5 comments about Dvorák: The Symphonies.

1. Well since I order this from amazon.com, I
   have listen to the whole cycle of symphonies
   several times, and what really cought my attention
   was his early symphonies, in particular the
   story behind the first symphony which I
   will not tell you so you can read it in the
   detailed liner notes of the CD. I don't think
   that I have a particular symphony by Dvorak, I
   like, but rather I say that I like them all equally.
   At the amazon.com price this is really a bargain,
   highly recommended music for all ages and walks of
   life. Kertesz and the Brits did a fantastic work.



2. These Dvorak symphonies, recorded by Kertesz/LSO from 1963-67, are still a fine choice if you are looking for a complete set, followed by Kubelik and Neumann (Supraphon). Symphonies 1-6 and the overtures are all excellent, with a bit of dropoff on 7-9. Not that the last three are bad by any means, but when compared to performances by Talich, Ancerl and Szell they come up a bit short. So, by all means get this complete set (especially at this price), then supplement as (or if) you see fit. The sound is fine throughout. Kertesz also has a set of Dvorak's Symphonic Poems and Overtures on a Decca 2 CD set that is very good, but may be out of print.



3. Excellent performances of wonderful music. Disk creation leaves a little to be desired - it's awkward to start a favorite symphony on track 3 of one disk and then have it end on track two of the next. Shades of the LP era!



4. The Amazon reviewer lists only 3 complete cycles, but this overlooks at least one other cycle by Vaclav Neumann & the Czech Philharmonic that dates from c. 1974 along with the Slavonic Dances.
   
   I bet the ratio of Beethoven Symphony Cycles to either Dvorak or Sibelius over the last 50 years is at least 20 to 1. This is the pity of Classical Music. Beethoven and Mozart have had their music beaten to death over and over and over and over again and the horse is still dead while other great artists have hardly had the whip put to them.
   
   The plus to all of this is that you can actually collect all of the significant Dvorak or Sibelius cycles including this fine set by Kertesz and the London Phil.
   
   The bio on Kertesz in my Vox Box Dvorak Symphonies (LPs) says he died in April 1973 in Israel in a swimming accident.
   
   This is a nice set in decent stereo and will give you the chance to hear the much more seldom performed first 6 symphonies. Like Tchaikovsky's first three, they are not quite the level of the last 3 but they are still a hoot to listen to.



5. These recordings are timeless. Never have I heard music so beautifully played or more rhythmically delineated.That these symphonies still sound so fresh (in spite of some heavy home grown Czech opposition) is a glowing tribute to the memory of Istvan Kertesz and the London Symphony Orchestra.

5 comments about Chopin: Greatest Hits.

1. When I think of the piano, the first composer that comes to my mind is Chopin. Chopin was a composer who excelled in small form writing for the piano. He wrote beautiful melodies with complex accompaniment that was both challenging for the performer and enlightening for the listener. Chopin did not write many multi-movement pieces and what he did write is generally not as good as his solo piano pieces anyway (this is my opinion, not a fact).
   When buying recordings of Chopin's music, there are basically two options. You can either go with a "Greatest Hits" type collection, which works very well with Chopin, or you can buy collections that assemble all he wrote for a certain form (preludes, nocturnes, etudes, etc...). If you are new to Chopin, I suggest buying a "Greatest Hits" collection, though not necessarily this one, even though this is the CD in my car right now. The playing is okay but it's nothing really that special. Considering all the masterful Chopin interpreters out there, such as Rubinstein, Ashkenazy, Argerich, Pollini, and Perahia, it seems silly not to start with a pianist that you really love, since almost every great pianist has recorded works by Chopin. Having said that, this collection contains almost all my favorite works by Chopin, my only complaint being I wish it had more than one nocturne. Thus it serves as a good introduction to Chopin's music. I would recommend the Favorite Chopin collection by Ashkenazy over this collection because not only is he an amazing pianist and a masterful interpreter of Chopin, but it's two discs for the price of one.



2. Revolutionary Etude and many other performers are good. However, Fanastie Impromptu I've heard performed much better. Raindrop Prelude is played okay, but the song is so low in volume that I can hardly hear it. Good deal though.



3. What can I say! This is a wonderful collection of music. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves his music.



4. Not a good version of Les Sylphides (#17); which is only a 5 minute excerpt. Any other Les Sylphides pieces are sprinkled throughout the CD as piano.



5. Frederic Chopin is a very talented artist and composer. A must have of any Chopin collector.

5 comments about 25 Piano Favorites.

1. This is my favorite classical CD since it is geared to a wide audience. Many of my friends and acquaintances enjoy it, too.



2. I listen to this CD while reading or when I need inspiration to play the piano. There are many classic pieces here that will have many recognizable sections to the non classical music fans. The sound quality is not amazing but the essence and technical difficulty of these pieces can still be heard. Most of the songs are under 5 mins and there is a mix of faster and slower tempos.
   
   This is a bargain bin CD that you usually see at Fry's Electronics. There are more detailed and comprehensive collections out there but for 5 bucks this isn't bad and you basically get what you expect. There are much better classical CD's out there of course but for a beginner compilation album, this one has a great price.



3. This cd of piano classics has become one of my favorites. Since I am a full-time student and work out of my home the music relaxes me during times of rest.



4. This is a good intro CD to famous piano pieces. However, the sound quality is really *poor*. Of course, what do you expect for the price? I'm sure there are better Piano Sample CDs out there that sound much better. It's worth the extra money, trust me.



5. A good compilation of excerpts from the rich and vast piano repertoire. Sure they are merely excerpts and are meant to just introduce the piano to someone unfamiliar with the instrument or classical music, but that doesn't mean that an experienced person can't just pop it into the CD player and enjoy.

   While there's no classic recordings here or big names, most of the tracks are well played and acceptable in sound quality. There are some interesting pieces here that are unfamiliar to most, such as the Dvorak Humoresque or the Paderewski Minuet, as well as classics such as the Debussy Clair de Lune or the Mozart Concerto.

   The rendition of the Rhapsody in Blue is a nice performance with a well done ending that may even be better than some other CD's made by big named pianists.

5 comments about 25 Baroque Favorites.

1. I ordered this CD to use in my classroom with Quantum Learning. It is great!



2. The CD I received came from Amazon Return Center. On my stereo at home absolutely no sound came out. I tried it out in my car, and it played, but with blips every few seconds. The CD is no good, but since I opened the package I can't return it, and nowhere on this site can I find a place to discuss this matter with an Amazon representative. At least the CD is an inexpensive one, so I'll eat the cost. But I think I'll order my CD's from a local store from now on. This review shouldn't even earn one star, but I couldn't proceed without checking it.



3. I bought this album a number of years ago and always enjoy listening to it. You really can't go wrong with an album that begins with Pachelbel's "Canon" and ends with Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary." Also included are works by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi and many other lesser known Baroque composers. Almost all of the works that were chosen are true classics. The performances are stellar. When I need some beautiful music to calm my spirit or provide a backdrop when I'm reading, this album is perfect. It's not remarkable enough to earn 5 stars, but I'm happy to recommend it to anyone, especially at such a reasonable price.



4. a great selection of baroque favorites, but the sound quality, especially on the pachelbel canon, not great at all. for that reason, i cannot recommend getting it. what do you expect for five dollars, right !>? i would suggest spending a little more money and getting something that you can't bear to part with, for continued listening enjoyment.



5. An introduction to the best baroque music by famous composers.
   Great sound on this CD. There are over 10 CD's in this Farorites collection, and this by far is one of the best ones.

   If you like the classical sounds of music, then you will like this. Check out the samples on this page that they provide, that's the best way to review.

5 comments about Haydn: Complete Piano Trios.

1. "Delightful" is a single word to describe this recording of Haydn's Piano Trios. I was fortunate to find one of the apparently few remaining copies of the Beaux Arts Trio's performance of the complete Landon edition trios on Philips (Polygram 454 098-2). (This was before the apparent re-release.) This ten and a half hour treasure was originally very well-recorded in the 1970s on analog tape in Switzerland and the Netherlands, then first released on CD in 1991, then again in 1996.
   
   The Beaux Arts plays wonderfully; not much more could be asked from these performances, other perhaps for a slightly more distant microphone perspective. It's amazing that F.J. Haydn had been considered largely irrelevant by his succeeding romantic generations. His compositions are, for lack of a better description, classically classical and far less "cute" than the precocious and better-known works of upstart Mozart. The Beaux Arts is able to infuse the joyful compositional beauty of Papa Haydn's trios with skillful elegance and charm.
   
   There are some definite surprises, particularly in the later works. As others have noted, Haydn presaged the Romantic period in some of his later trios. The variety of compositions presented here are at times beautifully proportioned and balanced, elegant and refined, humorous and witty, joyous and rollicking. In short they aptly display much of the skill, talent and personality of one of my favorite composers.



2. I have arrived at the view that Haydn is for the musically more mature; this is after some fifty five years of avoiding him - I have come to regret the wasting of so much time!
   
   Like many people, I have considered Haydn principally in terms of his "thousands" of symphonies and felt the title "Papa" probably apposite. However, having spent an increasing amount of time during the last five years in getting to know his chamber works, I have altered my opinions dramatically and have long since thought Schumann's judgment facile and ungrateful.
   
   Haydn shared a few years of the middle of the 18th. century with Bach and given his following so closely upon the heels of the Barok, his music is astonishingly innovative and I think he receives far too little credit for the pioneering work he did. His string quartets truly are of the first order and given that he "invented" the genre, extraordinarily forward and musically developed. Mozart did nothing to advance the form which Haydn left as a wonderful foundation upon which Beethoven and Schubert could build.
   
   Whilst many of the quartets have a certain cerebral aspect to them, the piano trios do not. Not because of any lack of inventiveness on the part of the composer but due to their being intended for a larger and different audience to whom Haydn's publishers might sell a lot of sheet music; it should be remembered that Haydn was widely known and popular from Italy to Sweden. There is no hint of "commercialism" in these works however.
   
   This complete set of piano trios has a strong homogeneity; they all fit together well and balance nicely. A quirky exception here is the very individual E major Allegretto (Hob.XV:28) heralding a chorale prelude and later suggesting that we are in for a three part fugue. No chorale, no fugue. Another of Haydn's witticisms perhaps?
   
   The Beaux Arts' readings are "safe" and I have no quibble with this. Another reviewer has found them "bland" but with this I do not agree. Frankly, I think it difficult to make a proper judgment because, as has been pointed out elsewhere, the strings are not at all well recorded and for much of the time the pieces sound like a piano sonata with occasional string accompaniment.
   
   This situation is less annoying than it otherwise might be as the piano really has a stand-alone part and the overall nature of the works is surprisingly undiminished in the apparent absence of the strings. In any event, the violin and more particularly the 'cello whose principal function was to bolster the rather fragile bass of the early Viennese fortepiano, don't have much to say that is of great musical consequence. To a degree, this "imbalance" is characteristic of the trio form as it was employed by Mozart, Beethoven and others; it was well into the nineteenth century before Mendelssohn distributed the musical parts more evenly but a contrived imbalance of musical composition is one thing - that of shortcomings of recording quality is quite another. The "solo" nature of the piano in this instance merely serves to demonstrate what an unusually fine pianist Menahem Pressler is. In other respects the recording is very good.
   
   These trios are immensely satisfying, partly due to their delightful nature and partly because they don't demand much in the way of intellectual involvement from the listener. I should like to have awarded five stars; generally, the set deserves them but I feel some penalty has to be imposed in respect of the poor microphone balance. Musically, this collection is a superbly performed joy and others surely will share my delight in it.



3. The Beaux Arts Trio, as always, performs well enough to win an award with these trios. The works are so tuneful that I frequently found myself walking around the house humming the tunes after hearing a quartet for the first time.
   
   This music is also wonderful to listen to while doing desk work or reading. You'll not be disappointed.



4. No doubt that Haydn is one of the greatest composers of all times both in terms of quality and quantity of his diverse compositions.I have always found his piano sonatas very witty and enjoyable having listened to Jando and Richter.I was completely floored by one of the Haydn's Piano trios featured in the Stern,Rose and Istomin recording of the Schubert Piano Trios-Perky,springy,Bouncy playing keeping the listener constantly guessing.It is with great expectation that I bought this complete set of Haydn Piano Trios by the REPUTED Beaux Arts Trio.Listening to the First 2 CDs of this set was a bit of a let down.I find their playing totally bland and Lifeless-Yes,they are pretty but lacking in perky,quirky humour that Haydn is justly known for.They sound like Rameau's compositions!I find that the individuality and personality of Haydn is totally absent.
   I know that the Beaux Arts Trio has a Big Reputation but I need to say this.I found their Beethoven Trios a Trifle Bland as well.The Stern Rose Istomin Excel in that recording as well!Ditto for their Schubert Piano Trios.Just what is the Difference?I find the Stern Rose Istomin Trio play with Fresh Abandon whereas the Beaux Arts Trio seem to be too Studious,a little too serious!This robs a little bit of spontaneity and LIVING IN THE MOMENT vitality.(More so for Franz Joseph Haydn!)
   Yes,This may be the only complete recording of the wonderful Haydn Piano Trios,but I would strongly advise that you collect the individual performances by different groups after due listening.



5. Bad recording - all one can hear is the piano part...too loud and is sounded liked the piano was set right next to the microphone... Wish I could return this set of CD's. Very disappointed.

5 comments about Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1.

1. great listening cd. This arrived quickly and in great shape. Would definitel buy from this seller again.



2. You know that feeling you get when you walk into Universal Studios? The full and booming sounds of all the great movie soundtracts greet you as you meander around. You feel like you're on a film set or in the audience of the Academy Awards? That's what you get with this CD. I bought this CD to go with an Academy Awards/Hollywood Walk-of-Fame theme party that I did for work. It was PERFECT!!!!! It would be perfect to have playing on the stereo at your house when your guests arrive for and Academy Awards party. Set out movie theatre snacks, flavored popcorn, Juji Fruits, Raisinetes, sodas, and you're good to go.
   
   Please also see my review for the CD Beautiful Hollywood.



3. For those that purchase soundtrack collages to have a variety of songs and themes, then this is good for you. Unfortunately, these tracks didn't have the signature Erich Kunzel version of the songs as he had on other soundtrack mix CDs. It was more like just that, a mix CD of different soundtracks and scores. However, it was a good buy in the fact that the tracks chosen had excellent sound quality and a sense of harmony.



4. we put this CD in on a long road trip. We played a guessing game as to which one knew the movie. The music was excellent.



5. This is an outstanding collection of film music. The sound is qulity is very good. The selections cover a good range from various film genres and time periods. I like this CD.

5 comments about Early Venetian Lute Music.

1. I bought this CD for my collection, and I love it so much. It's a wonderful music to listen to.



2. first i want to thank the folks at naxos for all the great music they have provided over the years at a budget price. i have about 30 albums released by naxos, and they are all wonderful. this album of lute music is a classic listening experience for late nights or lazy sunday afternoons. it is a beautiful quiet trip back into the sounds of another time and place. recorded in a church in england, the acoustics of that building come through clearly, giving the overall sound a haunting tone. the lute playing is itself is gorgeous. nobody looking for a recording of lute playing could go wrong here. naxos also has released a series of solo lute albums featuring the works of sylvius leopold weiss, with robert barto performing, which i recommend heartily, as well. thanks again, naxos.



