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Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms / Symphony in C / Symphony in Three Movements

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Sir Simon Rattle

June 02, 2008
Not the biggest Stravinsky fan, but I keep coming back to this disc. I particularly want to hear the Symphony in C, probably because of its clarity and elegant facade. The other two pieces are notably more dramatic, I think. Excellent singing and instrumental playing.

I just want to know, what exactly does "in concert" mean? Live and maybe padded with rehearsal takes? Strictly live on the night? Not live at all? Someone else review this disc and please explain.

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Bach - Cello Suites

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: EMI Classics

August 02, 2004
I currently own recordings of the Bach cello suites by Rostropovich, Casals, Yo-Yo Ma and Fournier and have heard many others. Tortelier's recording is my firm favourite. The pace is just right; slow enough to express feeling, but fast enough to realise the no doubt intended flow to the pieces. Tortelier is completely at one with the Bach Cello Suites in these recordings, and plays them beautifully. Highly recommended.

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Wild Swans

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: ABC Classics

July 03, 2006
This album is absolutely fantastic and you actually feel what is happening in the fairy tale.

The problem is that people do not know that Elena Kats-Chernin composed this music for a ballet "The Wild Swans" and every piece of music relates to something in the fairy tale. Eliza Aria (the music on the Lloyds advert is the piece composed about the Princess) who was turned mute after a spell was cast upon her by her wicked Stepmother.

In a faraway kingdom, there lives a King with his twelve children: eleven princes and one princess. One day, he decides to remarry. He marries a wicked Queen who is actually a witch. Out of spite, the queen turns her eleven stepsons into swans and forces them to fly away. They carry their fifteen year old ... Read More:

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Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Ibrahim Ferrer

May 24, 1999
From the first track 'Bruca Manigua' (which you will replay over and over) to the last. This album is simply Unbelievable. I only discovered Buena Vista with the free Movie cd with my Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago and Ibrahim Ferrer is just an undiscovered Legend in my books. Well, up till the last few years of his life. GET THIS!!!

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Sky 2

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Sky

February 26, 2008
I used to own this album as a double cassette tape when I was in lodgings while at university. I played it all the time but to avoid disturbing the couple I lodged with I always played it very quietly, even though I think it was them who introduced me to Sky. Yesterday I played a new compilation CD that has Toccata on it ... in the car ... very loudly! Wow! I had forgotten just how good this album is - I need it NOW.

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Ikon

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Sixteen

April 03, 2006
It has to be said that there is little more versatile as the human voice as an instrument. This proves the point beyond measure.
Clarity, emotion and total respect for the piece are in abundance throughout the album.
Wonderful.

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Oliver (1994 London Cast)

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: First Night Records

March 21, 1995
This is the revived version of the classic 'Oliver' musical that was based on 'Oliver Twist' by Dickens. It is a triumph! I absolutely love it! With music that lifts you up and stirs the emotions. We are invited to follow Oliver, a small timid orphan, on his journey in search of love. Along the way we meet such wonderful characters as Fagan (played by Jonathan Price), the artful dodger, Nancy(played by Sally Dexter) and the terrifying Bill Sykes (played by the wonderful Miles Anderson). It is truley a heart warming story that is told so beautifully as only music could! It is like one of those films that you can watch over and over again - each time you listn to it you find something new and wonderful! Don't let faffy school productions put you off such a beautiful ... Read More:

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Puccini: La Bohème

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Anna Netrebko Rolando Villazon Nicole Cabell Boaz Daniel Stéphane Degout Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Bertrand De Billy Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks Kinderchor des Stadttheaters am Gärtnerplatz, Stephane Degout, Nicole Cabell

May 12, 2008
This is the revived version of the classic 'Oliver' musical that was based on 'Oliver Twist' by Dickens. It is a triumph! I absolutely love it! With music that lifts you up and stirs the emotions. We are invited to follow Oliver, a small timid orphan, on his journey in search of love. Along the way we meet such wonderful characters as Fagan (played by Jonathan Price), the artful dodger, Nancy(played by Sally Dexter) and the terrifying Bill Sykes (played by the wonderful Miles Anderson). It is truley a heart warming story that is told so beautifully as only music could! It is like one of those films that you can watch over and over again - each time you listn to it you find something new and wonderful! Don't let faffy school productions put you off such a beautiful ... Read More:

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101 Classical Hits

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Various Artists

May 12, 2008
101 TRACKS! 6 CDS! - EACH ONE OVER 70 MINUTES LONG!
Unbeatable value for money!
There's a bit of everything here from movie ost's to the great classics!
Wagner, Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Holst, Prokofiev & many,many more!
Each disc is separateley themed; one disc focuses on tracks from the movie & television world, another features lighter, romantic works, another is the big, epic, heavy pieces & so on. That's over 6 HOURS of some of the finest MUSIC ever written! Raging Bull, Platoon; It's all here!!!
It has to be said that the sound quality is EXCEPTIONAL!
I'm a novice to this stuff, having come over from the world of Metal.
This isn't as strange a leap as you may think, considering that Rock & Classical ... Read More:

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Cloudburst and other choral works

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

January 30, 2006
I'm with Michael Hamilton on this one. Loads of polyphony in search of a melody and most irritating, particularly track 6 (When David heard) where the interminable "My son" had me tearing my hair out(at least the bit that's left!) Save your money and try the excellent Polyphony in " Nocturnes" or "Lux aeterna" by Morten Lauridson.