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 Simply Wonderful Listening, 2001-12-21
I have tried to buy this again for two years and I am thrilled it has been re-released. The CD is filled with many classical tunes that featured as THE Christmas TV tunes in my childhood and teens e.g. the Timex advert. Great tunes combined with good artists and best of all, not what you hear playing in all the supermarkets! A truely "Classey" classic that I would recommend to anyone who likes good music.
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £3.97
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![Works of Igor Stravinsky [22cd]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ffzhvDpuL._SL160_.jpg "Works of Igor Stravinsky [22cd]")
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Artist:
Igor Stravinsky
Deserves about 7 stars!! What a bargain!!!, 2007-10-19
This is unbelievable. OK, the recordings have been around for years and presumably have paid their way, but it is still generous of Sony to offer a set of this musical and historical importance, excellence and sheer size for SO little money. I know the better-known Stravinsky - the earlier ballet scores, the symphonies, some of the chamber pieces, 'The Rake's Progress', 'Oedipus Rex' pretty well, but one of the great joys of this set is coming upon little-known, sometimes quite small pieces, which are so delightful. And was there ever a composer with such a range, writing for all kinds and combinations of voices and instruments and in so many styles (I had never heard the early 'Symphony', which is like a turn-of-the-century Russian sub-Tchaikovsky piece, and great fun ; or there are beautiful little songs to quirky texts, wonderful inventive variations on a Bach chorale, and many, many other things)? There are brief but very telling, even charming rehearsal sequences, an interview and some historical performances, all interesting. We hear Szigeti, Benny Goodman, Charles Rosen, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Roger Sessions, Evelyn Lear, Phillipe Entremont, Alexander Young and Stravinsky himself at the piano. Stravinsky was a marvellous conductor of his own works, and these interpretations are full of life, rhythmically precise, usually very expertly played and very well recorded. There is, for example, woodwind detail in 'Firebird' that I have never heard before, but it is not unnaturally highlit - it just sounds 'right'. Sony have not pushed out the boat on presentation - the 22 CDs are in simple card sleeves (though with lovely archive photos of Stravinsky), the booklet is minimal but OK and the CDs come in an adequate box, but really, who cares? This is a fantastic set which does full justice to a fascinating, towering composer, and at a price anyone can afford. Hooray!!
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List Price: £29.99
Our Price: £16.18
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Artist:
The Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra
Fantastic, 2008-03-22
Have played this CD at bedtime for my daughter since she was born and have found it very calming, perfect as part of her bedtime routine. I believe that she enjoys the music and has learnt to associate the CD with winding down. I think the CD is a lovely introduction to classical music, with the individual tracks being short and played in a perfect style for little ears. I really recommend it.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.56
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Artist:
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra's first two albums - Odyssey and Pure - blended classical arias, traditional Irish and Maori folk songs with great success. This third album, while covering similar ground in terms of musical styles, is slightly different. Recorded in Dublin, it thematically celebrates Westenra's family roots - namely her grandparent's journey across the world from Ireland to New Zealand in the 1880s - featuring not only cover versions, but also several of her own compositions. The bad news is that the choice of covers on Treasure is not startlingly original. Songs like "Danny Boy," "Scarborough Fair", and "Shenandoah," have been sung by a thousand voices, and though Westenra's versions aren't without merit, they hardly break new ground. More interesting are Westenra's own compositions, such as "Summer Fly," a Norah Jones-esque slice of countrified folk that breaks up the smoothness of Treasure beautifully, and "Whispering Hope," a jaw-droppingly gorgeous hymn recorded a capella alongside a choir. A mixed bag of songs it is, but Westenra's enormously enchanting voice ensures it a place in any collection. --Danny McKenna
 Another Great Bunch of Songs from Hayley, 2007-06-06
There are without doubt some great songs from Hayley on this Album. I can't say that every song choice is superb because Summer Rain is a mess. Songs like Let me Lie, Whispering Hope, Danny Boy and abide with me for example really show off her voice beautifully.
It's funny actually mentioning Whispering Hope to be one of my favorites after the previous reviewer slammed it. Whispering hope is one of my favorite Hayley songs and let me state why, it is pure singing. No musical instruments used, it's just Hayley and some backing singers. It sounds beautiful and you can hear every pure note that comes from the girls mouth.
I think the previous reviewer is kinda misguided when he declares Odyssey the better album. Granted not all the songs here suit Hayley (well summer rain doesn't suit her) but The Bridal Ballad was pretty bad too.
I have listened to this album a lot and I rate it highly. If amazon supported half stars then I would give it 4.5, sadly however I can only give it a 4 because of Summer Rain.
