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The Best of the Three Tenors

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Decca

June 23, 2003
I am not really a classical music buff, but with my father in law being one its an obvious choice for presents. knowing that he likes the 3 tenors is a big help seeing as i do not really know much at all about classical music apart form the odd few bits world cup and films. I bought this disc for his birthday not really relishing the thought of hearing it, however I was pleasently supprised indeed. This was very easy on the ears indeed and shock horror on the whole i enjoyed cd there was the odd one i was not that overly keen on not to sure which one it was called i think it was track 4 Sous le ciel de Paris. By comparrison you'll never walk alone i thought was very enjoyable along with nessumdora the world cup anthum from a few years back now. ... Read More:

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Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Various Artists, Richard Wagner

May 25, 1998
This is a two-CD collection of some of the finest orchestral moments in Wagner's operatic repertoire. It is in many respects the perfect introduction to the power of his music.

The first CD focuses on "music of power, conflict and death" (as the blurb states), whilst the second concentrates on "music of love, ecstasy and redemption". We can all take this with a pinch of salt, of course, but that is not to deny the power of the music.

The extracts are from the Deutsche Grammophon and Decca catalogues, featuring top orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and the Philharmonia, conducted by the likes of Karajan, Bohm and Sinopoli.

It's not a perfect collection. For example, many of the ... Read More:

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The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: TV soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Original Soundtrack

October 01, 1999
I bought this album after a search as basically I could not get the theme music out of my head after 40 plus years.

The haunting themes remain one of the great TV programme soundtracks. They were never obtrusive but added to the atmosphere to a stupendous series.

Much recommended to all 40 somethings and makes this reviewer wish for the simpler life and entertainment we had in those halcyon days of the 60's and 70's

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The Da Vinci Code

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Hans Zimmer

May 15, 2006
No, no, no. This is not the best film music ever composed. It is all the same - even the terrifying movement that was cut barely makes anything tingle. Yes, it has to experienced with the film, but this is where this soundtrack falls down.

This soundtrack does not stand on its own: if it is supposed to, it falls into that awful Classic FM genre of baroque-style easy listening, which surely must become a graveyard eventually.

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Giulio Cesare - Handel (Glyndebourne Festival) [2006]

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
starring: William Christie, Sarah Connolly, Angelika Kirchschlager, Danielle De Niese, Christophe Dumaux
directed by: David McVicar

April 03, 2006
A first class performance of a much underrated masterpiece.
All the cast were on top form, and the desire on the part of
the production team to make Handel's music both seductive and
eternal was a success in every way.

I cannot think of a better operatic production on DVD.
Indeed, I would say that it is at least the equal of any
of the many Don Giovanni DVDs currently available.
Sarah Connolly's Cesare is a turly manly portrayal and
is the perfect partner for the Celopatra of Danielle de
Niese whose sheer sexual vivaciousness and sublime,
uninhibited singing reflect a rare talent, and after
viewing certain scenes in Act Three, I became convinced ... Read More:

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Schubert: Complete Trios

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Duo

January 11, 1994
Schubert's chamber works are unassuming and genial, abounding in sunny melodies, gorgeous harmonies and moments of great beauty. The playing on these disks is always wonderful, the musicians commune with one another perfectly. The tone quality is perfect at every turn. Their techniques are brilliant, their sense of melody and forward motion amazing. The Bb piano trio is particularly well captured with a sense of great spontanaity. The Notturno is also very beautiful, this piece will no doubt surprise you in it's lush beauty, even if you know a lot of Schubert. If only this could have been a ten disc set of trios by Schubert........

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Bizet: Carmen

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Teresa Berganza Plácido Domingo Claudio Abbado

March 07, 2005
Not too impressed with the quality of the recording... I was really hoping for something MUCH better than that. If someone could recommended a brilliant audio recording of Carmen that would be just fantastic. This one lets me down I think. The singing is "top-drawer" though.

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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
from: RCA Red Seal

March 15, 2004
I was introduced to the symphonies of Vaughan Williams in my teens through LPs of the complete cycle by Andre Previn and the LSO. These LPs have now been transferred to disc and have been made available again. They remain, after all these years and having listened to a number of other cycles, the best of the bunch, in my humble opinion.

Before moving to London, part of Andre Previn's background was in the theatre. As an American showman, he proved capable - and still is capable - of bringing out the drama inherent in the symphonic form, whilst at the same time producing a deeper understanding of the traits that make up each symphony.

There are two anecdotes I like about Previn's relationship to the music of RVW. I do not know if either is apocryphal. ... Read More:

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Frida

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Universal Classics

March 03, 2003
Bought this album post seeing the film Frida - another must.
The soundtrack is as mesmerising as Frida herself. One can leave this album on replay and never tire of it. I wholly and heartedly recommend it.

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Poulenc - Gloria

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Hyperion

March 03, 2008
Gramophone


"Gloriously pompous," says Marc Rochester of the fanfare that opens Poulenc's Gloria. He's quite right, of course, but also right in pointing out that it is absolutely electric. And that goes for much of this terrific album. When the massed forces of Polyphony, the Britten Sinfonia and the Trinity College Choir ring out at full strength, the sound is simply incredible.