3. This is an excellent album. It's currently my favorite lute album. It's beautiful, relaxing, and enjoyable to listen to. This album is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys lute music.



4. Perfect. Timeless, gentle music. I have given many massages to this music (can't stand most new age stuff). Has the ancient sound that is exactly what I was looking for. Strong recommendation: Glenn Gould, consort of Musicke by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons. One of my favorite albums EVER. Incredibly powerful, primal, simple.



5. One of the best-buy i have made since long time ago. A high quality CD that can be enjoyed in every moment. Beautiful melodies, you can feel the ancient times with those, and you can try to imagine how could it be medieval life.

No comments about The Story Of Haydn.

5 comments about An Organ Blaster Sampler.

1. I am by no standards an expert on music, let alone organ music. I just purchased this CD because I love the sound of the organ, and wanted an album from a mix of artists before I started branching out to single composers. I would also consider myself an audiophile, only listening to high quality music with my portable headphone amplifier and Sennheiser HD-555's. Let me tell you, the quality is perfect, and the music is incredible! Such a full sound, it's *almost* as good as sitting in audience, only lacking the full body experience of organ music. I would recommend this to anybody looking to get a foot into the world of organ music.



2. I happen to love organ music, even that tacky Saint-Saens
   Third Symphony (with which this CD ends and just the third movement).
   
   I grew up with E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, et al. and had never heard of Michael Murray (okay, it's been a while). I bought this delightful CD when it first appeared and before Amazon had been invented.
   
   Upon hearing that most famous work with which Murray begins, I confess I was just this side of hysterical -- I was laughing with pure happiness. Murray's take on is it wonderfully over-the-top in the best possible sense. I have a son-in-law who is a musician and, indeed, does play the organ (i.e., if any of them have had pipes, I don't know, but I'm here to tell you, I don't want to hear ANY but pipe organs -- okay, I'm old).
   
   At any rate, to hear this Toccata and Fugue played with such (carefully studied) abandon so tickled me, I called Brian (the son-in-law) and demanded that he listen while I put it on my stereo.
   
   Now I'm going to send it to my son Bruce upon learning last night that he LOVES organ music. Who knew? He's 54 years old, for goodness' sake and never mentioned that little item before.



3. This CD concentrates on the big, showy organ pieces that organists love to play. As an organist myself, I find that such numbers are usually more fun to play than to hear. Fortunately, this CD is very listenable, and makes the case for both playing and listening to these works. I'd buy it again; maybe more telling, I'm looking for some of the music, so I can go play it!



4. Corey is right - this is an outstanding organ CD, one of the best I've heard. Murray plays some of the largest and most powerful organs on Earth, and uses the reed stops more than the usual organist to produce great effects and a wall of sound that are majestic in the extreme. The selections are all great virtuoso showpieces, and track #6 by Messiaen (Dieu parmi nous from La Nativite') is especially demonstrative of the great contrasts available in a large organ. The horizontal trumpets in this piece are predominant and very bright, contrasting with the snarling bass of the pedal organ.

   A word of caution - this CD requires a capable stereo (think subwoofer) to sound its best. Trust me - if you listen to this CD on a good stereo and if you like organ music, you'll sit there with a big grin on your face and tears in your eyes as you listen to this CD.




5. This is by far one of the best organ CD's I have ever listened to. The variety is very good overall. From the state trumpets at St. John's to the mighty organ of First Congregational Church, Murray provides nice registration on all of the organs sampled. The Finale from Saint-Saens No. 3 is awesome with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy,s direction. Murray provides his own notes on the organs and the pieces in the booklet that is included. This is some fine organ music!!

5 comments about Varèse Sarabande - A 25th Anniversary Celebration.

1. I wasn't expecting to have 4 discs for this price, and the music is a quality selection of film music, giving a good scope of the genre, and a very listenable transfer.



2. This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
   Very good value.



3. Good mix of films!
   I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.



4. For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.



5. I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up