Solo Concert [Live]

Solo Concert [Live]

ASIN: B0000261KX

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This CD catches guitarist Ralph Towner at a 1979 solo concert, but as the title of the closing John Abercrombie tune suggests, there's a timeless quality to Towner's music, from crystalline runs to singing harmonics. It's not just the unadorned sounds of his acoustic 12-string and classical guitars but what he does with them. Towner's astonishing 12-string technique reaches back through folk sources to suggest a baroque harpsichord, while his modal improvisations return the Miles Davis influence (e.g., "Nardis") to its original flamenco and near-Eastern sources. While the appeal of combining folk, classical, world, and jazz elements can easily lead to pastiche, this concert emphasizes shared features. What could easily be the display of empty technique in lesser hands becomes whole music in Towner's hands--a complex, rhythmically vital, personal idiom. --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

Sonata for violin & piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30/3 No.3
Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18
Nocturne for piano No. 21 in C minor, B. 108
Variations on "The Last Rose of Summer" for violin solo
Beau soir ("Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivihres sont roses"), song for voice & piano, L. 6 Transcribed for violin & piano
Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert for violin & piano (or orchestra)

Customer Reviews:

Technical virtuosity!.......2005-11-26

I'll preface this review by saying that I've been disappointed in the past with some of Midori's recordings. She was never lacking in technical skill, and RARELY does she have intonation problems. I did have issues with her musicalty. It is in technically difficult pieces (like the Paganini caprices) that her skills shine.

This recording is a dazzling display of technical ability and artistry. Midori has the audacity to attempt Ernst's 6th polyphonic etude (The Last Rose of Summer) in a LIVE recital. She pulls it off without error except intonation issues on a few notes (easily forgiven!). The CD is worth owning for this one piece alone.

The Beethoven and Strauss sonatas are played with wonderful clarity and.. dare I say... musicality. The sound quality is excellent save a few audible coughs from the audience which come with live recordings.

GREAT STUFF.......2003-11-02

This CD is ample evidence of Midori's virtuosity, coupled with first-rate musicality. However, I have to disagree with one reviewer's assertion that she is non-pareil. Indeed, her Ernst is not perfect, though it comes very close. Careful listening will pick up slight intonation errors.Ricci performed with more facility. It is utterly ridiculous to place her above Heifetz, or even Perlman. And it is even more ridiculous to suggest that those two violinists were afraid to record the Ernst. Midori is great, but not as great as Heifetz or Perlman or Ricci.

A Walk in the Park.......2001-08-07

Not to toot my own horn; I play four instruments for over forty years. So what? Don't just listen to the music. Listen to the notes. Midori miss a note? I rather doubt it. The orchestra may be taking a day off for a walk in the park; but, Midori's persisting drive brings them back time and time again. All of the artists seem to be a bit stiff in their presentation. It's noticeable if you listen. One never knows if their review will be implemented. Mine will always deal with the worlds of difference between hearing the work and listening. This reviewer is not concerned with Midori's ability to equal or surpass another's work. I am interested in what her presentation does for me on it's own merit. Frankly, I am surprised that she doesn't catch her instrument on fire much like the rubing of sticks together until the heat brings forth fire. Midori is fire.

A Master shines !!!.......1999-06-12

What can be said about Midori that a fan doesn't already know ? Again, her unique, beautiful style is on display.

I've listened to this Strauss Sonata many many times and I feel Midori has created a miracle on a CD. Such emotion, timbre, richness of tone... a violin can NOT sound better...

I luv Midori..... !!

Supreme artist and virtuoso playing spellbinding music!.......1998-09-10

Four days before her nineteenth birthday, standing for the first time on the stage of a legendary building, in front of a sellout crowd (3000), Midori delivers an extraordinary 100-minute long program, from memory. Unfortunately, the CD version can only include 75 minutes of it, and thus excluded Mozart's sonata K.301 and a resplendent tour de force of Sarasate's Zapateado. Therefore, I sincerely exhort anyone who's interested in Midori to buy the LD or VHS version.

The second piece of the program is the magnificent, hyper-romantic, yet seldom recorded sonata by the young Richard Strauss. In contrast with the previous piece, this ultra-dramatic sonata is marvellously rich in content and expressive opportunities, and one can scarcely imagine it being played more effectively by someone else. Midori's technical finesse and enchanting tone, governed by a contemplative mind and a feverishly ardent heart, ready to pump out into the rapt audience at any moment, culminate in an immensely moving rendition. The listener must also credit the pianist Robert McDonald's spirited and sensitive playing. One can't help wondering why one so rarely hears this splendid piece.

This enigma is not so confounding after one listens to Heifetz's 1954 studio recording of the same piece. Seasoned critic Henry Roth declares that the Strauss Sonata "belongs" to Heifetz in the sense that few would dispute his supremacy. Indeed, Heifetz championed this work throughout his career, yet apparently to little avail; were Midori in Heifetz's position, she would positively have widely popularized the work.

Midori begins the second half with Beethoven's Sonata No. 8. She captures the gaiety and animation of the outer movements as well as anyone else, yet they are not fully gratifying. In the first movement, the exposition is repeated, later recapitulated, but unbelievably, her interpretations-though individually superb-of these three times are virtually the same, lacking in variety. In the third movement, her pursuit of wanton vivacity in a certain passage sacrifices the tone quality. Yet her slow movement is super-sensitive, particularly in transitional passages; it is the finest rendition of this movement I've ever heard--even superior to Szeryng's.

The following piece--Ernst's Variations on "The Last Rose of Summer"--I consider to be one of the three most technically demanding pieces ever written for the violin, together with Paganini's variations on Nel cor piu non mi sento and God Save the Queen.

The most horrendous part is about halfway through the middle, when the left hand plucks the celebrated theme, and the bow plays legato arpeggios across all four strings as an accompaniment at the same time. Don't forget that the left hand also has to press the swift arpeggio notes! Then the left-hand pizzicato is exchanged for artificial harmonics, singing the melody while the arpeggios still whirl around. The pizzicato returns to repeat the dumbfounding passage, and then she heads into the final variation, designed to exhibit the violin's kaleidoscopic tone colors: Harmonic staccatos-one of the ultimate tests in precision and coordination of both hands-juxtaposed alternately with a blizzard of double-harmonics, huge octave leaps, full-pelt runs up and down a single string, fingered octaves, pizzicato, etc.

Midori audaciously elected to play in her New York debut this terrifying piece which, as far as I know, only Ricci, Kremer and Vengerov to date have recorded in history; Heifetz and Perlman undoubtedly have never dared to take up its stratospheric challenge. Double-harmonics often make a good violinist sound like two bad ones, but Midori, with her exceptionally lengthy, slender, and agile fingers, effortlessly negotiates these intricacies and makes them sound as if they were played by two fine flutists. This will no doubt render multitudes of violinists, such as Heifetz, green with envy. The fiendishly difficult fireworks are all tossed off with lithe gracefulness and seeming ease; the left-hand pizzicatos are articulate, the harmonics pellucid, the octave shifts pure in intonation, and the tone quality immaculate. To be relentlessly critical, in this live concert, there were a paltry two or three fleeting notes that weren't of perfect pitch. See if you can find an edited studio recording closer to perfection.

Midori's prodigious prowess lies not only in her ability to make the most herculean pieces sound easy, but make them sound musical. We can try to forget about all the pyrotechnics; rather than marvel at her unprecedented instrumental mastery, we can immerse ourselves in the wonderfully beautiful music, and savour the bountiful nuances.

Anyone would badly need a respite after performing such a strenuous piece, and Midori gave her hands--but not her mind and heart--a brief relief in Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor. Here's another meticulously thought out and superbly expressive rendition that, complemented with a most sympathetic tone, can hardly fail to melt the attentive listener's heart.

Ravel's Tzigane [gypsy] begins with a long oration of the solo violin, the first part of it entirely on the G string. In some other versions, e.g. by Francescatti, the solo part sounds inert, mundane, and monotonous; certainly that is not what I expect from Midori. Even solely on one string, Midori, by dint of divergent bow pressures, portamentos and vibrato, plus rubato, creates a most colorful, elastic, luscious, bewitching, yet doleful tone. Throughout the piece, she perpetually captivates the audience with her breathtaking technical wizardry, variegated and multi-dimensional tone, boundless array of expressive devices, stark dynamic contrasts, and subtle phrasing.

Due to the limited space here, I cannot pinpoint several startling details of Midori's innovative rendition. To sum up, one can only be awe-struck by her sophisticated mind, natural gypsy spirit, and dazzling virtuosity, which results in a performance that brought the house down.

Tracks:

Charmaine
Jealousy
Sous Les Toits De Paris
La Cucaracha
Wyoming Lullaby
Pavanne
Diane
Warsaw Concerto
Caribbean Calypso
Serenade
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Adios, Muchachos - Concert Tango
Mexicali Rose
Holiday For Strings
Greensleeves
Hear My Song, Violetta
Symphony
Ramona
Gypsy Legend
Dreaming
The Legend Of The Glass Mountain
Village Swallows From Austria
La Mer
I Live For You
Some Enchanted Evening

Helmut Lotti Goes Classic: The Red Album [Special CD & DVD Edition]

Average customer rating:

Helmut Lotti Red Album

Helmut Lotti Goes Classic: The Red Album [Special CD & DVD Edition]

Manufacturer: Xxl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000B8TIP4
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Customer Reviews:

Helmut Lotti Red Album.......2007-07-01

I am a big fan of Helmut Lotti and was very happy to receive this purchase very quickly, packaged nicely and in great condition. This is a wonderful treat for our holiday weekend staying at home. Thank you

Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings

Average customer rating:

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead.
6, or Even 7 Stars!
A must have for Piano and classical music lovers
Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you
Review from a spoiled modern listener

Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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Similar Items:

Beethoven: 29 Piano Sonatas / Gilels
Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov--Ampico Recordings (1919-29)
Liszt: Piano Works
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff
Shostakovich: The String Quartets

ASIN: B000003FB7
Release Date: 1992-09-15

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Moderato; Allegro
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Intermezzo: Adagio
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Finale: Alla breve

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Vivace
Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Andante
Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro vivace
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Largo
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Introduction: Allegro vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation I: (Precedente)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Tema: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation II: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation III: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IV: Piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation V: Tempo precedente
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VI: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VII: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VIII: Tempo I
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IX: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation X: Poco marcato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XI: Moderato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XII: Tempo di minuetto
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIII: Allegro
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIV: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XV: Piu vivo scherzando
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVI: Allegretto
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVII: (Allegretto)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIX: A tempo vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XX: Un poco piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXI: Un poco piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXII: Un poco piu vivo (Alla breve)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIII: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIV: A tempo un poco meno mosso

Tracks:

Isle Of The Dead, Op. 29
Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Lento; Allegro moderato
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Adagio ma non troppo
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Allegro

Tracks:

Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro assai
Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro vivace
Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro moderato
Sonata D. 574 In A: Scherzo: Presto; Trio
Sonata D. 574 In A: Andantino
Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro vivace
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro molto ed appassionato
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro animato

Tracks:

Partita No. 4, BWV 828: Sarabande
Harpsichord Suite No. 5: Air And Variations - 'Harmonious Blacksmith'
Sonata, K. 331: III: Turkish March
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Thema: Allegretto
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation I
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation II
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation III
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation V
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IX
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation X
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIX
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXII
Return Home
Polish Songs: The Maiden's Wish
Die schone Mullerin: Das Wandern
Schwanengesang: Serenade
Polonaise No. 2 In E
Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 4 In A Flat
Concert Etude No. 2: Gnomenreigen
Orfeo ed Euridice: Melodie
Etude, Op. 104b, No. 2 In F
Etude, Op. 104b, No. 3 In A Minor
Spanisches Liederspeil: The Smuggler
Minuet, Op. 14, No. 1 In G
Liebesfreud

Tracks:

Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Grave; Doppio movimento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Scherzo
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Marche funebre
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Presto
Carnaval, Op. 9: Preambule
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pierrot
Carnaval, Op. 9: Arlequin
Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse noble
Carnaval, Op. 9: Eusebius
Carnaval, Op. 9: Florestan
Carnaval, Op. 9: Coquette
Carnaval, Op. 9: Replique
Carnaval, Op. 9: Sphinxes
Carnaval, Op. 9: Papillons
Carnaval, Op. 9: A. S. C. H. - S. C. H. A. (Letteres dansantes)
Carnaval, Op. 9: Chiarina
Carnaval, Op. 9: Chopin
Carnaval, Op. 9: Estrella
Carnaval, Op. 9: Reconnaissance
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pantalon et Colombine
Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse allemande
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pganini (Intermezzo)
Carnaval, Op. 9: Aveu
Carnaval, Op. 9: Promenade
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pause
Carnaval, Op. 9: Marche des 'Davidsbundler' contre les Philistins
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2 In E Flat
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 2 In C Sharp
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3
Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 In A Flat
Mazurka, Op. 68, No. 2
Waltz, Op. Posth. In E Minor

Tracks:

Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Preludio
Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gavotte
Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gigue
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Scherzo
Liebersfreud
Die schone Mullerin: The Brooklet
Polka de V.R.
Etude-tableau, Op. 39, No. 6 In A Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
Sorochintsy Fair: Hopac
Lullaby, Op. 16, No.1
Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee
The Ruins Of Athens: Turkish March
Scherzo In A Flat
The Seasons: November: Troika
Prelude No. 8, Op. 11, No. 8 In F Sharp
One Lives But Once
Powder and Paint
Polka italienne (Piano 4 Hands)

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Maderato; Allegro
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
Prelude, Op. 23, No. 10 In G Flat
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 3 In E Major
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 7 In F Major
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 6 In F Minor
Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 2 in C Major
Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 7 In E Flat
Daisies, Op. 38, No. 3
Oriental Sketch
Melodie, Op. 3, No. 3 in E
Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5 In G
Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
Moment Musical, Op. 16, No. 2 In E Flat

Tracks:

Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 3 In C Sharp Minor
Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 2 In F Sharp
Waltz, Op. 18 'Grande valse brilliante' In E Flat
Waltz, Op. 34, No. 3 'Valse brilliante' In F
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute'
Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 In B Minor
Waltz, Op. 70, No. 1 In G Flat
Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39 In C Sharp Minor
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute' In D Flat
Le coucou
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: Minuet
Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
Waltz
Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: Elfin Dance
Etude, Op. 28, No. 6 In F Minor
If I Were a Bird
La jongleuse
Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum
Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cakewalk
The Seasons: November: Troika
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 2 In G
Waltz, Op. 40, No. 8 In A Flat

Tracks:

Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5 In G Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 12 In G Sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5 In G
Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
Polichinelle, Op. 3, No. 4 In F Sharp Minor
Polka de V.R.
Liebesleid
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Pastorale In E Minor
Theme and Variations
Waltz, Op. 42 'Two - Four' In A Flat
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3 In A Flat
Polka de V.R.
Bacarolle, Op. 10, No. 3 In G Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor

Amazon.com

We remember Rachmaninov today mostly for the music he wrote. But as this set quickly reveals, he was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, able to play his own music and a great variety of others with tremendous personality and a technique that is still astonishing. There's no point picking highlights from this set, since they are everywhere. But if you've never heard Rachmaninov play Schumann's Carnaval, try starting there for one of the most imaginative recreations of a piece of music ever recorded. The set also includes Rachmaninov's only recordings as a conductor in two of his own major works. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead........2006-05-17

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 is different.

Unfortunately, this situation is a common pattern with amazon's listing of classical music: when you use your intuition and type in common-sense search phrases for Bach, Mozart, etc, you often get the ultra-expensive out-of-print ships-in-4-weeks items as the default item. It takes a lot of detective work to find the newer reissue recordings. For example, to find the new reissue without knowing the ASIN, I had to enter just "Rachmaninoff" in the search text (deliberately left the word "Complete" out of the search) so it would no longer lock me into this item page that you're looking at and give me a full listing instead. I then sorted the listing by "Original Release Date" and found it on the 2nd page. There's no picture on the new item which doesn't give you any confidence that you found the right one. Don't worry, B000A2AD2S is what you want.

