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classical music:

14 reviews
Frederic Chopin, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Decca, 1996

Why are you waiting?
Ashkenazy is one of the titans of Chopin. Davidovich and Arrau are the other two. They're all you need. Get Davidovich for the concertos, (inlcuding the Krakowiak--Op 14), Arrau for the nocturnes and a few micscellaneous pieces. Ashkenazy handles everything else. (Btw, Ashkenazy vs. Davidovich re. the impromptus is a toss up. But since the impromptus aren't on this disc, you can make that ...

Essential Beethoven

5 reviews
Hans Sotin, Martti Talvela, ...

Decca, 2001

Great intro to Beethoven
Great intro to beethoven. There are many great performances by Ashkenazy, Academy of Saint Martin in the fields, Concertgetbouw Orchestra and many other exceptional artists. I would recommend this disc as it contains the masterpieces of beethoven, even though not all of them.

Mozart: Great Piano Concertos

14 reviews
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ...

Decca, 1997

EXCELLENT SELECTION AND INTERPRETATIONS
I received this 2 cd set as a gift and have played it many times - especially the slow movements which are so ethereal and soul-wrenching - and notably Vladimir Ashkenazy's interpretations of the concertos numbers 23, 24, and 20. The pianist is ably assisted by the incomparable Philharmonia Orchestra and the sound - for the most part - is more than adequate. Three of the concertos are DDD and ...

Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy

13 reviews
Johannes Brahms, Itzhak Perlman

EMI Classics, 1999

Brahms Violin Sonatas at their Best!
I feel pity for any pianist who accompanies Mr. Perlman, regardless how famous s/he is. After one hears Mr. Perlman's violin talking, whispering, begging, pleading, crying, singing, and pouring passion and love, one wonders why any other musical instruments are really necessary. It is often said that a violin is like a human voice. Perhaps it is so. But, please tell me of any singers who can ...

Rachmaninov: The Symphonies

20 reviews
Tom Krause, Sergey Rachmaninov, ...

Decca, 1998

Excellent recordings, all worth getting at any price!!!
Different people have different tastes. Without wishing to malign those who don't care as much (or at all) for this set, I'll dare say that this set is an absolute classic. [Why go only for the 2-disc set of just the symphonies instead of getting also Ostróva Mjórtvïkh (The Isle of the Dead), the Symphonic Dances and Kolokóla (The Bells) that come automatically as part of this 3-disc set?] ...

Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 1; Itzhak Perlman; Vladimir Ashkenazy; Lynn Harrell

2 reviews
Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ...

EMI Classics, 2004

Definitive Beethoven Piano Trios!
Unfortunately there are only a handful of the Beethoven Complete Piano Trios on disc. Of those, these are by far the finest. I've purchased the set by Baremboim-Zukerman-DuPre several years ago, but found their performances to be a bit dry,conservative and uninvolved in the music. The Beaux Art Trio's renditions are classics, but inconsistent. The Askenazy-Perlman-Harrell set are not only ...

Beethoven: Piano Trios, Vol. 2; Itzhak Perlman; Vladimir Ashkenazy; Lynn Harrell

3 reviews
Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ...

EMI Classics, 2004

Fine Beethoven Chamber Works
These CDs are discs 3 & 4 of the complete piano trios of Beethoven. They were recorded from 1979 to 1984, and remastered and re-issued on EMI classics in 2004; I am surprised that this is the first review posted on Amazon. The major works on these CDs are the later trios, opus 70 no 1, "Ghost", opus 70 no 2, and opus 97,"Archduke", dedicated to Beethoven's friend, pupil and benefactor the ...

Essential Tchaikovsky

1 review
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, ...

Decca, 2002

Best of the best
There's something for every Tchaikovsky lover on this disc. From Swan Lake to Onegin, many of Tchaikovsky's most-known melodies are on this disc. I'd have preferred more than an excerpt of the first movement of Piano Concerto No. 1, but this disc is a great introduction to Tchaikovsky's works.

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4

22 reviews
Sergey Rachmaninov, André Previn, ...

Decca, 1996

The champion of Rachmaninov's music.
This is a very good set of Rachmaninov's piano works for a very reasonable price indeed. For those who are unfamiliar with the great russian composer's piano works, from the blazing horns, swelling piano chords and seductive strings opening the first piano concerto you feel right away you're in for a very special musical experience. Normally, when you know and appreciate what a musician ...

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

17 reviews
Fritz Dolezal, Franklin Cohen, ...

Decca, 2001

What a deal
You get Mozart's best works in 2 CD. The sound is flawless to the common ear. Get it! if you love Mozart

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

6 reviews
Sergey Rachmaninov, André Previn, ...

Universal Classics, 2003

Great Entertainment
This is a fabulous recording of Ashkenazy performing with the London Symphony Orchestra, and his performance is enhanced by the formidable conducting of Andre Previn. It's particularly great entertainment if you are a Rachmaninoff fan!

Jacqueline Du Pre: A Celebration of Her Unique Enduring Gift

1 review
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim

Christopher Nupen, 2007

WONDERFUL!!!!!!
For me this is the best Nupen's film about Jackie. It has "Who was Jacqueline du Pré?", "Interlude with Johannes Brahms" a previously unpublished interview and "Remembering Jacqueline du Pré". It's more than 3 hours of music and words of people who knew her best to enjoy and remember the best cello player of all times. "Heart-Stopping arcchive footage" The Times

Mozart: Adagios

8 reviews
Antony Pay, Gervase de Peyer, ...

Decca, 1999

Mozart's Adagios By Outstanding Musicians and Conductors
This 2-CD reasonably priced compilation has a number of the greatest adagios Mozart composed, performed by some of the greatest conductors and musicians in the world. Mozart was such a prolific composer of incredibly beautiful music in his short 35 years that one can easily imagine a second 2-CD set of his adagios in this series. The quality of the performances and the sound quality of the ...

Romantic Adagios

7 reviews
Jascha Silberstein, Lynn Harrell, ...

Decca, 2000

A great, great collection!
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 ...

Scriabin: Complete Symphonies

3 reviews
Alexander Scriabin, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ...

Decca, 2003

Fantastic Symphony No. 3
I have all Scriabin's symphonies, but his third is by far my favorite. It is a work of such grandeur and power. The brass section of the orchestra is truly put to the test and pushed to the limits in this work. The reoccuring theme that is heard at the very beginning of the work is heard all throughout the whole symphony and remains a very prominant force in the work. I have to say that this ...

Movie Adagios

6 reviews
Janos Starker, Julian Lloyd Webber, ...

Decca, 2001

GREAT MUSIC
This is a great classical piece for the lovers of classical, as well as the ones who may hate it. These Adagios CDs get beter and better each time there is a new release. I must warn you there some good as well as some bad ones. There is a certain Adagio flavor for everyones. At the present I have others, but the ones I truly enjoy are Violin Adagios, The Piano Adagios and this one. This ...

Cello Adagios

2 reviews
Heinrich Schiff, Janos Starker, ...

Decca, 2004

really like it
This is the first classical cd I have ever bought. The two-disc album was a great price. I really love the performance of Lynn Harrell. I like the collection of Adagios because they are perfect to fall asleep to or study to.

Schubert: The Piano Trios

6 reviews
Lynn Harrell, Franz Schubert, ...

Decca, 1997

Performed with real gusto!
This recording of Schubert's two piano trios (the only two he wrote) is a real joy. Three masters of the trade provide a classy, lively, lyrical performance that is just full of enthusiasm and gusto (especially the B flat D898). I admit that I have not heard the two higher-priced recordings recommended by Gramophone, but I'd be very surprised if anyone could top this performance. This is one of ...

Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos

20 reviews
Sergey Prokofiev, André Previn, ...

Decca, 1997

Magnificent achievement!
I have this recording of all five Prokofiev concertos. The rapport between soloist and conductor is first rate. The fact that Andre Previn is an excellent pianist helps mould a great understanding and the fact that both soloist and conductor got on so well helps so much. Vladimir Ashkenazy played all the concertos very brilliantly.He doesn't overcook the interpretation and it sounds better for ...

Beethoven: The Piano Concertos

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

Decca, 1997

A perfect gem!
This CD set is a digital re-mastering of the original "Stereophonic" London recordings from 1973. The sound is crisp and clear, and enhances the masterful technique of Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Georg Solti's well-paced leadership. You would never know you were listening to an ADD rather than a direct digital recording. The dynamic range of this digital re-mastering is far superior to the ...

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