classical music: 126

classical music: 126

classical music:

Instruments of the... Arthurs Computer A... Caf Stews 126

Johann Pachelbel, Jean-Joseph Mouret, ...

Sony, 2002

Excellent Baroque Collection
As I have stated in many of my previous reviews, I am a huge fan of the Sony Essential Classics (SEC) budget series. Most of the recordings feature classic and often definitive performances featuring the likes of George Szell, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Casadesus, Isaac ...

Beethoven: The Piano Concertos

Ludwig van Beethoven, Georg Solti, ...

Decca, 1997

A perfect gem!
This CD set is a digital re-mastering of the original "Stereophonic" London recordings from 1973. The sound is crisp and clear, and enhances the masterful technique of Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Georg Solti's well-paced leadership. You would never know you were ...

Hush

Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, ...

Sony, 1992

Great for kids!
This was one of my favorite tapes as a kid and am glad that it is still around so that I can give it to my sister for her kids. Who doesn't love a good excuse to sing along and make noises all at the same time?

Switched-On Boxed Set

Recorded Sound, Johann Sebastian Bach, ...

East Side Digital, 1999

Admit it, they're good!
I remember back in the late sixties the original LP of "Switched on Bach" started showing up in record stores and causing quite a storm. Of course, being the proper musical snob and "purist" I was, I discounted them as being nothing better sounding than "tuned rubber ...

Chopin: Préludes & Nocturnes

Frederic Chopin, Garrick Ohlsson

EMI Classics, 2005

Great Music
You don't have to be a musical professional to appreciate this CD. I have some orchestral experience and taste, but I wanted some relaxing piano music to listen to when I want to mellow out or sit down and do homework. This Chopin album is perfect for that. It's great ...

Debussy: Orchestral Music

George Pieterson, Claude Debussy, ...

Philips, 1994

Great
True, Haitink is not a "ZIP! ZING! POW! conductor" like David A. FLetcher mentioned in his review (I thought it was funny put, so I wanted to quote it), but he sure knows how to let the music do the speaking. These are not "impressionistic" readings and I'm glad ...

Liszt: Piano Works [Box Set]

Franz Liszt, Georg Solti, ...

Decca, 2001

A great collection of Liszt treasures
The booklet of this set has an interesting explanation of why Jorge Bolet stayed out of the spotlights for so long before taking up his -glorious- career. It was his devotion to Liszt. By then, in the 1950s, Liszt was still regarded as a B-composer (There are still ...

Monteverdi - Vespers of 1610 (Vespro della Beata Vergine) / Chandler, R. Croft, Atkinson, Numura, Boston ...

Claudio Monteverdi, Boston Baroque, ...

Telarc, 1997

Mary must be pretty pleased
I only recently discovered the work of Pearlman and the Boston Baroque through their Messiah which is absolutely stunning. So, I was eager to pick this piece up, especially after listening to the brief audio clips on the site. I have a bit of early music (des Pres, ...

Sing Ye Heavens - Hymns for All Time

Cambridge Singers, John Rutter

Collegium, 2000

Another Rutter Keeper!
Rutter has won many fans throughout the world for his passionate, creative yet tasteful contributions to church music. Here is a hymn collection with several traditional choices along with Rutter originals. Several comprise Rutter's remakes, which is most cases are ...

Debussy: La Mer / Nocturnes / Jeux / Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre - The Cleveland Orchestra / ...

Claude Debussy, Pierre Boulez, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 1995

Best "La Mer" I've ever heard
I join the throng of five-star reviews for this fabulous CD of Debussy specialties including "La Mer" and "Nocturnes". While Pierre Boulez clearly has the training, background, intuition and temperament to define these exquisite works, it is hard to imagine the bad ...

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Frederic Chopin, London Symphony Orchestra, ...

EMI Classics, 1994

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS
These are the earlier discs of Rubinstein's Chopin, recorded by HMV in London during the 1930's. It is less complete than his later recordings for RCA - no Sonatas, no Ballades, no Etudes. The sound is naturally of its time - but in many ways more natural than the ...

The Most Relaxing Flute Album in the World...Ever!

Denis Vigay, Christopher van Kampen, ...

Angel Records, 2005

Sweet Lilting Flute Music to Unwind With
Crisp and clean and seductively laid back is this nice collection of 31 pieces from the composer likes of Haydn, Mozart, Bach, Debussy, Telemann, et al, performed by the greatest flutists in the world such as Bennett, Galway, and Rampal. Especially enjoying the ...

Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2; Totentanz

Franz Liszt, Seiji Ozawa, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 1990

The Standard
Over my now fairly long lifetime, I have heard many different recordings of the Liszt Piano Concertos, but this is the one I keep returning to. And as one who is fortunate to have occasional contact with many great artists, I can tell you that more than one has ...

Stephen Kovacevich Plays Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven, Colin Davis, ...

Philips, 2005

Masterly performances by the young Stephen Kovacevich
This box set bring together all Stephen Kovacevich's Beethoven recordings for Philips - made during his thirties in a 6-cd set. All these recordings - made during the '70s - were considered amongst the finest ever made and they have rarely been subsequently equaled, ...

Chopin: The Piano Works [Box Set]

Frederic Chopin, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Decca, 1997

The bar has been set for all solo Chopin collections
This is an absolutely fantastic set. I was lucky enough to acquire it for less than $45 when I was still a member of the Musical Heritage Society a few years ago; so Amazon's price here can definitely be beaten if one looks around. Ashkenazi's playing is stunning, ...