Die Meistersinger

Amazon.com
Despite inadequate sound and backward balances, this live 1937 Salzburg Meistersinger is important in that it is the only complete Wagner opera we have under Arturo Toscanini's leadership. The tight-knit ensemble, effortless transitions, and dramatic breadth can be divined by those who are willing to get past the sonic limitations, to say nothing of Grammofono's superfluous though well-meaning reprocessing. --Jed Distler

Die Meistersinger,Wagner,Nissen,Noort,Reining,Toscanini,Grammofono 2000,Classical,Classical Music,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Average customer rating: The End of the Big Voice? Fla Gator Lady 20 Great Tenor Arias Plesantly surprised... Absolutely Agree About Corelli

Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco... Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Most Famous Opera Duets The Most Famous Opera Arias Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance The #1 Opera Album The Best of Italian Opera ASIN: B000007OTX Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
2. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
3. Carmen Bizet: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
4. Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi .. Quando le sere al placido
5. La Traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
6. Martha: M'appari
7. Giordano: Amor ti vieta
8. L'Africaine: Mi batte il cuor .. O paradiso
9. La Favorita: Favorita del re . . . Spirto gentil
10. Werther: 'Pourquoi me reveiller'
11. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlich leuchtend in rosigem Schein'
12. Les Contes d'Hoffmann: O Dieu! De quelle ivresse
13. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
14. Pagliacci: Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
15. Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
16. Aida: Se quel guerrier .. Celeste Aida
17. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
18. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
19. La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
20. Turandot: Nessun dorma

Customer Reviews:

The End of the Big Voice?.......2007-04-16

This CD, which is truly fine overall, reminds me of Marilyn Horne's lament that we have probably seen the end of the big voice and it makes me sad. I agree with the reviewer who refers to "microphonies". And more justice could be done to Bjorling's voice with a better transfer. But at some point, music becomes a matter of taste and I prefers singers who have the instrument and the support and the training, whether formal or not, to just let fly and take a chance on making a mistake. Domingo can be wonderful and so can his musicianship but he tends to be so stiff. I have to wonder at the virulence and asperity with which some people go after Pavarotti. It's true that late in his career he made some questionable recordings but the answer to that is simple: don't buy them. At his best, he belongs for all time in the top echelon of tenors. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys great (big) voices.

Fla Gator Lady.......2007-01-12

Highly recommend this CD with these beloved arias of the greatest tenors in opera. I have owned this CD for a couple of years and purchased another for a friend who always requests that I play it ... perfect for listening in the car, dinner, bridge games, relaxation ... just so perfect. You won't be disappointed in this one.

20 Great Tenor Arias.......2007-01-09

A great disc,combination of the greatest tenors of the 20th century and some of the most beautiful music ever written in any century,a must addition to any opera lovers collection.

Plesantly surprised..........2006-01-14

I don't remember how I found this CD the other day surfing through the "Amazon" such as it is, but I did. I listened to a few clips provided & on the strength of that, I purchased this CD.

First it is a great buy. A booklet with pictures of each tenor, a small bio, the year recorded and TRANSLATIONS of each aria are provided. This is really nice. It seems more & more that translations are being left out. Being a former opera singer, I may know most of the words, but sometimes it's just nice to read along (sometimes it's just nice to listen too).

Being on the Decca label, there is admittedly quite a few Pavarotti selections. Out of 20 selections, he has 6 of them. But I love Pavarotti, so this is no problem for me. These are all early recordings & his voice is magnificent! Being a singer, I still marvel at his ability to sing "All'armi!" on a high D and still say the 2nd syllable "mi" on such a note! WOW. There is also of course his very sweet, impassioned and lyrical turn as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" as well as the lesser known (although I still have it on casette) "La Favorita" which has a particularly high tessitura.

Also featured are a young Plácido Domingo singing a VERY nice "Flower song/ La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Carmen. He usually sounds too pushed for me on the top notes (as one might expect from a Pavarotti fan, I like free top notes) but in this recording he is pretty darn fabulous. He also sings an aria from "Tales of Hoffman/Les Contes d'Hoffman" and I have always felt that he, like Neil Schicoff, were well suited to this role.

Lamentably there are only one selection each from Carreras, Correlli, Monaco, Aragall & Kollo. Especial kudos to the young recording they feature for Aragall. He had a very free and nice high tenor well suited to Verdi. Of course as his career went forward with the natural darkening of his voice and the "heavier" roles, he did start to develop a wobble. But this recording is before that. His top, his phrasing are all beautifully done in his featured aria from "La Traviata."
Mario del Monaco's "E lucevan le stelle" is hauntingly beautiful and has such a wonderful pianissimo in it that it makes you just want to gasp for beauty's sake. I now know every tenor I've heard sing this aria was trying to emulate what he did.

This is a great CD because it does bring together on one CD some of the greatest singers of the 20th/21st century. Bergonzi, di Stefano, Björling, in addition to the previously mentioned artists is quite an impressive collection. I'm sure there's only one of each for Carreras, Aragall (I believe they are formerly EMI/Angel artists) and perhaps some of the others because they are "imported" from another label. There's so much Pavarotti on this CD because he IS a Decca artist.

A highly recommended CD, affordable, not the usually obscure and unpolished artists that are sometimes found on compilations. Plus acutal linear notes and translations. Nicely done, Decca!!!

Absolutely Agree About Corelli.......2005-05-27

Franco Corelli's "Nessun Dorma" is still the best of them all - clear, passionate, and exciting. (And those final two notes...! Gives me chills just to think of it.) I was fortunate enough to see him live in both "Turandot" and "Romeo and Juliet" a year before his retirement, and he was still a Calaf and a Romeo to die for... as, of course, Liu and Juliet did! As it is, I tend to buy compilations depending on how much Corelli they include - though Bjorling is a strong second, and I have happy memories of Domingo. Long live the Golden Age of Operatic Tenors!

