H.N.I.C. [Explicit Lyrics]
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Although H.N.I.C. is billed as Prodigy's solo debut, it's liberally peppered with guest appearances. Mobb Deep's infamous one chose, with the exception of Cash Money Millionaire B.G., to rely on folks of Queens pedigree. His borough loyalty gives H.N.I.C. a polished yet organic-sounding edge on today's crop of industry-endorsed thugs. The bulk of H.N.I.C's subject matter scores few points for originality, but no one speaks to corner-hustling shorty rocks as clearly as P. Standout tracks in the Mobbphonic vein include "Infamous Minded." Featuring Big Noyd, the song references BDP's "Criminal Minded" and is pushed over the top by a badass reggae-tinged beat. Havoc contributes both lyrical and rhythmic support; his beat on "Wanna Be Thugs" proves why he's the production don of Queensbridge. Getting past the gun talk and guest appearances, "You Never Feel My Pain," which unflinchingly details P's battle with sickle cell anemia, is a hardcore analysis of the artist's frame of reference for daily living. That alone is worth the price of admission. --Rebecca Levine END
H.N.I.C.,Prodigy of Mobb Deep,Relativity,East Coast Rap,Gangsta Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop
H.N.I.C. [Explicit Lyrics]
Average customer rating:
- Two tracks I really like
- Quantity Over Quality
- Mediocre
- One Hundred Greatest TV Themes
- Pretty close to original recordings
|
One Hundred Greatest TV Themes
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
All Works by Schifrin
| Schifrin, Lalo
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Sousa
| Sousa, John Philip
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Mancini
| Mancini, Henry
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Marches
| Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General Contemporary
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Movie Scores
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Movie Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Television Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Star Trek
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Marches
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
General
| Vocal Pop
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- All-Time Top 100 TV Themes
- TV Land Presents: Favorite TV Theme Songs
- TV Guide: 50 All-Time Favorite TV Themes
- NBC: A Soundtrack of Must See TV
- Best of TV Quiz & Game Show Themes
ASIN: B00005Y49F
Release Date: 2002-08-27 |
Tracks:
- The A-Team - Nic Raine
- The Addams Family - Nic Raine
- The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe - Nic Raine
- Airwolf - Derek Wadsworth
- The Avengers - Mike Townend
- Barnaby Jones - Jerry Goldsmith
- Batman - Nic Raine
- Battlestar Galactica - Nic Raine
- Baywatch - Derek Wadsworth
- Beverly Hills 90210 - Derek Wadsworth
- Bewitched - Nic Raine
- Between The Lines - Mark Ayres
- The Bill - Nic Raine
- Bonanza - The Philharmonia Orchestra
- Brideshead Revisited - Derek Wadsworth
- Buck Rogers In The 25th Century - Nic Raine
- Burke's Law - Derek Wadsworth
- Cagney And Lacey - Derek Wadsworth
- Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons - Mark Ayres
- Casualty - Mark Ayres
- Cheers - Mark Ayres
- Dallas - Nic Raine
- Dangerman (Secret Agent) - Mike Townend
- Doctor Who - Mark Ayres
- Doctor Kildare - Jerry Goldsmith
Tracks:
- Doogie Howser, M.D. - Derek Wadsworth
- Dynasty - Nic Raine
- The Equalizer - Derek Wadsworth
- Falcon Crest - Derek Wadsworth
- Fireball XL-5 - Derek Wadsworth
- The Fugitive - Nic Raine
- Hawaii 5-0 - Mike Townend
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Nic Raine
- The High Chaparral - Nic Raine
- Highway To Heaven - Derek Wadsworth
- Hill Street Blues - Derek Wadsworth
- The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Mark Ayres
- The Incredible Hulk - Derek Wadsworth
- Jason King - Mike Townend
- Jesus Of Nazareth - Paul Bateman
- Joe 90 - Derek Wadsworth
- Johnny Staccato - Derek Wadsworth
- Knight Rider - Derek Wadsworth
- Kojak - Mike Townend
- L.A. Law - Derek Wadsworth
- Land Of The Giants - Nic Raine
- Little House On The Prairie - Derek Wadsworth
- Lonesome Dove - Nic Raine
- Lost In Space - Nic Raine
- Lou Grant - Derek Wadsworth
Tracks:
- Magnum, P.I. - Derek Wadsworth
- A Man Called Ironside - Mike Townend
- The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Derek Wadsworth
- M*A*S*H - Nic Raine
- Miami Vice - Mark Ayres
- Mike Hammer - Derek Wadsworth
- Mission Impossible - Mike Townend
- Monty Python's Flying Circus - Nic Raine
- The Munsters - Derek Wadsworth
- Murder She Wrote - Derek Wadsworth
- Newhart - Derek Wadsworth
- North And South - Derek Wadsworth
- Northern Exposure - Derek Wadsworth
- NYPD Blue - Mark Ayres
- The Outer Limits - Nic Raine
- Perry Mason - Mike Townend
- The Persuaders - Mark Ayres
- Peter Gunn - Mike Townend
- Police Squad - Nic Raine
- The Prisoner - Mike Townend
- Quantum Leap - Derek Wadsworth
- Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) - Mike Townend
- Red Dwarf - Mark Lambert
- The Rockford Files - Mike Post
- Roseanne - Dan Foliart
Tracks:
- The Saint - Mike Townend
- Seaquest DSV - Nic Raine
- Space 1999 - Derek Wadsworth
- Star Trek - Mike Townend
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Derek Wadsworth
- Star Trek: Voyager - Nic Raine
- St. Elsewhere - Derek Wadsworth
- The Streets Of San Francisco - Nic Raine
- Stingray - Barry Gray
- Taxi - Derek Wadsworth
- Thunderbirds - Derek Wadsworth
- Thirty Something - Derek Wadsworth
- The Time Tunnel - Nic Raine
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - The Philharmonia Orchestra
- The Twighlight Zone - Nic Raine
- Twin Peaks - Derek Wadsworth
- U.F.O. - Derek Wadsworth
- The Virginian - Nic Raine
- Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea - Nic Raine
- Wagon Train - Paul Bateman
- The Waltons - Jerry Goldsmith
- The Wild Wild West - Derek Wadsworth
- Young Riders - John Debney
- Xena: The Warrior Princess - Paul Bateman
- The X-Files - Mark Ayres
Customer Reviews:
Two tracks I really like.......2007-07-21
The Mission Impossible theme is performed well.
The Fireball theme is actually much improved on this version. I prefer the orchestra and the vocals over the original.
Quantity Over Quality.......2007-01-15
As a musician myself, I know too well that one of the most important ingredients in ANY performance (live or recorded) is passion. The recordings here generally lack the same passion and sheer drama of the originals. Much of the instrumentation has been reduced to a cheezy, thin, plastic synthesized replica. The performances are simply a watered-down lackluster version of the classic originals. If it were not for the sheer volume of tracks compiled here, I would have rated the comp only "one star".
Mediocre.......2006-05-17
The sound quality for this collection isn't much better than the samples offered by Amazon.
One Hundred Greatest TV Themes.......2005-08-06
I have watched almost all the shows that are on these 4 cd's. Many were made before I started watching TV. Most I've seen once or twice before.
Pretty close to original recordings.......2005-07-24
Definitely not as good as the originals. You'll probably notice the slight differences since it's stuff you saw and listened to every week or everyday in reruns growing up, but it's still an amazing collection.
Average customer rating:
- Pee slams GAY Z
- A sign of the times (2 and 1/2 stars)
- QB state of mind
- Prodigy's debut proved he was the "Head N***a In Charge" [4 stars]
- the vicious heart
|
H.N.I.C.
Prodigy of Mobb Deep
Manufacturer: Relativity
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Electronica
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Big Beat
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
East Coast
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Gangsta & Hardcore
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
$8.99 and Under
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
All Blowout Music
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
$8.99 and Under
| Prices
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
More Titles at Least 25% Off
| Blowout Music
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- Murda Muzik
- The Infamous
- Infamy
- Amerikaz Nightmare
- QB Finest
ASIN: B0000508VB
Release Date: 2000-11-14 |
Tracks:
- Bars & Hooks (Intro)
- Genesis
- Drive Thru (Skit)
- Rock Dat Sh*t
- What U Rep
- Keep It Thoro
- Can't Complain
- Infamous Minded
- Wanna Be Thugs
- Three
- Delt W/ The Bullshit
- Trials Of Love
- H.N.I.C.
- Be Cool (Skit)
- Veteran's Memorial
- Do It
- Littles (Skit)
- Y.B.E.
- Diamond
- Gun Play
- You Can Never Feel My Pain
- H.N.I.C. (Outro)
Amazon.com
Although H.N.I.C. is billed as Prodigy's solo debut, it's liberally peppered with guest appearances. Mobb Deep's infamous one chose, with the exception of Cash Money Millionaire B.G., to rely on folks of Queens pedigree. His borough loyalty gives H.N.I.C. a polished yet organic-sounding edge on today's crop of industry-endorsed thugs. The bulk of H.N.I.C's subject matter scores few points for originality, but no one speaks to corner-hustling shorty rocks as clearly as P. Standout tracks in the Mobbphonic vein include "Infamous Minded." Featuring Big Noyd, the song references BDP's "Criminal Minded" and is pushed over the top by a badass reggae-tinged beat. Havoc contributes both lyrical and rhythmic support; his beat on "Wanna Be Thugs" proves why he's the production don of Queensbridge. Getting past the gun talk and guest appearances, "You Never Feel My Pain," which unflinchingly details P's battle with sickle cell anemia, is a hardcore analysis of the artist's frame of reference for daily living. That alone is worth the price of admission. --Rebecca Levine END
Customer Reviews:
Pee slams GAY Z .......2007-02-04
H.N.I.C. is Prodigy of Mobb Deeps solo LP, he delivers hard hitting tracks....nothing less. His reply back to Jay Z's diss "Keep it thoro" is a track to bang all day, HOV has nothing on the MOBB. Another powerful track is "never feel my pain" where Pee talks about his Sickle Cell Anemia disease, and gives you a deep visual of what he went through growing up. For all the MOBB fans out there, you MUST have this in your collection.....or you're not a MOBB fan.
"Heavy air play all day with no chorus, I keep it thoro nigga" - Prodigy of Mobb Deep
A sign of the times (2 and 1/2 stars).......2007-01-29
Prodigy was always nice but on this solo album you would hear a side of P that shows that he can make a suspect album just like the rest of them. His flow got sloppy and he got outrapped by Noriega on his own s***(What U Rep). To add insult to injury he gets outstaged by B.G.(no offence to B.G. but come on now!) on Y.B.E. Even Cormega(this one is understandable) floors him on Three. The guest spots with Havoc are nothing to brag about either and the way that Prodigy fumbled in that freestyle with his friend turned archenemy Littles(Littles verse was nice though) is a damn shame! Keep It Thoro, Rock Dat S***, You Can Never Feel My Pain and Genesis show us the Prodigy that we are all fond of. Gunplay and Infamous Minded are good tracks even though P's verses were alright on them. Filler: Diamond(I love the beat but the song is wack), Delt With The Bulls***(beatwasters anonymous material here), Do It(wasted a good beat provided by Rockwilder with subpar rapping. Prodigy, have you no shame?), Trails Of Love(SNORE! Ms Barz should quit), Cant Complain(Infamous Mobb verses were okay but P, forgetaboutit!) etc. Bottom Line: This is the worst solo Prodigy put out. Infamy smokes this album by a longshot. The production was not the problem, its Prodigy's rhymes. He changed his whole style around and now its sad to hear him getting floored by Noriega, B.G., Infamous Mobb and Cormega. If Prodigy wants to remain relevant in the rap game then he needs to change his style back to The Infamous and Hell On Earth days because the way he is flowing now is pathetic.
QB state of mind.......2006-10-02
Before there was Hollywood P, there was Prodigy aka the H.N.I.C, aka the most rugged, vicious and nihilistic voice coming out of Queensbridge.
As the most lyrical half of the infamous mobb deep, P always revolved around that sacred gangsta trinity of gunz, drugs and sex, and if anything, with this solo album, P endulges in that gangsta sound, evolving from thug to superthug, with more hood tales of everyday hustle, getting bent and pushing weight.
The surprise is the actually decent production, and though Havoc is missing, that minimal, sample-driven QB sound is present on most tracks.
U gotta love P's young black and don't give a f*** mantra, but even the most hardcore Mobb fan will feel the lack of variation. Fortunatly P was smart enough to bring heavy collabos, most of them from QB, and they do supply with a much needed diversity.
22 tracks of gangsta gangsta with above average production, some highlights ( "Genesis", "Trials of Love", "H.N.I.C", "Gun Play" ), and overall a good effort.
Prodigy's debut proved he was the "Head N***a In Charge" [4 stars].......2006-05-23
Prodigy, one half of the group of Mobb Deep, came out with his debut in mid-late 2000 called H.N.I.C. When I first heard this album was the first time I heard Mobb Deep, and fell in love with it right away.
Just about all the cuts are mostly uptown grimy normal Queensbrigde cuts. Some are dark as heard on the second track called "Genesis" and on the track "Three" which features Cormega, where Prodigy enforces the quote "Queensbridge heads don't play..."
P's lyrical content is also swell behind the mic. On the lead single "Keep It Thoro" where he says "I throw a TV at you crazy/ b*****s say 'P you crazy'/ a pain in the a**, nah but f*** you, pay me..." Or on the story about cops accusing them of a murder on the next track "Can't Complain" which features Twin Gambino of The Infamous Mobb. "Infamous Minded" if you haven't noticed, is that it borrows BDP's song "Criminal Minded", a track that features Big Noyd and Havoc doing the ad-libs. Speaking of Hav, the other half of Mobb Deep, he makes two more appearances on the songs "Wanna Be Thugs" and "Delt With The Bulls**t". One of the best tracks is "Y.B.E." (was that another single?) which features former Cash Money/Hot Boy's member B.G. The second to last track on the album "You Could Never Feel My Pain" Prodigy talks about his genetic disease Sicle Cell and what he has been going through with the problems.
There are some tracks I didn't like that much. "Rock Dat Sh**" which uses elements from the Mobb Deep hit back in 1999 "Quiet Storm (remix)" to make the hook. The track "Diamond" sounds okay which features local QB group Bars & Hooks.
Overall Prodigy proves to Mobb Deep fans that he can carry a solo album while his friends from QB come and make a few appearances (Havoc, Noreaga, Noyd, Cormega, and others). Like I said, this was the frist Mobb Deep album that I purchaced and enjoyed mosy of it from beginning to end. Recommended to Mobb Deep fans or people who like what classics have came from QB in the past.
Lyrics: A-
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: B+
Standout Tracks: Genesis, Keep It Thoro, Wanna Be Thugs, Three, YBE,
the vicious heart.......2006-03-18
the is the album that evil lurks a man heart the vicious beat got ya goin crazy this album make ya wanna fight a nigga shot a nigga spit on a nigga these album is the infamous gangster gotta love this album it holds the vicous heart of prodigy
the evil from queensbridge
Average customer rating:
|
Secret Agent File
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Orchestral Pop
| Easy Listening
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Compilations
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Movie Scores
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Movie Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
4-for-3 Classical
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 Pop
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 Rock
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 Soundtracks
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
4-for-3 All Music
| 4-for-3 Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B0002IQLVW
Release Date: 2004-07-13 |
Tracks:
- Octopussy - Neil Norman
- I Spy
- Reilly: Ace of Spies
- Casino Royale
- Ipcress File (A Man Alone)
- Thunderball
- Man from Uncle
- Prisoner - Neil Norman
- James Bond Theme
- Our Man Flint
- Moonraker - Neil Norman
- Spy Who Came in from the Cold
- Run Spy Run
- Get Smart
- You Only Live Twice
- 007
- Goldfinger
- Rockford Files
Average customer rating:
- Poor mix
- a fine example of two shining opera stars......
- A musical marriage made in heaven!
- A Nice Collection, But Something's Missing
- Perfection
|
Roberto Alagna & Angela Gheorghiu - Duets & Arias
Pietro Mascagni , Jules Massenet , Gaetano Donizetti , Jacques Offenbach , Leonard Bernstein , Charles Gounod , Gustave Charpentier , Hector Berlioz , Giacomo Puccini , Richard Armstrong , Roberto Alagna , Angela Gheorghiu , and Covent Garden Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
All Works by Berlioz
| Berlioz, Hector
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Bernstein
| Bernstein, Leonard
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Donizetti
| Donizetti, Gaetano
| ( D )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Gounod
| Gounod, Charles
| ( G )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Mascagni
| Mascagni, Pietro
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Massenet
| Massenet, Jules
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Offenbach
| Offenbach, Jacques
| ( O )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Puccini
| Puccini, Giacomo
| ( P )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Chamber Music
| Forms & Genres
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Vocal & Song
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Vocal & Song
| Romantic (c.1820-1910)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Romances
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Arias
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
French
| Languages
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Italian
| Languages
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Operettas
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Gheorghiu, Angela
| Divas
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- The Essential Angela Gheorghiu
- Puccini
- Angela Gheorghiu - Arias
- Diva
- Roberto Alagna - Opera Arias
ASIN: B000002RWA
Release Date: 1996-04-23 |
Tracks:
- Suzel, boun di...
- L'amico Fritz, Atto 2: Tutto tace
- Manon, Acte 3: Je suis seul! . . . Ah, fuyez
- Toi! Vous! . . . Oui, c'est moi! . . .
- Manon, Acte 3: N'est-ce plus ma main
- Anna Bolena, Atto 2: Al dolce guidami castel natio
- Don Pasquale, Atto 2: Tornami a dir
- La Belle Helene, Acte 1: Au Mont Ida, trois deesses
- West Side Story, Act 1: Only you . . .Tonight
- Il se fait tard . . .
- Faust, Acte 3: O nuit d'amour
- Louise, Acte 3: Depuis le jour
- Les Troyens, Acte 4: Nuit d'ivresse
- La Boheme, Atto 1: O soave fanciulla
Customer Reviews:
Poor mix .......2006-02-20
There is no climatic piece in the whole album. It appears it was gathered selections...by that I mean, somebody said "oh let's use this one and this one..." The selections just drift from one to the next and carry little emotional impact on this listener. Yet I love Angela, but Roberto is second rate. Overall, not much on here to remember.
a fine example of two shining opera stars.............2005-10-28
How perfect is it that tenor Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu are a madly in love, married opera couple with voices like angels? I remember when this album first came out in the mid-1990s. At the time, I didn't have a CD player, and their album was a motivation for me to get one, if that says anything about how much I LOVE both of them, as well as the music samples I first heard on NPR.
Alagna's resonance is clear, but, never piercing. Gheorghiu's clean-sounding soprano is expressive, but never shrill, and exhudes a warmth, as well as a softness, when she attacks the really high notes. What sets Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu apart from the pack of young opera stars is their own original, highly energetic and sincere interpretations of popular opera duets, featured here. They include "Tonight" from West Side Story (which I really wouldn't consider opera, but, more an example of musical theatre), and "O soave fanciulla" from La Boheme. I guarantee that listening to this album will make you fall in love with these two wonderful singers.
A musical marriage made in heaven!.......2003-12-01
In the early 1990s I began following the careers of two immensely talented young singers then on the verge of international stardom. The French tenor Roberto Alagna wowed Covent Garden audiences as Romeo and Rodolfo, and had received rave reviews throughout Europe. The splendid Mimi of Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu enlivened an otherwise lackluster 1994 Metropolitan Opera broadcast, and an astounding triumph at Covent Garden as Violetta followed. I had often longed for these two splendid young artists to sing together, and I got my wish in spades when it was publicly announced that they were madly in love - this disc was recorded 6 months before and released in the U.S. 4 days before their real-life marriage. While I and many opera fans are hopeless romantics who are delighted by such things, what really matters is that their VOICES are married. Let's just say that I have heard other singers who are either married or otherwise romantically involved who do not have nearly the rapport that these two people do. They are supremely sensitive to and supportive of each other's artistry and even more importantly, are ultimately the servants of the composer.
Alagna's sweet, warm, earthy tenor and Gheorghiu's velvety, starlit soprano blend so perfectly that it often seems one voice is coming out of two mouths. Nowhere is this more true than on the triumph of the disc, 'Nuit d'ivresse' from Hector Berlioz's 'Les Troyens'. This is a good candidate for the best joint recording they have ever made and is certainly their best individual duet recording. While it is usually sung by a tenor with a heavier voice and a mezzo-soprano, the sheer lyricism of their voices renders this music utterly ravishing - I have never heard this piece sung more beautifully. And how many typical operatic 'love duet' albums would include something this rare? Their 'one voice' quality is also evident in 'Tornami a dir' from 'Don Pasquale', a triumph of heady sweetness, and again, not exactly standard fare. Throughout these selections, and indeed the entire album, we hear superb dynamic sensitivity and gorgeous pianissimo singing, and everything is sung with such dramatic intensity and immersion in character that you think you're hearing a live performance and not a recording. About the only quibble I have is that Alagna's diction in both French and Italian is so perfect that Gheorghiu's comes up a bit short by comparison.
The Cherry Duet from 'L'Amico Fritz' which begins the album is full of sweet affection and wistfulness. In the Saint Sulpice scene from 'Manon', Gheorghiu is irresistibly seductive and tender and Alagna believably torn between Des Grieux's pain at Manon's betrayal and his love for her. Some may actually prefer this version of the duet to the slightly more 'verismo' and less subtle rendition of their complete recording under Antonio Pappano. The Garden Scene from 'Faust', albeit not quite as intense as in their recent Metropolitan Opera performances, is still a triumph of French style, sensitivity, and drama, again with absolutely gorgeous pianissimo singing, this time at 'Eternelle!'. This should be no surprise to anyone who has heard them sing 'Romeo et Juliette'. And, of course, these masters of Gounod's version of 'Romeo and Juliet' also make something special of Bernstein's. I don't believe I've ever heard 'Tonight' more beautifully and musically sung - and as Gheorghiu pointed out in an interview, this is not 'easy' music to sing. The only problem here is that 'West Side Story' is more about Anglo/Puerto Rican culture clash than about family feuds, and so it hurts somewhat that the singers have the wrong (and more importantly, too similar) accents. Nevertheless, their English is clear and understandable, and as usual they mean every word they sing. The disc concludes with a radiant 'O soave fanciulla', where Rodolfo's and Mimi's romance is off to a tender and teasing start.
In addition to the six duets, each singer has two solo arias. Alagna's first is a splendid 'Ah, fuyez douce image', where he not only begins the aria pianissimo, but he makes more of the words than just about any tenor since Georges Thill. He follows this with a rollicking version of Paris' Entrance from 'La Belle Helene'. While not even Alagna can negotiate the B flat octave leaps with the ease of Jussi Bjorling (in his unsurpassable 1938 Swedish-language recording), he has the considerable advantage of native French speech, and a far better appreciation of the piece's humor. Gheorghiu has surpassed her two solo selections since making this recording - the 'Al dolce guidami' on her 'Casta Diva' bel canto disc and the 'Depuis le jour' on her live Covent Garden recital - but these versions demonstrate her ravishing top, command of legato, and extraordinary emotional expressivity.
Richard Armstrong (the music director of the Scottish Opera, who also conducted Alagna's solo debut album) is with his singers all the way and he has the Covent Garden Orchestra play gorgeously . In particular, his molding of the orchestral line and color in the Berlioz is very impressive. Excellent documentation, with full texts and translations, by British vocal collector John Steane. Although this is focused (as it should be) on the music rather than the singers, there is also brief biographical information on both Alagna and Gheorghiu, which none of their subsequent EMI CDs have had.
In short this album is a triumph from beginning to end and an absolute must for any lover of the human voice, absolutely giving lie to the common whine of 'all the great singers are gone forever'. Of course, you'll also have to buy Alagna's and Gheorghiu's complete opera recordings, their equally stunning Verdi duets CD, and too many individual solo albums to count. Almost anything either of these splendid artists do, separately or together, is worth buying and devouring. They're a Golden Age all by themselves!
A Nice Collection, But Something's Missing.......2003-11-09
Since Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu are opera's favorite lovebirds, and real life husband and wife, it is not inconceivable that EMI would release a disk of arias and duets featuring the couple. The disk is reasonably good. It has the standard duets such as "O Soave Fanciulla" from LA BOHEME and "The Cherry Duet" from L'AMICO FRITZ as well as a few lesser known pieces that make the disk interesting. The Broadway stage is also included in a duet from Leonard Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY. As beautiful as Bernstein's music is, it somehow does not fit in this recording. The two do a reasonably good job, both as soloists and together, but the disk lacks power. The two fail to generate the energy on this disk that the two seem to have on television and in video performances. Their acting abilities surpass many "Golden Age" stars, but their music, while technically good, fails to generate the same excitement as a Corelli--Price, Pavarotti--Freni, or a Callas--Di Stefano pairing would generate. None-the-less, the recording is not bad, and it will certainly be pleasing to fans of the two.
Perfection.......2001-12-06
This is lovely from beginning to end. These two singers really know how to put together a recital CD. It's always satisfying no matter how often I listen to it. The selections they sing are well suited to their voices. It's a pleasure. I can't recommend this CD enough. It's truly a shared program with neither one overwhelming the other. They each get their solo turns and the duets are wonderful.
Average customer rating:
- Awesome musicality
- Fabulous? Yes!!!
|
The Fabulous Victoria De Los Angeles
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Bach, Johann Christian
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Beethoven
| Beethoven, Ludwig van
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Berlioz
| Berlioz, Hector
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Brahms
| Brahms, Johannes
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Chausson, Ernest
| ( C )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dvorák, Antonín
| ( D )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Debussy
| Debussy, Claude
| ( D )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Falla
| Falla, Manuel de
| ( F )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Fauré, Gabriel
| ( F )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Granados, Enrique
| ( G )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Handel
| Handel, George Frideric
| ( H )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn
| Haydn, Franz Joseph
| ( H )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
| ( M )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Purcell, Henry
| ( P )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Ravel, Maurice
| ( R )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Saint-Saëns, Camille
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Alessandro Scarlatti
| Scarlatti, Alessandro
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Schubert
| Schubert, Franz
| ( S )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Tchaikovsky
| Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich
| ( T )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Turina
| Turina, Joaquin
| ( T )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Incidental Music
| Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Purcell, Henry
| Composers
| Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Early Music
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Chamber Music
| Forms & Genres
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General Modern
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Vocal & Song
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Chamber Music
| Forms & Genres
| Romantic (c.1820-1910)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Vocal & Song
| Romantic (c.1820-1910)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Cantatas
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Italian
| Languages
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Cantatas
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Folk Songs
| Songs & Lieder
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Madrigals
| Songs & Lieder
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Songs & Lieder
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Songs Of Spain / De Los Angeles, et al
- The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
- Cecilia Bartoli - If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs
ASIN: B000002S5G
Release Date: 1994-02-15 |
Tracks:
- Sheherazade: Asie
- Sheherazade: La Flute enchantee
- Sheherazade: L'Indifferent
- Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Le Reveil de la mariee
- Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: La-bas vers l'eglise
- Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Quel galant m'est comparable
- Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
- Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Tout gai!
