Barbirolli: Music of Beethoven

On this CD:

1. Leonore Overture No. 3 in C major, Op. 72b
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

2. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

3. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

4. Egmont, incidental music, Op. 84 overture
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

5. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra with Mindru Katz
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

6. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate") Op. 67
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

Tracks:

Cello Concerto In B Minor Op. 104: I. Allegro - Dvorak
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: I. Allegro moderato
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: II. Adagio
Cello Concerto No.2 In D: III. Allegro
Cello Concerto In E Minor: I. Adagio - Moderato
Cello Concerto In E Minor: II. Lento - Allegro molto
Cello Concerto In E Minor: III. Adagio
Cello Concerto In E Minor: IV. Allegro, Moderato, Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Sicilienne
Three Fantasy Pieces: I. Zart mit Audruck
Three Fantasy Pieces: II. Lebhaft
Three Fantasy Pieces: III. Rasch und mit Feuer
Sing Without Words in D, Op.109
Elegie In C Minor, Op. 24
The Toccata: Adagio
The Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
Suite populaire espagnole: Jota
Kol nidrei, Op. 47
Piano Trio In B-flat 'Archduke', Op.97
Cello Sonata No.2 In F, Op.99
Sonata in A

Customer Reviews:

cello lover.......2007-05-31

Absoluty the best. It is no wonder she was the world premier cello artist!! Can't say enough. If you love cello, and classical music, this is a must have. Her whole collection is worth every penny!!!

99% perspiration.......2006-11-08

(4.5/5 stars) This is a two-disc collection of musical works, in which the great cellist Jacqueline du Pre plays. The first disc consists of three cello concerti by three different composers: Dvorak (Romantic), Haydn (Classical) and Elgar (Romantic). Very good music, though it might leave you wondering what all the fuss is about. Not to worry: just pop in Disc Two to find out. The second disc contains shorter works by a wider variety of composers. It also might just leave you breathless by its beauty. Saint-Säens' "The Swan" (from "Carnival of the Animals") is nearly indescribable in its elegance, with du Pre's cello dancing with a harp. This haunting recording should not be missed. Bruch's "Kol Nidrei" is magnificently gorgeous as well. Three fantasy pieces from Schumann, one of Mendelssohn's "Lieder Ohne Wörter" and a stunning Brahms sonata infuse this collection with genuine grace. Since these were recorded prior to the advent of digital recordings, you might hear a very slight hiss on some of the recordings. This is barely audible and really does not detract from the pleasure of listening to it. Each disc runs 75 minutes, making this inspiration last long indeed.

Immortal Legend.......2006-10-07

As a cellist, I grew up listening to Jacqueline Du Pre's recordings. Even now as a 35 year old, I'm still enthralled by her amazing talent. This is a great cd if one is looking for a wonderful introduction to this superb cellist or simply wants to savor her most well known recordings. Du Pre owned the "Elgar" concerto. No other words can summarize this fact. Other beautiful and moving pieces are here on this disc: Bruch "Kol Nidrei", Haydn "Concerto No.2", Faure "Elegie", Brahms "Concerto No.2". The cello is a difficult instrument to play due to the strength required in both hands. Du Pre's playing touches the heartstrings with both emotion and depth. The tone that she coaxes from her cello is amazing. Jacqueline Du Pre is a legend.

Epitome of Cello.......2006-06-23

As a cellist, I absolutely love du Pré's work. I actually found this CD when I was looking for a modern recording of "A Jacqueline du Pré Recital", a record compiled of pieces done between July 15, 1962 and April 1, 1969. The second CD in this set contains the same songs as that record.

The concertos on the first CD are spectacular, especially her rendition of the Elgar concerto which has defined the piece since she first performed it. The second CD, however, is just as wonderful as a collection of some of the most loved cello pieces. No cello recording complete without Saint Saen's "The Swan" and du Pré's version is the only one I've ever heard that I actually like. "Elégie in C minor" (composed by Gabriel Fauré) is one of my personal favorites especially since her rapport with the pianist is obvious and the two instruments blend in a way that makes the piece even more poignant.

Overall, this CD is a must-have for anyone who loves cello as a perfect sample of Jacqueline du Pré's work.

