El Niño [Clean]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the late 1990s so many rappers are appearing on each other's records that it becomes easy to forget just whose album it is. On El Niño, Keith Murray, Erick Sermon, and Redman--all lethal MCs--took the next logical step and joined forces. The result? Chemistry class is in session. What cannot be understated is how reenergized the trio sound together. They appear invigorated with a sense of focus and duty: "Full Cooperation" is pure park-after-dark rhyming; "The Game" is the trio at its freshest, freely trading four bars each over classic cuts, breaks, and beats; and then there's "Ride wit Us," with one of the most surreal exchanges on the album, when guest rapper Too Short passes the mic to Murray over a Sermon beat. Juice Crew veteran Biz Markie also adds some old-school spice to a cover of "Rhymin' with Biz" that pairs the original hook with James Brown's "Payback" guitar. --Todd Inoue

Vibe
The WDEF radio format that strings this collection together doesn't work because it's been done to death and it's just not funny--especially when you have to fast- forward every five minutes.... [B]ut for the most part, Keith Murray and Redman hold it down on the lyrical tip. It's not that El Nino is a total washout; it just doesn't slam like you expect it to.

El Niño [Clean]

El Niño,Def Squad,Def Jam,East Coast Rap,Gangsta Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop

El Niño [Clean]

Tracks:

Moment Musical In E Mino Op. 12 No. 4
Prelude In G Op.32 No.5
Etude-Tableau In D Op.39 No.9
Prelude in D Flat Op.17 No.3
Prelude In E Flat Minor Op.16 No.4
Prelude In G Op.13 No.3
Etude in C Sharp Minor Op.42 No.5
La Vida Breve: First Spanish Dance - Manuel De Falla
Goyescas: Quejas O La Maya Y El Ruisenor
Danza Del Viejo Boyero
Danza De La Moza Donosa
Danza Del Gaucho Matrero
Nocturne In D Flat Op.27 No.2
Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor Op.66
Mephisto Waltz No.1

Tracks:

On Rachmaniov: Vocalise
On The Theme From Bach 'Goldberg Variations'
On Chopin: Nocturne In D Flat
On Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2
Inspired By Scriabin
On Duermete Mi Nino
In The Style Of Tango
On Granados: 'Quejas O La Maya El Ruisenor'
In The Style Of Bach
On Chopin: Prelude In A
'Improvisation in Blue (Gabriela Montero)'
'Song for Natalia and Isabella (Gabriela Montero)'

Customer Reviews:

Gabriela Montero CDs.......2007-06-12

Excellent service -- speedy, just as described, well-packaged. I'd definitely buy from this seller again.

Non-professional Review.......2007-03-27

Okay, I listen almost exclusively to classical music, but I do so simply for the pleasure and nothing more. I cannot tell you about Gabriela Montero's technique, and, when she improvises, I have no ability to judge the music's intrinsic value, authenticity, or whatever. I can only tell you this: while I own many dozens of albums, running the full spectrum of the classical genre, I value none of them above Montero's Bach and Beyond and her Piano Recital. Pure listening joy!

Absolutely Magnificent!.......2007-03-09

I first saw Gabriela Montero on 60 Minutes a few months ago and was taken by her playing ability as well as her ability to improvise on the classics. Ms. Montero's fingers fly over the keyboard, playing Rachmaninoff more dramatically and key-perfect than I've heard in a long time. I decided to purchase this CD and have not been disappointed.

Improvisations Unbelievable!.......2007-01-26

Gabriela Montero is a tremendous talent, both in standard classical repertoire, and improvisation. I have know her since she was a young girl, and she was by far the best pianist around, even then. She is an undersung pianist of our age, and should rise to the top very soon!

A beautiful breath of fresh air!.......2007-01-20

What a sheer delight hearing her play. I've never heard anyone quite like her. A phenomenally gifted player, and it's a rare treat to hear someone who defies pigeonholing. I had heard her on the radio, and knew I was onto something when her improvisation on a very simple theme gave me the chills. I love both CD's in this collection.

It's interesting hearing the negative response coming from some classical musicians and fans. At times it can seem to roughly follow the stages of grief as proposed by Kubler-Ross. I'm a professional guitarist, and it's funny because it's almost identical to how guitarists react to hearing another guitarist, but with an big class-conscious overlay (all very civilized, of course). Think of the "guitarist screwing in a lightbulb" joke. To paraphrase and extrapolate on what someone might say upon hearing her improvisation:

1. Shock: Wow, he's good. Oh, and it's a woman!? And you say it's improvisation??

2. Denial: That can't possibly be improvisation. Classical musicians don't engage in that untidy process. What she's playing must be written out, and I can tell! Don't ask, I just know it.

3. Anger: This stuff is no good. Only permanent music is of value through the ages, and that's why classical music (and only the European kind) is better than any other music. Besides, I can't improvise, so I reject it - and only THOSE people engage in improvisation.

4. Depression: She can play all the classical music, and seemingly can improvise, or at least pass her stuff off as such. Not only that, she's getting attention and money, and we're not. Why is the world unfair?

5. Acceptance: (sort of) Well, I guess she's selling CD's, and is becoming successful. She is, I hate to admit it, a great player. Even if she is a faker. Of course, they're begging my Muffy to become artist-in-residence in Spoleto....

