Classical music reviews

This disc concentrates on images of Christ in a capella music over the centuries. According to Rutter, 'Around the figure of Christ there has grown up over the centuries a body of choral literature that can only be described as among the most remarkable in western civilisation.'

--Music--
Selections on this disc come from all over the Western world. They range from as early as eleventh-century France to twentieth-century Russia, a millennium in song and composition. Rutter has selected five major themes - the Coming of Christ (Advent and Christmas), the Words of Christ (lesson texts and prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer, by Stravinsky), the Passion of Christ (Holy Week and Good Friday), the Resurrection and Ascension (Easter), and Christ in the Eucharist (worship and ongoing presence).

Here is a mixture of sacred compositions ranging from standard Gregorian chant and Sarum chant to medieval compositions from Palestrina, de Victoria and Byrd, up to more modern composers such as Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Bruckner, Barber, and Messiaen. This being said, Rutter states, 'The aim [of this disc] is not a liturgical reconstruction, nor an historical survey, but rather a journey of the imagination.'

--Liner Notes--
The notes for this recording include the titles and words of each anthem or hymn, both in original language and English translation text. The notes for each piece also includes brief biographical information of the composer, and unique information about each work, when particular composers are represented more than once. One thing conspicuously missing is much biographical information about John Rutter, or any descriptive information about the Cambridge Singers. Happily, this disc does have a list of the singers.

--John Rutter--
Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.

--The Cambridge Singers--
The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. Many are former members of the choir of Clare College and other Cambridge collegiate choirs (hence the name, Cambridge Singers). In the quarter-century since the founding, the Cambridge Singers have produced an impressive body of recordings.

This collection of music from the last thousand years is masterful from start to finish. From well-known mainstays of choral repertoire such as Lotti's "Crucifixus" and Casals' "O Vos Omnes" to the more seldom heard pieces, such as Rachmaninov's setting of the Beatitudes, the listener is treated to musically sympathetic and disciplined performances. Even if, like me, you're not of a religious persuasion, you'll love every minute of it.

There are so many highlights to this album it becomes cruel to say any piece was not among them. The Barber Adagio/Agnus Dei is a masterwork, and the Cambridge Singers' discipline and pathos make the arrangement come alive in ways the strings simply can't.. The Lotti "Crucifixus" (an enduring classic), Casals "O Vos Omnes" (a beautiful and moving work, conveying the suffering of the Passion without garishness) and Byrd's enchanting "Viri Gallilei" are fantastic and provide more than enough reason to buy the album. The Messaien "O Sacrum Convivium," with its subtly sensuous harmonies and the Bairstow "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" with its haunting melody and varied textures will silence any who say that church music has become a lost art in the 20th Century. Palestrina's phrases soar as though on the wings of angels (particularly in "Hodie Christus Natus Est.") And Bruckner, as always in his good moments, is as sexy as the Church would let him be.

While the inclusion of some Stanford or Tallis would have been fantastic, this album stands as one that should be in the library of anyone who loves choral music, along with "Hail Gladdening Light" and "Faire is the Heaven."

In short, BUY THIS ALBUM. You'll love it.

The selections are gorgeously sung and spiritually moving beyond anything I can think of, right up there with Verdi's Requiem. My teen, who thinks rock music is the only music, was so moved by Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei, that she asked for her own copy of the CD. If you are already a believer, this music will remind you why you are. If not, it might just take you there.

Kazem A-Saher is one of the few young singers who continues the great tradition of Arab music, of Abdelwahab, Farid, Um Koulthum and others.
While he does not sound like them, his music is rich, diverse and soulful. Each song is interesting in its own way, and both the vocals and the instruments are at a high level. I recommend this, and other Cd's by him, to anyone who wants to listen to great contemporary Arab music.

