resources to bring out the character of words and music, they create real people and situations, mood and atmosphere. With a mostly German cast, even the spoken dialogue seems to aid rather than disrupt the drama. Berry is a wonderfully venomous villain, yet he sings every note accurately; Vickers, darkening his voice, makes Florestan more resigned than heroic, breathless in his ecstatic hallucination. Ludwig's voice is flawless over a huge range, warm yet gloriously radiant; she is an ideal Leonore in style, expression, and characterization. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have.......2007-02-25

Klemperer's Fidelio as remastered here is well deserving of its status as a "Great recording of The Century" by EMI. The sound is as clear as a digital recording and allows all the nuances of the orchestra and singers to be heard. Beethoven's opera is underrated I believe, and with this recording one can see why. The drama and emotion of the story are even more enhanced by the superb phrasing and dynamic contrast of Klemperer's interpretation. This recording should definitely ascend the ranks of your collections quite rapidly and you will enjoy it for a long time.

Just enough to hear Christa Ludwig........2007-01-31

For many years, Ms. Ludwig has been the leading mezzo in Germany, and not without good reasons.
Since her younger days when she sang Cosi fan tutte with Lisa della Casa for Karl Boehm's first recording of the opera, she has been a most promising mezzo-soprano on an international level. And her voice developed to even better dimensions as she ages.
Comparing with today's Cecilia Bartoil, Christa Ludwig not only enjoyed longer vocal brilliance, but also a much wider repertoire.
Some would say that Sena Jurinac's Klemperer Fidelio is better. That may be the case, but for reasons quite other than Ludwig's performance. Jurinac was a soprano, and Ludwig a mezzo. Leonora (Fidelio)'s role may either be tackled by a soprano or a mezzo, as in Wagner's Brunnhilde.
If you heard another brilliant German soprano Gundula Janowitz's Bernstein Fidelio, you would not have questioned the choice of Ludwig in the present recording. As Elisabeth Schwarzkopf said last January in an interview, Ludwig's voice is uncommon - it is very full. In the high, middle and low registers, I would add.
This is a major attribute that allowed her to tackle Leonora's role with brilliance. Even if her upper is not as brilliant as, say, Jurinac, or Mattila, her middle and lower registers more than compensate for that.
Another very 'different' Fidelio is Hildegard Behrens. Not a big voice, but with such sweet charm and boyish tinge that you would not have wondered why Marcellina gave up Jaquino for this 'fake' Fidelio. Either you catch the character's charm, or the character's determination. If best, you come with both. Christa Ludwig's voice scored well in both ends.
Jon Vickers' Florestine sounds too stout for me, though vocally very attractive.
Was Florestine not near to the end of his life by starvation when he appeared in the Second Act? I wonder why most critics called for a ''big voice'' in Don Florestine's role.

Great conductor, orchestra and cast in classic "Fidelio".......2006-02-24

Source: 1962 studio recording produced by Walter Legge.

Sound: State-of-the-art 1960s analog stereo, digitally remastered in 2000.

Cast: Leonore / Fidelio - Christa Ludwig; Florestan - Jon Vickers; Rocco - Gottlob Frick; Don Pizarro - Walter Berry; Marzelline (singing) - Ingeborg Hallstein; Marzelline (dialogue) - Elizabeth Schwarzkopf; Jaquino - Gerhard Unger; Don Fernando - Franz Crass; First Prisoner - Kurt Wehofschitz; Second Prisoner - Raymond Wolansky. Conductor: Otto Klemperer with the Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra.

Text: Spoken German dialogue is included but radically shortened to serve as little more than connective tissue between the musical elements.

"Fidelio" is the work of a man whose natural home was the concert platform, not the theater. It is burdened with long patches of dull and forgettable music interspersed with stunning musical brilliance. It is set in the form of a "rescue play," a tired cliche even in Beethoven's time. In the midst of flat, conventional forms it manages to extol love--albeit married love--in passages even more ecstatic than Wagner achieved in "Tristan und Isolde." The roles of Leonore / Fidelio and Florestan have proved fully worthy of the talents of the most heroically-voiced singers of every generation since the opera's premiere during the Napoleonic Wars. Beethoven's "Fidelio" is flawed, but it is a true masterpiece.

For many years, this performance of "Fidelio" was widely acclaimed as the finest of all recorded versions of Beethoven's only opera. As I write this, forty-four years after its initial issue, there are still many who rate it above all its successors. The conductor was a great master of what is now regarded as the old school of Beethoven performance (a damaging indictment to some listeners and a refreshing relief to others.) The orchestra was at its fabulous peak. The four lead singers, Ludwig, Vickers, Frick and Berry were each international stars of the first magnitude. The current re-issue of the set is sumptuously presented--at least by the unimpressive standards of CDs--and offered at a bargain price.

For all these reasons, the only reasonable rating is five stars.

Great as it is, however, this "Fidelio" is not above criticism. The perfect "Fidelio," in fact, remains as perpetually elusive as the perfect "Traviata."

This recording is one of a series of masterworks made under the auspices of the imperious Walter Legge, head of Artists and Repertory for EMI (and, incidentally, husband of Elizabeth Schwarzkopf.) It may be said to have begun with a series of live performances conducted by Klemperer at Covent Garden in 1961. (A live recording is available at an outrageous price from Testament.) The principal singers at Covent Garden were Sena Jurinac as Fidelio, Jon Vickers as Florestan, Gottlob Frick as Rocco and Hans Hotter as Don Pizarro. Klemperer wished to bring all of them to the recording studio but Legge had other ideas. As usual, Legge got his way, bringing over only Vickers and Frick.

Klemperer's "Fidelio" is gravely measured and monumental, but not particularly theatrical. Some parts, most notably the chorus of soldiers preceding the entrance of Don Pizarro, have justly been criticized as too slow.

Christa Ludwig was one of the great singers of the Twentieth Century. Her Leonora was exquisitely thought out and brilliantly presented. But she was a mezzo-soprano. Excellent as she undoubtedly was, she was not quite a perfect fit in a role that positively cries out for a great soprano. I am wholly in agreement with those who say that for once Legge was in error when he refused to record the luminous Sena Jurinac.

Jon Vickers was a gigantic presence. I saw him do Florestan with the San Francisco Opera. He held us all in thrall. If he had a fault, it was a tendency to over-think his parts. Here, the details and mechanisms of his characterization are just a bit too apparent--some have said too sugary--and they are slightly out of phase, I think, with Klemperer's more abstract vision. Whatever one may believe about his acting, he sings magnificently.

Gottlob Frick is probably as good as anybody who has ever essayed Papa Rocco, a basically conventional and quite tedious part, save for his big duet with Fidelio in Act II.

Walter Berry was an admirable singer and very effective as Don Pizarro, but villainous characters were not his strength as a performer. Some have held that he did not achieve the sheer malignancy that Hotter spewed so generously over Covent Garden. My own opinion, for what it's worth, is that neither of them could match Gustav Neidlinger as the hateful Pizarro.

Gerhard Unger was perfectly competent in what is effectively the throw-away part of Jaquino. Ingeborg Hallstein has been about equally praised and denounced for the youthful tremulousness she brought to Marzelline.

For those who know "Fidelio" well, this is the standard recording. For those who wish to become acquainted with an operatic wonder, this is as good an introduction as may be found.

1st half wonderful, 2nd not so great (tenorial nightmare).......2005-02-05

Why do so many of the reviews of this recording focus on the tenor when they should focus on how great the (mezzo) soprano Ludwig is?

The first half is great because the main tenor is absent (and Gottlob Frick is always fun).

