Classics For Romance

Track Listings

1. Waltz In A Flat - Brahms

2. Habanera (from Carmen) - Bizet

3. Notturno From Opus 54 - Grieg

4. Blue Danube Waltz - Strauss

5. Nocturne In G Minor - Chopin

6. Consolation - Liszt

7. Waltz In C Sharp Minor - Chopin

8. Arabian Dance - Tchaikovsky

9. Romance - Gliere

10. Opus 15 #12 Schumann

11. Lieberstraum - Liszt

12. Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Of all the emotions stirred by classical music, love must surely be the most powerful of all. CLASSICS FOR ROMANCE features the most inspiring composers of our time, with beautiful piano, full orchestra, and string arrangements to ignite inner passions, and enhance intimate moments. Think candlelight for two. Sipping champagne by a smoldering fire. Daydreaming about the one you love. CLASSICS FOR ROMANCE. It's hopelessly romantic.

Classics For Romance,Life! Beats

Tracks:

II: Andante - Stephen Hough
I: Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring) - Dame Moura Lympany
Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat - John Ogdon
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
II: Adagio - Cecile Ousset
Tango - Dame Moura Lympany
Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat - John Ogdon
Waltz No. 9 In A Flat - Dmitri Alexeev
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - Cecile Ousset
Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
La Maja Y El Ruisenor - Magda Tagliaferro
Nocturne No. 5 In F-sharp Minor - Maurizio Pollini
Gymnopedie No. 1 - Aldo Ciccolini
Fur Elise - Dame Moura Lympany
Etude In E 'Tristesse' - John Ogdon
Fruhlingslied - Daniel Adni
II: Andante - Dmitri Alexeev

Tracks:

II: Adagio Cantabile - Walter Gieseking
II: Romanze - Annie Fischer
Aria - Maria Tipo
II: Romance (Larghetto) - Garrick Ohlsson
Granada - Gonzalo Soriano
Waltz No. 15 In A Flat - Maura Lympany
II: Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
An Den Fruhling - Daniel Adni
Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat - Daniel Adni
II: Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Walter Gieseking
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin - Dame Moura Lympany
Cancons I Dansas No. 1 - Gonzalo Soriano
II: Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Prelude No. 15 In D Flat 'Raindrop' - Dmitri Alexeev
Gnossienne No. 1 - Aldo Ciccolini
Berceuse - Jean-Philippe Collard
Minuet In G - Dame Moura Lympany
Berceuse In D Flat - Peter Donohoe

Customer Reviews:

something to have.......2007-03-14

These CD's are filled with all the awesome relaxing songs for the evening when you need it. It is just one of those must have items in your CD collection.

Excellent Music.......2007-02-19

This album was a "try and see" purchase but I love it. It makes great dinner music, great music to drift off to sleep with, or just nice background filler during social events needing a softer tone. It is not all solo piano music if that s what you are after; the other instruments blend very well however and don't challenge the piano playing. It is a piano album after all!

buy now.......2006-09-01

Want to know why I think the piano is the best musical instrument ever invented? Because no matter how the piano is played, it will always sound good. Whether the music is fast, slow, quiet or loud, it ALWAYS delivers with an appealing sound. This is something you need to buy.

Lovely.......2006-02-22

This is a beautiful calming cd. The playing is excellent and the pieces are well chosen.

Aesthetically Pleasing.......2005-09-14

I simply love piano music. If you're looking to relax, enjoy a peaceful time, then you must check out this album. If you truly enjoy piano music, this album is by far one of the best you can purchase.

As it says....it is the "Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever..." Well, I haven't listened to all piano albums in the world, but I don't need to, this one is just perfect for me, and I think you will agree!

I would say the pianists' are extremely accomplished. At times, I would admit-it's a bit 'spine tingling'!

Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1

Average customer rating:

Love Vaughn Williams
Ralph!
Good readings lacking passion in good sound
Vaughn Williams: Serenade to Music
Tolkien, a cup of Darjeeling by the fire, and this CD

Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Fantasia on
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 5
Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; The Lark Ascending; Five Variants
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Variants
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies

ASIN: B000002S2R
Release Date: 1991-10-11

Tracks:

Serenade To Music
English Folk Song Suite: I. March (Seventeen Come Sunday)
English Folk Song Suite: II. Intermezzo (My Bonny Boy)
English Folk Song Suite: III. March (Folk Songs From Somerset)
Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves'
In The Fen Country
The Lark Ascending

Customer Reviews:

Love Vaughn Williams.......2007-02-22

I bought this because Vaughan Williams has so many wonderful compositions. This particular recording contained many favorites including, but not exclusively the English Folk Song Suite conducted by Sir Adrian Boult and performed by the London Symphony... very moving!!!

Ralph!.......2007-01-09

Ralph Vaughn Williams at his best; lush, sometimes-inspiring presentation of a well-chosen collection of his works.

Good readings lacking passion in good sound.......2006-11-07

Many years after his death, Sir Adrian Boult continues to be admired as one of the linchpin -- and perhaps the archtype -- conductors of the music of his friend and countryman, Ralph Vaughan Williams. This recording, made in the autumnal years of Boutl's life, is a generous collection of bucolic English music from Vaughan Williams.

While these performances are lovely, as the other reviewers here have reported, they pale in comparison to the passion Boult provided earlier in his career. On a recording made from a Westminster LP, Boult provided more passionate and committed versions of the English Folk Song Suite, Greensleeves Fantasia and Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 linked to a dramatic reading of the Variations on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, one of Vaughan Williams most popular and enduring tunes.

Like the comparison between his early mono recordings of Vaughan Williams' symphonies and his later stereo recording, Boult was simply older and more at ease with the music in the later recordings. While they are still wonderful, the later stereo recordings lack some of the mystery and passion of his earlier work, especially his "Antartica" symphony. People that search the Internet relentlessly can locate the earlier recordings including a CD restoration of the old Westminster record.

For those not interested in that, these renderings of Serenade to Msuic, English Folk Song Suite, Norfolk Rhapsody No.1, Fantasia On 'Greensleeves', In The Fen Country and violinist Hugh Bean's The Lark Ascending are beautifully done at a lower voltage. Either gives you the ethereal Boult although his earlier recordings, sometimes in mono, give life and breadth to these works not reflected here.

Vaughn Williams: Serenade to Music.......2006-11-03

Fantastic recording. Having a British conductor (especially Sir Adrian Boult), with a British Orchestra, playing works composed by a British composer, brings an exhuburance and attention to detail not found in other recordings.

Tolkien, a cup of Darjeeling by the fire, and this CD.......2006-07-17

I laughed when I read one reviewer here who admitted that he liked to play this lovely CD while reading Tolkien. And why not? It's the magic of art to make those of us who live in the desert Southwest (or midtown Manhattan) believe we are atually in an English thatched cottage around the time of WW I, nourishing our English souls with the comforting music of Vaughan Williams.

There have been better, certainly more modern composers, but VW had the rare ability to evoke an entire culture. Every work here speaks of his total union with the English spirit, and these readings by Boult are beyond reproach. I don't traffic in "best recording ever" talk, and there are versions of the Serenade to Music that I cherish from Matthrew Best and (above all) Leonard Bernstein at the opening of Philharmonic Hall in 1962. Yet this would probably be the one CD I'd give a young friend to win him or her over to one of the most lovable and accessible of great composers.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

Average customer rating:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II
Great music listein to while you read in bed
A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan.
A bliss of spirit.
Boring

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
Gabriel Faure , Frederic Chopin , Antonio Vivaldi , Gustav Mahler , Claude Debussy , Sir Neville Marriner , Maris Jansons , Lorin Maazel , Sir Adrian Boult , Miklos Rozsa , Riccardo Muti , Stephen Cleobury , Sir John Barbirolli , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus , Academy of St. Martin in the Fields , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
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The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!
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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00002439O
Release Date: 2003-03-11

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:

Music with Heart
Brilliant Artist!
Incredible technique and emotional range
Incredible Musicality and Technique!!!
any kid can do it

Romance de Amor

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Si ji (Four Seasons)
Romance
Chamber Music
Jubilation
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B000HIVGT4
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Tracks:

Asturias
Romance De Amor
Recuerdos De La Alhambra
Zapateado
Michelle
Cavatina
El Colibri
El Condor Pasa
Seis Por Derecho
Un Sueno En La Floresta
Etude No. 7
La Cumparsita
I Believe
Sakura
Spring Breeze
Anak

Customer Reviews:

Music with Heart.......2007-08-05

I've listened to a lot of excellent classical guitarists. Having recently purchased this CD, I find it to be a refreshing new collection. Putting her own interpretation into the Romance de Amor, this is my favorite rendition of that traditional song.

Every once in a while, a classical musician comes along who just has "it", that something that conveys to the listener the very heart and soul of the performer. Someone like Jacqueline du Pre on the cello or Emil Gilels on piano. Xue Fei Jang is such a performer. If you love classical guitar, you can't go wrong with this CD.

Brilliant Artist!.......2007-06-01

I just received Xuefei Yang's "Si Ji" and "Romance De Amor" from Amazon. Xuefei's playing is both powerful and exquisite. Specifically, I want to mention about the piece "Romance De Amor". This is my all time favourite solo guitar piece. Xuefei's interpretation of this piece is personal and intimate, and I enjoyed it very much. She plays it as if gently caressing her lover in her arms, almost to the point of being too careful; by her playing, one can really hear that she loves the piece "Romance De Amor".

With due respect to Xue Fei's insightful performance, I have my very own reference performance of "Romance D'Amour" that is truly haunting, romantic, passionate, and nostalgic. Listening to it really gives a sense of the 1970's -- the self discovery and the lost of innocence of the period. It is the best I have heard (maybe you may feel the same if you heard it). Many other performances simply fall flat compared to the one I have.

About it's history: My father bought a classical guitar music tape in 1979 when I was living in Macao. This tape has travelled far with us, and been played many, many times. The tape is by some foreign label that probably does not exist anymore; internet searches does not bring anything up. Consequently, I cannot find a copy of this anywhere in CD format or tape. What a shame.

Last year, I bought myself an elite Nakamichi (one of the best) 3-head tape deck and a Pioneer CD recorder (not the computer kind), and transferred this music from tape to CD. Now, it is preserved and I no longer need to worry about further deteriorating the tape everytime I play it. The transfer is as ideal as I can get it, with a bit of tape hiss, but with the Nakamichi deck's purity and great sonics shining through.

Drop me an email at "kyleyyi@gmail.com" for further discussion on this rendition if you're interested. And yes, it is also called "Romance D'Amour".

Incredible technique and emotional range.......2007-05-12

Following "Si Ji" is no small task. That CD was a masterpiece of modern guitar; so different from anything else out there that it shines in a totally different light.
That being said, "Romance de Amor" showcases some of the great gems of this instrument's repertoire by one of the world's premier guitarists. Yang Xue Fei is a masterful technician, but make no mistake, emotionally she gives her all in every note. After listening to 3 of her CD's (the two already mentioned, and "Classical Guitar") I've been impressed with her passion for music. I've heard her say that she looks at the guitar as a lover. Her playing shows this by being at turns powerful, seductive, intimate, tender and even humorous. She can play incredibly fast and still retain her phrasing and subtlety.
"Asturias" has rarely been so explosive
"Requerdos de la Alhambra" breaths with a life of its own thanks to her pacing
"El Colibri" is a great example of her speed and accuracy
If you are at all a fan of classical guitar, you've heard these pieces from other artists. Part of the fun of this genre is hearing how individual artists interpret the same piece. I love the sensitivity of Ana Vidovic, the smokiness of Lily Afshar, the intelligence of the Assad brothers and the sheer artistry of John Williams, and this is just to name a few. One might think that Segovia laid down the law for pieces like Asturias (judging from Christopher Parkening's description of his studies with this great master, Segovia certainly thought so), but Yang Xue Fei is such a wonderful talent, she is a law unto herself. She displays a vitality that makes each piece uniquely hers. To take ownership of these songs with such authority across the board makes this CD a worthy addition to any collection.

Incredible Musicality and Technique!!!.......2007-03-24

Wow! I just bought this cd and have listened to it over and over again. Fantastic interpretations of the classics. I fell in love with these standards all over again. Incredible tone and technique. Buy it now!!!!

any kid can do it.......2007-03-20

just terrible makes one want to leave the room

Average customer rating:

Fire and Ice? Fire, yes. But ? Brava Sarah! Theresa NY
I'm impressed . . .
Chang v. Perlman
Great Sarasate
Wow!

Fire & Ice
Sarah Chang , and Placido Domingo
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Debut
Mendelssohn, Sibelius: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B00005O83N
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

Con Fant On 'Carmen', Op.25: Intro: Allegro Moderato
Con Fant On 'Carmen', Op.25: I. Moderato
Con Fant On 'Carmen', Op.25: II. Lento Assai
Con Fant On 'Carmen', Op.25: III. Allegro Moderato
Con Fant On 'Carmen', Op.25: IV. Moderato
Meditation
Tzigane, Rapsodie De Con
Romance in f, Op.11
Romance in F, Op.50
Ste No.3 in D, BWV 1068: Air
Zigeunerweisen, Op.20

Amazon.com

Here's a handy collection of popular works for violin and orchestra. The title apparently refers to the mix of warmly romantic music, like the Massenet Méditation, and flashy virtuoso stuff, like the Sarasate Carmen Fantasy and Zigeunerweisen. Sarah Chang excels in both areas. Her Dvorák and Beethoven Romances are sweetly sung, while the insanely virtuosic Tzigane by Ravel, with its wild staccato and chordal effects, she tosses off without breaking a sweat. Except for the romanticized Bach Air from the Suite No. 3, there are no stylistic transgressions, and the mix of fiery virtuoso fare and romantic slower beauties keeps interest alive throughout. Conductor Placido Domingo's proficient accompaniments don't get in her way. All the selections are familiar. Such violin virtuosi as Suk, Oistrakh, Grumiaux, Vengerov, and Perlman have recorded most of them, often coming closer to capturing the inner glow of the music. But Chang's exciting performances can't fail to please, especially if you want all these favorites on one disc. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Fire and Ice? Fire, yes. But ? Brava Sarah! Theresa NY.......2005-04-22

After listening to this CD by Sarah Chang I can see the Fire in all of the selections, even the "Meditiation" by Massenet. But where the Ice comes in I cannot tell. Sarah plays with such vibrance and zeal and even if you've never heard the selection before it doesn't matter. Her interpretation of "Zigeunerweisen" is the best I have ever heard. And I think Placido Domingo also does a fabulous job of conducting. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable CD's I own. I urge you to buy it. You won't be sorry.

I'm impressed . . ........2004-10-22

I put the CD in CD player, turned up the volume, and went about the house doing domestic things. I had to stop doing the dishes, dry my hands, and run upstairs (and I do not like the stairs, have major issues with the stairs!) just to check the disc information. The playing was that good, jaw-droppingly so. I'm impressed.

Chang v. Perlman.......2004-10-03

This album has almost the same repertoire as one by Perlman. Some days I prefer the Perlman version, other days I prefer Sarah's version. Sarah has been a perfect technical virtuoso since she was 13. At age 19, she has matured in her artistic interpretation to rival the best in the world. (I consider Itzak Perlman to be the best, but Sarah is nearly his equal, and she is yet quite young.) I eagerly await each new album she publishes. I wish she would come to town so I could hear her live. I also wish she would record occasionally on analog LP, especially direct disc. I find CDs much less faithful to the sound of live music than LPs, though at least todays CD players are somewhat listenable, instead of making the dreadful sounds they did when the medium was new.

Great Sarasate.......2002-12-25

This recording of Carmen and Zigeunerweisen is hard to do any better. Simply great fiddle playing! Chang's vibrato and virtuosity suits this style perfectly and not many can play the page full of thirds in Carmen as well as she did it! Least successful was Beethoven and Bach. I rather prefer a more poetic mood (slower tempo) and a slightly less expansive vibrato for this kind of music. Sarah has a sometimes very broad vibrato well suited for fiery stuff but not so well suited for music that demands a certain level of sophistication. Anyway that is just my personal opinion as a violin freak. I guess the broader audience would not mind since the sound is very nice even if the vibrato is a bit out of control at times.

Thanks Sarah for yet another great recording!

Wow!.......2002-11-16

I think there's only two words to describe her playing --- Absolutely Awesome!

In the Spanish Style / Christopher Parkening

Average customer rating:

Never ever to find more graceful play!
Grunting and moaning explained
Great Introduction to Classical Guitar
Excellent collection
Parkening in top form

In the Spanish Style / Christopher Parkening

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso

ASIN: B000002RNK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Suite espanola: Leyenda
Capricho arabe (Serenata)
Rumores de la Caleta (Malaguena)
Prelude No. 1
Prelude No. 2
Prelude No. 3
Estudio brillante
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Fantasia: Fantasia No. 10
Estudio No. 17 In E Minor
Estudio No. 19 In B Flat
Twelve Etudes: Etude No. 1 in E Minor
Twelve Etudes: Etude No. 11 In E Minor
Vals venezolano No. 3
Four Preludes
Catalonian Song
Romance

Customer Reviews:

Never ever to find more graceful play!.......2007-03-09

The incredible representation and sound Parkening created by the guitar is
sublimity itself. Though I have listened to many a world-famous guitarist,
I have never been so fascinated as by his play. I couldn't but make intimate friends of mine a present of Parkening's CDs like "In the Spanish Style", through which I felt I could show them what real music is like. I never ever imagine I could find more graceful play than that of Christopher Parkening at least in the world of the guitar.

Grunting and moaning explained.......2006-01-03

I met Parkening in 1972, a few years after this album was first released. I asked him about the "groans" that could be heard. He explained that at the time he let his thoughts wander and thought about the future, when some Swiss moron named Peter Gilman would complain about the recording. Absentmindedly, he groaned at the thought of it all. He told me if ever I should meet Peter that I was to apologize.

Peter, sorry about that.

Great Introduction to Classical Guitar.......2005-04-07

My parents had this on vinyl when I was kid. I listened to it a lot in high school when I was listening to a lot of musical styles. This and Parkening's Bach CD are probably my two favorite classical guitar discs.

As a rock/blues/pop guitarist, I've been learning some classical over the last few years. And this disc has been my reference. Parkening's playing is confident and enjoyable. Capricho Arabe stands out as does the Sor studies that he covers.

My only complaint is Leyenda, his performance is less than passionate and the recording doesn't sound EQ'd correctly in a few spots. Other artists have better recordings of this song (John Williams comes to mind).

If you are looking for a great classical guitar CD, this is a great place to start.

Excellent collection.......2004-05-06

This is the album that made me want to take up classical guitar. Great selection of songs, played with incredible feeling and tone. Brilliant performances of Capricho Arabe, Recuerdos and the Villa-Lobos and Ponce Preludes. His rendition of Romance is what every student should strive for. The student (Parkening) has most definitely learned all of his master's (Segovia) lessons and went even further. Still fresh after 25 years of regular listening.

Parkening in top form.......2004-02-28

Christopher Parkening's technical prowess is in full effect here, showing he's truly the ultimate successor to the great Andres Segovia.

I don't know about grunting, but if you listen closely, there is some noticeable sighing from Parkening on a few of the tracks, especially the third. Presumably, he was getting weary from all the work his fingers were getting in playing those immensely complex arrangements. But to go as for as to say it ruins the recording is ludicrous. In fact, the sighing adds to the intimacy and accessibility of the recording. I had always felt distant while listening to a Parkening album because he sounded TOO polished. He plays great here, but to hear his voice, even in its slightest audible sound, adds to the album's charm.

Tracks:

Ser Op.48: Pezzo In Forma Di Sonatina: Andante Non Troppo - Allegro Moderato
Ser Op.48: Waltz: Moderato, Tempo Di Valse
Ser Op.48: Elegie: Larghetto Elegiaco
Ser Op.48: Finale: Tema Russo: Andante - Allegro Con Spirito
Ser in E, Op.22: Moderato
Ser in E, Op.22: Tempo Di Valse
Ser in E, Op.22: Scherzo: Vivace
Ser in E, Op.22: Larghetto
Ser in E, Op.22: Finale: Allegro Vivace - Moderato - Presto
Intro & Allegro Op.47
Ser in e, Op.20: I. Allegro Piacevole
Ser in e, Op.20: II. Larhetto
Ser in e, Op.20: III. Allegretto

Tracks:

The Lark Ascending, Romance
Fant On 'Greensleeves'
Fant On A Theme By Thomas Tallis
Ser Op.8: Andante Con Moto
Ser Op.8: Allegro Ma Non Troppo E Grazioso
Ser Op.8: Adagio
Ser Op.8: Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Presto

Customer Reviews:

Altogether Wonderful.......2005-12-25

I like this cd.

Tchaikovsky's Serenade had some tempi I hadn't been used to, especially in the first movement, but the orchestra made just as wonderful a recording.

Dvorak's Serenade is my favorite among the four, and this recording is great. The orchestra is never too harsh, especially in the second, and fourth movements.

Introduction and Allegro is an interesting piece. I love how full the sound is. Some recordings feature smaller orchestras, and the sound is not as big and lush. As for Elgar's Serenade, it was played precisely. Besides that, i don't have much to say about it.

The Lark Ascending on this cd is a good version, maybe not the best, but there are certainly many ups about it. The violinist is very playful and does a good job of portraying the little bird. I don't listen to Fantasia on "Greensleeves" much. I don't know why. I can't say much about it, but they certainly do a good job of making it sound "English", for that matter. The Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is fine. I wouldn't choose this version though. The piece just didn't sweep me up, especially during the climax.

Suk's Serenade is a fun piece to listen to. The piece never gets boring, perhaps due to the actual composition but also with help from the orchestra.

Get this cd if you want a collective, but good picture of the String Serenades out there. I would recommend it.

The Best.......2003-01-26

The music and the musicians of this CD are the of greatest quality. I do not think that many words are necessary, but I must say that this is by far one of my favorite CDs. If you are unsure about classical music or dyed in the wool listener, or a musician, I would recommend this by all means. Even as a musician who has played several of these serenades and heard them many times, I do not tire of hearing them. Coupled with the great sound of the London Chamber orchestra this album is a rare jewel.

Musical bliss.......2000-08-13

I attended a concert in which the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, known better for their Mozart music, performed the Serenade for strings by Dvorak. It is an excellent piece. The Larghetto, the slowest movement in the serenade, is a fine work. It is slow and nearly an adagio for strings, with a serious and meditative tone. The scherzo, like the measure, is a rollicking and bouncy bit of music, with skipping strings and bouncing notes. The scherzos of Mendelsshon I particularily enjoy. Dvorak is'nt exactly like Mendelsshon when it comes to the scherzo form, but he is can alternate from grave to joyous tones.

Dvorák: Violin Concerto; Romance; Sonatina; 4 Romantic Pieces

Average customer rating:

Glad I got a good recording

Dvorák: Violin Concerto; Romance; Sonatina; 4 Romantic Pieces

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sibelius & Korngold Violin Concertos-Sinding Suite
Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn Violin Concertos
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances
The Dvorak Album
Dvorák: Violin Concerto, Op.53

ASIN: B0000AF1L9
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - - Itzhak Perlman
II: Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Itzhak Perlman
III: Finale (Allegro Giocoso) - Itzhak Perlman
Romance In F Minor, Op.11 - Itzhak Perlman
I: Allegro Risoluto - Samuel Sanders
II: Larghetto - Samuel Sanders
III: Scherzo (Molto Vivace) - Samuel Sanders
IV: Finale (Allegro) - Samuel Sanders
1 Allegro Moderato - Samuel Sanders
2 Allegro Maestoso - Samuel Sanders
3 Allegro Appassionato - Samuel Sanders
4 Larghetto - Samuel Sanders

Customer Reviews:

Glad I got a good recording.......2005-03-14

Although I grew up listening to and playing classical music (in the amateur category), only recently have I started working on my own collection and expanding my exposure to different composers and performers. I was not previously familiar with these particular pieces, but I had all of Dvorak's symphonies, and loved them, so wanted to expose myself to his other works. However, I am a very recent graduate, which of course means very little money, so I was hesitant to purchase this recording because I knew I could get these pieces cheaper. I finally decided to get it through the prodding of my friend at the store, who said I couldn't go wrong with Itzhak. I have not been dissapointed with my purchase and would recommend this album to others.

Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart

Average customer rating:

A really Fine Romance
A Musical Treat

Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

European Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin
Menuhin & Grappelli Play...
Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards
Anything Goes, With Yo Yo Ma
Jazz in Paris: Oscar Peterson-Stephanie Grapelli Quartet, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000002SDR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Cheek To Cheek
Isn't This A Lovely Day?
The Piccolino
Change Partners
Top Hat
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Heat Wave
The Way You Look Tonight
Pick Yourself Up
A Fine Romance
All The Things You Are
Why Do I Love You?
I Get A Kick Out Of You
Night And Day
Looking At You
Just One Of Those Things
My Funny Valentine
Thou Swell
The Lady Is A Tramp
Blue Room

Customer Reviews:

A really Fine Romance.......2007-07-05

It doesn't get any better than these two playing these guys! Some of it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Use your imagination... It's all just swell.

A Musical Treat.......2006-01-08

"The true mission of the violin is to imitate the accents of the human voice, a noble mission that has earned for the violin the glory of being called the king of instruments." ~ Charles-Auguste De Bériot ~

Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grapelli together had made some of the most beautiful music ever-recorded. And I believe that this is one of the many successful albums they recorded together. In this recording, both violinists have showed their excellent musicianship and interpretative eloquence as well, making it one of my most cherished CDs from my collection.

These are the main ingredients of a perfectly-made CD for your listening pleasure: mix violins, piano, bass and drums together, combine two terrific violinists, season with the best melodies in the 20s, 30s and 40s from Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart. Add the musical talents of Nelson Riddle, Max Harris, Martin Taylor, Eddie Tripp, Alan Clare and the rest of the studio musicians. Now all you have to do is to sit back, relax and savor these stunning melodies coming from your CD player. Listen to it in full-volume and fill your music room with the sheer beauty of these classics.

One of my favorite musical instruments is violin. With its four strings, it gives a whole wide range of musical versatility and I simply love the fascinating sound it produces.

My personal highlights are the best tunes from Jerome Kern - "The Way You Look Tonight" (Nelson Riddle arranged this particular track and conducted the Woodwind and Brass section), "A Fine Romance," "Pick Yourself Up," "Why Do I Love You?" and "All The Things You Are."

My choices from Irving Berlin's gems are - "Isn't It A Lovely Day?" featuring the great artistry of Nelson Riddle in arranging and conducting, "Cheek To Cheek" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm."

The Cole Porter repertoire represented his musical sophistication in "Night And Day," "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Just One Of Those Things."

The choice cuts from the talented and creative team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are "My Funny Valentine" and "Thou Swell."

Listening to this CD is so delectable and equivalent to having my favorite dessert - be it Tiramisu, New York Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, Chocolate Soufflé, Créme Brulee, Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate-Coated Strawberries! ;)

A musical treat.

Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso

Average customer rating:

Excellent recording
Highly Recommended!
Amazing
A gentleman musical agreement!
Extreme virtuosity

Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso
Johann Sebastian Bach , François Couperin , Gabriel Fauré , Isaac Albeniz , Anonymous , Francisco Tarrega (y Eixea) , Silvius Leopold Weiss , Claude Debussy , Maurice Ravel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gordon Young , Georg Philipp Telemann , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Manuel de Falla , Manuel Ponce , Enrique Granados , Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco , Andrew York , Fernando Sor , Gaspar Sanz , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Christopher Parkening
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Christopher Parkening plays Bach
Simple Gifts: Christopher Parkening
In the Spanish Style / Christopher Parkening
The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 2: Guitar Technique
Christopher Parkening - A Tribute to Segovia

ASIN: B000002RTR
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Fugue From Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001 - J S Bach
Estudio brillante
Etude No. 1 In E Minor
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Leyenda
Romance
Rumores de la Caleta
Capricho Arabe
Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 1
Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 6
Cantata 140: Sleepers Awake
Prelude, Fugue, And Allegro: Allegro
Cantata 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
Les Barricades mysterieuses
Preambulo & Allegro vivo: Preambulo And Allegro vivo
Passacaglia
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
Gymnopedie No. 1
Empress Of The Pagodas
Afro-Cuban Lullaby

Tracks:

Fourth Lute Suite: Praludium
Fairest Lord Jesus
Praise Ye The Lord, K. 339
Simple Gifts
Hymn Of Christian Joy
Cantata 29: We Thank Thee, Lord
Cantata 156: Arioso
Cantata 99: What God Hath Done
Canon
Dolly Suite: Berceuse
La Vida breve: Spanish Dance No. 1
Terezinha De Jesus
Prelude (In The Baroque Style)
Goyescas: Intermezzo
Prelude & Fugue No. 4 In E: Fugue
Evening Dance
Variations On A Theme Of Mozart
Canarlos
La Maja de Goya
El Noi de la Mare
Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - J. Rodrigo

Customer Reviews:

Excellent recording.......2007-05-12

If you are a fan of classical guitar than this is a must own set. I enjoy every moment.

Highly Recommended!.......2006-12-23

I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music--period! Christopher Parkening is unquestionably one of the greatest classical guitarists of all-time. He embodies personal excellence like no other and is a brilliant artist. This CD is a must-have for any classical enthusiast. My favorite pieces include: Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," "Romance," Bach's "Prelude No. 6," and Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez." There are other versions of these pieces as well, but I always prefer Parkening's renditions, as they are oh so extraordinary--especially the recording of Aranjuez!! Other guitarists never seem to capture the essence of Rodrigo's musical masterpiece (e.g., Göran Söllescher in "Mad About Guitars"). But Parkening did! And the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a perfect accompaniment.

This CD is definitely worth buying. Included is a CD booklet, which illustrates the history of Parkening's illustrious career, interesting tidbits about all 25 recorded pieces, and several photos of his early life to his "breathtaking performance" at Rodrigo's 90th birthday celebration at the Royal Festival Hall in London, 1992.

Amazing.......2006-05-08

I am not going to go into great detail. I am working on a degree in classical guitar and I can say this is something to strive for. His musical interpretation of the peices represented here are some of the best I've heard. His tone,color, and phrasing is incredible.

A gentleman musical agreement! .......2006-03-16

In guitar ` s playing there have been many renowned performers, gifted of exuberant technique. But curiously the Apollonian playing is not by itself strictly enough. The guitar is the instrument which is closer to heart as any other one. It demands from you passion and sentiment. There have been three well known guitarists, one of them from England and the other one from Spain and the third one from Japan whose sensibility was totally absent in their performances.

But fortunately for us, there have been notable interpreters that have been maintained a desired balance and contrast between brain and heart, achieving great distinction and total acknowledgement around the world. I would name seven primordial names along the instrument `s story. First of all: the mythic soloist Andres Segovia, Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Alirio Diaz, Manuel Berrueco, Siegfried Behrend and Christopher Parkening, among the most representative ones of a great list.

Christopher Parkening `s career has made a brilliant colorist, an impeccable and sensitive interpreter of this well reduced repertoire. His profound artistic conviction and convincing phrasing has been a perpetual motive of constant invitations and presentations around the world.

Extreme virtuosity.......2005-09-25

CP has become my chief inspiration to improve as a classical guitarist. His performances here are, without exception, phenomenal. He makes the most difficult pieces sound effortless. I prefer CP over John Williams because, while Williams is also unquestionably a master, he sounds a bit robotic to me at times. CP, on the other hand, never sacrifices musicality to precision. He sublimely maintains both.

Pop Music:

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