Average customer rating: masters of classical music A good basic collection An excellent introduction to classical music Very Beautiful!!!!!1 Still Stuck on Beethoven

Masters of Classical Music (Box Set) Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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Tracks:

1. Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
2. Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
3. Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
4. Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
5. Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
6. Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
7. Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
8. Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
9. Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
10. Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
11. Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

1. Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
2. Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
5. Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
6. Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
7. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
8. Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
9. Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
11. Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
12. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
13. Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
14. St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
2. Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
3. Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
4. 'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
5. Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
6. Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
7. Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
8. Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
9. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
10. Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

1. Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
2. Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
3. Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
4. The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
5. The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
6. Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
7. Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
8. The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

1. Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
2. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
3. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
4. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
5. Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
6. Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
7. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
8. Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
2. String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
3. Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
4. The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
5. The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
6. The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
7. Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
8. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
9. Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
10. Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

1. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
2. Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
3. Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
4. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
5. Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
6. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
7. Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
8. Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
9. The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

1. Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
2. Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
3. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
4. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
5. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
6. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
7. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
8. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
9. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
10. 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
11. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
12. Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
13. Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
14. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
15. Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

1. Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
2. Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
3. Standchen - Franz Schubert
4. Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
5. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
6. Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
7. 'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
8. Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
9. 'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
10. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

1. Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
2. Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
3. Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
4. II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
5. II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
6. Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
7. La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
8. La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
9. La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
10. La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
11. La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!

Average customer rating: Wonderful collection and price! Awesome collection! Helicopters? Marines? A great addition to my music collection Quintessential Wagner

Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Wagner: Overture & Preludes The Best Of Wagner Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words Wagner without Words 25 Thunderous Classics ASIN: B000009ON7 Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

1. The Valkyries: Ride Of The Valkyries
2. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Funeral March
3. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
4. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
5. The Flying Dutchman: Sailors' Chorus
6. The Rheingold: Journey Down To Nibelheim
7. The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg: Overture
8. Tannhauser: Overture
9. Tannhauser: Entry Of The Guests
10. Tannhauser: Tannhauser's Pilgrimage
11. Siegfried: Act III Orchestral Interlude
12. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
13. Twilight Of The Gods: Finale
14. The Rheingold: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla

Tracks:

1. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
2. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
3. Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
4. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
5. Parsifal: Transformation Scene
6. Tannhauser: Venusberg Music
7. Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus
8. The Mastersingers Of Nuremburg: Prelude To Act III
9. The Rheingold: Vision Of Valhalla (Scene II Introduction)
10. Siegfried Idyll
11. Siegfried: Brunnhildes Awakening
12. Tristan And Isolde: Prelude To Act III
13. Tristan And Isolde: Death Of Isolde

Amazon.com

If you like your Wagner served up in bleeding chunks or if you're simply in a hurry to hear the tunes, then this compilation is for you. The performances, drawn from the Polygram (mainly Deutsche Grammophon) back catalog, are for the most part authoritative. They feature the likes of Herbert von Karajan, with the Berlin Philharmonic, and Karl Böhm, with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (and chorus), in extracts from recordings of complete operas, and conductors Giuseppe Sinopoli, Otto Gerdes, and Antal Doráti in some of the more familiar overtures and preludes. Singing, without which it is impossible to get the full flavor of Wagner's work, is skirted whenever possible: this is an unapologetic tribute to Wagner the orchestral genius. At times the salesmanship is a little overblown--the glitzy packaging includes a cover shot of the helicopters from Apocalypse Now--and the sound, some of it from very good originals, seems to have been juiced with a little added digital reverb, resulting in an overall glassiness. The gaps between tracks are minimized, disco style, so there's no dead air, and the whole thing has an Entertainment Tonight feel to it. Were he around, Wagner would have screamed bloody murder, then happily taken his cut of the action. For today's on-the-go listener, this may well be the most practical way to enjoy Wagner's music, but we won't be happy until it motivates at least one newcomer to seek out a recording of a complete opera. Anyone who does that will find out what "apocalypse" really means. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

Awesome collection!.......2007-01-10

This is a great collection of some of Wagner's most memorable songs for those of you who do not want to buy the whole opera's for some of his works.

Helicopters? Marines?.......2006-12-05

Do those infotainment marketing mavens ever get it right? Talk about Hollywood disconnect! Not only are the helicopters irrelevant, but to quote from the gushy drivel on the jacket, "The gripping power of Richard Wagner's music was demonstrated with spectacular effect in...Apocalpse Now, when the "Ride of the Valkyries' became synonymous with the chilling journey of Marine 'Huey' helicopters into battle..."

Marine? Marine? Them Hueys in the movie was ARMY Air Cav, slick! "First of the ninth--air mobile." If you're going to dally down that primrose path, at least get it right.

Better yet, drop the choppers. Most people who listen to Wagner probably realize that quality of an artistic work has a mystically inverse relationship to the number of helicopters contained in it.

As for the music, it is good, but the operatic equivalent of sound bites, which may be just right for people who are new to Wagner or just can't take very much of him. Hmm...perfect for a helicopter ride, perhaps?

A great addition to my music collection.......2006-07-20

This CD takes the place of all my other Wagner music. VERY well done. Somehow I didn't realize that there were two cds in the package--what a pleasant surprise! Of the two cds, I like the first one best, but they are both good. I listen to this cd daily on my way to work. Stirring! I am so glad that I purchased this. Some purists might have a problem with the fact that some of the selections are not there in their entirety. I have no problem with that though. I recommend this to anyone who loves Wagner.

Quintessential Wagner.......2006-05-15

Okay, so I like Wagner. I LOVE "Ride Of The Valkyries". Do I want to go out and buy every single stinkin thing Wagner did? No. If you are a die-hard Wagner fan you probably will not think much of this collection.

But if you like Wagner and appreciate "Ride Of The Valkyries", and maybe require it in just a little more substance than what is included in "Apocolypse Now Redux", then this is what you want. The extra tracks are bonuses and are quite good. Meets my needs, presentation great, performance excellent. I recommend it for anyone that needs a Wagner fix.

Average customer rating: A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set] Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chabrier | Chabrier, Alexis Emanuel | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, 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Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set] Little Night Music - Ultimate Mozart Collection [20 CD Set] Rendezvous of Angels - Concert Collection [20 CD Set] Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set] Classical Evolution: Spanish Guitar Music ASIN: B00012QLTQ Release Date: 2003-12-09

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Average customer rating: A well-kept secret Essential Wagner Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not! Go For Boult Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans

Wagner: Overtures & Preludes Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser The Best Of Wagner Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words ASIN: B000002S08 Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

1. Tannher: Overture
2. Tannher: Grand March
3. Der Fliegende Holler: Overture
4. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 1
5. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 3
6. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Overture
7. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act 3
8. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 1

Tracks:

1. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
2. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
3. Parsifal: Act 1 Transformation scene
4. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 3
5. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
6. Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods
7. Die Walkure: Ride of the Walkyries
8. Siegfried: Forest murmurs
9. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
10. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral March

Customer Reviews:

A well-kept secret.......2007-05-18

Everyone wants to have a crack at the "bleeding chunks" eventually, and while I love the flashier Stoky and Furtwangler approach, I wouldn't want to be without the Boult. He's a great Wagnerian, strange as it may seem. Who could blame him for not wanting to go down in history merely as the finest Holstian? As long as this stays in print, Ormandy will still be considered the least sexy conductor. (I heard CBS researchers found an Ormandy fan once!)

Essential Wagner.......2006-06-17

As a child, this set was my first experience of Wagner's music, and it made quite an impression on me. However, as I grew older and began to collect the full operas I felt I could surely do better than Adrian Boult and the British for a collection of the preludes, overtures, and orchestral music from the operas. I was wrong. I have yet to here any recordings that can match the power and intensity as demonstrated in these discs from Boult and the LSO (and LPO). The Meistersinger prelude alone is worth the price, and the only version of the prelude to Tristan which outdoes the one here is Bohm's live 1966 Tristan. The Solti, Karajan, and Klemperer highlight discs have their moments (and truthfully, I do prefer Solti and Karajan for the "Ring" highlights), but their contributions are greatest in the full operas, and overall, they simply can't muster the power and intensity that Boult brings to these preludes, overtures, etc.

Even if you have other compilations of Wagner's music in "bleeding chunks", I can assure you they don't come close to this one; and with two discs (the second containing mostly music from Parsifal and the "Ring") at 14 bucks, there is absolutely no excuse not to have this essential recording. So go ahead and buy this disc, never buy another Wagner compilation again, and with the money you save get started on the more important task at hand: the full operas.

Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!.......2004-09-27

Does Sir Adrian Boult conjure up of images of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn Williams, but not Wagner? You're not alone! Nevertheless, this is a double CD set not to be missed! Many years ago, I was listening to a classical radio music station in NYC that was playing the music of Wagner. The performance was so good, that I wouldn't leave the radio until I found out the name of the conductor. When the announcer said the conductor was Sir Adrian Boult, I was quite surprised. I had recordings of English music from Sir Adrian on Angel/EMI, but I never associated that conductor with Wagner. Having been blessed with a friend who had knowledge of classical music way beyond his years, I gave him a call to find out more about the recording. He told me that, Boult had solid expertise in the area of Germanic music, but, in England, had been overshadowed in that repertoire by Otto Klemperer. He told me not to be surprised about Boult's very fine Wagner, it was an excellent recording to purchase and, indeed, search out Sir Adrian's wonderful performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (now available on Vanguard). Fast-forward many years and I find myself browsing through Amazon for a recording of Wagner's Overtures and Preludes. Like everyone else I know, I foolishly jettisoned my LPs in the 1990s and have been "back-filling" ever since. Well, I was able to obtain this splendid set for less than $7 per CD! There are a total of 18 selections covering most of Wagner's operas including five excerpts from the Ring Cycle. The performances are excellent coming from no less than three British orchestras, and the sound is top-shelf EMI. Sir Adrian's pacing is measured and his vision is broad and sensitive, highlighting the beauty and grandeur --rather than just the fire-- of this glorious music. I heartily recommend this two-CD set, and at this price, I think it's a steal.

Go For Boult.......2003-07-08

Sir Adrian Boult is best known for his recordings of the British repertoire, and his performances, particularly of Holst's "The Planets" and Elgar's Symphonies and Orchestral Works, are legendary. But Boult was also an excellent conductor of Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, and this 2-CD set collects the Overtures and Preludes of the latter German titan. These stereo recordings from the early to mid-1970s with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras are truly first rate. EMI's set compares nicely in terms of price, quality and musical offerings with competing sets by DG (Bohm, Kubelik, et al) and Sony (Ormandy & Szell). You might have reservations about getting German music conducted by a Brit, but you really can't go wrong with Boult.

Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans.......2000-03-20

I bought this cd for the following reasons: 1 I'm a Wagner fan, 2 the cover looks exquisite and 3 I wanted to hear a "prelude" since it sounds fancy and never heard one. The result is great cd. The Tannhauser overture, Tristan and Isolde prelude and Lohengrin Prelude to act 3 are all very excellent. Excerpts from the Ring of the Nibelunge aren't as good as I had anticipated but are still enjoyable. The music speaks the tales of Wagner's operas. Just hear it, as slow and irksome as they maybe, these preludes make you feel the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde, the epic odyssey of Lohengrin and the holy, heavenly spirit in Parsifal as he discovers the Holy Grail. Buy this CD and you won't regret it. Except that one bit from Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral March. It does'nt quite have the feel of grand disaster as it did in John Boorman's film Excalibur. If you're hoping to find that version(which is better) stick with the Classics Go To The Movies Vol 2 cd. But all the other pieces on this CD are excellent. Go and buy this CD- now !

Average customer rating: Highest Recommendation Possible Great Music At Any Price!

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser Manufacturer: Seraphim ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wagner: Overtures & Preludes Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35; Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Op77 Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture The Best Of Wagner Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14 ASIN: B000000UW7 Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

1. Tristan Und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod
2. Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
3. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
4. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act III
5. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I
6. Tannhauser: Overture

Customer Reviews:

Highest Recommendation Possible.......2007-02-04

I have been ravenously studying classical music for about the last two years non stop. It has been a fantastic voyage. Out of everything by everyone, to me, this is among the very best CDs. The music is beautiful, mighty and majestic. On top of that, the CD is very inexpensive, considering it's quality.

Great Music At Any Price!.......2004-03-14

The original EMI Seraphim budget CD line has to be the greatest value for the money in the history of music. For half the price of other so-called budget lines, including the new version of EMI Seraphim and the Sony Essential Classics series, you get first-rate performances from the golden age of stereo by some of the greatest conductors of the century. On this particular title you get brilliant Wagner performances by Rudolf Kempe and Sir Adrian Boult. This was my first disc of Wagner Orchestral Music, and I liked it so much that I eventually upgraded in order to get more terrific Wagner performances by Kempe and Boult (see my reviews). You see, Boult has a two-disc mid-priced set collecting his Wagner recordings on EMI, while Kempe has two full-priced discs on the Testament label, which licensed his EMI recordings. Granted, most will not want to pay as much as I did for their Wagner, and if you don't, just buy this title with the loose change in your pocket.

Average customer rating: An excellent classical CD A hidden diamond Wagner's Grandeur Ormandy is underrated! Excellent Recordings

The Best Of Wagner Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection Wagner: Overture & Preludes Wagner: Overtures & Preludes Wagner without Words Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser ASIN: B000003F4J Release Date: 1991-06-06

Tracks:

1. Die Meistersinger: Prelude
2. Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries
3. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
4. Siegfried: Forest Murmurs
5. Gotterdammerung: Dawn & Siegfried's Rhine Journey
6. Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music
7. Tristan und Isolde: Liebestod

Customer Reviews:

An excellent classical CD.......2007-01-28

Richard Wagner rightly deserves his high reputation as a classical musician. Like many people, I don't care for Wagner's racial or religious views, but don't let that stop you from enjoying his music. The CD starts off with my favorites the Prelude from Die Meistersinger & Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure, followed by a fascinating rendition of the Bridal Chorus (a.k.a. "Here Comes the Bride") from Lohengrin. I won't recite the rest of the list, but there are 4 other compositions, all somewhat varied in style, but very good. Whether you are classical music buff or simply want an introduction to classical music this CD is a good place to start.

A hidden diamond.......2001-10-03

This unassuming budget classic reissue is among the finest of its genre: The Wagner orchestral highlight album, and features the contents of 1973 LP recital the farthest thing from run-of-the-mill, spaciously recorded with the palpable feeling of the presence of the musicians, not merely an amorphously gorgeous orchestral sonority. The music unfolds without self-indulgent pointing, in a free-wheeling manner that is simply right.

The original Ormandy program is supplemented with a track by Robert Shaw doing a luscious rendering of the famous Bridal Chorus from with his divine women's chorus, a version as good or better than any ever anthologized or appearing in complete opera recordings, its 1959 atmospherically recorded sound barely showing its age.

My only caveat is that this stuff really merited more respectful packaging than this ersatz "Best of" series, but at the price, who should complain?

Wagner's Grandeur.......2001-08-24

Wagner was a great composer. His music and use of orchestra are grand and masterful. I am repulsed by his political views, but as an artist he was a genius. This compilation of Wagner is probably the best there is. I listen to it from time to time. The breadth of the orchestral palette, the elevation, and grandeur have been imitated but never duplicated.

Ormandy is underrated!.......2001-02-08

I did a test by listening to Szell, Klemperer, Karajan, Kubelik, Bohm, Jochum, Gerdes, Ozawa, Stokowski, and Ormandy play Wagner overtures and excerpts from "The Ring". My verdict: it's Ormandy. What can I say? I feel as is he's underrated, especially in the annals of Wagner worship. I like Stokowski's energy, but he plays around with scores (horrors!) too much. The Szell was great, but a tad limp. Other conductors have their high points, but Ormandy ranks consistently at the top. His conducting is full and rich and the orchestra always sounds great. I ranked the Szell orchestral music from Wagner at 5 stars, so Ormandy rates 6 stars.

Excellent Recordings.......2000-11-08

The selections performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Ormandy are excellent. One of the best. Highly Recommended.

Average customer rating: Mill. Classical review classical music for the unitiated Some little gems there that I had forgotten! A very helpful collection Excellent!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set] Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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Tracks:

1. Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
2. Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
3. Violin Concerto In E First Movement
4. Prelude In C minor
5. Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
6. Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
7. Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
8. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
9. Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
10. Easter Oratorio - Overture
11. Minuet In D minor
12. Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
13. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
14. Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
15. Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
16. Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
17. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
18. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
19. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
20. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
21. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
22. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
23. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
24. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
25. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
26. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
27. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
28. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
29. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
30. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
31. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
32. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
33. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
34. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
35. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
36. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
37. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
38. Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
39. Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
40. Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
41. Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
42. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
43. Water Music - Air
44. Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
45. Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
46. Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
47. The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
48. Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
49. Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
50. Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
51. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
52. Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
53. Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
54. Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
55. Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
56. Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
57. Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
58. Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
59. String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
60. Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
61. Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
62. Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
63. String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
64. Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
65. Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
66. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
67. Piano Concerto in A - second movement
68. Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
69. Serenade - Minuet
70. Violin Concerto - first movement
71. Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
72. Clarinet Concerto - second movement
73. Turkish March
74. Divertimento - Minuet
75. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
76. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
77. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
78. Overture
79. O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
80. Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
81. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
82. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
83. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
84. Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
85. Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
86. German Dance No. 1 In C
87. Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
88. Heidenroslein
89. Ave Maria
90. Der Lindenbaum
91. Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
92. Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
93. Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
94. German Dance No. 2 In G
95. Piano Sonata In B-Flat
96. Nachtgesang Im Walde
97. Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
98. German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
99. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
100. Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
101. Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
102. Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
103. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
104. Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
105. Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
106. Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
107. Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
108. Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
109. Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
110. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
111. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
112. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
113. Violin Concerto - second movement
114. The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
115. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
116. Swan Lake - Waltz
117. Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
118. The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
119. Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
120. Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
121. Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
122. Hungarian Dance No.5
123. Lullaby
124. Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
125. Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
126. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
127. Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
128. Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
129. String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
130. Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
131. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
132. Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
133. German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
134. Die Fledermaus - Overture
135. Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
136. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
137. Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
138. AnnenPolka, Op. 117
139. Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
140. Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
141. Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
142. On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
143. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
144. Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
145. Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
146. Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
147. The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
148. The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
149. Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
150. Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
151. Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
152. Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
153. Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
154. Don Juan, Op. 20
155. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
156. Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
157. Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
158. Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
159. Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
160. Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
161. Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
162. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
163. Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
164. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
165. Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
166. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
167. Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
168. Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
169. Angelus
170. Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
171. Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
172. Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
173. Les Préludes
174. Boléro
175. Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
176. Rhapsodie Espagnole
177. Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
178. Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
179. Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
180. La Valse
181. Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
182. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
183. Humoresque, Op. 101
184. Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
185. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
186. Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
187. Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
188. Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
189. Carneval Overture, Op. 92
190. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
191. Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
192. Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
193. Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
194. Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
195. String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
196. Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
197. Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
198. Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
199. Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
200. String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
201. Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
202. Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
203. Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
204. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
205. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
206. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
207. Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
208. Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
209. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
210. Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
211. The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
212. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
213. Nordic Melody Op. 63
214. Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
215. Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
216. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
217. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
218. Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
219. Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
220. Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
221. Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
222. Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
223. Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
224. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
225. Frühlingsgruss
226. Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
227. Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
228. Manfred Overture, Op. 115
229. Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
230. Die Rose stand im Tau
231. Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
232. Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
233. Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
234. Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating: Great Cover Szell's Magical And Terrific Wagner Album Fabulous Wagner! Szell has not fallen! Precise, clinical performances in dated sound

Wagner without Words Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection Rossini: Overtures Verdi without Words: Grand Opera for Orchestra Chopin: Twenty Four Préludes Op.28 ASIN: B000002763 Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

1. Das Rheingold: Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla
2. Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries
3. Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music
4. Siegfried: Forest Murmurs
5. Gotterdammerung: Dawn - Seigfried's Rhine Journey
6. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral Music - Final Scene
7. Tristan And Isolde: Prelude - Love-Death
8. Die Meistersinger: Prelude To Act I

Customer Reviews:

Great Cover.......2007-06-06

This same album has had at least 2 identical incarnations except for the cover art. So if you have bought some of his Wagner orchestral suites before, beware and be aware! You just may be making a redundant purchase. This version has by far the best cover artwork.

I have several of Wagner's Orchestral suites lps (Szell, Stokowski, Klemperer, Ormandy, Karajan) They all sound just peachy, so do not ask me to choose based on the music. I like the Stokowski best merely because it is on the great sounding Phase 4 label plus it has art work similar to this Szell cd and it has substantial liner notes. But as far as the music goes, a pair of Klemperers/Szells will just about beat any hand.

If you are new to Wagner, this is a wonderful intro. Then you can rent some of his music drama operas thru Netflix and take advantage of the best thing since sliced bread, English subtitles.

If you are looking for the Wagner symphony section at Amazon, there aint any! These orchestral suites are as close as you will get. Look instead to his disciples, Bruckner for symphonies and Richard Strauss for symphonic poems.

Szell's Magical And Terrific Wagner Album.......2007-05-21

This was Cleveland's most prominent condutor, the late George Szell's only Wagner album. True, he was at home conducting the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Dvorak and all the brand-name, top classical music, but he was, at the same time, a gifted interpreter of Wagner. While Szell's name is not mentioned in the same sentence as Herbert Von Karajan nor was he a conductor of opera, this album showcases the skill and artistry he achieved while conducting the score to Wagner's most important operas - The Ring of the Nibelungen and Tristan and Isolde. The Cleveland Orchestra is at the height of its powers and the music you will hear on this album overflows with passion, dignity, grandeur and beauty, all the elements that Wagner's larger-than-life operas are made of. The first track is the Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla, the final scene in Das Rhinegold, the first of the four Ring operas. Pity this album does not begin with the beautifully mysterious and spiritual Rhinegold Overture, which would have been more appropriate, as the music segues into the Entrance of the Gods. But even as it is, it's wonderful. The music describes the vainglorious Odin, his wife Freya and the other Norse gods ascending into the glittering golden palace of Valhalla, pride and downfall of the gods. The music is bombastic and grand, just like one hears it at the opera, a melage of trumpets and brass. But the music is also composed of melancholy strings (violins) describing the lament of the Rhinemaidens, bemoaning the loss of the Ring and foreshadowing the coming tragedy. Track 2: Ride Of The Valkyries: This famous war march has been heard in films (such as Apocalypse Now) and occurs toward the end of "Die Walkure". It's a militaristic, noisy, ebullient battle cry. In the opera, Brunhilde, Odin's immortal daughter, has rebelled against him and takes to the air on winged horses with her fellow Valkyries. This interpretation is quite different than others you'll hear because Szell discovered an additional bit of music that Wagner intended to be played but for the most part is not heard. If you're quick, you'll catch it. It's a repetition of the battle cry "Hojo-to-ho" on the trumpet, occuring toward the last portion of the piece. 3: Magic Fire Music: This "magical" music, mostly for strings, serves as the score to the final scene in "Die Walkure" in which Odin has cast a sleeping spell on Brunhilde and puts her in the middle of a ring of fire, where she will await the kiss of the hero Siegfried. The tristesse of the piece represents a father's grief for the loss of his most belove daughter. Track 4 and 5 Forest Murmurs and Siegfried's Journey: This music is taken from various moments in the opera "Siegfried" which relates the hero's adventures. He awakens the sleeping Brunhilde who has become mortal, slays the fearsome dragon Fafnir and wields as magical sword. The Forest Murmurs takes place in the immense forest where Brunhilde lies sleeping. Endowed with the gift of communicatin with nature, a bird tells Siegfried where he can find Brunhilde. If one does not overanalyze the music, merely strings and flutes, one can clearly feel the word-painting and characterization in the piece. The flute is the bird or birds and the forest itself, the more powerful chords represent Siegfried and the brief "Valkyrie" motif stands for Brunhilde. In "Rhine Journey" we hear the strings become the flowing river and we can see Siegfried journeying to a dangerous adventure, one which costs the hero's life. In "Siegfried's Funeral March" Siegfried has been betrayed and is slain by the Giants. The funeral music is dark, primal and powerful in its depiction of nobility and downfall. As it ends, we hear Brunhilde's love theme which then appropriately takes us to the Immolation Scene. Brunhilde, distraught over the death of her beloved, summons her horse and leaps over Siegfrie'ds burning funeral pyre, a grand act of love and sacrifice, the first hint of humanity and compassion in otherwise dark drama filled with greedy and wicked characters. This leads to Valhalla's demise by fire and water and the world ends. Only the Rhinemaidens remain, taking back the ring which had long been stolen from them. Though these are only portions of music from the supremely lengthy score, it is enough to entice the listener to seeing the Ring, the biggest feast of opera one can ever undertake. The Overture to Tristan and Isolde summarizes the work itself. It's a high romantic tragedy concerning the knight Tristan, the King he serves and Isolde the Queen, whom he falls in love with. Their love is doomed but the magic and transient bliss is perfectly captured in the luminescent Overture, which begins softly and mysteriously with the "Tristan Chord" and culminates with a ravishing rush of strings. The Liebestod, the Love Death, is Isolde's swan song, as she dies of love for the fallen knight. Szell does not play this too fast or too slow. It's done right, and it's heartbreaking, ethereal and magnificent, perhaps even at the level of Karajan's famous interpretations of it. The final track is the grand overture to Die Mastersanger Von Nuremberg, a lengthy paean to Mediveal chivalry, all grandeur and pomp.

Five Stars Well Deserved. Make this your first intro to Wagner. The music will seduce you into watching Wagner operas. Dreamy, romantic, grand, sad, larger than life, Szell has captured the essence of Wagner in a single album. Buy it now. It's cheap and affordable. It's highly recommended. Enjoy.

Fabulous Wagner!.......2006-10-07

This is certainly very good music-making, falling just a little short in the colors department - for which the Berlin under Karajan or the Philadelphia under Ormandy are the ticket. But that aside it's difficult to accept all this Szell bashing. People still listen to the Cleveland recording of the Dvorak Slavonic Dances and will for years to come. And unless you have to have original instruments it's tough to beat Szell and the Cleveland orchestra's brio and attention to detail in Mozart and Haydn.
Of course some of this carping may be the result of a little bit too much self-esteem and not enough appreciation for just what it takes to lead an orchestra at such a level. I remember in college I happened to be at a small gathering of literary people including a few novelists and poets and one critic,the august Edmund Wilson. Not knowing any better I walked right up to a stern-looking older man looking every bit the serious 'Dean of American Critics' and blurted out how much fun I had reading his story "The Man who Shot Snapping Turtles." Apparently this gushing adolescent accolade softened him a bit, and he talked with me for a couple of minutes. The last question I asked him was what did he consider the most important thing in writing criticism. Mr. Wilson blurted out bluntly, "Get it right!"
Over the years I have always thought there was a world of truth in that rather journalistic maxim. The reviews here are a perfect example. One could write and gush about this and that, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter how many names you drop, or airs you put on, if you cannot recognize quality you're no better than the crook in Gatsby whose idea of a small town where one could safely pass counterfeit bonds over the counter was Detroit.
In the Great Gatsby the crook passing false currency for real is picked up by the police. Unfortunately Amazon readers are easily mislead by glowing praise or, in the case of some of the reviews of the Wagner here, cold dislike. People react to harsh words, and especially when they are well written and sound based on experience. Let me assure you - no one is always right, and there are some people who, for whatever reason, have skewered taste.
The Szell Cleveland Wagner CD here is a series of showpieces, played very very well by the Cleveland orchestra. What sets this apart from many Wagner collections is the astonishing orchestra playing. Szell's orchestra, supreme in Dvorak, brings to Wagner's music a clarity rarely achieved by other orchestras. Superbly balanced, the virtousity of the players is on full display. It's a joy to actually hear all the myriad instrumental sounds in Wagner's score - Wagner played in tune, what a shocking concept. And particularly Wagner devoid of bathos! Tovey used to cite Wagner as perhaps the best of all orchestrators; here we have the Cleveland at the pinnacle of their glory days, a wonderful momento. Writing nasty dismissive words about performances of this caliber says more about the reviewers than it does about the recording.
This has been remastered for SACD and if you have a machine that will play SACDs then that is the one to purchase.

Szell has not fallen!.......2006-01-14

I quote from a previous review: "Perhaps no eminent conductor has fallen so far after his death as George Szell". To this comment, I say "Baloney". One great thing about Amazon is their sale of deleted CDs by independent sellers. When George Szell/Cleveland Orchestra CDs suddenly disappear, their price by the independent sellers skyrockets. As for the present CD, I have bought it on LP, cassette and CD and cherished it for years. The playing is sensational, the performances have plenty of passion and the sound is great. The Die Meistersinger and Tristan excerpts were recorded earlier than the Ring and have a little more spontanaiety but the Ring excerpts are also outstanding.

Precise, clinical performances in dated sound.......2005-10-29

Perhaps no eminent conductor has fallen so far after his death as George Szell. He was treated with enormous respect during his long tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he couldn't appear in Carnegie Hall without getting raves from the New York critics (his reviews were much better than Bernstein's). On the evidence of this cold, unfeeling CD of Wagner excerpts, mostly from the Ring, one wonders why. Every excerpt is treated to the same strict, unyielding approach; there is no rubato or romanticism. In addition the sound is thin and full of hiss (Szell's LPs on Epic were infamous for their bad sound, and Sony hasn't bothered to improve things on their digitual reissue.)

I will remember Szell fondly from my formative years in the Sixties, but he has become a dead letter in the intervening decades.

Average customer rating: Not worth buying! Don't waste your money Perfect for "drop the needle" style tests A CD with Attention Deficit Disorder This sucks...

Only Opera CD You'll Ever Need Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | 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ASIN: B000003GA0 Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

1. Antony & Cleopatra: 'Give Me My Robe' - Leontyne Price
2. Fidelio: 'In des Lebens Fruhlingstagen...' - Ben Heppner
3. Fidelio: Act II Quartet: 'Ach, du bist gerettet...' - Deborah Voigt
4. Norma: 'Casta Diva' - Rosa Ponselle
5. Candide: 'Glitter And Be Gay' - Harolyn Blackwell
6. Candide: 'Make Our Garden Grow' - Jerry Hadley
7. Carmen: Flower Song - Placido Domingo
8. Carmen: Habanera - Rise Stevens
9. Carmen: Toreador Song - Robert Merrill
10. Les pecheurs de perles: Duet: 'Oui, c'est elle, c'est la deesse...' - Robert Merrill
11. Mefistofele: 'Ecco il mondo' - Samuel Ramey
12. La Wally: 'Eben, ne andro lontana' - ONLY OPERA CD YOU'LL EVER NEED
13. Lakme: Bell Song - Lily Pons
14. L'Elisir d'Amore: 'Una furtiva lagrima' - Tito Schipa
15. Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Chi mi frena in tal momento...' - Carlo Bergonzi
16. Lucia di Lammermoor: 'Spargi d'amaro pianto' - Anna Moffo
17. Martha: 'M'appari tutto amor' - Jussi Bjoerling
18. Porgy & Bess: 'Summertime' - Leontyne Price
19. Porgy & Bess: 'Bess, You Is My Woman' - William Warfield
20. Andrea Chenier: 'Come un bel di di maggio' - Ben Heppner
21. Romeo et Juliette: Juliette's Waltz; 'Je veux vivre' - Ruth Ann Swenson
22. Salammbo: Aria - Kiri Te Kanawa
23. Hansel & Gretel: 'Suuse, liebe Susse - Helen Donath
24. I Pagliacci: 'Vesti la giubba' - Enrico Caruso
25. Cavalleria Rusticana: 'Viva il vino' - Jussi Bjoerling
26. Cherubin: 'Lorsque vous n'aurez rien' - Dawn Upshaw
27. Manon: 'Ah! Fuyez, douce image' - Richard Crooks
28. Cosi fan tutte: 'Come scoglio immoto resta' - Leontyne Price
29. Don Giovanni: 'La ci darem la mano' - Edith Mathis
30. Don Giovanni: 'Deh! vieni alla finestra' - Ezio Pinza
31. Don Giovanni: 'Non mi dir' - Carol Vaness
32. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Non piu andrai...' - Alan Titus
33. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Porgi, amor' - Carol Vaness
34. Le nozze di Figaro: 'Deh vieni, non tardar' - Bidu Sayao
35. Die Zauberflote: 'Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schon' - Fritz Wunderlich
36. Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Zdislawa Donat
37. Die Zauberflote: Papageno - Papageno Duet - Christian Boesch
38. Boris Godunov: 'I v ljutomgore, nisposlannom Bogom...' - Alexander Kipnis
39. Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - Montserrat Caballe
40. La Gioconda: 'Cielo e mar' - Beniamino Gigli
41. La Boheme: 'Che gelida manina' - Giuseppe Di Stefano
42. La Boheme: 'Mi piaccion quelle cose...' - Licia Albanese
43. La Boheme: 'Fremon gia nell'anima' - Luciano Pavarotti
44. La Boheme: Musetta's Waltz Song - Judith Blegen
45. Gianni Schicchi: 'O mio babbino caro' - Angela Gheorghiu
46. Madama Butterfly: 'Ah, ti serro palpitante' - Placido Domingo
47. Madama Butterfly: 'Un bel di' - Leontyne Price
48. Manon Lescaut: 'Donna non vidi mai' - Jussi Bjoerling
49. La rondine: 'Chi il bel sogno di Doretta - Anna Moffo
50. TOSCA: 'Recondita armonia' - Placido Domingo
51. TOSCA: 'Vissi d'arte' - Irina Oudalova
52. TOSCA: 'E avanti a lui...' - Zinka Milanov
53. TOSCA: 'E lucevan le stelle' - Mario Lanza
54. Turandot: 'Signore, ascolta' - Renata Tebaldi
55. Turandot: 'In questa reggia' - Birgit Nilsson
56. Turandot: 'Nessun dorma' - Jussi Bjoerling
57. Dido & Aeneas: 'When I Am Laid In Earth' - Leontyne Price
58. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Largo al factotum' - Robert Merrill
59. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: 'Una voce poco fa' - Roberta Peters
60. Samson et Dalila: 'Mon coeur s'ouvre' - Christa Ludwig
61. The Bartered Bride: 'Wenn ich das einmal erfahre' - Teresa Stratas
62. Elektra: 'Agamemnon' - Inge Borkh
63. Der Rosenkavalier: 'Ist ein Traum' - Erna Berger
64. Salome: 'Nicht in der Welt...' - Inge Borkh
65. Eugene Onegin: Lenski's Aria - Placido Domingo
66. Eugene Onegin: Tatiana's Letter Scene - Leontyne Price
67. Aida: 'Celeste Aida' - Jussi Bjoerling
68. Aida: 'Ritorna vincitor!' - Leontyne Price
69. Aida: 'Gloria all'Egitto' - John Alldis Choir
70. Aida: 'O patria mia' - Leontyne Price
71. Un Ballo in Maschera: 'O docezze perdute! O memorie...' - Robert Merrill
72. Don Carlo: 'Dio, che nell'anima infondere' - Placido Domingo
73. Ernani: 'Emani, involami' - Leontyne Price
74. La forza del destino: 'Or muoio tranquillo...' - Robert Merrill
75. La forza del destino: 'Pace, pace mio dio' - Zinka Milanov
76. Nabucco: 'Va, pensiero' - Oleg Reshetkin
77. Otello: 'Credo' - Tito Gobbi
78. Otello: Willow Song - Leonie Rysanek
79. Otello: 'Niun mi tema' - Jon Vickers
80. Rigoletto: 'Qesta o quella' - Alfredo Kraus
81. Rigoletto: 'Caro nome' - Anna Moffo
82. Rigoletto: 'La donna e mobile' - Jan Peerce
83. Rigoletto: 'Bella figlia dell'amore' - Alfredo Kraus
84. La Traviata: Brindisi - Montserrat Caballe
85. La Traviata: 'Di provenza' - Sherrill Milnes
86. La Traviata: 'Sempre libera' - Eleanor Steber
87. La Traviata: 'Addio del passato' - Anna Moffo
88. Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus - Moscow Classical Chorus & Ensemble
89. Il Trovatore: 'Di quella pira' - Placido Domingo
90. Il Trovatore: 'Tacea la notte placido - Leontyne Price
91. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: 'Morgenlicht leuchtend' - Set Svanholm
92. Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Staatskapelle Dresden
93. Die Walkure: Wotan's Farewell - Lawrence Tibbett
94. Siegfried: Song Of The Forest Bird - Norma Sharp
95. Gotterdammerung: 'Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort' - Kirsten Flagstad
96. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus - Robert Shaw Chorale
97. Lohengrin: 'In fernem Land' - Lauritz Melchior
98. Tannhauser: 'Dich teure Halle' - Waltraud Meler

Customer Reviews:

Not worth buying!.......2007-05-29

I found this recording basically worthless. It contains only very short excerpts of the song. Not enough to get into and enjoy!

Don't waste your money.......2007-01-18

This is the worst purchase I have ever made. It is a truly dreadful piece of work.I was so disgusted with it that I threw it into the trash can.

Perfect for "drop the needle" style tests.......2006-11-19

If you want to hear full recordings of arias, then this disc is not for you. It plays only tidbits of 99 arias. Contrary to the title, this is definitely not the only opera disc you'll ever need. You shouldn't take it seriously. This disc has next to no value for an opera neophyte. But for opera fanatics, there has never been a better test of your knowledge of operatic repertoire and singers. It's a great challenge for opera buffs. Sit down with your opera loving friends for an hour, play this disc, and try to be the first to identify the singer, composer, opera, and piece. If you're a music professor, this disc would make for an awesome pop quiz. Find out how well your students really know their opera repertoire.

A CD with Attention Deficit Disorder.......2006-10-02

I don't know anyone who would enjoy this CD. It will drive opera fans nuts with a hundred exerpts that run about 30 seconds each, then fade out without the singers even finishing a single verse. It's more like an index of arias, or a volume of teasers that hucksters might use to sell opera CDs.

I never realized how much Bernstein's "Glitter and be gay" sounded like Delibes' "Bell Song" until I heard 35 seconds of one, followed 23 seconds of the other.

Maybe the TV show 'Jeopardy' could use this CD. 'What is "Hush little baby don't you..."??'

What a waste of beautiful voices and great music. 38 seconds of Enrico Caruso, followed by 31 seconds of Jussi Bjoerling, followed by 38 seconds of Dawn Upshaw.

My copy is going to go sailing into the wastebasket as soon as I finish this review.

This sucks..........2006-03-31

I should only blame myself for not checking out more reviews... this is a CD filled with short, little snippets of great operas songs... and I mean SHORT, LITTLE snippets of 30 seconds or so, each. Don't buy this CD... it is a complete rip off... and that is saying ALOT since it is only $4.00... Again, my fault for not reading the reviews but I trusted that something called a "Music CD" would actually have complete songs... What else does this company offer? A "Music CD" that only has the intros or applause tracks to great songs...?

Move on to something else... Amazon has a great selection... just not this one.

Track Listings:

1. Disc Drive Disc With Gothe
2. Down Under: Music from Australia, New Zealand and Canada
3. Edition 2
4. Elgar: Enigma Variations/Military Marches (5)/The Crown of India
5. Enescu: String Quartets Op.22
6. First Recordings 3
7. First Recordings 4
8. First Recordings 5
9. First Recordings 6
10. Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 6, 7 & 8

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Absolutes

December

Carolyn Owen

1944-1945 Broadcasts

Desert Road

Free Soul at Birth [Import]

Disney's Lullaby & Goodnight

Graeme Koehne: Powerhouse; Three Poems of Bryon; Capriccio; Nocturnes Nos. 1 & 2; Unchained Melody

Cowboy Rumba

Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport [Live] [Import]

Come On Pilgrim [EP]

Cortez Loop Ep [CD-single] [Import]

Diametric [Import]

The Everlastin' Living Jesus Music Concert

Magical Mystery Tour