Wagner: American Centennial March; Imperial March; Polonia Overture etc

Advantages: Good show, hurrah for the British Empire!
Disadvantages: Hum, humph...

...Alice in 1920 had drained much of the former energies out. Still, it is hard to tell this from the optimism inherent in this march that is not inferior at all despite being heard more rarely. SYMPHONIC PRELUDE: POLONIA, OP.76 (1915) (14:25) The final work on the album is not really a march, but a homage to the suffering Poland during World War I. Polonia was dedicated to the pianist Jan Ignaz Paderewski and its purpose was to aid the Polish Victims' Relief Fund, the concert where it was first performed also including Paderewski's own Polish Fantasia. It is primrily based on Polish national songs, the middle one being particularly characteristic in that it was also used by Wagner, Liszt and Paderewski as well in their musical depictions of Poland. The material also includes the revolution hymn against the Russian Tsar that was written... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

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

...) Donizetti - Una Furtiva Lagrima (L'Elisir d'Amore) Bizet - Habanera (Carmen) Rossini - Largo Al Factotum (The Barber of Seville) Delibes - Flower Duet (Lakme) Purcell - When I am Laid in Earth (Dido and Aeneas) Verdi - Grand March (Aida) Mozart - Soave sia il Vento (Cosi Fan Tutte) Puccini - Nessun Dorma (Madam Butterfly) CD2 Rossini - William Tell Overture (William Tell) Bizet - Seguedille (Carmen) Puccini - E Lucevan le Stelle (Tosca) Offenbach - Barcarolle (The Tales of Hoffman) Verdi - Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco) Mozart - Voi Che Sapete (The Marriage of Figaro) Leoncavello - Vesti la Guibba (I Paglicacci) Bellini - Casta Diva (Norma) Mozart - Der Holle Rache (The Magic Flute) Verdi - La Donna e Mobile (Rigoletto) Gluck - Che Faro Senza Euridice? (Orfeo ed Euridice) Bizet - Au Fond du Temple Saint (The Pearl Fishers) Wagner - Ride... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautifully packaged edition of highly worthy soundtrack
Disadvantages: Must I?

...reflects someone very familiar and at ease with the material. Track 1 is the Overture which provides us with the most recognisable theme from the movie, the upbeat march which conveys the scale of the operation magnificently and the optimism that went with it that Market Garden would end the war and have the boys back home by Christmas. It segues into a sad refrain that accompanies Liv Tylers onscreen narration of the fall of Holland. 2, A Dutch Rhapsody, slow, melancholic, depicting a nation under brutal occupation. 3, Before the Holocaust perfectly conjures up the morning of the Allied airlift. Fine weather at last, everything is set for go, and this track builds to the recognisable march which accompanies the awe-inspiring airlift. 4, Underground Resistance accompanies the worrying discovery that the German retreat from Holland is halting... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful