Boieldieu, François-Adrien

Average customer rating:

Sublime playing and excellent recording
Terrible waste of my $18.00
Beautiful Beethoven
My all time favorite...
Delicious, a classic recording!

Harp Concertos

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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The Harmonious Harp
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Great Works For Harp

ASIN: B0000041WI
Release Date: 1990-11-10

Tracks:

Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Andante - Allegro
Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Larghetto
Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Allegro moderato
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro biliante -
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Andante lento
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro agitato
Harp Concerto: Allegro molto
Harp Concerto: Larghetto -- Dittersdorf
Harp Concerto: Rondeau: Allegretto -- Dittersdorf
Theme, Variations And Rondo pastorale
Variations for Harp
Six Variations on a Swiss Song

Customer Reviews:

Sublime playing and excellent recording.......2007-05-17

I bought this for the Handel and was immediately taken with the clarity of tone and an overall crystalline ambiance to the sound. There isn't a slip up anywhere on this recording. The performance is clean and the balance is extraordinary especially considering the soft sound of the harp opposed by an orchestra. This was no problem for the engineers and I don't know of any other recording of Harp concerti that is as successful as this one.

First on the disc is the Handel and this concerto is pretty famous. It also exists as an organ concerto and both versions are valid. The organ sound is quite different than the harp so the 2 versions can almost sound like different works. Handel's writing is engaging, supple and energetic. He has never written an awkward phrase that I'm aware of. His music always has strong direction forward and is brilliantly logical. This is no exception and the rhythmic energy in the music seems rooted in a lively dance-like bounce. I was literally doing a boogaloo in my chair while grinning widely as the music played. Ha! This is great stuff!

The 2nd work on the disc is a Boieldieu concerto and it has characteristics more typical of the Romantic period. Probably the high point of this piece is the slow central movement. This is very beautiful music that has plenty of drama to offset the gentle tinkling of Robles' Harp. His use of diminished chords and moderate dissonance gives a more modern impression than the Handel or the Dittersdorf. (which follows it on the disc) The Rondo Finale uses a line that is at first dissonant and then resolves partly into a slightly unsettling minor chord. This is alternated over and over with contrasting material and perhaps the theme is a bit tiresome after all the returns. This is what a Rondo does though so you will know this theme thoroughly by the time the concerto ends.

Next on the CD is a Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf concerto that is an excellent work. This sweetly melodic concerto shows why he was an extremely popular composer who was lauded during his lifetime. I think this is one of his best efforts. It is easy to get into and the music has logic and beauty and will carry the listener easily along with it. Robles is at home in all three, exhibiting complete control of her complex instrument. The last 3 tracks are single movement bon bons of lesser importance, but that doesn't mean they aren't pleasurable to hear.

The only shortcoming I found was the liner notes. They are short and the information is misleading at times. I would expect a major label like London to check facts presented in the notes. The Theme, Variations and Rondo Pastorale is said to be attributed to Mozart. Instead of elaberating on that, the writer discusses another work not even on this disc and then gives an incorrect Kochel number for it. It took me a few minutes on the internet and a little sleuthing at home to discover the work "attributed to Mozart" is really by Eberl and the Rondo section is based on the Finale of Mozart's String Trio in Eb, K 563.
Of course the liner notes are not why someone buys a CD. If you like harp music in particular and enjoy well written concerti, you absolutely can not go wrong here. This is first class music all the way. Performance, sound, balance and content are all superior. At mid price, its a steal.

Terrible waste of my $18.00.......2007-04-01

This Cd was deceiving to me. I am so sorry that I bought it brand new!
I expected harp music and it was the classics so don't be fooled by the Harp on the cover because you hear very little Harp being played in the music. I would say 14% Harp all the rest fluffy classical music.

Beautiful Beethoven.......2007-03-28

Simply fantastic. Any classical music lover would love this CD. Beautiful pieces, beautifully and expressively performed. Harp with orchestra. I play this several times a week.
I have always loved harp music, am a harpist, and this is essential listening. Beyond that, the overall presentation is very well thought out, so that the whole effect is more than the individual (very fine) pieces.
I am amassing a little library of CDs with harp music, and taken as a whole, this is my favorite so far.

My all time favorite..........2002-03-15

I have loved Handel's harp concerto Op.4, No.6. There has been many recordings but this rendition has been my favorite. Thanks to listening chance through Amazon, I could stop my long journey of search for this version. The rendition of Iona Brown and Marisa Robles is a little bit faster than that of others, which worked very well. Of course, other harp pieces in this CD are great and beautiful as well.

Whenever I listened to this CD, I feel warmth and peace of mind. It's unbelievable that you can get the precious thing with money of only $[money].

Delicious, a classic recording!.......2000-05-12

Even if you're not a big fan of harp music, this wonderful disc is still a must-have. Containing music both well-known (the Handel concerto) and little known (the Dittersdorf) it also contains the masterpiece of the French late-classic composer Boieldieu -- his wonderful harp concerto. It is a memorable work, and bears a very individual stamp. The brisk and lyric opening movement has harmonic intimations of the Romantic period to come, as well as a limpid Classical clarity. The minor key slow movement is lovely and haunting, and the finale even one-ups the slow movement. A rondo in ostensible major-key, its main theme has an oscillation into the minor mode that almost sends shivers up your back, so visceral is its impact, though subtle nonetheless: it is a truly wondrous movement, haunting, achingly beautiful. The magnificent playing of the great Marisa Robles does full justice to the wonderful pieces on the album, and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields is splendid. As bonuses, solo harp works by Mozart and Beethoven round out a fabulous menu of delectable works. If beauty in music is not your cup of tea, then by all means buy some John Cage (or acid rock or whathaveyou); but otherwise, you'll be delighted with this exquisite disc!

Average customer rating:

Relaxing harp music
The Harmious Harp
A Beautiful Medley of Songs
Very relaxing!

The Harmonious Harp

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Music for Solo Harp
Harp Concertos
The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration
The Most Relaxing Harp Album in the World... Ever!
Healing from the harp

ASIN: B000001G5B
Release Date: 1990-05-01

Tracks:

Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In B Flat Major, op. 4 no. 6: Andante allegro
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In B Flat Major, op. 4 no. 6: Larghetto
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In B Flat Major, op. 4 no. 6: Allegro moderato
Theme & Variations in G minor
Concerto In F Major, BWV 978: Allegro
Concerto In F Major, BWV 978: Largo
Concerto In F Major, BWV 978: Allegro
Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a: Prelude
Adagio And Rondo In C Minor, K. 617
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In A Major: Rondeau: Allegretto
Air et Variations
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In G Major: Andante
Sonata For Harp In G Major, Wq 139: Allegro
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In C Major: Andante - Lento - attacca:
Concerto For Harp And Orchestra In C Major: Rondeau: Allegro agitato

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing harp music.......2007-01-09

I originally listened to this CD by borrowing it from the library, among other ones. I liked it so much that I wanted to own it for myself. It is very relaxing and beautiful music. I never tire of listening to it.

The Harmious Harp.......2006-03-10

I bought the music CD to play at work but I loved it so much I play it at home as well.

A Beautiful Medley of Songs.......2004-04-13

I really enjoyed listening to this CD. It's very relaxing and soothing to the senses. The sound of the harp reminds me of heaven and all its angels. I simply adore all of the famous composers who contributed to this great treasure, especially Mozart. Usually, I love to listen to this CD while taking an afternoon nap or having a good cup of flavored coffee. So for the pleasure one recieves from listening to this CD, it's well worth the price.

Very relaxing!.......2000-04-06

This CD brings together some familiar music for the harp, such as Handel's wonderful concerto, and some rather underrated works by Wagenseil, Boieldieu, and others. Zabaleta's flawless performance, the great sound quality, and a good selection make this a highly recommended CD.

Don't expect the Mozart piece on this CD to equal his Concerto for Flute and Harp (somehow missing from this collection!). And as for the Wagenseil concerto, the first movement is a real gem, though not included in this CD. I really wish Deutsche Gramophon had included an essay with some background about the different compositions.

Customer Reviews:

Carnaval.......2005-12-05

There is no track listing on Amazon for this album. It is a re-release of Sumi Jo's album "Carnaval" which had, for some insane reason, gone out of print (something to do with a merger).

As for the album itself, there is no way to accurately describe how impressive this singing is. Jo's coloratura may not be as fast as Emma Kirkby's or as accurate as Cecilia Bartoli's, but nobody can surpass her sense of fun or the ease with which she sustains her highest notes.

Two tracks in particular stand out: "Le jour sous le soleil beni" is a rather slow, beautiful aria (the only non-coloratura aria included on the disc) which is capped with what must be the longest sustained high D-flat in history--sung pianissimo. Montserrat Caballe, eat your heart out. The other is the Carnaval de Venise, made famous by Mado Robin. Although Jo does not hit Robin's B-flat above high C, her version is infinitely more impressive, particularly the last two minutes, which is simply a roller-coaster ride of coloratura with no rests, no rubato, and very few breaths. Everyone I've ever played this track for has been rendered speechless.

Although those two arias stand out, there are really no tracks on this album which are not impressive and/or beautful. The Sevillana captures her sense of fun, "Canari" and the "Couplets de Mysoli" emphasize her control of pianissimo high notes, and "Jours de mon enfance" and "Reves d'amour, reves de gloire" both end in perfect, sustained high E's. One of my favorite albums ever. I'm happy it has been re-released.

Nicolai Gedda - French and Russian Arias & Songs

Average customer rating:

Gedda in 60's and early 70's
A recording that does Gedda justice
It is the voice of destiny.
This is some of the finest singing ever recorded
What a master singer!!!

Nicolai Gedda - French and Russian Arias & Songs

Manufacturer: Gala
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda
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Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor
Schumann: Dichterliebe / Wunderlich, Giesen

ASIN: B000001XMK
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

La Dame Blanche: Viens, gentille Dame
Faust: Quel trouble inconnu me penetre! - Salut! demeure chaste et pure
Romeo et Juliette: Ah! leve- toi, soleil
Les Huguenots: Non loin des vieilles tour- Plus blanche que la blanche hermine
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
Lakme: Prendre le dessin- Fantasie aux divins mensonges
La Damnation de Faust: Merci, doux crepuscule!
Les Troyens: Inutiles regrets!- Ah! quand viendra l'instant des supremes adieux
Prince Igor: Is it thou, Vladimir? (in Russian)
Jevgeny Onegin: Kuda, kuda, kuda vi udalilis (Where, Oh Where Have You Gone?)
Where Are You, Little Star?
The Garden By The Don
The He-Goat
In This Moonlit Night
At The Ball
Legend
Don Juan's Serenade
The Song Of The Young Gypsy
How Fair This Spot Or Hill Is Beauty

Customer Reviews:

Gedda in 60's and early 70's.......2003-08-21

Nicolai Gedda, a vocal wonder of the post-WWII Europe is in great form in live selections presented on this CD.
The French opera arias, particularly Berlioz and Gounod, required stellar high B's and C's plus ability to shift the registers seemlessly. Well, Gedda dispite his accent, was indeed perfect for this material. He will make you hold your breath every time he hits those high notes and each of these notes is crystal clear and dead-center on pitch.
For me personally, the best part of the disc is a 1971 recital of Russian art songs by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Gedda sings with a lot of feeling and is not afraid to "invent" -- check out the messa voce, or rubato that he adds. "Where art thou, little star" is heart-gripping in its beauty.
Unfortunately, the recital is clearly not presented in its entirety. I just hope Gala will release the full version some time soon.
Of course, all the selections are "live". But that's not a serious problem here (unlike many other Gala CDs made almost unlistenable by caughs and other noises). Yes, there are a few distractions, but not enough to take away from pure joy of Gedda's singing.

A recording that does Gedda justice.......2003-04-05

This compilation disc from Gala presents the artistry and musicianship of Nicolai Gedda. He is a great tenor. His voice may not be the most beautiful, but it certainly is pleasant to hear. He has an excellent top register; no high note is beyond his reach. His pianissimos, not really given their due here with Gala's selections of songs and arias, are really top-rate and extremely beautiful. If you want to hear his lovely pianissimos, get the hard-to-find "Opera Arias: Nicolai Gedda". The selection of arias and songs here is wonderful. Also included is a wonderful duet from "Prince Igor" sung in Russian and several Russian songs by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. I didn't care much for the Russian songs, but Gedda performed them very well with perfect Russian diction. The French arias are amazingly well done. If you have been left unmoved by his versions of Don José's Flower Song from his two studio recordings of "Carmen", you will not be disappointed with the version included here. This version is sung with great emotional involvement. It comes from the 1954 live recording of "Carmen" with Giulietta Simionato and Herbert von Karajan. Gedda has the flexibility and the high D for the "Les Huguenots" aria. His renditions of the two Gounod arias are wonderful and his high notes are superb. Énée's aria from "Les Troyens" is very well done. He even attempts a trill in it. A recently released live recording of a performance of "Les Troyens" with Gedda, Horne, and Verrett is available. Check it out. Gedda may be too light of voice for such a heavy role as Énée, but who could resist such stylish, superb singing and French diction? He also can scale all the dangerous heights and dramatic demands of the fiendishly difficult role. The sound of this compilation is surprisingly good. There is some static, but it never becomes distracting. Audience noise is minimal to nonexistent. Applause is found only on a few tracks and is always appropriate. All in all, a worthwhile purchase at a remarkably low price!

It is the voice of destiny........2002-09-01

If I say that it is nice I'll say nothing. Gedda's voice is really juicy and romantic and vocalize school is enormously mastered. When you hear to it, the first thought is that such voice cannot to be belonged to real, live person. It is for angel's not for real man.

This is some of the finest singing ever recorded.......1999-05-12

Although strangely forgotten by the opera world and overshadowed by the overwhelming publicity surrounding the three tenors (Carreras, Domingo, and Pavoroti), Gedda ought to be recognized as the greatest living tenor. His artistry, technique, musicianship, and individuality are second to none. Buy this CD and delight in some of his best work. There are presently no singers that even approach the mastery of the repetoire recorded on this album which Gedda sings perfectly and easily.His refinement and power are unexcelled. (No, the three tenors don't hold a candle to him. In fact, comparing Gedda to them is a bit like comparing a halogen bulb to a candle. Very nice candles, yes, but no match for an artist of his caliber.)

What a master singer!!!.......1999-01-20

This is a truly wonderful recording of the tenor, who I feel, is the greatest in the second half of the 20th Century. Maestro Gedda sings repetoire from the lyric Gerrard in Lakme to the dramatic Raoul in Les Hugeunots all with stylish ease and elan. Gedda had the most beautiful high notes in the business. These are all live performances and the span of time is from 1954 (Carmen, with von Karajan) to 1972 (Les Hugeunots). Finally, on CD, one gets to hear Maestro Gedda sing Lenski's Aria from Eugene Onegin, more beautiful and sumptuous than any other Tenor before or since. Also the last 9 tracks are Russian songs and this is some of the most beautiful singing heard anywhere (also done live).

Average customer rating:

An outstanding survey of recordings for harp and orchestra.

Favourite Harp Concertos
Francois-Adrien Boieldieu , Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco , Ernst Eichner , George Frideric Handel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Joaquin Rodrigo , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Antonio de Almeida , Colin David , Marcel Couraud , I Musici , André Pépin , Hubert Barwahser , Annie Challan , Catherine Michel , Osian Ellis , Ursula Holliger , London Symphony Orchestra , Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra , and Musica Alta Ripa
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
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Harp Concertos
The Magic Of The Harp
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ASIN: B0000069CW
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Harp Concerto In B-flat, HWV 294: 1. Andante allegro - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In B-flat, HWV 294: 2. Larghetto - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In B-flat, HWV 294: 3. Allegro moderato - Various Artists
Concerto For Flute, Harp And Orchestra In C, KV 299: 1. Allegro - Various Artists
Concerto For Flute, Harp And Orchestra In C, KV 299: 2. Andantino - Various Artists
Concerto For Flute, Harp And Orchestra In C, KV 299: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 1. Allegro - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 2. Andante - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 3. Tempo di minuetto - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 1. Allegro brillante - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 2. Andante lento - Various Artists
Harp Concerto In C: 3. Rondo. Allegro agitato - Various Artists

Tracks:

Harp Concerto: 1. Allegro - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Harp Concerto: 2. Andante moderato - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Harp Concerto: 3. Scherzo - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Harp Concerto: 4. Allegro - Piso - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concertino For Harp And Chamber Orchestra, Op.93: 1. Moderato, Quasi passacaglia - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concertino For Harp And Chamber Orchestra, Op.93: 2. Andante, Quasi recitativo - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concertino For Harp And Chamber Orchestra, Op.93: 3. Finale spagnolo. Ritmo di jota - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Sones en La Giralda: Lento - Allegro vivace. Tempo di sevillana - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concerto Serenata For Harp And Orchestra: 1. Estudiantina. Allegro ma non troppo - Andante - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concerto Serenata For Harp And Orchestra: 2. Intermezzo con aria. Adagio - Allegro moderato - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS
Concerto Serenata For Harp And Orchestra: 3. Sarao. Allegro deciso - FAVORITE HARP CONCERTOS

Customer Reviews:

An outstanding survey of recordings for harp and orchestra........1998-12-21

There's nothing quite like classical music to soothe the stress of the afternoon commute (especially on Greater Boston's Rt. 128 or your local equivalent). Harp music, in particular, has an extraordinarily calming effect. I'm not exactly sure why that is (darnit Jim, I'm an engineer not a behavioral psychologist) but I can personally vouch for the results. This two-disc set contains some of the finest music for harp and orchestra ever composed.

Disc 1 contains familiar harp concerti by Handel and Mozart, followed by a lesser known work by Eichner. The melodies and performances are guaranteed to work their way deep into your soul. Ursula Holliger (oboe virtuoso Heinz Holliger's wife, in case you were wondering) produces a stellar performance in the Handel concerto. Her technique and interpretation are both insightful and strongly delivered. The orchestras in question should by no means be ignored. I Musici, The London Symphony, and Musica Antiqua Koln (for the Handel, Mozart, and Eichner, respectively) are all names to be reckoned with in the field and they do not disappoint.

Disc 2 consists of more modern works by composers less familiar even to classical music fans except, of course, those who know Villa-Lobos and Rodrigo for their classical guitar music. The works on the second disc are somewhat less accessible to the casual listener, but after repeated listenings, I find them well worth the effort.

Tracks:

Allegro - Martin Galling
Pastorale Con Variazioni - Martin Galling
Andante Moderato - Marylene Dosse
Largo - Marylene Dosse
Airs Slovaques, Allegro - Marylene Dosse
Allegro - Marylene Dosse
Scherzando - Marylene Dosse
Final - Marylene Dosse

Tracks:

Lento; Allegro - Marylene Dosse
Lento - Marylene Dosse
Allegro - Marylene Dosse
Concertstuck For Piano And Orchestra, Op. 40 - Rosario Marciano
Allegro Molto - Maria Littauer
Adagio - Maria Littauer
Allegro Con Spirito - Maria Littauer
Without Title - Claude Paillard Francaix
Andante - Claude Paillard Francaix
Without Title - Claude Paillard Francaix
Allegro - Claude Paillard Francaix

Customer Reviews:

At these low prices, this is an absolute STEAL!.......2005-07-22

Yes, there are better performances of most of these works out there somewhere. But this is the only place where you will get all of these great, stylistically-similar works all in one convenient, INEXPENSIVE package. Buy it.

When I was just beginning to amass my extensive classical music library about 12 years ago, this is one of those hidden gems I happened to find in a bargain bin. The Massenet and Chaminade concertos are fairly well-known pieces, and admirably represented here; very beautiful, lush pieces in the Romantic style. Pierne and Lalo, though fairly familiar composers, are not typically known for these concertos. That's a shame - these are GREAT compositions, similar in style to the Massenet and Chaminade (though the recording of the Pierne is admittedly somewhat muddy).

The Roussel and Francaix works are a bit more modern, of course, but very melodic and interesting, and well-played and recorded. The Boieldieu is a shorter, more Classical piece.

But the real deal here is the fantastic booklet that comes with the CDs, with in-depth notes that include the history of the composers, and extensive overviews of their important works. For someone like me who likes to mine deeper into the catalog of certain composers that interest me, these notes were essential in my acquisition of and appreciation for so much more music.

Only 4 stars because of the occasional performance or recording imperfection, but this is still a notable (and special) CD in my collection. Recommended!

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 9.3/10; Performance = 8/10; Production = 7/10; CD length = 10/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 8.7 ("4 stars")

Average customer rating:

Vive La France!
Le Snap, Le Pop
Upbeat, up tempo

Marches and Overtures

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Paul Paray Conducts Dances of Death
Paul Paray Conducts French Orchestral Music
Symphonie Fantastique
Dvorák: Symphony No. 9; Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

ASIN: B0000057M4
Release Date: 1993-05-11

Tracks:

Coronation March
Funeral March Of A Marionette
March militaire francaise
Marche heroique
La Marseillaise
If I Were King
La Dame blanche
La belle Helene
Orpheus In The Underworld
The Tales Of Hoffmann (Suite)
William Tell Overture

Customer Reviews:

Vive La France!.......2005-11-11

Among the most remarkable and many times forgotten masters of the Orchestral direction, Paul Paray must be named with imperative character. What he achieved with the Detroit Symphony was incredible. He elevated the status and conferred it of personality and style. Charm, elegance, musculature, precision and incisiveness would be one of the most accented features that nourished this renowned ensemble along the Fifties. His sound is expansive and sumptuous, ambition and noblesse expressed with absolute conviction and vision. You just only to listen his Bizet and Chabrier for instance to realize what I mean. His fresh and undeniable charm with showy orchestral colors.

Paul Paray `s splendor and distinguished touch of class are exposed convincing and brilliant and the eloquent grandness shown along every one of these superb and inspired Marches. Gounod 's Funeral March of a Marionette was employed by Hitchcock as his musical curtain in TV series. Coronation March is a very felt and emotive piece. To talk about the admirable emotiveness and mercurial result of La Marseillaise is useless, unless you listen it with your attention. His Offenbach is simply sublime, listen for instance the impressive final code of La belle Helene, the majestic and inspired touch of refined elegance in Orpheus in the Underworld, played with such conviction level that gets to mesmerize even the most indifferent listener, bringing back the alluring atmosphere of the Parisian Belle Époque and the ravishing presence of Loutrec. And we finally arrive to one of the best known Overtures of the repertoire: William Tell. There are just four unsurpassed versions in the history: Arturo Toscanini and NBC, Fritz Reiner and Chicago, Carlo Maria Giulini and this one.

So please, don' t miss this legendary CD, that not only is obligated reference every July 14th , but also every time you feel enraptured and bewitched by the French mood.

Absolutely recommended.

Le Snap, Le Pop.......2001-02-07

What a zinger of a CD this compilation of two top-rated old LPs makes. No big surprise, really. Paul Paray is such a legend now that any combination of his recorded material is bound to please.

All the pieces were favorites of his for the lighter concert fare, encores, special occasions, or curtain-raisers to show off his estimable ensemble's virtuosity. And, yes, they're all French, including the Rossini "Guillaume Tell" written for the Paris Opera and still in its repertoire.

Students of conducting will still shake their heads in wonder as to how Paray got the glowing and individual results he did without being in any manipulative. That will always be an artistic mystery.

What's not a mystery is the unalloyed pleasure you'll get from this exceptional sounding CD, and the mania you'll develop for listening to anything "A la Paray."

Upbeat, up tempo.......2000-09-04

As with his other Mercury recordings, Paul Paray delivers, with gusto. The only puzzle is how Rossini's William Tell overture found its way onto this disc, with its French theme. The liner notes certainly fail to solve that riddle. Putting that small issue aside, one can't quibble with the selections, or their execution. This is a perfect companion to Paray's French Opera Highlights, another box of delectable bon-bons.

Average customer rating:

Un repertorio nuevo para Magdalena Kozena
Pure!

French Arias

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)
Enchantment

ASIN: B0000A2YCU
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Ah! Quelle Nuit!... Flamme Vengeresse
Nuit Resplendissante
Que Fais-Tu, Blanche Tourterelle
J'ai Verse La Poison
Choeur Des Dames
Chanson Du Voile
Autrefois Un Roi De Thule
Oh! La Pitoyable Aventure!
J'ai Bien Assez De Mes Tristesses... Ne Pensons Qu'au Plaisir D'aimer
Connais-tu Le Pays
D'ici Voyez Ce Beau Domaine
O Ma Lyre Immortelle
Pardieu! J'etais Bien Sur...Voyez-la Sous Son Eventail
Reste Au Foyer, Petit Grillon
Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintaient

Amazon.com

Having dazzled us with her coloratura ability in arias by Mozart, Gluck, and her fellow Czech, Myslivecek, this luscious young mezzo-soprano now offers us a generous program of French arias--15 of them, widely varied in tone, weight, dramatic intent, and style--and conquers and convinces in them all. Beginning again in coloratura territory, an aria from Auber's rare Le domino noir catches our attention with the heroine's opening words, "Je suis sauvée enfin!" ("I am safe at last!"), in which she paints the picture of our out-of-breath heroine immediately. Throughout the CD we meet the doomed, tragic Sappho in Gounod's opera; Dulcinée in the same composer's Don Quichotte, here presented first as lamenting lover, then as spitfire, with Kozena reaching down into her most sultry chest voice; a dreamy Marguerite in Berlioz's La damnation de Faust; a Princess languorously singing of the night in an exquisite aria from Gounod's all-but-unknown Cinq-Mars; and many others, each of whom Kozena imbues with her individual stamp, flawless technique, musicality, and beautiful tone. Almost as a bonus, the CD ends with Carmen's Gypsy Song - a real razzle-dazzler. Kozena is a great singer and this is a great recital CD--a must. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Un repertorio nuevo para Magdalena Kozena.......2005-07-13

MAGDALENA KOZENA es una mezzosoprano basicamente ligada al barroco, y particularmente a Bach y Haendel. Sorprende por tanto la aparición de este cd dodne interpreta un variado abanico de arias francesas, roles que no ha debutado en teatro y que se alejan de su estilo habitual.
Aun así, Kozena canta estas arias divinamente con estilo propio: impone un timbre seductor, claro y mórbido y un dominio absoluto del canto, aunque el registro agudo no es siempre todo lo homogeneo que sería deseable. Con todo, su interpretación de estas páginas es notable y sorprendente.
Otra baza del disco es el repertorio, que incluye arias de óperas más bien desconocidas, como 'Cleopatre' de Massenet, 'Le Cincq-Mars', 'La dame Blanche', 'Don Quixote', 'Sapho', 'Le domino Noir'....junto a otras más habituales del repertorio como 'Carmen' (aunque no está la popular habanera), 'Don Carlos' (en su versión francesa) o 'La Hora Española', además de un aria para Niclausse de 'Los Cuentos de Hoffmann' que suele cortarse en la mayoría de las representaciones. La selección es acertada y gratificante.
La orquesta, al mano de un MARK MINKOWSKI que siempre se ha interesado mucho por este repertorio, suena a las mil maravillas, y es complemento perfecto para la mezzo. Lo mismo puede decirse del coro y de las más que correctas voces escogidas para algunas partes solistas de arias puntuales.
En conclusión, este 'French Opera Arias' de Kozena es un cd muy recomendable, complemento perfecto a los recientes registros del mismo título de Natalie Dessay y Rolando Villazón (ambos en Virgin Classics)

Pure!.......2004-02-12

this mzzo-soprano is great... she is a lighter and lyric mezzo. In this album... she sung the french arias with phrasing in detail... especially in the "Nuit Resplendissante". The balance between head vioce and chest voice in her singing is good. Her singing can really touches my heart...
it is worthy to buy this album... especially than you are tired in listening to the darker or dramatic mezzo-sopranos.