I Had A Dream

I Had A Dream

ASIN: B000063W43

Track Listings

1. We Gotta Walk

2. Farther Along

3. Many Of You

4. It's A Grief

5. I Had A Dream

6. Jesus Came Down

7. Love And Family Pride

8. Orphan Child

9. Mary, I Love You

10. Behold I Am The Lord

11. In The Beginning

Tracks:

Thanks For Everything
Deep In A Dream
They Say
I Poured My Heart Into A Song
Comes Love
Melancholy Mood
All The Things You Are
How High The Moon
I Can't Love You Anymore Than I Do
Taking A Chance On Love
I Don't Want To Walk Without You
He's My Guy
I Heard You Cried Last Night
Manhattan Serenade
I Had The Craziest Dream
Mister Five-By-Five
I've Heard That Song Before
Long Ago And Far Away
Time Waits For No One
It Had To Be You
Together
I'll Buy That Dream
Some Sunday Morning
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Oh, What It Seemed To Be

Customer Reviews:

Helen Forrest--She Always Rates 5 Stars.......2005-09-13

It's hard for a lover of Miss Forrest to find fault with anything she did. This album is no exception. Her voice is scintillating as always. The sound quality is excellently reproduced--remember these songs are primarily from 78's. And the price is right. Is there anthing negative to say? One always wishes for more: if only the CD contained more selections! Helen was the best of her era. Everybody knew it then. And many of know that she is "for the ages." This album helps us understand why. (This reviewer invites people who love her to write him at pjones.@mail.nwmissouri.edu Let's keep her alive in our hearts.)

The best single-disc Helen Forrest collection.......2002-04-29

Helen Forrest was the greatest of the female big-band singers and, in my opinion, the equal of Frank Sinatra, the best of the male big-band singers. For anyone who wants to learn what she was all about, this is the place to start. Existing fans already familiar with her big-band work will want this collection as well, if only for the post-World War II duets with Dick Haymes.

This intelligently-produced single-disc collection brings together not only her best work with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Harry James, both also the best of the Haymes duets. The 25 tracks offer about as much music as you can fit on a CD. The engineers have done a good job of restoring the recordings. In some cases they sound even better than reissues from BMG and Sony, who own the masters.

The disc includes seven recordings each with Artie Shaw, Harry James, and Dick Haymes, three with Benny Goodman, and one postwar solo recording. This makes a lot of sense because Helen Forrest came to prominence and matured as a singer with Artie Shaw and did her best-known work with Harry James. The stint with Benny Goodman, who hired her after Shaw disbanded his orchestra in 1939, was a very unhappy one for Helen and Goodman did not handle her properly. The postwar duets with Dick Haymes are nothing short of wonderful and show that she was a fully mature, intelligent singer who could make just about anything sound good.

Frankly, I will never understand why Helen Forrest did not go on to a successful career after World War II, as did Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Doris Day, for example. With the exception of Ella Fitzgerald, who had "gone solo" early in the 1940s and was not a part of the big-band era for very long, Helen Forrest was not only the equal of any of the big-band singers who went on to successful careers but, in fact, was better than most of them.

HELEN FORREST'S DEFINITIVE VOCALS!.......2000-02-06

Surely one of the greatest female vocalists of the 30's and 40's, Helen Forrest's voice shines in this fantastic collection. A gifted vocalist with a liquid and ethereal voice,Forrest began her career on radio singing under various names when Artie Shaw hired her to sing with his band in early 1938. Forrest then briefly sang for Benny Goodman (a personally unhappy experience) and afterwards joined Harry James in 1941 where her voice was complimented by James' schmaltzy trumpet and fine arrangements. After singing for James, Helen went solo; she died in 1999. Listen to "Manhattan Serenade" (with James) "Time Waits for No One" and terrific duets with Dick Haymes including "It Had to Be You" "Together" and "I'll Buy That Dream".

The Electric Prunes: I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)

Average customer rating:

Good, but not great, sixties rock record.
Electric Prunes - 'I Had Too Much To Dream' (Collector's)
VERRY GOOD !!!!!
Un tanto disparejo, pero cuando aciertan...
The Electric Prunes Debut

The Electric Prunes: I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)
The Electric Prunes
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Underground
Mass in F Minor
Psychotic Reaction: The Very Best of Count Five
Incense & Peppermints
Psychedelic Lollipop / Electric Comic Book

ASIN: B00004WGY4
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
Bangles
Onie
Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoy It Less)
Train For Tomorrow
Sold To The Highest Bidder
Get Me To The World On Time
About A Quarter To Nine
The King Is In The Counting House
Luvin
Try Me On For Size
The Toonerville Trolley
Ain't It Hard
Little Oliver

Album Description

Their scintillating debut ! Bonus tracks are both sides of their 'Aint It Hard/Little Oliver' single. 14 tracks. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not great, sixties rock record........2006-06-07

Although they've almost been completely lost in the shuffle of popular music, the Electric Prunes are still remembered (in some circles, anyway) for their classic mid sixties single, "I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)." This 1967 album consists of that song and 11 others, and it makes for a decent slice of psychedelic rock and roll-ery. At thier best, the Prunes rock: The afformentioned title track is a reverb-soaked psych-pop masterpiece, complete with shimmering guitars, a rousing chorus, and some wistful, haunted vocals. The album's other single, "Get Me to the World on Time," is a rumbling raver with a thumping Bo Diddley beat and an infectious rush of melody. "Try Me On For Size" is a garage rock classic, the snarled vocals dripping with salivating machismo, while the guitars crunch out pure innuendo. "Train For Tomorrow" is an eerie, smoky psychedelic tune, while "Onie" is a surprisingly wistful ballad. "Luvin'" is a fun, if un-spectacular, blues rocker. Had this album packed twelve tunes that sound like the ones I just mentioned, it'd probably be a five star buy. However, this disc also contains some of the most embarassingly awful filler and failed experimentation ever found on a sixties record. "The Toonerville Trolly" and "The King is in the Counting House" are dull, childish, and pointless. The former sounds like a repurposed cartoon theme with self-parodyingly sneering vocals, while the latter is a pointless bit of faux baroque pop. "Sold to the Highest Bidder," despite a passionate vocal performance, isn't so hot, either.
The Prunes were a fine group, but there are much better representations oftheir sound than this album. I reccomend picking up their superb live album, Stockholm 67, which features a rendition of "I Had too Much to Dream" that positively smokes the version found here.
Overall, if you're interested in mid-sixties rock, you should definatly have this album in your collection, but be sure to pick up Stockholm first.

