Interview [Import]

1. Pulp Fiction

2. Jackie Brown

Interview,Quentin Tarantino,Baktabak (UK)

---

Average customer rating: The Wonderful Sound of Music a classic...... Sound of Music--Still Great Sound of Music I love The Sound of Music!

The Sound of Music (1965 Film Soundtrack - 40th Anniversary Special Edition) Julie Andrews , Rodgers & Hammerstein , Marni Nixon , The Sound Of Music (Related Recordings) , and Irwin Kostal Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mary Poppins The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition) Annie (Original 1982 Motion Picture Soundtrack) Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack) The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) ASIN: B000BFNZAQ Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

1. Prelude And The Sound Of Music
2. Overture And Preludium (Dixit Dominus)
3. Morning Hymn And Alleluia
4. maria
5. I Have Confidence
6. Sixteen Going On Seventeen
7. My Favorite Things
8. Do-Re-Mi
9. The Sound Of Music
10. The Lonely Goatherd
11. Edelweiss
12. Laendler
13. So Long, Farewell
14. Ent'acte
15. Climb Ev'ry Mountain
16. My Favorite Things
17. Something Good
18. Processional And Maria (The Wedding)
19. Sixteen Going On Seventeen (Reprise)
20. Do-Re-Mi (Reprise)
21. Edelweiss (Reprise)
22. So Long, Farewell (Reprise)
23. Climb Ev'ry Mountain (Reprise)
24. Finale
25. Robert Wise Interview
26. Richard Rodgers Interview
27. Charmian Carr Interview

Customer Reviews:

The Wonderful Sound of Music.......2007-07-29

Our six-month old daughter loves the sound of music, especially Julie Andrews and the cast of The Sound of Music--she and we think it is truly wonderful!!

a classic.............2007-05-17

I can still remember the first time I heard this soundtrack. It was on my family's turntable. We happened to own the original vinyl addition. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (AKA THE SOUND OF MUSIC, in the words of Christopher Plummer who was Captain Von Trapp, in the film) is a classic musical that has really spanned the generations of young and old viewers, for (more than) four decades. For starters, the music is catchy ("The Sound of Music," "These Are A Few of My Favorite Things," and "Edelweiss," as just a few examples). Secondly, this cast was just great! Though, I have a personal preference toward the original cast, with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel. Nonetheless, Julie Andrews is great here. What a beautiful soprano voice.

This edition features bonus transfers of interviews with those involved in bringing THE SOUND OF MUSIC to the screen. What's more, this is the complete soundtrack (instrumental and music featuring vocals is included here). Definitely a "must buy" for true fans.

Sound of Music--Still Great.......2007-05-13

I loved the music when it came on the big screen. I loved it on LP and cassette. Now, I love it even more on CD. The joy I get from listening to it while driving is wonderful. It sends me back to fond family memories. This is a must have.

Sound of Music.......2007-05-07

The CD of the soundtrack of Sound of Music came in good shape and in good time.

I love The Sound of Music!.......2007-04-14

I love this movie so much, it's my favorite! So I recently bought this cd. Wow! If you love the movie, you'll love the cd. The cd has every song from the flic and is so clear. Listening to the songs make me want to watch the movie all over again for the trillionth time. You'll be able to picture every scene listening to this cd. Also, if your stuck in traffic and need a pick me up, play this cd. You'll wake up from your drowsy drive and entertain yourself cause you can actually sing along to a song and know the words, while the movie is replaying in your head.

Average customer rating: Amazing playing but Absolutely maddening "Oddly ferocious attacks" One for the ages. A Life-Affirming Adventure

A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981) Johann Sebastian Bach , Glenn Gould , and Tim Page Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary Edition The Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I The Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II French Suites - 70th Anniversary Edition Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41 ASIN: B00006FI7C Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo

Tracks:

1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo

Tracks:

1. Glen Gould Discusses His Peformances Of The Goldberg Variations With Time Page, August 22, 1982, Toronto, Canada
2. Studio Outtakes From The 1955 Goldberg Variations Recording Session

Amazon.com

Glenn Gould's recording debut in 1955 of Bach's Goldberg Variations took the world by storm. His decidedly un-Romantic view, absolute technical skill, startling lucidity, and right-on rhythmic changes, combined with his eccentricities--audible humming, sometimes outrageously fast tempi--made him an instantly legendary pianist and elucidated Bach's music in a whole new way. Gould's final recording, 26 years later, was also of the Goldbergs. It's a more relaxed, sometimes much slower, more inward reading (although still very much his own, complete with oddly ferocious attacks and accents), in which he offers repeats of the first half of 15 of the Variations. Both performances are glorious, each in its own way, and this luxurious new set of three CDs is entertaining, a joy to hear, and revelatory; it belongs in any music lover's collection. The third CD is devoted to outtakes and chatter from recording sessions. At one point, Gould improvises "God Save the King" and exhibits how it turns into "The Star-Spangled Banner." And a long interview with critic Tim Page offers great insight into Gould's weird humor and unique outlook. A must-have collection. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Amazing playing but.......2007-07-14

Glenn Gould has mastered the Bach, Goldberg Variations with out a question of doubt. His playing and style is absolutely amazing. The part that spoils the whole thing for me is when he starts humming. If you listen to it with the head phones on you can hear him humming away in the back ground. It is such a shame as he spoils his own brilliant performance.

Absolutely maddening.......2007-07-10

Imagine going to live piano recital. The music is gorgeous, you're really getting into it - and the person next to you starts humming along. You try to block it out, but the more you do, the more conscious of it you become. It becomes all you can hear, and suddenly the performance is just background noise to the humming. That's my experience with these CDs, the 1981 version more so than the 1955. Perhaps the humming's not so prominent when played on a proper stereo system, but listening on my PC with a pair of headphones, the humming is all I hear, and it's absolutely maddening. I can deal with the hiss, but the infernal humming is just too much for my mere mortal concentration. It may be the most amazing performance of anything ever, but if you can't listen to it, does it matter?

"Oddly ferocious attacks".......2007-05-08

My title comes from the editorial review above. Why such attacks? Bach wrote the Goldberg Variations for a harpsichord with two registers (two keyboards). Until Wanda Ladowska revived them in the 1930s, on a "pian-arpsichord" built specially for her, they were considered unplayable on piano. That opinion was correct, like it or not. The contrasts of register, intrinsic to the music, CANNOT be rendered intelligently merely by hammering ornaments and dancing on the pedals. Some pianists, however, come closer to making decent music of the Goldbergs by subduing their egos and letting the delicacy of the counterpoint be heard. There may be a case for playing Bach's other harpsichord solo works on piano -- Richard Goode does a decent job, for instance -- but the Goldberg Variations belong on harpsichord only forevermore.

One for the ages........2007-02-14

To be a sonic witness to this music is a real treat. Gould's approach both times is so personal and probing. What is really satisfying is how the 1981 recording is not just a rehash of 1955. Each era has it's own unique and distinct personality. This is a "must" in your musical collection.

A Life-Affirming Adventure.......2007-01-06

If you are new to Bach and Gould, "A State of Wonder" offers you a life-affirming adventure. This 3-disc package includes Glenn Gould's 1955 recording of the Goldberg Variations, with raw exuberance and breakneck speed. Disc 2 contains his 1981 reinterpretation, and this music has never sounded more divinely beautiful to this perpetual Bach student. Disc 3 is icing on the cake, featuring Gould's professorial zeal and musical logic (also lame but endearing humor). If you love the Goldberg--and I passionately hope you will--then curiosity will lead you to superb piano versions by Andras Schiff and Murray Perahia, and Wanda Landowska on the harpsichord. For further Bachian "wonder," Artur Schnabel's recording of the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue is awesome. Gould's Bach, however, remains my favorite. As for the brouhaha about his sometimes audible humming, I love it: Glenn lives!

Average customer rating: a flawless recording Excellent Sound Track Great gift! Good, but not for the Family fantastic......

My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Alan Jay Lerner , Rex Harrison , Julie Andrews , and Frederick Loewe Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast) The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000067AS1 Release Date: 2002-05-28

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Why Can't The English?
3. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
4. With An Ordinary Man
5. I'm An Ordinary Man
6. Just you Wait
7. The Rain In Spain
8. I Could Have Danced All Night
9. Ascot Gavotte
10. On The Street Where You Live
11. You Did It
12. Show Me
13. Get Me To The Church On Time
14. A Hymn To Him
15. Without You
16. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
17. A Post-Recording Conversation (bonus track)
18. Playback: Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe (bonus track)

Amazon.com

The 2,700 performances of Lerner and Loewe's musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion gracefully spanned the Eisenhower and Camelot eras, then begat a wildly popular film version, whose 1965 Best Picture Oscar capped the show's decade of prominence. The crowning achievement of Lerner and Loewe's rich body of work began its recording life on this 1956 cast recording, a collection of performances that long ago became a ubiquitous and indispensable fixture of American musical theater. Indeed, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison in the roles of the cockney Eliza Doolittle and her long-suffering mentor, Henry Higgins, delivering definitive versions of the show's embarrassment of riches: "Why Can't the English?," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." This new edition offers a digitally burnished take of the already glorious recording, now supplemented with a post-recording conversation track featuring Harrison, Andrews, Lerner, conductor Franz Allers, and original producer Goddard Lieberson, as well as a 1961 audio interview with Lerner and Loewe. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

a flawless recording.......2007-07-29

in terms of musicals, some are beyond famous. along with The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Singin' in the Rain, Oklahom and The King and I ranks My Fair Lady. the story of eliza doolittle and henry higgens is beyond being a classic, its a legend. but why? and does it deserve such recognition?

for proof that My Fair Lady deserves all of its fame look no further than this cast album. this is a true gem of musical theater and every cast recording should be done this well.

SONGS
the music is great. its strength is in subtlety. the background orchestral pieces are all soft and the strength is placed on the performers, which works great. a lot of the strength here goes to the witty lyrics of "why can't the english" and "i'm an ordinary man" (basically rex harrison's pieces!) or the soft crooning lyrics of "I Could've Danced All Night" and "On the Street Where You Live." the songs are fresh, original and pretty well done here.

SONGS 5 out of 5

PERFORMERS
a lot of credit falls on the steller cast here since most of the focus is on them. harrison is wonderfully and witty as henry higgens. julie andrews is, well, perfect as eliza. she is the greatest eliza ever. her vocals are all brilliantly done. the rest of the cast succeds in bringing humor or romance to the show wherever it is required. this is a top-notch cast the easilly outdoes the 1964 movie. if for no other reason than the sheer energy that is captured here.

PERFORMERS 5 out of 5

most broadway fans should own this just because it's My Fair Lady, but beyond that, this is a great show and this album captures all that brilliance perfectly. if you need just one recording, THIS IS THE ONE!!!

Excellent Sound Track.......2007-06-27

I found My Fair Lady full of beautiful arrangements and excellent vocals. Can't get better then the sound of Julie Andrews!!!! Although Julie did not get the movie roll this makes me appreciate the movie even more.

Great gift!.......2007-06-01

Bought this as a gift for a friend.Received it quickly and she was delighted.

Good, but not for the Family.......2007-05-29

I initially really enjoyed the movie my fair lady and wanted a sound track so I could continue to enjoy the music. However, upon recieving the cd, I was especially disappointed with one aspect - the language. I knew Professor Higgins and others had used profanity on the film, and was ok with it. You hear it once and move on. However, I don't want a cd playing around my family that my kids are learning to dance, sing, and act out a song that has rather obvious swear words. After 1 listen I picked out at least three instances of swearing, the worst being I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (my otherwise favorite song!) The song starts out d--n, d--n, d--n! It's shouted.

fantastic.............2007-05-16

MY FAIR LADY, one of the most well-loved and beautifully made musicals, was a definitive vehicle for the career of (then) twenty year old Julie Andrews, as the "loverly" Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle. Between Andrews' soaring soprano (which is especially poignant to hear, today, considering that she can no longer sing as she once did) and the great supporting cast, lead by Rex Harrison, as Dr. Henry Higgins, the bored professor who takes her under his wing as a special project to mold into a dignified lady, this is a five star show!

The story was actually based on PYGMALION, by the late, great playwright, George Bernard Shaw, inspired by Greek mythology. In the original Greek play, Pygmalion is the sculptor who creates a depiction of a woman, out of ivory, and falls in love with it. He prays to Venus, and then his sculpture is brought to life, as Galatea. In the musical, the gist is similar but the journey and characters veer from this concept considerably. For starters, no one starts out as a piece of stone--especially not Eliza Doolittle. She has definite opinions and a distinctive personality (saucy language and all), that Dr. Doolittle is very keen on shaping up for society. The music is perfectly in synch with the mood of this great play, which is in some ways a true parable about human behavior and the treatment of women in society. Some of the most beautiful music by Lerner and Loewe is featured here. The songs include "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face," and "Get Me to the Church On Time." This is brilliant. Buy this today! I am not sure how great the sound quality is on audio cassette, in comparison to the original recording on vinyl that I heard, as a little girl. I have a feeling it's pretty spectacular though!

Average customer rating: harem New to Sarah Brightman Stranger in Paradise - More Like Stranger in a Lost Cause No voice like hers in the world Brilliant Brightman, Her best CD.

Harem Sarah Brightman , and Frank Peterson Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Middle East | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Brightman, Sarah | A to B | Featured Performers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Interviews | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Eden (US Release - 16 tracks) La Luna Time to Say Goodbye Sarah Brightman Classics Dive ASIN: B00008W2QZ Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

1. Harem
2. What A Wonderful World
3. It's A Beautiful Day
4. What You Never Know
5. The Journey Home
6. Free
7. Mysterious Days
8. The War Is Over
9. Misere Mei
10. Beautiful
11. Arabian Nights
12. Stranger In Paradise
13. Until The End Of Time
14. You Take My Breathe Away

Amazon.com

If one's notion of "world music" promises a touch of the exotic and indigenous, often overlooked is the fact that the influence of western pop music has seeped into every corner of the globe, creating a hybrid that's often more than merely the sum of its influences. Theater vet Brightman steps into that pan-cultural hall of mirrors here, wedding her fascination with the music and rhythms of the "forbidden places" (the title's Arabic meaning) of the Middle East to her own oft ethereal vocal charms and rock-solid sense of drama. And if the diva's equally sound crossover sensibilities (and that of longtime producer Frank Peterson) sometimes mire it in familiar world-beat pastiche, Brightman's charmed muse manages some transcendent moments nonetheless. Her musical borrowings (Borodin for the title track; Puccini's *Madame Butterfly* for "It's a Beautiful Day") are as compelling as her choice of collaborators: classical violin star Nigel Kennedy and Iraqi vocalist Kadim Al Sahir add compelling touches to the weary timeliness of "The War is Over." The musical influences range from Europe across the Mediterranean and as far East as the Indian roots of "Bollywood" composer A.R. Rahman's "The Journey Home" and Brightman's own "You Take My Breath Away" to evocative recastings of the emblematic standards "Stranger in Paradise" and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," while ex-Killing Joke keyboardist Jaz Coleman provides the savory East-meets-West orchestrations that ensure Brightman's star turns the seamless foundations they deserve. --Jerry McCulley

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:

harem .......2007-05-28

As usual a quick and effecient service ,especially for people who live abroad.Keep up the excellent work John Williams.

New to Sarah Brightman.......2007-03-12

I'm very new to Sarah brightman's music and I enjoy this CD. I think she has an amazing voice. Very talented young woman and this cd was very relaxing and joyful to listen to. I like to learn and heard more from Sarah Brightman.

Stranger in Paradise - More Like Stranger in a Lost Cause.......2006-12-30

I'm not throughly pleased with this album! This CD is only good if you know how to dance in a Middle-Easters fashion. About half of each track is dominated by all orchestrations and no Sarah. Plus, Pop-Sarah isn't really for me. I much prefer the Classical-Sarah. Some of the tracks are okay, like "Harem", "The Journey Home", "Beautiful", and "Stranger in Paradise". Really, this is a good CD for your collection, but I wouldn't listen to it on a 24/7 basis.

No voice like hers in the world.......2006-10-01

I own this cd. I saw her in person at the "Harem" concert. Never had I heard or seen any voice like this. What a performer, best concert I'd ever seen. Beautiful voice, I can never get enough of Sarah Brightman's music. It is so comforting at times. I have all her music and this cd makes you wonder, how can she top this? Thank you Sarah Brightman for giving us your beautiful gift of music.

Brilliant Brightman, Her best CD........2006-09-18

Sarah is just the best, she can hit any note and her individuality shines on this CD. She sings "The Journey Home" from the musical Bombay Dreams and her voice just soars. "Harem", "Mysterious Ways" and "You Take My Breah Away" are songs that take me to dreamland. Amazing! A master piece!

Average customer rating: Food for Thought - Great for Productions Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen. PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE! Oliver-The Broadway Cast spectacular Broadway album

Oliver! (Deluxe Edition) (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] Various Artists Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Oliver! My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) Annie (1977 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0000996JO Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

1. Overture/Food Glorious Food - The Boys
2. Oliver! - The Boys, Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman, Bruce Prochnik
3. I Shall Scream - Wiloughby Goddard, Hope Jackman
4. Boy for Sale; Where Is Love? - Wiloughby Goddard, Bruce Prochnik
5. Consider Yourself - Crowd, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik
6. You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two - Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
7. It's a Fine Life - Georgia Brown, Alice Playten
8. I'd Do Anything - Georgia Brown, Michael Goodman, Alice Playten, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
9. Be Back Soon - The Boys, Michael Goodman, Bruce Prochnik, Clive Revill
10. Oom-Pah-Pah - Georgia Brown
11. My Name - Danny Sewell
12. As Long as He Needs Me - Georgia Brown
13. Who Will Buy? - Bruce Prochnik, Chorus
14. Reviewing the Situation - Clive Revill
15. As Long as He Needs Me (Reprise) - Georgia Brown
16. Reviewing the Situation (Reprise) - Clive Revill
17. Finale

Amazon.com

Lionel Bart's wonderful musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was the first London stage musical to be transplanted to Broadway with the same kind of sensation it received in Britain-- something that is now common in these post-Cats/Les Miserables times. Although no one from this British cast ever became enormously famous (future Monkee Davy Jones was in the second Broadway cast)--and Sir Carol Reed's film version receives all the critical accolades--this remains the better recording, featuring all the songs cut from the film, while excluding the film's musical interludes that simply seem annoying without the visuals. Just compare Bruce Brochnik to the film's Mark Lester in the title role. Or Clive Revill to Ron Moody's Fagin. Or any of the principals, for that matter--and the differences are remarkable. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Food for Thought - Great for Productions.......2007-07-03

If you are considering a production of Oliver this is a great recording that has good background information. It does skip some of the overture music but the rest of that tracks are well done.

Oliver is a classic and meant to be heard and seen........2007-05-25

Many of these numbers are well known. And the dark tone of the story being told is well represented by the choices made by the actors and their directors. But it IS rough and dark and mournful. Not a road-trip CD, rather a show to see in the theater.

PLEASE SIR! I WANT SOME MORE!.......2007-02-27

I starred in my local summer stock company's production of "Oliver," in the summer of 2005. I used this CD to practice learning the musical numbers, by listening to it on my iPod. It has some very memorable numbers such as "Oom-Pah-Pah," "Food, Glorious Food," "Who Will Buy?" "That's Your Funeral," and "Consider Yourself." The one Oliver song that gets on my nerves. But I just can't get enough of most of this music, after the great time I had in the show. I even listen to the soundtrack on airplane trips and car rides sometimes.

Oliver-The Broadway Cast.......2006-03-17

As an original cast member with Florence Henderson's "Sound of Music" tour 45 years ago, I have a unique perspective about this recording. Even the musical director comments at the end that this version of "Oliver" was not particularly well sung but that the cast had a lot of energy.

Unfortunately,(in my opinion) this energy doesn't translate suficiently to the recording and I agree - it's not particularly well sung. Again, from the perspective of a former child performer singing with other kids, it actually is possible for a group of children to sing together and make pleasant-sounding music. The adults in this "Oliver" aren't up to musical snuff either.

Although I haven't heard it, I'd be willing to take my chances on the original London version before settling for this one (which, by the way, was recorded in an LA studio before it even got to Broadway.)

spectacular Broadway album.......2006-02-15

The cast album to the 1963 Broadway premiere production of OLIVER! was actually recorded during the show's pre-Broadway run in Los Angeles. OLIVER! played to subsequent audiences in San Francisco, Detroit and Toronto before opening at the Imperial Theatre in New York on January 6, 1963. The show played 774 performances before prematurely ending the season to play a 9-month national tour, later returning to New York for a `farewell' run of 64 performances.

As she had done to rapturous acclaim in London three years previously, Georgia Brown played the role of Nancy, and earned similar praise for her performance in New York. Her rich, velvet-tinged voice is especially haunting with the chill inducing ballad "As Long As He Needs Me". Composer Lionel Bart wrote "It's a Fine Life" especially for Brown after learning she had been cast in the role in the London production.

Ron Moody had also scored heavily in London with his tour-de-force turn as Fagin, but with producers fearing his portrayal `too ethnic', the role was taken by Clive Revill for the Broadway premiere. Revill had just come from his celebrated role in IRMA LA DOUCE, and his interpretation of Fagin is every bit as valid as Ron Moody's. Bruce Prochnik is a winsome and wistful Oliver, and Michael Goodman is a delight as the Artful Dodger. Wisely-retained from the original London company were a handful of the first-rate supporting players: Hope Jackman's shrill Mrs Corney; and the up-and-coming Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry (Humphries would later graduate to playing Fagin before his beloved alter-ego Dame Edna unleashed herself on the world). The promising young belter Alice Playten was smartly-showcased as Nancy's offsider Bet.

But, the sound mix on the Broadway album has always been rather flat and dull, despite being recorded in the stereo format of the day. Voices and orchestra have no vibrancy or depth, and this was due to the studio in which they recorded it, where the ceiling was very low and the sound did not have the necessary acoustic projection. Nevertheless, the recording has a charm and energy which overrides the technical shortcomings.

This new CD reissue from RCA offers some interesting bonus materials including musical director Don Pippin sharing his memories of the show; Barry Humphries performing "That's Your Funeral" (from the London cast album but left off the Broadway album); and a live recording of Patti LuPone singing "As Long As He Needs Me" (LuPone played Nancy in a short-lived Broadway revival in 1986).

Good value.

Average customer rating: Wonderful Soundtrack DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY The excitement is there, but..... Goodbye, Dolly! Toxically Corny!!!!

Hello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) Jerry Herman , and Carol Channing Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast) My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast) Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000099SZ0 Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

1. Prologue
2. I Put My Hand In
3. It Takes a Woman
4. Put on Your Sunday Clothes
5. Ribbons Down My Back
6. Motherhood
7. Dancing
8. Before the Parade Passes By
9. Elegance
10. Hello, Dolly!
11. It Only Takes a Moment
12. So Long Dearie
13. Finale
14. I Put My Hand In [*] - Mary Martin
15. Before the Parade Passes By [*] - Pearl Bailey
16. Hello, Dolly! [*] - Pearl Bailey
17. So Long Dearie [*] - Mary Martin
18. Love, Look in My Window [*] - Ethel Merman
19. World, Take Me Back [*] - Ethel Merman
20. On Recording Hello, Dolly! [*] - Carol Channing
21. When Did You Sense That Hello, Dolly! Would Be a Hit? [*] - Carol Channing
22. On the Title Number [*] - Carol Channing
23. "Dolly Changed Me..."; the Book [*] - Carol Channing
24. Plot [*] - Carol Channing
25. Optimism, And Finding One's Character [*] - Carol Channing
26. Prime of Life [*] - Carol Channing

Amazon.com

Sitting in the balcony at the final preview of this 1964 Jerry Herman show, still very much in school and long before my career as a critic began, I knew somehow that I was witnessing theatrical history. Even as that callow youth, I was certain that Carol Channing had been born to play the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, the meddling turn-of-the century New York widow who had been adapted from Thornton Wilder's straight play The Matchmaker. Channing has proved me right by playing the role ever since, of course, miraculously only improving with age. Beyond Dolly herself, however, the musical emitted a synergistic exuberance (at least five years before we used the word "synergy"). The supporting cast, including David Burns, Eileen Brennan, and Charles Nelson Reilly, were terrific. Herman's tunes and lyrics were sublimely crafted both to create their characters and stand alone. (The title song took on a life of its own.) The show's designers, librettist Michael Stewart and director Gower Champion, combined to transport the audience to 60 years earlier in little old New York. This wasn't all just my opinion: Hello, Dolly! won a record 10 Tonys. The original cast recording can still take you to that other time and place, even if you didn't see the original show. But, at the risk of offending my inner adolescent, the 1994 revival, naturally starring Channing, was even better--both on stage and on disc. --Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Soundtrack.......2007-06-27

This is the original recording, with all of the best names included. Wonderful, wonderful music.

DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY.......2007-05-17

Great re-mastering of original BWay cast album with wonderful other Dollys, particularly Pearl Baily who makesHello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) the title tune her own. It is still a great score and a delight to own.

The excitement is there, but............2007-01-24

Hello Dolly is one of my favorite shows. When you listen to the cast album, you really do--as others have said--feel the excitement of being there on opening night when Broadway history was being made. The wonderful RCA cast album has been a best seller for 43 years. But while I do feel it is necessary for any musical fan to have this cast recording in their collection, this is not personally my "Dolly" album of choice. I have three of the 5 major DOLLY recordings in my collection; this Original Cast, the Barbra Streisand movie soundtrack, and the Mary Martin London cast on LP (the others I do not have are the Pearl Bailey cast album and the Carol Channing revival). My preferred recording is a tie between the movie soundtrack and the Mary Martin album, with this one trailing (not far) behind. As far as the supporting cast are concerned, the original cast wins hand down. But HELLO DOLLY is really about the star, and in my opinion, Carol Channing can't sing...err, croak...her way out of a cardboard box. I realize that that is Channing's trademark, but it just doesn't work for me. As I said, this album is required equipment in any serious musical lover's collection, but I think that I too will "stick with Streisand." And for God's sake, I wish RCA would get off their rump and get the Mary Martin cast album out on CD, and reissue the Pearl Bailey cast album too while they're at it!

Goodbye, Dolly!.......2005-10-30

This Deluxe Edition of the orginal "Hello, Dolly!" has three distinct problems.

For starters, this is not the classic musical that afficianados would have you believe, nor is it Jerry Herman at his best (that honor goes to "Mame"). Rather, this is a fair to middling score with three socko numbers (title tune not included), three rather fine songs (title song included) and the rest either average or inadequate. "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "Before the Parade Passes By" are two of the most galvanizing songs ever written for the Broadway stage and no singer can detract from their euphoric energy (though Carol Channing tries -- more on that later). "So Long, Dearie", though slower in tempo than Barbra Streisand's definitve rendition, is a showstopping character song that's both clever and compelling. These three numbers are what gives "Dolly" it's class and they are three of the best things Herman ever wrote. Then we have "Dancing", "Elegance" and (gulp!) the by now overly familiar title song, each an accomplished tune that propels the plot with, well, elegance. The song "Hello, Dolly!" may now annoy as a Broadway warhorse, but it was as fresh as daffodils when it first premiered. The rest of the score, sadly, isn't up to these standards. "It Takes a Woman" and "It Only Takes a Moment" are indistinguished at best, and "Ribbons Down My Back" is downright annoying. Worse still, "I Put My Hand In" is a lackluster opener that pales in comparison to "Just Leave Everything to Me", its replacement in the movie and a bonifide Jerry Herman rouser. And "Motherhood" sounds like exactly what it was, a stage wait for the scenery to move in. Totally expendable.

The second problem here is that this may be the worst sung original cast recording in Broadway history. Charles Neslon Reilly's wobbly tenor struggles to maintain pitch, Eileen Brennan's stilted soprano sounds more like light operetta than musical comedy, and David Burns makes his movie counterpart, Walter Matthau, sound like Mario Lanza in comparision. Then there is Dolly, the incomprehensibly overrated Carol Channing. From her first froggy notes in "I Put My Hand In" you know it's going to be rough sledding and, sure enough, she croaks and screeches her way through one song after another, rendering most of what she sings unlistenable. Channing's voice is thin, harsh and completely unequalized throughout its range and she effectively saps all of the charm out of "...Sunday Clothes" and "Parade". By the time the recording has ended, you want to banish this CD to a deserted island. But wait, there's more! An almost unrecognizable Mary Martin starts the "extras" on this disc with a shock. Some of her last recordings, these "Dolly" numbers unfortunately display how Martin's once lovely instrument had deepened and thickened over the years. A full throttle but somewhat tremulous Ethel Merman fairs little better on some poorly recorded songs added to the show when she took over. These two giants actually make the songs Pearl Bailey does on this disc seem all the more astonishing. While arguably not as talented as Martin or Merman (although, in reconsidering this recording and her career, I think I'm entirely wrong in that observation), Bailey hits a home run on each of her renditions and her recording of the title song is absolutely definitive. Someone should quickly get the cast recording of her "Dolly" back in circulation. "She" and "we" deserve it.

The final problen here is a lengthy recent interview with Ms. Channing that has to be heard to be believed. Does she actually think we're buying the idea that she was doing high kicks in the studio while recording her songs? Please! She barely catches her breath between phrases. And her comparing her premonition that the show would be a hit to a passage in the bible is as laughable as it is sacriligious. Yes, she may have done the show over 5000 times, but she lucked into a classic without earning her own classic status. No wonder all she could do was repeat herself for the rest of her career. Stick with Streisand.

And I guess from the reviews of THIS review, disliking Channing is sacriligous. I better watch my back.

Toxically Corny!!!!.......2005-01-22

A lot of my friends wonder why I violently detest Broadway Musicals so much. Well, this particular recording is at least one reason why. Exposed to this piece of Toxic Schlock at a very young age (about 4 I reckon), and ever since, for me it has epitomized EVERYTHING I detest about musicals, the thin corny plots, even cornier songs, people breaking out into song at the most ridiculous times and so much glitz that my system nearly went into toxic shock. The worst part of it all, CAROL CHANNING!!!! This woman CANNOT SING TO SAVE HER LIFE, PERIOD!!!

I've even asked people who DO like B'way what is the deal with her? I hear it's that she has charisma. OK, since when does charisma equal talent (I honestly believe they are NOT the same thing).

And I have even tried to listen to other musicals over the years, and I just CANNOT get the appeal of it on ANY level! I guess this is well-done as these things go (there is work involved), but I just CANNOT understand what the fuss is all about.

Signed,

One perplexed Owl.

Average customer rating: Still an electrifying album DEAR READER There's never been a show like "How to Succeed" A real life fairy tale... It Succeeds!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Deluxe Edition) (1961 Original Broadway Cast) Frank Loesser , Robert Morse , and Bonnie Scott Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Matthew Broderick in "How to Succeed in Business WIthout Really Trying!" A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962 Original Broadway Cast) Damn Yankees (1955 Original Broadway Cast) Hello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) ASIN: B0000DZ3ID Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. How To
3. Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm
4. Coffee Break
5. The Company Way
6. The Company Way (Reprise)
7. A Secretary Is Not A Toy
8. Been A Long Day
9. Grand Old Ivy
10. Paris Original
11. Rosemary
12. Finaletto Act One
13. Cinderella, Darling
14. Love From A Heart Of Gold
15. I Believe In You
16. Brotherhood Of Man
17. Finale
18. Dear Reader - Walter Cronkite
19. You Have Alertly Seized Your Opportunities - Walter Cronkite
20. Been A Long Day (Reprise) - Luba Mason
21. How To (Reprise) - Women
22. So You Are Now A Vice-President - Walter Cronkite
23. How To Handle A Disaster... - Walter Cronkite
24. By This Time, You Are A Seasoned Executive... - Walter Cronkite
25. Organization Man
26. A Secretary Is Not A Toy
27. I Believe In You - J.J. Johnson
28. Brotherhood Of Man - Woody Herman And His New Thundering Herd
29. Getting The Part - Robert Morse
30. 'I Believe In You' - Robert Morse
31. 'The Company Way' - Robert Morse
32. The Audition - Charles Nelson Reilly
33. 'Finaletto' - Charles Nelson Reilly
34. 'Coffee Break' - Charles Nelson Reilly

Customer Reviews:

Still an electrifying album.......2007-05-29

What the world needs now and then -- what it used to get now and then -- is a true smash Broadway hit. We got an idea when "The Producers" opened, when reviewers raved and people rushed for tickets and The New York Times predicted it would run fifteen years. And then...Nate and Matt left, with Nate's place taken by some fellow who'd done Shylock on the West End, and he got fired, and the whole premium-priced house of cards crumbled in slow motion -- no more sellouts (at least none without the boys), no one acclaiming the "genius" of the newest Max Bialystock or of Susan Stroman, no one willing to overlook the indifferent songs or the "hoary" jokes (so Ben Brantley called them -- on opening night!), and the show closed nine years before the Times said it would, and now it's a relic, just another overrated -- vastly overrated -- memento of its day, a "Black Crook" of over-the-top "comedy."

"How to Succeed in Business" was the "Producers" of 1961 -- a highly-buzzed-about show that became a smash hit and earned tons of awards, including the Pulitzer. JFK came to see it, the ultimate stamp of approval. The difference, of course, is where Mel's show had an amanuensis, this one had the real thing in Frank Loesser. As the theatrical historian Gerald Bordman has noted, Loesser's strong suit was satire, yet somehow he got sidetracked into several big romantic shows, square pegs in round holes given his snappy up-to-the-minute style; he'd bombed the year before with the idyllic whimsy of "Greenwillow." Here he returned to the brassy form of "Guys and Dolls", and if it wasn't at that rarefied level (what could be?) his score was still one of the best -- and like most of the era's hits it was expertly and excellently cast, and thankfully for us superbly recorded. Whether the show itself is so excellent is another matter; it derives from a paper-thin in-joke parody of how-to manuals, and Abe Burrows's book pulls its punches from the get-go, content with easy set pieces. But the satirical prospects for "How to Succeed" have since increased exponentially. One could wrench "A Secretary is Not a Toy" from the weak orbit of Bob Fosse's finger snaps (the clever use of the typewriter here was evidently just for the album and most likely never made the show) and plunge it straight into an office machinery maelstrom of beeping computers and grinding copiers and ring-tone-playing cellphones. Of course J. Pierrepont Finch wouldn't be the only one with executive ambitions -- why not his beloved Rosemary? One or both could sell his (or her, or their) brilliant promotional scheme with a PowerPoint to end all PowerPoints. And Wall Street has outdone itself with imaginative crookery; merely hiding stock for a televised treasure hunt won't do -- unless of course Money Honey® emceed it on CNBC. Maybe she could be the femme fatale. Alas come the 1995 revival the producers' idea of humor was to emblazon their every poster (and the album art too) with a big fat "H2$" -- unfortunately H2S is the chemical symbol for hydrogen sulfide, sewer gas (yes, I know, it's a dollar sign, but it's also an S) -- and to get A&P's Eight O'Clock Coffee in for a willfully ignorant product placement.

Perhaps it can't be done. Perhaps this brilliant cast album is a deceptive siren song to a revival's possibilities -- like "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", a first-rank score next to a rank book. But "Pal Joey" became a stage treasure thanks to Goddard Lieberson's studio album, and the stage is nothing if not for dreaming.

DEAR READER.......2007-01-28

DEAR READER

You naughty Frank Loesser, tk, tk, tk, tk, tk, tk, tk, tk, tk (vintage typewriter clicks in the orchestra here): with your Jewish, Mid-European blood, wouldn't you have known --immersed deep in Rumyonland all your life-- before having Rosemary Pilkington say:
"Happy to keep his dinner warm till he comes wearily home"
then:
"I'm pregnant; what's new with you from downtown?"
...that these lyrics are so politically incorrect today? Executive suites, three button suits, doing things "The Company Way" are quite OK though: as (the then) Reagan Corps., later Bush Sr., now Cheney's Halliburton plus their henchmen in Eurobond Inc. all reign worldwide supreme; a dead solid Brotherhood of Man! Wait a minute, let's not try getting sincere! (Gotta stop that Frank Loesser cold or he'll still manage to stop the big rocket of political correctness!) It may embarrass Lloyd-Weberites, specially bric-a-brac-bazar-musicals suckers, to hear me say it, but say it I must: "How To Succeed in Business..." was the wondrous follow-up to the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical theatre revolution in the 40s/50s.... and more!

After his "Guys & Dolls" earlier masterpiece, through "Most Lucky Fella" (more 'a show with lots of music' than a Gerwhinesque Folk Opera') Loesser, a great among the finest composer/lyricists, produced his most distilled, hilarious and incisive work, teamed with Abe Burrows and the 'succeeding' choreographer of the day: Bob Fosse. To incarnate lead Pierpont Finch they groomed ex US Navy & Korean War fighter Robert Morse, with his quaint split teeth smirk, not much of a singer (listen to his breathing, the odd out of tune notes) yet, if we watch the movie version of "How To" (among the finest Hollywood Broadway adaptations) --and as a bonus, Tony Richardson's film "The Loved One"-- one can imagine Morse's charisma as the impetuous youth, the cheeky, happy go-lucky, unstoppable crawler from mailroom to the Tony Awards. And there was the awesome casting of vintage silver crooner Rudy Vallee as Biggley, supported by a bunch of fine female belting secretaries led by Bonnie Scott (and boy, belt they did! Just listen to Victoria Martin's high note in "Heart of Gold" if you can bear it.)

In the Deluxe Edition some of the bonus tracks are interesting, others less, like Charles Nelson Reilly's goings on about operatic Finalettos and such, although how right he was in his depiction of the problems he had pitching Coffee Break, then goes into a ridiculously rampant PAPAMPAMPAM!!! confessing: "I had A BAD EAR but I had a lot of spirit"... (good, honest ole' pro!) Loesser singing his demo sketch for "A Secretary is Not A Toy" at the piano is a real treat to listen to and ponder --knowing the final version-- on how any successful show depended on the interaction (and squabbles!) of its various creative collaborators. Also we get a tip of marvelous Walter Conkrite 'Book Reader's voice', which one can find, plus other missing bits, in the 1995 'H2$' New Broadway Cast Album with Mathew Broderick, a great Jeff Blumenkrantz as Frump et al; but, alas, this Clinton-era revival, with pointless new orchestrations and a ridiculous, Gospel-like arrangement of 'Brotherhood of Man' doesn't live up to the real macoy, for... Gentlemen, gentlemen! a good Broadway Masterpiece is NOT a toy, and you find nothing like it in F.A.O Shwartz! (For a real Xtra bonus, have a listen to Bobby Darin's "I Believe In You", LOL! the veritable Narcissus-swing-hit-song rendered by the very one!)

So, dear reader, you have alertly seized your opportunity to revisit or get to know this Original Cast Album of one of the best shows of the early 1960s just before its grand sloping period. Let's have a coffee on it, for it's been a long day; decades... I should say, of devastation. What? No COFFEE? No tunes? No wit? No art? No stars? Nothing remotely original? Why weren't Sondheim's greats rightly produced?

Ooooooh.... something within me dies!

There's never been a show like "How to Succeed".......2006-06-13

This is a fantastic soundtrack of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Great musical numbers include "The Company Way", "Grand Old Ivy", "A Secretary is Not a Toy!", "Coffee Break", and "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm". There is also familiar musical numbers like "I Believe in You", "Paris Original", "Rosemary", "How To", and the show stopping number "Brotherhood of Man". This show has a strong singing cast and that's what a hit Broadway musical needs. The cast includes the hilarious ROBERT MORSE as J. Pierpont Finch, the famous RUDY VALLEE as Mr. J.B. Biggley, the talented BONNIE SCOTT as Rosemary, the beautiful VIRGINIA MARTIN as Hedy LaRue, and the extremely goofy CHARLES NELSON REILLY as Bud Frump. Other cast members are RUTH KOBART, SAMMY SMITH, DONNA McKECHNIE, and PAUL REED. This musical is about a window washer, J. Pierpont Finch (MORSE), who wishes to "succeed in business" and while his knowledge of business increases after learning a thing or two by his boss, Mr. Biggley (VALLE), he falls in love with his very attractive secretary, Rosemary (SCOTT) and tries to overcome his evil enemy, Bud Frump (REILLY), Biggley's dimwitted nephew. Music and Lyrics written by FRANK LOESSER (Guys and Dolls, Where's Charley, The Most Happy Fella). Book written and Directed by ABE BURROWS (Guys and Dolls). Based on the book "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" by Shephard Mead. Choreography by BOB FOSSE (Chicago, Pippin, Sweet Charity, The Pajama Game). I recomend this sountrack to anyone who loves classic Broadway musicals.

Was this helpful to you?

A real life fairy tale..........2004-07-09

Many people have come into contact with and grown to love Frank Loesser's work through his most famous musical, the wonderful Guys and Dolls, but in my opinion this is infinitly superior and no broadway collection can be said to be complete without it. I immediately fell in love with this musical, but at first I was unable to see wherein the charm actually lay. The music, while catchy and fun to listen to, is not extraordinary, and, while Loesser's lyrics are clever and creative, he is certainly not my favorite lyricsist. The cast is excellent and perfectly suited to the piece, but that is the case in many of the original cast recordings of the best broadway musicals. And yet, despite not being overwhelmed by it, I could not stop listening to it. At length, I concluded that it is the story and the nonchalant, carefree feeling of the piece that captivates me. Each character is somehow endearing, in every song it is possible to relate to their emotions and desires, and yet, at the same time, it is so light and funny; at times it is as if nothing could shatter the playful frolicing world Loesser has created. Musicals are usually built around unusual events or are set in unusual places; it is the very simplicity that makes this recording so endearing, the idea is such a basic one, a young man trying to make his way in the world, and yet he goes about it in such an unorthadox fashion that the audience is instantly charmed and sucked into the story. From the first moment that he appears on stage we want him to succeed. That is the mark of a good musical. This down to earth, innocent style is especially well embodied by Robert Morse and his Rosemary, Bonnie Scott. It is impossible to listen to Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm or I Believe in You without a smile coming to your lips. And there are many other wonderful moments on this CD. M personal favorite is The Company Way, but I cannot resist the charming Been a Long Day, the electricfying Paris Original, the lovely Rosemary or the wonderful climatic moment that is Brotherhood of Man. Buy this recording, dont even think abut buying the revival cast first, (i mean, come on, how could they leave out Cinderella, Darling? It's one of the catchiest moments on the whole CD) or better still buy the Deluxe Edition if you can. But whatever you do, dont hesitate to buy it at the earliest oppurtunity. Even if you dont believe me, take a look at the facts, 1,417 performances, every possible award for best musical in its season, a Pulitzer Prize, (if nothing else sways you that should, I mean, only two other musical won one) productions all over the world, a successful revival, a reasonably successful film...I could go on and on. Please, just do me a favour and invest in something that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

It Succeeds!.......2001-11-05

Whether you saw the film or not, get the CD and nod your head, stamp your feet, pucker up and smile. Great Music!

Average customer rating: Okay I gave it a title A Masterpiece--And A Revelation Not my favorite of the series, but great... I bought it for "Hurt" Excellent

American IV: The Man Comes Around (Bonus DVD) Johnny Cash Manufacturer: Lost Highway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Interviews | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: American III: Solitary Man American Recordings Unchained American V: A Hundred Highways At Folsom Prison ASIN: B00008IAMD Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

1. The Man Comes Around
2. Hurt
3. Give My Love To Rose
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. I Hung My Head
6. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
7. Personal Jesus
8. In My Life
9. Sam Hall
10. Danny Boy
11. Desperado
12. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
13. Tear Stained Letter
14. Streets of Laredo
15. We'll Meet Again

Amazon.com

On first thought, the idea of The Man in Black recording such covers as "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Danny Boy," and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" might seem odd, even for an artist who's been able to put his personal stamp on just about everything. But American IV: The Man Comes Around, which also draws on Cash's original songs as well as those by Nine Inch Nails ("Hurt"), Sting ("I Hung My Head"), and Depeche Mode ("Personal Jesus"), may be one of the most autobiographical albums of the 70-year old singer-songwriter's career. Nearly every tune seems chosen to afford the ailing giant of popular music a chance to reflect on his life--and look ahead to what's around the corner. From the opening track, Cash's own "The Man Comes Around," filled with frightening images of Armageddon, the album, produced by Rick Rubin, advances a quiet power and pathos, built around spare arrangements and unflinching honesty in performance and subject. In 15 songs, Cash moves through dark, haunted meditations on death and destruction, poignant farewells, testaments to everlasting love, and hopeful salutes to redemption. He sounds as if he means every word, his baritone-bass, frequently frayed and ravaged, taking on a weary beauty. By the time he gets to the Beatles' "In My Life," you'll very nearly cry. Go ahead. He sounds as if he's about to, too. Unforgettable. (This special 2003 version includes a bonus DVD with the music video for "Hurt.") --Alanna Nash

Album Description

Bonus DVD contains the music video for "Hurt", directed my Mark Romanek.

Customer Reviews:

Okay I gave it a title.......2007-07-04

The man's last effort, he gave it all he had left, you can feel it in his voice. Profound, perhaps partly because it was his last, but profound nonetheless. This CD includes his version of Trent Reznor's Hurt, a song I had hoped no one would ever condescend to cover, but the song was almost written just for him, it's haunting. In the liner note he descibes how he spent the last few months of his life working on the title track, taking longer to compose than any other song of his life, like he knew it was his last and wanted to give it his all. If you only own one Cash album, especially if, like myself, you're not a country western sort, consider this one.

A Masterpiece--And A Revelation.......2007-04-02

Having grown up in the New York area, where, in the early 1970s, country was definitely not "cool," I have taken more than thirty years to discover Johnny Cash. I am stunned by the remarkable quality of the music I have finally, belatedly, come to love. All of the American Recordings produced by Rick Rubin are fantastic, but, for me, this is the best of the lot. The title track (written by Cash) is especially memorable: it is a superb song, and is framed by Cash's eerie readings from the book of Revelations, in a world-weary voice that sounds as old as God himself. Every track here is timeless and haunting. This is a wonderful album, personal, profound, and unforgetable from start to finish. A true American classic, very highly recommended.

Not my favorite of the series, but great..........2007-01-09

Late last year I "discovered" the American Recordings series Cash did with R. Rubin when I heard his version of Lightfoot's "If You Could Read my Mind" online. It moved me to tears! I rushed out ahd bought V: A Hundred Highways and could not get enough of the disc. I soon added "American Recordings" and "My Mother's Hymnal" along with "IV The Man Comes Around."

Like all the albums in this series, "The Man Comes Around" is a treasure, but so far it has been my least favorite in the collection. I think some of the covers were too "mainstream pop" though executed very well. "Hurt" is of course amazing, and I did like the treatment for "In My Life" and "Bridge" - "Personal Jesus" was another strong cover but for the life of me I can't figure out why "Danny Boy" is on this disc. For me, it kind of breaks up an otherwise good album.

Still, highly recommended...

I bought it for "Hurt".......2006-06-20

I was scanning the radio channels one day and came upon Johnny Cash singing "Hurt". After hearing his somber melodious voice for a few seconds, I couldn't help but to hear the rest of the song; it was so poignant that I remember exactly where I was at that moment and what I was doing. The song isn't originally his, but it was definately made for him. Later, I heard the Nine Inch Nails version of Hurt. Johnny Cashes rendition puts them to shame. Although I purchased the CD for "Hurt", the other tracks are good as well. If you like hurt, you will like most of the other tracks. My favorite by far is "Hurt" but I never get tired of listening to "The Man Comes Around", "Give My Love to Rose", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "I Hung My Head", "In My Life" and "Sam Hall". One of the things I like about Cash is how he puts so much of his heart into his music and it's so simple with nothing more than his voice and a guitar. I'm not even a fan of country music, imagine that.

Excellent.......2006-06-04

I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash, and nothing will ever replace the original albums, but this album is perhaps one of Cash's best albums. It offers new music with the old sound, but with a different sound. I recommend it to both Cash fans, and strangers to his music.

Average customer rating: Amazing! Nearly perfect movie score!!! Like the movie itself Dark and Intriguing! Touching

Interview With The Vampire: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Elliott Goldenthal Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bram Stoker's Dracula: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Queen Of The Damned: The Score Album Sleepy Hollow: Music from the Motion Picture Violin for Anne Rice Queen of the Damned ASIN: B000000OTW Release Date: 1994-12-13

Tracks:

1. Libera Me
2. Born To Darkness Part l
3. Lestat's Tarantella
4. Madeleine's Lament
5. Claudia's Allegro Agitato
6. Escape To Paris
7. Marche Funabre
8. Lastat's Recitative
9. Santiago's Waltz
10. Theatre De Vampires
11. Armand's Seduction
12. Plantation Pyre
13. Forgotten Lore
14. Scent Of Death
15. Abduction & Absolution
16. Armand Rescues Louis
17. Louis' Revenge
18. Born To Darkness Part ll
19. Sympathy For The Devil - Guns N' Roses

Amazon.com

Elliot Goldenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the film, from the opening notes of "Libera Me" to the reprise of "Born to Darkness" at the end. He builds on a few basic themes, adding excitement to the mix with the high-intensity "Louis' Revenge" and "Claudia's Allegro Agitato." As some of the track titles suggest, Goldenthal uses classical themes and techniques to compose his music, which works nicely. So well, in fact, that the Guns n Roses' rendition of "Sympathy for the Devil," appropriate as it was in the film, sounds like an afterthought here. The soundtrack is a little too repetitive to hold up well to repeated listens, but it's a fine effort overall, and one that holds true both to the film and to the Anne Rice novel on which it was based. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2006-12-30

This soundtrack is absolutely amazing. Dark, moving, melodic, and VERY emotional. I would recommend this soundtrack to anyone who is a fan of classical, or anyone who likes dark, moving, music.

Nearly perfect movie score!!!.......2006-12-14

I've been a fan of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicle novels and the movie "Interview With The Vampire" for a long time, and just recently picked up the movie soundtrack in like new condition for $2 from an Amazon seller, and it was certainly a good purchase! Of course I've seen the movie before so I knew what the movie score sounded like, but listening to the music without the movie certainly is not a let down.

This album is dark, brooding, with alot of feeling, and is great music for a vampire movie. Maybe not quite on the same level as the Lord of the Rings movie scores for example, but does it have to be?

My only regret with this cd is that it does not contain any of the piano tunes that Lestat and Claudia play throughout the movie (which I LOVED), but the soundtrack is still very good regardless, and all of the other music from the movie that I can remember is on this cd. Some people have complained about the GNR Sympathy for the Devil song that is on the soundtrack. While it's true that it hardly goes with the rest of the movie score, it is still a part of the movie, so it's cool that it's represented here. Don't like Sympathy for the Devil? Don't listen to it - there are still 18 other very worthy tracks on this soundtrack. SFTD is the last track, so you can listen to the first 18 and then stop if you wish. I happen to like SFTD well enough anyway, so no problem for me at all.

All in all - very well done release of a terrific movie score!

Like the movie itself.......2006-11-12

The last track "Sympathy For The Devil" from Guns and Roses is a mind bending performance.

Dark and Intriguing!.......2005-11-23

One of the beauties of this particular album is that the score is written in the classical style popular when this movie takes place (though I have not seen it myself). The composer perfectly captures of feel of the vampires, yet gives us a wonderful taste of the all but lost classical style in both title and song.
Some of the songs such as "LIbrae me", "Born to Darkness I and II", and "Armand", feel more like more modern movie scoring yet still carry well with the entire album. Other pieces like "lestat's Tarantella", "lestat's recitative", and "Santiago's Waltz" stayed more true to the classical feel.
My only complaint is the abomination at the end of the soundtrack called "Sympathy for the Devil". I couldn't get much beyond a minute before turning it off in discust. It doesn't fit at all and sounds absolutely horrific; what's with the bongos?
With the last song as an exception, this is a gorgeous album, wonderful for backround music. I love it!

Touching.......2004-11-05

Just in a few words: this is a great soundtrack. I bought it for the gnr song as I'm a die hard fan but I have to say I absolutely love the other songs. I'm also a great Anne Rice fan and I think this soundtrack captures the atmosphere of her novels and its characters. Before dissing the GNR track you guys better read Interview With The Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. That way learn more about Lestat himself. You might still not like the song after that but you'll sure understand why it's on the album. Otherwise enjoy!

Average customer rating: The best Beethoven symphonic cycle available at the moment Amazing An Outstanding Symphonic Cycle Excellent Haven't Heard Better Really

Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies / Gardiner Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique , John Eliot Gardiner , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , Gilles Cachemaille , The Monteverdi Choir , Anne Sofie von Otter , and Luba Orgonasova Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Orchestre Rivolutionnaire et Romantique | ( O ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Otter, Anne Sophie von | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beethoven - The Symphonies / Augér, Robbin, Rolfe Johnson, Reinhart, AAM, Hogwood Beethoven - Missa Solemnis / Margiono * Robbin * Kendall * Miles * EBS * Gardiner Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert Schumann: Complete Symphonies Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet ASIN: B0000057EO Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op. 21: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op. 21: 2. Andante cantibile con moto
3. Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op. 21: 3. Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace
4. Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op. 21: 4. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
5. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 36: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
6. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 36: 2. Larghetto
7. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 36: 3. Scherzo: Allegro
8. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 36: 4. Allegro molto

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica': 1. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica': 2. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
3. Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica': 3. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
4. Symphony No. 3 In E-Flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica': 4. Finale: Allegro molto
5. Symphony No. 4 In B-Flat Major, Op. 60: 1. Adagio - Allegro vivace
6. Symphony No. 4 In B-Flat Major, Op. 60: 2. Adagio
7. Symphony No. 4 In B-Flat Major, Op. 60: 3. Allegro vivace
8. Symphony No. 4 In B-Flat Major, Op. 60: 4. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 1. Allegro con bri
2. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 2. Andante con moto
3. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 3. Allegro
4. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 4. Allegro
5. Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': Allegro ma non troppo: Awakening Of Cheeful Feeling Upon Arrival In The Country
6. Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': 2. Andante molto mosso: Scene By The Brook
7. Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': 3. Allegro: Merry Gathering Of Country Folk
8. Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': 4. Allegro - Thunderstorm
9. Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral': 5. Allegretto: Shepherd's Song: Happy And Thankful Feelings After The Storm

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 7 In A Minor, Op. 92: 1. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
2. Symphony No. 7 In A Minor, Op. 92: 2. Allegretto
3. Symphony No. 7 In A Minor, Op. 92: 3. Presto
4. Symphony No. 7 In A Minor, Op. 92: 4. Allegro con brio
5. Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op. 93: 1. Allegro vivace e con brio
6. Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op. 93: 2. Allegretto scherzando
7. Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op. 93: 3. Tempo di Menuetto
8. Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op. 93: 4. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 2. Molto vivace
3. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 3. Adagio nolto e cantabile
4. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 4. Presto
5. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 4. Presto - 'O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!' - Allegro assai

Tracks:

1. English Interview - Beethoven
2. German Interview - Beethoven
3. French Interview - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

The best Beethoven symphonic cycle available at the moment.......2007-02-18

This is the best recording of the symphonies of Beethoven available at the moment. The tempi are right and the orchestra plays with greta skill and fire.

Gardiner did his homework on these works, finding, with the help of a musicologist, the scores of much of Beethoven's music. Who would have ever thought that the first subject of the fifth was plagiarised from a French folk song?

If you're after a good set of the Beethoven symphonies, look no further.

If you like the HIP approach, you may also consider the cycles by Brüggen, Hogwood, Norrington and Goodman. Brüggen's is very strong and Hogwood's was the first cycle on period instruments. Norrington's set follows the metronome markings very closely.

Amazing.......2007-01-02

By my estimation this is the best single cycle of Beethoven symphonies available. Since there are so many great recordings of Symphonies 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9, I won't focus on those as much.

Symphony No. 1 is performed very well. It is taken a bit faster (a general theme of this set) than, say, Karajan, Bernstein or Bohm would take it. This is a good thing.

For Symphony No. 2, I would actually recommend a compliment to this CD. Robert Levin (on the fortepiano) and members of the ORR recorded the chamber version of this work (for piano trio), mostly arranged by Beethoven himself. It is really interesting to contrast the two. I'd recommend that CD as well (it also comes with a piano quartet arrangment [again by Beethoven] of the fourth piano concerto. It is by Achriv Blue).

Symphony No. 3: The DEFINITIVE version of this symphony. Great throughout.

Symphony No. 4: This performance is the reason you should get this set. Symphony No. 4 has been largely ignored in favor of the odd number Symphonies. Here we have the DEFINITIVE, must have performance of this work. The finale is amazing, as is the deep beginning. The work is also the epitome of Beethoven's second style period, from the deep, gloomy beginning to the triumphant, allegro finale (in this performance, their is no "ma non troppo"; it is played more like a slow "presto vivace" than "allegro ma non troppo," which works very well). Great performance.

Symphony No. 5 is also brilliantly played. Among the best recordings of that symphony.

Symphony No. 6: The weak link of the more popular works in this set, though it is still very, very good.

Symphony No. 7: The scherzo here is light and playful. The pavonne second movement is very deep and moving. The finale is very heroic. I really like the sound of the horns; I think they work very well.

Symphony No. 8: Since this one is sandwiched between the great Symphonies No. 7 and 9, I think it has been largely ignored, much like Symphony No. 4 is with 3 and 5. Therefore, see Symphony No. 4.

Symphony No. 9: Where to start? This is THE DEFINITIVE and BEST version of this symphony available. The tempi are much faster than the other great conductors of the 20th century (Karajan, Bohm, Bernstein, Furtwangler, et al). The scherzo is really nice. The biggest difference between the finale of this recordings and the finale of other recordings is the tempo. This is especially evident in the march section. In Karajan and Bohm, it's more of a dirge than a march. Here, the tenor sounds light and easy, whereas in the other versions he (typically) sounds slow and strained.

Overall, this set is well worth owning. You will not be disappointed.

An Outstanding Symphonic Cycle.......2006-12-16

In the December issue of Gramophone playing Beethoven's symphonies in the 21st century was discussed, and among the top five symphony cycles recorded. I grew up listening to the Beethoven symphonies played by modern symphony orchestras so when the period instrument movement came along it was a revelation. John Elliot Gardiner's recordings were made following research that provided greater insight into Beethoven's symphonies and corrected errors that had existed from copyist errors. Mozart took pains to create a final score that would be used by his publisher but Beethoven became lax in making his own final copies, leaving the chore to a copyist who had to deal with a jumble of sketches and completed (but messy) manuscripts. The scores that came to be used by conductors were products of the mid-19th century. So, there are many changes to these scores that can be picked out from other performances and are listed in the booklet.

I recall that when the Gardiner set came out that there were some people, my wife included, who thought they were too fast. Listening to the 9th symphony the first movement is so furiously driven that the tempos sound out of control. The symphony last just under 60 minutes which may sound like a record until one considers that Felix Weingartner (a Beethoven expert) turned in a performance just over 60 minutes. The performances are vibrant and well played, all of them the product of live performances, a few like the 9th were made following a performance. For me the Gardiner cycle has a freshness that while not excluding other recordings (period instrument and modern symphony orchestra) has made this the only complete cycle that I have of the Beethoven symphonies. Perhaps the most telling evidence that Gardiner's approach to Beethoven has been influential is the rethinking of the tempos of the symphonies by conductors like Bernard Haitink. I highly recommend this cycle of symphonies for someone new to Beethoven and those listeners who are familiar with this music.

Excellent.......2005-10-21

Interpretation is in many ways a matter of taste. For example, if Georgy Cziffra were not such a phenomenal pianist, I think several critics would say that his interpretations were not adequate. Because of his absolutely unbeatable technique Cziffra "says": I will play as I would like to play!

I liked Gardiner interpretation of the Beethoven Simphonies. Vigorous, somewhat fast and very well recorded. In 9th simphony I would prefer a slower tempo but this is my opinion.

You should like a song because you really like it and not because some classical music "pundit" says that this is the correct way to play because there is not such a thing. The only person that could have the final word is Ludwig.

Haven't Heard Better Really.......2005-10-20

I tend to agree with a lot of points mentioned by the previous reviewers but I don't find this work to be as despicable as they make it seem. Traditionalist revisionism is always a tricky thing in classical music composition drawing a lot of opinions from various points of view. There are certainly defects to these performances and interpretations, but, compared to a lot of other work out there it's certainly not average or the worst. I don't regret having purchased this set despite its deficiencies.

Beethoven was alive during the times of the French Revolution and Napoleon and was an ardent republican in Austria under the Hapsburg court. Many of his symphonies incorporate his ideals of revolutionary change. A disproportionate majority of the performances for these symphonies, particularly older conductors, completely misinterpret Beethoven's intention. A perfect example of this is in the march for the last movement of the 9th Symphony. If you listen to any of Karajan's, Solti's, or even Bernstein's interpretation it sounds like a damn funeral procession. The march in the piece is a revolutionary military march that is meant to proceed at a fast pace. In terms of military marches, the other interpretations are too slow even for a funeral. The only thing that keeps me from falling asleep when listening to them is the volume which is overbearing: I can barely recognize a single section in that Mahleresque cacophony. It's just symphonic overkill for these pieces. So loud Beethoven would have probably said 'Turn it down it's too loud!' in his deaf old age. Gardiner's symphony could use a little more volume but the traditional instruments don't permit that. As for the performances, there are some minor problems with various sections in the different symphonies but I didn't find them overly significant. The best part for me is particularly Gardiner's reinterpretation of the meter which gives one a far greater sense of impending change in pieces such as his 3rd, 5th, and 9th. Also, compared to the older conductors I've mentioned, you're not going to feel like you're in a coma when you listen to the 7th Symphony or that Winter has come instead of Spring in his 6th. Gardiner's orchestra is also smaller wich diminishes the volume but having a modern orchestra of 300+ members is simply overkill for such pieces and the results are worst in muffling the strings than Gardiner's lack of punch with traditional strings and orchestra size.

I think Gardiner's interpretations are just fine despite their defects as many of its other contenders have problems of their own which, in my opinion, are worst than those of Gardiner's. At least you won't feel like you're at a funeral and that the whole attending party is going to die along with the deceased so morbidly slow are those old school performances. I'm going to rate all the presently great performances for these works with four stars until a truly great one comes along to deserve five. Choosing the best among different performances here is then really a question of taste as they all have problems in one way or another. Of the older generation I tend to prefer Toscanini's interpretations above those of Solti or Karajan.

Mexican Music:

1. Jane Fonda's Workout Tape
2. Legends of the 20th Century [Import]
3. Long Story Short
4. Mad Grooves
5. Matching Tie and Handkerchief
6. Meditations for Loving Relationships
7. Message [Live]
8. Murder Junkies
9. No More Cocoons
10. Poetry in Nature

Mexican Music

mexican music

Mexican Music

Surfs You Right

16 Nocturnes

16 Most Requested Songs

Music CD: Latin Pulse 2000

Alles Gute [Import]

12 Super Exitos

Another Perspective

24 Preludes Op 28 / Prelude Op 45

You Lift Me Up to Heaven

Veintisiete

Zen X Four

You & Me [Import]

Yours Fatally Pt.2 [CD-single] [Import]

Never Turn Back

BeBe Winans