Classical music reviews

In 2 CD we have 5 MOZART' concertos played perfectly by
Arthur RUBINSTEIN.
Concerto n.24 with the great Josef KRIPS(1958)
Concertos n.17,20,21,23 with Alfred WALLENSTEIN(1961)
I had already these concertos by Rubinstein on 3 ninyls but on
CD,in new remastering,the sound is better.

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This is Mozart the way he was meant to be played. Each of these concertos is a delight to listen to and they keep you coming back for more. It's hard to pick favorites here, although I thoroughly enjoyed K. 467. I sometimes cringe at a pianist's attempt to play his own cadenzas, particularly in a Mozart concerto because the music is so perfect and delicately balanced in the first place - something that can so easily be ruined. This is certainly not the case in this rendition of K. 467. Rubinstein does a magnificent job weaving his own variations among the main body of this sublime work. I was also deeply moved by his performance in the dark central movement of K. 453, simply gorgeous.

Part of what so many reviewers have expressed here concerning their appreciation of Rubinstein's Mozart has to do with the artist's view of and great love for the composer. In a 1962 interview (recounted in the CD Booklet) Rubinstein says, "Mozart and Hayden have just as much emotion in them . . . as any Beethoven had. For me Mozart can express in a few bars more than Beethoven in a whole movement of a sonata. I adore Mozart; he is my great, great, great, deep love. The thing is simply that Mozart was able to put all his heart and soul, his musical talent, his genius, into the forms, into the mold . . . " I share this quote here, not as a put down to Beethoven at all and I'm sure Rubinstein didn't mean it that way either. He made these comments at a time when Beethoven, then as now to a large degree, was preferred by many audiences due to the more bombastic and controversial nature of his work. Mozart's concertos, though bright and beautiful, are just so jam-packed with emotion on a very deep and consistent level.

We're very lucky to have this selection of concertos so lovingly performed by Rubinstein. I can only wish there were more. The remastered quality is excellent. This two CD set is a gem, a real treat that'll keep you coming back again and again.

I listen to a lot of music.
I have dabbled in performance, but, I am not a professional.
With that disclaimer, I feel I must do everything in my power to
promote this exceptional collection of exceptional performances.
I have each and every one of these concertos performed by various pianists.
I won't name names or compare one to another.
I had one that I even particularly liked.
For some reason I am continually returning to these hypnotic
and enthralling performances.
I can't put it into any sort of learned or academic terms.
I am just simply captivated by the graceful force of Rubinstein's playing and the direction and sonority of the orchestras in these recordings.
What else can I say ?
Well, I have quite a few more of these discs from the Rubinstein
collection.
I heartily recommend them to any music enthusiast !
Check out his Villa-Lobos.
Yummylicious!

Ann Sweeten's "Sapphire Days" is quite simply one of the most graceful and quietly soothing albums I've heard. "Soothing" often implies ear candy, but that is definitely not the case here. A classically-trained pianist, Sweeten's themes of nature and saving the environment and animals come from the heart, expressed gently but fervently. The pieces sound deceptively simple, but each is a perfect little gem. The pace and overall feeling of the album is consistent enough to sustain a mood or meditation, but treat yourself to listening to this music carefully and then let it carry you away to a peaceful, tranquil place - a "sapphire day!" All thirteen tracks are original, played on a Steinway grand piano, and Sweeten adds some synth washes for color and ambiance which are never obtrusive or distracting.

I really like this whole album, but a few of the pieces are exceptional. "Walking With the WInd" opens the CD with a wistful, dreamy piece that is both leisurely and passionate. The title song is optimistic and graceful with an absolutely gorgeous melody. "Smoke" is a little moodier, and describes wispy swirls of smoke as they rise and float away as well as the surges of smokey billows - very effective! "In the Shadows" is also a bit darker than the other songs, but is so evocative - this is my favorite of the collection. It is very introspective and bittersweet - I love it!

"Sapphire Days" is Ann Sweeten's fifth album to date, but it is the first that I have heard. I'm really looking forward to getting better acquainted with this artist! Very highly recommended!

Ann Sweeten writes beautiful melodies and plays these instrumental tunes on the grand piano. Her technique may be classical on her original instrumental tunes, but in her melodies you can hear elements of pop music, jazz, new age, Broadway show tunes and film scores. With songs inspired by animals and different aspects of nature, her SAPPHIRE DAYS album has melodies that quickly sound familiar as they reach out and affect the listener in a primal and earthy manner. Ann is quickly becoming one of the most popular new pianists around, much in the same vein as George Winston and Michael Jones.

Ann Sweeten
SAPPHIRE DAYS

Her technique is classical on her original instrumental tunes, but in her melodies you can hear elements of pop music, jazz, new age, Broadway show tunes and film scores.

The sights and sounds of nature are woven throughout this beautifully composed CD.

The Timmins youth singers, founded in 1978 by Rosanne Simunovic, changed their name to the Timmins concert singers 20 years later. This anthology is compiled from tapes recorded at various live concerts between 1984 and 2000. Most of the tapes were only recorded for local use with no thought of commercial release so the quality was variable, but there was more than enough of a suitable standard from which to compile a double-CD. Whatever else you might think about this anthology, the sound quality cannot be faulted.

The performances feature not only the choir but also various guests who, at one time or another, have sung with the choir. The star guest, Patricia O'Callaghan, was originally a choir member. As a returning guest, she can be heard as featured soloist on three tracks.

The Essentials, an a cappella pop group, are featured on covers of River of dreams (a Billy Joel song) and Lean on me (the classic Bill Withers song). I've heard a few versions of Lean on me in different genres of music but nothing like this amazing version.

Three original cast members of the Canadian productions of Cats (Larry Herbert, Greg Bond) came to Timmins in 1988 and joined the choir for a concert featuring songs from Cats. Three of the songs are featured here but Memory, the only famous song from the show, is not included. Other guests include two original cast members of Phantom of the opera (Gregory Cross, Paul Massel), though no songs from that show are included, and tenor singer Henry Ingram.

The other songs come from a variety of sources including Peter Pan, The Mikado, Godspell, Kiss me Kate, A chorus line, Guys and dolls, Annie get your gun, some Christmas songs and there's even a 1930's big band song. Two different Requiems are each represented by two songs. The last three songs are from West Side Story - one featuring Patricia O'Callaghan, one featuring Gregory Cross and one featuring both of them.

The set is well packaged with plenty of comments and pictures and an extensive cast list of well over 100 members, although the most famous former member of the Timmins youth singers (Eileen Twain) is not among them. I can only assume that they didn't have any suitable recordings, because her inclusion would have generated extra sales from Shania's fans.

This is an incredibly varied collection of choral music that is ideal as an introduction to the genre but should certainly appeal to anybody who is already a fan.

I enjoy listening to this recording very much and I am now a member of the amazing choir

CD Collectors should really [hurry] and purchase this CD. It is so refreshing to hear an eclectic collection of live music, performed by some really exceptional recording artists from Canada. I play this double disc recording over and over and never tire of it. There is so much memorable music...it is almost impossible to single out a performance. Kudos to Rosanne Simunovic and her choir and all the solo artists responsible for making this a CD to remember. Talk about a hit!!

Fritz Wunderlich gives as moving a performance of these lieder as you will ever hear. Wunderlich's voice is powerful, yet supple and at times melancholy. It's hard to pick out highlights, because everything is so good, but Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne, brief as it is, is simply marvelous. When he sings Ich grolle nicht it is infused with a pathos and yearning that is peerless. This is a must have disc if you love Schumann, Tenors, Lieder, or Music...

