what a fantasic album. i first heard of the penguin cafe orchestra on irelands classic radio whilst on holiday there. on my return home i bought a copy of "a brief history" and my ears have been truly treated. if you have heard anything by the pco but dont own any of their stuff, but like this sort of music then take the plunge you wont regret it and just like me treat your ears.
>>More Details
Better than 'Born'. The quartet have reached new heights. The music will not appeal to everyone but it appeals to me. This album would be a good match to 'Bombay Jazz Palace' the music has the same mystical east undercurrents. Gone are the 'Hooked on Classics' mixes in are sitars and bongos. I was quite hesitant at giving the album a full 5 Stars as I normally reserve that for Albums that have stood the test of time, but this is definitely a good one.
>>More Details
I had the Peter and the Wolf album, with Richard Baker narrating, when I was little and it is one of the best things that I can remember from my childhood. It is still one of my favourite pieces of classical music and listening to it still makes me feel slightly scared of that wolf! Together with Richard Baker's calm narration it is just brilliant. I would recommend this to any parent for their child - it will keep them quiet for hours!
>>More Details
I had the Peter and the Wolf album, with Richard Baker narrating, when I was little and it is one of the best things that I can remember from my childhood. It is still one of my favourite pieces of classical music and listening to it still makes me feel slightly scared of that wolf! Together with Richard Baker's calm narration it is just brilliant. I would recommend this to any parent for their child - it will keep them quiet for hours!
>>More Details
This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter. The Magnificat is Rutter's version of a standard piece of liturgical music, an intersection of old and new. This was recorded at one of the Cambridge Singers' favourite venues, the Great Hall of University College School, London; the Requiem was recorded in 1986, and the Magnificat in 1991.
--Music-- 'The Magnificat' is one of my favourite pieces of the liturgy, and one I enjoy hearing set to different kinds of music. This is a very lively and spirit-filled rendering, with magnificent vocals expressing the joy that is found in the prayer of Mary - 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour'. The ... Read More:
>>More Details
This is a long-awaited Bach disc from David Daniels. We are more accustomed to having him sing heroic Handel operatic roles, branch out into American folk songs, or even into Berlioz, but somehow it was inevitable that he would end up recording the Bach arias he has often sung in concert performances of the Passions, the B Minor Mass or Cantatas. And what a disc it has turned out to be. I had never heard him sing Bach before so this disc was a revelation to me. Andreas Scholl has received notable and deserved praise for the purity of his tone and somewhat restrained [Church] interpretation of Bach cantatas for alto, but Daniels' performances here are a different animal, as you would expect from an experienced operatic singer. But these are not vocal fireworks ... Read More:
>>More Details
It's one of those albums that takes it's time to really soak in like OK Computer, then it's stuck in the CD player for months. So intricate that it's got something new each time you listen.
The Debut album is a cracker in places, but Sky 2 shows their confidence to play to their strengths as a band.
Toccata gets old on repeated plays but 'Watching the Aeroplanes' is an awesome piece in 4 parts.
I have owned this recording since it first came out and I wore out two LP's. I am not Karajan's greatest fan but here he is in the repertoire he does best and he has three soloists who all thoroughly deserve the epithet "great". The tempi are spot on. The playing of Oistrakh and Rostropovich in the slow movement still takes my breath away. Throughout the three soloists empathise and play together perfectly and in the final movement with real playfulness. I have never tired of this recording in the near 40 years I have owned it. The CD coupling with the Brahms is a sensible one and it is well played. Oistrakh remains my favourite violinist not just for his richness of tone but for his breadth of repertoire. Rostropovich was, arguably, the finest cellist of his generation ... Read More:
>>More Details
this was a good buy. quite different in sound to the way the originals were sung. the background vocals were excellent. quite surprised it was londoners who did the music cos it sounded like Americans. a good album to listen to when chilling with friends and family.
>>More Details
This CD is an oasis of calm for those who have a hectic time at Christmas. An hour listening to Rutters compositions and arrangements, which have glorious, yet subtle harmonies, which are sung simply and unfussily, allows quiet reflection on the true meaning of christmas for the individual, be that sacred or secular.
>>More Details