5 comments about The 5 Browns.

1. This family of pianist is single (as a whole) handedly boosting the a renewed interest for classical music for people of all ages. Their musical education is heard and seen in the videos and on the cd portion.



2. The Browns are a bunch of over-hyped musicians in today's media-oriented society (aka. Charlotte Church). The recordings are nothing to write home about -- Their musicianship is average at best. Many of the pieces lacked depth of though and some of the interpretations were a bit odd. Ok, if you like "popular" classical music. I say skip this one.



3. It's a treat to become acquainted with the music of the Five Browns! Wonderful selection of titles on the CD. So glad to have it!



4. The 5 Browns are quite a family. Their musical choices are fun, engaging and a little sassy! Watching 5 young people play on 5 grand pianos all at once in one room is quite wonderful. Inspiring for a youngster taking piano lessons, this CD/DVD is also just great music to listen to.



5. I can't help but thinking that this is just another group of virtuoso kids that is being used for the fame of another. The music lacks fullness and invention, and tends to be a doubling of a lot of standard voicing. There is some ornamentation, and there's no doubt that each of these kids is a giften pianist, but as a group, I was not all that impressed. Cute group, though.

5 comments about Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises.

1. Pollini's interpretation and execution of the 24 etudes is superb, as are his polanaises. His preludes however, no.19 especially, I feel, have a touch of delicacy which it could do without. Where marked 'vivace' it is played closer to 'presto'. Apart from this however it is a first class performance, and fully worthy of the 5 stars I have given it.
   
   Matt



2. While sometimes a little faster than generally performed (as my teacher put it "because he can!") Pollini exeplifies near flawless technique with wonderful interpretation of Chopin. The only complaint I personally have, is that the playing seems a bit technical, and not as much emotion is put into the actual peices. Though Etudes are not generally known for their musicality, Pollini, I feel, could still be afford a little more push/pull in some of the selections.
   
   Pollini does bring a new freshness to the set of preludes. Overplayed and sometimes butchered by the amateur pianist, Pollini peroforms these preludes masterfully and brings them to a level that I've rarely heard.
   
   Other than my minor complaint, I feel that for any student or teacher willing to complete, add or update their library this is a great choice. Pollini delivers a crystal clear performance, worthy of any listener. Easily one of my favorite recordings in my collection!



3. It takes a very great artist to be able to play pieces which have been overperformed and overtaught, and bring something fresh to the table. Pollini does just that, especially in his performances of the Preludes and Etudes.
   
   I would love to take a poll of the pianists and piano teachers here to see how many times they have taught the Chopin Preludes. From my own experience, I've taught these pieces so many times that I find myself dreading teaching #4 (e minor), #6 (b minor), #7 (A Major) or #20 (c minor) -- and I think we forget that these pieces are actual music and NOT "teaching pieces".
   
   Pollini succeeds in taking these over-played pieces and transforming them back into "music". It's really nothing short of amazing. As I listened, I began noticing secondary melodies I'd never heard, particularly in #5 (D Major), #13 (F-Sharp Major), and #14 (e-flat minor). The F-Sharp Major Prelude is particularly gorgeous -- almost heart-rendingly so in the middle section. The g-sharp minor Prelude has exactly the right sense of fire and drive to bring this piece across; the A-Flat Major, E-Flat Major and F Major Preludes are nothing short of ravishing.
   
   I bought this CD collection on suggestion of a friend of mine (also a pianist) who has experienced the same kind of burn-out I have with Chopin pieces which are over-taught and over-played, and/or over-interpreted to the point where the pieces become parodies of themselves. (I never heard so much bad, truly affected Chopin playing as I did at the school where I initially trained as a pianist!).
   
   Pollini's Chopin is a real breath of fresh air -- restrained, elegantly timed rubatos; enough pedal to effect tonal coloring without the overpedalling so common in so many Chopin performances; a sense of drama in the playing combined with an edge of restraint so the pieces are never "over-played"; and he has an uncanny ability to convey a strong sense of structure to these pieces.
   
   I can say quite honestly that the performances of the Preludes and Etudes on this CD have the force of a revelation. The proof of this is that after hearing the CD (many times), I have decided to learn all 24 Preludes (plus the C-Sharp Minor Prelude, op. 45) and play them all in a recital.
   
   The Polonaises aren't quite as spellbinding as the Preludes and as riveting as the Etudes; but the Preludes and Etudes make this a compelling collection. I strongly and enthusiastically recommend this CD compilation!