The second half is where the rot sets in when the dreaded Jon Vickers makes his first appearance and we start to hear the unfocussed protruding 'e'-vowel. This spoils an otherwise outstanding recording. Sigh. See my review of the Karajan Tristan/EMI recording for more on this horrible phenomenon.

Whilst I've given this 4 stars, the 5 star rating must go to the Fricsay recording on DG -- the fabulous Ernst Haefliger doesn't have an 'e'-vowel problem. :-)

VICKERS IS A WONDERFUL FIDELIO.......2004-09-25

I LOVE THIS RECORDING OF FIDELIO - BUT THEN I AM A BIG BIG FAN OF JON VICKERS. HIS PERFORMANCE AS FIDELIO IS VERY MOVING AND WHEN HE SINGS "FREIHEIT, FREIHEIT" IT BRINGS CHILLS. THE ACTING AND THE SINGING ARE FIRST CLASS.

Average customer rating: A good gift for novice

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Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Average customer rating: Excellent sample Some of the Best Storms Wonderful selections Great intro to Beethoven

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Tracks:

1. Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: I. Allegro Con Brio - Concertgebouw Orch/Bernard Haitink
2. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: II. Allegretto - LSO/Antal Dorati
3. Romance No.2 in F, Op.50 - Arthur Grumiaux
4. Pno Son No.14 'Moonlight' in c#, Op.27 No.2: I. Adagio Sostenuto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
5. Fur Elise (Bagatelle in a, WoO 59) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
6. Pno Son No,17 in d, Op.31 No.2: III. Allegretto - Stephen Kovacevich
7. Spt in E flat, Op.20: V. Scherzo: Allegro Molto E Vivace - Members Of The Berlin Phil Octet
8. Pno Con No.3 in c, Op.37: II. Largo - Alfred Brendel
9. Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: IV. Allegro Vivace - Chicago SO/Sir Georg Solti
10. Ov 'Egmont', Op.84 - VPO/George Szell
11. Vn Con in D, Op.61: III. Rondo: Allegro - New Philharmonia Orch/Alceo Galliera

Tracks:

1. Pno Con No.5 'Emperor' in E flat, Op.73: II. Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Vladimir Ashkenazy
2. Sym No.6 'Pastoral' in F, Op.68: V. Allegretto: Shepherd's Song. Happy And Thankful Feelings... - Staatskapelle Dresden/Colin Davis
3. Pno Con No.2 in B flat, Op.19: III. Rondo: Molto Allegro - Radu Lupu
4. Pno Son No.8 'Pathetique' in c, Op.13: II. Adagio Cantabile - Vladimir Ashkenazy
5. Str Qt in B flat, Op.130: V. Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo - Qt Italiano
6. Bagatelle, Op.126 No.6 - Alfred Brendel
7. Vn Son No.5 in F, Op.24: IV. Rondo: Allegro Ma Non Troppo 'Spring' - Itzhak Perlman/Vladimir Ashkenazy
8. Minuet No.11, WoO 7 - ASMF/Neville Marriner
9. Pno Son No.14 'Moonlight' in c#, Op.27 No.2: III. Presto Agitato - Vladimir Ashkenazy
10. In Questa Tomba Oscura, WoO 133 - Luciano Pavarotti
11. Mir Ist So Wunderbar - Hildegard Behrens/Sona Ghazarian/David Kuebler/Hans Sotin
12. Oh Welche Lust (Prisoner's Chor) - Robert Johnson/Philip Kraus/Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hillis
13. Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: Chor Finale (Excerpt) - Joan Sutherlan/Marilyn Horne/James King/Martti Talvela/Wiener Staatsopernchor

Customer Reviews:

Excellent sample.......2005-10-25

This two disc set is a good sampler of Beethoven; I had forgotten how inspiring his work could be. This set has motivated me to order all three of the Deutch Grammaphone two disc which together include all 9 of Beethoven's symphonies.

Some of the Best.......2005-09-11

Some of these songs are the best that I've heard. I also enjoy the fact that this album provides the ENTIRE movement or selection, unlike some of the other albums that I've heard that only play for a little bit of the song. One example is Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major Second Movement, this movement is one of my favorites to begin with and hearing it so smoothly and masterfully recorded made my heart sing the first time I heard this all the way to end (the other recordings usually stop after the major key shift after the first theme). Also the Egmont Overture is one of the best full versions that I've had the pleasure of enjoying performed this well. The Moonlight Sonata First Movement I found to be nice, but there are better versions out there. For those people just looking for a nice collection of Beethoven songs that are well recorded and well performed, I stronly suggest that you purchase this album.

Storms.......2005-03-09

Classical music compilations are extremely difficult to review. You are always fighting with someone else's opinion of what is "Best of" material. And why should we buy selections when we could buy the entire pieces and hear them played as the composers intended?

A quick answer would be simple: we simply cannot afford to purchase every single piece by every single composer we love. And if the buyer is familiar with the music, he or she would perhaps only want the famous selections everyone knows. In my case, I am particularly picky with recordings and don't have the time to meddle with libraries or going to stores that offer listening stations. Recordings vary greatly and so does playing ability. So why did I go with Essential Beethoven?

It is released with Decca, one of the finest classical music companies out there. You are guaranteed no gimmick or inexpensively recorded tracks on this compilation. Essential B. also has a wider selection than other compilations I looked at. For once, there isn't a movement to be found from the Fifth Symphony. If that's all you want to buy, look elsewhere. Essential B. has pieces I was not familiar with, so here I am listening to it.

Regrettably, there are three distinct issues with this recording, and I want to get them out of the way. 1. Für Elise is atrociously boring to listen to. As a pianist, it is fun to play and almost required learning for the beginner. It should've been dropped. 2. Piano Concerto No. 5 is missing the third movement. It is common to drop the first movement here, but the second and third movements are programmatically tied, providing some of the most emotionally charged music ever put down on lined paper. Also, this rendition of the concerto is less than inspiring and I regret that it is the famous Ashkenazy playing this version. There is almost no life in the playing. 3. The remastering could've been better. The listener will enjoy the loud and boisterous pieces, but the quieter parts, and even the soft piano solos, will have him straining his ears to the point of exasperation. Because of this, I recommend listening on headphones or in a place where you can turn the volume up a little more than usual.

That aside, the rest of the tracks are well recorded, extremely well played, and varied enough to quench even the most learned ears. Decca has included pieces conducted by Sir Georg Solti, one of the greatest conducters in my opinion. (Another "collection" solely conducted by Solti is the "Immortal Beloved" soundtrack.) The orchestral pieces are lush and the range is dynamic. (A little too dynamic, like I stated above, in some areas.) The inclusion of movement IV from Symphony no. 8 pleases me, as I feel this is the least appreciated symphony, overshadowed by Symphony no. 9

The piano pieces are some of the best renditions I've heard. I own all of Ashkenazy's sonatas, so it was nice to hear a movement from "The Tempest" played by Stephen Kovacevich, who plays with fierce determination. Selections from B's piano concertos are fantastic and have prompted me to delve further into listening to more concertos from him. The Rondo from Piano Concerto No. 2, played by Radu Lupu, is one of the most upbeat and wonderfully played pieces here.

To round things off nicely is a movement from the Violin Sonata No. 5, played by the one and only Itzhak Perlman! The piano is caressed by Mr. Ashkenazy himself, and he does so lovingly. You will also find pieces from a string quartet, a violin Romance (and orchestra), and one overture: the "Egmont." I'm not a huge fan of this rendition either, but that's probably because I've heard the Egmont a thousand times.

A huge bonus with this collection are the three choral selections at the end, two of which are from "Fidelio," an opera I've yet to hear in its entirety. The Prisoners' Chorus is beautiful. The introduction sounds very much like a major contribution to Charles Ives's 1906 piece "The Unanswered Question." The compilation ends with Symphony No. 9's finale, but unfortunately, it is a horribly edited excerpt, and mixed extremely hot. I have to turn my volume down everytime this comes on.

I would like to make a little note about the art design, however. Credit here is given to Mark Millington, who did a fine job blending black & white photos of storm clouds, an inspiring sculpture, and blackletter-styled fonts. The CDs themselves are a contrasting bright orange. As a sucker for marketing, I would've plunked money down for this compilation just for the art!

Wonderful selections.......2003-11-08

My kids and I have really enjoyed this CD. This is a great collection of music with high quality performances.

Great intro to Beethoven.......2003-04-05

Great intro to beethoven. There are many great performances by Ashkenazy, Academy of Saint Martin in the fields, Concertgetbouw Orchestra and many other exceptional artists. I would recommend this disc as it contains the masterpieces of beethoven, even though not all of them.

Average customer rating: Mill. Classical review classical music for the unitiated Some little gems there that I had forgotten! A very helpful collection Excellent!

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Tracks:

1. Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
2. Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
3. Violin Concerto In E First Movement
4. Prelude In C minor
5. Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
6. Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
7. Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
8. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
9. Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
10. Easter Oratorio - Overture
11. Minuet In D minor
12. Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
13. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
14. Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
15. Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
16. Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
17. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
18. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
19. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
20. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
21. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
22. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
23. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
24. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
25. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
26. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
27. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
28. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
29. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
30. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
31. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
32. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
33. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
34. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
35. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
36. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
37. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
38. Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
39. Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
40. Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
41. Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
42. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
43. Water Music - Air
44. Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
45. Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
46. Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
47. The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
48. Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
49. Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
50. Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
51. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
52. Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
53. Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
54. Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
55. Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
56. Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
57. Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
58. Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
59. String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
60. Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
61. Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
62. Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
63. String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
64. Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
65. Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
66. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
67. Piano Concerto in A - second movement
68. Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
69. Serenade - Minuet
70. Violin Concerto - first movement
71. Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
72. Clarinet Concerto - second movement
73. Turkish March
74. Divertimento - Minuet
75. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
76. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
77. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
78. Overture
79. O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
80. Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
81. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
82. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
83. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
84. Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
85. Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
86. German Dance No. 1 In C
87. Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
88. Heidenroslein
89. Ave Maria
90. Der Lindenbaum
91. Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
92. Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
93. Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
94. German Dance No. 2 In G
95. Piano Sonata In B-Flat
96. Nachtgesang Im Walde
97. Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
98. German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
99. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
100. Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
101. Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
102. Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
103. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
104. Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
105. Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
106. Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
107. Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
108. Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
109. Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
110. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
111. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
112. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
113. Violin Concerto - second movement
114. The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
115. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
116. Swan Lake - Waltz
117. Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
118. The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
119. Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
120. Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
121. Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
122. Hungarian Dance No.5
123. Lullaby
124. Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
125. Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
126. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
127. Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
128. Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
129. String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
130. Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
131. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
132. Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
133. German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
134. Die Fledermaus - Overture
135. Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
136. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
137. Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
138. AnnenPolka, Op. 117
139. Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
140. Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
141. Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
142. On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
143. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
144. Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
145. Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
146. Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
147. The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
148. The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
149. Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
150. Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
151. Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
152. Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
153. Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
154. Don Juan, Op. 20
155. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
156. Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
157. Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
158. Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
159. Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
160. Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
161. Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
162. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
163. Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
164. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
165. Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
166. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
167. Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
168. Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
169. Angelus
170. Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
171. Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
172. Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
173. Les Préludes
174. Boléro
175. Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
176. Rhapsodie Espagnole
177. Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
178. Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
179. Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
180. La Valse
181. Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
182. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
183. Humoresque, Op. 101
184. Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
185. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
186. Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
187. Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
188. Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
189. Carneval Overture, Op. 92
190. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
191. Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
192. Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
193. Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
194. Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
195. String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
196. Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
197. Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
198. Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
199. Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
200. String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
201. Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
202. Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
203. Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
204. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
205. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
206. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
207. Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
208. Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
209. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
210. Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
211. The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
212. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
213. Nordic Melody Op. 63
214. Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
215. Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
216. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
217. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
218. Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
219. Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
220. Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
221. Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
222. Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
223. Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
224. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
225. Frühlingsgruss
226. Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
227. Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
228. Manfred Overture, Op. 115
229. Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
230. Die Rose stand im Tau
231. Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
232. Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
233. Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
234. Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating: I love it! Famous Beethoven slow movements Number of discs I Know Music, and This is Not the Best (by Beethoven Lover) Not the Best By beethoven Lover

Beethoven for Relaxation Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Bagatelles | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mozart for Relaxation Vivaldi for Relaxation Bach for Relaxation Chopin For Relaxation The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever! ASIN: B00000I9LZ Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2, 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
2. Symphony No. 2 In D, Op.36: II. Larghetto
3. String Quartet No.13 In B-Flat, Op.130: V. Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo
4. Violin Sonata No.5 In F, Op.24, 'Spring': II. Adagio molto espressivo
5. Fur Elise
6. Triple Concerto In C, Op.56: II. Largo
7. Piano Sonata No.8 In C Minor, Op.13, 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
8. Fidelo, Act I: Quartet 'Mir ist so wunderbar'
9. Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op.31, No.3: III. Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso
10. Serenade In D, Op.8: II. Adagio
11. Symphony No.6 In F, Op.68, 'Pastoral': II. Scene By The Brook

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2, 'Moonlight': I Adagio sostenuto
2. Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 36: II Larghetto
3. String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat, Op. 130: V Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo
4. Violin Sonata No. 5 In F, Op. 24, 'Spring': II Adagio molto espressivo
5. Fur Elise
6. Triple Concerto In C, Op. 56: II Largo
7. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 'Pathetique': II Adagio cantabile
8. Fidelio, Act I: Quartet 'Mir ist so wunderbar'
9. Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat, Op. 31 No. 3: III Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso
10. Serenade In D, Op. 8: II Adagio
11. Symphony No. 6 In F, Op. 68, 'Pastoral': II Scene By The Brook

Customer Reviews:

I love it!.......2007-01-21

I've had this CD for about 6 years now and it never gets old. As the title suggests, it's great for relaxing with a good book and a glass of wine. I find myself reaching for this CD whenever I get a migraine. I had always heard that the complexities of Beethoven's music could ease a migraine, or I suppose any headache. I've never been able to find any substantiated proof of this but from my experience the music eases my headaches. Whether it's psychological is still a mystery to me. Fact is, I love this CD and it's never far from me.

Famous Beethoven slow movements.......2006-01-15

The real Beethoven would probably be irritated with compilation CD's like this that "cherry picks" a variety of slow movements from various works he composed. But, the average listener today will see it as a great way to get to know his music and enjoy an hour of more serene music - less Beethoven's more intense movements. The variery here is broad: solo piano, violin + piano, string quartet and full orchestra symphonies and concertos. The dreamy solo-piano pieces are some of Beethoven's most beloved and alluring slow movements that vaulted him to fame. While these and the chamber music tend to be more "relaxing," the latter orchestral pieces especially contain shifts in tempo, dynamic range and emotion that some might not find so relaxing. After all, this is Beethoven with a full orchestra and not Bach or the Baroque.

But, all is not lost if you are looking for a collection of serene, lyrical music composed by the great Beethoven. There actually is a CD that features some of Beethoven's most endearing and melodic adagios and largos: "Beethoven for Book Lovers" (Philips label). This CD is mostly comprised of the nicest slow movements from Beethoven's ten violin sonatas (violin + piano) played by the legendary David Oistrakh - a violinist with one of the most gentle and beautiful tone ever recorded. Fortunately for those wanting uninterupted peacefulness, there are only a couple of those typical "Beethoven outbursts" in this CD (very brief though). But, overall, the flow and tone of the entire CD is truly relaxing, enchanting and not distracting. All of these works reveal the gentle side of Beethoven and his surprizing ability (for such a fiery composer) to write music of such poinant and tenderhearted emotional appeal. Also, the "Chopin for Relaxation" is one of the better ones in this series and features some of Chopin's slower, more serene solo-piano music and the ever-so lovely middle movements from his two legendary piano concertos.

Number of discs.......2005-03-16

The ad above shows 2 discs with the same track names... this item has only 1 disc with 11 tracks (names as shown above).

I Know Music, and This is Not the Best (by Beethoven Lover).......2005-02-21

Ok, I'll admit, this is a pretty good album, but it lacks the feeling of Beethoven. Its songs don't sound like Beethoven is playing, and its not too relaxing. It deserves three stars because of this lack of the great Beethoven himself. Sure, the songs are pretty, but I'd buy a different album if I was you.

Not the Best By beethoven Lover.......2005-02-20

not completely a delight...shows little Beethoven in it all, deserves only about two or three stars.

Average customer rating: 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 All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolf | Wolf, Hugo | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Lehar, Franz | H to L | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Schubert, Franz | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Strauss, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Wagner, Richard | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Weber, Carl Maria von | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Wolf, Hugo | U to Z | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Humperdinck, Engelbert | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wolf, Hugo | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth | ( S ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann Strauss: Four Last Songs/12 Orchestral Songs Schubert: 24 Lieder Mozart: Opera Arias Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier / Schwarzkopf · Ludwig · Karajan 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:

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.

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.

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.

¡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.

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.

Average customer rating: Wonderfully fresh Great -- All Around Old (but Very Fine) Wine, New Skins--A Revelatory Listening Experience Much-needed fresh interpretation of the overtures

Beethoven: Complete Overtures Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Septet Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4 Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Violin Romances Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies ASIN: B0007X9TKC Release Date: 2005-04-12

Album Description

"Of course this is what Beethoven is supposed to sound like. All the warmth, the breadth, the depth, the height, the solemnity, the hilarity, the agony, and, of course, the wild-eyed ecstasy that are in Beethoven in these performances of his complete Overtures by David Zinman leading the Tonhalle Orchestre Zurich. As Zinman proved in his cycle of the nine symphonies, he knows Beethoven, knows his music and his moods, knows when to hold back and when to let loose, when to dance and when to sing in blissful rapture. In his cycle of the 11 overtures, Zinman soars with Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, rails with Egmont, roars with Coriolan, and laughs with König Stephen. Zinman is as heroic as Fidelio, as passionate as Leonore, and as countrapuntally intoxicated as Die Weihe des Hauses. The Tonhalle Orchestre, which showed itself an adept and powerful Beethoven orchestra in the symphonies, once again shows its colors, its strength, and its tenderness in the overtures. ! Arte Nova's sound is deep, lush, and real."-ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully fresh.......2007-06-06

David Zinman and his Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich deliver what is, hands down, the best overture to the Ruins of Athens on disc. Zinman opens the work with great energy at a quick tempo - those of us familiar with Masur's slow and stately introduction will certainly feel as if they are hearing this familiar music for the first time. The oboe cadenza is delightfully zippy as Zinman plunges headlong into the allegro proper with such authoritative vitality that one almost feels foolish for not liking this work more, slight though it is on musical argument. Horns wail, strings dig, and winds bite in this marvelous traversal. This performance gave me several impressions. First, how nice it is to hear Beethoven (here and in his traversal of the symphonies) with smaller forces married to historically informed performance practices - hard mallets for the timpani, violins divided stereophonically, winds forwardly balanced. It has a tremendous amount of textual clarity which enhances the musical argument in no small part. Secondly, how impressive that even two hundred years after some of these pieces were composed they can still be played to the hilt with fresh energy and conviction. Even with the reduced string