Ooo! Samples!.......2005-11-29

As far as the romantic period goes, Jacqueline Du Pre is my personal favorite 'cellist. Her sensitivity to put expression of the musical idea always outweighed the desire to appear impressive. There is a difference in being just a virtuoso and being a musician. A virtuoso has the capability to dazzle and amaze, but music is more than just being impressive, and Du Pre succeeds in becoming, in every sense, a musician first and foremost. The only complaint I have of this album is the fact that you only get one movement of each piece! Even so, this a wonderful "sample dish" of Du Pre's extraordinary playing, mainly meant to get you hooked so you can get more.

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Average customer rating:

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS
The greatest interpretation
Not such a great album
Love it.
RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Arthur Rubinstein: Ludwig Van Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49)
Great Recordings Of The Century - Dinu Lipatti
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

ASIN: B000002S59
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Allegro maestoso risoluto
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Romanze (Larghetto) -
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Rondo vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Allegro vivace
Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Nocturne No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
Nocturne No. 3 In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3

Tracks:

Nocturne No. 4 In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
Nocturne No. 5 In F Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2
Nocturne No. 6 In G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3
Nocturne No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
Nocturne No. 8 In D Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
Nocturne No. 9 In B Major, Op. 32 No. 1
Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2
Nocturne No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 37 No. 1
Nocturne No. 12 In G Major, Op. 37 No. 2
Nocturne No. 13 In C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1
Nocturne No. 14 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 48 No. 2
Nocturne No. 15 In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1
Nocturne No. 16 In E Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2
Nocturne No. 17 In B Major, Op. 62 No. 1
Nocturne No. 18 In E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
Nocturne No. 19 In E Minor, Op. 71 No. 1 (posth.)

Tracks:

Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.1
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.2
Mazurka In E-Major, Op. 6, No.3
Mazurka In E-Flat Major, Op.6, No.4
Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 7, No.2
Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 7, No.4
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 7, No. 5
Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 17, No.1
Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 17, No. 2
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 24, No. 1
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 24, No. 2
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 30, No. 1
Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
Mazurka In D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
Mazurka In D-Major, Op. 33, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 33, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 41, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 42, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 50, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 50, No. 3

Tracks:

Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 56, No. 1
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 56, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 59, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 56, No. 2
Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 63, No. 1
Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 67, No. 1
Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 67, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 67, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 68, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
Mazurka In F-Major, Op. 68, No. 3
Mazurka In F-Monor, Op. 68, No. 4
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. Posth. (A son ami Emile Gaillard)
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. posth. (Notre temps)
Scherzi In B-Minor, Op. 20
Scherzi In B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
Scherzi In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 39
Scherzi In E-Major, Op. 54

Tracks:

Barcaolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
Berseuse In D-Flar Major
Polonaise In C-Sharp Major, Op. 26, No. 1
Polonaise In E-Flat Major, Op. 26, No.2
Polonaise In A-Major, Op. 40, No. 1
Polonaise In C-Minor, Op. 40, No. 2
Polonaise In F-Sharp Major, Op. 44
Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (Polonaise-Fantaisie)
Andante splanato & polonaise brillante In E-Flat Major, Op. 22

Customer Reviews:

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS.......2007-03-01

These are the earlier discs of Rubinstein's Chopin, recorded by HMV in London during the 1930's. It is less complete than his later recordings for RCA - no Sonatas, no Ballades, no Etudes. The sound is naturally of its time - but in many ways more natural than the sharply-lit, slightly edgy piano sound RCA favoured in the 50's and 60's. Nevertheless, these are the Chopin performances I return to most.

Rubinstein's natural affinity with Chopin is legendary. He seemed always able to capture precisely the right degree of rubato at exactly the right moment in these pieces. And he had a unique ability in his countryman's music to balance the lyrical with the impassioned, what seems completely spontaneous with what is clearly deeply considered. The Nocturnes here are, I think, the best you'll hear anywhere on disc. In the greatest of them - the Opp.37 & 48 sets, for example - Rubinstein gets the contrast between the dreamy nocturnal outer sections with the darker, more impassioned central sections just right. These are not salon miniatures in his hands but big works, if not in length then in content. And no-one can match Rubinstein in the elusive diversity of this complete set of Mazurkas. The two Concerti both have Barbirolli as the sympathetic conductor, following Rubinstein's lead in the ebb and flow of phrases and whole sections of these gorgeous and often maligned works. Interestingly the recording of Concerto No.2 (actually the first composed) dates from before the pianist's famous withdrawal from public performance to reconstruct his technique and his approach, that of Concerto No.1 from after. Perhaps one can detect a touch more maturity and refinement in his approach to the latter, but they are both ravishing performances.

