Movimento

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Named for the Madre de Deus neighborhood in Lisbon, the award-winning ensemble Madredeus has performed the haunting Portuguese musical genre known as fado all over the globe. With the classical guitarists Jose Peixoto and Fernando Judice, keyboardist Carlos Maria Trindade, and keyboardist/guitarist/producer Pedro Ayres Magalhaes, Madredeus has expanded the musical horizons of Portugal's national music without sacrificing its beautiful, Moorish-descended sound. The Dark Angel vocals of Teresa Salgueiro provide the right Iberian seasoning on the CD's 16 tracks. From the philosophical lines of "Anseio" and the hypnotic harmonics of "Ecos na Cathedral" to the jazzy basslines of "Afinal--A Minha Cancao," Madredeus makes timeless and timeful music. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: II. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: III. Allegro non troppo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: IV. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 In F Major, Op. 73: V. Moderato - Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: II. Andantino - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 In D Major, Op. 83: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No .5 In B flat Major, Op. 92: I. Allegro non troppo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 5 In B Flat Major, Op. 92: II. Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 5 In B Flat Major, Op. 92: III. Moderato - Allegretto - Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: II. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 6 In G Major, Op. 101: III. Lento - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op. 101: IV. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 zIn F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: II. Lento - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 7 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 108: III. Allegro - Allegretto - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: I. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: IV. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 110: V. Largo - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: I. Moderato con moto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: II. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: III. Allegretto - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: IV. Adagio - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 117: V. Allegro - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: I. Andante - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: II. Allegretto furioso - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: III. Adagio - - D. Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 118: IV. Allegretto - Andante - D. Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: I. Introduction: Andantino - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: II. Scherzo: Allegretto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: III. Recitative: Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: IV. Etude: Allegro - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: V. Humoresque: Allegro - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: VI. Elegy: Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 11 In F Minor, Op. 122: I. Finale: Moderato - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 12 In D Flat Major, Op. 133: II. Moderato - Allegreto - Dmitri Shostakovich
Allegretto - Adagio - Moderato - Allegreto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 138: Adagio - Doppio movimento - Tempo primo - Dmitri Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: I. Allegretto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: II. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 14 In F Major, Op. 142: III. Allegretto - Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: I. Elegy. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: II. Serenade. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: III. Intermezzo. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: IV. Nocturne. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: V. Funeral March. Adagio molto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 15 E-Flat Minor, Op. 144: VI. Epilogue. Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich

Amazon.com

The Fitzwilliam Quartet is English by birth but shows a lot of Russian soul in these works, which were recorded in consultation with the composer. Their technique is flawless, their immersion in the music total, their interaction with one another and with the music spontaneous and intense. Priced competitively with the Borodin Quartet, they do not have any added attraction to match the Piano Quintet in that set, but this close-up stereo recording is significantly better. Highlights of the set include the relaxed, folk-flavored No. 1; the tense, autobiographical No. 8, which recalls the terrors of World War II, quotes a lot of Shostakovich's earlier works, and mourns for the "victims of fascism and war"; the contrasts of quiet beauty and fierce intensity in No. 10; and the bold structure of No. 15, Shostakovich's last quartet, in which he looks at death, steadily and without blinking. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

Hum a little Shostakovich.......2007-02-19

I enjoyed these performances and would have purchased this album, but there is a persistent hum on some of these CDs and, once noticed, it became impossible for me not to notice it.

Not just a bargain--a must-have.......2007-02-05

There are perhaps several complete Shostakovich cycles one would like to own for these amazing pieces, and this is one of them. Not every single quartet is perfect, but that is to be expected. What these players excel in is an emotional depth that is perhaps left behind in the sheer brilliance of the Emerson SQ's playing.

Their tempi are excellent: fast when necessary, and painfully slow where Shostakovich asks for it. Perhaps my favorite point of their playing is the articulation, which is broader than most recordings I hear. Typically, they only play short when asked to in the score, and I think this sounds better than, for instance, if the opening of the Fifth Quartet, a work of enormous gravity and passion, is taken lightly.

Get this one. Highly recommended.

lusterless.......2006-11-05

The only qualm I have with this set is that the String Quartet No. 9 is a lusterless endeavor when compared to other renditions. The intensity and suffering just isnt there.

Rating this bargain set against the Emersons at full price.......2006-03-09

For many buyers the choice for a complete cycle of the Shostakovich quartets will come down to three: the Borodin, Emerson, and Fitzwilliam quartets. I own the latter two and can offer a comparison.

Fitzwilliam: This set, made between 1975-77 in a church in Surrey, has the advantage of price. Although the 15 quartets are spread out over 6 CDs as compared to 5 for the Emersons, Decca offers this cycle at roughly half the cost of the DG cycle (it's much cheaper than that, even, on the used market). The performances eschew Russian soul, grit, and emotional extremes such as one hears from the Borodin Quartet. The Fitzwilliam Quartet sounds soulful but stops short of impassioned. As much as it is possible, they make this music friendly and easy to listen to without sacrificing all of its bite and sarcasm. They are not a virtuoso group (English critics actually praise them for this lack, as if the Emersons' technical mastery was a sign of glibness), so individual solo lines, of which there are many in these quartets, sound medium well played, not dazzling. Decca's sound as transferred to CD can be a bit shrill and congested but is certainly good enough. One large missing ingredient is tonal variation--the Fitzwilliam doesn't search out the peculiar tonalities that are implied in Shostakovich's string writing, which can be eerie, ghostly, brutal, and caustic by turns.

Emerson: Recorded in Aspen at intervals between 1994 and 1999, these are live performances from the music festival and are thus not ideal sonically. What's most lacking is solidity and body. Even so, the recorded sound is considerably more detailed than in the Fitzwilliam set, or any other of the four I listened to. When this cycle was first issued in 1999 it swept the field for good reason. The Emersons are head and shoulders above any other quartet for sheer virtuosity in this music. Not that virtuosity is required very often, but the many solo lines are rendered with exquisite technique, and the Emersons pay very close attention to changes in tonality. As a result, these performances are more varied and interesting to listen to than any competitor that I sampled (including the Fitzwilliam, Brodsky, Borodin, St. Petersburg, and Shostakovich quartets on various labels).

The drawbacks are price (it's hard to find even a used set for under $70) and the prevalent accusation, from some quarters, that the Emersons lack Russian soul--they are supposedly too cool, detached, and efficient. Yet this charge can be turned around to say that the Emersons make Shostakovich sound more modern by removing a layer of sentiment. It's really up to the listener to decide, yet I found that cool detachment is not prevalent here--not by any means--and the reviewer below who thinks that the tempos are uniformly too fast is not aware of the field; the Emersons are not extreme in their allegros, at least not very often, and when they play a movement for virtuosic speed, it's almost alwaays to good effect.

I bbught this set because I heard the Emersons play Shostakovich in concert on two occasions, and I was deeply struck by how much better these quartets sound when they are given superlative musicianship. I am not one to believe that Shostakovich was a great master of quartet writing compared to Bartok, Schoenberg, and Janacek among moderns. But he found an idiom, often spare and therefore one-dimenisonal, that is easy to absorb. The Emersons go a step further and give that spare idiom all kinds of shading and colors that often make it sound better than it is.

In sum, I did what many collectors befoe me have done. I gave away the Fitzwilliam set, which was a good stop gap for many years, and relish the Emerson set as a great achievement, especially for a non-Russian ensemble.

A triumph of creativity over censorship.......2006-01-22

It is extremely difficult for a westerner, living in today's modern democracies, to have the full grasp of the extent of censorship and control of the Stalinist regime. During most of his creative life, Shostakovich was under surveillance, and some of his works were publicly censored by the self-intitled followers of the "Socialist Realism". The tension of censorship is reflected in his body of symphonies. The uneveness and limitations of some of his symphonies are a reflection of his limitations under Stalin. His string quartets, however, are mostly free from these limitations. For one, it is extremely difficult to establish what is "socialist realism" in a string quartet. Since Shostakovich was not a follower of serialism, he could afford to translate into the string quartet medium most of his tortured inner self. These quartets are filled with humanism. They are not easy listening in the sense of Hadyn and Mozart. They are rather deep, touching pieces, like the late Beethoven, Schummann, or Bartok. These recordings by the Fitzwilliam Quartet have an immense authority at a reasonable price. Lovers of string quartet cannot afford to be without the entire Shostakovich set, and anynone buying this collection will enjoy a lifetime of rewarding listening.

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A large sampling of Stravinsky's piano music.