For product research, it's good to have both ASIN product listings because the older out-of-print B000003FB7 has the sound samples (and also all the helpful customer reviews) while the new B000A2AD2S has the better price and availability.

To make things even more confusing, the amazon staff sometimes copies entire customer reviews to the new item which would then make THIS review seem strangely out of place. If that happens and I notice it, I will delete this review for B000003FB7.

(In another strange twist, amazon searches in rock/pop usually points you to the newer cheaper remastered/repackaged/reissued/whatever of a particular recording. I don't know why it works the opposite way in classical music?!?!)

6, or Even 7 Stars!.......2005-06-04

Hofmann hit the nail on the head when he said Rachmaninov had "arms of steel and heart of gold". From this album, we can have a clear picture of Rachmaninov's vison of music, of his musical mind and thoughts and moreover his own playing.

While Kempff's playing would often remind of the protestant church music, Rachmaninov bring to our mind the chanting of the Orthodox church, which is much thicker and darker. On top of that, his playing is orchestral which is so powerful and full colours. Yet, it is nothing like Richter, where often the whole piece is just one phrase.

Here each piece has it's own life and identity each with a focal point. It is water tight compact and yet very much natural and alive, never as hair-raising as Horowitz. But, it is not natural in Arrau's way. It is somewhere in between, closer to Argerich but with more consistency and depth. And like Casals' playing, it keeps our attention from the first note up to its focal point until its very end. But unlike Casals, he touches our hearts. It is very emotional but never to the point of being sentimental-- the performance of his own concertos, for example, can tell you that.

Sure, he did have fingers of steel that helped him to bring out whatever colour or atmostphere as appropriate. And despite that fact that there are some minor alterations on the scores like his Chopin, he is one of the few pianists who could really show you every note on the score counts and, above all, how it counts...

His Chopin may not be as neurotic as Cortot. Nonetheless, he sheds light on the dark and nervous side of Chopin so well: a very throbbing interpretation that is so unique. We also have him accompanying Kreisler on some violin sonatas, something that one could turn to time and again, year after year. What a great chamber musician and accompanist he was...!

The recorded sound of the CDs do vary, and some are more acceptable than the others. But for genuine music lovers, they should be able to get over this very soon: how else would they benefit from one of the greatest legacies of a genuinely great musician!

A must have for Piano and classical music lovers.......2005-04-04

To respond to a review about the sound quality-for those people who have no experience with historical performances i.e cortot-hofmann-etc these discs are for the most part much better recorded. There are the inevitable pops and hisses but if these things disturb you, or you cant get past them, then you shouldnt be listening to this kind of thing anyway. the importance here is in the playing, and the playing is extra ordinary. I you want to buy a disc for the reperatoire then i can think of hundreds of performances that will satisfy, but only people with a true interest to hear and study these pieces will be beyond satisfied. I know that may not sound like a lot of fun, but these discs are fun, great, and for me, almost too good to be true. Again, if sound disturbs you, then you may be listening to the music for the wrong reasons. Take from it the playing, the revelations that Rach provides to his pieces, and how fortunate we are that it sounds as good as it does.

Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you.......2003-09-14

The music of Rachmaninoff is beyond words, furthermore, beyond imagination. He was a genius, no doubt, and nobody will ever understand how incredibly lucky we are to be blessed with his compositions. Furthermore, it is truly astonishing to hear Rachmaninoff play his own work. There is nothing so beautiful on this earth and there never will be.

Review from a spoiled modern listener.......2003-07-13

I'll admit that I'm a spoiled modern listener, accustomed to having the bang and hiss edited out of a recording, and it took me a while to warm to these. Rachmaninoff's performances are splendid, but if you can hardly hear them over the cacophony of background noise, what's the use? His performance of his own, often overlooked Concerto No. 4 finally made me sit up and listen, even though I've owned two versions of this piece for a number of years (Ashkenazy & Wild).

Average customer rating:

An underrated master of the guitar.
A Very Nice Record

Hometown Live!
Muriel Anderson
Manufacturer: Cgd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Heartstrings
Arioso from Paris
Luna
Wildcat
Guitarist

ASIN: B00000IGKU
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

Fantasia De Fuego
King of the Road
Arioso
Hometown
It Never Gets Easier
All Thumbs
After Tonight
In Memory of a Friend
The Three Sisters
Nola
Rumores De La Caleta
Andante From Symphony For a Country Gentleman
Vivaldi Concerto in D
Mister Chester
Freight Train
The Water Is Wide

Product Description

The "Hometown Live" remastered live concert CD includes an improvised version of "Freight Train" and Vivaldi's "Concerto In D," as well as "Nola," the tune Muriel played to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship.

Customer Reviews:

An underrated master of the guitar........2006-06-24

Yes, It is appropriate to compare Murial to Chet Atkins, who was one of her teachers, as was classical teenage-prodigy Christopher Parkening. Murial Anderson is still the only woman ever to win the (Winfield) National fingerpicking championship, and is a huge supporter of music in the schools with her own foundation.

Perhaps you've never heard her before, or you're trying to get into guitar playing a little bit and aren't sure who you should begin your listening library with--Murial Anderson is a wonderful place to start your guitar music collection because she is a master of so many styles. This is top-notch playing, but it is also exquisitely beautiful guitar music. You could not go wrong with any of her discs, but so far Hometown Live is my favorite.

A Very Nice Record.......2000-04-29

Muriel Anderson is a truly accomplished player. She is one of only two people ever to win the Winfield Fingerpicking Championship playing nylon string guitar. She is a respected teacher (I think at Belmont College in Nashville) and the boss of those Murial Anderson All-Star Guitar Nights that attract all the best pickers around. I think she is unique because she plays in a style where you usually hear a steel string guitar. It is not unfair to compare her to Chet Atkins. My favorite is "It Never Gets Easier," but she plays the fast stuff as well as the melancholy.

Thomas Hampson: An Old Song Re-Sung - American Concert Songs

Average customer rating:

You never know when beauty will break your heart
Songs Saved From Obscurity
Charming songs, beautifully sung

Thomas Hampson: An Old Song Re-Sung - American Concert Songs

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Long Time Ago - Copland / Dawn Upshaw & Thomas Hampson
American Dreamer: Songs of Stephen Foster; Thomas Hampson; Jay Unger; Molly Mason

ASIN: B000002RRM
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

An Old Song Re-sung
Tell me, Oh Blue, Blue Sky
Senandoah
Brother Will, Brother John
Darling Nellie Gray
Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway
The Erie Canal
Will You Remember?
Danny Deever
In the Gloaming
The Nightingale
On the Road to Mandalay
The Lass From the Low Countree
Do Not Go, My Love
Luke Havergal
When I Have Sung My Songs
At Dawning
Tomorrow
Roses of Picardy
Long Ago in Alcala

Customer Reviews:

You never know when beauty will break your heart.......2006-07-17

This was Thomas Hampson's debut album on EMI, a 1990 release that catapulted him much higher than his earlier recitals on Teldec. It comprises a rather scholarly collection of sentimental memorabilia. Each selection is a "platform song" that Victorians cherished from singers who varied operatic arias with sentimental popular stuff. (Was it Nellie Melba or Jenny Lind who interjected 'Home, Sweet Home' in the middle of the Marriage of Figaro?)

Yet as forgotten as platform songs are today, with the exception of a few Stephen Foster tunes like 'Ah, May the Red Rose Live Alway,' a folk song like 'Shenandoah,' and a brass-bound immortal like 'Roses of Picardy,' everything on this unique CD is ripe with emotion. I am not ashamed to say that I teared up the first twenty times I listened (compulsively) to this memento from a more innocent age.

One is transported back to the time and spirit of Kipling and empire, TR and the Rough Riders, and brave young dougboys marching off to their doom singing 'Over There.' I teared up just writing that sentence.

