Well Tempered Clavier Book 2

Editorial Reviews
Haskins, American Record Guide, September/October 2000
thought-provoking, blissfully musical...Schepkin stands out in my mind as the major Bach interpreter of his generation.

Gramophone Magazine, 2000
"Thoughtful, undogmatic Bach playing from a pianist who is unafraid to characterise individual pieces strongly

Album Description
Book II of Sergey Schepkins renowned traversal of The Well-Tempered Clavier. All Bach lovers need to hear this young Russian pianist. He is perhaps the foremost Bach pianist of his generation.

Well Tempered Clavier Book 2

Tracks:

Canon - Pachelbel
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik-Andante - Mozart
Fur Elise - Beethoven
String Quartet #1 - Tchaikovsky
Clair De Lune - Debussy
Idyl for Strings - Adagio - Janacek
Adagio in G Mnor - Albinoni
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Debussy
Air on a G String - Bach
Greensleeves - Vaughn Williams
Largo from Xerxes - Handel
Prelude in C - Bach
The Planets - Venus - Holst
Goldberg Variations - Aria - Bach
Adagio for Strings - Barber

Tracks:

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Debussy
Fur Elise - Beethoven
Holberg Suite - Sarabande - Grieg
Valse Triste - Sibelius
Concerto in F Minor - Largo - Bach
Serenade for String - Moderato - Dvorak
Liebestraume - Liszt
Ave Maria - Bach/Bounod
Etude in E Major - Chopin
String Quartet No 2 - Nocturne - Borodin
Arabesque - Debussy
Pavane for Dead Princess - Ravel
The Four Seasons - Largo - Vivaldi
Gymno0pedie 1 - Satie
Moonlight Sonata - Adagio - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 21 - Andante - Mozart "Elvira Madigan"

Customer Reviews:

the most relaxing classical music in the university.......2007-05-12

All my favorites. I can start the CD player, which is wired to speakers in every room of my house, and just let it play, along with "The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the World" and "The Most Relaxing Classical Guitar in the World." I enjoy an awareness of familiar and beautiful strains of my favorites all day long and never get tired of it.

My brother visited me recently and noticed it right away. That will be another order for this fabulour music.

Relaxing Classical Music.......2007-01-08

I was not really a classical music fan but I am now. I purchased this cd for my 14 year old grand-daughter, not knowing we would both enjoy the music so much. She has always enjoyed classical music along with all of the other teen music, rap, rock, country, etc.
Also, it really helped being able to listen to parts of the music before purchasing.

Stress-freedom.......2006-03-14

Perfect music to end the work day. After listening to this I can face the evening. If the morning is hard, a little at lunch time gets me through the afternoon.

Greatly enjoy!.......2006-02-23

I first developed a taste for this music a number of years ago when my daughter started playing in the orchestra. The reason I made this purchase however, was because I have a great deal of difficulty with anxiety and I was looking for ways to find help. I love these CDs. It helps so much to sit and close my eyes and enjoy the music. The CDs are full of beautiful music.

the most relaxing classical music in the universe.......2005-09-21

it's the best next to the first one...

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung

Average customer rating:

Beautiful music
Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias
An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias
amazing talent
Perfect arias for the perfect voice

Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias / Myung-Whun Chung
George Frideric Handel , Giulio Caccini , Charles Gounod , Franz Schubert , Cesar Franck , Gioachino Rossini , Giuseppe Verdi , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Pietro Mascagni , Louis Niedermeyer , Franz Xaver Gruber , John Francis Wade , Jean-Paul Lecot , Myung-Whun Chung , and Andrea Bocelli
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Romanza
Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Sogno
Cieli di Toscana
Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria

ASIN: B00002ND9N
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Caccini/Mercurio: Ave Maria
Mascagni: Sancta Maria
Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Rossini: Cuius animam
Verdi: Ingemisco
Mozart: Ave verum
Wagner: Der Engel
Handel: Ombra mai fu
Niedermeyer: Pieta signore
Rossini: Dominus Deus
Schubert/Mercurio: Mille Cherubini in coro
Gruber/Mercurio: Silent Night
Wade: Adeste Fideles
Gloria a te, Cristo Ges

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias, the release of which coincides with the first English-language biography of the singer. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music.......2007-01-12

This is my second copy of this CD, I burned the first one out!!
Andrea Bocelli has a very gorgeous voice that is a gift from above. His voice is not affected or braggadoccio but naturally magnificent. I could and do start my day listening to this spiritually uplifting CD almost everyday. It is a wonderful way to get off to a pleasant peaceful start, but also a nice way to come home in the evening if you have a CD player in your car. I highly recommend it to all.

Andrea Bocelli-Sacred Arias.......2006-08-25

Excellent listening. Voice quality and tone is superb. Brings tears to my eyes when I envision listening to this in a church setting.

An "experience" of sacred arias more than "listening" of sacred arias.......2006-04-28

I bought this CD's special edition with DVD, and I am impressed by bocelli's singing in this album. I have heard many voices singing sacred songs, and christmas songs, but very few singers can achieve the "sacred atmosphere" that bocelli devotes when he sings. He may not have a "strong" voice as opera singers, but I think singing these sacred songs, devoting the "sacred atmosphere" to the audience is much more important, the voice actually is just a tool that helps a singer to achieve the result. For real, I have heard some CD by some chorus that perform sacred arias, but they did not move me as much as this CD does, mostly not even close. Personally I like "O come all ye faithful", "silent night", all "ave maria"'s, "domine deus", "cujus animam" the most. When I listen Bocelli's singing I focus on what he tries to devote in singing more than his voice color, because in terms of voice color he surely cant be compared with pavarotti or domingo, so why compares? The way of listening him and listening real opera singers is different man. But the reason I gave only this CD four stars is that I have heard several sacred arias from this album performed by his voice teacher, the legendary tenor Franco Corelli. I tried not to compare both...but I cant, not because Bocelli sings bad, he is already excellent, just Corelli is TOO excellent that cant be described by human language (well I think even Pavarotti is not even close to Franco Corelli, but this is just my opinion). Anyway if you want to "experience" the true beauty of sacred arias, this CD is highly recommended. And this is also a very good sacred aria album for beginning listeners who want to broaden their musical taste to sacred arias.

amazing talent.......2006-03-25

worth the price the songs are breathtaking and talent is indescribable

Perfect arias for the perfect voice.......2006-03-04

These are just terrific. How does Andrea acheive the range he does, and the power he has, without sounding too heavy or too light? His voice sounds like the perfect voice for these perfect arias.

I have noticed one concern with the CD. I have heard several clicks scattered here and there in the songs -- but the CD is clean and I feel confident it is not the machine. Has anyone else noticed this?

Average customer rating:

I hate to be rude, but . . .
Outstanding
Sacred Songs
My favorite of Fleming's CDs so far
Inspiring and beautiful

Sacred Songs

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Haunted Heart
The Inner Voice : The Making of a Singer
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HOMAGE: The Age of the Diva

ASIN: B000AM6OXK
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Jesu bleibet meine Freude
Dank sei dir, Herr
Ave Maria, D839
Laudamus te
Panis Angelicus
Air: "He shall feed his Flock"
Simple Song
Pie Jesu
Domine Deus
Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
Air: Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion
Abends will ich schlafen gehn
L'Adieu des bergers
Mariiegenlied, Op.76/52
Amazing Grace

Amazon.com

This lovely CD features Renée Fleming singing religious music in an unaffected, lovely manner. Many favorites are here: both the Bach/Gounod and Schubert versions of "Ave Maria," each offered with long breaths and soft tone; "Rejoice Greatly" from Messiah, delivered with virtuosity and gleaming sound, and "He Shall Feed His Flock," also from Messiah, sung in a smooth, laid-back manner. Bits of the Fauré Requiem and Poulenc Gloria are welcome, as is the gorgeous "L'Adieu des Bergers" from L'Enfance du Christ. In the prayer from Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, Fleming is joined by the splendid Susan Graham, and a version of "Amazing Grace" features Mark O'Connor on violin. Two excerpts from Mozart's Mass in C Minor, pieces by Reger and Franck, and a few surprises round out this devotional CD. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

I hate to be rude, but . . ........2007-05-06

As stated earlier, I hate to be rude. However, Renee Fleming is not one of the greatest singers that I have heard. At many times, it sounds as if she is drunk, sliding into her notes at times. She also has a habit of hitting a note, and then quickly moving up or down for "dramatic effect". I'm sorry, but I just cannot listen to this. I know that everyone has their own opinions, and this is mine.
She is still a beautiful woman, and always will be. I have seen her concerts online, and she ISN'T bad, it's just that she doesn't have what I'm looking for in an opera singer!

Outstanding.......2007-03-07

I had seen this program on PBS and wanted the CD. Wonderful selection
of music and Renee Fleming's outstanding voice.

Sacred Songs.......2007-01-21

I always look for new presentations of Christmas songs. Rene Flemming did an excellent job in this recording. She has a super voice but sometimes the words of the song get lost in her singing style

My favorite of Fleming's CDs so far.......2006-12-07

There are only two cuts on this CD I tend to flip past (Amazing Grace and the Leonard Bernstein cut), but other than them, I totally love the rest! The cuts in German are divine! I could listen to this CD over and over again.

Inspiring and beautiful.......2006-07-20

I've always loved Renee Fleming's singing and this most recent album is just beautiful in every way. A rich voice, beautiful singing and a devout and magnificent artist. She makes even the most notorious evergreens come to life anew. I enjoyed it very much.

Average customer rating:

Music for Meditation
Be Thou My Vision
Reverent, beautiful

Prayer: A Windham Hill Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Adagio: A Windham Hill Collection
Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection
A Windham Hill Christmas: The Night Before Christmas
Windham Hill Christmas: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Touch-Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar

ASIN: B0000AM6L0
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Sanctus from Requiem (Gabriel Faur-Tim Story piano, synthesizers
The 23rd Psalm (Condit Atkinson) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
Be Thou My Vision (Irish trad.) - Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning with John Fitzpatrick
Holy, Holy, Holy (trad.) - Jim Brickman piano
The Lords Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte) - Paul McCandless English horn, keyboards
Alisas Prayer (Deborah Henson-Conant) - Deborah Henson-Conant electric Celtic harp
Meditation (Thea Suits) - Thea Suits flute
Ave Maria (J.S. Bach/Gounod) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
Go Gently (Suzanne Ciani & Jeremy Lubbock) - Suzanne Ciani piano
Offering (Tracy Silverman) - Tracy Silverman & Thea Suits
Spanish Stairs (Paul McCandless) - Rosalba Bentivoglio voice
Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart) - Philip Aaberg solo piano

Customer Reviews:

Music for Meditation.......2007-01-04

This is a delightful collection of music appropriate to meditative prayer. It is often my prayer companion, and I like the style and performance found on this CD. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy deeper reflection with a wordless musical background.

Be Thou My Vision.......2005-10-19

Track 3, Be Thou My Vision, was a surprise as the song was the final song played at my father's funeral. It set the closing mood most fittingly. While Be Thou My Vision is my favorite the entire collection is wonderfully mellow. I recommend it for for the mellow moods.

Reverent, beautiful.......2003-09-21

After criticizing Windham Hill in the past for often recycling the same songs over and over in various collections, I have to hand it to them with the new "Prayer" CD. It's a fine set of all-new acoustic versions of hymns or spiritual songs, plus a good number of original compositions. Producer Dawn Atkinson has done an excellent job of lining up a bunch of top-drawer people for "Prayer," and in working with the artists on the song selection.

Tracks:

Grace
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Mandolins: Andante
The Legend Of Tsar Saltan: Flight Of The Bumblebee
Stars
Hush Little Baby
Vocalise
Notebook For Anna Magdalena Bach: Musette
Coyote
Sonata For 2 Cellos: Allegro prestissimo
Ave Maria
Hoedown!
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air
Good-Bye

Amazon.com

The idea here was to put two masters together--one classical cellist, one improvisational singer/sound-effects performer--and voilà! instant amazing, unique, hip--and, hopefully, hit--record. The intriguing setup was to see what would happen when each led the other through the unfamiliar territory of his own specialty. The success of this recording lies not so much in the music or even in the overall performances, but in the fascinating and fun opportunity to sit in on the musicians' good-natured, respectful give-and-take, to witness an uncommon form of artistic chemistry that allows each performer to expand his vision and even his technique. On one hand we get Bobby McFerrin's impressionistic, improvisatory jazz/pop; on the other we enjoy Yo-Yo Ma's highly refined, formalized musicianship. Originally planned as a disc for children, Hush goes far beyond its initial premise, with each of the 13 tracks demonstrating these musicians' unique gifts and showing that, whether it's Vivaldi or jazz, it's all music and it's all a lot of fun. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin.......2007-05-12

This CD is one of my favorites. I give it away and buy another. Playful and fun as well as great music. It never fails to make me laugh. A joy. If you aren't a little silly, don't bother. Kids love it, too.

Yo-Yo keeps on experimental.......2006-03-04

One of the best parts of a genius is to try out of his layers. In this case Yo-Yo tried to go out from the classic, and with a very good singer, in a easy say, as Bobby. They make a very special music between classic and jazz, with some elements of pop.
It's an incredible fusion of strings and vocal strings, in some moments it is not possible to separate them, some times is like a big keyboard directed by a single musician. In a word, they experiment, and the result was incredible.

This is no "Don't Worry, Be Happy".......2005-10-23

Have never been a big Bobby McFerrin fan, probably due to that god-awful, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." But I am a classical music junkie and one day listening to our local classical station I heard a selection that I thought was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. What a shock when I learned that it was McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma doing Vivaldi's Andante!

Honestly, I could do without the non-classical pieces on this CD...although I enjoy them.

But the classical interpretations are some of the most heavenly, wonderful, beautiful, awe-inspiring things that I have ever heard, on any CD, in any genre! Yes, that good!

McFerrin uses his voice as the perfect instrument and accompanient to Ma's cello. They were made for each other.

Listen to the samples of the classical pieces if you're a doubter...

Excellent CD!.......2005-09-22

While I admit to being a newbie in my connoisseurship of the classical music genre, not only do I think that this disc is a good collection of some of the best classical music ever written, it is actually FUN sometimes, with silly bits thrown in by Bobby and Yo-Yo Ma every now and then! These guys make great music and have a great time making it.

Bobby uses his voice as a fantastic sounding 'instrument' to sing notes much like an instrument playing a duet with Yo-Yo; sometimes his voice sounds so much like a real instrument that you even forget that you are hearing vocals--I don't even know what other vocalist could pull this off. It is a fascinating experiment. I recommend it highly!

My 1st introduction to Bobby McFerrin (3.5-4 stars).......2005-05-29

I think I kinda heard this back in elementary school (maybe like in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade or so, I get kinda mixed when I say that), it's like sumthin I never heard be4, A guy who sings, scats and does it all goes by the name Bobby McFerrin and a cellist by the name of Yo Yo Ma. I'd have follow thru his work as a cellist/string player from various TV apperances, shows, movies, etc. and he does sounds good 2 this day, believe me.

Anyway as I was gonna say this was the 1st album I got introduced a bit by Bobby McFerrin. Not SIMPLE PLEASURES nor SPONTANEOUS INVENTIONS. Just this 1. I hope to hear more from him and collect all of his albums incl. Yo Yo Ma's. They still sound good. No doubt.

Average customer rating:

Dream a dream
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!
A must-have for Christmas music lovers
Gorgeous!

Dream a Dream

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Voice of an Angel
Enchantment
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Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church
Our Favorite Things

ASIN: B00004ZDPO
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Dream A Dream (Elysium)
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Little Drummer Boy
Mary's Boy Child
Ding Dong! Merrily On High
Winterwonderland
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The Coventry Carol (Lully Lullay)
Joy To The World
When A Child Is Born
What Child Is This?
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Draw Tua Bethlehem/Far Over Bethlehem
Ave Maria
Gabriel's Message
O Holy Night
Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
Silent Night

Amazon.com

Everybody's favorite precocious sprite of a soprano comes out with her third album in Dream a Dream. It's only been two years since Charlotte Church's smash debut, Voice of an Angel, but that's a big chunk of the Welsh singer's life span so far. This latest is basically a Christmas album, so full of festive cheer you'd never guess it was recorded in the summer. Even the glummest of moods will disappear when you hear Charlotte's infectious take on chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Little Drummer Boy" (and having the London Symphony Orchestra as your backup band doesn't hurt either). And on top of that is a really special treat: the title song (borrowing an unforgettable classical melody) which blends Church's soaring vocals with the tender voice of young country prodigy Billy Gilman. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

Dream a dream.......2007-04-03

I bought this CD after watching the music video of the same name. Their performance of "dream a dream" is exquisite. The fact that they wrote the lyrics just adds icing to an already magnificent cake!

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

You know charlotte church has received so much harsh critismn about her,I find that people were jeolous of her voice, and of how a young girl can sing, she is definetly my dream ome true, (So back off johnathan flanders),this girl in the past has done some wonderful music which is inspirational and she is a wonderful person, I dont care whether she has changed, anyway her rock albumn has given me a lease on life and has given me potential in my singing,I love your voice very much, and this reviewer hasnt been written by a kid at all,if charlotte church is reading this,good on yeah girl,you definetly my dream come true,and I hope I will see you one day. your best friend JJCox

This girl has Potential (I wish the press would back off)!!!!!!.......2007-03-01

A must-have for Christmas music lovers.......2006-12-07

this cd is pure magic...almost 20 great christmas songs on one cd sung by the voice of an angel herself..there may be a few mixed reviews by some people who must be opera voice teachers because there is nothing wrong with this cd...it is flawless....charlotte's soaring vocals, the beautiful orchestra and background singers, the whole cd has the christmas feel to it..."o come all ye faithfull" has to be heard to be believed...it is breathtaking...i love charlottes take on "winter wonderland" and "ding dong merrily on high" ..made me want to go dance in the snow or something.....she hits every note beautifully..buy this cd...i bought it back in 2000 and have listened to it at every Christmastime since or Christmas doesnt feel the same.

Gorgeous! .......2005-12-07

Charlotte Church has done it again! She is extremely talented. Even if she was 25 when she put this out, she'd be amazing. But she was only 14-15 years old when she recorded this! Beautiful. This album has great choral accompaniments and fabulous orchestra arrangements. It is a little on the high side in certain songs, but it still sounds amazing. I love her voice.

Average customer rating:

For historical reference, a must have.
A real rarity
a voice teacher and early music fan
What a beautiful voice!
A new world opened in front of me.

Moreschi - The Last Castrato

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Moreschi: The Last Castrato (Life & Times)
Farinelli
The World of the Castrati: The History of an Extraordinary Operatic Phenomenon
Farinelli

ASIN: B000000WYS
Release Date: 1993-01-21

Tracks:

Domine salvum fac
Et incarnatus est, Crucifixus
Ideale
Ave verum
Tui sunt coeli
Ave verum
Crucifixus
Crucifixus
Pie jesu
Hostias et preces
Preghiera
Ave Maria
Incipt lamentatio
Laudamus te
Improperia
La cruda mia Nemica
Oremus pro pontifice
Pope Leo XIII

Customer Reviews:

For historical reference, a must have........2007-05-09

If you're looking for the best quality recording, it's not due to the recording technologies of that time; Allessandro Moreschi died in 1922. But, if you want to hear how a castrato could sound like, it's a great recording reference. Sound quality is average; a lot of hiss and clicks. The singer or the singing "seems" average too: a lot of scooping (remember: different times, different singing techniques, different tastes; could be the result of singing in the acoustics of the Sistine Chapel). But, I don't regret my choice because I wanted a recording I could go back to and appreciate the evolution of singing throughout history.

A real rarity.......2007-05-07

Very interesting and rare recordings of the last castrato, even if his voice was at that time already rather exhausted. The most fascinating thing is to hear from living the voice of a Pope of the XIXth Century as Leo XIII was.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-03

Professor Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922),made in 1902-3 about 10 recordings all devoted to 19th century religious music. For us today the great question is: how far do Moreschi's records allow us to form any notion of the characteristics of castrato singing in the great periods? To that question there can be no certain answer, but I think that the resemblance must be slight! To begin with Moreschi's technique, far from being impeccable, often sounds shaky; in some passages he fumbles for his notes and wavers almost comically as Florence Foster Jenkins herself. These vocal shortcomings can hardly be ascribed to the singer's advanced age, for in his mid-forties he ought to have been not far past him prime. Ancient though the records are, they are reasonably well-recorded and probably give a fairly accurate impression of Moreschi's tone quality, if not his volume. The voice, unquestionably a soprano, resembles that of neither boy or woman, being stronger than the one and less sauve than the other. And I am totally sure that he is a long way from Farinelli. He is surprising, but never exquisite. The most painful for me to listen to were:'Ave Verum' Mozart- 'Crucifixus' from 'Petite Messe Solenelle' Rossini-and 'Ave Maria' Schubert. My problem with this disc is no doubt the fact that I would not want anyone to think that Moreschi's voice even in his prime was in any way equal to the great castrati singers of the 17th century!!!!

What a beautiful voice!.......2005-08-16

Moreschi's voice is incredibly beautiful. You have to get beyond the fact that this is an old recording and just listen to him hit those high notes without sounding shrill or breaking apart. In the end, this is your only chance to listen to a real castrato, and a good one at that.

A new world opened in front of me........2005-08-16

As a long-time lover of classical music but an amateur in opera I got interested into the opera voices and the castrato voices especially since I read a book about the castratos (Anne Rice: Cry to Heaven).
I was at first slightly shocked about the CD. Spoiled by our standards today I had to get used to the voices and especially to the low quality of the recordings (1902-04). The more I was listening the better I liked it. I started to understand that this long ago poeple were feeling different and therefore singing different. So many more emotions and so much suffering, you can hear it in the music if you can open up to it and, ignore the bad technical part of it.
I don't regret buying this rare recording since it gave me more than just music.
Thanks for saving these recordings and thanks to Amazon for making it possible to buy them.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Wedding Album
The Best!
A beautiful CD - wedding or not
The best of my Wedding CD's
When they say Ultimate, they mean it!

The Ultimate Wedding Album

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Te Kanawa, Kiri | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Classical Wedding
The Complete Wedding Album
25 Wedding Favorites
Classical Wedding Traditions
Bride's Guide to Wedding Music

ASIN: B00000427S
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Tracks:

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Sheep May Safely Graze
Suite No.3 In D: Air On The G String
Xerxes: Largo
The Water Music: Air
Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince Of Denmark's March)
Solomon: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Canon In D
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus
Ave Maria
Because
West Side Story: One Hand, One Heart
Be My Love
The Water Music: Hornpipe In D
Fifth Symphony: Toccata
Trumpet Tune And Air
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate Wedding Album.......2007-06-01

The perfect album for anyone planning a wedding. Both traditional and contemporary wedding favorites. Sound quality is excellent.

The Best!.......2007-05-24

Send this to every future bride and groom - yes. But even better, send a copy to the PARENT(S) of the future bride and groom!!! It gets everyone in the mood and filled with excitement! Also, it allows them to hear some choices other than "Here Comes the Bride." This CD can also be a lasting pre-wedding shower gift.

A beautiful CD - wedding or not.......2007-01-11

Whether you're getting married, attending a wedding or just want some sweet music to listen to - this album is it. A terrific collection of some of the most beautiful music ever written.

The best of my Wedding CD's.......2007-01-10

I purchased quite a few Wedding CD's but for me, this Album has the most elegant and classic pieces. Ultra modern, trendy girls...don't you dare go here. Classic, beautiful, refined women...this is your CD.

Pamela

When they say Ultimate, they mean it!.......2006-03-14

This album really is great. As of writing the review I haven't gotten married yet, but I am definetly using it in my June wedding. It has all of the classics that we always associate with weddings and only weddings ("Bridal Chorus" for the bridal processional, "Wedding March" for a recessional, etc.) PLUS plenty of other music for the wedding party processional, unity candle lighting, prelude music, etc. I purchased another CD, but only because that music was used in EVERY ceremony at my high school and it has sentimental value to me. I didn't need to, as the album cover even sorts the tracks by Prelude, Processional, Ceremony, and Recessional.

The songs are so peaceful, well performed, and just plain pretty. Those with organ truly remind me of being in church as a child. I plan to keep the CD in my IPod and listen to it when I need some "chill out" time. Those which are not AS specific to weddings ("Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "Air on the G String," etc.) sort of make you feel like you're in a classy coffee shop or in a bakery in an Italian villa.

Overall, a very well-rounded album. You could get by with this CD alone for all of your ceremony music and save hundreds of dollars on hiring an organist and soloist. With a decent sound system at your ceremony site, guests who didn't know any better would wonder where the orchestra is.

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]

Average customer rating:

A spiritual experience

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]
Andrea Bocelli , Giulio Caccini , Cesar Franck , Charles Gounod , Franz Xaver Gruber , George Frideric Handel , Jean-Paul Lecot , Eric Levi , Steven Mercurio , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Louis Niedermeyer , Gioachino Rossini , Franz Schubert , Giuseppe Verdi , John Francis Wade , Richard Wagner , Myung-Whun Chung , and Santa Cecilia National Academy Orchestra Rome
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Andrea Bocelli - Amore
Romanza
Sentimento: Andrea Bocelli with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra [Limited Edition w/ Bonus Track]
Andrea Bocelli - The Opera Album ~ Aria
Cieli di Toscana

ASIN: B0000CE9VO
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Sancta Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus - Norbert Balatsch
Cujus Animam
Ingemisco
Ave Verum Corpus
Der Engel
Frondi Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
Pieta, Signore - Norbert Balatsch
Domine Deus
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Norbert Balatsch
Silent Night
Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) - Norbert Balatsch
Gloria A Te, Cristo Gesu (The Hymn Of The Great Jubilee)
Agnus Dei
I Believe

Amazon.com

When he was growing up, Andrea Bocelli recalls finding inspiration in a favorite recording of sacred music performed by tenor legend Franco Corelli. Bocelli--who in the meantime has come to inspire millions of fiercely loyal fans himself--returns to the genre as the guiding theme of Sacred Arias. These performances are filled with the singer's phenomenally well-known vocal signature: his flair for long, sweetly floating high notes and the gentle sense of cadence he brings to a melody. It's a mistake to compartmentalize Bocelli into a singer of "operatic" versus "popular" styles: in truth his approach is at heart the same. Lack of color and control in his phrasing remains a drawback, but the emotional empathy Bocelli evokes is never in doubt. The arias collected here sample some of the most famous devotional pieces: Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Mozart's transporting "Ave Verum," as well as an arrangement of "Silent Night" in which Bocelli tries out his English. There's also a decidedly odd choice of bedfellows for a program of "sacred" music, such as a song from Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder (whose "angel" is the object of an overpoweringly erotic attraction) and Handel's figurative ode to a tree, "Ombra mai fu." Still, Bocelli sings with an unfeigned directness that is sure to expand his already enormous following even further. This new special edition includes two bonus tracks on a CD enhanced with a picture gallery as well as a full-length DVD of Bocelli in concert filmed at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. --Thomas May

Album Description

Special Edition includes enhanced CD with bonus tracks and concert DVD.

Customer Reviews:

A spiritual experience.......2003-11-27

The DVD is the full 77 minute concert with two featurettes previously released alone. The CD is the full 72 minute concert previously released alone, except that two bonus tracks have been added. The audio quality of each one is quite good. (If you have a Dolby Digital stereo, then you must go into the setup menu on the DVD to select Dolby Digital sound. The default music track is the stereo 2.0 sound.) The video quality of the DVD is astonishing.

Tracks:

Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 1 In C Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 1 In C Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 2 In C Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 2 In C Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 3 In C Sharp Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 3 In C Sharp Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 4 In C Sharp Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 4 In C Sharp Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 5 In D Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 5 In D Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 6 In D Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 6 In D Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 7 In E Flat Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 7 In E Flat Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 8 In D Sharp Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 8 In D Sharp Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 9 In E Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 9 In E Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 10 In E Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 10 In E Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 11 In F Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 11 In F Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 12 In F Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 12 In F Minor Fugue

Tracks:

Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 13 In F Sharp Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 13 In F Sharp Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 14 In F Sharp Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 14 In F Sharp Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 15 In G Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 15 In G Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 16 In G Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 16 In G Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 17 In A Flat Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 17 In A Flat Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 18 In G Sharp Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 18 In G Sharp Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 19 In A Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 19 In A Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 20 In A Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 20 In A Minor Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 21 In B Flat Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 21 In B Flat Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 22 In B Flat Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 22 In B Flat Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 23 In B Major Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 23 In B Major Fugue
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 24 In B Minor Prelude
Das Wohltemperirte Clavier: No 24 In B Minor Fugue

Customer Reviews:

A delight to both mind and ear.......2005-09-15

ClassicsToday gave a useful summary of this set: "Pianist Angela Hewitt gives wise and lucid attention to these 24 revered Book II preludes and fugues. She never resorts to flashy escapades or overwrought, false romanticisms. She keeps to the basic and sacred demands of Bach's clearly defined script, and it is good. If you like your WTC on the piano, then these musically astute, technically flawless, and interpretively straightforward performances will serve well--easily equaling the well-mannered Schiff (Decca) and elegant Turek (VAI)."

When compared to Book I, Bach's WTC Book II is longer in length, more "serious" in tone overall and greater in compositional scope and complexity. Each disc of Book II is about 73 minutes long, compared to 68 minutes each in Book I. Not quite present in Book II are the more innocent and untroubled preludes from Book I that are most easily recognized. Instead, we are treated to music of grander proportions, sweeping intellect and several fugues possessing daunting tones and daring rhythms (at least for that period). In these minor-key fugues, Hewitt lays down the gauntlet with the full power and temperament from her Steinway that reminds us of Bach's reputed mastery and command of the keyboard. Yet all is not purely intellectual music here: there are several beautiful preludes of endearing tenderness that take sometimes their own sweet time to unfold with Angela Hewitt's trademark lyrical insight, tasteful dynamic shading and ethereal touch. For example in the tuneful Prelude No. 12, Hewitt fully embraces Bach's indications for playing "in a sensitive style" to give a sweet moment of repose. Hewitt's Book II possesses is real depth, intelligence and maturity that makes this set stand out.

Not only is Angela Hewitt the premier Bach pianist of her generation but she is also a premier educator - as seen in her abundent, highly detailed and thoroughly enjoyable liner notes that accompany her CD's. This notes here (really a small book) contains 47 total pages with 16 pages in English. In addition to Miss Hewitt's historical tidbits and pianistic insights, she gives the musical note-figurations for the main motives in each prelude and fugue. If you are interested in more than just casual listening to this music, then Angela Hewitt's CD and liner notes here are an excellent place to dive in deeper.

The sound quality seems better here than Book I with nothing to cite as notably deficient: it is clear with bell-like tones from the Steinway in a pristine, "no hiss" and pleasantly-but-slightly resonant recording environment. Accordingly, ClassicsToday rated this work 9/10 for Sound Quality along and 9/10 for Artistic Quality. Additionally, Penguin Guide awarded both of Hewitt's WTC sets a distinguished "Rosette" rating. In short, this set ranks at the top for its musical insight, clarity of voices, tasteful dynamic progressions, beautiful tone and the superlative liner notes that we only wish were a part of every CD we buy. Or as a Gramophone reviewer put it, "Hewitt's Book II is delight to both the mind and ear."

PREDICTABLY EXCELLENT.......2004-12-06

If forced to it at knifepoint I would probably have to admit that Angela Hewitt's account of the second volume of Bach's 48 doesn't make quite the impact on me that the first did. All the same characteristics are here as before. Everything is 'right', and absolutely nothing should give the slightest problem to anyone who is prepared to accept the piano as an appropriate instrument for Bach. The very first prelude begins with a pedal-point in the bass, and on a modern grand it seems natural and right to me to use a certain amount of sustaining pedal. Elsewhere the pedal is used with tact and restraint, exactly as I had expected; and the part-playing is a model of clarity without exception, exactly as I had expected again. The level of tone that Hewitt uses is natural and unaffected, not played-down in any self-conscious way but with very careful discrimination in building up the volume, as she does to great effect in the fugues in E minor and A minor. As in the first set, she provides her own commentary in the liner, and as before it is nearly as good as the performances themselves. If a performing artist of this stature can write with such unpretentious clarity and helpfulness it may not be too much to hope that certain others will take the hint and learn how the thing can be done.

Where I felt this set was not absolutely the equal of its predecessor was in a certain sense of freshness and alertness. There's not a lot in it, and I'm perfectly open to the possibility that the lack is in the listener rather than in the performer or the recorded quality. She hits completely top form in the fugues in G, G minor and A flat j