Stravinsky: Works for Piano

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tangos | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus)
Stravinsky: Music for Two Pianos (Music For Four Hands)
The Essential Igor Stravinsky
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments, etc.
Stravinsky: Symphonies and Concertos

ASIN: B0002XV2Z2
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Vivo
III. Andante
IV. Allegro
Scherzo
1. Con Moto
2. Allegro Brillante
3. Andantino
4. Vivo
Souvenir D' Une Marche Boche
Valse Pour Les Enfants
1. Andantino
2. Allegro
3. Allegretto
4. Larghetto
5. Moderato
6. Lento
7. Vivo
8. Pesante
I. Qt. Note = 112
II. Adagietto
III. Qt. Note = 112
I. Hymne
II. Romanza
III. Rondoletto
IV. Cadenza Finala

Tracks:

1. Danse Russe: Allegro Giusto
2. Chez Petrouchka: Stringendo
3. La Semaine Grasse: Con Moto - Allegretto
Piano Rag Music
Tango
I. Presto Doppio Movimento
II. Andante Rapsodico
III. Allegro Capriccioso, Ma Tempo Giusto
I. Largo - Allegro
II. Largo - Cadenza (Poco Rubato)
III. Allegro
I. Qt. Note = 110
II. Qt. Note = 52
III. Qt. Note = 72
Qt. Note = 80
Qt. Note = 104

Customer Reviews:

A large sampling of Stravinsky's piano music........2005-03-04

I bought this cd primarily for "Movements for Piano and Orchestra", a short piece (about 9 minutes) using the 12 tone serial technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg. It is intriguing to hear the "neo-classicist" Stravinsky write in this style. To my ears, and I'm a fan of 12 tone, no new ground is broken here by Stravinsky (the piece was written in 1958-9, seven years after Schoenberg's death) but it's a good piece. The rest of the works are tonal.

I'm not knowledgable as to whether this cd contains all Stravinsky's piano compositions but there is a lot here. Michel Beroff is a fine pianist and the recorded sound is very good. The liner notes are lacking but I've come to expect that from "bargain" classical cds.

This is a two cd package. For $12, I'm very glad to have this set in my collection.

Accardo Plays Paganini: Complete Recordings

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Love it!
Accardo Is As Great As The Greats! A True Virtuoso of Paganini! Epic Performances!
What a man! What a Violin! What an Artist!
Definitive Recordings of Paganini's Violin Music
Magnificent for collectors

Accardo Plays Paganini: Complete Recordings

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works
Paganini for Two / Gil Shaham, Goran Sollscher
The Best of Paganini
Paganini: 24 Caprices
Mozart: The Violin Sonatas

ASIN: B00004SA88
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.1 In D major, Op.6: 3. Rondo. Allegro spirituoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No.2 In B Minor, Op.7 'La Campanella': 3. Rondo

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 1. Introduzione. Andantino - Allegro marziale
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 2. Adagio. Cantabile spianato
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 3 In E Major: 3. Polacca. Andantino vivace
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 2. Adagio flebile con sentimento - attacca
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 4 In D Minor: 3. Rondo galante. Andantino gaio

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 2. Andante, un poco sostenuto
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 5 In A Minor: 3. Finale: Rondo. Andantino quasi Allegretto
La primavera. Sonata For Violin And Orchestra In A Major: Andante sostenuto - Larghetto - Variazione - Allegro moderato - Tema - Variazioni I-IV - Finale
Maestosa sonata sentimentale: Introduzione. Maestoso - Recitativo - Allegro agitato - Tema. Larghetto cantabile - Variazioni I-IV - Coda

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 1. Risoluto
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Minor, Op. post. (No. 6): 3. Rondo ossia Polonese
Sonata con variazioni: Introduzione (Adagio) - Tema (Andante moderato) - Variazioni I & II (L'istesso tempo) - Variazioni III & IV (Piu mosso) - Variazione V (Tempo I) - Coda (Presto)
Non piu mesta accanto al fuoco: Introduzione (Adagio cantabile) - Tema (Moderato) - Variazioni I-IV - Finale (Allegro - Tempo del Tema - Piu presto)
Le streghe, Op. 8: Introduzione (Maestoso - Larghetto) - Tema (Andante) - Variazioni I-III - Finale (Allegretto)

Tracks:

24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Introduzione. Adagio - Larghetto - Andantino Variato - Variazioni I-III - Finale
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Larghetto Cantabile - Recitativo (Con Grande Espressione) - Tema. Andantino - Variazioni I-III - Coda
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Allegro Vivace
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Introduzione (Cappricio) - Tema. Variazioni I-VII
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Adagio - Allegro Molto
24 Capricci per violino solo, Op. 1: Tema. Andante Sostenuto. Variazioni I-VI

Tracks:

24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Andante In E Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Moderato In B Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Sostenuto - Presto - Sostenuto In E Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Maestoso In C Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Agitato In A Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Lento In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In A Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Maestoso In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegretto In E Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Vivace In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Andante - Presto - Tempo I In C Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegro In A Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegro In B Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Moderato In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In E Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Presto In G Minor
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Sostenuto - Andante In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Corrente - Allegro In C Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Lento - Allegro Assai In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Allegretto In D Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Amoroso - Presto In A Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Marcato In F Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Posato In E Flat Major
24 Capricci Per Violino Solo Op. 1: Tema. Quasi Presto - Variazioni - Finale In A Minor

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-05-12

I really enjoy this CD set very much. Accardo is phenomenal in playing violin. I listen to thisevery morning and sometimes while I am cooking.

Accardo Is As Great As The Greats! A True Virtuoso of Paganini! Epic Performances!.......2005-10-13

Nicolo Paganini is primarily a virtuoso composer who did not compose anything other than for the violin in the early 19th century. He was a true prodigy of the instrument whose ferocious and innovative style of playing frightened many of the credulent folk into thinking he was the devil. With the increasing popularity of the waltz, he along with other romantics such as Beethoven completely revolutionized the concept of violin concertos that were still then mostly in the antiquated Roccoco menuet formulas of Mozart and Haydn. The caprices are more technical excercises for this new revolutionary style and are the cornerstones of all Romantic traditions of violin including the Romantic German and, to a much lesser extent, the Polish/Klezmer tradition of Joseph Joachim.

Salvatore Accardo is an accomplished violinist who performed many times with the most reputable groups such as I Musici di Roma and the English Chamber Orchestra. He was a long-time mentor of Anne-Sofie Mutter who performed with Karajan. Despite working often with various Baroque styles, Salvatore Accardo is primarily a specialist at Paganini and the Italian Romantic period and this is the main reason this recording is one of the best you can obtain for Paganini. Charles Dutoit is also an accomplished orchestral conductor and generally works very well with Rossini whose light romantic style in his operatic overtures have overlaps with the style in Paganini's contemporary symphonic arrangements for his violin concerti. Accardo and Dutoit were therefore a perfect match in performing Paganini and this ablum is a great example along with their other collaborations for the composer available on single CD. The music is light and joyful in its interpretation while many others tend to be heavy and sluggish. Accardo's performance is filled with vitality as he has complete mastery over the instrument and feels at ease in his performance without ever faltering. His performance brings out the fluidity and full range of Paganini's style very well. Salvatore Accardo's performance of the caprices is also legendary in which he performs all of the most difficult pieces briliantly without effort: they are truly divine in every respect!

Although it's extremely difficult to make a judgment call between these three undisputed virtuosos of the violin and Paganini, Perlman and Heifetz would not be my first choices because they are not really masters of the Italian Romantic style as that of the German/Polish/Klezmer traditions. However technical the differences might be, they do make a significant difference and so I prefer Accardo for Paganini as he is simply the foremost expert with this composer and the Italian Romantic style which Heifetz and Perlman are not. This album is a great buy where you can get all of Paganini's passionate violin concerti and caprices at a good price. There are really few if any performances equal to this one on the market other than those of Perlman and Heifetz. Such other performances, even by child prodigies, are simply beneath them in every respect to the point that they actually sound amateurish in comparison. No matter which of the three you choose, you can't really go wrong with any of them but I would really look no further than them as everything else is far beneath their legendary talents. Enjoy!

What a man! What a Violin! What an Artist!.......2002-04-06

Salvatore Accardo has played magnificently! I am not a classical music critic; I don't know what it really means to be a great violinist, but I certainly enjoy listening to every song in this 6 cd set. I am fifteen years old, but Paganini's music has a great impact on me. My mother bought me this album for Christmas, and I couldn't have received a more wonderful collection of music. I tend to have a preference for the first recording I ever hear of certain songs, and I have heard several of these songs performed by different artists. Let me tell you, these recordings are fantastic. My favorites are the 21st Caprice, the second movement of the 6th concerto, and the entire 4th concerto. Accardo's tone is rich and robust, and the orchestra behind him compliments him perfectly.
Utterly Satisfied,
Bobby

P.S. The title for my review was what Franz Liszt (classical pianist and composer) exclaimed when he heard Paganini perform.:)

Definitive Recordings of Paganini's Violin Music.......2001-10-16

Salvatore Accardo performs Paganini's scores with much elegant grace and warmth. Deutsche Grammophon has successfully assembled all of Accardo's recordings of Paganini's music. Undoubtedly, the highlights are Accardo's riveting accounts of Paganini's violin concerti. Charles Dutoit and the London Philharmonic Orchestra give splendid, warm performances of their own, without overwhelming Accardo's playing. Yet Accardo also shines in Paganini's solo works, such as the Caprices. This is absolutely an essential set of CDs for those who are unfamiliar with Paganini's music. Is it a surprise that these performances are still regarded as definitive in classical CD guides issued by Grammophone and Penguin?

Magnificent for collectors.......2001-02-01

This is a really masterpiece for collector. For the people that love the "virtuoso-violin", this is yours. If you are a fanatic of Paganini's music like me, this is your collection, because you will find the Maestosa sonata sentimentale, the Duo Merveille, "God save the King", in a perfect interpretation, only by Accardo, that are very difficult to find. The 6 Concertos, are amazing, if it is your first time hearing Paganini, you will find absolutely incredible, and remember, is only one violin performing those sounds. Double-Stops, Harmonics, Double-Harmonics, and the most colorful bowing performance. Paganini is very romantic and sentimental, the six, second movements are a jewel in your collection. I recomend you that adquire this for your personal collection, the case is beautiful, and the sound is powerful, like the recorders of the Deutsche Grammophon, Accardo plays Paganini transmiting to the listener the feeling of his performance. The 24 Caprices are interesting, and Accardo plays very clear, if you are playing the caprices, this is a good guide, please try to listen the sound of Accardo, you could find many tips in his performance. If you like the music in general, these concertos will give you a different vision and nature of the power of a violin with the London Philarmonic Orchesta. PROs - Excelent Violinist (Accardo), Excelent Presentation (CDs, book and case),Excelent Recorder, each CD has a number, the people take your time making this CD - Each Piece has a good explanation CONs - No are biography of Salvadore Accardo.

Essential Aaron Copland: 12 Greatest Hits

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Aaron Copland: Essential Classics

Essential Aaron Copland: 12 Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000D1FK8
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
Very Slowly
Allegro
Moderate: The Bride And Her Intended
Fast: The Revivalist And His Flock
Allegro: Solo Dance Of The Bride
Meno Mosso
Doppio Movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
Moderato: Coda
Buckaroo Holiday
Corral Nocturne
Saturday Night Waltz
Hoc-Down
Lincoln Portrait
Ceremonial Fanfare

Tracks:

Quiet City
New England Countryside
Barley Wagons
Sunday Traffic
Grovers Corners
Threshing Machines
El Salon Mexico
The Open Prarie
Street In A Frontier Town
Celebration - Billy In Prison - Waltz
Danzon Cubano
Lento - Molto Allegro - Adagio Molto
Andante Moderato
Allegro Vivo

Customer Reviews:

Aaron Copland: Essential Classics.......2003-11-21

This excellent introduction to the symphonic Copland repackages an earlier "Decca Double Decker" (see B000004284). Deleted are "Old American Songs" and added are "Billy the Kid" and "Danzon Cubano". These recordings were made from 1969-1994. The sonics are exemplary. The performances are all very good to excellent. Everyone has their personal favorites of these works so your mileage may vary.

Dorati & Detroit SO > Rodeo, El Solon Mexico, Dance Symphony. Howarth & London Sinfonietta > Music for the Movies. Marriner & The Academy > Quiet City. Metha & LAPO > Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait with Gregory Peck, narrator. Philip Jones Brass Ensemble > Ceremonial Fanfare. Zinman & Baltimore SO > Billy the Kid, Danzon Cubano.

Gregory Peck comes across very, very well. Warm, personal, forthright. Worth the price of the disc just to hear him deliver the words wrapped in Copland's music as directed by Metha and performed by the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.

Don't expect any copious liner notes here -- there aren't any. Just a listing of what's what and who did what. Two panels of the folded sheet are needlessly occupied by advertising other "essential" CDs. I would gladly rip them out if I didn't like the overall design so much. The art direction and design of the package is stellar but lacks "essential" or any background information.

Unless I'm mistaken, there are 5 "hits" on the first disc and 6 on the second. That's 11. The subtitle here is "12 Greatest Hits". Am I missing something?

Tracks:

I. Praeludium
II. Allemande
III. Corrente
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuet I & II
VI. Giga
Adagio. Allegro.Andantino. Piu Allegr. Tempo I
I. Tema. Andante Grazioso E Variazioni
II. Menuetto-Trio
III. (Rondo) Alla Turca. Allegretto
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante Cantabile Con Espressione
III. Presto
I. Das Lebewohl. Adagio-Allegro
II. Abweswnheit (L'Absence). Andante Espressivo
III. Das Wiedersehn (Le Retour). Vivacissimamente
I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit Und Durchaus Mit Empfindung Und Ausdruck
II. Nicht Zu Geschwind Und Sehr Singbar Vorgetragen
I. Etwas Lebhaft, Und Mit Der Innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
II. Lebhaft, Marschmassig. Vivace Alla Marcia
III. Langsam Und Sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio Ma Non Tropo, Con Affettuo
IV. Geschwind, Doch Nicht Zu Sehr Und Mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro

Tracks:

I. Vivace, Ma Non Troppo
II. Prestissimo
III. Andante Molto Cantabile Ed Espressivo. Variations I-IV
I. Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo
II. Allegro Molto
III. Adagio Ma Non Troppo
VI. Fuga. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Andantino
I. Durchaus Phantastisch Und Leideschaftlich Vorzutragen
Introductory Remarks To Sonata No.2 - Murray Perahia
I. Grave-Doppio Movimento
II. Scherzo
III. Marche Funebre. Lento
IV. Presto
Introductory Remarks To Sonata No.3 - Murray Perahia
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Scherzo. Molto Vivace
III. Largo
IV. Finale. Presto Non Tanto

Tracks:

Introductory Remarks To Ballade No.1 - Murray Perahia
Ballade No.1 In G Minor, Op.23
Introductory Remarks To Ballade No.3 - Murray Perahia
Ballade No.3 In A-Flat Major, Op.47
Ballade No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
Scherzo No.3 In C-Sharp Minor, Op.39
Mazurka In G Minor, Op.24 No.1
Mazurka In C Major, Op.24 No.2
Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op.24 No.4
Mazurka In C Minor, Op.30 No.1
Mazurka In B Minor, Op.30 No.2
Prelude No.2 In A Minor, Op.28
Prelude No.4 In E Minor, Op.28
Prelude No.5 In D Major, Op.28
Prelude No.8 In F-Sharp Minor, Op.28
Prelude No.17 In A-Flat Major, Op.28 'Raindrop'
Prelude No.20 In C Minor, Op.28
Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55 No.1
Waltz No.1 In E-Flat Major, Op.18 'Grande Valse Brilliante'

Amazon.com

Have you ever wished to be present as a great instrumentalist teaches gifted pupils? Sony's set of Alfred Cortot's Master Classes can satisfy that fantasy, as well as provide insightful performances of works (and excerpts of works) including some Cortot never recorded, and hearing him expound on them from a performer's point of view. It's possible thanks to an engineering student who taped many of Cortot's classes in the late 1950s and Murray Perahia, who tracked down the tapes and produced this invaluable set. Don't understand French? Not to worry--French texts and English translations of Cortot's remarks are provided. We also hear Cortot playing with spontaneity and captivating spur-of-the-moment impetuousness, if also with rather more wrong notes than the fastidious would like. The inevitable frustration of wanting him to play an entire lengthy work soon gives way to appreciation for his insights and the beauties of the excerpts he's highlighting. Those insights include technical points like pedaling, rhythm, and touch. But more often he's teaching a work's expressive content. He'll relate a Beethoven Sonata to a love story or the way Chopin's Ballades reflect the Adam Mieckicwicz poems said to inspire them. There's Bach, Mozart, and Schumann here too. Cortot's main point, the lesson that pervades these discs, is one all aspiring artists need to absorb: "Technique can never really be separated from musical expression." This set is must for pianophiles, students, and admirers of one of the last century's greatest artists. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars with a Caveat.......2006-12-02

This is a collection of musical fragments with spoken commentary. The pieces stop and start unexpectedly, and if you just want to sit down and enjoy some music, you'll find this set unnerving.

But what fragments! The format actually highlights how vividly Cortot could make a musical point: Some of these ideas leap off the CD, and will send you heading to the piano to figure out how he did what he did. For instance, his interpretation of Mozart's C-minor Fantasia, though stylistically anachronistic, makes almost all other performances of this piece seem emotionally stultified. This is the Mozart of "Don Giovanni" translated to the piano.

Most of the repertoire wasn't recorded elsewhere by Cortot -- an additional appeal for pianophiles.

A must for any music connoisseur.......2006-01-31

This is one of the great treasures of the piano discography. I was swept off my feet when I heard the Partita No.1, Cortot's only ever Bach recording -- he plays it with elegance, elan, and warmth that easily surpasses Glenn Gould's account of the same piece. Cortot gives tremendous insight into all the works, even going as far as comparing Mozart's Fantasia in C minor to the epic Don Juan. The session was taped at the Ecole Normale de Musique in 1954, and although some of the playing is extremely messy Cortot's distinctive sound and poetry still stands out. This set will be a pleasure to both the professional and student alike.

Average customer rating:

One of the most beautyful CDs I have ever heard
Too much electronic sound
MAGICAL
moody
Wonderful!

Movimento
Madredeus
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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O Espirito Da Paz
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Ainda: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack From The Film "Lisbon Story"

ASIN: B00005AW7T
Release Date: 2001-04-16

Tracks:

1. Anseio
Ecos na Catedral
Afinal-A Minha Cancao
O Labirinto Parado
O Olhar
A Lira-Solidao No Oceano
O Segredo do Futuro
A Quimera
Graca-A Ultima Ciencia
A Vida Boa
Um Raio de Luz Ardente
A Capa Negra (Mano a Mano)
Palpitacao
Ergue-te ao Sol
Vozes no Mar
Tarde, por favor

Amazon.com

Named for the Madre de Deus neighborhood in Lisbon, the award-winning ensemble Madredeus has performed the haunting Portuguese musical genre known as fado all over the globe. With the classical guitarists Jose Peixoto and Fernando Judice, keyboardist Carlos Maria Trindade, and keyboardist/guitarist/producer Pedro Ayres Magalhaes, Madredeus has expanded the musical horizons of Portugal's national music without sacrificing its beautiful, Moorish-descended sound. The Dark Angel vocals of Teresa Salgueiro provide the right Iberian seasoning on the CD's 16 tracks. From the philosophical lines of "Anseio" and the hypnotic harmonics of "Ecos na Cathedral" to the jazzy basslines of "Afinal--A Minha Cancao," Madredeus makes timeless and timeful music. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

One of the most beautyful CDs I have ever heard.......2005-01-03

This is without a doubt one of the most beautyful CDs that I have ever heard and I recommend it to anyone who loves good music.

Too much electronic sound.......2004-07-10

The lyrics in this CD are all Madredeus style: sublime and exquisite, and Teresa's voice, extraordinary, as usual. However, the incorporation of certain electronic sounds in songs like "Ecos na Catedral" rest delicacy to the composition as a whole. The acoustic sound of Madredeus, as in Spirito Da Paz, is much more delicious and makes me go so delirious!
I love them!

MAGICAL.......2002-07-24

I am Portuguese, aged 29 and was only 14 years old when Madredeus appeared as a musical group.
Since then, I have been following closely their carreer.
After so many years, seeing how they became better and better, listening to their records and going to so many concerts, I can only say that this group has changed my life.
Their music is truly magical... For us, here in Portugal, it's with great emotion that we see the success they have achieved both here and abroad.
The last album "Movimento" is almost a review of all those years behind and how the future should be: with peace, love and faith.
Madredeus make me feel hopeful and fight for a better future for us all: that is the message of Movimento.
And that is true magic: being able to express in words and through a magnificent voice what we all feel and hope.

moody.......2002-05-09

many of the songs are excellent moody compositions, with Therese's haunting voice and very good instrumental backup. As they are very good musicians, there is a lot of finesse and intricate playing and arrangements. The music appeals to rainy afternoons. After a while it gets one dimensional though, and requires a rest of a week or so, afterwhich it sounds fresh again. But that is my personal experience. Fado music is like that, as far as I have heard.

Wonderful!.......2002-03-20

Magic, wonderful, sweet. 16 heart-breaking songs. Teresa Salgueiro is an angel. What could I say more? Liste to it...

Appalachian Spring (Multichannel/Stereo)

Average customer rating:

Bernstein, Four Copland Ballets: SACD multichannel / stereo

Appalachian Spring (Multichannel/Stereo)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00009KU75
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Customer Reviews:

Bernstein, Four Copland Ballets: SACD multichannel / stereo.......2003-09-06

Here we have the reissued classic Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recordings of four primary Copland ballets: Appalachian Spring, El Salon Mexico, Rodeo (dances sequence), and Billy the Kid. Even in comparison with the composer's own recorded performances, these readings stand out, a bit above. The sheer wide-open-prairie sound that SACD multichannel now allows ... now how did those old CBS stereo master tapes become multi? who knows?... in any case the surround sound now achieves new vividness, and a kind of "you are there" accuracy of tonal presence, whether the orchestra is temporarily engaging in play among one or more reduced, chamber-sized groups, or gathered up in typical Copland massed effects. All of these ballets are given completely superlative readings by Bernstein and company, here. But this new SACD mastering/pressing allows the greatness to come through more completely than ever before. As if Appalachian Spring, El Salon Mexico, and Rodeo were not enough: the recording of Billy the Kid tops it all. Even though this is the earliest recording, made in 1959, it was done in Boston's Symphony Hall. Although the differences in acoustic are subtle, if you listen closely among the changing tracks, you will hear the extra clarity and musical power of the Boston hall, long and deservedly renowned for its own special greatness of sound. In sum, you can buy this SACD for the sheer authenticity of the performances; or you can use it to test drive your multichannel system. In the latter case, you will be evaluating more than glitzy or floor-shaking sound effects, in favor of hearing just how much sheer music your rig can produce. The best of both worlds ... I am listening on five full-range speakers ... leaves a listener breathless with amazement. Billy the Kid is almost fifty years old, and sounds the best of the lot! Who can bear the agony of waiting to hear what contemporary BMG might be able to do with those equally famous Reiner/Chicago Symphony master tapes, also recorded in the pace-setting days of early stereo recording? Get this SACD disc, now. Forget movies for a while. Use your ears for fun, while you still have them. Highly recommended, for performance. Highly recommended for sound, especially in multichannel playback.

Average customer rating:

String Quartets 11 13 & 15
Shostakovich , and St Petersburg String Quartet
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
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ASIN: B00006B1L8
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Average customer rating:

She's the queen of Italy.

L'Eterno Movimento
Anna Oxa
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Senza Pieta
Io Canto
La Musica E Niente Se Tu Non Hai Vissuto

ASIN: B00005M999
Release Date: 2002-01-01

Tracks:

L'Immenso E Il Suo Contrario
Uomo Dove Sei
Controvento
Sister
L'Eterno Movimento
Take A Little Trip
Notte D'Immagini
Io Saro Con Te
La Vita Dove Va
Un'Emozione Da Poco

Customer Reviews:

She's the queen of Italy........2003-04-04

Anna Oxa is one of the best singers of Italy. She started her career back in 1978 and sience then she had released successful albums and big hits in Italy. She is also a two time winner of San Remo Festival.
After the success of her 1999 release "Senza pieta" she returned with this album that has 10 songs. One of the songs is in English (Take a little trip)(she has a perfect English) and another song is an old hit of her's (Un'emmozioni da poco) that Anna re-recorded for this cd.
Anna has a beautiful strong voice. Her style is soft pop and her voice and style make a wonderful mix.
If you know her and have another album of hers you must have this tittle and of corse her big hit album "Senza pieta".
I'm going to translate the songs in English in case if you don't speak italian.
1-L'immenso e il sou contrario. (The immense and its contrary)
2-Uomo dove sei. (Man where are you)
3-Controvento. (Against the wind)
4-Sister.
5-L'eterno movimento. (The endless moment)
6-Take a little trip.
7-Notte d'immagini. (Night of images)
8-Io saro con te. (I'll be with you)
9-La vita dove va. (Where does life goes)
10-Un'emozioni da poco. (An emotion little by little)
P.S I wonder why Anna doesn't make the crossover and releases an album internationally because she has the voice, the style, the talent and the record company to do it. I hope that she do this kind of work someday.

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