Dead Winter Dead

Dead Winter Dead

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Sarajevo

3. This Is the Time (1990)

4. I Am

5. Starlight

6. Doesn't Matter Anyway

7. This Isn't What We Meant

8. Mozart and Madness

9. Memory [Dead Winter Dead Intro]

10. Dead Winter Dead

11. One Child

12. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)

13. Not What You See

Dead Winter Dead,Savatage,Atlantic / Wea,Heavy Metal,Pop,Popular Music,Progressive Metal,Rock

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
Average customer rating:

Great Movies have Great Soundtracks!

Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything

More of a propaganda CD

Great selection of Film Hits!

Older recordings, main themes only

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000068TN9
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

Saving Private Ryan 'Hymn To The Fallen' - John Williams
Double Indemnity 'Prelude' - Miklos Rozsa
The Lost Weekend 'Finale' - Miklos Rozsa
The Heiress 'Departure/Morris Suggests Love/The Proposal/Finale' - Aaron Copland
Sunset Boulevard 'Prelude' - Franz Waxman
The Ten Commandments 'Prelude' - Elmer Bernstein
Breakfast At Tiffany's 'Moon River' - Henry Mancini
Hatari! 'Baby Elephant Walk' - Henry Mancini
Rosemary's Baby 'Main Title (Vocal)' - Christopher Komeda
Romeo & Juliet 'Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet' - Nino Rota
Once Upon A Time In The West 'Once Upon A Time In The West' - Ennio Morricone
Love Story 'Theme From Love Story' - Francis Lai
The Godfather 'Main Title (The Godfather Waltz)' - Nino Rota
The Godfather 'Love Theme From The Godfather' - Nino Rota
Chinatown 'Love Theme From Chinatown (Main Title) - Jerry Goldsmith
The Godfather - Part II 'End Title' - Nino Rota
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 'End Title' - Jerry Goldsmith
Raiders Of The Lost Ark 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' - John Williams
Terms Of Endearment 'Theme From Terms Of Endearment' - Michael Gore
Flashdance 'Love Theme From Flashdance' - Giorgio Moroder
Beverly Hills Cop 'Axel F' - Harold Faltermeyer

Tracks:

Witness 'Building The Barn' - Maurice Jarre
Children Of A Lesser God 'Main Title' - Michael Convertino
The Untouchables 'The Strength Of The Righteous (Main Title)' - Ennio Morricone
Fatal Attraction 'Fatal Attraction' - Maurice Jarre
The Addams Family 'Main Title' - Marc Shaiman
Dead Again 'Winter 1948' - Patrick Doyle
Indecent Proposal 'Flashback & Photos' - John Barry
The Firm 'How Could You Lose Me?-End Title' - Dave Grusin
Clear And Present Danger 'Main Title/A Clear And Present Danger' - James Horner
Braveheart 'For The Love Of A Princess' - James Horner
Primal Fear 'Courtroom Montage' - James Newton Howard
Mission: Impossible 'Zoom B' - Danny Elfman
Star Trek: First Contact 'End Credits' - Jerry Goldsmith
Titanic 'Hard To Starboard' - James Horner
The Rugrats Movie 'Baby Shower Happenings' - Mark Mothersbaugh
The Talented Mr. Ripley 'Italia' - Gabriel Yared
Rules Of Engagement 'Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)' - Mark Isham
Mission: Impossible 2 'The Bait' - Hans Zimmer
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 'Main Titles' - Graeme Revell
Vanilla Sky 'To The Roof' - Nancy Wilson
The Sum Of All Fears 'The Mission' - Jerry Goldsmith
Forest Gump 'I'm Forrest...Forrest Gump' - Alan Silvestri

Amazon.com

Granddaddy of the Hollywood studios, Paramount Pictures is rightfully proud of its century of contributions to both American cinema and the art of film scoring. But the first disc of this 43-track double-CD anthology merely hints at the studio's musical peaks, blithely skipping through its first seven decades in just 17 tracks. Indeed, the package as a whole seems more interested in marketing its post-'70s catalog of hits and blockbusters than it does in paying real homage to history and roots. Even rarities like Double Indemnity and The Lost Weekend are served up via modern budget-line rerecordings, as is Ennio Morricone's epochal Once upon a Time in the West). Contemporary recordings of Aaron Copland's rare score to The Heiress and Franz Waxman's great Sunset Blvd. fare better, but soundtrack fans may miss the originals. The studio's rich pop-crossover successes in the '60s are documented via Breakfast at Tiffany's "Moon River" and excerpts from Romeo and Juliet and Love Story, while successful franchises like Star Trek and Raiders also get their due. Too often the '90s-focused second disc only underscores some uncomfortable trends in contemporary scoring--orchestral nervous tics punctuated by booming crescendos, treacly piano Muzak--and makes one wonder if the music of The Rugrats Movie and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider are really film music milestones. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great Movies have Great Soundtracks!.......2007-05-10

If you love movies and movie music, you can't go wrong with this two cd Paramount Anniversary set.

Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything.......2006-07-19

Normally I have a lot to say in my reviews, but not this time. The main problem with this collection is that all the most memorable film scores are just on one disc, with the second used mostly to play out stuff from the last ten years that, really, musically isn't very memorable and only includes three pieces anyone will recognize just because, like the movies they come from, they're based on old TV shows - The Addams Family, Star Trek, and Mission: Impossible.

And that brings up another problem. With all due respect to the late Jerry Goldsmith, who has provided some truly great classic movie scores, was it REALLY necessary to include TWO versions of the SAME Star Trek march in this collection? This seems evocative of the milk-it-for-all-its-worth attitude Paramount has had lately toward its now-tarnished crown-jewel franchise. Where's James Horner's theme music from Star Trek II and III? If they're gonna put Star Trek on here twice, they should have provided a little diversity. It wouldn't have taken much, I'm sure.

I'm sure that Paramount's had other films with far more memorable music (even Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem could have helped on Disc 2). This just seems like a lazy attempt at something that really could have been great.

More of a propaganda CD.......2002-10-30

There are some really great songs on this 2 CD set. However, those really great songs seem to be lightly interspersed amongst a large number of forgettable songs whose main purpose seems to be to remind you of those movies you enjoy(ed) so much.

It seems a little odd to me that out of 90 years of film making the most memorable scores have been largely released within the last few years. I was pleased to find themes from the Godfather, Indiana Jones and Witness. I was perplexed with the inclusion of songs from Rugrats, both Mission Impossible movies (one would have been more than enough) and Tomb Raider (memorable???).

This is my own personal bias, but I do prefer movie soundtracks that evoke a feeling of excitement. With this collection I just couldn't get excited. I kept finding myself being let down by songs that didn't in some way complement the preceeding song.

There are certainly some great tracks here, but overall I was disappointed. My advise would be to look elsewhere.

Great selection of Film Hits!.......2002-09-25

This one was a pleasant surprise! I thought- how could any CD that had "Baby Elephant Walk" be all that good? This one is. Lots of great scores- classics and a few hidden treasures. After hearing the beautiful title score for "Children of a Lesser God", I had to buy the entire soundtrack - very soothing. There are a few that may seem too overplayed ("Love Story", "Raiders of the Lost Ark",), but most are a welcome addition to any compilation. Try NOT loving "Building the Barn" from "Witness" or the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan". Hours of great listening.

Older recordings, main themes only.......2002-08-27

This is a great album concept, but I really wish Paramount had re-recorded these scores as they deserve to be heard. The tracks range from 1944 to the present, and the older recordings sound just like the cleaned-up older recordings that they are.

I would also personally have enjoyed more "secondary" music themes (otherwise it becomes like reading book summaries that always only quote the opening paragraph), and I could easily have done without the "pop" tunes (like Baby Elephant Walk and the Rugrats theme). In fact, it would have been very nice to listen to an album comprised of tracks chosen for their strong musical value rather than apparently for their box office and/or hit song popularity. But, to be fair, that may be precisely what draws some people to this CD set.

Tracks:

Overture
Sarajevo
This Is The Time (1990)
I Am
Starlight
Doesn't Matter Anyway
This Isn't What We Meant
Mozart And Madness
Memory (Dead Winter Dead Intro)
Dead Winter Dead
One Child
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
Not What You See

Customer Reviews:

A conceptual masterpiece........2007-03-27

1995's Dead Winter Dead was yet another important turning point for Savatage. After the intentionally dark and brooding Handful of Rain, in memory of founding guitarist Criss Oliva, producer Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva set out to redefine their music in every possible respect. For the first time ever, they would write an album entirely on a piano as opposed to guitar, and Paul would make wider use of Jon's keyboard playing, which gave them a new palette with new colours. Additionally, they would shift to being a two-guitarist band, employing Al Pitrelli and former Sava guitarist Chris Caffery, who had recorded the Doctor Butcher project with Jon Oliva the year before. The radical shift also included the recording services of renowned engineer Dave Wittman, which would result in Savatage being one of the best produced bands on the planet. To top it all off, they would also hire a new cover artist, Edgar Jerins, whose stunning work here perfectly portrays the concept story.

Having already scratched the surface previously on "Visions" and "Watching You Fall" on Handful of Rain, Dead Winter Dead turned out to be a concept album entirely dedicated to the war in Bosnia during the 90's, which took the lives of so many innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children. To fully capture the tragic storyline, Paul O'Neill also adopted more poetic lyrics with rhyming verses, and an added prose put at the beginning of the booklet detailing the concept to make it easier for listeners to follow the story. Basically, the album examines the tragedies of war manifested in Sarajevo, a city O'Neill had visited prior to its downfall, from the perspectives of both sides, reaching itz zenith during the amazing instrumental "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)". Not only did this song spawn their platinum-selling TSO project, it is also a strong example of how powerful and expressive music can be without the inclusion of lyrics, if done right. The use of gentle, heart-warming symphonic passages represent the Bosnian Muslims whilst the pulverizing rock guitars highlight the Serbians, supplying a unique yet very honest dichotomy. Yet amidst all this chaos and anarchy is placed a timeless cello melody wafting across no-man's land (see concept for more details about how O'Neill was inspired by cellist Vedran Smailovic's true story).