Kasem is a charismatic superstar of international fame who has sold over 30 million albums, and whose beautiful, agile voice has made him one of the premier interpreters of Middle Eastern music. Using a traditional orchestra, rather than the synthesizers many use today, he sings in a classical style that was more prevalent a few years ago, and his songs are rhythmic, moderately up-tempo pieces, many of them which he has composed himself.

The musicianship is top notch, and I especially like the arrangements that feature the zither. All the tracks are good; track # 3, "La Titnahad", has a catchy refrain that will keep you humming long after playing the CD, and is repeated as a re-mix on track # 12. Being an enhanced CD, it includes a video of this song, which is about a store mannequin who comes to life when a certain pretty girl looks at him, and one can see that Kasem is not only wonderful to listen to, but very attractive as well.

Born 41 years ago in Iraq, Kasem was a child prodigy and received extensive musical training, specializing in the oud, and was writing poetry at an early age; he is one of the most critically acclaimed artists of this musical genre, and this CD is a fine addition to any world music collection. It comes in a sturdy fold-out cardboard case with the meaning of the lyrics translated into English. The sound is excellent, and the total time is 62'53.

I got two cpies from this wonderful Cd for our great arabic singer kazem Al SAher all the 12 songs are wonderulf including two more we miss in the Arabic release. I like all his voice, music, and songs.

All I can say is... WOW!!! This CD is absolutely amazing. I am blessed weekly by the musical anointing that is upon Herman, and now I can be blessed daily!!!! Trust me... if you want to be in HIS presence this is a definite must have (along with Praise is What I Do by Shekinah Glory Ministry).

This Cd is truly an annointed compilation of songs that have been birthed from the heart of God. Herman is a phenomenal minstrel, and has the ability to usher you into the presence of God. The title itself lets one know that the artist had to be in His presence to produce such a CD. I use this project to pray, meditate while driving, worship, and even for quiet time with my family. It is truly a blessing, and I have purchased several copies for friends. This is a must have!!!!!!

This worship cd is truly anointed. Many musician's cds contain only talent. God has anointed this man by the vehicle of music, to usher one into the Throne Room. I lay before the feet of The Master and just worship with this Cd softly playing in the background. Allow this worship cd to minister to you after a long day of work. It is a gift to the Bride of Christ. I just wish it was a double CD............

Rahul Sharma's latest album In Hope for Peace by Rhyme Records is one of the best Indian Classical Music recordings I have ever heard. Each and every little sound note can be heard distinctly in the Alaap. How wonderfully played, recorded and mixed to give us the intricate texture of Indian Classical Music. It lingers in the ears for long, long time.

As I played the CD, I could almost see the valleys of Kashmir and I could hear the sound of water falls. These two CDs are collector's treasures and great meditation companions. Rahul was definitely at his best and these two recordings are certainly great achievement for Rhyme Records. And, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee's tabla is just awesome!

Additionally, the skillfully designed multimedia part has some excerpts from Rahul Sharma's interview with Rhyme Records, where Rahul talks about his legendary father Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Rahul's own musical world.

Altogether it's a musical treat that no music lover should miss!

I got this album as a gift from my friend. I could not believe my ears and was mesmerized with this superb performance. The kind of recording gives you feeling as if you are listening to it live. Now I do not regret my presence at New York during this show as I can create the same atmosphere many times whenever I listen to it. It's not on the quality of music rather both the performers have done fantastic job. The video on the enhanced CD section on the other disc gives a chance to know the artist better. If it was santoor people only know Shiv-ji. But now his son Rahul is creating waves. I wish him all the best. Whenever I need to get fresh I listen to these set of CDs it is really healing. My music collection would have never been complete without this.

I got this album as a gift from my friend. I could not believe my ears and was mesmerized with this superb performance. The kind of recording gives you feeling as if you are listening to it live. Now I do not regret my presence at New York during this show as I can create the same atmosphere many times whenever I listen to it. It's not on the quality of music rather both the performers have done fantastic job. The video on the enhanced CD section on the other disc gives a chance to know the artist better. If it was santoor people only know Shiv-ji. But now his son Rahul is creating waves. I wish him all the best. Whenever I need to get fresh I listen to these set of CDs it is really healing. My music collection would have never been complete without this.

This typically contrived, multi-cultural Shankar experiment takes a while to get cranked up, but once it does, you won't know whether to dance on the seat of your pants or hip hop with Krishna.

Ravi joins his own ensemble to the Russian Folk Ensemble, the Government Chorus of Ministry of Culture of USSR, & the chamber orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic. He composed all the music. The Moscow Philharmonic ensemble doesn't fare too swell with the three ragas, but it's thrilling to hear the Government Chorus singing along with Ravi's crack percussion unit. & Ravi does play it straight a few times. The 25 minute, five movement closer, Bahu-Rang, based on Raga Mishra Pilu, rises to an ecstatic mix of voices, balaikas, sitar & South Asian riddems. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Curried cavier, anyone?

Bob Rixon

Shankar's compositions masterfully reveal the beauty encompassing individual elements of the vast and diverse elements collected under Indian music. Lovers of Indian music of all sort can enjoy this cd: example, having listened to many tabla solos/jugalbandis, the brief mukha-vadyam(tabla syllables recited>played) jugalbandi's thrilling complexity, the two players combining in a result unacheivable through improvised recitations; rhythm, vocal, folk songs combine under a classical backdrop, the juxtaposition/blending of the instruments is amazing, be it when an angelic indian women singing in shanti-mantra is followed up by the hallowing glory of the Russian chorus, or the indian flute, sitar, violin, santoor, sarangi, shehnai playing shankar's involved peices. The texture is very rich. Bahu-rang: camel riding folk musicians will make you bust out dancing in the middle of the desert/or Listen to the moment in bahu-rang when a women sings a hindi love song to you, her style, listen to it, her style is indescribable- so tender/sensitive/Raw like a lonesome virgin waiting to be made love to - That moment should be enough for your 15 bucks :)

This is the single cd that opened my ears to world music. This is an outstanding musical meeting of two cultures with a master at the lead. People familiar with Ravi Shankar know he is an absolute virtuoso sitarist, but this cd shows how amazing his composing skills are as well. All of the performers on this cd are amazing, and the compositions cover every emotion. Although I've bought other Shankar cd's, this one remains my favorite.

Although I am a new convert to so-called "world music", I know there's no turning back now. After listening to this CD continually for the last two days, I've found myself desperately searching Amazon for more Persian music, and the web for more information about this fabulous group. The vocalist's ululating, almost pained voice seems a haunting precursor of the dark times that lay ahead (the album was recorded in 1974, five years before the rise of the mad Ayatollah and his fundamentalist government) and there is a palpable, frenetic urgency to the musicians' playing. The liner notes contain enough information for the listener to understand the instruments used and the forms of Persian classical music, although the black and white photographs of the players and their instruments are rather too small. The cover photograph, however, is beautiful and intriguing. In short, a perfect introduction to Persian music for the novice listener.

I love Iranian music. I highly recommend that you add this to your collection immediately.

I heard a bit of Persian music on the radio driving to lunch one day, and I didn't want to leave the car when I got to the restaurant because the music was so hypnotic and beautiful.

I know very little about Persian music, so when I returned to work, I asked an Iranian friend and cubicle neighbor if she had any CDs I good borrow to get a taste. This is one of the CDs she passed over the cubicle wall.

I played it last night and loved it. Anyone who loves music will be entranced by this CD. My favorite piece last night was Dastgah Mahour, but depending on my mood, any one of them could be my favorite. There are no less than wonderful tracks.

I bought this CD, then I bought one for my grandparents. Now I lost it. My absolutely favorite piece was the concerto for four violins. Unfortunately, I've now discovered i-tunes and just bought those tracks. Maybe that's not the best idea, but at least I can't lose it again.

