Bach: Wedding Cantatas, BWV202, 209 and 210

Advantages: Everything you could ever want from a classical CD
Disadvantages: none

.... The Nutcracker - Suite Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky 17. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor Composed by Felix Mendelssohn 18. Cavalleria rusticana Composed by Pietro Mascagni 19. Gloria in D Composed by Antonio Vivaldi 20. Coronation Anthems Composed by George Frideric Handel 21. Cantata No. 147, 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben' Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach 22. Requiem in D minor Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 23. Ave Maria Composed by Charles Gounod 24. Miserere mei Composed by Gregorio Allegri 25. Requiem Composed by Gabriel Fauré 26. Lakmé Composed by Léo Delibes 27. Les contes d'Hoffmann Composed by Jacques Offenbach 28. Pavane Composed by Gabriel Fauré 29. Gianni Schicchi Composed by Giacomo Puccini 30. Madama Butterfly Composed by Giacomo Puccini 31. Nabucco Composed... Read review

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Advantages: A fine mixture of gothic, medieval and modern music and words. You will know some of the themes - it will repay study. This is a superb rendition.
Disadvantages: None

...with peasant fare and mugs overflowing with wine. For many years its words were not translated from the original language because of their lewd nature. It has acquired shadows from the most sinister forces of the last century. It is now a prized part of the orchestral repertoire. There is also a stage performance (part theatre, part ballet) – which is being revived in the UK later this year. Give this one a try. Be patient. I think you will come to like it. WHO WAS CARL ORFF? Born in Munich in 1895, Carl Orff was late in developing his own musical style. Although he had composed many minor pieces – even before he had any formal training – it was not until he was thirty that he started to attract any attention. He was appointed as conductor to the Munich Bach Society in 1931. There are many rumours that Orff was a Nazi or at least a Nazi... Read review

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Advantages: Bonney's gorgeous voice; intelligent singing; great selection of songs
Disadvantages: No translations included

..., to the full symphony orchestra used in the operatic arias. The album begins with a selection of early music, including ‘Come again’ by Dowland, ‘Dido’s Lament’ from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and ‘Heute noch, lieber vater’ from Bach’s Coffee Cantata. Bonney demonstrates superbly that early music doesn’t have to be lacking in emotion- her Dido is subtly drawn but full of pain and tragedy. The Alleluia from Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate shows an impressive technical flexibility and skill, with Bonney making the scalic coloratura runs sound ridiculously easy (and having sung the piece I can assure you that they are not!). But for me it is in the Mozart operatic arias that Bonney really shines. She has the perfect voice for Mozart opera- light but warm and full of personality. Her ‘... Read review

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