Noël

Noël

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In her early days Joan Baez's beautiful soprano rang like a bell, so it's no surprise that it's the perfect instrument for a set of ancient carols and Christmas favorites. Arranger Peter Schickele (of Public Radio International's Schickele Mix and P.D.Q. Bach fame) wisely sets Baez off against a background of traditional instruments on this 1966 chestnut, mixing her honeyed tones with the burrs, tinkles, and whispers of lutes, harpsichords, and recorders. "Coventry Carol" is gorgeous, moving in a way that few holiday songs do anymore. "Carol of the Birds" is enchanting. And Baez's quivery "Silent Night" is, quite simply, a gift. Noel (whose songs of peace were a quiet protest against the war in Vietnam) is an enduring, graceful classic. --Michael Ruby

Tracks:

Un Amore Per Sempre
Alejate
The Prayer (feat. Angie Stone)
For Always
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (feat. Lili Haydn)
Broken Vow
O Holy Night

Tracks:

Alla Luce Del Sole (Video)
You're Still You (Video)
Vincent (Starry Starry Night) (Video)
Gira Con Me Questa Notte (Video)
Un Amore Per Sempre (Video)
Alejate (Video)
Broken Vow (Video)
To Where You Are (Video)
Cinema Paradiso (Video)
For Always (Video)
Home To Stay (Video)
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Video)
Canto Alla Vita (Video)
The Prayer (feat. Angie Stone) (Video)
Let Me Fall (Video)

Amazon.com

Josh Groban in Concert has all the ingredients to be a long-running PBS staple: a young (21), good-looking performer with a golden voice; songs in Italian and Spanish for the crossover crowd (i.e., Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman) and pop and movie songs for the mainstream; guest stars galore (David Foster, John Williams, Angie Stone, Andrea Corr, Lili Haydn); a large orchestra; and striking but not obtrusive visual effects. The centerpiece of this DVD-CD combo (also available in a DVD keepcase) is the 80-minute concert DVD, filmed in Pasadena in October 2002 and featuring numerous songs from Groban's debut CD, including "You're Still You," which catapulted him into stardom when he sang it on TV's Ally McBeal. There are also two new songs--the ballad "Broken Vow," with Groban accompanied by Foster, and "For Always," with the orchestra conducted by John Williams, who wrote the song for the Steven Spielberg film A.I..

The 37-minute CD offers seven songs performed in the concert (including the two not on the previous CD, "Broken Vow" and "For Always"), plus "O Holy Night." The DVD has excellent picture and sound (PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS), interviews, and backstage footage, and the combination with the CD is an excellent value. Groban's fans, of course, will consider it a treasure at any price. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

In case you couldn't go to the concert. . ........2007-05-12

In case you couldn't go to the concert . . . buy this CD/DVD set. This is a good overall product. The DVD is seamlessly pieced together from three concerts. The concerts were awesome due to the lights, musicians, song introductions, and of course - Josh's voice, presence, and energy.

Young Josh .......2007-04-12

This cd and dvd collection is valuable to anyone collecting Josh Groban music. The dvd is nicely done and gives a little insight into his family (parents and younger brother) with the special features. Nice, clean, family entertainment which is such a rarity nowadays. This young man's voice is exceptional - God has truly blessed him with such a voice, and to see him perform is a gift as well. My family truly enjoyed this bonus.

The Best I've Ever Heard Live!!.......2007-04-10

He has the most beautiful voice!! I love seeing him live! Worth the money to hear him over and over again!!!

Josh Grobin DVD/CD.......2007-04-02

I ordered this concert DVD/CD for my Mom who is a new fan of Josh Grobin's and she loved both the concert footage and the songs on the DVD.

Fantastic concert....Josh Grobin is outstanding!.......2007-02-22

I have been a Josh Grobin fan since I heard "You Lift Me Up", and I have not been dissapointed with his CD's ever since. I was excited when I got this DVD and it definitely did not dissapoint. He chooses his songs wisely and each song in this concert is full of emotion and depth. The CD compliments the DVD well and is always a favorite. From "Broken Vow" to "Oh Holy Night" each song is sung by this master singer.

Highly Recommended!

Average customer rating:

GORGEOUS!
Wonderful intro To MEHDl ...
great
The Complete Wedding Album
Almost the compete wedding album

The Complete Wedding Album

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Classical Wedding
25 Wedding Favorites
Bride's Guide to Wedding Music
A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
Classical Wedding Traditions

ASIN: B000006ONZ
Release Date: 1998-04-28

Tracks:

Rigaudon - Empire Brass
Sinfonia - Michael Murray
Toccata - Michael Murray
Wedding March - Michael Murray
The Prince Of Denmark's March - Michael Murray
Trumpet Tune In D Major - Michael Murray
Te Deum - Michael Murray
Ave Maria - Michael Murray
Canon In D Major - Yolanda Kondonassis
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Yolanda Kondonassis
Prelude No. 1 In C Major - Yolanda Kondonassis
Entrance Of The Queen Of Sheba - Keith Clark
Air - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Hornpipe - Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Rondeau - Empire Brass
Unchained Melody - Erich Kunzel
Through The Eyes Of Love - William Tritt
Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet - William Tritt
The Wedding Song (There Is Love - Danny Donnelly
Dodi Li - Shira Kammen

