5 comments about Rachmaninov: The Symphonies.

1. Excellent playing guided by a Russian master, beautifully recorded by Polygram engineers. The little-played 1st Symphony was a surprise to me - after hearing it a few times, I don't feel it deserves the deep obscurity that history has relegated it to. The famous 2nd Symphony gets a lush, deeply emotional reading from Ashkenazy and the Amsterdamers, and the Symphonic Dances are as perfectly played as you will ever hear them. The bargain basement price of this set is a little disturbing - is no one interested in paying real money for outstanding recordings of great music anymore?



2. These set the modern standard for the Rachmaninov symphonies. Ashkenazy shows a remarkable affinity for the music. The little known 1st is given a performance that justifies its revival in the repertory. The uncut 2nd is breathtakingly beautiful. Ashkenazy allows it all its "heavenly length" - the complex textures of the first movement, the stunningly energetic scherzo, the beautifully languorous adagio, the delightful cascading "bells" of the last movement. My favorite, however, is the underrated 3rd, for which Ashkenazy displays uncannily "right" tempi throughout. Many conductors luxuriate in the lovely, diving violin solo in the second movement, and no exception here, but how many capture the logic of the final minutes of the symphony? Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw get it just right - the late, nostalgic revery, and then, quietly at first, the build up to an exhilerating, final frenzy. With other conductors this can seem confused or forced, but here the denouement is perfectly paced and has an inevitable logic that is wonderfully satisfying. Every time I listen to this, I feel a glow of pleasure at having bought these recordings.
   
   The filler pieces here are also delightful. Ashkenazy captures the proper, slow-paced moodiness of the Isle of the Dead. The Bells is effective, and the great Symphonic Dances have a beautiful and exotic Slavic flavor. The three disc version is thus an excellent bargain.



3. The advantages of this set are obvious. The best reason to get this set is the bringing together of superb --all of them-- performances. You simply aren't going to get this level of quality in any other set. Over three well-filled discs we get the 3 Symphonies, the cantata The Bells, the Symphonic Dances, and the tone poem Isle of the Dead.
   
   So what of the quality of the music? Must you ask? This is Rachmaninov! Symphony No.1 obviously has some problems, but with each new listen it grows on you. Symphony No.2 is luscious and beautiful, and Symphony No.3 is strong and powerful. In many ways, Symphony No.3 is the real gem among the symphonies.
   The Bells is so interesting and wonderful that you'll be hooked on it for a long time. It's four movements of the tone of bells, each representing a stage in life. Poe's idea was just the right subject for Rachmaninov, and it's no wonder that Rach loved this work--along with the Vespers--above all others. Makes you wonder why he didn't try his hand again at choral music.
   Isle of the Dead is a slowly moving, patient tone poem that stuns you with it's big crashes of brass in the middle of it. Don't be put off by the word "slow" in thise case, because this is stunning music.
   Last but not least, the Symphonic Dances. They were Rachmaninov's last major work, and it's a lot of people's favorite Rachmaninov work. For good reason; they're just darned thrilling, moving, and a pure joy to listen to.
   
   Ashkenazy is on a high level above most other Rachmaninov conductors, along with Andre Previn. He brings real zest to this music, keeps things flowing. His conducting style is that of shaping the music, rather than stamping it with personal interpretations. While some composers require such an interpreter, Rachmaninov's music is already very individualistic, and works best when conducted straight-laced. In that regard, there's nothing to complain about here!
   
   Buy and enjoy. This would also be a great Christmas gift!



4. Different people have different tastes. Without wishing to malign those who don't care as much (or at all) for this set, I'll dare say that this set is an absolute classic. [Why go only for the 2-disc set of just the symphonies instead of getting also Ostróva Mjórtvïkh (The Isle of the Dead), the Symphonic Dances and Kolokóla (The Bells) that come automatically as part of this 3-disc set?]
   
   It was the Ashkenazy recording of Ostróva Mjórtvïkh that introduced me to what has since become my favourite symphonic poem ever (roll over Richard Strauss - this one together with Schönberg's "Pelléas et Mélisande" take the cake!) as well as the Symphonic Dances - and also Kolokóla as well as the 1st & 3rd Symphonies. [Prévin did as much for the 2nd Symphony in my case and his recording is a more than worthy competitor - his and this one are as good as tied for top spot in my honest opinion - get them BOTH if possible!!!!] At all times, these interpretations proved Sjergjéy Vassíljevich Rakhmáñinov as one of the greatest composers of the 1850-1950 period, even if he wasn't the most prolific (my biggest regret is that death stopped him from benefitting us organists with an Organ Concerto meant for Charles Courboin). [He was the type that could only concentrate on one thing at a time - be it composition, piano concertising, or conducting, at all of which he was outstanding; however, when he went into exile after the Russian Revolutions, he found himself mainly working as one of the greatest pianists of all time in order to secure his future and feed his family.] Obviously his mentor Pjótr Iljích Chaykóvskiy was a powerful influence on him; however, Rakhmáñinov never loses his individuality at any point!
   
   Certainly his symphonic output is uniformly high: his 1st Symphony, while not always the most cohesive at times, still deserved a heck of a lot better fate than it received at the hands of Glazunóv - it's extremely inspired and there's no question that it deserves a high place in the repertoire. The 3rd Symphony - and the Symphonic Dances - not only proved that Rakhmáñinov had lost none of his mastery or inspiration in exile; they're both absolute masterpieces in their own right! [As to the 2nd, it would be my 2nd-favourite symphony, period, right behind Chaykóvskiy's 6th (Pathétique). The 3rd movement, if a question of falling in love for some, is for me a point of grieving for a lost love (which is very much still in my life after many years - I still cry bitterly on hearing this and the 1st movement!) and letting gradually go, though with greatest pain...] Finally, Kolokóla: another great masterpiece (the 2nd movement is especially moving and wonderful!).
   
   Most definitely, Ashkenazy does full justice to all of these works. Of course, one can disagree with this or that aspect or instant in this or that work (e.g., I could have wished a slower accelerando in the 2nd movement of the Symphonic Dances from the waltz tempo - that way one misses the otherwise obvious allusion to Chaykóvskiy's "Flowers' Waltz" from Shchjeljkúnchik {Nutcracker}); however, the overall merits of these recordings truly deserve the fullest 5 stars possible - I'd myself go for 6! Go get it in all events!!!!



5. This is an outstanding set, with the exception of the Symphonic Dances, where Ashkenazy conveys some of the passion in this work but doesn't attain nearly the same level of emotional intensity as Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's versions.
   
   The rest of this 3-CD set, consisting of the three symphonies and the Isle of the Dead, is outstanding. In the symphonies, the balance and the dynamic interplay between the strings, horns, and winds are brought out beautifully and the sound quality is crystal clear. The Isle of the Dead is very movingly performed, from the opening passage, where Ashkenazy establishes a somber ominous mood, to the sweeping majesty of the most powerful moments.
   
   For The Symphonic Dances, however, a fantastically passionate performance of this work is the 1963 recording by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, with Kiril Kondrashin as conductor (RCA; Catalog # 32046; ASIN: B000003ETI). With Kondrashin, the power and passion of The Symphonic Dances sweeps the listener away and takes him to an inspirational level. The performance is so burning hot that it throws off sparks. However, this CD may be out-of-print.
   
   Another passionate interpretation of The Symphonic Dances is the 1992 recording by Yuri Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (RCA; Catalog Number 62710; ASIN: B000003FRT). The Temirkanov CD also has a beautiful and moving performance of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with the pianist Dmitri Alexeev.
   
   The CD booklet for this box set with Ashkenazy conducting has a well-written, detailed, and informative essay on all of the compositions. The full text of The Bells, based on a reinterpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's verses by the Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont (1867 - 1943), is also included in Russian, English, French, and German.
   
   Highly recommended, with the additional recommendation of supplementing this set with Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's recording of The Symphonic Dances.

5 comments about Liszt: The Two Piano Concertos; The Piano Sonata.

1. No fan of Richter should be without this disc. His interpretation of the two piano concerti ranks among not only the best but also among the highly out of the ordinary ones.



2. Of course, as great pianists go, Richter is perhaps the best all-rounder, and like many a pianophile I probably have more recordings by him than by any other single pianist. Nevertheless, there is greater refinement and daring in Byron Janis's Mercury Living Presence recording of the Liszt concertos. Much as I also like serious and probing accounts of the Liszt sonata and so would not part with Arrau on Philips (coupled with a fine Vallee d'Obermann and a superb Benediction), it is difficult to return to him or indeed to Richter once you have encountered Martha Argerich's astonishing recording of the sonata on her Debut Recital compilation on DG. Richter's only fault was that he could occasionally take too firm an approach to a piece just as Michelangeli could sometimes seem to be too aloof. Richter's virtuosity could be astonishing (the Mendelssohn Variations serieuses appended to the Richter/Rostropovich DVD of the complete Beethoven cello sonatas, the Chopin Etude Op10 No4 on the Bruno Monsiagneon DVD, and Debussy's L'Isle joyeuse on BBC Legends) - and his poetry could be just as breathtaking (the Chopin Ballade No3 on the same BBC CD set) - but sometimes Richter could also go over the top and allow his ferocious virtuosity to squeeze the poetry out of a piece. Neither the Liszt concerto recordings nor the sonata are cases of this approach, but nor are they Richter at his most completely inspired - and for my money the Janis and Argerich recordings are superior for the COMBINATION of virtuosity and poetry. Byron and Martha rule on this occasion!



3. Might I mention one performance that Jeffrey Lipscomb omits - that recorded live in Budapest 1960. It was issued as a Phillips Legendary Classics CD, 422 137-2. The cd is a sort of twin to the 1958 Sofia Concert but has always been very much harder to find. This is my favorite of the recordings I know.
   
   There is also a performance in the Chopin/Liszt box from the Authorised Recordings collection, Phillips again, 438 620-2. The minimal information claims it was recorded in 1988 but I believe it is the Livorno 1966 version.



4. 
   It's far to be a mere casualty, the fact Richter and Francois have become the most important performers in which concern the major achievement of Franz Liszt `s Piano Concertos. Both pianists have some similarities, first and foremost, they possessed a nonchalant respect for the objective rules of interpretation so frequently watched until the 60's. Additionally, they created atmospheres every time they played and the glorious musical intuition, logic consequence of that irreverent posture before the rational way of playing the piano, permitted them to discover and explore new horizons around these well known and many times neglected works. They caught the entire attention of the public, because the Dionysian spirit made they considered these Op. as transient works between an agonic Romanticism and an emerging musical Impressionist. That explains why composers such Bartok, Respighi or Reger decided to undertake new musical paths.
   
   The main difference between Richter, Francois and the rest is they illuminated and explored new facets of the score. Go for this unavoidable album an then you will agree with me.
   
   The performance of the Sonata in B minor is mesmerizing.



5. If you are new to the late Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, arguably the greatest all-round keyboard virtuoso of the last century, this is a splendid place to start. And if you are new to Liszt's piano concertos, there is little need to look any farther. Few "legendary" recordings live up to the praise heaped upon them so deservedly as these classic 1961 studio recordings. Richter's inspired blend of drama and poetry is matched by a superb accompaniment from Kondrashin and the London Symphony. Philips here has actually improved on the sound of the original LPs: only a trace of hiss betrays the fact that these performances were taped over four decades ago.
   
   However, for Richter collectors, the situation is a little more complicated. These concertos are sensibly coupled with a "live" 1966 concert reading (from Livorno) of Liszt's Piano Sonata. Recently, Philips has re-issued these same concertos (minus the Liszt Sonata) in a coupling with three Beethoven sonatas (#10, 19 & 20). The sound on the newer disc is SLIGHTLY better than what is heard on this less expensive CD. Of course, Richter completists will want to have both.
   
   Further complicating the situation, BBC Legends has issued the "live" 1961 Richter/Kondrashin concerto accounts (Royal Albert Hall, London) that preceded these studio recordings. While I generally prefer the "spontaneity" of actual concert performances, I think the studio accounts here are a little better realized and have superior sound. But again, the compleat Richterphile will need to own both: the BBC CD also has a "live" Liszt Hungarian Fantasia and Chopin's "Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise." The Chopin is a personal favorite, along with the Czerny-Stefanska/Smetacek version on Supraphon (see my review). So, in short, I own both Philips releases as well as the BBC concert CD.
   
   That brings us back to the Liszt Sonata, which Richter never recorded in the studio. This 1966 account is one of four "live" recordings by Richter (all of which have some wrong notes). It's superior to the 1965 Aldeburgh (Classica d'Oro), which is very messy and rushed, and about on a par with the 1965 Moscow (Brilliant Classics). All in all, it's a rather analytical reading, and I would rank it just behind historic recordings by Simon Barere (mine's on Turnabout LP) and Ernst Levy (on a wonderful Marston CD that includes a great account of Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata).
   
   Unfortunately, Richter's GREATEST account of the Liszt Sonata is the only one that is currently un-available: a stupendously well-controlled, supremely poetic 18 May 1965 concert performance from Carnegie Hall. This was first issued on a rare LP (Private Edition P-101, apparently the only record issued by that label). I bought a copy in Manhattan back around 1974 for $20 - a princely sum in those days for a sole LP (adjusted for inflation, it's likely the most I have ever paid for a single disc). It also included the most awesomely well-played Mendelssohn "Variations Serieuses" I have ever heard (22 April 1965, Brooklyn), plus Richter's finest version of Beethoven's Op. 101 Sonata (3 May 1965, Carnegie Hall). This stunning Liszt Sonata was briefly available on a "Legendary Pianists" CD (Philips 422137, now deleted).
   
   So, to summarize: 1) This Philips disc contains the greatest studio accounts of Liszt's piano concertos known to me, 2) You may want to supplement it with Richter's "live" BBC accounts, and 3) Hopefully, Philips will re-issue that fabulous "live" 1965 Liszt Sonata from Carnegie Hall. The latter is the greatest account of the Liszt Sonata I have ever heard, and just possibly Richter's greatest-ever recording, period. Philips, are you listening? [Nov. 2005 update: the 1965 Carnegie Hall reading of the Liszt Sonata has recently been re-issued on a Palexa CD, which is available here at Amazon]
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   
   
   
   

5 comments about Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols.

1. I really enjoy this CD, it reminds me of the music I grew up. I was looking for something to just have on in the background, in my home during the day. I was disappointed that there were too many songs I didn't know, but this was the best choral music CD I could find so far that included both religious carols and non-religious carols.



2. I am something of a purist, and prefer my Christmas Carols without all the bells and whistles provided by orchestral accompaniments: I like simple SATB acappella singing. This album has it, and it is, of course, conducted by the great American conducting genius, Robert Shaw. Priceless.



3. I have been looking for this CD for years!! Our family had a Shaw Chorale LP which contained almost all the songs on this CD. We had a number of excellent holiday albums and played all of them often, but we wore the Shaw Chorale album out! Not only are the musical renditions excellent and very similar to earlier Shaw recordings, the nostalgia evoked for this listener is incomparable!



4. I received this recording on cassette from a choral teacher, and played it so often that I wore it out! I especially appreciate the purity of sound and the arrangements in this recording. Lovers of choral music will feel as though "Songs of Angels" brings them a taste of heaven!



5. Alas that Robert Shaw is no longer with us. Throughout his long and varied career he gave us choral music with exactness,good pacing,and proper execution though not all musicologists would chose his renditions.
   In "Songs of Angels" recorded in 1994 he shows us that even in later years he just kept going and going. Giving us stellar performances of masterpieces such as "Elijah","The Creation" and other large choral works. Yet in this album he shows the same attention to detail and
   enraptures us with that special beauty of tone and ensemble which was
   was to be Shaw's watermark on his life's offering.

5 comments about Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits.

1. Some times it is difficult to select a piece of music that is perfect to have in the back ground while having a dinner party, this CD is perfect it is melodic, romantic and easy to listen to. I like to have it on full volume while preparing dinner and having a wee glass of wine!



2. The cover is misleading. It lists the 2nd piano concerto but the CD only has a small part of the concerto on it.



3. This is a marvelous collection. There were a few pieces I wish that it would include, such as the rest of his Piano Concerto No.2, or perhaps The Rock, but the fact that the performances are generally great and the recording quality is near-perfect makes up for that.
   
   I would recommend this to anyone who is just starting to become interested in the works of Sergei Rachmaninov.



4. This is actually not a bad collection of Greatest Hits. Usually the problem with collections like these is that they have bad recordings and not very good performances but some of these ones are actually okay, and it features performances by Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax among others. In general these are the works of art you think of when you think of Rachmaninoff and so these pieces are a perfect representation of his style.



5. This is one of the best I own. The music is so great, hard to explain...so moving, especially the first track. It reminds me of Russia a lot. I listen to it everyday while driving to work. I highly recommend it.

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 Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading.

1. I write this not for the cd itself but the entire alliterative series that seeks to introduce classical music to another generation of listeners. I first started collecting these releases about ten years ago when I needed a broad sampling of chamber music and was delighted to find the quality of the performances superb and the tracks themselves well-chosen and sequenced. Each one of these discs, however cornball the names may be, offers some of the best music written in the last four hundred years. If you love chamber music, this is a wonderful way to acquaint yourself with almost any of the major composers of western civilization.



2. My wife and I own other CDs from this series, and this isn't one of my favorites. I am unfamiliar with most of the music on "Beethoven for Book Lovers," and none of it seems to be very notable. However, it accomplishes its presumed goal as great background music for reading, with very soothing recordings of these lesser-known works of Beethoven. I can't rave about this one, but it's certainly workable and worthwhile to own if you actually do desire "an intimate companion for reading."



3. This CD is full of music that is very soothing and perfect for a relaxing afternoon or evening curled up with a good book.



4. Just received this CD today, and it's definitely wonderful background for reading; however, don't limit it to that. If you just need some time to close your eyes and unwind, this is also the perfect companion. Love it!



5. If you're a fan of Philips's Set Your Life to Music series, you'll want to get this CD. It will be especially good for string and piano music lovers. I have several of the series, and it has quickly become my favorite. It's perfect for reading, studying, or just "kicking back." If you know of someone who needs to relax and would like this type of CD, get it for him/her. You'll get major points for it.

5 comments about Franck - Sonata for violin and piano · Debussy - Sonatas · Ravel - Introduction and Allegro / Chung · Lupu · Ellis · Melos Ensemble.

1. This group of works of French Impressionism is enjoyable from begining to end and can be highly recommended. The sound quality given its vintage is excellent. I have competing versions of the Ravel and Debussy and this version more than holds its own. The Franck is one of those works any fan of western art music should not be without. I purchased this after reading about it in the NPR guide which also recommended it highly.



2. Possibly my favorite classical music CD. I have listened to this more times than I could count, and I still love it.



3. A good solid recording, but not as exquisite as Anne-Sophie Mutter's or as warm as Josh Bell's.



4. Tom Hanks won't have a regret on what CDs he should have brought to the island in the movie "Cast Away", only if he had this Chung & Lupu sonata!



5. This CD unites two sets of classic performances: The Franck and Debussy Violin Sonatas by Kyung Wha Chung and Radu Lupu, dating from 1977, and two 1962 recordings by the Melos Ensemble (Ravel's Introduction and Allegro and Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp). At the time of thisreview,it is listed Kyung Wha Chung as a performer on the latter Debussy Sonata, which is not the case, though the fault probably lies with the way the disc is labelled and documented (you have to read the fine print to see exactly who is performing what). But all four of these are classic performances, with excellent sound (though analogue recordings), and there is no better buy in the catalog than this disc for chamber music lovers!

5 comments about Levant Plays Gershwin.

1. We are truly fortunate to have the music on this CD preserved. But the best way to appreciate these recordings is to jump in to the era in which they were made. For more about Oscar Levant, I recommend "A Talent for Genius: the Life and Times of Oscar Levant," by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. This book takes you into the adjoining penthouse living rooms of George and Ira Gershwin, where Oscar virtually lived for many years. He also wrote three autobiographies that are wonderful reading: A Smattering of Ignorance, The Importance of Being Oscar, and The Memoirs of an Amnesiac.
   
   Oscar Levant was an amazing talent and wit. His insults to everyone were famous, and you never knew what he was going to say next. But when he sat down at the piano...wow! You'll see what I mean when you listen to this CD.



2. We, in the states, can be very proud of our own American composers such as Ives, Copland, Barber, and especially George Gershwin. I don't think there has been a more accurate musical portrait of New York City than "Rhapsody in Blue". You can just see in your mind the people bustling about, the taxis honking and subways shaking the ground. Then the sweeping horns vividly paint the city skyline in all majesty. Infused with the spirit of jazz (our own American folk-music and art form), the rhapsody exemplifies American spirit of inginuity and progress.
   
   The other pieces are also quite good especially the solo piano pieces which are also quite jazz-like while maintaining the integrity of being truly "Classical".
   
   These versions are old but worth it. The sound quality is somewhat lacking, but the there is a certain spontineaty to Levant's performance; as if he is one with the music of Gershwin.
   
   Comparisons for Rhapsody in Blue:
   
   Bernstein (piano & conductor)
   Earl Wild/Arthur Feidler/Boston Pops Orch.



3. I first knew Oscar Levant as a film star. Never the lead, but a fabulous sidekick for many of the leading men of the era. He always took a turn at the piano in his films. When a movie features that kind of thing, it's usually a piece of fakery. I noticed, though, that Levant was actually doing his own piano playing.
   
   This led me to start looking into his career as a pianist. Turns out he's an incredibly good interpreter of Gerschwin tunes (one of my favorite composers).
   
   Two reasons I don't give this a five star rating: not all the recordings are ones I'd have chosen for myself and I wonder if they could have done better with the digitizing of the music. Nevertheless, this is an excellent addition to a Gerschwin collection. Unfortunately, it's also just about the only Levant music CD available.



4. This disc is not what you want if you are looking for a mainstream Gershwin disc. It isn't that the interpretations re bad, but the sound is not admirable. If you are a Gershwin connosieur, sure, this is a great disc. But don't get it unless you know you want it.



5. KNOWING THAT LEVANT AND GERSHWIN WERE CLOSE FRIENDS, COMBINED WITH THE SPECIAL ARTISTRY OF LEVANT, PROVIDES MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO PURCHASE THIS CD. LEVANT'S INTERPRETATION OF GERSHIWIN'S MUSIC IS INDEED SPECIAL.

5 comments about Villa-Lobos: Complete Music for Solo Guitar.

1. I am most familiar with Bream's recordings of most of these works. Kraft takes the tempos generally faster, and his rubato is different. Considering Bream's recordings are among my favorite of all time, I think these stand up very well indeed. Technically almost flawless, and (to my ears) idiomatic.
   The generally dry acoustic of most of the Naxos guitar recordings doesn't quite serve this recording as well as the airier ambiance in Bream's recordings.
   Still, this is a minor quibble. As it is, Kraft shows himself with honor among the guitarists who have graced Naxos' terrific guitar series, which Kraft himself produces.



2. I listened to this recording and at first listening I said "Great, somebody took these hackeneyed pieces and breathed new life into them"... I mean, how many Villalobos recordings are out there? Too many... Norbert took this to a different level by re-interpreting them... that's the only way this music is going to sound new... So, to all these fuddy duddies who gave this album a bad review, you should listen with a clear head, as opposed to listening with some "ideal" recording of this in you mind... to the guy who went on and on as to how this "should" be interpreted and how he sat there with the score and the recording should be this and that, I ask you, are you the Villalobos police?? Get a life.. If you've heard the villalobos guitar works before, this is a great new interpretation of them...



3. To play old classic, especially the guitar classic, in a new way is highly difficult task. None the less, Norbert Craft has found absolutely new, as it appears to me, intonations in Villa Lobos quitar music, especially in the studies. The technique is beyond reproach. Excellent performance!



4. This music is awesome to listen to and to play. I bought it because it has all the songs from Heitor's guitar sheet music compilation "Villa-Lobos Solo Guitar: Heitor Villa-Lobos Collected Works for Solo Guitar".
   
   Norbert Kraft is a very skilled guitarist. He puts his own interpretation into the music, which I like a lot. The recording is very good.



5. If you play classical guitar, you know that you just got to know how to play the Villa-Lobos 12 studies...
   What a wounderful interpretation by Mr. Kraft.

5 comments about Greatest Hits.

1. All the great hits in one inexpensive CD! The Syncopated Clock, Sleigh Ride, The Typewriter Song, Fiddle Faddle.....over twenty hits with a beautiful, clear sound. Leroy Anderson hits, wonderful arrangements played by a great orchestra. Just plain fun hearing these again!



2. The music on this album is wonderful. Much of it is familiar, from listening to classical music radio stations, but always enjoyable. The quality of the recording is great.



3. Enjoyed this LeRoy Anderson music with the Pops. This would make any one a fan of his music.



4. WARNING: Playing this album in a moving vehicle could cause the driver to accelerate unconsciously by 15 to 20 mph. Belle of the Ball, Syncopated Clock, and the Blue Tango were standards of my childhood. Sleigh Ride belongs to everybody. And this collection may be the apothesis of mid-20th Century pops orchestra music. Until I got this album, I thought Leroy Anderson built his own band. Apparently he never did. His signature compositions here are performed by the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, with guest appearances by Al Hirt on the trumpet and bugle exercises. The Anderson approach to writing music seems to be a perfect match for the Fiedler approach to using the entire orchestra in stimulating ways. Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, everybody gets his moment in the spotlight. Pops orchestral music was never more fun to listen to than this. Admittedly, masses of music consumers now living will never take notice of this kind of work, but for those whose tastes are broad enough to extend to pre-1963, this readily available little jewel will brighten your collection and consistently delight you whenever you load it into your player.



5. The music of Leroy Anderson can best be described as a piece of American Apple Pie, he's the Norman Rockwell of Americana music. Almost everyone knows some tunes by this composer. His delightful and feel good music just makes you happy. Leroy Anderson's best known works are "The Syncopated Clock", "The Typewriter", and "Sleigh Ride", but there are many more just as tuneful. This recording by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops has many merits, but, in all honesty, there are better recordings and performances available. Some of the problems with this CD range from ill-advised tempos ("Fiddle Faddle" is performed way too fast), muddy acoustics, sloppy playing, and live performances ("The Irish Suite") with coughing and applause. I usually avoid live performances because of the usual problems that are associated with them. No place on the CD's front or back cover does it mention that there are live performance tracks. Although price-wise this CD is a good value and contains some enjoyable renditions, I would suggest looking toward the Frederick Fennell (Mercury Living Presence) or Leonard Slatkin (RCA) CDs for better sound and performances. There are also other good CDs available, such as a mono recording in which composer Leroy Anderson conducts his own music. You can't get much better than that.