The other reviewer has a point when he says that she may be viewed as a curiosity. Because she's crossing genres, people may not know what to make of it, and this often causes reflexive hostility. As an improvisor, I would agree that it's hard to say that something is 100% improvised - players tend to have pet phrases and favorite general ideas they return to. But to me, Gabriela's playing is at the highest level of skill, beauty, and feeling, whether improvising or playing written pieces.

Average customer rating:

an exotic, exceptional tribute album
Pure Magic !

Paz
El Nino Josele
Manufacturer: Sony International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

Flamenco | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Live at the Village Vanguard
Junjo
Live at Birdland
Bill Evans Trio: The Oslo Concerts
Kids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

ASIN: B000HD1OI2
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Tracks:

Peace Piece
Waltz for Debby
Peacocks
I Do It for Your Love
My Foolish Heart
Dolphin
Hullo Bolinas
Minha
Never Let Me Go
Turn out the Stars
When I Fall in Love

Customer Reviews:

an exotic, exceptional tribute album.......2007-07-19

After many listenings over several months, this cd remains fresh. Nino ("the kid") Josele crosses over from flamenco to the jazz mainstream with apparent ease. He adapts some classic Bill Evans compositions (Peace Piece, Waltz for Debby, Turn Out the Stars) to his acoustic guitar; he also plays several ballads associated with Evans, and adds several surprises that I didn't know Evans had recorded (The Peacocks, The Dolphin, Hullo Bolinas, Minha). Marc Johnson is featured in duets on several tracks; Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, and Jerry Gonzales are also heard to subtle effect. Estrella Morente is heard on "Minha," and Freddy Cole sings Leonard Cohen's "I Do It For Your Love." Extraordinary variety in the music; it's aesthetically unified but never monotonous.

Pure Magic ! .......2007-05-08

Maybe the best cd of 2007 ! Nino Josele is a master in interpreting the music of Bill Evans . Flamenco lover or not , Bill Evans lover or not , everyone will love this cd . What a touch , what a sound , it feel like Bill is so close to you on that cd !

just get it !

The Movie Album Classical Pictures; John Bayless

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, sensitive playing....
John Bayless is awesome
The One CD in My Collection I Never Tire of Listening To
Gorgeous arrangements. Very dramatic and melodic.

The Movie Album Classical Pictures; John Bayless
John Bayless , Luis Enrique Bacalov , Giacomo Puccini , Michel Legrand , Joaquin Rodrigo , Nino Rota , John Williams , James Horner , Sergey Rachmaninov , and Harold Arlen
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Romantica
The Puccini Album: Arias for Piano
Christmas Rhapsody
Bach Meets the Beatles: Revisited
Bayless Meets Bernstein: West Side Story Variations

ASIN: B000002SLY
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

Il Postino, From The Postman - Visi d'Arte, From Tosca
El Canto de Ensarria - The Summer Knows, From Summer Of '42 - Concierto de Aranjuez, 2nd Movement
A Time For Us, Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet- Adagio In G Minor
Theme From Schindler's List - Prelude In C-Sharp Minor - Hatikva (Interlude)
Somewhere Out There, From An American Tail - Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini Variations No.18
When I fall In Love, From Sleepless In Seattle - Liebestraume
Moon River, From Breakfast At Tiffany's - Piano Concerto No.2, 1st Movement
Beauty And The Beast, From Beauty And The Beast - Prayer From Hansel And Gretel
Over The Rainbow, From The Wizard Of Oz - Legends

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, sensitive playing...........2003-11-02

Ah, reader, consider this album. I have been listening to Bayless music for years, from Bach Meets the Beatles to his crazy happy birthday album in a dozen styles (Stravinsky's Rite of Birthday, a favorite), but this one has something special going on. The playing is so beautifully, and sensitively played that one is really swept away by the original movie tune, interwound with a classical piece, so seamless and amazing. One of my all-time favorite albums.

John Bayless is awesome.......2003-10-13

He's such a great talent, I was lucky enough to meet him almost 2 years ago. I got this CD autographed! :) He was such a nice person and performed so well on the stage. Buy this album, it's really awesome!

The One CD in My Collection I Never Tire of Listening To.......2001-03-24

John Bayless had a vision for this album---to combine the most beautiful classical pieces along with the most romantic and engaging movie themes of all time. The arrangements and the way in which he weaves the varous pieces together, sometimes playing both themes simultaneously, are incredible. They lift you up and carry you away. The various instrumental additions (such as the guitar in track 2, drums in track 6, strings in track 5, the sound of the wind in track 4) add just the right touch---lightly sprinkled in when needed. As a professional pianist myself, I also appreciate his considerable technique and the emotion with which he infuses his music. Anyone who likes classical music and movies should own this CD. Anyone who has friends who like classical music and movies should purchase this CD for them. They will love you for it. It is my favorite CD. I never tire of listening to it.

Gorgeous arrangements. Very dramatic and melodic........1999-11-16

Don't be scared off by the "clown-like" picture on the cover. This album, by a true piano virtuoso/arranger, blends familiar movie and light classical melodies together into unique arrangements. Every time it's been on while I have guests, someone always asks "What's that beautiful music?"

The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles

Average customer rating:

Very nice introduction to the work of a great soprano
The very best performance by Victoria de los Angeles
In Memoriam: A Tribute To The Late Victoria
the genius of de los angeles
A n angelic voice

The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
Victoria De Los Angeles
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Very Best of
The Very Best of Lucia Popp
Very Best of
The Very Best of Janet Baker
The Very Best of Franco Corelli

ASIN: B000083GOE
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

O Mio Babbino Caro
Un Bel Di Vedremo
Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi - Jussi Bjorling
Senza Mamma
Voi Lo Sapete, O Mamma
Qual Fiamma Avea Nel Guardo!... Hui! Stridono Lassu
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana
Nacqui All'Affano...Non Piu Mesta
Una Voce Poco Fa
E Strano!... Ah, Fors' E Lui...Sempre Libera
Porgi, Amor
Dich, Teure Halle
Einsam In Truben Tagen
Je Ne Suis Que Faiblesse...Adieu, Notre Petite Table
Les Grands Seigneurs...Ah! Je Ris
Quand Je Vous Aimerai?...L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle

Tracks:

Auf Flugein Des Gesanges
Ich Liebe Dich
Wiegenlied
Les Filles De Cadiz
Cuba Dentro De Un Piano
Chevre
Punto De Habanera
Cancion De Cuna Para Dormir A Un Negrito
Canto Negro
De Espana Vengo
Cancion Del Amor Dolido
Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo
La Pastoura Als Camps
Bailero
Chut, Chut
Uno Jionto Postouro
Oh! Had I Jubal's Lyre
An Die Musik
Dein Blaues Auge
Vergebliches Standchen - Gerald Moore
L'Invitation Au Voyage
La Flute Enchantee
Chanson Espagnole
Chanson Francaise
Chanson Italienne
Clavelitos!
Malaguena - Gerald Moore
Granadina - Gerald Moore
Adios, Granada
Zapateado (La Tarantula E Un Bicho Mu Malo) - Alicia De Larrocha

Customer Reviews:

Very nice introduction to the work of a great soprano.......2007-07-13

This 2 CD set is a terrific introduction to the body of work of Victoria de los Angeles. As the "liner notes" point out: "She was an artist who brought individuality and a sense of joy to everything she performed. . . ." And this is not hyperbole. She was a top soprano in the middle part of the twentieth century.

Some cuts exemplify her art:

"Un bel di" is a ravishing version of this well known aria. She demonstrates a rich voice with fine musicality. This is a ravishing version of this aria. The singer displays good vocal control. There are nice transitions across the registers.

"Si, mi chiamano Mimi" is another well known work for sopranos. Again, nicely done. She appears (to me anyhow) to catch the spirit of Mimi very nicely indeed.

From "La Traviata," she essays "E strano. . .Sempre Libera." This is an affecting version. She does not have the coloratura armamentarium that some have brought to bear on this aria, but she does a fine job nonetheless. She seems to capture the desperate spirit of Violetta in "Sempre Libera."

Rossini's "Una voce poco fa" is a nice tour de force for sopranos. De los Angeles does a nice job here. This is a work from the Bel canto repertoire, but she does well. She shows vocal agility and captures the spirit of the work. This is an affecting, charming version. There is some occasional vocal harshness, but not a serious issue.

From "Carmen," "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle." Richly and nicely sung.

Her range on this CD is worth noting: from Puccini and Verdi to Wagner to Rossini to Gounod.

And then another of her specialties--songs. She does a nice turn with the Spanish song "Malaguena." Then, in a nice twist, she accompanies herself on guitar in "Adios Granada." I'm not normally so excited about songs, but in this case I found her work enchanting.

So, if you want to get a sense of the artistry of Victoria de los Angeles, this is an excellent starting point. Highly recommended!

The very best performance by Victoria de los Angeles.......2006-09-13

Is the recording on Allegro records of her performance of Madame Butterfly in New Orleans in 1954, not the Rome recording. She is simply radiant, perfect, a voice truly that is a victory for the angels. Unbelievably marvelous.

In Memoriam: A Tribute To The Late Victoria.......2005-02-01

Victoria De Los Angeles died Saturday of heart failure at the age of 83 in Barcelona, Spain. The world of opera mourns her loss. She was a gifted soprano and a wonderful human being. On stage, she was able to directly speak to her audience and communicate with them in a very special and rare way that is not always seen today. She never hid herself behind a facade nor distanced herself from fans and audiences. She was born to sing opera. It was in her blood. This album showcases De Los Angeles in her most memorable and successful roles. Victoria De Los Angeles was one of the first singers from Spain to win worldwide acclaim. Others would follow- Placido Domingo and Montserrat Caballe. De Los Angeles is showcased in this album which may also serve as a tribute to the now late soprano.

Her voice was essentially full lyric with some spinto. Hearing her renditions of "O Mio Babbini Caro"- a signature soprano role, as well as "Ebben Ne Andro Lontana" from La Wally and her performances as Mimi, one is clearly treated to the truest form of a pure lyric soprano. Her voice is spunned gold, with sweet, warm, feminine textures. Her reperotire remained in the Italian and French. Of course, being Spanish, she was a leading singer in Spanish Lieder and romantic ballads. Her Art Songs in Spanish are full of elegance and grace. A champion of obscure composers, she sang and recorded recitals that featured the works of lesser known composers, though strictly Lieder and Folk/Art Song.