Fritz Wunderlich sings with a truly marvelous voice and an impeccable diction. His short life (he died at age 36, however, certainly did not allow him to reach full musical maturity in some of his interpretations. His youthful voice suits the Beethoven songs the best-`Adelaide' stands among the best I have ever heard in recording. His version of Dichterliebe, although also extremely musical and equally moving, lacks of a bit of the detail and subtlety we find in, for example, the Fischer-Dieskau recordings-arguably among the best. We must consider that Wunderlich, contrary to Fischer Dieskau for instance, sings most of these pieces in its original key, which also makes the experience of listening to this CD one of the best ever. This recording gives me the impression that Wunderlich's voice would surpass any other Beethoven, Schubert or Schumann could have ever dreamt of!

The cycle of the Poet's love is most probably the greatest and most difficult one to interpret. Each melody is asking from the singer and the pianist equal amount of musical imagination (as later on with Hugo wolf cycles.) Here, Wunderlich sings with such subtleties that it seems as natural as he would speak or read out loud. The words are integrated into the music and the accents help the listener to follow the music and the poems as a whole story instead of considering each melody as a seperate entity. These accents are not cold but beautifully musical sustained by H. Giesen at the piano. His warm voice is an enormous plus in this version and each sound is in place, like breathing is a necessity.

I love the Backstreet Boys, but like this CD is awesome! I have this CD already and I listen to it like all the time. My favorite song from this CD is "Late Bloomer" because it helps me relax. Jannel is a great performer I have seen her on many occasions in person and like WOW!

GET THIS CD cuz like you won't regret it!

Jannel Rap's SEA OF RED CD not only evokes pleasent memories from childhood and Saturday afternoon football games, but also inspires the listener to persevere and succeed through life's overwhelming dilemas.

Jannel is a talented artist and this, her third CD, has shown great expression and sensitivity. I have followed her career and see great things in her future! I am anxiously awaiting anything new from this artist.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone's enjoyment.

Sea of Red is a great cd. Jannel Rap is such an awesome and talented writer and singer. I love listening to all of her songs. I would reccomend this cd to anyone!

I am professional Jazz trumpet player, and this is the most amazing trumpet playing I have ever heard. If anyone has any aspirations as a trumpet player,(whether classical or jazz), you need to own this CD. Sergei Nakariakov's flugelhorn playing has one of the most beautiful and musical sounds I have ever heard,

What an appropriate title! This really is young Russian trumpet virtuoso Sergei Nakriakov at his best, and this is probably his best album. The intro and rondo capriccioso is my favorite piece of music from Sergei's repertoire, and is played with incredible speed, ednurance, and extremely vibrant tone quality. This is more impressive than the original piece, which was written for cello. The andante cantabile is also a beautiful piece, played with passion and wonderful warmth and expression. The theme and variations by Tchaikovsky that make up the majority of the album are very impressive as you can hear how Nakariakov's low register proves that it is possible to sound like a trombone for long periods of time on a flugelhorn. The other really nice piece on this album is "Rhpsody in Blue", a classic by Gershwin orginially written for jazz piano, but here for trumpet with an orchestra. This piece is the only jazz piece Nakariakov plays, and as I am a huge jazz fan, I would like to see what else he could do with standard jazz themes. Besides, "Rhapsody in Blue" is more of a combination of jazz and contemporary classical music. Anyway, this is definitely one of the best albums of Nakariakov's, and if I had to pick one album of his, this would be it. I recommend this album to anyone interested in classical or jazz, and a must for all trumpet players. Trust me, it's well worth your money!

The reason why I decided to purchase this CD is because I liked Saint-Saens'Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso so much, and I wondered what kind of effect a trumpeter could offer when playing the same piece that was originally designed for violin. When I hurriedly put the CD in my CD walkman and at the moment when the trumpet's sound flowed into my ears, I was startled by the tone that a trumpet could offer! THis new version has offered a whole new different interpretation to this piece of work. I was and am still surprised by the fact that a sophisticated violin music can be played as good as, and even better, on a trumpet. Nakariakov's technique is undoubtedly superb, which makes me feel symphathetic to the the fact that he is not well-known. I highly recommend this CD not only because of the first track but also for the spectacularity of all other tracks.

