> Classical Music |
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Artist:
Blake
 Blake---Blake, 2008-01-21
Have to admit that I was blown away by the sound and the over all production on this album.It is indeed well worth adding to your collection and I am looking forward to hearing more from this talented act in the future.
Cyril....Dublin.. January 2008.
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List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £5.24
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Astonishing performances of two masterpieces, 2001-09-10
Whether 'Sancta civitas' or 'Dona nobis pacem' is the greater work is subject to debate. But both receive first-rate recordings on this disc.Hickox's recording of "Dona nobis pacem" is excellent (I rate it second, just a shade behind the late Robert Shaw's on Telarc); the singing is first-rate throughout, and the finale is a roller coaster of emotions, from fear to joy to quiet dignity. Yvonne Kenny in particular handles her solos effortlessly. Hickox's 'Sancta' will be, almost without question, the standard for any future recordings of the work. Using all the forces RVW recommended--especially the organ--the net result is incredible: the finale, "Heaven and earth are full of thy glory," is simply overwhelming, an incredible onslaught of sound, followed by one of the great surprises in all of 20th century music. And there are moments of great beauty as well: "Babylon the great is fallen" is a hushed lament (handled with even more skill than Walton's setting of the same text in "Belshazzar's Feast"), while "And I saw a new Heaven" is simply ravishing. I recommend this CD highly and without reservation.
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £3.54
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Artist:
Andrea Bocelli
Magnificent, 2007-12-07
I purchased this because I was a huge fan of Con Te Partiro and the English language version which is the duet Time to Say Goodbye with Sarah Brightman. The man's voice and vocal range are absolutely outstanding, and the tracks on this album allow him to show that off to full effect. A great album for fans of Bocelli, or anyone who misses Pavarotti.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £4.89
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The greatest 'Lark Ascending' recording, 2006-01-21
This is the RVW disc which started my collection of his music over ten years ago. It opens with a beautifully performed 'Serenade to Music', the only vocal track on the album. If you are normally allergic to 'classical' singing and prefer instrumental pieces, this may just convert you, because it has so many bewitching moments - and besides, the vocals on this recording are not quite as forward as other versions.
Again, if your opinion of British music is that it consists of 'marches and ceremonials', the English Folk Song Suite may overturn your thoughts on that genre. It certainly does include a march, but it's irresistable, and the Intermezzo is a gem.
The Norfolk Rhapsody and Fen Country pieces are atmospheric tone-poems from RVW's earliest years of success, impressionistic, misty creations with a hint of folk tune.
The one piece you should not hesitate to buy this disc for, though, is The Lark Ascending (with Hugh Bean on violin). There are plenty of recordings of this out there of course, but none has ever displaced this one. The recording of violin and orchestra is perfectly balanced, and the actual performances masterly. This is a popular piece, but it needs a sure touch, anything less and the poetry vanishes. Crucial (to my ears) is the sustained chord held by the orchestra right at the start - it should make you see things! If that's done right, as it is here, the piece performs its magic for the listener effortlessly from that point on.
This Lark recording often turns up elsewhere, but this is the best disc to have. If it could convert a cautious new 'classical' listener like me into a RVW obsessive within its duration, then it can't come with any stronger recommendation.
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £3.57
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Artist:
Cistercian Monks Of Stift Heiligenkreuz
Excellent, 2008-07-09
This was just what I hoped it would be, peaceful and relaxing.
I have never listened to anything like this before. I was very pleasantly surprised.
Helps to take the stress of the day away.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.07
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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: £4.98
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Artist:
Original TV Soundtrack
I love it!, 2008-08-06
I love Ben Foster and Murray Gold's Music and I love Torchwood So one excellent CD.
I think you will love the CD too!
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £8.06
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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: £3.48
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Artist:
Mike Oldfield
Great as usual, 2008-05-18
Again Mike Oldfield gave us a record that is unique but has his strong style. I was just a little surprised that CD is so short - but it is because there is never enought of listening of Mike's music.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £5.98
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Artist:
Alison Balsom,
Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £7.42
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