Many of the performances on these 5 discs are the greatest Chopin you're likely to hear. And the ear soon adjusts to the somewhat old-fashioned recorded piano sound. This is a highly desirable set for any lover of Chopin and/or great piano playing.

The greatest interpretation.......2007-02-17

The interpretation is stunning. Mono - but no matter for solo piano - and a wee bit hissy but still quite superb.

Not such a great album.......2007-01-12

This album was recorded from records as you can hear the scratches and skips. Don't recommend it!

Love it........2006-06-22

This is my favorite album. I think that not even Rubinstein's later recordings attain this quality of musical involvment.

There is a fair amount of background noise, but the music helps to forget it rather quickly overall.

RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR.......2005-02-10

Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The fact that these have a hiss (and you can practically hear him close the piano on several numbers) should be mentioned. I guess we are spoiled to audio quality, but this is an expensive collection and this fact was glaringly omitted. That said, I have enjoyed the recordings, in spite of the very audible hiss.

Average customer rating:

Mostly valuable for the sonatas & suites
wonderful
Great record of Great cellist at Great budget price
A Great Compilation of Great Cello Music
Wonderful! Indispensable! So why only four stars..?

Les introuvables de Jacqueline du Pré
Edward Elgar , Frederick Delius , Camille Saint-Saens , Antonin Dvorak , Robert Schumann , Arnold Schoenberg , Franz Joseph Haydn , Fryderyk Chopin , Cesar Franck , Gabriel Faure , Max Bruch , Johann Sebastian Bach , George Frideric Handel , Ludwig van Beethoven , London Symphony Orchestra , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Chicago Symphony Orchestra , Sir John Barbirolli , Malcolm Sargent , Daniel Barenboim , Jacqueline du Pré , Valda Aveling , English Chamber Orchestra , Gerald Moore , Ernest Lush , and Stephen Kovacevich
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Brahms: Cello Sonatas [includes bonus DVD]
Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait
Jacqueline du Pré - The Concerto Collection
Brahms: Cello Sonatas
Jacqueline du Pré - a lasting inspiration

ASIN: B000002SCC
Release Date: 2002-08-05

Tracks:

Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en mi mineur: In E Minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio - Moderato
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en mi mineur: In E Minor, Op. 85: II. Lento - Allegro molto
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en mi mineur: In E Minor, Op. 85: Adagio
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en mi mineur: In E Minor, Op. 85: IV. Allegro, ma non troppo
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra: Lento - Con moto tranquillo - Lento - Con moto tranquillo - Allegramente
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre n 1 en la mineur: In A Minor, Op. 33: I. Allegro non troppo
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre n 1 en la mineur: In A Minor, Op. 33: II. Allegretto con moto
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre n 1 en la mineur: In A Minor, Op. 33: III. Allegro non troppo

Tracks:

Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en si mineur: In B Minor, Op. 104: I. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en si mineur: In B Minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio ma no troppo
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en si mineur: In B Minor, Op. 104: III. Finale (Allegro moderato)
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en si mineur: In B Minor, Op. 104: Waldesruhe (Silence Woods.) pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 68
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en la mineur: In A Minor Op. 129: I. Nicht zu schnell
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en la mineur: In A Minor Op. 129: II Langsam - Etwas lebhafter - Schneller
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en la mineur: In A Minor Op. 129: III Sehr lebhaft - Cadenza - Sehr lebhaft

Tracks:

Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en sol mineur: I. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en sol mineur: II. Adagio
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en sol mineur: III. Allegro non tanto
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en re majeur, Hob. VIIb:2: I. Allegro moderato
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en re majeur, Hob. VIIb:2: II. Adagio
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestra en re majeur, Hob. VIIb:2: III. Rondo (Allegro)
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en ut majeur, Hob. VIIb: 1: I. Moderato
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en ut majeur, Hob. VIIb: 1: II. Adagio
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre en ut majeur, Hob. VIIb: 1: III. Allegro molto

Tracks:

Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur, Op. 65: I. Allegro moderato
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur, Op. 65: II. Allegro con brio
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur, Op. 65: III. Largo
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur, Op. 65: IV. Finale (Allegro)
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en la majeur: I. Allegro ben moderato
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en la majeur: II. Allegro
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en la majeur: III. Recitativo - Fantasia (Molto lento)
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en la majeur: IV. Allegretto poco mosso
Elegie en ut mineur, Op. 24
Kol nidrei, Op. 47

Tracks:

Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: I. Prelude
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: II. Allemande
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: III. Courante
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: V. Menuetto I & II
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 1 en sol majeur, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en re mineur, BWV 1008: I. Prelude
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en sol majeur, BWV 1008: II. Allemande
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en sol majeur, BWV 1008: III. Courante
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en sol majeur, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en sol majeur, BWV 1008: V. Menuetto I & II
Suite pour violoncelle seul No. 2 en sol majeur, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur: I. Grave
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur: II. Allegro
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur: III. Sarabande
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano en sol mineur: IV. Allegro
'Judas Maccabaeus' de Haendel, en sol majeur, woO.45: Variations sur le theme 'See, The Conqu'ring Hero Comes

Tracks:

Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 3 en la majeur, Op. 69: I. Allegro ma non tanto
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 3 en la majeur, Op. 69: II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 3 en la majeur, Op. 69: III. Adagio cantabile
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 3 en la majeur, Op. 69: IV. Allegro vivace
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 5 en re majeur, Op. 102 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 5 en re majeur, Op. 102 No. 2: II. Adagio con molto sentimento d'affeto
Sonate pour violoncelle et piano No. 5 en re majeur, Op. 102, No. 2: III. Allegro - Allegro fugato
7 Variations sur le theme Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen': 'La Flute enchantee' de Mozart, en mi bemol majeur Es-dur, Op.66
12 Variations sur le theme 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen': 'La Flute enchantee' de Mozart, en fa majeur, Op.66

Amazon.com

Although most of this set is devoted to major cello concertos (Elgar, Saint-Saëns, Dvorák, Schumann, Haydn) that Du Pré played so well, perhaps the most treasurable recording is one of two Beethoven cello sonatas with the pianist Stephen Bishop (Kovacevich). Recorded very early in her career, these show Du Pré at her most eloquent, the early promise of a great career so cruelly interrupted. This set includes most of the cellist's best recordings. Too bad it's not 10 times the size. If the cellist's passion occasionally seems excessive, at least it's the right kind of flaw to have. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Mostly valuable for the sonatas & suites.......2002-07-02

Although Jackie du Pre's playing in the Elgar, Delius and Schoenberg concerti was superb, I for one simply find nothing to admire in that music. Perhaps this is my fault, perhaps not, but in general there are so many superb recordings of the Haydn and Dvorak concerti that only the sentiments surrounding her decline into MS and early death recommend them.

On the other hand, the recordings of the Chopin, Beethoven and other sonatas in the second 3 discs of this set are among the most moving recordings ever made. Jackie never had quite the golden tone or perfect technique of Feuermann or Yo-Yo Ma, and this shows itself more in the Bach unaccompanied cello suites where she plays a few scratchy-sounding turns, but the deep-down love and emotional commitment of her playing always communicated itself effectively. In short, then, I recommend this set for the sonatas & suites, but if you also enjoy these concerto recordings, you will love it all.

wonderful.......2001-04-22

this is a wonderful recording of some of the best cello music played by one of the worlds best cello players, the late jacqueline du pre. jackie had magic in her fingertips and listening to these recordings is pure joy, one of the best set I had the chance to hear.

Great record of Great cellist at Great budget price.......2000-11-04

The collection dosen't have Brahms's Cello Sonatas. But you picture her portrait by these 6 CDs( The cost is 7 dollars or less per one CD ). If you don't know what kind of cellist she was--yet, I want you to get it.

You would meet extraordinary emitted passion by Du Pre in Elgar( needlees to say, it is one of her most famous performance), Saint-Saens, Dovrak( in spite of unskillful conducting of Barenboim), Schumann. The set has not only her famous performance of the Concertos in disk 1-3, but also various Sonatas( Barenboim makes excellent piano playing in good harmony with his wife more than support) in disk 4-6.

Furthermore, the Bach's Cello Suite No.1 and No.2, as her only solo performance in this collection, are very interesting. Its passionate Bach(!!) is certainly like Du Pre.

Thanks EMI FRANCE for the great work!!

A Great Compilation of Great Cello Music.......2000-07-26

This collection, composed of the great works for the cello, is a must have in any serious classical music fan's library. It is an even better collection for the "newbie" to the genre. Jacqueline du Pre was undoubtedly one of the greatest artist of the century and her passion is well documented in this collection. Just get it...if you like classical music...you'll like this collection and the price is great too. What's to lose?

Wonderful! Indispensable! So why only four stars..?.......2000-03-19

This is definitely worth getting, and Amazon's price is right. Du Pre was one of the greatest ever (Yo-Yo Ma now owns her cello, in case any of you play Classical Music Trivial Pursuit), and I cry inwardly when I think of her early death. The Elgar Concerto alone on this set is enough to justify the purchase price. After she died, several "name" conductors vowed they would never perform or record it again with anybody, so strong was their memory of her. So why only four stars here? Two reasons: some of these performances are with hubby Daniel Barenboim conducting, and they just aren't quite in the same league as the other efforts. Just compare the Barbirolli Haydn and the Barenboim Haydn to see what I mean: both are slow-tempoed, and neither would be my top-drawer choice. But Barbirolli *almost* makes it work, and has a certain perverse logic, whereas DB is just dull and colorless and square. The second defect is the remastered sound, which oftentimes is not very good. Sure these are "historic" recordings, but they're not that old, most are stereo. Still, the sound is flat and clipped at the high end. This should not dissade anyone from getting this set, however. Just don't expect a sonic demo disc. You will get thrilling cello playing across a broad selection of repertoire.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Manufacturer: BBC Legends
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Monteux Conducts
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ASIN: B000I2IS86
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

I Allegro Con Brio
II Andante Con Moto
III Allegro
IV Allegro
I Moderato
II Allegretto
III Largo
IV Allegro Non Troppo

Average customer rating:

2 piano concertos on C major
Heavy on Concertos
A Great Pianist Before He Became a Major Conductor

Daniel Barenboim

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Claudio Arrau 3 (III) (Great Pianists of the Century series) - Chopin / Debussy / Granados / Liszt / Mozart / Schubert (2 CDs)
Rudolf Serkin
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Andrei Gavrilov
Alfred Brendel 3

ASIN: B00001IVOW
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 25 In C, KV 503: 1. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C, KV 503: 2. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C, KV 503: 3. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 1. Allegro cno brio
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 2. Largo
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro scherzando

Tracks:

Annees de pelerinage: Deuxieme annee: Italie: 4. Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Annees de pelerinage: Deuxieme annee: Italie: 5. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Annees de pelerinage: Deuxieme annee: Italie: 6. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Isoldens Liebestod
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15: 1. Maestoso - Poco piu moderato
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15: 2. Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro non troppo

Customer Reviews:

2 piano concertos on C major.......2003-03-20

On this cd the Beethoven first piano concerto in C major is done excellent. I liked the way it hhas also Mozart's C major concerto. Wagner's List's piece is also good. This is a 5 star cd.

Heavy on Concertos.......2002-10-08

So central is his position as a major conductor on the global stage today, it is easy to forget that Daniel Barenboim was hailed as one of the leading pianist-musicians of his generation almost forty years ago. Certainly his inclusion in the Philips Classics "Great Pianists of the 20th Century" series is justified, but for some reason the producer chose to emphasize Barenboim as a concerto player rather than a solo artist (let alone chamber musician or Lieder pianist). Yet all these categories have equal claims on our attention, because Barenboim is not simply a great concerto soloist, he is a consummate ensemble player -- his recordings of Lieder (with artists of the calibre of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dame Janet Baker, Jessye Norman) are some of the finest ever produced. Most of his chamber music recordings with the likes of Jacqueline du Pre (his late wife), Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Maxim Vengerov et al, are equally distinguished.
This two-disc compilation leans heavily on Barenboim's early days as an EMI artist, including one full CD of collaborations with the late Otto Klemperer. Both the Mozart Concerto in C,
K. 503, and Beethoven Concerto No. 1, are very fine performances, but there could have been even better choices. Barenboim's later, more uniformly-integrated recording of
K. 503, in which he conducted the English Chamber Orchestra while playing the solo part, is an improvement on the somewhat elephantine Klemperer performance, while the glories of his Beethoven concerto cycle with Klemperer are a truly galvanic "Emperor" and a magnificent "Choral Fantasy" (arguably the finest ever recorded) -- not the Concerto No. 1.
Meanwhile, what of Barenboim the solo player? Surely a sample from one of his two complete Beethoven Sonata sets would have been appropriate, and I would nominate the Sonata in G, Opus 31, No. 1, whose teasing wit, rhythmic dislocations and harmonic "double-entendres" are realized to perfection by Barenboim, with utter naturalness and understanding. It was a good idea to enshrine some of Barenboim's solo Liszt from the early 1980s, but why not more of the Wagner/Liszt transcriptions? Today Barenboim is acclaimed as perhaps the most important living Wagner conductor, so it would have been salutary to include more of his renditions of Liszt's transcriptions of selections from Wagner in addition to "Isoldes Liebestod" -- particularly since his Deutsche Grammophon release of Wagner/Liszt has long been out of the catalogue. It is good to have the Brahms D-minor Concerto with Barbirolli restored to circulation, but as mentioned, the musical balance in this set tips too far in favor of concerto material.
Those cavils aside, this collection remains a rewarding and engrossing window into the richest musical performing talent of our time, an artist whose abundant gifts have been called "a miracle".

A Great Pianist Before He Became a Major Conductor.......2002-09-19

So commanding is Daniel Barenboim's fame as a conductor these days, it is easy to forget that he was acclaimed as one of the leading pianist-musicians of his generation almost forty years ago! Certainly his inclusion in the Philips Classics "Great Pianists of the 20th Century" series is justified, but for some reason the producer chose to emphasize Barenboim as a concerto player rather than a solo artist (or chamber musician or Lieder pianist). Yet all these categories have equal claims on our attention, because Barenboim is not simply a superb concerto soloist, he is a consummate ensemble player -- his recordings of Lieder (with artists of the calibre of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dame Janet Baker, Jessye Norman) are some of the finest ever produced. Most of his chamber music recordings with the likes of Jacqueline du Pre (his late wife), Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Maxim Vengerov, Myron Bloom, Dale Clevenger, et al, are equally distinguished.
This two-disc collection leans heavily on Barenboim's early days as an EMI artist, including one full CD of collaborations with the late Otto Klemperer. Both the Mozart Concerto in C, K. 503, and Beethoven Concerto No. 1, are very fine performances, but there could have been even better choices. Barenboim's later, better-integrated recording of K. 503, in which he conducted the English Chamber Orchestra while playing the solo part, is an improvement on the somewhat elephantine Klemperer performance, while the glories of his Beethoven concerto cycle with Klemperer are a truly galvanic "Emperor" and a magnificent "Choral Fantasy" (arguably the best ever recorded) -- not the Concerto No. 1.
Meanwhile, what of Barenboim the solo player? Surely a sample from one of his two complete Beethoven Sonata sets would have been appropriate, and I would nominate the Sonata in G, Opus 31, No. 1, whose teasing wit, rhythmic dislocations and harmonic "double-entendres" are realized to perfection by Barenboim, with breathtaking naturalness and understanding. It was a good idea to enshrine some of Barenboim's solo Liszt from the early-1980s, but why not more of the Wagner/Liszt transcriptions? Today Barenboim is acclaimed as perhaps the most important living Wagner conductor, so it would have been salutary to include more of his renditions of Liszt's transcriptions of selections from Wagner in addition to "Isoldes Liebestod" -- particularly since his Deutsche Grammophon release of Wagner/Liszt has long been out of the catalogue. It is good to have the Brahms D-minor Concerto with Barbirolli restored to circulation, but as mentioned, the musical balance in this set tips too far in favor of concerto material.
Given that predilection, for something really enterprising Philips might have tried to track down a pirate recording made in Los Angeles in 1971. I was at that performance of Wilhelm Furtwaengler's massive Piano Concerto, in which Barenboim played the titanic solo part with Zubin Mehta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It was an extraordinary experience -- hopefully, Barenboim will re-record it with the Berlin Philharmonic. And speaking of pirates, there is a live recording (on an Italian label) of Beethoven's Grosse Fuge, played in the composer's own four-hand transcription by Barenboim with Alfred Brendel. That too, would have been a gem for inclusion here (if rights issues could have been resolved).
All cavils aside, this set remains a rewarding and engrossing window into the deepest and most phenomenal musical talent of our time -- an artist whom Radu Lupu has called "a miracle".

