Recital No. 3

Track Listings

1. Konzertstuck No.1, Op.113 - Felix Mendelssohn

2. Konzertstuck No.2, Op.114 - Felix Mendelssohn

3. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Menuetto & Trio - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

5. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Rondeaux, Allegretto - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

6. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 1, Allegro - Harold Wright

7. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 2, Fantasia. Adagio - Harold Wright

8. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 3, Menuetto - Harold Wright

9. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 4, Rondo. Allegro Giojoso - Harold Wright

Tracks:

No. 3 C Sharp Minor, Op.39: Scherzo No. 3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
Rhapsody, Op.79: No.1 Agitato In B Minor
Rhapsody, Op. 79: No. 2 Molto passionato, ma non troppo allegro In G Minor
Toccata, Op. 11
Jeux D'Eau: Tres doux
Barcarole In F Sharp Major, Op. 60
Hungarian Rhapsody No.6: Tempo Giusto - Presto - Andante - Allegro - Presto
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Lento assai - Allegro energico
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Grandioso
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Cantando espressivo
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Pesante - Recitativo
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Andante sostenuto
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Quasi Adagio
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Allegro energico
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Piu mosso
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Cantando espressivo senza slentare
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Stretta quasi Presto -- Presto -- Prestissimo
Sonata For Piano In B Minor: Andante sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Lento assai

Amazon.com essential recording

Classical music people, critics in particular, have a reputation for being grumpy, and this disc illustrates why. It's called Martha Argerich Debut Recital. Now, what does this tell you about it? Nothing, that's what. And the title isn't even correct! Actually, there's more material here than appeared on her debut recital, not the least of which is a stunning Liszt Sonata in B minor, which is the major work on the disc. When one of the two or three greatest living pianists turns in a performance of a major work like the Liszt Sonata that has been generally acclaimed, you would think that her record company would somehow get that piece of news into the title of the recording. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Martha shows up.......2007-07-22

If you are a piano afficionado, especially solo piano, you're gonna wanna hear Martha play.

WOW! Absolutely stunning!.......2007-01-16

I just bought this disc and was blown away by it. It was everything I thought it would be and then some. It has to be one of the great piano recital CDs of all time. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this.

Undeniably Argerich.......2006-11-08

Any one interested in knowing how piano should be played and can be played should get this CD. When I first heard the CD, I was surprised already by her debut recital Argerich has mastered such a distinctive style. I must disagree with the reviewer below who describe this as not imaginative, for nothing could be further from the truth. Argerich's playing is clearly her own, and no one else's. If one wants to hear a technically perfect but emotionally empty playing of Chopin, many of the newer artists would happily fill that bill. And for the record, Horowitz can make plenty of mistakes too, but that doesn't take the charm away from listening to his playing.
That being said, this is one of the most turbulent, drenching rendition of Chopin there is. I love it.

You have to listen to this Lizst sonata.......2006-07-05

Before this performance I thought that I did not like the sonata because no other pianist could keep its many parts and segments together from the beginning to the end. This is the only performance that does that for me. When I listened to it for the first time, I broke up in tears. Argerich's interpretation is mezmerizing. Buy it! Any serious music collector should have this CD.

Unbelievably Amazing..........2006-06-16

I've never paid attention to the Liszt Sonata until I heard this recording. I canNOT BELIEVE some people are calling her without soul or "muddy"... This is the single most inspiring and shocking CD. Really gives you chills when you listen to it. Makes your heart beat faster.

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
Very Informative and Enjoyable
Frank's view
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: I Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: II II vecchio castello - Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: III Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: IV Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques
Pictures At An Exhibition: VI Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: VII Limoges: le marche'
Pictures At An Exhibition: VIII Catacombae: Sepulchrum romanum - Cum mortius in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: La Cabe sur des pattes de poule
Pictures At An Exhibition: La Grande Porte de Kiev
Moment Musical in C Major, D780 no.1
Impromptu In E Flat Major, D899 No,2
Impromptu in A Flat Major
Etude In E Major, Op.10 no.3
Valse oubliee No.1 In F Sharp Major
Valse oubliee No.2 In A Flat Major
Etude d'execution transcendante No.5
Etude d'execution transcendante No.11
Prelude In G Sharp Minor, op.32 no.13

Customer Reviews:

The definitive "Pictures at an Exhibition".......2007-04-30

Not much more I can add to this. If you have any interest in the original piano version of "Pictures" at all then this is the one to get. Try Muti's for an excellent version of the piece as orchestrated by Ravel(Along with a great "Rite of Spring"; dirt cheap too)- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibiton; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring.

