classical music: Paul Lewis

classical music: Paul Lewis

classical music:

Paul Lewis

Ultimate Classical Christmas Album of All Time

Ultimate Classical Christmas Record of All Time

Sony, 2002

Breathtakingly beautiful!
Over and over we played "Die Menge der Engel" - - it is stunningly beautiful! The loftiness of the voices, wonderful. We loved the boys/children's choruses on many of the other pieces on the album. Duets by Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavorati - - magnifico! It ...

Bizet: L'Arlesienne; Carmen

Georges Bizet, Marc Minkowski, ...

Naive, 2008

Very special recordings of "standard" Bizet works
These frequently recorded Bizet works (L'Arlesienne suites and incidental music, and Carmen suite) receive a very refreshing expression in this new recording by Marc Minkowski and his Louvre musicians. French music is unique and is best performed by the French. In ...

Christmas Echoes, Vol. 1

William Billings, Alfred S. Burt, ...

Gothic Records, 2005

Wonderful music for the season
Beautiful songs sung with clarity, interpretive artistry and attention to blend. Some of the more particularly lyrical songs (e.g. Zgodava's Out of Oriental Crystal Skies, and Paulus' Sing Hallelu to name two) are not found in more common choral album Christmas ...

Schoenberg Violin Concerto Op.36/Sibelius Violin Concerto Op.47

Sibelius, Schoenberg, ...

DG, 2008

Great Sibelius but the Schoenberg is the showstopper
It'd be tempting to say the classical music recording industry is in great shape when the Schoenberg on this disc is the primary work and the Sibelius is the "flip-side." But a look at much of the rest of the industry shows that this is an anomaly...still, we'll take ...

Schumann, Brahms: Piano Quintets

Brahms, Schumann

Virgin Classics, 2007

An odd mixture of inspiration and ordinariness
If you were to sample the first and last movements of the Brahms Piano Quintet on this CD, the musical alliance of Andsnes and the Artemis Qt. seem ideal. Aided by gorgeous recorded sound, the ensemble carries wonderful convinciton in their phrasing -- you are pulled ...

Mission Road (w/DVD)

Eric Alatorre, Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor, ...

Warner Classics, 2008

Superb!
I had the great opportunity to listen and watch this wonderul masterpiece live at the Mission San Luis Obispo last spring! It is an absolutely amazing compilation, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. It was made even more special as my wife and I sat at the mission ...

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas , vol. 2

Beethoven

Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2007

Beethoven 2, Paul Lewis Sonatas
this is a fabulous recording of very well known Sonatas. I own it already as performed by others, but Paul Lewis uses phrases differently and achieves a sparkling result.

Baroque Adagios

Janos Starker, Julian Lloyd Webber, ...

Decca, 2002

Why is this beautiful set so low in Amazon sales?
While classical music is achieving a resurgence in the UK and Finland, in the U.S. the meager proportion of classical music among record store and department offerings still reflects classical's waning status. What we do find even in drugstores and supermarkets is ...

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Richard Adler, Peter Allen, ...

Sony, 2004

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover
Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a ...

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4

Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul Lewis

Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2008

Excellent conclusion to Lewis' Beethoven cycle
Paul Lewis finishes his superb Beethoven sonata series. Consistently fine playing throughout, with Opus 111 a particular highlight. Lewis has given us kind of a modern day Wilhelm Kempff approach to Beethoven. Wonderful lyrical approach, with broad tempos and a ...

Catholic Classics, Vol. 2

German Anonymous, Gregorian Chant, ...

Gia Publications, 1996

Catholic Hymns
Just love this CD so much that I bought it as a going away gift for a fellow Catholic. The music is so wonderful and the best way to relax and be reflextive.

Hallelujah: 35 Great Sacred Choruses

David Thomas [bass], James Morris, ...

Sparrow, 2004

lovely works...
Excellent selections... my favorite is the Sanctus by Gounod. The music seems to build in the blood... the organ being the heartbeat. If you turn the volume up just right... a memorable experience. Beautiful!

English String Miniatures, Vol. 6 - Holst, Warlock, etc.

Paul Carr, Adam Carse, ...

Naxos, 2006

Yet More Wonderful English String Orchestra Music
In a review of a previous issue in this ongoing series of releases from Naxos of 'English String Miniatures' -- this one is Vol. 6 -- I wrote, "If there was ever any doubt that the English have been masters of writing for the string orchestra, there shouldn't be any ...

Welcome All Wonders!: Christmas at Washington National Cathedral
Cathedral Choral Society, J. Reilly Lewis, ...

Gothic Records, 2004

This disc presents an interesting mix of contemporary large mixed-voice choir with organ and brass. It includes some beautiful solo singing. Featured are mostly contemporary pieces and arrangements of well-known Christmas works. The Cathedral Choral Society is the resident symphonic chorus of the Washington National Cathedral.

Beethoven # 1

Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul Lewis

Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2005

Beautiful Beethoven Masterpieces
Beethoven's three Op.31 piano sonatas are among my favorites of all his 32. They have everything--high drama (No.2, the "Tempest"), lyricism , and humor (Nos. 1 and 3). Lewis gives very persuasive performances of all three sonatas. I would describe his approach as ...