> Classical Music |
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Artist:
Vasily Petrenko
 Excellent, 2008-10-14
Simply a marvellous performance and recording of Tchaikovsky's (slightly neglected) Manfred Symphony. The R.L.P.O play marvellously, with particularly characterful woodwinds, and Petrenko delivers a performance that has all the excitement of a live performance. The great melody in the strings in the final movement is delivered with a terrific sweep; this is a truly committed performance, and is very well recorded (much better than most record companies get in Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall).
At this price it's an absolute bargain. Tchaikovsky lovers don't hesitate!
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List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £4.19
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Astounding violin virtuosity with musicality, 2001-12-13
We have all heard many performances of the Four
Seasons, but there is noone who can make the music
come alive like this soloist. He puts great
technical prowess at the service of the music, from the trilling birds at the start of Spring to the hair-raising slips and slides at the end of Winter.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £4.26
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Artist:
Kiri Kanawa Lynn Harrell English Chamber Orchestra Jeffrey Tate
Canteloube: Chansons d'Auvergne, 2002-12-18
This is simply a beautiful CD to listen to when you want to relax and evoke thoughts of summer and happy times. Kiri Te Kanewa's voice is clear and joyful - I don't listen to much 'classical' type music but this is music worth owning.
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List Price: £10.99
Our Price: £6.50
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marvellous playing and musicality, 2005-12-19
BBC Radio 3's CD Review chose this as the 'best' version of this incomparable music a while back. I can see why. Rachel Podger gives a wonderful lightness and airiness to it without sacrificing any of the music's gravity or depth. Every movement comes alive, there us contrast and imagination and technically the playing is breathtaking. It's totally involving ; it commands your attention. The difficulties ofthe necessarily spread chords are made light of and it all sound so natural. This music can be doine in many different ways (and I have about 10 recordings of it) but as you listen to this, there seems to be only one - Rachel Podger's.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £10.16
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"What is this music?" Fundamentally, it's an exploration of what happens when an improvisatory instrumental voice (saxophone) is placed into the world of early vocal music, which has elements of both improvisation and formal structure. In reality, it's an adventure in which the four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble travel the 14th and 15th-century territory of Morales and Dufay, visit the 12th-century Pérotin and roam even earlier ages of plainchant, accompanied by the always sensitive and tasteful, often astonishing, saxophone improvisations of jazz master Jan Garbarek. Sometimes, these new melodies simply accompany; sometimes they transform the common--a routine minor chord, for instance--into a sublime, indescribable moment. The answer to the above question is easy, but it's different for each listener. --David Vernier
It's how music makes you feel that really matters.Officium makes me feel just great!, 2006-10-11
While driving over the dreamy mountains of Leek and Buxton, I was fretting over whether or not I would get enough time to finish the job of laying a floor for my present demanding customer.I was taking those hairpins like a madman.I nearly skidded off the road and into a ravine hitting a high grass verge,which fortunatly saved my life.The car stalled,all was quiet except for a stiff breeze blowing through the open window and the radio.At that very moment a tone of emense wonderment and beauty, struck my ear, it was pure with great clarity, even angelic. Jan Garbarek was actually talking to ME,yes! directly communicating to me! Of course I did'nt know him it at the time, but his sax playing touched me so deeply it rested and stilled my racing heart. I was spellbound and was forced to listen to its magic voices right to its regretful conclusion.I sat there and made the time to reflect on what I had just heard,it took me an hour.I sedatly drove on with a smile on my face and a bent bumper,but I did'nt care.The next day I went out and purchased "Officium",(after much searching).Since discovering this masterpiece I have found it to be beneficial, in its calming influence and the best thing of all- IT'S JUST HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL,GREAT!
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £5.77
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The way musicals should be!!!, 2003-09-19
What can i say - with songs like 'I am what i am' - imortalised by Gloria Gaynor this is high quality entertainment. Based on a French film by Jean Poiret, La Cage Aux Folles tells the story of Albin and Georges, two middle-aged gay men who run a transvestite nightclub in St. Tropez. The main story is about what happens when Georges son Jean-Michel announces that he is getting married to ... a woman, Anne! And not only a woman, but the daughter of a local homophobic morals crusader who has already tried to close down the before mentioned night club!Anne's parents want to come and meet Jean-Michel's mother and father. Little do they know that Albin, a man, has essentially been Jean-Michel's mother figure his whole life. Jean-Michel wants to keep Albin away from Annes parents but Albin is hurt and insists on making an appearance.
Even though La Cage was Broadway's first homosexual musical, it was nevertheless a mainstream production. It features wonderfull performances from George Hearn and Gene Barry. The show has proved to be a great hit. Give it a listen and judge for yourself! You wont be dissapointed!
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £6.77
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Artist:
Hélène Grimaud Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen Hélène Grimaud
 Grimaud plays Bach, 2008-11-11
This disc may polarise opinion as everthing this pianist seems to do- I regret to say much of the antipathy seems to be the result of marketing hype and the way Grimaud's looks are used. Well...whatever, the fact is she is a wonderful pianist and an imaginative programmer. The only weak part of this disc is the concerto and that is principally because the piano is too prominent- which is an engineering rather than a musical issue. The other pieces are beautifully played. The Busoni version of the great Chaconne takes centre stage and rightly so.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £11.92
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Artist:
London Symphony Orchestra,
John Alley
Great Music, 2008-10-13
This has got to be the most enjoyable of Karl Jenkins work over the last several years. It has more melody and less of the exotic from his last works.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £8.97
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Artist:
Alison Balsom,
Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £6.91
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Artist:
Aled Jones
ALED JONES.....THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM, 2004-11-25
On a scale of one to five, this beautiful new album from Aled Jones deserves at least a ten!! How refreshing it is to have a collection of truly traditional carols that warm the heart and uplift the soul, and reflect the meaning of Christmas and not the commercialism.Aled's two previous albums of his adult career, "Aled" and "Higher" are nothing short of superb......his voice is rich and velvety, and stirs the emotions of even the most hardened listener to tears of joy.
"THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM" is divine, and quite possibly his best yet. Aled's voice is smoother and stronger than ever, which for someone who sings to perfection already gives testimony to this man's brilliance. Aled's choice of carols combine much-loved favourites with some lesser known lovely songs which are fast becoming as adored as the more familiar. You'll be moved by the passion with which he sings and the tranquillity he engenders. Silent Night is a sublime experience, with Hayley Westenra dueting with Aled. Hayley's exquisite, clear voice coupled with Aled's rich smoothness is the ultimate combination of two of the finest voices.
The heavenly voices of Libera, accompanying Aled in some tracks, as they have done in his earlier CDs, are yet another beautiful aspect of this album. The boys of Libera sing like angels.
Director, Robert Prizeman's consummate skill is evident once again in the wonderful musical arrangements. Aled's glorious voice is being shared by all my extended family and friends... I'm giving the best gift this Christmas....Aled's album all round.
If you buy only one Christmas album for yourself this year, make it this one. You'll be inspired!
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List Price: £5.99
Our Price: £1.81
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