Brahms & Joachim Violin Concertos

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Joachim: Violin Concerto: 1st mvmt.: Allegro un poco maestoso

2. Joachim: Violin Concerto: 2nd mvmt.: Romanze: Andante

3. Joachim: Violin Concerto: 3rd mvmt.: Finale alla Zingara: Allegro con spirito

Disc: 2

1. Brahms: Violin Concerto: Allegro non troppo

2. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 1st mvmt. cadenza (by Joachim)

3. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 2nd mvmt.: Adagio

4. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 3rd mvmt.: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

5. Cadenza by Rachel Barton-end of 1st mvmt. (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

Variations (Twinkle, Twinkle), K265/300e
Minuet In G From Anna Magdalena
Piano Sonata In C, K 545, 2nd Movement
Spring Song
Piano Sonata In D, K 576, 3rd Movement
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring, BWV 147
Canon
The Moldau
Preludes Book II, Clair De Lune
Sonata No.14 (Moonlight), 2nd Movement, Op.27
Symphony No.9, New World
Fur Elise, WoO 59
The Four Seasons, Winter, RV267, 2nd Movement
Orchestral Suite No.3 In D, Air, BWV 1068
Sonata No.8 (Pathetique), 2nd Movement, Op.13
Kinderscene, Op.15
Waltz No.15, Lullaby

Product Description

The Lullaby Classics A Concert for Little Ears music CD is a 17-track, 35-minute concert featuring a collection of soothing classical melodies perfect to calm little ones as they wind down for nap time, bedtime or a bit of quiet time. Each piece, re-orchestrated for little ears by the Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra, was specially selected to lull babies into sweet, blissful dreams. Lullaby Classics opens with ?Ç£Twinkle, Twinkle?Ç¥ variations by Mozart and includes calming and delightful melodies from composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak and Debussy. It ends with Brahms' ?Ç£Lullaby?Ç¥ tucking baby in for a cozy, restful sleep.Musical Selections:1. Variations (Twinkle, Twinkle), K265/300e, Mozart2. Minuet In G From Anna Magdalena, Bach3. Piano Sonata In C, K 545, 2nd Movement, Mozart4. Spring Song, Mendelssohn5. Piano Sonata In D, K 576, 3rd Movement, Mozart6. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring, BWV 147, Bach7. Canon, Pachelbel8. The Moldau, Smetana9. Preludes Book II, Clair De Lune, Debussy10. Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight), 2nd Movement, Op. 27, Beethoven11. Symphony No. 9, New World , Dvorak12. Fur Elise, WoO 59, Beethoven13. The Four Seasons, Winter, RV297, 2nd Movement, Vivaldi14. Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D, Air, BWV 1068, Bach15. Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique), 2nd Movement, Op. 13, Beethoven16. Kinderscene Op.15, Schumann17. Waltz No 15, Lullaby, Brahms Age: birth +Awards:* Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (2005)* National Parenting Center Seal of Approval (2004)* National Parenting Publications Awards (2004)

Customer Reviews:

Lame.......2007-07-22

I was really disappointed in this CD. I was expecting a toned-down version of real classical music, but it sounds really fake and tinkley and weird. Not soothing at all.

Sounds like a cheap plastic toy.......2007-06-20

I have these DVD's and I can tell you that they will not be a huge part of my baby's development. I received them as a gift from someone that thinks that all you need to do is plunk your child in front of a TV all day without giving the baby any attention. You can see why these DVD's are popular at Day Care Centers or what I like to call, "Concentration camps for baby's with lazy parents", because they know that they can sit their kid/baby in front of the TV and let them turn into a thoughtless zombie while they listen to Baby Einstein totally ruin classics by Bach and DeBussy by playing the music with very cheap midi keyboards. I can get better quality music by whistling Dixie with a mouth-full of saltine crackers.

Also, it has been proven that classical music has nothing to do with the cognitive development of young people. Now, teach them how to play piano or violin and you have yourself an actual YOUNG EINSTEIN, but listening to this kind of music does nothing for the development of the brain. It is just for lazy parents that can't sit down with their kids and play with them or read them a book.

would make you sleepy.........2007-06-15

its a good product with very fine music and my toddler realizes that it is sleep time, if I play it. he goes to bed and sleeps after a couple songs. I have trouble in some songs are some months.. dont know why.

Kid's Music.......2007-06-08

I bought this CD for my grandniece, but after listening to it, I determined that no one would ever play this for her except me. I would have kept it for myself but I have the grown-up versions of each of the classical masterpieces on this CD. So, I ended up returning it for a full refund. If you want your kids to be exposed to classicl music, it's a great buy. But if you don't think they will get to listen to it, don't waste your time.

Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics

Not soothing.......2007-06-07

These synthesizer versions of classical songs get really old, really fast. Worse yet, the songs are sometimes not soothing at all, especially the very first song. The song seems to get particularly loud and uptempo, which is precisely what you don't expect in a lullaby. Please listen to the sample of the first song at least before you buy.

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
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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.

Average customer rating:

classic music CD
Good for beginners
Great mix
Good for first-timer
25 Classical Favorites cd

25 Classical Favorites

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

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25 Romantic Classics
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ASIN: B0000058HT
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Eine Klein Nachtmusik: (I. Allegro)
Nutcracker Suite: (Russian Dance)
The Four Seasons, Op. 8: (Spring: I. Allegro)
Hungarian Dance No. 5 In G Minor
Symphony in D, K. 161 - 163: (III. Presto)
Waltz In D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, S. 1048: (III. Allegro)
Swan Lake: (Dance Of The Swans)
Carmen Suite No. 2: (Habanera)
Messiah: (Overture)
Wind Serenade 'The Marriage Of Figaro': Overture
Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 12: (III. Allegro)
Water Music: (Overture)
Sleeping Beauty Ballet Suite, Op. 66: (Panorama)
Symphony No. 26 In E-flat Major, K. 184: (III. Allegro)
Waltz No. 10 In B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2
Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, S. 1041: (III. Allegro)
Water Music: (Lentement)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, S. 1049: (II. Andante)
Habanera
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat Major, K. 447: (II. Romanza)
Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 43: (Variation No. 18)
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

classic music CD.......2007-06-27

The CD was well represented by the clips on the Amazon website and came in time for our event. We did have a problem with the charge but that was taken care of promptly. Great service.

Good for beginners.......2007-02-15

It is an excellent collection of classical music. I would recommend this CD if you have a friend who don't like classical music, since it has the most beautiful overtures and portions of famous artists. If you are a Classic Music Savvy you probably will not be impressed by it, unless you want to play the CD as background music in a friends gathering.

Great mix.......2007-02-14

All the best composers! Over an hour of music. A samble of the greatest pieces.

Good for first-timer.......2007-01-22

This is the first time I have ever bought a classical music CD and I was very pleased with this one. It has a good variety of selections. I would buy it again.

25 Classical Favorites cd.......2007-01-06

This CD has so many of my favorite, lively classical music -- love it!!

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35; Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Op77

Average customer rating:

desert island disk choice. get it no, fast!
It has no equal
Possibly the biggest steal in all of recorded music !
Milstein is spectacular here!
sounds as good as any $15 recording

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35; Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Op77

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Symphonie Fantastique
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Violin Concertos

ASIN: B000000UW5
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: I. Allegro moderato
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: II. Canzonetta (Andante)
Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35: III. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D, OP. 77: I. Allegro non troppo
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D, OP. 77: II. Adagio
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D, OP. 77: III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

Customer Reviews:

desert island disk choice. get it no, fast!.......2007-05-07

If you have this recording, you do not need another one of these pieces. This one has satisfied me for what must be at least 2 decades. You'll never need another recording.

It has no equal.......2006-03-21

The availability of this CD phenomenon with a $3.98 price should be shouted from the rooftops. Milstein outperforms everyone on both concertos; the Brahms is sublime, and the recording quality is excellent throughout. Push the purchase now key without further delay. It doesn't get any better than this, ever!

Possibly the biggest steal in all of recorded music !.......2005-10-22

As one who grew up adoring the Jascha Heifetz/Fritz Reiner recordings of these two great concerti, and certain they had set a standard of musical excellence impossible of being equalled, much less bettered, imagine my surprise upon hearing this fabulous disc.

HEIFETZ & REINER HAVE BEEN DETHRONED!

Having beaten back great artists in recent years such as Vengerov and Shaham, it hardly seemed possible that there were two old recordings by Nathan Milstein (which must have skipped my notice) which had long ago taken the prize....

...Music lovers, forget the Rosette and attendant babble given by the Penguin Guide to the Milstein Brahms Concerto (with Steinberg conducting, in mono). That publication after dismissively mentioning the Jochum conducted performance of the 1980s adds insult to injury by ignoring completely this Fistoulari conducted version! (Even if it is currently unavailable in the UK, surely it should be remembered - it was even recorded there!)

Of course any performance by a genius such as Milstein will have wonderful moments now and then, but this recording, with Fistoulari conducting, in stereo, is the best of them all - it has real magic and passion, and is the performance to get.

The Tchaikovsky with Steinberg is probably more of a draw, but the "Finale" is as good as it gets, and the rest is merely magnificent. What a fiddler!

Finally, that this disc is being sold to the public at a price this low should make all music lovers weep in gratitude, certain that "Yes, Virginia - there is a Santa Claus...."

Milstein is spectacular here!.......2005-06-08

As many reviews have been written about this disc, I'll try to keep it short and mention the things that I like about this CD most.

There are tons of recordings of these pieces, most of which are incredible and worth hearing. The thing that strikes me most about Milstein's playing is how polished it is. His tone and phrasing is perfectly thought out and executed on every single passage, even those which are highly virtuosic. His sound is gorgeous and supple, again even in the most difficult passages. I also enjoy his style, particularly on the Tchaikovsky. His use of rubato and other such expressive tools is entirely appropriate and never overdone.

When I listen to this disc, it is very clear that Milstein absolutely mastered every aspect of his instrument. His versions of these "old favorites" are absolutely wonderful.

sounds as good as any $15 recording.......2005-01-18

I got this CD because it was recommended in the Penguin Book (the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs), and at $4, as someone said, I couldn't afford not to get it. It's brilliant - the Brahms is better than the Mutter/Karajan/BPO recording, and the Tchaikovsky is better than the only other recording I'd heard at the time (Mehta/Zukerman/Israel Philharmonic). The orchestra is very good, and Milstein plays the double stops (these pieces are harder than practically every other violin concerto other than Paganini's) effortlessly. The CD is very romantic and easy on the ears - a good example of the Romantic era. And there's two recordings for $4 - how can you not get it :).

Average customer rating:

Grandmother's Review
great cd!
Absolutely Love It!!!
My daughter loved this before she was born
enjoyable

UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IIUP
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Reverie
Suite No. 3: Air On The G String
Kinderszene-Traumerei
Thais-Meditation
Sonata For Two Pianos, K.448-II: Andante
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Amazon.com

While many hospitals across the country send new mums and babes home equipped with discs of classical music to soothe and gently stimulate babies' tender minds, Ultrasound brings together a delightfully well-rounded set specifically chosen for those still in the womb. Expectant moms will appreciate the effects of the mellow strains of Bach's Suite No. 3, the delicate playfulness of Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," and Mozart's proven-to-make-you-smart Sonata for Two Pianos featuring André Previn. Debussy's "Clair de lune" is especially lovely as conducted and fluted by James Galway, and Leontyne Price is a warm blanket of comfort giving voice to Schubert's "Ave Maria." Indeed, these songs are aural balm to both parent and child long after birth. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Grandmother's Review.......2007-05-21

I purchased this product for my expectant daughter, and she says that it is the best gift she has ever received. She, herself, finds the music very soothing and relaxing, and she is certain that it is wonderful for her child.

great cd!.......2007-05-14

This is a fantastic product! I bought it to play for my unborn daughter and I started it when I was around five mos. pregnant. She moves all over the place when I put the headphones on my belly and I can even tell by her movements that she likes some songs more than others. I have done a lot of research into playing music for unborn babies, including the helpfulness as far as birthing positions when the music is played regularly. This cd fits the bill for all of the research I've done. It is completely worth the money!

Absolutely Love It!!!.......2007-04-02

I have a 6 month old daughter. I first purchased this CD when I was pregnant and would place my earphones on my belly for her to listen. I now use it in her room at bedtime and I absolutely love it. I have a collection of other CD's, but honestly this is my favorite. It is a very nice blend of songs. It is soothing for baby and parents. If you only buy one CD I would recommend you make it this one.

My daughter loved this before she was born.......2006-12-15

When I was about 18 weeks pregnant I bought this and two other CDs of gentle classical music and played one of them for her every 2nd or 3rd night, putting headphones on my belly. I was actually skeptical about this being "music for the unborn" but she really did react to this one much more than anything else I ever played for her. If she hadn't been very active that day I could always lay down in the evening with the headphones and play her music, and she's wriggle around. She especially liked #5 and #10. :)

She didn't seem to have much connection to it after she arrived, but she does enjoy music in general. (She's currently almost 11 mo old.)

enjoyable.......2006-08-03

I have enjoyed this cd thus far. If you have the money to spend, this is relaxing and enjoyable, however you can get similar music for free on your local classical station. So if you would rather save your money...just tune in on your radio dial. I am glad I bought the cd for the familiarity of the songs, but I also love just plain old classical radio.

Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Tribute
how do you even begin to comment on this singer?
A reissued recital in tribute to a great artist
Great Lieberson Recital

Songs by Mahler, Handel & Peter Lieberson

Manufacturer: Wigmore Hall Live
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel - Theodora / Peter Sellars · William Christie · Upshaw, Hunt, Daniels, Croft · Glyndebourne Opera

ASIN: B000MEYHXA
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Tracks:

Ich Atmet' Einen Linden Duft
Blicke Mir Nicht In Die Lieder
Liebst Du Um Schonheit
Um Mitternacht
Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen
E Vivo Ancora...Scherza Infida
As With Rosy Steps
O Ihr Zartlichen
Stiller Freund
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Spoken Introduction To: Triraksha's Aria
Triraksha's Aria
Spiritual: Deep River
Unbewegte Laue Luft Op.57 No.8

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Tribute.......2007-07-15

The re-issue of (AT LAST!) of this live concert is a fitting tribute to the late Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson. The achingly beautiful Mahler lieder and the joyous Handel arias for which she was so well known, are exquisitely and movingly sung. This is a must-have for those who loved this great artist. Her favorite encore number, "Deep River" could melt a heart of stone.

how do you even begin to comment on this singer?.......2007-06-22

I am fortunate to work in an office with walls and a door, where I can actually play music without disturbing anyone. Lately, because work has been particularly stressful, I've been playing and replaying my Hunt Lieberson CD's. Sometimes I am forced to just stop what I'm doing and listen, because I can't help it. Other times I'm aware of this glorious, comforting, melodic background to my work that makes everything I do more tolerable and less fraught. To say that I'm awestruck by this woman's gift would be the grossest of understatements. I don't recall ever responding to music in this way--and I am a singer. No one who cares about vocal music should be without all of Hunt Lieberson's work. Simply extraordinary.

A reissued recital in tribute to a great artist.......2007-06-01

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson got her just due as a great singer only in the last seven years or so of her life. She had sung gloriously at the New York City Opera without being offered a chance to debut at the Met until she was in her forties and made a huge success as Dido in Berlioz's Les Troyens. Now that she is gone, her rpemature death has inspsired a number of tribute albums, of which this 1998 recital in Wigmore Hall is one of the best.

For one thing, it's her only solo recital on disk, and it features some staples of her repertoire--two arias from Handel's Theodora, two beautiful Rilke settings by Petyer Lieberson, and the spiritual 'Deep River' as one of the encores. Hunt Lieberson was also a great Mahler singer but never recored any. She was deeply moving in the Third Sym. as she is here in the five Ruckert lieder. Roger Nognobles offers exceptionally sensitive accompaniments, particularly in the Mahler--I'd rank this CD as first choice if you want these songs outside their usual orchestral setting.

In sum, a unique recital form a much loved and greatly missed singer.

Great Lieberson Recital.......2007-05-31

This album is a 1998 recital by the great mezzo Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. It begins with 5 very beautiful songs by Mahler, all settings from poems by Freidrich Ruckert, followed by two Handel Arias, E vivo ancora from Ariodante, and As with rosy steps from Theodora. The Theodora aria is absolutely ravishing and brings down the house. No one sings Handel like Lieberson, the depth of feeling is remarkable. She concludes with three songs by her (at that time future) husband, the American Composer, Peter Lieberson. Finally she sings two encores, the American spiritual Deep River, and a lovely Brahms lieder Unbewegte laue Luft.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was one of the finest Mezzo's of our time. She had a gorgeous dark and warm tone with so much depth. In this recital she is at her absolute artistic peak and the audience realize that they are hearing something special. Roger Vignoles is one of the great piano accompanists of our time, and he shows it in this recording. Listening to this recital brings home the tragedy of Liebersons untimely death last year.

Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Academic Festival Overture; Tragic Overture

Average customer rating:

*Yawn*
Bravo, a woman gets to record the Brahms First, but...
I wish I could get excited over this CD
An average performance quite distant from greatness
Good, but...

Brahms: Symphony No. 1; Academic Festival Overture; Tragic Overture

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007ACVIC
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

Un Poco Sostenuto-Allegro
Andante Sostenuto
Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
Adagio-Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Con Brio
Tragic Overture, Op.81
Academic Festival Overture, Op.80

Amazon.com

Naxos is obviously excited about this recording, publicizing it widely and issuing it in three different formats (this plain CD, as well as SACD and DVD Audio). You can understand the excitement immediately, as the Symphony opens with tremendous power, fortified by uncommon energy in the kettledrums, signifying that there's going to be no routine playing here. But Alsop is not all aggression; her Andante sostenuto is very tender and affecting. Detail work is just wonderful--listen, for example, to the gorgeous flute solo in the fourth movement introduction--and Brahms's syncopations, always a major aspect of his style, get their full due in this rhythmically alert performance. Both Overtures are vividly characterized, and the Academic Festival retains its humor more than usual. At this point there are so many Brahms recordings that no single one is going to satisfy all of our needs, but this recording is competitive with the best in artistic and sonic aspects. In price, it mops the floor with the competition. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

*Yawn*.......2007-05-06

There's far too much hype surrounding Alsop's Brahms. Maestra Alsop has supposedly spent incalculable hours studying Brahms' scores to find those precious new nuggets that have somehow escaped other conductors. With all that, I expected to hear new interpretive insights ... but there were none. With so many important recordings of the Symphony No. 1 already out there -- Wand, Tennstedt, Dorati, Stokowski and Toscanini to name just a few -- this recording becomes completely unnecessary.

Bravo, a woman gets to record the Brahms First, but..........2006-07-01

It's great news that after generations of discrimination, a woman conductor is allowed to record the Brahms First. It's not so great that Marin Alsop is only middling good at it. This is not to write her off--Leonard Slatkin and Greard Schwarz are only middling good, too, and they are among the most recorded American conductors. In fact, if we put Alsop up against Americans who have given us Brahms Firsts, she looks pretty good, being exceeded only by Bernstein and Levine. Not bad.

The London Phil. plays vrey well, and Naxos gives us premium-price sonics for a bargain release. As to the interpretation, Alsop suffers from having no overarching conception. The first movement begins with an aggressively thumping timpani, preparing us for a driving interpretation, but a few bars later the rhythm slackens off, only to pick up and back off several more times. The easiest movement in the symphony is the second, which requires only a passionate, sustained line. Alsop doesn't seem to know how to set one; again you feel that she's pushing and pulling without much purpose.

The Scherzo is gently conceived, an unusual approach but not a bad idea given the sturdiness of the other movements. But Alsop has a hard time getting the music to build as gloriously as it should. The finale is a difficult movement for conductors to judge. My preference is for it to sound titanic and triumphant. Alsop doesn't go that way. Her opening Adagio is remakrably slack. As for the body of the movement with its famous tune, she strings one bar after another without any structural build.

In all, a Brhams First that earns the faint praise of being pleasant. One has to quesiton the staying power of Alsop as an artist who is ready to lead the world's great orchestras. But as a pioneer she deserves only praise.

I wish I could get excited over this CD.......2005-09-18

Alsop has recently been appointed music director of the Baltimore Symphony. A lot has been made of this because she is a she. I think she is a good conductor and quite capable. But, I feel there is little "magic" in what she does. This Brahms 1st is clean and well played but there is none of the drama and individuality that you find in versions by Karajan or Walter.I hope that Alsop will be judged based on her music making and not her gender. I also hope she is successful in Baltimore. And, yet, as evidenced by this recording and others of her's I have heard, I think the jury is still out.

An average performance quite distant from greatness.......2005-09-13

Marin Alsop is now probably the most-recorded woman conductor ever, having churned out regular CDs and having had her photo appear on the cover of most high circulation classical music magazines. For all the buzz about her, she demonstrates no individual trait that separates her from the crowd other than being the most well known female conductor in a man's profession.

Here she is equipped with one of the world's 10 best orchestras and takes on repertoire that puts her in direct competition with every conductor in history including the great, near great and mediocre conductors of the recording era. Based on the evidence presented on this CD, I do not believe she is up to that task.

Her performance of the Symphony No. 1 starts well with timpani supporting the downstrokes in the opening theme, making a clear statement about the serious message to come. However, things soon go awry as a too big timpani stroke clouds the picture during a bad changeover to the exposition.

Alsop next uses an ineffective contrivance that she repeats throughout this recording. She takes the quieter music much more slowly than the louder music, as if to say quiet equals slow and loud equals fast. She does this over and over throuhgout the symphony.

While this can enhance the music when handled like light and shade, Alsop's approach is more like black and white. It lacks subtlety and leads to more of a stop and go approach. Instead of enhancing the experience, it gets in the way. For me, this constant tinkering with pulse and motion is an annoyance.

Alsop fruitlessly takes the exposition repeat in the first movement, saying nothing more than, "Here is the music again." While composers add repeats to elongate their music and follow structural design, recreators are required to interpret repeats differently, to say something different with the same music when doing it a second time. Alsop does nothing more than repeat the music at the same speed and with the same accents. What's the point?

In addition, the playing of the London Philharmonic is not uniformly the best I've heard from that group during the dramatic first movement. There is little that is excellent in the second movement, as the wonderful clarinet interplay is -- like the rest of this performance -- good but not great. The violin and horn solos and duo are better at the end, although the violin is probably too meaty for this gentle music.

Alsop overinterprets the second movement "Andante Sostenuto", which translates to "at a sustained walking pace." Like most conductors, she takes the second movement as an adagio. The marking is more akin to what goes on at the beginning of the third movement, where Alsop leads an inspired reading and does her best work in the symphony.

The dramatic closing movement begins without ornaments from the strings, a mistake in my opinion. The following pizzicato is almost silent, a contrast in keeping with Alsop's differential speeds in the opening movement. There is frankly too much contrast here for the whole to be effective. In addition, there is more poor playing as the timpani doesn't quite match the orchestral downstrokes as it did in the first movement.

Alsop again fidgets with tempo in the quieter sections of the closing movement, then doesn't slow down for the descending scales at about 11 minutes, where a slower tempo would indeed be effective. She hustles right through this section as she does all the louder moments. A nice finish is not enough to save this performance from all its prior shortcomings.

The "Tragic" overture that follows has all the fingerprints of her work in the symphony. Alsop leads a highly nuanced and extremely well played version of the "Academic Festival" overture to close the CD. So this CD begins and ends well but, unfortunately, the 60 minutes in between is not performed at such a high level.

Even with modern DDD recording at Naxos's very inexpensive price, this is not an essential purchase for anyone other than fans of the conductor. You can pay about the same money on this Web site and get much better performances by Walter and Karajan (to name only two) that will give more lasting pleasure over a long term.

My favorite recording of this music continues to be the 1962 recording by Karel Ancerl and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, last seen linked to a bad mono performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1. I highly recommend that performance to anyone that wants to hear a dramatic realization of the Brahms Symphony No. 1.

Good, but..........2005-04-28

The benchmark recordings of Brahms' first symphony for me are: Furtwangler's 1952 BPO live (DG), Karl Bohm's 1959 recording with BPO(DG), Bruno Walter's 1952 NYPO account (Sony), Christoph von Dohnanyi's Cleveland recording(Teldec), and Takashi Asahina's 2000 live with New Japan Philharmonic(Fontec). Alsop's un poco sostenuto beginning is appropriately grand with powerful strokes of timpani adding to the impact. The tempo shift as the movement enters the allegro proper is nicely executed. Perhaps the movement lacks the kind of urgent tension that marks Karl Bohm's account but Alsop scores by keeping the exposition repeat intact, which I think is essential in this symphony to maintain the overall proportion and impact. The middle movements are also nicely done. My only complaint is that the tension slightly slackens in the last movement as if the conductor and orchestra were struggling to keep the music afloat. The lead-in to the alphorn theme sounds a bit pedestrian while the famous "big theme" is played rather too slowly, thus robbing the music of its forward momentum. Too bad when the preceding movements are so well played. But the closing pages are unerringly executed as the famous brass chorale sings out its victorious joy. The recorded sound is very good if not top-notch. In sum, this latest offering is in no way bad and almost as good as the Kertesz/VPO but clearly falls behind the benchmark recordings mentioned above.

Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO

Average customer rating:

Karajan- Brahms symphonies
Symphonic Heaven
A great part of your collection!
The greatest Brahms twofer you could imagine
Very polished Brahms

Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000007ODY
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 1. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 2. Andante sostenuto
Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op. 68: 3. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso
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Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 1. Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 2. Adagio non troppo - L'istesso tempo, ma grazioso
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 73: 3. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi Andantino) - Presto ma non assai - Tempo l
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Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 1. Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 2. Andante moderato
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 3. Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo l
Symphony No. 4 In E Minor Op. 98: 4. Allegro enerico e passionato - Piu Allegro

Amazon.com

These 1977-78 recordings are Karajan's best Brahms--better than his somewhat mannered digital set. The Berlin Philharmonic, as ever, is amazingly smooth and accomplished, playing with great class without losing any power--as an example, just listen to the finale of the second symphony. DG's engineers have turned this always-good recording into something truly magnificent to hear, and, at the price, this is a sure bet. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Karajan- Brahms symphonies.......2007-01-03

No matter who plays, Brahms always satisfies. This edition, however, is superlative! Highly recommend.

Symphonic Heaven.......2005-10-13

Karajan is largely considered the greatest exponent for mainstream symphonic works- Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky Mahler, Dvorak and Bruckner. This collection is a terrific buy and it's affordable. You can't go wrong. Recorded in 1977 and 1978, Karajan delivers all the rich melody, grace, grandeur and musical harmony that Brahms suffused his four symphonies with. The Berlin Philharmonic are trained so that even the strings move with miraculous exactitude. The only other worthy set is Solti's. This one has everything one can hope for in Brahms symphonies.

Karajan was always a champion of his own German music's history. He is still regarded as the first-rate exponent of Wagner and Strauss for example. Brahms, born in Austria, was another composer whose Germanic music Karajan was able to aptly depict through the magic of his baton. The impressive parts of this set include the entire 1st symphony- not reduced to the Beethoven parody some make it out to be. Instead, it holds its own as a work of compelling power. The finale is inspirational. The finale to the second is equally as moving. The 4th symphony is my favorite symphony of the post Beethoven Romantic Era. In this symphony we find a mixture of mysticism, romantic beauty and classical balance. In it we also find, in the last movement, the greatest example of theme and variations, Brahm's strongest suit as a composer. Karajan knows his stuff. You can never go wrong with any of his interpretations, though he, too, has his detractors. His Tchaikovsky tends to be too fiery and melodramatic for example and he was never at home with Italian opera as he was in German. Karajan is brilliant and his Berlin forces electrify. At a cheap price, this is a must have if you call yourself a true classical music fan.

A great part of your collection!.......2005-10-07

This is an easy, afforable way to get all four Brahms symphonies on two great quality cds. Each symphony is recorded with the passion and fire you get from Brahm's music, although I have heard better recordings of the symphonies,I would still buy these cd's for the price.

If I have to say the worst thing about these recordings is the first movement of the third symphony is not what I was expecting ( I was expecting much more on the recording)

The greatest Brahms twofer you could imagine.......2005-09-24

DG's catalog is overflowing with Brahms performances from Karajan, and although this late-Seventies cycle of the four symphonies is not esteemed as highly as his earlier analog recordings, the truth is that Karajan had few real competitors in these works during the postwar era--except himself. He was the greatest Brahms conductor after Walter and Furtwangler, bar none, and these are outstanding performances in every way. The best are the First and Thrid symphonies, two works that Karajan was peerless in.

Very polished Brahms.......2004-08-28

Wonderful performances from the finest of the Brahms conductors...Herbie Karajan. Wonderfully straightfoward performances without the wayward stylings of the 63 set....

That being said the Fourth and First of the 63 set are incredible and deserve to be in any serious Brahms collection ...

sonincally these are very fine readings!!!

Piano Quintet in F Min / Complete String Quartets (1, 2, 3)

Average customer rating:

A very fine digital recording of the quartets
Best Recording of the Brahms Piano Quintet & Superb Brahms String Quartets Too
Overproduced
The Piano Quintet becomes an instant classic--Fleisher is incomparable

Piano Quintet in F Min / Complete String Quartets (1, 2, 3)

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000MGB3DK
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Allegro
Romanze: Poco Adagio
Allegro Molto Moderato E Comodo-Un Poco Piu Animato
Allegro
Allegro Non Troppo
Andante Moderato
Quasi Minuetto, Moderato-Allegretto Vivace
Finale: Allegro Non Assai

Tracks:

Vivace
Andante
Agitato (Allegretto Non Troppo)-Trio
Poco Allegretto Con Variazioni-Doppio Movimento
Allegro Non Troppo
Andante, Un Poco Adagio
Scherzo: Allegro-Trio
Finale: Poco Sostenuto-Allegro Non Troppo-Presto, Non Troppo

Amazon.com

This handsome set of Brahms's chamber music features the stunning Emerson Quartet, and in the Piano Quintet, the pianist Leon Fleischer, happily recovered from a very lengthy crippling illness. The Quintet is singingly, lyrically played, with Brahms's long melodies the focal point. It's a beautiful performance, with the Emerson seemingly listening to and following Fleischer. The Quartets are performed with lush tone, with the Op. 51, no. 2, sounding particularly intense, with each dynamic change pointedly underlined. Op. 51's second movement (Romanze) makes the listener wish Brahms had set a text to the music -- it is played with exquisite lyricism. The B-flat major Quartet is vibrant, with the final movement's variations, colored by the viola, so clearly played that one can hear the echoes of the Quartet's first movement. A fine pair of CDs. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

A very fine digital recording of the quartets.......2007-06-25

Leon Fleisher and the Emerson Quartet had a chance to make a fabulous digital recording of the Brahms F minor Piano Quintet--but they blew it. Instead we get an okay performance that features an overly thoughtful interpretation and frustratingly slow tempos in some spots. This is not an autumnal work, and the attempt by the players to do it that way doesn't work for me. I am not a total fan of the Emerson quartet--I personally prefer the more urgent and less lyrical sound of the Juilliard or Tokyo Quartets. However there is some exceptional playing in the 3 Brahms Quartets. Given the low price and the scarcity of recordings of the Brahms Quartets, I would recommend this 2-disc set.

Best Recording of the Brahms Piano Quintet & Superb Brahms String Quartets Too.......2007-06-21

I have long been a fan of Murray Perahia's great recording of the Brahms Piano Quartet with the Amadeus String Quartet, but now, Deutsche Grammophon has released what ought to be regarded as the definitive recording of this work. The great American pianist Leon Fleischer - who has thankfully recovered the use of his right hand due to some rather intriguing, innovative treatment - leads the Emerson String Quartet in a stunning, quite rhapsodic performance of one of the great works in the Piano Quintet repertoire, and indeed, of chamber music itself. I should add too that "lead" is the correct verb to describe this admirable performance by all five musicians in this truly incandescent recording, which is replete with ample distinguished, lyrical playing from cellist David Finckel and his Emerson String Quartet colleagues (Their playing is truly distinguished, at a technical and interpretative level which is unquestionably at a higher level than the Amadeus String Quartet's.). As for the three Brahms String Quartets, these are inspiring, vibrant performances in their own right, with ample exqusite lyrical playing from all four string players. Recorded over the course of several years in the venerable American Academy of Arts and Letters auditorium in Washington Heights, Manhattan (New York, NY) Deutsche Grammophon's sound engineers have done an exemplary job in capturing with exqusite detail ever note played by these five superb musicians, in an acoustical setting that should be regarded as quite ambiently warm. Needless to say this two-CD set is one of the finest recordings released by both pianist Leon Fleischer and the Emerson String Quartet. Devout fans of these musicians, Johannes Brahms' chamber music, and of great classical chamber music in general, will want to add this fine recording to their collections.

Overproduced.......2007-05-22

I never thought I would apply this adjective to a classical recording, but somehow it perfectly describes the cultured detachment of these performances, especially the Op 51, No. 1 C Minor Quartet. There is not a note out of place, the phrasing is precise and musicianly, the execution of its architecture is flawless, but... the sum of the parts is bloodless.

It's not the recording I would have expected given their full blooded Beethoven cycle. In fact, the Brahms production has more in common with their Mendelssohn cycle than the Beethoven. Their Mendelssohn too, was beautiful, but leaning toward the beauty of a still life. There are other performances, in both the Mendelssohn and the Brahms, that better capture the pathos of the music. Compare Emerson's performance of the C Minor Quartet with that of the Alban Berg Quartet, a superior performance. What the Berg may lack in refinement and polish, only in comparison to the Emerson Quartet, they more than make up for in sheer vitality.

And that's the nub of it. The desire, impetuosity, fear, triumph and pathos is missing -- in short, youthfulness. I just read a review, in the New York Review of Books, of some new translations of Casanova's autobiography and one of his statements reminds me of the Emerson. Casanova wrote that throughout his thirties, his vigor faded. I can't help wondering if the same thing hasn't happened to the Emerson quartet. They are more polished than ever, but the vigor has faded. The sexual rush of the great music is missing.

The Piano Quintet becomes an instant classic--Fleisher is incomparable.......2007-05-09

One could say that this DG 2-CD set is unmissable even before the first track begins. At two-for-one price we get to hear the great Leon Fleisher, miraculously recovered from his decades-long muscle affliciton (thanks to neurology and botox) and now capable of performing Brhams's most difficult works. Fleisher is, along with Rudolf Serkin, the greatest Brahms player among Americans. Here he doesn't disappoint, in a reading of the Piano Quintet that's incredibly moving, full of mastery in every phrase.

At first I was worried that he wouldn't be a match for the strainless stel Emersons, but they adapt their style to his. In every way they are second to Fleisher's lead, and the microphone placement puts his every note front and center. Often that's a drawback, but here it's what I wanted to hear. The interpretation is more relaxed than the great one from Pollini and the Quartetto Italiano and more emotionally free than Gilels with the Amadeus Qt. (NOt to mention that the Emersons show more technical ability and polish than either ensemble.) Fleisher's touch isn't as rapid and scintillating as it was in youth, but he never drags or blurs the notes. He makes each movement one great expanse of song, and in my experience there has never been a performance to equal his. rahms's broad sweeps of lyric beauty simply take off.

Oh yes, and there are three string quartets in addition. I have never warmed to Brahms's quartet writing, much as I love his other chamber music. The Emersons play with their usual amazing unanimity, and they capture Brahms's full-scale romanticism without reserve. This isn't one of their attempts to redo a classic composer in modern style. As in the Quntet, DG's sonics are wonderful, giving us the best string sonority I've heard in a long time. I'll leave it to other reviewers to detail the individual performances here. For me, the glory of this set will always be Fleisher and his amazing autumnal rebirth.

The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!

Average customer rating:

something to have
Excellent Music
buy now
Lovely
Aesthetically Pleasing

The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
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The World's Favorite Piano Music

ASIN: B000059Q4Q
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

II: Andante - Stephen Hough
I: Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring) - Dame Moura Lympany
Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat - John Ogdon
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Tango - Dame Moura Lympany
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Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
La Maja Y El Ruisenor - Magda Tagliaferro
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Gymnopedie No. 1 - Aldo Ciccolini
Fur Elise - Dame Moura Lympany
Etude In E 'Tristesse' - John Ogdon
Fruhlingslied - Daniel Adni
II: Andante - Dmitri Alexeev

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II: Adagio Cantabile - Walter Gieseking
II: Romanze - Annie Fischer
Aria - Maria Tipo
II: Romance (Larghetto) - Garrick Ohlsson
Granada - Gonzalo Soriano
Waltz No. 15 In A Flat - Maura Lympany
II: Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
An Den Fruhling - Daniel Adni
Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat - Daniel Adni
II: Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Walter Gieseking
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin - Dame Moura Lympany
Cancons I Dansas No. 1 - Gonzalo Soriano
II: Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Prelude No. 15 In D Flat 'Raindrop' - Dmitri Alexeev
Gnossienne No. 1 - Aldo Ciccolini
Berceuse - Jean-Philippe Collard
Minuet In G - Dame Moura Lympany
Berceuse In D Flat - Peter Donohoe

Customer Reviews:

something to have.......2007-03-14

These CD's are filled with all the awesome relaxing songs for the evening when you need it. It is just one of those must have items in your CD collection.

Excellent Music.......2007-02-19

This album was a "try and see" purchase but I love it. It makes great dinner music, great music to drift off to sleep with, or just nice background filler during social events needing a softer tone. It is not all solo piano music if that s what you are after; the other instruments blend very well however and don't challenge the piano playing. It is a piano album after all!

buy now.......2006-09-01

Want to know why I think the piano is the best musical instrument ever invented? Because no matter how the piano is played, it will always sound good. Whether the music is fast, slow, quiet or loud, it ALWAYS delivers with an appealing sound. This is something you need to buy.

Lovely.......2006-02-22

This is a beautiful calming cd. The playing is excellent and the pieces are well chosen.

Aesthetically Pleasing.......2005-09-14

I simply love piano music. If you're looking to relax, enjoy a peaceful time, then you must check out this album. If you truly enjoy piano music, this album is by far one of the best you can purchase.

As it says....it is the "Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever..." Well, I haven't listened to all piano albums in the world, but I don't need to, this one is just perfect for me, and I think you will agree!

I would say the pianists' are extremely accomplished. At times, I would admit-it's a bit 'spine tingling'!

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2. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 1st mvmt. cadenza (by Joachim)
3. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 2nd mvmt.: Adagio
4. Brahms: Violin Concerto: 3rd mvmt.: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
5. Cadenza by Rachel Barton-end of 1st mvmt. (Bonus Track)