Venezia

Track Listings

1. Paraphrase de Concert Sur le Carnival de Venise, Op. 10

2. Chant de la Gondolière in a Flat

3. Canzone from Venezia E Napoli [Rev. Version] S162

4. Richard Wagner Venezia, S201

5. Ravi Shankar Venezia

6. Barcarolle in F Sharp, Op. 60

7. Venetian Gondola Song

8. Venetian Gondola Song

9. Quella Fiamma Che M'Accende in G Minor

10. Barcarolle in G Minor from Troisième Recuil de Chants Op. 65 No. 6

11. Omaggi

12. Omaggi

13. Omaggi

14. Lugubre Gondola II, S200

15. Sonata No. 1 in a Minor

16. Sonata No. 1 in a Minor

17. Barcarolle No. 1 in a Minor, Op. 26

18. Variations in A (Souvenir de Paganini)

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-Sharp Minor
Liebestraum No.3
Mephisto Waltz No.1
Funerailles (No.7 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Rigoletto: Conc Paraphrase
La Campanella

Tracks:

Die Forelle
Der Muller Und Der Bach
Wohin?
Lebe Wohl!
Das Wandern
Der Lindenbaum
Horch, Horch, Die Lerch
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
Die Post
Aufenthalt
Lob Der Tranen
Erlkonig
I. Allegro Con Fuoco
II. Adagio
III. Presto
IV. Allegro

Tracks:

Lento Assai - Allegro Energico -
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Energico - Andante Sostenuto - Lento Assai
Valse Impromptu
I. 'Hohe Liebe' In A flat
II. 'Selinger Tod' In E Flat
III. 'O Lieb' In A Flat
Grand Galop Chromatique

Tracks:

I. Sposalizio
II Penseroso
III. Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa
IV. Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca
V. Sonetto 104 Del Patrarca
VI. Sonetto 123: Del Petrarca
VII. Apres Une Lecture De Dance (Fant Quasi Son)

Tracks:

I. La Chapelle De Guillaume Tell
II. Au Lac De Wallenstadt
III. Pastorale
IV. Au Bord D'une Source
V. Orage
VI. Vallee D'Obermann
VII. Eglogue (Hirtengesang)
VIII. Le Mal Du Pays
IX. Les Cloches De Geneve

Tracks:

I Gondoliera
II. Canzone
III. Tarantella
Les Jeux D'eau A La Villa D'Este (No.4 Of Annees De Pelerinage, Troisieme Annee)
Benediction De Dieu Dans La Solitude: (No.3 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Ballade No.2 In B

Tracks:

I. Preludio: Presto
II. Molto Vivace
III. Paysage: Poco Adagio
IV. Mazeppa: Allegro
V. Feux Follets: Allegretto
VI. Vision: Lento
VII. Eroica: Allegro
VIII. Wilde Jagd: Presto Furioso
IX. Ricordanza: Andantino
X. Allegro Agitato Molto
XI. Harmonies Du Soir: Andantino
XII. Chasse-Neige: Andante Con Moto

Tracks:

Zwei Konzertetuden: I. Waldesrauschen
Zwei Konzertetuden: II. Gnomenreigen
I. Il Lamento
II. La Leggierezza
III. Un Sospiro
I. Andante Con Moto
II. Un Poco Piu Mosso
III. Lento Placido
IV. Quasi Adagio
V. Andantino
VI. Allegretto Sempre Cantabile
Reminiscences De Don Juan

Tracks:

Reminiscences De Norma
Totentanz (Danse Macabre)
Malediction
Fant On Hungarian Folk Themes

Customer Reviews:

Ethereal LIszt in Superb Sound.......2006-09-29

Piano playing of extraordinary romantic depth and breadth. Bolet is inside Liszt's mind, as Liszt's romantic self unfolds on the keyboard. It is as if Bolet is the master himself. Superlative recordings to boot!

A great collection of Liszt treasures.......2004-01-12

The booklet of this set has an interesting explanation of why Jorge Bolet stayed out of the spotlights for so long before taking up his -glorious- career. It was his devotion to Liszt. By then, in the 1950s, Liszt was still regarded as a B-composer (There are still people who tend to think so: I read someone who called Liszt `the father of all bar pianists'. Now, if you know a worse offence...). Only after Liszt's reputation had increased, Bolet could enter his `Indian summer', which lasted from about 1975 until his passing away in 1990. During this period, he was finally able to perform his favourite music as much as possible. This fine 9-disc set may indeed be Bolet's most important testament. Additionally, it's one of the most important Liszt collections on the market. But beware: there's much more than just Bolet, considering Liszt's piano works. I can't say this is the perfect set or near it. Still five stars, for some astonishing piano playing that we don't come across very often nowadays.

Bolet won a Gramophone Award for his 1st book of Années de Pelerinage, which is not strange when listening to the recordings. This is a portrait of a man who's entirely on his own, looking for his soul while wandering trough the beautiful Switzerland - I can't say it better than B. Johnson already did. It's Romantic nonsense, of course, but in Liszt's days it was a common idea, and it can still sweep me away. Bolet's superior tonal colouring - beautiful, but not too far-driven, for the risk it would almost be too intimidating - and his peaceful nature lift this music to the greatest heights. My only complaint would be the `Orage' piece: Bolet's technique can't quite handle it, and its aggressive nature is much less overwhelming as a result. Nevertheless, the rest of the pieces show him at his very best. So does the second year of the Années (that is oddly placed in the set before the first year by Decca). The Dante Sonata, one of Liszt's greatest pieces, fares very well under Bolet's hands.

Equally excellent were the Schubert Song Transcriptions. The transcriptions aren't very different from the original songs, but they are definitely interesting. Especially when someone like Bolet takes them under his hands! All songs are terrifically played, with real standouts like `Auf dem Wasser zu singen', `Der Mueller und der Bach' and `Erlkoenig'. Bolet's romantic touch (he may have been the last of his kind) lets the music unendingly flow. Brilliant!

These comments also apply to Liszt's Consolations, which are placed on another disc. Liszt shows here how much he's in debt to Schubert, and wrote music of a disarmingly lyrical nature. Bolet gives almost naively innocent readings of these pieces. Talking about singing music, why not include the Liebesträume, `Venezia e Napoli' and many, many other pieces as well. Although some people still regard Liszt as a bombastic composer, he was in fact much more active on the spiritual and lyrical area. It is largely this nature of Liszt that is put into the spotlights by Bolet. He is really terrific whenever music ought to sound peaceful and meditative.

But Liszt was also a stunning virtuoso. People may eschew him for that, but that's often without any good ground. The B minor Sonata and the Transcendental Etudes, to give some names, are not only pianistically but also musically amazing works. It takes to be both a good technician and a musician to play them well, and this is where Bolet occasionally fails. He was over 65 when he made these recordings, and I can't help but say that his technique was not anymore what it used to be. In many pieces you can hear him struggle.

In what may be the most difficult music Liszt wrote, the Transcendental Etudes, Bolet takes tempi that are almost too easy (e.g. no.10 should be `Allegro molto agitato' but Bolet plays it very moderately), perhaps because his technique was by then too limited to give the pieces a really impressive treatment. Even then, I do feel a ertain nobility in Bolet's slow approach that gives every study a dignified stature (and that's something you won't find with Kissin or Cziffra!). The sonata is similarly noble and yet tremendously powerful in its scope, even though Bolet may lack some technial control at isolated spots.

Anoter treacherous piece is the `Reminiscences de Don Juan', which is a transcription of no less an opera than -of course- Don Giovanni! Bolet plays this 20-minute piece with a lot of humour and swing: it's a great way to clean up your mind! Also recommendable are the Etudes de Concert (e.g. Waldesrauschen), whose light spirit is very well captured.

A treasure trove set overall, I can recommend it without any limitations. There's no other composer that suited Bolet as well as Liszt, and the vice versa may be true as well. But the pianist also has his weaker points, particularly regarding his technique, that wasn't what it used to be. Oh, and the piano sound is not always equally convincing: the instrument sounds a little shrill at times. But there's an amazing amount of colour in the instrument, and it allows Bolet to reachfor the deepest, darkest sonorities you've heard. This collection is therefore not just THE best Liszt: there are many more pianists who made supreme recordings of him (e.g. Arrau, Brendel, Richter) and I definitely recommend searching them out as well. After you've heard this!

An excellent collection of Liszt interpretations........2003-12-03

I was very impressed with Bolet's playing. His rendition of La Campanella is the best I've ever heard.

Liszt for the ages........2001-12-05

Both for those that would like to find out for the first time what Liszt is all about, and for those few that are very familiar with the Paganini of the 88: LOOK NO FURTHER!

It doesn't get any better than this.

After I heard throughout the seventies about this "unknown" great of the romantic repertoire, I was fortunate enough to see him for the first time about a month after he recorded the first issue of this now legendary Liszt series. While his technique may not have exactly been what it used to be before (e.g. Orage in Suisse of Les Annees), all the performances benefit from the wisdom of many, many years. While all the performances are of a uniform Olympic level, two issue stand out in my mind.

First, there is the cd of Schubert Liszt transcriptions. Bolet really sets the standards for "singing" on the piano. His version of "Der Muller und der Bach" has to be believed to be heard.

Most importantly though, there is "Suisse" the first year of Liszt's years of pilgrimage. I own this disc from the day it appeared on the shelves and still listen to it every month. Surely, there are more technically brilliant versions. For the true "Liszt Nuts", I would certainly advise Leslie Howard's version of "L'Album d'un voyageur", that contains the first version of many of the "Suisse" pieces, and some additional pieces that Frenz (for reasons that escape me completely) excluded from the later Suisse. Yet, nobody, not even Brendel or Berman, have come close to Bolet on delivering on the central theme of Suisse, man finding himself back in an exploration of nature.

While they stem from the earlier days of digital recording the recordings are still more than respectable and benefit greatly from Bolet's attention for color, aided by his favorite Bechstein.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing but hits.......2001-01-31

As with their first collection of label highlights, Hyperion's new two-disc collection provides a broad sampling of their exceptional catalogue and performers. Particularly rewarding are the selections from Beethoven (Scherzo from String Trio in C minor, op 9 no 3, performed by the Leopold Trio) and Thomas Tallis (Salvator mundi I, performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir), but experienced and novice listeners alike will find much to enjoy on these discs. It's also a good value--more than 2 1/2 hours of music for less than $10.

Average customer rating:

Mostly nice selections sung well
Painful introduction to Salieri
Bartoli- The Most Important Voice of Our Age
Genius! Sheer genius!
A revelation!

Cecilia Bartoli - The Salieri Album
Antonio Salieri , Adam Fishcer , and Cecilia Bartoli
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Arias
Cecilia Bartoli - If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs

ASIN: B0000A01J6
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

Questo guajo mancava...Son qual lacera tartana (La secchia rapita)
Che dunque!...Or ei con Ernestina...Ah sia gia (La Scuola dei gelosi)
Vi sono sposa e amante (La Fiera di Venezia)
Voi Lusingate invano lo smarito cor mio...Misera abbandonata (Palmira, Regina di Persia)
E void a buon marito...Non vo gla che vi suonino (La Cifra)
Alfin son sola...Sola e mesta (La Cifra)
Dopo pranzo addormentata (Il Ricco d'un glorno)
No, non cacillera...Suelle mi temple (La secchia rapita)
Lungi da me sen vada quella veste fatal...Dunque anche il cielo...Contro un'alma sventurata (Palmira, Regina di Persia)
Se lo dovessi vendere (La Finta scema)
Eccomi piu che mai...Amor pletoso Amore (Il Ricco d'un Glorno)
La ra la (La Grotta di Trofonio)
E non degg'io seguirla!...Forse chi sa...Vieni a me sull'ali d'oro (Armida)

Amazon.com

Antonio Salieri is, unfortunately, best known as Mozart's great Viennese rival. Some of his work has appeared on recordings, and he was clearly an interesting composer of well-crafted, entertaining music. But now that a singer with the stature and prodigious gifts of Cecilia Bartoli has undertaken an entire CD of his opera arias, he may just become a quasi-household name. Here he proves himself a composer who wrote for virtuosos; Bartoli is nothing if not a vituoso. And, indeed, this CD opens with an impressive bang: An aria from La secchia rapita features a wild vocal line complete with wild coloratura, huge leaps, a range from low G to high D flat (Bartoli flirts more and more with the soprano range while using her chest register even more forcefully!), and vast dynamic changes accompanied by a full orchestra augmented with grand, martial trumpets. Other arias--one from Palmira, Regina di Persia, for example--are more introspective and are spun out with a graceful, seamless legato and seemingly endless pianissimo. Everything one loves about Bartoli is here: the intensity, absolute fluidity in execution, breath control, glorious trill, the ability to whisper or holler, and an identification with the character she's portraying which makes the situation credible and involving for the listener. At the same time, we can't overlook a tendency to overstatement and exaggeration and a breathiness to some of the delivery which can be an annoying mannerism. But where else can one get such excitement and commitment coupled with an irresistible charm in a singer so clearly at her peak? Most/all of the arias and operas here are virtually unknown; this CD whets our appetites for more Salieri. The accompaniments are as superbly thought-out and played as one would hope for--the wacky pizzicato strings and solo wind and brass lines in an aria from La Cifra, for instance, will delight. Bartoli fans and fans of great singing should not wait another moment before ordering this. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Mostly nice selections sung well.......2007-03-07

This CD features many delightful selections of Salieri's music, expertly performed by Ms. Bartoli and by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Anyone who likes Bartoli, and most people (non-experts) who like Mozart, would enjoy this album. The slower pieces, such as "Ah sia gia" and "Lungi da te" are especially beautiful.

That said, some of the selections seem to drag on (Salieri's fault). After a while listening, one just gets the feeling that "Vi sono sposa e amante" should have ended already, and the same goes for "Sulle mie tempie."

Painful introduction to Salieri.......2006-10-27

Ms. Bartoli is one of the great mezzos of our recent era, and her voice used to delight me, especially in the repertoire of Rossini, Mozart, & Handel sung by other great mezzos like Teresa Berganza.
Unfortunately, the voice that used to move so smoothly and accurately through florid passages is entirely absent here, and I have no explanation or understanding for the fervent praise bestowed upon this CD by others.
It is, in short, a travesty.
Bartoli emits the most painful and harsh pecking sounds......listening to just ONE of the tracks all the way through is a test of willpower and endurance! Granted, as someone else pointed out, these Salieri pieces are not an ideal choice for Bartoli, which explains some of the discomfort, but there is no way to excuse the vocalization that permeates the entire disc.
Sadly, this is a recording that should never have been released, and is a mockery of what the bel canto voice used to be.

Bartoli- The Most Important Voice of Our Age.......2006-02-27

Cecilia Bartoli is not only noteworthy for her unique voice, but for her contributions to musical study. She seems to be effectively and singlehandedly changing the face of how we approach music history with her recordings. This is why this recording is important.

She has been recording rare arias from operas which have dropped out of common repetoire for centuries. She has unearthed forgotten operas of great musical innovators such as Glueck and Vivaldi, and now Salieri. And due to what she achieves here, I will happily put "Salieri Album" in a rank next to my most prized Mozart records.

It seems as though Mozart dominates today's ouvre as the sole Classical Period composer of opera, but it was composers like Vincente Martin y Soler and Antonio Salieri who dominated the scene. Salieri was also just as innovative as Mozart. Works such as the overture to "Cesare in Farmacusa" harbor proto-Beethovenian storms, while his opera "Axur," in it's ahead-of-its-time construction, look foreward to the music-dramas of Wagner. These days, we look mainly at Mozart and his Donna Anna or Queen of the Night as THE voices of the Classical Period, but when you consider the bigger picture, Salieri's heroines, especially those the Cecilia Bartoli electrifyingly portrays on this record, equate or exceed what we might hear from Mozart in technical demand and overall beauty (Take for example the first track on this record).

With Cecilia Bartoli, opera is never boring. Some might thing she overacts, but is opera not essentially a fusion of music and drama? In this respect, Signora Bartoli is the perfect voice to define our generation, a generation which is looking to expand its musical horizons by exploring operas of more obscure composers. It is a relief that she knows how to bring her roles to LIFE. This is why her mission to revive these works has been so succesful. She has people interested.

As for the composer himself, Salieri was without a doubt, the most influential on the upcoming Romantic Period, even more so than Mozart. Notable names who had their musical education nurtured under Salieri's wing include Schubert, Weber, Beethoven, Mozart's son Franz Xaver, and even Liszt. It really is unfortunate that Pushkin and Peter Shaffer have pinned against Mozart, a composer who Salieri admired and had good relations with, according to letters.

The recording quality is excellent, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment compliments Bartoli's voice perfectly. Adam Fisher, furthermore, has a difficult task since much of this recording is world-premiere material. However, he presents the material as vividly as though they have never left the repetoire.

Buy this recording. I believe Signora Bartoli has set out on something great, and "Salieri Album" will have a ripple effect in the music world. I love this release.

Genius! Sheer genius!.......2005-12-19

Cecilia Bartoli is known for recording unfamiliar music. Here she recorded arias by Mozart's great rival Salieri and how beautifully she does it. She finds the right colours for every single piece, combined with her brilliant technique you get a feast of tasteful singing that will take your breath away! Buy it!

A revelation!.......2005-04-05

I came rather late to this CD. Am I the only one who saw "Amadeus" and came out wanting to hear more of the music of Salieri?

Ms Bartoli brings a her wonderful skills to the recording of some feriously difficult arias and proves up to the task. I know that some people have commented on flaws in her singing or the recording but the the joy of the album is the journey of discovery....each track is an adventure and a revelation.

A revelation of two great musical talents in top form ..Bartoli and Salieri.

Salieri's music is technically sophisticated and he wrote some truly glorious music for the female voice.

I can only recommend this to any lover of music.

Average customer rating:

enjoyable

Guitar Classics

Manufacturer: Golden Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brouwer: Guitar Music: Danza Caracteristica/Elogio De La Danza/El Decameron Negro/Tres Danzas Concertantes/Rito De Los Orishas

ASIN: B00013D5EO
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Bach Recital: Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 "Gavotte on Rondeau" - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Partita No. 2 in D Major, BWV 1004 "Chaconne" - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 "Gavottes I & II" - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 "Sarabande" - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 "Bourree" - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Prelude in C Minor, BWV 999 - AndrSegovia
Bach Recital: Suite No. 6 in C Major, BWV 1009 "Courante" - AndrSegovia
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Prelude - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Allemande - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Courante - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Sarabande - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Minuetto I & II - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major: Gigue - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Prelude - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Allemande - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Courante - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Sarabande - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Bouree I & II - John Williams
Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major: Gigue - John Williams

Tracks:

Lovely Memories - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Slow Flow - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Romantic Affairs: Symphony No. 4, 2nd Movement - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Lachrimae Antiquae Pavan - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Two Guitars - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Teen's Ballad - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Venetian Boat Song, From "Songs Without Words" Op. 30/6 - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Kalinka - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Air for Guitar & Strings - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Valse Pour Madame - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Take My Word - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Fantasia E Minore - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Venezia E Napoli - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Nostalgic Air - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Berceuse - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Nocturne Op. 37/1 - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
On the Road to Romance - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Melancholy Song - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Sweet Liberty - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra
Pavane - Alvaro Pierri, Rias Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

enjoyable.......2003-12-23

This CD is pretty good. It has some nice classical guitar music. I like disk #1 better than disk #2, but I guess that is just a personal preference.

Average customer rating:

Rondo Veneziano's very best neo-classic album

Misteriosa Venezia
Rondó Veneziano
Manufacturer: BMG Italy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fantasia di Primavera
Venezia 2000
Fantasia d'Estate
Magica Melodia
The Very Best of

ASIN: B000026DEC
Release Date: 1987-10-02

Tracks:

Misteriosa Venezia
Arcobaleno
Ritorno a Venezia
Armonie
Fiaba Antica [1A Parte]
Cameo
Fiaba Antica (Pt. 2)
Feste Veneziane
Affresco
Specchio Della Laguna
Porta d'Oriente
Corso Delle Gondole
Rive E Marine

Customer Reviews:

Rondo Veneziano's very best neo-classic album.......2005-01-25

This album is really worth your attention if you like neo-classic music. It is the best album he ever made, and it's equal you'll probably never find !
The album contains 13 tracks, and every one of them is a beautiful composition. You'll experience emotions spanning from happiness to sadness as the music play along.
Try listen to this album on a day with bright sunshine outside your window and you may be able to get in contact with your very soul. The best anti-stress music; my best recommendations.

Average customer rating:

Sviatoslav Richter at his best
Delighted
Staggering piano playing, even by Richter's standards

Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Parnassus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Sofia Recital 1958

ASIN: B000006O34
Release Date: 2000-09-16

Tracks:

Annees De Pelerinage: Vallee D'Obermann
Annees De Pelerinage: Au Bord D'Un Source
Annees De Pelerinage: La Sposalizio
Annees De Pelerinage: Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este
Annees De Pelerinage: Sonnetto 123 Del Petrarca
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Gondoliera
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Canzona
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Tarantella
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Allegro Molto E Con Brio
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Adagio Cantabile
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Rondo: Allegro

Tracks:

Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Allegro Feroce
Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Andante Con Moto
Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Rondo: Presto
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
Gaspard De La Nuit, No.2: Le Gibet
Jeux D'Eau
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales
Miroirs, No.4: Alborado Del Gracioso
Etude Tableau in E flat, Op.33, No.6
Prld in c, Op.23, No.7
Prld in b flat, Op.32, No.2
Gavotte From 'Cinderella' Op.95, No.2

Amazon.com

Much of the repertoire here is new to Richter's ever-growing discography, notably 53 minutes worth of transcendent Liszt Années de Pelerinage excerpts, and a haunting Ravel Le Gibet. A live Beethoven Pathetique sonata proves more individual and arresting than Richter's excellent studio recording, as does this 1954 Weber 3rd Sonata to the better- recorded 1966 Philips version. Richter fans, however, will truly be floored by a whirling Ravel Alborado del gracioso and Rachmaninoff's Études- tableaux in E-flat, played better than humanly possible. Don't pass this set up! --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Sviatoslav Richter at his best.......2006-10-09

"I detest analysis, which kills fantasy and which is the enemy of art...Enough with musical blah-blah; music speaks for itself."
- Sviatoslav Richter

Sviatoslav Richter was the greatest pianist of the 20th century. This is of course quite an audacious comment to make, considering the very same 100 years saw the likes of Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Alfred Cortot, and a host of other towering musicians and virtuosi, but let us consider the grounds on which this statement is built; Sviatoslav Richter was a fusion of formidable technique, innate musical and structural conception, breath-taking sonority and tone; he was a magician, a direct link between instrument and composer, unrestrained and yet forcefully controlled by musical instinct; his repertoire encompassed everything from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier to the mysticism of late Scriabin, from Chopin to Hindemith, Von Weber to Prokofiev...in simpler words, Richter was the complete pianist, an astounding musician in the lineage of Liszt and Rubinstein.

Therfore it comes as little surprise that Richter will be cherished and remembered as one of the greatest Liszt interpreters who ever lived, and the historic recordings of excerpts from "Années du Pèlerinage" and "Venezia e Napoli" represented on this 2-CD set only reinforce his Lisztian stature - they are equal to his legendary performances of better-known masterpieces such as the Sonata in B minor, "Funérailles", and the "Transcendental Etudes", again blending awesome technical accomplishment with power and an aura of intense concentration typical of Richter...it is difficult to think of a better "Sposalizio", and the "Tarantelle" is flashy and colorful, conveyed in all of its Neapolitan splendor.

While the Liszt suffers from a somewhat mediocre sound, Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata in C Minor is a fountain of sonorous beauty and represents Richter's playing at its best. The Rondo is of stunning delicacy and élan, and the contrasts in the first movement are perfectly-balanced, combining both the light "cantabile" touch and inner depth which Op.13 calls for.

It is also interesting to note that this compilation of early Richter recordings offers both Liszt and Ravel, displaying the former's influence on the French composer's music. "Pavane pour une infante défunte" is one of those performances that never leaves the listener - just hearing it once carves a deep impression on the memory...the same must be said of "Alborada del gracioso" and "Le Gibet".

Three Rachmaninoff works are offered as well, the first being the E-flat Minor Etude-Tableau, Op.33/5, another the Prelude in C Minor (Op.23/7), and last but definitely not least, the Prelude in B-flat Minor from Op.32. The Etude-Tableau is played with a hint of sarcasm à la Prokofiev, grandly eloquent and sweeping, recalling Rachmaninoff's performance of the Presto from Chopin's Sonata in B-flat Minor. The Prelude in C Minor is always magnificent under Richter's fingers - it is the cold, unforgiving wind blowing across the barren Siberian steppe! The B-flat Minor Prelude, so chaste, so innocent, so melancholy, only leaves us hungry for more. And let us not forget - before we begin drooling and screaming for more Richter - Prokofiev's witty little "Gavotte" from Cinderella which closes this compilation quite nicely, a personal favorite of the pianist....Encore!

Delighted.......2002-08-07

I purchased this set more than a year ago and left it aside thinking I had bought it by mistake having the material on other cd...

Only to discover it a few days ago:I regret I had not listened to it before!!

Every item is superb,especially the 'jeux d'eau'(much slower than the Newark version),and the 'au bord d'une source'

The Weber sonata sounds even better than other version(thought the Praga version is superb too).The bass D yields a spectacular effect.

The Rachmaninov preludes offer the 'live' sound and a very musical Richter

Staggering piano playing, even by Richter's standards.......2000-10-12

What can I say? Two CDs-worth of previously unissued music from possibly the greatest pianist of the century at the height of his powers in some of his ideal repertoire AND IN EXCELLENT SOUND. Special higlights for me are the Liszt, especially "Vallee d'Obermann" and "Au bord d'un source", and above all "Le Gibet". Whew! I can't imagine a more haunting performance of this centerpiece of Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" cycle. Why on earth didn't Richter record (or indeed play at all) the whole thing? He loved to tease us with the gaps in his repertoire, of course, but maybe even he couldn't see how to match the intensity he achieves in "Le Gibet" in the other two movements. What a loss....

Tracks:

deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sposalizio (Marriage Of The Virgin)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Il pensieroso (The Thinker)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa (Canzonetta Of Salvator Rosa)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 47 del Petrarca (Sonnet 47 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 104 del Petrarca (Sonnet 104 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 123 del Petrarca (Sonnet 123 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Apres une lecture du Dante, fantasia quasi una sonata (After Reading Dante)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Gondoliera (Gondolier's Song)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Canzone (Song)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Tarantella

Customer Reviews:

Liszt's unrivalled piano compositions.......2006-08-28

Jeno Jando has been a staunch and first-class Liszt champion for Naxos. Recording some impeccable interpretations for the Complete Piano Music of Liszt series, he's also recorded all three books of the Annees de Pelerinage. The first book was given a stellar approach and interpretation; the second book (or second year) here proves to be just as great. Jando's use of shading and his meticulous attention to effects make for some incredible executions.

Take the "Sposalizio," with its amorous poetry and romantic mood, capped off by an uplifting Lisztian conclusion. Jando plays it with purity and a refined touch. The "Il Penseroso" is probably the best overall delivery of this melancholy composition. While Berman and Bolet have their own unique style, Jando plays it quietly and with a morose sentimentality. When the lower bass must be explored, Jando does not *pound*, but he *pushes* into the keys to create a blanket of darkness. The "Canzonetta del Salvatore Rosa" is unfortunately not one of the most original or interesting of the set. It has its charms and rhythmic delight, but fails to say much else; it's not wholly bad but not impressive either. The "Sonnetto 47 del Petrarca" is a different story: This piece speaks volumes of tenderness and affection. The underlying melody is as captivating as a Chopin prelude or nocturne, and Jando emphasizes the exquisite Lisztian touch of dramatic passion.

The "Sonetto 104 del Petrarca" is another moving work of picturesque quality. It speaks like a love letter or poem, a sublime model of Liszt's effective romantic style. Chopin wasn't the only master; Liszt also delivers the most sentimental and rapturous bars of music here. Again, Jando plays with enthusiasm, yet never rushes to the end; he plays like he enjoys listening to the music. The last Petrarch "Sonetto 123" is the most lyrical of them all, summoning ecstasy and love-sick feelings from the piano. These, along with his Liebestraumes and Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses are his fine contributions to the romantically-charged pieces in the Romantic piano literature. The music here, with its lovely emotions and embellished romance mingle together to create a breathtaking fresco.

A stark and mind-blowing contrast to the prior works occurs when Liszt's great Dante Sonata, or "Apres une lecture du Dante" opens with its ominous tritone octave chords. For those unfamiliar with this work: It is one of Liszt's masterpieces on piano, as original and inspired as his Sonata in B minor, and if I may say so, one of the greatest "Sonata's" in the Romantic era. Who else has achieved such artistic mastery of conjuring images like this? Liszt's work is one of visionary innovation and power: Tell me you don't imagine Hell with all the swirling and descending chromatic octaves, played with blistering force and dark emotions from Jando. Screams, pain, shadows, pummeling winds against the sinners, the dread that Dante feels: Liszt elevates Dante's great literary visions to the highest musical degree. When Hell's musical depiction is complete, Liszt attains an even higher level of imagery when he plays the "Francesa and Paolo" themes. If you listen carefully, you can actually *hear* Francesa speak, telling her sad story of doomed-love. Then, amazingly, the music convincingly portrays Dante's feelings regarding the tale. The gentle bars of nostalgic and gloomy music move back into the whirling tones of Hell, and the piece ends with a final glimpse of Heaven and the triumph of Dante's journey out of it. This is a monumental work that leaves me stunned. Those already familiar with this work know what I'm talking about, but I implore anyone who has not heard this to experience this colossal and extraordinary music. Jando, in my opinion, plays it better than Bolet's which is, unfortunately, the only version I'm familiar with besides Jando's.

The Venezia e Napoli here is of exceptional musical worth. I find all three pieces beautiful and enthralling. The "Gondoliera" is idyllic and mesmerizing, played with color and dynamism by Jando. The following "Canzone" is exotic and visceral. It follows the trend of being a murky and gray piece; played with just the appropriate tempo and emphasis of the theme on Jando's part. As a final thrilling encore, Jando performs the "Tarentella" with aplomb and virtuosic splendor. Ultimately, the piece is an explosion of electrifying rhythm and shattering ecstatic chords. Musically it provides excitement and interest; I love it.

Bottom line: Jando and Naxos have once again made a high-quality disc of excellence: the sound-engineering leaves nothing to be desired and the music is the best of its kind. Liszt's greatest piano compositions can be found here. While those already familiar with the works may not care to buy this (usually those familiar with Bolet or Berman like to stick to their guy). But those who have not yet heard this music from Liszt and/or are curious, I definitely recommend this recording, a disc that predominantly consists of masterpieces.

Good alternative to Berman, Cziffra, Bolet, et al........2004-02-05

Naxos' "in-house pianist" turns out a more than satisfactory performance in this second volume of three "Years of Pilgrimage" albums, in part due to the comparative lack of pastoral imagery--lyricism is not Jando's forte. Received a Penguin Rosette (for what it's worth). Recorded sound is fine, with Venezia e Napoli being the standout performance on this disc.

Beautiful bargain Liszt.......2000-06-09

Jando's "Years of Pilgrimage" is the finest budget version available, as good as Jerome Rose's is on Vox. Passionate performances, gorgeous sound. My favorite Liszt piano music, actually. This music presages Debussy and Ravel and no piano-lover should be without it.

Average customer rating:

Paisiello: Overtures and Symphonies
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Manufacturer: Dynamic Italy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Giovanni Paisello: The Complete Piano Concertos (Box Set)
Giovanni Paisiello: La Passione di Gesù Cristo
Symphonies Concertantes
Paisiello - Il barbiere di Siviglia
Giovanni Paisiello: Lo sposo burlato

ASIN: B00005LZQX
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Il Barbiere di Siviglia
La Scuffiara
Il Duelo Comico
L'Osteria di Marechiaro
Il Re Teodoro
Sinfoni funebre
Sinfonia in tre tempi: Allegro
Sinfonia in tre tempi: Andantino
Sinfonia in tre tempi: Allegro molto
Sinfonia in tre tempi: Nina, ossa la piazza per amore
La Due Contesse: Allegro con spirito
La Due Contesse: Andante
La Due Contesse: Allegro
La Due Contesse: L'Idolo Cinese
La Due Contesse: La Molinara
La Due Contesse: Le Zingare in Fiera

Average customer rating:

Late (and ponderous) Bolet in this second set

Jorge Bolet 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Jorge Bolet 1
Daniel Barenboim
Artur Schnabel
Clifford Curzon
Alfred Brendel

ASIN: B00000JNPY
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

'Mephisto' Waltz No. 1 - Liszt
Venezia E Napoli: 1. Gondoliera - Jorge Bolet
Venezia E Napoli: 2. Canzone - Jorge Bolet
Venezia E Napoli: 3. Tarantella - Jorge Bolet
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: Funilles - Liszt
Liebestraum No. 3 In A flat - Liszt
Trois etudes de concert: La leggierezza - Liszt
Etude d'execution transcendante d'apres Paganini: La campanella - Liszt
Reminiscences de 'Norma' - Jorge Bolet

Tracks:

'Rigoletto' Paraphrase - Jorge Bolet
Annees de pelerinage - Deuxiene annee. Italie: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca - Liszt
Etudes d'execution transcendante: Haronies du soir - Liszt
Deux etudes de concert: Gnomenreigen - Liszt
Annees de pelerinage - Primiere annee. Suisse: Au bord d'une source - Liszt
Consolation No. 3 In D-flat - Liszt
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-sharp Minor - Liszt
Etudes d'execution transcendante: Ricordanza - Liszt
Rniscences de 'Don Juan' - Jorge Bolet

Customer Reviews:

Late (and ponderous) Bolet in this second set.......2006-01-21

Philips' set n. 2 dedicated to Jorge Bolet is markedly less attractive than its first instalment on the Cuban-American pianist. The selection in this second item includes recordings made in the 1978-1988 period, the latter part of Bolet's career (he died in 1990), when his playing became increasingly weighty, reflective and measured. The problem here is that, while the afore-mentioned characteristics may be welcome in some works by Beethoven and Brahms, they are hardly what is required for convincing performances of Liszt, the sole composer focused in this set.

The reasons behind Bolet's transformation from a stunning virtuoso in the grand romantic tradition into what the critic Bryce Morrison once referred to as "the tired old man of Decca fame" (the label which released the pianist's late efforts) are moot, but there is no gainsaying the change. Granted, most instrumentalists lose part of their energy with age - a question of agility for one thing - but in Bolet's case this process seemed to involve an odd mixture of brooding inwardness and self-imposed restraint, almost as an atonement. Some people even contend that he wanted to go down in history as a profound artist and, while trying to be deep, he just managed to get boring. Whatever the case, one has only to compare Bolet's 1982 version of the Mephisto Waltz n. 1 shown here with his 1961 rendition to notice the phenomenon: the fiery, virtuosic and propulsive handling of the piece in that earlier attempt gave way to an approach which the liner comment elegantly describes as "philosophical rather than dashing", naturally to the detriment of the work's impact. All the notes are perfectly articulated, there is not a harsh sound throughout (Bolet's golden tone never deserted him, nor his ability to produce big sonorities without banging), and yet the result is surprisingly lifeless. The same applies to Funerailles, La leggierezza, Gnomenreigen and La campanella, which are beautifully organized but devoid of a much-needed sparkle.

Many pieces by Liszt require a certain amount of excess to make them work, not only technical - a true virtuoso mechanism - but also spiritual, in the sense of a devil-may-care interpretative attitude, or the so-called bravura. Nowhere is this element more sadly lacking than in Bolet's Don Juan Fantasy. Rather than relishing the technical intricacies and virtuosic exuberance of this magnificent knucklebreaker - in my opinion, the only effective approach to this work - Bolet parades the piece, in an unhurried and deliberate fashion, taking nearly nineteen minutes in his pensive traversal (one of the longest on record). He eschews all excitement and concentrates on clarity and smoothness instead, and it simply doesn't work: listening through becomes an ordeal, especially if you are acquainted with the versions by Simon Barere, Earl Wild and Marc-Andre Hamelin.

It's really a great pity that Philips couldn't offer us examples of the early Bolet, a spectacular pianist who not only had "the fingers of a Horowitz and the tone of a Lhevinne" (Harold Schonberg) but who also often infused his performances with fire and passion. All the above notwithstanding, I can still recommend this set for Bolet's beautiful tone, precise fingerwork and unerring good taste.

Popular Songs - Beniamino Gigli (2 CDs) (EMI)

Average customer rating:

A pity about the sound quality.

Popular Songs - Beniamino Gigli (2 CDs) (EMI)

Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002S1L
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

O sole mio
Torna a Surriento
Santa Lucia
Lucia Luci
Sto penzanno 'a Maria
Core 'ngrato
Dicitinello vuje
Santa Lucia Luntana
Voce 'e notte!
'A Canzone 'e Napule
O Surdato nnammurato
Funiculi, Funicula
Mattinata Veneziana
Serenata Veneziana
Notte a Venezia
Solo per te, Lucia
Anima mia
Tu sei la vita mia
Povera Pulcinella
Notte lunare
Casarella
Maria
Mamma

Tracks:

La Danza
Marechiare
La Serenata
Aprile
L'Ultima Canzone
Segreto
Mattinata
Occhi di fata
Lolita
O del mio amato ben
Triste Maggio
Addio bel sogno
Notte d'amore
Stornelli marini
Soltanto tu, Maria
Rondine al nido
Ti voglio tanto bene
Mattinata siciliana
Cancion del Carretero
La Spagnola
La Paloma
Four Sicilian Miniatures: Carrettieri

Customer Reviews:

A pity about the sound quality........2003-03-06

Admirers of this famous tenor who wish to acquire a generous selection of his non-operatic recordings might think this double CD set might satisfy on all counts. It certainly provides familiar and unfamiliar, early and late recordings. There are some rarities here, and a full listing of recording details. The big drawback, however, is the sound quality. The remastering was done in the early days of Cedar processing. Somehow, the combination of Gigli's golden voice and the Cedar noise reduction process proved incompatible. While listening, I often responded as to fingernails being scraped over a blackboard, and no amount of knob twiddling could remedy the trouble.

The source material, however, includes some great recordings. If you think you have heard everything "Santa Lucia" has to offer, you'll find unguessed depths and detail in the way Gigli does it here with an accompaniment in charge of Sir John Barbirolli. "La Spagnola" has irresistible verve. The recordings are from 1918 to 1949.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Spirit of '73: Rock for Choice

Tippett,Sir Michael: Choral Works

Thunder In My Blues

New York City, Birdland Club February 21, 1954 [Live]

Yesterday Went Too Soon [Extra tracks] [Import]

The Sun Sessions

They Say...

Shostkovich: Film Music from "The Gadfly" & "Pirogov"

Swingin' Stampede: The Hot Club Of Cowtown Playing Hot Jazz & Western Swing

The Spirit of 176

The Hammer Party

Time: Gentlemen [Import]

Trance Dance V.12 [Import]

Grace

Ballads and Related Objects

1. Paraphrase de Concert Sur le Carnival de Venise, Op. 10
2. Chant de la Gondolière in a Flat
3. Canzone from Venezia E Napoli [Rev. Version] S162
4. Richard Wagner Venezia, S201
5. Ravi Shankar Venezia
6. Barcarolle in F Sharp, Op. 60
7. Venetian Gondola Song
8. Venetian Gondola Song
9. Quella Fiamma Che M'Accende in G Minor
10. Barcarolle in G Minor from Troisième Recuil de Chants Op. 65 No. 6
11. Omaggi
12. Omaggi
13. Omaggi
14. Lugubre Gondola II, S200
15. Sonata No. 1 in a Minor
16. Sonata No. 1 in a Minor
17. Barcarolle No. 1 in a Minor, Op. 26
18. Variations in A (Souvenir de Paganini)