>
Classical |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Rolando Villazon
 a personal project, 2010-09-01
Great singer, great players. It's a CD of contrasts. I love the bareness of the sound and the too-muchness of the feeling; the physicality of the rhythms and the fine arrangements; the balance of the players and then the big intoxicating richness of the voice. Warning: for some it could be almost too much. I have that relationship with chocolate. It's a whole bar-and-a-half of richness. Break it into little pieces to melt individually.
To my ears it's a more intimate collection than Villazon's disc of zarzuelas ('Gitano'), to compare like with like, but it's also more sophisticated. That's probably true of Villazon too. Largely because it's such a personal project, 'Mexico' captures something deeply worth capturing: a sense of yearning for what you actually have. Is there a word for that? Perhaps 'gratitude'.
|
|
List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Sir Charles Mackerras; Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Top stuff, 2010-04-11
As said elsewhere, good ol' dinki di Oz Chuck Mackerras pulls it off again. At an age when the rest of us would be contemplating old folks' homes, Sir Charles produces a series of dazzling performances. These are some of Mozart's very best (the "Haffner" has long been a particular favourite of mine), and here they get superb treatment. The SCO's bright, lively performances and a very nice recording by Linn round it all off perfectly. Highly recommended.
|
|
List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £5.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Karl Jenkins,
Hayley Westenra,
London Symphony Orchestra,
National Youth Choir of Great Britain
Mixed feelings - 4.5 stars would be nearer the mark, 2010-08-26
What makes me buy a new release from Karl Jenkins? Maybe the hope that somehow it won't be more of the same. Well, this time it was partly more of the same and partly something different. Gloria. In many ways more of the same. This is the work I like the least. It is a patchwork of styles with strange texts between the movements. I understand what Jenkins wants to do, but I am not sure that he achieved his goal. The patchwork of styles is the most irritating thing about the Gloria. Part IV "The Song - I'll make music" sounds like a piece of music from a musical with the sickly forced voice to go with it. Ugh. Jenkins' music usually has many ad nauseam bits. It is also true of the Gloria. The 5th movement "The Exaltation - Domine Deus" has a whopping 86 bar Amen section broken by an instrumental intermezzo from bar 161 to bar 168. What makes it even worse is the molto rall for the last 6 bars. It just prolongs the agony. Movement 3 (Psalm 150) is the usual Jenkins attempt to be ethnic. Interesting. I've heard better and more coherent Gloria's.
Now to the Te Deum. This is the work that really appeals to me. It is compact and contains very little ad nauseam repetition. The first movement takes consists of 232 of the total of 477 bars. The third part, Aeterna Fac is rhythmically very interesting. Add to that the beefy harmonies and you have music to climb into and enjoy. The use of triplets heightens the contrast between the recurring quaver en semiquaver rhythm in the bass. The last part (Te Deum reprise) differs from the opening part in the use of semiquaver scales in the violins. They are certainly not misplaced. The last 20 bars consist of te te en te deum repeated and repeated. But just short enough not to be annoying. The Te Deum is a delightful piece which is quite moving.
So why did I give it 5 stars? 3 for the Te Deum and 2 (1.5) for the Gloria. The Te Deum could be used outside the concert hall. The Gloria certainly not. For the fans, a valuable addition to the library. For others, a good introduction to the music of Karl Jenkins: like many composers, he re-uses themes.
Tip: try listening to the Gloria without the texts.
|
|
List Price: £11.99
Our Price: £7.24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Harry Christophers,
Sixteen
This new release is somewhat mistitled: while most of the pieces are, in fact, from the Renaissance (or early Baroque), there are works here also by Samuel Barber, Poulenc, John Tavener, Bruckne,r and Gorecki. What they all have in common is their beauty and serenity. Perhaps the CDs subtitle, "Music for Inner Peace," also refers to a type of renaissance, i.e., spiritual re-birth: in which case, they're right on the money. The Sixteen, led by Harry Christophers, is one of the greatest proponents of this sort of choral music in the world, and they don't disappoint here: The Allegri "Miserere," with its wickedly beautiful ascent to high C by soprano soloist, is ravishing; B...
Visceral mover, 2010-08-29
Sublime. The quality of the voices and their blending by Harry C is of the highest order. As ever the sixteen can move me deep in my soul.
|
|
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Craig Ogden
extreme relaxation, 2010-09-02
This CD is a fantastic way to relax and unwind . You really feel that you can drift away with the light strumming
|
|
List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
John Williams
A panacea for 2nd home sickness, 2010-08-23
Classical Spanish music is much ,much more than vibrant tunes that have been passed down the years, it is the embodiment of Spanish culture and way of life. Since buying a 2nd home in Spain some years ago I was not prepared for the impact that Spain and her people would have upon my life. Although unable to spend very much time in Spain at the moment when I hear classical Spanish guitar music played by one our greatest musicians I am immediately transported back to warm evenings and vino at unbelievable prices (cheaper than coffee and much better for the body and soul) and I am comforted and cosseted. A truly wonderful album by a truly great artiste.
|
|
List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £2.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helps little one at nap time, 2010-09-01
This CD has been brilliant in helping settle our little person for naps during the day. The music is good quality as you would expect from the Baby Einstein range.
|
|
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Sting
Symphonicities, 2010-08-19
Since Purchasing this product I have enjoyed the music on many occations really pleased I made this purchase
|
|
List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £4.96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Magnificent Beethoven Up There With The Best, 2010-08-26
To listen to the Beethoven piano concertos is always an uplifting experience. When performed by a consummate musician such as Paul Lewis the experience reaches great heights. His articulation and innate sense of rythm draw one in but, to me, it is the humanity of the music that he succeeds in portraying that makes these recordings so exceptional and not just in the 'famous' slow movement of the fifth. There are wonderful surprises in the lesser known movements, particularly for me in the first concerto where Beethoven puts his unique forward-looking 'stamp' on classical form. From the orchestral point of view I hesitate to make comparisons with my recordings of Alfred Brendel with Simon Rattle's Berlin players who have the edge over the BBC Symphony in terms of power and pure virtuosity but this does not lessen the impact Paul Lewis's playing makes on this listener. Having said that, it is rare to listen to great piano playing without all the time being aware of the virtuosity these works unquestionably demand. The music is allowed to shine through!
|
|
List Price: £31.99
Our Price: £22.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Andre Rieu
love this CD and DVDs GREAT to play, 2010-08-30
just another must to play ,over and over again, I just love this music ,I play it most days and you will to .
|
|
List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £2.75
|
|
|
|
|
![Mozart - Symphonies Nos 29, 31 (Paris), 32, 35 (Haffner) & 36 (Linz) [Hybrid SACD - plays on all CD players]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51392kSWFKL._SL160_.jpg "Mozart - Symphonies Nos 29, 31 (Paris), 32, 35 (Haffner) & 36 (Linz) [Hybrid SACD - plays on all CD players]")
