5 comments about 25 Thunderous Classics.

1. I love this cd. The majesty and power of the music is overwhelming.
   
   If you like a strong, powerful melody, you'll like this cd



2. I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples. I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. It's worth more than it costs by far.



3. 
   This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!



4. I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.



5. I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

   This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

   I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
   Well worth the price!

5 comments about Perhaps Love.

1. Placido Domingo is a great man...I love his music and will always continue to listen to him...he is so relaxing for me to hear...
   I loved this CD with John Denver singing my favorite "Perhaps Love"
   It is a keeper for sure...



2. CD was delivered on time and intact. The sound quality is very good and worth the money spent.



3. What tenorfanatic would not be enthusiastic about Placido Domingo, the epitome of great tenor singing for nearly half a century! On this recording, he wanders away from his usual opera arias and Spanish songs, to perform some "popular" music; and he does so beautifully.
   This recording was given to me by a friend, along with the sheet music for "To Love," because she wanted me to sing it. I have never performed it; but I certainly enjoy singing it at home. "To Love," naturally I suppose, remains my favorite song on the recording. But, who would fault "Perhaps Love," and its blending of voices with--of all people--John Denver? Other specials for me include "Annie's Song" and "Yesterday"--yes, an opera star singing Beatles music!
   Usually, I do not notice orchestrations, unless they intrude upon the vocals of a recording. But, on this the excellent complementing of the instrumentals to the voices neared perfection.
   All in all, a wonderful recording!



4. Placido Domingo - Perhaps Love
   This CD contains some very beautiful romantic songs. John Denver is our great loss and Domingo is our great talent. Such charisma and tenderness. You can almost feel him in your presence. I would recommend it 100%.



5. I am absolutely smitten with other Placido Domingo music but this was a bit disappointing.

5 comments about Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos.

1. I'm not an educated musician or something, I was just looking for the Symphonies and found this amazing collection that includes the full piano concertos, and at a great price!
   
   Really easy to recommend.



2. This music lifts itself an dthe movie to a higher level. Only listening brings you in the movie. One to have



3. In Ms. Quinn's review of this Klemperer Beethoven set, she refers to Bruno Walter's Beethoven symphony set on Columbia,which she describes as done with the "?Chicago Symphony". I believe she's referring to the late 1950s Columbia/Walter stereo set made in LA with the "Columbia Symphony", a pickup orchestra of LA"s best studio musicians. Columbia's producer assembled that orchestra specifically for Dr. Walter, thereby giving that great conductor an opportunity to record what turned out to be his last thoughts on Beethoven, Brahms, and others. I believe this Walter set deserves to be placed alongside Klemperer's, von Karajan's (1962 series), and Toscanini's (1949-1952 series) as an exemplar of surpassingly great Beethoven performances. I grew up with the Toscanini set and still listen to it---but there is no one way of playing these symphonies.
   
   To give just one example: Each of the four Eroicas in these sets presents a unique view of this greatest of all symphonies. Von Karajan and Toscanini offer unstoppable forward momentum while treating the even-numbered movements differently. Walter sees in the score a beauty that I haven't heard elsewhere; and Klemperer shows how inevitable the Eroica is when you can hear all the notes. If I had to live with just two, I'd choose one of the two EMI Klemperers: Either this stereo Klemperer or the 1955 mono Klemperer (available separately in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series)---and my other choice would be the 1949 Toscanini Eroica. I don't believe that I can live with just one Eroica.



4. For me, this is the top choice for stereo Beethoven cycles. Klemperer conducted with a grandeur that is sadly not to be found among today's conductor's. His "Eroica" is still among the best around alongside Furtwangler, Abendroth & Weingartner. His 9th is easily a top 10 choice, behind a couple by Furtwangler (of course), Weingartner, Reiner and Fricsay. The rest of the set is also very solid, especially 4 and 6 (one of the very best, after Walter and Bohm) without a subpar performance in the bunch. As an added bonus, you get a high caliber set of the piano concertos by Barenboim and Klemperer, though not quite of the quality of Fleisher/Szell or Kempff/Van Kempen. When you factor in the cost (You can usually find it for under $40) this great set is a steal.



5. These are classic, fine performances of the Beethoven symphonic and piano concerto canon by one of the great artists of the 20th century. They are not necessarily the most passionate or electrifying of Klemperer's recorded legacy; those belong to many of the live performances recorded from the early 1950's through the early 1960's. So why get this set (besides the price, which is a steal)?
   