- Duex Melodies hebraiques: Kaddisch
- Duex Melodies hebraiques: L'Enigme eternelle
- L'Invitaiton au voyage
- Phidyle
- L'Enfant Prodigue: Recit. & Air de Lia: L'annee en vain chasse l'annee
- Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Fleur des eaux
- Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: Interlude
- Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Mort de l'amour
Tracks:
- Cinco Canciones Negras: Cuba dentro de un piano
- Cinco Canciones Negras: Punto de habanera
- Cinco Canciones Negras: Chevere
- Cinco Canciones Negras: Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito
- Cinco Canciones Negras: Canto negro
- Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Llorad corazon
- Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Iban al pinar
- Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Con que la lavare?
- Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Vos me matasteis
- Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De donde venis, amore?
- Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De los alamos vengo, madre
- Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Rutas
- Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Pregon
- Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Las 12
- Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: El pescador sin dinero
- Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Coplilla
- Quatre cancons: Canco de grumet
- Quatre cancons: Cancon incerta
- Quatre cancons: Maig
- Quatre cancons: Anacreontica
- La Dama d'Arago
- El can dels ocells
- Canco de Sega
- El combat del somni: Damunt de tu nomes les flors
- El combat del somni: Aquesta nit un mateix vent
- El combat del somni: Jo et presentia com la mar
- Triptic de Mossen Cinto: L'Harpa Sagrada
- Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Lo violi de Sant Francesh
- Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Sant Fransech i la cigala
Tracks:
- Chansons de Bilitis: La Flute de Pan
- Chansons de Bilitis: La Chevelure
- Chansons de Bilitis: Le Tombeau des Naiades
- Fetes galantes: En sourdine
- Fetes galantes: Fantoches
- Fetes galantes: Clair de lune
- Noel de enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons
- Chants populaires: Chanson espagnole
- Chants populaires: Chanson francaise
- Chants populaires: Chanson italienne
- Chants populaires: Chanson Herbraique
- Trois jours de vendange
- Le Rossignol des lilas
- Tristesse, Op. 6, No. 2
- Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8, No. 1
- Les Roses d'Ispahan, Op. 39, No. 4
- Troujours (No. 2 de Trois Poemes d'un jour, Op. 21)
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: El pano murano
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Sequidilla murciana
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Asturiana
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Jota
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Nana
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Cancion
- Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Polo
- Doce canciones gallegas: As florinas dos toxos
- Triptico, Op. 45: Farruca
- Villancicos: Pastorcito santo
- Psyche
- Soneto a Cordoba
Tracks:
- Proserpina: E dove t'aggiri
- Le violette
- Joshua: Oh! had I Jubal's lyre
- Der Tod und das Madchen, D. 531
- Die schone Mullerin, D. 795: No. 2: Wohin?
- D. 547: An die Musik
- Op. 59, No. 8: Dein blaues Auge
- Op. 84, No. 4: Vergebliches Standchen
- Op. 27, No. 1: Chanson d'amour
- Op. 46, No. 2: Clair de lune
- Let Us Wander
- Lost Is My Quiet
- Schlaf in deiner engen Kammer
- Ah! lamenta, oh bella Irene
- Irish Songs: Oh! Would I Were But That Sweet Linnet
- Irish Songs: He Promised Me At Parting
- Irish Songs: They Bid Me Slight My Dermot Dear
- Welsh songs: The Dream
- Mignon und der Harfner, D. 877: Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
- Les Fleurs des landes: Le Trebuchet
- Moglichkeit
- Der Apfel
- Schottische Ballade
- Pastorale
- Pleurs d'or
- Sapphische Ode
- La Partenza
Amazon.com
The word "fabulous" seems vulgar when applied to the Spanish diva whose delicately shaded voice encompassed music from the middle ages to the present. This four-disc compilation emphasizes her song repertoire, to which she brought warmth, intelligence, linguistic integrity and irresistible sincerity. Her dignity makes listeners want to come to her, and she rewards them with an intimate, personal experience, especially in this small-scale repertoire by Ravel, Debussy, Duparc, Fauré, lots of Spanish composers and German masters such as Schubert and Brahms. --David Patrick Stearns
Customer Reviews:
Awesome musicality.......2006-07-26
This 4-CD set is a tribute to the concert career of the great Victoria de Los Angeles. The first 3 CDs show her totally at home in the art song of France and of her native Spain. In the French art songs, her silvery, creamy tone, her legendary legato and her perfect French diction make for wonderful and unforgettable performances. These include a sensual Scheherazade, magnificient singing in the Duparc songs and a phenomenal Poeme de L'amour et de la mer of Chausson (try to keep your eyes dry by the end of La mort de l'amour). In the Chausson, while de Los Angeles does not opt for the intensely Wagnerian approach, her sensitive singing more than does justice to the poetry and the feelings of the character. The Spanish songs showcase de Los Angeles at her most natural, flamboyant and attractive singing. The tunes are catchy, full of bouncy rhythms and De Los Angeles's fabulous voice never ceases to amaze. The 4th CD shows the wonderful chemistry between de Los angeles and the great Gerald Moore. While she does not erase memories of Fischer-Dieskau and Schwarzkopf in the Schubert selections, the Brahms songs are excellent and her Faure songs here are earth shaking in their elegance and refinement. The Italian and the famous Handel aria helps to prove De Los Angeles's reputation as an excellent bel canto singer. Her duets with Fischer-Dieskau are absolutely memorable and gorgeous.
The set comes with booklet including full words plus translations, helpful notes on De Los Angeles's concert career and a dozen of beautiful and rare black and white photos. Victoria de Los Angeles's concert career was as prolific as her legendary operatic performances and continued well after her retirement from the operatic stage. This introspective and almost encycopledic release is a real treat and is absolutely recommended. I totally agree with the editor's review who states that the word "fabulous" fails in every respect to fully capture the artistry of the Spanish soprano. Victoria de Los Angeles is definitely one of the most wonderful lyric sopranos of the 20th century and is one of the most heavenly artists to have ever graced the concert scene. A must-have for any collection.
Fabulous? Yes!!!.......1999-09-13
The album is a marvelous sampling of this great singer's artistry. Her performances of the French and Spanish composers are something special. The De Falla "Seven Popular Folksongs" are powerful, passionate; the last song, "Jota," raised the hair on the back of my neck.
I was delighted to see Faure's "Claire de lune" on the album, and equally delighted with De Los Angeles' elegant rendition of this work. The only recording of the song I've liked better is from an LP featuring Frederika Von Stade.
As an added bonus, several duets with the great baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau are featured on Disk #4. These include some charming settings of Irish songs by Beethoven, and a gorgeous arrangement of "Let Us Wander" by Henry Purcell. I remember hearing these duets years ago on an LP recording, and it was a pleasure to hear them again.
Average customer rating:
|
H.N.I.C.
Prodigy of Mobb Deep
Manufacturer: Relativity
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Electronica
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Big Beat
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
East Coast
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Gangsta & Hardcore
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rap
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Hell on Earth
ASIN: B0000508VM
Release Date: 2000-11-14 |
Tracks:
- Bars & Hook (Intro)
- Genesis (Skit)
- Drive Thru
- Rock Dat
- What U Rep
- Keep It Thoro
- Can't Complain
- Infamous Minded
- Wanna Be Thugs
- Three
- Delt W/ The Bull
- Trials Of Love
- H.N.I.C
- Be Cool (Skit)
- Veteran's Memorial
- Do It
- Littles (Skit)
- Y.B.E.
- Diamond
- Gun Play
- You Can Never Feel My Pain
- H.N.I.C. (Outro)
Customer Reviews:
Go pick this up now.......2002-09-10
This CD is a classic. If you are a fan of Mobb Deep or any Queensbridge rap then this is for you. This isn't the type of music you are gonna hear on the radio. I love this CD. Prodigy isn't gettin enough love. The best tracks are Rock Dat..., Keep It Thoro, H.N.I.C., The Realness, Diamond, Y.B.E, and You Could Never Feel My Pain which is about his fight with sickle cell. Go get this you won't be disappointed. This is real rap. Not that commercial garbage. One.
Average customer rating:
|
Very Best of
Jessye Norman
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
London Philharmonic Orchestra
| ( L )
| Featured Performers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Jessye Norman Classics
- The Essential Jessye Norman [Includes DVD: Jessye Norman Sings Carmen]
- Brava, Jessye!: The Very Best Of Jessye Norman
- Very Best of
- Very Best of
ASIN: B000083GOL
Release Date: 2003-04-22 |
Tracks:
- Dich, Teure Halle (Tannhauser, Act III)
- Allamacht'ge Jungfrau, Hor Mein Flehen (Tannhauser, Act III)
- Johohoe! Traft Ihr Das Schiff
- Mild Und Leise
- I. Dr Engel
- II. Stehe Still!
- III. Im Treibhaus
- IV. Schmerzen
- V. Traume
- Dem Unendlichen D291
- Der Winterabend D938
- Auflosung D807
- Ihr Habt Nun Traurigkeit
Tracks:
- Barcarolle: Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour
- Venus Dit A Fortune
- Qui Connait Donc La Souffrance...O Dieu, De Quelle Ivresse
- Jusque-La Cependant Affermis Mon Courage...Aujourd'hui, Aujourd'hui Les Larmes
- Premiers Transports Que Mul N'oublie!(Romeo Et Juliette, Part I)
- No.1 Nahandove, O Belle Nahandove
- No. 2 Aoua! Aoua! Mefiez-Vous Des Blancs!
- No. 3 Il Est Doux De Se Coucher
- Chanson Du Rouet
- Si Morne
- 1. Rayon Des Yeux
- 2. Le Matin Les Branches Attisent
- 3. Tout Disparut
- 4. Dans Les Tenebres Attisent
- 4. Dans Les Tenebres Du Jardin
- 5. Unis La Fraicheur Et Le Feu
- 6. Homme Au Sourir Tendre
- 7. La Grande Riviere Qui Va
- Amours Divins! (Act II)
- On Me Nomme Helenw La Blonde (Act II)
- La Vrai, Je Ne Suis Pas Coupable (Act III)
- Elle Vient! C'este Elle! (ActIII)
Average customer rating:
- Enchanté, Mlle Graham!
- excellent singing, not so great programming
- A CD full of scrumptious French chocolates!
- REYNALDO AND SOME LIGHT STUFF
- C'est magnifique!!
|
"C'est ca la vie, c'est ca l'amour": French Operetta Arias
Reynaldo Hahn , Andre Messager , Susan Graham , Yves Abel , and City of Birmingham Symphony
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
All Works by Honegger
| Honegger, Arthur
| ( H )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Romances
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Arias
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
French
| Languages
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Operettas
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn)
- Susan Graham ~ Berlioz - Les nuits d'été
- Poèmes de l'Amour
- Susan Graham - Mozart & Gluck Arias ~ Il tenero momento
- Artist Portrait: Susan Graham
ASIN: B00005UW0Z
Release Date: 2002-04-02 |
Tracks:
- "C'est ca la vie, c'est ca l'amour" (Moises Simons, from Toi c'est moi, 1934)
- "J'ai deux amants" (Andre Messager, from L'Amour masque, 1923)
- "Yes" (Maurice Yvain, from Yes, 1928)
- "Si vous saviez" (Arthur Honegger, from Les Aventures du roi Pausole, 1930)
- "O mon bel inconnu" (Reynaldo Hahn, from O mon bel inconnu, 1933)
- "Je ne vois rien..Lorsque je n'etais qu'une enfant" (Andre Messager, from Fortunio, 1907)
- "Les hommes sont biens tous les memes" (Andre Messager, from Coups de roulis, 1928)
- "Air de la Lettre" (Reynaldo Hahn, from Brummell, 1931)
- "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Andre Messager, from Passionnement, 1926)
- "Vois-tu, je m'en veux" (Andre Messager, from Les P'tites Michu, 1897)
- "Etre adore" (Reynaldo Hahn, from Mozart, 1925)
- "Je regrette mon Pressigny" (Andre Messager, from la Petite Fonctionnaire, 1921)
- "Amour, amour, quel est donc ton pouvoir" (Andre Messager, from Les Dragons de l"Imperatrice, 1905)
- "Mon reve" (Andre Messager, from L'Amour masque, 1923)
- "C'est tres vilain d'etre infidele" (Reynaldo Hahn, from O mon bel inconnu, 1933)
- "C'est pas Paris, c'est sa banlieue" (Reynaldo Hahn, from Ciboulette, 1923)
- "Vagabonde" (Moises Simons, from Toi c'est moi, 1934)
Amazon.com
This record presents the esteemed opera singer and French music specialist Susan Graham in a new light. French operetta began with Jacques Offenbach (creator of The Tales of Hoffmann) in the 1850s; his ability to blend sweet lovely melodies with bitter political satire made him and the form famous, and composers all over the world have emulated him ever since, including those represented on this disc. Most of them, though popular during their lifetime, are hardly known today. The most familiar are Arthur Honegger and Reynaldo Hahn, though not primarily as operetta composers; the latter contributes some of the loveliest music.
The arias on this program are thoroughly appealing and very different, ranging from frothy creampuffs to almost operatic dramas, from ingenuous simplicity to ironic sophistication. As one might expect, the texts, all written from a woman's point of view, focus on the relationships between men and women in all their infinite, subtle variety. Susan Graham uses her very beautiful voice and captivating charm to bring out the teasing humor, the intimacy, passion, joy, and regret in words and music. One song is a trio, but since no other singers are mentioned, one assumes that she covers all three parts! The first song is the only one in which the singing is artificial and exaggerated, as if Graham were feeling her way into the style. The orchestra is very good, but some of the arrangements are overloaded. --Edith Eisler
Customer Reviews:
Enchanté, Mlle Graham!.......2004-11-13
Though it's fair to say that the stunning title track reaches a creative standard unmatched by any of the later items (no wonder it comes first), this is still refreshing stuff, which will bring out the slumbering Maurice Chevalier in us all. Anyone who can hear it without wanting to grab the nearest straw hat and proclaim "Zank 'eaven for leedle girrrrrlz" is a tougher man than I am, Gunga Din.
Refreshing stuff, but seldom flippant. Other than the X-rated Honegger song (who'd have thought sober-sided Artur H had a bawdy streak in him?) and the subtler but still eyebrow-raising Maurice Yvain number "Yes", the prevailing atmosphere is often surprisingly operatic. Surprising at any rate to me, since I can't recall hearing most of this material before. Reynaldo Hahn sometimes does a rather good Richard Strauss impersonation, as in "O mon bel inconnu", which suggests a Gallic version of ROSENKAVALIER's final trio.
Presumably Miss Graham sings all the vocal parts of this piece in a multi-tracking arrangement, but it would be nice to have been told in the booklet note whether this was the case. The short playing time deplored by Joy Fleisig is also a nuisance, since one wants even more of the same. Miss Fleisig rightly censured, in addition, the white-print-on-purple-background design which some graphic-design-school genius decided to employ for the lyrics' translations. So no fifth star for this review. The release remains a pretty enchanting (not to say enchanté) production, even if a native French singer would have cultivated - as native French singers will - an edgier, more acidic timbre than Miss Graham's warm, sonorous, very slightly cloudy tone. Altogether a splendid supplement to heftier and more austere listening.
excellent singing, not so great programming.......2002-10-02
A delightful album by Graham, who has apparently been cast as a French expert...but I wish there had been a few more uptempo numbers on here, so many of them are slow that it almost detracts from the sparkle of her singing. Great performances and sound, though.
A CD full of scrumptious French chocolates!.......2002-09-03
When one thinks of 'French operetta', the composer that most often springs to mind is Jacques Offenbach. However, the generations of operetta composers that came after him also produced some wonderful music. Unfortunately, although these works were very popular in their time, they are virtually forgotten today. Apart from Andre Messager, the best known names on this anthology, Reynaldo Hahn and Arthur Honneger, are better known for other types of work, and most of the other composers are unknowns. Susan Graham, perhaps the finest American mezzo-soprano of our time, is to be commended for bringing these sweets out into the open once again.
Graham is a singer very much in the mold of Frederica von Stade - like von Stade, she is best known for trouser roles such as Octavian and Cherubino, but she has done some wonderful work in French music, especially as a recitalist. Her voice is firm and lustrous with an easy, sopranoish top, her phrasing is exquisite, and her French is excellent. By turns Graham is funny, ironic, sensual, wistful, charming, and heroic.
Most of the music on this CD was written between 1920 and 1935, although one selection here is from as early as 1897. The music actually has greater similarity to 'modern' musical comedy than to traditional operetta. Of course, the primary theme of these works is the travails of women in love - either they struggle with their (often illicit) passions - in one case attempting to invoke Joan of Arc! - or muse on the perfidy of men. My favorite song on the disc is the title track, a delightful samba take on 'Carmen' (from Cuban-born Moises Simons' 'Toi c'est moi') with a verse that sounds quite a bit like the 'Habanera' - only in this version, Carmen murders Escamillo! It actually occurred to me while listening to this disc that Graham might make an excellent Bizet Carmen on records or in a small theater. By the way, the 'Carmen' connection shows up again in a song entitled - you guessed it - 'L'amour est un oiseau rebelle'!
Other tracks which I love are `Yes', wherein a French woman goes to England knowing only that word and gets her self married - and more, and `O mon bel inconnu', where three women get letters from the same man (their husband, father, and employer respectively) through the lonelyhearts column. Thanks to the miracle (?) of multi-tracking, Graham gets to sing all three roles, and her `voices' blend together gorgeously. And in the final track, 'Vagabonde' (also from 'Toi c'est moi') is a delightfully whirling 'impatient, quivering, impulsive' plea from a woman who wants to find a man willing to marry before her 'orange-flower' wilts (wink, wink).
Despite the light tone of most of this music, there are several moments of high drama. `Lorsque je n'etais que enfant' is an aria from Messager's `Fortunio' where the heroine, berating herself for toying with her boyfriend, reminisces of her purer and more innocent childhood. Graham is back in her usual trouser-role territory for the heroic `Etre adore' from Hahn's `Mozart', where the composer effuses over Paris and willingly sacrifices his soul to be adored by its people. There is also sweet nostalgia and regret, such as in 'Je regrette mon Pressigny', 'Vois-tu, je m'en veux' and 'C'est pas Paris, c'est sa banlieu'.
Actually, the only track that I don't like is 'Si vous saviez' from Honneger's 'Les Aventures du Roi Pausole', which ironically enough is Graham's favorite. The aria, where the wife of a polygamous potentate begs her husband to sleep with her more than once a year, is meant to be sensuous but just drags. I suspect this his Honneger's fault, not Graham's.
The French-Canadian Yves Abel is an ideal conductor for this repertory. He has a strong affinity not only for French opera but also for comedy and light music in general; the latter two qualities were very evident at a Metropolitan Opera `Il Barbiere de Siviglia' this year. I also remember a fine performance of `La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein' he conducted with his company L'Opera Francais de New York and Stephanie Blythe. Under his baton the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra plays just like a French ensemble.
The documentation has full texts and translation of all the material and a fine essay on the works and the composers by Patrick O'Connor. Unfortunately, there is no biographical information for either Graham or Abel. Also, some people might have problems reading the white type on purple background for the translations (the type for the essay is the normal white-on-black), although I did not. As usual, my complaint about many modern CDs, especially those produced by Erato, applies here - there is less than an hour of music on a medium that can hold almost 80 minutes. I think it is unlikely that Graham and Abel couldn't find more good music in this vein, or even that they ran out of recording time. And speaking of Erato, I think it is a crime that that parent company Warner Classics dismissed not only Graham but many other fine operatic artists like Jose Cura, Daniel Barenboim, and Barbara Frittoli. At least the man now in charge of Warner regrets Graham's dismissal and is negotiating a new contract with her.
I am glad that so many star singers today are championing French rarities - not only Graham but also Roberto Alagna and Vesselina Kasarova, among others. I would recommend this not only to lovers of opera and operetta but also to fans of more 'popular' French music like Edith Piaf's and Jacques Brel's, or even to admirers of the American musical. It doesn't matter by which road you come to it - this material is delightful and the presentation is flawless. Most importantly, it is clear that everybody involved with the making of this disc had a great time, and anyone who listens to it will as well.
REYNALDO AND SOME LIGHT STUFF.......2002-08-02
SUSAN GRAHAM had me an addict of her voice with her marvelous songs of REYNALDO HAHN,a treasure that i cherish.This FRENCH OPERETTA ARIAS is still a good cd,but lighter and fluffier.Not surprizingly, i consider the HAHN arias the highlight of this record.It seems to me that SUSAN has real affinities with the composer of CIBOULETTE and O MON BEL INCONNU.O MON BEL INCONNU and ETRE ADORÉ are wonderfully sung and are worth the price of the cd.I did not completely enjoy the first 4 numbers,although i should say that they are correctly done.Maybe i simply can't accept the fact that SUSAN can sing humourous stuff.Well that's my problem isn't it?I have the original version of J'AI DEUX AMANTS sung by YVONNE PRINTEMPS and the comparaison gives advantage to SUSAN.
C'est magnifique!!.......2002-06-29
Graham has never been better in this disc of delightful French operetta arias. A must for fans of the artist. And I dare you to get that opening track out of your head!!
Average customer rating:
- A stumble in H-Wood albums......
|
HIP HOP STUDIOS COMPILATION I
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rap & Hip-Hop
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00005JGQV
Release Date: 2001-03-01 |
Tracks:
- Hip Hop Studios Compilation - H-Wood/B-Legit/C-Lim
- I Babysit My Strap - H-Wood/Hollow Tip/KauKasian/Sicx
- Sic N D'Vidual - Bread/Young Ridah
- A Friend Of Mine - Ali-C/H-Wood
- F--k These Niggas - C-Bo/Young Droop/Young Nut/Bread
- Ready 4 War - Spice 1/KauKasian/Young Joker/Loki/C-Lim
- Come N Get Your Luvin' - J-Von/Regii/Terrel Carter/Nfamizz
- 4 Da Cheesez - Marvaless/C-Lim/Lunaticc
- If U Could F--k With This - Turf Hoggs
- Don't U Worry - Juanita Wynn
- My Niggas Snap - Triple Beam/C-Lim
- They Luv Them Some Hip Hop - Aguny Ase
- U Can't F--k With Me - Ali-C
- Tonight - Jasper/Shade
- Young Guns - KD/BP/SB/Marshall/Nuttcase/H-Wood
- Hip Hop Studios Compilation Remix - H-Wood/B-Legit/C-Lim
- Straight Plug N #2 - H-Wood
Customer Reviews:
A stumble in H-Wood albums.............2004-05-18
Get the H-Wood albums! If you like them (you should) THEN I would think about picking this one up. Some artists that are featured are not up to par with today's rap game (hell today's rap game ain't up to par!). Check out The Major Leagues, his best yet! Then, maybe you might venture to his old school comin up albums. 1
Average customer rating:
- Bach is priceless
- Buy the works you like....
- Poor Bach
- A Treasure Trove
- 147 out of 153 ain't bad!
|
Bach 2000: The Complete Bach Edition (Includes Commemorative Book) (Box Set)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt , Robin Gritton , Giovanni Antonini , Gustav Leonhardt , Ton Koopman , Alice Harnoncourt , and Zehetmair, Thomas
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Allemandes
| Baroque Dance Suites
| Ballets & Dances
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Minuets
| Ballets & Dances
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Trios
| Chamber Music
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Chamber Music
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Carl Philipp Emman. Bach
| Bach, Carl Philipp Emman.
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by J.S. Bach
| Bach, Johann Sebastian
| ( B )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
All Works by Heinichen
| Heinichen, Johann David
| ( H )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Canons
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Concertinos
| Concertos
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Concerto Grossi
| Concertos
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Concertos
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Fantasies
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Fugues
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Inventions
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Preludes
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Canzones
| Sonatas
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Sonatas
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Sonatinas
| Sonatas
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Trio Sonatas
| Sonatas
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Suites
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Sinfonia
| Symphonies
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Toccatas
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Passacaglias
| Variations
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Scherzo
| Forms & Genres
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Variations
| Forms & Genres
| Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General Modern
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Keyboard
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Organ
| Keyboard
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Piano
| Keyboard
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Flute
| Reeds & Winds
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Oboe
| Reeds & Winds
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Cello
| Strings
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Lute
| Strings
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Violin
| Strings
| Instruments
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Academy of Ancient Music
| ( A )
| Featured Performers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Baroque (c.1600-1750)
| Symphonies
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Symphonies
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Sacred & Religious
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Cantatas
| Classical (c.1770-1830)
| Historical Periods
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Cantatas
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Caprices
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Magnificats
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Masses
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Motets
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Oratorios
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Passions
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Psalms
| Vocal Non-Opera
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
Classical
| Box Sets
| Stores
| Music
Opera & Vocal
| Box Sets
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00001IV8B
Release Date: 1999-09-14 |
Tracks:
- Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern
- Du Wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn
- Erfuellet, ihr himmlischen goettlichen Flammen
- Ein irdscher Glanz, wein leiblich Licht
- Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten
- Wie Schon Leuchtet Der Morgenstern, BWV 1: Chor: 'Wie Bin Ich Doch So Herzlich Froh' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Chor: 'Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Recitativo: 'Sie Lehren Eitel Falsche List' - Kurt Equiluz
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Aria: 'Tilg, O Gott, Die Lehren' - Paul Esswood
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Recitativo: 'Die Armen Sind Verstort' - Max Van Egmond
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Aria: 'Durchs Feuer Wird Das Silber Rein' - Kurt Equiluz
- Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Chor: 'Das Wollst Du, Gott, Bewahren Rein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Chor: 'Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Choral Recitativo: 'Wie Schwerlich Lasst Sich Fleisch Und... - Wiener Sangerknaben/Hans Gillesberger/Paul Esswood/Kurt Equiluz/Max Van Egmond...
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Aria: 'Empfind Ich Hollenangst Und Pein' - Max Van Egmond
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Recitativo: 'Es Mag Mir Leib Und Geist Verschmachten' - Kurt Equiluz
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Aria: 'Wenn Sorgen Auf Mich Dringen' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Hans Gillesberger/Paul Esswood
- Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Chor: 'Erhalt Mein Herz Im Glauben Rein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Tracks:
- Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erloesen
- O Schmerz, o Elend, so mich trifft
- Solls ja so sein
- Ach lege das Sodom der suendlichen Glieder
- Hier aber tut des Heilands Hand
- Ich Elender Mensch, Wer Wird Mich Erlosen, BWV 48: Aria: 'Vergibt Mir Jesus Meine Sunden' - Kurt Equiluz
- Ich Elender Mensch, Wer Wird Mich Erlosen, BWV 48: Chor: 'Herr Jesu Christ, Einiger Trost' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Sinf - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria: 'Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen' - Ruud Van Der Meer
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Recitativo Ed Arioso: 'Mein Mahl Ist Zubereit'' - Ruud Van Der Meer/Peter Jelosits
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria: 'Ich Bin Herrlich, Ich Bin Schon' - Peter Jelosits
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Recitativo: 'Mein Glaube Hat Mich Selbst So Angezogen' - Peter Jelosits/Ruud Van Der Meer
- Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria (Duetto): 'Dich Hab Ich Je Und Je Geliebet' - Peter Jelosits/Ruud Van Der Meer
- Nun Ist Das Heil Und Die Kraft, BWV 50: Chor: 'Nun Ist Das Heil Und Die Kraft' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
- Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen!' - Marianne Kweksilber
- Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Recitativo: 'Wir Beten Zu Dem Tempel An' - Marianne Kweksilber
- Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Hochster, Mache Deine Gute' - Marianne Kweksilber
- Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Chor: 'Sei Lob Und Preis Mit Ehren' - Marianne Kweksilber
- Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Alleluja!' - Marianne Kweksilber
Tracks:
- (Caro) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- (Alto, Tenore) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- (Soprano) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- (Basso) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- (Alto) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
- Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 100: Chor: 'Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Chor: 'Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott' - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria: 'Handle Nicht Nach Deinen Rechten' - Kurt Equiluz
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Recitativo-Chor: 'Ach! Herr Gott, Durch Die Treue Dein' - Wilhelm Wiedl
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria: 'Warum Willst Du So Zornig Sein?' - Philippe Huttenlocher
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Recitativo-Chor: 'Die Sund Hat Uns Verderbet Sehr' - Kurt Equiluz
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria (Duetto): 'Gedenk An Jesu Bittern Tod!' - Wilhelm Wiedl/Paul Esswood
- Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Chor: 'Leit Uns Mit Deiner Rechten Hand' - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Chor: 'Herr, Deine Augen Sehen... - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Recitativo: 'Wo Ist Das Ebenbild' - Philippe Huttenlocher
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Aria: 'Weh Der Seele' - Paul Esswood
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Arioso: 'Verachtest Du Den... - Philippe Huttenlocher
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Aria: 'Erschrecke Doch, Du... - Kurt Equiluz
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Recitativo: 'Beim Warten Ist... - Paul Esswood
- Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Chor: Heut Lebst Du, Heut... - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Tracks:
- Sinfonia
- Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
- Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnuegt
- Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
- Zedern muessen von den Winden
- Nach Dir, Herr, Verlanget Mich, BWV 150: Chor: 'Meine Augen Sehen Stets Zu Dem Herrn' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
- Nach Dir, Herr, Verlanget Mich, BWV 150: Chor: 'Meine Tage In Dem Leide' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
- Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Aria: 'Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt' - Sebastian Hennig
- Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Recitativo: 'Erfreue Dich, Mein Herz' - Max Van Egmond
- Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Aria: 'In Jesu Demut Kann Ich Trost' - Paul Esswood
- Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Recitativo: 'Du Teurer Gottessohn' - Kurt Equiluz
- Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Chor: 'Heut Schleusst Er Wieder Auf Die Tur' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Con - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Aria: 'Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn' - Thomas Hampson
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Recitativo: 'Der Heiland Ist Gesetzt' - Thomas Hampson
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Aria: 'Stein, Der Uber Alle Schatze' - Christoph Wegmann
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Recitativo: 'Es Argre Sich Die Kluge Welt' - Thomas Hampson
- Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Duetto: 'Wie Soll Ich Dich, Liebster Der Seelen, Umfassen?' - Christoph Wegmann/Thomas Hampson
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind' - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Mein Liebster Gott' - Stefan Rampf
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Furchte Dich Nicht, Ich Bin Mit Dir' - Thomas Hampson
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Du Sprichst Zwar, Lieber Gott' - Kurt Equiluz
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Und Ob Gleich Alle Teufel - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Sturmt Nur, Sturmt, Ihr Trubsalswetter' - Kurt Equiluz
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Getrost! Mein Herz, Erdulde Deinen... - Thomas Hampson
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Soll Ich Meinen Lebeslauf' - Stefan Rampf
- Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Drum Will Ich, Weil Ich Lebe Noch' - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Tracks:
- Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht
- Auf, Sterbliche, lasset ein Jauchzen ertoenen
- So bald, als dir die Sternen hold
- Es streiten, es siegen die kuenftigen Zeiten
- Bedenke nur, begluecktes Land
- Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Aria: 'Der Zeiten Herr Hat Viel Vergnugte Stunden' - Michael Chance
- Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Recitativo: 'Hilf, Hochster, Hilf' - Michael Chance/Paul Agnew
- Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Chor: 'Ergetzet Auf Erden' - The Amsterdam Baroque Chor/Ton Koopman
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Recitativo: 'Durchlauchtster Leopold' - Lisa Larsson
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Guldner Sonnen Frohe Stunden' - Lisa Larsson
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Leopolds Vortrefflichkeiten' - Klaus Mertens
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Unter Seinem Purpursaum' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Recitativo: 'Durchlauchtigster, Den Anhalt Vater Nennt' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'So Schau Des Holden Tages Licht' - Lisa Larsson
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Dein Name Gleich Der Sonnen Geh' - Klaus Mertens
- Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Chor: 'Nimm Auch, Grosser Furst, Uns Auf' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens
Tracks:
- Kyrie eleison
- Christe eleison
- Kyrie eleison
- Gloria in excelsis Deo
- Laudamus te
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Gratias Agimus Tibi - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Domine Deus - Angela Maria Blasi/Kurt Equiluz
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Qui Tollis - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Qui Sedes - Jadwiga Rappe
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Quoniam To Solus - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
- Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Cum Sancto Spiritu - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
Tracks:
- Singet dem Herrn ein neres Lied
- Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
- Komm, Jesu, komm
- Jesu, meine Freude
- Fuerchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir
- Lobet Den Herrn, Alle Heiden, BWV 230 - Stockholm Bach Chor/Anders Ohrwall
Tracks:
- Fantasia et Fuga in g BWV 542
- Fuga in g BWV 578
- Canzona in d BWV 588
- Praeludium et Fuga in h BWV 544
- Praeludium et Fuga in a BWV 543
- Fant in c, BWV 562 - Ton Koopman
- Prld Et Fuga in C, BWV 531 - Ton Koopman
- Fant in G, BWV 572 - Ton Koopman
- Fant in C, BWV 570 - Ton Koopman
- Passacaglia in c, BWV 582 - Ton Koopman
Tracks:
- Inventio 1 BWV 772
- Inventio 2 BWV 773
- Inventio 3 BWV 774
- Inventio 4 BWV 775
- Inventio 5 BWV 776
- Inventio 6 in E, BWV 777 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 7 in e, BWV 778 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 8 in F, BWV 779 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 9 in f, BWV 780 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 10 in G, BWV 781 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 11 in g, BWV 782 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 12 in A, BWV 783 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 13 in a, BWV 784 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 14 in B flat, BWV 785 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Inventio 15 in b, BWV 786 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 1 in C, BWV 787 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 2 in c, BWV 788 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 3 in D, BWV 789 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 4 in d, BWV 790 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 5 in E flat, BWV 791 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 6 in E, BWV 792 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 7 in e, BWV 793 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 8 in F, BWV 794 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 9 in f, BWV 795 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 10 in G, BWV 796 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 11 in g, BWV 797 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 12 in A, BWV 798 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 13 in a, BWV 799 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 14 in B flat, BWV 800 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Sinf 15 in b, BWV 801 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Tracks:
- Prelude and Fugue in A minor: Praeludium
- Prelude and Fugue in A minor: Fuga
- Prelude and Fughetta in E minor: Praeludium
- Prelude and Fughetta in E minor: Fuga
- Prelude in G major BWV 902a
- Fant And Fugue in a, BWV 904: Fant - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Fant And Fugue in a, BWV 904: Fuga - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in C, BWV 924 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in D, BWV 925 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in d, BWV 926 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in F, BWV 927 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in F, BWV 928 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in g, BWV 930 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in a, BWV 931 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Prld in E, BWV 937 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Prld in C, BWV 939 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Prld in d, BWV 940 - Zuzana Ruzickova
- Applicatio in C, BWV 994 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Tracks:
- Suite in G minor BWV 995: Prelude
- Suite in G minor BWV 995: Allemande
- Suite in G minor BWV 995: Courante
- Suite in G minor BWV 995: Sarabande
- Suite in G minor BWV 995: Gavotte I - Gavotte II en Rondeau
- Ste in g, BWV 995: Gigue - Luca Pianca
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Prld (Passagio-Presto) - Michele Barchi
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Allemande - Michele Barchi
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Courante - Michele Barchi
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Sarabande - Michele Barchi
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Bourree - Michele Barchi
- Ste in e, BWV 996: Gigue - Michele Barchi
- Ste in c, BWV 997: Prld - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
- Ste in c, BWV 997: Fuga - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
- Ste in c, BWV 997: Sarabande - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
- Ste in c, BWV 997: Gigue-Double - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
Tracks:
- Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Vivace
- Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Largo, ma non tanto
- Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Allegro
- Concerto BWV 1042: Allegro
- Concerto BWV 1042: Adagio
- Con in E, BWV 1042: Allegro Assai - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in a, BWV 1041: Allegro - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in a, BWV 1041: Andante - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in a, BWV 1041: Allegro Assai - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1056R: (Allegro) - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1056R: Largo - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1056R: Presto - Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1060R: Allegro - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1060R: Adagio - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt
- Con in g, BWV 1060R: Allegro - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt
Amazon.com
The Bach renaissance--which began in earnest in the early 19th century thanks to the efforts of Felix Mendelssohn and others--inspired an endeavor of far-reaching significance. It led to the founding of the Bach Society in 1850, with the goal of gathering and publishing the composer's complete works, and thus set into motion one of the great projects of musical scholarship. That effort has continued and been refined throughout the 20th century, ultimately influencing not only our perception of how to perform early music but fundamental ideas of musical history, evolution, and reception as well.