The album also marks the return of founding member Jon Oliva on lead vocals on two songs after an absence of two albums. However, it is virtually impossible to ignore his impact on this album, as he remained the primary songwriter and contributed lots of instruments to the album. Driven by new drummer Jeff Plate's militaristic rhythms, "I Am" (originally titled "The Answer You Seek") is carried by his trademark laugh and sinister vocals, and stands out for its intensely epic symphonic arrangement. The piece is underscored by an addictive guitar lick by new lead guitarist Al Pitrelli. Similarly, "Doesn't Matter Anyway" proves to be a vital step in the flow of the concept, given its rapid-fire lyrics, hammering leads by Chris Caffery, and a stunning bass solo.

Al Pitrelli makes tremendous contribution to the album, starting with "This Is the Time (1990)", a song that kicks in after two relatively shorter pieces, the stuttering rhythmic stomp of "Overture"; and piano-based "Sarajevo", highlighting Zak Stevens' voice amidst a rising guitar force at the end. Pitrelli's fretwork in the intro of the song is drop-dead gorgeous, utilising meticulous bends and thick, full guitar chords never before heard on a Savatage album. The song immediately sinks to the depths of despair, being written in a very sad key, but it also has an explosive main chorus which brings it back into major key. After a solo piano and heart-stoppingly emotional vocals by Zak, Pitrelli wraps the piece up laying down quite possibly the finest run-out lead riff on the album, and thus, declaring this is still Savatage, but a different and more progressive one.

Although, technically speaking, there are four instrumental cuts on the CD, only two of them are full-blown pieces, the others serving as intros to the album and title track respectively. An eerily beautiful cello motif is wrung through "Mozart and Madness", which borrows Mozart's 25th Symphony during the middle (recorded in a single take by Pitrelli!) and rocks its way into the soul. This is followed by "Memory", complete with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (see Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Beethoven's Last Night masterpiece if you want more in this vein). Barely over a minute, it bleeds into the title track, providing a main riff dangerously similar to the one on "Conversation Piece" from Edge of Thorns. This is another heavier song like "I Am", but it boasts solid drum fills and a lead solo by Caffery, who except two songs, is responsible for the rhythm tracks on this disc.

Previously experimented on "Chance", the band makes use of strong counterpoint vocal harmonies on two songs: their first single "One Child" and closing track "Not What You See", ultimately moving because of its intense harmonizing and tapping into multiple emotions. As different melodies, words, and ideas all flow together simultaneously where it comes to the point you can't discern each line individually, one particular verse stands out: Zak's repeated "I don't understand" croon. It is incredibly beautiful and cements Savatage as one of the greatest bands with some of the most haunting album finales ever. I do not know of any other acts who have consistently closed their records with songs as powerful as "Believe", "Sleep", "Alone You Breathe", and "Back to a Reason". Extra praise goes to Zak Stevens: it is hard to imagine another replacement for Jon Oliva, the original voice of Savatage. Without him, this album would never be what it is.

This was Savatage's second concept album after their undisputed masterpiece Streets. However, the tone and message of Dead Winter Dead is more universally structured, and the flow of the story is more focused and defined. There really aren't many concept albums this good around, so it is highly recommended you give this CD a chance.

WOW! .......2006-09-30

I discovered Savatage accidentally when I went to a Trans-Siberian show in Boston three years ago. This was the first album by them that I bought, my main motivation being that I wanted to hear music like this all year round. I was not disapointed. Being a guitarist, I certainly appreciated the guitar work. Although it is not the most complicated of material to play, it is extremely creative and inspired me to adapt more classical pieces to guitar. The story is and lyrics which usually don't catch my attention unless they say something profound, and are able to move me out of this world. One of most unique sounds I've ever heard.

A True Masterpiece.......2006-07-25

Savatage's 1995 album Dead Winter Dead is the perfect example of what happens when a band exceeds everyone's already high expectations. We got hints of what the O'Neill/Oliva combination was capable of on Streets: A Rock Opera, and what the new Savatage lineup was capable of on Edge of Thorns and Handful of Rain. Dead Winter Dead is the perfect synthesis of concept, songwriting, and musicianship. It's the kind of album that shows you just what a metal album can aspire to when all of the stars are in perfect alignment.

Like Streets, Dead Winter Dead is a concept album, this time about the conflict in Sarajevo. O'Neill and Oliva weave a tale of life and loss, war and peace, while the band (which now featured Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery on guitars) makes the story come alive. This is easily Savatage's most progressive album to date, as emphasized by everything from the powerful instrumental tracks to the intricate vocal layering.

Dead Winter Dead also marks the return of founding member Jon Oliva on vocals. His voice is perfect on those tracks where a little extra aggression is required, and serves as a nice counterpoint to regular (but never ordinary) vocalist Zak Stevens.

While the album was extremely strong from start to finish, there are some standout songs that rank among Savatage's best, including the title track, This Isn't What We Meant, One Child, and Not What You See. There really isn't a weak moment on the whole album, and I find that I'm still in awe of Dead Winter Dead more than a decade after its release.

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of Dead Winter Dead is the song Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24). This heavy metal take on the classic holiday tune was an immediate hit, and launched the enormously successful Trans-Siberian Orchestra project.

While the standard version of Dead Winter Dead is a bargain at $9.98, you may want to spend a little more on the German import version. It has not been remastered, but the 2002 SPV reissue does have a few extras that make it worthwhile. It features 2 additional tracks - One is an acoustic piano version of Alone You Breathe by Jon Oliva that sound so much like a eulogy to his brother Criss that it may just bring a tear to your eye. The other is an acoustic version of Sleep. The real bonus is that the liner notes have been expanded to include several pages of very detailed information about the band during this particular stage of their career. When added to the chapters from the other SPV Savatage reissues, you'll get the real story behind one of the best (and most underrated) metal bands of all time.

WOW!!! Grandiose!.......2006-03-25

This is my second CD from Savatage. Being into King Diamond and all his theatrical stuff I'm just frozen into one piece of shivering chair while listening to this -- and I'm sorry if I'm sounding excessively affected.;-) First of all, Al Pitrelli is a virtuoso guitarist with a singing lead tone no less than jawdropping. From his first notes on "Sarajevo" you know you're about to face something big here. Ok, Chris Oliva deserves all the respect of the world, but Al Pitrelli makes it really sing with his wide vibrato and beautiful soloing. What a classy shredder! Also, Zak Stevens' voice is no less than breathtaking. I still prefer Jon Oliva, but Zak's deeper tone and somewhat more dramatic phrasing fit perfectly to the melodious brutality of this rock opera. His well-controlled, powerful voice has been just another present to my ears. Hats off to him! I'm totally overwhelmed by the grandiosity of this super-band, so I dare to say that, if symphonic metal has a name, it is Savatage. Their arrangements are superbly done, smartly combining keyboards and piano with electric guitars and raging melodic singing lines. Like in my previous review I have to confess that I'm very new to their music, so my impressions are more emotional-oriented than cerebral in this case. I just can say that "Dead Winter Dead" has been love at the first sight (listening) to me, the same than "Gutter Ballet" (my only two albums from them, for now). "Dead Winter Dead" just sounds much more progressive and melodic than the other, but no less crashing and pretentious. In one sentence, Savatage is pompous rock musicianship at its best, and now I'm sure that I've found a hidden treasure that I want to explore to the ultimate consequences. Once more, five magnificent stars!

My Favorite Savatage Album.......2005-11-29

Without a doubt, Dead Winter Dead is my favorite of all the Savatage creations. Not to say that the other albums are less well done - it's just that this album appeals most to me. I love the perfect balance between metal and symphony here. I'm also a big Trans-Siberian Orchestra fan, and this album is a great place for a TSO fan to start their Savatage exploration. The beautiful Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) is a star here, as is the haunting Starlight. The story is excellent as well, and never becomes overbearing on the music. I highly recommend this album to anybody, regardless of musical preferences.

Average customer rating:

The right singer for the right music
wonderful

Songs of Alec Wilder

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Release Date: 2000-09-26

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The Lake Isle Of Innisfree
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Customer Reviews:

The right singer for the right music.......2002-12-21

I love music like this that straddles the border between classical and pop or jazz. I had never heard of Valerie Errante before, but she has a perfect voice both for the more classical pieces at the beginning of the CD and the jazzier pieces at the end. She is one of those rare singers (Dawn Upshaw is another) who seems equally comfortable with both styles. If you don't already own a recording of "Blackberry Winter," it's one of those rare songs which can genuinely be said to be worth the price of the entire CD. Wilder reminds me in some ways of another composer who deserves a wider hearing--Ricky Ian Gordon. Hopefully this CD will help bring this composer the attention he deserves.

wonderful.......2002-10-22

Wonderful voice makes this a fun CD to listen to on any occaision. You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
Songs that Never Fade
Heavenly, introspective, definitely the most soulful songs!

Vaughan Williams: Over hill, over dale

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Over Hill, Over Dale: Loch Lomond
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Shakespeare Songs: Full Fathom Five
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Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Shakespeare Songs: Over Hill, Over Dale
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Over Hill, Over Dale: Bushes And Briars
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Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: Sweet Day
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: O Mistress Mine
Over Hill, Over Dale: Three Elizabethan Partsongs: The Willow Song
Over Hill, Over Dale: Greensleeves
Over Hill, Over Dale: Rest
Over Hill, Over Dale: Heart's Music
Over Hill, Over Dale: Come Away, Death
Over Hill, Over Dale: The Turtle Dove

Amazon.com

Even without his highly regarded symphonies, various instrumental works, and monumental and influential work on the revision of the English Hymnal, Vaughan Williams would have made a major impact on 20th-century music with his many original choral works and his folksong arrangements. In fact, Vaughan Williams's folksong-collecting work was one of the more important contributions ever made to English music. This disc offers a wonderful collection of a cappella choral pieces, including some of Vaughan Williams's finest folksong arrangements. Besides "Ca' the yowes," "Full fathom five," "Greensleeves," and "The Turtle Dove," the program includes rarely heard masterpieces such as "Alister McAlpine's Lament," which brilliantly captures the mood of the song with serene, sensual harmonies and gently flowing vocal lines. The Holst Singers seem born to this music, giving us the music's full flavor without ever overplaying it. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-07-21

Ralph Vaughan-Williams loved "the lilt of the chorus at the music hall...children dancing to a barrel organ, the rousing fervor of a Salvation Army Hymn, St.Paul's and a great choir singing at one of its festivals...the Welshmen striking up one of their own hymns...the cries of street pedlars, the factory girls singing their sentimental songs." This disc somehow reflects all of these influences. I think it makes him a true folksong specialist!!!The music included herein covers the whole of the composer's long career-from "The Willow Song"written when he was eighteen, to "Heart's Music",composed three years before his death at the age of eighty-six. The Holst Singers along with the two soloists:Ian Bostridge (tenor) and Michael George (bass)are very excellent in their renditions. The choir is perfection in balance, diction, ensemble and emotional content. Bostridge with his sweet and pure tenor almost moves one to tears especially in "Greensleeves" and "Ca'the yowes". And Michael George was also very moving in his solo:"Loch Lomond". It is as if the entire performing group were aware of a statement made by Vaughan-Williams before his death: "if the roots of your art are firmly planted in your own soil, and that soil has anything to give you, you may still gain the whole world and not lose your own souls."

Songs that Never Fade.......2005-11-21

A selection of the best of RVW's folksong arrangements performed with insight and restraint by the Holst Singers, with help from soloists like the incomparable Ian Bostridge. Vaughan William's respect for these folksongs is evident in his exquisite settings, which reveal their depth and subtlety, without obscuring their simplicity.

This is a recording to cherish.

Heavenly, introspective, definitely the most soulful songs!.......2003-03-16

This collection of English and Scottish folk songs moved me to tears and made me experience a plethora of emotions over and over again. The beautiful melodies flowing from this CD conjure up melacholy, joy, sadness and wonder. They crystalise the most common human experiences and the mystery of existence into certain folksong idioms that, once listened to, will stick in your ears and stir your heart strings for a long time.

Salute to Vaughan Williams for documenting, preserving and arranging these gems of English and Scottish heritage. Holst singers performe splendidly. Their discipline and professionalism, and a sense of artistic direction shine through.

I highly recommend this CD along with John Rutter's "The Lark in the Clear Air" for all the sensitive people who take interest in classical music and traditional folk songs.

I wish I can give this CD 10 stars!

ericformosan@hotmail.com

Shostakovich: Complete Songs, Vol. 5, Famous Song Cycles
Average customer rating:

"the evidence of a great witness"

Shostakovich: Complete Songs, Vol. 5, Famous Song Cycles

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007IO6DC
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Tracks:

From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Lament For A Dead Baby
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Caring for Mum and Auntie
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Lullaby
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Before A Long Separation
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Warning
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Father Abandoned
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Poverty Song
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Winter
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Good Life
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: A Girl's Song
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle. Op.79: Happiness
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Truth
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Morning
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Love
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Separation
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Wrath
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Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: To The Exiled
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Artistry
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Night
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Death
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op.145: Eternity

Customer Reviews:

"the evidence of a great witness".......2007-01-19

These five volumes of Shostakovich's Complete Songs are simply astonishing. If admirers have with good reason found the private voice of the composer in his string quartets, there's another, perhaps more intimate voice to be found in his songs. Let this review stand for the entire collection - each disc yields generous returns. An entirely Russian production recorded in Russia, this is estimable treasure. If you love Shostakovich's music, the breadth of revelation found throughout these discs is overwhelming. Here is Shostakovich the man, genius, survivor, sufferer - but never victim. The works themselves are no less than a kind of eternal definition of art, an all-encompassing humanity borne by one man to our lasting benefit. The singing performances are uniformly excellent, as are the production values on every level, with fine sonics. Among the Russian singers who contribute, soprano Victoria Evtodieva, mezzo Liudmila Shkirtil, and the mighty bass Fyodor Kuznetsov stand out. Most of the songs are set for voice and piano. The cycles and a number of other songs use orchestration of varying details. Pianist Yuri Serov, besides distinguished playing, provides insightful commentary with each disc, ideal remarks full of detail - the title of this review is taken from his notes on 'The Anti-Formalist Raree Show', which he hails as '...a striking document of that bygone era, the evidence of a great witness.' What more fitting could be said of these amazing musical works and their composer? Full translation of every song text is included in each of the discs.

Average customer rating:

The Songs of Frank Bridge

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003010
Release Date: 1997-07-08

Tracks:

Sonnet: When most I wink
If I could choose
The Primrose
A Dirge
The Devon Maid
Dawn and Evening
Where'er my bitter teardrops fall
E'en as a lovely flower
Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Go not, happy day
Night lies on the silent highways
A Dead Violet
Cradle Song
Lean close thy cheek
Fair Daffodils
Adoration
So perverse
Tears, idle tears
The Violets Blue
Come to me in my dreams
My pent-up tears oppress my brain
Music, when soft voices die
Far, far from each other
Where is it that our soul doth go?

Tracks:

All things that we clasp
Love is a rose
Dear, when I look into thine eyes
Isobel
O that it were so!
Strew no more red roses
Where she lies asleep
Love went a-riding
Thy hand in mine
So early in the morning
Mantle of Blue
The Last Invocation
When you are old and gray
Into her keeping
What shall I your true love tell?
'Tis but a week
Day after Day
Speak to me, my love!
Dweller in my deathless dreams
Goldenhair
Journey's End

Great Russian Artists: Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry / Shaporin - 6 Songs / Ippolitov-Ivanov: Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore / Kabalevsky: Six Joyful Songs

Average customer rating:

Breathtaking music and artistry
Shostakovich Bare and Most Moving

Great Russian Artists: Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry / Shaporin - 6 Songs / Ippolitov-Ivanov: Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore / Kabalevsky: Six Joyful Songs

Manufacturer: Russian Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: The Lament for the Dead Child - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: The Thoughtful Mother and Aunt - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: Lullaby - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: Before a Long Parting - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: A Warning - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: The Abandoned Father - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: The Song of Misery - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: Winter - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: A Good Life - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: The Young Girl's Song - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79: Happiness - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Dorliak/Alexander Maslennikov/Dmitri Shostakovich
Your Languid Southern Voice - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel
Everywhere-Above Forests and Fields - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel
I Remember the Day - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel
The Night Breathed Coolness - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel
Amidst the Worlds - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel
Russian Song - Zara Dolukhanova/Berta Kozel Z
Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore: Arms Are Drawn to Arms - Zara Dolukhanova/Eduard Grach/Berta Kozel
Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore: Don't Leave Without Saying Farewell - Zara Dolukhanova/Eduard Grach/Berta Kozel
Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore: O My Friend, Here Is A Flower - Zara Dolukhanova/Eduard Grach/Berta Kozel
Four Poems of Rabindranath Tagore: Little Yellow Bird - Zara Dolukhanova/Eduard Grach/Berta Kozel
Six Joyful Songs: The Cheerful King - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov
Six Joyful Songs: If Rivers and Lakes Would Flow Together - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov
Six Joyful Songs: A Little Boat - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov
Six Joyful Songs: Story of a Little Old Lady - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov
Six Joyful Songs: Nail and Horseshoe - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov
Six Joyful Songs: The Key of the Kingdom - Zara Dolukhanova/Nina Svetlanov

Customer Reviews:

Breathtaking music and artistry.......2007-03-16

Hearing these superb performances of this glorious music is a truly wonderful experience. The Shostakovich cycle from Jewish folk poetry is simply stunning and these grest artists (Dolukhanova particularly) bring out every nuance and emotional colour of these great songs. And having the great man himself at the piano is just the icing on this glorious Russian cake. This recordin shows you what singing and songs are all about.

Shostakovich Bare and Most Moving.......2000-06-12

Say what you want about the massive DS symphonies-they are no doubt a cry for help, reflecting great depair and destitution. But they are also hopelessly contrived creatures artistically vacillating on the lines between the emotional outcry and contextual contradiction. Just listen to the 7th, 8th and 9th symphonies back to back! More pladuits are heaped on the 15 string quartets for their even greater emotional appeal, and also their intimacy.

And intimacy is what I want to speak of here: From Jewish Folk Poetry contains a stunning need to communicate from the singers (Vishsnevskaya style), their voices are lacerating sharp- the mezzo Dolukhanova, sultry, the alto and tenor, heady and delightful. Yet this piece, and this particular release in particular conveys a shattering impact. The audio is suitably raw, transmitting much coldness and desolation.

The recording is definitive: Shostakovich heads the piano while the singers are from the priemere. Tracks 3 (Lullaby) and 8 (Winter) are simply breathtaking. Haitink's recording on Decca cannot match the white heat here.Buy it for the Shostakovich, and also becoime enchanted with the other 16 tracks, concert relays from Dulukhanova singing music of a much more romantic vein. Wonderful.

In the Winter, It Makes the Dead Grass Look Green
Average customer rating:

Music for Stadiums

Gritty, sneaky rock that attacks!

In the Winter, It Makes the Dead Grass Look Green

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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That Ain't Right

ASIN: B000068UZ9
Release Date: 2002-07-19

Album Description

This is stirring,epic,loveless rock and roll, tainted with dark imagery and the black noise of a fever- dream. This is the Pedal Steel Transmission's definitive statement of folk melody and ambient guitar bombast.

Customer Reviews:

Music for Stadiums.......2002-09-06

The Pedal Steel Transmission are from Chicago. In The Winter It Makes the Dead Grass Look Green is their debut CD and after it sunk in to my pea-sized brain, I realized that these guys could become my new favorite band. Though they have a pedal steel player, they are not a country band. They make arena-size multi-layered, multi-textured rock. Much in the way the American Music Club used their pedal steel for atmospherics, rather than for country pickin', so does the Pedal Steel Transmission. Some of the songs on long and epic. The others are short and epic.

Influences probably include Can, AMC, the Velvet Underground, Pere Ubu, Galaxy 500, Japancakes and the like. Probably some scenic/atmospheric movie music, too. If pared down and acoustic was the way of the 90s, rocked up stadium-style is right for now. As I listen to the CD, I dream.

...

Gritty, sneaky rock that attacks!.......2002-07-23

Grit, this local Chicago band seem to have acquired their own particular brand of rock music.
Unlike other indie bands that seem to be on the bus these days with that garage-y, pop-y, punk-y sameness to all the songs on the ablum, Pedal Steel seems intent on taking you somewhere. This is an album you can depend on having to play repeatedly because you are confused by which song exactly, won't stop whispering in your ear. Pedal Steel hints and teases from behind an ocean of influence, from Nick Drake's mad dreaminess to Bob Dylan's rasping heartache; blues, rock, insanity and back again. From the stinging and hopeful "Amy" to the smiling erieness of "Para Ella" to the rollercoaster of "Her Dream," the ride will take you inside out. Gary Pyskacek forces the guitar to shriek and cry, while Daniel Schneider's scream echos through your dreams. Watch closely for their next album as well, I saw them perform several new songs live recently, Pedal Steel Transmission seems to have outdone themselves again as the new material is sexier and louder than ever before!

The Power of a New Aeon: Musical Impressions of the Tarot (2 CD set)

Average customer rating:

The Power of a New Aeon: Musical Impressions of the Tarot (2 CD set)
VArious Artists
Manufacturer: Palace of Worms Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000KNGHZY

Product Description

Disc 1 Track Titles: 1. Juggler -- The Soil Bleeds Black 2. Magician -- 4th Sign Of The Apocalypse 3. High Priestess -- Conscientia 4. Empress -- Opera Multi Steel 5. Emperor -- Ah Cama-Sotz 6. Heirophant -- Lorretta's Doll 7. Lovers -- In Winter Bleeding 8. Chariot -- Dream Into Dust 9. Strength -- Arcana 10. Hermit -- Stay Frightened 11. Wheel Of Fortune -- Pilori Disc 2 Track Titles: 1. Justice -- Athanor 2. Hanged Man -- Ontario Blue 3. Death -- Autumn Tears 4. Temperance -- Vehemence Realized 5. Devil -- Endvra 6. Tower -- Bleeding Like Mine 7. Star -- Chants for the Fallen 8. Moon -- Psychonaut 9. Sun -- Arcanta 10. Aeon -- Nothvs Filivs Mortis 11. Universum -- Dead Leaves Rising, The

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Sergiu Celibidache

Average customer rating:

An unfair picture of the Great Oddball of the Century
The Last of the "Great Conductors"

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Sergiu Celibidache
Carl Nielsen , Felix Mendelssohn , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Johann Strauss II , Sergei Prokofiev , Franz Berwald , Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky , Hilding Rosenberg , Heinz Tiessen , Johann Strauss I , Danish National Symphony Orchestra , Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra , Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , and London Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Scandinavian Languages | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Artur Rodzinski
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Ataúlfo Argenta
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Hermann Scherchen
Igor Markevitch
Otto Klemperer

ASIN: B000239ATM
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

Madkarade: Overture
I Allegro Fuocoso
II Adagio - Scherzo. Allegro Assai - Adagio
III Finale. Presto
I Allegro Vivace
II Andante Con Moto
III Con Moto Moderato
IV Saltarello. Presto
Marche
Danse Russe (Trepak)
Danse Chinoise
Danse Des Mirlitons

Tracks:

Marionetter: Overture
I Corspiel (Sturmische Winternacht Am Meer, Auf Der Einsamen Scholssterrasse)
II Ophelias Tod (Intermezzo Nach Dem 4. Akt)
III Totenmarsch (Schluss Des 5. Aktes)
I Allegro Con Brio
II Andante
III Menuetto - Trio
IV Allegro
I Allegro
II Larghetto
III Gavotta. Non Troppo Allegro
IV Finale. Molto Vivace
Die Fledermaus: Ouverture
Annen-Polka, Op.117
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op.214
Radetsky-Marsch, Op.228

Customer Reviews:

An unfair picture of the Great Oddball of the Century.......2005-11-26

When I was in college in the mid-Sixties tales circulated about a mysterious great conductor who refused to make records and never traveled to the United States. In addition, it was said that Sergiu Celibidache had conducted the Berlin Phil. more htan 400 times after WW II (the Allies selected him because of his impeccable anti-Nazi past) but then disappeared overnight, never to conduct that orchestra again. As it happens, this was all true. Now that Celibidache is dead, his family has sanctioned dozens of live recordings, none from the studio, spanning his legendary career.

