title: Definitive

text:
I know this legendary recording since i was a boy and used to listen it from my Dad's old recording in LP.
I have never listened again something like this and claimed for a reissue in CD for a long time. At finally
and fortunately, i could get it and the remastered sound is much better in quality. This amazing rendition by
great Maestro Konwitschny rests squarely in that wonderful, Central European tradition shared by both conductor
and orchestra (the Czech Philharmonic), and offers all things that are required in a really great performance:
smart chosen tempi, rock-solid rhythm, magnificent phrasing, and the kind of heartfelt lyricism without which
the work can become a monumental bore. The crisp winds and unblended orchestral sonority permit a wealth of
instrumental detail to exist side by side with naturally warm recorded balances. Moments such as the first movement's
third subject(quiet trombones against pizzicato strings) and the perfectly done Coda (most of performers simply let
it deflate), the razor-sharp climax of the Andante con moto, or the Scherzo's central trio reveal these characteristics
to perfection. The finale too, so often the kiss of death in lesser performances, has a wonderful lightness and sense
of inevitability about it at a basic tempo that never degenerates into a chaotic scramble. This is for my taste the
only one recording that can match Furtwängler's. The Wagner selection is a good filler. In summary: A MUST.


title: The best way to know venezuelan music.

text: This vocal ensemble is awesome. They perform amazingly the best known songs from venezuelan<br />traditional repertoire. Perhaps this is the only one CD available so we hope for a soon reissue.


title: One of the really great 6th`s on record.

text:
Joseph Keilberth was a great conductor and a really great Bruckner interpreter.
He always was in particular connection with the 6th symphony, recording it three
times, at least. Here in Berlin he did a splendid and definitive performance of
the work. Keilberth is not as broad in his approach to the work as one might have hoped, especially in the slow movement, and the recording, though excellently clear, is rather on the dry side, but still enough satisfying than it seemed at first-beautifully brought off. The first movement, with a wonderful brass playing, is one of the best on record and the Scherzo and Finale are also splendidly delivered. I wonder why this recording isn`t more appreciated or mentioned by<br />so-called Bruckner specialists and reviewers, since it`s one of the best on
record and deserves a high place in the Pantheon of B6`s. An essential.


title: Wonderful sample of Russian Favorites

text:
This album of russian orchestral favorites, showcases Telarc's celebrated recording technique as much as Leonard Slatkin's
and the St. Louis Symphony's performance prowess. Telarc's wonderful sound brings enhanced clarity and presence, as well as
increased dynamic impact. Slatkin's readings are consistently colorful and energetic, his Glinka's Russland is very compelling,
although we could find more impact and fire in Mackerras or Reiner's counterparts. His Borodin's Steppes is one of the best on
record, a really enjoyable piece. Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave could not be excluded in such a selection, so we can appreciate a
powerful reading from Slatkin, superb, indeed. Although Stokowski, Temirkanov and Celibidache bring more grit and gusto to
Rimsky's Russian Easter Overture, Slatkin has a very convincent, odorously russian and perfectly judged performance. Finally,
this selection ends triumphally with a fiery account of Gliere's Sailor's Dance. Overall this disc makes for a nicely varied,
musically enjoyable, and sonically impressive russian program.


title: Just Fair.

text:
This EMI reissue features a very young violinist Sarah Chang in a 1992 performance. Joined by the LSO under Sir Colin Davis,
this recording is a reliable though uninspiring choice for listeners. At this point in her early career, Chang was more than
capable of easily tackling the technical demands of the concerto. This is not the real problem here. Her musical interpretation
is far less seasoned and mature than her more recent readings. In this recording, the outer movements in particular are safe but absolutely unoriginal. The Finale, perhaps following a tempo giusto, lacks the dazzling pyrotechnics of others like Kennedy,
Josefowicz or Vengerov who make this concerto such a crowd more enjoyable. In summary, just a fair performance, perfectly
dispensable once you have in your collection a Heifetz, a Stern and a Milstein.


title: Incredibly neglected Russian Opera

text:
First performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1895, this is one of the greatest Operas from russian repertoire,
but an incredibly neglected work ever since. It is a three act musical trilogy that brings to life Aeschylus's
Greek tragedy concerning the return of Agamemnon from the Trojan War, his murder, and his son Orestes's retribution
on Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. It's an overwhelming spectacle concerning the darker side of human existence.
The ominous and brooding intensity of the opening of the first act permeats the air and flowed from every pore of the
soloists, chorus and orchestra.

This is the only one recording of the complete Opera, so this is the reference for this masterwork. Well played and
sung, it has enough load of pathos and drama. The sound engineering is good enough to appreciate the quality and
originality of the work. A great Opera, in the same league of, say, a Boris Godunov, a Pique Dame, a Russlan or any
Opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. A Jewel.


title: My personal reference to Beethoven's Concerto

text:
Szeryng's reading of Beethoven's Concerto with Schmidt-Isserstedt and LSO was my first complete listening of this work.
This is a leisurely romantic performance, lyrical and atmospherical. Szeryng conveys a great deal of the poetry with his
pure lyrical tone. Like many other violinists, he seems so intent on drawing out an uninterrupted stream of melody that he
cannot bring himself to play the staccato notes staccato, at least not in the first two movements. He plays the second one
particularly well, and at this slow tempo the orchestra fits marvelously. The balance is first-rate, and one can hear with
comfortable ease those counter-themes on the bassoon that so often get lost. The quality of the sound is excellent. This
record has been always an exciting experience, since the playing is sensitive, poised and extremely competent. Mi personal
favorite of this work.


title: Menuhin fits better with Furtwängler

text:
Mehuhin recorded Beethoven's violin concerto with Furtwangler (twice), Silvestri, and now Klemperer : Menuhin's choice of
conductor for his records are in every case contrasted, and the comparisons have been fascinating. There is no doubt that
the earliest of the two with Furtwangler and the Philharmonia gives much the most vivid idea of the Menuhin magic. In this
case, the special individual qualities of Menuhin and Furtwangler matched one another. Each brought out the best in the other,
for their basic approach was identical, profoundly romantic and expressive but with an inner spiritual strength that was more
elusive in emerging.

Now and sadly, Menuhin and Klemperer are not the same marriage of minds. One might have hoped that Menuhin's spontaneous
imagination would lighten the impact of Klemperer and that Klemperer would give extra weight to Menuhin, but it has not worked
that way. Although there are many points of detail to admire in this recording, the overall impression is very much on the heavy
side. One finds oneself objecting to the slow speed for the first movement, only to find that the basic tempo of both the earlier versions is a degree slower still. The fault lies here, I think, mainly with Klemperer, and no passage illustrates this more clearly than the beginning of the first movement coda after the cadenza. The pizzicato accompanying chords sound heavy not because they are loud or weighty but simply because they drag after the beat and the soloist seems to be pulling the players along.

In the slow movement Menuhin finds the mood of relaxation that was so conspicuously lacking in the Silvestri version, but go back to the Furtwangler and each phrase has a rapt sense of magic, of being created spontaneously in a way that makes the new version seem a little ordinary. In the finale the Silvestri version takes a turn for the better with Menuhin gaining confidence. The new one is the slowest of the three, and characteristically Klemperer refuses to put a spring in the rhythm at all, so that at first it seems dull after the other two. But taken on its own it has a good bucolic solidity, and the middle D minor episode is firmer and stronger than
in either of the previous versions. An interesting Klemperer point in the coda: instead of playing the emphatic crotchet plus quaver chords at an even volume, he plays the last two comparatively quietly to allow the soloist's rising figure to come through.

The sound is naturally better than in the other two versions but if anyone really wants to hear the true Menuhin in Beethoven, let
him go back with Furtwangler.


title: Wonderful.

text:
This could be the ideal CD to introduce into Sviridov's music. A very prolific songs composer, Sviridov
is one of the best representatives of the authentic russian song. This compilation is a wonderful sample
that claims for reissue. Listen with confidence, nobody can get disappointed with this music.


title: Interesting approach

text:
Claudio Abbado is not for sure the first conductor to think of when we talk about Bruckner.
It would have been interesting to get the complete Bruckner cycle by him and the Wiener
Philharmoniker. After listening a very compelling 1st from the cycle, this 4th is my second
experience with it and can say that has been even more interesting. This is not for sure among
the best 4ths ever recorded, however, Abbado takes a good conception on the whole work and brings
a bit different reading with broad tempi, powerful if not exaggerated sound and accentuations in
some force passages and the same for his care on every detail, that is not necessarily a bad point.
Claudio Abbado is a great Mahler conductor and perhaps he gets a mahlerian performance of this
Bruckner's symphony. Of course, much of the bruckner architecture would be missed with this approach.
The Vienna Philharmonic plays magnificent, as expected, but in general terms someone will miss the
more convincent, better focused and built readings by Jochum, Karajan, Wand or Tennstedt. This is a
good recording that could please any bruckner collection if you want more than one recording of this
work.


title: Amazing.

text:
An amazing performance. It's difficult to find a really austrian flavored reading of this symphony
and this Wallberg rendition is a wonderful exception! It sounds purely brucknerian, austrian, "linzer".
The perfect judgment and careful attention on details makes of this an unforgettable musical moment. A
revelation.


title: Good Schumann, awful Beethoven.

text:
This CD contains a weird combination: one of the worst recordings of Beethoven's 7h with a very
good Schumann's 2nd. The Beethoven is just a mediocre performance, in very poor quality sound. A shame.
Things go better with Schumann where we can appreciate a very well judged performance, much less
excentrical. Good playing from the swedish orchestra, but the sound is still a problem. Would have
been smarter to issue this Schumann with another really good recording by Celibidache. In summary,
just a good CD to listen an interesting Schumann's 2nd. 2 stars for Beethoven, 4 stars for Schumann.


title: There's a mistake in this item.

text:
This is actually a Brahms 4th, not a 3rd, recorded by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, conducting the Czech Philharmonic
and originally issued by Supraphon. DFD (1925-2012) was not only the great bariton of 20th century, but he also was
a remarkable musicologist and a compelling conductor. This wonderful and fresh Brahms 4th by DFD sounds youthful and
very convincent, despite not being a match for real references for this work (Reiner, Kleiber, Schuricht). However,
this is a very enjoyable curiosity and a great sample of DFD talent as a conductor.


title: Sounds Magnificent

text:
This is with no doubt one of the really great performances of this wonderful work, perhaps my
second choice after Zhukov/Rozhdestvensky's version in Melodiya. Fortunately, the Donohoe/Barshai
partnership go for the complete Tchaikovsky version, not the terrible and pervertedly cut Siloti's
arrangement. Performance by Donohoe is crystal clear and heavenly played and Bournemouth's forces
under Barshai are the ideal accompaniment. Unforgettable performance and a Tchaikovsky essential
recording.


title: When performers play a Concerto for Piano against Orchestra

text:
Here we are a very strange combination for this concerto, Ashkenazy and Klemperer, two very different
personalities playing Brahms. Ashkenazy, a russian, warm, youthful and fiery interpreter trying to play
under the baton of the heavy-step and introspective old german Maestro. The result is really interesting
but unsatisfactory, even inadequate, giving a sensation of a fight in a concerto for piano against the
orchestra. In a similar situation, Gould and Bernstein were more succesful in that legendary recording of
Nr.1, but this is not case. Not a performance for every taste, certainly not for me.


title: Hors concors among Rach's 2nds

text:
This is a breathtaking performance of this great symphony! It is one of the longest versions on record (67')
but what a glorious 67 minutes they are! Maestro Sanderling caresses every note and every detail and relishes every
bar of this high-tide late romantic epic. His orchestra sounds voluptuously ample and the strings sing and seethe
remarkably well. The soundstage illusion is that of a grand concert-hall because of a wonderful sound catching.
The dynamic range is very wide. Sanderling spends time reinventing each phrase and contour, breathing in significances
and texts. Despite the long playing time Sanderling weighs and shapes the phrases and momentum with such experienced
judgement that the whole thing works well. His nemesis however comes in the finale which demands a galvanic and euphoric
rush. Here however it sounds a bit dull, bizarre and disappointing when you compare with all preceding movements. This is
with no doubt one of the highest peaks in performances of this symphony. A jewel.


title: The best Bruckner's 3rd on record.

text:
This is an amazingly wonderful recording, the more well rounded performance
of the last 1889 Bruckner revision. Wiener Philharmoniker under Böhm plays in
top form and sound, balance and phrasing are a matter of delight for me. I
think this is the preferable version of all 3rd's versions made by Bruckner
and Böhm`s rendition is the clear choice for it. Try to find it in the 2-CD
(Double Decca) album that also includes the also legendary 4th symphony.


title: Magnificent

text:
This wonderful performance from unsuspected artists has been a real revelation since the first time
í listened the recording. Despite some reservations on sound quality, this is a heavenly reading, great
and beautiful playing from young Sgouros, and great accompaniment of the Berliner Philharmoniker under
Simonov. Never have the Berliners played Rachmaninov like this. Only Volodos and Levine could do anything
like this years later. This is a recording to treasure and to enjoy for ages. It claims for a reissue!


title: Marvelous combination.

text:
At finally we can find an intelligent and very interesting combination in
one CD. Mozart and Süssmayr. Süssmayr's Requiem, a brief but beatiful Requiem,
composed in a pre-romantic style that could announce us Mendelssohn. This is
simply beautiful music and this performance is sincere and high quality. We
can find the same in the Mozart's Requiem, completed by Süssmair, that is here
performed in a very classical way, using small forces, making a hybrid between modern and historically-informed versions, that make an interesting approach, although there are for sure more preferable versions to this. A very nice disc
that is easily recommended for Requiem lovers.


title: Stick with the originals!

text: Sorry to disagree with the others here, but this recording reminds me of the 1960s era of "stereo enhanced" releases.  The overdubbed orchestra is WAY too loud and overpowers both Bing and Rosemary. In addition, there is a disturbing echo-like sound to their voices - they simply aren't clear.  While I was hoping for the best in that this release would get rid of the somewhat depressing organ accompaniment in the original recordings, I was sadly disappointed.  I actually think the originals, though flawed by the sound of the sometimes weird backups. are better by far than this new recording.  If you don't already have these recordings, buy the original.  If you have the originals, save your money!


title: Great Music!

text: Bought this for my dad and he loved it!


title: Pretty rockin' debut

text: This killer psychedelic blues band out of Phoenix has some serious chops. Who's Gonna Lova Ya, Knockin' On Your Door and Lost in the Sonoran Desert really stand out. Check them out if you haven't already!


title: Finnish girls who got it goin' on!

text: I love their song- Mannu, it just sounds really cool, and I love to listen to it over and over again. Also, if you see the video on Worldlink TV- you'll love it! It has a East Indian ring to it-even though they are from Finland. For those who like international taste, but also like style and excellent beats, you should definitely get this CD!


title: Perfume Rocks and "locks"

text: I ran across Perfume from someone pointing them out at the beginning of an Ok Go video. They get their point across that they are great rhythmically infused artist with great harmony, melody, and catch. I really do not know what I like it is not the dance but the music is soothing and upbeat. I do not know Japanese but I enjoy their work. Thank You.


title: Album was in bad shape.

text: This album was not in very good shape ! I guess over the years one forgets how to properly handle vinyl like this.


title: Five Stars

text: Great CD.


title: A Little Sparkler

text:
Can there be yet more recordings of these works? One would think that they must all lose money, poor entrepreneurial decisions perhaps.
This one was different. Not new, but certainly new to me. A sparkling performance, enough to get the volume turned up when first heard on the radio. Musically I will not compare, but as a sound - Ah! this one was a standout and better. Better? A sharp spectrum of sound, players who loved their music and engineers who succeeded in defining all the instruments with an unforgettable clarity.
I listen to Vivaldi always to enjoy the sounds and the music - in that order. I was brought up in an era when Vivaldi was seen by the professionals as "vulgar". I guess this attitude has coloured my listening, but I am hearing more and more in this music which is very attractive and very sensitive - not just sensual.
This disc is a good starter to renew a love and respect for this man, his music and his era.


title: Im fan

text: Good sounds


title: Nothing to Do With the Jerry Herman Musical

text: I just wanted to warn fans of Jerry Herman's classic musical, "Hello, Dolly!" that this LP has nothing to do with it.  It's not a parody or a tribute to it, there are not even any references to HD! Instead it is a live recording of a Borscht Belt Yiddish comedy review.  Mind you, for what it is, it isn't bad.  I was raised as an Episcopalian and I got a few chuckles out of it.  So, as Abraham Lincoln once said, "If you like this kind of thing, this is the kind of thing you will like."  Just don't buy it thinking it has something to do with Herman's show.


title: Unexpected flamenco rhythms

text: Great CD. From the first time I heard it, I had to have it. Unexpected, driving Flamenco rhythms that will appeal to everyone..


title: Awesome CD

text: Its really good ,they have beautiful voices. I wish they were on tour again and producing more albums.


title: Five Stars

text: I love it;however, I wish it would come out on CD format.


title: Five Stars

text: Reccomend it to anyone!


title: Nothing too special....

text: Is it just me or is Willa trying a little too hard to be bad?  Kinda had to be so "bad" when you sound exactly like Britney, Mandy, and Jessica!<br />Nice try Willa.


title: bad girl please

text: what is this? where did they get this girl from? sad to say wila is far from a bad girl.


title: Willa Was Here... Now She Should GO AWAY!

text:
In the words of the Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons: Worst CD EVER! Willa can't sing, plain and simple. But what can you expect from someone who only got a recordng contract because of who they dated? (...). I noticed that (most of) the songs fall into one of three categories: (A)"I'm a bad girl. I like sex." (B)"I'm still obsessed with my ex and like to diss him." (C)"I'm better than Britney and everyone else!"
1. "I Wanna Be Bad" - An overproduced piece of junk. Willa's voice is so manipulated that isn't really HER voice... which is maybe a good thing! (Category: A)
2. "Did Ya' Understand That" - A song about how her ex-boyfriend (...) and she doesn't want him any more. La di freakin' da! Maybe it would be better revenge if she'd actually sing a GOOD song! (Category: B)
3. "Ooh, Ooh" - Just like the title, an idiotic song. The music is annoying, and the whole point of the song is about how much she thinks guys want her. Even her fans don't usually like this piece of (...). (Category: A)
4. "Tired" - This song is almost laughable. Willa complains about the "clones that look like me." Sorry, Ms. Ford, but YOU are the clone! The other girls were first, loser! She also claims to be "tired of the pop that should flop, that should never be." Kinda like this whole damn CD! (Category: C)
5. "Jokes On You" - A song about a boyfriend who cheats. How original. Of course, she has to add her "bad girl" touch by claiming that she was cheating on him the whole time, too. Hence, the joke is on him. The music doesn't fit the song, either! It's all happy and poppy and nice, and the lyrics don't fit. (Category: B)
6. "Tender" - A sorry excuse for a ballad. We begin with Willa talking in her "ghetto" voice about how her heart has been broken. Then, she showcases her EXTREMELY weak voice. If you had doubts that this girl could sing, this one proves that she can't! (Category: None, really. She didn't write this one, so that's why it's not in one of the three categories.)
7. "Don't You Wish" - (...) She sings about a guy who already has a girlfriend, and how she wants to have a (...) fling with him. Not a relationship (...). Isn't she a great role model for young girls? Plus, the music is basically just a remix of "I Wanna Be Bad." (Category: A)
8. "Prince Charming" - A pure pop song about how she needs her "Prince Charming" to rescue her. And to think she says her lyrics aren't cheesy! This is pure Velveta! (Category: C. She says Britney's songs are too sweet, then what the hell is this?)
9. "Somebody Take The Pain Away" - The easiest way to take the pain away? Turn off this CD! But, as for the song, it's really pointless. She pretty much just repeats the same words over and over on a repetitive, boring, track. (Category: B)
10. "Haunted Heart" - This song is freaky. I've heard the melody somewhere else, I just can't put my finger on WHERE I've heard it. It's a really weird song about her putting a spell on... guess who?... her ex, to get him back. (Category: B)
11. "Dare" - The word "dare" is actually sung ONCE in this entire song, while the word "nasty" is repeated ad nauseum. It's basically about getting "nasty" with some guys at a party. Whoop-dee-do. (...). It's just annoying! (Category: A)
There you have it. The lowdown on every worthless track on the CD.
BOTTOM LINE: Avoid this CD like the plague! It's a waste of money and time.


title: Amazing Latin Harp

text:
One of the best Latin Harp albums lately.
The performances are crisp, executed with an outstanding good taste. This album is one of the best I've got to hear this year.
Highly recommended.


title: Great New Remastered Soundtrack Combo

text: Gorgeous complete soundtracks and great liner notes. I owned a previous version of Sun Valley Serenade but this new fantastic combo blows it out of the water. Everything from both films in on these 2 discs. If you love Glenn Miller and love Pat Friday (who ghosted for the wonderful Lynn Bari) this is the soundtrack release of the year.


title: "What Julie Wanted was Better Arrangements"

text:
In Julie's 14th album for Liberty Records, Julie was forced to do a concept album that capitalized on the success of Marilyn Monroe. The album was released in 1961 and was poorly produced by Felix Slatkin stepping in for Julie's 2nd husband Bobby Troup.  The album featured mediocre renditions of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"  "Take Back Your Mink" from the show Guys and Dolls and "Love For Sale".  Compared to Julie's earlier exquisite albums, this is a rather "bored" and only moderately convincing effort. The album is entertaining but not Julie's finest hour.

I'm the author of Lady Liberty: The Definitive Julie London Handbook, for more facts on Julie visit julielondon.org or you may purchase my book here at Amazon.com


title: Imagination stimulation, a gift for the senses...

text: This is indeed a soundtrack for daydreams and, a dreamer myself, can't help but love it. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Looking forward to more 'Ghosts'.


title: CnBlue is the best Korean band

text: CnBlue is the best Korean band... Their music is very good and they have a particular style which separte them from the rest of the korean music


title: One Star

text: This was a crime.


title: Via GRA's album Potselui (kisses)

text: This particular album contains a lot of the group's greatest hits - inspite of the often-changing faces of the actual singers.


title: Great set resurrected from vinyl

text: I enjoyed these as a youngster and am glad they've been re-released as CDs. It's an excellent collection for anyone interested in US Civil-War-era music.


title: Five Stars

text: nice


title: Five Stars

text: Excellent quality and service!


title: Appreciate good music

text: Happy to hear his voice


title: ☆STAN MONSTA X☆ ~~ wheres my official poster though??

text: I was so happy to receive my MONSTA X Album + the folded poster and extra goodies are always a plus but for some reason I didn't receive the correct poster from the album??? I wouldn't mind it as much if it at least was a poster showing all the members. I was so excited to get one of the posters for this album because i love the sort of duo tone look they had and yet i received some promo shoots collaged in to a small poster.. not to mention it's on the smaller size probably 11x17 in which case I literally could have made this myself..other than that I am happy to own the physical version of this album! &i got Jooheons photocard! ***But for what I paid I would like to have the correct poster please!!!! Hence why i am rating a 3/5. also added a photo below for proof***

attachment_type: IMAGE


title: The Shakers

text: The music that haunts my young Appalachian adulthood.


title: Five Stars

text: As advertised!


title: Five Stars

text: Great music...good price....excellent condition and arrived on time.


title: Awesome!

text: Fast shipping and perfect quality!


this package arrived in a timely fashion and in great condition.  I love the music, the packaging, the colors and everything.


title: I love it. cuss words and all

text: I love it. cuss words and all.  It has a beautifully done photo book.  The cd and book arrived in great condition. Its jay park, you gotta expect some set and cussing.  This album is not for people that cant handle those things.


title: The most beautiful and annointed Christian music ever made!

text: I think that Field and Grow were their only CDs, find both if you can.  Every song is straight from God.  Beauty beyond measure!


title: Incredible content at a great price for what you get

text: I bought this to celebrate the life of a great musician and let me tell you, it is a fitting tribute indeed.  And an education for me.  I gravitate toward the bigger symphonic pieces but there is plenty of variety here.  I don't prefer the chamber music but it is very pleasant and breaks up the other forms a little.  There are 55 CDs here featuring recordings from 1960 to 1994.  That's right.  FIFTY-FIVE.  Everything he did on RCA and Columbia during that time.  It starts with Gershwin and has many composers, styles and performers in between.  I don't even want to spoil some of the surprises because there are some of those here, too.  It is notable that he covered all the Vaughan Williams symphonies and 4 - 9 of Beethoven.  The musicality and presentation are wonderful.  The discs themselves are presented as if they were the original LPs but in CD size so I have to get out a magnifier to read the liner notes on the sleeves.  Don't worry.  There's a booklet inside with programming information.  It's charming, even if I do have to squint like hell to read them.  A minor quibble.  This is an absolutely stellar set.  Don't worry about the money.  It will pay for itself easily over time.  Great listening from a superb musician who left us some truly great and wonderful performances.  I simply love this set and am savoring it over time to soothe my work blues or whatever's got me down.  Highest recommendation.


title: The greatest

text: Without a doubt, this is my favorite version of Rachmaninoff's wonderful symphony.  Previn and the RPO milk the beauty and romance of this for all it's worth.  That 3rd movement is unsurpassed.  Some say it's too slow.  Bull.  When you finally get to that downbeat - you know the one - after a huge and long building crescendo...well, I get chills every time.  Has moved me to tears on more than one occasion.  It's simply that beautiful.  A masterpiece and if there's a better recording of this piece, I have yet to hear it.  Previn at the top of his game and let me tell you, that is saying something.  We sure do miss you, Andre.  But your legacy is everlasting.  I don't usually say, "This particular recording is the one for this piece" but this one...yeah, it is.  Highest recommendation.


title: Much improved from 1986

text: I never liked the score for Star Trek IV.  I thought it was too short and didn't seem to "fit" with other Treks.  Well, I may have been too hasty.  This has more cues than the original release.  It's been cleaned up so the sound is excellent.  There are a number of alternate tracks, etc.  I absolutely adore the original main title and can't believe I've never heard this arrangement of the Alexander Courage theme.  If Leonard Nimoy wanted to change the main title with the end title, then he should have played this fantastic version over the end credits!  Although STIV is not my favorite film, it has some of the greatest Trek moments, especially the reveal of Enterprise-A.  I get chills every time!  And I had a huge lump in my throat when I saw it in 1986.  I think the other extended versions of Treks 1-5 are better than this one.  But this is a very enjoyable CD and for me that alternate main title alone is so worth it.  As always, great liner notes by Jeff Bond.  I hope they move on to The Undiscovered Country soon.  I loved that one.  I am glad there are fans of Trek music out there to keep it alive.  I always thought that in addition to Shatner/Nimoy/Kelley and great writing, the music was an integral and overlooked part of Trek's success.  I see myself appreciating this CD more and more with repeated listenings.  Very good overall.


title: Long live U2

text: Long live u2


title: Look to my review

text: This Duo has great talent.  Somehow, amazingly, they have been overlooked.  My wife and I saw them pre-pandemic at the Key West Songwriters Festival at Smokng Tuna and they were great.  They didn't sing songs from this wonderful album which was a  disappointment as it contains their best work.  When I asked the lead male singer to play "Fly" he told me they were "moving on" with their new stuff.  That was a fantastical error, but it's their call.  I reminded him that Jimmy Buffett has to sing the insufferable "Margaritaville" 10,000 times to be successful.  He just shrugged.  I still like them, they just missed the boat and the understanding of what it takes to be successful.  I like The Devious Angels, nothwithstanding the male lead's arrogance.  He'd do well to put his ego in check.  The tracks on this are great!


title: Great group.  Strong Jazz influence in their music.

text: if you like jazz this is definitely an album you need.


title: one of my favorite christmas cd's

text: i have tons of christmas cd's and this is one of my favorite is has great artists.  i can't stand to listen to the "popular artists" and remakes but this cd is great and i am susprised to say that the dwight yoakam is about the best silent night version i have heard.  love neal mccoy and wish he had a christmas cd just him, but love this cd--in fact i am getting 2 of them just to have a backup.


title: Fantastic CD. A friend who is very familiar with ...

text: Fantastic CD. A friend who is very familiar with her music recommended this one and I've listened to it over and over. I've yet to get tired of it. It's a great CD.


title: Price too Expensive

text: I cannot understand why a CD that came out almost 20 years is more expensive than when it was firt come out. 60 american dollars for a CD that should worth 10 or 15 Haitian dollars. Come on guys.With this price, people will not buy it and you will lose customers.


title: Classic.

text: Record sounds great and the photos are definitely a rarity.


title: Five Stars

text: Everything I wanted and came fast!


title: Twice Fan!!

text: It was everything I hoped it would be! I’m slowly becoming a proper Twice fan.


title: Great artist

text: Great artist


title: It is distracting and very annoying.

text:
The David McCullough biography of John Adams is outstanding

Unfortunately, the reader of this audio book is a "mouth breather". Every pause of his oration is accentuated by heavy in-breathing. It is distracting and very annoying.


title: Slow delivery

text: I gave it 4 stars as it's a great CD.  But took off 1 star for such a sloooooow delivery.  At least for as long as it took, it came in perfect condition.


title: Some songs don’t play.

text: It has 2 songs that don’t play. Kinda of a skipping noise and then nothing.


title: Nothing

text: Some songs aren’t so good


title: John Gray Rocks

text: In my humble opinion, one of the best jazz guitar albums ever. Such a shame he only did one solo album and died way too young. Owned this album when i was in high school in 1962-63. Wore it out and recently purchased another one in very good condition so i am enjoying it again.


I got the Sky version and I'm very pleased with how it came. It's my very first kpop album and I'm so happy that it's Kim Taeyeon's. I hope to buy more albums from her :)


title: Five Stars

text: fast shipping.xmas gift for father


title: Good Music

text: What can I say. Very Good!


title: Five Stars

text: One of the best Dead shows ever


title: Five Stars

text: I love it! CDs are in great shape. Been wanting this for years!


title: The Whole Process

text: This is one of the most interesting shows of the American TV, in my point of view as a foreigner, for it puts the crimes, justice and rights in many perspectives. We can tell how important it is to achieve a right garanteed by law, and how difficult it is, sometimes, to prove where lies the justice.


title: Just a fantastic record.

text: Just a fantastic record.


title: Good band

text: Great album.  Highly underrated band.


title: Great collection

text: Quality is good. Well worth it.


title: 4.5

text:
Good concept album that works.
I can put it on and just let it play without skipping. I
definitely recommend.


title: Awesome faucet great quality cute with vintage style...

text: Awesome with such quality looks very cute in my half bath I redid with bears and cabins....Trying to figure how to turn the handle the right way it wants to turn the wrong way on the right side...Love it ty ...


title: Details

text:
This rare Japanese import CD of Mike Wilhelm (formerly of The Flamin' Groovies, Loose Gravel, and The Charlatans) is titled "Live In Tokyo At Dead Heads Land, Yukotopia". It is Wilhelm's first live CD and was recorded on January 19, 1997. The booklet includes liner notes and several photos of Mike. It was issued in 1997 on P.S.F. Records PSFD-85.

Track listing:
Banzai Boogie
Jesse's Theme
Charlie James
Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell song)
Incident At Verdi
Friend Of The Devil (Grateful Dead song)
Devil's Gate
Me And My Uncle
Fresno Shuffle
Pizen Switch
Come On In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson song)
Walkin' Blues (Robert Johnson song)
Dust My Broom (Elmore James song)
Love In Vain
"C" Street Rag
Ghost Train
500 Miles
Love Is Strange


title: Honest review of "Your wish is your command"

text:
If you've heard of "the secret" or the "law of attraction" or "think and grow rich" or "law of success" or similar thoughts-into-things books, this CD set is similar.  The difference I feel is Kevin Trudeau had brought all of the teachings together and paints a good picture of how to actually apply the techniques with some additional insights that other books/gurus do not talk about or are even incorrect.

Kevin Trudeau says he was taught these secrets from belonging to the brotherhood secret society.  He claims the CDs were recorded on an undisclosed location in the alps somewhere, charged $10,000 per person to attend, and even had high profile "colleagues" in attendance who were also members of secret societies which I now doubt.  You never hear any people talking or moving around in the background for the entire 10 CDs and none of the secret society members in attendance say a word and then at the last 12th CD the audio is suddenly much louder and then you can clearly hear the students as they ask questions.  Also, in the 10th CD, disk 7 at about 8:20 on the track, you hear a faint ambulance sound which gets louder then dissapears.  Kevin is a masterful marketer and I think a lot of it is fabricated for hype.

Nonetheless, I give the CD sets a 5 star because it is the materials he shares I believe is spot on.  More so than any other similar type books/cds.  And the materials really do miracles in changing how you think.  As Zig Ziglar said, you must first BE to DO, then DO to HAVE.

An outline of the entire CD sets he gives is broken down like this:
1. Have a Definite Chief Aim
2. Have a burning obsession for it
3.  Think about it all the time
4.  Feel good and happy when you think about it and always work to feel good/better.

This is the outline but the details and explanations supporting the formula is very valuable and you should study the materials in the CDs to truly understand and believe.  Everytime I listen to the CDs it gives me more and more feelings of hope, confidence, positive thinking and not because it is Rah Rah motivational but because your understanding deepens that you truly have what it takes to change and be do or have anything you really want.

I hope this review helps others and if you have any questions or even specific questions on the content of the materials, feel free to reach out.  I think I know the materials fairly well and am working to apply everyday currently.  Also, I am not affiliated with any of Kevins companies and dont care to get involved either.  It may be great but just not for me right now.

Best,


title: Good but may have issues playing CD on apple device

text: All 6 CDs came and the sound quality is excellent. The only issue I had was with 2 CDs that seem to have the exact same titles as other CDs in the pack but the content is different so I think it is an issue with the Apple device I used.


title: One Star

text: price


title: I love 2

text: didn't realize it is all Japanese.  I love 2 songs


title: Still calm

text: Great meditations. All of them.


A-typical sound for the genre and the decade it was produced...which isn't a bad thing. It met the style of the time. Great, talented singer. The track "Arrows Shatter" is an amazing piece. It is world-class and hauntingly beautiful.


title: Definitely worth the money!

text: I wondered if this album would be as good as the others, being the band's first. Actually, I think it is my favorite! "Lies," "Where Will You Go," and "Away from Me" are especially good tracks. If you are an Evanescence fan, I recommend adding this one to your collection.


title: this record had static and what a disappointment for my husband who was looking forward to hearing ...

text: For the price, this record had static and what a disappointment for my husband who was looking forward to hearing his father sing.  Scratches.


title: Love Linkin Park!

text: I love listening to this CD. My daughter and I listen to it when I take her to school.


title: great music

text: awesome cd. id buy more of their music for sure. good reggae and rock vibe to it.


title: Ahhhh......

text: I was looking for a CD with all gentle, relaxing music.....for the car, especially.  Driving is so frantic these days, it's nice to be calm, to get to my destination in a serene mood.  This CD does just that.  It's lovely.


title: It Plays

text: It plays.  I understand that these are used.  This is very used and not in selling condition.  It also has a skip in it.


title: What's not to love

text: Love it all


title: Absolutely Fantastic

text:
I was first introduced to the genre of dubstep about a year ago when I heard "I Can't Stop" by Flux Pavillion at a bar. I had no idea what kind of music that was, but I just loved the sound of it and so I looked for the song and learned of the genre then. Now a year later, I am still branching my range of artists within this very depth filled genre. Deadmau5, Flux, Ellie, Risko, and so many others, but Blackmill is just a totally different feel for dubstep. It is hypnotically beautiful with synthesized bass beats that cause you to fall into another world entirely when you close your eyes. He chooses some of the most wonderful voices out there to do collaborations with, but is still completely within the zone of perfection without the voice leads.

I looked up reviews of this album on iTunes before I made the decision to buy it and was met with an album that had been reviewed 133 times with 130 five stars. One review told me to not even think about buying the album, rather I should just immediately buy it now and that I would not regret the decision. I relented and did so, and I have not been disappointed in the slightest.

Miracle is one of those records where you can close your eyes to any of the songs and think of any memorable event in your life and it fits perfectly. This music inspires me in ways that are hard to describe. It just lifts one's mood to a highly positive level. Unlike some dubstep artists who make records, namely Skrillex, none of these songs feel the same. Each one has variety to it, but each is characteristically Blackmill.

Final decision is that unless you despise all kinds of electronic music, you will end up better off buying this album.


title: Fast shipping and reasonable price

text: No dislikes. Hard to find 8 disk set.


title: "ABSOLUTE PERFECTION"

text: "ABSOLUTE PERFECTION&quot


title: Packaged really good!

text: Packaged in padded yellow mailer with a peace of cardboard inside, folded over the CD cover!!<br />Great Job! Thank you!


title: FAKE

text: NOT THE REAL PRESSING!!!


title: Pretty good. Nice

text: Listened to one side so far. Pretty good. Nice vinyl


title: Not as Advertied

text: The sleeve that comes with this cd lists 15 tracks. Sadly, there are only 12 tracks on the cd I received. And the song "Hired Goons"—which prompted me to buy this cd— is NOT on the disc. Major disappointment!!!

user_id: AEUMMUILBMINQTIXBLPBULUTFAPA


title: CD

text: I really loved this cd Carroll i one of our own Canadians... and i  love the choice of songs on this disc


title: what headline?

text: Great cd's


title: Fabulous

text: A big fan of TT and Trea. This album is fabulous.


title: CD box broken

text: received a cracked cd box


title: Pet Sounds CD

text: The CD was in excellent condition.


title: Mozart's best serene pieces

text: The best of Mozart's most calming, serene pieces. However, you won't fall asleep listening to each of these unique works of one of the greatest composers!


title: No CommentA

text: A fine product


i was very happy to find what i was looking for.it's hard to find good music in regular stores. thank you


title: Five Stars

text: love juan mendoza, although gone, but not forgotten.


title: ELO at its finest, great experience.

text: ELO at its finest. Time is a legendary album about a guy from 1981 that was brought into the future and he experiences deep nostalgia and shame for what has become of earth, he understands that he will never be a 21st century man and returns home back in 1981.


This is music, not instruction. If you are of a mind, it will push you forwards. If not, the CD is great for creating inner energy. Credit to the composer for making a statement about the nature of illusion. His name isn't on the outside cover art anywhere.


title: Great service

text: excellent product and follow up service.


title: Takes you there

text: I heard a couple of songs from this album on the MASH SF DVD. The rest of the album did not disappoint.


title: Five Stars

text: great condition


title: Excellent album

text: Southern Accents will always be one of my favorite Tom Petty songs and the whole album provides another wonderful way to carry on his legacy. Being from the south like him, I’ve identified with his excellent way of conveying our southern roots. May you Rest In Peace.


title: Excellent. Divine voice!

text: Excellent!


title: ok

text: none of the "crow" albums have a song list for some reason...i expected differant songs on this one...


title: Return of the rainman.

text: I don't have this album but i have listen to the track return of the rainman. Some individual find his music irritating coz it really depends on your listening preference. Otherwise PH music is soothingly comfortable to those with condition of Tinnitus coz its rhythmic and melodic. Just like his hit track Rainforest, King Tut, 19 , I can discuss his music all day. Gotta have this album.


title: Good

text: Ok but thought it would be more songs


title: Midnight Music

text: I enjoyed listening to the sounds I heard back in the 70's. I only wish I could hear her voice as she talked on her radio program.


title: Eunjung's solo CD Good Bye

text:
Although this CD had to come from Korea and took extra time to reach me, it was so worth it.
Eunjung is one of the most talented and genuine down to earth Superstars we will ever be lucky enough to have.
The beautiful photo book is a bonus.


title: T-ara is back 2021

text: This is an excellent album.  It only has two songs but is well worth it.  I also received a folded poster with my cd.


title: One of the Best

text:
"Flute Music of the Andes" is like Pizza or Bar-B-Q ... everyone has a favorite. Well this CD is one of my personal favorites. I saw Aymara Star performing live in the Baltimore Inner Habor area and just had to purchase the CD. A great buy!

Rarely does a CD have ALL good tunes... but this one does, honest. There is a mixture of mostly "traditional" Andes music plus a US favorite Titanic! Give it a try ... the price is right!


title: Awsome music

text: This live concert from Mt. Rushmore, is one of Brule's/Airo best CD's to date. If you are not familair with Brule, their music is a unique blend of primarily contemporary and traditional Native American instrumentation and rhythms with an occasional native american vocal intertwined. The music is composed by the groups leader Paul Laroche playing keyboard, his daughter playing the flute, his son on guitar, and other Lakota members on drums. Unlike most CD's, every song is awsome.


title: Five Stars

text: Item getting today by Mail. 4/9/19. Very interesting recording. a certain Worship into the Hawaiian languague, and of course into English for the oncoming tourists. Many Thanks!


title: Certainly Five Superstars!

text: Lovely music! The real Brazillian samba as it have to be!


title: Certainly Five Stars for this Remembering

text:
a Delightful  Reader's Digest collection of musical memories during the World War II years in hard times, giving hope and idealism to Freedom and Democracy  for the occupated Countries in Europe and Asia, and all the Allied boys who have fought a uncertain fight, and often of them lost their lives.
Many well known tunes performed by Stars like, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and don't forget Tommy Dorsey, and other well known orchestras, soloists and vocalists.
All together, a very relaxed and variable  kind of music for listening and remembering only the good hope on a better world.


title: Five Stars for this Dixieland

text:
Realy a musical pie of Americana! Music between New Orléans Style,  Dixieland and Swing Time.
an Old Fashioned feast for listening, havin' a party and danceable hits! as the High Fidelity music quality on record  ought to be.
I like them! I'm Thankfull for getting this record!


title: Five Stars! ( Maybe Ten if possible)

text:
A very interesting album of sacral music about the Virgin Mother Mary, The Mother Saint for really everyone, not only to the Catholic Church as it had been sounded in our formerly times before Vaticanum 2nd, Therfore it's very sad there's too less given dedication  nowadays. except for Christmas Time!
Therefore it gives me inspiration and rest all the time by listening this music, that can't be missed!
Sure, a welcome musical addition to my collection of religious music themes.
Outstanding performances with choirs, organists soloists, and orchestras!


title: Absolutely Five Stars!

text:
Many thanks for this item, I, probably was looking for that! This LP contains a certain good orchestral background music, belonging to my collected serie "Hawaii Calls" presented by Webley Edwards.
The formerly Honolulu Symphony (now Hawaii Symphony Orchestra) gives the right sound of music, together with the Capitol albums "Hawaii Calls" as like you're on vaccation trip in Honolulu, and Waikiki itself!
Thanks again!


title: Glenn Miller AAF Band

text: With great interest I've received this collectioned  item of the Glenn Miller AAF Band. This music brings the memory to me of the time of liberation of Europe from the Nazi-occupation.  Many songs and evergreens  are present and well known.  Thank You!


title: These  are realy hymns at home!

text:
The unforgetable Tennessee Ernie Ford with his gospel music. It's feeling look like you are attending a certain Sunday worship , anywhere in the  American Midwest country area.
Beautiful songs with convincing  and accompanied by organ and church choir. Now a complete program. Thank You!
Hymns at home: It realy make me feeling at home into any American church, when I listening to this LP!


title: Gospel Music

text:
Realy a delightful kind of music! It brings me the strenght of the Lord!
All the hymns are very known to me, for I'm singing in choir an playing organ.
These selections are very good.


title: JPMS

text: Choirs of the Russian Orthodox Church; good music for all the time!<br />The choir from Moskou are perfect in balance and the recitatives has very good voices.


title: J.P.M.

text:
I've reiceived the item.

I've to tell the choirmusic is very beautifull.
I know something about the Russian Orthodoxe Church for I sometimes attend such a worship in my country, and it is known that it's ceremony and the music is very delightful.
The received CD brings me on the same level! Thanks again!


title: Wish There Were More Available.

text: America's great radio preacher before Billy Graham and the rest.<br />A great find. Came in goood condition. Sermons still work, too!


title: Five Stars

text: Ya, finally found the right version.


title: Five Stars

text: I loved it


title: Five Stars

text: Packaging and product was good. Arrived on time. Great music.


title: Five Stars

text: Packaging and product was good. Arrived on time.


title: besame y olvidame

text: its alright but it had songs where he was not accompanied by his orchestra. But I knew I as taking a chance because I didnt have the option to preview the songs.


title: Great Customer Service

text: Absolute great customer service from the seller. Responded quickly to my messages and resolved what was a minor issue with no questions asked. I was also very happy with my product!


title: The BEST banjo and tuba album I've ever heard recently!

text: I really love the sound of the banjo and tuba together on this album. Try it and I'm sure you will relish it as much as I.


title: Cool

text: This demonstration only copy of money/ another brick in the wall part 2 is awsome! My only problem is that my needle keeps skipping. I have to put a coin on it to balance it. I'm not sure if the record player is the problem or the record itself.


title: I don't remember buying this

text: Don't remember,


title: Five Stars

text: just awsom and bringing back great memories


title: Good music

text: I love this CD you can really get your praise and worship on


title: I'm a new fan!

text: The cd arived quickly and was new and unopened. The seller also wrapped it carefully so as to arrive in perfect condition.


title: Big Band Music

text: A "must" for anyone who enjoys music of the 40s and 50s. It's GREAT!


title: A Musical Journey for the Passionate Equine Enthusiast!

text:
Beautiful, charming, unbelievable, intoxicating, exciting, entrancing, fabulous, spiriting, there are not enough of these words to describe how much this music has meant to our family and ranch.  Actual voices and sounds of horses, embellish and enhance some of the most beautiful, enjoyable, enchanting music imaginable.

The music moves the true horse lover-listener through various real life stages of the horse.  One with eyes closed, can envision the horses as they run, court, foal, and just enjoy being a horse, as the music erupts with piano and instrumental crescendos' to al niente and with only the sound of the horse being left to the dazed listener,... truly lost in another realm.

We were so moved when we first heard the music that it has now become our chosen play at our rescue and rehab, (thoroughbreds plus many more animals), horse ranch.  Our horses themselves now have the honor of schooling, jumping, conditioning, galloping, and playing to this very music in our arena and pastures, along with a host of other animals, many unwanted and in rehab.  They truly enjoy it.  What a blessing.... my daughter now has been able to ride and school her horses to some of the most beautiful music we have ever experienced.  Her schooling scenes are more breathtaking than ever with the enchanting melodies flooding into the background as we watch her guiding and conducting her mounts through various movements.  Often it is as if she and the horse are moving with the music, and it can make you catch your breath!  We have always schooled and ridden to music, but none so profound as the music from "Horses of the Wind"....

We HIGHLY recommend and encourage all passionate equine lovers to bring this music into you and your horses' world, such as we have....  Sheer delight!  This deserves 10+ stars!

Unquestionably, this is one of my true personal dreams fulfilled - finally... - the wait has been long.

True Robert Vavra at his finest.  Thank You Mr. Vavra!

Viva Vavra!!!  Our family and our horses salute' you!

Quick note:  When we first played it out on the speakers over the ranch, our horses actually responded vocally to the horses in the music...  ;)


title: Great f***g album

text: Hard and Dense is the best description for this album- Get a taste of true Classic Hard Rock and taste a mix of influences that span from Led Zeppelin thru Sabbath to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow- This band has it all !! If you are a true Classic Hard Rock fan you will love this album-


title: Hard to Find

text: Kevin Prosch's music is disappearing, which is a crying shame. His own website only has cassettes left of much of an outstanding collection. Buy all the CD's now while you can...in 10 years you won't be able to find anything of his anywhere.


title: Pedestrian playing--

text: Raven usually produces excellent and interesting organ cd's, but this one is a major exception.  The playing itself lacks energy and movement (not to be confused with fast) particularly the Finale/fugue of the Theme, Variations. and Fugue.  The organ, one of Aeolian-skinner-Harrison's masterpieces, sounds so turgid that there is an oppressive block of sound with no hint of transparency in the larger pieces.  I have heard this organ, and it is a magnificent  instrument,  but this recording belies that.  (There is also some slight background noise throughout, which may be the result of poor engineering or a bad pressing, but these are not the cause of the mediocre playing.)  Try to find--easily available from ebay--the Ellsasser LP "Yankee Organ Music,"  in which the piece and the sound of the mongrel Hammond Castle  organ are both superb.


title: Too bad all I can do is listen to it.

text: This would be a hit in any community in which it were produced.  Unfortunately community theatres are unable to get the rights to produce it.


title: Great Seller!

text: What you see is what you get! Quick service, the Flip Wilson album came in great condition just as described.


title: It's Justin Hayward  - you'd be getting the best!

text:
This is some of Justin's best work - both his solo work and that associated with the Moody Blues.
His standards never waiver and that's evident in his live concerts, where there are no "do-overs".
This is a very hard to find work, so buy it while you can!


title: GREAT...!!!!!

text: This GREAT satire....!!!!!  "Bibleland" is a classic...!!!!  "Nathan's Goat is a hoot.  Just listen with an open mind.<br />PS....Hugh Romney became Wavy Gravy.


title: Hindemith's Bruckner: Not Only for Completists

text:
Paul Hindemith, renowned though he was as a 20th century composer and educator, was never highly regarded as a conductor, so until recently I had no great interest in investigating his recordings. However, when I learned of Hindemith's affinity for Anton Bruckner's symphonies, I decided to give his recording Bruckner's 7th with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony a chance. I think that Hindemith's Bruckner is of sufficiently high quality and individuality to be of broad interest, and not only to "completists" who want every recording of Bruckner's 7th or of Hindemith's conducting.

Hindemith's interest in Baroque and Classical forms informs his conducting and interpretation of Bruckner, emphasizing Bruckner the musician immersed in Baroque counterpoint as much if not more so as Bruckner the Wagner-influence late Romantic. For one thing, we get a far more brisk tempo than most recordings of Bruckner's 7th, at 55 minutes, it is 20+ minutes shorter than truly glacial interpretations like Celibidache and about 10 minute shorter than most others. We get allegros that are genuinely fast and adagios that are not plodding (i.e. the adagio in this recording is about the same duration as the first movement). There is also often a softer take on the brass that allows the string passages to come through more clearly.

The recording quality (and subsequent remastering) is decent for its time. Overall, this recording should be of interest to anyone who appreciates a somewhat different interpretation of Bruckner by a conductor who was himself an accomplished composer, and is well worth having, or at least worth hearing.


title: For all VIII discs

text:
This is how I bought the second Vegh cycle of Beethoven quartets, and this happens to be the first recroding of the series that came into my collection.

It took me a while to collect all eight discs, and that was perhaps a decade ago, and at a lower price than these discs command here. It is a sublime set of these quartets, broadly paced, yet the fast movements have real pace. There is always the sense of voices in conversation, in debate, in concert, and this remains my favorite among the numerous recordings I have: Busch, Budapest, Alban Berg, Fine Arts, Hungarian, Hollywood, Takacs, and the earlier cycle by this same Vegh Quartet.

The sound is not as bright and transparant as the ALban Berg and Takacs recordings (and I have the earlier ABQ set, the "orange box"), but it is a definite step up from the mono sets, and on par with the unjustly neglected Fine Arts recordings.

These individual Valois recordings are currently available in a money- saving box set.


title: One of my favorite CD's

text: I lost my first copy of this CD. Had to have a replacement. The duo of piano and violin is excellent!


title: The Believers- A Recording to Remember

text: Excellent recording, very educational also. Many songs moved me to tears. An very important addition to the history of  the development of Black music in America.


title: Fantastic Bargain

text: I just finished listening to Sleepwalking. Although it only timed in at 37 minutes (rare for a Rafferty album), every track was very good. Snakes and Ladders only had one poor song, track 3. Gerry had moderate success in the late 70s. But, after listening to these two albums, I'm convinced he was deserving of much more acclaim.


title: Five Stars

text: This is an exceptional album.  Buy this!


title: Not Danny Rampling's best...

text: This entire compilation is Tribal House, I like Danny Rampling's other material, but this is definitely not my 'cup of tea'.


title: Decent cover album, some misses, but some great stuff too

text:
Wow, this CD's been out for 7 years and not a single review on Amazon?! OK, I'll bite...Kerrang is a heavy metal magazine that, in 2006, thought they'd pay tribute to Metallica's Master of Puppets album by getting a bunch of musicians together and having each and every song from the album re-recorded by different musicians. The result is worth getting, in my opinion. Here's a breakdown:

1. Battery by Machine Head- Decent cover. They put it in drop D, which sounds cool for the opening acoustic and opening distorted riff, but once it kicks into the faster tempo the lower tuning makes the guitar strings sound a little floppy and flabby. Still, good vocal performance and tight drumming.

2. Master of Puppets by Trivium- BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. Yes, I said it. Yes, I've seen Metallica perform this live, twice, and I grew up listening to Metallica's Master of Puppets. I've heard the song countless times. Trivium outperforms the original in every sense. Whereas Machine Head's downtuning didn't service Battery, Trivium's same drop-D approach really fits Master of Puppets. The guitar work is tight and focused, the drumming is fantastic, and the vocals surpass Hetfield's, and I know that's saying quite a bit. The clean channel interlude in the middle has more artistry to it and has more emotional impact. This recording is the best interpretation of Master of Puppets I've ever heard, almost like they understood the song better than Metallica. Sorry if you don't like reading that, Metallica fanboys, but that's my take.

3. The Thing That Should Not Be by Mendeed- Ugh. At least it's in the original key, a first for this cover album so far, but the scratchy vocals and added blast beats ruin it. These guys didn't understand the song works best as a simple groove metal riff; adding power metal blast beats kills the vibe. Skip this one, and if you want to hear a cover of The Thing That Should Not Be done well, check out the album "A Tribute to Metallica" that has Jason Bonham on drums NAILING this song, with a great vocalist to boot. Shame that cover didn't end up on this Kerrang album.

4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Bullet For My Valentine- Overall this is decent, albeit there's a few things that bother me about it. They don't quite play the first 22 seconds of the clean intro like the original; instead they add in that weird harmonic Kirk Hammet's been playing live that doesn't sound as good as the original recording, but Bullet For My Valentine does play the intro distorted solo better than Kirk's recorded performance. Bullet's lead singer has a little bit too much whiny emo tone for my taste, but at least he's singing pitches and is in tune. There's a part in the middle where they switch up the groove from the original and it's a good interpretation of their own thing. I listen to this over the original from time to time.

5. Disposable Hereos by Chimaira- ah, the first "filler" song of the album. This was never a great song, and Chimaira nails the guitar, bass, and drums. Unfortunately the singer goes for a scratchy, growly approach instead of Hetfield's much better vocals. Not terrible though.

6. Leper Messiah by Fightstar- and now the second filler song. The riff is too plodding to be interesting, but that's not Fightstar's fault; they do a great job with the "short straw" song they were tasked with covering.

7. Orion by Mastodon- ANOTHER DROP D TUNED SONG? What's wrong with the standard tuning that created so many great songs in the 80s? Anyways, Mastodon does a fine job recreating Cliff Burton's fuzzy bass in the intro and the rest of the song too, and the riffing and drumming is solid. There's a few musical elements here and there that they change that makes it "Mastodon" without ruining the feel of the song, so nice job.  The slower middle part with the bending harmonized guitar parts get a tad out of tune at times but the song never crashes.

8. Damage, Inc. by Funeral for a Friend- the swelling guitar intro lacks the reverb and delay effects the original had that gave it atmosphere, and the fast riff that crashes in is way too high-gain to even tell what the bottom note of the riff is. And the vocals ruin it.

All in all, I ripped this CD onto my hard drive and I kept tracks 1-2, and 4-7; I erased tracks 3 and 8 and don't regret it. But hey, 6 out of 8 ain't bad.


title: good cd but over priced!

text: this is a good cd. but make sure you get the remaster with the cd and dvd. the single disc copy is not worth the high asking price. I made the mistake of buying the single cd. there are places out there to find the remaster copy. good band but there are a lot of good bands out there with much cheaper selling price for there cd's. don't get me wrong I like the cd! just shop around and you will get much more for your hard earned money.


title: New take on a classic

text: Have been a LC fan since the beginning.  Comalies XX is a nice take on the classic album of 20 years ago.  Cristina’s voice is angelic and as beautiful as always.  The music is strong and powerful.  However, Andrea needs to get back to being a singer.  Not a screamer and growler.  In some songs, certain spots it fits.  But almost every song, on this new iteration, is screaming and growling over and over and over again.  Andrea, you can sing!!! Please start doing so as you do have a unique and powerful voice.


title: Great soundtrack

text: We’ve watched the movie Several times and always enjoyed the music so we wanted to be able to listen to the music independent of the movie. Really enjoy the soundtrack!


title: Great find...a favorite

text: We love all the songs...Really nice versions of Gaudete, etc.


title: Five Stars

text: Long Distance Winner is a great song!


title: Track 14 Makes This the Best CD I've Ever Bought

text: I have all three volumes. They're all good (Silvestri won the Emmy for his work), but I have to say that track 14 on this third disc, titled "Halley's Comet", literally brings tears of awe and wonder to my eyes! The track starts off softly and builds to a soaring crescendo. Silvestri has written a lot of good music, but in my opinion track 14 is his best work. If he ever surpasses this I could die from joy! I would love to be in a concert hall listening to a good orchestra play this piece. Buy this disc!!!


title: I love this album compilation

text:
I love this album compilation!  I would give it 4 or 5 stars.  Each song resonates with me and I find it fun and uplifting when I listen to it.  I still know every song by heart and they bring back fond memories.  It stands the test of time musically, too.  This was/is a great gift, Bob!  It has given me lots of pleasurable moments!

I miss and love you!
Hugs to CLS.
Judy


title: nice

text: only 2 songs in english... rest all in italian...


title: Five Stars

text: All the best if your a gaga fa love it


title: Five Stars

text: the songs in the vol.1 made me buy vol.2


title: Five Stars

text: every song hits and moves your soul


title: Excellent

text: Beautiful, professional, high quality, peaceful instrumental.


title: greatest hits of 1957

text: Nice selection of tunes from 1957. This British produced product has about half of the 50 tunes that were hits over there but most are known to us here.


title: Two great recordings in less than ideal sound

text:
ByPhilip S. Griffey on May 31, 2009
Format: Audio CD
There are several great recordings of this wonderful opera. In order to be a great recording, I think the following criteria must be met - more or less in the order shown: (1), above average audio; (2), a great conductor and a great actor/singer for the eponymous lead; (3), excellent actor/singers for (Master) Ford and Quickly; (4) elegant and youthful sounding singers for Fenton and Nannetta; (5), an above average orchestra. The remaining singers should not be sub-par, but can be variable without having too serious an impact - if the first five criteria are met.

I believe that there are at least three recordings that meet these requirements: Serafin, de Sabata Verdi: Falstaff and v. Karajan Verdi: Falstaff. Each of these recordings has one or two irritating flaws; but their many virtues still allow for great pleasure, and, considered together, they offer a wonderful complementary vision of the ideal. It is hard not to include either of the two recordings conducted by Toscanini, whose conducting of Verdi normally establishes the standard for greatness; however, the sound of the 1937 Salzburg performance is just too dismal to allow enjoyment, and the casting of the routiniers, Valdengo and Guarerra, as Falstaff and Ford, along with dry sounding audio, and a relatively stiff and humorless approach by the Maestro in the 1950 broadcast, significantly reduce the impact of the work. If you are a fan of Toscanini, allow me to make amends by bringing to your attention a two disc set of Toscanini's rehearsals for the broadcast Verdi: Falstaff (rehearsals 1950)- which offers the only recorded version (that I know of) of one of the volcanic Maestro's eruptions (occasioned by Guarerra addressing him as "Signore" rather than the more usual honorific "Maestro" during a discussion they were having).

The Serafin performance appears to be a studio recording of a broadcast made on April 28, 1941 (perhaps in Berlin) by the German Radio network. This boxed set of 4 C/D's also includes the de Sabata performance - but in mediocre sound (get the de Sabata on Urania for much better sound). Fortunately, the sound of the Serafin is excellent - on a par with or better than, v. Karajan's much later recording for EMI. Excellent, performance-specific notes by Alan Blythe are included.

The star of this performance is Mariano Stabile (April 12, 1888 - Jan. 11,1968), who had just turned 53 when this performance was recorded. Stabile (who no doubt was helped significantly by being coached for the role by both Toscanini and Giuseppe De Luca for the reopening of La Scala in 1921) made it one of his signature roles - singing it nearly 1,200 times in his long career. As Alan Blythe archly suggests: If "la donna e mobile" then "Falstaff e Stabile". His voice was neither large in volume nor rich in texture. His first serious teacher (Antonio Cotogni) advised him to sing mainly lyrical roles, straying into the more dramatic roles only when interpretation was more important than vocalizing. To hear Stabile in this recording, in good sound, and in good voice, near his prime, is revelatory. His subtle inflections and intonations add an entire new depth of understanding of not only the fat knight's fatuous vanity, but also the melancholy fragility of a proud man who once was the boon companion of Prince Hal and is now an old and impecunious bar-fly (or its Tudor equivalent). Harold Rosenthal stated that "To have heard Stabile simply speak the text would have been enough..." I heartily concur!

Stabile is very ably partnered by Serafin. The vigor and precision of the orchestra of the Rome Opera (if that is indeed who they are) are almost Teutonic in their execution, but with a lyrical quality which Serafin was able to elicit in his prime.

A young, 27 year old Tito Gobbi gives the role of Master Ford a very intense reading. Cotogni's advice to Stabile would also apply perfectly to Gobbi in that his light, not very generous, voice was very similar to Stabile's, and he was also a fine, subtle vocal actor. In listening to Gobbi's interpretation of Falstaff for v. Karajan I think it is evident that he learned much from paying close attention to Stabile. Cloe Elmo (April 10, 1912 - May 24, 1962) turns in her usual fine performance as Quickly - to be repeated on the later Toscanini and de Sabata recordings, and performances with Reiner at the Met (1949).

Some people are very fond of the artistry of Ferruccio Tagliavini (August 14, 1913 - January 29, 1995) - I find his vocal production to be unattractive. His Fenton seems feckless and mouthy rather than charmingly ardent. I don't think there will be much disagreement about Augusta Oltrabella as Nannetta - she runs the gamut from not good to bad! (especially in Act III)

The Cajus of Adelia Zagenara and the Bardolfo of Cesare Masini-Sperti, along with the un-named Pistol (whom I believe is Giulio Neri, May 21, 1909 - April 21, 1958) are all very good. Neri had one of the darkest, blackest bass voices on record. In later years, it was not very agile, but here it is fine. There used to be a marvelous Cetra recording of Don Carlos with a young Siepi as King Philip and Neri as the Grand Inquisitor; it is well worth listening to their duet if you ever come across it.

