Reviews (2)

Amazing!
I thouroughly enjoy this CD! The music is beautiful enough to listen to all by itself, but also quiet and peaceful enough to listen to while studying for exams or doing homework. Mad about Baroque has been in my discman for many weeks and accompanied to the library many times. This is a great CD!

Getting a Handel on the music of the Baroque Period
On the one hand I certainly like the idea of a collection of classical music focusing on the Baroque period, but on the other it is a bit disappointing to notice that 11 of the 20 selections found here were written by George Frideric Handel. Granted, he was one of the defining composers of the Baroque period, but when this leaves only two selections for Bach and Vivaldi, and one each for Pachelbel, Mouret, Purcell, Albinoni and Daquin, it does seem the collection could have shown considerably more balance. Surely Bach deserves more than just "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and a movement from the 3rd Brandenberg Concerto. There are "Mad About Bach" and "Mad About Vivaldi" albums, so it is not like their inventory is short. But there is not a "Mad About Handel" collection, which, effectively, "Mad About Baroque" ends up being. In the end, however, what you will enjoy from this collection are the pieces from the "lesser" composers of the period, which you might not have heard before. For me it was Henry Purcell's "Sound the trumpet, beat the drum (Birthday Song for King James)." The best collections are a nice blend of old favorites and new discoveries. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nelson Eddy's operatic recordings
This CD contains all of Nelson Eddy's recordings of classical music. However, given that he recorded over 200 songs, this is a small amount of his recorded legacy. Also note that, other than the Mozart (Italian), the Strauss (German), and the last 4 selections in French, the rest of these selections were recorded in English, although Eddy could and did sing them in the original languages. Despite what the previous reviewer said, these recordings are not from "the early years", when Nelson Eddy was an opera singer. These recordings are from the 1940's. Nelson Eddy had performed in his last operas in 1935, and he was almost never associated with actual opera on film. He performed yearly in concerts, solely of classical repertoire, from before his national fame, until the early 1950's. He was a very popular radio performer in the 1930's and 1940's. He sang many more operatic pieces/classical songs on radio (usually in their original language) which he never recorded. I, for one, regret that he did not record more from his classical repertoire, because that essential part of appreciating his art is mostly gone forever. My point is, that these songs do not give a full sense of the wide range of Eddy's work in the non-popular areas of song.
The liner notes are pretty good, although there are some errors in them.

Nelson Eddy : The Opera Years
Ah Sweet Mystery. A trip back in time. Is there any music medium Nelson Eddy did not excel in? First opera, concerts, movies, radio, tv, nightclubs. He was the master of them all. This is a great introduction to the early years when he was opera's leading and most exciting baritone. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Mega-Sampler! This really does have 99 tracks!
Yes, this CD really does have 99 tracks. How do they do it? Each is about a minuet long. Some are longer, some are shorter, but you get the micro-essential moments of the music.

If you like burning your own CDs, then this is a great source for intra-track fillers, along the lines of They Might Be Giants' "Apollo 18" album, which has all of those short tracks on the end. The idea is to put your CD player on shuffle, so the short tracks get mixed in with the bona fide songs. The result being a very unusual album.

The booklet gives an explanation of the track, where you heard it (i.e. the Warner Brother's Cartoons, or on famous films), and where you can get the full piece of music. So it's a mega sampler CD.

I can honestly say that this CD is a great gift for the friend who has everything.

Fun Sampler
For the beginner. You will be surprised at how many of the 99 themes you recognize here. It is an easy introduction to classical music. Nice booklet too.

Useful.
Take it for what it is, a clever and useful GUIDE to classical music. No, it is NOT an uncut rendition of Beethoven's 9th symphony. It IS a cd that will jog your memory. You have heard many of the tunes presented here, but not always knowing what the work was. This is your chance to catch up with all the great classical music you have been exposed to. Cheap too.

it's a GUIDE
I have to conflict with the previous reviewer. This is a guide CD. Each track is the 'familiar tune' that you have probably heard on TV or int he movies. When you hear your favorite snippit, go to the track listing and find the composer and title and then buy a CD that contains the entire work.

I found the CD incredibly helpful to identify tones of classical snippits!

Terrific! I play it all day long. Customers love it!
Excellent way to get started. I love the 90 second excerpts because it is constantly fresh. It's literally invigorating to listen to. And you absolutely can't beat the price. I play it all day long at work (Talking Book World) and the customers keep coming up saying, "Is that for sale?" But we carry only audiobooks. That last reviewer is an idiot. Buy it today and you won't be disapointed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Garrett's "Hollywood" recording more compelling
Garrett's "Hollywood" recording is more sophisticated, and less pandoring.... But her voice here is just as fine... Listen to the Faure Requem, Ravel's Pavone, It's never been done with more subtle emotion....and for a sellection that will blow your "socks" off listen to her "Jeruselem"

A must have for anyone who enjoys a gorgeous soprano voice!
Ms. Garrett has a beautiful voice and extroardinary talent! Her variation of technicality in her music makes every song different..something to listen for. Her selection will inspire you...I believe the title of this CD is very well named. Ms. Garrett has great talent and I hope you will also share in her gift.

Another winner from Lesley Garrett!
Beautiful voice and the ability to sing any piece such that the listener experiences it as if for the first time. A MUST for fans of this singer. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Gorgeous music, gorgeous performances
I am a semi-professional singer with a BA in Music, and I bought this CD with some trepidation because it looked like one of those dreadful "pop classical" compilations that are everywhere lately. But it had lots of great repertoire all in on place, so I decided to risk it, and I was not disappointed! In fact, this is now one of my favorite choral CDs.

As usual, the Choir of Trinity College delivers stunning performances, and the music itself is just gorgeous. Lots of "church" favorites from a wide range of musical periods. The mood of the CD is definitely on the mellow side, but it's perfect for those quiet moods. I love this CD -- highly recommended!

Really good, but.....
This release is very rich in what the English choir does so well namely clear intonation and blended ensemble. It's well recorded with a nice sense of reverberant church acoustics. I find it to be too long for one sitting; after awhile I felt like I had polished off a huge serving of hot fudge brownie and ice cream. I have always been fond of English choirs but maybe I am sated on them for now. It happens. With forty tracks you should be able to have much moods from Choral Moods. The title is unfortunate, how about "Sunset Gems"?. Or "Trinity Triumphs"?. But that's to cavil, the Mozart "Ave Verum" is properly reverent, the diction faultless.The Poulenc "Videntes Stellam" is worth the price of the set. Toss your "White Christmas" back in the box and play this instead, it's very beautiful music for reflection at any time.

One Small Correction
I keep finding new things to love on this CD, including the fact that it has the first recording I found of Gabriel Faure's beautiful Soprano (or Soprano/Alto) duet Ave Maria., Opus 93. The same recording appears on another CD where the singers are named. The above description of this selection unaccountably adds a baritone. Incidentally, Faure also composed a shorter SATB Ave Maria, which John Rutter has recorded.

I only wish the recording included the complete text of Psalm 50/51 from Gregorio Allegri's Miserere Mei Deus. This might come from John Rutter's recently edited score, published by Oxford Press, if I'm not mistaken. I, for one, do not find this selection (or indeed the entire recording) too long and I believe that the embellishments at the end (mentioned in another review) are probably correct when considering performance conventions of the time of its composition.

Stunning collection suitable for music nuts or newbies alike
Even as an avid fan of classical music with very picky tastes, there was just so much good music packed on these two (cheap!) discs for me to take in at once!
The perfectly balanced and locked chords can really give you chills.

I gave this CD as a present to a good friend of mine who was not so familiar with the genre, with tremendous results. I think this would make a great gift to anyone with the slightest inclination towards classical music.

Very relaxing and 'nice' overall...
But I found it kind of boring. There was no 'spark' or 'accent' throughout the whole album. True, it IS extremely relaxing (if I play it in my car I almost fall asleep while driving) but I guess I had different expectations. Good CD to listen to when I'm depressed or just gloomy, though! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Marian Anderson's rich contralto tinged with sadness touched thehearts of many and made her one of the most-loved American singers. She'sprobably best known for her spirituals on recordings made in the twilight of hercareer. In these good transfers, she sings an ample selection of those favoritesmade in her prime, the late 1930s; they're no less touching and made even morecompelling by the freshness of her voice, which is just as fresh in the Handel andBach arias from the Messiah, St. Matthew Passion, and more. - -Dan Davis ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Honest Transfer of Great Material from 78s
There are eleven spirituals on this CD, but it opens with a stunning traversal of seven sacred selections from the Baroque era, six selections of Bach and one of Handel. Ms. Anderson's sweetness, sincerity and artistry are complemented nicely by a young Robert Shaw conducting the RCA Symphony Orchestra (you can clearly hear the later Shaw of the Bach B Minor Mass in places, and the selection from the St. Matthew Passion is a haunting reminder that Shaw was never able to commit a complete Matthew to disc for posterity, though it was his favorite work and its recording a goal in his life - but I stray). What the Baroque selections lack in the latest in musicological authenticity they more than make up for in heartfelt simplicity and directness. It's Baroque music for the ages, and it may move you to tears.

The eleven spirituals, on the other hand, are accompanied only by an unidentified pianist, one who is certainly quite accomplished and gives Ms. Anderson a superb level of support. The question will need to be asked, I suppose, "Is there perhaps more inspiration present in the singing of the spirituals than in the Baroque selections?" Not at all; the artistry in both is equal. Indeed, modern audiences, used to hyped-up versions of these spirituals, may be slightly disappointed at the plainness of these renditions. I wasn't; I was enchanted. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This certainly is a desirable compendium of some of the most famouslarge-scale choral pieces, primarily drawn from Deutsche Grammophon's catalog ofoperas and oratorios. Among the 30 selections on this two-disc set are chorusesfrom Carmen, Lohengrin, Aida, Madame Butterfly, andIl Trovatore, as well as Messiah, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony,Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, and Verdi's Requiem. --DavidVernier ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Gread Idea, Great Performance
This CD should move people in a way that few other recordings can. The one word to describe many of the works is "exalted". This is not music for dinner parties but instead should be heard in solitary contemplation of all the great artists and their efforts in creating such an inspiring recording.

Dies Irae
I have an extensive CD collection, but since purchasing this CD, it has become my very favorite. This music sent chills down my spine. I felt transported to a different world....What amazing voices! I intend to give this cd as xmas presents to family and friends.

Where's the Dies Irae?
As a student studing the plaingsong of the Dies Irae, I was hoping this cd would be able to help me procure a culmination of works containing the melody. None of these works do, however, which was disappointing to me and seemed like a misnomer on the part of Deutsche Grammophone. Nevertheless, the music contained in these 2 cds is classic, though also cliche. I am particularly partial to the Carmina Buranna.

"Essential" is right!
Absolutely beautiful! I can't seem to take it off. Am buying more to give as gifts.

uplifting
this is my favorite CD to give to the people i love. the sound is huge and uplifting to the spirit. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

This isn't an oratorio in the Handelian sense, but a series of cantatasfor various days from Christmas to Epiphany. Bach's music is loaded with treats:an echo aria for soprano and oboe; a "pastoral" sinfonia; bravuraarias for tenor with flute and bass with trumpet; a giddy soprano-bass duet; atransporting lullaby for alto. Then there are the choruses, featuring theMonteverdi Choir at their best: exuberant full-orchestra choruses in parts oneand three; a lilting triple-time chorus with horns in part four; the joyfulskittering chorus in part five; and the triumphant opening and closing of partsix (with spectacular trumpet solos). John Eliot Gardiner's direction isvigorous; the soloists, the best group you'll find on CD, include a terrificyoung Anne Sofie von Otter. --Matthew Westphal ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Gardiner in his garden
This is the first time I have heard this wonderful work beginning with a military march! I thought it was suppose to be a praise of the christmas message. Gardiner has got it wrong. His very "forced" conducting makes you think that he wants to improve on "the old bore of christmas music". If you want it right you return to Richter's good old Christmas Oratorio - which sounds much newer - even by technical standards than Gardiner's. And you get it at bargain prize. Richter's "Jauchzet, Frohlocket" is full of praise - mighty music. And the words are so nicely phrased by the Münchener Bach Choir. I wonder if the Monteverdi Choir knows what they are singing. Do I need to say that the singing of Janowitz and Ludwig is by far superior to that of Argenta and von Otter. And that Wunderlich and Crass are so much better than Bär and the funny noises produced by Blochwitz that you sometimes doubt if it is the same music.

Gardiner does it again with a fine "Christmas Oratorio"
This worthy performance of Bach's "Christmas Oratorio," recorded in 1987, further enhances John Eliot Gardiner's substantial discography of performances of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic masterworks. Very rarely does Gardiner turn in a lackluster performance, and this reading of the six-part Bach work sparkles. I cannot reconcile the criticism I read from another reviewer--that Gardiner turns the opening chorus of Part 1 into a "military march"--with what I hear on the recording; perhaps this reviewer was unaware that the chorus derives from the cantata "Toenet, ihr Pauken!", BWV 214 (where its opening words are "Sound, drums! Ring out, trumpets!"), so that any "military" quality he hears is what Bach wrote into the music. The soloists are uniformly good, especially mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and bass Olaf Bar, and the disk timings (73:01, 67:03) show that the buyer certainly gets his or her money's worth of music.

As far as the music itself, although, as indicated above, Bach did a fair amount of recycling (from BWV 213, 214, 215, and from the lost "St. Mark Passion" BWV 247 and a presumed lost cantata BWV 248a), the reused music is of the highest quality, and in certain cases Bach even seems to have had second thoughts and decided to write new movements for the "Oratorio" rather than add new texts to old movements. The result, of course, is up to Sebastian's usual magnificently-high standard.

If you are considering buying a recording of Bach's oratorio, I don't see how you can go wrong with Gardiner's rendition. Highly recommended.

Review
I bought this just to listen to Anne Sofie Von Otter's voice on "Schlafe mein Liebster ...". Very beautiful.

Good, but it's still Gardiner!
I must say that for most of Gardiner's recordings that I find them
rather dull. I bought his Beethoven symphonies, his Bach St. Matthew Passion, his Bach B Minor Mass, and, of course, this one. The Mass is not bad (three stars), the Beethoven is too fast and perky, and the St. Matthew.....well, it's popcorn Baroque interpretation all the way, though it has some fine singers on it. But Gardiner and his damn lack of musical instincts ruins it with tempi that are too fast. (I am a musicologist, so I am aware of his son's statement about his tempi....but we really have NO idea what that meant for the times. We must trust the natural flow of the harmonic rhythm of works to determine what the best tempo must be.)

But here again in this recording of the Christmas Oratorio, Gardiner has fine people to work with, and yet somehow misses the joy of this work. It is good, but not the best. Spirited, but not full of the Spirit. Clean, but rather soul-less. Best to stick with Karl Ritcher or a fine recording that is overlooked by Philip Ledger (King's College Choir) with Janet Baker. Or the more recent Rene Jacobs one. I've not heard the Rilling, so cannot comment on it.

A gardiner recording
The orchestra is good, soloists are good, but I still don't have the head full of music and pleasure this kind of masterpiece should bring, especially for christmas.

a completely agree on the fact that the Karl Richter version is the very best, not because of who performs in it, but because each time I listen to it, a feeling of joy comes with it.

I'm not saying gardiner isn't good, i'm saying I prefer Richter. (don't any of u guys come tell me I'm talking nonsense! These are my misical tastes!) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Brandon's Review
I am a trumpet player who has studied under the tutalage of Bernie Nero principle trumpet of the Austin Symphony and am also a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music,therefore I feel that I am in a unique position to coment on the quality of this recording. Although the music assembled for the recording is an excellent combination of contrasting styles, the musical prhasing is not played charicteristically correct for that time period of music,and stylistically lacks cohesivness. None the less it is still a very good recording, that is why I give it a four rating.

Consistent excellence
The Canadian Brass never disappoints. There are some great arrangements of Baroque classics on this album. It may be hard to imagine an organ piece like Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor played by a brass quartet, but it actually works. Overall, this album is consistent in delivering great music.

You can't go wrong with the Canadian Brass
You really can't go wrong with any CD by the Canadian Brass; they're such an outstanding group. Because of this, it can oftentimes be difficult to choose which of their CDs to purchase. However, if you are looking for a Canadian Brass CD focused around the more classical aspect of music, "Go For Boroque!" is an excellent choice. Compared to the other CB baroque CD, I feel this one is the better. It has a lot more tracks, and the songs, in my opinion, are better. It has everything from my personal favorite, "We Hasten with Eager Footsteps," to "Trumpet Voluntary," to "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," which is more closely associated with "Phantom of the Opera." I highly recommend this recording. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Best Of Baroque Collection
This compilation album features some well-known Baroque Era musical works and serves as a perfect introduction to classical music. The great Baroque composers are showcased here - Bach, considered the greatest of them all, Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli and others. The Baroque period (from 1600 to 1750) was a time of great development and change in music. Before the Baroque Era, music was single-melody and primitive, in much the same way it had been since the Old World of the Greeks and Romans. Plaintive chorus was the only new invention of the medieval days- the Gregorian monk chant and Hildegard Bingen's nuns' chant. But during the Baroque Era, instruments were created and with them a new sound. Flutes, oboes, clarinets, drums, violins, violas and most significantly the trumpet, was played in a new medium called the orchestra. This music was played before royalty, kings of England, Germany and France, and often elitist aristocratic crowds. The same applied to Baroque Opera, which re-told Greek legends and classical heroes through music and the human singing voice of opera. Finally, music broke out from the old and into the new.

Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as the best of the Baroque composers. He wrote prolifically for orchestra, for harpsichord (the earliest piano or keyboard instrument), as well as the organ. Among Bach's popular pieces are the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (which is the theme for "Dracula" and was made into an orchestra version by conductor Leopold Stokowski as seen in the Disney film Fantasia of 1940), his Brandenburg Concertos- a total of six concertos that showcase the tone color of several instruments of the orchestra and are considered the height of the Baroque musical style. The Brandenburg Concerti that are most famous are th 3rd and 5th. Bach's Golberg Variations for keyboard are also very virtuosic as well as his Organ Preludes. Bach's Orchestral Suites are the skeletons of the first symphonies, even if it it's not exactly a symphony form, and Bach's cantatas and Mass In B have long been hailed as the best works of chorus.

George Frederic Handel, a German-born composer, adapted the Italian musical technique, especially the new invention of opera, but performed publically in England, even writing the famous "Messiah" oratorio in English. Handel's skills were most keen in the orchestra. His "Concerti Grossi" which total a number of 12, are virtuoso and expressive of instrumental color. The Water Music and the Royal Fireworks music are also very famous and written in a grandiose style that was quintessentially Baroque. Vivaldi, a former priest, became a composer who specialized in small-scale chamber music. He created the "tone poem" long before it was even called that in the 19th century. His "Four Seasons" are his most acclaimed. The music expresses the four seasons of fall, winter, spring and summer. The violins, the woodwinds, the trumpets, each deliver a picture of pastoral scenes. Vivaldi also wrote numerous other concerti, including some for mandolin, an early guitar.

This collection is a must have for music lovers.

Outstanding sampler
It is impossible of course to capture Baroque music on a single CD, but if you want just one it doesn't get any better than this. Outstanding and generous selection of many of the best known excerpts of the period, excellent performances throughout, and superior sound quality. Even the casual listener will recognize many of these great works, such as the theme from Masterpiece Theater, Pachelbel's Canon, Handel's Water Music, and so on. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Timeless Christmas Classic
I'm a lover of traditional Christmas music and I've acquired about 20 CDs of it. There's nothing my family likes better in December than putting on some good Christmas music and getting in the mood for the season, hearing once again the old favorites you've known since childhood. Of all the Christmas music CDs I've tried, I have two desert-island favorites, the two I always reach for first. This is one of them. I think it's one of the greatest recordings of traditional Christmas music ever made. The arrangements (by Arthur Harris) are joyous, beautiful, and soul-stirring; the performances are heartfelt and magnificent. If you can listen to this CD and not feel filled by the Christmas spirit, you must be (a) named Ebeneezer Scrooge, or (b) deaf. This one is a timeless Christmas classic, not to be missed. Warmest recommendation.

Joy to the World Indeed
At one point, the Philadelphia Orchestra switched recording labels from Columbia to RCA. Since the Columbia Christmas recording was so popular, RCA decided to have the orchestra record a new LP that is now a compact disk. The style of this recording is very different from the Columbia recording. The arrangements are new and the chorus plays a central role. The album contains popular pieces such as Sleigh Ride and classical pieces such as The Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker and the Pastoral Symphony from Messiah. The quality of the RCA recording, like the Columbia is excellent, and fans of the Philadelphia Orchestra and its conductor, Eugene Ormandy will not be disappointed.

Classic Holiday performance!
When I was younger, we had a holiday record of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus. It's traditional renditions of loved carols were beautiful and always put me in the holiday spirit. Well, as the record deteriorated and we put away the turntable I was always disappointed not to have that favorite music.
Until this year. While this is not an exact replica of the record (though I can't offhand tell you what's missing, there are several pieces that are additions to the original--there are some orchestra-only pieces while the original was all choral) it brings back all those original memories! I bought one for me, one for my parents and one for my sister! We're all pleased and I would recommend this recording even without all the fond memories.
Happy Holidays! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Music of our Dreams from Childhood.
"Victorian Musical Boxes" is a wonderful collection of melodies which helps to transport a person back to a simpler time when music was produced by a steel comb thus producing a soothing, tinkling sound reminiscent of childhood. This collection offers a diverse collection of melodies which is bound to evoke memories of those days gone by. The very nature of the music is in sharp contrast to much of the loud, annoying sounds which invade our lives from all sides. Sitting down, perhaps with a cup of tea, this CD will calm and soothe the day's troubles and cares away. Remember with joy the simpler times of life, and for a few short moments enjoy again the music which filled the lives of so many when music was just starting to be enjoyed by the masses. This is sure to please! ... Read more

Amazon.com

John Eliot Gardiner's original Millennium Bach Cantata Pilgrimage plan involved weekly Deutsche Grammophon recordings of all the concerts, but the plan did not prove practical. This CD of Bach's Ascension Day cantatas dates from 1993 and 1999. The pride of the disc is BWV 11: The opening chorus is an adrenaline fix of blazing, suitably ascending motifs led by studio-immaculate baroque trumpets. Thereafter, the mood changes. The alto aria "Ach bleibe" (actually the great Agnus Dei from the Mass in B Minor) is, in countertenor Michael Chance's silky throat (1993 model), a poignant, drooping song of sorrow for the departed Lord. Chance's 1993 fellow soloists are Nancy Argenta, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and Stephen Varcoe. They sing BWV 43 (Gott fähret auf) and BWV37 (Wer da gläubet) with clear enjoyment. Argenta also sings in the 1999 session for BWV 128, Auf Christi Himmelfahrt with colleagues Robin Blaze, Stefan Genz, and Reinhard Hagen. The latter has a low F sharp that is truly bearded. --Rick Jones ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful surprise from 1993 "Dream Team"
The fourth release linked to the Pilgrimage project is a delightful surprise. Apparently, in 1993, Gardiner had recorded the cantatas BWV 11, 37 and 43 with the "dream team" that gave us the celebrated Bach recordings in late 80's/early 90's. After waiting for seven years in DG Vaults for unknown reasons, here they are, thanks to the Pilgrimage project, coupled with a new studio recording of BWV 128.

The choruses of these cantatas have Bach in his full-blown D Major trumpet & timpani jubilation mode, always the strongest point of Gardiner. The opening and closing choruses of BWV 11 stand out particularly. The soloists are excellent too; check out the arias in BWV 37, for example. The bass aria of BWV 43 has an excellent trumpet obbligato (uncredited, but probably Steele-Perkins is playing). Fans of Gardiner's earlier recordings need not hesitate; this recording is highly recommendable to any Bach fan (except the ones that have already decided that they do not like Gardiner).

Endless Ascension
This disk is the pentiultimate release in John Eliot Gardiner's glorious return to the Bach Cantatas. Gardiner has embarked on a visionary "Bach Cantata Pilgrimage" in which he shall conduct every sacred cantata, every Sunday in various churches throughout Europe. 12 disks in all are scheduled for release, of which this disk, to date, is the crown. For those who are avid Cantata collectors, you will remember Gardiner's early-90's milestones -- with the same soloists. No soprano is more radiant in Bach than Argenta, the cool opulence of Chance's counter-tenor is the exact center of the boy/male alto/contralto controversy, and A. Rolfe-Johnson and Varcoe are simply the most sensitive while still virile voices today. Simply thrilling. (Special note: Robin Blaze, countertenor, does a great job on his solos and we expect great things from him). Other highlights are, as always, the flawless choral and (period-instrument) orchestral playing at wind-swept tempi, and we are particularly grateful for the length of the disk (4 cantatas, nearly 80 minutes of music). ... Read more

Amazon.com

The gods of musical commerce are smiling on hot young countertenor Andreas Scholl: this is his second CD of opera arias to appear in less than a month.The previous disc, a selection of Handel arias on Harmonia Mundi, showcased Scholl's considerable strengths: subtle and sensitive phrasing, deft coloratura, and a pure, rounded tone with little of the disembodied hootiness that used to be accepted from countertenors.His first recital disc for Decca gives us a wider range of music (Hasse, Gluck, and Mozart as well as Handel) and a more complete representation of Scholl's singing--vices as well as virtues.Among the former are his top notes (sometimes squealy or poorly tuned) and a Joan Sutherland-like combination of beautiful sound with indistinct diction and lack of temperament.This is particularly damaging in the laments from Rodelinda and Giulio Cesare, which come across as mere pleasant pastorales; the famous "Che farò?" from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice sounds self-satisfied rather than bereft.(To be fair, Roger Norrington's jaunty tempos deserve much of the blame for this.)Scholl also aspirates his coloratura, which will bother some listeners more than others.On the other hand, "Oh, Lord, whose mercies numberless" from Handel's Saul is radiant, and the two arias from early Mozart operas are thrilling.In the end, the disc gives a fair, well-rounded picture of an important young singer.Speaking of pictures, by the way, Decca's photographer deserves plaudits for making this tall, somewhat gawky German with Nana Mouskouri glasses look almost glamorous. --Matthew Westphal ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Mezzo Converted
As a mezzo who loves singing the Mozart and Gluck trouser repertoire I am naturally suspicious of counter tenors, but after many playings of this wonderful recital of arias, every one of which I covert for myself, I finally admit to loving this wonderful counter tenor in the shape of Andreas Scholl. I discovered this disc after hearing Venga Pur, Minacci e Frema played on Classic FM. Determined to include this aria in a recital as soon as possible I quickly tracked down the recording, as well as a very expensive Barenreiter score of Mitridate - worth every penny! However, many more treats were in store. Every aria on this CD is sung with elegance, refinement, brilliance, and the most staggeringly impressive technique. My only slight reservation is Che Faro - but again, this may well be pure prejudice since I have just sung that wonderful role and consider it my own (and maybe Janet Baker's!). Whatever your position on the counter tenor voice, you must hear this recording, and if you love Mozart, Handel and Gluck, it is required listening.

Andreas Scholl, the world's greatest countertenor
Yes, I know, there will be some that will tell me that Daniels, Mera, Visse, Deller, Ragin, or Asawa rightfully holds the title of "world's greatest countertenor." But in my humble opinion, Scholl's exquisite voice outshines them all.

"Heroes" was my first Andreas Scholl recording after I discovered countertenors, and I was captivated instantly by the effortless, soaring, angelic beauty of a voice without limits. Scholl's teacher told him "maximum effect with minimum effort," and this recording proves it over and over again. Scholl never seems to audibly stretch for a note, nor does he make undue use of his vibrato.

Scholl performs with ease. Yes, I admit, sometimes his voice is lacking in dramatic punch, an area in which Daniels outperforms Scholl. But Scholl's voice is in a league of its own. Its pure, crystalline qualities are not meant to be used as a vocal weapon of anger.

An interesting note: track 10, Palido il sole, features a split-second of Scholl's natural baritone voice with an incredible effect, heightening the countertenor voice and making the baritone seem unnatural by comparison.

Overall this is a beautiful disc, worthy of many listens. Scholl may well be the definitive countertenor of all time.

What would this world be without countertenors?
I met my first countertenor a few years ago and I had the priviledge of singing beside him in our choir. The incredible purity of the countertenor voice is something that I, as a Baroque music lover, can only dream of achieving. I think that Andreas Scholl is one of the most incredible countertenors today. The purity of his sound and the passion of his performances speaks to me in ways that only music can. I own several of his albums, and this is my favorite. Nothing is quite incredible as in 'Pallido Il Sole' when he dips into his natural baritone register for a few notes and comes back up again. There is something mystical and beautiful about male altos and we, as the female counterparts, should try to emulate.

no emotion
If nice voice only is what you are looking for, go for this CD. But if you are looking for the emotion and the _interpretation_ of the arias (my case), this is not your choice. No emotion comes across....Pity.

Heavenly Voice
I like so much Baroque music. At this period, singer is a man that is not a woman. They are always prase for GOD, love......
If you can select this CD, you can meet the new classic world. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful
I grew up not really appreciating classical music...and now in my early twenties I figured "hell, I should try out a new road". I found this cd...because I used to have a midi track of canon that came with my old computer and I remember listening to it in the 7th grade. I found the version on here to be more moving then any of the other adaptations on any other disc. I find this record to be like a neil young record. Very bare. I know some might say that these peices in their raw form were much more bare...considering they were written with less or any strings. Or some would think that it's crazy talk to compare neil young with anything "classical"...but I don't think so.

Buy this strictly for canon...the other peices are strong as well...but I think there's probably other composers that do the bach and vivaldi better. The handel is also most enjoyable.

BUY!!!!

My favorite classical cd
This is my favorite classical cd of all time. Perhaps these arrangements are not exactly as they are "supposed to be";however, that is of little consequence. The arrangement of the Canon is the best I have ever heard. I have listened to this cd for the past twelve years and it has become the music of my life. This arrangement of the Canon is the most emotional I've ever come across. It is so moving it has brought tears to my eyes on more than one occaision. The rest of the cd is very good as well, but you should buy this cd for the Canon.

Not bad for an "excerpt" cd
This cd does not demonstrate, as the previous reviewer reports, "how it's supposed to sound", because Leppard's arrangements are just that: ARRANGEMENTS and ADAPTATIONS of many famous baroque pieces. The fact is that Pachelbel's canon is not scored for massed strings with additional viola parts, as found on this disc. Handel's "Sarabande" from his harpsichord suite in d minor is for HARPSICHORD, not a group of strings accompanied by harpsichord. The list could go on, but suffice it to say: For all my criticism, this cd, "Great Performances" is very good, with excellent arrangements and great sound for an old recording. I would suggest it to anyone looking for "familiar" sounding recordings of these pieces, but to those who want an authentic recording of baroque "favorites", you must allow yourself to purchase the cd "Pachelbel Canon" conducted by Christopher Hogwood with the Academy of Ancient Music. Read my review of Hogwood's Cd to learn more.

My Favorite Baroque CD
Could be just that I'm sentimental, but I bought this album on cassette in 1984 and it is finally giving up the ghost. I am ecstatic to find it on CD. The combination of performances on this album is superb and I always go back to this album if I want to hear "how it is supposed to be done"

As for technical quality of the recording, I can't say - I am just thrilled to be upgrading to CD. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Bach and Handel Treats
The unfortunate thingÑif anything can be said to the contrary about this collectionÑis that is an older recording. As far as authenticity, what was available in the days of Bach and Handel to perform their music, and what they may have had in mind as the formidable way of presenting it to the publicÑas well as to the heavensÑmay be quite different things. Viewed in this way, authenticity may be an abstraction we are not here priviledged to comment on.

I have marveled for years, even when these were two separate LP's, of the power and dimensionality conveyed by the way these works are performed. I still switch from one to another piece as which is my favorite. In this respect, the experience is a hermenutic delight. Any lover or respecter of Bach or Handel would not go wrong by including this collection in their musical library.

When I use the word "treats" in the title, I mean just that: it is a collection of works that one would be hard pressed to find performed together on any available recording. And so I use the metaphor "treat," as if I were given a morsel and then devoured it; and another, and devoured that one, each with a fullness of pleasure and delight, and with soul filling satisfaction.

These indivdual recordings are for the most part masterpieces in and of themselves, and to be able to listen to them as they are performed flawlessly, and in a manner that invites the Spirit of GodÑby saying they are a "treat"Ñis to merely to treat them minimally.

Fine recording, but doesn't work for me.
I love several of J.S. Bach's cantatas, and enjoy hearing them in a variety of ways--period performances, orchestral arrangements, etc. Therefore I'm not one to insist on authenticity. Nevertheless, the chorus here sounds too big for the Bach. Also, the program needs more variety for straight through listening. Chorus after (massive) chorus doesn't work for me.

rock on!!!!!
Jesu joy of man's desiring, holy wisdom love most bright

This song is the best I have ever heard. It rocks!!!!!
Jesu joy of man's desiring, holy wisdom love most bright ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Unearthly
Forget toiling for a BMW, enjoy finer things in life.One of my personal favorites is ''Le pecheurs de perles'', but the offer is overwhelming.

If You Only Buy One Caruso . . .
let this be it! Wonderful, generous selection of his singles for Victor, most of them solos, but a few duets, quartets, quintets, and a sextet. The accompanying booklet makes a great deal of including his first and last recordings, but by far the most important here is Caruso's 1907 recording of Vesti la giubba, the first classical recording to sell over a million copies in the United States. If you listen to it, you'll know why--it's every bit as melodramatic as the minstrel show singles with which it shared the top of the early twentieth-century charts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chip Davis's Mannheim Steamroller hasn't lost any ground in the six years since their last Yuletide offering. Christmas Extraordinare is another innovative and heartfelt collection of seasonal treasures played on a combination of 18th-century instruments and modern-day synthesizers, drums, and electric guitars. While not the first to marry different ages of musical instruments, Davis and his cohorts use them with imagination and an intensity that gives new life and drama to this rather inert genre. For material, Mannheim Steamroller asked their fans to choose their favorite holiday selections and vote on their Web site. The results of the poll are a fine mix of old and new--with slightly more emphasis on the modern--ranging from the bracing "Fum, Fum, Fum," a traditional Catalan carol, to Tchaikovsky's "Faeries" from The Nutcracker. Mannheim Steamroller imbues this beloved song with an almost militaristic edge, grounding it with an ominous tuba that gives the usually fey "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" an edgy tension. "Winter Wonderland" is a spectacular work, bordering on prog rock, as if Emerson, Lake & Palmer had re-formed to whip up a winter blizzard gone amok. While most of the Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas albums are largely instrumental, Davis has employed the considerable talents of University of Michigan's Glee Club to sing on "O Tannenbaum," respectfully fading their elegant, full vocals around the pristine voice of Johnny Mathis, elevating this German carol to a cinematic peak. Don't miss out on the clever liner notes, which give the reader a whimsical, anecdotal history of the 12 songs. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Nice Christmas collection - without Johnny Mathis
This is a good CD to complete your collection of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas disks. Unfortunately, I think the overall project has run its course. Overall, the songs are wonderfully arranged and performed. As to be expected, some are stronger, more fun, or more beautiful than others. It's always enjoyable to hear Chip Davis put a different twist to a traditional song and usually the results are extremely beautiful and haunting or simply just plain more fun. The versions of "Away in a Manger", "Do You Hear What I Hear?", and "The First Noel" stick out as first rate, as I would expect from Mannheim Steamroller. The obscure "Some Children See Him" is gorgeous. "Fum, Fum, Fum" is also a strong track, fun to listen to. The final track, "Auld Lang Syne" is wonderful, joyous, and makes it worth buying this disk. The one song that sticks out in my mind, however, is the absolutely terrible contribution by Johnny Mathis in "Oh Tannenbaum". I can't believe he or Chip Davis didn't do their homework enough to at least have him pronounce Tannenbaum correctly. It completely ruins the beautiful introduction by the U of Michigan Men's Glee Club and is a major distraction for the whole song. Without that, I would have given the disk another star. Best to burn this disk onto another without Mathis or program this song out of the sequence. Don't expect this disk to be as strong as A Fresh Aire Christmas or Christmas in the Aire. Otherwise, an enjoyable collection, nonetheless.

Extraordinaire It is!!!
First of all, I must say that I'm nothing short of confused by seeing so many negative reviews of this album here. The "synth" sound and electronic drums is a big part of what Mannheim Steamroller is all about, and if you really don't like this type of music, then by all means, don't buy it. If you are a Mannheim fan, what's not to like? They truly have done it again!

Hallelujah opens the CD very upbeat and full of energy. Away in a Manger is delicate and beautiful, as is Do You Hear What I Hear. Faeries from The Nutcracker, is magical and delightful and I could listen to it over and over again! They've added a special "spark" to this arrangement. Fum, Fum, Fum has an old-world Renaissance sound and is remarkable. Some Children See Him has to be my very favorite piece on this collection. I had never heard this carol before, and it is another that I could listen to over and over again. The flutes are so beautiful on this song, you just have to hear it! And, I'll admit that I never have liked Auld Lang Syne, but Chip's version has me playing it! His arrangement has made it more beautiful and listenable than it has ever been.

No, I don't totally enjoy every single song on the cd, but how many cds can you say that about anyway? There are always a couple of songs that are not as strong as the others, but they really don't take anything away from the beauty of this music.

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas in my house without Chip's cds playing in the background while presents are being opened. If you are a true Mannheim fan, you owe it to yourself to add this one to your Christmas collection.

Thought it was great until I heard Trans Siberian Orchestra!
I really thought that Mannheim Steamroller was fantastic, until I heard TransSiberian Orchestra. A great deal of the music played around the holiday season that I had attributed to MS was actually TSO! I bought all the MS CD's, but could not find the music that prompted me to make the purchase (how embarrassing!).
A piece of person history: in 1999 I lost all of the family I had grown up with, we lost our house, had to put one of our dogs down, then one of our cats ... I was one depressed person, and dreaded the holidays. Then in 2002, my husband took me to see Trans Siberian Orchestra perform in nearby Erie, Pennsylvania. They Rocked my world! They altered my outlook, and I have been scarfing up everything they come out with, and have not been disappointed once!
Paul O'Neill brought together some of the best rock music with complete Orchestral back-up and created something new and amazing.
That was the first Christmas I had celebrated.
Thank you Paul ... thank you Christopher Caffrey, Paul Wood (check his website for new and amazing musical string intruments!) and everyone! They break into two groups, East and West, and tour during the season. You never know Who might make a guest appearance.
Mannheim Steamroller is nice, pleasant background music. But for stories, thought provoking music ... check out Trans Siberian Orchestra!

Disappointing.
This album is no breath of fresh aire (pardon the pun). Unlike their previous Christmas albums (especially the first two), there is little here to recommend this album unless you are a diehard MS fan. I own all the Fresh Aire albums, all of the Christmas albums, and several of their other works, yet I was unimpressed by this one. "Fum, Fum, Fum" is far and away the best track here, with the special blend that made their other Christmas albums so good. "Fairies" is also interesting (for those who like the electronic side of MS). Most of the rest of the album is forgettable, and a few pieces ("White Christmas", "O Tannenbaum") are pretty bad.

I Just Don't Get It....
I have heard music by Mannheim Steamroller, and I have heard many, many people sing praises for their music. I just don't get the big deal. To me, their stuff is horrible. It sounds like a 5-year old was handed a synthesizer, and was told "Play some Christmas songs." I don't understand all the people who love this music, but obviously, MS is hugely successful--so SOMEONE is buying their stuff. Are people so musically lacking that THIS is what they think "good" music is? If so, I am very sad for those people. ... Read more