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Henryk Gorecki: Symphony 3 "Sorrowful Songs"

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

May 05, 1992
I am not a trained musician and cannot speak in such terms. However, I can speak to the emotion I felt as I listened to this music. I find this work particularly moving from the near silence of the beginning of the first movement to the plaintive prayer to Our Lady in the last. To me this is a piece of quiet power; the gradual crescendo of sound to Dawn Upshaw's first soaring soprano and gradual decrescendo to near silence in the first movement, the soulful prayer to the Holy Mother in the second movement. In the third movement where one might expect anger I heard the despairing lament and final quiet resolution. I do not speak Polish but am familiar with the sounds of the language. Dawn Upshaw sings with such clarity that I was able to follow ... Read More:

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Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Buena Vista

May 10, 2005
We love playing this while in the car with my grandson. He is one year old and tries to sing to it and has so much fun.

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Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D

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

February 15, 1991
I love his music, but this CD would not play correctly. I tried it on 4 different CD players. It played like the old vinyl when they would get scratched. Was unbelievable because I can't return it after opening it. Not buying any more CD's from Amazon. I didn't want to give it any stars, but had to in order to send this review.

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The Italian Opera Collection

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
starring: Luciano Pavarotti, Metropolitan Opera

April 08, 2008
Like the Verdi Pavarotti album,this register like all the ones coming from Metropolitan are made under original conception.This together with the best performances of Pavarotti become an unavoidable DVD for people that likes these operas and that wont be repeated again

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The Berlin Concert - Live from Waldbuhne

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
starring: Rolando Villazon, Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo, Marco Armiliato

April 10, 2007
This concert is amazing! Placido Domingo, at 65 at that time, is, like always, at his best. Even with a baritone tone he still out shines younger singers. But in this concert both Anna and Rolando are just wonderful. They sing with much passion and their voices are fresh and clear. The choice of the music is perfect for a night like that. The set is enchanting.
I first saw this concert on the TV and I instantly fell in love with it. I was so happy when I found it on DVD.
Rolano Villazon had a smashing success with Rossini's La Danza. Netrebnco followed with Quando men vo in a superb interpretation. I am not her fan, but I really liked her performance at this time.
This is a must-have for anyone who loves opera, but not only.
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Mr. Bach Comes to Call

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Martin Lavut Karen/ Lavut, Walter Babiak, Toronto Boys' Choir

April 11, 1995
We got this audio book series for our daughter when she was 8 years old. She is 12 now and she is still listening and loving those audio books.
The combination between radio-theater with classical music is perfect.

I am a grownup and I love listening to those CDs.

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Telemann: The Six Paris Quartets

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Virgin Veritas

October 10, 2000
This is a very good pair of CDs, probably very faithful to the intent of the composer, and extremely well played except... The quartet goes into a bit of a funk during Quartet Four and most of Five. For example, Movement 1 of quartet 5 is titled "Vivement": "Lively". It is played, however, barely faster than the "Modere" movements, and without any more life.

By the time they get to the second "Modere" movement of Quartet 5, and especially the "Pas Vite" (movement 5) though, they're back in gear. I think that these two Quartets must have been played at the end of a long day, or a long week. Or maybe it's just that any team has a hard time being completely "on" 100% of the time.


But that barely distracts from an otherwise ... Read More:

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Odyssey

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Hayley Westenra

October 18, 2005
She truly does a beautiful job singing Enya's "May it Be" from LOTR. Another favorite of mine on this album is "Dell'Amore Non Si Sa", a duet with Andrea Bocelli. Need I say more? You'll enjoy this album.

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Scott Joplin: Piano Rags

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Joshua Rifkin

October 25, 1990
After watching "The Sting" in 1973 it was over with.... no, it was just beginning. A foray into the record store was immediately followed by purchasing this album. I now happily own the cd, and Rifkin's playing still sounds fresh even though Joplin wrote it a hundred years ago.

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Puccini - Turandot / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Caballé · Ghiaurov · Krause · Pears · LPO · Mehta

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

October 25, 1990
What incredibly beautiful music this is! Puccini's "Turandot" is my all time favorite and this cast gives a stellar performance on his final, unfinished work. I bought this CD only because I wanted Pavarotti's version of "Nessun Dorma," but I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful the full performance was.

It is impossible not to be moved to tears when listening to Caballe's "Signore, Ascolta" - this is a scene stealer especially with her held note at the end of the aria that is sure to induce a total "Oh my God" moment. With that said however, Sutherland and Pavarotti are the stars and both effortlessly break the vocal stratosphere in their performances. All under the masterful baton of Zubin Mehta, you are sure to be pleased with this CD. ... Read More: