Works for String Quartet and Orchestra

On this CD:

1. Concerto Grosso in B flat major, Op.6/7, HWV 325
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by San Francisco Ballet Orchestra with Lark Quartet
Conducted by Jean-Louis LeRoux

2. Concerto, for string quartet & orchestra (after Handel's Concerto Grosso, Op.6/7)
Composed by Arnold Schoenberg
Performed by San Francisco Ballet Orchestra with Lark Quartet
Conducted by Jean-Louis LeRoux

3. Concerto for string quartet & orchestra in A minor, Op.131
Composed by Louis Spohr
Performed by San Francisco Ballet Orchestra with Lark Quartet
Conducted by Jean-Louis LeRoux

4. Introduction and Allegro for string quartet & string orchestra in G major, Op. 47
Composed by Edward Elgar
Performed by San Francisco Ballet Orchestra with Lark Quartet
Conducted by Jean-Louis LeRoux

Tracks:

Vivaldi: Concerto in D Major, "Largo" -- Sharon Isbin
Ravel: Piano Cto. in G Major, "Adagio Assai" -- Anne Queffelec
Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves -- Davis/BBC Symphony Orchestra
Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1 & 3 -- Sado/Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
Beethoven: Piano Cto. No. 5, "Adagio Un Poco Mosso" -- Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Ravel: Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte -- Nagano/lyon National Opera Ochestra
Puccini: Chrysamthemums -- Helsinki Strings
Mozart: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major -- Thomas Zehetmair
Chopin: Piano Cto. No. 2, "Larghetto" -- Maria-Joao Pires
Resighi: Villanella -- Scimone/I Solisti Veneti
Faure: In Paradisum -- Corboz/Berne Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, "Aria" -- Jill Crossland
Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile -- Alexander Kniazev
Debussy: The Girl With The Flaxan Hair -- Lily Laskine
Mozart: Piano Cto. No. 21, "Andante" -- Karl Engel
Chopin: Nocturne In E flat Major -- Elisabeth Leonskaja
J.S. Bach: Harpsichord Cto. In F Minor, "Adagio" -- Sharon Isbin
Mozart: Clarinet Quintet, "Larghetto" -- Karl Leister
Saint-Saens: The Swan -- Gennadi Rojdestvenski
Albinoni/Giazotto: "Adagio" -- Sharon Isbin
Faure: Pavane Pour Orchestre -- Jordan/Orchestre De Chambre De Lausanne
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14, Moonlight "Adagio Sostenuto" -- Nikolai Lugansky

Album Description

Created to meet the needs of more than 40 million sleep sufferers and light-eyars beyond lullabies, Bedtime Beats: The Secret To Sleep is the first classical music collection available as a true sleep remedy, an effective alternative to medication and sleepless nights. Carefully programmed in accordance with recent research from Case Western Reserve University--which discovered that classical and soft jazz music played at 60-80 beats per minute induces sound sleep.

Customer Reviews:

Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep.......2007-07-23

I love listening to soothing sounds to help me sleep at night. This CD is expecially relaxing to play when turning in at the end of the day. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be lulled off to peaceful slumber.

Not exactly...........2007-05-14

This cd wasn't exactly what I was looking for, it does not really help you fall asleep. Some of the music can be annoying and it could have been more soothing.

Not what I expected........2007-04-26

I should have paid attention to the two negative reviews. This CD doesn't put me to sleep at all--in fact, it keeps me awake. I find myself listening to the music instead of going to sleep.

One of the pieces has irritating and dissonant passages mingled with relaxing, soothing passages. Also the music changes tempo and volume quite often, which would wake me up if I did start to drift off.

Since I expected something that would put me to sleep, listening to this is upsetting, because I wasted my money.

However, since it works well for most reviewers, I figure I must hear things differently, or have a harder time falling asleep than most. Maybe if I listened to it enough to get used to it, it might work better.

I would like to find something totally soothing and relaxing--maybe I need actual recordings of water or rain, but I prefer music. Any suggestions?

Excellent relaxing music and sleep aid.......2007-04-10

This CD collection is so effective that I still have not made it through the first CD to listen to the second one. It's very relaxing music and helps me fall asleep every night.

nice try..........2007-02-06

but no silver bullet. FOR ME. Lovely selection of tunes, and I find them quite enjoyable and relaxing, but they just don't "knock me out". I own a variety of "sleep CD's" but real music seems to be just too stimulating when I am having trouble sleeping. I do better with guided imagery. Yesterday, though, I brought it over to my mom's place and laid down to listen to it with her, because she was so stressed out. She was asleep before the third number!

