Heart Symphony

Track Listings

1. Wide Open

2. Heart Symphony, From Other Spheres, Searching for a New Dimension, Peace of Mind

3. The Inner Temple

4. Rays of Hope

5. Listen and Feel

6. Once Upon A Time

7. The Day Begins

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
New Age composer/musician Karunesh is internationally acclaimed and best know for his bright and innovative recordings. Born in Germany in 1956, Karunesh discovered music at an early age. In his quest for spiritual fulfillment, Karunesh travelled to India where he lived in an ashram. After departing India and residing for five years in a spiritual communal center in Hamburg, Germany he then began again to explore his musical creativity.

Product Description
These Bright and cheerful compositions show us how easy it is to discover deep feelings. Only through the heart can we feel our whole being.

Heart Symphony

Heart Symphony,Karunesh

Heart Symphony

Tracks:

Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Cottage Maid (Welsh)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Last Rose Of Summer (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: Chiling O'Guirg (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: English Bulls (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: St. Patrick's Day (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: O Mary, At The Window Be (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Oh, Thou Are The Lad Of My Heart (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Fur Elise
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor ('Pathetique') - Adagio cantabile
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat - Alla Danza Tedesca. Allegro assai
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 7 In D - Menuetto (Allegro)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: The Creatures Of Prometheus - Finale. Allegretto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat - Menuetto (Moderato e grazioso)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 20 In G - Tempo di menuetto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 8 In F - Allegro scherzando
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor ('Choral') - Ode To Joy
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 15 In D ('Pastoral') - Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 6 In F ('Pastoral') - Hymn Of Thanksgiving

Amazon.com

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven for Babies.......2007-05-21

My baby and I really enjoy this CD. It is so fun to feel the baby get excited when I play it. I have a pillow speaker and just place it right up against my stomach. It evens helps me to get in a nap or just rest for a while.

Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me).......2005-09-01

This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.

Ode To Beethoven.......2005-05-13

The actual reason I bought this cd is for "Fur Elise" but it turned out to be much more than I bargained for. Before road rage sets in while sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour, play this. If you need to take it easy and escape from your reality, play this. Need something to play at work that's not explicit or offensive, play this. Of course, it's not Beethoven himself, but if you need some quiet time, play this. Even while you read, you could play this. If you want some authenticity to your collection, get Beethoven for Babies.

Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here.......2004-05-27

The 3 stars is only because the hucksters that put this together at least had the decency to tracks featuring Arrau & Richter on this CD. A lot of these "turn your baby into a genius with classical music" CDs and tapes feature only lousy musical performances from hack musicians you have never heard of.

That having been said, if you are stupid enough to believe any of this "Mozart Effect" horse manure --- which continues to have no support in any sort of controlled test environment --- then your babies will probably inherit your limited intellectual capacities & no amount of Beethoven & Mozart will ever be able to help them.

If, on the other hand, you are introducing Junior to classical music, you could do worse --- but you could also do better. Go get Arrau's complete Beethoven sonatas & concerti, get the Berg Quartett's complete Beethoven quartet cycle, and get John Eliot Gardiner's complete Beethoven symphonies --- just for a start. Also, don't stop with Beethoven & Mozart. My 9-month old daughter gets a diverse exposure to a thousand years of music, and very little is off limits. She got acquainted with the Bartok Quartets within her first couple of months, and it doesn't look like we have created an axe murderer or anything like that.

Anyway, if you want to create a classical music lover, do it right and go the distance, rather than doing it piecemeal with CDs like this. Your baby may still be a moron, but at least will be a moron with exquisite taste.

Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me).......2003-11-23

Average customer rating:

This should never have worked at all
A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS
Chess
One of my favorites!
Concepts get better with practice

Chess
Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Tim Rice
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
A Little Night Music (1973 Original Broadway Cast)
Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast)
Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000002GLR
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Merano - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Murray Head
The Russian And Molokov/ Where I Want To Be - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley
Opening Ceremony - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Bjorn Skifs
Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility) - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley/Bjorn Skifs
The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Chess - LSO/Anders Eljas
Mountian Duet - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg
Florence Quits - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Embassy Lament - Tommy Korberg/The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas
Anthem - Tommy Korberg

Tracks:

Bangkok
One Night In Bangkok
Heaven Help My Heart
Argument
I Know Him So Well
The Deal (No Deal)
Pity The Child
Endgame
Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Amazon.com

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

This should never have worked at all.......2007-06-18

And on that basis alone, you've got to cut it some slack. Fortunately, not all that much slack turns out to be necessary.

While "Chess" may be a document of an era that no longer exists, there's a lot more going on than the surface metaphor. It holds up very well indeed. When it aims for humor, it generally succeeds, and likewise when it aims to devastate. What more can you ask for?

A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS.......2007-03-04

`Chess' is a musical that should be counted among the best of what the 1980-is had produced: side by side with `Cats', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Les Miserables' or `Miss Saigon'. The score as heard on this concept album, written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (formerly of ABBA) and with the exceptional lyrics written by Tim Rice, stand proof to this. And yet, due to various reasons, like the changing of the director half way through London staging; a heavy rewrite for Broadway and a pan review from Frank Ritch (a.k.a. `The Butcher of Broadway'), `Chess' seems to be unjustly neglected.

This concept album is the main reason why the show has so many ardent fans until this day. Tim Rice wanted to write the show with the main plot revolving around chess for years and after his long time partner Andrew Lloyd Webber remained uninterested, he found the new collaborators in Ulvaeus and Andersson. The subject matter follows two international chess players in a championship, a Russian (Tommy Körberg) and an American (Murray Head) and a woman called Florence (Elaine Paige) who is a manager to the American but falls in love with the Russian. The story also draws a parallel between the game of chess and the cold war/real life situations.

This concept album was recorded in 1984, two years before the original London production took place. As the authors noted in the accompanying booklet, it was a work in progress and thusly the story is not quite readable here from the musical numbers alone. Despite that fact (which is amended by the synopsis included in the booklet), this album remains a winner. The score (played here by the London Symphonic Orchestra) itself makes an intriguing bland of the famous ABBA sound, the classical; the rock and the pop enhanced by the orchestral solo passages and the strong choral parts. The lush orchestrations add an epic touch to it and on the whole it is melodic and hummable, packed with great tunes. Some of the songs achieved huge success outside the musical: `I know him so well', a duet between Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, held the number one spot on the UK singles charts for 4 weeks in February 1985 and won Ivor Novello Award as the Best Selling Single; Murray Head's `One night in Bangkok' became one of the biggest dance hits of its time, often heard today. Some other notable tunes include `The Anthem' (Russian's deliberation on his homeland); the soaring rock songs `Where I want to be' and `Pity the child' (in the former, the Russian reflects upon his life under the spotlight; in the latter, the American ponders about his own unhappy childhood) or the gentle `Heaven help my heart' (in which Florence weighs up her relationship with the Russian).

A special reference must be made to Tim Rice's excellent lyrics. With `Chess' he managed to keep up to the high standards he set himself in `Jesus Christ Superstar' and Evita'. Again in this case he shows he is a lyrical wizard, with his familiar cynical touch. `The story of chess', in which he gives a history of the game in a couple of crafty verses, is a pure masterpiece. The same can be said of the song `I know him so well', where the two women reexamine their relationship with the same man. As a whole, `Chess' owes a lot of its appeal to Tim Rice's written word.

The cast on this album ranks the high standard of the material. The principal parts (sung by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head) are delivered in a strong and impeccable fashion.

This 2-disc edition comes with a booklet containing a note from the authors, a text about chess, a full synopsis and a libretto, together with the photos of the principal singers.

Anyone interested in the modern musical theatre should find `Chess' to be a great score with great lyrics, which should be enough to satisfy any aficionado.

Chess.......2007-01-15

A magnificent musical, i have enjoyed the music since i first heard it and read the storyline. Had been unable to find it in our local music stores.Very pleased to find it on your site.

One of my favorites!.......2007-01-12

I love "Chess"! I still remember the first time I heard the single "One Night in Bangkok" on my car radio. I thought it was so unusual and so very cool, so I tracked down the album and bought it. Then I taped it onto a cassette, which is what I've been listening to for years, so I finally broke down and got it on CD. Of course, it's on my iPod now. I've seen the musical, and I loved that, too.

Concepts get better with practice.......2006-11-27

I love this show! That said, I do not care for this version of it. The inclusion of the word "concept" in the title means it is just that. This was, thankfully, not the final version of the show that would later spawn the hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

With most Broadway musicals, the musical numbers tell the basic story of the show. If you listen to the recordings of Phantom, Mama Mia, Beauty and the Beast, you can discern the basic storyline of the show. Listening to this particular recording of Chess, though, will leave you wondering "What was that?" The Broadway arrival of Chess saw a much needed reworking of the storyline and arrangement of the musical numbers. This recording seems too much like a mish-mash of songs that don't really relate to each other.

For musical fanatics (like myself), I say "yes, you should have this recording in your collection", if only to understand how much work went into the show before it opened on Broadway.

If you are only buying the album because of "One Night In Bangkok", purchase the Broadway recording instead; you'll be much happier with the performance by Phillip Casnoff rather than Murray Head.

Average customer rating:

Children's Favorites a solid purchase
The perfect package
A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics

Children's Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical Music for Children: A Toddler's Introduction to Classical Music
Classics for Kids
Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children
Bernstein Favorites: Children's Classics
World's Very Best Opera for Kids... in English!

ASIN: B00004Y6T3
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

March Of The Tin Soldiers - Leon Jessel
Variations On 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' - Walter Klien
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Reed Flutes - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Sorceror's Apprentice - Paul Dukas
Peter And The Wolf (Extract) - Brandon de Wilde
Invention No. 8 In F Major - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 11 in G Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 13 in A Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Prelude And Fugue No. 21 In B Flat Major (Book 1) - Christiane Jaccottet
Sonata For 2 Pianos In D Major, K. 448, 1st Mvt. - Rudolf Firkusny
III. Allegretto - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Of Strange Lands And People - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Curious Story - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Entreating Child - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Perfect Happiness - Walter Klien
Introduction And Royal March - Marylene Dosse
The Elephant - Marylene Dosse
Kangaroos - Marylene Dosse
The Aquarium - Marylene Dosse
Cuckoo In The Woods - Marylene Dosse
Birds - Marylene Dosse
Fossils - Marylene Dosse
The Swan - Marylene Dosse
Finale - Marylene Dosse

Customer Reviews:

Children's Favorites a solid purchase.......2006-03-09

This CD mostly delivered what was expected of it. The only critique I have is that some of the tempos could have been cleaner, and that it should be cross-referenced by the other composers besides J. S. Bach.

The perfect package.......2005-10-23

This is the most wonderful collection to have on 1 CD. Children from birth on up can benefit from this musical collage.
Songs from the "Nutcracker" are familiar and comfortable for many children. What child wouldn't love "March of the Tin Soldiers?"
Selections from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" is a must in my creative movement library. Every child should be exposed to this music. Well,I believe every age should be.

A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics.......2003-03-11

With total playing time clocking in at 78:04 minutes of music, you'll be paying about 6-cents/minute, which is a better bargain than long distance phone calls, and often more rewarding!

This disc is far superior than most other "Classics for Kids"-type recordings I've sampled for a number of reasons:

1) This album was expertly engineered. The production quality on this disc is first-rate from start to finish with crisp, clear sound.

2) The pieces were expertly picked. There is wonderful sonic variety here, spanning hundreds of years of wonderful melodies. There are orchestral pieces, harpsichord pieces, solo piano, and a piano concerto, capped off with Saint-Seans whimsical Carnival of the Animals. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love that?

3) The performances are, without exeption, expert! The pieces were definately screened for quality as well as content. Many are simply a joy to behold. Walter Klein is a particular stand-out, almost giddily prancing through Schumann's pieces. Believe it or not, he sounds even more impressive when backed up by the always inspiring Minnesota Orchestra on Mozart's Piano Concerto #17.

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
Serenade In G 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Sir Neville Marriner
Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor, Op.26 - II. Adagio - Yedudi Menuhin
Nocturne No.2 In E Flat Op.9 No.2 - John Ogdon
Miserere Mei, Deus - Stephen Cleobury
Schindler's List - Tasmin Little
Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
Dance Of The Sylphs - Sir Neville Marriner
Water Music - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphony No.9: II. Largo - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean De Florette - Toots Thielemans
Concerto For Lute And Two Violins - II. Largo - Anthony Bailes
Cello Concerto In E Minor Op.85 - III. Adagio - Jacqueline De Pre
Waltz No.15 In A Flat - Dame Moura Lympany
Romance - Piers Lane
Pavane - Maurice Handford
Woodbrook - Micheal O Suilleabhain
Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra

Tracks:

The Four Seasons - Concerto No.1 In E 'Spring' - Yehundi Menuhin
Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Double Violin Concerto In D Minor - II. Largo Ma Non Tanto - Yehudi Menuhin
Prelude No.7 In A Op.28 No.7 - Tzimon Barto
Cantique De Jean Racine - MONKS AND CHOIRBOYS OF DOWNSIDE ABBEY
The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean
'Pathetique Sonata Op.13 - II. Adagio Cantabile - Leonard Pennario
Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Salut D'Amour - Richard Hickox
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (The Girl With Flaxen Hair) - Dame Moura Lympany
The Coventry Carol - Medeval Babes
Pavane For A Dead Princess - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Liebestraum No.3 In A Flat - John Ogdon
Panis Angelicus - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Piano Concerto No.2 In F Op.102 - II. Andante - Dmitri Alexeev
Agnus Dei - Peter Barley
Symphony No.5 In C Sharp Minor - IV. Adagietto - New Philharmonia Orchestra
My Heart Will Go On - Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II.......2006-08-28

Good selection of music, poorly performed and badly arranged. Good album for a tag sale. Same comment applies for Volume I.

Great music listein to while you read in bed.......2005-08-21

I have listened to this CD for the last several years before going to sleep at night. I love classical music, and this is great music to help make my soul feel at peace and unwind after a taxing day.

A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan........2004-10-22

I bought Vol. 1 of this series and was quite satisfied, but I have to say I'm more than satisfied with this one. If you can just mellow out and enjoy some great pieces, you'll love this CD. #15 on Disc 2 is almost worth the price alone!

A bliss of spirit........2004-09-18

That's disc will open You a wonderful, beautiful world of sounds, their harmony & emotion : you'll feel your heart full of
Joy, Tears, Love.
Good LUCK!

Boring.......2004-05-11

Yes this CD will put you to sleep in minutes. Its the most boring uninspiring classical music. The first CD was very good but this Vol. 2 is like most movie sequels....AWFUL !

Average customer rating:

Would you like ketchup with your bug?
he makes you get up and dance
Live in Dublin
Live in Dublin
Live audience is great.

Live In Dublin
Andre Rieu
Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Tuscany
Andre Rieu in Concert
The Flying Dutchman
The Vienna I Love, Waltzes From My Heart
At The Movies

ASIN: B0000CABHH
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

Dark Eyes
Thunder & Lightning
The Merry Widow
Song of the Volga Boatman
Hor Ich Zimbalklange
Espana Cani (Bull)
O Mio Babbino Caro
The Blue Danube Waltz
Announcement Olympia Song
Song of Olympia (puppet)
My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)
All Men Shall Be Brothers - Beethoven 9th
Radetzky March
Opera Potpourri
The Red Rose Cafe
The Marino Waltz
Irish Washerwoman
The Last Rose
Chianti Song
Lullaby

Album Description

Recorded at the filming in Dublin's famous downtown train terminal, LIVE IN DUBLIN features Andre and the orchestra performing a collection of old favorites and exciting new selections. Already a smash PBS program LIVE IN DUBLIN captures Andre Rieu and his magical live performances at their most elegant best!

Customer Reviews:

Would you like ketchup with your bug?.......2007-05-05

The person who sang O Mio Babbino Caro is Carmen Monarcha. Do a search for her on YouTube; she's really fantastic!

Anyway, I saw Andre Rieu on a PBS special on television and it looked like such an awesome, high-energy concert! The CD is not so exciting, but it is worth buying just for that beautiful aria.

he makes you get up and dance.......2007-04-10

my 3 yr old enjoys this as much as us

Live in Dublin.......2007-02-17

The music is really toe tapping and excellent. Andre Rieu is a master of music.

Live in Dublin.......2006-07-05

This concert is magnificent in its energy and in the great performances by Andre Rieu and the Johann Stauss orchestra. I watch it when I need lifting up. I love the audience interaction which makes me feel as if I'm there in person.

Live audience is great........2006-05-03

This has to be one of Andre's best. The live audience adds much to the music being played. I wish I had been there for the performance.

Average customer rating:

The Story of Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Edouard van Remoortel , and Arthur Hannes
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Story of Mozart
The Story of Beethoven
The Story of Bach
Story Of Chopin In Words And Music
The Story Of Brahms

ASIN: B000001KD9
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

Finale
Overture
June (Barcarolle)
Andante Cantabile
Waltz
Romeo and Juliet (Overture-Fantasy)
None But The Lonely Heart, Op. 6 No. 6
Allegro Non Troppo
Waltz
Andante cantabile
Chanson Triste, Op. 40 No. 2
'Pathetique' Allegro Con Grazia
Andante Sostenuto
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Finale
Marche Slave, Op. 31
Excerpts
1812 Overture, Op. 49
'Pathetique' Excerpts
Scene
Valse
Dance Of The Swans
Scene
Hungarian Dance
Panorama Andantino
Tempo Di Valse

Average customer rating:

The pleasure in the feeling of non-existence
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL
This is great!
Masterful & mystical "new age music" from KARUNESH
Call of the Mystic~Karunesh

Call of the Mystic
Karunesh
Manufacturer: Real Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Zen Breakfast
Namaste
Nirvana Cafe
Joy of Life
Global Spirit

ASIN: B00020HDXU
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

For the Joy of it All
Hearing You Now
Monsoon's Dance
Mount Kailash
Sunrise at the Ganges
Zensual
And the Grass Grows by Itself
Ancient Voices

Album Description

While other genre labels like Narada and Windham Hill diversified from their new age roots, Real Music has been consistent over the years in providing nothing but the best music for relaxation, meditation and spiritual enhancement. Their most notable recordings come from an Eastern Buddhist mindset, with multi-instrumentalist Karunesh leading the pack on the strength of previous discs Zen Breakfast and Nirvana Café. His basic approach to contemplative music involves a blend of exotic textures (bells, chimes, Tibetan bowls, sitar and Chinese instruments) with easy grooves and rich walls of ambience. The new collection's trance inducing instrumentation and sensuous rhythms begins with a few minutes of pure ambience and sitar, before slowly introducing a gentle percussive line ("For the Joy of It All"); Avinash's graceful Indian violin carries a mournful beauty that is also part of the similarly hypnotic, easy grooving "Monsoon's Dance." Bikram's Bansuri flute floats through beautifully in key locations, such as the introduction of "Mount Kailash." While the uninitiated might feel that there's a certain repetitive nature to the tracks (which usually begin with sparse instrumentation before the electricity is turned on), the intention is more to invoke a sense of inner peace than to be truly innovative. The title of the richly textured "Zensual" sums up the mystical intent of the thought provoking exercise.

~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews:

The pleasure in the feeling of non-existence.......2006-05-28

I heard the song "Monsoon Dance" on sky.fm. I previewed other songs and then bought almost all songs. Others are fine too, just listened once.

It's been 4 days since I bought them. I am not listening to any other song than Monsoon Dance for almost 4 days, day and night.. I am usually obsessed with these kind of mystic songs, listening to one song at a time for days a stretch, even when I sleep.

Thats the effect of the song Monsoon Dance. Truly, the mystic feeling of non-existence is an amazing pleasure. I feel one with the entire universe when I listen to this song.

I wonder what the composer might have gone through to come up with such an amazing piece of music. The Indian violin's effect is rather deep.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.......2006-03-10

This is one of the most beautiful CDs I have every heard. I bring it everywhere when I need to relax. The sound of the instruments from India are just breathtaking.

This is great!.......2006-01-12

....if you like really strange, annoying German people who try to go "native." This is nothing but commodified exoticism; music for spiritual enhancement my arse....

Masterful & mystical "new age music" from KARUNESH .......2005-09-23

I discovered the music of this German-born composer/multi-instrumentalist by accident. I was browsing in the new age music section at a certain mega-bookstore, looking for the latest CD from Kitaro (one of my favorite artists.) Well, I didn't find the Kitaro disc that day, but another CD soon caught my eye, one by an artist I'd never heard of - "Call of the Mystic" by Karunesh. Curious about the cover-art and song titles, I put the CD on the store's headphone listening station. I was soon immersed in the music, and intrigued by its exotic sounds. Of course, these were only brief sound clips from the album, so as each snatch of music soon cut off, I was left wanting to hear more. I then came home, found the CD on Amazon, and ordered it (sorry to the bookstore, but your prices were just too high! : ) Anyway, to make a long story short, in the several months since then, I have become a major fan of Karunesh (pronounced "Care-un-ish", which is, I learned, also the sanscrit word for "compassion".) I have now also collected several titles from his extensive back catalog, and while all of his albums have their own strengths, I believe that "Call of the Mystic" still rates as one of his finest overall releases. With it's mystical/mysterious feel, warm synth textures, and heavy use of exotic instruments, this CD literally makes me feel better when I listen to it. I know that the term "healing music" is probably overused in this genre, but in this case the term really fits. It's one of those rare albums that somehow pulls the listener into its World, and transports them to a better state-of-mind for it's duration. (Kitaro is perhaps the only other new age artist who's work has this effect on me.) Like most of Karunesh's works, this album is fully instrumental (So those of you who do not like vocals/lyrics with your new age music will be particularly pleased!), with all of the tracks running in the 5 to 7 minute range (a good length for this type of music.) Now, as people usually like points of comparsion for reviews such as this, I would say that Karunesh falls into the same general "new age/instrumental/electronic" genre as Kitaro, Vangelis, or Patrick O'Hearn (although his music's rarely as gloomy as O'Hearn's can be.) However, comparisons can tend to be a tad misleading, and at the end of the day Karunesh is a unique artist who's music has a personality of its own...Here is a quick rundown of all the tracks: the album opens with "The Joy of It All", an Eastern-flavored track which benefits from a hypnotic percussion groove and the sitar work of special guest Govi (a respected new age artist in his own right.) "Hearing You Now" features piano/flute lines that rotate back and forth, and an ear-catching mix of both electronic & acoustic drumming. "Monsoon's Dance" gives us one of Karunesh's most memorable melodies, played with a gorgeous blend of piano, Indian violin, and synth/percussion backing. "Mount Kailash" has a deeply-spiritual feel, and is highlighted by another guest spot from Govi (this time playing what sounds like an acoustic guitar run through a digital delay effect...quite a beguiling sound, actually!) "Sunrise at the Ganges" is basically a sitar/flute duet set over a backdrop of synth chords and Indian-style drumming. "Zensual" takes on a darker, electronic tone, with some mysterious "reed"-like synth soloing, layers of keyboard ambience, and a sensual rhythmic groove. "And the Grass Grows by Itself" adds some contrast to the pevious track, based mainly around acoustic sounds and a fun, hopeful melody. This track also features the hum of a Tibetan singing bowl (an unusal sound that I have come to like.) Lastly, "Ancient Voices", the only track with no noticable percussion line, is made up almost entirely of sitar and woodwind sounds, and serves to end the album on a peaceful, contemplative note. All in all, this is an album (and artist) that should not be missed if you are a fan of new age music. I will have to agree with what another reviewer said about Amazon's soundclips, though. The brief clips here are all of the opening moments of these songs, before the main themes really kick in - so the CD really does need to be heard in its full context to be truly appreciated. Also, speaking of other reviews, I think it is quite remarkable that of the six customer reviews that have been posted of this CD thus far, EVERY single one has given it a perfect 5 stars!...Amen!

Call of the Mystic~Karunesh.......2005-07-10

Even though this is my first experience with Karunesh, this album was exactly what I expected,...and I enjoyed the different selection of instruments used to evoke a light, whimsical, and meditative feeling of calm. Recommended for light meditation, yoga practice, or massage therapy.

Average customer rating:

wallpaper
simply beautiful, so just enjoy it
Sloppy renditions and amateurish
Great songs reinvented, with a twist
Praise for Beyond Imagination

Beyond Imagination
Opera Babes
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Opera Band
Defined
Renaissance (Eng)
Summer
Etterna

ASIN: B00007MB2F
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Tracks:

One Fine Day (Un Bel Di From Madame Butterfly)
Sempre Ricordo (Piano Concerto in A minor)
There's A Place (From The New World Symphony)
Beyond Imagination (From A Midsummer Nights Dream)
O Fortuna (From Carmina Burana)
Lakm2O (Flower Duet)
Ebben?..Ne Andro Lontano (from La Wally)
You Live On In My Heart (Cinema Paradiso)
Chanson Boh (From Carmen)
Remember Me
Stranger In Paradise (From Kismet)
Ode II Joy (From Symphony No. 9)
1001 Nights (From The Nutcracker Suite)
Barcarolle (From The Tales Of Hoffman)
LakmVibeTribe Mix)
Ave Maria
Vittoria! (Aida 2002)

Amazon.com

Plucked from a wet afternoon of busking Bizet and Puccini to passersby on the Piazza in Covent Garden in the spring of 2001, soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo Karen England soon found themselves singing in slightly larger venues: the FA Cup and Champions League soccer finals. That the management company doing the plucking had recently performed a similar Cinderella crossover act for Russell Watson offered portent, and indeed the Babes--the moniker began as a joke--were soon on their way to this recording debut. The marketing shtick and its soccer connections may offend purists, but it's the football hooligans that the Babes are trying to win over here; can Borodin soothe the savage Manchester United fan? Their classically trained voices mesh gloriously, with England's warm mezzo showing particular character in her solo turns.

The repertoire choices here cover material that may already be familiar to fans of Charlotte Church (i.e., Delibes "Flower Duet") and other crossover acts, but they do include some pleasant surprises, like Offenbach's Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann and "You Live On in My Heart," a reworking of Ennio Morricone's enchanting Cinema Paradiso theme with lyrics by Knight. But in a rush toward the musical middle of the road, it's the productions themselves that sometimes overwhelm the Babes with bathos ("Ave Maria"), hollow thunder ("Aida 2002"), and electro club kitsch (the 'Vibe Tribe' mix of "Flower Duet"). Former Art of Noise mainstay Anne Dudley's tastefully restrained coloring of Tchaikovsky's "1001 Nights" is one of the notable exceptions. They're babes, they sing opera--with fair promise--for the masses, and if they turn one in a hundred from football hooliganism to a well-mannered appreciation of Grieg and Dvorák, won't it all have been worth it? --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

wallpaper.......2007-07-12

overorchestrated, overproduced aural wallpaper...that said, still, these women have wonderful voices and are worth hearing. They are oversold,too...Opera Babes! Indeed. Folks who like Enya will like this.

simply beautiful, so just enjoy it.......2007-06-11

my daughter has taught me to love opera. this immediately captured me. the Babes' voices blend so beautifully. I love it! who cares about Puccini, Classic Opera, blah, blah, woof, woof. I love this album

Sloppy renditions and amateurish.......2007-05-15

I heard one of the selections on Sirius and liked it so I bought the CD. Upon hearing the entire CD I was disappointed that the only selection I liked was the one that prompted me to buy the product. The voices are nice but they are simply adding voice to opera masterpieces that do not fit. They are certainly not of the caliber of Sarah Brightman or Charlotte Church and don't look for that. Their sound is mellow, dim and without the emotion that does an inservice to the opera pieces they sing. I found the CD lackluster and in all honestly very "amateurish".

Great songs reinvented, with a twist.......2006-09-30

Expanding upon the recent interest in Gregorian chant fusion as well as rich-voiced solo vocalists such as Josh Groban, operatic soprano Rebecca Knight and mezzo soprano Karen England offer full-vibratoed, somewhat modernized interpretations of favorite classical themes. Backed by chorus, orchestras, keyboards and drums, they draw from such diversely satisfying works as Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly," Grieg's "Piano Concerto in a minor," Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream," Orff's "Carmina Burana," Delibe's "Lakme," Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman," Schubert's "Ave Maria," and Verdi's "Aida." Some of the arrangements are fairly traditional, while others are noticeably enhanced. The emphasis tends to be on pretty pieces with sweet melodies, though a few are more intense in nature (#1, 4, 5, 15 and 17). A couple of pop songs, still sung in operatic style, are thrown in for good measure, although they don't have the same appeal and mystique as the old favorites. All of the selections feature both vocalists together, singing in lovely, close harmony. The arrangers of this elegantly hip music include Jon Cohen, Noely, Frank Gallagher, Deni Lew and Anne Dudley, with multi-language lyrics (for the adaptations of instrumental works) by Rebecca Knight and others. I have to admit that I occasionally found myself longing for the modern additions to be more consistently interesting and distinctive--in other words, equaling the artistry of the classics that they're accompanying. Track #1, which really shines, is a well-done example. Alternately, perhaps the source songs might have been better off left in their pure, original styles rather than watered down with schmaltzy, predictable underpinnings that don't add much to the music. But like Enigma did for medieval chant, the Opera Babes are endeavoring to bring some wonderful, time-tested music to a wider audience, fusing it with modern idioms in way that is artistic and generally appealing. For more opera fusion, compare the work of Amici Forever (a group of five singers, both male and female), and the oddly packaged but similar-in-concept album "Coco de Mer" by Adam Plack.

Praise for Beyond Imagination.......2006-02-26

What I really enjoyed about this album was its distinctive sound and arrangement of the material. I enjoy classically performed opera and was surprised how much I like the Opera Babes' versions. Of course, the wonderful voices added immensely to the high quality of this product.

Average customer rating:

A Great Addition to My Hans Zimmer Collection
Not as good as i thought it would be
Tears of the Sun - lacking
Not easily enjoyed, but remarkable
Hans Zimmer's brilliance coupled African Poetry of LEBO M

Tears of the Sun

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Black Hawk Down
The Last Samurai
The Thin Red Line: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture
Beyond Rangoon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B00008NRJT
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Tracks:

Yekeleni Part 1/Mia's Lullabye
Heart Of Darkness
Small Piece For Doumbek And Strings/Kopano Part 1
Under The Forest Calm
Yekeleni Part II/Carnage
Kopano Part II
Night
Cry In Silence
The Jablonsky Variations On A Theme By HZ/Cameroon Border Post
The Journey/Kopano Part III

Amazon.com

If the basic thematic elements of this Bruce Willis star vehicle--American military unit gets cut off behind enemy lines in a guerilla-besieged African backwater--have parallels with Ridley Scott's fierce, unrelenting Black Hawk Down, composer Hans Zimmer (who scored both films) has conjured an entirely different musical soul for this adventure. Where his Black Hawk score turned on a gritty, often violent clash of musical cultures, his work here is richly introspective and tinged with a mature sense of melancholy. African rhythms and melodic elements bubble to the surface throughout, but in subtly powerful ways that often recall the best of Peter Gabriel's world music ventures. Zimmer has again impressively expanded his repertory company approach to scoring as well, with veteran collaborators Lisa Gerrard and Heitor Pereira joined here by Steve Jablonsky, Andreas Vollenweider and Lebo M. (who's written and performed the score's passages of African poetry). The result is a moody, evocative score whose quiet grace recalls the composer's masterful work for The Thin Red Line; another satisfying tribute to the power of musical understatement. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

A Great Addition to My Hans Zimmer Collection.......2006-07-24

I am a HUGE fan of Hans Zimmer so this review may be slightly skewered but I feel this is a wonderful edition to my collection. Strange as this sounds, Mr. Zimmer and war go together like butter and toast, so picking this soundtrack up was a no-brainer.
I would have to say that his work on Tears of the Sun does not dig very deep into the well. These tracks could very easily be confused for missing tracks from The Lion King but given how that wonderful score was never released in its entirety, it is still a wonderful listening experience. As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The music is very reminiscent of his work on Black Hawk Down and Gladiator. If you enjoyed both of those scores, I would definately recommend this one as well. It is a very good CD and worth my hard-earned money. I hope you agree...

Not as good as i thought it would be.......2006-02-01

I expected more african vocals in it.. thats the main reason i brought the cd, i recently became a fan of that kind of music.. it had like 3 songs on there that i liked, besides that this album is garbage

Tears of the Sun - lacking.......2005-08-03

Harsh words but I suppose I expected the music to be stronger than it was....

Not easily enjoyed, but remarkable.......2005-04-06

I have to say, I didn't know what to expect from this score. Had it been released in the mid-to-late 90's, I would have expected a blustering action score with several Media Ventures-style anthems. But then Zimmer did something different than usual with "Gladiator", and did something WAY different with "Black Hawk Down", not to mention his somber work on "The Thin Red Line." In the past few years, it's been hard to figure out what to expect from Mr. Z. WHat he gives us a here is a blend of many of his trademark sounds. The African influence from "Power of One" and "Lion King", Lisa Gerards's vocals from "Gladiator", the sad strings of "The Thin Red Line", the harsh electronics of "Black Hawk Down", and even one of Zimmer's famous action anthems. Zimmer is listed as the primary composer, but there are many contributions to the album from Lebo M, Steve Jablonsky, Jeff Rona, and others. The aspect of "Tears of the Sun" that impresses me the most is the production work. Just listen to track four and marvel at the array of ethnic and unique sounds Zimmer thrusts into his massive soundscape. To date, this is one of the best-produced albums I've heard. Like "The Thin Red Line", it's more about atmosphere than themes, but there are themes here. The main theme is inspirational, and is heard best in tracks three (on strings), six (with a male choir and Lisa Gerard), and especially track ten (as a joyous song celebration led by Lebo M with an African choir). Also impressive is the action piece heard in track nine, a relentlessly agressive epic that's preceded by a lovely and (much as I hate to use this cliched word) haunting orchestral prelude accompanied by Gerard's voice. There are parts of "Tears of the Sun" that may sound harsh to the ears on a first listen, but this is an album that you can't help but appreciate and admire, whether or not you like it. Zimmer fans all ready have it by now, but everyone else may want to listen to the avaliable sound clips before deciding to purchase it, as this sort of score is an acquired taste.

Hans Zimmer's brilliance coupled African Poetry of LEBO M.......2004-10-26

I have always been a Bruce Willis fan. So where on God's earth was I when this film was made and showing in the theatres? It must, surely, be one of the best movies he's made. I had no idea it even existed. I bought the DVD from a small Gameforce in Saint Louis, Missouri. And that only because it starred Bruce Willis.
I am a South African living in America and have been starved of good African music for a while. As a Lebo M fan, I was totally surprised to hear, what I was sure was his wonderfully passionate voice coming through the theme music at the end of the movie. WHAT A DELIGHT!. I sat glued, watching the credits as they rolled, being so sure that was Lebo M's voice. The last I heard from Lebo M was his CD "Deeper Meaning". It brought back wonderful memories. I have read through most of the reviews and was amused at Lee from San Fransico's review. However, I suppose if I didn't have the African heritage, I would, most probably felt the same as Lee did. But Lee, his voice BELONGED in that song. Lebo M is at his most passionate best at the end of the film with the African Poetry theme. You don't have to have been born and raised in Africa to appreciate passion in anyone's voice, but it was that passion that drew me to Lebo M in the first place a few years ago. He is highly underated, as far as I am concerned, in the African music field. The movie gripped me to the core and Hans Zimmer's spectacular score was riveting. It finished the film wonderfully for me. But it was Lebo M that polished it. I hope this artist, who is also well known for his disco type style of music, which I don't like, goes a long way in the world of movie soundtrack for this type of movie. I think it's time I listened to "The Lion King" soundtrack too. I think I'm getting old. I have missed some good music and some good films since I came to live in this wonderful country called America. But, I hope it's OK that I get homesick....just every once in a while.
The story line in this film has prompted me to recommend a book written by a black American journalist, Keith B. Richburg, called "Out of America". Anyone who doubts the veracity of the violence portrayed in this movie should read this book. One of the last things he says in the book is "Thank God my ancestor got out".

