Live in L.a. (Death & Raw)

Live in L.a. (Death & Raw)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
This program features 14 tracks such as "Spirit Crusher," "Crystal Mountain," "Flesh and the Power it Holds," "Empty Words" and more!

Tracks:

To Live And Die In L.A.
Lullaby
Wake Up, Stop Dreaming
Wait
City Of The Angels
The Red Stare
Black-Blue-White
Every Big City

Amazon.com

Director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about innovative, genre-bending film scores. He commissioned edgy modern-jazz player Don Ellis for his classic The French Connection and reworked Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" into the haunting soundtrack for the blockbuster The Exorcist. But even veteran film buffs were surprised when Friedkin turned the scoring chores for his taut 1985 forgery-ring thriller To Live and Die in LA over to British pop stars Wang Chung. Though they're still best known for their perennial rock-of-the-'80s hits "Dancehall Days," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," and "Let's Go," Friedkin's early admiration for the band's often underrated musicality paid off with a tense, rhythmic soundscape that crystallized the era and locale of the film. And, though synth-pop has gained ill repute as a cheesy 1980s cliché, this album ably proves that it could rise above its stereotype in dramatic fashion. The Jack Hues-sung title track was also a minor pop hit. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Dupped?.......2007-02-21

This cd has not as yet arrived for me to review it. Where is it?

Even After 20 Years, This Soundtrack Is STILL Bumpin'!.......2006-12-01

i just received my copy in the mail a few days ago.....WOW!...right now "wait" is playing as i type this.i really like the flow of songs. it has been awhile since i've seen the movie but the music is still top- notch quality."city of the angels".had a good driving bass drum and high- hat thing going that's just crazy. i play air drums to it.

all in all... A TOP RATE SOUNDTRACK.

only the title track.......2006-06-14

ok the track to live and die in l.a by wang chung is the only piece worth listening but the movie itself wow!!! if a dvd is available i would recommend it as a masterpiece movie! would you believe that this was CSI mainstay william petersen starring role?

cd review.......2006-03-09

good ol' tunes from Wang Chung,
good as the flick and well sung;
Wm. P. was good in the show,
partner was/is always so-so;
tks Amazon, "feat gea kung."

Excellent.......2005-08-31

Music is top of the line in feeling and depth. Edgy lyrics support rolling melodies, and I would recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys 80's music.

Average customer rating:

As good as it gets
Some technical details and comments
The complete concert, greatest live album ever made
I'm Just Wild About Harry (Belafonte)!
True talent, live

Live in Concert at the Carnegie Hall
Harry Belafonte
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall
Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
Calypso
Ultimate Collection
Island in the Sun: 20 Golden Songs

ASIN: B000006SUU
Release Date: 1993-08-30

Tracks:

Introduction/Darlin' Cora
Sylvie
Cotton Fields
John Henry
Take My Mother Home
Marching Saints
Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
Jamaica Farewell
Man Piaba
All My Trials

Tracks:

Mama Look a Boo Boo
Come Back Liza
Man Smart (Woman Smarter)
Hava Nagila
Danny Boy
Merci Bon Dieu
Cucurrucucu Paloma
Shenandoah
Matilda

Album Description

bin 15110. Remastered reissue, part of RCA's Living Stereo series, for the esteemed vocalist's 1959 live concert recording. 19 tracks: 'Introduction/ Darlin' Cora', 'Sylvie''Cotton Fields', 'John Henry', 'Take My Mother Home', 'The Marching Saints', 'Day O', 'Jamaica Farewell', 'Man Piaba', 'All My Trials', 'Mama Look A Boo Boo', 'Come Back Lisa', 'Man Smart (Woman Smarter)', 'Have Nageela', 'Danny Boy', 'Merci Bon Dieu', 'Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma', 'Shenandoah' and 'Matilda'.

Album Details

Double CD Set. Recorded Live in New York. Part of RCA 'Living Stereo' Series.

Customer Reviews:

As good as it gets.......2007-03-08

A superb taking of a superb artist in a superb mood. Need a say moore?

If you only plans to own five CDs this must be one of them. Mr Bellafonte at his absolute best. I enjoy every second of this CD. Not only is it musically outstanding but it is also a true high fidelity record.

A CD not only for easy listening but also for true listening sessions!

Some technical details and comments.......2006-07-25

Tracks flow into each other with no "silence" between; its just like the "Living Stereo" black vinyl Long-Play records. All of the content on the LPs is indeed here. Awesome.

Sound quality is quite good. CDs were issued in Germany in 1993 (performance dates were 19 & 20 April 1959). There are no markings on the CDs indicating remixing, remastering or other processing. Despite this, the sound is a little more "natural" than my LP transfer which had that circa-1959 bass richness. This may be just coloration in my turntable set-up and the CD gets it right. There is minor tape hiss in the background noise. The dynamic range may have been increased. The CD allows me to hear more in the music than I ever heard before (musican banter, HB's breathing etc).

The CDs are a great replacement to the LPs transfers I had on my iPod. (I'm not sure yet if I'll miss the ticks and pops from the needle. It was kinda cool on an iPod.)

Regarding musicality; the other reviews have said it all. I agree that this is one of those rare recordings where everything is perfect. It is unthinkable that this concert could even have one second edited from it. I love this concert. It is genius.

The complete concert, greatest live album ever made.......2006-02-07

Harry Belafonte, is on of the greatest, most influential man ever born in the United States, as well as a hero to the world as well as to all Americans. Mr. Belafonte, World WarII veteren, who volunteered and was on the battlefield, and still serves his nation and the World, with his international travel on behalf of Unicef.
As far as his totally unique talent, this magnificant talent, shows all of his power, his heart, soul and love for all humanity with the best live album ever created.
I have a sentimental feeling about the famous Carnegie Hall concert since I grew up in blue collar family in Brooklyn attended this show. Growing up, I used th hear my parents play this many times on weekends, while doing their chores and nothingw ould light up their faces, create laughter, got them to sing, more than when they listened to the album of this Carnegie Hall concert.
I was about eleven or so when I started hearing it, and I have the album about memorized and grew up loving the album, Mr. Belafonte, his talent, his incredibly diverse careers, and non-stop dedication to all of humanity.
There is comments by an individual who does live the CD about how Harry did "novelty songs" in the second act. THOSE ARE NOT NOVELTY SONGS, THEY ARE FOLK SONGS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD. But I guess to an American, International folk music is a "novelty song". Grrr. I know the gentlemen who made that comment meant no harm, but I hope it is understood. Mr Belafonte is currently and has previously spent his life unfolding the cultures of nations from all over the world by singing and giving publicity to the great folk music that tells the story of the people of the world.

It is great that this import has the entire concert, but I have to admit that I am ashamed as an American, that it has to be AN IMPORT, that no American music company has taken the original tapes, re-mastered it with love as they would any major piece of history and re-released it. He was born in Harlem and is one of the great, great stories of someone who has lived the American dream. Please remember the racism he experienced as well as being blacklisted suring the McCarthy hearings. But nothing stops his optomism and love of humanity.

He talent is unequaled and no one delivers a folk song with more power, heart and soul.
Besides, he probably was the best guest the Muppets ever had.

A couple of quick pieces of info on Mr. Belafonte. Bob Dylan was recorded for the first time on a Harry Belafonte album, where Harry hired him as a harmonica player.
Mr. Belafonte is a graduate of the Actors Studio in N.Y. the produced a generation of great actors.
Calypso was the first album to sell 1 million copies, but how many people know that he followed that album up with a album where he read and discussed the works of the great American writer, Mark Twain.

Thank you Harry for this great album and the great memories you leave me listening to it and the great pleasure you gave to my late parents.

Jon

I'm Just Wild About Harry (Belafonte)!.......2006-02-04

Nowadays the "powers that be" (read: "murderous thugs within the Bush Administration")are on a campaign to depict Harry Belafonte as being mentally unstable. Why? Because he had the courage to point out the all-too-obvious fact that George W. Bush and the dirty old dingbats around him are the biggest sources of world instability since Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.

It's nice to know that he's still Harry after all these years; Still holding up a mirror to a sick and hypocritical society that obviously doesn't like what's reflected.

Belafonte At Carnegie Hall, recorded on two nights in April of 1959 is, no doubt about it, the finest "Live" album ever recorded. All these years later it still has a freshness that is irresistable. The fact that it was recorded with state-of-the-art equipment, you can close your eyes and it's almost as if your sitting, front row. It's moving and riotously funny all at the same time. Trust me on this one kiddies, you won't be disappointed!

Pray for peace

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@froniternet.net

True talent, live.......2005-10-28

I grew up with this album that my parents had, unfortunately I recalled it as Belafonte RETURNS to Carnegie Hall. Thankfully I ordered this first, then later got Harry Returns (basically for Odetta and Miriam Makeba).

The man is brilliant in concert and it is unbelieveable they were daring enough to try to record these performances live. I shudder to think anyone currently who could pull this off (with the exception of Midler who thrives on a live audience).

Does Belafonte have an incredible voice and fantastic range? Not really. He has a great voice but the man has PASSION and intelligence in his hip pocket and he presents a priceless show.

It's amazing to me, now, to realize what a global attitude this man has, did I mention passion and intelligence? So I did, but it's well worth repeating.

I played this album for a 7th grade class and they ape over it -- they knew two songs from the movie Beetle Juice and insisted I download the lyrics. When it came time for Cucurrucucu Paloma they went wild (and the staff freaked when they heard it was a live performance) so I knew Mama Look a Boo Boo would be appreciated.

I know Mr. Belafonte is known and loved for many of his standards (basicaly Day-O) but I my faorite piece will always be Merci Bon Dieu. It's so beautiful, it's heartbreaking in a wonderful way.

I hate live albums because most artists cannot do live what they create in the studio. Not so with this -- he sounds even better live. A truly talented man with intelligence and passion -- darn, that's rare and very much appreciated, especially in the year 2005.

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLI8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

A historical legacy!
Masterpieces played by the great Horowitz
Insert Here Any Superlative You Can Think Of
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Just the Facts...

Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Magic of Horowitz
Horowitz in Moscow
Horowitz: The Last Recording
Horowitz in Moscow
Horowitz Encores

ASIN: B0000CF314
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 I. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 II. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 III. - J.S. Bach
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (I)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (II)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (III)
Piano Sonata No. 9 In F Major, Op. 68 'Black Mass' - Scriabin
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op. 32, No. 1 - Scriabin

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No.4 - Chopin
Etude No. 8 In F Major, Op. 10 - Chopin
Ballade in G Minor, Op. 23, No.1 - Chopin
Serenade For The Doll No.3 - DeBussy
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op.2, No.1 - Scriabin
Etude No. 11 In A-Flat Major, Op.72 - Moszkowski
Traumerei
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (1)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (2)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (3)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (4)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (5)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (6)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (7)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (8)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (9)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (10)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (11)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (12)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (13)

Customer Reviews:

A historical legacy!.......2006-03-28

Despite I am not a Horowitz admirer, it 's worthy to underline and emphasize the colossal pianism and thunderous fingering around every one of its different performances.

The special distinction around this album is the fresh inspiration and notable musicality emanated in this Recital, that deserves to be catalogued as a cult recording among the impressive and even excellent live recordings in the Sixties.

A bravura performance and a genuine expression make of this album a very special recommendation.

Masterpieces played by the great Horowitz.......2004-12-12

This Carnegie Hall return recital is one of the greatest recordings by Horowitz. With a huge audience, Horowitz did not disappoint. He plays the Bach/Busoni as only he can play; it is eternally beautiful. Schumann has some mistakes, but those mistakes make the playing even more fascinating. The Scriabin is also excellent.

I am confident in saying that Horowitz's mazurka here is the best recording of op. 30 no. 4. Horowitz takes his time and does not rush the tempo, which is soooo easy to do with this piece. The etude is played awesomely, but the real treat is the Ballade no. 1. Horowitz played this piece all his life and played it very different many times, but this ballade is the best, most musical he ever played, mistakes and all.

The encores are also a treat, and the complete Kinderszenen bonus is another reason to buy this cd. The bonus dvd contains Liszt's Au Bord D'une Source, Chopin's Black key etude, and Moszkowski's etude in f major, op. 72, no.6.

This cd is my favorite, and I have a lot...

Insert Here Any Superlative You Can Think Of.......2004-06-10

For those of you who don't enjoy reading long drawn-out reviews: This is the best CD set I could possibly imagine buying before I bought it. After I bought it, I wept twice in the first listening of just the second disc. The Chopin recordings on this disc are simply legendary, definitive, and indescribably beautiful.

Horowitz out-did even himself at this concert. Sure, wow, wrong notes, even in the first couple measures. Who cares. You had better not. I noticed two exposed wrong notes in my first listen of this disc. It is by far the best CD set I own.

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major: Sure, wrong note. Grand. I'm not too large a fan of this piece, but, regardless, if you like Bach, you like Horowitz for this recording.

Fantasy in C Major: True to its title, this performance was indeed fantastic. Horowitz is acclaimed most for his different tones on the piano. Let me tell you, that is for a reason.

Scriaban: I, personally, do not like Scriaban. An acquired taste. If you do like him, however, you will by all means enjoy these two recordings of the Black Mass Sonata and the Poeme in F-sharp Major.

The Chopin: The Mazurka is the greatest mazurka recording I have ever heard, period. The Etude is technically flawless and musically flawless. The Ballade. One of my favorite pieces of all time. This is my favorite recording, simply. It is quite, quite unbelievable. I wept. Every theme Chopin includes, Horowitz includes with care. This piece is one that takes a long long long time to figure out. Musically, it is one of the hardest. Horowitz seems to finally understand it after having played it for almost forty years undoubtedly. I have heard roughly 10 or 12 recordings of this piece, and Horowitz's trumps all.

The encores: Debussy, Scriaban, Moszkowski are all wonderful in their own right, but Traumerei is practically Horowitz's child. People in the audience were weeping when they heard this piece. I went in with the intention of not weeping, and failed miserably. It is the singly most beautiful performance I have ever heard.

Buy this set. You will absolutely not regret it.

WHAT IS GOING ON?.......2003-12-27

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHY CANT YOU JUST LEAVE THE POOR MAN ALONE? I AM A PIANO STUDENT WHO JUST FINISHED A CONCERT SERIES OUTSIDE OF MY OWN COUNTRY AND I HAVE JUST READ SOME OF THE OTHER REIEWS ABOUT HOROWITZ HERE AND I AM FRANKLY DIGUSTED.
ARE WRONG NOTES ALL YOU PEOPLE LISTEN TO?
HOROWITZ WAS BRILLIANT, YES, BUT HE WAS ALSO HUMAN LIKE ALL OF US. I MAKE MY FAIR SHARE OF WRONG NOTES AND WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT AN AUDIENCE WOULD REMEMBER AFTER A CONCERT. WRONG NOTES ARE A PART OF LIFE AND SOMETIMES ITS MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE RISKS, EVEN IF IT RESULTS IN FAILIURE. ITS WHAT BREATHES LIFE INTO A PERSONS PLAYING, KNOWING THAT ONE SPLIT NOTE OR TWO IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING MORE MUSICAL OR MORE TECHNICAL, I WOULD RATHER BE A MUSICIAN AND NOT A ROBOT.
IN HOROWITZ'S PLAYING, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO LISTEN TO. SO NEXT TIME YOU SWITCH ON ONE OF HIS RECORDINGS, WHY NOT TRY TO FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HAD BRAINWASHED INTO YOU ABOUT PERFECTION AND JUST LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART INSTEAD OF YOUR HEAD.

HOROWITZ WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT A PERFECT TECHNIQUE IS A COMPLETE MYTH. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES, WE CANT BE PERFECT FOR YOU ALL THE TIME, SO JUST GIVE US A BREAK.

Just the Facts..........2003-11-29

This is not a review per se. My review is elsewhere on this page. But I wanted to follow-up and correct a few errors, which have been circulated in regard to this recording.

First, the corrections used on the original version of Horowitz at Carnegie Hall were not made at a "patch session at Carnegie a few days" after the concert. Columbia's engineers had already recorded Horowitz's rehearsals and used that material for the editing.

Second, the editing in the album was neither as extensive as some have suggested, nor as insignificant as the anonymous reviewer from Baltimore states.

Here is a (mostly) complete list of the patches on the original album, which have been removed from this new edition:

Bach-Busoni: Preludio: Measures 2-12 and parts of the coda (Horowitz, by the way, does not play the ossias at bars 8, 10, and 12); Intermezzo: Small patches at bars 7 and 11; Fugue: Several edits between bars 97 and 110, and again in the coda.

Schumann Fantasy: 1st Movement: patches at 7:32 and 10:21; 2nd Movement: small patches at 2:44 and 4:32, and a series of patches in the coda 6:58-7:39; 3rd Movement: No edits.

Scriabin: Sonata No 9: No Edits. Poem in F-sharp: Patch from 2:16-2:26

Chopin: Mazurka: Small edit at 2:02; Etude: Patched sections from 1:27-1:33 and 2:15-2:20; Ballade: Small edits at 2:04 and 4:52, at least four patches in the coda.

None of the encores were edited.

Tracks:

Tu ch'hai le penne, Amore
Amarilli
Al fonte, al prato
Lascia la spina
Agitata da due venti
Oiseaux, si tous les ans, K. 307
La Pastorella, D 528
Havanaise
Hai luli!
Zaide
Malinconia, ninfa gentile
Ma rendi pur contento
La conocchia
Me voglio fa 'na casa
Mi lagnero tacendo
Mi lagnero tacendo (Il Risentimento)
Mi lagnero tacendo (Sorzico)
L' Orpheline du Tyrol
Riedi al soglio (Zelmira)
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
Canzonetta Spagnuola
Caro mio ben
Cinco Canciones negras, No. 5: Canto negro
Carmen: Seguedille (Carmen)

Amazon.com essential recording

In the beginning, Cecilia Bartoli seemed to do one thing better than anybody, i.e., Rossini arias, which would not guarantee a long career even for a singer of her ebullience. This live performance from the Teatro Olympico in Vincenza, Italy, shows how much she's expanded, both linguistically and musically. The first five selections reflect her newfound specialty, early opera. The three Caccini selections from the 17th century--accompanied by small string ensemble--are deeply felt and stylistically convincing enough to make one eager for future forays. She's guilty of spinning out Handel's "Lascia la spina" excessively but hits new heights of virtuosity in Vivaldi's "Agitata da due venti." The rest of the disc is for voice and piano, in a program including both some genuine discoveries by French composer Pauline Viardot-Garcia that reveal the singer's increasing emotional depths and less consequential ones by Donizetti and Rossini. Bartoli also sings Spanish songs, most notably Montsalvatge's "Canto negro," proving that the singer doesn't venture into a new language until she can truly feel in it. Remarkably, her voice maintains its strength and body in the deeper, mezzo-ish regions as well as in the high, soprano-range areas. Might she have two voices? --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Buy two and give one to someone you love!.......2007-03-08

(That way, you can get free shipping!) Or, buy Opera Proibita also.

If you think you don't like listening to soprano soloists, you should buy this CD. I must say that I HATE listening to solo singing in general and soprano solo in particular! Well, this lady has stolen my heart! If you see her anywhere on the N American continent, please tell me.

The one-minute limit for listening on-line will simply not allow you to make a judgement. If I could legally allow you to hear track 5 "Griselda - Agitata da Due Venti" (Vivaldi), you would buy the CD without hearing anything else.

When I first heard Cecilia Bartoli on "Performance Today", the subject was "Opera Proibita" and I wrote to a friend who teaches voice at a local college and asked "Is she as good as I think, or am I just overreacting?" His simple response was "She's THAT good!"

This CD is of a live performance and you won't be disappointed except to realize that you COULD have been there, but weren't!

If she ever performs where I am able to see her, I'll be there. If I can talk to her, I will -- but I won't ask for my heart.

Highly recommended!

A joyful sample of the human voice........2006-06-12

'Live in Italy' by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, accompanied by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is, for those of us who do not know Italian and are not avid opera fans, a simply delightful essay in the beauty of the human voice. I am really happy this is not the first Bartoli album I have bought, as others, such as her recordings of French and Italian love songs have more substance to offer (if you don't know the operas from which these pieces are taken) but this recording, with its live ambiance, is a great pleasure all by itself, a very nice change from the somewhat frostier Fraulain Von Otter from the northern climes.

A sheer delight from start to finish.......2005-07-14

Although I rarely follow singers, even I am totally disarmed by Cecilia's magic spell of charm that criticism fails me. You will see that most of my reviews of music are about modern or Renaissance music, so for me to go out and lavish praise on her is really something totally out of the ordinary. Then again her singing is out of the ordinary in that it has an instantly recognisable warmth and captivating personality that makes her the outstanding singer of the current generation for me.

I have been impressed by Cecilia's tendency to avoid the well worn paths of 19th century Italian operas in favour of championing neglected earlier music whether that be Vivaldi, Haydn, or Salieri. She has always talked about how the centre of gravity of Western music seems to be shifting backwards in time, and in her case this means away from the Austro-German tradition to the time when the Italians dominated music. After all the musical elite of even Wagner's time could be still be heard muttering 'but he just isn't as good as those Italian...' at premiers of works such as Tannhäuser and it took a lot of convincing before the the idea of German opera became accepted. This shift backward in time here is exemplified by way the recital begins with the music of Caccini, the father of opera.

Here on this recording I particularly love the spontaneity of the live music making. Her ability to capture the declamatory nature of much older music such as with Caccini, Vivaldi and Handel suite live recording perfectly. Her manner of conveying the meaning of the words especially when singing in Italian is simply unrivalled in this situation. This is the sort of thing that all too often gets lost in studio recordings so it is a blessing that this is a live recording, where Cecilia seems to just glow. The spontaneity, the sheer magic of the moment - it is all a sheer delight from start to finish. At moments her voice seems so etheral, the hushed and rapt awe of the music making so breathtaking, that it simply beggers belief that the human voice can be so beautiful an instrument. This is what great music making should be all about.

As far as the recording itself goes I have never noticed any disturbing audience noises anywhere even on my system which tends to makes the slightest of rustling blatantly obvious. The recording engineers do an excellent job of capturing the ambience of the acoustic of the Teatro Olimpico in Vincenzo despite the presence of the audience.

A stunning recording and an absolute favourite to relax to or just to be inspired by.

Exquisite.......2003-01-31

"Her natural command of messa di voce phrasing, willingness to shade the voice away to the quietest pianissimo and acute sensitivity to the words of Caccini's love songs proved irresistible, attracting a generous mix of applause and foot stamping."

Such was the appreciation from the audience that the director had to request that the audience not stamp their feet as they would set off the alarm system.

There are hardly words to describe Cecilia Bartoli's remarkable vocal qualities, emotional range and warmth. When I listen to this CD, I am calmed completely. There is an element of comfort in her style. Maybe one could explain it as a lullaby for the soul.

She has the ability to support the longest of phrases on the back of a single breath all while varying the tone color and dynamic level. Singing seems as effortless as breathing as she becomes emotion all while capturing the drama and mood.

In this live performance from the Teatro Olympico in Vincenza, Italy, she performs each piece as if she is intimately entwined with the notes. How can music be this sensual and this comforting all at once? It just is. She can express a wide range of emotions, from profound despair to extreme joy.

The Teatro Olimpico is the worlds' oldest surviving covered theatre. It has fine acoustics, a sky-blue ceiling and marble. Cecilia Bartoli wanted to perform in one of the great treasures of Italy's cultural heritage and this led to this live performance with concert pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet who seems to sense every emotion in Cecilia's voice. It is a sublime combination of talent which is further enhanced by violins, viola, cello, violone, archlute and harpsichord.

Tu ch'hai le penne, Amore - A song to love asking love to fly to where the heart lies and to promise that his heart and soul were ever hers.

Amarilli - Delicate and beautiful expression of true love.

Al fonte, al prato - You can feel spring approaching and this song has a certain energy Cecilia embraces as she sings away troubles and sadness to allow in merriment.

Lascia la spina - Melancholy. "Old age will creep up on you when your heart does not expect it."

Agitata da due venti - Cecilia's voice takes flight in this song about waves raging in a stormy sea. She almost becomes the force of the ocean as her voice surges and dives and wow.

Oiseaux, si tous les ans, K307 - She embodies a haunting vulnerability and the freshness of spring/summer. This song ends far too quickly.

La pastorella, D528 - Calm beauty to reflect a shepherdess in a meadow. Innocent love.

Havanaise - It seems like she has a completely different voice in this song as she reaches
to new ranges in depth. Charmed by a song? Perhaps.

Hai luli! - A seductive treatment of a song asking "where can my love be?"

"What's the point of living without a lover?"

Zaide - High energy and fast paced. A song about an orphan.

Malinconia, ninfa gentile - Gorgeous and poetic song.

Ma rendi pur contento - She really captures longing and an almost delicate purity.

La conocchia - Light and breezy.

Me voglio fa 'na casa - A song about the desire to build a house surrounded by the sea. Fantasy and happiness.

Mi langero tacendo - Poignant moment.

"I shall not complain of my bitter fate;
but, my beloved, do not hope for me not to love you."

Mi lagnero tacendo ll resentimento - the sorrow continues. The lover is said to be cruel.

Mi lagnero tacendo Sorzico - more complaints of cruelty and sorrow. She seems to capture frustration so exquisitely and is that stomping I hear? ;)

L'Orpheline du Tyrol - The Tyrolean orphan girl. Jean-Yves Thibaudet really takes the stage at first and Cecilia follows almost timidly. A song of tragedy, hunger and suffering.

Riedi al soglio from Rossini's opera Zelmira left seasoned connoisseurs dazzled. After the aria's final cadence, they broke from their awe-struck silence to add to the shouts of "encore."

Voi che sapete - Light and yet still dramatic. Desire, torment, ice. All explored fully by her voice. You can hear "torment" when she sings "martir" even if you could not see the words or follow along. Her voice really "flutters" when she sings "palpito e tremo." It is just amazing.

Canzonetta spagnuola - A muse comes to torment a painter.

Caro mio ben - A lover grows faint without love. Solitary melodies and you can almost feel the chill in the room or the feeling of despair the lover feels.

Canto negro - Is there anything she can't sing? This piece might seem completely out of place, but by now everyone is completely drunk with emotion from this performance.

Seguidille - Pleasure comes when two people are together. Definitely so when Cecilia Bartoli and Jean-Yves Thibaudet perform together. This song is almost a metaphor of the entire intoxicating experience. I just love how the audience goes absolutely wild after this song.

And too soon, it is over. I look forward to one day viewing the performance on DVD. It will be so much easier to understand the words now that I've literally studied this performance. Knowing the words definitely adds to the subtle emotions and more expressive moments.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Cecilia Live.......2002-07-12

I have loved her low and warm voice ever since the first time I listened to her, the Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. With respect and tenderness she treats the composers, whose works she performs while adding her own dimension. She transports me with her art. It is as if we become one person, and I experience her joy of music. Together we share a glimpse of eternity.

On this album which was recorded live at the Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, Italy in 1998 Cecilia Bartoli offers her listeners a varied programme comprised of several composers: Caccini, Haendel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Viardot, Schubert, Montsalvatge and Bizet. She's accompanied in Caccini, Haendel and Vivaldi by the Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca (Baroque string ensemble) and for the other pieces by Jean-Yves Thibaudet on piano. The accompanying booklet contains the lyrics, translations and further information.

Ms. Bartoli certainly has expanded her musical horizons here in several ways. On this disc she sings in Italian, French and Spanish. I loved her intense and heartfelt rendition of Caccini's and Haendel's arias. The passionate acrobatics of Vivaldi. And the Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca gave her a fine support. She made a warm and lovely Cherubino in Mozart's famous 'Voi che sapete'. I also loved her sparkling interpretations of Viardot's 'Havanaise', Rossini's 'Mi lagnero tacendo' or his 'Canzonetta spagnuola'. But Montsalvatge's 'Canto negro' made me feel definitely uncomfortable and Ms. Bartoli herself didn't connect with it. Although I liked her rendition of Bizet's 'Seguedille, I still missed something there. Jean-Yves Thibaudet lends her an excellent, attentive and expressive support.

Although I would have preferred some more Baroque pieces at this concert, this live album is a keeper for me. Everytime the bundle of pure joy that is Cecilia Bartoli has the power to move me deeply!

Live from the Concertgebouw, 1978 & 1979

Average customer rating:

If you only get one Martha Argerich disc...
DON'T YOU WISH YOU'D BEEN THERE?
Argerich's strengths and weaknesses
Great Chopin Nocturne
Not Martha's Best

Live from the Concertgebouw, 1978 & 1979
Johann Sebastian Bach , Bela Bartok , Frédéric Chopin , Alberto Ginastera , Sergey Prokofiev , Domenico Scarlatti , and Martha Argerich
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Debut Recital / Martha Argerich
J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich: Live from the Concertgebouw, 1978 & 1992
Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

ASIN: B00004LCAR
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: I. Sinfonia - Grave Adagio
Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: Andante
Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: II. Allemande
Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: III. Courante
Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: IV. Sarabonde
Partita No. 2 In C Minor, BWV 826: V. Rondeau
Nocturne No. 13 In C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1
Scherzo No. 3 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 39
Sonata, Sz. 80: I. Allegro moderato
Sonata, Sz. 80: II. Sostenuto e pesante
Sonata, Sz. 80: III. Allegro molto
Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2: I. Danza del viejo boyero (Dance Of The Old Cowherd)
Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2: II. Danza de la moza donoso (Dance Of The Delightful Young Girl)
Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2: III. Danza del gaucho matrero (Dance Of The Artful Herdsman)
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: I. Allegro inquieto - Andantino
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: II. Andante caloroso
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: III. Precipitato
Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata In D Minor
Bourree - English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807

Amazon.com

Throughout her lengthy artistic career, pianist Martha Argerich has experienced many heights and depths: moments of "crisis" in which she hasn't always seemed prepared to offer the full extent of her artistic insights, but also many, many times when she has managed simultaneously to come into her own and to completely lose herself in music-making. Fortunately it's the latter snapshot of Argerich's career that this CD captures, drawing from two live recitals Argerich gave at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw in 1978 and 1979. They document the pianist's overwhelming gifts, with all the artistic characteristics that have made her so revered. The program is quite eclectic, with music from Prokofiev and Chopin--all familiar territory for Argerich, which she masters with arresting brilliance, extraordinary technical facility, and grandly sweeping gestures. A bit further afield on the program are such composers as Domenico Scarlatti and J.S. Bach. The latter might give one pause: Bach and Argerich? But in the slower movements of the C Minor Partita, it's astonishing to hear such uncommonly tender, feathery tones. In short, the music breathes. It's only too bad that in the faster movements of the Bach pieces Argerich resorts to her typically fiery, stormy attacks. --Teresa Pieschacón Raphael

Customer Reviews:

If you only get one Martha Argerich disc..........2007-04-30

If you only get one Martha Argerich disc, or if you're just begining to collect her music, this would be an excellent choice. She is in superb form here, playing to a large, very appreciative audience. Also she plays a huge variety here, ranging from Bach & Scarlatti, through Chopin, to semi-modern composers including Bartok, Prokofiev, and Ginastera.

This recording illustrates why Argerich is considered by many to be the greatest living pianist, (I also love Pollini). Her power, passion, full colored tone, and technical agility are unparalleled. While everything on this album is superb, my favorite is the Chopin Nocturne in C minor. It starts off very calm, but with just a hint of the turbulence to come. It becomes even more serine when suddenly the serenity is invaded by waves of dark turbulence. I've heard a few other versions of this work, but I've never heard the simultaneous range of emotions that Argerich achieves here, it's magical.

DON'T YOU WISH YOU'D BEEN THERE?.......2006-08-31

Thrilling, exciting, sexy, passionate, fiery, volatile, demanding, challenging, surprising, charismatic, exquisitely beautiful. Are we talking about the pianist or the playing? Well, both, of course. This recital from the Concertgebouw in the late 70's (actually put together from two recitals) amply demonstrates why Martha Argerich is one of the great pianists of our time.

For a start, there is the breathtaking range of repertoire here - from Bach to Bartok and Prokofiev and on to her fellow-countryman, Ginastera. All of them played with an innate sense of the different styles and character demanded. But all of them challenging stale preconceptions, shedding new light on the composers and their music. Even the most familiar pieces come up as fresh as though newly minted. The Chopin items are just as fresh and exciting as anything here: the C Minor Nocturne is a wonder of colour and tints, the darkness of its central section starkly contrasted with the elegance and smoothness of its outer parts. Equally the motoric rhythms of the first movement of the Bartok Sonata and the last of the Prokofiev display enormous power and energy.

With her reluctance to play/record solo recitals any more, live documents such as these Concertgebouw programmes are invaluable. If you've a taste for invigorating, refreshing piano playing of the highest standards (both of technique and interpretation), don't hesitate.

Argerich's strengths and weaknesses.......2005-11-11

This CD, with live recordings from 1978 and 1979, is a showcase of Martha Argerich's astounding gifts but also of some of her evident shortcomings. The former are a technique as brilliant as any to be found anywhere in the world today, a real interpretative temperament and a natural musical instinct which is amongst the most unique in the annals of piano playing. The latter, a tendency towards senselessly fast and forced playing which often leads to distorted renditions reminiscent of the worst moments of Simon Barere and Gyorgy Cziffra.

The Partita n. 2 is good, reasonably spacious and even luminous in places. It's non-authoritative Bach playing but all the better for it. The Bartok sonata is the highlight of the disc: its motoric drive is relentless, its percussiveness notable without being unpleasant, and the overall technical vigour quite remarkable. Prokofiev's Sonata n. 7, op. 83 - probably the most popular of the Russian master's nine - is also impressive, with some brilliant fingerwork in spite of some minor slips and exciting throughout, though the final allegro precipitato sounds hurried rather than potent. Argerich also shows the expected understanding of her compatriot Alberto Ginastera's Danzas Argentinas, which she dispatches with flair and elan.

The Chopin, however, is a totally different story, and a sad one at that. This Scherzo n. 3 is much inferior to Argerich's previous recordings of the piece - made in 1961 and 1965 - and easily her worst attempt. She entirely sacrifices the narrative aspect of the work to speed and feverishness. The result is a shapeless, amorphous performance, with many blurred and technically inaccurate moments, and a tone with is at times hard-edged and banged. I can't imagine Chopin wanting that (ironically enough, the notoriously fast-fingered Barere recorded this same scherzo in the 30's with restraint, good taste and a luminous quality of tone).

All in all, a valuable CD, not only for the instances of great piano playing but also for revealing Argerich's highs and lows as a performer.

Great Chopin Nocturne.......2005-02-03

Sometimes, listening to Argerich can give one the impression that you are hearing THE way of playing a piece.
In this case, it happened with Chopin's beautiful nocturne, which i had already heard in various performances by other pianists (Rubinstein, Barenboim, etc)

I can't believe it's the same piece. In this recording, Argerich has managed to make this one explode like an atomic bomb, and leave me trembling.... Even in the slower parts the notes seem to flow like water... Simply wonderful.

The other works recorded are good, but the partita sounds better on DG's Studio recording, the Scherzo also sounds better on DG's Debut Recital... The Prokofiev sonata is included in this disc only, so if you want it, there you go...

Anyway, good cd, gret Nocturne, very good permormances all around.

The sound is a little crappy though, so it gets 4 stars instead of five. I really don't like EMI's live sound...

Not Martha's Best.......2001-07-30

Being a Marth Argerich fan, i was disapointed with this CD. In the last movement of the Prokofiev, which is one of my favorite pieces of music, she loses control and the Great Finaly of the sonata is very sloppy. through out the CD backround noise is heard and for the encores i was amazed at how much whishpereing there was , even during her playing. i know thats something that she cannot help. overall her playing is much cleaner and neater on otherr CD's. i recommened her two Great Pianists of hte Twentieth Century CD's much more than this one. the First one has a much nicer recording of the Bach Partita.

Average customer rating:

Best Concert in ANY language
Excellent!!!!!!!
Probably the best concert in any language in the last 5 years
Simply Excellent!
Grande Laura

Live in Paris 05
Laura Pausini
Manufacturer: Warner Music Latina
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Io Canto
Live 2001-2002 World Tour [Region 2]
Yo Canto
Resta in Ascolto
From the Inside

ASIN: B000E6V09A
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Tracks:

Gente
Un' Emergenza D'Amore
Vivimi
La Solitudine
Se Fue
Strani Amori
Escucha Atento
La Prospettiva Di Me
Medley: Cuando Se Ama/Mi Rubi L'Anima/Un Amico E Cosi/Come Se Non Fosse Stato Mai Amore
Tra Te E Il Mare
In Assenza Di Te
Incancellabile
Surrender
E Ritorno Da Te
Le Cose Che Vivi
Viveme (Unplugged)

Customer Reviews:

Best Concert in ANY language.......2007-05-13

This is an amazingly well done concert in every respect. I have never seen a concert DVD that has as much quality in EVERY area. Laura Pausini is amazing, and she is supported by a dynamite band, backup singers, great video/audio work, and a audience that is INTO the performance (too bad the one guy with the air horn had to ruin it). Literally, I do not understand 90% of the lyrics, but this performance is musically and technically riveting from beginning to end. I can't keep myself from playing it once or twice a week.

Excellent!!!!!!!.......2007-02-22

Laura Pausini is one of the best POP singers going, She sings well in Italian, English and Spanish. She has one of those voices that you just fall in love with. This live CD, Live in Paris 05 is cooking, it is a greatest hits live basically and you will definitely enjoy it. Vivimi, Se Fue, Tra Te E Il Mare, Surrender, E Retiorno Di Te, and La Cose Che Vivi are all excellent, well every song is excellent. This is a must have for Laura fans and I would recommend it anyone.

Probably the best concert in any language in the last 5 years .......2007-01-07

Spectacular voice, great set. This is one of those finds you go into with low expectations and get totally blown away by.

CD only in the US but the dvd is available at the euro amazon sites. NTSC format but region 2 so you will need a region free dvd player to watch it. If I didn't already have one I would buy one just to be able to watch it.

Sexiest woman on the planet. It's not the body, it's not the face, it's the hands. If you have a chance to watch the concert you will know what I mean. Never considered hands to be erotic but I have been converted.

Simply Excellent!.......2006-10-24

This defenitly is a must to have for sure. I got the special edition with a DVD. Totally recommended. You can fall in love of her voice since the first song. She's so professional! I can't wait she came to my town.

Grande Laura.......2006-09-01

A portrait of Laura's great 2005 World Tour.

Well sung, well recorded, well packed..in a few words, absolutely PERFECT!

Average customer rating:

a terrific compilation for beginners
"Classical heartbreakers" broke my heart
A Fantastic Compilation

Classical Heartbreakers

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Voice of the Violin

ASIN: B0000B09Z9
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 - Andre Previn
Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - Sir Simon Rattle
O Mio Babbino Caro - London Symphony Orchestra
Viola Da Bamba Sonata In G Minor - Ton Koopman
Beim Schlafengehen - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Schindler's List Theme - Tasmin Little
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
Symphony No. 5 - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Philharmonia Orchestra
Moonlight Sonata - Dame Moura Lympany
Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor - Yehudi Menuhin
E Lucevan Le Stelle - Georges Pretre
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor - Maria Tipo
Adagio For Strings - Philadelphia Orchestra
Cello Concerto - English Chamber Orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F - English Chamber Orchestra
Va Pensiero - Bernard Haitink

Tracks:

Adagio In G Minor - Sir Neville Marriner
The Heart Asks Pleasure First / The Promise - Michael Nyman
Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra
Goldberg Variations - Maria Tipo
Barcarolle - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Piano Concerto No. 2 - Sir Simon Rattle
Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
Vissi D'art - Maria Callas
Cavatina - Manuel Barrueco & Steve Morse
String Quintet In C - Laszlo Varga
J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice - John Eliot Gardiner
Etude In E 'Tristesse' - John Ogdon
Addio Del Passato - London Symphony Orchestra
Double Violin Concerto - Bath Festival Orchestra
Queen Symphony - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 1 - Garrick Ohlsson
In Paradisum - English Chamber Orchestra
My Heart Will Go On - Orchestra
Rhapsody In Blue - Andre Previn

Customer Reviews:

a terrific compilation for beginners.......2006-02-07

I agree with P. Grupe-for classical music lovers, it is a let down to listen to cut tracks of well-performed classical greats, like Chopin's 1st piano concerto in this collection. Nonetheless, this is a terrific compilation for people beginning to get interested in classical music. This compilation is an eclectic mix of the familiar (Beethoven's moonlight sonata, Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini variation no. 18, Myer's Cavatina, Barber's "Adagio for Strings, etc.), the contemporary (Michael Nyman's The Promise, Horner's My Heart Will Go On), and the truly moving (Bach's Double Violin Concerto, Bruch's Violin Concerto, Schubert's String Quintet in C)-relatively obscure pieces usually left out in less inspired and mediocre classical music compilations. It is gratifying to see that opera music has not been left out. Get this cd if only for the Maria Callas tracks, Lucia Popp's performance of Strauss' Beim Schlafengehen, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's Addio del passato.

"Classical heartbreakers" broke my heart.......2004-06-27

I am an avid listener of classical music, and I purchased this CD expecting to get some of the best classical music ever composed. I guess I expected a bit much though. Although the recording is filled with high quality performances of fantastic pieces, I was disappointed to find that only about half of the pieces are contained in their entirety on this 2-disc set. Songs such as Rhapsody in Blue and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata were not recorded in full for this album, which caught me off guard and bothered me quite a bit.

Anybody who is unfamiliar with classical music will appreciate this album. Since it features some of the most moving classical pieces ever written, it is sure to entrance listeners. And by not placing entire 10-minute pieces on the CDs, it will not run on and bore those unaccustomed to the length of most classical music. However, if you are already well-versed in classical music and can listen to entire symphonies with ease, I would advise against buying this album. I now feel a desire to go out again and find the full versions of some of these pieces, since I feel I was cheated by only getting introductions or short movements on most of the album. Guess I should have paid a little more attention to what I was buying.

A Fantastic Compilation.......2004-05-01

Most of the musical pieces in this compilation are from versions as they appear in various movies. This is Classical music from classic movies such as: Somewhere in Time, Schindler's List, English Patient, The Piano, Platoon, et al. But make no mistake; the music is what's really worth mentioning here.

The title says it all. It claims to have "the most moving Classical music of all time," and they certainly have a case, as it is chock full of the kind of emotional pieces that can easily bring you to tears. This double CD compilation with 37 passionately beautiful pieces is a steal at $16.99.

If you've ever recorded your favorite songs on to tape, or burned them on to a CD, you'll see that this compilation is exactly what EMI Records has done. It is like a greatest hits, volume 1, of poignant Classical music. Almost all of the musical pieces are classic favorites, though there are a few contemporary ones also.

I found the music on this CD powerful and moving as advertised, and I think that Classical music fans should truly enjoy it. It is well worth the price it's being sold for, and I highly recommend it.

Since there is some missing information as to who the composers and artists are, here they are:

Disk 1

Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor Op.23: I. Allegro Non Troppo E Mol; Andre Previn; Horacio Gutierrez; The London Symphony Orchestra

Mascagni - Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana) {Raging Bull}; Riccardo Muti; The Philharmonia Orchestra

Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini - Variation #18 {Somewhere in Time}; Cecile Ousset; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Sir Simon Rattle

Puccini - O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) {A Room with a View};
Montserrat Caballe; The London Symphony Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras

Bach - Viola da Gamba Sonata in G Minor BWV1029 - II. Adagio (Opening) {Truly, Madly, Deeply}; Jordi Savall; Ton Koopman

Richard Strauss - Beim Schlafengehen (Vier Letzte Lieder) {The Hours}; Klaus Tennstedt; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Lucia Popp

Williams - Schindler's List (Theme) {Schlinder's List}; Iain Sutherland; New World Philharmonic; Tasmin Little

Debussy - Clair de Lune {Frankie and Johnnie}; Dame Moura Lympany

Mahler - Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor: IV. Adagietto (Conclusion) {Death in Venice}; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Sir John Barbirolli

Catalani - Ebben? Ne Andrò Lontana (La Wally) {Diva}; Maria Callas; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Tullio Serafin

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor "Moonlight" Op. 27/2 - I. Adagio S; Dame Moura Lympany

Bruch - Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor - II. Adagio (Opening) Sir Yehudi Menuhin; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Walter Susskind

Puccini - E Lucevan le Stelle (Tosca) {The Man Who Cried}; Carlo Bergonzi; Georges Pretre; Orchestre De La Societe` Des Concerts Du Conservatoire

Chopin - Nocturne in C Sharp Minor Op. Posth {The Pianist}; Maria Tipo

Barber - Adagio for Strings {Platoon} Eugene Ormandy; Philadelphia Orchestra

Elgar - Cello Concerto in E Minor Op. 85 - I. Adagio - Moderato (Opening) {Hilary and Jackie}; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Norman Del Mar; Robert Cohen

Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Op.102 - II. Andante Dmitri Alexeev; English Chamber Orchestra; Jerzy Maksymiuk

Verdi - Va, Pensiero (Chorus of Hebrew Slaves) (Nabucco) {The Godfather, Pt. 3}; Bernard Haitink; Covent Garden Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Disk 2

Albinoni - Adagio in G Minor (Realised Giazotto) [Extract] {Gallipoli}; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Sir Neville Marriner

Nyman - Heart Asks Pleasure First/The Promise {The Piano}; Unknown artist

Quarantotto & Sartori - Time to Say Goodbye; David Abel

J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations - Aria {The English Patient}; Maria Tipo

Offenbach - Barcarolle (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) {Life Is Beautiful}; Choeurs Rene Ducios; Clu; Elisabeth Schwartskopf; Jeannine Collard; Orchestre De La Societe` Des Concerts Du Conservatoire

Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor - II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) {Brief Encounter}; Cecile Ousset; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Sir Simon Rattle

Elgar - Nimrod ("Enigma" Variations) {Elizabeth}; The London Symphony Orchestra; Sir Adrian Boult

Puccini - Vissi d'Arte (Tosca); Georges Pretre; Maria Callas; Orchestre De La Societe` Des Concerts Du Conservatoire

Myers - Cavatina {The Deer Hunter}; Manuel Barrueco; Steve Morse

Schubert - String Quintet in C D956 - II. Adagio (Opening) {Carrington}; Hungarian Quartet; Laszlo Varga

Gluck - J'Ai Perdu Mon Eurydice (Orphée et Eurydice); Anne Sofie Von Otter; John Eliot Gardiner; Orchestre De L'Opera De Lyon

Chopin - Étude in E "Tristesse" Op.10/3; John Ogden

Verdi - Attendo, Attendo...Addio del Passato (La Traviata); Dame Kiri Te Kanawa; Myung-Whun Chung; The London Symphony Orchestra

Bach - Double Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV 1043 - II. Largo Ma Non Tanto {Children of a Lesser God}; Bath Festial Orchestra; Christian Ferras; Sir Yehudi Menuhin

Kashif - Queen Symphony - III. Adagio {Who Wants to Live Forever - Save Me}; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Tolga Kashif

Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor - II. Romance (Larghetto) (Opening) {The Truman Show}; Garrick Ohlsson; Jerzy Maksymiuk; Polish National Symphony Orchestra

Faure - In Paradisum (Requiem) {The Thin Red Line}; Cambridge Choir of Kings Choir; English Chamber Orchestra; Stephen Cleobury

Horner - My Heart Will Go On {Titanic}; David Abel

Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (Conclusion) {Manhattan}; Andre Previn; The London Symphony Orchestra

Live in Seattle
Average customer rating:

It doesn't get any better than this

Moving playing of the highest order.

Bravo!

At the Tractor Tavern

One Of The Best Live Albums Ever

Live in Seattle
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
Manufacturer: Green Linnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Lonesome Touch

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Under the Moon

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Portland

ASIN: B00001IVKV
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

Martin Rochford's/Green Gowned Lass
Port Na BPucai/Kilnamona Barndance/Ship In Full Sail/Jer The Ragger/The Old Blackthorn...
Carraroe/Out Of The Ocean
Mary McMahon Of Ballinahinch/Miss Lyon's
Dowd's No.9/Come West Along The Road

Amazon.com

Traditional Irish musicians commonly are fond of medleys of jigs and reels, but few have been so relentless in combining compatible melodies and rhythms as County Clare fiddler Martin Hayes and American guitarist Dennis Cahill. The centerpiece of this album, recorded at Seattle's Tractor Tavern, is a 27-minute semi-improvised suite incorporating fragments of 11 distinct tunes. American folk music fans with attention spans more attuned to Woody Guthrie than Philip Glass might prefer the more concise five-minute pairing of "Carraroe" and "Out on the Ocean," or the jazzy six-minute coupling of "Dowd's No. 9" and "Come West Along the Road." As the old advertising jingle goes, "It's not how long you make it, it's how you make it long." --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

It doesn't get any better than this.......2004-02-26

I own (and love) Hayes' two previous CDs, so I was rather ambivalent about purchasing this one, given that too many "live" albums are just a rehash of previously recorded material punctuated with applause. Fortunately, I sent for the CD anyway, and it's a revelation. Irish music arose in an environment that fostered an intimate connection between performer and listener; while tradition was respected, spontaniety and the imprint of the musician's personality were equally valued. Working within traditional Co. Clare fiddling style, Hayes teases out the nuances of each tune, from thoughtful to lighthearted to downright raucous; Cahill is a perfect ally, providing both support and (at times) contrast in his solo passages. What I find remarkable about the 27-minute set is that it doesn't SEEM that long: it's a drama in a dozen acts, and although the emotions cover a wide range, the tension never flags. (Contrary to my expectations, most of the CD is new material; I recognized only a few tunes from Hayes' earlier recordings.) The performances are so polished that I was surprised at times to hear applause; in general, the audience was so in tune with the performers that they didn't whoop and holler at inappropriate moments. This is Irish fiddling at its finest, and the recording is generally very well done. (My one complaint: whatever possessed them to fade out at the end of the last track? It destroys the concert "feel" and doesn't do justice to the tune.)

Moving playing of the highest order........2002-06-22

It takes quite a CD to get me to go to the effort of writing a review. However, having noticed that most of the well-deserved positive reviews received by this excellent CD come from fans of Hayes and Cahill, I decided to provide an outsider opinion. I am primarily a classical musician (a pianist) and I certainly wouldn't consider myself expert in Celtic fiddling. In fact, I'm not sure quite why I bought this CD in the first place. Sure am glad I did. This is music making at the very highest level. The 27+ minute medley of 11 tunes should be required listening for anyone who has ever tried to play, for example, a Bach Partita. This is truly playing which moves the listener, both physically and emotionally. Very highly recommended!

Bravo!.......2001-11-28

This CD is, by far, my favorite and I own tons of Celtic music CD's. I've seen Hayes and Cahill many times in person, and this CD captures the thrill and excitement of a live performance. I've been a friend and fan of Dennis Cahill from his days at Shannon's Landing Pub and other Chicago area venues. When Martin Hayes joined him as Midnight Court, I knew there was something special going on, even if they didn't realize it right away. Don't pass up an opportunity to see them in person, but buy the CD - you won't regret it.

At the Tractor Tavern.......2000-04-20

I just happened to be in Seattle the night of the release party, and I elbowed my way into the Tractor Tavern to hear Martin Hayes, one of my favorite performers. I wasn't diappointed with the concert, and I certainly am delighted with the album. Hayes and Cahill are a legendary duo: their performance is a wonderful blend of creativity and musicianship, and both musicians perform equally for the good of the music, not solely to highlight themselves or each other. And while there is much music to be enjoyed, there is much to be learned from this album too: if you are a musician, you will appreciate the flawless technique and inclusion of tradition and non-traditional elements in chording and ornamentation. It was a great personal joy to be at the Tractor Tavern for the release party, and an even greater joy to relive that night every time I play this album.

One Of The Best Live Albums Ever.......2000-02-09

Perhaps I am bias since I was at this concert at Seattle's Tractor Tavern but I must say that this CD aptly captures the magic that was in the room that night. In fact, this recording captures the passion & energy of their live performances better than any of Haye's excellent studio albums. Check out the hair-raising nearly-30 minute suite. Elements of jazz & classical music can be detected in the complex, undefinable interpretations of traditional Irish music. Any music lover should give this a chance. Simply breathtaking!

Average customer rating:

Breathtaking!
A Unique Millennium Event
Glenn Gould on Acid.
A first - rate pianist!
Lots of flash....Too much, in fact

Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000056PRG
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Tracks:

Partita No.2, BWV 1004: Chaconne in d
Pno Son No.32 in c, Op.111: 1. Maestoso - Allegro Con Brio Ed Appassionato
Pno Son No.32 in c, Op.111: 2. Arietta. Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile
Scherzo No.1 in b, Op.20
Scherzo No.2 in b-flat, Op.31
Scherzo No.3 in c#, Op.39
Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54

Tracks:

Etude-Tableau in e-flat, Op.39 No.5: Appassionato
Poeme in F#, Op.32 No.1: Andante Cantabile
Son in d, K.9: Allegro Moderato
Etude De Virtuosite in F, Op.72 No.6: Presto
Islamey: Oriental Fant: Presto Con Fuoco

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni "Chaconne," Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation of the earlier movement's passionate anger into a vision of Paradise beyond the power of words to describe. In Chopin's Four Scherzos, Pletnev emphasizes too many details and inhibits the music's lyrical sweep. But the charm and dazzling pyrotechnics of his encores help make this the first great piano recording of the millennium. After Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Scarlatti, and Moszkowski, Pletnev's fifth and final encore was Balakirev's transcendentally difficult Islamey. The superhuman virtuosity, sonorous splendor, and Technicolor exoticism of this performance will knock your socks off--and the rest of your clothes as well! --Stephen Wigler

Customer Reviews:

Breathtaking!.......2007-07-06

This is an amazing performance, especially as it was recorded live and not reworked in a studio. Pletnev is one of this generation's greatest pianists. He manages to find nuances in the music that make these works fresh, particularly the four Chopin Scherzi that are part of every concert pianist's repertoire. The bonus CD is especially fine as it shows how Pletnev is capable of playing just about any style of music. As if the rest of the program wasn't virtuosic enough, Pletnev caps off the concert with the fiendishly difficult Islamey as one of his encores.

A Unique Millennium Event.......2007-05-09

Having written extensively on Mr Pletnev's hyper-idiosyncratic playing in his 1997 Chopin Recital, it is interesting to turn to his 2000 live Carnegie Hall Recital--where the main programmed attractions are the four Chopin Scherzos. You will not find a better recording of the Scherzos as a group--even if Argerich surpasses Pletnev in terms of ferocious drive and sheer brilliance in Nos 2 & 3. Pletnev's Scherzo No 4 is the best yet to have appeared on disc--`perfect' in the sense that music virtually comes to life as a free-standing organism. Never before has Chopin's genial writing in this work been conveyed with such impeccable mastery.

As one can expect, all the large-scale bombast in the Bach-Busoni Chaconne is delivered with high-voltage pianism in the Grand Manner. By sharp contrast, the second movement in Beethoven's last Sonata is given its probably dreamiest account ever--which evidently reveals Beethoven as one of the main initiators of the romantic era. As far as the encores go, generously provided by DG on the supplementary disc, they are delivered with such panache and masterfulness that you are unlikely to find them bettered--irrespective of where you look. The Balakirev Islamey really has to be heard to be believed--other great modern versions by Gavrilov and Berezovsky pale by comparison.

This extraordinary live recital more than anything confirms Pletnev's position as one of the truly greatest living pianists. The only drawback is that the CD makes you envy those lucky souls who had the opportunity of being there on site. Luckily enough, DG's recording is a worthy second best.

Glenn Gould on Acid. .......2006-12-16

My whole review is in the title.

--E. R. O'Neill

A first - rate pianist!.......2006-07-13

The sumptuous and refined style of Michael Plentev confirms the accurate security Sviatoslav Richter kept in mind at the moment he accepted to become his musical mentor. The time, the supreme judge and the great audiences around the world have fortunately verified this initial statement.

Plentev is without discussion, one of the major pianists in the actual musical stages. His prodigious technique has worked out under expression' s service, and the result is absolutely gratifying. He has captured the essential musical roots around the whole pianist repertoire, and being such young artist we eventually will have to wait for future major achievements.

When you listen him, you should realize his outcome precedes form that inner vision conferred by the touch of genius.

Lots of flash....Too much, in fact.......2004-08-18

To say that Pletnev reminds me of the flamboyant pianists of the past would be a slight to the flamboyant pianists of the past. Even though they were not being kosher to the score, there was something about them that held interest. Pletnev often doesn't even do that. These are very superficial, shallow performances.

Things start off very encouraging, with a stupendous Bach-Busoni Chaconne. At this point I was ready to give the album five stars. Pletnev thunders, he turns his piano into an organ, he turns in one intense reading. Ah, I thought, we are going to be in for a treat.

But that's the high point. His next work is very different and calls for a very different approach, and he treats it largely the same. He adds his own razzle-dazzle to Beethoven's Op. 111 rather than take the trouble to find the depth *in* the music itself. Now, I'm not a pedant (at least I don't think so!) but these departures add no insights are just make a hash of Beethoven's own extremely powerful ideas. Pletnev plays piano where it is not written, freely adds sfumatos, ignores and adds accents at will, twists and turns the structure--to no advantage I can see other than to say "I'm here, pay attention to ME!" But most damningly of all, he doesn't hold the Arietta together to my ears, failing to find a common thread for the various variations that unify this enigmatic work. The second movement felt very long, and when, say, I listen to Schnabel (1933) in this music, I have no sense how much time has gone by. Lest anyone think I am too conservative, let me say that two of my favorite Op. 111s are Ernest Levy and Anatol Ugorski! The Chopin is just as bad, with too much fussiness in the ornamental details that has little to do with Chopin's piece and a lot to do with Pletnev's fingers. If you ever wondered what Chopin sounded like as played by Liszt on bipolar meds, this is it. The music's own shapes, momentums and moods are ignored so that Mikkey can plow through the notes as fast as humanly possible. (And that he can do.)

The encores don't excite me as much as they do some other reviewers. Want to hear really stunning Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableauxes (if that's a word), listen to Sviatoslav Richter--he finds fireworks *inside* the score, not by juxtaposing his ideas over it. The reviewer below who said the better the music, the worse the performances, hit the nail right on the head. That's also how I've felt about his conducting, from what I've sampled: lots of sound and fury, signifying nothing. I'm perplexed that this was among Amazon's "Best of 2001." Maybe 2001 wasn't a good year.

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