This is a wonderful recording of classical guitar. One of the interesting (and perhaps ironic) bits is that all of the compositions on this CD were originally done for harpsichord, such as Bach's well known compositions for the Well-Tempered Clavier. The composers here - Domenico Scarlatti, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Francios Couperin, and Johann Sebastian Bach - are all masters of the keyboard composition, here adapated by the Assad brothers, Sergio and Odair.

From their official biography, 'As children, the Assads' mandolinist father guided their discovery of Brazilian music. Their uncanny ability to play guitar together soon evidenced itself, and seven years of study with the classical guitarist and lutenist Monina Tavora (a disciple and former pupil of Andr�s Segovia) followed. The Assads' American career began in 1969, under the "Youth for Understanding" aegis. A major prize at the "Rostrom of Young Interpreters" in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, launched their European career. They also achieved victory in the 1973 Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra competition for young soloists. They have performed in recital and with orchestra throughout France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Australia, Great Britain, the Far East, Argentina, and their native Brazil.'

Their sensitivity to string instrument is well founded, and when they turned their attention to compositions for the keyboard, they found that with two guitars, there was a richness that is missing from the more simple 'monochromatic' performance of the keyboard.

As Sarah Cahill states in her introduction to this CD, there is a reason why these pieces sound natural being played on the guitar - harpsichord strings are plucked in similar ways to guitar strings, unlike piano strings which are struck by hammers. Scarlatti wrote for the Queen of Spain, among others. Couperin served in the French court, composing music for lute in addition to harpsichord. Rameau, an organist and composer, also comes from the French school, and J.S. Bach needs no introduction as the pinnacle of composing power in Germany of the eighteenth century.

Sergio and Odair Assad have spent a good deal of time developing a Baroque manner to playing these pieces on their guitars, as to be more faithful to the types of compositions. This CD is a true pleasure to behold, the textures and energy of the music being very vibrant and inventive in many ways.

This is probably the best classical guitar CD recording I have ever heard.These two brothers are just amazing.

The Assad brothers sound like one guitar. They are beyond amazing. This CD is just flat out ridiculous. The music is beautiful. The interpretation is sincere, and the playing.... I've never been more floored. Get this CD.

This CD won a Grammy for Best Small Ensemble Performance at the 2001 Grammy awards. If for whatever reason you can't sit through Stravinsky's longer compositions, but you want to hear what he has to say, you will find this album to your liking. Most songs are under 3 minutes long; short and sweet.

This album is a compilation of short Stravinsky songs composed over a 6 decade period. If you want a snapshot of the different points in his musical career, purchase this album. However, I highly recommend you do not stop here and buy more of his music. You'll always be addicted to at least one of these songs; that will keep you coming back (I've been listening every day since I purchased back on 1 Oct. 2005).

Further, it's the little quirks that heighten the beauty of each piece. For instance, in "Tema" (Track 15) the music gradually declines into a beautiful 10 second flute solo, just before the horns begin the intro to the next track; a very nice contrast to the tone of the song.

Another example is "Arioso," (Track 11). This is one song which is somewhat outside Stravinsky's "norm". It does not contain melodies like you heard in "Rite of Spring" or "Petrushka" (both of which are fantasic). It's a soft, slightly soppy, string piece. It could easily placate the two or three individuals alive today who consider Stravinsky harsh. Hearing it on the radio, you could mistake it for a piece by Schubert.

This music will stay in the back of your head and leap into your mind at the most peculiar moments. You'll find yourself humming a few bars in the shower months after you've heard one song, or perhaps one night Stravinsky will provide the background score in a dream (or nightmare?). What is certain: you need time to digest these songs; Stravinsky is a very clever composer and we men of "the herd" sometimes don't understand what his music says at the first go. When your mind opens and you REALLY hear Stravinsky, the power of it all may bring tears to your eyes. Stravinsky does that.

One extra note: Shortly after buying this album, I became inspired to learn the trumpet & horn; I only later learned that Stravinsky had a special love of wind instruments and he expresses this love in his pieces. That Stravinsky can inspire a layman like myself proves his genius. In the words of William Ward: "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

This CD will satisfy all tastes, and leave you craving more.

This collection of twelve short pieces by Stravinsky is beautifully performed by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the recorded sound is glorious. The various compositions are for quite a variety of instruments and ensembles, ranging from string quartet to chamber orchestra. The two qualities that are shared by all of the pieces are genius and a brilliantly upbeat mood. This is a CD to play when you're feeling down in the dumps or mad at the world.

This album is a rare delight. You cannot listen to this album without feeling this incredible 'joie de vivre' that infuses it. Orpheus has taken Stravinsky's chamber music into a whole new and ethereal realm. The ensemble's enthusiasm is downright contagious. There is nothing to criticise; it is all sweet bliss! If you've ever doubted Stravinsky's genius, this recording will dispel those doubts forever. This will easily become one of the best-loved recordings of any classical music collection. Don't miss it!

The movie for this CD actually played a large part in my decision to become a serious pianist! The CD itself portrays all the pieces used in the movie wonderfully with the top recordings by the most talented artists. The Rachmaninov piano concerto no.3 is extremely exciting to listen to. If you enjoy exciting and romantic classical music, then this is the CD for you!

When I first saw the movie "Shine", I knew I had to get the soundtrack right away. When I got to the store, I was hoping that the soundtrack will include the complete list of all the songS. Many times, I get disapointed when I buy soundtracks (espeically classical music) because they tend to include only the part that they used in the movie. But when I saw this CD, I knew this was IT!!! And when I listened to it, it was even better than I expected. I love classical music and a lot of times, I am very disappointed by the presentation of the music in many CDs. It seems as if they hired someone who barely understand the piece to play the song. But from the first song you hear, you know this CD isn't that case. You can "feel" every song. Every time I listen to this CD, I get emotional. If you love classical music, I guarantee that you will love this CD. MUST HAVE!!

This is a wonderful collection of classical music. Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin pieces are featured with such an artistic interpretation. Notwithstanding the cut made in movement 3, Rafael Orozco's version of Rach3 touches your soul. And this is coming from a Vladimir Horowitz fan, and a pianist!

nothing artistic here.
plays like a student.
pass it up...

This would be the greatest of all Rubinstein Chopin recordings except...there are the Polonaises (Volumte 28!), and the Nocturnes (Volume 46!). Count this one tied for 3rd, with the Ballades, the Waltzes, the.... Hey, wait -- you might as well get them all.

My only problem with this recording is that the repeat button on my CD player isn't working. I listen to one and say, "That's gotta be the best Rubinstein/Chopin Mazurka there could possibly be," but no sooner than I think that, that another one comes on, EVEN BETTER.

Okay, I have my fav. The great B Minor Opus 33 Number 4. This is mid-period Chopin at his finest, and Rubinstein at his finest, and we are privileged to be alive so that we can rehear it.

Chopin. Rubinstein. Mazurkas. Perfection. The impeccable Rubinstein rubato shines most when he plays the works which invite overindulgence, like the dance forms, or the easily sentimentalized nocturnes. Especially in these mazurkas where his rhythmic restraint is admirable. These recordings are quirky yet authoritative enough to make me wonder whether only a fellow Pole can play Chopin with such multifariousness (16 letters!) of movement within the staff. I've heard other recordings of the mazurkas, mainly Ashkenazy (boring... where's the life?) and individual performance pieces in compiliations, but none sparkle like the way Rubinstein makes them sparkle. Sublime.