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Puccini: La Bohème

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Victoria De Los Angeles

March 11, 2002
Away with revisionist deviationism, say I. For most of my life Beecham's has been regarded as the Boheme to end all Bohemes, and I maintain resolutely that it still is that, for all the advances in recording techniques since 1956. The digital remastering dates from as recently as 2002, but Beecham used to obtain very good technical quality of sound for his day, and for the usual reason that he demanded it and there was no use in arguing. I also offer the following consideration as regards sound-quality - when it is a matter of large forces, say a symphony orchestra let alone the battalions necessary for grand opera, the nature of the sound that can be offered to us in our sitting-rooms simply cannot resemble other than distantly their real sound ... Read More:

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Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City

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

April 02, 2001
Unfashionable as it is to be a Bruce fan right now, I find it hard to imagine that the non- believers out there would fail to be blown away with the sheer energy that radiates from every track on this album.

From the dramatic opening bars of "My love will not let you down" to the sombre team delivery of "If I should fall behind" the album transports you to a time and place where you could obtain "cold beer at reasonable price & pizza for everybody"

New renditions of old classics are a revelation specifically a "plugged" version of "Youngstown" and a blistering rescue from mediocrity of "Two Hearts" and "Prove it all night"

The usual anthems are ... Read More:

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40 Degrees North

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Xuefei Yang

April 07, 2008
Unfashionable as it is to be a Bruce fan right now, I find it hard to imagine that the non- believers out there would fail to be blown away with the sheer energy that radiates from every track on this album.

From the dramatic opening bars of "My love will not let you down" to the sombre team delivery of "If I should fall behind" the album transports you to a time and place where you could obtain "cold beer at reasonable price & pizza for everybody"

New renditions of old classics are a revelation specifically a "plugged" version of "Youngstown" and a blistering rescue from mediocrity of "Two Hearts" and "Prove it all night"

The usual anthems are ... Read More:

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Handel: Messiah

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

May 10, 1993
In the same way that Naxos' New College Oxford recording of "Messiah" is an example of the English Cathedral tradition, this recording is a great sample of the choral society tradition. Although the recording includes some huge names from the world of classical music, I was not over-enthralled by the recording as a whole. The age of the recording (1966) is made obvious in the quality of sound, and the entire ensemble is too big to hear the words properly, and of course this is reflected in the acoustic. The presentation is acceptable, but there are few programme notes and no copy of the text. However, what this recording does have is drama and vigour in abundance.

Both the choir and orchestra sing well and accurately enough, and the soloists are ... Read More:

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Beethoven - Piano Sonatas, Vol 4 (Paul Lewis)

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Paul Lewis

April 28, 2008
This (along with the other CDs which form Lewis's complete Beethoven cycle) is the set I would recommend as the best single recording to have if you want just one recording of all these works, and as a recording that everyone ought to want to have in addition to any others. Other performances are wilder, faster, and louder - or generally more extreme - but if you really want to understand the works, these are quite wonderful. You won't really get the point if you're only awake to speed and dynamics, but if you're prepared to listen to these performances seriously you'll find out more about what's going in Beethoven than from any other performances I know. What you have here are deep sensitivity and a great command of piano tone in the service of an outstanding ... Read More:

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Classic FM Music for Driving

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Classic FM.(Export

July 12, 2004

The `Classic FM Music For' series of CDs, released during 2004 to 2005, aims to provide classical music to suit a variety of moods and occasions, including music for Babies, Bath time, Christmas, Dinner Parties, Driving, Fitness, Romance, Mums, Studying and Weddings.

This collection of well chosen short pieces, intended to be played while driving, is more of a cross section of classical music's most popular hits (they will be familiar to most non-classical fans) than a good listening accompaniment for driving - musical taste will surely dictate the most suitable music for that.

Some of the albums in the series are appropriate for the occasion, but this one is simply a very good selection of classical music suitable for listening to ... Read More:

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Verdi: La Traviata -- Royal Opera House [1994] (NTSC)

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Frank Lopardo, Leo Nucci, Leah-Marian Jones, Gillian Knight
directed by: Humphrey Burton, Peter Maniura

March 12, 2001
This is the opera that shot Georgiu to stardom. It's easy to see why, with her combination of acting, looks and singing. Violetta is a very difficult role, it places very different demands on the singer in each act. Georgiu isn't quite ideal for act 1, but after that she's really in her element. You can practically see the paternal pride in Solti's face as he watches his young protegee bloom. Surely the definitive Traviata.

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Chopin: Nocturnes and Ballades

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

July 07, 1997
I don't think anyone could argue with Vladimir Ashkenazy's ability to perform Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev or Scriabin with great eloquence and passion. He seems so at home in that repertoire.
However, when placed in the entirely more intimate environment of Chopin he really doesn't seem to know what to do. His waltzes are bland and sound just like encore pieces with little or no real expression, his mazurkas are just too dull.
In Ashkenazy's hands the etudes do sound wonderful, however, and I like his recordings of the polonaises also, and the scherzi and ballades.
This recording of the nocturnes falls somewhere in the middle. However, the Nocturnes really are one of the cornerstones of piano music and there are many much better recordings to be had, in ... Read More:

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Nyman - The Piano

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

May 01, 2006
I don't think anyone could argue with Vladimir Ashkenazy's ability to perform Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev or Scriabin with great eloquence and passion. He seems so at home in that repertoire.
However, when placed in the entirely more intimate environment of Chopin he really doesn't seem to know what to do. His waltzes are bland and sound just like encore pieces with little or no real expression, his mazurkas are just too dull.
In Ashkenazy's hands the etudes do sound wonderful, however, and I like his recordings of the polonaises also, and the scherzi and ballades.
This recording of the nocturnes falls somewhere in the middle. However, the Nocturnes really are one of the cornerstones of piano music and there are many much better recordings to be had, in ... Read More:

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Officium

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: ECM New Series

September 05, 1994
I can see how sax fans find this album a revelation but it is a stain on the track record of the Hilliard Ensemble. I can see (kinda) what the involved parties tried to do but it still is painful to listing to it and even with a lot of good will this is simply a waste of money and time. To all those admirers of the Hilliard Ensemble: Don't do it to yourself!