Songs Saved From Obscurity.......2001-03-27

There is a tremendous body of American songs which is yet to be fully appreciated. Thomas Hampson does us a favor in saving these gems from what might become obscurity. The songs on this disc are truly sentimental, bringing us from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. I commend Hampson for his continued dedication to singing these songs which rival the art songs of any culture and are worthy to be heard, sung and recorded.

Charming songs, beautifully sung.......1999-06-09

This is not just an album of chestnuts. Hampson's love for the material shines through. His performance is always just right. His voice is warm, velvety, and wonderful! "In the Gloaming" and "Roses in Picardy" will bring you to tears, but my favorite is "Do not go, my love." Bravo, Tom!

Average customer rating:

Live In Concert 1952-1960

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Deh vieni, non tardar
Ernani: Erani, involami
La Boheme: Si, mi chiamano Mimi
Mefistofele: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
Manon: Gavotte
La Vida breve: Alli esta riyendo
Standchen
Vocalise In The Form Of A Habanera
Tout gai
Meine Liebe ist grun
Cantares
Jota catellana
Del cabello mas sutil
Coplas de Curro Dulce
Campana sobre campana
Das Madchen spricht
Die Mainacht
Geheimnis
Wiegenlied
Vergebliches Standchen

Tracks:

Iphigenie en Tauride: Cette nuit joai reveu
Thesee: Revenez a,ours, revenez
Les Fetes Venitiennes: Charmant papillon
Der Tod Und das Madchen
Lachen und Weinen
Mein
Widmung
Der Nussbaum
Ich Grolle nicht
Vergebliches Standchen
Kaddish
Enigme eternelle
Definicion
Cancion de Jinete
Cancion de la Barca Triste
Callejeo
El Majo Timido
El tra la la y el punteado
El Pano Murciano
Malaguena
El Cant dels ocells
Encore: jota

Average customer rating:

Bravo! I have become a fan of Hei-Kyung Hong

In Concert: Live in Seoul

Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00001T6JW
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Andrea Chenier: 'Improvviso'
La Hoheme: 'Mi chiamanom Mimi'
La Boheme: 'O soave fanciulla'
Le Cid: 'O souvereign'
Romeo et Juliette: 'Nuit d'hymenee'
Faust: 'Le veau d'or'
Faust: 'Masi ce Dieu...'
Ernani: 'Finale And Trio'
La taberna del puerto: 'No puede ser'
Die lustige Witwe: 'Lippen schweige'
'Granada'
Kuriun Keumkangsam: Kurium Keumkangsam

Customer Reviews:

Bravo! I have become a fan of Hei-Kyung Hong.......2000-08-19

What a wonderful collection of songs and what a combination of singers! I bought the DVD version from Korea because of Domingo. Yes, he is perfect, but this is the first time I have listened to and watched Hei-Kyung Hong. Exquisite is the first word I can think of. She delivers such emotion - you can see her enter another world for the song and dedicates herself to it. The bass, Youn, was unremarkable but did not detract from the overall performance. The selection of songs was superb. I think I have become an opera fan. Enjoy!

A Mantovani Concert: Original Recordings 1946-49

Average customer rating:

A Mantovani Concert: Original Recordings 1946-49
Geller , Charles Trenet , Richard Addinsell , Nino Rota , Westerberg , Charles Wildman , Ronald Binge , Harold Arlen , Norman , Charles Williams , Research Composer , Donald Phillips , Cole Porter , Vic Oliver , Don Rellegro , and Kai Mortensen
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005AFK5
Release Date: 2001-05-15

Tracks:

El Toreador
Beyond The Sea (La Mer)
Festival
The Legend Of The Glass Mountain
Tango Pizzicato
Swedish Rhapsody
The Red Sombrero
Out Of This World
The Bullfrog
The Dream Of Olwen
Madrugado - Bolero (Daybreak)
Somewhere A Voice Is Calling
Skyscraper Fantasy
Night And Day
Prelude To The Stars
The Green Cockatoo
Jealous Lover
The Laughing Violin

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music