5 comments about Andre Rieu - Tuscany.

1. Andre Rieu in Tuscany did not move me like his amazing Wonderland production. Although the music and interpretation are always great, I feel that a CD would have sufficed.



2. The music selection makes us play the cd over and over. A great setting for the cd. The vocals really make the cd.



3. This guy never fails to amaze
   It's one great performance after another.
   This one is no different.
   Buy this and enjoy!



4. I'm not a classical music fan per say, but I have to say that I enjoyed this video immensely, He gets the audience involved in the music and there's even a conga line sort of in one of the pieces, He and his audience have fun with the music and so did I!



5. What can one say about Andre Rieu? Outstanding as ever! A. Rieu fans will not be disappointed in "Tuscany". He takes one back in waves of nostalgia to a Europe of bygone days -- to ANYWHERE in the world of bygone days! All the homelands us "expatriates" long for and dream about. Personally, Andre's concerts and his music are the essence of ME. This, I tell my friends, is who I am, and what I'm all about. "But", my friends answer, "this is who we're all about too, and the essence of who WE are!" So we laugh and cry and sing along with ALL of Andre Rieu's fabulous concerts, "Tuscany" included. What I especially appreciate is that he delivers his commentary in the languages of the countries he's visiting, or that I can choose to hear it in German. This adds an extra-special touch of authenticity to his concerts, and to my "tears-in-wine" nostalgia while listening to them!
   Andre Rieu transports the viewer and listener to a world of beauty, grace and elegance. If you're tired of hard-rock, cheap-shock, bug-a-loo music, Andre Rieu is for You!

5 comments about Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO.

1. Being a nostalgia buff, I am always drawn to movies such as these and the actors that really fit the part. Yes, it is on my favorites list.



2. wow! This is my favorite Classical CD. If you're Bipolar and on an upswing this CD will have you soaring with Eagles.



3. THE WONDER OF A MAN'S MIND IN HIS CREATION OF THESE MUSIC PORTRAYALS IS STUNNING. BERNSTEIN INTERPRETATION IS ALIVE AND VIBRANT OF COPLANDS MUSIC. I LOVE IT.



4. Aaron Copland's masterful works are here interpreted by Bernstein. Nothing says the American sound like Copland, and there is no better interpreter than Bernstein. This recording is one of the best in my collection. I would recommend this to anyone (even non-classical music fans).



5. Without question, this splendid CD is my favorite recording of some of Aaron Copland's most popular orchestral ballet scores. In Leonard Bernstein he had both a good friend and a devout ally, who successfully championed Copland's music, helping to ensure his reputation as one of the greatest - if not the greatest - 20th Century American composer. Sony has done a superb job in digitally remastering this recording, offering some of the best sound I've heard from a vintage Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recording. But more importantly than the recording's superb sonic quality is the quality of these performances of Copland's scores. Bernstein leads in New York Philharmonic in these virtuoso performances, replete with lush, vibrant playing from the winds, horns and strings. His warm, truly heart-felt interpretation of "Applachian Spring" is truly mesmerizing, and the best I have heard from a recording. And yet, I am am just as impressed with his conducting of both "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid"; the latter replete with superb solos from the orchestra's timpanist. An elegant performance of "Fanfare for the Common Man" closes out this CD recording. Fans of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra shouldn't hesitate in acquiring this superb CD.

5 comments about Andre Rieu in Wonderland (incl bonus CD).

1. We have seen and enjoy so many of Andre's DVDs (Homecoming, Tuscany, Dublin, Christmas around the world, etc..). Wonderland was a terrible disappointment. It was simply too overdone with theatrics and took away from the music. Very disappointed in the DVD, had to send it back.



2. I like andre rieu's music I think he is very creative but performance in wonderland does not reflect his true creativity.



3. I have almost all of Andre's DVDs and I think it is one of his best, right up there the the New York DVD. A must have video.



4. The background music on the main menu screen is from "Gone with the Wind" and is absolutely excellent! The opening of the presentation starts with music from "Space Odyssey" and is phenomenal! The reproduction of the audio could not be better! The entire presentation shows the incredible talent, hard work, and endeavors from Andre and his musical group. I highly recommended this DVD! We are very fortunate to have Andre Rieu in our lifetime.



5. Andre Rieu, besides being an amazing violinist/musician, had the great sense of creating something that goes beyond just music. Andre Rieu in Wonderland is a production unlike any other where every single element is carefully selected, directed, choreographed, rehearsed, produced and everything together provides a show of the highest quality. The orchestra, the singers, the soloists, the dancers and the lighting, together with the venue,take you to this marvelous musical world that is an abolute Wonderland.

5 comments about Andre Rieu: Radio City Hall Live in New York (2007).

1. I have watched Andre Rieu live from NY Radio City so many times and have totally enjoyed it each and every time. I purchased the DVD for some family and friends and they have also enjoyed it, they couldn't thank me enough for sending it to them.
   
   Andre Rieu did a show in Atlantic City, NJ a few months ago....I hope that will be on a DVD because I will definately order it.



2. Most videos of Andre Rieu were complete as suggested. This one video falls way short of content. About 30 minutes shy of the complete show.
   I would not purchase this video. Save your money.



3. I treied to play the cd in 3 different cd players, it did not play. I had to return it and I am waiting for a reply to hear you received it and my credit card was credited. Thanks.



4. The music selection is diversified with several different vocal groups. A very nice cd to listen to.



5. This was my first Andre Rieu DVD.
   Eagerly waiting to view it....alas, I was sadly disappointed.
   First and foremost I expected to see a concert.
   A whole concert.
   From beginning to end.
   Here was a 2 part chopped up situation with 2 Intro's and quite a bit of requested applause by Mr. Rieu which is not that objectionable except,
   after a while, in conjunction with the rest of the show it does get annoying.
   The Harlem Gospel Choir segments were much too lengthy.
   The little boy with the violin was cute but again this is not a variety show.
   We came to see and hear the magnificence of Andre Rieu and his ensemble.
   We came to see a whole concert with a showstopping finale.
   This did not occur.
   Outstanding was Susan Erens and her rendition of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina".
   Of course, Mr. Rieu is always the ultimate showman embracing a perfection of poise and command.
   Please Mr. Rieu....give us an entire concert with no embellishments.

5 comments about The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe.

1. Title...The Most Relaxing Music in the Universe (not Feminine Mystique(?). Music is beautiful, very relaxing yet energizing.



2. A lovely mostly Baroque montage with recognizable favorites including classical pieces from Mozart and Beethoven.



3. This CD is wonderful! After a long stressful day at work, my husband and I like to put this CD on and cook supper together and relax. Great relaxing music and we just love it.



4. I was not really a classical music fan but I am now. I purchased this cd for my 14 year old grand-daughter, not knowing we would both enjoy the music so much. She has always enjoyed classical music along with all of the other teen music, rap, rock, country, etc.
   Also, it really helped being able to listen to parts of the music before purchasing.



5. Perfect music to end the work day. After listening to this I can face the evening. If the morning is hard, a little at lunch time gets me through the afternoon.

5 comments about Debussy's Greatest Hits.

1. My mother was a classically trained musician. She was not only a highly accomplished violinist, but she was also an incredible pianist. When she was still in her earthly form, our house was always filled with music. If it wasn't her playing the violin or the piano, then we always had something on the Hi-Fi...hee hee...Hi-Fi...that sounded so high tech back then, now it just sounds like something you might get doing something unprotected...but anyway, I grew up around all kinds of music. We could be listening to Chopin one minute and the next, Frank Zappa and it's this kind of upbringing that made the weirdo...I mean, ecclectic individualization of Life I am today.
   
   So, even though I continue to have varied tastes in music, I do have my favorites and one of them is dear 'ol Claude Debussy. My mother was a Pisces and I, being born exactly two weeks after her birthday, am also a Pisces and Pisceans, being rather dreamy, moody, sensitive, and open are "suckers" for any kind of music that touches the emotions because most
   water signs live by their emotions rather than by their intellect. I happen to be a double Pisces which only means that I am jacked up x 2. Not really, but I am a very emotional person. I have, however, learned to use my sensitivity rather than having my sensitivity using me which only tends to make one fragile.
   
   So, what the heck does all this have to do with this particular collection of music?
   
   Plenty.
   
   This music when played during periods of relaxation and meditation can open you up to the deeper levels of life that are always just right beneath the surface. So many of us are so distracted by outer appearances and conditions that we fail to see that all our outer life really is, is just a symbol...a metaphor...for what is going on inwardly. If your life is confusing, upsetting, chaotic it could be that your inner life is also confused, upset, and full of chaos.
   
   Or maybe I'm just talking out my aspirations.
   
   I invite you to wake up an hour early and listen to this CD while doing some light stretches, a few minutes of some just breathing deeply and slowly, and maybe even 15 minutes of so of just writing or doodling and don't let this music just be "white noise"...hey, I think I just created a name for my friend's rap band...but take this music deep into your soul...breathe it in...breathe it out...for just one hour "be" the music.
   
   I think that Debussy was a genius. He didn't just compose music, music composed him. If you listen very, very carefully you will be able to tell that Debussy listened very closely to his soul. It was as if he asked a Heavenly Council for permission to use music that is clearly not of this world. Yes, his music is Impressionist, but it is also Expressionist; an expression of Pure Love, Pure Light, Pure Life the realms from which all things seen as well as unseen come forth from. Listen to Reverie, La Mer (all three portions), or, of course, Claire de Lune and you will quickly realize that this "mere mortal" tapped the eternal and the earthreal into finite compositions that transcend mere music and puts it in a completely different category.
   
   So, after all this why am I giving this CD four stars...I have a real challenge with the name of the CD, Debussy's Greatest Hits. For God's sakes, this is Debussy, it's not Britney Spears or Barry Manillow. Debussy didn't create "hits", he created something that surpasses such a shallow judgment. His music is truly an observation of the Divine coming into form. The Divine does not create "Greatest Hits", the Divine only creates masterpieces and it's only our perceptions and our interpretations of these masterpieces that make it hit or miss. Which, of course has nothing to do with the Divine, but everything to do with us.
   
   I urge you to buy this CD and let yourself dream again. Get out of your head and back into your heart. Even if you don't do the excercises I suggested; the breathing, the writing, the stretching, just allow this music to wash over you and heal you in ways you never thought possible.
   
   Stretch forth and be the blessing you were created to be. Make this CD a prelude to your day and miracles will begin to happen.
   
   I promise...
   
   Peace & Blessings,
   john, 'the Light Coach'



2. Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.
   
   Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all the best of Debussy's catalog (you would need his entire catalog), it does certainly contain some of his best work. The entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.
   
   "Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, but the piano version is nice if you get the chance to listen to it (I recommend the entire suite, Suite Bergamasque, for any piano lover, but I digress). "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.
   
   The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my top, personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.
   
   I would recommend this to any classical lover. If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately. The man was a genius.
   
   I would also add that if you enjoy this, I recommend that you continue your Debussy experience with the following: Debussy: Orchestral Works I and Debussy: Orchestral Works II and if you are looking for works on piano, I recommend Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1 and Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 2, and finally if you seek Chamber pieces, you can check out Debussy: Complete Chamber Music. All of these discs are excellent and I highly recommend each to grow your Debussy collection.
   
   Enjoy!!!



3. After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.



4. I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.
   
   SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
   TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???
   
   THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.
   
   OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.



5. I love Debussy and all of his brilliant work. I barely listen to any other classical music, so I am not an authority, just an honest lover of music. I play piano and love piano music, so I was not disappointed at a piano Flaxen-Haired Girl. I've never heard an orchestrated version and don't need to. This is a good introductory CD to Debussy's work, I love it! The only thing I don't care for is the Arabesque #1 (Track 9). The horn is kind of grating and clunky to hear in such an otherwise beautiful piece. Still, its interesting and different. Everything Debussy made is purest gold.

5 comments about Appalachian Journey.

1. A most interesting and varied collection ....beautifully put together and recorded...Appalachian at it's finest and all topped off by Yo Yo Ma....
   
   Tracks #6 and #14 and are particularly beautiful and moving



2. By putting this CD into the player about 20 minutes into the drive and letting the music contrast and compare itself to the beauty of the countryside.



3. This is a really beautiful CD. The added vocals of James Taylor is a great plus. It skillfully and beautifully blends elements of traditional, blue grass, classical, and even Jazz into a most enjoyable and soothing musical experience. Would love to see them produce more of the "same".



4. These are flawless preformances of great music by some of the most talented artists on the planet. Slumber My Darling will leave you so relaxed you'll have to remember to breathe. The reels will bring you to your feet. This music reaches the soul as well as the ear.



5. I suppose you will enjoy this if you really like Yo-Yo Ma at his most boring. This is glorified elevator music and about as interesting.

4 comments about Vaughan Williams: The Collector's Edition.

1. This splendid set, an amazing bargain, provides most of Vaughan Williams's music in various, sometimes relatively recent, vintages of recordings. VW is a vastly underrated composer. Some of the symphonies are bonafide masterpieces, especially numbers 4 and 6, but the London Symphony (#2) and the 8th and 9th are pretty top drawer as well, if not as stunning as 4 and 6. But then, 3 and 5 are excellent in a more "pastoral" way, though hardly the "cow music" written about in a recent New York Times article. If VW has written any "cow music" my ears have never detected it. The First Symphony, however, a choral work based on text by Walt Whitman, is as uncowlike as you can get but too hysterically pitched for my taste (like Mahler's Eighth).
   
   The sublime Tallis Fantasy is given an expert performance, the marvelous Oboe Concerto is well done. The two string quartets are little known but very worth listening to.
   
   In all, at less than $2 per disk, it's hard to see why anyone would turn it down. The set's only serious defect is the pathetically inadequate documentation. One can hardly figure out who's performing what. The disks themselves lack track numbers, very inconvenient, and the booklet lacks notes. But the set is nicely boxed and at this price it seems churlish to quarrel.



2. This is indeed a very good opportunity to have a detailed view at this composer's work at a bargain price. To me, it has always been difficult to get Vaughan Williams's recordings as I'm out of the UK, where most of them are released individually. It is great to have a box like this to get closer to this marvellous orchestrator, with his compositions so full of instrumental colour. The price is excellent, the only disappointment is that thera are no booklet notes at all. At least the CD tracking details are ok.



3. I know people revere Boult and Handley and Hickox as the best of all possible interpreters for British music, along with Groves and Barbirolli and all of the other artists presented here. So please don't take offense as I pick apart this box set -- because it's not as great as some other reviewers make it out to be. Others can tell you why it's good (and it has LOTS of good stuff). Let me criticize it a little. Or a lot.
   
   First, the packaging. I'm getting really tired of these box sets (Elgar on EMI, reissue of Stravinsky set on Sony, etc.) that are missing biographies or descriptions of the works outside of a track listing. Is it so hard to reprint the liner notes from the original releases? Why on earth do they not include a libretto?? I can barely understand a word of these choruses and unless you've heard Sir John in Love or Hugh the Drover before, I don't think you'll be able to figure a whole lot out without resorting to the Internet and digging pretty deeply. Like the Elgar set, about half of this set has vocal works. So it's a huge drawback not to have texts and librettos.
   
   Second, these recordings are old. Fine. But they _sound_ old. I guess if EMI can't add liner notes, they won't spend the time to remaster their recordings before putting them back on the shelves. People who are replacing their vinyl recordings may be celebrating, but those of us who are young enough to have never owned vinyl or 8-track tapes will find that some of these recordings sound antiquated. This is especially true for those impossible-to-decipher vocal works. The songs are blurry and fuzzy (typical of low-end ADD), and there's nothing to be done without the help of a good sound engineer. It's clear much more care was put into the first half, which is full of the orchestral blockbusters that I'm sure have sold much better over time.
   
   Third, EMI was so lazy that they just put the CDs in this set as they were released originally without any consideration of repetition. There are 3 different versions of the Serenade to Music (one for chorus, one for 16 singers, and one with orchetra) under 3 different conductors. It's a charming work, but not _that_ charming. The Piano Concerto in an orchestral version, and then in 2-piano form? Ugh, there's a reason why Vaughan Williams kept editing it -- it's about as dry and bland as overcooked turkey. Two versions of the Fantasia of the Christmas Carols? On my Scrooge days, one is too many.
   
   I suppose the argument can be made that EMI has given choices, so you can pick the version you like best to put on your iPod. By why do that with such marginal works -- if they're going to have 2 versions of anything, it should be the symphonies. Handley's interpretations are five stars in my book -- they were good enough to convince me to sell my Slatkin set.
   
   So, I guess it's a must-buy only because there's nothing more complete out there at such a low price. But lament the fact that it could have -- and should have! -- been so much better.



4. For lovers of Ralph Vaughan Williams' music, the prospect of obtaining most of his works on 30 CDs for $50 or less should be irresistible. It's a great way to fill in the gaps in your collection, or to become acquainted with RVW's less familiar works. Among the highlights of this box are the Serenade to Music and the Pilgrim's Progress (both conducted by Adrian Boult), Partita for Double String Orchestra (Vernon Handley), Riders to the Sea and Sir John in Love (Meredith Davies), Hugh the Drover (Charles Groves), and On Wenlock Edge and Ten Blake Songs (sung by Ian Partridge). Vernon Handley's recordings of the symphonies have received uniform 5-star reviews on Amazon.
   
   In most cases, the performances and sound quality are very good to excellent. Hard-core fans will appreciate the inclusion of variants of a few works, such as the vocal and purely orchestral versions of the Serenade to Music. As would be expected in a compendium of this sort, a few of the items have performances or sound that is less than ideal. For example, Matthew Best's recording of A Song of Thanksgiving is far better than the one included here, but the Hyperion disc is no longer in print, and a used copy costs half as much as this entire package. The box lacks both notes and texts. Nonetheless, there's more than enough great stuff here to justify the modest price.

5 comments about Peter and the Wolf / Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra / Carnival of the Animals.

1. I LOVE the narration of this version. David Bowie does an outstanding job of representing all of the different characters. My only problem is that there are some "skips" in track 1. I'm not sure if this is representative of all downloads of this MP3 CD or if something went screwy during my personal download, but it's very disappointing.



2. Just bought this for my son, he loves it. Ever since he started listening to it, he is always humming the tune of the music. Great introduction for kids. BTW my son is 5.



3. I LOVED LISTENING TO IT WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN AND WATCHING THEIR FACES AS THEY LISTENED TO THE INSTRUMENTS AND THE STORY. I RECALL THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH MY OWN CHILDREN MANY YEARS AGO. THEY WERE EQUALLY DELIGHTED WITH THE INTRO TO CLASSICAL MUSIC.



4. We took our children to the Santa Cruz Symphony's production of Peter and the Wolf. Since the concert, they have been very interested in this classical music collection and listen to it regularly. We purchased this CD and the book "Peter and The Wolf" by Vagin Vladimir (fabulous illustrations). Together, they're a charming gift that any child will love and it could very well be their introduction to classical music for a lifetime.



5. David Bowie's voice is wonderful in this beautiful recording of Peter and the Wolf. the orchestra is rich and full and alive.

5 comments about The Chopin Collection.

1. This is a bargain for the price, with GREAT sound quality! Warm, but also clear. The perfomances are great, specially the mazurkas and waltzes and sonatas. I thought the noctures where played a bit to "straight", but it depends what one compares it to. I prefer Cortot for about all the Chopin I've heard of him before 1934 (Although I like Rubinsteins sonata better) and brazilian G. Novaes for the nocturnes.



2. These impressions are based on very limited listening thus far but the performances seem to be very crisp and correct and devoid of schmaltz which surprised me. I think Chopin needs a bit more melodrama to be at its best.



3. The ultimate way to apreciate the work of Chopin. powerful then again delicate. Sublime piano by Rubinstein. Curacao, apri1 14th 2008



4. In an age when there were few exceptional pianists, Rubinstein came to maturity after his marriage and 40th birthday - and fortunately his best work was recorded by RCA in America. Here's the Chopin you must have in a collection. Still brilliant by today's standards and still the Master.The Chopin Collection



5. This is the collection for the ages. It has the best repertoire I had ever wished, and the quality of sound is excellent, knowing that the recordings were made in the 55's-65's period. I am fully satisfied with this product, for Rubinstein's interpretations are superb and the reference for all the pianists and audiences in general: They are emotive, harmonic, delicate and masterful. --USEFUL--: The last disc is Mono (recorded 1946), so it has poor quality sound. The disc is the one of the Préludes Op. 28, and as an annex it contains the repeated and older recordings of the Barcarole Op. 60, the Berceuse Op. 57, and the Sonata Op. 35 (these pieces come in the Stereo discs too; i.e. repeated recordings). I do not miss the Préludes, so for me it is OK. Also this collection does not have the Études Op. 10 or the Op. 25. So if you want the Préludes and the Études to be in your colection, think buying this product twice. But if you do not care that much, buy it.