Nobody else understands "Pictures" as well as Richter and in his hands time melts and you are taken on a journey you will not soon forget. Richter pushes and pulls this piece wherever he wants and we the listeners are happy to follow him where he chooses to take us.

The piano sound is quite good for its time. Fairly full and with a good dynamic range. Unfortunately the audience seems to have a case of infectious coughing. Similar to the live Wartime recordings of Furtwangler in that respect. You get used to it though, and either way it doesn't matter in the hands of a performance of this stature.

There's a reason that you can still buy this nearly 50(?!) years after it was recorded. Not only are people still talking about this recital, but we are still waiting for a recording to match it in modern sound without audience interruptions. I suspect we may have to wait a long, long time.

terrible coughs........2006-11-16

there are two recordings that would've perhaps been much more appreciated had there not been several people who coughed their way through the entire concert. the furtwangler 1942 recording of Beethoven's sixth symphony and this one.
jesus. i'm not one to complain about coughing, but we have issues here. was it communism?? really, were russians this worse off???????

things set aside, the performance itself.. is magical.

i can't add much more to previous reviewers except this: expect one of the worst recordings from the 1950's... if you brainwash yourself into believing this is one of those naxos or pearl remastered 1920s recordings, you'll find yourself much more pleased.

The Most Memorialand Quoted Piano Recital from the 1950's .......2005-12-15

Svaitoslav Richter is the quintiessential pianist of the 20th century. This epic live recording of the Mussorsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" stands as the supreme recording of the piano version ever recorded. Although some will argue that Horowitz recorded of his this piece with is its numerous interpretative changes is also notable but is mearly a flashey more superficial rendition than Richter's. Richter here captures this pieces mistical and heavenly appeal so perfectly it seems its nuances are forever engrained in your mind. The Promenade is so stately and energetically expressed it seemingly gives us permission to enter a heavenly 30 minute musical forum. The variation number 5, 8, 10 and the next to last are my favorites. Being a pianist (and I use that term loosely) this recording has taught me so much with regards to vivid imagery. For example the next to last variation leaves me with the impression that it is someone taking the road to heaven and finally arrives at its gates. Then is looking at the Gates of Heaven as they Open. A grand moment in any life. Richters imagery is so perfectly unbalanced that he leaves us on edge to anticipate each colorful moment. This is truely my favorite recording in classical piano because it is so awe inspiring.

The best interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition" I have heard.......2005-11-17

Wow.

If the vivid imagery Richter creates in this live performance isn't enough to bring tears to your eyes, the technical prowess will certainly send you searching for the "repeat" button on your cd player.

Richter, as always, delivers an emotional and monumental performance.

Great but the worst recording i hear.......2005-10-01

fisrt of all excuse me for my bad englih, i m french ;o)
A concert recording can't be perfect, this is the worst i hear. All the people are ill and the record man was probably far as 50m of the piano behind a door.
So, Why three stars ?
because i love this music and nobody play it as Richter this day.
Great music, Great moment...

Average customer rating:

A Divine Revelation
Fantastic

Dinu Lipatti: Besancon Recital
Dinu Lipatti , Frederic Chopin , and Johann Sebastian Bach
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Great Recordings Of The Century - Dinu Lipatti
The Complete Chopin Recordings
Dinu Lipatti plays Chopin, Enescu, Ravel, Liszt & Brahms
Chopin: Waltzes Nos. 1-14
Piano Concertos

ASIN: B0001HAHPA
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuet I & Menuet II
VI. Gigue
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante Cantabile Con Espressione
III. Presto
No.3 In G Flat
No.2 In E Flat
No.5 In A Flat Op.42
No.6 In D Flat Op.64 No.1
No.9 In A Flat Op.69 No.1
No.7 In C Sharp Op.64 No.2
No.11 In G Flat Op.70 No.1
No.10 In B Minor Op.69 No.2
No.14 In E Minor Op.Posth.
No.3 In A Minor Op.34 No.2
No.4 In F Op.34 No.3
No.12 In F Minor Op.70 No.2
No.13 In D Flat Op.70 No.3
No.8 In A Flat Op.64 No.3
No.1 In E Flat Op.18

Customer Reviews:

A Divine Revelation.......2005-06-14

Everyone who knows what they are talking about agrees: Dinu Lipatti was heaven sent. Cortot thought so, so did Walter Legge and countless others. This recording is nothing short of the last and greatest divine revelation Lipatti gave us. The Schubert G Flat Major impromptu is one of the most amazing performances around. If you are a pianist, you must listen to Lipatti to understand what piano playing means.

Fantastic.......2004-07-08

One of the most classic recitals in music history, played by a GOD.

Average customer rating:

Great expressive power
Highly original player in a brilliant set - the packaging less so.
Exquisite
Making music or faking it?
Amazing

Chopin Recital

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Yundi Li: Liszt
Chopin: Scherzi/Impromptus
Vienna Recital
Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
Yundi Li: Live in Concert

ASIN: B00005UVZB
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58 Allegro Maestoso
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58 Scherzo. Molto Vivace
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58 Largo
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58 Finale. Presto, Ma Non Tanto
Andante Spianato Et Grande Polonaise Brillante In E Flat Major,Op.22 Andante Spianato. Tranquillo
Andante Spianato Et Grande Polonaise Brillante In E Flat Major,Op.22 Grande Polonaise. Allegro Molt
ude In A Minor, Op.10 No.2
ude In G Flat Major, Op.10 No.5
ude In A Minor,Op.25 No.11
Nocturne In B Flat Minor, Op.9 No.1
Nocturne In E Flat Major, Op.9 No.2
Nocturne In F Sharp Major, Op.15 No.2
Impromptu No.4 In C Sharp Minor, Op.66 -Fantaisie-Impromptu-

Amazon.com

This is not your grandfather's Chopin playing! Chinese pianist Yundi Li won the 2000 Warsaw International Chopin Competition at the age of 18. His debut album comes with a small portfolio of hi-tech androgynous fashion photos of the pianist. Li's playing is hi-tech, too. He handles the most difficult music in this recital (like the finale of the Third Sonata and the Grande Polonaise) with disarming ease, tossing off complex passagework with apparent ease. Interpretively, Li is definitely a modern Chopinist, de-emphasizing the poetic aspects of the music in favor of momentum and structure--although his tone is always pleasing, never edgy. Listeners used to the more traditional Chopin styles of Rubinstein and Cortot may find this disconcerting. For those accustomed to Argerich or Pollini in Chopin, Li merely takes their styles a step further. Even if we wind up retreating eventually to the Rubinstein tradition, Li offers a perspective that many will find bracing, and he is extremely well presented by DG's realistic recording. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Great expressive power.......2007-06-09

There is a certain unruffled calmness at the center of Yundi's playing that I find remarkably attractive and enticing musically. Like all outstanding pianists, he plays from within and seems to know exactly what he's trying to express. I find his interpretations deeply idiomatic of the composer, and I believe this is something that cannot be taught; it is a gift that one must be born with. There will always be room in the world for such distinctive, mature and refined playing, no matter how young the performer.

Highly original player in a brilliant set - the packaging less so........2007-05-29

19 year old Chopin expert - one could not help comparing him with the big names in Chopin. But, did any of the big names managed to step forward in such a tender age as Yundi Li?
Youth, however, is not an excuse for his placement. Yundi Li has proved to the world that his own original interpretation of Chopin is valid - the almost zen like approach to the ethereal style of this composer, bringing forth both cyrstalline beauty and conviction.
Introverted and full of artistic talent, Mr. Li is destined to be one of the foremost standard bearers of fine arts in the 21st century. That said, the art direction by Universal records leaves much room for improvement, as amply demonstrated in this debut album of Yundi Li, and the most recent Beethoven album of his compatriot Lang Lang.
Rather than showing off the artistic character or the charisma of the performers, these two album's art direction savours of commercial propaganda and hype.
The pianists deserve better treatment than these.

Exquisite.......2006-06-24

Regardless of the hype and harm, this is a masterstroke by a prodigy who will have a secure future in recitals and recordings. These interpretations are at the same time euphoric and technically brilliant. It boggles the mind where this youngster will rise to as he continues to gain seasoning and experience. The exuberance that Yundi Li brings to his performances puts such a modern spin on these recordings that any criticisms start to sound like "old fogey-ism" at its worst. Give the young man his time. This is an auspicious debut. Let us give thanks.

Making music or faking it?.......2006-04-15

Yundi Li won the Chopin competition at 18. It must have been some athletics of the keyboard that year... Mr Li is musical but bears detestable manierism. Although from his own account, he studies scores and listen to others interpretation and chose what he likes, the tempo of the scherzo of the Sonata in B minor is again broken with a slow middle part that exists only in the mind of pianists who lack imagination: Chopin knew the effect he wanted and never indicated a change of tempo.
This is the art of representation: Mr Li plays at playing Chopin. It is similar to saying I read a book for the vocabulary and the grammatical structure but I ask other readers what it means.
In concert Mr Li proved a disappointment. Let's give it to him he seems better than his colleague Mr Lang at that sonata. This however doesn't mean much...
Recently, Yundi Li has been making the rounds with Mozart K330, Schumann Carnaval and Liszt Sonata in B minor. Despite acknowledging performances that are uninspiring at best, the critics keep massaging the ego of this pianist. This is another proof that marketing has taken over music making. It is a shame that no one has the intellectual honesty to make the call in New York, Vancouver or Toronto!

Amazing.......2005-07-22

If one was as precise as to give the time such as:

"the crescendos at mm. 10 and 11 of the first movement, and again at mm. 21-22",

he should at least indicate which piece of the music in this CD he was refering to. It is AMAZING to read so much weird comments by some reviewer.

You can certainly distinguish with your eyes closed music played by Yundi Li from that by Lang Lang as you are able to distinguish easily an insightful playing from that played by a robot.

The following passage given by one reviewer best reveals the depth of understanding of Chopin's music by Yundi Li:

"Technique, then, is not so much the point. What is far more captivating and compelling in Li's playing is its Romantic impulse, its communication of essences: its musical vibrancy. His greatest strength lies in the representation of Chopin's diverse utterances, ranging from melancholy to a longing for death, from heart rending lyrical moments to heart-shattering outbursts. He understands the composer's world of emotion and is not stingy with the use of extreme rubati, which serve only to reinforce his wholly personal insights into this music. Yundi Li adds a new shading to something long familiar, uncovers new facets that reflect the work in a different light. He joins the long list of interpreters in the truest sense of that word: as a medium between the work and the audience".

Average customer rating:

Some Pictures Never Fade
Lovely
unforgettable "Pictures"
A Phenomenal and fortunate find.
Technically flawed recording nevertheless has gems in it.

Frick Collection Recital

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Partita No. 4; Suite in A minor; Debussy: Children's Corner
William Kapell Edition Vol.2 - Chopin: Sonatas; Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3; Viola Sonata No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata
William Kapell, Vol.I: Rachmaninov/Khachaturian
William Kapell Edition Vol 4 - Khachaturian, Prokofiev

ASIN: B00000HZRV
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Piano Sonata (1941): Molto Moderato
Piano Sonata (1941): Vivace
Piano Sonata (1941): Andante Sostenuto
Nocturne Op. 55, No. 2, In E-Flat
Mazurka, Op. 33, No. 3 In C
Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 In A-Flat
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Gnome
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Limoges - The Market
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombs
Pictures At An Exhibition: Con mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut on Fowl's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate At Kiev
About Foreign Lands And People (No 1 - Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Sonata, K.380 - L.23, In E

Customer Reviews:

Some Pictures Never Fade.......2004-12-06

The now deceased Sviotoslav Richter has long enjoyed the title as interpreter supremo of Moussourgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Very recently, Yevgeny Kissin, who is no slouch himself, entered the fray with his own recording. It is one of music's little ironies that modern-day critics still quibble over which of of these two prodigiously talented Russian pianists owns what might be the most prodigiously Russian mainstay of the piano literature, when this prize should have gone to an American over 50 years ago. The world is a remarkable place, and the short-lived William Kapell was a remarkable pianist.

Sadly, Kapell's record suffers from every conceivable technical disadvantage. It was recorded live at New York's Frick Collection months before his death in 1953. The source material is a poorly preserved, "bootleg" tape. From all indications, the Frick recital was recorded over something else which remains faintly audible at virtually all times. To top it all off, the piano is slightly out-of-tune! It is no exaggeration to float the term "disastrous" with respect to the original production merits of this album.

The performance is another matter entirely. Despite ostensibly insurmountable odds, Kapell's recording of "Pictures at an Exhibition" deserves the gold. Kapell did not indulge virtuosity for virtuosity's sake. Within each piece, he exposed colors and motifs in such bold relief that each "Picture" seemed more vibrant on his badly recorded piano than on most accounts of the fully-orchestrated version.

In comparison, Richter and Kissin's recordings sound decidedly dull. They may lean more muscle into it and rarely miss a note,but Richter and Kissin persistently gloss over passages that Kapell tenaciously probed.

Kapell's achievement on this album didn't end with Moussourgsky. He performed engaging accounts of Schumann and Chopin, and charged nobly through Aaron Copland's intriguing if not entirely gratifying Piano Sonata.

I realize one is not supposed to cross-comment on other customer reviews, but I was rather surprised that one review panned "Pictures" and praised the Scarlatti. The Scarlatti was the only piece recorded over a span of tape beyond repair. This recording had to be "reconstructed" by manually splicing the notes missing from the "Frick" tape. It well may be that the Frick run-through was brilliant, but the Scarlatti heard here required rather agile post-production abracadabra.

This disc is a sad but provocative hint at what might have been had William Kapell lived more than one month beyond his 31st birthday. Buy it for the "Pictures," but decide for yourself if you want to invest further in RCA's valiant attempt to touch-up the few extant recordings of this brilliant and woefully underappreciated American pianist.

Lovely.......2003-11-10

This disk served as my introduction (and so far, my only exposure) to Kapell. I'd read favorable reviews and so decided to take the plunge (I was looking for a recording of "Pictures").
I would recommend this performance (recorded live at New York City's Frick Collection in 1953) to anyone, including newcomers to classical music. While Richter's Sofia reading of Pictures is in a class by itself, this one comfortably manages to more than hold its own. The other works are all beautifully played by someone who truly understands and "lives with" them; the Copland, which I'd never heard before, was a particular treat. The variety offered is especially nice--the listener travels backwards through time from the 20th Century to the 17th, with Kapell serving as masterful guide. The sonics are quite clean thanks to a super remastering job, allowing this disk to hold its head up in the company of more modern recordings.
Ironically, the lion's share of the performance consists of works composed by men who, like Kapell, died much too young. That his work remains available is his parting gift to us for which we should be grateful. Show your appreciation and respect by sampling his legacy--I promise you won't regret it. Highest recommendation.

unforgettable "Pictures".......2003-09-28

I disagree strenously with Frank Walker. I've heard quite a number of performances of "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Kapell's is by far the best. Where others offer an empty showy display of virtuosity with a rapid blur of sounds, Kapell brings out the melodies, revealing the beauty and intrinsic dramatic qualities of the various sections. Some of the sections are a real revelation, and others are just breathtaking. This is one of my very favorite piano CDs.

A Phenomenal and fortunate find........1999-08-27

The first and greatest of American pianists demonstrates his capabilites in a searing rendition of Pictures. The Copland sonata is down with a devastating conviction and drive. A must have for Kapell fans.(and that's with a 'K')

Technically flawed recording nevertheless has gems in it........1999-08-01

This mono recording was apparently recovered from a damaged tape, and despite the modern technology used to remaster it, the recording remains distractingly flawed. The piano has quite a "ringy" tone and its bass register sounds attenuated. But what is really annoying is the faint, background presence of some voices from a wholly separate recording (apparently inadequately erased from a previous tape-recording.)

Once you get over the recording flaws, the disc does have its moments. I would not include the "Pictures" rendition among them, although its performance is certainly adequate. The Copland piece is interesting, while the Chopin (which I normally find difficult to be enthusiastic about) is quite vibrant and is delicately nuanced.

Capell demonstrates his originality in the rendition of the deceptively simple (and far too brief) Scarlatti piece. He virtually breathes life into this Baroque harpsichord piece, amazingly, managing to do so with minimal reliance on the piano's inherently better amplitude dynamics.

Tracks:

32 Variations For Piano In C Minor, WoO 80: Allegretto
Carnival Jest From Vienna, Op. 26: I - Allegro. Sehr lebhaft
Carnival Jest From Vienna, Op. 26: II - Romanze. Ziemlich langsam
Carnival Jest From Vienna, Op. 26: III - Scherzino
Carnival Jest From Vienna, Op. 26: IV - Intermezzo. Mit grosster Energie
Carnival Jest From Vienna, Op. 26: V - Finale. Hochst lebhaft
Hungarian Rhapsodie No. 12: Introduction. Mesto - Adagio - Allegro zingarese - Allgretto gioioso - Stretta. Vivace
Consolation No. 3 In D Flat Major: Lento placido
Etudes-Tableaux: Op. 33 No. 2 in C Major
Etudes-Tableaux: Op. 39 No. 5 in E-flat Minor
Etudes-Tableaux: Op. 39 No. 6 in A Minor
Etudes-Tableaux: Op. 39 No. 9 in D Major

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Live Recital.......2005-05-25

This is one of the most incredible live performances I've ever heard, plain and simple. The Beethoven variations are crisp and propulsive, an excellent opener to the program. Schumann's Carnival Jest is not my favorite piece, but Perahia performs it flawlessly.

The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 is the highlight of the disc - this is a work of staggering technical difficulty, and I'll be damned if I can find a single mistake. Perahia handles the crashing fortissimos and quiet delicacies with equal aplomb, and his wide trills (a favorite of Liszt) are perfect. This is one of the few pieces which still reliably gives me shivers.

The Consolation acts as a nice let-down from the bravura of the Rhapsody - it's like a Chopin nocturne, but with a little more sugar and a little less melodic inventiveness. As for the Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux, they are played marvelously. No. 2 in C is spooky in its cross-rhythms and modal ambiguity, and Perahia's performance of No. 5 in E-flat minor, probably the most musically profound of them all, is my favorite on record.

Overall, an excellent CD well worth buying.

Fabulous.......2003-02-26

This is a terrific recital. It is virtually flawless technically and musically it lives up to Perahia's well earned reputation a great musician first. So I second the sentiments of the previous reviewers. I would recommend folks to seek out the video recording also made in the Maltings, Snape - home of the Aldburgh Festival and longtime residence of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Its is a object lesson in how economically the greatest pianists play.

A masterpiece!.......2000-04-24

I fully agree with the music fan from Minneapolis, this CD is certainly one of the best recorded by Perrahia and for many reasons: the variety of the program in this life concert, some unequivalent interpretation of Liszt, actually with Brendel or Zimerman. The R.Shumann Carnival inimitable, and the interpretation talent shown in Etudes Tableaux of Rachmaninov have nothing to envy the others like Horowitz or Ashkenazy. The Listz rapsody: amazing! fan of Horowitz, Cziffra: listen this version, we may only regret that Murray did not record yet the Complete Rapsodies....The Consolation in D major is a regal when you have a pianist of a delicate touch. For the Beethoven Variations i have nothing to add to our other customer rewiewer... I have more than a dozen of CD with Perrahia and this one is presently my favourite. The sound is excellent, concert was recorded in 1989 and in DDD.

Best of numerous Perahia's disks.......1999-02-21

I think this is the best recording of numerous Perahia's disks. As it's a live recording, we can listen to how he plays in front of live audiences. His performance here is much more lively and spontaneous than his studio recordings. In particular, his performance of Beethoven's "32 variations" is the best performance recorded so far.

Average customer rating:

Superb recital...
Troyanos Is Superb!
Troyanos is Superb

Tatiana Troyanos in Recital

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Arias, Duets and Trios
Cecilia Bartoli - Rossini recital ~ 19 songs & Cantata: Giovanna d'Arco
French Opera Arias (Dig)
Richard Strauss - Arabella / Thielemann, Te Kanawa, Brendel, Metropolitan Opera
Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri

ASIN: B00000JKQ6
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Superb recital..........2000-04-03

in every way. Ms. Troyanos impresses us vocally, artistically and linguistically. The songs encompass a wide range of languages, musical styles and emotionality, and yet she sounds quite comfortable in each setting. Bolstered by Maestro Levine's heartfelt accompaniment, Ms. Troyanos renders a performance that inspired me to feelings of both awe and admiration. We are fortunate indeed to have this permanent record of such a memorable performer. I was inspired to seek out her performances after viewing a recent rebroadcast of the 1982 Met telecast of Der Rosenkavalier which featured her as Octavian.

Troyanos Is Superb!.......2000-02-08

This live recital by Troyanos, with accompanist Livine, is what fans have long been waiting for. Simply said, this recital genuinely reflects the beauty and passion that was expressed through Troyanos' unique voice. Her sound was exquisite and this cd remains true to that sound. For those of us who love her sound and miss her presence on the operatic stage, this is a wish come true. Levine also provides great accompaniment. Let's hope there is more live material by Troyanos awaiting release in the near future.

Troyanos is Superb.......2000-01-19

If you have never before had the experience of hearing the late mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos, this CD is a wonderful starting point. And for all of us who have been fans of Troyanos' for some time, this also is a "must have."

At long last, we have a lieder recital of hers preserved on compact disc. Here, finally, is a masterfully engineered recording.

Troyanos is as gifted a singer of lieder as she was of opera. My favorite selection on this recording was Ravel's Greek Songs. But everything here is absolutely terrific. I have listened to it many times since I bought it, and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Tracks:

An Die Musik, D547
No.4 Standchen
No.7 Abschied
Im Fruhling, D882
Der Lindenbaum
Wanderers Nachtlied II, D768
Wer Machte Dich So Krank?, Op.35 No.11
Alte Laute, Op.35 No.12
Erstes Grun, Op.35 No.4
Die Beiden Grenadiere, Op.49 No.1
Liederkries, Op.39: No.5 Mondnacht
Edward, Op.1 No.1
Der Erloking, Op.1 No.3
Odin's Meeresritt, Op.118
Die Wandelnde Glocke, Op.20 No.3
Hinkende Jamben, Op.62 No.5
Wie Melodien Zieht Es Mir, Op.105
Sonntag, Op.47 No.3
Komm Bald, Op.97 No.2
Wir Wandelten, Op.96 No.2
Wie Bist Du, Meine Konigin, Op.32 No.9
Heimkehr, Op.7 No.6
Wenn Du Nur Zuweilen Lachelst, Op.57 No.2
Verrat, Op.105 No.5
Ach, Weh Mir Ungluckhaftem Mann, Op.21 No.4
Ich Trage Meine Minne, Op.32 No.1
Der Gartner

Customer Reviews:

desert island disc.......2002-08-29

Hans Hotter is a wonder. The voice has a remarkable agility and breadth of expression, that has justly earned him the admiration of several generations. He is an expert at chiaroscuro, sometimes lightening the tone, as in Ständchen, while in Loewe's "Edward", he adopts a minatory timbr that is chilling. It is well known that Hotter was THE Wotan of the post-war years, but he is not inferior to any lieder singer. These songs are mini-dramas in his expert hands. Testament is quite generous with these re-issues of classic singers, packing 27 songs onto this disc. It is a recording worth having.

A great Hotter anthology.......2002-06-19

This compilation comes from 1966 and 1968, when the experienced Hotter had a high level of refinement. Very few people have been so succesful in fusing elements of both singer and actor into one entity as Hotter could. This CD is more proof of that. To a newcomer, his voice will sound quite dark and rich, but has vibrance. His characterizations are intense, but not exaggerated. And amazingly, both these elements are completely integrated. The works represented here need no introduction - if any of them cannot convince with Hotter singing, there is little alternative. To compare Hotter with Fischer-Dieskau is neither simple nor right, it is really up to one's taste. Yet the CD is also good for someone new to lieder. The recording quality is exceptional, even for the mono selections (about half the disc).

Average customer rating:

Aplausos!
Ravishing
Beautiful and delicate playing

Guitar Recital

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Agustín Barrios: Guitar Music, Vol. 2
Guitar Recital: David Martinez
Guitar Recital
Barrios: Guitar Music, Vol. 1
Miguel Llobet: Guitar Music

ASIN: B0000ACY0U
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Introduction And Rondo, Op. 2 No. 3
Serenade
Scherzo
Andante
Hungarian Fantasy
Introduction And Caprice, Op. 23
Capricho Arabe
Endecha (Prelude IX) - Oremus (Prelude X)
Preludio II
Scherzo-Vals
Variations On A Theme Of Sor

Customer Reviews:

Aplausos!.......2004-08-10

Anabel Montesinos is a surprise both in talent and musical expression.Normally I dont trust CD's from competition winners, because they might be perfect and even correct in style, but never surprising and showing musical personality.
With her the music breathes life and at the same time it gets filtered through her delicate personality and sound. Elastic phrases, perfect timing for great romantic music.A true enchanting joy to listen!

Ravishing.......2004-06-22

Ravishing tone from her guitar, and a beautiful sense of the music. This has to be one of the best releases by Naxos in its guitar series. Ranks right up with any of Kraft's things. Buy it -- you will like it!

Beautiful and delicate playing.......2004-05-25

I was extremely surprised to find this naxos guitar recital CD that actually had good playing on it. Montesinos plays with an incredible state of maturity and poise for a 20yr old girl. She isn't afraid to be free with the tempi, which is a nice change from all of these players who play romantic with a stick up their ass. Montesinos however, has chosen great romantic music that is not the standard rep that any softball performer would choose. Even her caprichio arabe is beautifully played and has the same mystery to it, though I have heard it a billion times. It is relieving to hear a competition winner that doesn't sound like the boring, mechanical Azabagic-like guitarist. Overall, incredibly beautiful.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Mythonia Trance [Import]

Tippett - A Child of Our Time / Armstrong · Palmer · Langridge · Shirley-Quirk · RPO · Previn

Sonority

The Three Bears

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [Enhanced] [Soundtrack]

Romántico

Take You There

the help

Terra Vento Caminho [Import]

Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat Major, Op. 23

The Empress of the Blues: 1923-1933

Nueva Cancion Latinoamericana: Presente

The City Iz Mine [Explicit Lyrics]

Rachmaninov: Complete Works for Cello and Piano

Hideaway

1. Konzertstuck No.1, Op.113 - Felix Mendelssohn
2. Konzertstuck No.2, Op.114 - Felix Mendelssohn
3. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Menuetto & Trio - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
5. Trio in E-Flat Major, K498: Rondeaux, Allegretto - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
6. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 1, Allegro - Harold Wright
7. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 2, Fantasia. Adagio - Harold Wright
8. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 3, Menuetto - Harold Wright
9. Clarinet Quintett in B-Flat Major, Op.34: No. 4, Rondo. Allegro Giojoso - Harold Wright