Classical > Instrumental Classical > Brahms, Johannes

Advantages: An excellent introduction to Classical Music
Disadvantages: None

This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) and a 562 page book (not quite as thick as the Opera one) compiled and written again by Keith Anderson. So what's in the pack? ~~ The Book This contains ...
...same size as a CD and fairly thick. The text is concise and clear and informative, with portraits of composers throughout. After the index you get 450 pages of concise histories of composers, with recommendations of recordings from the Naxos catalogue. It is arranged in alphabetical order, and starts with Adolphe Adam and is completed by Bernd Alois Zimmerman. As well as details about the composer there are sections on the different types of music ... Read review

Advantages: A decent collection of varied music
Disadvantages: Several 'sections' of music

I am myself a fan of music that particularly illuminates deeper aspects of ourselves; something that makes us 'think', or, as the back of this CD box says, 'uplifting, spine-tingling classical music'. How could I possibly go wrong with this? The answer is; I haven't. This is a lovely CD, the recordings are, if not beautifully clear, crisp and refreshed. The pieces are well played and some interpretations- for instance the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto ...
...beautiful I have heard. This CD obviously lacks the massive buying power of larger compilation producers but through this it has found less well-known, more abstract performers that tend to push a far deeper message through their music. The tracks are well-laid out and sourced; from the opening track of Sunrise from Also Sprach Zarathrustra by R. Strauss to the closing The Lamb by Tavener you feel as though you are not just listening to music, ... Read review

Advantages: Some great music
Disadvantages: Compilations!

...on? I don't think Classic FMs listeners are quite ready for that yet. The track list for the Opera is: 1. Delibes: Flower Duet (Lakmé) 2. Rossini: Largo al Factotum (Barber of Seville) 3. Puccini: Nessun Dorma (Turandot) 4. Dvorak: Song to the Moon (Rusalka) 5. Bizet: Au Fond du Temple Saint (The Pearl Fishers) 6. Bellini: Casta Diva (Norma) 7. Puccini: Che Gelida Manina (La Boheme) 8. Mascagni: Easter Hymn (Cavalleria Rusticana) 9. Bizet: ...
...(Madame Butterfly) 12. Verdi: Celeste Aidi (Aidi) 13. Mozart: La ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni) 14. Verdi: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco) 15. Puccini: O mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) The Opera CD is probably my least listened to of the three, not because I dislike Opera, to the contrary I love it, but after all I have said about background music I tend to use the CD's when we have people round and Opera is not everyone's cup of ... Read review

Advantages: make you image something
Disadvantages: packaging not very pretty

this classic FM relax music is one of the best instrument musics i have ever heard.some relax music can mek you feel sleep then forget tired,some relax music can make you excied ,then leave your boring things .they are all well workable i think .but this FM music can not either make you sleepy or too excited. instead it will make you feel bright and would like to start your dance .as is you are in a beautiful countryside and walk with your family ...
...will make you hear some bird pretty sound. in a word, this FM music can make you image many happy things and will help you come into many scene . after work,if you feel a little tired,please listen to it .then you will feel refresh. that is why i reconment i t ... Read review

Advantages: Impressive performance of interesting opera at an unbeatable price
Disadvantages: You will be left wanting more

Introduction: There simply isn't anything to beat the adrenalin shot of being one of maybe 120 people on stage performing some major musical masterpiece in front of a hopefully packed house. Orchestral playing is totally addictive! So when I was recently asked to play in the 2nd violin section of the orchestra for a weekend opera workshop, I didn't have to hesitate before saying yes. I was told it would involve around 15 hours of rehearsal from ...
...performance of the entire opera. Loads of playing = lots of fun! The opera in question was Alexander Porfir'yevich Borodin's "Prince Igor". Since I didn't know the opera apart from the famous Polovtsian Dances, I thought it might be good to get a CD of it before going to the weekend. Whilst my sight-reading is pretty good, there is nothing more embarrassing as an orchestral player to turn the page, be confronted by an unexpected sight of lots of ... Read review