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List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £4.98
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The John Rutter Christmas Album brings together most of the composer's Christmas songs and carols as well as several of his festive choral arrangements, including a rousing "Joy to the World" and the energetic "I saw three ships". Most of the 23 tracks have been taken from extant discs on Rutter's Collegium label although two, "Dormi, Jesu" and "Sans Day carol", were recorded especially for this release. Rutter's first two published compositions, written while he was still a teenager, were Christmas pieces for choir, namely the glorious "Nativity Carol" and the infectious "Shepherd's Pipe Carol". Although very different in character, these two carols (for which Rutter also wrote the test) display the composer's sense of joy and wonder at the Christmas story. More than 30 years later, those sentiments are still there in pieces such as the melting "Dormi, Jesu", commissioned by King's College, Cambridge for the 1999 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Under the direction of the composer, the youthful voices of the Cambridge Singers are on sparkling form, as are the City of London Sinfonia and vocal soloists Gerald Finley and Stephen Varcoe. This album deserves to be played over and over--and not just at Christmas. --Rebecca Agnew
John Rutter's Box of Delights, 2002-12-26
This compilation of some of John Rutter's work should be in everyone's Christmas stocking. With sixteen of his own original creations he has added seven arrangements he has made of traditional Christmas music and that written by other composers. What is useful is the grouping of the music into parts - Prologue, The Christmas Story, Christmas Night, Christmas Reflections, Christmas Joy and Epilogue - which allows the listener to select a long or short programme if required.
The performances, drawn from sources spanning the years 1985 to 2002, are sheer delight from beginning to end. The Cambridge Singers, with soloists Ruth Holton, Gerald Finlay and Stephen Varcoe, excel with the various moods and rhythms throughout, and the City of London Sinfonia adds stylish and colourful support. The direction of this wonderful festival of music for Christmas is in the capable hands of John Rutter himself who inspires his singers and players.
If I were to single out any items from the programme, who could possibly resist the lilting rhythms of `Jesus child' and the `Donkey Carol', and the jaunty bounce of `We wish you a merry Christmas'? On the reflective side, the various lullabies all receive sensitive performances.
If you are looking for the perfect combination of joy and reverence, not only at Christmas but at any time of year, you could not possibly rival this CD.
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List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £5.78
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simply the best, 2006-01-08
I don't think there is a better CD of English classics than this one. Rob Cowan chose Boult's 'Enigma' as the best available version the last time the work was reviewed on Radio 3's CD Review. It is a performance that manages to balance all the different moods and characters of the musical pictures of Elgar's 'friends pictured within' quite beautifully, and the sound is excellent 1970s analogue. Boult was the first man to conduct 'The Planets' and recorded it five times, and this is probably the best performance and certainly the best recording.
From start to finish it is a joy. I find it amazing that a man who was - what? - well on in his 80s when he made this could produce an interpretation of such energy and poetry, but so it is. An unmissable CD.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £5.22
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Artist:
The Fron Male Voice Choir
It's a tale fit for a Hollywood blockbuster: a 60-strong Welsh male choir, originally formed in 1947, plucked from obscurity and transformed into the most unlikely boyband in the world (or at least oldest - the average age is 60, the combined age 3974). In fact, their rise from the fringes to fame is already being primed for a major movie next year (produced by Zygi Kamasa of Bend It Like Beckham and Good Night and Good Luck fame) - but that's another story. First we have Voices Of The Valley, an album that shows us precisely why Universal signed a group originally created to sing goodwill songs to the Welsh communities during the harsh post-war years. Comprised of rousing, traditional songs like "Jerusalem", "Danny Boy" and "Abide With Me", and interpretations of popular tunes such as the opener "Sailing", "Unchained Melody" and "You Raise Me Up", it doesn't take long for the logic of the enterprise to strike: the beautiful, graceful sound of 60 men booming joyously through your speakers and the combination of stirring vocal prowess and orchestral embellishments - is truly overwhelming. --Danny McKenna
Mae hen Wlad fy nhadau yn annwyli i mi (The old land of my fathers is dear to me), 2006-12-24
WHEN LAND OF MY FATHERS IS ON THE HIGHEST VOLUME ON THE HI-FI, THE HAIRS STAND AND THE GOOSE FLESH APPEARS AND THE HAND GOES TO MY HEART. ITS A VERY PATRIOTIC SONG FOR MYSELF AND WELSH MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE. As soon as "Sailing" starts to play i have images of the Falklands War (I wasnt born then, i was here in 87, but my mum always said "ooh, it reminds me of when our lads went to the Falklands, they played this song many times")so as a fellow PARA i feel very proud of our lads in all services of the forces. The whole album is a beauty and should be heard by everyone. and i mean everyone. Phenominal heart wrentching beauty. BLOODY BRILLIANT MUN!
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List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £3.28
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Master at his best, 2005-06-13
This is a great collection of music from the greatest living composer. The music is deep, with ever present religious feel - not dissimilar from Bach's in this respect. Besides being great for focussed listening, it is excellent background music. Fratres for string orchestra and percussion and Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten are among my all time favorites. Must have!
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £3.26
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Perfect Christmas Escape, 2003-12-13
Settle down in a comfy chair with a mince pie and glass of wine and turn up the volume - pure escapism from the hassles of Christmas shopping!The collection mixes traditional carols (so you can sing along and relive those days in the choir) with slighly lesser known Christmas fare. As you would expect of King's, all the carols are extremely well executed and with over 76 minutes of playing time you've got the chance to pig out on a good few mince pies. Bliss!
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £4.97
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Iestyn is a plonker!, 2006-12-02
Katherine Jenkins has a wonderful voice. I sing and wish I had half of her clarity and pitch. The fact that she is so beautiful can only help her carry the music to a wider audience. Iestyn whatshisname is obviously a small minded critic who wouldn't know a good voice if it hit him.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £2.44
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