This Moment Now

Editorial Reviews
Liz Doan - Senior Buyer for Music Design
This album is amazingly wonderful and filled with a sense of serenity that at THIS MOMENT NOW I'm totally relaxed!

Product Description
Having already achieved phenomenal success and critical acclaim through seven releases with Real Music since 1996, 2002 has still managed to surpass itself with their eighth, This Moment Now. Twenty years ago Pamela and Randy lived for awhile in different parts of the country, and part of their staying in touch was a steady stream of love letters to each other. They wanted to do an album focused upon love and as the work began to grow, the music responded in the form not only of love between two people but also as a vehicle expressing the great love that exists in all living things. The music captures an enchanted moment, an opportunity to be free of the mental chatter that takes us out of the now and to cocoon in the awareness of love. This momentous album features lush strings, soaring flutes and guitars, grand piano and dense vocal arrangements, creating the signature sound that rocketed 2002 to #3 and has kept them on the Billboard Charts for over 6 years.

This Moment Now

This Moment Now,2002,Real Music,Contemporary Instrumental,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Relaxation

This Moment Now

Tracks:

Gonna Fly Now (Theme From 'Rocky') - Bill Conti
Theme From 'Ben Casey' - Valjean
Theme From 'The Apartment' - Ferrante & Teicher
The Long Ships (Part 1) - Charles Albertine (mono)
The Day The Rains Came - Raymond Lefevre (mono)
Beautiful Obsession - Sir Chauncey
Theme From 'The Sundowners'- Felix Slatkin
Chariot (I Will Follow Him) - Franck Pourcel
That's The Way With Love - Peter Soffici (mono)
Theme From 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' - Percy Faith
Theme From 'A Man And A Woman' (from The Soundtrack) - Francis Lai
Route 66 Theme - Nelson Riddle
Moonglow & Theme From 'Picnic' - George Cates (mono)
Swinging Sweethearts - Ron Goodwin (mono)
Ringo's Theme (This Boy) - George Martin
Song For Anna (Chanson D'Anna) - (Herb) Ohta-San
Nadia's Theme (The Young & The Restless) - Barry Devorzon & Perry Botkinc Jr.
Danny Boy - Sil Austin
Trumpeter's Prayer - Tutti Camarata
One Moment In Time - Vienna Symphonic Orchestra (VSOP)

Album Description

A spectacular follow-up to Volume One in this instrumental series featuring 15 songs that have never been on a U.S. CD before. But this set isn't just for collectors, but also for listeners. All recordings have been digitally mastered from the original master tapes & are in True Stereo wherever possible. Includes a full 8-page booklet with detailed liner notes on each song.

Customer Reviews:

A Slight Innacuracy.......2007-06-13

The version of "Nadia's Theme" (Theme from The Young and the Restless) isn't actually the one you're expecting. I believe it's actually the original arrangement made for "Bless the Beasts and the Children". So what later became the Young and the Restless theme (the one that was a hit) still remains unreleased on CD.

Hopefully, we can see that version on a future release. Maybe they could get "Little Ballerina Blue" on one while they're at it.

Still, some great stuff here.

Excelente .......2007-03-22

El tema de nadia es una de las canciones mas excelentes de la historia de la musica

Hard to Find Orchestral Instrumentals, Vol. 2.......2006-03-22

The purchase went as we had hoped. The delievry was as promised, and the quality of the product equal too, or above our expectations.

Not totally an instrumental.......2006-03-10

I was excited to find this album. I bought it but was horrified to find a loud vocal on the first track. The rest of the music is all instrumental but this one track simply JARS you when it plays. Very disappointing!

Another Collection You Wonr Find Anywhere else.......2003-05-06

Well, ERIC records has done it again.

Continuing their unique practice of giving us both well known hits and impossible to find rarities, Eric presents Volume 2 of "Hard to Find Orchestral Instrumentals". This one is, in my opinion, even better than the first.

First off, the sound quality of this disk is ASTOUNDING. ERIC has gotten the various reissue departments to provide them with absolute first generation mono and stereo masters and this CD proves it. The aural quality is breathtaking. The fact that Orchestral music is so beautifully suited for true stereo playback is exhibited here, as a whopping 15 of the 20 tracks are True Stereo and sound magnificent.

There are, of course, the big soundtrack hits here, like 'The Day The Rains Came" "Rocky", "Ben Casey", "Theme from The Apartment", and " Nadias Theme". All top 30 and well remembered. However, for this 43 year old fan, it was the some of the lessor known tracks, in particulatr the 1963 Colpix low level charter "Theme From The Long Ships" that really makes this collection the gem that it is. Outstanding tracks include "Theme From The Sundowners" , "The Dark At The Top of The Stairs" and "I Will Follow Him" , all tracks that will suddenly sound familiar again after first listen.

Therein lies the BEST part of this collection. When you put this on your player, you will be treated to a nostalgic feast,
a time when the magic of Orchestral music still ruled the charts, and existed in all our homes. And you'll certainly remember most of these once you hear them, which is the fun part!!

There arent enough great things I can say about this collection AND its sister CD "Hard To Find pop Instrumentals- Part 2" I personally liked this volume better, but if you dont have either yet, give yourself a musical treat, and some REAL listening enjoyment and pick these up...

Its listening the way it used to be.

MA....

This Moment Now
Average customer rating:

STRESS REDUCER

More Beautiful Music From 2002!

A breathtaking best from 2002

Music to tell your friends about!

THE ULTIMATE IN RELAXATION

This Moment Now
2002
Manufacturer: Real Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Emerald Way

Across an Ocean of Dreams

Chrysalis

Land of Forever

River of Stars

ASIN: B0000CC85G
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

Suddenly Yours
Sunny Day
Morning of Light
Even Now
Life Is
Moment of Love
Romancing the Moon
A Gate of Dreams
Children in Time
Bliss
Dreaming of You

Album Description

Having already achieved phenomenal success and critical acclaim through seven releases with Real Music since 1996, 2002 has still managed to surpass itself with their eighth, This Moment Now. Twenty years ago Pamela and Randy lived for awhile in different parts of the country, and part of their staying in touch was a steady stream of love letters to each other. They wanted to do an album focused upon love and as the work began to grow, the music responded in the form not only of love between two people but also as a vehicle expressing the great love that exists in all living things. The music captures an enchanted moment, an opportunity to be free of the mental chatter that takes us out of the now and to cocoon in the awareness of love. This momentous album features lush strings, soaring flutes and guitars, grand piano and dense vocal arrangements, creating the signature sound that rocketed 2002 to #3 and has kept them on the Billboard Charts for over 6 years.

Customer Reviews:

STRESS REDUCER.......2007-01-28

You may not need every Cd they have out because the music follows the same sounds BUT Owning a couple is very nice indeed! If you find it hard to unwind or just simply had a crappy day and the vodka just is not enough OR with the Vodka maybe, put on this CD and sit back, close your mind off from the stress and soar into a different Realm and relax.
In our world stress is taking a big toll and we really need to let it all go. WIth this music, you might just find what you need to do that with.
Relax, let go and unwind.

More Beautiful Music From 2002!.......2005-08-02

I own two cases of New Age music and can say that 2002 is the cream of the crop. If you love New Age music, then you will have to pick up some 2002. The question is, what titles? The answer is, just about all of them! I can vouch for the titles I own and I own This Moment Now, Chrysalis, River of Stars, Land of Forever, and Across an Ocean of Dreams. You can't go wrong with any of those.

A breathtaking best from 2002.......2005-06-05

I was thrilled when I heard my favorate "Relax To" music group, 2002 was coming out with a new cd. Then I heard there was singing on one of the tracks. I wondered, how could the best instermental group I know add Singing to their music???
How dare they dirty their good name with singing, right? WRONG!
Randy Copus has a fantastic gentle singing voice, and instead of singing 'over' the music in the song "Moment Of Love", his voice blends wonderfully with the song, and he sounds like he's singing from a place far off in the distance. Not so far you can't hear him, mind you, but rather like hearing someone sing as you drift off to sleep. Very pleasing.
And the other tracks are extremly enjoyable as well, (I absolutly love "Even Now" and "Life Is").
All in all, a great addition to any 2002 lover's collection, and also good for anyone who is new to this very talented couple. (Also, the bonus web page code and address enclosed in the insert gave me some VERY nice surprises) Also, my apologies for any poor spelling, it is very late while I'm writing this.

Music to tell your friends about!.......2004-05-06

2002 is a group that is hard to go wrong with. I own Chrysalis, Across an Ocean of Dreams, River of Stars, Land of Forever, and This Moment Now. I do not have a favorite; every album of theirs that I own is equally good and worth buying in my opinion. If you like lullabies, meditational music, and music to relax to, you have found your jackpot. 2002 really helps you unwind. I use it to find my center right before going to sleep almost every night. No complaints here. Thank you 2002, I appreciate your talents!

THE ULTIMATE IN RELAXATION.......2004-01-28

If you are a 2002 fan you'll know what to expect. Dreamy, relaxing heart felt music.

You do hear snippets of Enya from time to time (but the dreamy swirling sound of half heard voices) only comforts you all the more. 2002 have in my opinion been a grown-up version of Enya. Calm, relaxing and comforting at the same time but with a little more meat on the notes. Enya, seems too languid and you spend half the album straining to understand what she is singing. With 2002, don't worry - your ears and your brain will understand without any difficulty the language of 2002's music.

I find the ultimate in relaxation is to take my Cd walkman down to the beach when I'm on vacation in Florida. Stretch out on a nice sunny day with the sound of the sea gently lapping the shore and 2002 gently playing in my ears. Sheer bliss.

This album "This Moment Now" is as good as "River of Stars".

Tracks:

Aquarius [From Hair] - Steve Brooker, NSO Ensemble, , Caroline O'Connor
If I Can't Love Her [From Beauty and the Beast] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
I Could Have Danced All Night [From My Fair Lady] - Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra
Can You Feel the Love Tonight? [From The Lion King] - John Barrowman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
What I Did for Love [from a Chorus Line] - National Symphony Orchestra, Catherine Porter, Martin Yates
This Is the Moment [From Jekyll and Hyde] - Gary Mauer, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
All That Jazz [From Chicago] - Paulette Ivory, Julian Kelly, Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett
Impossible Dream [From Man of La Mancha] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
America [From West Side Story] - National Symphony Orchestra
Written in the Stars [From Aida] - Simon Bowman, NSO Ensemble, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates
Mame [From Mame] - Jerry Lanning, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Some Enchanted Evening [From South Pacific] - Thomas Allen, John Owen Edwards, Philharmonic Orchestra
I Am What I Am [From LA Cage aux Follies] - Janet Glazener, Leslie Uggams
One Song Glory [From Rent] - Sean McDermott, Martin Yates

Tracks:

Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Ethan Freeman, Claire Moore, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
I Dreamed a Dream [From Les Miserables] - National Symphony Orchestra, Jacqui Scott, Martin Yates
Bui Doi [From Miss Saigon] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - National Symphony Orchestra,
Time Warp [From the Rocky Horror Picture Show] - Anita Dobson, NSO Ensemble, Martin Yates,
Memory [From Cats] - Kim Criswell, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Why God Why [From Miss Saigon] - Graham Bickley, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
I Know Him So Well [From Chess] - Katrina Murphy, NSO Ensemble, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates
One Day More [From Les Miserables] - National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Peggy Sue [From Buddy Holly Story] - Dominic Curtis
Empty Charis at Empty Tables [From Les Miserables] - Graham Bickley, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Dancing Queen [From Mamma Mia!] - Julian Kelly, NSO Ensemble, , Caroline O'Connor
All I Ask of You [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Andrew Halliday, , National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
We Will Rock You [From We Will Rock You] - Martin Yates

Tracks:

It's a Grand Night for Singing [From State Fair] - National Symphony Orchestra
If I Were a Rich Man [From Fiddler on the Roof] - Jerry Lanning, National Symphony Orchestra
I Talk to the Trees [From Paint Your Wagon] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Over the Rainbow [From The Wizard of Oz] - Gillian Bevan, , John Owen Edwards, , Royal Shakespeare Company
Bless Yore Beautiful Hide [From Seven Brides for Seven Brothers] - Hal Fowler, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Grease [From Grease] - John Barrowman, NSO Ensemble, Martin Yates
Woman in Love [From Guys and Dolls] - Gregg Edelman, , Emily Loesser, National Symphony Orchestra
Secret Love [From Calamity Jane] - Debbie Gravitte, National Symphony Orchestra
Quintet [From West Side Story] - National Symphony Orchestra
I Will Always Love You [From the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas] - Salena Jones, John Pearce
Money, Money [From "Caberet"] - Maria Friedman, National Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Pryce
If My Friends Could See Me Now (Sweet Charity) - Jacqueline Dankworth, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Thank Heaven for Little Girls [From Gigi] - Ron Moody, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Singin' in the Rain [From Singin' in the Rain] - Craig Barna, National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Robinson

Customer Reviews:

You'll be disappointed.......2006-09-02

Not the original artists. Very weak versions of beloved songs by marginal to downright bad vocalists.