4. This album may be the best Chopin package on the market, especially given the bargain price. That said, an out-of-print CD featuring a young Vladimir Ashkenazy, recorded in Moscow in 1959/60, would be an even better choice (with respect to the Etudes) should it ever again become available. In that legendary recording, Ashkenazy's technique - especially in Op. 25, No. 6 - sends chills down the spine, and he infuses more life into the music than does Pollini. The Ashkenazy of that vintage should not be confused with his older ghost, currently available on the London/Decca label.

   What Pollini offers here are whistle-clean performances of (some of) Chopin's major solo works. Pollini's approach, if somewhat clinical, is refreshing for its lack of affectation or excess. He does not belabor the music as many other Chopin performers are inclined to do, and he plays with solid technique throughout.




5. I really like this CD because (1) I am a big Chopin fan, and (2) I know these pieces well. Chopin's good point is his romanticism. The tracks on this CD are full of his deep, pasionate feeling for his native Poland, even though he was half French and lived outside Poland in such places as Majorca. He was the archetype of the romantic exile, and did his best to live up to this image by writing appropriately evocative music.

3 comments about Bernstein: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs.

1. The Prelude, Fugue & Riffs is incomparable. The Serenade after Plato's "Symposium" is superior to von Dohnányi's interpretation: a rich, highly emotive performance with technical expertise that deepens the sound.
   
   And this is the best Fancy Free you're going to find just yet. The only drawback is that it's in mono, so there's no way to augment (or fully restore) the original sound for the modern listener's ears. If you can stomach that, you'll hear everything that this ballet is about on this recording with the Columbia Symphony. The tempos are smart, with bravado brass, a jazzy piano, and woodwinds and strings that can keep up with it. The orchestra lives up to the title. All in all, an album that preserves some deserving performances for musical history.



2. The most famous collaboraiton between Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins was West Side Story, but in the Forties they had a smash with the ballet Fancy Free. It's a jazzy, pop offspring of Copland and sitll extremely enjoyable (as much fun when revived on stage as here on CD). Its scenario of three sailors on leave for a night on the town was then borrowed for the hit Broadway musical, On the Town. There were dance interludes in the plot that have been excerpted here, based on several of the show's big tunes.
   
   Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs was written for Benny Goodman; it's a mini-concerto for clarinet along the lines of Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto and Copland's clarinet concerto, but jazzier and more exuberant than either. LB didn't have to imitate the jazz idiom; he grew up with it. The most serious piece here is the violin concerto titled Serenade that depicts various characters sitting aorund the banquet table in Plato's Symposium. The rather pretentious references have little resonance for listeners, but the work remains solid--I've never been able to follow it with full enjoyment, but this recording with Francescatti is riveting.



3. benny goodman. leonard bernstein. the columbia jazz ensemble. zino francescatti. the new york philharmonic and columbia symphony orchestra. it doesn't get any better than this. the "prelude, fugue, and riffs for clarinet and jazz ensemble" with goodman and bernstein performing together is an absolute knockout!! don't hesitate; this compact disc is a worthy addition for anyone's musical library. buy it!!

3 comments about Debussy: Clair de lune & Other Piano Favourites.

1. This is a very lovely cd! I think everyone should have it in their collection!



2. Collections are tricky. Either they fulfill your needs perfectly, leading to you wanting more, or they don't fulfill enough, leading to you wanting more. Either way, you're left with the uncomfortable feeling that "something"'s missing. Is that the case with this "favorites" CD? Yes.
   
   Oh, this is a nice enough collection to get you into a Debussy mood, but after listening to it, I felt frustrated. Why, I thought, did I buy a collection? Now I would have to find MORE. Yes, I got the generic favorites. I now have "Clair de lune" and "Reverie" (my reasons for purchasing the CD), but the musical beauty made me want more and more, to the point where I got very frustrated. After all, collections only give you a taste. Now I need to find... MORE.
   
   The rain quality can be either a plus or a minus. By "rain quality" I'm referring to a slightly fuzzy sound. Not the best quality, that is. It sounds like the radio on a rainy day, so while getting you in the mood perfectly, it's a bit... well. It's of lower quality, though it does enhance the mood. I personally like it, but facts are facts.
   
   While I listen to this CD often, I think that it's probably better just to jump straight to full CDs. No snippets. While enjoyable, it's not amazing and it leaves you with the slight sense of, "...well?". So... well?



