Best Tangos
While the result isn't your essential Piazzolla album (that would have to include more of the composer's own playing), it's an atmospheric and convincing collection, perhaps a good introduction for those who don't know the music.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have better sounding CD's from Yo Yo Ma."
"After reading "The Gods of Tango" I decided to learn more about the music that was so much a part of the novel."
"Beautiful soulful music to listen to, love it."
"La delicadeza de la interpretacion y los arreglos de YO-YO-MA, es sinigual."
"The first song on this CD superbly captures the Argentina tango."
"What can you say about a musical icon, fantastic."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Simply wonderful musianship."
"Everything was perfect and on time."
"I personally listened to Manuel Barrueco playing live some years ago."
With this dramatic collection, Legrand continues his orchestral portraits of Europe's splendid cities and countries, this time portraying the dazzling lights and deep shadows of Spain.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am glad to finally own hard to find Legrand!"
"I just never tire of these Legrand recordings and hearing the background sounds peculiar to a country.Just makes it easier to recall my visits to Rome, Paris and Seville."
"I grew up listening to his music."
"I'M 64 YEARS OLD AND A FAN OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND BALLADS OF THE LATE 50'S AND 60'S."
"THE L.P.WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT.tHE OTHER 2 WHICH I ALSO ORDERED AT THE SAME TIME WERE ALSO L.P.'S I HAD IN THE 50'S.i INTEND TO CHECK OUT MANY MORE FROM THE "DARK AGES" ISHOULD ADD THAT THESE ARE NOT L.P.'S BUT C.D.S TTHANKS D.D."
"was excited to get this cd as I have the record and no way to play it."
"I have had the original LP recording of this album for over 50 years."
"The sound quality is bad, but more importantly, most of the tracks don't even have the complete piece on them, they often cut in and out while the work is in progress."
Best Tango
Can there ever have been such a decade, so endlessly discussed, pored over and analysed? We see it as a period of unparalleled hedonism, quite unlike any other, with Bright Young Things seemingly engaged in a perpetual day-and-night party, fuelled by bathtub gin and dancing wantonly to the bright, snappy rhythms of jazz. F. Scott Fitzgerald defined the era as the 'Jazz Age', publishing his novel 'The Great Gatsby' in 1926, a key text for the times, encapsulating the headlong but ultimately self-destructive mood of the moment, what one writer called 'the greatest, gaudiest spree in history'. Bert Firman - Kansas City Kitty. The Rhythmic Eight - Umtcha, Umtcha, Da, Da, Da. Johnny Hamps Kentucky Serenaders - Black Bottom.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Use 20's music for my dance class."
"I love the music, but I didnt realize there were no vocals."
"Oh, do I love this CD!"
"What distinguishes the music of the roaring twenties?"
"This is a terrific CD!"
"Modern music is generally murky, pessimistic, full of turgid language when it isn't being profane, and usually sounds uninspired."
Best Galops
On the 150th anniversary of his death, Deutsche Grammophon released this impressive box set featuring the complete works of Frédéric Chopin. The majority of the set's nine volumes contain some music newly produced for this undertaking, and a few items (Chopin's songs, for instance) were recorded specifically for this collection. Chopin's songs, seldom heard and filled with elements of Polish folk dances and the less-than-stellar lyrics of the composer's friend Stefan Witwicki, get a college try here by soprano Elzbieta Szmytka.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This DG set is a unique, too, in that the recording technology does not "get in the way." From the moment you start, you are immersed in the delightful sounds that are uniquely Chopin's."
"This is the best version and the one you should buy...I did a in depth-review on youtube about it.. just search The Best Chopin Compilation 17 CD Set Review if you want to watch it."
"In it one can appreciate the wondrous manner in which Chopin at once appeased the conservative appetites of the Paris salon set while revolutionizing the genre of piano music in both traditional and more intimate forms. An unwieldy rubato rules the day here, and distorts the harmonic language to the point that it sounds like Debussy or Ravel's frequent (and unshakeably French-sounding) evocations of Spain. Properly supplemented in the more familiar repertory (mazurkas, impromptus, sonatas, in particular), I believe this set is indispensable to anyone who appreciates or seeks a broader understanding of Chopin the composer."
"Some of the reviewers here, didn't like Luisadas performances of the Mazurkas. I hold the heretical opinion that Jean-Marc Luisadas performances are much better than Rubinsteins (I possess the three different complete Mazurka recordings of Rubinstein)."
Best Pavanes
The Piano Guys have become a YouTube sensation with their clever and inspiring takes on popular music and creative videos that accompany them. Their debut album on Sony Masterworks includes songs featured in their hit videos, including their latest viral smash, a distinctive take on One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." The deluxe release of their self-titled 2012 album, with 3 bonus tracks plus an accompanying DVD containing 8 of their most popular music videos.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is excellent music to work by, especially if you work with words. There's not much singing, the music is uplifting without being exhausting (Hans Zimmer soundtracks, I'm looking at you here), it's like a mental massage while you work."
"I can't remember who first introduced me to The Piano Guys, but I saw them first on YouTube."
"We really enjoy listening to these two musical geniuses."
"I love the upbeat quality of some of my favorite classical pieces blended with more contemporary music."
"Lest that makes them sound stuffy, it was precisely because they were so completely different from anything I'd heard before that I wanted to know if I was really hearing them accurately. My favorite piece involves a topless piano so they can pluck the strings, play percussion with their hands on the side of the piano from the inside, carry a beat by lightly hitting the keyboard cover to the full-up position in rhythm to, yes, someone actually playing the keys on the keyboard."
"Their sound is. deep, soulful, and expressive, which only comes from truly gifted and trained artists."
"Whatever, "Piano Guys" is at least as much "Cello Guys" as piano."
"This album is a good value for your money."
Best Polkas
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I could listen to this music every day, and so many of the pieces were familiar."
"But if you can appreciate quality music played with REAL INSTRUMENTS & not SYNTHESIZURES, than you will relax & enjoy this CD!"
"Best versions of great music."
"A beautiful sounding set."
"My favorite collection of perfectly choreographed Johann Strauss ll as well as his father Johann Strauss, and his brother Josepf."
"A superb, comprehensive collection."
Best Ballets
For us home listeners, though, this is a superb way to hear Tchaikovsky's complete score and to remind ourselves of how much good music isn't included in the familiar suite.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Maybe I know nothing about music, but I was disappointed with how the sound was mixed for this."
"Excellent recording."
"Her sister took ballet for 10 years and she used this CD to practice for her different roles to her appropriate music."
"This is a complete recording of Nutcracker needed for a ballet production for a class in Central America."
"Beautiful music, good quality."
"One either loves the music and dancing or they do not."
Best Waltzes
A classic collection of 11 CDs that compiles every recording that the late Arthur Rubinstein released on the RCA label from 1946-1967!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I always believe Rubinstein's Chopin performance is the greatest."
"A must-have for Chopin lovers."
"I'm not that professional, well I like the ballade No.1 very much when first listening to it on a plane."
"I have to admit that i am addicted to the Nocturnes."
"Rubenstein and Chopin."
"This is a gift for my birthday for my husband to give me!"
"Marvelous!"
Best Minuets
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 8 yr old son LOVES these."
"This was a gift and the recipient was delighted to receive it; she had a very happy day and plays it often."
"We have this set, as well as volume 1."
"a must have for long car rides... great stories about composers and their music for the family."
"bought as a gift for nephew's family."
"My son listens to these over and over since he was 5 and he is now 13. if you pic any classical children's cds, pick these!!!"
"I love these Classical Kids CDs."
Best Gavottes
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased this cd because I liked the 3rd symphony so much that I wanted to add the others to my library. Not only has this unnumbered symphony become my favorite from Saint-Saëns, it has become my favorite symphony (though I do prefer the first 3 movements to the last, which I find to be less distinctive). I have noticed that often times his phrases actually overlap, which might explain the natural flow, or which may just indicate that he took greater caution with his transitions that others did."
"My only quibble is that the Third Symphony is divided into only two tracks, the actual two movements as composed, not into the four sections customarily separated on CD recordings of this work."
"Yes, I do find listening to Saint Saens' Symphonies a wonderful musical experience although I do know it's not considered to be too musically "cool" to enjoy the Saint Saens' Symphonies, I really DON'T CARE! This two disc set (each disc running well over 70 minutes) of the Saint Saens' Symphonies is filled with some lovely late romantic charmers--Saint Saens' complete 5 symphonies. No, these symphonies ain't Mahler and no they don't require deep serious "brain-cramp" inducing contemplation; however, these symphonies by Camille Saint Saens are a real listening pleasure being so very easy to mentally grasp that I just allowed myself to be swept away in the sheer romantic sounds of the works. The most famous of Saint Saens' Symphonies is, of course, the "Organ" Symphony (the third) and it is indeed very exciting with the pipe organ at times full throttle up against a full orchestra at full throttle too. EMI sound engineers have done a great job of capturing the sound of these rather large orchestra works (Symphonies 1-3 plus two un-numbered symphonic works--Symphony in F major "Urbs Roma" and the Symphony in A major.)."
Best Bourées
Item Specifications Color Silver Material Alloy Hub Drilling 32 Rear Axle Type 10x1 Cassette Body Type Threaded Standard Hub/Brake Compatibility Rim Brake Valve Standard Schrader ISO Diameter 622 / road / 29 Valve Length Schrader Wheel Size 700c Tire Type Clincher Rear Wheel Type Road Rear Hub Spacing 135 Spoke Info DT Swiss Industry Rim Alex Y2000 Skewer Included Yes Defined Color Silver.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Addictive, enthralling, bewitching..."
"Ashkenazy used to be a hero of mine (starting with his performance of Rachmaninov's preludes)."
"My son, for whom I bought this, absolutely loves this complete set."
"I have listened to the works of a number of composers, but Chopin always stands out with his remarkable ability to translate raw human emotion into musical tones from the piano. The music of Chopin contains so much pure poetic beauty, but I think his true genius comes through in pieces written in the minor keys. For the piano, it requires subtle technique with dynamics and license in meter (which Chopin was occasionally criticized for) to truly translate the emotion."
"This is a great set to own to get a good feeling for the entirety. of Chopin's output."
"His ability to write such technically difficult pieces that are also melodic and pleasing to the ear is truly incredible."
"What a great set - 13 discs of Chopin delivered with technical elan and profound feeling."
Best Mazurkas
A classic collection of 11 CDs that compiles every recording that the late Arthur Rubinstein released on the RCA label from 1946-1967!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I always believe Rubinstein's Chopin performance is the greatest."
"A must-have for Chopin lovers."
"I'm not that professional, well I like the ballade No.1 very much when first listening to it on a plane."
"I have to admit that i am addicted to the Nocturnes."
"Rubenstein and Chopin."
"This is a gift for my birthday for my husband to give me!"
"Marvelous!"
Best Polonaises
A classic collection of 11 CDs that compiles every recording that the late Arthur Rubinstein released on the RCA label from 1946-1967!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I always believe Rubinstein's Chopin performance is the greatest."
"A must-have for Chopin lovers."
"I'm not that professional, well I like the ballade No.1 very much when first listening to it on a plane."
"I have to admit that i am addicted to the Nocturnes."
"Rubenstein and Chopin."
"This is a gift for my birthday for my husband to give me!"
"Marvelous!"
Best Ecossaises
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 8 yr old son LOVES these."
"This was a gift and the recipient was delighted to receive it; she had a very happy day and plays it often."
"We have this set, as well as volume 1."
"The CDs arrived promptly, and my niece loves them!"
"a must have for long car rides... great stories about composers and their music for the family."
"bought as a gift for nephew's family."
"My son listens to these over and over since he was 5 and he is now 13. if you pic any classical children's cds, pick these!!!"
Best Galliardes
6 CDs feature collaborations with his famous colleagues Sigiswald Kuijken, Frans Bruggen and Anner Bylsma, the Leonhardt-Consort and Harry van der Kamp.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is always a great pleasure to listen to Gustav Leonhardt playing baroque music at cembalo and organ."
"I bought it for my husband because reviews stated that Leonhardt's version of Bach's Goldberg Suite was the best."
"Masterly performances from the great masters of early music."
"A no brainer for the price."
"Excellent quality production almost as good as Archiv."
"Leonhardt was always so faithful to the scores - I give it 5 for my utmost respect for the man, but I don't like all the cds (9 or 10) equally well, but none are bad."
"My God, could this guy play."
"Wonderful music beautifully played."
Best Musettes
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A CD ROM is also included with History and other interesting facts plus the complete Libretto. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the Mass in B Minor from the collection performed by The Sixteen Choir and Orchestra."
"It is just amazing to sort through the variety of Bach's work just by instrument and voice. I agree that you could find a better Brandenburg Concertos, as I have, but it is still good enough to stand a listen."
"I just received this set this evening and have listened to three CDs chosen at random. Given that Bach is by far my favorite composer, and that I prefer performances on period instruments, I am much more than impressed with what I have heard so far. Normally I would wait longer to review a purchase, but it will take at least a couple of months to listen to the entire set, and I am very pleased already. UPDATE: Wish I had checked the price on Amazon.UK, which sells it for about twenty dollars less, including delivery, making it about fifty-five cents per disc."
"Be advised however that a handful of items are missing: First of all, although the documentation mentions the St. Mark Passion (CD V-22 and V-23) and the St. Luke Passion (CD V-24 and V-25), these items are not actually included in the set -- they are not even listed in the directory of vocal works on the inside lid (and these CDs contain other selections). I have now been listening to these for one full year, typically while I am driving to/from work or while hiking."
Best Classical Dances
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 8 yr old son LOVES these."
"This was a gift and the recipient was delighted to receive it; she had a very happy day and plays it often."
"We have this set, as well as volume 1."
"a must have for long car rides... great stories about composers and their music for the family."
"bought as a gift for nephew's family."
"My son listens to these over and over since he was 5 and he is now 13. if you pic any classical children's cds, pick these!!!"
"I love these Classical Kids CDs."
Best Baroque Dance Suites
Giuliano Carmignola, backed by the Venice Baroque Orchestra led by Andrea Marcon offer a program of such thrilling energy and virtuosity that it's impossible not to get caught up in their passion for the music.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wonderful music!!"
"A nice addition to our collection."
"Really beautiful...I listen to this often."
"I have a large classical music collection and a wide range of favorites but this album is a continual favorite."
"I highly recommend this CD and Concerto Veneziano (#1 fabulous!)."
"One can easily imagine this entorage playing in the very special small churches and other venues in Venice that surround the Ospedale della Pieta (the orphanage where Vivaldi was employed for most of his composing lifetime)."