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Russell Watson: The Voice

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
from: Decca

September 25, 2000

The Voice, released in May 2001, is Russell Watson's debut album and marks the end of his progression from the pub and club circuit, and the start of his recording career after signing with the Decca label.

The album hit No.1 in the UK Classical charts and reached No.5 in the UK Album Chart. Following its release in the US it also hit the top spot, making history as the first time a British artist has topped both the UK and US Classical Charts, and if that wasn't enough, it was awarded `Album of the Year' and 'Best Selling Classical Album' at the Classical BRIT awards in 2001.

The songs are a mix of classical and popular, with the emphasis on the classics to enable its eligibility for that chart: 60% of the ... Read More:

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The Platinum Collection

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
by: Karl Jenkins

March 19, 2007
I bought this triple CD collection after borrowing the "Requiem" CD from a local library and really enjoying it. Containing as it does not only the Requiem and (very different) the first "Adiemus" volume but also "The Armed Man", I found it an excellent introduction to Karl Jenkins' music. The "Requiem" CD also includes Jenkins' rich "In These Stones Horizons Sing" evocation of Wales - a great bonus. Whilst there are tracks on each CD that I don't really respond to, there is much that I really enjoy and - at the time of writing at least - was able to buy the collection at an astonishingly low bargain price.

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Pärt: Tabula Rasa

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

July 01, 1988
Arvo Part's "Tabula Rasa" is an absolutely astonishing piece of music. It is part prayer, a part meditation and a part love letter, burning with passion and sufferring. It is at the same time filled with yearning and longing for a higher state of being and every listening puts my mind in a very unique, spiritual and meditative state. I can't recommend this CD more, for the perfromances on it are all absolutely astounding, especially the live recording of the title track, with its sounds of the audience and the resonances from the hall where it was recorded. Its like a piece of music made in heaven and completely transcends our normal mundane experiences........

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Mozart: Requiem, K626 - Hogwood

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
from: L'Oiseau Lyre

July 13, 1998
Brilliant performance, gripping, double-dotted strings give a real edge to Rex Tremendae, while Kirkby and Watkinson's pure sound blend wonderfully with the fruity Knabenchor sound of Westminster Cathedral. The 'authentic' instruments really make this recording stand out, from the military-sounding timpani to the warm tones of the brass chords in the Tuba mirum. The inclusion of the Amen chorus is a controversial choice, and will probably offend some, but to my ears this sounds entirely in place - simultaneously plaintive and infused with Todesangst. This is a brilliant attempt to peel back the Süssmayr's modifications and get back to Mozart's original intentions. Dropping in Mozart's Amen chorus is a daring and explicit break with previous interpretations of ... Read More:

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Baby Einstein: Baby Beethoven

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
by: The Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra

February 06, 2006
Brilliant performance, gripping, double-dotted strings give a real edge to Rex Tremendae, while Kirkby and Watkinson's pure sound blend wonderfully with the fruity Knabenchor sound of Westminster Cathedral. The 'authentic' instruments really make this recording stand out, from the military-sounding timpani to the warm tones of the brass chords in the Tuba mirum. The inclusion of the Amen chorus is a controversial choice, and will probably offend some, but to my ears this sounds entirely in place - simultaneously plaintive and infused with Todesangst. This is a brilliant attempt to peel back the Süssmayr's modifications and get back to Mozart's original intentions. Dropping in Mozart's Amen chorus is a daring and explicit break with previous interpretations of ... Read More:

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Vivaldi: Gloria

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

March 18, 2002
Three of Vivaldi's most beautiful works are brought together on this CD. The bookends, the Gloria and the Magnificat, are well known but the real gem is the middle work, Dixit Dominus for two choirs. The Dixit Dominus draws themes and rythms that are reminiscent of other of Vivaldi's work and fans of the Vivaldi album featuring Cecilia Bartoli and Il Giardino Armonico will appreciate the vocal dexterity required by both of the female soloists. There is a wonderful weaving of the music within and between the two choirs. A quite stunning violin obligato accompanies one of the soloist's tracks.

Unfortunately, this treasure is destined to remain buried owing to the appalling cataloguing by Amazon. It is RV 594 and not RV 564 as shown and the sample track ... Read More:

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Handel - Coronation Anthems

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
by: Cambridge. Choir of Kings College

October 01, 2001
Benchmark recording of both the anthems and the Ode which is a delicious treat. Even though the Hyperion cd of the Ode is good this is far better. You need no other version of these works. This is it.

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The Best of the Three Tenors

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
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. Untill listening to ... Read More:

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Music for 18 Musicians

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
by: Steve Reich

July 01, 1988
When you hear this album, you cannot help but be taken in by its hypnotic building and sequencing of sounds upon and around one another. You also cannot help but notice how much an absolute myriad of artists that have emerged over the last 30 years are in debt to Reich.
From, as other reviews have stated, Eno to Aphex to almost any innovative electronic musician - parallels can be drawn to Reich. A lot of jazz fans will also find huge rewards here. The riffing on a theme that Reich works to perfection is the essence of jazz, be it more traditional work or more avant garde artists, such as Deathprod and Nils Petter Molvaer.
One point to note is that this album really opened up for me after I listened to it on headphones. I'd listened to it a few times through ... Read More:

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Pachelbel's Greatest Hit

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > General
from: Red Seal

October 13, 2003
It goes without saying that if you like Canon, you'll love this CD. It contains fifteen delicious variations of the Canon (and one Gigue). There are one or two versions that are bound to become your favourites. For one of the most repetitive songs around, I'm amazed to say I've never tired of this song. You know where it's going, but it's still relaxing and uplifting, whether as background music or to listen mindfully (try listening through headphones to feel ultra calm and wonderful!). Would probably make great background music at a party or wedding reception, shop etc. This CD is a regular feature on my CD player. It's great value for money too. There should be more like it!