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A sampling of a great dramatic tenor

The Very Best of Jon Vickers

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Italian Opera Arias
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ASIN: B0006VYEIM
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Esultate! - Mirella Freni
Gia Nella Notte Densa - Mirella Freni
Ed Ora!...Ora E Per Sempre Addio - Mirella Freni
Talor Vedeste...Si, Pel Ciel - Mirella Freni
Dio Ti Giocondi - Mirella Freni
Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar - Mirella Freni
Niun Mi Tema - Mirella Freni
Ingemisco - Jon Vickers
Arretez, O Mes Freres! - Jon Vickers
C'est Toi Que Sa Bouche Invective - Jon Vickers
En Ces Lieux, Malgre Moi - Jon Vickers
Vois Ma Misere, Helas! - Jon Vickers
Seigneur, Inspire-Moi - Jon Vickers

Tracks:

Gott! Welch Dunkel Hier! - Jon Vickers
O Namenlose Freude! - Jon Vickers
O Sink Hernieder, Nacht Der Liebe - Christa Ludwig
O Konig - Christa Ludwig
Ha! Das Schiff!...O Diese Sonne! - Christa Ludwig
Gute Nacht - Geoffrey Parsons
Fruhlingstraum - Geoffrey Parsons
Die Post - Geoffrey Parsons
Der Leiermann - Geoffrey Parsons
Parle-Moi De Ma Mere! - Mirella Freni
La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee - Mirella Freni
C'est Toi! C'est Moi! - Mirella Freni

Album Description

Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

A sampling of a great dramatic tenor.......2006-07-06

Jon Vickers was indomitable, a tenor cut from larger-than-life materials with a huge, unique voice and rock-solid character. That could make him both demanding and difficult, but EMI caught him in a fantastic period when he matched forces with Karajan. The two drew the best from each other, and for once Vickers totally gave himself over to a great condcutor's guidance. As a result we have overwhelming accounts of Tristan and Otello, his two greatest roles. This double CD offers a generous sampling, but I can't imagine that listeners who don't know these recordings won't rush to buy the complete operas.

The Carmen sample is from an exciting recording with Grace Bumbry under Fruhbeck de Burgos. Here and in Samson and Delilah, Vickers' monumental approach sometimes crushes the delicacy of the music, but his fervent emotions more than carry the day (don't expect perfect French). The only work I am not enthusiastic about is the Winterreise. Vickers was committed to performing it, and the drak emotional range of Schubert's cycle suits his temperament, but his singing is too big-boned and operatic. Give it credit for good intentions. As for the rest, all of it is indispensable.

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antique recording

Heifetz Plays Beethoven & Vieuxtemps

Manufacturer: Classica D'oro
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

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ASIN: B00005A8C9
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Tracks:

Vn Con in D, Op.61: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Vn Con in D, Op.61: Larghetto
Vn Con in D, Op.61: Rondo/Allegro
Vn Con No.4 in d, Op.31: Andante/Moderato/Cadenza
Vn Con No.4 in d, Op.31: Adagio Religioso
Vn Con No.4 in d, Op.31: Scherzo: Vivace & Trio
Vn Con No.4 in d, Op.31: Finale: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

antique recording.......2005-05-10

When I purchased this CD, I was unaware it had recording dates of 1935 and 1940. The sound is greatly disappointing.

Mahler: Symphony No. 2; Beethoven: Symphony No. 3

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Mahler: Symphony No. 2; Beethoven: Symphony No. 3

Manufacturer: Living Stage
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Symphony 3: Recorded 1969

ASIN: B0001LYGO4
Release Date: 2004-03-30

The Earliest Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1

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The Earliest Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000WPJ
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Concerto In D, Op. 61: Allegro ma non troppo
Concerto In D, Op. 61: Larghetto
Concerto In D, Op. 61: Rondo
Concerto No. 5 In A, K.219 'Turkish': Allegro Aperto
Concerto No. 5 In A, K.219 'Turkish': Adagio
Concerto No. 5 In A, K.219 'Turkish': Rondeau - Tempo Di Minuetto - Allegro
Meditation, Op. 32
Scherzo Tarantelle, Op. 16

Tracks:

Concerto In D, Op. 47: Allegro moderato
Concerto In D, Op. 47: Canzonetta. Andante
Concerto In D, Op. 47: Finale. Allegro vivacissimo
Concerto In D, Op. 47: Allegro moderato
Concerto In D, Op. 47: Adagio di molto
Concerto In D, Op. 47: Allegro, man non tanto
Concerto In A Minor, Op. 82: Moderato
Concerto In A Minor, Op. 82: Andante sostenuto
Concerto In A Minor, Op. 82: Allegro

