 | Dvorák - Rusalka / Benacková · Ochman · Drobková · Navák · Czech Phil. · Neumann [Read More ...]
Review: Second best:If you really want to get to know Rusalka, find the earlier Chalabala set. It better conveys the fairytale-like, dreamy quality of the music with masterful conducting from Chalabala. Neumann has good ideas and the blasting moments are greatly aided by the excellent re... |
 | Great Recordings Of The Century - Strauss, R.: Salome / Karajan, Behrens, Van Dam, Baltsa, et al [Read More ...]
Description: Herbert von Karajan's mastery of the opulent idiom of Richard Strauss is everywhere apparent in this recording of Salome, made in 1977-78 in conjunction with the first-ever Salzburg Festival production of the opera, conducted (as well as directed) by the Salzburg-born maestr... |
 | Mozart: Requiem [Read More ...]
Review: Near perfection, ruined by tempo:Seriously, I agree with the reviewers who say this is too slow. Let me explain.
I admit that I'm not a fan of Karl Bohm, and I think he plays everything too slow and adds too much of his own personality into everything he conducts. Here however, i... |
 | Bruckner: Die 3 Messen/Masses Nos. 1-3/Les Messes [Read More ...]
Review: Unemotional...but refined and flowing.:I know that many people and critics feel that Jochum's set is still the standard and the best out there...I disagree.
I think the best things Jochum has going for him for the Masses is his musical flowing through line...the readings are a b... |
 | Stanislaw Moniuszko: Halka [Read More ...]
Review: unfairly neglected believable slavonic opera:I think this a great showcase for the so often neglected slavonic opera, strangely so, since Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Bartok, Chopin, Smetana and so many other of the most celebrated composers of non-vocal classical music comes from these ... |
 | Kilar: Piano Concerto [Read More ...]
mesmerizing and inspiring:...this haunting piece of music, especially the Andante at the beginning, is utterly moving... and it reminds me of Rumi's wonderful words: "Allow yourself to be silently drawn towards that which you truly love."
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 | Richard Strauss: Salome [Read More ...]
Review: Murky mono sound sabotages a great performance from Mehta and Caballe in 1971:The previous reviewer is enthusiastic but off base about what this radio broadcast is actually like. It dates from 1971 and features Caballe in her prime, with Zubin Mehta in his, conducting the Rome Ra... |
 | Szymanowski: Violin Concertos; Stabat Mater; Symphony No. 3 and Others [Read More ...]
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 | Szymanowski - King Roger [Read More ...]
Review: Great Discovery:I picked up this little known opera by this early 20th Century Polish composer out of curiosity. What a discovery!!! This is a true bargain, a nicely priced recording of a beautiful opera in a fine performance and recording. As soon as I heard the opening choru... |
 | The Very Best of José Van Dam [Read More ...]
Review: A vocal phenomenon:Think about it: this man has been singing beautifully for nearly FIFTY years, having made his debut so young. We opera lovers grew up with his voice as a kind of ideal in many roles, especially those which must be sung with seamless legato and in French - altho... |
 | Dies Irae, Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima for 52 strings instruments, Psalm for David for mixed choir and percussion, Lacrimosa from Polish Requiem (1 LP/ 1 CD set) [Read More ...]
Description: Genuine, Brand New (MINT), absolutely exclusive and very limited edition set of one (1) analog vinyl record and one (1) audio CD with highlights of Penderecki's masterpieces from Polskie Nagrania - Muza (Poland, August 2006). Only 250 copies were printed, each set is individually... |
 | Symphony No. 2; Te Deum; Lacrimosa; Magnificat; Kanon [Read More ...]
Review: A beautiful acheivement from Penderecki...:This album contains some of Penderecki's most haunting works. "Lacrimosa", however, is a gem. It stays with you. You simply will have to listen to it over and over again. The vocals and the orchestrations are magnificent! I would urge an... |
 | Dvorák: Armida [Read More ...]
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 | Janácek: Jenufa [Read More ...]
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 | Janacek: Jenufa / Mackerras, Soderstrom, et al [Read More ...]
Review: The Decline of Operatic Ceremony :Of all the operas I know, I like this one the least. Although it contains some excellent passages, it displays the chaos that results from trying to impose an ideal of empirical realism on an art that thrives on symbolic idealism. The real key to... |
 | Tchaikovsky: Pique Dame [Read More ...]
Description: The spooky, overwrought atmosphere of this opera about a young man driven to desperation by love and poverty is well conveyed in a performance that is, quite properly, larger than life. Wieslaw Ochman is particularly impressive in the role of Gherman, who stakes his whole future ... |
 | Jancek - Jenufa / Benacková · Rysanek · Kazaras · Ochman · NYCO · Queler [Read More ...]
Review: blazing apocalyptic roars for Rysanek:I was lucky enough to be inside Carnegie Hall for this performance. The final few minutes of Act II have to be heard to be believed. Rysanek's performance was beyond Total Theater. The audience response, the wild roaring, is testment to he... |
 | Dvorák: Stabat Mater, Op. 58; Legends, Op. 59 [Read More ...]
Description: Dvorák's solemnly lyrical setting of the Stabat Mater is one of the glories of 19th-century choral music, and this has always been regarded as one of its finest performances. Rafael Kubelík had few equals in this repertoire, and he knew just how to achieve the maximum of expres... |
 | Sergei Prokofiev - 50th Anniversary Edition [Read More ...]
Review: An excellent collection of Prokofiev's major works:I was introduced to the music of Prokofiev through his symphonies, and was immediately drawn in by the beauty of his music. So I bought this box set without listening to any other of his works first.
I was not disappointed in a... |
 | Mozart: Mass K. 139 "Waisenhaus-Messe" [Read More ...]
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