classical music: Simon Rattle

classical music: Simon Rattle

classical music:

Simon Rattle

Herbert Von Karajan, Anne-Sophie Mutter

Deutsche Grammophon, 2008

Informative and Elegiacal
Robert Dornhelm's 92 minute film on the late, great Herbert von Karajan is informative, beautiful and elegiacal. More than any other question, it addresses what made Karajan (arguably) the supreme conductor of his generation and one of the towering musical figures of ...

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

Johann Sebastian Bach, Léo Delibes, ...

Angel Records, 1999

Good for relaxing pregnant women
I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I ...

John Adams - Harmonielehre · The Chairman Dances · Tromba lontana · Short Ride in a Fast Machine / Sir Simon ...

John Adams, Simon Rattle, ...

EMI Classics, 1994

A wonderful introduction to the art of John Adams
For those who have never listened to the American composer John Adams (not the President!), this is a terrific introduction to his art. It contains his "Harmonielehre," "The Chairman Dances," and two fanfares, "Tromba Lontana" and "Short Ride on a Fast Machine." Sir ...

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin, Simon Rattle, ...

EMI Classics, 2005

Simply the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This recording of Porgy and Bess is an incredible performance!!! The performers sund just beautiful and the recording is very well remastered!!!! Buy it!!!

Gustav Mahler: Conducting Mahler/I Have Lost Touch With the World

Mahler, Haitink

Juxtapositions, 2005

Once in a lifetime
I was fascinated and enthralled. How many opportunities does one get in a lifetime to hear 5 world-class conductors expand eloquently in a completely relaxed setting on how they first came to Mahler, understand Mahler and interpret Mahler? Just the idea behind it was ...

George Gershwin - Porgy & Bess / Trevor Nunn · Sir Simon Rattle · W. White · C. Haymon · Glyndebourne Opera

Willard White, Cynthia Haymon

EMI Classics, 2001

Gershwin's masterpiece receives a performance worthy of it.
"Porgy & Bess" is George Gershwin's masterpiece and one of the 10 greatest operas ever written (see my list on Amazon). For a long time (and even now ... Leonard Maltin's review, e.g.) condescendingly called a "folk opera" (translation: "the Met won't do it"). ...

Wagner: Parsifal

Miroslav Christoff, Günther Groissböck

Deutsche Grammophon, 2008

A Musically Marvelous - Visually Problematic Parsifal
When I had heard that Bernard Haitink returned to the world of opera, in one of my absolute favorite works and was being released on DVD, there was no question I'd snatch it as soon as it was released, and so, I did. Unfortunately, the affair is a mixed big, but ...

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

Isaac Albeniz, Johann Sebastian Bach, ...

EMI Classics, 2001

Beautiful piano music!
This is simply an exquisite collection of beautiful piano pieces. I am very satisfied with this purchase. I can read while listening to this music-call it background music...maybe, but even when you're doing something else-the music is there...it does not intrude, but ...

Janacek: Sinfonietta/Glagolitic Mass - Felicity Palmer, Malcolm King, Sir Simon Rattle, Philharmonia Orchestra

Leos Janácek, Simon Rattle, ...

EMI Classics, 1999

Thrilling and powerful - the best of Janacek
One of EMI's great recordings, this was in fact the first completely digital recording of the "Glagolitic Mass" to be made. The young Simon Rattle does it and the "Sinfonietta" full justice. What of the music? Both these works date from the last years of Janacek's life ...

Wagner: Die Walkure
Robert Gambill, Willard White

BEL AIR CLASSIQUES, 2008

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, Scythian Suite

Prokofiev, Simon Rattle, ...

EMI Classics, 2007

Superlative Prokofiev from Rattle, a must-listen
This CD, a reissue from a deleted 1993 original, finds Rattle in a revelatory mood. I've heard nothing better from him, and given the semi-warhorse status of the Prokofiev Fifth Sym., his insights are all the more welcome. Ordinarily there's a ceiling of interpretation ...

Heavy Classix

Hector Berlioz, Alexander Borodin, ...

Angel Records, 1993

Moshing in the orchestra pit!
Let's face it, the composers of the classical era were the rock stars of their time, complete with all-night parties and illegitimate children. This collection of lease-breaking, window-rattling, ground-pounding classical selections will impress even the most hard ...

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic

Barbara Bonney, Kurt Streit, ...

EMI Classics, 2003

Dynamic Beethoven by a Courageous Interpreter!
Given all the carping in the previous reviews I am amazed at how good this set really is. In fact, had I not read all that negative commentary I still would have been impressed by Sir Simon's approach and the Vienna Philharmonic's execution. I think this is an ...

Stravinsky: Symphony Of Psalms/Symphony In C/Symphony In Three Movements
Igor Stravinsky, Simon Rattle, ...

Emi Classics, 2008

Simon Rattle conducts Stravinsky Recorded Live in September 2007. The album comprises three of the five works by Stravinsky which contain the word `symphony' in their titles, including the Symphony in C which Sir Simon has never before performed and which the BPO haven't played for over 20 years. EMI. 2008.

Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Resurrection )

Gustav Mahler, Simon Rattle, ...

EMI Classics, 2006

Superb Mahler, superbly stated.
The "Recordings of the Century" series is simply a must-own for anyone who loves fine classical music. From the tyro to the scholar, these recordings represent the finest of the genre. If you need some Mahler - if you need Mahler's 2nd - this is among the finest. ...