Average customer rating:

hmmmm
Good Introduction but poor quality
Tchaikovsky's Greatest Pieces of Music
great music poorely performed.
Great!

25 Tchaikovsky Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000058HZ
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

Overture
Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
Dance Of The Flutes
Scene
Waltz
Dance of the Swans
Scene 2
Hungarian Dance
III. Scherzo
I. Adagio; Allegro Non Troppo
II. Allegro Con Grazia
III. Allegro Molto Vivace
II. Andante Cantabile
Capriccio Italien In A Major, Op. 45
Marche Slave In B Flat, Op. 31
June - Michael Ponti
II. Andantino Simplice - Felicja Blumental
Coronation March
Eugen Onegin: Waltz
Romeo & Juliet: Fantasy-Overture
Serenade For Strings: II. Waltz
Sleeping Beauty: Tempo Di Valse
String Quartet In D Major, Op. 11: Andante Cantabile
Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35: III. Allegro Vivacissimo - Aaron Rosand
1812 Overture, Op. 49: Excerpt

Customer Reviews:

hmmmm.......2005-09-14

definitely not the best rendition of the popular suite.on the other hand,try finding another one.
stuff is edited,bludgeoned,rather.
tempos verge on comical.
rather disapointing,I really needed a nice version of the sugar plum faerie dance.
will probably stick to Wendy Carlos's,cheesy,runningly cheesy,blue cheese smelly,even,as it might be,still holds the original pace and campy pomp.

...not nuch of a cheese shop is it?
-it's fairly clean.
certainly not contaminated by Cleese!

Good Introduction but poor quality.......2005-09-12

This is a good introduction to Tchaikovsky for the beginner that gives a broad sampling of his work. Considering the price, it's a good value if someone is just wanting to begin exploring classical music or Tchaikovsky in particular.
However, the sound quality on this albumn is quite poor and there are much higher quality Tchaikovsky recordings available.

Tchaikovsky's Greatest Pieces of Music.......2000-09-04

Here are some of Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky's greatest works. His Nutcraker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty ballets are the most famous in the repoirtaire. The Symphony No. 5 and 6 are very excellent symphonic orchestrations. However, despite all the good stuff in here from the Russian master, the performers and conductors cannot surpass the beauty and artistry that such Tchaikovsky music masters as Dorati, Markevitch and Ormandy are. So if you want quality Tchaikovsky, get those conductor renditions. However, for a Tchaikovsky beginner, these pieces will get you hooked. This is a good cd to begin with for a Tchaikovsky listener. I am a Tchaikovsky listener ever since a friend recommended his glorious works to me. I am a Mozart fan but Tchaikovsky is undoubtedly the greatest Romantic composer of all time. He combines Russian melodies (Russian dances, mazurkas, waltzes) and gives them a definite Western romantic feel. He was friends with such noted Romantic composers as Camille Saint Saens, known to create such marvelous music of the era- Carnival of the Animals (now popular through Dysney) and Danse Macabre, to name only a small portion. Tchaikovsky also adored Mozart and although he is not exactly a Classical composer, he greatly admires the beauty of Mozart's works. Three cheers for Tchaikovsky !

great music poorely performed........1999-09-18

T. is my favourite composer but the interpretation on this CD is rather like a good effort in high shool

Great!.......1999-04-18

I think that Peter Tchaikovsky is one of the greatest composers ever. His Nutcracker suite and Capriccio Italien are wonderful pieces of music, as well as the rest of his pieces! This CD is definetly worth owning if you like classical music.

Average customer rating:

poor sound quality
SUPERB
In this case: I'm baroque
Come to laugh and stay to cry
Great Introduction to Beautiful Music

25 Baroque Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000058I7
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

Canon
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Oboes & Strings, Op. 42, No. 2: I. Largo
Water Music: VI. Minuet
Trumpet Concerto In D: II. Adagio
Sarabande
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: II. Adagio
Concerto In D For Trumpet & Strings: III. Grave
Air On The G String
Adagio For Strings In G Minor
The Four Seasons: Spring, II. Largo
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: II. Andante
Concerto In D For 2 Trumpets & Strings: II. Largo
Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op.3 No. 11: I. Allegro
Concerto In D For 6 Trumpets & Strings: II. Adagio
Ombra mai fu: Handel's Largo
Trumpet Sonata No. 1 In F: II. Grave
Suite In F Major For Horn, 2 Oboes & Strings: III. Der Alster Echo
Concerto In C For Viola Pomposa & Strings: II. Andante
Concerto In D For Trumpet, 2 Violins, Viola, Basso & Continuo: I. Allegro
Hapsichord Concerto In G Minor, BWV 1058: First Mvt.
Sonata For Trumpet & Strings: I. Allegro
Concerto Grosso No. 5 In D, Op. 6: I. Larghetto
Concerto in D for Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Continuo: I. Allegro
Concerto grosso In G Minor, Op. 6 No. 8: II. Allegro
Trumpet Voluntary

