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Allegri - Miserere; Lotti - Crucifixus; Palestrina - Stabat Mater Dolorosa

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

May 05, 2003
Allegri's Miserere is given the top billing on this disc, perhaps because of some celebrated special effects, explained in the liner notes, that it contains. The first track is devoted to a sombre and beautiful Crucifixus (from the Nicene Creed) by one Lotti, an older contemporary of Bach. Admirable and compelling, both of these, but what I bought this disc for was the two items by Palestrina, his Stabat Mater and the celestial Missa Papae Marcelli.

It is not just the quality of the early music specialists these days but the sheer profusion of them that continues to astonish me. I looked through the list of singers (18, not 16) and while I did not recognise most of the names offhand that may simply be because I did not investigate ... Read More:

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Carols from King's

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

November 17, 1997
Having just heard the CD, I am warmed by the quality of ALL the tracks, the singing is beautiful and sung so professionally.
If you are looking for a traditional Carol CD, then I would definately recommend this one,

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Adams - Doctor Atomic (Netherlands Po) [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
starring: Gerald Finley, Jessica Rivera, Eric Owens, Richard Paul Fink, James Maddalena
directed by: John Adams;Peter Sellars (Stage Director);Lawrence Renes (Musical Director)

July 28, 2008
I've held off writing about Dr. Atomic. I've now watched it for the third time and haven't changed my mind. It's a masterpiece. There's no denying some of the power of the score, but it is in the many more introspective moments that I find its most arresting beauty and power.

Gerald Finley - a singer I went nuts for as Papageno nearly 20 years ago, still has a marvelously appealing boyish handsomeness that suits this role to a tee. This could be the role of his career so far. The voice is in absolutely peak condition, one of the most beautiful baritones singing today (in my opinion) with a winning combination of brightness, mellowness, one of the most even-sounding vibratos of any singer today and a light rich quality that simply gleams. ... Read More:

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Beethoven - Violin Concerto

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

October 05, 1998
In my opinion it is very difficult to identify one version of a work as great as this . Different interpretations can tell you so much more about a work .

That said this marvellous recording from the early 1980s was my introduction to a 25 year long love affair with this piece . Perlman spins tone of gold whilst also allowing introspection in the slow movement .

That said I wouldn't be without Menuhin/Furtwangler on Testament, Oistrakh/Cluytens on EMI or Hilary Hahn on Sony either

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Mozart: Symphonies 38-41

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Scottish Chamber Orchestra

February 25, 2008
It is the mark of a fine conductor that s/he treat Mozart and Haydn symphonies with he same reverence as, say, Beethoven or Bruckner. In his last four symphonies Mozart establishes a standard for symphonic writing that later composers, Beethoven included, were to respond to and build on. Mackerras has long been a Mozartian par excellence, although his earlier recordings of these symphonies are not, in this reviewer's opinion, of the best. These new recordings with the SCO certainly are.

Mackerras adopts a modern approach to these works that is informed by 'period instrument' performances, while still allowing the sort of spaciousness one tends to find in the performances of more 'old school' conductors - Bohm and Bernstein, for example, ... Read More:

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Walt Disney

May 21, 2007
Classic Zimmer and some. Listen carefully and you hear strains of The Da Vinci Code and Gladiator filtering through. Not a critisism, it's just his style. You'll also here the influences of other classical composers coming through, not unusual. While parlay is a delightful homage to Morricone's scoring to the classic duel in 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. Makes me smile everytime I hear it, and wish it were longer.

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Onward

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Alfie Boe

March 12, 2007

Onward is Alfie Boe's third studio album, the first was in association with Classic FM who kicked off his recording career, the following two were made after signing to the EMI Classics label. Born in 1973 in Lancashire his humble upbringing in a largely non-musical environment make his progression from apprentice worker in a TVR car factor to leading tenor in the Broadway production of `La Boheme' all the more remarkable.

The album is mostly a collection of well known pieces which will be familiar to those unaccustomed to classical music or opera, giving it broad appeal to a wide listening audience.

The sleeve notes provide a one or two line commentary on each track explaining the reason for choosing them, and some background ... Read More:

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Schubert Lieder - Bernarda Fink

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Bernarda Fink (mezzo soprano), Gerold Huber

August 25, 2008

Onward is Alfie Boe's third studio album, the first was in association with Classic FM who kicked off his recording career, the following two were made after signing to the EMI Classics label. Born in 1973 in Lancashire his humble upbringing in a largely non-musical environment make his progression from apprentice worker in a TVR car factor to leading tenor in the Broadway production of `La Boheme' all the more remarkable.

The album is mostly a collection of well known pieces which will be familiar to those unaccustomed to classical music or opera, giving it broad appeal to a wide listening audience.

The sleeve notes provide a one or two line commentary on each track explaining the reason for choosing them, and some background ... Read More:

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Great Inventors and Their Inventions: Archimedes, Gutenberg, Franklin, Nobel, Bell, Marconi, The Wright Brothers, Edison (Junior Classics)

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: David Angus

October 02, 2006
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

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Gypsy

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: 2008 Broadway Revival Cast

August 26, 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.