Gershwin, George

Average customer rating:

Pure Listening Pleasure
Appassionato
Deep, Serious and diverse
Yo-Yo Ma's Appassionato
A soulful compilation

Appassionato

Manufacturer: Sony Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Essential Yo-Yo Ma
Not Too Late
Voice of the Violin
Lang Lang: Dragon Songs (Plus DVD)
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone

ASIN: B000KWZ7DS
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Tracks:

Going To School featuring John Williams
IV. Allegretto poco mosso from Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano
II. Andante con moto e poco rubato from Three Preludes
II. Largo from "Winter", Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 from the Four Seasons
Doce de coco
II. Largo from Concerto No. 1 in G minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 49
Cinema Paradiso: Nostalgia from Giuseppe Tornatore Suite
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals (Chamber Version)
Yanzi (Swallow Song)
II. Andante from Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor,
Soledad
No. 4 Mikin Pekko from Five Finnish Folk Songs
First Impressions featuring Edgar Meyer; Mark O'Connor
Song Without Words, Op. 109
Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission featuring Ennio Morricone

Amazon.com

Any new compilation CD starring Yo-Yo Ma is certain to please. This master of the cello takes the listener through so many types of music that the ear and mind never tire. The present selection is billed as a sort of "musical autobiography," and, indeed, it gives us a tour of Ma's musical life. The Silk Road Project is represented by Zhao's "Swallow Song," with its eerie, fascinating soundscape (specially re-recorded for this CD). We also accompany Ma on his excursions into the world of the baroque cello with Vivaldi or of the Finnish folk song (by Mamiya, a first recording). There are Gershwin's languid Second Prelude, with its intimations of the song "Summertime," and an all-new recording of a nine-minute heart-breaker by Astor Piazzolla ("Soledad"). Ma also gives us more familiar Brahms, Franck, and Saint-Saens. The compilation's mellow 65 minutes offer relaxing, beautiful music, all exquisitely played. Ma is joined by the best: Emanuel Ax, Kathryn Stott, John Williams (who plays piano on his own "Going to School" from Memoirs of a Geisha), Isaac Stern, and Claudio Abbado. This is a veritable Who's Who of superb musicians. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Pure Listening Pleasure.......2007-05-18

There is no pretension in this collection - just the pure, simple pleasure in Ma's performance and in our enjoyment.

Appassionato.......2007-05-18

With a little help of some of his friends Yo Yo Ma offered us another of his masterpieces. No other title could define better the tracks selection, pleasant and inspired.

Deep, Serious and diverse.......2007-04-26

Yo Yo Ma is simply fantastic, and has arrived as such a height of recognition that any production he is invovled in will be top of the line, as this is.

This is a darker collection than I expected. And like a serious, reserved friend, it can take a little longer to appreciate than the bubbly outgoing ones. I now find I like it very much, but it is serious "conversation."

There is great variety here as well, and I gave it to a friend's teenager who is considering whether she wants to learn the cello. Her response was much the same as mine. Initially not so sure, but over time, has really come to like it, too. This collection has great depth.

Yo-Yo Ma's Appassionato.......2007-04-13

For those who share Yo-Yo Ma's passion for music, and especially his passion for diversity in music, and for connecting with the spirit of global humanity, this recording has a prominant place in your library.

A soulful compilation.......2007-04-13

I love this album for the diversity of music and the great programming. I especially love the collaboration with Isaac Stern, no longer with us in body, but always in music. Thanks YoYo.

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris

Average customer rating:

Gershwin/Bernstein: Rhapsody In Blue and American In Paris
A glorious tribute!
A Truly Great Performance
GLORIOUS!
The Definitive Version and Good Sound Quality!

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain
Copland: Appalachian Spring; Rodeo; Fanfare for the Common Man
Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf/Saint-Saëns: The Carnival Of The Animals
Copland: Rodeo/Billy The Kid

ASIN: B0000025MH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Rhapsody in Blue
An American in Paris

Customer Reviews:

Gershwin/Bernstein: Rhapsody In Blue and American In Paris.......2007-01-16

In my opinion you just can't go wrong with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. I have many of their recordings in addition to many recordings of other orchestras; some great, some not so much...but the New York Phil is cosistently great. This recording is a superb example of Gershwin's writing, thoughtfully reproduced by a fine orchestra. Both the brashness of the pieces and the subtleties are interpreted well by Mr. Bernstein and the orchestra. The soloists are nothing other than excellent. The brass section is easily as strong as the Chicago symphony's famous section, and the strings intonation is superb. The pathos and the humor of both pieces are readily projected by this sensitive orchestra and conductor. I couldn't recommend this recording higher!

A glorious tribute!.......2006-11-22

To play Gershwin accurately demands from the player, the absolute domain of an invisible taste, unsaid in the score. Few pianists (and Bernstein is among them) were able to convey the listener, this savoir vivre, humor, elegance, that idiomatic atmosphere that plainly justifies your effort.

To my mind, there just have been five pianists who have surmounted this peak: Oscar Levant, Jesus Maria Sanroma, Eugene List, Earl Wild and Leonard Bernstein.

So, under any pretext you should miss this invaluable musical gem.

A Truly Great Performance.......2006-08-19

I originally found this record in a used record store and purchased it for $1. This was not too long ago. After listening, i could not believe that this record only cost me $1 and that some idiot actually sold this to a used record store without listening first. I have never heard a performace of Rhapsody In Blue that is as powerful and heartfelt as this one. Bernstain melts into the piano, resulting in a performance that outshines so many Gershwin performances that exist. On the other side of the record is An American In Paris, a textbook tone poem, and i mean this as a great compliment. The images of Paris and a partially homesick/partially jubilant American strolling along exude from every note. When i found these great performances on CD, i snatched up a copy as quickly as i could. GET THIS RECORD. It is truly a Great Performance.

GLORIOUS!.......2006-07-21

This review refers to "Great Performances: Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue/An American In Paris"(CD)

Well, how can you go wrong when Leonard Bernstein, with the help of the Columbia Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, conducts(and performs brilliantly on piano)these two George Gershwin greats.You just can't. Even the quality of the CD is excellent.

Rhapsody will carry you away to some other place for a while. From that very first bluesy note, Bernstein and Orchestra will have you wrapped up in all it's jazzy glory. It's music that defines the word greatness and it's THE song I would pick (if I could only pick one) that exemplifies the masterfulness of American composers.

An American In Paris is wonderful. The feeling of a tourist on the loose in Paris is expertly portrayed through this recording. The highs, the lows and all the delights. I felt a part of it all(and I'm a long way from Paris!)

Now, if you have read any of my other CD reviews, you know that right about here is where I complain ,and sometimes even take a star off of my rating, when a CD is too short(considering how easy it is to get music elsewhere these days). But I have to say, even though the total time on this CD is only about 35 minutes, what a glorious 35 minutes it is.
Rhapsody a wonderful 16:26 and American In Paris a Yummy 18:22.
It's music that never gets old. It stands the test of time, and many repeated playings.

So you may want to keep a copy of this in your car. A great way to start your day. Listen on the way to work, and you'll have that "what? me worry?" attitude. Also fabulous for destressing on the way home from a long days work.It just seems to make everything okay.

As I said the CD has a nice quality. It also has a booklet with some notes on how Gershwin came to compose these songs.

Gershwin performed by Bernstein..it was meant to be!
Enjoy it...Laurie

The Definitive Version and Good Sound Quality!.......2006-06-06

This ADD recording has surprisingly good sound quality for an older recording that hasn't been remastered. The performance by Bernstein and both the Columbia Symphonic and the NY Philharmonic on the pieces is simply breathtaking. You'd be hard pressed to find better interpretations of these Gershwin masterpieces. The only problem with this album is that it's very short and although would have been the perfect length on an lp or cassette as it was originally, it seems to be a waste of cd space here. Sony should probably remaster this and add some tracks like perhaps "Porgy and Bess" to make it a better value proposition. I hope they re-release a remastered version on mini-lp sleeve replica packaging too.

Average customer rating:

pure genius
Another great Yo-Yo Disc
first disc great- second a flop
Encore
The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma

The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Appassionato
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
Vivaldi's Cello
Classic Yo-Yo
Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

ASIN: B000A7Q29G
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

Prde from Suite No. 1 in G Major for Cello, BWV 1007
II. Largo from "Winter", Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 from the Four Seasons
Jesus, bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring), BWV 147
Schafe kn sicher weiden (Sheep May Safely Graze), BWV 208
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake), BWV 645
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals (Chamber Version)
Havanaise, Op. 83
Mtation from Tha
Liebesfreud Instrumental
Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Three Preludes
Vocalise Vocal
IV. Allegro from Sonata in D minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 40
Andante Cantabile for Cello Solo and String Orchestra, Op. posth.
IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto from Quartet No. 1 in G minor for Piano and Strings, Op. 25
III. Finale. Allegro moderato from Concerto in B minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104

Tracks:

Cristal
A lenda do caboclo
Chega de Saudade Live
Wapango Live
Libertango
Appalachia Waltz Solo Cello Version
Butterfly's Day Out
1B
Pickin' from Three Pieces for Solo Cello
Simple Gifts
The Mission
Gabriel's Oboe
The Falls Album Version
The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Cellist of Sarajevo - A Lament in Rondo Form for Solo 'Cello, Op. 12
Chi passa per'sta strada
Mido Mountain (Chinese Traditional)
Mohini (Enchantment)
Baroque in Rhythm from Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio
Anything Goes Instrumental
I Could Have Danced All Night Extended version

Amazon.com

Here are three dozen pieces of music, all played by Yo-Yo Ma, culled from his extensive discography. Aside from the technical mastery and beautiful tone that are absolutes in all of his playing, one is dazzled by his curiosity and ability to adapt to so many forms and types of music. His Bach and Vivaldi are pellucid and played with non-sentimental crispness, his tango music gritty and rhythmically pungent, his jazz seemingly spontaneous, the "Meditation" from Thais simply ravishing, "Anything Goes" a romp, and the Appalachian music performed with both respect and a great twang, while the traditional Chinese music is fascinating. It's really a matter of how much Ma loves whatever he plays here, how entirely he becomes involved in it, and what a fine partner he invariably is to other musicians. This collection is a doozy--it is truly "essential." --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

pure genius.......2007-05-21

No instrument asks more from the soul of an artist as the cello does.
Yo Yo Ma shows to be master of the instrument and his interpretations en technique are pure genius. Everyone should have this album in his (or hers of course) basic classical collection

Another great Yo-Yo Disc.......2007-05-15

The set-up with the classical pieces on the first disc and the other on the second is excellent.

first disc great- second a flop.......2007-04-12

the first disc is awesome. the second disc is weird and boring.

Encore.......2007-03-31

Incredible. My young cellist (son) loves it. Beautiful music. The album is well organized and each song transitions nicely.

The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma.......2007-03-29

I've found this collection to be extremely delightful! It gives you a sense of the versatility of Yo-Yo Ma like no other, with one disc being dedicated more to his classical side, while the other explores jazz and world music venues. Not your typical "greatest hits" collection.

Gershwin: Piano Cto in F/Rhapsody in Blue in C (Hybr)

Average customer rating:

fun, satisfying listening
Waited 50 years for this version
Blew me away: incredible fluidity

Gershwin: Piano Cto in F/Rhapsody in Blue in C (Hybr)

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva

ASIN: B000NY164W
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

I Allegro
II Adagio
III Allegro Agitato
Rhapsody In Blue
Cuban Overture

Amazon.com

Jon Nakamatsu won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997 and has made several fine recordings since then. This all-Gershwin program is probably his finest. He plays the Piano Concerto with great rhythmic sass, the Charleston always underpinning the melodies. Rather than opt for a showy reading of this or the Rhapsody in Blue, he and conductor Jeff Tyzik emphasize the music's sultry quality; the smoke-filled nightclub is there right alongside the concert hall at all times. The clarinet solo that opens the Rhapsody is stunningly evocative. Nakamatsu and the horn player duet with a keen jazz ear, and the solo piano work is songful and elegant. If you're looking for fireworks, there are plenty in the Concerto's finale - it's a thrilling reading. The Cuban Overture, a work so familiar that it's hard to look forward to, is given a terrific reading here by Tyzik and The Rochester Philharmonic, with the Latin percussion sounding wonderfully at home with the "regular" orchestra. This is a splendid release. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

fun, satisfying listening.......2007-06-15

Jon Nakamatsu is one of the brightest rising stars in classical music. As a classical label owner, I have listened to a lot of music and this pianist is at the top. These fabulous pieces are treated with Nakamatsu's usual tenderness and lyricism that he affords his Chopin and Brahms CDs, and still leaves room for the jaunty, sassy, fun that these compositions ask for. Leave a space on your Favorites list for this one!

Waited 50 years for this version.......2007-06-01

This is a simply incredible album. It is the Rhapsody in Blue to add to your collection for both excellent sound quality & superb performance. Both soloist & orchestra are completely inspired. I've heard several competent but dutiful versions on disc, but this one soars. Heard it on HD radio & could not wait to own it.

Blew me away: incredible fluidity.......2007-05-12

I had the privilege of hearing Jon Nakamatsu perform a Beethoven Concerto recently and as a result, purchased this CD, loving Gershwin. I have several other versions of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and this interpretation is the best for me. The fluid lines of play warm my heart. The humor found in the piece comes through with playful notes making me smile. The other pieces are similarly enjoyably performed. I just went on line to purchase all the rest of his albums, I liked this one so much. I can't wait until they arrive!

Average customer rating:

One of the best ever!
Kristen Chenowith
Has its moments
Great CD!
This woman has what it takes, and then some...

Let Yourself Go
Kristin Chenoweth , Jule Styne , George Gershwin , Richard Rodgers , Jeanine Tesori , Kurt Weill , Jerome Kern , Vincent Youmans , Ricky Ian Gordon , Richard Dworsky , Lawrence Ellington Duke / Brown , Harry Warren , Bobby Troup , Jason Alexander , Irving Berlin , Rob Fisher , and The Coffee Club Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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As I Am
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Leonard Bernstein's Candide (Great Performances)
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ASIN: B000059T4T
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Let Yourself Go
If
How Long Has This Been Going On?
My Funny Valentine
Hanging Around with You (with Jason Alexander)
The Girl in 14G
I'll Tell the Man in the Street
I'm a Stranger Here Myself
Nobody Else But Me
Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me/Why Can't I?
Should I Be Sweet?
He's Just an Ordinary Guy
Going to the Dance with You
On a Turquoise Cloud
You'll Never Know
Daddy

Amazon.com

Kristin Chenoweth won a Tony for the supporting role of Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, made a memorably vampy Lily in the 1999 television film of Annie, and had an NBC sitcom created for her, Kristin! Now she grabs the spotlight in Let Yourself Go, her first solo recording. She mixes torchy standards ("My Funny Valentine," "How Long Has This Been Going On?") with Faith Prince-style sauciness ("If"), gets to show off her operatic and scat chops in the miniplay "The Girl in 14G," and shares a light duet with Jason Alexander (reviving his musical theater career post-Seinfeld). Perhaps her "Stranger Here Myself" isn't the weightiest you've ever heard, but this is an enjoyable album with a good deal of old-fashioned class, expertly accompanied by Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

One of the best ever!.......2007-04-24

Do I mean the best album or the best singer? You are correct if you said both! I saw Kristin Chenoweth on a PBS show "Broadway's Best at the Pops," (though it was not the first time I had heard her) and decided to check out the offerings here. This is a collection of the kind of music and performances I love. She has a great range, a precise pitch, and a great style that is at the same time true to the music and to herself. In an era when singers try to outdo each other re-interpreting the composer's original work, not usually with great success, she is a blessing!

Kristen Chenowith.......2007-02-26

I bought this CD for the Girl in 14G. Yes, it's that good...

Has its moments.......2007-02-19

After watching Candide endlessly and going to see Ms. Chenoweth in The Apple Tree, I was hungry for something more portable to listen to. At times this fits the bill, but what surprised me the most is how thin her voice comes across on this recording. Perhaps it was the joy of seeing her live that has ruined this listener; perhaps I need to upgrade my aging music system. Then again, maybe the recording is just not as good as Ms. C singing Bernstein or as good as staring at Ms. C command a Broadway stage.

Great CD!.......2007-01-19

I truly enjoy listening to this CD. Kristin Chenoweth's vocal style and abilities are very well-matched to the songs selected for this album. If you enjoy classic, older-style Broadway/popular tunes, I would highly recommend this CD. Ms. Chenoweth has a bright, expressive voice and does a fantastic job with this material.

As with any full-length CD, there are a couple of songs I am not as crazy about, but that has to do with the songs themselves, not Ms. Chenoweth's vocal performance. Overall, I love this album and have listened to it several times now, since receiving it as a Christmas gift last month.

This woman has what it takes, and then some..........2007-01-12

Kristin Chenoweth brings new life to some timeless Broadways tunes while introducing a few wonderful new ones. This high pitched vocal goddess effortlessly provides for a nearly flawless and easy listening experience. I definitly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys jazz vocals, showtunes, or just a new spin on some old classics.

Stars & Stripes Forever and the Greatest Marches

Average customer rating:

Album matches content hype
Fun
invigorating!
Totally awesome!

Stars & Stripes Forever and the Greatest Marches

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Salute to America
40 Famous Marches
Fiedler's Favorite Marches

ASIN: B000003F5U
Release Date: 1991-09-06

Tracks:

Aida: Grand March
Babes In Toyland: March Of The Toys
Semper Fidelis
Suite No. 1, Op. 43: Marche miniature
Yankee Doodle
Up The Street
The Damnation of Faust: Rakoczy March
Caucasian Sketches: Procession Of The Sardar
Sambre et Meuse
The Ruins Of Athens: Turkish March
Colonel Bogey
Dixie
American Salute: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Strike Up The Band
Radetzsky March
Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Algerian Suite: French Military March
Mlada: Procession Of The Nobles
Valdres March
National Emblem March
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

Album matches content hype.......2007-05-31

I intially bought this album for a few selections I had heard from Classical 102.1 (KDFC-FM). I was pleasantly surprised that the entire album has a very satisfying collection of the greatest marches. I am very pleased with this album, and would recommend it for anyone who likes a broad range of famous marches.

Fun.......2007-01-21

This CD would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys marches. Some of the marches are popular, others are not. All are well-performed and can be enjoyed - LOUDLY!

invigorating!.......2006-12-05

Great recordings of stirring music. I like to play it loud while my kids and I clean house. It makes it go by fast.

Totally awesome!.......2005-03-27

My father was a Marine in the ETC, he told me stories about how they went floor to floor checking for bad guys humming this music. I think it is great music to listen to, I really like track 3, it says so much in the title alone. I hope everybody like this music as much as I do!

Crazy for You (1992 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Jodi benons voice is stunning in this excellent production
One of the best Broadway Soundtracks around.
Fabulous
Crazy For This CD
Guaranteed to brighten your day!

Crazy for You (1992 Original Broadway Cast)
George Gershwin , Ira Gershwin , Harry Groener , and Jodi Benson
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Crazy for You: Complete Vocal Selections
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My One And Only (1983 Original Broadway Cast)
42nd Street (1980 Original Broadway Cast)
Crazy For You: Original London Cast Recording

ASIN: B000002SK5
Release Date: 1992-05-19

Tracks:

Overture
K-ra-zy For You
I Can't Be Bothered Now
Bidin' My Time
Things Are Looking Up
Someone To Watch Over Me
Could You Use Me?
Shall We Dance?
Entrance To Nevada (Stairway To Paradise/Bronco Busters/K-ra-zy For You)
Slap That Bass
Embraceable You
Tonight's The Night
I Got Rhythm
The Real American Folk Song (Is A Rag)
What Causes That?
Naughty Baby
Stiff Upper Lip
They Can't Take That Away From Me
But Not For Me
New York Interlude (Concerto In F)
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Bidin' My Time (French Reprise)
Finale

Amazon.com

If you're looking for one do-it-all Gershwin cast recording, Crazy for You fits the bill. Touted as "the new Gershwin musical comedy" when it hit Broadway in 1992, it's actually a substantial reworking of the Gershwins' Girl Crazy, the story of a New York song-and-dance man who conquers the West (and a fair maid there) by putting on a show. (The original 1934 cast featured Ginger Rogers and a Broadway novice named Ethel Merman.) Crazy for You preserves the best of the songs from the original (including "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," and "But Not for Me") and adds a number of later songs from Fred Astaire films as well as some undiscovered gems, resulting in an embarrassment of riches. Harry Groener and Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid) are in strong voice (and they danced too!). The only shortcoming of this recording is that it couldn't capture Susan Stroman's dazzling choreography. The booklet includes a synopsis, full lyrics, and a historical perspective. Not an innovative show, but a rollicking good time. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Jodi benons voice is stunning in this excellent production.......2006-11-10

Jodi benson appears in one of very few, but marveolus broadway performances!The music on this recording even downplays bensons work in disneys " The Little Mermaid"! It is and energetic fun-filled musical, yet it is based solely upon the one emotion that is so ellusive, yet so desired,love. Benson's rendition of someone to watch over me is absolutely amazing!overall this CD is well worth the money you put forth on it. I would also suggest the music book too for musicians as myself---Robert Ellis,14

One of the best Broadway Soundtracks around........2006-11-03

The original cast of Crazy For You is superb. The songs are of course amazing. What Gershwin song isn't? Jodi Benson will blow you away with her beyond amazing voice and talent. Highlights include "Someone to Whatch Over Me", "Could You Use Me", "But Not For Me", "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Every song on this CD is practically perfect. You won't go wrong if you purchase Crazy For You.

Fabulous.......2006-09-29

Crazy for You is a wonderful show, and the origenal Cast is full of wonderful voices. Having been in the show, I fell in love with the music, and listening to Bobby's unique, peppy voice in this CD made it even more loveable, definatly shown in "Can't Be Bothered Now". Everyone on this CD has so much character in there voices. I'm amazed at how well everyones vocals are!
Polly has such a wonderful and unique voice, with the perfect bit of American West in it. She has that small pinch of Cowgirl in her voice, making it seem like shes someone from the West. Her solos "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Not For Me" are phenominal. She has such a wonderful depth and soul to her voice, that you will definatly hear on this CD.
All the Cowboys, well, sound like Cowboys! The funny sound to there voices is great, which you can here in "Biding My Time", one of my favorites for it's origenality. :)
And the one I could NOT just leave out, "Naughty Baby". Fan-tastic. Irenes voices is wonderful. She definatly knows how to play the part. Seductive and Sweet is what this song is. Creative definatly shows what this song is all about. Also, completely great if you get to see the scene on stage.

Overall, this CD is DEFINATLY worth the buy! You get your moneys worth.

Crazy For This CD.......2004-12-17

After a month of listening to the London version, I recieved this as a gift for being in the musical at school. I must say, it's different, but there is no better sound than that of Slap That Bass and Bidin' My Time. The musical is so hard to pull off, but this CD helps you get to know the words. I know every song by heart.

Obsessed? Of course.

Guaranteed to brighten your day!.......2004-07-24

I have to say up front that I have never seen the theatrical production of Crazy for You. My daughter recently returned from a thespian festival in Nebraska where she saw the musical performed by a wonderful troupe from New Albany High School in Indiana. She enjoyed it so much that she wanted to purchase the soundtrack and it wasn't long before I had confiscated this CD for myself.

The musical is billed as a new Gershwin comedy and the songs, many of which are familiar tunes made over, are simply fabulous. The CD booklet states that the production, which opened on Broadway in 1992, was given carte blanche by the Gerswin estate and the result is marvelous! A few of my favorites are Someone to Watch Over Me (exquisitely sung by Jodi Benson of Disney's Little Mermaid fame), What Causes That a lost song rediscovered in 1982 and one of the most delightful tunes on the entire album, and Slap that Bass a toe-tapping number that will have you on your feet and looking for a pair of tap shoes. :)Other familiar numbers are I've Got Rhythm, Embraceable You and Nice Work if You Can Get It.

Do you need a little something to brighten your mood? Well buy this CD!! You'll feel happier in no time! :)

The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Average customer rating:

Some interesting choices, indeed
Great CD
Great selections, but bad transfers
Yes this is Some of the Best of Broadway!
The music of Broadway comes alive

The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002W4T9E
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

There's No Business Like Show Business
Swanee
Ol' Man River
You're The Top
Oklahoma
Luck Be A Lady
I Could Have Danced All Night
America
My Favorite Things
People
If I Were A Rich Man
The Impossible Dream
Cabaret
Let The Sunshine In
Send In The Clowns
One
Tomorrow
Memory
The Music Of The Night
Good Morning Baltimore
Defying Gravity

Amazon.com

A companion to the fabulous PBS series, the 21-song, 77-minute The Best of "Broadway: The American Musical" provides about as good a single-disc compilation as anyone could hope for. (There's also a five-CD version.) What sets it apart from so many other "best of Broadway" collections is its breadth--because it had access to a variety of record-label vaults it doesn't have to try to disguise gaps by using revivals or solo recordings. Here you get all the authentic stuff, including: Paul Robeson singing "Ol' Man River" from the first modern American musical, Show Boat; Ethel Merman singing "You're the Top"; the title song from Oklahoma!; Julie Andrews singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady; West Side Story's "America"; Betty Buckley singing "Memory" from Cats; Hairspray's "Good Morning Baltimore"; and "Defying Gravity" from Wicked, the newest show discussed in the PBS series. And it's hard to argue with the songwriters represented: Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Lerner and Loewe, Leonard Bernstein, Bock and Harnick, Kander and Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, among others. Obviously, no single-disc compilation could ever please everyone (did we really need two ALW songs?), but as a sampler intended for people who watched the series and want to hear more of the Great White Way, The Best of "Broadway: The American Musical" can't be topped. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Some interesting choices, indeed.......2006-03-02

This is a pretty good compilation, but I have to wonder at some of the choices that went into it.
"Good Morning Baltimore" is almost the least impressive song from Hairspray. "You Can't Stop the Beat" was a much more anthemic song from that show.
I agree that it's too bad Les Mis didn't make it in. I would have traded that for anything Sondheim, although that's a personal preference :) .
Still, the opportunity to hear the original performers and orchestras perform these works, all in one place, is a great deal.

Great CD.......2005-11-01

This one plays in the car, on the ipod and in the house. When the kids were little they would ask if we could take them to "The Street". That is what they called Broadway (little did they know at that time how famous that street is). They still love it and we can not get enough of it. This CD covers the best and makes you want to go and see a live performance. You can not beat that.

Great selections, but bad transfers.......2005-07-27

This is a great taste of broadway. If you enjoyed the B'Way series at all, then you will probably enjoy this CD. My problem with it is that some of the songs sound like they were not remastered at all- the transfer to CD is terrible. The orchestrations in "You're the top" by Ethel Merman are muffled, and the song sounds like it was taken straight from an old record and slapped onto the CD without fixing it up. It doesn't sound very clear, which is a bit upsetting and annoying. Maybe this is just because that particular recording is older than some of the songs chosen to be on this CD. The more modern songs sound crisp and new and beautiful. "Swanee" is also very low quality as if it were just taken off of a record and put on the CD without any restoration. I just feel that these songs deserved better treatment and that we as customers deserve better treatment. Decca could have restored these songs and made them sound really good, but they decided just to slap them on the CD without touching them up.

I am surprised that nothing was chosen to be on this recording from Les Miserables since it had been on Broadway for 16 years and its tour is running until 2006. There were selections from Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, so I am not sure why nothing was chosen from Les Miserables.

Other than these few nit pickings, I think that this is a great introduction to musicals. It gives a little taste across the spectrum. Try getting the cast recordings of the songs that you really like on this collection. It's worth buying if you're a huge broadway fan.

Yes this is Some of the Best of Broadway!.......2005-04-08

This CD from Decca Broadway is a wonderful selection of some of

the "Greatest Hits" of the Broadway stage. Decca and Sony have

done an excellent job of remastering the various recordings, some

of which still show some of their age, but come across quite

well. Are there a lot of songs that I would have put on this

disc? Yes, but the ones on here are good choices. I may have to

get a copy of the Five disc set and the DVD's just to see if any

more of my favorites made it on the list. What this disc seems to

try to do is show the evolution of the Broadway song from it's

early days to the present. It succeeds quite well I think.

If you enjoy Broadway theater this CD is a must!

The music of Broadway comes alive.......2004-10-07

I loved listening to this CD. The music from Broadway's best loved musicals are on this album. I recogized most of these songs, even though I've only seen a few of them on the local stage. I have so many favorites on this CD. It is hard to pick one. I'm a big fan of Barbara Streisand. I loved her performance of People from Funny Girl. Memory is the hit song from the musical Cats. Betty Buckley's performance of this song is so emotional and sincere.

I loved the song Annie. It is a wonderfully optimistic song performed by the original Annie Andrea McArdle. Another highlight for me is the song One performed by the cast of a Chorus Line. Luck Be A Lady Tonight is another of my favorite broadway songs on this CD from Guys and Dolls. The music of the night is a beautiful song by Michael Crawford from Phantom of the Opera. Richard Kiley has such a strong and powerful voice. He sounds so inspirational singing The Impossible Dream from Man from La Mancha. My dream is to see some musicals on Broadway someday and listen to these songs performed live.

I'm surprised that there isn't any music from Miss Saigon or Jesus Christ Superstar included here. I think they are classic musicals with great songs Maybe they will appear on a future compilation from PBS.

Average customer rating:

Violin touches your heart

The Essential Joshua Bell

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NDIAXI
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Customer Reviews:

Violin touches your heart.......2007-06-24

Those who do not prefer violin music should try this. His violin will change your world.
His music touches people's heart.

Average customer rating:

I'm ordering more copies of Nicole!
Wonderful!
Nice, but I do tend to want more than "nice"
Almost spectacular...
Bravo, the real thing

Soprano

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs
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Gitano

ASIN: B000M9BTP4
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Quando Me N'vo
Ah! Je Veux Vivre
What a Curse For a Woman Is a Timid Man!
Dieu! Quel Frisson Court Dans Mes Veines!...Amour, Ranime Mon Courage
O Mio Babbino Caro
Les Filles De Cadix
Summertime
How Can I Cherish My Man In Such Days
Les Belles Fleurs!...Entre L'amour Et Le Devoir
Depuis Le Jour Ou Je Me Suis Donnee
Eccomi In Lieta Vesta...Oh! Quante Volte
Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta
'Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere...'...So Ancho'io La Virtu Magica

Amazon.com

Nicole Cabell, the winner of the 2005 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, is a full-voiced lyric soprano with ease of production, a free top, and a basically lovely sound. This ambitious recital - we get chestnuts (Musetta's Waltz, "O mio babbino caro," "Je veux vivre," "Summertime," etc) as well as rarities (the selections from The Old Maid and the Thief and Tippett's A Child of our Time as well as Teresa's big aria from Benvenuto Cellini) - shows a curious mind and versatility. On the technical side, her prominent vibrato occasionally sounds like the start of a beat in the voice that could cause trouble, and her diction can be mushy. In addition, as of now, Cabell isn't much of an interpreter. "Les filles de Cadix" exhibits a strange lack of either Latin flavor or flirtatiousness; Musetta's Waltz is straightforward and lacks an individual stamp. On the plus side, as mentioned, the sound of her voice itself is very appealing. "Depuis le jour" and Doretta's Dream (from Rondine) are beautifully floated, even if they don't erase memories of Price, Fleming, or several other singers. The Menotti aria is well-articulated and makes its point. Conversely, "O mio babbino caro" is simply boring, lacking in girlish charm. "Summertime" is deliciously sung, and Norina's aria from Don Pasquale has plenty of flavor. It will be interesting to see how she develops; at the moment some troublesome traits are mixed in with great promise. Sir Andrew Davis lends fine support. --Robert Levine

Album Details

28 Year Old American Soprano Nicole Cabell Came to the Attention of the Opera World Overnight When, in June 2005, She Won What Has Become the Most Important Competition for Young Opera Singers and was Crowned BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The Competition Jury Included Legendary Singers Dame Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne and the Win Placed Nicole Cabell in a Distinguished Line of Cardiff Prize-winners that Includes Karita Mattila, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Bryn Terfel.

Customer Reviews:

I'm ordering more copies of Nicole!.......2007-06-18

just played this for friends who have sung,taught and judged opera for all their lives.
They were thrilled by Nicole's voice. I am now ordering more copies as gifts.

Wonderful!.......2007-06-10

I think that this CD is some of the best, if not better, soprano work since Fleming (sorry Renee I am a huge fan but I think this is an amazing first album). It slaps Netrebko and Gheorghiu.

The songs in here are sung with great ease. Some of the work in here isn't what you hear as often while some of it is. Most people make a huge fuss about singing the tracks that "everyone" sings, but Cabell dos this well.

Her technique is amazing. Her voice is very fluid and legato; in addition to that, she has such an evenness of tone production. The bottom notes are as focused as her top ones which is something many sopranos, even the famous ones, struggle with.

She is on her way to the top!

Nice, but I do tend to want more than "nice".......2007-05-28

I do not own this recording. I listened to excerpts at a music shop, as I almost always do with recordings of singers who are new to me. So please do bear in mind that my review is based on selected listening - I did listen to perhaps two minutes of each track, except in the case of the Puccini, to which I listened only for about 30 seconds.

I didn't like what I heard. I don't mean it's an unpleasant voice. It was perfectly pleasant. I'm sure that in places the voice is lovely, but it was not so lovely in the recording that I felt impelled to hear more. I heard nothing - nothing - that made me want to hear more.

There are so many singers with nice voices - especially sopranos. I do not feel this is a voice of EXCEPTIONAL beauty, and I do not feel at all that this singer has an interpretative ability that shines in the singing. I felt unmoved - and it was on that basis that I switched off the headphones and shook my head when asked if I was purchasing the CD.

The cover of this CD is utterly gorgeous - I think it will attract a lot of people. I can only speak for my own taste when I say the voice itself doesn't interest me. I felt none of the charm, winsomeness, rich emotional involvement and sense of individuality that would lift these arias and songs out of the ordinary. And I have so many recordings (over 3000) that I did not feel I'd miss anything by not having this recording.

I do want to stress that this is my own taste... my own opinion based on my personal reaction to Ms Cabell's voice. The really odd selection of pieces in this recording wouldn't have bothered me if I'd fallen in love with this voice - but I haven't done that... and that's the caveat for me.

Almost spectacular..........2007-05-16

I think this recording has some very nice moments. However, there are just as many not so great moments in here as well. Cabell's voice is a very beautiful instrument. Few posses that beautiful tone. However, there just seems to be a lack of polish to the sound. I realize she is young and that she has the potential to grow into some things. For example, the dynamic level throughout the disk seems to be stagnant. She does a few things here and there but overall, she seems to sing at the same level through many of the arias. Sadly, at times, that volume seems push or uncomfortable. The program she selected for this disk is varied. I applaud the inclusion of the lesser known works like the Menotti and Tippett. She also includes the standard soprano fare such as "O mio babbino." These standard numbers come off less interesting as their lesser recorded counterparts. Overall, this is a voice worth hearing. I hope this is just the beginning for her and that she continues to improve and record.

Bravo, the real thing.......2007-05-09

As the product description says above, Ms. Cabell is a young American soprano who won the prestigious Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2005. Despite the inflated title, a great deal is expected from such winners, and she has the goods: a sparkling soprano capable of coloratura but with body and above all personality. I'd compaer her to a young Gheorgiu or Netrenbko, perhaps lighter than both. Her voice makes you listen and often smile.

When Cabell sings the big aria from Menotti's The Old Maid and the Theif ("What a curse for a woman is a timid man"), she crosses swords with Dawn UPshaw, who made a spectacular show of it. This version is fuller voiced but less sharp dramatically. In fact there are quite a few places where Cabell phrases a bit stiffly and misses dramatic changes of tone. She's concentrating on getting the music to come out beautifully, and it does.

She also wants to display versatility, and that comes across in a program that's all over the place, from Tippett and Menotti to Puccini and Delibes, with quite a few more thrown in. The evergreen "O mio babbino caro" isn't charming enough to convey the tone of a pampered daddy's girl or her lovesick yearning, but Cabell doesn't short change us on loveliness. Black sopranos were always expected to do "Summertime" decades ago, and Cabell isn't embarrassed to offer us a gorgeous version of her own, complete with accent.

The languages she attempts are English, French and Italian. She's most passionate and fervent in English, which is unusual. Her Italian sounds a little stiff; it doesn't let go as it should. As with Beverly Sills, French vowels seem to liberate her, however, and Cabell floats gloriously in "Depuis le jour." It's not overwhelming the way Te Kanawa, Leontyne Price, and Renee Fleming are in the same aria, but at the age of 28 Cabell has a voice as captivating to the ear as anyone. One hopes for great things to come.

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