Customer Reviews:

poor sound quality.......2004-09-29

a great selection of baroque favorites, but the sound quality, especially on the pachelbel canon, not great at all. for that reason, i cannot recommend getting it. what do you expect for five dollars, right !>? i would suggest spending a little more money and getting something that you can't bear to part with, for continued listening enjoyment.

SUPERB.......2004-02-19

An introduction to the best baroque music by famous composers.
Great sound on this CD. There are over 10 CD's in this Farorites collection, and this by far is one of the best ones.

If you like the classical sounds of music, then you will like this. Check out the samples on this page that they provide, that's the best way to review.

In this case: I'm baroque.......2004-02-07

I'm not usually a classical listener kind of gal. The only reason I stumbled onto this cd is because my favorite tune from a movie is on it. Sarabande is also played on the movie Persuasion (author: Jane Austen). I wanted to have that tune. Followed the links and landed on the Baroque cd. Ordered it. Sarabande is my favorite, followed by Canon, four seasons: spring, etc. I love this cd! It feels happy and light. For me, as a writer and an animator, it adds extra emotional impact when creating as well as influencing my imagination more. I recommend this cd when people want to feel like spring.

Come to laugh and stay to cry.......2003-11-26

Circumspect at first about buying any CD with a "best of" title, this one really exceeds expectations. Also bought the Vivaldi disc in this series which is likewise exceptional. With the caveat that "Ombra mai fu" is repeated in various of the "25 favorites" collections, I recommend these recordings wholeheartedly, especially in terms of cost per track.

"Canon" is the flagship piece on this CD, a lush arrangement that will move a strong man to tears. Almost as powerful are Bach's "Air on the G String" and of course, Handel's "Ombra mai fu". The disc ends on an up note with "Trumpet Voluntaire".

At this price, you can send "Baroque favorites" to every Classical music lover you know. I would recommend sending this CD even to people who don't like Classical...you might just change their minds.

Great Introduction to Beautiful Music.......2000-07-08

The Baroque period (1600-1750) was one of the most important in the history of music because many of our modern musical forms come from this time. The baroque style is diverse, including such elements as contrast and a deep emotionalism. Although orchestras perform the songs, many individual instruments are highlighted. The baroque composers especially loved strings, the trumpet, and the oboe. The songs range from the vibrant and the lively to the slow and the sad. I have found this CD is excellent as background music for studying, reading, or driving in rush hour traffic, mainly because the music is calming and relaxing. Baroque masters such as Bach and Handel are still popular today and their songs are loved by many. Fans of popular music will recognize a few of the songs on this CD. "Air on the G String" (Bach) was used by Procol Harum in their song "A Whiter Shade of Pale." "Canon," one of the most popular baroque songs today, is often performed at weddings and has been incorporated into pop songs by artists such as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Vitamin C, and Rod McKuen.

Tracks:

Adagio For Strings
In A Landscape
Ogive Number 1
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
L'Inverno
Triple Concerto
Largo From Xerxes
Piece In Old Style I
Piece In Old Style III
Opus 132

Tracks:

Adagio For Strings: Ferry Corsten Remix
Adagio For Strings: ATB Remix

Amazon.com

William Orbit's Pieces in a Modern Style is an ambient album that rejigs 11 works by classical composers in a particularly tacky fashion. Even though Orbit has proved his mettle as an innovative and exciting producer for others--Blur's 13 and Madonna's Ray of Light--this is an ungainly meeting of the sublime and the absurd that, frankly, doesn't work. Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings," Ludwig van Beethoven's "Triple Concerto," Henryk Gorecki's "Piece in the Old Style I," and Antonio Vivaldi's "L'Inverno" are four that unfortunately meet their maker in a crude pileup of flat, belching synths and wallpaper flourishes. If he had combined live instrumentation with a playful reverence for the arcane glories of the past, perhaps he could have managed to make reality out of that most elusive of notions: experimental music that actually sells. However, Orbit fails to do anything more than resemble a second-rate Vangelis. --Maxine Kabuubi

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding. A classic........2007-06-06

I have been working in electronic music for almost 20 years years. I have a massive library of music for almost any reason, mood and itch. Tonight, I am taking the five minutes to stop and write how unique, amazing and consistently refreshing this album is everytime I go back to it since the day it was released.

Highly Melodic, very electronic and overall lacking the percussive elements most have come to know when listening to Orbit.

Much more sophisticated than the average listener might appreciate.Consider it a staple for anyone serious about electronic music.

I believe anyone rating this poorly is looking for a pop appeal that you just won't find here, thankfully.

Pay not attention to the crab behind the curtain.......2006-06-22

I don't know who Maxine Kubabi is. She's certainly untitled to her opinion. An "ungainly meeting of the sublime and the absurd?" What a sublimely empty and inadequate statement.

You have to know something about a genre before you can be an effective critic inside it. You should be able to specify why you don't like something in some detail, rather than resort to crabby nebulousities ... that's greasy kid stuff.

What Orbit has done is to realize some old, familiar works in an electronic medium, using smooth and musical strokes. He's taken many big chances. Some of them worked out well, others not as well as one might hope. But he deserves kudos for taking a risk and for making some of it work.

Why would anyone who *likes* electronic music complain that it doesn't have live instrumentation? That's like complaining that jazz has no rock and roll in it. "Reverence"? "Second rate Vangelis"? so: you were disappointed that Orbit didn't create more of the kind of schmaltz you personally like. Yanni, anyone?

For those who actually like electronic music, and like Beethoven's Opus 132, please, give that track a listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This is incredible. Arrogant but incredible.......2006-05-26

I have been a fan William Orbit since Water from a vine leaf and I have to admit while this ins't exactly a electronica per se it is still amazing to see what he has done with our classics. The listening experience depends solely on the listener. More ambient than anything else I have heard though.

Recommended for William orbit and curious georges

not a rave.......2006-02-04

If you're looking for something to pop in late at night to dance to...this is not the album. This album is eery and some of it is painful. It's not full of upbeat electronics like originally thought it would be. But, I love it. It's great to listen to while just thinking...relaxing...reading...it's beautiful.

Pieces in a peaceful style........2005-11-28

Being a fan of ambient and electronica for some time, I decided to give this a try. I can understand how some may simply hear this as a cheesy reworking of the classics, just a man and his keyboard, but it's really much deeper than that if you just sit and listen. I suggest not comparing to the originals as much as enjoying what these pieces are themselves. A few tracks do lag, and there are quiet spots, but as a whole I find "Pieces In A Modern Style" to be almost hypnotic, and as I said in my review title, rather peaceful. The tracks I prefer the most are "Adiago For Strings", "Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo", "L'Inverno", and the music-box sounding "Triple Concerto". However the others are fine as well. I say, if you think you might like this, you probably will. It's well worth the used price if nothing else.

Average customer rating:

The Story of Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Edouard van Remoortel , and Arthur Hannes
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001KD9
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

Finale
Overture
June (Barcarolle)
Andante Cantabile
Waltz
Romeo and Juliet (Overture-Fantasy)
None But The Lonely Heart, Op. 6 No. 6
Allegro Non Troppo
Waltz
Andante cantabile
Chanson Triste, Op. 40 No. 2
'Pathetique' Allegro Con Grazia
Andante Sostenuto
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Finale
Marche Slave, Op. 31
Excerpts
1812 Overture, Op. 49
'Pathetique' Excerpts
Scene
Valse
Dance Of The Swans
Scene
Hungarian Dance
Panorama Andantino
Tempo Di Valse

Average customer rating:

Clear recording
Brilliant Corelli from lesser known Dutch musicians: a great bargain

Corelli: Complete Works

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009IW8SK
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Customer Reviews:

Clear recording.......2006-07-08

I bought this set after hearing Grosso Concerto op.6 no.8 conducted by Karajan. Since it is recorded very recently, the quality of the sound is brilliant. However, you should not expect Karajan type performance, but after listening two or three times to the works, you will enjoy it more and more.
I strongly recommend this product for Baroque lovers.

Brilliant Corelli from lesser known Dutch musicians: a great bargain.......2006-05-13

Brilliant Classics 10 disc compendium of the complete works of Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) is a bargain. The performances are by members of Musica Amphion, a Dutch period instrument orchestra, conducted from the harpsichord by Pieter Jan Belder.
These may be lesser known musicians, but their performances are excellent, and this set is consistently good, and a wonderful bargain, at under $40.00.

This is my first recordings by these musicians, and I sampled the Opus 6 Concerti Grossi, Corelli's most recorded works. Nos. 1, 4 and 8 (Christmas Concerto) do not pale in comparison with recordings of better known ensembles: I Musici (Philips),
Pinnock/English Concert (Archiv/DG), Shepherd/Cantilena (Chandos), or Krcheck/Capella Istropolitana (Naxos). Musica Amphion may be a small orchestra: about 15 players, I'm guessing, but their sound is full and rich, and though period instruments, they are expressive, and not wimpy sounding; you will not hear the scraping and noise which accompany some period recordings.

I especially like Musica Amphion's recording of the Opus 4 Trio Sonatas: Nos. 1, 2, and 3, which hold real nostalgia for me from Max Goberman's famous CBS Odyssey recording (on modern instruments, of course), popular on LPs in the early 1970s. I find Musica Amphion's recording superior, both in playing and recorded sound, to the IL Ruggiero recording, released in 1995 by an Italian firm in a complete recording of Corelli's Opus 4 Trio Sonatas.

The price is low, performances excellent, and Brilliant's recorded sound is all one can ask for. Unless you really HATE period instruments - and these are musical, and so well played - best to grab it while you can. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Guitar music
Great CD all around!
Wonderfully relaxing!
Very Relaxing, Highly Recommended!
Has hard-to-find pieces by Bream

Guitar for Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004SSEF
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

Dedicatoria
Larghetto
Sempre Expressive
Pavane For A Dead Princess
The Master
The Son Of The Virgin
Pavanas
Prelude No.5 In D
Adagio, Op. 2 No.1
Cuna
Air
Adagio
Granada
You Beutiful Stream
Andante
Sarabande
Adante Sostentuo
Prelude

Customer Reviews:

Guitar music.......2007-02-12

This is an amazing CD. I recommend it highly for reading on a rainy day, relaxing, or just reading the paper on a Sunday morning. It's one of my top 10 relaxation CDs.

Great CD all around!.......2005-08-30

I got this CD because I am a massage therapist,and refuse to buy
those cheesey new agey relaxation CD's.I was finally getting a little tired of the bach cello concertos and a couple of other classical recordings that had been deemed "relaxing",and decided to try this one.It is great!I never seem to get tired of it!I have not had a client that didn't love it.Most even ask what it is because they like it so much.Based on the success of this CD,I am going to try the Cello For Relaxation CD in the same series.I hope that it is just as much of a hit!

Wonderfully relaxing!.......2005-05-09

This CD definitely lives up to it's name. Julian Bream's guitar playing is ethereal and leaves your mind in a state of blissful relaxation...A wonderful collection! Well worth the investment!

Very Relaxing, Highly Recommended!.......2005-05-03

I find myself choosing this CD whenever I want to unwind. It is absolutely exquisite. I have bought quite a few different "relaxation" CD's, and this is my favorite.

Has hard-to-find pieces by Bream.......2003-02-20

Despite a title sure to embarrass any self-respecting music snob, this is no less than a full disc of nicely mastered solo guitar recordings by the great Julian Bream (a string quartet joins Bream on one track). If these pieces could be easily found elsewhere, on albums with more continuity, then this disc wouldn't be worth buying. But probably 40% of the material on this cd can't be found in print, to my knowledge. In particular, the Mompou, Mozart, Llobet, Aguado, Henze, and Diabelli tracks aren't readily available elsewhere as of early 2003. Several of these tracks are nice hefty 6-7 minute pieces. In particular, the beautiful Andante from Diabelli's Sonata, arranged by Bream himself, is worth the purchase price by itself. If you're a Bream fan trying to get beyond his half-dozen easily available cds, add this to your collection.

Average customer rating:

Nice Mood Setting Music
This CD stays in my car player
Beautiful interpretations
great music! not so great sound variations!
A great, great collection!

Romantic Adagios

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004C8TG
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Adagio For Strings: Barber: Adagio for Strings
Meditation (Thais): Massenet: Meditation (Thais)
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18
Gymnopedies 1 and 3: Satie: Gymnopedies 1 and 3
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: Mozart : Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K622
Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus): Khachaturian: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight': Beethoven : Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight'
Kol Nidrei: Bruch: Kol Nidrei
Nimrod (Enigma variations): Elgar: Nimrod (Enigma variations)
Symphony No. 5 In C Sharp Minor: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467: Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467
Andante cantabile (String quartet No. 1): Tchaikovski: Andante cantabile (String quartet No. 1)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor: Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Symphony No. 9 in E minor ' From the New World': Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor ' From the New World'
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini: Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana): Mascagni: Intermezzo (Cavalleria rusticana)
Clair de Lune: Debussy: Clair de lune
Concierto de Aranjuez: Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez - Adagio
The Carnival Of The Animals: Saint-Saens: The Swan
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Major, Op. 102: Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, op. 102 - Andante
Pavane, op 50: Faure: Pavane, op 50

Customer Reviews:

Nice Mood Setting Music.......2007-05-25

This is a very nice cd to listen to and sip red wine in one's back yard while reading a good book. Well worth to add to your collection.

This CD stays in my car player.......2005-07-25

This CD is one that I think even non-classical music lovers would like. It isn't too "classical" and some of the songs are the kind that keep going though your head until you can't help but play the disc again. It is a two disc set and priced no higher than most singles.

Beautiful interpretations.......2004-01-25

I agree with a previous reviewer on the minor problem
of variations in volume. Beyond that, I find every
piece beautiful. This interpretation of Barber's
Adagio is the most passionate I have ever heard. I also
find the Faure selection very touching. I love the
vocals. I recommend this set to anyone, if for no
other reason than the Barber piece.

great music! not so great sound variations!.......2003-07-07

The selections and the arrangements are truly excellent. There are some hard to find (on the same CD) pieces and adagios--Spartacus ; Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez; Mascagni's Intermezzo from Cavelleria...
But, better turn up the sound and then get away from the speakers. Parts of the selections are played so very softly that, when you turn up the volume to hear them, you will get blasted by those sections that have cresendos, or just plain louder sections. Too bad!
Very hard to enjoy in a car--or, even at home. if this problem did not exist, this is a 5 star plus!

A great, great collection!.......2001-10-01

I was stunned to see only two and a half stars for romantic adagios. I don't know how much you get to know by listening to only one "song" out of so many in this collection, but in my opinion this CD collection deserves a lot of credit. I had heard of Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings many times before and I was impressed but this was the first time that I was completely mesmerized. I highly recommend to any Barber fans to listen to this interpretation by David Zinman which is incredible. There seems to be so much passion and emotion! Also others such as Adagio of Spartacus and Clarinet Concerto just make the collection even better.

Average customer rating:

Great CD
~*IT's Pure CLASSICAL*~
Poor Compilation

#1 Classical Album

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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#1 Piano Album
The #1 Opera Album
Mendelssohn: Greatest Hits
Saint-Saëns: Greatest Hits
Grieg: Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000667S0
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra: Opening - Berlin Philharmonic
William Tell Overture: Finale - Riccardo Chailly
Peer Gynt, Op.23: Morning Mood - Vienna Philharmonic
'O Sole Mio - Luciano Pavarotti
Suite No.3 In D Major, BWV 1068: Air - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Suite No.2 In B Minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K 467: Andante - Andras Schiff
Radetzky March, Op.28 - Vienna Philharmonic
Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor: Adagio - Kyung Wha Chung
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Chants D'Auvergne: Bailero - Kiri Te Kanawa
Waltz In D Flat Major, Op.64 No.1 'Minute' - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Cantata No.28: Sheep May Safely Graze - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
The Flight Of The Bumblebee - Philharmonia Orchestra
Bolero: Finale - Charles Dutoit
Les Contes D'Hoffman: Barcarolle - Richard Bonynge
Adagio In G Minor - Martin Haselbock
Pizzicato Polka - Vienna Philharmonic
Das Land Des Lachelns: Dein Ist Mein Mein Ganzes Herz - Placido Domingo

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: O Fortuna - Radio-Symphonie-Chor Berlin
Jazz Suite No.2: Waltz II - Riccardo Chailly
Adagio For Strings - David Zinman
Fantasia On Greensleeves - Sir Neville Marriner
The Four Seasons: Spring: I. Allegro - Alan Loveday
Trumpet Voluntary - Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Canon - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Casanova: Nuns' Chorus - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio Sostenuto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Rome & Juliet: Fantasy: Love Theme - Vienna Philharmonic
Warsaw Concerto - Cristina Ortiz
Symphony No.9 'From The New World': II. Largo (Excerpt) - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Concierto De Aranjuez: II. Adagio (Excerpt) - Carlos Bonell
Solomon: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba - Sir Neville Marriner
Hungarian Dance No.5 In G Minor - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Thais: Meditation - Nigel Kennedy
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - John Alldis Choir

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2003-01-24

This is good CD for casual Classical listening, new comers to classical music or the car! I love it. It has a good variety of pieces, something to suit every mood.

~*IT's Pure CLASSICAL*~.......2002-08-14

I dont own this cd yet, but i will. I listened to samples and this is a beautifull, famous, pure classical music... if there's anyone who doesn't agree with me they probably are not familiar with classical music or (maybe can't read!!) You will enjoy this cd though!

Poor Compilation.......2002-06-14

After just one listening to this cd, I had to stop. It is just such a poor compliation of music, the flow, the rythm, it is terrible. Unlike the #1 Opera album, which I enjoyed, this one is a throwback.

Average customer rating:

Nice Voice
a voice teacher and early music fan
Sumi Jo- coloratura supreme
Prayerful and beautiful
A spectalce of voice and vocalization

Sumi Jo - Prayers / James Conlon
Gioachino Rossini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Strauss , Giulio Caccini , Maurice Ravel , Gabriel Fauré , Anonymous , Franz Schubert , Charles Gounod , Gaetano Donizetti , Zbigniew Preisner , Leonard Bernstein , Johann Strauss II , Frederick Loewe , James Conlon , Sumi Jo , and Susan Graham
Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sumi Jo sings Mozart
Sumi Jo - Virtuoso Arias ~ Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer
Sumi Jo - La Promessa / Vincenzo Scalera
Sumi Jo - Only Love
Sumi Jo - Bel Canto / Arevalo · ECO · Carella

ASIN: B0000560N6
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Tracks:

Kaddisch
Laudate Dominum
Ave Maria
Amazing Grace
Breit' Uber Mein Haupt
L'assedio Di Corinto: L' Ora Fatal S'appressa... Guisto Ciel !
Pie Jesu
Der Vierjahrige Posten: Gott! hore Meine Stimme!
Sanctus
Maria Stuarda: Preghiera Di Maria
Lacrimosa
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Take Care Of This House - Sumi Jo/Phil Chor Koln/Susan Graham
Nun's Chor/Casanova: Laura's Song
Gigi: Say A Prayer For me Tonight
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Amazon.com

This program seems designed primarily to display soprano Sumi Jo's fabulous singing and famous stylistic eclecticism. However, it also exhibits an admirable religious inclusiveness, encompassing expressions of faith from the Latin liturgy to Negro spirituals; there is even a Richard Strauss song that is essentially a paean to love. An incongruous note is struck by a nun's song from an operetta by Benatzky that is a corny Viennese waltz and by a soundtracklike arrangement of a 16th-century Ave Maria. Ranging from Mozart to Broadway, this musical mix is held together by Sumi Jo's ravishingly beautiful, pure, warm voice and the way she can color and inflect it, and by her mastery of every style (though not every language; her German in particular is unintelligible). Her intonation is impeccable, her breath control incredible. Jo's top notes soar triumphantly, and she can sustain them indefinitely, with enough power left to make a crescendo at the end. Highlights include Ravel's "Kaddisch," which sends shivers down the spine; arias from operas by Rossini and Donizetti; and arias from sacred works by Gounod and Fauré. Of two spirituals, the second one is simpler and more convincing. The accompanying forces are excellent; James Conlon doubles as pianist when not conducting. Susan Graham also makes an appearance in the moving invocation "Take Care of This House" from Bernstein's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Nice Voice.......2007-05-06

Sumi Jo has a beautiful voice but her renditions of Motherless Child and Amazing Grace were not impressive at all. The vibrato was too uncontrollable. The Ave Maria was so,so. I did not hear the richeness others have declared in their assesments. Don't get me wrong, the instrument is quite beautiful but only in some selected selections.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-17

"Music and poetry emerge from man's desire to give thanks, to praise and to pray to his gods. One of the magical powers of the human voice is that it can fly, on the wings of songs (a la Mendelssohn) to heaven and appear to be in direct communication with God." Therefore, it is no surprise that prayer is omnipresent throughout the history of music. Sumi Jo has chosen an excellent representation of songs including most styles and periods which include : Baroque (Caccini)-Classical (Mozart)-Contemporary (Preisner)-Romantic Opera (Rossini,Donizetti)-German 'Singspiel'(Schubert)-Lieder (Richard Strauss)-French church music (Gounod ,Faure)-traditional music (spiritual)-Jewish melodies (Ravel)-Viennese operetta (Johann Strauss) and the American musical (Bernstein).

Sumi Jo, born in Korea,is a much sought after coloratura soprano, having triumphed on stage, and in recitals all over the world. Not being fond of coloraturas, I make an exception for her voice, because of its depth along with the very high register. She shows a great deal of sensitivity to all of her varied selections on this disc, and each delivery is a 'gem' unto itself.

I must personally comment on those works that I particularly enjoy. Hearing her sing Mozart's 'Laudate Dominum' was a real treat; it doesn't matter how often one hears that lovely piece, just like all of his music, it 'wears' well. The 'Pie Jesu' was absolutely stunning as Sumi Jo sang it, and it is a pleasure for me to hear the selection from "GIGI" by Lerner & Loewe; not being a great broadway fan, I have always liked that specific musical. I think because it was well-done when I saw it years and years ago.

This disc is abolutely totally enjoyable. There is something for all musical tastes, and the conductor/pianist James Conlon does a great job pulling it together!!!!!

Sumi Jo- coloratura supreme.......2006-04-09

One word: Lacrimosa. It haunts you and will stay with you long after you hear it. I actually forced several if my coworkers to listen to it many of which are not opera fans and even they could not argue the beauty of it. One of my coworkers was actual on the verge of tears by the end of the song.

The rest of the album is enchanting as well as breath taking. I am a harsh critic when it comes to singers so I do not give those compliments very often, nor am I easily moved by singers but Sumi Jo has certainly done that with this album.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to hear her take of "Ave Maria" by Schubert which, while recorded many times over, would complimented her voice perfectly due to it's simplicity. "Sing low sweet chariot" would have been another great one to hear but as far as spirtuals are concerned I was very happy with her acepella version of "Amazing Grace." I was never a huge fan of "Amazing Grace" since it's been done a thousand times over but she brought such seetness and emotion to it. Of course I am kind of biased becuase I offically hate the "belting" version of this song and that's how it's usually done. It's nice to hear a simple, straight forward version.

My last comment is that it's nice to hear Sumi Jo sing less operatic pieces considering most opera singers are rarely bold enough to sing anything other than classical pieces, excluding Renee Fleming of recent.

Prayerful and beautiful.......2005-11-14

It is a refreshing change to have a collection of arias on a CD with a title that actually bears some relevance to the contents. This is indeed a prayerful collection. That means, of course, that you have to be in the appropriately contemplative mood in order to appreciate it.

Another nice change is that the orchestral accompaniment enhances the singing rather than just tagging along as an afterthought, which often seems to be the case. It is fitting that James Conlon gets equal billing here. This is splendid singing to splendid music.

Sumi Jo is comfortable in any language and in a broad range of styles. I was uncertain how she would tackle songs like Amazing Grace and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. I need not have worried. In the latter she reveals a soulfulness that fits the lyrics perfectly.

The only track not worthy of this collection is Bernstein's Take Care of This House. I suppose, as it is a prayer, it was an obvious song to include, and Jo sings it very well, but it is just a very poor song. That still leaves 14 excellent tracks that, if you are a lover of good singing, you will want in your collection.

A spectalce of voice and vocalization.......2004-12-29

I bought this used from an Amazon.com dealer and it came with a cutout on the left side of the CD box. Can this specacular CD possibly have gone out of print by Christmas 2004? If so we have lost one of the benchmark recordings of this splendid artist.

Never is there a weak moment in this incredibly beautiful collection of classical bleeding chunks and spirituals. I don't think you'll confuse Sumi for your favorite spiritual singer in "Amazing Grace" and "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child" but she is magnificent singing the complete and incomplete tunes elsewhere on the CD by famous classical composers including Mozart, Richard Strauss, Rossini, Schubert and Donizetti, to name some of them.

She is in wonderful voice and fresh-faced for the Loewe-Lerner "Say a prayer for me tonight" and does an equally nice job with Susan Graham accompanying Leonard Bernstein's "Take care of this house" from "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue". I'm not much for this kind of music -- I bought this exclusively for her rendition of Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" -- but it adds a dimension to the concert that brings it into the realm of popular Broadway tunes.

This is a wonderful concert of familiar and not so familiar songs from a singer whose voice is eloquent, beautiful and rich, with significant range and span from PPP to FFF. Sumi Jo controls her voice well throughout the concert, giving everyone something to think about regardelss of musical preference. This might have been improved if she'd included a Beatles tune -- maybe "Elenor Rigby" or "Yesterday" -- accompanied by the orchestra and James Conlon's direction. But it stands with any similar collection by any singer as it is.

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