Pretty good musical mix.......2006-03-10

Lots of great and clear vocals. I was looking for a musical mix and this has a nice sampling of many major songs but also some more recent stuff. I haven't purchased an import before but I would do it again if the opportunity presented itself. It is somewhat annoying to have three cds when I think it could have fit onto two. Still, more than I have complaints, I have compliments about it.

Average customer rating:

Just fine

Finnish Hymns

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YRHL
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

Finnish Hymn Book, No. 170: Ein' Feste Burg
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 225: Jesus At The Seat Of Grace
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 338: Only A Moment In Time
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 339: Alleluia, Sing To Jesus
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 361a: When Will The Morning Star
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 77: From Gethsemane There Is A Path
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 84: This Is The Great Day
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 125: Clasp Me, O Holy Spirit
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 111: Veni, Creator Spiritus
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 135: Moon And Sun
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 396: Nearer My God To Thee
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 450: The Earth Is The Lord's
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 462: May The Hymn Of Honour Now Resound
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 501: Hear, O Heavenly Father
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 516: Hear Whom The Master Calls Blessed
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 15: Who Passes On The Road
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 6: Go Zion, To Meet Your King
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 532: The Blessed Day
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 555: Abide With Me
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 571: Now the World Is In Bloom
Finnish Hymn Book, No. 584: Bless And Keep Us, Lord - Ari Heinonen

Customer Reviews:

Just fine.......2002-11-14

It's a nice Cd, but beware--it's twentieth century style orchestral settings of Christian hymns--no one signs on it in Finnish. Nice background music, but it wouldn't have to be called "Finnish hymns," since most of them are actually German or English.

You're Sensational - Cole Porter in the '20s, '40s, and '50s, Vol. 3 - High Society (1948-1956)

Average customer rating:

A Slice of History!

You're Sensational - Cole Porter in the '20s, '40s, and '50s, Vol. 3 - High Society (1948-1956)
Cole Porter , Frank Sinatra , and Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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You're Sensational - Cole Porter in the '20s, '40s, and '50s, Vol. 2 - Kiss Me Kate (1940-1948)
You're Sensational - Cole Porter in the '20s, '40s, and '50s, Vol. 1 - Wake Up & Dream (1916-1929)
Frank Sinatra Sings the Select Cole Porter
Cole Sings Porter
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Cole Porter Songbook Vol. 2

ASIN: B00006JTE2
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Customer Reviews:

A Slice of History!.......2003-11-15

This is a fantastic CD! I wish I knew more about the details of these recordings, because I suspect that some of them have been gathered from unusual sources. Because of the sound quality, I wouldn't be surprised to find that Cole Porter's own rendition of Cest Magnifique was recorded at a party or other informal occasion. It has that kind of intimate feeling.

At any rate, don't be put off by the fact that some of the recordings don't have the polished, studio sound of modern recordings. It is absolutely incredible hearing these Cole Porter hits being done by such varied artists as Mel Torme, Bobby Short, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Marian McPartland (the wonderful jazz pianist).

You can't help but feel that you are experiencing history when you listen to this CD. I only wish that I had realized that all three volumes were available as a boxed set. Must buy that next! (ASIN: B00001T3IP).

Carmen (Sung in English)
Average customer rating:

English is an asset and a drawback

You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English

A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!

I love Carmen!

Carmen (Sung in English)
Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mozart: The Magic Flute

The Barber of Seville / B. Ford, D. Jones, A. Opie; G. Bellini [in English]

Verdi: La Traviata

Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

Mozart - Don Giovanni / Garry Magee · Cullagh · Banks · Plazas · Shore · Tierny · PO · David Parry

ASIN: B00007JGRN
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Prelude
In The Plaza
Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
Off With You Old Soldier Boys
Corporal! Sir!
We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
Ah, Just Look!
But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
The Cheek Of It!
Give Me News Of My Mother!
Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
I See My Mother's Face!
Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
Come And Help
So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
Where Are You Taking Me?
There's An Old Bar In The City
Careful - It's Lieutenant!
Entr'acte
From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
You're Most Kind
We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
Toreador, Be Ready!
At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
Being In Love Is Not A Reason

Tracks:

To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
La La La La La La La La...
Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
No, It's Not Love At All!
Hello! Carmen!
Lieutenant Fair, It's True
The Sky Above The Open Road
Entr'acte
Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
Right! Let's Stop For A While
Shuffle! Cut Them!
In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
You're Back!
As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
Is This The Place?
I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
She Had A Lover Here
Hola! Hola! Jose!
You Should Take Care, Carmen
Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
Entr'acte
A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
Here They Come! Here They Come!
If You Love Me, Carmen
It's You! It's Me!
Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!

Customer Reviews:

English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20

The best thing about this recording of Carmen is the libretto. Conductor David Parry penned this facile and dramatic English translation. He avoids the pitfalls of literal translation to achieve an idiomatic flow that matches the rhythm of the original lyrics. I use this as a reference libretto for any of the French Carmens.

Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.

This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.

You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09

What a perfect introduction to opera. This newly released recording will surely get you hooked into opera. Carmen, a French opera by Georges Bizet, is the most recognizable and most popular in the opera world. It's famous melodies- the overture, the Habanera, The Toreador Song have all been featured in everything from cellular phone ring tones to Superbowl Commercial (last year's Superbowl with The "Opera In English" label has been making Italian operas into English for a number of years now. Also on the market are Verdi's La Traviata in English (with soprano Valerie Masterson as Violetta) Handel's Julius Caesar with Janet Baker and even Wagner's epic Ring Of The Nibeling sung in English. This is a terrific recording and I highly recommend it if you want to get into opera. Listen to this version first and then try the real, original French version Bizet had written. Patricia Bardon is sensational, sexy and dramatic as Carmen.

The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.

A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17

This recording really sells "Carmen" as a drama. Although I have two other recordings of this opera and have seen it performed several times, it never quite worked for me dramatically. But thanks to the fine performances, conducting, and translation here, I've become a "Carmen" convert. Producing a good English-language performance of a foreign opera, especially a warhorse like "Carmen," is much more difficult than it might appear. You need performers who not only can sing the parts (of course) but also can sing *English* and make it halfway intelligible and make it sound like English and make it dramatically convincing to English-speakers. The singers on this recording do an excellent job all around. Don't be put off if you don't recognize their names -- they are up to the task musically and (especially) in their acting. Admittedly, as with *all* English-language recordings, some passages are very hard to understand without reading along, but most of the time the words are clear and effective. I would recommend this recording to any opera beginner or opera lover, even those who normally turn up their noses at performances in translation.

I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15

I do. I can think of no other opera with more melodic inventiveness, and few others with so sure a dramatic pulse. Carmen is popular and it thrills me to say that it is also a very good opera - not always true of popular things.

And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.

The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.

The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.

Tracks:

Act One, No.6 Aria: I No longer Know What I Am Or What I'm Doing - Stafania Malagu
Act One, No.9 Aria: No More, You Amorous Butterfly - Giuseppe Taddei
Act Two, No.10 Cavatina: O Love, Bring Some - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Act Two, No.11 Canzona: You Ladies - Stafania Malagu
Act Two, No.12 Aria: Come...Kneel Down - Graziella Sciutti
Act Two, No.15 Finale: Now Out You Come, You Imp Of Satan - Hermann Prey/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Act Two, No.15 Finale: My Lord And Lady, The Musicians Are Outside - Giuseppe Taddei
Act Two, No.15 Finale: Oh My Just And Noble Lord - Mimi Aarden/Frans Vroons/Joseph Rouleau/Hermann Prey/Graziella Sciutti/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf...
Act Three, No.16 Duet: Cruel One, Why Have You Caused Me Thus To Languish? - Hermann Prey/Graziella Sciutti/Giuseppe Taddei
Act Three, No.17 Recitative And Aria: We've Won Our Case!...Must I See A Serf Of Mine Made Happy - Hermann Prey
Act Three, No.18 Sextet: Dearest Son, In This Embrace - Hermann Prey/Graziella Sciutti
Act Three, No.19 Recitative And Aria: Susanna's Not Come!...Where Are Those Happy Moments - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Act Three, No.20 Duet: To The Zephyr...How Sweet The Breeze - Graziella Sciutti/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Act Three, No.26 Recitative And Aria: Everything Is Ready...Just Open Your Eyes - Giuseppe Taddei
Act Three, No.26 Recitative And Aria: At Last Comes The Moment...Come, Do Not Delay - Graziella Sciutti
Act Three, No.26 Recitative And Aria: Ho There! Bring Your Swords - Hermann Prey/Giuseppe Taddei/Frans Vroons/Chris Taverne/Ge Smit/Joseph Rouleau/Graziella Sciutti...

Average customer rating:

GREAT RECORDING, BUT THE PRICE...

Janácek: Osud (Fate)

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen
Leos Janácek: The Cunning Little Vixen - Lucia Popp / Eva Randová / Dalibor Jedlicka / Vienna Philharmonic / Vienna State Opera Chorus / Sir Charles Mackerras
Janacek - From the House of the Dead / Mackerras
Janácek: Jenufa
Rimsky-Korsakov - Sadko / Vladimir Galouzine, Gegam Grigorian, Sergei Alexashkin, Larissa Diadkova, Nikolai Putilin, Valery Gergiev, Kirov Opera

ASIN: B00001T6K3
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Osud (Fate): Act I: Orchestra
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'Free As A Bird I Bask In The Sunshine'
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'Heavens, It's Him!' (Mila)
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'Is It Your Child You've Come For?' (Mila)
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'Sun In The Heavens Up On High'
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'We're Back Too Late' (Zivny)
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'The Sun's Vanished' (Mila)
Osud (Fate): Act I: 'Never Will I Forget This Fleeting Moment!'
Osud (Fate): Act II: 'Slumber On Undisturbed In The Shadow' (Zivny)
Osud (Fate): Act II: 'I Do, I Do!' (Mila)
Osud (Fate): Act II: 'We're Married Now' (Zivny)
Osud (Fate): Act II: 'Mummy, Mummy!'
Osud (Fate): Act II: 'Unspoken Thoughts Go Far Beyond Words' (Mila's Mother)
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'Listen To The Thunder Over The Horizon'
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'Endless The Pain I Must Suffer'
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'Enough Of That!'
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'Mummy, Mummy! Do You Know What Love Is?'
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'People Said It Must Have Been His Falling In Love' (Zivny)
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'Bitter Memories' (Zivny)
Osud (Fate): Act III: 'It Seems To Be So Clear' (Zivny)

Customer Reviews:

GREAT RECORDING, BUT THE PRICE..........1999-12-01

This is 20th century opera at its most vivid. Once considered a failure, Osud was resurrected in an English translation that actually improves upon the original libretto. The music is as vital as anything in Janacek: the piece starts a churning riff strangely reminiscent of Philip Glass; the ending is equally memorable -- startlingly brusque and humorous. Throughout, we get musical drama tied to the quick of spoken language; conversations overlap, or suddenly fall silent. At times the story is ridiculous, but the production rides over any problems. Philip Langridge, as always, is great. My only qualm: this was originally a single disc CD on EMI, for a single disc price. Though the package is nice, the price is steep for some 70:00 odd minutes.

Subways Are for Sleeping / Do I Hear a Waltz

Average customer rating:

"Broadway Shows from the 1960's ~ Percy Faith"

Subways Are for Sleeping / Do I Hear a Waltz
Percy Faith
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Lil Abner/Broadway Bouquet
Porgy & Bess / Most Happy Fella
Born Free/Windmills of Your Mind
Kismet/Music From Hollywood
Great Folk Themes: American Serenade

ASIN: B000066JEB
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

Ride Through The Night
I'm Just Taking My Time
When You Help A Friend Out
Who Knows What Might Have Been?
I Just Can't Wait
Getting Married
Be A Santa
How Can You Describe A Face?
Comes Once In A Lifetime
Now I Have Someone
I Said It And I'm Glad
What Is This Feeling In The Air?
Do I Hear A Waltz?
Here We Are Again
Moon In My Window
This Week Americans
Someone Like You
We're Gonna Be All Right
No Understand
Take The Moment
Thinking
A Perfectly Lovely Couple
Stay
Thank You So Much

Customer Reviews:

"Broadway Shows from the 1960's ~ Percy Faith".......2004-02-23

Percy Faith blends two award winning Broadway Shows together "Subways Are For Sleeping" (originally released on Columbia Records CS 8533 in 1961) and "Do I Hear A Waltz?" (originally released on Columbia Records CS 9117 in 1965), following the formula of previous albums from the vault of rare finds ~ two more winners are under the baton of the Maestro.

First twelve tracks "Subways Are For Sleeping", featuring the songs of Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Jule Styne with outstanding arrangements on very catchy tunes ~ like "BE A SANTA", "COMES ONCE IN A LIFETIME", "GETTING MARRIED", "HOW CAN YOU DESCRIBE A FACE?", "I JUST CAN'T WAIT", "I SAID IT AND I'M GLAD", "I'M JUST TAKING MY TIME", "NOW I HAVE SOMEONE", "RIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT", "WHAT IS THIS FEELING IN THE AIR?", "WHEN YOU HELP A FRIEND OUT" and "WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?", all have the hallmark sound and the authentic "Percy Faith Touch" on every selections.

Second twelve tracks ~ "Do I Hear A Waltz", featuring the tunes of Richard Rodgers and Stephen Soundheim enhanced by the performances of arranger/conductor Percy Faith and his Orchestra ~ "A PERFECTLY LOVELY COUPLE", "DO I HEAR A WALTZ?", "HERE WE ARE AGAIN", "MOON IN MY WINDOW", "NO UNDERSTAND", "SOMEONE LIKE YOU", "STAY", "TAKE THE MOMENT", "THANK YOU SO MUCH", "THINKING", "THIS WEEK AMERICANS" and "WE'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT", enamored to the luxurious sound of Faith's string arrangements ~ you're immediately hooked on these tracks ~ marvelous performances enthralling listener's for some fifty years.

The people at Collectables should be commended for bringing back some of Maestro Faith's best works on compact disc ~ there is so much more in the vast vaults, hopefully there will be more to follow...gotta love it!

Tracks:

He's Only Wonderful
Here's To Your Illusions (From Flahooley)
This Is All Very New To Me (From Plain And Fancy)
Glitter And Be Gay (From Candide)
Till There Was You (From Music Man)
Getting To Know You
Hello, Young Lovers (From The King And I)
Magic Moment (From The Gay Life)
Will He Like Me?
Dear Friend
Ice Cream
Where's The Mate For Me?/Make Believe
You Are Love (From Showboat)
Who Are You Now?
He Was Too Good To Me/Time Heals Everything
Wait Till You See Him

Customer Reviews:

A real good selection.......2006-04-27

Even if I don't own this CD (stuff I have on 33 rpm), I had to approve the other critics here. To know Barbara Cook is to participate to the Great Broadway Era with one of its essential star performer.
Cook was made for the stage and, following next, her live shows are quite impressive. Her voice can be tiny at times, but who doesn't get older?
Just listen to Glitter and be Gay: a Bernstein masterpiece, but a Cook personal creation. (Only Sumi Jo made it as good on her Carnegie Hall show).
All B'way fan should know Barbara Cook...

good overview of her broadway career.......2005-02-06

Before Barbara Cook became a cabaret performer, she was a fantastic Broadway star. This out of print cd focuses on the songs from her revivals and original productions with the omission of The Glass Harp. It goes chronologically from the beginning of her career with the shows Candide, Plain and Fancy, and Flahooley. (Sadly they were flops.) Then it reaches The Music Man where she finally became a star. Her Till There was You is marvelous. The last three songs are from her 1975 At Carnegie Hall album. I wish that this was replaced with numbers from her shows. It doesn't quite fit in with the phase. I guess this cd wanted to be an outlook on her career in general. Barbara Cook had a clear warm soprano. If only her 1958 album Songs of Perfect Propriety could be released.

A Broadway legend appreciated.......1999-07-02

Just to hear her voice intentionally break with emotion on "Dear Friend" will affect you deeply. This is a fine document of a great career and a stunning voice. You will treasure it.

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