While waxing enthusiastic, I almost forgot to mention the irritating flaw in this recording. It has two important arias mostly missing (Presumably damaged in the war.): (1) the last 75% of Falstaff's monologue on honor and the buffoonery with the broom to end the scene, and (2) the first 95% of Fenton's aria "Dal labbro il canto" (Act III, Sc. 2). A good contemporary recording of the latter can be found without trouble; unfortunately the contemporary recordings of the former are either in mediocre sound or less inspired. (4/10/11 NOTE: I have discovered a good accoustic - but studio - recording of Stabile singing the monologue [with Toscanini yet!] from 1925. It is available in Toscanini: Maestro Furioso (Box Set); and probably elsewhere.) Also missing are a few lines preceding and the beginning lines of the final fugue. Ah well, it's best to be grateful for discovered treasures which are almost complete.

If you love this opera, you need this recording


title: Beautiful piano technique, journeyman conducting, dull audio.

text:
I have always enjoyed Michelangeli's beautiful technique more than any of his interpretive insights.  His technique requires good quality audio to be appreciated fully.  These pieces were recorded live in 1951; the sound lacks clarity, and the volume rolls off substantially at both ends of the audio spectrum.  The orchestra's skill and Giulini's conducting are competent - but nothing more.

Your satisfaction when the recording is over will be the inverse of your expectations going in.  If you had no particular expectations, you will be satisfied; if you thought "Great! Michelangeli, Giulini and Mozart!", you will be disappointed.


title: Historic performance, great voices, journeyman conducting

text:
This opening night broadcast of 1940 was the first Met performance of Ballo since the 1913 revival (which had featured Caruso, Destinn, Hempel, Amato, Matzenauer, Rothier and De Segurola under the baton of Toscanini.) It was also Björling's Met broadcast debut and his only broadcast appearance with Milanov (substituting for the scheduled Stella Roman, who had been delayed by the difficulties of war-time trans-Atlantic Ocean travel).

Not surprisingly, it is the 29 year old Björling and the 34 year old Milanov who are the stars of this performance. Björling's élan and elegant phrasing, combined with his voice's plangent timbre, portray a Riccardo with more gravitas and substance than Gigli's and di Stefano's beautiful, but somewhat languid, efforts. Björling's Count is more Manrico, less Duke of Mantua.

The technical flaws (excessive portamenti, uncertain pitch, unsteady tone, lack of control) that would bedevil Milanov's later career are in evidence here, but to a much lesser extent; and her virtues (floating pianissimi, elegant crescendi, a rich, plush voice with an excellent range, and an exciting delivery) are considerably enhanced by the freshness of youth. Her singing here ranks with her Rigoletto Act IV under Toscanini [[ASIN:B000003EX6 Rigoletto / Mefistofele (Boito)]] as her best recorded performance.

Alexander Sved (also 34 years old) had a deep, dark voice resembling Titta Ruffo's, Although he had studied with both Ruffo and Sammarco, he comes across as a rather crude, blustering and snarly "robusto" baritone.

Bruna Castagna sings very well, but lacks the requisite vocal size and texture to succeed at conveying the rough and melodramatic fortune teller, Ulrica. Oscar (Stella Andreva), Sam & Tom (Moscona & Cordon) and the supporting singers are all slightly better than average.

The conductor, Ettore Panizza, keeps things churning along, but doesn't seem to be able to stir up much excitement or elicit much beauty from the score. His flaccid leadership gives the whole performance the air of a dress rehearsal - much inferior to the contemporaneous recordings led by Tullio Serafin [[ASIN:B00004YU85 Un Ballo in Maschera]] and Bruno Walter [[ASIN:B002DMYNPQ Giuseppe Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera [New York -- January 15, 1944: Zinka Milanov, Frances Greer, Kerstin Thorborg, Jan Peerce, Leonard Warren, Norman Cordon, Nicola Moscona; Bruno Walter]]]


text:
This opening night broadcast of 1940 was the first Met performance of Ballo since the 1913 revival (which had featured Caruso, Destinn, Hempel, Amato, Matzenauer, Rothier and De Segurola under the baton of Toscanini.) It was also Björling's Met broadcast debut and his only broadcast appearance with Milanov (substituting for the scheduled Stella Roman, who had been delayed by the difficulties of war-time trans-Atlantic Ocean travel).

Not surprisingly, it is the 29 year old Björling and the 34 year old Milanov who are the stars of this performance.  Björling's élan and elegant phrasing, combined with his voice's plangent timbre, portray a Riccardo with more gravitas and substance than Gigli's and di Stefano's beautiful, but somewhat languid, efforts.  Björling's Count is more Manrico, less Duke of Mantua.

The technical flaws (excessive portamenti, uncertain pitch, unsteady tone, lack of control) that would bedevil Milanov's later career are in evidence here, but to a much lesser extent; and her virtues (floating pianissimi, elegant crescendi, a rich, plush voice with an excellent range, and an exciting delivery) are considerably enhanced by the freshness of youth.  Her singing here ranks with her Rigoletto Act IV under Toscanini [[ASIN:B000003EX6 Rigoletto / Mefistofele (Boito)]] as her best recorded performance.

Alexander Sved (also 34 years old) had a deep, dark voice resembling Titta Ruffo's,  Although he had studied with both Ruffo and Sammarco, he comes across as a rather crude, blustering and snarly "robusto" baritone.

Bruna Castagna sings very well, but lacks the requisite vocal size and texture to succeed at conveying the rough and melodramatic fortune teller, Ulrica.  Oscar (Stella Andreva), Sam & Tom (Moscona & Cordon) and the supporting singers are all slightly better than average.

The conductor, Ettore Panizza, keeps things churning along, but doesn't seem to be able to stir up much excitement or elicit much beauty from the score.  His flaccid leadership gives the whole performance the air of a dress rehearsal - much inferior to the contemporaneous recordings led by Tullio Serafin [[ASIN:B00004YU85 Un Ballo in Maschera]] and Bruno Walter [[ASIN:B002DMYNPQ Giuseppe Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera [New York -- January 15, 1944: Zinka Milanov, Frances Greer, Kerstin Thorborg, Jan Peerce, Leonard Warren, Norman Cordon, Nicola Moscona; Bruno Walter]]].  The audio quality is good for the period and the source.  I believe that MYTO has issued a newly improved mastering; if so, it is probably 10% better than their original issue.

Riccardo's beautiful Act 3 aria, "Ma se m'e forza perderti" is inexplicably cut.  As compensation MYTO includes some beautifully sung excerpts by Björling from a performance of Il Trovatore (Jan. 11, 1941).  Unfortunately his colleagues (Norina Greco as Leonora and Bruna Castagna as Azucena) are on a considerably lower plane.  Also included is an even more beautifully sung "Ingemisco" from the Requeim, recorded in very good sound in 1938 (probably in Sweeden).


title: An excellent series

text:
"Great Operas at the Met" is a series of  recordings, each highlighting a particular opera, published by The Metropolitan Opera in conjunction with RCA/BMG.  Each boxed set has 2 CD's containing excerpts from the opera as sung by artists who sang the particular role at the Met. The first CD consists of older excerpts from the earlier part of the XXth century and the second CD has selections from more recent productions. There is also a small booklet of around 70 pages containing a short essay on the history of the opera as produced at the Met, very short synopses of the scenes, texts of the excerpts with translations, and around 50 photographs of the singers and sets from the productions.

I have posted an image of the back of the box, showing the selections and artists, on the "customer image" selection in the upper left hand corner. All of the selections are in good sound and the artists, representing the premier singers of their era, range from very good to great.  Especially fine are the temple scene with Pinza and Martinelli, the nile scene with Rethberg, Lauri-Volpi and de Luca, and the tomb scene with Ponselle and Martinelli.

If you are familiar with historical opera singers, you do not need any recommendations for artists like Gadski, Caruso, Amato, Homer, Martinelli, Rethberg, Ponselle, Corelli, Warren, Tebaldi and Bergonzi.  If you have not heard the earlier singers, this series is an excellent (and often inexpensive) introduction to them, and I recommend that you give it a hearing - you will not be disappointed.


title: An excellent series

text:
"Great Operas at the Met" is a series of  recordings, each highlighting a particular opera, published by The Metropolitan Opera in conjunction with RCA/BMG.  Each boxed set has 2 CD's containing excerpts from the opera as sung by artists who sang the particular role at the Met. The first CD consists of older excerpts from the earlier part of the XXth century and the second CD has selections from more recent productions. There is also a small booklet of around 70 pages containing a short essay on the history of the opera as produced at the Met, very short synopses of the scenes, texts of the excerpts with translations, and around 50 photographs of the singers and sets from the productions.

I have posted an image of the back of the box, showing the selections and artists, on the "customer image" selection in the upper left hand corner. All of the selections are in good sound and the artists, representing the premier singers of their era, range from very good to great.  I am not familiar with Fernando Carpi (on band 3); but he was either indistinguishable from Fernando de Lucia, or the recording actually is of de Lucia.  Galli-Curci and de Luca sing an especially beautiful "Dite alla giovine...Imponete" from 1917.  Bidu Sayão sings a very fine "Sempre libre" from 1942.

If you are familiar with historical opera singers, you do not need any recommendations for artists like Hempel, Caruso, Amato, Stracciari, Galli-Curci, Schipa, de Luca, Muzio, Steber, Warren, Tebaldi and Bergonzi.  If you have not heard the earlier singers, this series is an excellent (and often inexpensive) introduction to them, and I recommend that you give it a hearing - you will not be disappointed.


title: An excellent series

text:
"Great Operas at the Met" is a series of  recordings, each highlighting a particular opera, published by The Metropolitan Opera in conjunction with RCA/BMG.  Each boxed set has 2 CD's containing excerpts from the opera as sung by artists who sang the particular role at the Met. The first CD consists of older excerpts from the earlier part of the XXth century and the second CD has selections from more recent productions. There is also a small booklet of around 70 pages containing a short essay on the history of the opera as produced at the Met, very short synopses of the scenes, texts of the excerpts with translations, and around 50 photographs of the singers and sets from the productions.

I have posted an image of the back of the box, showing the selections and artists, on the "customer image" selection in the upper left hand corner. All of the selections are in good sound and the artists, representing the premier singers of their era, range from very good to great.  Lillian Nordica sings some very unusual improvisations in her "Tacea la notte" of 1906 - novel, but not an improvement on Verdi.  All of the other performances are relatively straightforward and very fine.

If you are familiar with historical opera singers, you do not need any recommendations for artists like Nordica, Caruso, Muzio, Pinza, Ponselle, de Luca, Martinelli, Warren, Bjoerling and Bergonzi.  If you have not heard the earlier singers, this series is an excellent (and often inexpensive) introduction to them, and I recommend that you give it a hearing - you will not be disappointed.


title: An excellent series

text:
"Great Operas at the Met" is a series of  recordings, each highlighting a particular opera, published by The Metropolitan Opera in conjunction with RCA/BMG.  Each boxed set has 2 CD's containing excerpts from the opera as sung by artists who sang the particular role at the Met. The first CD consists of older excerpts from the earlier part of the XXth century and the second CD has selections from more recent productions. There is also a small booklet of around 70 pages containing a short essay on the history of the opera as produced at the Met, very short synopses of the scenes, texts of the excerpts with translations, and around 50 photographs of the singers and sets from the productions.

All of the selections are in good sound (with the exception of band 6 from 1902), and the artists, representing the premier singers of their era, range from very good to great.  Unfortunately Lilli Lehmann and Victor Maurel, who were both born in 1848, were 59 and  56 years old respectively when they were recorded, and not in the best of voice.  As expected, Gigli croons his way through "Dalla sua pace", but at least he refrains from inserting any sobs.  Jan Peerce is not the first tenor that comes to mind when I think of  "Il mio tesoro", but he exhibits good taste and excellent breath control, and does exceptionally well for a singer who could also sing a fine Florestan or Don Alvaro.  In "Non mi dir", the Joan Sutherland of 1959 makes some lovely cooing sounds followed by some spectacular coloratura in a language which could be Italian.

If you are familiar with historical opera singers, you do not need any recommendations for artists like Farrar, Scotti, Rethberg, Pinza, Baccaloni, Steber, Simoneau, de los Angeles, Siepi and della Casa.  If you have not heard the earlier singers, this series is an excellent (and often inexpensive) introduction to them, and I recommend that you give it a hearing - you will not be disappointed.


title: An excellent series

text:
If you are reading this review and the picture and description of the item being reviewed appears to be an album of Spanish art songs rather than selections from "Le Nozze di Figaro" from the Metropolitan Opera, it is because (although I have reported the mix up twice)the staff at Amazon continues to say "No corrections are needed." Brilliant!

The "Great Operas at the Met" is a series of  recordings, each highlighting a particular opera, published by The Metropolitan Opera in conjunction with RCA/BMG.  Each boxed set has 2 CD's containing excerpts from the opera as sung by artists who sang the particular role at the Met. The first CD consists of older excerpts from the earlier part of the XXth century and the second CD has selections from more recent productions. There is also a small booklet of around 70 pages containing a short essay on the history of the opera as produced at the Met, very short synopses of the scenes, texts of the excerpts with translations, and around 50 photographs of the singers and sets from the productions.

I have posted an image of the back of the box, showing the selections and artists, on the "customer image" selection in the upper left hand corner.  All of the selections are in good sound (I would guess that the earlier ones have been lightly filtered.), and the artists, representing the premier singers of their era, range from very good to great.

If you are familiar with historical opera, you do not need any recommendations for singers like Farrar, Scotti, de Luca, Pinza, Baccaloni, Steber, Tajo, de los Angeles, Siepi and della Casa.  If you have not heard the earlier singers, this series is an excellent and relatively inexpensive introduction to them, and I recommend that you give it a hearing - you will not be disappointed.


title: Soporific Don Giovanni

text:
The Marriage of Figaro from this same Aix en Provence festival is a great performance [[ASIN:B000E8QV0Q Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro]].  This recording of Don Giovanni, with much the same cast, is a severe disappointment.

The conducting is relaxed and totally lacking in drama. The Giovanni, Leporello and Masetto are all competent but generic. Teresa Stich-Randall is completely over-parted as Donna Ana and Suzanne Danco also lacks the vocal heft for Elvira. The young Anna Moffo disappoints as Zerlina.  Suprisingly, Nicolai Gedda sings an exceptionally good Don Ottavio.

The audio is what one would expect for 1955.


title: The best French dramatic soprano from the interwar period

text:
The sound of this recording it better than most recordings made in France in the `20's, and gives a clear and precise rendering of the singer's vocal characteristics.

Lubin's principal virtue was a rich and attractive voice, whose registers were all equally strong and well integrated.  She employed a generous amount of vibrato, but less portamento than was common in the interwar period.  Her ability to sing piano in the upper range with ease and accuracy gave an attractive sense of transparency and luminosity.

On the downside, her diction was poor (approaching that of Sutherland in later years) and she tended to allow enthusiasm to overcome finesse in her phrasing.

Lubin was a fine dramatic soprano with a beautiful voice; but her talents and abilities as a Wagnerian were clearly surpassed by Flagstad, Lehmann and Rethberg in smoothness, steadiness, control and clarity.  Her rendering of the Freischütz aria, "Wie nahte mir der Schlummer" (here "Comment trouver le calme") is clearly inferior to those of Lemnitz, Grümmer, Schwarzkopf and others; and her distressingly "whoopy" version of  Bach's "My Heart Ever Faithful" (which even Isobel Baillie could sing with an appropriate sense of style in that period) is simply an embarrassment.

I would rank her with Ljungberg and Lawrence, above Ohms and Wildbrunn, but less interesting than Leider.  She left few recordings - I believe they are all included on this disc, so the label you choose should be based on the quality of the audio engineering.  To my somewhat elderly ears the Preiser [[ASIN:B00000IQHV Germaine Lubin]] sound is slightly clearer.  It is more expensive at this writing and has less garish packaging, but lacks the fascinating interview of the artist by Max de Schauensee (from 1966).

Her physical bearing and attractiveness are at this point merely interesting foot notes, as was her "Petainisme" and her close association with Nazi's like von Karajan and the Wagner family before and during World War II.


title: A very good performance in tinny sound.

text:
There are several great recordings of this wonderful opera.  In order to be a great recording, I think the following criteria must be met - more or less in the order shown:  (1), above average audio; (2), a great conductor and a great actor/singer for the eponymous lead; (3), excellent actor/singers for (Master) Ford and Quickly; (4) elegant and youthful sounding singers for Fenton and Nannetta; (5), an above average orchestra.  The remaining singers should not be sub-par, but can be variable without having too serious an impact - if the first five criteria are met.

I believe that there are at least three recordings that meet these requirements: Serafin [[ASIN:B000068Q6B Verdi: Falstaff--2 Historic Performances]], de Sabata [[ASIN:B00005KAWC Verdi: Falstaff]] and v. Karajan [[ASIN:B00000K4GH Falstaff / Verdi, Gobbi · Schwarzkopf · Moffo · Karajan]].  Each of these recordings has one or two irritating flaws; but their many virtues still allow for great pleasure, and, considered together, they offer a wonderful complementary vision of the ideal.  It is hard not to include either of the two recordings conducted by Toscanini, whose conducting of Verdi normally establishes the standard for greatness; however, the sound of the 1937 Salzburg performance is just too dismal to allow enjoyment, and the casting of the routiniers Valdengo and Guarerra as Falstaff and Ford, along with dry sounding audio, and a relatively stiff and humorless approach by the Maestro in the 1950 broadcast, significantly reduce the impact of the work.  If you are a fan of Toscanini, allow me to make amends by bringing to your attention a two disc set of Toscanini's rehearsals for the broadcast [[ASIN:B00002MXO5 Toscanini Conducts Verdi's Falstaff]]- which offers the only recorded version (that I know of) of one of the volcanic Maestro's eruptions (occasioned by Guarerra addressing him as "Signore" rather than the more usual honorific "Maestro" during a discussion they were having).

This recording is of a live performance from The Metropolitan Opera on Feb. 26, 1949, and the audio quality is nowhere near modern standards. On a scale of 10, I would give it a three or four - very thin and tinny sounding. This performance is also available on Guild [[ASIN:B001COC3HQ Verdi: Falstaff (New York -- February 26, 1949; Leonard Warren, Regina Resnik, Giuseppe Valdengo, Cloe Elmo, Martha Lipton, Licia Albanese, Giuseppe DiStefano; Fritz Reiner) [Beautifully and freshly remastered by Guild in 2005)]] with better packaging (written commentary, synopsis, photographs, and all of Milton Cross's recorded commentary).  The Guild recording also has much better audio.

Fritz Reiner (December 19, 1888 - November 15, 1963) conducts a very tidy, yet lyrical performance.  It is well paced, with nuanced phrasing and dynamics.  The Met orchestra plays with precision and vitality.  If only the sound were better!

The Falstaff on this occasion was the great Leonard Warren (April 21, 1911 - March 4, 1960).  Warren's forte was sonority, not characterization.  Cast him as Rigoletto, di Luna, Boccanegra, Renato (in Ballo) or Don Carlos (in Forza) and you have a dramatic and beautifully vocalized example of how middle Verdi baritone roles should sound (if slightly wooden in characterization and somewhat "hollow" on the high notes).  His voice was never very agile, but he was only 38 years old at the time of this recording, and he negotiates the rapid passages of the role adequately;  however, his portrayal never lets us suspend disbelief and forget that this is Leonard Warren singing the role of Falstaff.

Giuseppe Valdengo (May 24, 1914 - October 3, 2007) although hampered by a rather limited and colorless voice, sings very well in an idiomatic style, and brings as much character to the role of Master Ford as is required. Cloe Elmo (April 10, 1912 - May 24, 1962) turns in her usual fine performance as Quickly - very similar to her portrayals on the Serafin and Toscanini recordings.

It is hard not to forgive the young (27 year old) Giuseppe di Stefano (July 24, 1921 - March 3, 2008) for occasional lapses in taste and technique. The beauty of his voice is on a par with Gigli, Tagliavini and Pavarotti, and his flaws are no more objectionable (at least at this time of his career).  His Fenton sounds youthful and ardent with a smooth, soaring line.

Licia Albanese (July 22, 1909 - or 1913, depending on sources) does not sound particularly youthful, but sings warmly and charmingly (except for lunging at a high note in Act III).

Regina Resnik as Mistress Ford, Martha Lipton as Meg, Leslie Chabay as Dr. Cajus, Alessio de Paolis as Bardolfo, and Lorenzo Alvary as Pistol are all very good.

If you are a Leonard Warren or Giuseppe di Stefano fan, you are probably willing to overlook the poor sound; otherwise you probably want to pass on this recording.