This is one of my top 5 Cd's in a vast collection. I bought an extra 10 for presents. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO)was aptly described by Toscanini as an orchestra of virtuoso soloists. Its strings are together with the Chicago Symphony the absolute top. Every piece is spectacular, warm and insightful. It is evident that the musicians understand the importance of the event. The Halverson Handel variation alone is worth the purchase. It has to be one the most amazing pieces ever recorded.

A live concert with the best violinist of our time! Superbly recorded. Those who are going to buy this should buy the video too! The video not only includes the interview with the violinist, but also a marvellous off-the-show performance by Gil Shaham. Shaham may not be that outstanding in this concert but you'll see this is not true if you have watched the video, too.

Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman's duet on "Passacaglia and Sarabande with variations on a theme by Handel for violin and viola" is excellent !! It exhibits almost all skillsets that could be do with a string instrument and how good they have been handled!! This recording is indescribably good !

I own several recordings of BWV 1079. This is the one I listen to the most. The performers understand Bach and bring out the best of what some have derided as an exercise in composition. It is a satisfying recording emotionally, intellectually and technically.

These recordings are very authentic in the use of true period instruments, which is a very nice touch. This has run out of print, so whenever you can get it, do so. Of course, A Musical Offering is a must have for all classical lovers, and this is the one to get. The sound quality is also very good. Very highly recommended.

I have owned this recording ever since it was first issued on lp in 1981 (recorded in 1974). First, Gustav Leonhardt's performances of the two ricercare are beyond praise. Second, the performances by the Kuijken brothers and Robert Kohnen of the canons and trio sonata are impeccably expressive and suave. This recording has not been superceded even by the Kuijkens' later one on DHM (on which Kohnen plays the two ricercare as well as all the ensemble pieces). This will probably never be bettered, so buy it while you can. For those interested, the Kuijkens have also made a DVD of the Musical Offering, recorded in Leipzig, a useful supplement to the present release.

The cd doesn't make entirely clear exactly who plays what, so, for your information, taken from the original lp:
Leonhardt plays on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (with Kohnen). Kohnen plays the rest (including the trio sonata). Highest recommendation.

This CD has been coupled with Vol. 2 in a set with ASIN # B00000JQY1, also available here at Amazon.com, and for the same price as this one volume.

These BBC recordings are a wonderful glimpse into the raw talent that was Jacqueline du Pre *as a teenager*! That she dared to play the Bach shows us her "chutzpah" and her daring -- which are components of her playing the rest of her life. She risked everything in every note she played. I agree with Gloria below about Yo Yo Ma's playing, being so clean and perfect that it lacks soul. Jackie was all soul and heart, and she wore them on her sleeve and in her bow.

The only other recording of Bach's cello suites I had ever heard before this were done by Yo Yo Ma (did I spell that right?). With his style as my background, I at first did not like Jacqueline's style. I thought it was much too earthy, even technically inaccurate, a trial of my patience. Still I listened, I had no choice because I had lost my Yo Yo CD. After a while I began to appreciate, even like, Jacqueline's style. Now I totally prefer Jacqueline Du Pre to Yo Yo Ma. He is too accurate, I almost think a machine could do the same job, only more efficiently and for less pay! Why bother having a cellist at all when a machine could do the same thing, only better! Jacqueline's playing is very human, earthy, organic even. She wails on her cello at some parts, some notes sound raw, some are so raw that it sounds like her bow could use more rosin!, she lullabies me to sleep at other parts, but there is always an underlying emotional edginess, tension. My favorite is track 1, the Prelude from Bach's cello suite no.1. It amazes me to think that she would play some parts the way she did, yet it all works beautifully! Her dynamics are particularly good. On some songs, like track 14 which is "Marcia" from Britten's Cello Sonata in C Op.65, she plays with such testosterone. I wonder if she's angry at her instrument; it sounds like she's actually trying to break some strings! And the piano playing is wild, almost scary! I love that song. Another example of edginess which I think is distinctive of Ms. Du Pre is on track 19, "Cancion" from Falla's Suite Populaire Espagnole. It sounds like it's supposed to be a nice, happy, springtime song. But Jacqueline about halfway through lays into her cello again and unleashes the full power of her emotion. She's definitely not boring.

With the appearance of the excellent "les intouvables" collection of du Pre's EMI recordings, a codification which includes a sampling of most everything, why on earth would one opt to glance at the individual selections? The reasons are twofold: First, with the collection one may hear the works together, never fully appreciating their accomplishments individually and that in order to experience the mastery and history of the recordings one might choose to hear them separately. Second, the works as separately released also carry in addition to a complete chronolgic and historic arrangement (see e.g., the last Haydn concerto), the individual recordings coprise additional works meant to be included within their respective final format. Experiencing here individual recordings is something like carefully exmaning the chinks and flecks of crystal dust taken from a larger shard of quartz: they refract as much in their own brilliance disassembled and apart from the main as they do when seen together. Du Pre's early BBC recordings, while perhaps less exemplary of her larger talent (as with her Elgar), are instructive. Bach and the Suites for Unaccompanied Violincello, you ask? By someone not yet in her twenties? What of the mastery and excellence of Casals, Rostropovich, Mainardi? Why waste time on a demigod? The early recordings allow one to see exactly how du Pre interpreted the works at such an age before more fully maturing. Here -and one only catches glimpses and flashes of this brilliance- the young but very competent cellist displays artistry par with (or tempered by) her virtuosity where unaccompaniment (sans Barenboim) can reach levels of their own excellence. Part dramatic, part contemplative, the pace varies and offers some surprises. Luminous, near-clairvoyant sense of rhythym and eloquence.

Short and to the point.
Hey go ahead and ignore my opinion, go buy this and forget Roge.
But after you buy this cd, then buy Roge, and you tell me which you prefer.
I even prefer Michelangeli(4 stars) over Moravec.

This is was the first Moravec recording that I purchased. I bought it despite some reservations by a friend who had heard the Vox LPs and whose opinions on music I take very seriously. He changed his tune when he heard this recording.

Where should I begin? Moravec's technique is fabulous. His articulation is crisp, and his tone is gorgeous. What's more, his personality is expressed here not by showboating but by his unerring ability to bring out the characteristics of Debussy and Chopin. With Debussy, the shocking dissonances are made clear but, at the same time, are sweetened by a lucious tone and a sensitivity to Debussy's underappreciated tunefulness. In the Chopin, Moravec's precise technique is coupled with his sensitivity to rhythm so that the different types of pieces (mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises) are indeed unmistakably different, each type pleasing in very different way.
And all this for (the price).

Those who want to hear more Moravec should immediately purchase his Chopin Nocturnes and his Schumann Kinderszenen, both of which are, in my view, the finest that have been recorded. Period.

Finally, I heard the pianist recently in Toledo (of all places) and spoke to him after his performance. He is a kind and thoughful fellow, and I enjoy supporting him by buying his recordings.

This is truly one of the most beautiful CD's I own. I first heard of it about 15 years ago, before I owned a CD player: I read in a British classical music magazine that Moravec's playing of Chopin was inspired and that his playing of Debussy was reason enough to buy a disc player. The writer called CD's "silver cookies" and this disc was right at the top of his list of ten favorites. I have listened over and over and still continue to marvel at the subtleties of Moravec's pianism. Gorgeous and delicate, but these are not wispy interpretations which melt like cotton candy. Moravec plays with strength. I love the Chopin CD and think it honestly compares favorably with Rubenstein, but it is the Debussy interpretations that have stayed with me and that I come back to time and time again for a 45 minute vacation from life in New York City. The price listed above is unbeatable...about 1/2 of what I paid. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.