Classical > Vienna State Opera Chorus Classical

A mixed mess of good and bad

Advantages: Every sacred music by Mozart in 1 boxset
Disadvantages: Not the best available

...for the 250th anniversary of Mozart (other box sets include piano concertos, operas etc). This box set contains every mass, litany, vesper, that he wrote. It can seem a bit daunting, looking at all those discs, and the 3 or 4 works on each one, and wondering which one to put on. start at the beginning and go through them! The orchestra is the Concentus Musicus, a period ensemble (and one of my favourites) of high calibre. On this occasion, tey ...
...it comes to performances from most other conductors, and you can certainly hear it in the well-executed performances. (for more details on period music - see my review on Haydn's Creation). The Works: There are over 3 dozen works here, so I won't mention them all. The Requiem is quite different to most other recordings I have heard. The Dies Irea (played and imitated in god knows how many films) is taken quite slowly, a change from the usual bash-it-out-as-loud-and-quickly-as-possible ...

rwjkelly 27.05.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Mozart 250th Anniversary Edition - Complete Sacred Works

HISTORY OF TENORS ON ONE CD

Advantages: All the hero's in one
Disadvantages: Mixed sound recordings Sound louder and quieter in places

...first glance you would imagine the CD to be the normal mainstream nonsense with Russell Watson singing Amor ti Vieta, but when looking at the back you do see that this is a quality CD. So lights down low CD player on high and a nice Glass of wine and you are ready for an audio trip through operatic tenor modern history. Track List: (THERE ARE 27 TRACKS IF YOU WANT A SUMMARY OF EACH ONE THEN READ ON OTHERWISE HEAD FOR BOTTOM OF REVIEW) Track 1: O ...
...the Cd. Nothing but quality technique and voice on show here, one of the best renditions you'll ever hear Track 2: Morgenlich leuchtend sung by Peter Anders Not my favourite song and a big jump in quality from the first track but still an adept singer, the first sign that there is going to be a wide variation of voice and style on this record Track 3: Bimba, dagli occh sung by Hedwig von Debicka and Helge Rosvaenge The first Duet we hear on the ...

jameslucjan 19.09.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Greatest Tenors of the 20th Century

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Advantages: easy to find the piece of music you want
Disadvantages: maybe too familiar for the expert listener

...I have begun to explore the world of opera, deciding to inject a little culture in my life! My uncle had definitely been listening to my interests as this CD was one of the great gifts I had. It is a double disc album, cleverly titled 'The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need! And I can honestly say that this may be a very true claim! Only the most famous arias are included on these cds, covering many composers including Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, ...
...with the place you'll recognise the song from, such as the British Airways advert, the films Fatal Attraction and Moonstruck and the Baileys tv advert. This is extremely helpful for those times when you just can't place where you know a song from. In my house this has also settled many arguments about which composers feature on which advert! The songs are beautifully performed by Luciano Pavarotti, Lesley Garrett, Placido Domingo and many other ...

fluffyfreak 08.01.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need, Volume 2

Ode to Joy

Advantages: Catchy Tune
Disadvantages: None

Ode to joy was written by one of the worlds most renounced composers - Beethoven. This is in my opinion the best of beethoven's symphonies. This song is the easy to play and the tune is very catchy. The music is E E F G G F E D C C D E E D D E E F G G F E D C C D E D C C. The easy tune is very catchy and quite easy to remember. If you are learning to play the piano or keyboard I would suggest that you start by learning this one. I would recommend ...

TerryMan123 06.05.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Ode to Joy

Exciting recording of Verdi's Requiem

Advantages: Glorious recorded sound, a fine group of soloists
Disadvantages: Some fans may not like Sutherland in this music

This version of Verdi's Requiem sounds absolutely terrific. The chorus has lots of presence -so important in the famous Dies Irae and the soloists are miked beautifully. The 'Hostias' and 'Ingemisco' are some of the finest recordings of Luciano Pavarotti available. Arguably he had more character by the time of his later recording from the late 80s with Riccardo Muti but he is caught here at his finest vocally with the hushed ingemisco amongst the ...
...been criticised quite a lot by critics that think she should not have recorded Verdi roles (similar complaints surround her Traviatas, her Leonora in Il Trovatore and her Elvira in Ernani). I really like her in this music. She is certainly preferable in my opiion to Schwarzkopf (Giulini/EMI and De Sabata (Naxos)) or Nelli (singing for Toscanini). Her voice is very different from Angela Gheorghiu so if that is the sort of voice you like in this music ...

operalover2000 04.04.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Verdi: Requiem; Quattro pezzi sacri