Opera Baroque

La favola d'Orfeo, opera, SV 318 Tocatta d'ouverture
Composed by Claudio Monteverdi
with Concerto Vocale
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, opera in 3 acts, SV 325 Illustatevi o cieli
Composed by Claudio Monteverdi
with Christoph Pregardien, Concerto Vocale, Bernarda Fink
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
L'incoronazione di Poppea, opera in 3 acts, SV 308 Addio Roma
Composed by Claudio Monteverdi
with Concerto Vocale, Jennifer Larmore
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
La Calisto, opera Piante ombrose... in ricovro più ombroso
Composed by Pietro Francesco Cavalli
with Concerto Vocale, Marcello Lippi, Maria Bayo, Simon Keenlyside
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Armide, opera, LWV 71 Enfin il est en ma puissance
Composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully
with Guillemette Laurens, La Chapelle Royale
Conducted by Philippe Herreweghe
Atys, opera, LWV 53 Dormons, dormons
Composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully
with Michel Laplenie, Gilles Ragon, Jean-Paul Fouchecourt, Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus, Bernard Deletre
Conducted by William Christie
Le Malade imaginaire, incidental music for soloists, chorus, instruments & continuo, H. 495 Zerbinetti
Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
with Dominique Visse, Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus
Conducted by William Christie
Thy hand, Belinda...When I am laid in Earth (from "Dido and Aeneas"), soprano aria, Z. 626/37 Thy hand Belinda... When I am laid in earth
Composed by Henry Purcell
with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Conducted by Nicholas McGegan
What power art thou ("Prelude while the cold genius rises" from "King Arthur"), bass aria, Z. 628/20
Composed by Henry Purcell
with King's Musick, Maurice Bevan
Conducted by Alfred Deller
Flavio, Rè di Longobardi, opera, HWV 16 Rompo I Iacci
Composed by George Frideric Handel
with Ensemble 415, Derek Lee Ragin
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17 Al lampo dell'armi
Composed by George Frideric Handel
with Cologne Concerto, Barbara Schlick
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Cesare e Cleopatra, opera Tra le procelle assorto
Composed by Carl Heinrich Graun
with Cologne Concerto, Janet Williams
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Orpheus, oder die wunderbare Beständigkeit der Liebe, opera in 3 acts, TWV 21:18 Trà speranza, e trà timore
Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann
with Dorothea Roschmann, Alessandro Scarlatti Orchestra (Naples), Roman Trekel
Conducted by Rene Jacobs
Castor et Pollux, tragédie en musique Tristes apprêts
Composed by Jean-Philippe Rameau
with Agnes Mellon, Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus
Conducted by William Christie
Les Indes galantes, opéra-ballet Forêts paisibles
Composed by Jean-Philippe Rameau
with Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus
Conducted by William Christie

Opera Baroque,Maurice Bevan,Pietro Francesco Cavalli,Marc-Antoine Charpentier,Carl Heinrich Graun,George Frideric Handel,Jean-Baptiste Lully,Claudio Monteverdi,Henry Purcell,Jean-Philippe Rameau,Georg Philipp Telemann,Alfred Deller,Nicholas McGegan,Philippe Herreweghe,Rene Jacobs,William Christie,Alessandro Scarlatti Orchestra of Naples,Concerto Köln,Concerto Vocale,Ensemble 415,King's Musick,La Chapelle Royale,Les Arts Florissants Orchestra & Chorus,Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra,Agnes Mellon,Barbara Schlick,Bernard Deletre,Bernarda Fink,Christoph Pregardien,Derek Lee Ragin,Dominique Visse,Dorothea Roschmann,Gilles Ragon,Guillemette Laurens,Janet Williams,Jean-Paul Fouchecourt,Jennifer Larmore,Lorraine Hunt,Lorraine Hunt Lieberson,Marcello Lippi,Maria Bayo,Michel Laplenie,Roman Trekel,Simon Keenlyside,Harmonia Mundi,Art Song (General),Baroque Incidental Music for Orchestra and Voices (or Sem,Classical,French Baroque Opera

Average customer rating:

Romance of the Violin
End of the Day
Wonderful!
Over and over and over....
Non-standard CD format

Romance of the Violin
Claude Debussy , Fryderyk Chopin , Camille Saint-Saens , Franz Schubert , Vincenzo Bellini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Alexander Borodin , Antonin Dvorak , Claudio Monteverdi , Jules Massenet , Robert Schumann , Michael Stern , Craig Ogden , Gregory Knowles , John Constable , Jacob Heringman , and Stephen Orton
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Voice of the Violin
Ladies in Lavender
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]
Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy
The Red Violin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B0000DG06L
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux delin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957
Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')

Amazon.com

Every track on this CD contains a beautiful melody, many of them easily recognizable, all of them exuding tranquility. "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi opens the disc, with Bell delicately accompanied by a harp and spinning the long melody with great sensitivity. Bellini's "Casta diva" from Norma lives up to its reputation as the epitome of bel canto in Bell's hands; his violin sings. The middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto takes well to the violin, and Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is played with great warmth and sensuality. It would be easy to turn a recital like this into treacle, but Bell is wise enough to realize that the music is already sweet enough and he plays with great reserve and a minimum of sentimental slides. The light accompaniments always support, with woodwinds prominent but used with grace. This CD, in short, is a beauty: a fine gift, a lovely mood setter. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Romance of the Violin.......2007-07-16

While it's not my very favorite Joshua Bell CD, this is a pleasure to listen to!

End of the Day.......2007-06-08

I am a Joshua Bell fan, and this album is the one that I enjoy with my dessert, it calms me at the end of the day, and makes me think of my 6 year old granddaughter's visit. She has to have music on during meals at her home. Usually it is some kid stuff, but I do not have anything like she has at home, so I chose to play Joshua Bell during our dinner. When I placed the dessert before her, she looked up at me and said: "This music is so beautiful, I want to play the violin just like that". What more could I say.
He is inspiring, and she is right. This album is beautiful.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-30

I play this for my grandson to nap by. It is so relaxing and wonderful!

Over and over and over...........2007-05-17

That's how I want to play this CD! It's a wonderful line-up of rich, mellow, captivating compositions played with a warmth and vibrancy that is seldom heard. Joshua at his very best. You won't be disappointed.

Non-standard CD format.......2007-04-22

The music on this CD deserves five stars, but the CD itself is a non-standard format that doesn't work on all players. There's a tiny warning on the back of the CD. You won't notice the warning until you discover that the CD doesn't work on your player. My Macintosh computer wouldn't read the non-standard format so there was no way for me to listen in my office or put the music on my iPod.

A friend's PC was able to read the CD and make a copy in standard format that can be read on any player, including my Mac. The story had a happy ending, but I can not comprehend why the publisher chose the oddball CD specification.

The music is excellent and worth the trouble of making a copy, but the publisher really shouldn't make you go to that effort just to listen to a CD that you paid for.

Average customer rating:

classic music CD
Good for beginners
Great mix
Good for first-timer
25 Classical Favorites cd

25 Classical Favorites

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

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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25 Romantic Classics
25 Mozart Favorites
25 Beethoven Favorites
25 Tchaikovsky Favorites
25 Bach Favorites

ASIN: B0000058HT
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Eine Klein Nachtmusik: (I. Allegro)
Nutcracker Suite: (Russian Dance)
The Four Seasons, Op. 8: (Spring: I. Allegro)
Hungarian Dance No. 5 In G Minor
Symphony in D, K. 161 - 163: (III. Presto)
Waltz In D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, S. 1048: (III. Allegro)
Swan Lake: (Dance Of The Swans)
Carmen Suite No. 2: (Habanera)
Messiah: (Overture)
Wind Serenade 'The Marriage Of Figaro': Overture
Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 12: (III. Allegro)
Water Music: (Overture)
Sleeping Beauty Ballet Suite, Op. 66: (Panorama)
Symphony No. 26 In E-flat Major, K. 184: (III. Allegro)
Waltz No. 10 In B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2
Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, S. 1041: (III. Allegro)
Water Music: (Lentement)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, S. 1049: (II. Andante)
Habanera
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat Major, K. 447: (II. Romanza)
Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 43: (Variation No. 18)
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

classic music CD.......2007-06-27

The CD was well represented by the clips on the Amazon website and came in time for our event. We did have a problem with the charge but that was taken care of promptly. Great service.

Good for beginners.......2007-02-15

It is an excellent collection of classical music. I would recommend this CD if you have a friend who don't like classical music, since it has the most beautiful overtures and portions of famous artists. If you are a Classic Music Savvy you probably will not be impressed by it, unless you want to play the CD as background music in a friends gathering.

Great mix.......2007-02-14

All the best composers! Over an hour of music. A samble of the greatest pieces.

Good for first-timer.......2007-01-22

This is the first time I have ever bought a classical music CD and I was very pleased with this one. It has a good variety of selections. I would buy it again.

25 Classical Favorites cd.......2007-01-06

This CD has so many of my favorite, lively classical music -- love it!!

Average customer rating:

Great Stuff
A Great Introduction to Italian Opera
Best of the best!
Fabulous bargain for anyone
Great songs for a low price.

The Best of Italian Opera

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Famous Opera Arias
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Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!

ASIN: B000000UXN
Release Date: 1997-01-21

Tracks:

La Traviata: 'Libiamo, Libiamo'
Rigoletto: 'La donna e' Mobile'
The Barber Of Seville: 'Una voce poco fa'
La Boheme: 'Che gelida manina'
Rigoletto: 'Gualtier Malde!' Caro nome'
Il Trovatore: 'Vedi! le fosche'
Il Trovatore: 'Il balen del suo sorriso...Per me ora fatale'
TOSCA: 'Vissi d'arte'
La Traviata: 'Di Provenza il mar, il suol'
The Marriage Of Figaro: 'Voi che sapete'
Aida: 'Se quel guerrier io fossi...Celeste Aida'
Madama Butterfly: 'Un bel di vedremo'
La Gioconda: 'Cielo e mar'
Lucia di Lammernoor: 'Ardon gl' incesi'

Customer Reviews:

Great Stuff.......2007-07-22

The sound quality of this disc is surprisingly good, very good for an ADD. All the selections captured each singer in his/her top form. It is a real treat that this disc contains many work that were not normally in certain singer's repertoire. Gedda's Aida, Moffo's Rossini-Rosina and Cherobino, for example, all were superbly sung. Even Moffo's Lucia sounds much better than I have ever heard in other places.

A Great Introduction to Italian Opera.......2005-05-01

The artists on this CD succeed in their goal to create a CD that displays great Italian opera. Carlo del Monte and Victoria de los Angeles open the disc with the Brindisi from La Traviata. Victoria de los Angeles is not the best Violetta, but she does the job, along with her parner Carlo del Monte, an underappreciated tenor. Victoria de los Angeles also appears on the CD in "Un bel di vedremo" from Madama Butterfly, a role she was well known for. Swedish tenor Nicolai Gedda appears on the disc twice. His first appearence is a superb rendition of "La donna e mobile" from Rigoletto. His final performance on this disc is in the heroric aria "Celeste Aida", a performance in a role that was not in his voice range. Anna Moffo is the star on this CD, appearing three times in three very different roles. First is her beautiful "Una voce poco fa", normally a role that calls for a mezzo-soprano. Her second is "Voi che sapete" from Le Nozze di Figaro, another mezzo-soprano role. Her final appearence is her best, "The Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor. Underrated tenor Giuseppe Campora performs "Che gelida manina" with a great tenor voice. Soprano Reri Girst is excellent in her performance of "Caro nome" from Rigoletto. One of my favorite baritones appears on this CD. Robert Merrill is a perfect Count di Luna, and it is evident in his rendition of "Il balen del suo sorriso". Another baritone appears on this CD: mario Sereni. He is not a world famous baritone, but he should have been. Overall, this is an excellent introduction to the world of Italian opera.

Best of the best!.......2003-01-11

The performers, the selections, the quality... almost divine!

Fabulous bargain for anyone.......2002-11-24

I would recommend this CD to anyone, from opera novice to experienced listener...

These are older recordings -- I would guess mostly from the 1960's. The recording quality is exceptional for the day and, while not the equivalent of modern engineering, is sufficient to allow sheer physical pleasure from the music and an immediate appreciation of the vocal qualities of the artists. The sound quality is the only mild drawback...

The performances are magnificent! The voices are almost entirely lighter and more agile than the great voices of the 80's and 90's. In fact, the ear of the editor is apparent in his preference for lighter and more agile voices.

For example, there is a beautiful rendition of "Che Gelida Manina" from someone I had never heard before, Guiseppe Campora. He does not have the weight or volume of Pavarotti or Domingo, but has more elegance and a pure, charming tone. A connoisseur performance, but nevertheless a true operatic rendition by a tenor who can hit the high C with authority -- as good for a newcomer to opera who wants to hear the real thing, as for an opera lover who would like to hear something a bit different.

Some of the artists were among the most famous singers of their day: Moffo, de los Angeles, Gedda.

Anna Moffo, one of the greatest sopranos of her day (and all time), is in magnificent voice in famous blockbusters from Rossini's Barber of Seville, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, and the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor.

De Los Angeles is at her best in "Libiamo" from La Traviata, but the recording quality (the one inadequately engineered track on the CD) and her lack of oomph make for a second-rate version of "Un bel di".

In keeping with the light and lyrical orientation of the selections, Moffo -- a famous Gilda and hardly a dramatic voice -- is bypassed for the even lighter, sweeter and more agile colatura Reri Grist (while she still had her voice), in a lovely "Caro Nome".

Another nice selection is Mario Sereni performing "Di provenza, il mar". Both this and "Libiamo" are taken from one of my favorite recordings of Traviata -- also a great chance to hear Serafin at the helm of the Rome Opera House orchestra. (The 2-CD version of this is still available from EMI, I think.) Newcomers will love this pretty tune, and Sereni's archtypal Verdi baritone is good, although hardly the best ever.

Franco Corelli has never been a favorite of mine, but he sounds the best I've ever heard him in his rendition of "Cielo et mar".

Anyway, I didn't intend to list every cut. Whether you are an opera lover who would like to hear some of opera's most famous arias performed in a new light, or an opera lover who would like to hear great performances at a cut-rate price, this CD gets my unqualified approval.

Great songs for a low price........2001-08-16

Ranging from selections of La Traviata, Il Trovatore and other popular Italian operas, this is a great cd for under four bucks. The singers may not be well recognized, but they do possess powerful voices.

Average customer rating:

Grandmother's Review
great cd!
Absolutely Love It!!!
My daughter loved this before she was born
enjoyable

UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
Build Your Baby's Brain
Beethoven for Babies
Tune Your Brain: Pregnancy and Childbirth
The Mozart Effect: Music For Babies: Nighty Night

ASIN: B00000IIUP
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Reverie
Suite No. 3: Air On The G String
Kinderszene-Traumerei
Thais-Meditation
Sonata For Two Pianos, K.448-II: Andante
Lullaby: Cradle Song
Nocturne For Harp
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
Concerto, Op. 8, No. 4 'Winter': II. Largo
Clair e lune
Eine kleine Nachtmusik-II. Romanze: Andante
Berceuse
Russian Lullaby
Orfeo ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Lyric Pieces, Op. 68, No. 5: Cradle Song
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus
Ave Maria

Amazon.com

While many hospitals across the country send new mums and babes home equipped with discs of classical music to soothe and gently stimulate babies' tender minds, Ultrasound brings together a delightfully well-rounded set specifically chosen for those still in the womb. Expectant moms will appreciate the effects of the mellow strains of Bach's Suite No. 3, the delicate playfulness of Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," and Mozart's proven-to-make-you-smart Sonata for Two Pianos featuring André Previn. Debussy's "Clair de lune" is especially lovely as conducted and fluted by James Galway, and Leontyne Price is a warm blanket of comfort giving voice to Schubert's "Ave Maria." Indeed, these songs are aural balm to both parent and child long after birth. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Grandmother's Review.......2007-05-21

I purchased this product for my expectant daughter, and she says that it is the best gift she has ever received. She, herself, finds the music very soothing and relaxing, and she is certain that it is wonderful for her child.

great cd!.......2007-05-14

This is a fantastic product! I bought it to play for my unborn daughter and I started it when I was around five mos. pregnant. She moves all over the place when I put the headphones on my belly and I can even tell by her movements that she likes some songs more than others. I have done a lot of research into playing music for unborn babies, including the helpfulness as far as birthing positions when the music is played regularly. This cd fits the bill for all of the research I've done. It is completely worth the money!

Absolutely Love It!!!.......2007-04-02

I have a 6 month old daughter. I first purchased this CD when I was pregnant and would place my earphones on my belly for her to listen. I now use it in her room at bedtime and I absolutely love it. I have a collection of other CD's, but honestly this is my favorite. It is a very nice blend of songs. It is soothing for baby and parents. If you only buy one CD I would recommend you make it this one.

My daughter loved this before she was born.......2006-12-15

When I was about 18 weeks pregnant I bought this and two other CDs of gentle classical music and played one of them for her every 2nd or 3rd night, putting headphones on my belly. I was actually skeptical about this being "music for the unborn" but she really did react to this one much more than anything else I ever played for her. If she hadn't been very active that day I could always lay down in the evening with the headphones and play her music, and she's wriggle around. She especially liked #5 and #10. :)

She didn't seem to have much connection to it after she arrived, but she does enjoy music in general. (She's currently almost 11 mo old.)

enjoyable.......2006-08-03

I have enjoyed this cd thus far. If you have the money to spend, this is relaxing and enjoyable, however you can get similar music for free on your local classical station. So if you would rather save your money...just tune in on your radio dial. I am glad I bought the cd for the familiarity of the songs, but I also love just plain old classical radio.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!

Average customer rating:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's.
Good for relaxing pregnant women
Too much opera
Does what it set out to do, very well
TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Johann Sebastian Bach , Léo Delibes , Gabriel Fauré , Erik Satie , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Edvard Grieg , Johann Pachelbel , Claude Debussy , Felix Mendelssohn , Camille Saint-Saens , Henryk Gorecki , Antonio Vivaldi , Edward Elgar , Jocelyn Pook , Sergey Rachmaninov , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Luigi Boccherini , Jules Massenet , Ludwig van Beethoven , Jacques Offenbach , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Giacomo Puccini , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Alexander Borodin , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Samuel Barber
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00000I93Z
Release Date: 1999-03-30

Tracks:

Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
II. Andante - Stephen Hough
Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
The Swan - Osian Ellis
II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
II. Andantino - James Galway
II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Tracks:

Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
II. Andante - Nigel North
II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

Amazon.com

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04

This CD is a great way to enjoy a large variety of Classical Composers & many of their best known pieces. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," is an all time favorite. There are vocals, Piano pieces, & some fine Violins. I found the latter the most enjoyable. Here you can find Rodrigo & Pachelbell. Samuel Barber's haunting Adagio will make your skin tingle. This may not be to everyones taste, but if you wish to relax? Give this a couple of listens.

Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17

I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I decided to buy the album from amazon. All the songs you would expect from a "best album in the world" are there and they are not boring to listen to like a lot of other classical albums. I now play this album in the car constantly and the wife requested it be played at the hospital during the birth.

Too much opera.......2007-01-10

If it wasn't for the opera this would be a great CD.

Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10

This album along with Volume 2 are now the two most valued albums in my music collection. I have all of the songs contained on these two albums but they are scattered through at least a dozen different albums and several are not performed by artists such as those that recorded this album and Volume 2.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Two Great Handel Tenors
Bostridge in best form in Handel arias

Great Handel

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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As Steals the Morn: Handel Arias & Scenes for Tenor
Handel - Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
Handel: Floridante
Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs
Handel Arias

ASIN: B000PFU9LK
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Air Where'er You Walk
Accompagnato Comfort Ye
Air Ev'ry Valley
Accompagnato Frondi Tenere
Arioso Ombra Mai Fu
Aria Cosi La Tortorella
Air Love Sounds Th'alarm
Air Love In Her Eyes Sits Playing
Duet Happy We!
Aria Scherza Infida
Aria Dopo Notte
Air Total Eclipse!
Duet As Steals the Morn
Accompagnato Hide Though Thy Hated Beams
A Father, Off'ring Up His Only Child
Air Waft Her, Angels

Amazon.com

Listening to these very diverse arias, it's easy to understand why Beethoven is reported to have esteemed Handel above all other composers. The program includes three of his greatest hits: "Ev'ry Valley," "Where'er You Walk," and "Ombra mai fu." The other arias, taken from operas and oratorios and in Italian and English, are less familiar but no less great. They display Handel's versatile, multi-faceted genius and his ability to express every human mood and emotion through purely musical means. In his liner notes, Ian Bostridge traces his Handelian roots back to his childhood. Indeed the style seems natural to him. Bostridge even makes the arias written for castrati persuasive, despite the difference in key and color. His coloratura runs are brilliant, while his intonation and diction impeccable. However, the baroque orchestra's flat tuning sometimes forces Bostridge into an uncomfortably low register, and his habit of starting notes without vibrato and swelling them tends to become mannered, disrupting the melodic flow. The orchestra is excellent, but with sparing vibrato and straight-forward phrasing seems to inhabit a different stylistic world. Moreover, it sounds distant and subdued, as does soprano Kate Royal, who joins Bostridge in two duets. The program, though compiled for maximum contrast, may be most enjoyable in moderate doses. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Two Great Handel Tenors.......2007-07-20

Just when the torrent of Handel recitals seemed to have slowed, we get two great tenor recitals in less than a month. Mark Padmore and Ian Bostridge double up on only a few airs - Where'er you walk, Total eclipse, As steals the morn, Waft her, angels. Padmore is more dramatic, with longer scenes; Bostridge more lyrical. I usually listen to them back to back, but if I only have time for one, it is the Bostridge that gets chosen. His "Waft her, angels" pierces the heart.

Bostridge in best form in Handel arias.......2007-07-17

I get the feeling that Amazon has given up providing official (paid for) reviews, so buyers won't be told that this colleciton of Handel from Ian Bostridge selects from Ariodante, Acis and Galatea, Samson, Jephtha, l"allegro e il penserosso, Semele, and of course, Messiah. The singer's voice has darkened since it willowy early days, and even though there are still a few holdouts like me who cannot abide its tone, there is no doubt about Bostridge's artistry. Here he gets good period accompaniment from the famous Age of Enlighenment orchestra (zingy strings, ni vibrato), although the conducting is notably sluggish at points. The singer avoids his often excessive underlining and over-acting, so all in all one must call this one of his best recent outings.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Soundtrack
Indie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marie Antoinette
A great anthology of song
Lush Life

Marie Antoinette
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Verve Forecast
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette: The Journey
Marie Antoinette
The Last Kiss
Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution

ASIN: B000ICLSQU
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

"Hong Kong Garden" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
"Aphrodisiac" - Bow Wow Wow
"What Ever Happened" - The Strokes
"Pulling Our Weight" - The Radio Dept.
"Ceremony" - New Order
"Natural's Not In It" - Gang Of Four
"I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Remix)" - Bow Wow Wow
"Kings Of The Wild Frontier" - Adam & The Ants
"Concerto in G" * - Antonio Vivaldi / Reitzell
"The Melody Of A Fallen Tree" - Windsor For The Derby
"I Don't Like It Like This" - The Radio Dept.
"Plainsong" - The Cure

Tracks:

"Intro Versailles"* - Reitzell / Beggs
"Jynweythek Ylow" - Aphex Twin
"Opus 17" - Dustin O'Halloran
"Il Secondo Giorno (Instrumental)" - Air
"Keen On Boys" - The Radio Dept.
"Opus 23" *- Dustin O'Halloran
"Les Baricades Misterieuses"* - Francois Couperin / Reitzell
"Fools Rush In (Kevin Shields Remix) - Bow Wow Wow
"Avril 14th" - Aphex Twin
"K. 213" * - Domenico Scarlatti / Reitzell
"Tommib Help Buss" - Squarepusher
"Tristes Apprets.." - Jean Philippe Rameau /W. Christie
"Opus 36" *- Dustin O'Halloran
"All Cat's Are Grey" - The Cure

Amazon.com

Marie Antoinette may be a period film, but don't expect minuets: Sofia Coppola's candy-colored portrait of the doomed queen moves to a punk beat. Whatever you think of how that approach works in the movie itself, it makes for a bracing two-CD soundtrack that's like a mix tape put together by a DJ particularly attuned to the tastes of 2006, not 1786. A dominant chunk of the selection is made up of vintage postpunk tracks, from Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Hong Kong Garden" to Gang of Four's "Natural's Not in It," from New Order's "Ceremony" to the Cure's "All Cats Are Grey." The giddily fun Bow Wow Wow offers a counterpoint to all that seriousness with three songs (two of them, including the iconic "I Want Candy," remixed by My Bloody Valentine's maestro Kevin Shields). Newer contributions come from acts as diverse as retromongers the Strokes and avant-electronicists Aphex Twin and Squarepusher, while Dustin O'Halloran (half of the L.A. duo Devics) contributes three nice, Debussy-style piano solos. The most conventional choices of the lot are a pair of harpsichord pieces by Couperin and Scarlatti, as well as Vivaldi's "Concerto in G," a chestnut that's got to be in every single film set in the 18th century. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

A TWO DISC SOUNDTRACK WITH MUSIC FOR THE PARTY . . . AND FOR THE MORNING AFTER.

Featuring APHEX TWIN BOW WOW WOW THE CURE GANG OF FOUR NEW ORDER THE STROKES and more!

Oscar-winning Sofia Coppola brings to the screen an imaginative interpretation of the life of France's legendary teenage queen Marie Antoinette. When betrothed to King Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman), the naÃ¯ve Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst) enters the opulent French court which is steeped in conspiracy and scandal. Without guidance, adrift in a dangerous world, the young girl rebels against the isolated atmosphere at Versailles and becomes France's most misunderstood monarch. Based on the book Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Soundtrack.......2007-06-12

High quality recording of this wonderful soundtrack. All tracks seem to be the full-length recording of that specific piece, not just the portion used in the movie. This is all music - no movie dialogue is included.

Indie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-17

Indie Rock, thats the one!
Loved!!!!!!
A cd I'm gonna keep for a lifetime

Marie Antoinette.......2007-05-15

I received my item very quickly! I have nothing bad to say. :)

A great anthology of song.......2007-05-09

A great mixture. Recommended to my daughter who composes music and she loved
the original soundtrack. Movie also good but soundtrack great.

Lush Life.......2007-04-27

First, let me clarify that these comments refer to the soundtrack, not the film itself. When I bought the soundtrack I knew practically nothing about 80s alternative rock. The inclusion of recent pop music was one of the things that made the film quite controversial. A lot of people really couldn't handle it. After listening to both discs repeatedly --while I still don't know much about 80s alt-rock-- I would say the music has 'grown on me'. Words like 'atmospheric' and 'evocative' come readily to mind. Ultimately I think it is an odd but fascinating mix, an interesting melange of then and now. It's one of the few soundtracks I'm likely to continue playing rather often, just because I like the overall vibe.

Average customer rating:

Best Music Ever for Home Wedding
Excellent resource for wedding planners
Great item!
Preview your wedding day
25 WEDDING FAVORITES

25 Wedding Favorites

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

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Classical Wedding
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Heart Beats: Now & Forever - Timeless Wedding Songs
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ASIN: B00004Y6T1
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

Wedding March (Lohengrin)
Allegro I (Water Music) - Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Trumpet Voluntary
Minuet (Music For The Royal Fireworks)
Canon in D Major
Spring - Susan Lautenbacher
Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba (Solomon)
Air (Water Music) - Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Sheep May Safely Graze (Cantana No. 208)
Arioso
Bist Du Bei Mir' (Anna Magdalena Notebook)
Panis Angelicus
Weichet Nur' (Wedding Cantata)
Silent Worship (Tolomeo) - Mary Ann Hart
Ave Maria
Sehet In Zufriedenheit' (Wedding Cantata)
Ave Maria
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring
Air On The G String - Mainz Chamber Orchestra
Pastorale (Messiah) - Eastman Chorale
Nocturne - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Hornpipe (Water Music)
Wedding March
Toccata (5th Symphony)

Customer Reviews:

Best Music Ever for Home Wedding.......2007-07-20

The tape consists of 25 traditional wedding songs played by big orchestras; the music was beautiful and made a small ceremony into a special, unforgettable ceremony.

Excellent resource for wedding planners.......2007-04-05

I work regularly with people planning church weddings who want the service to be dignified, traditional and formal. Often they have "ear memory" of music they've heard in other weddings, but no idea about its composer or title. This CD is the best compilation I've found of music that fits those requirements. Selections include great music and performances make it easy to imagine how they would sound in a particular church or other setting. Includes works by Protestant, Catholic and secular composers.

Great item!.......2007-03-29

Great CD! Perfect when planning your wedding music. There are a variety of songs from various composers.

Preview your wedding day.......2006-08-14

This CD was inexpensive, and provided a great way to preview songs for my wedding. The CD had a good song selection. My fiance and I were able to get a better idea of how the songs would be at our wedding. Definitely an inexpensive tool that is worthwhile.

25 WEDDING FAVORITES.......2006-07-20

My daughter had to move her wedding 3 weeks before the event and the music she had arranged could not be there. I purchased this CD and we were thrilled with the price, the selections on the cd and how quickly it arrived. Thanks for providing the music for a beautiful wedding.

Average customer rating:

Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD
Best Brightman CD
Sarah Brightman is a Classic
Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman
Nice Cover

Sarah Brightman Classics
Sarah Brightman , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Francisco Tarrega , George Frideric Handel , Fryderyk Chopin , Sergey Rachmaninov , Giacomo Puccini , Antonin Dvorak , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Ludwig van Beethoven , Joseph Marie Canteloube , Francesco Sartori , and Paul Bateman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Time to Say Goodbye
Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
Diva: The Singles Collection
La Luna

ASIN: B00005RD78
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Ave Maria (new recording)
La Wally (from Time To Say Goodbye)
Winter Light (new recording)
Anytime, Anywhere (from Eden)
Alhambra (new recording)
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (from Eden)
Dans La Nuit (new recording)
Serenade/How Fair This Place (from La Luna)
O Mio Babbino Caro (new recording)
La Luna (from La Luna)
Pie Jesu (new recording)
Figlio Perduto (from La Luna)
Nessun Dorma (new recording)
Bailero (from Eden)
Time To Say Goodbye (New solo version--previously unavailable)

Amazon.com

Have some friends who still haven't discovered what the Sarah Brightman fuss is all about? You'll find the perfect introduction to make converts of them all in Classics, so they'll have no more excuses to remain clueless. Sporting a Botticelli-inspired image of the platinum-selling soprano on the cover, Classics is a classy anthology including highlights from three of Brightman's chart-topping releases along with seven new tracks. Songs personally selected by the diva as her favorite classical interpretations are culled from her previous blockbusters: Time To Say Goodbye, Eden, and La Luna. And whether you're a fan already in the fold or one in the making, the new material here shows the diva at the top of her form, in new renderings of "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Nessun Dorma" (accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic)--fascinating displays of the operatic confidence she's developed over her career. Other new offerings include a touching version of Schubert's "Ave Maria,' "Winter Light," a fresh take on her signature song "Pie Jesu" (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem). "Alhambra" and "Dans La Nuit"--a real treat, bathing the listener in Brightman's silky, sensuous vocalism--add two original titles to her famous adaptations of classical melodies to new lyrics (using Chopin's haunting E major Etude in the latter case). All told, a lovely affirmation of the directions Brightman has boldly taken in her career to date. -Sarah Chin

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

More from Sarah Brightman

Time to Say Goodbye
Diva: The Singles Collection
Eden

Diva: The Video Collection
Live from Las Vegas
La Luna (Live in Concert)

Customer Reviews:

Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD.......2007-03-15

Sarah Brightman's talent is limitless. Her soprano and/or alto voice is among the best and she lets it show in 'CLASSICS'. CLASSICS is a beautiful, easy listening, and peaceful CD. CLASSICS is one to listen to in tranquil or relaxing moments. "CLASICS" is a collection of great pieces of music written by great composers (Shuburt, Handel, Chopin, Puccini, and the like). I have listened to CLASSICS about 15 times now and it always puts me in a quiet and peaceful mood (I am ~50 years old).

Best Brightman CD.......2007-02-07

A classical composition which showcases the beautiful voice of Sarah Brightman. A timeless CD which will continue to be a favourite over the years.

Sarah Brightman is a Classic.......2007-01-02

Sarah Brightman is at her best in "Classics." From Dvorak's "Rusalka" (Opera B.203) to Beethoven's haunting Op 52, slow movement (Symphony #7), Brightman's voice and lyrical style are a joy. I particularly enjoy her performances of Schubert's Ave Maria and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Pie Jesu. This is a great add to my collection of serious music.

Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman.......2006-12-30

After purchasing this CD for my iPod for iTunes, I must say that I'm a little bit dissapointed. 7 new recordings and 8 old ones, ones that I already happen to have. I do like the fact that they're all on one CD! Some of her new recordings, including, "Ave Maria", "Winter Light", "Alhambra", "Dans La Nuit", and the new recording of "Pie Jesu" are just too breathy for my taste. It seems as with every changing CD, Sarah's voice changes. I'm not saying that the result is bad; it actually gives the songs more of a dream like quality, but I'm used to the younger, more Andrew Lloyd-Webber integrated Sarah. Scooping continually occurs in new recordings of "O Mio Babbino Caro", and "Nessun Dorma". In some tracks from La Luna, like "Figlio Perduto", Sarah's voice is TOTALLY dominated by harmonizing recordings that sound almost mechanical.

OVERALLY - The new songs sound O.K. and the old recordings are just as good as they were back then. This album is still a great buy!

Nice Cover.......2006-12-27

I'm a heterosexual guy who's not an opera aficionado - I only mention these facts because I seem to be right in the bull's-eye of the target market for this product. Sarah B. has a nice voice and she's pretty. Both of these are featured prominently on this CD. The cover and several pages in the insert are devoted to what must have been a very long and expensive photo shoot (and Photoshop) of a semi-clad Sarah looking marvelous. (The CD also comes with a flyer so you can buy various Brightman "Classics" apparel - perhaps not for the heterosexual male).

As far as the music goes: not bad, not great. I don't claim to have the most discerning ears for this sort of music, but everything was OK by me. However, the pieces on the CD with which I'm somewhat familiar, such as "O Mio Babbino Caro," didn't sound quite as good as other versions I've heard (and that includes by Charlotte Church, not just opera stars). Also, the solo version of "Time to Say Goodbye" didn't sound nearly as good to me as the duet with Bocelli.

In sum, there were 3-4 songs I liked enough to rip to MP3s - which is enough so that I didn't feel ripped myself...

Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Tribute
how do you even begin to comment on this singer?
A reissued recital in tribute to a great artist
Great Lieberson Recital

Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson

Manufacturer: Wigmore Hall Live
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel - Theodora / Peter Sellars · William Christie · Upshaw, Hunt, Daniels, Croft · Glyndebourne Opera

ASIN: B000MEYHXA
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Tracks:

Ich Atmet' Einen Linden Duft
Blicke Mir Nicht In Die Lieder
Liebst Du Um Schonheit
Um Mitternacht
Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen
E Vivo Ancora...Scherza Infida
As With Rosy Steps
O Ihr Zartlichen
Stiller Freund
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Spoken Introduction To: Triraksha's Aria
Triraksha's Aria
Spiritual: Deep River
Unbewegte Laue Luft Op.57 No.8

Amazon.com

We are indebted to Wigmore Hall for preserving this 1998 recital by the great, beloved mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who was tragically taken from us in 2006. Now that her recordings are all we have left, this one is particularly valuable: it captures the vibrant immediacy of a live performance. The concentrated, spellbound silence of the audience is like a tangible presence. It also captures the incomparable beauty of Hunt Lieberson's voice: a dark alto in the low register, a warm mezzo in mid-range, crowned by a radiant top. Seamless, focused, and pure, she could make it float ethereally or glow with intensity; her intonation and breath-control were impeccable. The program illustrates the breadth of her repertoire. Baroque opera was among her specialties, and the record includes two slow Handel arias, one a lament, one a prayer. She carries the influence of the bel canto style and its tendency to swell notes with delayed vibrato over into the Five Mahler Songs on Rückert poems, making them sound a bit fussy and calculated, particularly the first and last, which are extremely slow. In the fourth, however, the initial despair and final heroic resignation come out beautifully. In both these groups, one misses the orchestra, especially because the pianist, an admirable, empathetic partner, sounds distant and subdued. The program ends with works by her husband, Peter Lieberson: two songs on Rilke poems and an aria from the opera Ashoka's Dream. No composer could wish for a more persuasive advocate. She brings out their majesty, passion, and inward expressiveness with total identification. As encores, the spiritual "Deep River," the first verse in the low register, the second an octave higher, is deeply devout; Brahms' "Unbewegte laue Luft" starts softly and ends in a burst of glory. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Tribute.......2007-07-15

The re-issue of (AT LAST!) of this live concert is a fitting tribute to the late Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson. The achingly beautiful Mahler lieder and the joyous Handel arias for which she was so well known, are exquisitely and movingly sung. This is a must-have for those who loved this great artist. Her favorite encore number, "Deep River" could melt a heart of stone.

how do you even begin to comment on this singer?.......2007-06-22

I am fortunate to work in an office with walls and a door, where I can actually play music without disturbing anyone. Lately, because work has been particularly stressful, I've been playing and replaying my Hunt Lieberson CD's. Sometimes I am forced to just stop what I'm doing and listen, because I can't help it. Other times I'm aware of this glorious, comforting, melodic background to my work that makes everything I do more tolerable and less fraught. To say that I'm awestruck by this woman's gift would be the grossest of understatements. I don't recall ever responding to music in this way--and I am a singer. No one who cares about vocal music should be without all of Hunt Lieberson's work. Simply extraordinary.

A reissued recital in tribute to a great artist.......2007-06-01

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson got her just due as a great singer only in the last seven years or so of her life. She had sung gloriously at the New York City Opera without being offered a chance to debut at the Met until she was in her forties and made a huge success as Dido in Berlioz's Les Troyens. Now that she is gone, her rpemature death has inspsired a number of tribute albums, of which this 1998 recital in Wigmore Hall is one of the best.

For one thing, it's her only solo recital on disk, and it features some staples of her repertoire--two arias from Handel's Theodora, two beautiful Rilke settings by Petyer Lieberson, and the spiritual 'Deep River' as one of the encores. Hunt Lieberson was also a great Mahler singer but never recored any. She was deeply moving in the Third Sym. as she is here in the five Ruckert lieder. Roger Nognobles offers exceptionally sensitive accompaniments, particularly in the Mahler--I'd rank this CD as first choice if you want these songs outside their usual orchestral setting.

In sum, a unique recital form a much loved and greatly missed singer.

Great Lieberson Recital.......2007-05-31

This album is a 1998 recital by the great mezzo Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. It begins with 5 very beautiful songs by Mahler, all settings from poems by Freidrich Ruckert, followed by two Handel Arias, E vivo ancora from Ariodante, and As with rosy steps from Theodora. The Theodora aria is absolutely ravishing and brings down the house. No one sings Handel like Lieberson, the depth of feeling is remarkable. She concludes with three songs by her (at that time future) husband, the American Composer, Peter Lieberson. Finally she sings two encores, the American spiritual Deep River, and a lovely Brahms lieder Unbewegte laue Luft.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was one of the finest Mezzo's of our time. She had a gorgeous dark and warm tone with so much depth. In this recital she is at her absolute artistic peak and the audience realize that they are hearing something special. Roger Vignoles is one of the great piano accompanists of our time, and he shows it in this recording. Listening to this recital brings home the tragedy of Liebersons untimely death last year.

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