symphonies pilgerfahrt zauberflote philharmonic

classical music:

Bach: Cantatas BWV 80, 140, 147; Jesu, meine Freude

2 reviews
Hans Sotin, Thomas Hemsley, ...

EMI Classics, 2006

Beautiful and serene.
I was looking for the Bach piece "sleepers awake" which is just one of the most beautiful pieces of music. After an extensive search I found this record. The sound quality and superb choir make this a must have.

Essential Beethoven

6 reviews
Hans Sotin, Martti Talvela, ...

Decca, 2001

Wonderful selections
My kids and I have really enjoyed this CD. This is a great collection of music with high quality performances.

Rossini - Petit Messe Solonnelle ~ Stabat Mater / Pavarotti, Freni, Lohrenger, Minton, Valentini-Terrani, ...

3 reviews
Gioachino Rossini, London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, ...

Decca, 1997

The best performance of this enchanting mass
Rossini's last major work, the petite messe solennelle, is in the tradition of haydn's last six masterful masses in the geniality and at many times happiness of the music. The version recorded here is the first version as soloists and chor are accompanied by piano and harmonium. The first version is genarally regarded as superior to the second one which Rossini orchestrated himself and asked ...

Weber - Der Freischutz

7 reviews
Gottlob Frick, Arlene Saunders

Arthaus Musik, 2007

Finally, a Fabulous Freischutz!
Here is another marvelous Rolf Liebermann production. It is one of a newly available stream of performances by the Hamburg State Opera, featuring the excellent American soprano, Arlene Saunders, who outdoes herself here in the role of Agathe. What makes this DVD of Der Freischutz stand out is the presence of several of the more illustrious artists of a previous era, including the delicious ...

Mahler: Symphonies #4 & 8 'Symphony of a Thousand' - Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir

2 reviews
Jorma Hynninen, Hans Sotin, ...

EMI Classics, 2006

yes, the remastering is an improvement
Unless you want your Mahler 8th on a single disc, this may now be the best overall recommendation of any. I like the Gary Bertini/Cologne Radio S.O. M8 best of all, but you can only get it in the box set of his whole cycle. The Naxos one might be slightly better conducted (Antoni Wit), but the soloists are clearly better on the Tennstedt. The inclusion of Tennstedt's surprisingly lively account ...

Beethoven - Fidelio

9 reviews
Lucia Popp, Gundula Janowitz

Deutsche Grammophon, 2007

BERNSTEIN LEADS A GREAT PERFORMANCE
This performance is far more than the sum of it's parts. Several reviews have found valid things to complain about. Janowitz has not got quite a big enough voice for Leonora, yet she brings a humanity to the role that evaded Flagstad and Nilsson. Benackova has the voice for Leonora, but is not visually credible. Benackova is wonderful as the Bartered Bride. If we accept the concept that ...

Mahler - The Complete Symphonies / LPO, Tennstedt

15 reviews
Gustav Mahler, Klaus Tennstedt, ...

EMI Classics, 1998

Classic Sound of Mahler from LPO
Tennstedt has his unique ways and skill of engeenering the sound of Mahler's symphonies. Personally, I enjoy this CD set of Symphony 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9

Wagner - Parsifal

8 reviews
Siegfried Jerusalem, Bernd Weikl

Deutsche Grammophon, 2007

Enthralling
It's not hard to imagine more subtle sets and costumes. Yet these, despite their obviousness, are never less than effective. The performance is all one could wish. I've never arrived at a convincing interpretation of this mysterious work. It's the most magical and most beautiful of fantasy operas, whose enduring mystery is central to its allure. It seems to me the perfection of Wagner's ...

Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies

20 reviews
Ludwig van Beethoven, Georg Solti, ...

Decca, 1990

Solti's Great Beethoven- an essential!
Reviewers would tell you that Karajan's first Deutsche Grammophon recordings is the Beethoven cycle to own. While I believe that Karajan's string-rich virtuoso view of Beethoven's score is refreshing, a quick comparison of the score and Karajan's music shows that he often takes a very Wagnerian (rubato) view of the score. Most people believe that Wagnerian entails a brassy, loud "heavy-metal" ...

Tannhauser

4 reviews
Heinz Feldhoff, Gwyneth Jones

Deutsche Grammophon, 2008

Captures the spirit of Bayreuth
There are many videos of Bayreuth performances, but this was the first. For that reason alone, it's worth watching; fortunately it isn't the only reason. Unlike later recordings, this one includes curtain calls. I think this was an excellent decision, since it evokes the thrill of being part of a Bayreuth audience. Only in Bayreuth will an audience remain absolutely silent until the last note ...

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

25 reviews
Hans Sotin, Ludwig van Beethoven, ...

Decca, 1995

WGOD
Anyone whose neck hairs don't rise when listening to the Ninth Symphony's choral part has no soul. Pastors should periodically play it to keep their flock from ever doubting there's a god. In case you miss the point, the Ninth is the closest that a piece of music has ever come to perfection, especially when the climax approaches the stratosphere as the bass, tenor, alto and soprano soloists ...

Schumann: Requiem Op. 148, Der Rose Pilgerfahrt Op. 112, Requiem fur Mignon Op. 98b, Mass Op. 147 - Wolfgang ...

2 reviews
Bruno Pola, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, ...

EMI Classics, 2006

Fast delivery, new CD, top condition
Very fast delivery, even all the way from USA to Norway. Item in top condition.

Bach: Cantatas Nos. 80, 140, 147; Motet

5 reviews
Hans Sotin, Thomas Hemsley, ...

EMI Classics, 1997

Excellent Stuff
I am a relative newcomer to Bach's cantatas, so this review might not carry much gravitas but anyone's free to contradict me. I thought this was an excellent recording of some of Bach's most loved and well known cantatas, and this double-disc offers excellent value for money. Cantata 147 was superb, and thankfully was not sung in English as I have heard before but in German obviously as it should ...

Beethoven: The Collector's Edition [50-CD Box Set]

2 reviews
Serge Collot, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, ...

EMI Classics France, 2007

A Fine Box of French Beethoven
Most of the material in this box hasn't been re-issued much in the United States. It is mainly French EMI productions -- Cluytens/Berlin for the symphonies (around the time of the Karajan/Berlin recordings), Eric Heidsieck in the sonatas (recordings made from 1970 to 74, shortly after he had performed them all from memory in Paris, where the reviews were rapturous as I recall), Ferras in the ...

Berg - Wozzeck

3 reviews
Toni Blankenheim, Sena Jurinac

Arthaus Musik, 2007

A Gripping, Beautifully Filmed and Performed 'Wozzeck'
Rolf Liebermann, the legendary Intendant of the Hamburg Opera, filmed a number of operas but always said that this film of 'Wozzeck' was his favorite and I can see why. It is beautifully filmed in claustrophobic style in the grounds and buildings of a decrepit Bavarian castle, and sung gloriously. Of course, since it is a film, not a studio or stage production (although it was based on a stage ...

Christus am Olberge

1 review
Hans Sotin, Ludwig van Beethoven, ...

EMI Classics, 2004

Excellent Recording of an Under-Appreciated Work
Beethoven's Christ on the Mount of Olives is rarely performed or recorded, and is often criticized for its mixture of operatic and oratorio forms (which are not so different to begin with). However, it's a wonderful little piece that has more affinities with Mozart's Magic Flute than Bach's Passions. It includes a lovely duet (gorgeously sung here by Gedda and Deutekom), an even better trio, a ...

Mozart - Die Zauberflote

4 reviews
Nicolai Gedda, Cristina Deutekom

Arthaus Musik, 2006

Outstanding film; great historical document
Here is a real find: a 1971 film on DVD of Die Zauberflöte, directed by Peter Ustinov, done by the Hamburg State Opera, conducted by Horst Stein. Check out this cast: Tamino: Nicolai Gedda Pamina: Edith Mathis Sarastro: Hans Sotin Königin der Nacht: Cristina Deutekom Papageno: William Workman Papagena: Carol Malone Monostatos: Franz Grundheber Speaker: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau 2 Men ...

Wagner: Lohengrin

19 reviews
Richard Wagner, Sir Georg Solti, ...

Polygram Records, 1990

Domingo and Norman make a bella voce duo
The VPO and Solti are a dream team for Wagner. This is my favorite Wagnerian score; most of Wagner's operas seem to go on forever, endless narrations etc. but except for a few minutes in act 2, this one moves along as nicely as a Verdi's best works. This recording bring together two very beautiful voices for Lohengrin and Elsa; Domingo and Norman create a sonic feast for the ears and what a ...

Beethoven: Fidelio
Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 2005

Part of "Originals" Series.

RCA Opera Treasury - Verdi: Aida / Leinsdorf, Price, Domingo, Milnes, Bumbry, et al

15 reviews
Giuseppe Verdi, Hans Sotin, ...

RCA, 1999

The Perfect Aida: The Very Best
The Red Seal RCA Label has produced simply the best opera performances on record and this Aida stands out as the best possible in the many Aidas out there on the market. The favorable reviews by other critics attest to the beauty and grandeur of this unsurpassed recording starring the ultimate Verdi diva of the 20th century Leontyne Price. "My costume for Aida was my skin" Leontyne Price said, ...

search for classical music
philharmonic, pilgerfahrt, symphonies, valentini-terrani, zauberflote

Impressum / about us