recordings rachmaninoff masterpieces retrospective

classical music:

4 reviews
Johannes Brahms, Andreas Groethuysen, ...

Sony, 1994

GREAT PLAYING
THESE TWO PIANISTS MAKE A GREAT TEAM- GREAT, FULL SOUND, AND VERY PLAYFUL. IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THEIR FOUR-HANDED SCHUBERT CD'S, WHICH ARE UNIQUE (IN A GOOD WAY) IN THAT THEY USED THE RARE 10'2" FAZIOLI CONCERT GRAND INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 9' STEINWAY.

Starker plays Kodaly

12 reviews
Janos Starker, Hans Bottermund, ...

Delos Records, 1992

Excellent but not quite Starker's greatest
This Delos CD features Starker's 1970 version of the Kodaly Op. 8 Sonata (recorded in Japan, originally for Star Records). I agree with the other reviewers; it's a marvelous performance in its way. But I don't consider it the equal of his 1956 EMI/Angel LP version, or of his greatest studio performance of the work: the 1950 version made for Period Records. In those earlier recordings ...

Bartok: Violin Concertos, Viola Concerto, 6 Duo for 2 Violins, Violin Rhapsodies; Yehudi Menuhin

3 reviews
Yehudi Menuhin, Bela Bartok, ...

EMI Classics, 2004

Beautiful music.....Bartok is my favorite.......
Menuhin with his strongly creative imagination plays these concertos with characteristic nobility of feeling during much of the Hungarian dance-rhythms. There is a comparably earthy, peasant manner in Menuhin's playing of the two Rhapsodies, and it is match by Boulez's approach, warm and passionate rather than clinical. The soloist is rather close. However, the balance responds to the ...

Archguitar Baroque

1 review
Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, ...

Dorian Recordings, 2001

The revelation of Bach on two archguitars
Masterful transcriptions of mostly Bach works for 2 "archguitars", (which sound very lute-like, but transverse almost a full piano range), unique, exceptionally beautiful tonalities--breathtakingly gorgeous largos--wow! This CD tends to stay on repeat a lot on the CD player for very good reason--it is magnificent.

The Most Relaxing Flute Album in the World...Ever!

3 reviews
Christopher van Kampen, Denis Vigay, ...

Angel Records, 2005

Sweet Lilting Flute Music to Unwind With
Crisp and clean and seductively laid back is this nice collection of 31 pieces from the composer likes of Haydn, Mozart, Bach, Debussy, Telemann, et al, performed by the greatest flutists in the world such as Bennett, Galway, and Rampal. Especially enjoying the Concerto in G by Vivaldi with harpsichord.

Moondog

4 reviews
Moondog, Sam Ulano, ...

Ojc, 1991

Eccentric Centrist
Odd-ball individuals are more common than geniuses, but Moondog is both. Harry Partch had the highest regard for this blind graduate of Julliard, whose fantastic get-up of skins, furs and horns might have detracted from the impact of less seminal music. Since he was immensely tall, he made quite an apparition. Moondog's primitivo get-up was odd, to say the least, but since Moondog was blind, one ...

Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music

8 reviews
Bela Bartok, György Sándor

Vox (Classical), 2003

Extraordinary CDs
Gyorgy Sandor, whom I remember seeing in the halls of the University of Michigan School of music many years back, does an amazing job at recording all the Bartok piano pieces. It's really incredible when an artist is able to achieve this kind of scope and do this much work. Of course, having a good teaching job at Michigan and other places and his renown helped a lot, I am sure. In any case, I ...

Reimagine

6 reviews
Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, Igor Stravinsky, ...

Anderson & Roe, 2008

Passion at its greatest!
I won't pretend to know a lot about music or playing music, but I know what I like - and I like Anderson and Roe. I first discovered them by accident when I read a news article on Duo Piano, and then did a YouTube search on the same - first coming across their Libertango piece. From that moment, I was hooked and immediately purchased their Reimagine CD. Greg Anderson and Liz Roe bring ...

American Flute Music

1 review
Various Artists, None, ...

Avie, 2004

Kahner Flute CD
I enjoyed this CD-- I have several by Kahner and this is one of my favorites. The back up is good as well.

Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings

17 reviews
Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, ...

RCA, 1992

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead.
At the time of this review, whenever you search for a phrase such as "Rachmaninoff Complete", amazon's search engine always lands on this out-of-print recording (ASIN: B000003FB7) . It's also no fun to see that it costs more than a hundred bucks! But if you type "B000A2AD2S" in the search box, you'll see the new reissued set for half the price. It's the exact same 10 CDs. Just the cover art ...

Cello

6 reviews
Barry Phillips, Todd Phillips, ...

Gourd Music, 2000

Barry Trivia
This brilliant CD is a collage of music from all over the world. When people pick up this album I think they may be expecting something with more of a Classical flare, but in fact Barry is known for his gifts as an interpreter of world music as well as an arranger/composer. Little Known Barry Facts: #1, He's a student of legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, and played in Ravi's orchestra at the ...

Sixty Years 60 Flute Masterpieces (Highlights from the Collection)

4 reviews
Malcolm Arnold, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, ...

RCA, 1999

Classical Flute so wonderful to listen to...
I love this album and am very pleased to own it. I enjoy classical, ballet music, flute music, and happy uplifting music and find this album to be a delight. Amazon service was great.

Imperial Fanfares

3 reviews
Johann Ernst Altenburg, Austrian Anonymous, ...

Naxos, 2003

And now, honored ladies and gentlemen, may we present...!
This is what you'd have to call a specialty CD. It consists entirely of fanfares--nothing but fanfares--some of them as short as 10 seconds long. An interesting idea for a CD, perhaps, but I would guess it is primarily for directors of costume dramas, period pieces, and ceremonies of various sorts. There are 76 fanfares on the disc covering composers ranging from Monteverdi to a trio of modern ...

Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz 117; 44 Duos for Two Violins

3 reviews
Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Pauk, ...

Naxos, 1995

Superb Bartokian fiddling
Bartok's solo violin sonata is one of his most haunting masterpieces, and Gyorgy Pauk's performance equals or surpasses any of the half dozen or so I have heard. The Duos are also given a wonderfully lively and accomplished rendition, and the sound on this CD leaves nothing to be desired. A genuine bargain, as are Pauk's other Bartok recordings on Naxos. I like to put my CD player on random ...

Piano Transcriptions for Four Hands

3 reviews
Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, ...

Amadis, 2000

Excellent Performances, Piano Duet Rarities, and two Masterpieces for $2.99? Easily Five Stars
Amadis is a satellite bargain label of Naxos, and in addition to being one of my favorites, I also believe it is one of the most unique bargain labels in existence. I've collected many recordings from Seraphim, EMI Classics, Point Classics and Arcobaleno, but Amadis's recording quality and standard disc price of $2.99 makes it is a unique oasis within the sea of expensive recordings. I need only ...

Carter: Chamber Music (5th String Quartet, 90+, Sonata for Cello and Piano, Figment for Cello Alone, Duo for ...

3 reviews
Elliott Carter, Arditti String Quartet, ...

Disques Montaigne, 2000

superb enlightened playing of abstracted rarefied creations
This is the only recording of the Fifth String Quartet, and I dare say it takes guts to play this work. It is deeply abstract,unfolding in a series of miniature with five Interludes which materials reoccur.The entire quartet canvas is utilized as one large timbre,where each part dovetailes and becomes completed within the part of each's brethren.A fairly democratic work. For Carter this structure ...

Most Relaxing Guitar Music in the Universe

7 reviews
Franz Abt, Isaac Albeniz, ...

Denon Records, 2005

On the mark
From the time I first attended a John Williams concert 40 years ago, I have been a collector of Spanish / Classical guitar music. I often play, on a Ramirez, some of the tunes on these two disks. The selections are wonderful examples of the world's greatest guitar music. I actually take naps while listening to these cd's. The guitarists are excellent; I only wish Denon had listed their ...

Schubert: Complete Violin Works / Octet

1 review
Schubert, Kremer, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 2003

Great Interpretation, Performance and Sound Quality
I can not believe nobody else has reviewed these wondeful performances. Schubert really suites Kremer. His sound is amazingly sweet throughout the 4 disks. A must have for a Schubert Lover. Oleg Maisenberg sounds terrific as well. In my opinion the best recording of the complete Schubert violin/piano works on the market

The 25-Year Retrospective Concert of the Music of John Cage

2 reviews
John [1] Cage, Manhattan Percussion Ensemble, ...

Wergo Germany, 1995

A primary document of the American avant-garde
It was painters Jasper Johns and Bob Rauschenberg who helped arrange this, what today is a monumental document of the American avant-garde. And this was in the late Fifties a time when these American artists had very little money. Here we have all the Cage classics. The "Sonatas and Interludes" for pre-pared piano speaks for itself. Cowell suggested this idea to Cage. So Cage while working on ...

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