Alas, nothing even remotely intriguing is represented here. EMI choces, quqite unfairly, not to include any of its many Celibidache performances of Bruckner, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and other signature composers. Instead we have a batch of fair-to-middling mono recordings from the Berlin Phil. phase, all made before Karajan was appointed music director in 1954 and Celibidache stalked off in a huff, vowing never to make a commerical recording again.

The rest of this set is made up of oddments from Celibidache's sojourn among the provincial radio orchestras of Germany and Scandinavia. What we don't get is anything from his 15-year leadership of the Munich Phil, beginning in 1979 when he was already 67. By then he had developed his famous, quasi-mystical style of very, very slow tempos and breathlessly elongated phrasing.

So what's the point? I won't even bother to critique the performances here, since all are uncharacteristic. The best byy far are the four lively Johann Strauss selections at the end of CD 2, recorded in concert with the Danish Natl. Sym. Orch. in 1970. (One wonders why the compilers thought anyone would be interested in the selections from the unknown Hilding Rosenberg and Heinz Tiessen, or composers like Berwald and Nielsen, who were insignificant in this conductor's career.)

Amazon has been remiss in not lsiting the tracks, which are given by Tower Records as follows:

1. Maskarade, FS 39: Overture
Composer: Carl Nielsen (1865 - 1931)
Written: 1904-1906
Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony

2. Symphony no 3 in C major "Singuliere"
Composer: Franz Berwald (1796 - 1868)
Written: 1845
Ensemble: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

3. Symphony no 4 in A major, Op. 90 "Italian"
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
Written: 1833
Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

4. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: no 2, March
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Written: 1892
Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra

5. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: no 4, Trepak
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Written: 1892
Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra

6. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: no 6, Chinese Dance
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Written: 1892
Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra

7. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: no 7, Dance of the Reeds
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Written: 1892
Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra

8. Marionettes: Overture
Composer: Hilding Rosenberg (1892 - 1985)
Written: 1939
Ensemble: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

9. Hamlet Suite, Op. 30
Composer: Heinz Tiessen
Written: 1922
Ensemble: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

10. Symphony no 25 in G minor, K 183 (173dB)
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Written: 1773
Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra

11. Symphony no 1 in D major, Op. 25 "Classical"
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953)
Written: 1916-1917
Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

12. Die Fledermaus: Overture
Composer: Johann Strauss Jr. (1825 - 1899)
Written: 1874
Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony

13. Annen Polka, Op. 117
Composer: Johann Strauss Sr. (1804 - 1849)
Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony

14. Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214
Composer: Johann Strauss Jr. (1825 - 1899)
Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony

15. Radetzky March, Op. 228
Composer: Johann Strauss Sr. (1804 - 1849)
Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony

The Last of the "Great Conductors" .......2005-05-10

Those familiar with my reviews on Amazon know of my love for the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" series. With a recent batch of six releases (Reiner, Toscanini, Furtwangler, Karajan, Kubelik and this title of Celibidache), the series now has a total of 40 volumes. And while the "Great Conductors" website claims that 60 releases will eventually be made, it is hard to imagine that this series is not concluding with these six big name conductors. What is also a shame is that while all of these releases boast "rare and previously unreleased material on CD," most of the last six sets have, inevitably I suppose because of these conductors' popularity, lots of material that has been readily available on disc for years.

Fortunately, I haven't collected Celibidache recordings as I have the other five so for once there is nothing on this title to duplicate my collection (amen!). Frankly, I have steered away from Celibidache not because I don't appreciate his art or his opinion that classical music is best heard in live settings and not via studio recordings on home stereos, but because I really don't know where to begin with the man. I am not the type of collector (nor do I ever hope to be) who has umpteen live performances of a given conductor on my shelves, and to really appreciate Celibidache, it seems that is who you would have to be. Personally, I find this quite ironic, since the conductor would most certainly frown upon the practice of listeners repeatedly analyzing past performances via recorded media, but alas what other choice is there after his passing in 1996.

I will not even begin to comment on the CD's live selections as I have no idea whether these represent the conductor's best efforts -- simply put they are enjoyable. But what I liked best of all were the selections capturing him in rare early studio performances -- 1948 accounts of Mozart's 25th Symphony, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Excerpts and Prokofiev's "Classical," and a Mendelssohn "Italian" from 1953. (It was in that same year that Celibidache made his very last studio recording -- the Brahms Violin Concerto with Ida Haendel, an amazing rendition thankfully available on CD from Testament.) I may be in the minority, but for me, these are the set's highlights. In all, the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" has been a delightful, if not definitive series. Here's hoping that IMG/EMI do indeed stay with their original plans for 60 titles by releasing another 20 -- Bernstein, Davis, Dorati, Galliera, Haitink, Jochum, Kertesz, Kondrashin, Krips, Lehmann, Leinsdorf, Marriner, Martinon, Paray, Sargent, Sawallisch, Silvestri, Steinberg, Solti and Stock would all be deserving recipients.

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