Amazon.com

Jascha Heifetz's post-war remakes of these 1934-40 concerto discs, good as they were, weren't always as warm or as involving as these versions which feature superhuman violinism and sound--often very insightful interpretations. The classic combination with Arturo Toscanini in the Beethoven leads off the collection, forward-moving with tensile strength and a flowing, inward-looking slow movement. The Mozart Turkish Concerto sparkles with grace; the Tchaikowsky is dazzling in its tonal finesse; the Sibelius, with Sir Thomas Beecham, never bettered. In his hands, even the Glazunov sounds like a major work. Terrific transfers yield sound that fully conveys Hiefetz's tonal splendors. This is Volume One; Volume Two (Pearl GEMM CDS 9167) offers two further well-filled discs of delights. --Dan Davis

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Rubinstein's First Time Around

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 9

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000051W3L
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

Pno Con No.23 in A, K.488: Allegro
Pno Con No.23 in A, K.488: Adagio
Pno Con No.23 in A, K.488: Allegro Assai
Pno Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Allegro Moderato
Pno Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Andante Con Moto
Pno Con No.4 in G, Op.58: Rondo: Vivace
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Intro
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var I
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Tema
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var II
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var III
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var IV
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var V
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var VI
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var VII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var VIII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var IX
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var X
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XI
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XIII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XIV
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XV
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XVI
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XVII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XVIII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XIX
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XX
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XXI
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XXII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XXIII
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var XXIV

Customer Reviews:

Rubinstein's First Time Around.......2001-09-09

Volume 9 of RCA's complete Rubinstein Collection contains the pianist's first recordings of three concertos from his substantial repertoire.

W. A. Mozart's Piano Concerto, K. 488 was no newcomer to Rubinstein's repertoire when he recorded it in 1931. In 1900, the then 13 year old pianist made his debut with this piece, which would remain in his active repertoire until his retirement in 1976. Rubinstein's view of this work changed over the years, as evidenced by his three official recordings of the work. While his stereo version is beautiful in an autumnal way, this early recording is probably closer to what Mozart intended. What most pianists, especially Mozart "specialists," fail to grasp these days, is that Mozart considered his Concertos virtuoso works, and designed them to "make the performer sweat." While Rubinstein never drives the music too hard, there is more tension in this recording than in the later more relaxed versions. This is especially so in the finale, taken at a breathtaking tempo. It's also nice to hear the second movement played at a listenable tempo--most pianists drag the tempo interminably here. There is, however, a small cut in the score after the first movement cadenza, which was made to fit the first movement onto two 78RPM sides. John Barbirolli, Rubinstein's favorite collaborator in those early years, leads the London Symphony Orchestra in a fine accompaniment. Purists, however, will be driven up the wall by Barbirolli's liberal use of string portamento.

Rubinstein was not as fond of Sir Thomas Beecham. In his memoirs, the pianists recalls that Beecham snubbed him during a rehearsal at the Hollywood Bowl. In an act of humorous revenge, Rubinstein offered to drive him home--peeling out of the parking lot as he informed the conductor "You're the first person I've given a ride to. I just got my license today!" Given Rubinstein's tendency to tell tall tales, this story may have been apocryphal. Nevertheless, their one recorded collaboration yielded excellent results. This is my favorite of Rubinstein's four official recordings of Beethoven's Fourth Concerto. The first movement coheres better than in later versions, the dialogue between the piano and orchestra during the Andante is strikingly caught. The finale sparkles, and there is less of Rubinstein's annoying tendency to "splash" trills here than in later versions. Rubinstein plays Saint-Saëns' rarely used and very effective cadenzas here--a welcome diversion.

Rubinstein knew Rachmaninoff casually, and heard him play numerous times. While he considered Rachmaninoff one of the greatest pianists he had ever heard, he was ambivalent about his compositions. (He recorded only the Second Concerto, the C# minor Prelude, and the Paganini Rhapsody.) This 1947 performance is more lively, flexible, and at times demonic than Rubinstein's more well known stereo remake. It is also better pianistically, with more sensitive mixing of inner voices, and cleaner passage work--all the more astonishing for being made before the era of tape editing. Although the later recording boasts far better sound, this is the version I prefer on musical terms. It almost equals the composer's own version, although my favorite recording remains the Kapell/Reiner version.

RCA has done an excellent job of restoring the 78RPM originals, with smooth side transitions, and no pitch changes.

Music Review: