Ivan Moravec

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The battle for the most convincing, or at least resonant, Chopin might be a two-person standoff between Ivan Moravec and Artur Rubinstein. Moravec's Nocturnes nos. 17 and 18 (Op. 62) are about as exquisite as any on record, with life enough to sound as though they were being played in person only inches from the ear. Throughout the first of these two CDs, Moravec uses his pedals to hold Chopin's tones for so long that they become rhapsodic in their balanced extendedness.

A native of Prague, Moravec has eschewed the spotlight, mostly because of his emphasis on teaching and assiduous practice. He's famous for insisting that every aspect of his performance be near-perfect, from his clear command of the work to his intimate knowledge of the instrument on which he'll perform. So it's ideal that he focuses on repertoire fed by perfectionism and elaborately precise pacing--not to mention his penchant for unmistakable contrast. This last trait is most evident in the big energy of Franck's Prélude, chorale, et fugue (recorded in 1962). --Andrew Bartlett

Tracks:

Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183: 1st Movemen
Stabat Mater: Quando Corpus Morietur And Amen
Bubak and Hungaricus
Serenade For Winds, K.361: 3rd Movement
The Abduction From The Seraglio: Turkish Finale
Symphony No.29 In A Major, K.201: 1st Movement: Allegro Moderato
Concerto For Two Pianos, K.365: 3rd Movement
Mass In C Minor, K.427: Kyrie
Symphonie Concertante, K.364: 1st Movement

Tracks:

Piano Concerto In E Flat Major, K.482: 3rd Movement - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Ivan Moravec
The Marriage Of Figaro: Act III: Ecco La Marcia - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
The Marriage Of Figaro: Act IV: Ah Tutti Contenti - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Don Giovanni: Act II: Commendatore Scene - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Felicity Lott
Requiem, K.626: Introitus (Eternal Rest Give To Them, O Lord) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Dies Irae (Day Of Wrath) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Rex Tremandae Majestatis (Awe-Inspiring King) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Confutatis (When Those Cursed Enter Flames) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Lacrymosa (Mournful Day) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Piano Concerto In D Minor, K.466: 2nd Movement (Romanza) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Imogen Cooper

Customer Reviews:

A Whitman sampler of Mozart.......2007-05-02

Truth be told, classical music--like most other kinds--is best heard in the program context for which it was written. Yet any time you can get Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Mozart in the same place at the same time, you can hardly *not* go for it.

Like the famous chocolate sampler, you get a few of each flavor but not all you want of your favorite kind.

How then to decide? Well, viewing the rollicking good movie AMADEUS tips the scales towards buying and enjoying this fabulous, if disordered, compilation of the Mozart greats that went into the making of a movie that forever dissed the composer's rep but also gained him some fans among non-classical-listening movie-goers.

For the price you also receive a superb liner booklet that locates each piece within the film's narrative and says a word or two about the music on its own merits.

A winner for Mozart lovers.

shows some of Mozart's highlight pieces.......2007-04-15

This CD to me pretty much has all of my favoirite songs that he has made, Especially the reqeium. A must listen to Cd that I think any classical music fan will enjoy, I sure did.

Great Price.......2006-03-02

Great price for the product. I am so glad I logged onto Amazon.com for things like this. It arrived faster than expected. I will definitely continue to buy more in the future.

An excellent soundtrack and an excellent film!!.......2005-05-23

Eventhough many kids in school listen to rap and all, I listen to classical. After watching Amadeus, I was moved by the pieces selected to be played in the film. I especially liked Symphony No. 29 1st Movement. Also, when Salieri is at the Archbishop of Salzburg's palace and reads Mozart's piece, Serenade for Winds, is among my favorites. In Serenade for Winds, Mozart creates a very emotional and almost night music feel to it. I was surprised that the director/conductor did not put in a few more famous pieces into the album . . . ex. Symphony No. 40, The Magic Flute, etc. This is an excellent album and anyone who wants to enjoy the genius of Mozart should purchase this. Take it from me, you will enjoy this album immesensely.

If You've Seen The Movie...........2004-06-13

Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart's nervy youthfullness went far beyond his personal life.His choice of music very much reflects
his own spirit.He chose to set to music Le Nozze Di Figaro (a
play largely blamed for starting the French Revolution) put him
somewhat at odds with Emperor Joseph.His tendency (very much in
attendance here) to compose opera's in German at a time when
Italian opera was at it's post popular also made him a bit of a musical rebel of his day.I don't listen to alot of classical music (but certainly I have favorites,notably by Eric Satie) but Mozart's many concereto's,acts of his opera's and so
on demonstrate the youthful composers gift for melody and yes,
even hints at improvisation that set 18'th century Vienna (and
later the world) on fire!And Peter Shaffer was sure to include
acts from Mozarts errie unfinished reqeuim mass towards the end
of this CD.So to fans of the movie with more then a passing interest in classical music will enjoy this!And I think Mozart's
spirit will always be alive in those who choose to challange themselfs to innovate within music and get the public's ear to
stretch!

Average customer rating:

Near the Best 2
Deep Feeling Piano Before Sleep
Not Great
Chopin' s refined lyricism in its highest peak!
Among the great performances of these little masterworks

Chopin: Nocturnes

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & Chopin
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Ivan Moravec Plays Chopin

ASIN: B000005J03
Release Date: 1991-06-25

Tracks:

B Flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1
E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2
B Major, Op. 9, No. 3
F Major, Op. 15, No. 2
F Sharp Major, Op. 15, No. 2
G Minor, Op. 15, No. 3
C Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1
D Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
B Major, Op. 32, No.1
A Flat Major, Op. 32, No. 2

Tracks:

A Flat Major, Op. 32, No. 2
G Major, Op. 37, No. 2
C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1
F Sharp Minor, Op. 48, No. 2
F Sharp Minor, Op. 48, No. 2
E Flat Major, Op. 55, No. 2
B Major, Op. 62, No. 1
E Major, Op. 62, No. 2
E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1

Amazon.com essential recording

If Moravec had made only these recordings, he would still be esteemed as one of our greatest pianists. He makes the piano sing throughout this set--coloring the music with exquisite tonal shadings, reflecting the changes of mood with total conviction, and providing moment after moment of revelatory beauty. Many critics consider this the greatest set of the Chopin Nocturnes ever recorded, even finer than the superb stereo set by Rubinstein on RCA. The 1966 recordings, made in two different venues, are still outstanding examples of beautiful-sounding, realistic piano sound. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Near the Best 2.......2007-03-23

Vasary, Moravec and Rubinstein are all different, but which of their Nocturne disks you pick up will probably depend on your own mood. I think they are equally great in their own individual way. If you want contemplative renderings tending towards lullabies, you'll pick up the Rubinstein or the Moravec. Moravec is slightly more funereal than Rubinstein, and Rubinstein seems to have more 'soul'. Vasary is for when you're awake and want a slightly more upbeat approach with more consistency in rhythm and interpretation, without noticeable mannerisms. His rubati are there, but seamless. I won't decide between Rubinstein and Vasary; they are great, though different. Moravec would come in very close, maybe beat by just a nose. Vasary is easily the best technician and plays absolutely beautiful, superbly fitted cadenzi and onaments. The only fault I find in his 1966 disk is the weaker recording quality. His voicing is unexcelled. For some, his tempi may be just a slight bit faster than others, but this doesn't seem to harm. I prefer Rubinstein in a few selected Nocturnes, especially Op. 37 no. 2. Moravec's approach, overall, seems a little less consistent from Nocturne to Nocturne, with tempi at times a little too fast, a little too slow for this auditor. Also, as far as voicing, the lower register of his keyboard is at times indistinct. It sounds somewhat muddy and it's hard to pick out the broken chords clearly; you don't get the underlying undulation. I'd give the Rubinstein and Vasary disks the decided advantage there. In both Vasary and Rubinstein, left-hand accompaniment is clearly discernible.

I still give this 4.8 stars. Moravec is one of the best. The fault with the lower register lies not with the performer perhaps, but the piano or the recording technician; I can't tell. The right half of the keyboard sounds absolutely crystal clear. I think it may be poor recording balance or acoustics.

Daniel Barenboim also has a complete set of the Nocturnes available and
selected Nocturnes are among the best, though he tends toward somnambulance in tempi. His playing is clean, correct and unhurried. I especially mark out his playing of Op. 15, no. 3, which surprisingly, is difficult to get 'right'. I've heard some sloppy playing in that particular nocturne in the left hand, even from Rubinstein. Moravec and Barenboim play this one in near mirror image; both beautiful.

I bought this and I'm very happy with it. I recommend it highly.

Deep Feeling Piano Before Sleep.......2007-01-11

I never heard of Ivan Moravec before I bought this record but am glad now. It took me a few times to get use to his playing and now I understand it better.

Not Great.......2007-01-04

I love listening to Chopin and especially to his Nocturnes; however, I prefer the more mechanical style of Artur Rubinstein and always choose to listen to it over this. To my ear, Moravec's playing sounds messy - as though someone had taken the meter and adjusted each beat by a tiny, random amount. Since others seem in love with his recordings, I guess the conclusion is to listen before you buy (or buyer beware)

Chopin' s refined lyricism in its highest peak! .......2006-11-02

Among the compositions of Chopin which have been beloved in sum grade, the Nocturnes reveal and reflect with all its broad extension, the level of intropectivenes,lyricism and sentiment, the musicality and romantic expression of this unforgettable composer.

In contrast with the Etudes Op. 10 and Op. 25 - that might be well considered as an organic unity and even may be thought as a Sonata in three movements each Op. by itself - the Nocturnes are independent works each one with its own specific weight and particular profile.

Ivan Moravec made a sumptuous reading of these works; with his well known expressive resoureces, luminous pianism and sheer poetry. Although he has not been known enough in America, this pupil of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli at least to my mind may be considered as the greatest Czech pianist ever born.

So, given all these considerations, you may acquire this double album without any shadow of dobt or hesitation.

Among the great performances of these little masterworks.......2006-02-24

This is one of my favorite recordings in any genre of music. The sensitivity to melody and tone Moravec exhibits coupled with the inventiveness of these vignettes by Chopin combine to produce a truly sublime musical experience. Moravec's playing is so effortless and natural (stupid words, I know) that it is hard to imagine these pieces played any other way. I get the sense when I listen that there is no performer, only this exquisite music.

Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording

Average customer rating:

Mozart for everyone!
"Genius"
A true celebration of Mozart's music
This needs to have a 10 star rating!
Top-Chart Album of the 80's That Made Classical Music Sell !!

Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording

Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Amadeus - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
Amadeus: More Music From The Original Soundtrack Of The Film Amadeus
Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner
Immortal Beloved

ASIN: B000000XBV
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Symphony No. 25 In G Minor, (1st Movement)
Stabat Mater; Quando Corpus Morietur And Amen
Bubak And Hungaricus
Serenade For Winds, (3rd Movment)
The Abduction From The Seraglio, (Turkish...)
The Abduction From The Seraglio (Chorus Of...)
Caro Mio Bene
Mass In C Minor
Concerto For Flute And Harp, (2nd Movement)
Concerto For Two Pianos, (3rd Movement)

Tracks:

Symphony No. 29 In A, (1st Movemnet, Allegro Mod.)
Piano Concerto In E Flat, (3rd Movement)
The Marriage Of Figaro, Act III, Ecco La Marcia
The Marriage Of Figaro, Act IV, Ah Tutti Contenti
Axur, Finale
Piano Concerto In D Minor, (1st Movement)
Zaide; Aria, Rhue Sanft
Don Giovanni, Act II, Commendatore Scene
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade, (1st Movement)

Tracks:

Symphonie Concertante, (1st Movement)
Masonic Funeral Music
The Magic Flute, Overture
The Magic Flute, Aria (No. 14), Queen Of The Night
Six German Dances
Introitus, (Orchestral Introduction)
Dies Irae
Rex Tremendae Majestatis
Confutatis
Lacrymosa
Piano Concerto In D Minor, (2nd Movement) Romanza

Amazon.com

Director Milos Forman's rewarding 1984 film adaptation of playwright Peter Shaffer's Tony-winning play won no fewer than 10 Academy Awards (including Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Director); only Wolfgang himself (and his filmic counterpart, Tom Hulce) seemed to get overlooked by the Academy. This expanded three-disc set contains all of Sir Neville Marriner's crisp, accurate readings of the excerpted Mozart symphonies, concertos, serenades, and operas (including marvelous portions of The Abduction of Seraglio, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute) used in the film. The success of Amadeus spurred a long-overdue renaissance of interest in classical music, and one would be hard-pressed to find a richer, more concise introduction to the intoxicating music and frustrating bundle of moral contradictions that was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Mozart for everyone!.......2007-07-20

Unlike an in depth study of his genius, this is a very well put together sampler of Mozart. Performance and sound quality are both excellent. The non Mozart selections included in the set are also very enjoyable. My only wish is that the 3 disc set were a 10 disc set. Enjoy

"Genius".......2007-02-02

This is a GREAT CD! It has wonderful music from the movie "Amadaeus" which is the BEST movie ever! This music is so fine that it lifts your heart into happiness when you listen to it. You can just tell immediately that this is "the voice of God". And for one man to make such wonderful music in a flash, its just pure genius.

Thanks to the wonderful music that a talented man has brought to us.

A true celebration of Mozart's music.......2006-10-22

I think it was at age 12 when I first saw Amadeus, and I remember immediately asking for a recording of the Requiem (a bit of sombre for a 12-year old I know, but just to demonstrate the impact of the piece..), but I think it wasn't until the third time that I saw the film (at age 30, if you were wondering) that something hit me; It's hard to say why only now (maturity?), since I've always loved Mozart's music and have already owned several recordings of the Requiem, Bohm's 35-41 symphonies and Arthur Grumiaux's wonderful violin concertos with the Sinfonia Concertante. But appreciating the movie as an adult was a different experience, recognizing what a fabulous work Marriner and his Academy have done by delivering so successfully what Mozart was all about. I think that the brilliance of this recording is that it succeeds in providing Mozart's essence through emphasis on the hidden gems of his music, while avoiding being another banal "Greatest Hits" compilation; and sewing together such a diverse array of pieces so gracefully into one recording is not a trivial task, but in Marriner's case it seems completely flawless - because what holds all the pieces here together is what this music is all about - grace, beauty, humor and love.

This needs to have a 10 star rating!.......2006-01-20

There are many great composers, but Wolfie's music is just incredible. There are a few of his operas that I don't care for but most of it is pure bliss to listen to. Do yourself a huge favor and purchase this CD or the gold extended version. You won't be sorry-unless you don't have any taste. In which case, there is nothing the rest of us can do to help you. But the local pharmacist might. . .

Top-Chart Album of the 80's That Made Classical Music Sell !!.......2005-07-31

In 1984, Milos Forman's film Amadeus, based on the hit Broadway play by Peter Schaffer, made it to the big screen with resounding success nationwide. When the soundtrack was released, it was a top seller and even found itself selling as much as such popular 80's artists as Madonna. The music from this well-made film, mostly Mozart but used some Classical-Era works by Salieri, Pergolesi and Salieri- hooked young people into classical music when they might have otherwise never given it a chance.

In the film, Mozart's music is used for dramatic effect and for ambiance. Vienna in the 1780's was the home of a blooming musical scene that would later see the likes of Beethoven. This musical kingdom is well captured in the soundtrack, which features tantalizing excerpts from Mozart's most illustrious works. The film opens to the frenzied, dark strains of the 1st movement of the 25th Symphony, as a crazed Salieri is taken from his home to a mental asylum after an attempted suicide. It goes on to use the religious music of Pergolesi Ave Verum and Amen - boys chorus as Salieri contemplates a life of chastity and dedication to music if God grants him talent. Then we leave Salieri's world of spirituality and desire for fame when we are introduced to the young Mozart. The Serenade for Winds "Gran Partita" is heard - an oboe, clarinets, "like a rusty squeezebox" and fills the air with sublime serenity. This coming from a composer who began his career at the age of 4 who was already trained in piano and violin, and who in his teens composed symphonies and operas. Salieri's works are no longer heard as Mozart's brilliant music takes over the score. We hear breathaking slices of his famous operas in chronologically composed order- the German opera Abduction From The Seraglio which was composed for the soprano Katerina Cavalieri (who has a fling wit Mozart and whom Salieri desired for himself), Figaro's Wedding and Finale from Le Nozze Di Figaro and the dramatic Commandatore Dinner Scene from Don Giovanni, and lastly the Queen of the Night Aria and Papageno's Aria from his enchanting and spiritual work The Magic Flute. Further to these famous works, which also include the Piano Concerto in D No. 20- which prefigured Romantic piano concertos of Beethoven flair, and the Eine Kleine Nachtmusiz which is Mozart's most famous tune and signature theme, we are treated to rare works in Mozart's ouevre. This includes the Masonic Funeral March, a funeral piece Mozart wrote for his fellow Masons. Divertimenti is heard in a latter scene in which Mozart's wife Constanza escapes her woes with Mozart and indulges in a spa. Chamber works, the heartwarming Flute concerto and even the rare Salieri opera Axur (then considered the greatest opera ever made, according to Emperor Joseph) all make up for a great recording album. This album now exists in extended form for the Bicentennial. The movie is a perfect companion to this album.

Average customer rating:

Moravec's Stellar Interpretations Of Mozart's Piano Concerti
Great, not the Best, Though....
An exhilarating ride
Fantastic

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 24 & 25

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23

ASIN: B000003JSS
Release Date: 1996-08-01

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: C-Moll: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: C-Minor: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: Do Mineur: Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: C-Dur: Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: C Major: Andante
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: Do Majeur: Allegretto

Amazon.com essential recording

These readings appear to be the beginning of a cycle, which should come as welcome news to all Mozarteans. Born in Prague in 1930, Ivan Moravec is a pianist of uncommon gifts and one of the most sympathetic interpreters of Mozart's music ever to sit at a keyboard. His accounts of these concertos, recorded in 1995 and 1997, blend strength and gentleness, spontaneity and calculation, the playful and the serious, in a unique way--stirring in the listener that feeling of elevation that is the hallmark of the very greatest Mozart performances. Marriner and the ASMF attain the same high level of excellence, and the sound is superb. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Moravec's Stellar Interpretations Of Mozart's Piano Concerti.......2002-03-22

These are the most passionate, lyrical performances I've heard of Mozart's 24th and 25th piano concerti. Moravec is definitely a great pianist who has substantial empathy for Mozart's scores. Yet I must also add that I was a bit disappointed with Moravec's choice of cadenzas; these wren't as elaborate as those I've heard on other recordings by Ashkenazy and Brendel. Admittedly, Moravec's interpretations may not satisfy those who are well versed with Brendel's performances, yet these are just as credible, and I think, substantially more exciting. Sir Neville Marriner leads the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields in two splendid performances of the orchestral scores noted for their rich warm sound. The sound quality is quite good, though it may not be as refined as the best I've heard from Teldec, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips.

Great, not the Best, Though...........2002-02-24

First, if you don't have 24 or haven't heard it, it is one of the greatest pieces in the standard repertoire. Of Mozart's 27 piano concerti, only two are in minor keys (20 and 24) and this one is, to my mind, in the top two or three. (I like 22 about as much; while 24 is in C minor, 22 is in Eb major, whose relative minor is C minor. 22 has quite a few episodes of sturm und drang that presage this work. Composing pieces in a minor key was frowned on in Mozart's day; with 20, he finagled his way out of it by tacking on a major key ending, in 24, it stays dark all the way to the bitter end.)

It's hard to say anything bad about a disc that has so much going for it, but ultimately, it adds up to less than it could have. First, on the positive side, the sound is absolutely amazing. I can't imagine how any engineers could hope to get a better recording of a piano concerto. The balance between the piano and the orchestra is perfect. The orchestra sound is deep and warm, but not smarmy sounding. The sound of the piano is also fabulous. These two pieces could hardly be better works to test the integrative faculties of the engineers, and on that, they pass with flying colors.

The performances are great, but I disagree with the other reviewer who claims these are the best ever. Quite often in 24, the tempo seems amiss. Sometimes 24 is played as absurdly Romantic sounding, but here, they seem to have chosen to slow down parts of it to increase the drama, which is pretty annoying to anyone who has heard this piece a lot of times. Some of the tempi are more like Mahler than Mozart, which is just plain weird. And this piece doesn't need any help in the drama department. Also, Moravec's cadenza in 24 is disappointing, in my opinion. I had the Sony recording with Cadesus, so I'm a bit biased, but the cadenza breaks up the piece at a key point and inserts an interlude that is out of sorts with the other material.

I'd still recommend this, though, just wouldn't have it as my only performance. I'm going to keep looking...

An exhilarating ride.......1999-12-08

In this whole series of Mozart piano concertos, Moravec unfailingly strikes that wonderful and ever-changing balance between play and elegance, wit and pathos that makes Mozart so great.

I get so carried away with the sheer fun of these performances that I'm often oblivious to their considerable virtuosity. I suspect that's the point.

For my money, these Mozart Concertos are even better than Annie Fischer's, which I hadn't thought was possible.

Fantastic.......1999-06-30

This is quite simply the greatest performance of Mozart's 24th piano concerto yet recorded. Move over Brendel, Ashkenazy, and Pires; Moravec has proven yet again why he's one of the greatest pianists alive. He spends a minimum of two years working to perfect new additioins to his repetoire, and it shows. Music-making at its very best.

Average customer rating:

Magnificent
Amadeus is a great movie and an equally great soundtrack!
Amadeus rocks!
It is miraculous!
24K Gold & 24 High Bit Remastering = the definitive edition!

Amadeus [Soundtrack] [Gold Cd]
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Amadeus - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording

ASIN: B00005Y1SV
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film,
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade, K. 525: 1st Movement (As Used in the
Stabat Mater: Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen (As Used in the Film, ...) - Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Salieri's March into Mozart's Non Pirai, For - Simon Preston
Serenade for Winds, K. 361: 3rd Movement (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Die Entf Aus Dem Serail, K. 384: Chorus of the Janissaries ...
Ich Me Wohl (Ein Deutsche Krieglied), K. 539: As Used in the Film,
Die Entf Aus Dem Serail, K. 384: Turkish Finale (As Used in ...)
Mass in C Minor, K. 427: Kyrie (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299: 2nd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299: 2nd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Symphony No. 29 in a Major, K. 201: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film,
Adagio in C Minor for Glass Armonica, K. 617: Adagio (As Used in ...)

Tracks:

Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Symphonie Concertante, K. 364: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film, ...)
Symphonie Concertante, K. 364: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film, ...)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Caro Mio Ben (As Used in the Film, Amadeus) - Giuseppe Giordani
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ecco la Marcia (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ecco la Marcia (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ah Tutti Contenti (As Used in the Film, ...)
Buband Hungaricus [Early 18TH Century Gypsy Mus] - Anonymous Composer

Amazon.com

The Academy Award®-sweeping film Amadeus wisely pinned much of its dramatic thrust on Mozart's gloriously eternal music, and its soundtrack remains a concise yet rewarding introduction to Wolfgang's spectacular oeuvre. This newly remastered "Director's Cut" edition is a companion to the expanded DVD and features 24-bit encoding on two 24-karat-gold discs, sharpening the sonic clarity of the performances of Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to near perfection. The performances (which, Marriner notes, crucially served as templates during actual production) have also been augmented to match the expanded new video edition and include a new, 2001 recording of the Adagio in C Minor for Glass Armonica, K. 617. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent .......2007-01-04

This soundtrack is an excellent review of some of Mozart's most beautiful works. His compositions are timeless and moving. No personal media library can be complete without him.

Amadeus is a great movie and an equally great soundtrack!.......2006-07-02

I have to admit, I didn't like classical music before I saw the movie Amadeus. After seeing how they used the music in the movie I had to have the soundtrack. I debated for a day or two over which version to buy, and finally chose this one, since it has Salieri's march to welcome Mozart. Not a huge addition, but it's the complete soundtrack, which is what I was after. Before I received the cds, I was wondering "What's the big deal about them being gold cds?" The sound quality is magnificent, you hear all the music clearly, even the softest strings. These cds capture the sound as it was in the movie (possibly even better...)The booklet that comes with it is full of information and pictures, including a synopsis of the film, and detailed information about the musical selections. I would recommend this to anyone who liked Amadeus, or anyone who loves Mozart's music.

The only negative thing about these cds is that the tracks were labelled incorrectly, repeating the title of one song many times instead of having the correct titles. It was easy enough to fix in my media player but it was frustrating. Don't know if I got a bad copy or not, but the track listing shown on Amazon.com helped me to fix it.

Amadeus rocks!.......2006-02-21

It was a Valentine gift to a friend's boyfriend and he loves it and has been listening to it all the time. Delivery was timely, too. I'm overall very satisfied! Thanx!

It is miraculous!.......2005-06-06

So said Antonio Salieri to Mozart's wife about his music, and this Special Edition Gold Cd set understands this statement. More precisely though, it is Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the various opera singers who should receive all the praise for this superb achievement. I have never heard such an authentic and high-quality recording of Mozart's music before. Thanks to the 24-bit encoding and the exceptional quality of the recording, the beauty of Mozart's music sounds as I believe it should. You can hear even the slightest or faintest of strings. Other recordings are simply lesser because of the tempo that is either too slow or too fast and the average clarity of the instruments. If you want to discover Mozart's music for the first time or complement your copy of Milos Forman's magnificent film, this is the set you have to get because it quite simply gets it right. The high price is all worth it as you get transported by this awesome music. It's a pity that classical music is now perceived to be reserved for a niche of artsy and boring people. That couldn't be farther from the truth! If people could just take the time to listen, just for a few minutes.

24K Gold & 24 High Bit Remastering = the definitive edition!.......2005-01-25

There are several different editions of Amadeus soundtracks ranging from single-disc to 3-disc sets available all at the same time, and it can be quite confusing at first.

After some research I ended up debating on whether to get the cheaper 1991 3-disc standard edition (ASIN: B000000XBV) or this 2002 2-disc special edition with '24 High-Bit' remastering. I had initial doubts that the latter contain the same 30 tracks, since it is only a 2-disc set, and decided to take a chance only after visiting the label site to confirm that it contains all 30 tracks as well.

Just a few days ago, it arrived from Amazon in a double-cd jewel case with a 30-page well-designed booklet, which has the movie sypnosis, individual narratives of almost all tracks, 2 articles about the movie and interspersed throughout with colourful scenes from the movie.

I discovered that the two '24K Gold' cds are able to contain the same number of tracks as the 3-disc standard edition because each disc is literally jam-packed to the brim, at 78.07 and 79.28 minutes respectively!

Due to the new '24 High-Bit' remastering, the sonic quality is excellent and perhaps die-hard fans of the earlier standard edition may even want to include this in their collection as well.

For those who are thinking of owning only one edition, this is the definitive edition to get if you really enjoyed the music in Amadeus and want the very best quality possible.

Average customer rating:

Moravec's Romantic Vision Of Mozart
Spacious and Warm-Hearted Performances

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 24 & 25
Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & Chopin
Mozart: Concerto Nos. 21 & 24
Ivan Moravec Plays Beethoven
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000009D79
Release Date: 1998-06-23

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20, KV 466 D Minor: Rondo (Allegro assai)
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 A Major: Allegro assai

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Moravec's Romantic Vision Of Mozart.......2002-03-15

Without a doubt, Moravec is one of our finest pianists. Having heard him play a great recital program last year at Carnegie Hall which featured music by Debussy, Mozart and Janacek, I was eagerly looking forward to hearing this CD. Moravec gives a vibrant, Romantic interpretation of Mozart's 20th piano concerto that is the most stirring I've heard; it's certainly a far cry from Brendel's austere approach. As for the 23rd Piano Concerto, Moravec's playing conveys more of a Classical interpretation than Romantic, but it is still marked by much vibrant warmth. I don't have to emphasize Sir Neville Marriner's excellence as a fine interpreter of Mozart; both he and the Academy are in splendid form as accompanists. Hopefully this is part of an ongoing Mozart piano concerto cycle which Moravec will complete. The sound quality is splendid.

Spacious and Warm-Hearted Performances.......2000-06-13

Marriner's credentials as a distinguished Mozartean are well-known and need no elaboration here. Moravec too has been playing Mozart beautifully for many years. I have a "cold war" recording of his from the mid-'60's where Mozart's gorgeous K. 475 Fantasy is coupled with Piano Concerto no. 25. His appraoch to Mozart has always been romantic, carrying a rich and full-bodied sound, and this tradition continues here. No. 20 is, along with no. 24, Mozart's most anguished concerto, and Moravec and Marriner bring out its full emotional range in a manner that leaves Perahia and Uchida in the dust. Not since Barenoim's EMI recording have I been so moved by an interpretation of this work. No. 23 is taken more lightly and briskly, as it should be, but if you want to hear how effortlessly Mozart could mask complex heartbreak with deceptively simple lyricism, listen to this concerto's slow movement. It's unforgettable. Marriner and Moravec have also collaborated on no.'s 24 and 25, and I'd recommend that as highly as I do this recording. I was lucky enough to see Moravic perform Mozart in 1991, and he's a true artist. If you're new to these concertos, then wait no longer--a whole range of undiscovered delights await you. If you have a recording of these concertos you're happy with, give this a try too. I'm sure Moravec will bring forth new insights into these pieces you thought you knew so well.

Average customer rating:

Debussy A La Moravec
Manificent playing of great music at a bargain price
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CD'S
Exquisite playing
Wonderful performances.

Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & Chopin

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Chopin: Nocturnes
Chopin: Sonata in B-flat minor, Berceuse, etc.
Ivan Moravec Plays Beethoven
Chopin: 24 Preludes Ballade in F Minor
Moravec Plays Schumann & Franck

ASIN: B000001K47
Release Date: 1994-08-22

Tracks:

Image (Book 1): Reflets Dans L'eau
Image (Book 1): Hommage A Rameau
Image (Book 1): Mouvement
Image (Book 2): Cloches a travers les feuilles
Image (Book 2): Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
Image (Book 2): Poissons d'or
Prelude (Book 1, No. 6): Des pas sur la neige
Estampe: Pagodes
Estampe: Soiree dans Grenade
Estampe: Jardins sous la pluie

Tracks:

F Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
A Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
B Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1
C Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
B Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2
C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
E Minor, Op. Posth
C Sharp Minor, Op. 26, No. 1
Polonaise Fantasie In A Flat major, Op. 61

Amazon.com

These two CDs were digitally recorded for LP release in 1982-83, and thus add up to just under 95 minutes. With playing on this level, though, they'd still be a bargain at almost any price. The color, shading, and imagination Ivan Moravec applies to Debussy makes the music glow and shimmer. His Chopin playing is some of the best in the business; sample the idiomatic rhythms of the Mazurkas, or the memorable journey he makes out of the Polonaise- Fantaisie. As it happens, the discs sell for a very low price (less than that of a standard full-price single disc), making this set a major bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Amazon.com

Ivan Moravec isn't a superstar in terms of having a glitzy career. But to critics and connoisseurs, he is one of the greatest pianists. His relatively few recordings are scattered among a variety of labels. This collection, from two early-eighties digital LPs, is particularly well recorded--important for a pianist with such wonderful tonal variety. The composers are two of Moravec's specialties, and he gives them consistently colorful, imaginative performances. The short timing (94:00) is compensated by the ultra-low price, making this set a great piano bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Debussy A La Moravec.......2006-01-13

Short and to the point.
Hey go ahead and ignore my opinion, go buy this and forget Roge.
But after you buy this cd, then buy Roge, and you tell me which you prefer.
I even prefer Michelangeli(4 stars) over Moravec.

Manificent playing of great music at a bargain price.......2001-11-18

This is was the first Moravec recording that I purchased. I bought it despite some reservations by a friend who had heard the Vox LPs and whose opinions on music I take very seriously. He changed his tune when he heard this recording.

Where should I begin? Moravec's technique is fabulous. His articulation is crisp, and his tone is gorgeous. What's more, his personality is expressed here not by showboating but by his unerring ability to bring out the characteristics of Debussy and Chopin. With Debussy, the shocking dissonances are made clear but, at the same time, are sweetened by a lucious tone and a sensitivity to Debussy's underappreciated tunefulness. In the Chopin, Moravec's precise technique is coupled with his sensitivity to rhythm so that the different types of pieces (mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises) are indeed unmistakably different, each type pleasing in very different way.
And all this for (the price).

Those who want to hear more Moravec should immediately purchase his Chopin Nocturnes and his Schumann Kinderszenen, both of which are, in my view, the finest that have been recorded. Period.

Finally, I heard the pianist recently in Toledo (of all places) and spoke to him after his performance. He is a kind and thoughful fellow, and I enjoy supporting him by buying his recordings.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CD'S.......2001-03-23

This is truly one of the most beautiful CD's I own. I first heard of it about 15 years ago, before I owned a CD player: I read in a British classical music magazine that Moravec's playing of Chopin was inspired and that his playing of Debussy was reason enough to buy a disc player. The writer called CD's "silver cookies" and this disc was right at the top of his list of ten favorites. I have listened over and over and still continue to marvel at the subtleties of Moravec's pianism. Gorgeous and delicate, but these are not wispy interpretations which melt like cotton candy. Moravec plays with strength. I love the Chopin CD and think it honestly compares favorably with Rubenstein, but it is the Debussy interpretations that have stayed with me and that I come back to time and time again for a 45 minute vacation from life in New York City. The price listed above is unbeatable...about 1/2 of what I paid. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Exquisite playing.......1999-12-08

It irked the French of my Dad's generation that the greatest interpreter of Debussy piano music was Walter Gieseking - not exactly a Frenchman.

I don't know if it bothers the French today that the mantle has passed to a Czech. If it does, they should get past it, and just be grateful that anyone can play this beautifully.

The Chopin Mazurkas are I think as close to Moravec's heart as they were to the composer. He often offers them as encores at recitals, and invariably reduces the audience to hushed rapture.

All music lovers should snap up any Moravec album they come across - especially if it includes a Chopin Mazurka.

Wonderful performances........1999-11-16

I stumbled across this album several years ago and couldn't believe my good fortune. I've listened to recorded piano music for a number of years, and while I would by no means consider myself to have any special expertise, I consistently find Mr. Moravec to be the single most communicative pianist in my experience. This set, along with all of his recordings reissued on VAI that I've been able to hear, are simply wonderful.

Chopin: Sonata in B-flat minor, Berceuse, etc.

Average customer rating:

Unique and unforgettable
Moravec does it again.
Recomended to me and now I recommend it to you all !!!

Chopin: Sonata in B-flat minor, Berceuse, etc.
Frederic Chopin , and Ivan Moravec
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | 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

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & Chopin
Chopin: Nocturnes
Chopin: 24 Preludes Ballade in F Minor
Ivan Moravec Plays Beethoven
Moravec Plays Schumann & Franck

ASIN: B00009PY4F
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Tracks:

CHOPIN Sonata in Bb minor Op. 35 1 Grave-Doppio movimento
CHOPIN Sonata in Bb minor Op. 35 2 Scherzo
CHOPIN Sonata in Bb minor Op. 35 3 Marche Funebre
CHOPIN Sonata in Bb minor Op. 35 4 Presto
CHOPIN Berceuse Op. 57
CHOPIN Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52
CHOPIN Mazurka in E Op. 6 No. 3
CHOPIN Mazurka in Bb minor Op. 24 No. 4
CHOPIN Mazurka in Db Op. 30 No. 3
CHOPIN Fantaisie in F minor Op. 49

Album Description

Ivan Moravec plays CHOPIN Sonata in Bb minor Op. 35 Berceuse Op. 57 Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52 Three Mazurkas; Op. 6 No. 3, Op. 24 No. 4, Op. 30 No. 3 Fantaisie in F minor Op. 49

Customer Reviews:

Unique and unforgettable.......2005-05-08

All of this music has been recorded many times over by musicians ranging from the dire to the sublime. For any Chopin recording to really stand out from the pack nowadays, it has to have some really special qualities. This is one of those recordings, and as someone who has never heard any other Moravec, it has made me eager to explore him further.

The B-flat minor Sonata of Chopin is a four-movement work cut from granite; the third movement is the Funeral March you hear at every memorial service today. The sonata can be shattering, but Moravec plays it with an inward expression I've never heard before in this piece, together with the most rounded tone to be recorded since Rubinstein. His interpretation is dramatic and majestic, not athletic, and certainly not bombastic.

The Berceuse is next, a short and deservedly popular cradle song which uses a gentle, rocking ostinato figure, practically unchanged through the entire piece, underneath what amounts to a kind of chaconne. I do not expect to ever hear it played with a greater inner peace than on this CD.

Following this little bon-bon is the great F minor Ballade, which is deeply tragic. A heavenly opening with subtle bell effects, which returns later in A major to great effect, is followed by a curiously obsessive theme which sounds like a song sung by a child in the wilderness. This theme keeps returning, in varied forms as the child grows into a full-fledged adult, until it returns one last time for the coda, in the form of an intense and furious two-part counterpoint which is among the most difficult passages in Chopin and leaves a strong psychological imprint.

Included in the CD are three Mazurkas, which are delightful. Strict Polish practice would entail prolonging the first beat for so long that it felt like a 4/4, rather than a 3/4 as notated. The usual approach today is to ignore this stylistic trait and play the Mazurkas like Waltzes, but Moravec's solution is to use a pungent rubato which fits the melody and accents its light, dance-like quality. Even if it is not a perfectly accurate mazurka style, Moravec is thoroughly charming.

The disc ends with the Fantaisie in F minor, a brilliant military-themed work which I both love and hate when I play it myself, because it is comfortable for the hand and very rewarding to listen to, but it is not easy to hold together structurally. This recording has gone a long way towards instructing me in how to do that. Without question, this Fantaisie stands head and shoulders over any other recording of this work I've heard, be it from Rubinstein, Pollini, Arrau, or Katchen, all legendary pianists in their own right.

In all, recommended in the strongest possible terms. Don't think twice.

Moravec does it again........2003-09-15

It doesn't really seem so long ago that I first heard Ivan Moravec and sat stunned at his superb artistry. But it has been 40 years, and this great master whom I heard play in his early thirties is now 73. And what has he recorded in that span? Three sonatas and five concertos of Mozart, a little Bach and Schumann, six Beethoven sonatas (while other pianists his age are on their second or even third complete cycle), the third and fourth Beethoven concertos, the Ravel Sonatine, some Brahms, some nice Czech music, and a good deal of wonderful Debussy and Chopin. In other words, just a few years' worth of recordings for some of the more famous names on the big labels. However, within his modest output, Ivan Moravec has given some of the greatest performances ever preserved.

So we are thankful whenever this musician-virtuoso records anything, and this latest release is nothing less than magnificent. Is it possible for a performance of the warhorse B-flat minor sonata of Chopin to sound strikingly fresh and new? Apparently so. This introspective reading is one for the ages. Other pianists (Pollini comes to mind) have certainly recorded unsurpassable renditions of this piece, but Moravec's is unique and incomparable. Moravec is capable of pyrotechnics, but they simply have no place here. Even so, each note is beautifully in place and given its full due, as if it were a human soul.

It is interesting to compare this performance of the fourth Ballade with the recording Moravec made back in 1966. The 2002 version seems more leisurely, but in fact has a shorter playing time. The earlier version makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. The new version puts you deep into thought. Apply superlatives to the rest of the disc and you have my review.

This disc is hard to find but certainly available, and at mid-price to boot.

Please, Ivan. The B minor sonata. The late Beethoven. Some more Mozart and Debussy. Anything you want to play.

Recomended to me and now I recommend it to you all !!!.......2003-06-18

I will make it very simple to digest:

Sound Quality, Performance, Selection, Price: 10 out of 10.
I was so impressed with this album that I decided to write about it for you to enjoy it as well. Even the content selection is a piece of art in itself. The production of this compact is very well done. It sets the "magic" that goes from the Sonata in B flat minor to Berceuse, and from Berceuse to the Ballade, the lingering mazurkas, and, finally, the crown of this outstanding production and performance: The Fantasie in F minor.
This album is a piece of art in every way...! It's not only Moravec, who is way up there in inspiration and impecable performance. I'm talking about the team that put these pieces together -like jewels- without overwhelming each other, but supporting each other, articulating a mood that is consistent without falling in monotony. And, yes, it will mesmerize your senses as it did with mine. And yes, it will let you craving for more, and you will do what I did: play it again, and again. If you need to grab a defect on this album, THIS IS IT!

Customer Reviews:

Stellar Preludes; idiosyncratic 4th Ballade.......2003-03-26

The complete Chopin Preludes Op. 28 is one of the most perfectly programmed and balanced cycle of pieces written for the piano. The 24 pieces that make up the cycle vary in length, mood, and technical demands from one to the other--they are a joy to listen to as an entire set from the beginning to the end. Of the many pianists who have recorded the Op. 28 cycle, Moravec's rendition stands out as my favorite because of his unique insights and commanding technique. The work also appears to be a signature part of his repertoire, because he has programmed the Preludes repeatedly in his solo recitals. Those hearing Moravec for the first time, but acquainted with the readings of prior greats such as Rubinstein, will discover novel approaches to dynamics and phrasing that are refreshing but subtle and unobstrusive. If you want unbridled impetuosity, you may find Moravec a tad cautious and should probably go for Argerich's recording, although as a whole, Moravec's reading holds up much better over the entire cycle and upon repeated listening.