Electric Prunes - 'I Had Too Much To Dream' (Collector's).......2005-03-10

Originally released in 1967,this is the band's outstanding debut lp on superb reissue CD,with two bonus cuts tagged on."Ain't It Hard" and "Little Oliver",I believe I've seen before on some import compilation.Either way,they give the listener another reason to hunt down a copy of this psych classic.As for the actual album,'I Had Too...' sure conjures up some priceless memories.At least,for me.The band's only two hits are on here,the title cut,"I Had Too Much To Dream" and "Get Me To The World On Time".Just about every other track rules,like the psychedelic blow-out "Sold To The Highest Bidder","Luvin'",and the suggestive(for back then anyway)"Try Me On For Size".Most highly recommended.

VERRY GOOD !!!!!.......2005-03-10

THIS ALBUM IS A CLASSIC.I HAD TO MUCH TO DREAM LAST NIGHT
IS GREAT AND GET ME O THE WORLD ON TIME IS TO.IF YOU LIKE
PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC I WOULD GET IT

Un tanto disparejo, pero cuando aciertan..........2003-04-20

Aunque I had too much too dream (last night) es lejos lo más conocido y lo mejor de este disco, hay otros temas que destacan como Bangles, Are you lovin' me more (que suena como Floyd en Piper), la endemoniada Sold to the highest bidder y sus aires rusos y Get me to the world on time, todas excelentes ejemplos de un sonido a medio camino entre la sicodelia y el garaje. No es un trabajo parejo, se podría dividir en tres, un tercio excelente, uno bueno y otro bastante mediocre. Si bien los Electric Prunes apenas componen, el trabajo instrumental es sólido, en especial la guitarra y hay bastantes ideas dando vueltas y que desarrollarán en sus próximos intentos.

The Electric Prunes Debut.......2000-10-24

Yet again this is an album of which I have an original vinyl copy (it's getting pretty boring, eh?). If you haven't heard this but are a fan of psych/punk (a la Chocolate Watchband) you've gotta get it. It's not as good as Underground, solely due to the tracks About A Quarter To Nine, King Is In The Counting House and Toonerville Trolley which are utter ........ However, the bonus tracks (on available now on compilation CDs) more than make up for this. You won't regret buying it.

Well I'd better get back to work....

Average customer rating:

Not my favorite

If you like country rock.......................

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

Their Best - But Least Known

Third Album now a CD

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
Mason Proffit
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
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Wanted! Mason Proffitt

Movin' Toward Happiness

Bare Back Rider

Rockfish Crossing

Come & Gone

ASIN: B00081914W
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

In the Country/Sparrow
24 Hour Sweetheart
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
Hope
Freedom
500 Men
Jewel
Eugene Pratt
Mother
My Country - Mason Proffit, , Johnny Talbot

Customer Reviews:

Not my favorite.......2007-05-13

I've been a huge Mason Proffit fan since the early 70's and was happy when their work was reissued on CD since my LPs were worn. Unfortunately, this album is my least favorite. For whatever reason, the melodies, lyrics and harmonies just don't hit me the way their other albums do. Try the others first. You won't be disappointed!

If you like country rock..............................2006-03-03

Anyone that enjoys Poco, Eagles or early Pure Prairie League will surely like this album. It's country rock with a more country touch. Not a bad song on the album!

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream.......2006-02-22

Mason Proffit was led by the Talbot brothers, a band that blended country and rock, like Poco from the same period, the late 1960s. The band had several great anti-war songs like "Two Hangman," "Eugene Pratt," "Hope," and "500 Men'" the last three on this album. The Talbot brothers' vocals were very harmonious. They recently released a new album, "Still Hangin" worth checking out.

Their Best - But Least Known.......2005-11-17

This beauty became obscure soon after it was first released on LP. Less than 2 years after its release, it was deleted from Ampex Records catalog. I had just discovered Come and Gone, and wanted more, so you can imagine my delight when i stumbled across a lone copy in a cut-out bin in '74. This quickly became my favorite Proffit record, and it remains that to this day. In fact, it is one of the most prized CD's in my collection. This album has the best songwriting, just the right amount of production polish, and it packs an emotional wallop. It was the last truly honest effort before going in a more commercial direction with Rockfish Crossing and Bareback Rider.

Third Album now a CD.......2005-06-21

"Last night I had the Strangest Dream" was Mason Proffit's third album. The first two, "Wanted" and "Moving Toward Happiness" were reissued as "Come and Gone" As the third album this one is a little different than the first two. It is a little softer and the music a bit more laid back. Is this a criticism, No!,I really like this album and I ordered the CD version as soon as it was available. My point is that it is different than "Come and Gone." One thing I found true about this album is the more you listen to it the more that you appreciate the sound. It doesn't jump out and grab you the way their other albums seem to do. Their next, and last, two albums "RockFish Crossing" and "Bareback Rider" are more uptempo country and a little less folksy. "Last Night" is very antiwar and tells it's stories in a more traditional folk style. I know in the other reviews of this CD most people loved it and one person didn't care for it. This is a different form, somewhat, than Mason Proffit's other albums, but it is still worth owning and enjoying.

Offenbach: La Belle Hélène; Orpheus in the Underworld; La Vie Parisienne (Highlights)

Average customer rating:

Champagne Music!

Offenbach: La Belle Hélène; Orpheus in the Underworld; La Vie Parisienne (Highlights)

Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus; The Gypsy Baron (Highlights)
Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)
Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld / Burgess, Watson, etc (Highlights)

ASIN: B00009KHY3
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Tracks:

Overture
The Happy Bride Never Stumbles
You've Gone Too Far!
May I Make Myself Known?
My Death Appears Divinely Smiling
When Diana Leaves The Mountains
To Arms!
When Jupy Feels The Inclination
Here Comes Orpheus
When I Was King Of The Boeotians
I Thought That I Felt On My Shoulder
What Heavenly Joy Is Mine
Minuet And Galop
Overture
How Sad We've Made The Marchioness
Well Isn't That Just Life All Over?
I'm The Guide For Every Tourist
I Am A Native Of Brazil
In This Enchanting Queen Of Cities
I Am A Dab At Carving Pork
We Have Seen Sights Since Eleven... I'm A Colonel's Widow
Dinner Is Served

Tracks:

Oh, Little Cloud
When She Goes Out... Her Petticoats Go Frou, Frou, Frou
Does He Know He's Splitting Down The Back
Nobody Would Call Me A Rover
I'll Have So Much To Say
It's Most Important You Should Show
Here You See The Place
My Friends, I'm Most Delighted To See You
In Songs And Shouts... Paris Blooms Like A Flower
Introduction
To Bow To Jupiter We Gather At The Shrine
We've Had A Night Out
On Mount Ida Three Great Ladies (The Judgement Of Paris)
March And Entry Of The Kings
Entr'acte
We All Begin By Truly Trying
It Is Her That Has Sent This Sweet Love Dream
Come Here, You Kings Of Greece
When All Of Greece Has Been Ravaged
Do You See?

Customer Reviews:

Champagne Music!.......2006-07-09

Thank goodness that these well filled CDs of selections from three of Offenbach's most entertaining and tuneful operettas are available. Exactly the thing to provide some hearty nourishment for Winter nights. Ideal also for a Summer barbecue. In both cases, a glass of champagne, or at least some other bubbly beverage, would be good to have at hand - everything here no doubt will call for a toast or several.

It is so nice to be able to hear in these translations the witty words, sung with welcome clarity and meaning by these admirable artists. As I recall, there were no microphones in sight, and perhaps not even used, when this production of Orpheus In The Underworld was brought to Australia, with a few cast changes but the same sparkle as shown here. Crisp diction and lively, often lovely, singing - a great recipe for enjoyable listening indeed.

The recording sounds a bit shrill here and there, but what a churlish quibble; to Hades with such curmudgeonly qualifications! This is music to raise the spirits, and not just those from Hades.

Average customer rating:

What!? How is this possible?
Beauty and grace, charm and wit - Maury's got it all
A perfect marriage of music and lyrics
The Maury Yeston Songbook
One of the best broadway/composer compilations ever made!

The Maury Yeston Songbook
Maury Yeston , Christine Andreas , Brent Barrett , Betty Buckley , Liz Callaway , Alice Ripley , Sutton Foster , Brian d'Arcy James , and Philip Chaffin
Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

The Maury Yeston Songbook
The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Jule Styne in Hollywood
December Songs
Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00008H2LJ
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Please Let's Not Even Say Hello - Alice Ripley
Only with You - Brent Barrett
I Want to Go to Hollywood - Sutton Foster
Danglin' - Johnny Rodgers
I Had a Dream About You - Betty Buckley
My True Love - Philip Chaffin
A Call from the Vatican - Alice Ripley
Now and Then - Laura Benanti
You're There Too - Christopher Fitzgerald
Is Someone Out There? - Eden Espinosa
New Words - Brent Barrett
My Grandmother's Love Letters - Christine Ebersole
By the River - Christine Andreas
I Am Longing - Philip Chaffin
Home - Laura Benanti & Robert Cuccioli
Another Day in the Modern World - Michael Holland
Simple - Liz Callaway
Unusual Way - Brian d'Arcy James
Be On Your Own - Betty Buckley
No Moon - Howard McGillin

Amazon.com

Despite racking up Tony nominations and/or box-office success with Nine, Grand Hotel, and Titanic, Maury Yeston remains a relatively unknown Broadway auteur. And yet, what a fabulous songwriter he is. Listen to "Home," for instance: This excerpt from Phantom (the other adaptation of Phantom of the Opera) has great melodic hooks, along with natural sweep and unrestrained emotion. Like every song on this CD, it also has such dramatic drive that it easily stands on its own outside of its regular narrative frame. This collection of new recordings provides an excellent overview of Yeston's talent, juxtaposing numbers from his three best-known scores (though there's only one from Titanic) with rarities and a generous selection from his 1991 song cycle December Songs. Christine Ebersole, Liz Callaway, and Betty Buckley turn in expectedly strong performances, but watch also for Laura Benanti (the star of the 2003 revival of Nine), Christine Andreas, and Foster Sutton, who completely make the material theirs. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Description

The Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist -- who's given us the smash hit musicals Titanic, Phantom and Grand Hotel, and whose first stage show, Nine, is currently being revived in New York with Antonio Banderas -- is celebrated in song by the best stars o

Customer Reviews:

What!? How is this possible?.......2007-01-20

How could one put together a Maury Yeston Songbook cd without a track from Andrea Marcovicci? He wrote a song cycle for her. Granted there are some great singers here but a grave oversight to not include Ms Marcovicci.

Beauty and grace, charm and wit - Maury's got it all.......2006-11-14

Maury Yeston may be musical theatre's unsung genius to the public at large, but I've heard his praises sung many times. A friend convinced me to buy the original Broadway cast of "Nine", and while there were some fantastic songs and an undeniable melodic gift throughout, it left me lukewarm. The same with "Grand Hotel". And I couldn't stand "Titanic" - too big, too self-important, too reliant on booming low brass and bombastic orchestral swells.

"Phantom" was the only one of his scores that touched something other than distanced admiration in me. It was everything Sir Lloyd Webber's popera travesty could never quite aspire to - epic yet human, beautiful and touching, with songs that showed actual details and emotions. So it was with that in mind that I purchased this, figuring that maybe Maury could prove me wrong, shorn from the restrictions of a book musical format.

And by God, did he prove me right and then some.

Maybe it's the singers. Maybe it's the perfect orchestrations. Maybe it's just the absence of a plot to follow. More than likely, it's all three, but this is one of the most gorgeous, enjoyable, heartbreaking albums I've ever purchased. Yeston has assembled an impressive cast to give voice to his music - such heavy Broadway hitters as Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Betty Buckley, Christine Ebersole and Howard McGillin mix with up-and-comers like Eden Espinosa, Sutton Foster, and Brian d'Arcy James. But the most impressive turns are given by people I'd never heard of before - Johnny Rodgers (who?) has a voice spun from gold, and he's absolutely perfect in "Danglin'", a simple and powerful song despite some odd lyric choices by Yeston. Likewise Philip Chaffin in "My True Love" and "I Am Longing", and Michael Holland displays a warm and untrained performance of "Another Day in the Modern World". These three men, who I'd never heard of before, absolutely stole the show. It doesn't hurt that they're given some of the best songs from the album.

Of course, the rest of the ensemble uniformly turns in worthwhile performances. The professionalism of Broadway is gloriously evident here, each singer making their song uniquely theirs. Brent Barrett made me hear "Only With You" as if for the first time. Betty Buckley is surprisingly vulnerable in "I Had A Dream About You". Alice Ripley is her usual bundle of raw emotion in "Please Let's Not Even Say Hello", and turns in a rare comic performance in "Call From The Vatican" to great effect (listen to that surprise high note near the end! Wow, Alice!). Christine Ebersole is heartbroken, elated, vulnerable, and tough all in the course of "Grandmother's Love Letters"' 4 minutes.

There are some weak spots - Eden Espinosa is mostly one-note during her song, and while it's certainly a high note, it's nothing you haven't heard her do better elsewhere. Laura Benanti's "Now and Then" goes by without much notice, which is a shame for this talented actress. And Betty Buckley goes back to her usual high-volume stridence in "Be On Your Own", which despite its chilling music deserves a more nuanced performance than Buckley gives here. But these songs would be standouts on any other album, and it's only the company they keep that prevent them from being excellent.

Oh, and "Unusual Way", possibly Yeston's best-known song, is so beautifully performed here by Brian d'Arcy James and a three-piece band that I nearly cried hearing it. And that's quite a feat for a song that I swore never to listen to again after the seventeenth girl in a day auditioned with it (badly). But the gender swap works perfectly, and d'Arcy James' golden Irish tenor swings through the music effortlessly.

As for the band - there are no missteps here. Each song is given exactly what it needs, from the Romantic-with-a-capital-R string section on "Home", to the jazzy saxophone on "Letter From the Vatican", to "Be On Your Own", which is given a Herrmann-esque string section. Some particular touches stand out - that lovely acoustic guitar on "Danglin'", the simple piano line on "Modern World", and the sublime cello/piano outro in "Unusual Way" really stuck with me after the album stopped playing. And the recording is without fault - crisp, encompassing, personable and expansive as the mood requires. The whole album sounds fantastic.

There is such a wide range of style and substance here that each song would deserve purchasing individually. As a collection? It's bliss. If you're a fan of theater music, appreciate great vocals, or just need something to keep you company on long nights, this is required purchase.

A perfect marriage of music and lyrics.......2006-09-07

I think Yeston must be the most underrated talent in music theatre. And not just music theatre ... for as far as I know, "Danglin'" is not from a show - a jewel of a song ... and a disarmingly honest rendition from Johnny Rogers (what a beautiful voice! Why hasn't he made more CD's?) Some other favourites are "New Words" (not enough parent-child love songs out there ... and I can't imagine it could be sung any better than this), "You're there too" (with a charming and unexpected twist), "Simple" (Callaway is superb), "Only With You" (loveable rogue!) ... to name but a few. Inspired music theatre writing. A must for any musical buff, composer or singer seeking repertoire that will help them stand out from the crowd.

The Maury Yeston Songbook.......2006-08-30

A good album sung by good singers. I have been an admirer of Maury Yeston for a number of years . I am a great fan of "Nine"
which I consider his best work.(If possible try to listen to the
Australian Cast Recording with John Diedrich) I enjoy listening to artists like Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Sutton Foster,and my very favourite singer Liz Callaway. All in all a great CD to just sit back ,relax and enjoy Les Breen

One of the best broadway/composer compilations ever made!.......2006-06-29

There are so many brilliant performances on this CD that I don't even know where to begin. From start to finish, this CD sweeps you away on a rollercoaster of emotions. Now, this CD isn't perfect by any means; a few of the artists are performing songs that aren't really suited to their abilities, but the heart is there and that's really all that matters in the end.

If you love Broadway, if you love GOOD music in general, and you want to be moved by songs rather than merely entertained, you must get this CD.

The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective

Average customer rating:

Moved to tears
Nonesuch delivers.Again
harmonia in excelsis
Our greatest living composer
Wonderful CD

The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Steve Reich 1965-1995
Naive & Sentimental Music
John Adams: The Dharma at Big Sur/My Father Knew Charles Ives
25 Years: Retrospective
Century Rolls

ASIN: B00001SID1
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Lollapalooza
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Toot Nipple
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Dogjam
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Pavane: She's So Fine
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Rag The Bone
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Habanera
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Stubble Crotchet
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Hammer & Chisel
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Alligator Escalator
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Standchen: The Little Serenade
John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
Slonimsky's Earbox

Tracks:

Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Tromba Lontana
Two Fanfares For Orchestra - Short Ride In A Fast Machine
Common Tones In Simple Time
El Dorado - Part I. A Dream Of Gold
El Dorado - Part II. Soledades

Tracks:

Harmonielehre - Part I
Harmonielehre - Part II The Anfortas Wound
Harmonielehre - Part III Meister Eckhardt And Quackie
Violin Concerto - Part I
Violin Concerto - Part II Chaconne:
Violin Concerto - Part III Toccare

Tracks:

Chamber Sympony - Mongel Airs
Chamber Sympony - Aria With Walking Bass
Chamber Sympony
Hoodo Zephyr - Tundra
Hoodo Zephyr - Dissappointment Lake
Hoodo Zephyr - Hoodo Zephyr
Gnarly Buttons - The Perilous Shore
Gnarly Buttons - Hoe-Down (Mad Cow)
Gnarly Buttons - Put Your Loving Arms Around Me

Tracks:

Ensemble - I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky
A Sermon On Romance
Consuelo's Dream
Mike's Song About Arresting A Particular Individual
Tiffany's Solo
Song About The On-Site Altercation
Song About The Bad Boys And The News
Your Honor My Client He's A Young Black Man
Leila's Song; Alone (Again Or At Last)
Three Weeks And Still I'm Outta My Mind
Crushed By The Rock I Been Standing On
Dewain's Song Of Liberation And Surprise
!Este Pais! / This Country
One Last Look At The Angel In Your Eyes
Finale

Tracks:

Lollapalooza
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Toot Nipple
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Dogjam
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Pavane: She's So Fine
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Rag The Bone
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Habenera
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Stubble Crotchet
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Hammer & Chisel
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Alligator Escalator
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Standchen: The Little Serenade
John's Book Of Alleged Dances - Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
Slonimsky's Earbox

Tracks:

Harmonium - Negative Love
Harmonium - Becuase I Could Not Stop For Death
Harmonium - Wild Nights
Shaker Loops - Shaking and Trambling
Shaker Loops - Hymning Slews
Shaker Loops - Loops and Verses
Shaker Loops - A Final Shaking

Tracks:

The Chairman Dances - Foxtrot For Orchestra
Grand Pianola Music - First Movement
Grand Pianola Music - Second Movement
Grand Pianola Music - Third Movement: On The Dominant Divide
Fearful Symmetries

Tracks:

Nixon In China - Opening
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Landing Of The Spirit Of '76
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Cheers
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China - Opening
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -
Nixon In China -

Tracks:

The Wound-Dresser
Christian Zeal And Activity
Five Songs - Thoreau
Five Songs - Down East
Five Songs - Cradle Song
Five Songs - At The River
Five Songs - Serenity
Eros Piano

Amazon.com

Having earned his composing stripes after the 1960s, John Adams had the pioneering work of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley close at hand as he ventured into his trade. And, while minimalism's historical continuum helps place Adams, he used Reich, Glass, and Riley (among others) only as a starting point. And here's proof: a 10-CD retrospective of nearly all Adams's recorded compositions on Nonesuch Records, the label that also issued Steve Reich 1965-1995 and Kronos Quartet: 25 Years. Adams's Harmonium, a choral work of startling energy and effervescence, appears here in a new recording, as do distillations of both The Death of Klinghoffer and Nixon in China, two path-clearing operas. Over the span of a career covered by Earbox, Adams has returned minimalism to traditional instrumental ensembles as well as to projects that at once advanced a political commentary and took that commentary back to orchestral audiences. And so, in far less time than his predecessors, Adams created works that now play like standard repertoire pieces: The Wound Dresser and Shaker Loops and the Violin Concerto--all of them are here. What these works demonstrate is a fierce creativity on the one hand and perhaps a hunger for commercial advances on the other. Adams may at times be a bustling free thinker, but he sounds ever conscious of what audiences are listening to. As for the works themselves, they remain every bit as daunting as when written.

Some may object to particular selections. I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, for example, hardly ranks with Adams's best work. But this box isn't a mere best-of; it's an almost-all-of. At times terrifically American--especially in the news-aware operas and their narrative pragmatism--Adams well deserves a major box set, and its coverage is appropriate to his varied, stylistically diverse output. As with any large-scale retrospective, Earbox--which fairly bristles with Adams's new composition, Slonimsky's Earbox--has spots where fans might balk at the quality of the composer's writing. But it's got a fantastic accompanying booklet along with its many hours of inarguably modern and thoroughly listener-friendly music. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Moved to tears.......2004-03-18

Never before in my life was i moved so intensely and directly by classical music. I put the first cd in my player and a few minutes later tears are flowing. I find myself dancing and moving to a rythm i already seem to know. Wow, i just have to share that.

Nonesuch delivers.Again.......2002-11-27

John adams is one of the most popular living composers of"modern" classical music[I believe the cutoff point, though arbitrary is usually WWII}.I came to him late, through my husband. Modersn classical music , I said? What the hell is that?My husband kept playing bits and pieces of adams for me, and more and more i found myself amazed. and swayed. His operas have been groundbreaking{Nixon in China} controversial{Death Of klinghoffer},his compostions sublimely beautiful{shaker Loops or harmonium].HIS STATURE IS WORTHY THEN OF SUCH A MONUMENTAL CAREER SPANNING BOX SET.This 10 disc set[great value, again from NONESUCH}encompasses Adams' entire career,and though there are some misses here{I was looking at the ceiling and then i saw the sky doesnt quite fit},it is still magnificent. the Highlights are ,{for me} the Wound Dresser, Chamber symphony,Violin Concerto, of course, Shaker Loops and Harmonuim are wonderful. The true jewels here are Nixon in China,the Chairman dances and the Death of Klinghoffer,which is simply a masterpiece. The set comes with a wonderful book, which contains essay's by Robert Hurwitz {An Uncommon Man}renaud Machart[John adams as seen from europe} and Essays before an earbox by Adams himself.A Chronology and dicography are included. A wonderful study of an American original,worth the investment, Highly highly recommended

harmonia in excelsis.......2001-11-12

I must agree with Mr. Bartlett, particularly with regard to "Ceiling." It may well be because his Violin Concerto and Harmonielehre are so powerful. 4.5 stars.
Interesting, and likely intentional, is that two names in the extensive liner book fail to mention two great and glaringly obvious precursors: Carl Orff and Raymond Scott. Without "Carmina Burana," there would be no "Harmonium." Orff has his mark all over Adams's gifted and epic compositions. Similarly, though there are glib references to "cartoon music," the polymath engineer/musician Scott is a seminal figure in American music, and casts a large shadow over the witty juxtapositions and sense of play one loves in Adams's work. In all, an excellent career overview.

Our greatest living composer.......2001-07-22

As a composer, I'm staggered that anyone could fail to be gripped by this music.

That anyone can use the words "spoiled, overrated" amazes me. I emphatically disagree with "A music fan"'s review.

I don't think it's "mind-numbing"; I think it's spiritual and exciting. To me it's the most substantial music being created in our times.

I'm really sorry that anyone could fail to enjoy it, and really recommend others to listen for themselves.

Wonderful CD.......2000-04-02

This compilation should turn even the most curmudgeonly listerner into a fan. Beautifully recorded, great notes -- and it's a heck of a bargain!

Olga Guryakova sings Russian Arias & Romances

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Olga Guryakova sings Russian Arias & Romances

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

My Soul Enraptured
Tchaikovsky Duets: Domashenko and Guryakova
Songs by Fauré, Hahn and Head; Arias by Rossini and Handel

ASIN: B00005A88E
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

Aria Of The Kuma
Tatyana's Letter Scene
Iolanta's Arioso
Tell Me, What In The Shade Of Branches
If Only I Had Known
Does The Day Reign?
Final Scene - Olga Guryakova/Andrei Baturkin
Of What I Dream In The Quiet Night
The Clouds Begin To Scatter
Gorislava's Aria
Natasha's Arioso
Twilight
How Long My Friend
Lilacs
Spring Waters

Average customer rating:

Awesome musicality
Fabulous? Yes!!!

The Fabulous Victoria De Los Angeles

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Songs Of Spain / De Los Angeles, et al
Very Best of
Massenet: Werther

ASIN: B000002S5G
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Sheherazade: Asie
Sheherazade: La Flute enchantee
Sheherazade: L'Indifferent
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Le Reveil de la mariee
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: La-bas vers l'eglise
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Quel galant m'est comparable
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
Cinq Melodies populaires grecques: Tout gai!
Duex Melodies hebraiques: Kaddisch
Duex Melodies hebraiques: L'Enigme eternelle
L'Invitaiton au voyage
Phidyle
L'Enfant Prodigue: Recit. & Air de Lia: L'annee en vain chasse l'annee
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Fleur des eaux
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: Interlude
Poeme de l'amour et de la mer: La Mort de l'amour

Tracks:

Cinco Canciones Negras: Cuba dentro de un piano
Cinco Canciones Negras: Punto de habanera
Cinco Canciones Negras: Chevere
Cinco Canciones Negras: Cancion de cuna para dormir a un negrito
Cinco Canciones Negras: Canto negro
Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Llorad corazon
Coleccion de canciones amatorias: Iban al pinar
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Con que la lavare?
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: Vos me matasteis
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De donde venis, amore?
Cuatro madrigales amatorios: De los alamos vengo, madre
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Rutas
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Pregon
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Las 12
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: El pescador sin dinero
Cinco canciones playeras espanolas: Coplilla
Quatre cancons: Canco de grumet
Quatre cancons: Cancon incerta
Quatre cancons: Maig
Quatre cancons: Anacreontica
La Dama d'Arago
El can dels ocells
Canco de Sega
El combat del somni: Damunt de tu nomes les flors
El combat del somni: Aquesta nit un mateix vent
El combat del somni: Jo et presentia com la mar
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: L'Harpa Sagrada
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Lo violi de Sant Francesh
Triptic de Mossen Cinto: Sant Fransech i la cigala

Tracks:

Chansons de Bilitis: La Flute de Pan
Chansons de Bilitis: La Chevelure
Chansons de Bilitis: Le Tombeau des Naiades
Fetes galantes: En sourdine
Fetes galantes: Fantoches
Fetes galantes: Clair de lune
Noel de enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons
Chants populaires: Chanson espagnole
Chants populaires: Chanson francaise
Chants populaires: Chanson italienne
Chants populaires: Chanson Herbraique
Trois jours de vendange
Le Rossignol des lilas
Tristesse, Op. 6, No. 2
Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8, No. 1
Les Roses d'Ispahan, Op. 39, No. 4
Troujours (No. 2 de Trois Poemes d'un jour, Op. 21)
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: El pano murano
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Sequidilla murciana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Asturiana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Jota
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Nana
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Cancion
Siete Canciones populares espanolas: Polo
Doce canciones gallegas: As florinas dos toxos
Triptico, Op. 45: Farruca
Villancicos: Pastorcito santo
Psyche
Soneto a Cordoba

Tracks:

Proserpina: E dove t'aggiri
Le violette
Joshua: Oh! had I Jubal's lyre
Der Tod und das Madchen, D. 531
Die schone Mullerin, D. 795: No. 2: Wohin?
D. 547: An die Musik
Op. 59, No. 8: Dein blaues Auge
Op. 84, No. 4: Vergebliches Standchen
Op. 27, No. 1: Chanson d'amour
Op. 46, No. 2: Clair de lune
Let Us Wander
Lost Is My Quiet
Schlaf in deiner engen Kammer
Ah! lamenta, oh bella Irene
Irish Songs: Oh! Would I Were But That Sweet Linnet
Irish Songs: He Promised Me At Parting
Irish Songs: They Bid Me Slight My Dermot Dear
Welsh songs: The Dream
Mignon und der Harfner, D. 877: Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
Les Fleurs des landes: Le Trebuchet
Moglichkeit
Der Apfel
Schottische Ballade
Pastorale
Pleurs d'or
Sapphische Ode
La Partenza

Amazon.com

The word "fabulous" seems vulgar when applied to the Spanish diva whose delicately shaded voice encompassed music from the middle ages to the present. This four-disc compilation emphasizes her song repertoire, to which she brought warmth, intelligence, linguistic integrity and irresistible sincerity. Her dignity makes listeners want to come to her, and she rewards them with an intimate, personal experience, especially in this small-scale repertoire by Ravel, Debussy, Duparc, Fauré, lots of Spanish composers and German masters such as Schubert and Brahms. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Awesome musicality.......2006-07-26

This 4-CD set is a tribute to the concert career of the great Victoria de Los Angeles. The first 3 CDs show her totally at home in the art song of France and of her native Spain. In the French art songs, her silvery, creamy tone, her legendary legato and her perfect French diction make for wonderful and unforgettable performances. These include a sensual Scheherazade, magnificient singing in the Duparc songs and a phenomenal Poeme de L'amour et de la mer of Chausson (try to keep your eyes dry by the end of La mort de l'amour). In the Chausson, while de Los Angeles does not opt for the intensely Wagnerian approach, her sensitive singing more than does justice to the poetry and the feelings of the character. The Spanish songs showcase de Los Angeles at her most natural, flamboyant and attractive singing. The tunes are catchy, full of bouncy rhythms and De Los Angeles's fabulous voice never ceases to amaze. The 4th CD shows the wonderful chemistry between de Los angeles and the great Gerald Moore. While she does not erase memories of Fischer-Dieskau and Schwarzkopf in the Schubert selections, the Brahms songs are excellent and her Faure songs here are earth shaking in their elegance and refinement. The Italian and the famous Handel aria helps to prove De Los Angeles's reputation as an excellent bel canto singer. Her duets with Fischer-Dieskau are absolutely memorable and gorgeous.
The set comes with booklet including full words plus translations, helpful notes on De Los Angeles's concert career and a dozen of beautiful and rare black and white photos. Victoria de Los Angeles's concert career was as prolific as her legendary operatic performances and continued well after her retirement from the operatic stage. This introspective and almost encycopledic release is a real treat and is absolutely recommended. I totally agree with the editor's review who states that the word "fabulous" fails in every respect to fully capture the artistry of the Spanish soprano. Victoria de Los Angeles is definitely one of the most wonderful lyric sopranos of the 20th century and is one of the most heavenly artists to have ever graced the concert scene. A must-have for any collection.

Fabulous? Yes!!!.......1999-09-13

The album is a marvelous sampling of this great singer's artistry. Her performances of the French and Spanish composers are something special. The De Falla "Seven Popular Folksongs" are powerful, passionate; the last song, "Jota," raised the hair on the back of my neck.

I was delighted to see Faure's "Claire de lune" on the album, and equally delighted with De Los Angeles' elegant rendition of this work. The only recording of the song I've liked better is from an LP featuring Frederika Von Stade.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful recital.......2000-05-08

Julia Varady is a Romanian-born singer of Hungarian descent who has been active in Germany for the last twenty-five years, although she retired from the stage recently. (She's also married to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.) This was her first Lieder recital, recorded in the early 1980s, and it presents a healthy, generous voice of almost spinto propotions in a repertoire very well suited to her interpretive gifts. The voice has a mezzo-like richness, capable of wide range of tone colors, but most impressive are her free, vibrant, easy top notes. She's best described as an energetic, passionate singer who lives the drama of the texts. The result is impetuous and often thrilling, if lacking a little in subtlety. It's a shame Varady isn't better known outside of Europe, because this is a world-class voice.

Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)

Average customer rating:

On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals
Lovely
A Beautiful Disc
A stunning burst onto the world stage
Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential

Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)
Antonin Dvorak , Bohuslav Martinu , Leos Janacek , Magdalena Kozená , and Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Songs: Magdalena Kozena
Magdalena Kozená - Le belle immagini (Mozart, Gluck, Myslivecek)
Lamento
French Arias
Bach - Cantatas BWV 199, 179, 113 / Kozená · Towers · Padmore · Loges · Gardiner

ASIN: B00004SDO1
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

Love Songs: Oh, Our Love Does Not Bloom
Love Songs: Death Dwells In So Many A Heart
Love Songs: Now I Stumble Past The House
Love Songs: I Know That In Sweet Hope
Love Songs: Gentle Slumber Reigns Over The Countryside
Love Songs: Here In The Forest By A Brook
Love Songs: In The Sweet Power Of Your Eyes
Love Songs: Oh, Dear Matchless Soul
New Miniatures: The Rich Sweetheart
New Miniatures: The Forsaken Lover
New Miniatures: Lounging
New Miniatures: The Inquisitive Girl
New Miniatures: The Cheerful Girl
New Miniatures: The Unhappy Lover
New Miniatures: The Request
New Miniatures: The Tall Tower
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: Ponies On The Fallow Land
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: The Lost Little Slipper
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: A Religious Song
Songs For A Friend Of My Country: An Invitation
Four Songs: You Heartfelt Songs
Four Songs: Oh, That Was A Beautiful, Golden Dream
Four Songs: In Pain, My Heart Often Broods
Four Songs: Silence On The Mountains
Lullaby
Songs For One Page: Dew
Songs For One Page: Unlocking With A Single Word
Songs For One Page: Journey To The Beloved
Songs For One Page: The Footpath
Songs For One Page: At Mother's
Songs For One Page: The Virgin Mary's Dream
Songs For One Page: Rosemary
New Slovak Songs: So Tell Me
New Slovak Songs: I Had A Blouse
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Who Is The Posy For?
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: A Lover's Picture
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Little Posy
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Constancy
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Love
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Parting
Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: My Lover's Horses
Good Night, My Darling

Amazon.com

The composers Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu might not be the names that first spring to mind when love songs are mentioned, yet this fascinating collection gives us a taste of what delights we have been missing. They range from seven Moravian folk songs, collected by Janácek at the turn of the century, to songs written by Martinu in the U.S. in 1942. There's also early Martinu--including songs he collected in Slovakia in 1920--plus the world-premiere recording of Songs for a Friend of My Country, a cycle he wrote in France in 1940 on his way to America. All of these songs are of interest in giving us another aspect of each composer's work; most have much more to offer. Many are achingly lovely, especially those by Dvorák--including his Op. 2, a reworking of four songs from a cycle he had written almost 20 years earlier, and Love Songs, a revision of eight songs from the same cycle. "Good night, my darling," from his 1886 cycle In Folk Tone, is worth the price of this CD alone. Czech mezzo Magdalena Kozená, who put together the program, sings with pure, attractive tone. Graham Johnson is her excellent accompanist. --Richard Fawkes

Customer Reviews:

On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals.......2005-05-19

Combing the recorded literature to find CDs that showcase singers who not only own brilliant vocal gifts but who also possess the intelligence to program recordings of lesser known works in a sequence that makes for intelligent recitals, it is becoming more obvious that there are many singers who opt for purity of purpose rather than 'salesmanship' of careers in the PR arena. Magdalena Kozená is one of these gifted singers whose intelligence and sensitivity match her physical and vocal beauty.

LOVE SONGS is a tastefully selected panorama of lesser-known songs by Kozená's fellow countrymen (Czech) Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu. And while many of the Dvorák and Janácek songs have been occasionally heard in recitals, the Martinu "Songs for a Friend of My Country", an exquisitely beautiful work written in 1940, here receives its World Premiere recording. Kozená's voice is in prime condition for these songs and she is ably accompanied by pianist Graham Johnson. The special flavor of these Slavic emotions and songs has rarely been so well captured.

But over and above the beauty of Kozená's performance of these neglected masterpieces shines the glow of her sensitive programming. Recordings such as these are rare and should be included in the libraries of those who appreciate the lieder genre. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 05

Lovely.......2004-03-25

This is a beautifully performed selection of Czech lieder. Kozena has a lovely voice and sings with precision and nicely modulated emotion. The accompanying pianist, Graham Johnston, is excellent. Despite the title, not all these songs are love or romantic songs but all are well worth hearing. The selection of songs is excellent. Different listeners will prefer different songs. For me, the highlight of this recording are the rarely heard Martinu songs, many of which exhibit the lyrical aspect of his compositional style. Recommended strongly.

A Beautiful Disc.......2002-01-06

This is simply a magnificent recording. I like it better every time I put it on. The voice is fresh, supple, and expressive. I even find myself trying to learn some of the Czech words (from the translation in the booklet) they sound so nice. Both Kozena and the brilliant piano contributions by Graham Johnson are faithfully caught on the recording. There is enough variety and contrast that one doesn't tire in the least (over the generous 67 minutes of playing time) of hearing these playful, sometimes poignant, songs. One of the best discs, in terms of programming, performance, and sound quality, of the past couple of years.

A stunning burst onto the world stage.......2001-12-17

Magdalena Kozena is suddenly known around the world, thanks to this stunning disc of 42 lieder from her Czech homeland. Most of the songs are short - some come in under a minute, the longest 3-4 minutes. Each is a little gem and many have never been recorded before.

Kozena's voice is sheer delight. She does have resonances in her voice which are reminiscent of her compatriot, Lucia Popp, but is certainly a mezzo - although she has chosen her repertoire well so we hear no strain at the top. Her low resonances are delightful and consistent with her head voice. To compare Kozena's voice to that of the late diva (Popp), it is more pure, more consistent in tone from top to bottom, and doesn't have so much of the `squeezey' quality which Popp used to great effect in evincing the passion of her characters. Kozena can empty her voice of vibrato or let it out rich and full, and uses all her vocal resources to great effect in contrasting the individual songs. She has astoundingly mature lieder-singer's technique for such a young singer.

This recording rightly won a Gramophone award this year. Kozena deserves all the accolades she receives for this - doubtless all listeners will develop their own favourites from these delightful miniatures.

Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential.......2000-10-08

What a wonderful, carefully thought out CD! Kozena obviously revels in these rarely performed songs by Dvorak, Martinu, and Janacek, and Johnson accompanies with his usual ease and sensitivity. What a pity the piano is balanced distantly -- we hear little of Johnson's variety of touch and dynamics. As for Kozena, she is obviously an intelligent musician with a voice of great potential. It is qutie beautiful as it is, yet the colour is still rather pale. Yes, there is something of the late Lucia Popp's timbre, yet it has little of Popp's depth and range of colour. BBC Legends released a CD of Popp a year ago which includes three Dvorak songs also sung by Kozena. The differences are quite marked -- while Kozena's timbre and interpretation suggests a dreamy yet earnest youth, Popp brings out an autumnal glow and a sharp pain that pierces at least this listener's heart. Kozena has started a wonderful career. Only time will tell how her voice will develop. I do hope it goes in the direction of Popp's unique lyric timbre. No one could ever equal Popp (perhaps it's obvious by now that Popp is my favorite singer of all time), but perhaps Kozena will become something of Popp's heir, while still being her own person. I hope so. But her musicality is not in question. Let's keep our ears open!

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