   The answer is that these are by far the best recorded of Klemperer's Beethoven performances and showcase his extraordinarily meticulous attention to balance, phrasing and dynamics. Always present is the nearly unique command of long-term tension and release, the command of the structure of each symphony or concerto as a whole, and the innate sense of musical drama which makes his performances so satisfying. The Philharmonia is ideally suited to Klemperer's vision, with its sure-footed brass, solo-quality first-chair winds and elegant but light strings. Klemperer may not have cared particularly about orchestral sound - his was most often called granitic -- but the results are certainly beautiful. And the recorded sound allows us to hear all of this. EMI lavished its skills on these recordings, making them in the marvelous acoustics of Kingsway hall; they sound warm, detailed and natural.
   
   Klemperer's vision of Beethoven is powerful and uncompromising. Yes, the tempi are slow in the faster movements, but there is a fierce intelligence and indominable spirit that radiates through these performances and makes them towering and, at their best, earth-shaking. Klemperer had a special affinity for Beethoven. Both men's lives were compromised by chronic health issues and pain: for Beethoven, the deafness and chronic indigestion and bowel-problems; for Klemperer, the brain tumor, resulting partial paralysis, broken bones, and the manic-depression. Both men were notoriously cranky and crabby. And yet both men created (or recreated) music which expresses the human spirit's triumph over adversity as well as music of extraordinary beauty.
   
   No-one would call Klemperer's Beethoven crisp or fleet. Even though he was a truly 20th century conductor in eschewing the rhetorical gestures of romanticism and focusing on the holy writ of the score, he was enough of a child of 19th century Germany to favor a massive and hortatory approach, with prominent brass, thundering tympani and dramatic underlining.
   
   In the concerti, the young Barenboim and the old Klemperer seem to cancel out each other's idiosynracies to produce some of the finest performances of the concerti on record. Again, these are recorded in splendid sound which barely shows its age.
   
   At this price, there is no reason not to purchase this set. Whether this will be your favorite Beethoven symphony set will depend on your personal taste; but it is important enough to reward your careful listening, even if it's only from time to time.

5 comments about Mozart for Your Mind.

1. I started listening to this when I had to cram for an exam the other day. I couldn't stop listening to it, and when it came time for the test, I wish my professor could have let me listen to it while I was taking the test!
   All the pieces are upbeat, while at the same time not distracting.



2. In Mozart for Your Mind, the best of Mozart's interpreters, giants such as Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, Mitsuko Uchida and Jeffrey Tate, and John Eliot Gardener and the English Baroque Soloists, create a fiery and spirited playlist of some of Mozart's most exciting contributions to the classical repertoire. While you may be familiar with some of the pieces, there are some surprises here that will only help you cement a love, respect, and admiration for the genius that was Mozart.



3. it's a nice cd (great classical music of course), but you know, your mind can only take it so many times... I think I'm going to move on to MORE mozart for your mind



4. The two works on this CD that are most known are The Magic Flute Overture, which is filled with brilliance from measure one to the end, and the opening piece to the movie Amadeus, the G Minor Symphony. These two pieces are superb but just because they are more known, doesn't mean they are better than the rest of the works on this CD.
   The Sonata in D Major for two pianos is incredibly brilliant. The first piano holds the main melody while the second piano mimicks it, and then a huge crescendo and BOOM! It is all over the place! (My father and I are both Pianists, and we both specialize in Mozart piano concertos and sonatas.) This piece is wonderful to listen to, and I plan to learn it. The three piano concertos are also spectacular and the Jupiter Finale is superb. There isn't a piece on this CD I can honestly say is even close to okay, they are all exceptionally good. I suggest buying this CD to add to your mozart collection.



5. BEFORE I LISTENED TO THIS CD, I KNEW NO MORE OF MOZART THAN DIM MEMORIES OF 'AMADEUS'.

   AFTER LISTENING TO THIS CD BUT A FEW TIMES I BECAME OVERWHELMED BY THE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS COMPOSER.

   FOUR MONTHS LATER, I COMPLETED AN OPERA COVERING ALL THE WONDERFUL EVENTS OF THE EUROPEAN TOURS OF LEOPOLD AND WOLFGANG...WITH WOLFGANG'S ORIGINAL MUSIC.

   I DO NOT BELIEVE I COULD HAVE DONE THIS BUT FOR THE INCREASE IN MY IQ FROM LISTENING TO THIS CD.

3 comments about Classics for Kids.

1. This is wonderful classical music. If the kids like it, great! But, make no mistake about it, this is good for anyone. This is wonderful study music, reading music, or just plain relaxing music. Highlights include "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers"; "March of the Toys" (from BABES IN TOYLAND -- the reason I bought this CD); "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"; "The Little Train of Caipira" (no longer little when the music is over); and the audience favorite "Hoedown" (i.e. "Beef, it's what's for dinner!").
   
   If you're into that whole thing of classical music sharpening a youngster's intellect, then this won't disappoint. If you're just into good old fashioned classical music in general, it won't disappoint you either. Also, I highly recommend to both groups the classical CD BUILD YOUR BABY'S BRAIN.



2. This is a wonderful album. Very high quality, and every selection is beautiful. My daughter (who usually asks me to turn my classical music off) loves to pretend to gallop like a horse during "Rodeo" and march like a soldier during "Parade of the wooden soldiers". This is a pleasure for the whole family!



3. I use this CD with my preschool music group. The kids love it! This CD enables children learn about classical music without over extending their attention spans.

5 comments about Smetana: Moldau/From Bohemia's Meadows and Forests/Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Op.46 & Op.72.

1. I bought the CD for the Moldau piece which I love. However, the rest of the CD is just as wonderful and I have enjoyed listening to the entire CD many times.



2. Smetana não é muito difundido, mas "O Moldávia", parte integrante do poema sinfônico "Minha Pátria", é uma obra-prima da música clássica. Ao que parece, Rafael Kubelik, tanto no comando da sinfônica de Boston, quanto da orquestra sinfônica da rádio Bávara, dão um show de interpretação e lirismo. A gravação, como era esperado, não é boa, pois é muito antiga, mas artisticamenté a composição e execução são piramidais. Existem vários cds com esta obra com Rafael Kubelik, variando muito a técnica de gravação, mas a música em si é difícil de esquecer, eu mesmo fico com a melodia na minha cabeça todos os dias. Tem um cd da Mercury que nem estéreo é, contendo o poema completo, é magnífico, mesmo com chiados. Imperdível todos eles.



3. While listening to this CD, I had the undeniable feeling that I was outside breathing in the fresh air, relaxing in the sunshine listening to the sounds of a babbling brook and this glorious music!



4. I enjoyed it, that's about all I can say. Couldn't fault it.



5. I love "The Moldau". It is one of the most prettiest works by Smetna. I still get chills from repeated listening.

5 comments about The Best of Erik Satie.

1. I love piano music and had been looking for a good one for years. I bought this without knowing much about Erik Satie and I'm very happy. It's a great collection.



2. If you love piano music, you'll Erik Satie! A wonderful mix of contemporary sounds, as well as some more modern atonal pieces. Can't get enough of this CD.



3. The reason I bought this product, is because I was familiar with the 3 Gymnopedies of Erick Satie and also another of his work: The Gnosiemme (I'm not sure about the spelling) No. 4. After listening to the CD I felt very happy with it because include both versions of the Gymnopedies, the Orchestral and the one for piano and of course the Gnosiemme No. 4 which I now like it very much. The pianist makes justice to Satie's work and if you like his work is a good buy.



4. Satie is a forerunner to minimalism. Each piece of his music is a beauty. He also had great influence on many famous composers and musicians in his age. This album is one of the best piano classical.



5. Just a great collection from Erik Satie. I would highly recommend this one!

1 comments about Symphony (25) Favorites.

1. This album provides a quick exposure to some of the best movements in the best symphonies. Many of the tracks will sound familiar. They are played well and have good sound quality.
   As a novice musician, i have great appreciation for it.

5 comments about Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas.

1. How wonderful to hear Herr Kempff doing Beethoven again! I don't know how many recordings he's made of the complete piano sonatas - "not enough" comes to mind. He's in no hurry and the "virtuoso" element is thankfully nowhere in sight so we're left with the music itself and it never sounded better. The earlier sonatas in particular are clear and to the point without frills or too much soul searching. The music stars here and the vehicle, Wilhelm Kempff, is completely in tune with it.
   The way the line is treated is magnificent. Kempff has a narrative quality in his playing like no one else. He can spin a yarn and we're almost afraid to look away for fear of missing a key ingredient.
   
   Curtis Stotlar



2. Like all of the music he recorded, Wilhelm Kempff has a way of applying his own unique interpretive style to these sonatas and making them his own, without taking away from the composer's intention. Unlike some of the recordings by today's artists, who play at speeds that tend to blur the notes, Kempff articulates each line clearly, cleanly and accurately. Now, I'm not saying that each one of these sonatas is my favorite interpretation, but several are. Two that I'm not particularly fond of are his readings of Nos. 21 & 23, both of which I prefer Gilels. He takes the Hammerklavier at a much slower tempo than any other I've heard, but he pulls it off remarkably. To my ears, of the more conventional approach to No.29, Serkin and Soloman do it a little better. As for the rest of the late sonatas, which I feel is the weakest part of this set (if I had to pick a weakness), my personal taste leans more towards Pollini, Arrau or Richter. Of the complete sets of 32 that I own (this one, Arrau, Schnabel, Barenboim [EMI], Annie Fischer and Gilels [nearly complete]), this one is my all around favorite. The sound is also very good.



3. These are my favourite interpretations of the thirty two piano sonatas although Brendel's collection of the same mid '60s period comes a very close second.
   
   I have heard many of the other sonata sets and own a few, but musical gravity invariably pulls me back to Kempff. For me, he provides the most satisfying interpretations and performances of one of Beethoven's two most significant non-symphonic contributions to music; the other being the string quartets.
   
   The musical evolution between the first and last Sonatas is enormous - the authorship of the last cannot be guessed from listening to the first. The early works recognise his indebtedness to those who had gone before and for whom Beethoven had a profound regard. If Beethoven's Opus 2, Nr1 had been published as Haydn's sixty third Sonata, the attribution would not have been questioned and I suspect Bach's Chromatic Fantasia was buzzing around in his consciousness when he wrote the last movement of the second Sonata. Beethoven, whilst being determined to set his own course, was no iconoclast.
   
   Kempff's playing, along with that of several of his contemporaries like Gieseking, Schnabel and Wuhrer, has a refinement inherited from the 19th century; a refinement I find lacking in some modern performances, aspects of which can be unpleasantly brash by comparison. He was 70 years old when he made these recordings and which may account for a more contemplative approach to some works but age has not dimmed the sparkle of bravura passages. I have lived with this collection of the "32" for a long time and love it.
   
   The recording is fine with a bright treble but the lower registers occasionally seem a trifle short of punch. But this is to quibble . .
   
   The choosing of which set/artist to purchase is a serious matter and price should be an irrelevance but it is difficult not to have one's judgment influenced by these nine discs being available in 3-disc jewel cases for as little as $42, brand spanking new! Extraordinary performances at extraordinary value.
   
   I have no reservation in my recommendation - I think it's simply the best.



4. These works are true state of art performances are like the great masterworks, they seem to change before us, but not they are, but us what we experience its infinite grandness every time we used to watch or even to approximate them.
   
   This is the case of Wilhelm Kempff, regarded by many as the most authentic "voice of Beethoven."
   
   His cantabile line was so natural, that flew organically, effortless with that peerless refinement and unique fingering, that really shaped every single musical idea contained in the score.
   
   Although is easy to notice the tempos in general are slower respect the set of the Fifties (mono), there are Sonatas (like Moonlight or The tempest) that are played with cosmic approach. As a matter of fact, the main difference between him and the rest of the pianists is that he depicted the spirit of every work, through a smart dissection and then expressed all those pieces gathered systematically and then expressed with a symphonic lexicon, without affection and theatrical pose
   
   A fundamental set that under no pretext must be in your priceless collection.



5. This is the Beethoven piano sonata set to own, hands down. While Kempff was not perfect in interpreting all of Beethoven's piano works -- for instance, I never liked his playing of B's piano concertos -- he did an absolutely marvelous job with pretty every work in this set. (Note: the "complete" here means all of B's "regular" piano sonatas with opus numbers, e.g., op.6 is left out, as are WoO ones). Kempff's interpretation is both highly technical and enormously emotional. His most brilliance comes through in the more difficult late works, such as the Hammerklavier -- a piece I never liked as a young person but have come to appreciate as I approach middle age. The recording quality is also excellent, making this a pleasure to listen to anytime.

5 comments about Rock of Ages: 30 Favorite Hymns.

1. The very best choir in the world sings the best songs in the world. Turn up the volume and just enjoy it.



2. I received the order the second time round, first order got lost. Music however is brilliant.
   
   Thank you



3. I've now played this CD several times and am always left wondering whether someone is fielding a back-up choir because it has none of the usual majesty of the real Tabernacle Choir.
   
   The recording is a bit "thin" and I've only kept it because I know the MTC can do and has done so much better.



4. This CD is fantastic. The music selections are great!
   My favorite is How Firm a Foundation.
   But others are great as well.
   I just love how it invites the spirit into my life, and send shivers of peace up by spine when I listen to this CD.
   A great CD!



5. Steve Cumming played this version of God Be With You Till We Meet Again on his last broadcast show for classical WRR radio in Dallas. If there was a dry eye in the listening audience, I would be surprised. In addition to the song he chose, this recording has all of your favorites performed with beauty and majesty.