3. Francois-Joël Thiollier has recorded much of Debussy's piano music for Naxos. This CD appears to be a 'favorites' album drawn from several previous issues. The most familiar and probably the best-loved Debussy pieces are here, beginning with a dreamy (but somewhat soupily-recorded) 'Clair de lune' ('Moonlight'). [The cover illustration is a nice reproduction of Eugène Boudin's gorgeous 'The Effect of the Moon.'] As of yet Amazon has not listed the contents, so I shall do so: Clair de lune, La plus que lente, Arabesque Nos. 1 & 2, Le petit nègre, excerpts from The Children's Corner (The snow is dancing, The little shepherd, Golliwog's cakewalk), La soirée dans Grénade, Jardin sous la pluie, Valse romantique, Tarantelle styrienne, Toccata, Reflets dans l'eau, Poissons d'or, Mazurka, Révérie, The Girl with the Golden Hair, and The Engulfed Cathedral.

   Thiollier often takes slower than usual tempi, and he often sounds rather deliberate or even stodgy as a result. This is not to say there aren't some quicker tempi taken: 'Le petit nègre' starts off with a real Gottschalkian verve, but when he comes to the second theme he backs off. 'Poissons d'or' ('Goldfish') swim excitedly (and beautifully). 'The snow is dancing' all right, but it seems to be doing a sarabande. These are pretty straight interpretations; one misses the drama or sadness in, say, Golliwog's Cakewalk. I think one problem in all these performances is a lack of crisp articulation. Debussy's soft-edged harmonies can lead a pianist to play in a flaccid, dreamy fashion and that works for some of the pieces, but on the whole Debussy requires more rhythmic spine, and that is often lacking here.

   The primary thing going for this compilation is the price. But I couldn't recommend it to anyone other than someone on a sharply restricted budget and who wants these particular pieces. For somewhat more outlay, one could have performances by say, the fabled Michelangeli or the spectacular Kocsis or the legendary Gieseking.

   TT=78:10

   Scott Morrison

2 comments about Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Firebird-Complete/Scherzo/Firework.

1. There are numerous recordings available of Igor Stravinsky's ballet masterwork "The Firebird" however, the 1961 "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" recording available on this disc is one that eclipses all other versions. The recording was performed by The Columbia Symphony and is presented in its complete length of nearly 43-minutes (most other recordings present "The Firebird" in a suite lasting only 25-minutes). The performance under Stravinsky's baton is nothing short of breathtaking. The piece's dynamics, shifting rhythms and unprecidented beauty are all clearly defined and wonderfully executed.
   Also included on the disc are two Scherzo pieces ("Scherzo a la Russe" and "Scherzo Fantastique Op.3") along with a recording of "Fireworks", a piece composed for the wedding of the daughter of Stravinsky's friend and teacher Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. These three shorter works also include Stravinsky's signature rhythms and dynamic orchestrations (especially in the "Scherzo Fantastique" which echoes "The Firebird" in some spots).
   This is a fantastic CD of some of Stravinsky's finest work conducted by the composer himself. Hearing Stravinsky conduct his own work brings a certain authenticity to the music. You hear exactly the way the composer wishes the music to be executed.
   If you enjoy this, pick the other two discs in the "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" series ("Petrushka/The Rite Of Spring" and "Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in C/Symphony in Three Movements"). These recordings are just as refreshing and exciting as "The Firebird".



2. Unfortunately, we will never get to hear Bach play the organ, or Mozart the piano, or Beethoven conduct the 5th Symphony. But thanks to the advent of recording technology, we have been able to hear the great composers of the 20th Century play and conduct their own work. Sadly, recordings of the likes of Elgar, Strauss and Rachmaninov are all in early mono, but there are several brilliant stereo recordings available by Copland and Stravinsky. These recordings of "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" were made for CBS in the early 1960s, and along with two other discs (featuring the Rite of Spring with Petrushka, and the other one the Symphonies), are absolutely essential for serious fans of classical music. Often composers were not the best conductors of their own work (their expertise was first and foremost in composing), but they are nonetheless a vital document of their creative and versatile talents. For serious Stravinsky fans I would recommend getting both the Decca Stravinsky Box Set conducted by Ernest Ansermet (see my review), and the three CBS Masterworks titles of "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky." That way you can compare and contrast, and determine for yourself whether Stravinsky himself was truly the best conductor of Stravinsky.

5 comments about Best of L.A.G.Q..

1. This CD is the best of the best in acoustical guitar. Being classical guitarists, on this CD LAGQ is like Pavoratti doing a ho down.



2. At first I did not know anything about LAGQ. I was taking an intro to guitar class on the campus of USC. One of my assignments was to attend two guitar performances happening on campus and write about each. I was so fortunate to have picked LAGQ. I fell in love with their music and their humor. I was amazed by the variety of sounds coming out of the guitars. Although guitar playing is a hobby for me... these guys inspire me to study the guitar more seriously. This is the first album of theirs I bought. Their rendition of Shenandoah is the best. It is so beautiful I fall asleep to it. Simple Gifts is the most lovely version too. Jumpin' at the Woodside is another favorite... it jazzy bounce makes it a popular choice for background music to any situation. The Main Street Electrical Parade never fails to delight me and surprise my friends when I play it. These guys are silly...but in a good way. Its 2007 now and I still go back to the songs on this album. Great variety. This is a good starter to a LAGQ collection. Go see them live if you can!!!



3. Recently I learned about LAGQ and bought this album. I have been impressed by the arrangements and interpretation, the texture, innovative touches and originality. It is a treat!



4. The LAGQ are fine players, and the music here is first rate as a summary of what they do, or for any purpose. HOWEVER, the transfer to CD on my disc was very poorly chosen, so that the top octave and a half was mostly missing (worse on some pieces than others, though). This takes the snap! out of guitar strings and notably attenuates your ability to tell what the 4 are doing with guitar timbre and the like. So, if you have wide-range audio gear, you might want to look elsewhere for an introduction to these players.



5. Not until recently did I know about this guitar four. Hearing a number of their songs on internet classical radio, I decided I'd try this one.

   What a great surprise --- their arrangements of Copeland to Sousa to Praetorius are excellent and in taste. I'll be venturing into their other works.

5 comments about Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.

1. Cheers to those with drive to attain "real" music student status. However, I just want to listen to music passages I have found enjoyable over the years. There is no pretense of this selection being a student workbook of classical music for the serious scholar - it is just an enjoyable alternative to that shared by those offensively loud vehicles near me at the stoplight.



2. I admit I am not a huge fan of Classical music, but I have throughly enjoyed this CD. I recognize the songs, even though I have no idea of most of their titles.



3. I had this cd set years ago and lost it, It is good. I am happy with the speed it was delivered and the fact that shipping wasn't an over price.
   a.f.



4. Although I can see why classical music novices wouldn't care that this CD's recordings and interpretations aren't very good, I do think that there are much better quality compilations out there that serve the same purpose and are still affordable.
   
   As a professional-level classical musician who has many friends and family who "hate" classical music, I always suggest the iTunes "essential" collections. iTunes picks top notch recordings and a nice balance of works - some are in the "top 40" category and others are slightly lesser known but give a great idea of what the composer's best work was like. (You'd be surprised to know that a lot of the top 40 classical pieces are not exemplary of their composers' works).
   
   iTunes Essentials used to have a terrific "Classical 101" compilation, and now they have the follow-up "Classical 201," which is basically the same thing. You can buy the first level "The Basics" for $24.95, and if you like it you can branch out to the next levels. Also, iTunes has more Classical compilations organized by time period, if you find that you favor one period of classical over another. A very safe beginning spot if you want to start with a genre is "Classic: Romantic Period" for $21.78.
   
   Happy listening and I hope you end up liking classical music!



5. It's probably too much to say that this collection is for those who "hate" classical music. But I think it's safe to say that it is for people who are not serious aficionados. It provides classical tunes that most of us have heard but don't necessarily know the names of and presents them in a very palatable way. A diverse array of composers is represented and there is something here for just about anyone. Some of the songs will be familiar to you from TV commercials, movies, weddings, and all sorts of places. For my money, this set was exactly what I was looking for. I would never have been able to do enough research to discover the names of all these songs and track them down. I would also not be interested in hearing most of them in their full presentation. I know that the purists absolutely hate that these are presented in excerpt form but I find it perfect. I simply don't WANT to listen to 25 minutes of a song to hear the 3 minutes that I actually enjoy. The hardcore classical fans really need to understand that this collection is not aimed at them or their tastes and some of us have no interest in becoming experts, we just want to enjoy some of the best songs that the great composers ever created.

5 comments about Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf / Narrated by Patrick Stewart · Opera de Lyon · Nagano.

1. First, I have to say that I disagree with several reviews here complaining about the audio quality or mixing. This is well recorded and well mixed. I can only imagine that the problems reported are some combination of equipment used and/or people have just gotten used to the heavy dynamic compression used on radio broadcasts and prevalent on most contemporary pop albums. I detected no audible distortion from recroding on the CD. I actually felt that the the audio engineers were on the conservative side with this recording.
   
   In fact, conservative very much describes this recording as a whole. Nagano and the orchestra were very safe with their interpretation. I did not find anything to be objectionable, but I also did not feel that any risks were taken either. Stewart's reading also was on the conservative side, though I would not categorize it as bland. My main complaint would be that the included album literature was on the limited side. Yes the text to Peter and the Wolf is there, but there is not much else.



2. Delightful...I was given the records at the age of 4 and was delighted that they are out in CD's bought them for all my grandchildren and one mfor me too.



3. Excuse me, I'm a fan of animal rights and all, but to change a classic story line to appease current popular opinion is disgusting!
   What's next? The wicked witch gets probation beacause she really didn't mean to kill Snow White with the poisoned apple?



4. The orchestra plays beautifully, but it is painfully obvious that they recorded their part separate from the narration. Patrick Steward sounds as if he is in a different room with his back to the microphone. Also, even though I am a Patrick Stewart fan, I find his narration entirely too serious and stayed. He reads it more like an essay than a fun story for children.



5. Perhaps I have the advantage of having a wonderful stereo system, but I do not experience the peaks and distortions that others claim on my CD of this wonderful recording. The only thing I noticed is that my volume had to be raised a bit more than usual, but there was no problem with that. Your mileage may vary, as they say, but this overall is a great piece to have.
   
   The first piece on this disc is Sergei Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf', a musical tale written for children. 'Peter and the Wolf' was written by Prokofiev, but is derivative of an older tale.
   
   This is really a way to introduce children to the orchestra (and was a way for Prokofiev to keep his compositions going at a time in Stalinist Russia when music was legally required to be simple and understandable). The main characters include a bird (flute), duck (oboe), cat (clarinet), Peter's grandfather (bassoon), the wolf (a trio of French horns), hunters (percussion mostly, the timpani and bass drum, but also involves woodwinds), and Peter himself (the strings sections of the orchestra).
   
   Patrick Stewart reads the narration of the story, read over the music and in gaps prepared by Prokofiev. The strains of Peter's theme and the other animals are familiar to children all over the world, and have been for generations, as this piece has been very popular, even serving as the inspiration for a Walt Disney production of the same theme, featuring Prokofiev's music. I must confess that it is a bit hard not to visualise Captain Picard narrating this piece; on the other hand, given the nature of the Star Trek character, this is very much in keeping as something Picard might do.
   
   The second piece on this recording is Claude Debussy's 'The Toy Box', a ballet for children. This is also a well-known piece, though perhaps not as well known at the first. It does not feature narration, and is meant largely to introduce the ballet to children. Debussy wrote several pieces for children or evocative of children, some under the inspiration of his daughter.
   
   This is not difficult music by any means, but the Ochrestre de L'Opera de Lyon under the direction of Kent Nagano have produced a superb musical performance of both pieces. This should be a delight to children and to adults.

2 comments about Essential Leonard Bernstein.

1. I bought this specifically for Slava as it is the audition piece chosen for this fall's band semester, but let's face it Bernstein's music is brilliant and a lot of fun to listen to. This collection has an excellent mix of his familiar and not so familiar works.



2. For anyone who loves Bernstein (or even for those who don't), this is the CD to purchase. Includes excerpts from some of his most famous stage and serious works.

   It has performances with some of worlds top names, original casts, and later revisions.

1 comments about Hans Van Manen Festival.

1. Can there ever be enough? We start with a stately ensemble of six dancing to Beethoven's 19 minute adagio from the Hammerklavier sonata. The second piece , Simple Things, is a lot more fun with two male dancers competing with each other to some very lively accordian music before the two females enter for some spectacular pas de deux to a Haydn adagio, then finish with the men repeating the opening. The audience goes wild and the dancers have many curtain calls. The first two pieces are danced by the Netherlands Dance Theater. Next two dancers from the Kirov do three pas de deux to Satie's most famous works, Gnossiens. Sweet and lyrical. The fourth piece is Tango, danced to tangos by the famous Argentine composer Astor Pazzola, who's music I have not heard before but now I see what all the fuss is about. The lead ballerina shows us why she is a star. Once again I have to question the choice of costuming dancers in black against a black background. Finally, in the bonus section, Twilight featuring Alexander Zambrosky in his third HVM performance, danced to the music of John Cage on a prepared piano but don't be frightened, it's quite listenable and rather sounds like Indonesian gamelan with a consistent rhythm no dissonances to speak of, composed in 1944, way ahead of it's time. Very highly recommended. A little something for everyone.