Teldec's mammoth Bach 2000 box set represents a kind of culmination of that original attempt to come to terms with Johann Sebastian Bach's unparalleled legacy. This set brings together performances recorded over the last several decades--a small percentage of the recordings are previously unreleased--of all the extant works determined by modern scholarship to be authentic. There are also some pieces the authorship of which is still in question and a few now deemed "inauthentic" but familiarly associated with the composer. Bach was a prodigious reviser of his compositions, and alternate versions of a particular work have been included "where the changes seemed sufficiently important," such as the glorious Magnificat. No doubt manuscripts will continue to be unearthed here and there in various archives (Bach 2000 contains, for example, the "Neumeister chorales," which were rediscovered in 1984), but the set does not represent the many fragments of music that consist of just a few bars; however, there are some reconstructions of lost concertos (such as one for three violins reconstructed by Christopher Hogwood from an extant concerto for harpsichords).
Of course a truly comprehensive recorded edition of every note Bach wrote remains a utopian impossibility--about one-third of his cantatas, for example, have not survived. Even so, the dimensions of Bach 2000 are staggering. With its 12 boxes comprising 153 CDs, the set can be compressed into fewer boxes to save shelf space yet is still about ten times as long as the Ring cycle. (It should be noted that the packaging--using thin cardboard sleeves for the CDs--is distinctively unattractive.) That adds up to just under 160 hours of music--but a lifetime of discovery. Each box (grouped according to genre) contains a booklet with excellent notes on individual works and--for all the choral works--texts and translations. Tracking indexes are useful and thorough. Also included is a profusely illustrated hardbound volume of 24 Inventions, in which journalist Wolfgang Sandberger uses the composer's biography as a peg for some enigmatic and fascinating musings on the meaning of Bach today.
The presiding philosophy behind this project and its approach to musical interpretation can be largely ascribed to Nikolaus Harnoncourt, a true musical pioneer and galvanizing force of the "period performance" movement. Harnoncourt's epoch-making recordings of the sacred cantatas (using, for instance, boy sopranos and choristers according to the practice in Bach's time) with the Concentus musicus Wien and colleague Gustav Leonhardt comprise the first four volumes here (those who already own them can turn to the Bach 2000 Light edition, which contains everything sans the cantatas). These recordings--which were not remastered for this set--have long been controversial and are notably uneven, embracing some magnificent accounts as well as others that lack fire and seem clearly underrehearsed. But Harnoncourt is one of the most fascinating conductors of our era, and his interpretations amply bear out his assertion: "I have never felt that Bach worked in a routine manner, that he repeated himself in his works." Harnoncourt--who has articulated many of his ideas in his book The Musical Dialogue--displays his gifts as a cellist in a remarkably probing performance of the Cello Suites (originally recorded in 1965) and in his concertizing for a number of chamber works. For the St. Matthew Passion, you get Harnoncourt's groundbreaking earlier account from 1970, while his 1986 recording of the sublime B Minor Mass is also represented here (the St. John Passion included is Harnoncourt's 1995 acount).
Other artists included are colleague Gustav Leonhardt, whose thoughtful if occasionally dry harpsichord artistry is heard in the Goldberg Variations as well as in the concertos and chamber music. The harpsichord is in fact used throughout in preference to piano for the keyboard works. Ton Koopman (himself the conductor of an ongoing complete cantata series and of the Easter Oratorio included here) performs the organ works, including some newly recorded offerings, while Il Giardino Armonico's well-known high-energy account represents the Brandenburg Concertos. Violinist Thomas Zehetmair is exceptionally compelling in the unaccompanied sonatas and partitas, and the Concentus musicus Wien--again under Harnoncourt--perform a superb Musical Offering that richly repays frequent listening.
The result of Bach 2000 as a whole is an aptly encyclopedic grappling with the infinite legacy of this most compendious of composers, whose works are on one level a summation of all the styles available to him. Bach was once thought to represent a "terminal point" (to use Albert Schweitzer's famous formulation), the end of an era; today he is at least equally recognized as a fertile source of inspiration for composers since. To be sure, individual recordings of particular works will be found to be preferable, and it would be misguided to consider Bach 2000 any kind of "final" or "definitive" word. Instead, it's an indispensable starting point that represents a monumental achievement for our own contemporary understanding of Bach. --Thomas May
Album Description
Volume 1, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 1-14, 16-47; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt
Volume 2, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 48-52, 54-69, 69A, 70-99; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt
Volume 3, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 100-117, 119-140,143-149; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt
Volume 4, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas BWV 150-159, 161-188, 192, 194-199; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt
Volume 5, 11 Discs
Secular Cantatas App. Sacred Cantatas; 11 CDs; Koopman, Harnoncourt, Koopman, Goebel and others
Volume 6, 14 Discs
The Sacred Vocal Works Masses,Magnificat, Passions, Oratorios; 14 CDs; Harnoncourt, Koopman, Corboz and others
Volume 7
, 7 Discs
The Motets, Chorales & Songs Kirnberger Chorales,Schemelli Songs, Quodlibet
Volume 8, 16 Discs
The Organ Works; 16 CDs; Ton Koopman
Volume 9, 11 Discs
The Keyboard Works (I) The Well-Tempered Clavier, English & French Suites, Partitas etc; 11 CDs; Curtis, Ross, Wilson, Ruzickova
Volume 10, 11 Discs
The Keyboard Works (II) Goldberg Variations, Toccatas, Fugues, Italian Concerto, etc; 11 CDs; Staier, Barchi, Leonhardt, von Asperen, Baumont, and others
Volume 11, 13 Discs
The Chamber Music Violin Sonatas & Partitas, Flute Sonatas, Works for Lute, Art of Fugue, Musical Offering, etc; 13 CDs; Harnoncourt, Pianca, Tachezi, Brggen, Zehetmair, and others
Volume 12, 10 Discs
The Orchestral Works The Concertos & Orchestral Suite; 10 CDs; Il Giardino Armonico, Harnoncourt, Leonhardt
Customer Reviews:
Bach is priceless.......2006-11-10
I believe, as another reviewer has stated, Bach's music may be the best ever written. Also, I think the cantatas are not where Bach placed his heart and soul. He was, after all, employed as a canter and in a position he did not wish for, but was forced to take to feed his large family. (I recommend "Bach and the High Baroque" lecture series by TTC.) What really stands out on this collection are all works in volumes 8 and above. Some of these works are hard to find and having them all in this collection and preformed on original instruments is great. Bach is priceless and so then is this collection.
Buy the works you like...........2006-01-11
If you love Bach, which you must if you are looking at this particular item, you probably own a couple of his works already. Perhaps some of them are on the Teldec label. There is nothing wrong with Teldec if you are just getting into "classical" music. You will probably enjoy the music thoroughly. I know I did, as one of the first "classical" releases I bought was on Teldec, and it was Bach. I was amazed how great Bach was. Then my brother showed me the same recording, performed by another group, on another label. It had a lot more passion, and the instrumentalists were obviously of a higher level. Pardon my rambling, but what I'm trying to say is, the recordings found in this boxset are not the "cream of the crop." They are perfectly acceptable, easily listenable renditions of what many consider the greatest music...EVER. Take it from me, someone who has leapt into boxset land one too many times: Save your money, buy the individual albums. Take your time, talk to record store clerks (read Amazon reviews), do your research. If you are lucky enough to have a decent record store around, listen to multiple versions of the same work. No one said you had to buy it all at once. It can take a lifetime to fully realize the potency of this music, so enjoy the discovery as long as possible.
Poor Bach.......2005-11-26
In Antony & Cleopatra, Shakespeare wrote: "I shall see some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness...."
I am 99% in favor of original instrument performances, but there are limits. Just imagine if we had the same sort of thing going on with Shakespeare's plays -- men and boys playing all of the women's parts. And if we *really* wanted to be original, they would be squeaking boys "I' th' posture of a whore" (Shakespeare's words). Such performances would knock Monty Python
right out of business.
The Cantatas, which are the lion's share of this collection, are sung by boys, boys, boys. If you want to ruin boy choirs for yourself, then go for it. It might still be a novelty by the fifth CD but by the fiftieth, you will want to throw your &*%$ wig at the squeaking speakers, just as the exasperated Bach famously did with his own wig and his own boy choir. (For which he was reprimanded.)
Does Harnoncourt really, honestly think that Bach would have picked a boy choir if he could have had women? Does anyone seriously believe that Shakespeare would have preferred his parts played by boys instead of women?
If you buy this set, don't buy it for the Cantatas, unless (unlike Bach) you can tolerate immature voices with "wig-tossingly" inconsistent intonation. Hold out for Suzuki or Koopman. Stay away from the Rifkin perfomances, mostly because the recording quality is second and third rate by today's standards. Not that historical performances should be shunned, but you might want to think twice about 60 odd CDs worth of second rate sound.
A Treasure Trove.......2004-03-07
This set is the culmination of several decades of work on the part of the West German record label Teldec (formerly known as Telefunken-Decca). With their early-music subdivision Das Alte Werk (similar to DG's Archiv or Decca's L'Oiseau-Lyre), Teldec have been in the forefront of exploring the world of period instruments and authentic performance practice, with special emphasis on the works of J.S.Bach. The lion's share of recordings here was originally made for Das Alte Werk, with the odd exception here and there licensed from other labels in order to fill in the gaps. The centerpiece of the set is the famous recording of the 199 church cantatas by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustav Leonhardt. If you're not familiar with the cantatas, there's a whole world of drama