Average customer rating:

Introducing the Greatest Voice of All Time
The Greatest Tenor of the 20th Century.
Easy listening
Lanza of the joyous voice!
Not bad as an introduction to Lanza

Lanza: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas with Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince & The Desert Song / Romberg
Sixteen Most Requested
Mario Lanza: At His Best!
You'll Never Walk Alone

ASIN: B000003FVZ
Release Date: 1995-04-11

Tracks:

The Toast Of New Orleans: Be My Love
Because
Very Warm For May: All The Things You Are
The Student Prince: Serenade
Rigoletto - La Donna e Mobile
Pagliacci: Vesti La Guibba
O Sole Mio
The Student Prince: Beloved
South Pacific: Younger Than Springtime
The Great Caruso: The Loveliest Night Of The Year
Carousel: If I Loved You
Carmen: Flower Song
The Student Prince: Golden Days
Spring Is Here: With A Song In My Heart
The Land Of Smiles: Yours Is My Heart Alone
Because You're Mine
Cavalleria Rusticana: Adido Alla Madre
Aida: Celeste Aida
The Lord's Prayer
Granada

Customer Reviews:

Introducing the Greatest Voice of All Time.......2007-03-13

A new generation of music lovers deserves to know, understand and appreciate the greatness of Mario Lanza. Five decades after his passing, millions of lovers of "grand voices" still are held in awe by the power, passion and beauty of his voice.

This selection of recordings has a number of fine selections that give a small "flavor" of his fantastic talent and skills. It is a good beginning for someone who wants to know "The American Caruso."

The Greatest Tenor of the 20th Century........2007-01-21

In a professional career that lasted just a bit over ten years Mario Lanza created more memorable recordings, broadcasts, concert perfomances and feature films than any other major vocalist in the classical and pop-jazz music genre. He was a man blessed with arguably the finest tenor voice in recorded music. Fans of Caruso, Pavarotti, Jan Peerce, Placido Domingo or Careras may argue that their tenor interpreted a particular aria better than anyone else but few if any can argue against the sheer beauty, power and emotion of Mario Lanza. He achieved worldwide success too fast and his penchant for the good life: wine, women and good food got the best of him in the end. It is so sad, when one contemplates Lanza's short but brilliant career and what might have been, that he was gone at age 38, an age when some tenors are just beginning to hit their stride. This album is a fine overview of some of his most memorable heavy classics as well as lighter operetta standards and showcases his voice so well. Nearly fifty years have transpired since his untimely death in 1959 and there is yet to appear on the scene a tenor with the power, charisma or sheer beauty of Lanza's voice. I highly recommend this album to the Lanza novice or those just starting their Opera CD collections.

Easy listening.......2006-02-27

I have always liked Mario Lanza and the album is wonderful and relaxing.

Lanza of the joyous voice!.......2005-07-14

This album has some really splendid songs, and yes, it's a good introduction to the King of the high last notes. I grew up with one of Lanza's albums and more or less learned to sing by singing along with his wonderful warm voice. What good energy he had... and too bad he died so young (sigh). It certainly lifts my spirits to listen to his music again and I hope anyone reading this will take a chance and get to know him too.

Not bad as an introduction to Lanza.......2001-11-13

I recommend this collection as a good starting point for those interested in this extraordinary tenor. It's not a complete representation of the man by any stretch of the imagination, but it includes a handful of unforgettable recordings that will make newcomers to Lanza sit up in astonishment.

Highlights include the immortal Serenade & Golden Days from The Student Prince, Beloved (from the film version of the Student Prince, and arguably Lanza's best English-language love song), Because You're Mine, If I Loved You, and the stirring Addio Alla Madre from Cavalleria Rusticana. If love songs seem a little over-represented at the expense of arias and (notably) Italian & Neapolitan Songs, then blame BMG for their habitual neglect of Lanza's more serious side. In any event, this is essentially a one-CD version of the three-CD set, The Mario Lanza Collection. All of the renditions are the same as on the earlier CD, as are the sound sources. With the exception of The Student Prince Serenade, most of the selections here have never sounded better.

Be aware, however, that several of the arias are in fact retakes of more familiar versions. Vesti La Giubba, for instance, is an alternate take from Lanza's May 1950 session, and although the tenor is in great voice, the orchestra lets him down on the climactic phrase by moving on before he has finished his High A on the word "infranto". The Flower Song is even more unrestrained than the familiar take - great fun, but not the kind of recording you'd want newcomers to Lanza to hear! (Lanza never quite "nailed" this aria, but his heart was in the right place.) La Donna E Mobile is the familiar 1950 version in the first half, but is replaced by an inferior retake in the second half, followed by an edited-in High B ending (on "pensier") from the original recording!

The only truly bad recording is the inexplicably popular With A Song In My Heart. Lanza is unfocused, and strains his way throughout the piece. Yours Is My Heart Alone is somewhat better, but is easily surpassed by the tenor's 1956 recording with the conductor Henri Rene (and currently unavailable on CD).

The "Greatest Hits" are here: the million-selling Be My Love, Loveliest Night of The Year and the aforementioned Because You're Mine. I have to confess to an aversion to the first two - Lanza was often a far better singer than these recordings suggest - but most fans, I'm sure, will continue to cherish them. Besides, what tenor since Lanza has ever sung Be My Love without straining his way through the wretched thing and then fudging the High C at the end? Lanza made it his own, and to be fair to the song, it is actually a very difficult piece to pull off, as Messrs Domingo, Carreras and Leech will no doubt attest. But that was also one of Lanza's most under-appreciated strengths - he made everything sound so easy. Listeners accustomed to the laborious efforts of most present-day tenors will be astounded by the freshness, ease, and sheer bravado of these performances.

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