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The Best of Arvo Pärt

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!

Works of Igor Stravinsky [22cd]

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!!

Classic FM Guitar - The Ultimate Collection

A GREAT GUITAR COMPILATION, 2008-08-04
As the previous reviewer said, this is a great introduction to the world of classical guitar music. As usual with ClassicFM Cd's, the quality of the music on offer is superb, with a few well known pieces that have been arranged for the guitar; like Elgar's Nimrod etc.. As said before, if your new to this style, or you want something to just relax to, then you can't go wrong with this.

Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater

Another Classic, 2008-05-02
My favourite Karl Jenkins work has to be 'The Armed Man', however, I do also enjoy this new work very much. It has a range of different moods and transports the listener from one side of the world to another. Loads of classic Jenkins in this music, you can hear some of the inspiration coming from some of hie earlier works. However you can also hear new ideas and influences from his travels to Eastern Europe.

Overall, a very moving piece of music, one that I am sure will become very popular.

Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations

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.

Into Paradise

Made in Heaven , 2008-06-09

Into Paradise, released in November 2007, is the second of the five album deal which All Angels signed with Universal Classics and Jazz in 2006.

Good follow-up albums often prove more difficult to produce than the debut, particularly as the self titled album 'All Angels' released in 2006 was such a commercial success in a market dominated by the likes of G4, IL Divo and Blake.

This album is another varied collection of classical and contemporary music, to which the four girls apply their lovely vocal harmony skills to provide a combination of calming and uplifting moods.

Most of the classics are well known favourites (which I think is essential to keep a young fan base satisfied), and the popular songs like Paul Simon's `Sound of Silence' and Prince's `Nothing Compares 2 U' sound beautiful after being given the 'Angel's treatment' - particularly the latter which makes a nice change from Sinead O'Connor's melancholy hit version from 1990.

It's difficult to pick out favourites from such nice music, but I particularly like the lesser heard John Brunning version of 'Pie Jesu', instead of the familiar one by Faure, and the Band of Brothers TV series theme music `Lament' is a lovely dreamy, hymn-like performance (hear also the Katherine Jenkins version entitled 'Requiem for a Soldier' on her Rejoice album). Also noteworthy is the multitracking of the girls voices on Handel's `Zadok The Priest' to give real power and an impression of large scale choir.

The girls are reported to have a maturity beyond their teenage years, and their changing appearance from their first album is certainly pointing towards an endearingly glamorous future. But it's the girl's dedication and attitude towards their music that I like too, as summed up by youngest member (aged 17 on this album) Laura Wright on their official website:

"A lot of my friends don't listen to classical music, but that's what we're trying to do - introduce it to younger people and show that it's not geeky or sad to listen to classical music. We don't think so!"

A lovely album, easily as appealing as the first I think.

Over the Hills and Far Away: The Music of Sharpe [SOUNDTRACK]

The Peninsular War condensed into 52 and a half minutes of musical enjoyment., 2007-02-25
I've been re-watching Sharpe, and having long-admired the music of the series, decided it was about time I bought the soundtrack.
I must admit that having read the mixed reviews, it was not without a sense of trepidation that I ordered the CD.
I'm happy to report that it lived up to my expectations, and more. From the opening bars of "The Overture" to the closing track, "Sharpe's Song/ Sharpe's Theme", I was captivated and transported to that time and place many of us have grown to love: Spanish mountains, French skies, loyal partisans, valiant heroes and repugnant villains, Waterloo, Wellington and of course, the Ninety-Fifth Rifles.
Let's clear a few things up.
No, not every piece of music recorded for the Sharpe series is on the CD.
Yes, there is plenty from the series, and the other songs - especially the vocal pieces - give a nice "flavour" of both the period and spirit of the Napoleonic Wars.
No, puritans who don't believe old instruments should be mixed with new will not like this.
Yes, everyone else will.

Fauré; Debussy; Ravel - String Quartets

Eagerly awaited, 2008-10-23
This has been eagerly awaited after hearing the Ebene perform the Debussy and the Ravel live at this summer's Salzburg Festival. They are a young group of musicians who also appear on the European jazz scene. This brings to their playing a buzz which may be linked to their ability to improvise freely. However, when playing these pieces there is a discipline evident in their interpretation as well. Hear also their interpretation of the first three Barok Quartets and subline live recordings of Haydn.

Siempre

Simply one of the best CD's of the year., 2007-03-18
I play this wherever I might be. If I can't sleep, I put this on and it lulls me into a warm place where sleep them comes easier. Fantastic guys with unbeleivable voices. I can't get enough of them!

Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics

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.