Tracks:

Rondeau - Michael Murray
Sheep May Safely Graze - Michael Murray
Ave Maria - Michael Murray
Gymnopedie No. 1 - Michael Chertock
Clair De Lune - Michael Chertock
Adagio Sostenuto - Michael Chertock
Largo - Angel Romero
Largo - Larry Cooperman
Largo - Keith Clark
Allegro - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Adagio In G Minor For Strings - Keith Clark
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Leonard Slatkin
Adagio For Strings - Erich Kunzel
'Treulich Gefuart,' Bridal Chorus - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra And Chorus
Wedding March - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

GORGEOUS!.......2007-06-13

I wish this CD had been around when I was planning my wedding as it would have been great for helping the bride to select music! Still, it's wonderful to listen to now.

Wonderful intro To MEHDl ..........2006-06-08

I've always enjoyed Great Wedding music and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this site I discovered a group by the name of MEHDl (pronounced medie). After an online search I found their site (S00THINGMUSIC,C0M) and listened to the samples...
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to these CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Tomaso Albinoni fan of, I find MEHDl to be a great addition to this CD. I had them both in my multi-disc CD player during the wedding and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

great.......2006-02-19

Highly recommended. Even has suggestions for pre-ceremony, processional, ceremony, and recessional inside. 2 different versions of Midsummer Night's Dream march included - one with trumpet and organ and one with a full orchestra. Lots of great selections, well recorded.

The Complete Wedding Album.......2005-08-05

This album has a lot of great wedding music. It had all of the songs I was looking for. There also is great background music for the ceremony. Glad I purchased it

Almost the compete wedding album.......2004-05-07

I used this cd to help me plan which songs I wanted to use for each part of the wedding. This cd helps you suggest the placement for the prelude, processional, ceremony and recessional. The cd mainly has classical songs, but it does have a few of "today's" songs. There could have been a few more songs they could have added. But overall, its a good cd.

Average customer rating:

Cornucopia of Pavarotti's works
Don't...!!!
Great Tenor - Poor CD Quality
Great Music......Horrible Mastering
Surely I am proud to be an Italian-American!!

Pavarotti: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Romantica: The Very Best Of Luciano Pavarotti
The Best of the Three Tenors
Luciano Pavrotti: The Best (Farewell Tour)
Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs
Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta

ASIN: B0000042HZ
Release Date: 1997-09-30

Tracks:

Turandot: Nessun dorma
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
La Traviata: Brindisi
Aida: Se quel guerrier io foss ... Celeste Aida
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Rigoletto: Questa o quella
Martha: M'appari
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Fedora: Amor ti vieta
Pagliaccci: Recitar!... Vesti la guibba
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
L'africana: Mi batte il cuor ... O paradiso
Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
Manon Lescaut: Ma se vi talenta ... Tra voi, belle
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
La Favorita: Spirito gentil
II torvatore: Di quella pira
L'amico Fritz: Suzel, buon di

Tracks:

O sole mio
Torna a Surriento
Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna: Core 'ngrato
Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna: Funiculi Funicul
Notte 'e piscatore
O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel)
Panis angelicus
Ave Marie: Ave Maria
Mattinata
La danza
Caro mio ben
Caruso
My Way
Santa Lucia
Tu che m'hai preso il cuor
Mamma
La mai canzone al vento: La mia canzone al vento
Volare
Passione
Granda: Granada

Customer Reviews:

Cornucopia of Pavarotti's works.......2007-03-01

This is a "Super hits" CD, with over forty different cuts (quite a few of which have appeared elsewhere, of course). For those who are aficionados of Pavarotti, this is what might be called "hog heaven."

Disc 1 features estimable works such as "Nessun dorma" (well done, with his voice showing to good effect), "Che gelida manina" (excellently done, with good characterization), ""Celeste Aida" (elegantly sung), "Di quella pira" (a much better than average version), "E lucevan le stelle" (Pavarotti does a nice job in the Puccini-Verdi repertoire), "La donna e mobile" (sung with aplomb), "Recondita armonia" (the other aria from Tosca, which also shows Pavarotti's voice off to good effect), and so on.

Disc 2 is especially interesting, because it features a more popular set of works, from the redoubtable "O sole mio" (richly orchestrated and nicely sung, not overpowered by Pavarotti's operatic voice), "Core n'grato" (compare with Caruso's version), "Oh, holy night," "La danza" (spritely sung with excellent breath control in a treacherous song), "Santa Lucia" (again, smoothly sung), "Ave Maria" (seemingly sung with respect and affection).

A cornucopia of Pavarottiana. For those fans of Pavarotti, this "greatest hits" collection will be welcome. For those who may not be aware of this tenor when his voice was still fresh, this is a fine entrée to his work.

Don't...!!!.......2005-01-24

To combine a voice as beautiful as Pavarotti's with some of the world's greatest music and outstanding orchestras, and end up with this...`thing'...is unforgivable. After buying and listening to it, it brought to mind those painful words "A fool, a fool. I saw a fool today. I saw him in the mirror."

R. J. Rogers

Great Tenor - Poor CD Quality.......2004-10-11

I have never been a huge fan of Maestro Pavarotti but I must admit that this compilation is a masterful collection of his operatic highlights.

I particularily enjoy the first disc which contains just about all the major tenor arias. The singing is superb and listening to this CD it becomes obvious what the fuss over the pre-3 Tenors Pavarotti was all about - the man really did have one of the greatest tenor voices of all time.
His diction was flawless, his line perfect and his interpretation in keeping with the greatest of the Italian tenors of days gone by.

The second disc is interesting in that it is a bit uneven. It contains a few neapolitan standards, a x-mas song, a duet with Frank Sinatra and some other random selections.

Overall this is a 5 star CD but due to the extremely low volume, particularily on the first and most important disc I can only give it a 4 star rating.

On a final note, anyone puzzeled by the current hype over the now againg and commercially over-blown Pavarotti should purchase this CD. This is the great tenor in his prime and as such a CD well worth having...even if you're not a Pavarotti fan.
I'm still not, but I recognize greatness when I hear it.

Great Music......Horrible Mastering.......2004-07-24

Pavarotti has a voice that can take hold of you and change your entire mood...even if you don't know Italian. The problem with this set is the mastering (mastering evens out the volumes and signal to noise ratio on an album). The first CD in this collection is so quiet that you literally have to crank your player to get any kind of volume. For a professional CD this is absolutely unacceptable.
The song choices are good with the exception of "My Way" with Frank Sinatra. Both singers sound ....ummm...let's just say less than their best on the recording. It sits out like a boil on a pretty girl's face.

Surely I am proud to be an Italian-American!!.......2004-06-26

With his wondrous soaring vocals and the humble demeanor within his strong body, Pavarotti is an inspiration to Italian- Americans everywhere - Italian-Americans like me. My family plays his beautiful operas on vinyl nearly every day in me Papa's little wine and cheese shop on 18th and Broadway. The customers compliment the music with glee, pinching my plump cheeks with merriment and wishing me well on their way out the door. Ah, how I love this land of America!!

Oops, I am sorry, Nana.

My Nana has shushed me to "pipe down, little bambino."

Tracks:

I'll See You Again
Dance, Little Lady
Poor Little Rich Girl
Room With a View
Someday I'll Find You
I'll Follow My Secret Heart
If Love Were All
Play, Orchestra, Play
Uncle Harry
Loch Lomond
Bar on the Piccola Marina
World Weary
Nina
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Matelot
Alice Is at It Again
Room With a View
Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)
I Like America
Louisa
Half-Caste Woman
I Went to a Marvelous Party
Time and Again
Why Must the Show Go On?
What's Going to Happen to the Tots
Sail Away
Wait a Bit, Joe
Twentieth Century Blues
Party's Over Now

Album Description

Australian pressing. Budget anthology of the recordings of one of the 20th Century's true great artists. Coward was a master showman, witty songwriter and playwright. Here is the best of his long illustrious career. 29 tracks. Sony Classics. 2003.

Album Details

Budget Anthology of the Recordings of One of the 20th Century's True Great Artists. Coward was a Master Showman, Witty Songwriter and Playwright. Here is the Best of his Long Illustrious Career.

Average customer rating:

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!
Persuaders Theme!
A Variety Of Classics!
Incredible Barry Collection
" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry"

John Barry: The Collection

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music
Beyondness of Things
Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music
The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
Eternal Echoes

ASIN: B00005BADD
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

Zulu
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love - 007
Goldfinger
The Ipcress File
The Knack
Mister Moses
Thunderball
The Wrong Box
Born Free
The Quiller Memorandum
You Only Live Twice
The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair
Deadfall

Tracks:

The Lion In Winter
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
The Appointment
The Last Valley
Walkabout
Monte Walsh
Diamonds Are Forever
The Persuaders
Mary Queen Of Scots
The Man With The Golden Gun
The Dove

Tracks:

The Tamarind Seed
King Kong
Eleanor And Franklin
Robin And Marian
The Deep
Hanover Street
The Black Hole
Moonraker
Somewhere In Time
Raise The Titanic
Body Heat
Frances
Octopussy
The Cotton Club

Tracks:

High Road To China
A View To A Kill
Out Of Africa
The Living Daylights
Dances With Wolves
Dances With Wolves
Chaplin
Moviola
Indecent Proposal
The Specialist
The Scarlet Letter
Cry The Beloved Country
Mercury Rising
The James Bond Theme

Customer Reviews:

The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra needs a guitar player!.......2006-11-09

Granted, they only need it for one composition (the last one, "The James Bond Theme") but still, without the guitar it's just not the same. Barry didn't compose this one so I suppose it was a bonus and I shouldn't complain, really. The rest of the music on all the CDs is fantastic. Some of the stuff I had heard before without realizing who had composed it. Very enjoyable, to say the least.

Persuaders Theme!.......2006-03-02

Buy it for the Persuaders theme, probably the best TV theme song ever written.

A Variety Of Classics!.......2005-12-06

John Barry has been composing film scores for over forty years and this is only scratching the surface of his productions. Never mind that the entire set is recorded by the Prague Philharmonic; it's pure to Barry's themes. While John Williams compositions ("Star Wars", etc.) are wild and flamboyant and Jerry Goldsmith's (Hoosier's, etc.) are mood pieces, John Barry crosses over all barriers and is amazingly diverse. Barry has recorded most of the exciting James Bond themes, melodramatic classics like "The Lion In Winter' and moody theme hits like "Midnight Cowboy". He also tugs at the heartstrings with compositions from, "Somewhere In Time", "Frances" and "Out Of Africa". He varies his themes for all types of films and few composers capture it so well.

There is over four hours of music in this set with a colorful and informative booklet.

Incredible Barry Collection.......2004-03-11

Any fan of movies will absolutley love this collection. Being a movie buff I couldn't wait to get this boxed set. Knowing Barry from all the James Bond movies, I did not realize his involvement with so many others. The orchestra is magnificent in all these themes. I'm listening to "High Road to China" right now and I'm drifting in the clouds in a Tiger Moth with Tom Selleck and Bess Armstrong. If you are familiar with a movie it will definitely have you seeing it again, if not the scores are still beautiful. Any fan of classical music will be pleased as well. Travellers will defintitely enjoy it for a long drive. I know from when I use to travel that music like this made the miles float by faster. I highly recommend these four CDs even if you just know a handful of the songs.

" one of cinema's greatest composers...John Barry".......2001-07-06

This collection of four compact discs...are worth their weight in GOLD! Barry creates visual moods for each film he scores...romantic, sentimental, action, adventure, suspense and mystery...the list could go on. Strings, brass and lush-velvet arrangements overlay each cue in his distinctive style of legendary scoring...we have ~ "John Barry:The Collection", Silva Screen's release traces 40 years of film music, featuring "The City Of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra" ~ conducted by Mr. Nic Raine (outstanding)..."Crouch End Festival Chorus" ~ David Temple, Choir Master...perform 56 selections, over four hours of symphonic suites with a full orchestra sound...all individually wrapped-up into one neat package...just the way "film-score-buffs" like 'em!

Must ask the following to take a bow ~ James Fitzpatrick (compilation producer), always in their pitching, Reynold da Silva (executive producer), Nic Raine (conductor, arranger, orchestrator & associate producer), a tremen!dous asset to every project he undertakes...and the man who made it all possible...a legendary icon always leading the way in film scoring ~ JOHN BARRY!

Total Time: 258:76 on 56 Tracks ~ SSD-1128 ~ (2001)

You might try other albums from Silva Screen, all worthy of a good listen ~ "The Essential James Bond" (SSD-1034)..."Bond:Back In Action" (SSD-1100)..."Bond:Back In Action 2" (SSD-1119)..."Zulu" (SSD-1095)..."Raise The Titanic" (SSD-1102)..."Walkabout" (SSD-1120)...check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.

Average customer rating:

This is an amazing, amazing product
a voice teacher and early music fan
Incredible
Very inspiring for this Christian (Catholic)
Amazing!

O Magnum Mysterium
Thomas Tallis , Tomas Luis de Victoria , Morten Lauridsen , Francis Poulenc , Sergey Rachmaninov , Franz Schubert , Anonymous , Spiritual Traditional , Henryk Gorecki , Christopher Cock , Robert Shaw Festival Singers , and Robert Shaw Chamber Singers
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna, etc. / Salamunovich, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (Mass for Unaccompanied Chorus)
Choral Masterpieces
Agnus Dei: Music of Inner Harmony
Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna

ASIN: B00004WFLW
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

If Ye Love Me
A New Commandment
O Vos Omnes
O Magnum Mysterium
O Magnum Mysterium
O Magnum Mysterium
Praise The Name Of The Lord
Der Entfernten
Wondrous Love
Amazing Grace
Sometimes I Feel Like Moanin'
Totus Tuus

Amazon.com

The trademark qualities of a Robert Shaw-trained chorus included perfect tonal blend and balance, expressive phrasing, and superb tuning. As an interpreter, Shaw hewed to the middle road, steering clear of eccentricities and honoring the composer's intentions. On this tribute disc, we hear these virtues coalesce in works such as Poulenc's austere Christmas hymn "O magnum mysterium," one of three settings of the text here. Shaw was at his best in works whose fervent spirituality he shared, and the selection from Rachmaninov's Vespers, with its repeated alleluias, is a highlight, both radiant and passionate. But then, virtually everything here is a highlight: the Schubert part song done to a turn with soft singing projected in rounded tones; the curve of "Wondrous Love"'s melody perfectly traced; and "Amazing Grace" in Shaw's arrangement all the more moving for its calm dignity. The longest piece, Górecki's Marian hymn "Totus tuus," is otherworldly in an enthralled reading that never loses focus. Like all of Shaw's Telarc recordings, the sonics are first-class. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

This is an amazing, amazing product.......2007-02-07

The only part of the CD I would quibble with is the selection from Rachmaninov's Vespers, but I'm really lucky and have heard that performed live several times and heard multiple recordings, and decided on one that I liked best early on.

If you aren't blown away by the performance of the Tallis, you'll probably still cry when you hear the Lauridsen later in the CD. One thing about this CD is that after hearing it, my standard for what I could expect in a recording became a lot higher.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-01-17

When Robert Shaw retired in 1988 as Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra he returned to the conducting of unaccompanied choral music, that he had been involved with in the Robert Shaw Chorale in the 1950's and early 60's.
The selections on this disc are taken from several different Telarc recordings that were made at summer festivals he directed during the last decade of his life.
The Poulenc "O Magnum Mysterium" is one of the four motets on a Christmas album made in 1989. "Wondrous Love", "Amazing Grace", and "Sometimes I Feel Like a Moanin' Dove" are from the collection of 'American Hymns and Spirituals', performed and recorded in 1992. Gorecki's motet "Totus Tuus" appeared on 'Evocation of the Spirit' recorded in 1994.
In the Summer of 1989, the first year of Shaw's choral festivals in France yielded an impressive array of unaccompanied music which included Rachmaninoff's 'Vespers' or 'All Night Vigil', Op.37, the 2 Thomas Tallis pieces and the two in Latin by Vittoria.
"Der Entfernten" comes from a collection of 'Schubert Songs' for Male Chorus taped in the Summer of 1992. Morton Luridsen's 'O magnum mysterium', the most recent composition on this disc as well as the last recorded (1997), was included on 'A Robert Shaw Christmas'.
It is interesting to note that there are no less than three settings of the anonymous medieval text "O Magnum Mysterium". Shaw, a deeply spiritual man, often lamented about the commercialism that had pervaded the celebraton of the American Christmas. He retained a sincere awe for the miraculous details of the Nativity story, and it was natural that he should return again to music having this text, with its wondrous mixture of the homespun and the mystical, the lowly and the most high.

This is a truly interesting variety of compositions featuring a diversified group of fine composers!!!!.Any choral group that Shaw conducted always sang with much emotion and always great skill. There is never a 'ragged' entrance OR exit; there is never poor balance between the voices; the diction is crisp and clear and never 'muddied'; and the sound is ethereally beautiful. I would have liked to know who the personnel were in each of his 2 groups on this disc, but they were not listed, so I guess I never will know. Just a fabulous recording!!!!!

Incredible.......2005-08-02

Who can listen to this without being humbled, yet enriched, as if walking through the courts of sacred and simple places?

Very inspiring for this Christian (Catholic).......2004-07-22

I'd swear that Robert Shaw must have visited heaven and come back to write his rendition of O Magnum Mysterium (particularly track #5 with the chamber singers). It's my favorite classical piece, especially among choral works. I'd love to be in a great gothic cathedral like Notre Dame or Cologne and hear this piece. Even though you'll likely only be hearing this recording through your headphones in your room, it'll take you to the cathedrals and heaven itself.

I read somewhere that Robert Shaw was deeply religious/spiritual. I have no reason to doubt this...his faith shines through on this disk. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21

Amazing!.......2004-02-10

In my choir at school, we are singing O Magnum Mysterium; I can't help from sinking into its soft harmonies. How to describe this feeling?--each bar more poignant than the last; dynamically profound; crystal clear tone; that clash between tenors in the chorus...it makes me believe in love and god all at once! Spectacular, this CD is--how lucky I am to have found it. Recommended to anyone with hearing.

Average customer rating:

Movie was good but...
another different & newer version of a similar movie.
One of Those Rare Film Soundtracks of Significance
Film on DVD?
Absolutely Beautiful

Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noël)
Philippe Rombi
Manufacturer: Virgin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Joyeux Noel (Widescreen)
Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce
The Miracle of the Voice
Sophie Scholl - The Final Days
A Very Long Engagement

ASIN: B000BTDLOM
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Overture
Fraternizers' Hymn (piano)
Anna and Nikolaus
War
Soldiers' Burial
Bist du bei mir
Silent Night
Jonathan's Letter
Ponchel's Memories
The Football Match
The Bishop's Sermon
The Soldier's Mail
War Adagio
The Absence Theme
Fraternizers' Hymn: 'I'm Dreaming Of Home'
Adeste Fideles
Invitations: 'I'm Dreaming Of Home'
Anna and Nikolaus
Aria for Violin and Orchestra
Fraternizers' Hymn (Murmurs and vocalises)

Customer Reviews:

Movie was good but..........2007-06-04

I thought the movie was good, but I was disapointed with the rating. I think the sexual scene was downplayed in the PG13 rating, i.e. "a little bit of sexual nudity"..I would not want any children watching that scene, it was obvious sexual intercourse.I think it should have had an R rating instead.
I was very disappointed with the rating

another different & newer version of a similar movie........2007-01-06

wonderful sound track, beautiful, melancholy, nostalgic, sad but sublime music to synchronize this unnecessary human tragedy.
i remember that i've seen an older movie exactly like this, but it's american soldiers and german soldiers doing the x'mas truce, drinking and singing the x'mas carols together on x'mas eve. why and how it became possible? because both countries still have the same religion, the same belief and the same god.
anyway, the premise of that and this movie is to deliver a message to you: enemy is what your president, your chancellor, your goverment, your generals giving to you. they point across the border, telling you that a whole foreign country out there and the all the people in that specific nation are your enemy. when these people decide to declare the war on that country, then the people in that country suddenly become your enemy. before that, you never knew that you've got an enemy, you'd never thought the people in that country would be your enemy.
funny thing is once the war is over, tourism would take over, and then you'd travel to that once you thought very unfriendly country and shake the hands of that country's people. if you go there in the holiday season, you'd say 'merry x'mas' to each other with smiles on your face.
but some of the countries that would never become your friendly nations and your friendly foreign people if you invade their country and force them to reform a new government and replace all the guys your government doesn't like. and they'd never say 'merry x'mas' to you, because they have different culture, different belief, different god, different book of god, different holidays. but regretfully, when you invade their country, you've totally destroy all the things they used to have. when all the good and bad are forcefully changed in the name of liberation by a foreign nation, there's no way they'd appreciate your holidays with respect.
this is what we have to learn from this movie.
you know why this truce could be achieved between german soldiers, french soldiers or american g.i.s?
funny thing is that under same god, same belief, same bible, same....how could it possible that they'd still become enemies to each other? two boxers with the same belief into the boxing bouts, they both cross themselves before each bout and wish god would help him to beat out of his opponent. why they fight each other? because the words 'in god we trust' are printed on paper money. the green $ sign pushes them to fight each other. maybe the cause of a war between nations with the same religion is the green $ sign too?
eh, by the way, if i sit in my living room, watching this movie, how could it possible that i would become enemy even to my neighbors, if i don't have a yapping dog barking day and night, bothering their sleep?
by the same token, how could it possible that i would have a whole region's countries' people who hate me to the guts and screaming 'death to america! death to americans!'?? how could i become an enemy to a country about ten thousand miles away if i couldn't even make an enemy to my immediate neighbors?
now, you tell me, i just want you to tell me. i don't want my government and its imbecile officials to tell me.

One of Those Rare Film Soundtracks of Significance.......2006-11-17

Philippe Rombi is a composer new to this listener and being so impressed with the film 'Joyeux Noël' encouraged purchasing the Soundtrack. Not a mistake at all. For once the entire music excerpts of significance are intact, even the artists who were guests, providing professional opera singers for the voices of the two cinematic actor/singers.

Rombi opens the film about WW I with very eloquent, quiet, lovely solo piano music, and very often he is so sensitive to the message of the film that just when the action looks as though the music should be of the Carmina Burana ilk, Rombi settles for orchestral Adagios. He has elected to use the carols Stille Nacht and Adeste Fidelis for the actor Sprink to sing and uses the voice of the gifted tenor Rolando Villazon to intone the music. To establish the relationship between the two opera singers, Sprink and Anna (Villazon and Natalie Dessay), he has them perform a duet version of Bach's 'Bist du bei mer' - the words of which take on deep meaning as the film progresses. When he has a moment for Anna to sing a solo, he writes his own version of Ave Maria for Anna/Natalie Dessay to sing. It is very lovely.

There are several 'tunes' written for the score - 'Fraternizers' Hymn' ('I'm Dreaming Of Home'), the theme for Anna and Nikolaus - which very well could endure long after the score and film disappear, they are that fine.

In all the score is very strong and well played, sung, and conducted. This is a soundtrack that bears attention for lovers of beautiful music. Grady Harp, November 06

Film on DVD?.......2006-07-29

Anyone know if this spectacular film will ever be released on DVD?

Absolutely Beautiful.......2006-04-05

A wonderful soundtrack to an awesome movie.

I can't listen to it enough, Thank you Philippe Rombi

Véronique Gens - Nuit d'étoiles (Mélodies Française) / Vignoles

Average customer rating:

Lovely
An unexpected glimpse of happiness.
Enchanting recital of French Melodies
Nuit d'toiles - Melodies Francaises/ Gens, Vignoles
An Outstanding Vocal Performance

Véronique Gens - Nuit d'étoiles (Mélodies Française) / Vignoles
Gabriel Fauré , Claude Debussy , Francis Poulenc , Véronique Gens , and Roger Vignoles
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Véronique Gens ~ Berlioz - Les Nuits d'été · La mort de Cléopatre
Reneé Fleming & Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Night Songs (Fauré, Debussy, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov)
Tragédiennes
Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy
Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin

ASIN: B00003ZKR9
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Apres un reve, Op. 7 No. 1
Sylvie, Op. 7 No. 3
Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8 No. 1
Lydia, Op. 4 No. 2
Le papillon et la fleur, Op. 1 No.1
Mandoline, Op. 58 No. 1: 5 Melodies de Venise
Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2
Les berceaux, Op. 23 No. 1
3 Chansons de Bilitis: I. La flute de Pan
3 Chansons de Bilitis: II. La chevelure
3 Chansons de Bilitis: III. Le tombeau des Naiades
Fetes galantes: I. En sourdine
Fetes galantes: II. Fantoches
Fetes galantes: III. Clair de lune
Nuit d'etoiles
Beau soir
Fleur des bles
La Belle au bois dormant
Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison
BANALITES: I. Chanson d'Orkenise
BANALITES: II. Hotel
BANALITES: III. Fagnes de Wallonie
BANALITES: IV. Voyage a Paris
BANALITES: V. Sanglots
2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire: I. Montparnasse
2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire: II. Hyde Park
Les chemins de l'amour - valse chantee

Customer Reviews:

Lovely.......2005-08-30

I recommend this to any art-song lover, and really, anybody at all. Gens does an excellent performance of a great collection of beautiful French songs. Her voice is enjoyable all the way, she has great expression, and a convincing mastery of the genre.

An unexpected glimpse of happiness........2001-07-21

Stendhal wrote that "the sight of anything extremely beautiful, in nature or in art, brings back the memory of what one loves, with the speed of lightning. That is, ... all that is beautiful and sublime in the world takes part in the beauty of what one loves, and this unexpected glimpse of happiness immediately fills the eyes with tears. This is how love of the beautiful and love give each other life." This is what Ms. Gens will do to you when you listen to this CD.

Enchanting recital of French Melodies.......2000-07-07

This is a most enjoyable release, all the more so because Veronique Gens, who is generally considered a baroque specialist on the lyric stage, may well be a torch-bearer of the elusive art of the French song in the coming decades. The voice of Gens, which is solid and well-integrated with an alluring dash of vibrancy embedded therein, is eminently suited to the repertoire represented in this new Virgin Classics release. Her secure technique (just a hint of strain in one or two high notes) also renders it possible for her to fine down her voice in the ending of phrases to a charming effect. Being a native French speaker certainly helps, too. Although hers is perhaps not the most strongly-etched of readings, she is able to inflect the text intelligently, and her subtle but heart-felt stresses on particular words not only serve to illuminate the poetic prose, but also meld beautifully with the notes that she sing.

The CD opens with songs by Faure, and while Gens may not possess the charm and naturalness of utterance of Maggie Teyte, whose recordings of Faure's songs are, in the opinion of this reviewer, unsurpassable, she can conjure up the right kind of feeling for every song as no one can. Her tempo for the popular "Apres un reve" is a trifle too laid back. Yet, she conveys to perfection the dream-like quality of the song, as well as the sense of confusion and regret at awakening. Her singing of "Le papillon et la fleur" is delightfully vivid, and her evocation of the feeling of sadness being kept in restraint in "Les berceaux" makes the performance both intimate and touching.

The Debussy group is no less impressive. Despite the innovative idiom in which most of these songs are composed, Gens is able bring them off effortlessly and stylishly. She is in total command whether in the serenity of "Beau soir", the romanticism of "Nuit d'etoiles", the rustic charm of "Fleur des bles", or the harrowing grimness of "Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison", the last one composed when Debussy was being haunted by the atrocities of the Great War. In "Fetes galantes I", although the vocal and piano parts are often independent of each other, Gens's remarkable interpretation succeeds in unifying the two strands into a picturesque and colourful whole. The "3 Chansons de Bilitis", which are composed very much in the style of PELLEAS ET MELISANDE, also find an ideal interpreter in Gens where, blessed with a keen sense of rhythm, she succeeds in propelling the texts forward with musical grace and dramatic import. She would surely make a wonderful Melisande.

The Poulenc is equally fine. The young soprano is able to do full justice to the diverse moods in "Banalites", which, according to Olivier Opdebeeck, who penned the CD notes, is composed in a "part-melancholy, part-joyful tone with a barb of irony which the composer identified in the poet". The "2 Melodies de Guillaume Apollinaire" are sharply contrasted, one (Montparnasse) languid and brooding and the other (Hyde Park) gusty and piquant. Gens's singing of "Les chemins de l'amour", a cross between a Viennese waltz and a cabaret song, is loveliness itself and provides a delicious end to an enchanting recital.

The major reservation that this reviewer has involves the accompaniment of Roger Vignoles. While he is able to provide secure support for the singer, his playing is uncharacterful and even bland. Besides, the piano tone seems to be rather thin at times. Nonetheless, this should not detract one from the sensuous beauty of Gens's performance. This reviewer hopes that Virgin Classics would be encouraged by the success of this release so that they can present this most promising singer in further volumes of French songs by, say, Chausson, Ravel and Duparc.

Nuit d'toiles - Melodies Francaises/ Gens, Vignoles.......2000-06-13

Not being a professional, but loving the genre of French melodies I'll avoid technical commentary; I have become a collector of these in recent years and find this one extremely satifying and appreciate the variety this CD presents.

An Outstanding Vocal Performance.......2000-05-01

This ranks as one of the very best recordings of French 'melodies' that I have yet heard. Unlike most other singers, Gens gives the words drama and meaning. Too many singers perform these works in a detached 'artistic' manner that often makes them all sound almost alike. I say this not to belittle Gens' voice (which is superb), but to indicate that this disk will take you beyond the 'standard' interpretations of these works. I had a chance to compare one of the melodies with another recent recording by Schafer, another singer whom I respect Both were being featured in a local record store. It was hard to realize they were actually singing the same piece. I recently saw Gens perform much of the same program at a recital in NYC. This was the best recital I had heard in a very long time (I go to many). The disk is almost as good. It suffers a bit from a very unnatural recorded sound: the microphone is much too close to the singer and the piano is much too forward. Also the accompaniest in NYC was clearly better. Nevertheless, it would be hard to find a better recorded performance. The more I listen to the disk, the less I notice these drawbacks. The choice of repetoire is also well done. I particularly liked the Debussy 'Trois chansons de Bilitis.' She ends with 'Les chemins de l'amour' which Poulenc wrote for Jean Anouilh's play 'Leaocadia'. This has become very popular outside the normal recital circuit. If you get only one disk of French melodies, this is the one to get.

Average customer rating:

Noel Coward in his time

Mad About the Boy
Noël Coward
Manufacturer: Castle Pulse
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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Noel Coward Album: Noel Coward Live From Las Vegas & New York
Noel Coward & Gertrude Lawrence
In New York
Noel Coward at Las Vegas
The Noel Coward CD Audio Collection Selections

ASIN: B0007KUJ22
Release Date: 2005-04-04

Tracks:

Mrs. Worthington
World Weary
Alice Is at It Again
Someday I'll Find You
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Poor Little Rich Girl
Uncle Harry
I'll See You Again
Room with a View
Time and Again
There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner
London Pride
Where Are the Songs We Sung?
Stately Homes of England
Let's Say Goodbye
Last Time I Saw Paris
Could You Please Oblige Us with a Bren Gun?
Dance, Little Lady
Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans
Half-Caste Woman
Gypsy Melody

Tracks:

His Excellency Regrets
Bright Was the Day
This Is a Changing World
Wait a Bit, Joe
Never Again
Dream Is Over
Sigh No More
Lover of My Dreams (Mirabelle Waltz)
Imagine the Duchess's Feelings!
I Wonder What Happened to Him?
Medley: Parisian Pierrot/Poor Little Rich Girl/A Room with a View/Dance
Just Let Me Look at You
We Were Dancing
Lorelei
I Travel Alone
Most of Ev'ry Day
Dearest Love
Something to Do with Spring
We Were So Young
Play, Orchestra, Play
I'm Old Fashioned
Fare Thee Well

Tracks:

Twentieth Century Blues - New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Ray Noble
Lover of My Dreams (Mirabelle Waltz) - Jack Payne & His BBC Dance Orchestra
Younger Generation - New Mayfair Orchestra, Ray Noble
I Travel Alone - Jack Jackson & His Orchestra
Half-Caste Woman - Ambrose & His Orchestra
Most of Ev'ry Day - Jack Jackson & His Orchestra
Try to Learn to Love - Ambrose & His Orchestra
Words & Music: Intro (Mad About the Boy)/Something to Do with Spring - Ray Noble
I'm Mad About You - Piccadilly Players, Al Starita
Play, Orchestra, Play - Carroll Gibbons, Savoy Orpheans
You Were There - Carroll Gibbons, Savoy Orpheans
Dance, Little Lady - Ambrose & His Orchestra
Poor Little Rich Girl - Savoy Orpheans
Room with a View - Jack Hylton Orchestra
Bittersweet Medley One: I'll See You Again/Kiss Me/Zigeuner - Jack Hylton Orchestra
Bittersweet Medley Two: If Love Were All/Dear Little Caf Jack Hylton Orchestra
Mad About the Boy

Album Description

Singer, songwriter, actor, playwright, wit and raconteur, the multi-talented Noel Coward was a British Institution form the '30s to the '70s. Contains two CD's of original Coward performances, plus one CD of his songs performed by dance bands of the period. Castle Pulse. 2005.

Album Details

Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Playwright, Wit and Raconteur, the Multi-talented Sir Noel Coward was a Virtual British Institution from the '30s to the '70s. These Two CDs Include Original Coward Performances plus One CD of his Songs Performed by Dance Bands of the Period. Coward's Name is Still High-profile, Thanks to Constant Revivals of his Plays, Music and TV Screenings of Movies Such as "in which We Serve" (In which He Starred) and "Brief Encounter" (Which He Wrote).

Customer Reviews:

Noel Coward in his time.......2007-06-19

This three CD set is a very good buy, if you like Noel Coward. The first two CD's are early recordings, contemporary with the writing and when the young Noel could hit those high notes. Also included is a disc of contemporary recordings by other artists of the time. I admit that the sound is scratchy and muffled. I don't care. It's worth it for the authenticity and sincerity. (Two strange words to use when talking about Coward.) No one was better at creating rhymed wit than N.C. Not even Cole Porter. If you are unfamiliar with Coward's work and want an introduction at little cost, here's your chance.

Average customer rating:

Very satisfied

Sixteen Most Requested

Manufacturer: Castle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Lanza: Greatest Hits
Mario Lanza ~ Opera Arias & Duets, from Andréa Chenier · La Bohème · I Pagliacci · Madama Butterfly · Otello
Mario Lanza: At His Best!
You'll Never Walk Alone
The MARIO LANZA Collection

ASIN: B00005QTLV
Release Date: 2005-01-17

Tracks:

Be My Love
Because You're Mine
Loveliest Night of the Year
Student Prince/Serenade
Student Prince/I'll Walk with God
Student Prince/Drink, Drink, Drink
Vagabond King/Song of the Vagabonds
Vagabond King/Drinking Song
Vagabond King/Only a Rose
Desert Song/The Desert Song
Desert Song/One Alone
Private Lives/Some Day I'll Find You
Tell Me Tonight
Spring Is Here/With a Song in My Heart
Santa Lucia
Arrivederci Roma

Album Description

Details TBA. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Very satisfied.......2006-08-31

I received the item sooner than I expected.I am very pleased with my selection,especially the quality of it.This encourages me to make future purchases.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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