Complete Piano Music 1

1. Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 2/1
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

2. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.1 in D flat major
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

3. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.2 in F sharp minor
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

4. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.3 in F sharp major
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

5. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.4 in F sharp major
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

6. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.5 in C sharp minor
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

7. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.6 in D flat major
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

8. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.7 in E minor
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

9. Etudes (8) for piano, Op. 42 No.8 in E flat major
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

10. Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

11. Piano Sonata No. 5 in F sharp major ("The Poem of Ecstasy"), Op. 53
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

12. Piano Sonata No. 9 in F major ("Black Mass"), Op. 68
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

13. Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major ("Trill"), Op. 70
Composed by Alexander Nikolayevich Skryabin
with Gordon Fergus-Thompson

Tracks:

Allegro
Romanze: Poco Adagio
Allegro Molto Moderato E Comodo-Un Poco Piu Animato
Allegro
Allegro Non Troppo
Andante Moderato
Quasi Minuetto, Moderato-Allegretto Vivace
Finale: Allegro Non Assai

Tracks:

Vivace
Andante
Agitato (Allegretto Non Troppo)-Trio
Poco Allegretto Con Variazioni-Doppio Movimento
Allegro Non Troppo
Andante, Un Poco Adagio
Scherzo: Allegro-Trio
Finale: Poco Sostenuto-Allegro Non Troppo-Presto, Non Troppo

Amazon.com

This handsome set of Brahms's chamber music features the stunning Emerson Quartet, and in the Piano Quintet, the pianist Leon Fleischer, happily recovered from a very lengthy crippling illness. The Quintet is singingly, lyrically played, with Brahms's long melodies the focal point. It's a beautiful performance, with the Emerson seemingly listening to and following Fleischer. The Quartets are performed with lush tone, with the Op. 51, no. 2, sounding particularly intense, with each dynamic change pointedly underlined. Op. 51's second movement (Romanze) makes the listener wish Brahms had set a text to the music -- it is played with exquisite lyricism. The B-flat major Quartet is vibrant, with the final movement's variations, colored by the viola, so clearly played that one can hear the echoes of the Quartet's first movement. A fine pair of CDs. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Brahms' Bonus Bargan..........2007-07-25

.
What can one say?--for the price of a pack of cigarettes (nearly!), you can now obtain what are probably the finest Brahms' string quartet realizations available.

I find it strange that Brahms' string quartets have never really been "popular." Possibly this popular ambivalence is due to his running away from Beethoven and towards Schoenberg. Anyway, I've always loved them for this reason, and I have long preferred the old Amadeus reading Brahms: The String Quartets/Dvorak: Quartet, Op. 96 for its Schoenbergian razor-sharpness.

Fleisher--sorry for his trouble; glad he's back; definitely NOT the star of this disc. The Quartets are.

By the way, if you want the finest realization of Brahms' Piano Quintet, look no further than Glenn Gould's Glenn Gould Edition: Schumann & Brahms What he does with the inner two movements is absolutely astounding, while taking the whole work as a gestalt: now, that is Art.
.

A very fine digital recording of the quartets.......2007-06-25

Leon Fleisher and the Emerson Quartet had a chance to make a fabulous digital recording of the Brahms F minor Piano Quintet--but they blew it. Instead we get an okay performance that features an overly thoughtful interpretation and frustratingly slow tempos in some spots. This is not an autumnal work, and the attempt by the players to do it that way doesn't work for me. I am not a total fan of the Emerson quartet--I personally prefer the more urgent and less lyrical sound of the Juilliard or Tokyo Quartets. However there is some exceptional playing in the 3 Brahms Quartets. Given the low price and the scarcity of recordings of the Brahms Quartets, I would recommend this 2-disc set.

Best Recording of the Brahms Piano Quintet & Superb Brahms String Quartets Too.......2007-06-21

I have long been a fan of Murray Perahia's great recording of the Brahms Piano Quartet with the Amadeus String Quartet, but now, Deutsche Grammophon has released what ought to be regarded as the definitive recording of this work. The great American pianist Leon Fleischer - who has thankfully recovered the use of his right hand due to some rather intriguing, innovative treatment - leads the Emerson String Quartet in a stunning, quite rhapsodic performance of one of the great works in the Piano Quintet repertoire, and indeed, of chamber music itself. I should add too that "lead" is the correct verb to describe this admirable performance by all five musicians in this truly incandescent recording, which is replete with ample distinguished, lyrical playing from cellist David Finckel and his Emerson String Quartet colleagues (Their playing is truly distinguished, at a technical and interpretative level which is unquestionably at a higher level than the Amadeus String Quartet's.). As for the three Brahms String Quartets, these are inspiring, vibrant performances in their own right, with ample exqusite lyrical playing from all four string players. Recorded over the course of several years in the venerable American Academy of Arts and Letters auditorium in Washington Heights, Manhattan (New York, NY) Deutsche Grammophon's sound engineers have done an exemplary job in capturing with exqusite detail ever note played by these five superb musicians, in an acoustical setting that should be regarded as quite ambiently warm. Needless to say this two-CD set is one of the finest recordings released by both pianist Leon Fleischer and the Emerson String Quartet. Devout fans of these musicians, Johannes Brahms' chamber music, and of great classical chamber music in general, will want to add this fine recording to their collections.

Overproduced.......2007-05-22

I never thought I would apply this adjective to a classical recording, but somehow it perfectly describes the cultured detachment of these performances, especially the Op 51, No. 1 C Minor Quartet. There is not a note out of place, the phrasing is precise and musicianly, the execution of its architecture is flawless, but... the sum of the parts is bloodless.

It's not the recording I would have expected given their full blooded Beethoven cycle. In fact, the Brahms production has more in common with their Mendelssohn cycle than the Beethoven. Their Mendelssohn too, was beautiful, but leaning toward the beauty of a still life. There are other performances, in both the Mendelssohn and the Brahms, that better capture the pathos of the music. Compare Emerson's performance of the C Minor Quartet with that of the Alban Berg Quartet, a superior performance. What the Berg may lack in refinement and polish, only in comparison to the Emerson Quartet, they more than make up for in sheer vitality.

And that's the nub of it. The desire, impetuosity, fear, triumph and pathos is missing -- in short, youthfulness. I just read a review, in the New York Review of Books, of some new translations of Casanova's autobiography and one of his statements reminds me of the Emerson. Casanova wrote that throughout his thirties, his vigor faded. I can't help wondering if the same thing hasn't happened to the Emerson quartet. They are more polished than ever, but the vigor has faded. The sexual rush of the great music is missing.

The Piano Quintet becomes an instant classic--Fleisher is incomparable.......2007-05-09

One could say that this DG 2-CD set is unmissable even before the first track begins. At two-for-one price we get to hear the great Leon Fleisher, miraculously recovered from his decades-long muscle affliciton (thanks to neurology and botox) and now capable of performing Brhams's most difficult works. Fleisher is, along with Rudolf Serkin, the greatest Brahms player among Americans. Here he doesn't disappoint, in a reading of the Piano Quintet that's incredibly moving, full of mastery in every phrase.

At first I was worried that he wouldn't be a match for the strainless stel Emersons, but they adapt their style to his. In every way they are second to Fleisher's lead, and the microphone placement puts his every note front and center. Often that's a drawback, but here it's what I wanted to hear. The interpretation is more relaxed than the great one from Pollini and the Quartetto Italiano and more emotionally free than Gilels with the Amadeus Qt. (NOt to mention that the Emersons show more technical ability and polish than either ensemble.) Fleisher's touch isn't as rapid and scintillating as it was in youth, but he never drags or blurs the notes. He makes each movement one great expanse of song, and in my experience there has never been a performance to equal his. rahms's broad sweeps of lyric beauty simply take off.

Oh yes, and there are three string quartets in addition. I have never warmed to Brahms's quartet writing, much as I love his other chamber music. The Emersons play with their usual amazing unanimity, and they capture Brahms's full-scale romanticism without reserve. This isn't one of their attempts to redo a classic composer in modern style. As in the Quntet, DG's sonics are wonderful, giving us the best string sonority I've heard in a long time. I'll leave it to other reviewers to detail the individual performances here. For me, the glory of this set will always be Fleisher and his amazing autumnal rebirth.

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Average customer rating:

Great Performance
Great Analog Beethoven Cycle
An essential collection
The best value in classical music on CD at the moment...
Wonderful Performances

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations
Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim
Dvorák: The Symphonies
EMI Great Recordings of Century - Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4/Klemperer

ASIN: B00004YA0S
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
II: Andante Cantabile Con Moto
III: Menuetto & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace
IV: Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace
I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II: Andante Molto Mosso
III: Allegro - In Tempo D'allegro - Tempo I
IV: Allegro
V: Allegretto

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Marcia Funebre: Adagio Assai
III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro Vivace
IV: Finale: Allegro Molto - Poco Andante - Presto
Gross Fuge

Tracks:

I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
II: Larghetto
III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
IV: Allegro Molto
I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Andante Con Moto - Piu Mosso - Tempo I
III: Allegro -
IV: Allegro - Presto

Tracks:

I: Adagio - Allegro Vivace
II: Adagio
III: Menuetto: Allegro Vivace - Trio: Un Poco Meno Allegro
IV: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
I: Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
II: Allegretto
III: Presto - Assai Meno Presto
IV: Allegro Con Brio

Tracks:

I: Allegro Vivace Con Brio
II: Allegretto Scherzando
III: Tempo Di Menuetto
IV: Allegro Vivace
Overture
Overture
Overture
Overture

Tracks:

I: Allegro Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso - Christa Ludwig
II: Molto Vivace - Presto - Christa Ludwig
III: Adagio Molto E Cantabile - Andante Moderato - Christa Ludwig
IV: Presto - Recitativo - Allegro Assai - Alla Marcia - Christa Ludwig
Overture - Christa Ludwig

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Largo
III: Rondo: Allegro Scherzando
I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Adagio
III: Rondo: Molto Allegro

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Largo
III: Rondo: Allegro
I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Con Moto
III: Rondo: Vivace

Tracks:

Fantasia For Piano, Chorus And Orchestra
I: Allegro
II: Adagio Un Poco Mosso -
III: Rondo: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Otto Klemperer's Beethoven is one of the towering achievements in the history of recordings. By today's standards, these performances are hopelessly old-fashioned: dark, heavy, and frequently very slow. But they are also the grandest, most unsentimental, most purposeful versions in the catalog. In addition, the relatively slow tempos (only in the fast movements--the slow ones are pretty swift) and forward wind balance permit more detail to be heard than in most original-instrument performances. At budget price and with the entire piano concerto cycle thrown in for good measure, this is greatness incarnate. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Great Performance.......2007-07-07

There are many different ways to perform Beethoven and each one is valid.
If you like it fast - go to Toscanini or Norrington. If you prefer slow, powerful and majestic, this is your set. Towards the end of his distinguished career, the great Otto Klemperer set down his final views of the performance of these symphonnies. The set is a coherent whole and will give great pleasure for ever. The challenging mix of the young Barenboim and the aged Klemperer worked surprisingly well and thus the concertos may also be recommended. There are odd additional items which add to the pleasure. Finally do not forget to purchase his memorable set of 'Fidelio' to complete your traversal of a great conductor giving great performances of a composer that he loved. Finally the price is ridiculously low and provides quality and quantity at a great price. Thus you should be able to buy the opera set from the savings made!

Great Analog Beethoven Cycle.......2007-05-07

This Klemperer cycle is just one of a dozen or so GREAT analog Beethoven symphony cycles that were recorded during Analog's golden age starting about 1958. These cycles are easily a match for digital and they should still be around for another 1,000 years, if the Lord tarries. These sets include: Karajan (twice, early 60s and late 70s) Bohm, Krips, Jochum, Bruno Walter, Leinsdorf, Rene Leibowitz, Szell, Ormandy, Bernstein, Steinberg, and Solti. This morning I listened to the Klemperer recordings of Beethoven's symphonies 5, 6, & 7. Very enjoyable, I got my Beethoven RDA fix.

Of all these Analog sets, I most enjoy the Leibowitz Spring 1961 cycle with the Royal Philharmonic. I have this cycle on an audiophile early 90s European import Edition Phoenix label special pressing "on extra virgin vinyl." These are by far the best analog symphonic lps I have ever heard from a recording standpoint. BY FAR! And they will rock your house.

You can almost justify Karajan's 4 recorded Beethoven cycles and one video based upon improvements in recording technology. Thru Rhapsody, I have listened to his mid 50s cycle and the orchestra sounds great, but the recording quality is sub par compared to Analog's golden age. So the rational for 4 cycles would be, (1) recent great improvements in recording technology (early 60s), (2) it has been 15 years and he has grown as an artist (late 70s), (3) we now have digital! Let's do one of the first Beethoven digital cycles (80s).

Klemperer is a no-brainer. I do not have to think twice about plopping one of his lps onto my turntable or hitting the play button at Rhapsody. When the music starts, the listening pleasure begins. Don't miss his Bruckner symphony recordings!

An essential collection.......2007-04-25

How best to describe Otto Klemperer's perspective on Beethoven's symphonies: grand, heroic, intense, insightful, stubborn, obstinate, detailed, dramatic, monumental, granitic, deeply emotional, never sentimental. This boxed set of the complete symphonies and concerti embodies all of these elements as stands as one of the great achievements of recorded music.

These performances were recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra at its peak, in the sumptuous acoustics of Kingsway Hall in London and in fine and detailed sound, and mostly in the mid-1950's during one of the brief charmed periods of Klemperer's life. EMI's impresario Walter Legge had made him permanent conductor of the Philharmonia, and when Klemperer embarked on this project in his 70's, he was in relatively good mental and physical health (Klemperer could show symptoms of manic depression and survived many health crises - brain tumor, broken bones, paralysis - which would have stopped most people).

By this time Klemperer had slowed the tempi of the fast movements of the Beethoven symphonies (listen to his early 1950's recordings of the 5th and 6th on Vox to hear by how much). This tendency is more pronounced in these studio recordings than in the live performances which were recorded during that era. The slowness is mostly saved by Klemperer's use of "sprung" rhythms, which keep the slow tempi from feeling laggardly.

Klemperer's earliest recordings in this series - symphonies 3, 5 and 7 - predate stereo and were recorded in excellent monaural sound. He rerecorded all three of these symphonies in stereo, but those recordings were made after he burned himself by falling asleep while smoking in bed. All three performances feature slower tempi than the earlier ones (whether this was the conductor's preference or the result of physical incapacity is open to conjecture). In particular, the rerecorded 7th suffered from lax phrasing, inattentiveness and perverse tempi. That is NOT the version contained in this set: fortunately, EMI had simultaneously recorded the earlier version of the 7th in "experimental" stereo, and it is that earlier version which is released here (and in remarkably good stereo). The versions of the 3rd and 5th are the rerecorded stereo ones.

You will find no finer studio versions of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th or 8th. All are insightful, beautifully detailed and powerful. The 2nd clearly looks forward to the 3rd and not back toward Hayden, the 4th is boisterous and vital, the 6th bucolic and sumptuous (not a quality normally associated with Klemperer), the 7th gains in drama what it loses in swiftness and lightness, and in the 8th in particular we see the conductor's empathy to Beethoven's sense of humor. Klemperer had a deep affinity for the "Eroica", and the rerecorded version here, while slower than the 1955 recording, was dubbed by "High Fidelity"'s Harris Goldsmith (no Klemperer fan, he) as "the best Eroica going slow" and is a monumental masterpiece (the second movement is shattering). The 1st, while leisurely, is a lovingly crafted.

That leaves the 5th and 9th. There is no doubt in my mind that the earlier, mono 5th is superior to the remake in this set. We lose that sense of an inevitable onslaught, especially in the outer movements. And the 9th, while similar in conception to the live versions recorded around the same time (on Testament with the Philharmonia and on Music&Arts with the Concertgebouw), suffers from diffuse sound and occasional lack of focus. I emphasize that these recordings of both symphonies are still head and shoulders above most of the competition; we're talking about different levels of greatness here.

Are there superior Klemperer recordings of these symphonies? Yes; but all are live, and despite the relatively good reprocessed sound, they don't reveal the same level of detail that these studio recordings do. Klemperer was a very different conductor in front of an audience, and there is more vitality and drama in the live versions of the 3rd (Testament, with the Danish Symphony), 6th 7th and 8th (Music&Arts with the Concertgebouw) and the 9th (see above). Music&Arts' set of the complete symphonies, recorded live in Vienna in 1960, is long out of print and had cramped sound with poor detail - a supplement to this set, not a replacement.

As to the piano concerti: they are better than one might expect. Barenboim, although steeped in the Germanic performance tradition, is more naturally aligned with the Furtwangler and Edwin Fischer than with Klemperer. However, the two of them actually work together extremely well and this is a fine, insightful set.

Any complete cycle of Beethoven, symphonies or concerti, will have drawbacks. There will be unevenness in the performances, as there are here. But there are advantages to hearing one musician's perspective on the works, especially when (as here) the performer has depth of understanding, integrity of vision, and a structural understanding of the pieces.

The digital remastering is excellent and the sound barely shows its age. This may not be your only complete set of Beethoven's symphonies, but it should be one of them. And at a price this low, it's a bargain too.

The best value in classical music on CD at the moment..........2007-01-02

What is the best value in classical discs available today ? Who knows, but I defy anyone to beat the EMI compilation of Klemperer' recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies, Piano Concertos (with Barenboim), several overtures the Choral Fantasia etc etc. 9 discs for only $44 ( well that was the price I paid). You have got to be kidding... I only had two concerns with buying this. First on the age of the recordings, all more than 40 years old. No worry at all. This is a masterpiece of reconstruction. The sound quality indistinguishable from any modern recording. Secondly , the performances themselves. I had been warned that Klemperer notoriously chose rather slow tempi. Again I needn't have worried. I immediately went to the slow movements of the 2nd piano concerto and the fourth symphony, where many slow tempists have in the past come unstuck. The piano concerto was an absolute revelation. The combination of the youthful Barenboim and the Philharmonia's masterful playing time and gain had me on the edge of my seat. " Yes,go on, well...." Slow it may have been. Boring, never. The same applies in spades to the slow movement of the fourth. Right from the eerie opening, which is yes, very slow indeed, I knew this movement would be a revelation and I can honestly say I have never hear it better played. Follow this with a scherzo bounding in energy and thumping finale and you will never get a better performance of this, one of Beethoven's "lesser" symphonies. And I haven't even got round to the "biggies" yet! The box set looks unattractive and the portrait of Klemperer makes him appear a first class nerd. Pay absolutely no attention to this....

Wonderful Performances.......2006-04-07

I have admittedly not made it through the entire set as of yet, but feel sufficiently blown away by the First Symphony and the Eroica - particularly the second movement of the latter - to weigh in here. With respect to the tempo issue, I must - at least so far - argue in favor of Klemperer's decision to slow things down a bit. I think the effect is, as someone else has observed, a clearer and more visceral experience of Beethoven's composition. It brings out the feeling. The sound comes up a little short on the low end, but it isn't a major distraction. My only problem lies in EMI's inexplicable lack of any discussion of the performances. The notes are bland, dry descriptions of the pieces themselves, with some basic history thrown in. Given the fact that there are probably hundreds of different CDs of Beethoven's symphonies out there, all with similar explanatory notes, it is infuriating that nothing is said about these particular performances. This is in contrast with the EMI Bach set (with Yehudi Menuhin) in which there is a wonderful essay that discusses Menuhin's work in historical context.

Average customer rating:

Middle of the road wedding music
just what I was looking for
Most Chosen Selections
Another Great Reference CD
A Nice CD

Bride's Guide to Wedding Music

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bride's Guide to Wedding Music, Vol. II
25 Wedding Favorites
Classical Wedding
Modern Bride Presents the Wedding Album
The Complete Wedding Album

ASIN: B000002SOG
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Three Lute Dances: Prelude: Courante
Sonata In E-Flat: Prelude: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: Prelude: Allegro
Water Music: Prelude: Suite No. 1- Air
Processional: Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince Of Denmark's March)
Te Deum: Processional: Prelude
Processional: Canon In D
Processional: Trumpet Tune
Lohengrin: Processional: 'Wedding March'
Cantata 147: Ceremony: 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring'
The Four Seasons: Ceremony: 'Spring' - Allegro
Ceremony: 'Ave Maria'
Five Mystical Songs: Ceremony: 'The Call'
Ceremony: 'Sheep May Safely Graze'
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Recessional: 'Wedding March'
Solomon: Recessional: 'Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheeba'
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: Recessional: First Movement
Organ Symphony No. 5: Recessional: Toccata

Customer Reviews:

Middle of the road wedding music.......2007-01-20

I bought this cd because I had everything in my wedding planned to the last tiny detail except the ceremony music. All the songs on the cd are nice traditional wedding songs. I did not use any of the music from the cd, but I am glad I bought it because it helped me realize that traditional wedding music was not what I wanted. All and all a nice classical music cd but not for brides who really want a personal ceremony. BTW I went with Enya and Lorena McKennitt.

just what I was looking for.......2007-01-10

We wanted traditional wedding music and found it in this CD. I'm no music expert, but the arrangements and performances seemed fine. I would definitely recommend this CD for any bride looking for a concise collection of traditional wedding pieces.

Most Chosen Selections.......2006-03-13

As a wedding officiant, my wife and I are often asked to assist the couple with other services for their ceremony, such as music. For this, we have a very large selection in our music library to choose from. We have put together a catalog of cd's that we loan out to the couple for their review, and most often, their selections come from BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC.

If you're planning a traditional or formal wedding on a budget, this cd has it all. There are even two selections of Wagner's "Wedding March" to choose from. Only two of the selections have vocals, the rest are all extraordinary instrumental selections.

Often, even around the house or in my car, I find myself listening to this cd. The music is soothing, refreshing, uplifting and most enjoyable. I recommend this cd over all other wedding music cd's.

Another Great Reference CD.......2006-01-09

This is a great compilation, CD, along with Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Volume 2, to use as a reference for some of the more popular wedding songs; just about everything on here is standard fare for weddings. All of the musicians are generally superb, and the sound quality is very good. However, this is most useful if you are playing the CD at your wedding, or using it as a reference CD to talk over potential music selections with an organist, a string quartet, etc. Like my review for Volume 2, I only gave it four stars based on practicality, not on quality. If it were just quality, I would give it five stars. I purchased this CD since I am in the process of making my own wedding CD (I am a professional, freelance violinist), and this was nice to listen to, even just as background music for dinner. BTW: beware of reviewers who don't use their names, especially "A music fan." This is most likely the producer of the "Wedding Traditions" CD and he slanders other CDs so his will look better. You'd think that in the wedding music business people would have better ethics, but unfortunately, that's not always the case. The best advice I can give, as a classical musician myself, if to take time to listen to the sound clips, and if possible, try to find them on iTunes where they might sound higher quality. This is the only real way of knowing whether the CD is right for you.

A Nice CD.......2005-12-30

This is a very nice CD.
Our daughter used some of the songs on this CD
and some of the songs that are on the
"Classical Wedding Traditions" CD for the wedding.
She also used many of the songs on the
"New Wedding Traditions Volume I" CD
Amazon is a great place to find good wedding music

Average customer rating:

holy smoke.
A linkage between the past and the modernism!
great deal
Excellent performances, superb value
Not just for chamber musik freaks! This is Schumann's best.

Schumann: Complete Piano Trios

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brahms: Complete Trios

ASIN: B0000041N8
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In E-flat, Op. 44: Allegro brillante
Piano Quintet In E-flat, Op. 44: In modo d'una marcia. Un poco largamente
Piano Quintet In E-flat, Op. 44: Scherzo. Molto vivace
Piano Quintet In E-flat, Op. 44: Allegro, ma non troppo
Piano Quartet In E-flat, Op. 47: Sostenuto assai - Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Quartet In E-flat, Op. 47: Scherzo. Molto vivace
Piano Quartet In E-flat, Op. 47: Andante cantabile
Piano Quartet In E-flat, Op. 47: Finale. Vivace
Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63: Mit Energie und Leidenschaft
Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63: Lebhaft, doch nicht zu rasch

Tracks:

Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63: Langsam, mit inniger Empfindung
Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 63: Mit Feuer
Piano Trio No. 2 In F, Op. 80: Sehr lebhaft
Piano Trio No. 2 In F, Op. 80: Mit innigem Ausdruck
Piano Trio No. 2 In F, Op. 80: In massiger Bewegung
Piano Trio No. 2 In F, Op. 80: Nicht zu rasch
Piano Trio No. 3 In G Minor, Op. 110: Bewegt, doch nicht zu rasch
Piano Trio No. 3 In G Minor, Op. 110: Ziemlich langsam
Piano Trio No. 3 In G Minor, Op. 110: Rasch
Piano Trio No. 3 In G Minor, Op. 110: Kraftig, mit Humor

Amazon.com

This two-CD set, offering Schumann's groundbreaking Piano Quintet, the Piano Quartet, and the three piano trios, is an exceptional bargain. The approach of the Beaux Arts players and their associates is essentially reflective: they let the music speak for itself and avoid the rhetorical excesses other interpreters often fall victim to. In their hands the quintet, one of Schumann's most inspired creations, receives an especially polished and poised performance, with a lovely dovetailing of voices. The analog recordings are warm and detailed, and they have been optimally transferred to CD. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

holy smoke........2007-04-17

now i'm just a big dummy. i really am. but somehow classical music got through my thick skull and into my heart. so glad that it did. these recordings from 1975 by the beaux arts trio are spectacular works of chamber music. mr schumann's compositions are given a vibrantly intense and dramatic going over by these great musicians. soul-stirring stuff in every way. this is the sound of a musical springtime, all green invention and sunshine for the spirit. the violin, cello, and piano tunnel through the music, unearthing and displaying its potential and grace. i listened to the entire two hours and twenty minutes of glorious music that's on these discs this morning, and it was a great experience indeed. i highly highly recommend this set to any and all music lovers. this whole affair is a masterpiece of grand compositions in the hands of brilliant performers.

A linkage between the past and the modernism!.......2006-11-28

If Goethe's Werther was the prototype of the Romantic hero per excellence, inflaming the imagination and creativeness of newcomer artists, I guess the legitimate Ambassador in the music, had its embodiment around the egregious figure of Robert Schumann. No other composer in the history of the music has embraced new genres and styles with as much febrile intensity, uncertainty but at the same time with as much determination as did Schumann. The remarkable fact he had composed 138 songs in just one year, supports with striking stubbornness he blended music and poetry; despite of the fact his enormous knowledge of literature. Of course the main pivot for his incursions in the chamber music were his passionate analysis around Beethoven's late Quartets. His immense devotion for the chamber music was in visible counter flow with the tendencies of the New German School. He was aware about the dissolution of the piano as protagonist instrument ( just think in Busoni `s Piano concerto, for instance) and in this sense he consecrated all his efforts to preserve and defend the power of expression of the noblest instrument.

On the other hand, the set of Trios surmounted the well known Op. 54's Piano Concerto. That reveals a very careful design in the tonal architecture, interlinking parts and polyphonal material which points to the future and Brahms securely had to have discussed this issue with his friend.
Such emblematic attitude made that composers such Mahler and Schoenberg were so influenced due its modernist projections.

The second is by far, the most romantic of the set with Schubertian reminiscences try to realize th far echoes of the last movement of Cesar Franck's Sonata for violin in the third movement of this trio, while the last one is evidently as we expected the most futurist of the three; and you certainly may find seminal seeds for modern age and the Viennese school of the early ages of the XX Century.

So, consider a wise acquisition to have these distinguished and refined Trios because reflect fundamental works that far to be transitional were the most perfect linkage between the dying Romanticism and the arousing musical modernism and illustrates wisely that smart statement of Octavio Paz: "The past is function of the future. The will of future makes the dead bodies stand and puts order in its works..."

great deal.......2005-10-12

These are well-played and well-recorded versions of these pieces. The price is also right.
Personally I found Schumann's compositions excessively mercurial at times but that's my problem. If you like him this should'nt be missed.

Excellent performances, superb value.......2002-04-07

This collection of Schumann's piano trios, Op. 47 piano quartet, and Op. 44 piano quintet is excellent, epsecially since it's offered at Philips' Duo (2-for-1 price). Having recently performed the piano quartet and quintet, I can say that the Beaux Arts Trio brings much finesse, refinement, and superb musical judgment to these performances. The famous Quintet gets an oustanding performance, not as volatile as the live EMI recording led by Martha Argerich, but then without that recording's self-indulgence either. I think the piano quartet is underrated; it has a absolutely beautiful slow movement and an exhilarating last movement filled with counterpoint. The Beaux Arts gives it an excellent performance, though the slow movement seems rather too ponderous and lacking the radiance it should have. The piano trios aren't as well known: they come from later in Schumann's career and are often considered inferior to the earlier works. I cannot agree, especially in the case of the first two trios, which cotrast beautifully, the first one passionate and tragic, the second one lighter and fresher, almost Schubertian, both with beautiful slow movements. The snag is that the first trio is split between the two discs, which is an inconvenience. Very good sound, too. By the way, if you enjoy the trios, you should also check out the Florestan Trio's two outstanding discs on Hyperion (one with the first two trios, the other with the Piano Quartet, the third trio, and the Op. 88 Fantasiestücke for piano trio). The Florestan's performances are perhaps more imaginative than the Beaux Arts', and they are even better recorded.

Not just for chamber musik freaks! This is Schumann's best........1999-10-09

This 2 CD set offers an extraoardinary bargain. Five works by the underrated German master are heard in incisive performances that only occaisionally succumb to the usual pitfall of many Schumann performances: Zu Viel Schmaltz. When Robert indulged in self-pity, he bathed in it! (especially when he was "Eusebius").... The sound overall is consistent and adequate, although some selections are remastered from analog. Many people have said, "Why couldn't Schumann write a truly great symphony?" He did---the Eb Quintett, op. 44. If you love romantic period chambermusic, you should not miss this collection. This is more than two hours of great music...

Average customer rating:

Super Chamber Music
Great Schubert, but add some schmaltz please!
Brendel displaying his greatness
little music
Good. But...just good.

Schubert: The Complete Impromptus
Franz Schubert , and Alfred Brendel
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Schubert: Impromptus For Piano
Chopin: The Piano Works
Franz Schubert: Complete Trios
Schubert: 8 Symphonies

ASIN: B0000041MS
Release Date: 1997-03-11

Tracks:

Impromptus, D.899: No. 1 In C Minor
Impromptus, D.899: No. 2 In E-Flat
Impromptus, D.899: No. 1 In G-Flat
Impromptus, D.899: No. 4 In A-Flat
Impromptus. D.935: No. 1 In F Minor
Impromptus. D.935: No. 2 In A-Flat
Impromptus. D.935: No. 3 In B-Flat
Impromptus. D.935: No. 3 In B-Flat
16 German Dances, D.783: Deutsche Tanze - Danses allemandes

Tracks:

3 Klavierstucke (Impropmtus), D. 946: No. 1 In E-Flat Minor
3 Klavierstucke (Impropmtus), D. 946: No. 2 In E-Flat
3 Klavierstucke (Impropmtus), D. 946: No. 3 In C Major
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No. 1 in C - Moderato
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No.2 In A-Flat - Andantino
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No. 3 - In F Minor - Allegro moderato
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No. 4 In C-Sharp Minor - Moderato
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No. 5 In F Minor - Allegro vivace
6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780: No. 6 In A-Flat - Allegretto
12 German Dances, D. 790: Deutsche Tanze - Danses Allemandes

Customer Reviews:

Super Chamber Music.......2007-05-31

As I was listening to this while gardening, I forgot for a moment that I was listening to Schubert, and thought 'My, what good Chopin this is!'. Well, I caught myself and realized my little slip revealed the fact that even though solo piano may not have been Schubert's strongest suit, he still managed to do it as well or better than the great classic Mr. Piano Man himself. This is an excellent bargain package with two CD's for the price of one and a complete set of a major composer's genre. I'm not a student of piano style, but Alfred Brendel seems to realize these in a better than workmanlike fashion. He may not be Murray Perahia, but he's no slouch.

Great Schubert, but add some schmaltz please!.......2007-03-18

I was greatly disappointed with my reaction to these CDs. There is nothing specific that I can say against the CDs, but....I was completely and totally uninvolved. I tried multiple listening, but it did not help. I was standing outside the music, and was examining it like I would an ant under the microscope. I know it is not my reaction to Schubert's impromptus, simply because I just adored them when I heard them performed by Krystian Zimerman.
The only thing I figured out is that Mr. Brendel was just too elegant and detached here for my taste. To use a metaphor, he was as elegant as a black cocktail dress, while a dress with some frills, colors, lace, and something soft would have been more appropriate here, I felt. In my view, even some schmaltz would be welcome here.
I guess it all depends on how you would be affected by this CD, so I do encourage you to try it!

Brendel displaying his greatness.......2007-02-05

I've always heard Brendel was a great interpreter of Beethoven, but have not heard his recordings before this work of Schubert. Brendel is an amazing pianist, and Schubert an inspiring composer. Some say this work by Brendel doesn't bring out the fullness of Schubert, but if this isn't one of the best recordings of Schubert, I'll eat my hat.

little music.......2007-01-02

Franz Schubert's piano impromptus are not big music.

Not only are the pieces relatively brief, but the absence of instruments other than solo piano and the evasion of bombast by Schubert altogether make these compositions small music.

But small is beautiful.

Alfred Brendel is at his understated best in his mastery of this genre. Lovers of the keyboard already know that Brendel can flow with Beethovian grandeur together with the best of them. He approaches Schubert's Impromptus, Deutsche Tanze, and Moment Musicaux as an artist with nothing to prove. The result is a pure reading of Schubert that leaves one savoring the music rather than the performer. That's a nice result that credits rather than demeans the pianist.

The Philips Classic ('Duo') series is at its usual peak form for quality, price, and therefore value.

Good. But...just good........2005-12-21

Schubert is my favourite composer, and I regard the impromptus as one of the most aesthetically pleasing of his piano works. I personally have played the D.899 pieces, and I find them very simple to play, they are not by any means technically demanding. But to play them well is in fact extremely difficult.

Control of speed and pressure on the keys is critical in every piece, especially no.3 and no.4 in D.899.

With that said, Brendel's playing is very straightforward and textbook to the very core essentials. The playing is very clean, and his tempo is well under control. However, that's where it ends, as he doesn't bring the liveliness into these works of beauty. Schubert sounds nothing more than a . If you want the music itself without any passion, then this is the album to get. Sound quality is excellent.

The best schubert impromptus I have heard thus far is from Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu. Of the two, I prefer Murray Perahia's. His playing really defines Schubert as a composer - the emotional output is all there, in every note, every phrase. There is not a single part in any of the impromptus where it can be considered dull. Listen to his recording and you will see what I mean. Radu Lupu tends to put more emphasis on the lyrical qualities of these pieces by using strong vibrato. If you really want something out of this world, then try Mitsuko Uchida's version, which is the complete opposite of Brendel, with erratic playing (much like her own personality).

-Sail

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim

Average customer rating:

Barenboim's Beethvoen
One of the very best ever
dead in the water
Sublime expression nourished by a colossal vision!
Performed with great enthusiasm

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Chopin: The Piano Works
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas

ASIN: B00000C2KP
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Allegro
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Adagio
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Menuetto: Allegretto
Sonata No.1 In F Minor, Op.2 No.1: Prestissimo
Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2 No.2: Allegro vivace
Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2 No.2: Largo appassionato
Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2 No.2: Scherzo: Allegretto
Sonata No.2 In A Major, Op.2 No.2: Rondo: Grazioso
Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2 No.3: Allegro con brio
Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2 No.3: Adagio
Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2 No.3: Scherzo: Allegro
Sonata No.3 In C Major, Op.2 No.3: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Sonata No.5 In C Minor, Op.10 No.1: Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No.5 In C Minor, Op.10 No.1: Adagio molto
Sonata No.5 In C Minor, Op.10 No.1: Finale: Prestissimo
Sonata No.6 In F Major, Op.10 No.2: Allegro
Sonata No.6 In F Major, Op.10 No.2: Allegretto
Sonata No.6 In F Major, Op.10 No.2: Presto
Sonata No.7 In D Major, Op.10 No.3: Presto
Sonata No.7 In D Major, Op.10 No.3: Largo e mesto
Sonata No.7 In D Major, Op.10 No.3: Menuetto: Allegro
Sonata No.7 In D Major, Op.10 No.3: Rondo: Allegro
Sonata No.22 In F Major, Op.54: In tempo di Menuetto
Sonata No.22 In F Major, Op.54: Allegretto - Piu allegro

Tracks:

Sonata No.4 In E Flat Major, Op7: Allegro molto e con brio
Sonata No.4 In E Flat Major, Op7: Largo con gran espressione
Sonata No.4 In E Flat Major, Op7: Allegro
Sonata No.4 In E Flat Major, Op7: Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso
Sonata No.9 In E Major, Op.14 No.1: Allegro
Sonata No.9 In E Major, Op.14 No.1: Allegretto
Sonata No.9 In E Major, Op.14 No.1: Rondo: Allegro comodo
Sonata No.10 In G Major, Op.14 No.2: Allegro
Sonata No.10 In G Major, Op.14 No.2: Andante
Sonata No.10 In G Major, Op.14 No.2: Scherzo: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Sonata No.11 In B Flat Major, Op.22: Allegro con brio
Sonata No.11 In B Flat Major, Op.22: Adagio con molta espressione
Sonata No.11 In B Flat Major, Op.22: Menuetto
Sonata No.11 In B Flat Major, Op.22: Rondo: Allegretto
Sonata No.12 In A Flat Major, Op.26: Andante von variazioni
Sonata No.12 In A Flat Major, Op.26: Scherzo: Allegro molto
Sonata No.12 In A Flat Major, Op.26: Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe: Maestoso andante
Sonata No.12 In A Flat Major, Op.26: Allegro
Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1: Andante - Allegro
Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1: Allegro molto e vivace
Sonata No.13 In E Flat Major, Op.27 No.1: Adagio con espressione - Allegro vivace

Tracks:

SONATA NO.8 IN C MINOR, OP.13 'PATHETIQUE': Grave - Allegro molto e con brio
SONATA NO.8 IN C MINOR, OP.13 'PATHETIQUE': Adagio cantabile
SONATA NO.8 IN C MINOR, OP.13 'PATHETIQUE': Rondo: Allegro
Sonata No.14 InC Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No.14 InC Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Allegretto
Sonata No.14 InC Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Presto agitato - Adagio - Presto agitato
SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': Allegro assai - Piu allegro
SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': Andante con moto
SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': Allegro ma non troppo - Presto

Tracks:

Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 'Pastoral': Allegro
Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 'Pastoral': Andante
Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 'Pastoral': Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Sonata No.15 In D Major, Op.28 'Pastoral': Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.21 In C Major, Op.53 'Waldstein': Allegro con brio
Sonata No.21 In C Major, Op.53 'Waldstein': Introduzione (Adagio molto) - Rondo (Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo)
Sonata No.19 In G Minor, Op.49 No.1: Andante
Sonata No.19 In G Minor, Op.49 No.1: Rondo: Allegro
Sonata No.20 In G Major, Op.49 No.2: Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.20 In G Major, Op.49 No.2: Tempo di menuetto

Tracks:

Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: Allegro vivace
Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: Adagio grazioso
Sonata No. 16 In G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: Rondo: Allegretto - Adagio - Presto
Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'The Tempest': Largo - Allegro
Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'The Tempest': Adagio
Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 'The Tempest': Allegretto
Sonata No.18 In E Flat Major, Op.31 No.3: Allegro
Sonata No.18 In E Flat Major, Op.31 No.3: Scherzo: Allegretto vivace
Sonata No.18 In E Flat Major, Op.31 No.3: Menuetto: Moderato grazioso
Sonata No.18 In E Flat Major, Op.31 No.3: Presto con fuoco

Tracks:

Sonata No.24 In F Sharp Major, Op.78: Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.24 In F Sharp Major, Op.78: Allegro vivace
Sonata No.25 in G major, Op.79: Presto alla tedesca
Sonata No.25 in G major, Op.79: Andante
Sonata No.25 in G major, Op.79: Vivace
Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Das Lebewohl (Les Adieux): Adagio - Allegro
Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Abwesenheit (L'Absence): Andante espressivo
Sonata No.26 In E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Wiedersehn (Le Retour): Vivacissimamente - Poco andante - Tempo 1
Sonata No.27 In E Minor, Op.90: Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
Sonata No.27 In E Minor, Op.90: Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorzutragen

Tracks:

Sonata No.28 In A Major, Op.101: Allegretto ma non troppo
Sonata No.28 In A Major, Op.101: Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No.28 In A Major, Op.101: Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto - Tempo del primo pezzo - Allegro
Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': Allegro
Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': Scherzo: Assai vivace - Presto - Tempo 1
Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': Adagio sostenuto
Sonata No.29 In B Flat Major, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': Largo - Allegro - Prestissimo - Allegro risoluto (Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze)

Tracks:

Sonata No.30 In E Major, Op.109: Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo 1
Sonata No.30 In E Major, Op.109: Prestissimo
Sonata No.30 In E Major, Op.109: Tema: Andante molto cantabile e espressivo - Variazioni 1-6
Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major, Op.110: Moderato cantabile, molto espressivo
Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major, Op.110: Allegro molto
Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major, Op.110: Adagio ma non troppo
Sonata No.31 In A Flat Major, Op.110: Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo - L'istesso tempo di arioso - L'istesso tempo della Fuga - Meno allegro
Sonata No.32 in C minor, op.111: Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Sonata No.32 in C minor, op.111: Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile - Variazioni

Customer Reviews:

Barenboim's Beethvoen.......2007-06-27

I heard Bachaus play all Beethoven recitals at Carnegie Hall, in NYC. At that time he was the acknowledged master of the Beethvoen Sonata. With Barenboim, the old order changeth, yielding place to new. These recordings have fire, tempestuousness and passion, all emotions that belong in Beethoven.

One of the very best ever.......2007-02-15

This set has to be experienced. The clarity of these performances is beyond belief. If it's not the best set of Beethoven Sonatas, it is certainly among the very best. Take for example the first movement of Sonata number 21. It is so easy to have a performer play all the notes just as Beethoven wrote them and yet leave the listener in a morass of confusion without the slightest idea of what he had in mind. Not here. The ideas pour forth in a white light that has to be experienced. It really has to be experienced!! I love these performances. I will play them until I die. Oh...and the recordings are technically excellent. At least when played through Levinson electronics and Maggies....superb!

dead in the water.......2007-01-12

Sorry, I just don't like Barenboim's renditions. Beethoven is my favourite composer, depending on my mood that is, and nothing moves me as his music can. But I just don't get Barenboim's renditions... doesn't do a thing for me. Something of Beethoven's depth and richness gets totally "lost in translation".

Better off finding a better performance of these if you really want to be "blown away". My favorite "Beethoven" conductor would have to be Herbert von Karajan; and as for individual pianists my all time favorite is Maurizio Pollini, whose performances are exquisite, in both technique and expression! If you are a music lover you should really check his work out if you haven't already. My favorite Beethoven CD by him is "Die Spaten Klaviersonaten" (Beethoven) by Deutsche Grammophon in their "legendary recordings" series. It is a real gem! (the sound quality is excellent also)

Sublime expression nourished by a colossal vision!.......2006-03-23

Thanks to this immense and untiring activity in the field of the orchestral direction, his vision as pianist has enriched himself quite a lot: Barenboim performs these well known Sonatas with a splendid architectural construction; according Schnabel `s tradition.

And that is a very remarkable good point in this musical moment where the pianist technique is eclipsing and even annulling the personal approach in the most of pianists all over the world. Honesty, conviction, vision and commitment dress those interpretations loaded of expression and personality.

In the great tradition of the great Beethovenian keyboard giants of the past, Daniel explores and plays every little bar with that well felt intensity of someone who in Beethoven `s there is much more than simple music. In Beethoven the music is not a goal by itself; but a revelation superior to any philosophy; all his musical legacy possess values that are placed of the standards. There is not art without second intention and that is precisely what Barenboim has made with this fabulous cycle of Beethoven Sonatas.

If you really want to listen remarkable performances far beyond of the trivial conventionalisms, go for this record.

Performed with great enthusiasm.......2004-05-16

This is classic early Barenboim (he was just 24 when he started recording this set in 1966). He is very enthusiastic and expressive (if you don't like him, he "takes liberties" and "shows off"). The slow movements are veerrry slow, and the fast ones really rip. Pianissimo is extremely soft, and fortissimo rattles the windows! [My wife insists that I wear headphones for late-night listening.]

Tracks:

Piano Trio In B Flat, Op. 21: Allegro molto
Piano Trio In B Flat, Op. 21: Adagio molto e mesto
Piano Trio In B Flat, Op. 21: Allegretto scherzando
Piano Trio In B Flat, Op. 21: Finale (Allegro vivace)
Piano Trio In G Minor, Op. 26: Allegro moderato
Piano Trio In G Minor, Op. 26: Largo
Piano Trio In G Minor, Op. 26: Scherzo (Presto - Poco meno mosso)
Piano Trio In G Minor, Op. 26: Finale (Allegro non tanto)

Tracks:

Piano Trio In F Minor, Op. 65: Allegro ma non troppo - Poco piu mosso, quasi vivace
Piano Trio In F Minor, Op. 65: Allegro grazioso - Meno mosso
Piano Trio In F Minor, Op. 65: Poco Adagio
Piano Trio In F Minor, Op. 65: Finale (Allegro con brio - Meno mosso - Vivace)
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Lento maestoso - Allegro vivace, quasi doppio movimento - Tempo I - Allegro molto
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Poco adagio - Vivace non troppo
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Andante - Vivace non troppo - Andante - Allegretto
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Andante moderato (quasi tempo di marcia) - Allegretto scherzando - Meno mosso - Allegro - Moderato
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Allegro
Piano Trio In E Minor, Op. 90 (Dumky): Lento maestoso - Vivace, quasi movimento - Lento - Vivace

Amazon.com essential recording

Dvorák composed four piano trios, and all of them are fine works. The very last, the so-called "Dumky" Trio, has eclipsed the others in popularity, which is a pity, particularly with respect to the Trio No. 3 in F minor. This work, composed at exactly the same time as the Seventh Symphony, is clearly the finest work of its type since Beethoven--and that includes the three trios of Brahms. Perfectly proportioned, emotionally intense, and chock full of incredible tunes, it grabs you from the first note and never lets you go. The Beaux Arts Trio performs all of this music with their customary musicality and expertise, and the "twofer" price in unbeatable. Now try that Trio No. 3--you'll be glad you did. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Emblematic and desert island choices!.......2006-11-19

Dvorak's immense talent as composer of chamber works deserve to him, even a major status that most of people tend to estimate. The spirit of eloquency, sheer lyricism and brisky musicality make of this set a true must-have.

Don't miss this set under any pretext.

fantastic Recordings!.......2005-12-16

The beaux arts' performances of these trios, like most recordings of their golden period, wih Cohen and Greenhouse, set a benchmark, for both the technical as well as the emotional depth in the interpritation of chamber music... Their tension and beauty, particularly of Isidore Cohen's distinctive tone, thrills the heart, as much as the ear.

it just can't be 5 stars.......2003-08-15

Okay, I have to be honest, I don't own these CDs, though I have listened to them a little, which is what's most important. What I simply must tell to the prospective buyer is that there is one part about 40 seconds into the scherzo of the g minor trio that is absolutely atrocious on the part of the violinist, where he (Isidore Cohen, who for the record I think has a nasty tone in general although many people would disagree) goes flatter and flatter on an upward run landing on the note of the climax of the section about halfway between two pitches! To be quite honest, it's absurd that they didn't do another take, because it's pretty painful, yet entertainingly bad, to listen to. If you can enjoy Isidore Cohen's tone, though, this should be a good buy overall.

Definitive Performances Of Dvorak's Piano Trios.......2001-12-08

This is yet another excellent compilation of the great recordings made by the Beaux Arts Trio when its lineup included Isidore Cohen as violinist and Bernard Greenhouse as cellist as well as pianist Menahem Pressler. These are lively, exciting performances replete with warmth and Slavic charm, gracefully played by these exceptional musicians. Of course, the highlight is their exquisite performance of the "Dumky" trio, but the others are equally compelling. This is one of the highlights of my CD collection of Dvorak's music; it should be yours too.

Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations

Average customer rating:

like sparkling mineral water
Soulless Rendition
Lovely
Top notch performances
Very good, but a bit misleading?

Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim
Mozart: The Complete Piano Concertos
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Mozart: The Violin Sonatas
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet

ASIN: B00004YA0U
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

I: Allegro
II: Andante
III: Allegro
I: Allegro Assai
II: Adagio
III: Presto
I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Amoroso
III: Rondeau: Allegro
I: Adagio
II: Menuetto I - Menuetto II
III: Allegro
I: Allegro
II: Andante
III: Presto

Tracks:

I: Allegro
II: Rondeau En Polonaise: Andante
III: Tema (Andante) Con Variazioni (I-XII)
I: Allegro Con Spirito
II: Andante Un Poco Adagio
III: Rondeau: Allegretto Grazioso
I: Allegro Maestoso
II: Andante Cantabile Con Espressione
III: Presto

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Spirito
II: Andantino Con Espressione
III: Rondeau: Allegro
I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Cantabile
III: Allegretto
I: Tema (Andante Grazioso) Con Variazioni (I-VI)
II: Menuetto - Trio
III: Alla Turca: Allegretto
I: Allegro
II: Adagio
III: Allegro Assai

Tracks:

I: Allegro
II: Andante Cantabile
III: Allegretto Grazioso
Adagio - Allegro - Andantino - Piu Allegro - Tempo I
I: Molto Allegro
II: Adagio
III: Allegro Assai

Tracks:

I: Allegro
II: Andante Cantabile
III: Allegretto
I: Allegro
II: Andante
III: Rondo
I: Allegro
II: Adagio
III: Allegretto
I: Allegro
II: Adagio
III: Allegretto

Tracks:

Tema ('Laat Ons Juichen'): Allegretto
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7: Adagio
Variation 8: Tempo I
Tema (Air): Allegro
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5: Adagio
Variation 6: Tempo I
Variation 7
Tema (Menuetto): Andante
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5: Adagio
Variation 6: Allegretto
Tema (Menuet)
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11: Adagio
Variation 12: Allegro
Tema (Air): Allegretto
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8: Tempo Di Menuetto
Variation 9
Variation 10: Allegretto
Variation 11
Variation 12: Molto Adagio
Allegretto

Tracks:

Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11: Adagio
Variation 12: Allegro
Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11: Adagio
Variation 12: Presto
Tema: Andante
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8: Adagio
Variation 9: Allegro
Tempo Di Tema
Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7: Adagio
Variation 8: Allegro
Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6

Tracks:

Tema: Allegretto
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9: Adagio
Variation 10: Allegro
(Tempo I)
Tema: Allegretto
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11: Adagio
Variation 12: Allegro
(Tempo I)
Tema: Allegretto
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8: Adagio
Variation 9: Allegro
(Tempo I)
Tema
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7: Adagio
Variation 8: Allegro
(Tempo I)

Customer Reviews:

like sparkling mineral water.......2006-12-22

It is something near to a cleansing experience to listen through the Mozart piano repertoire as performed by Daniel Barenboim.

For starters, Mozart achieves his sparest, cleanest, most limpid lines when writing for solo piano. Then comes Daniel Barenboim, whose reading of Mozart is crisply and unemotionally classical. Not for him the drawn-out keyboard soliloquy. On the contrary, Barenboim gives us Mozart, only Mozart, and nothing but Mozart, clean and shimmering as sparkling mineral water.

This is not to say that Barenboim as pianist is unfeeling. On the contrary, the Fantasia in C Minor - to choose just one example with almost random lack of care - is quite moving. But not with a flourish. Rather, with almost sinewy restraint. The presentation represents a fine grasp of the master composer, nurtured with discipline across the length and breadth of the voluminous sonatas.

Indeed, the sheer volume of the Mozart piano sonatas is intimidating. It is astonishing to imagine one man having mastered it as Barenboim has. EMI Classics has done us the favor of collecting these two gentlemen's asynchronic collaboration in one set, affordable at that.

If Mozart is a musician for the ages and Barenboim a performer who left a formidable imprint on the twentieth century, their collaboration as represented in these recordings is a watershed that will need to be referenced by students of classical piano for at least another hundred years, or until people can only remember as far back as the Dixie Chicks.

Buy Barenboim on Mozart before that happens, and so stick your thumb in the dike against the evil day.

Soulless Rendition.......2005-10-16

I have several artists' renditions of Mozart's piano sonatas in my library. Daniel Barenboim's is the worst. His technique is timid. His rendition is soulless and perfunctory. I regret purchasing this collection. The best rendition I have is the collection of Glenn Gould. If you like Mozart's piano sonatas played the way Mozart intended, give Barenboim a pass and listen to Gould.

Lovely.......2005-03-17

As a pianist myself, I love Barenboim's playing. He does not play Mozart too Beethoven like. His performances are usually VERY good, and this is one example. Also includes the complete variations, which are very nice. The sound quality is excellent. Very highly recommended.

"The sonatas of Mozart are unique: too easy for children, too difficult for adults. Children are given Mozart to play because of the quantity of notes; grown ups avoid him because of the quality of notes." - Artur Schnabel

Top notch performances.......2004-06-17

Daniel Barenboim played this whole set with an interesting approach to WAM . The notations about classical , beethovenian style are always hazardous.
When you are a musician you must avoid in the cliche , and you should feel the music as a whole and the playing must be the consequence of a overlong process that begins in your soul , then your inner mood , your intellect and finally your fingers. I remark the aspect when you are in front of Mozart, Beethoven Wagner, Bruckner, Bach , Schubert and Bartok , because these composers are in a highest level than the others and the music itself is merely a device for expressing deeper issues.
That's why this set is superb. Barenboim plays a Mozart rich in expresiveness , he gives to Mozart presence .
Barenboim plays music as Vegh or Furtwangler did it , always seeking the landscape far beyond the score . That's why they are so original in their performances . The rapture is not a device for exhibite his skills , it''s the final product of a long process.
Acquire this set. It's an unvaluable treasure.

Very good, but a bit misleading?.......2004-05-15

Barenboim playing Mozart has his critics, who say he's "too Beethovian" when performing Mozart's piano sonatas and piano concertos. I disagree; I love his style. Others might not.

Tracks:

Piano Quartet In G Minor, Op. 25: 1. Allegro - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet In G Minor, Op. 25: 2. Intermezzo. Allegro ma non troppo - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet In G Minor, Op. 25: 3. Andante con moto - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet In G Minor, Op. 25: 4. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60: 1. Allegro ma non troppo - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60: 2. Scherzo. Allegro - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60: 3. Andante - J. Brahms
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60: Finale. Allegro - J. Brahms

Tracks:

Piano Quartet in A, Op. 26: 1. Allegro non troppo - Brahms
Piano Quartet in A, Op. 26: 2. Poco adagio - Brahms
Piano Quartet in A, Op. 26: 3. Scherzo. Poco allegro - Brahms
Piano Quartet in A, Op. 26: 4. Finale. Allegro - Brahms
Piano Trio in A, Op. posth.: 1. Moderato - Brahms
Piano Trio in A, Op. posth.: 2. Vivace - Brahms
Piano Trio in A, Op. posth.: 3. Lento - Brahms
Piano Trio in A, Op. posth.: 4. Presto - Brahms

Customer Reviews:

great musicians.......2005-10-09

These are dense pieces and like a lot of Brahms could become overly heavy and plodding in the wrong hands. On this CD the Beaux Arts really bring out the romantic lyrical quality of this music unfailingly. The recording itself is just a hair distant but the detail is good. What fantastic piano one finds on these CDs! Strongly recommended.

An older recording, but still amazing.......2002-06-23

This collection of Brahms' piano quartets are a great listen all around. Every quartet has an enormous power and beauty to it.

I like to say about Brahms' music that it is airtight. There is never a wasted note. Every bit of melody, every nuance and texture in the harmony are masterfully crafted and serve a purpose. There is never a moment when you look at your watch and wonder when the composer is going to get around to wrapping this or that section up and get to the exciting stuff.

The Beaux Arts Trio along with Walter Trampler do a commendable job of bringing every moment of beauty and excitement out. They balance the sweetness of the slow movements and melodies well with the aggression and rhythmic complexities of the quicker movements. My current favorite quartet is the A Major. There is a singable melody or rhythmic puzzle in every movement. I listened to the final movement four times today (excessive I know, but it's just so much fun to try to figure out how Brahms manipulates those melodies within the time signatures)!

great recording.......2002-05-17

This is chamber music at its best played by the masters, the Beaux Arts Trio. All the pieces are played in a crisp, clean manner with the proper emotion and phrasing.

Very good!.......2001-04-01

I am an avid Brahms fan and just recently picked up this copy of the quartets. I love them! The rondo of the first quartet is fascinating and the pain in the C minor trio is unmistakable. As traditional as Brahms is, he is a definate romantic. I agree [...] about the last trio that is attributed to him. It isn't as good by far. The sound is very clear and the pianist on the recordings impressed me. If you don't own the quartets, go ahead and buy this set. You won't be dissapointed!

stirring!.......2000-01-10

I have only recently begun to love Brahms and these recordings make me question why it's taken so long! The music is incredibly rich and colorful, especially the C minor, Werther's Ballad, which you can just feel Brahms pain at losing his friend Robert Schumann! The Beaux Arts Trio is a sure winner! You will enjoy this!

Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets

Average customer rating:

Very Good, but beware technical problems
This is how all Brahms should be played!
Mastery and joy
9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!
Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry

Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Karl Leister , Johannes Brahms , Christoph Eschenbach , Cecil Aronowitz , Norbert Brainin , Siegmund Nissel , and Amadeus Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: The String Quartets
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet
Beethoven: The String Quartets
Brahms: Complete Piano Quartets

ASIN: B00008RWRG
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

Very Good, but beware technical problems.......2007-05-26

Overall, I really enjoy these pieces. The playing is good, and the sound is quite live, which I enjoy. My favorite piece is the Quintet in G Major Op.111, though the sextet in Bb is a close second. I am a perfectionist, and my familiarity with these pieces led me to be a little dissapointed, which is why there is only 4 stars. My dissapointment stems from two facts:
1. In the first movement of the Brahms G Major Op.111, the string quintet elects not to take the repeat in m.56, so you will never hear the first ending on this recording and thus only get one shot at the awesome cello opening. I haven't listened closely enough to the other pieces on this set to discern if they avoided other repeats or not, but for the most part, they appear to be there.

2. There are technical printing problems. Though the recording is so live that you can hear the breath of the musicians and their fingers fall on the strings, there are some actual technical pops in the recording. Perhaps it was a transfer problem from analog to digital, as the recordings are old. Most of these pops are minor, but they are dissapointing for an audiophile such as myself. My CDs are pristine (no scratches at all), and even the first time playing them these pops were there. So, here's the list of what I've found thus far:

CD 3:
Track 6: Pops & clicks at 1:19 & 1:22.

CD 5:
Track 1: Pops at 6:01.
Track 2: Pops & clicks at 0:13, 3:56, & 6:16.
Track 5: Pop at 12:07.
Track 7: Pop & clicks at 6:11, 7:45, 7:51-7:52 (these are quite noticable), 7:59, 8:03, 8:11.
Track 8: Pop at 7:34.

It is a well-played set; hopefully they will get the printing correct on the next batch.

This is how all Brahms should be played!.......2007-02-14

There isn't much to say about this set, but I'll say what there is to say: These players play the Brahms chamber music here with such emotion, musical understanding, and overall perfection that this set should be made into a must for all Brahms chamber music lovers. The Amadeus quartet, along with all of the other performers, including Eschenbach on the piano and Leister on the clarinet, really know what they're doing and play it so beautifully that the listener will want to hear the pieces again and again until the CD player is practically worn out. These Brahms works are some of the most sublime works of the later 19th century. For such quality music and great sound, especially for having been recorded in the 1960's, the price is also great. I recommend this set very highly, and hope you decide to get and enjoy it as much as I do.

Mastery and joy.......2006-12-12

Because they lasted such a long time and toward the end didn't play at their best, I found reasons to overlook the Madeus Qt. But in this 9-CD set of the complete chamber music of Brahms, there are some sublime performances--I would especially point to both String Sextets, for example. In every instance the style of the Amadeus is full of vibrancy and joy, and their ensemble isn't baased on technical perfection but rather a kinship of musical taste and feeling (this puts them poles apart from the Emerson Qt., for me at least). I also love the Brahms chamber performances on Sony with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, emanuel Ax, and friends, but this DG set is altogether sweeter and more lyrical.

Since Amazon neglects to list the additional players who join the Amadeus for the works that aren't soely for a string quartet, here's the run-down from Tower:

1. Quartet for Strings no 1 in C minor, Op. 51 no 1
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

2. Quartet for Strings no 2 in A minor, Op. 51 no 2
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

3. Quartet for Strings no 3 in B flat major, Op. 67
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

4. Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Eschenbach, Christoph

5. Quintet for Strings no 1 in F major, Op. 88
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

6. Quintet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 111
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

7. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 114
Performer: Leister, Karl; Eschenbach, Christoph; Donderer, Georg

8. Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B minor, Op. 115
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Leister, Karl

9. Sextet for Strings no 1 in B flat major, Op. 18
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

10. Sextet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 36
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!.......2005-10-04

This is a really nice set at a bargan price.

Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry.......2005-05-20

All the passion, majesty, pathos, and soul of his symphonies is in these 10 works of chamber music by Brahms:

3 string quartets;
2 string quintets;
2 string sextets;
a quintet for piano, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello;
a trio for piano, clarinet, and violoncello;
and a quintet for clarinet, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello.

All this wealth of extraordinary music is in a 5 CD set, performed by one of the finest chamber music ensembles in the world, with the added artistry of Christoph Eschenbach (piano), Cecil Aronowitz (viola), and Karl Leister (clarinet).

One CD is 50' 36 in length, 2 are in the low 60's, and 2 are in the low 70's.

I have an inexpensive CD player, but this music emerges from it with the sharpness of etched glass, the smoothness of warmed honey, and the softness of rivers of silver in moonlight.

This is music to celebrate the joy and the pathos of life, played with soul, sensitivity, and power. Buy it and treasure this gift to yourself.

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