Victoria De Los Angeles is fortunately a well-documented artist. Some film footage exist of her performances. I seem to recall that there exists a taped performance of her Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata. She excelled in the lyric roles of Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme, Marguerite in Gounod's Faust. Her Madame Butterfly is a pure lyric rendition, with less of the dramatic intensity other singers have given the role- i.e. Leontine Price, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, etc. But her Butterfly is actually the way the role ought to be sung. It's a voice of grace, naivete and above all romance that must colorize Butterfly. The dramatic intensity only makes her sound older and madly passionate. She is only a fifteen year old girl who has been deceived and betrayed. She must remain youthful sounding. De Los Angeles does justice to the truest form of Butterfly. She was thrilling in French and Italian operas and her Spanish songs were briliant and beautiful.

Victoria will always be remembered. She was a unique and talented artist of the lyric repertoire. Her pure, lovely voice was like an angel's. There will never be another Victoria De Los Angeles. With her death, the end of an era also passes. In particular, I will always remember one reported incident. She was about to make her first recital in America but she had no accompanist- pianist/guitarist etc. When asked how she would handle this, she remarked: "Well I brought my guitar with me". And she proceeded to accompany herself with the guitar.

the genius of de los angeles.......2004-02-14

the incomparable de los angeles combines exquisite sound and nuance to the world of superb singing. her mastery of a variety of styles is astounding and yet it always sounds natural.her magic will live forever.

A n angelic voice.......2004-02-06

De los Angeles' ability to sing with elegance and style has rarely been equalled and never been surpassed. She's the greatest Charlotte in "Werther", the most tender Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana" and the most sumptuos Nedda in "I Pagliacci". Her Lieder-Recordings are legendary, my favourites are the Spanish ones of course. What a piano-culture and what a velvet sound! Get this set, it's cheap and it has GREAT singing!

Average customer rating:

Pure Christmas
Christmas magic
a voice teacher and early music fan
Simply beautiful
It's that time of year...for Chanticleer!

Sing We Christmas
Chanticleer
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)
Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King
How Sweet the Sound: Spirituals & Traditional Gospel Music
Chanticleer: Magnificat (A Capella Works by Josquin, Palestrina, Titov, Victoria, and Others)

ASIN: B000000SNL
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
O magnum mysterium
In dulci iubilo
O virgo virginum
O Jesulein s Jesulein mild
Hodie Christus natus est
Marabile mysterium
Verbum caro factum est: Y la Virgen le dezia
A un nilorando
Here Is The Little Door
Noel canon
Quelle est cette odeur agrle
El Noi de la Mare
A Christmas Carol
A virgin unspotted
In the bleak mid-winter
Glory to the newborn King
Stille nacht - Douce nuit - Silent night

Amazon.com

Christmas is the season for whipping out those holiday-specific standard recordings. This splendid gift by Chanticleer should top the list, for one will never tire of this a cappella choir's interpretations. With selections spanning the last five centuries of Latin, German, English, Spanish, and French festive fare, this recording exemplifies the sacrifice of the ego to the higher form of choral sound. Jacob Handl's "Mirabile Mysterium" takes you on a trip into the chromatic wonderlands, where you temporarily lose tonal balance. Victoria's eerie and dissonant "O Magnum Mysterium" treats us to rich voices swelling out of one organic whole. The phenomenal blend and perfect intonation elevate this recording above others in its category. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

Pure Christmas.......2007-01-16

If you are looking for traditional madrigal sounding holiday music, this CD is for you. I have purchased this CD several times because I just keep giving them away. Everyone I've ever introduced it to has loved it. This finely polished group has a pure sound matched by no other. If you weren't looking at the CD notes you would never know this is only a group of 12 men.

Christmas magic.......2007-01-10

A CD evocative of Christmas past and present. Beautiful harmonies both wistful and ringing with joy. Buy it for next Christmas!

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-12-02

Chanticleer, the U.S. equivalent of the British King's Singers, is a full-time classical vocal ensemble named for the rooster in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. It was founded in 1978 by Louis Botto, a tenor, and for a while was its artistic director. They have achieved critical acclaim all over the world and their repertoire is very extensive and varied. Just commenting on a few of the selections on this disc:
'Es ist ein Ros entsprungen' is a hymn that originated in western Germany around 1500, and is best known in the harmonization by Michael Praetorious published around 1609. The poem used biblical imagery that pictures the newborn Christ growing forth from the "stem of Jesse'(the father of King David), as foretold in Isiah 11. The metaphorical writings of the Middle Ages depict the patriarchal figure of Jesse as a rose bush.
'O Magnum mysterium',Victoria's most famous motet, uses a subline text from the Christmas Vespers. This is incredibly beautiful with its interweaving polyphony which leads to a hushed choral declamation at the words "O beata Virgo"(O Blessed Virgin) ending with a Alleulia Section.
'Here is the Little Door' is from a set of three "carol anthems", dating from 1918-1920. Herbert Howells was revered as one of the 20th century's most distinguished Choral composers, and I recently discovered him thru the album " by the Corydon Singers conducted by Matthew Best. It includes Howells Requiem in addition to the Vaughan Williams Mass in G Minor. It is the most heavenly somewhat exotic choral music I think I have heard in many years of listening; I highly recommend it.
'Glory to the newborn King'. Joseph Jennings, Georgia native and present musical director of Chanticleer, has often drawn upon his roots to create special gospel and spiritual arrangements of familiar songs. 'Glory to the newborn King' features four traditional songs combined to showcase Chanticleer's unique choral virtuosity!
This is an excellent group of carols,and it is always refreshing to hear 'new' melodies, arrangements; a joy for the ear!!!!

Simply beautiful.......2006-02-20

The title and artist' name says it all - Christmas with clear (pure) singing. Glorious in all respects.

It's that time of year...for Chanticleer!.......2005-12-20

Walking the busy malls to the multichannel Muzak of every old Christmas song interpreted in hiphop, jazz, idiosyncratic 'rethinkings' by famous soloists as well as replays of Gene Autry, Bing Crosby etc., it is a relief to return home (or if fortunate, to the concert hall) and hear the more uplifting music of the season through the ages. And despite reliance on some old favorite Messiah recordings, and carols by Kings College Choir, the one CD that seems to reign supreme is this Chanticleer release SING WE CHRISTMAS from 1995!

These twelve male voices create an ambience that can only be labeled 'spiritual', so resonant and exquisitely performed are each of the generous works on this recording. The moods pass through Praetorius, Victoria, Bach and traditional carols of unknown authorship to works by Ives, Billings, Holst, Guerrero, Howells and Sametz. The repertoire is both familiar and rarely heard and the result of combining all these forms is the truest form of Christmas spirit on record: this is music to cleanse the Muzak blitz! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

Average customer rating:

Excellent music and musician
great composer
what a beautiful melodies Lauro is!
Holzman plays Lauro beautifully
The finest CD in my collection

Lauro: Venezuelan Waltzes for Guitar

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Villa-Lobos: Complete Music for Solo Guitar
Barrios: Guitar Music, Vol. 1
Leo Brouwer: Guitar Music, Vol. 1
Agustín Barrios: Guitar Music, Vol. 2
El Diablo Suelto - Guitar Music of Venezuela

ASIN: B00004NK2H
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

Seis Por Derecho: Joropo
Maria Carolina
El Marabino
Maria Luisa
Angostura
Adios A Ocumare
Papelon
Nelly
Suite Venezolana: I. Registro (Preludio)
Suite Venezolana: II. Danza Negra
Suite Venezolana: III. Cancion
Suite Venezolana: IV. Vals
Suite Venezolana: El Nino
4 Valses Venezolanos: Vals No.1
4 Valses Venezolanos: Vals No.2
4 Valses Venezolanos: Vals No.3 (Vals Criollo)
4 Valses Venezolanos: Vals No.4 (Yacambu)
4 Valses Venezolanos: El Negrito
4 Valses Venezolanos: La Gatica
Triptico: 1. Armida
Triptico: 2. Madrugada
Triptico: 3. La Negra
Variations Sobre Una Cancion Infantil Venezolana
Zulay
Carora

Customer Reviews:

Excellent music and musician.......2007-07-17

This is, indeed, Venezuelan music, masterfully executed by a master guitarist. Flawlessly executed it stands as a tribute to one of Venezuela's outstanding composers. ¡Cinco estrellas!

great composer.......2006-07-31

Antonio Lauro pieces are very melodic, not long, repetitive but beautiful, his music speaks directly to me and nobody really introduced me to it, i am familiar with many tunes through midi songs and some recordings. i will buy this cd because he comes up time and again as influential instrumentalist to me with interesting structures

i am going to pay cd and nylon string guitar soon too i feel.

what a beautiful melodies Lauro is!.......2004-05-25

I am a guitarist and listen to guitar sounds CD everyday. Especaily I listen to modern time guitar songs, A.York or R.Dyense etc, on the other hand, I listen to south and mid american songs. This Lauro's CD have my both wish, the unique sentimental and beautiful sounds of modern and south american.

Their songs is not long scale songs, though they are small songs, include many unique melodies with alpegio picking style.

It is very difficult to select his best songs because there are a lot of wondeful songs. I love Nataria and Angostuna especially. I think that he is genious in the point that make the songs with minor chords. In addition to that, his songs do not exist bad songs, all the songs is more that good.

Thank you for reading my poor English.

Holzman plays Lauro beautifully.......2003-03-07

A very nice collection of pieces from an important guitar composer. There are other fine performances of Antonio Lauro's works by John Williams and David Burgess, for instance, but this CD certainly does honor to Lauro's musical contributions.

The finest CD in my collection.......2002-11-10

This is currently my favorite guitar recording. The sound is powerful and the playing is unbelievable. I immediately bought every Adam Holtzman CD I could find and they are wonderful too.

John Adams - El Nino / Hunt-Lieberson, Upshaw, W. White, Nagano

Average customer rating:

El Nino
Adams oratorio completely renews an old genre for our times
John Adams El Nino
Revisiting El niño
An American Masterpiece

John Adams - El Nino / Hunt-Lieberson, Upshaw, W. White, Nagano

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Music of Peter Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto
Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs
Handel - Theodora / Peter Sellars · William Christie · Upshaw, Hunt, Daniels, Croft · Glyndebourne Opera
Bach - Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook (highlights) / Hunt-Liberson, McGegan
Lorraine Hunt - Handel Arias

ASIN: B00005NHNU
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

I Sing Of A Maiden
Hail, Mary, Gracious!
La Anunciacion
For With God No Thing Shall Be Impossible
The Babe Leaped In Her Womb
Magnificat
Now She Was Sixteen Years Old
Joseph's Dream
Shake The Heavens
Se Habla De Gabriel
The Christmas Star

Tracks:

Pues Mi Dios Ha Nacido A Penar
When Herod Heard
Woe Unto Them That Call Evil Good
And The Star Went Before Them
The Three Kings
And When They Were Departed
Dawn Air
And He Slew All The Children
Memorial De Tiatelolco
In The Day Of The great Slaughter
Pues Esta Tritando
Jesus And The Dragons
A Palm Tree

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

To clear up one thing first: this is not about the El Niño weather system that hits the western Pacific every few years. Instead, this is a rather beautifully done Nativity Oratorio by John Adams, filled with his trademark dancing minimalist rhythms and tuneful melodies. The text is in Spanish, English, and Latin, and comes from both New World and Old World sources, all centering on the birth of Christ. Particular kudos must go to the three principals: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano; Dawn Upshaw, soprano; and Willard White, baritone. Even though there are moments when White's baritone threatens to dominate, they aren't significant enough to forestall any pleasure in the overall work. And while there are moments of drama here, they aren't nearly as spooky as those in The Death of Klinghoffer, Adams's other clear masterpiece. But El Niño is definitely a masterpiece and a must for anyone's collection of contemporary music. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

El Nino.......2007-01-13

What I love about John Adams is how he is able to write melodies that get stuck in your head yet, aren't so poppy that a classically trained vocalist will sound retarded singing them. El Nino as a whole is an extremely effective piece of music. It is both for the casual listener and then critical listener because it is deep but is very appreciable on the surface level too. I would recommend El Nino to anyone who likes John Adams or legit art music of any kind.

Adams oratorio completely renews an old genre for our times.......2006-12-10

Having just witnessed El Niño performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra I have to say that it is truly astounding how well Adams succeeds in creating a true twenty-first century oratorio. He has said that he wanted to write his own Messiah, because he love Handel's so much. I wonder how many listeners are aware how deftly he has transformed the difficult, narrative recitatives of baroque practice into the haunting "greek chorus" of three countertenor voices? Or how he pays tribute to Handel's famous manner of illustrating the imagery in the text with the vocal writing? Or how brillantly like Bach he tempers the holy rejoicing with deeply personal expressions of terrible pain and terror?

I'm sure the Sellars staging in the original was impressive but I was glad to have an opportunity to experience the music only, which sustains the listeners' attention as surely as does Handel's oratorio.

This recording is to be prized for another reason. The truly great Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson, one of the most electrifying stage presences in classical music in our times, died of cancer last summer. And now the news that Dawn Upshaw, the other, spectacular lead female singer, is battling the same disease. They would both have been featured in this Boston production, but one is gone and the other has cancelled her season while she battles the disease. Here they are on this beautiful recording, as they will not be heard together again.

John Adams El Nino.......2006-08-14

How can one lose with a cast like this? Adams' El Nino is what the Florentine Camerata would have produced in 1698 if film projection had been available! Unfortunately, Peter Sellars' staging, with film, can't be shared here, but it can be imagined because of the music--relentless on the one hand, soul-fully lyrical on the other--inspired by literary sources drawn from a wide variety of sources. Not opera. Not oratorio. But exciting and unique.

Revisiting El niño.......2005-12-20

Having first experienced John Adams' 'El niño' a couple of years ago fully staged by Peter Sellars and heard/seen more as a spectacle of video and quasi-choreography with the performers on the stage and the orchestra in the pit, this listener came away humming the visuals of bonfires on the beach with a Latino Holy Family: impressive evening but filler for a seemingly slight musical work. So why buy the CD set? Because I am a strong admirer of John Adams' work and felt I should give it more of a chance than a casual witness to a Christmas spectacle.

Now a few years later and with the CD studied, the next exposure to the work was in concert form and surprisingly 'El niño' works better without the distractions! The admixture of Spanish, Latin and English texts, using some wondrous poetry, the clarity of the vocal lines as sung to perfection by Upshaw, Hunt Lieberson and White, and above all the chance to really hear the brilliant orchestral details result in an oratorio that begins to work some magic. Adams creates a universality of message about birth and brotherhood that will help this rather overlong work sustain. The recording is quite fine and fortunately does not bear the stigmata of Adams' insistence of using mikes for the singers during live performance. Knowing this is one of his 'traits' forces devotees of his music to accept amplification as an instrument: even in his newest work 'Doctor Atomic' the singers are miked when they are all completely capable of filling a large house with their well-supported voices.

But ah, this is the 21st century and amplification is too much with us everywhere we go. So one can only shrug and say 'get over it.' It looks like 'El niño' has staying power: give it a chance. Not Adams' greatest work, but it ages well. Grady Harp, December 05

An American Masterpiece.......2002-10-04

John Adams' modern Nativity oratorio is not only the best thing he's written since "Nixon in China," it may be the best thing he's written. Filled with his usual driving rhythms and supple vocal lines, as well as more unusual features like a trio of countertenor angels, acoustic guitar, and settings of contemporary Latin American poetry, "El Niño" is big, bold and powerful without sounding busy or pretentious. The vocal performances are all heartfelt and perfectly nuanced, bringing out an emotional dimension in the Biblical characters rarely seen in more traditional approaches. It is a work that dares to be something both honest and majestic, and succeeds on every level. This is what new American music should be; and it deserves hearing by more than just fans of classical music.

Average customer rating:

One of he greatest voice ever!
overall
Beautiful

Zarzuela Arias & Duets

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Spanish & Portugese | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caballe, Montserrat | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Preludes & Choruses From Zarzuelas
Romanzas de Zarzuelas
Zarzuela: Spanish Operetta
On the Wings Of Song and Zarzuela Arias - Victoria de los Angeles
Gitano

ASIN: B000003FW6
Release Date: 1995-09-04

Tracks:

El Rey que rabi?: Mi t?o se figura
El Caser?o: Bueno d?as
La Canci?n del olvido: Marinela, Marinela
El Cabo primero: Yo quiero a un hombre
La Leyenda Del Beso: Amor, mi raza sabe conquistar
Bohemios: No quiero que sepa que aqu? vengo yo
La generala: Mi dulce sueno de adolescente
MARINA: Pensar en ?l
La Dolores: !Dolores m ... ! Aquu!
El Nino jud?o: De Espana vengo
Luisa Fernanda: Caballero del alto plumero
La Rosa del Azafr?n: No me duele que se vaya
Don Gil de AlcalBendita cruz
El D?o de la Africana: Comprende lo grave de mi situaci?n

Customer Reviews:

One of he greatest voice ever!.......2007-01-10

A privilege to hear this wonderful voice in these native, for her, works.

overall.......2006-03-16

Great recording
Great music selection, Great orchestration

Every thing is what I was looking for.
I wish you had the same subjects in DVD
Thank you

Beautiful.......2001-09-29

This is a must have if you are not familiar with zarzuela (Madrid's response to Vienna's operetta). It's a nice combination of arias sung by Caballe in beautiful voice and joined by her husband tenor Bernabe Marti for the duets. The CD comes with translations for non Spanish speaking which will greatly improve your satisfaction.
Caballe is in as beautful voice as ever and feels at home with this non very taxing repertoire. She doesn't overindulge in her other times frequent "floatiness" and is very expressive throughout. Thogh sometimes when some coloratura is needed she tends to drop the consonants blurring her enunciation of the words. We are used to this from her opera recordings though she's not as bad as Sutherland.
Marti is a nice tenor but is not in the same league as Caballe. That's why he never got star recognition though he made a few recordings whith his wife, like Bellini's "Il Pirata". His is a lyrical tenor, a little throaty but with nice projection of the sound. He sounds a little strained over the "passagio" but hits all the notes. More importantly, he compensates for his lack of vocal lustre with burning impersonations of his characters. Passionate and burning in some, tender and caressing in others. In this respect is better than his wife who is a little more doll like hidding behind her vocal resources. So I specially enjoyed the many and varied duets in this recording.
Strongly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Unknown Granados
Alicia de Larrocha's latest great recording

Granados

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Granados: Spanish Dances
Granados: Goyescas No1-6; Valses poéticos H147
Granados: 12 Danzas españolas
Albéniz: Iberia; Granados: Goyescas
Albeniz: Iberia

ASIN: B0000AC8P9
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Tracks:

Escenas romicas; Mazurka
Escenas romicas; Berceuse
Escenas romicas; Lento con extasis
Escenas romicas; Allegretto
Escenas romicas; Allegro appassionato
Escenas romicas; Epgo: Andantino spianato con exaltacioca
Bocetos; Despertar del cazador
Bocetos; El hada y el ni
Bocetos; Vals muy lento
Bocetos; La campana de la tarde
Cuentos; Dedicatoria
Cuentos; La mendiga
Cuentos; Cancie mayo
Cuentos; Cuento viejo
Cuentos; Viniendo de la fuente
Cuentos; ***
Cuentos; Recuerdos de la infancia
Cuentos; El fantasma
Cuentos; La huana
Cuentos; Marcha

Customer Reviews:

Unknown Granados.......2004-06-19

Enrique Granados is famous for his Goyescas; a work deeply imbued with a Spanish idiom. However, as this disc proves, he wrote many pieces that were rooted in European Romanticism. The works recorded her sound closer to Schumann and Brahms than to music written by a Spanish composer. The Escenas romanticas (Romantic Scenes) is a suite made up of six short pieces for piano beginning with a uncharacteristic Mazurka that has little to do with its Slavic dance origins. It is followed by a Berceuse, then a slow Lento piece characterized by brilliant keyboard runs, a short beautiful melody marked Allegro, a Rhapsody-like movement and ends with an Epilogue that is reminiscent of Chopin. Overall, the suite is a lyrical reflection of earlier composers; the writing is contemplative and reflective.

Bocetos (Sketches) are a set of short intimate studies. They are titled: The Hunter's Call, The Fairy and the Child, Very Slow Waltz and The Afternoon Bell. The pieces are highly descriptive and vary in expression. The Hunter's Call is jocular, the Fairy and the Child reminded me of Debussy in the quicksilver writing, the Waltz is close enough to Chopin to be mistaken for one of his works. The Afternoon Bell has a bucolic feel, describing a lovely landscape.

The final suite is Cuentos de la juventud (Stories of Youth) and consists of ten short pieces, the longest lasting two and a half minutes. The pieces are named: Dedication, The Beggar Woman, May Song, Old Tale, Coming From the Fountain, Memories from Infancy, The Ghost, The Orphan Girl and March. I found the first piece, Dedication, sounding like an extension of The Afternoon Bell. The Beggar Woman has an interesting trio section that seems to describe the activities of the titled woman. The Ghost is fun to listen to and would probably accompany a comedy more than a scary scene with a ghost. The March is, as one might expect, the liveliest piece in the collection. It also has something of a Spanish feel to it and, for me, was more characteristic of Granados' more familiar works. Taken together the pieces are pleasant miniatures that are evocative of their titles.

Alicia de Larrocha plays with great beauty and phrasing. Clearly, this is music close to her heart. Unfortunately, the disc times out at 52:26, which in these days of CDs playing up to 80 minutes is woefully short. I am wondering if there could not have been something additional (even reissuing something) that could have been placed on the disc. This is an interesting disc that reminds us that Granados had another side to his music but, because they often sound like other composers, it seems that the composer was seeking to imitate rather than create something original.

Alicia de Larrocha's latest great recording.......2003-12-13

The Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha has been celebrated for decades for her superb interpretations of keyboard works by the likes of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven (Recently she made her final concert appearances in North America; I had the pleasure of hearing her perform a Haydn piano concerto at New York City's Lincoln Center, accompanied by the New York Philharmonic several months ago.). She has also been noted for her enthusiastic support of Spanish composers such as Albeniz, de Falla and Granados. In her latest recording, she offers fine, lyrical performances of these Granados works for the piano, offering vibrant, atmospheric portraits of Spain tinged with Impressionism. Though she is forsaking North America as a venue for her concert appearances, this latest recording of hers still shows a remarkable artist at the height of her powers. Hopefully it will not be the last recording by one of the 20th Century's most gifted pianists.

Average customer rating:

Que Viva Zarzuela!!
Preludes & Choruses From Zarzuelas
overall
The Dance of the Lovers is Here!
¡Olé!

Preludes & Choruses From Zarzuelas

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Zarzuela Arias & Duets
Zarzuela: Spanish Operetta
Romanzas de Zarzuelas
Viva la Zarzuela!
Gitano

ASIN: B00007FKQI
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

Preludio
El Noble Gremio...
Intermedio
Coro De Doctores
Preludio
Intermedio
Seguidillas
Preludio
Preludio
Se Marcha Furioso
Preludio
Intermedio
Ronda De Enamorados
Preludio (II Acto)
Ensalada Madrilena

Customer Reviews:

Que Viva Zarzuela!!.......2006-11-10

Zarzuela is Spanish operetta. This is a fine collection of choruses and preludes from various famous Zarzuelas, particularly for a beginner in the genre. If however you have been "enrollado" in Zarzuela for a while it's a lot like popular classics or "Opera Goes to the Movies" It'll be stuff you've heard before. Maestro Roa knows how to conduct with finess and fire, whichever is required and the performances are easy to appreciate and very easy to understand the lyrics if you speak Spanish. I highly reccommend this disc to anyone who wants to take away the veil of mystery surrounding Zarzuela and start exploring on your own. This disc is an excellent place to begin!

Preludes & Choruses From Zarzuelas.......2006-07-17

Preludes & Choruses From Zarzuelas~ Miguel Roa was something quite new to me. Having mostly listened to classical from France, Germany, Austria, Russia and Italy I had not listened much to Spanish composers. The end result is that the music is very easy to listen to but feels light and I feel that it sounds a bit to much like movie soundtrack music. The book-let is quite well done and the painting on the front is splendid. The liner notes and the essay inside are well done and it is not overlong or too verbose. I must say that I had never ever heard of any of these composers before and it was a with an adventurous spirit that I started listening to this recording and to my pleasant surprise it was quite good and I therefore give it 4 out 5 stars.

overall.......2006-03-16

Great selections
Great orchestration
Every thing I was expecting
Wish you had this or any other like it in DVD
thank you

The Dance of the Lovers is Here!.......2003-09-07

For many years an ancient 78 of one of the items found on this welcome CD was the most requested item for playing on the national radio broadcaster in Australia. Requests for full details of the item always yielded an announcement that everything on the record label was printed in Spanish, that there was not much of it, and all that could be deciphered and translated approximated to "The Dance of the Lovers".

Well, the same item features on Track 13 of this CD in a digitally recorded 1999 Madrid recording, and full information is provided about it and the other zarzuela excerpts in notes by Manuel Garcia Franco. This once popular item on Australian airwaves is a simple verse and chorus, the first in the minor and the second in the major mode. Framed in a short introduction and coda, it is sung twice, and what the female chorus members sing the first time is sung by the male chorus members the second time, and vice versa.

Although the Spanish composers of the zarzuela excerpts included here are represented in my collections by solo items from singers such as Supervia and de los Angeles, the choruses and orchestral excerpts found on this CD are all new to my ears. I have never seen a zarzuela and, welcoming and recommending this collection of samples, would like to read reviews or communications from others with better information.

¡Olé!.......2003-02-26

I know almost nothing about zarzuelas, other than that they're Spanish light operas, immensely popular in Spanish-speaking areas and virtually unknown everywhere else. Why they didn't travel and Viennese operetta did, I'll never know; they're a heckuva lot more exciting!

If this disc is any indication, the music, the rhythm, the overall feeling of zarzuela music is infectious. I put this CD on and then couldn't stop listening to it. According to the liner notes, these orchestral selections and choruses are among the best-known from this genre. I can see why they're popular. The playing and singing of the Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra and Chorus are exemplary.

Now please excuse me, while I go sign up for castanet lessons.

Soul Music: