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Vivaldi: Four Seasons & Concertos RV257, 376 & 211

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Sony Classics

June 18, 2002
no matter how many times you ve heard this work--dinners at ialian restaurants with it scratching smoochily away--faux-sophisticated advertisers using it to flg their duff goods--along comes this version to bring a fresh invigorating sound -if you are cleverer tnan i am you ll talk about the period instruments doncha know--but however its done [ with strings so im told ] this is a superb version of a beautiful piece of music

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Handel: Operatic Arias

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Veritas

October 05, 1998
This is a wonderful CD -- fantastic singer, beautiful compositions, superlative orchestration. I have several Norrington projects and they rank among the favorites of my collection.
But...
The sound quality is such that I have to turn my speakers up *a lot* to hear the music. Any other CD is good at half the level I must use for this one. I don't know how it happened that the volume is so faint that I must crank up the speakers to hear it properly.
Sound notwithstanding, it's wonderful music that will increase your appreciation of Handel. If not for the sound issue, I would have given it 5 stars.

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The Da Vinci Code

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Hans Zimmer

May 15, 2006
No, no, no. This is not the best film music ever composed. It is all the same - even the terrifying movement that was cut barely makes anything tingle. Yes, it has to experienced with the film, but this is where this soundtrack falls down.

This soundtrack does not stand on its own: if it is supposed to, it falls into that awful Classic FM genre of baroque-style easy listening, which surely must become a graveyard eventually.

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Cloudburst and other choral works

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Hyperion

January 30, 2006
If you like listening or singing choral music you must own this CD. This is a beautiful album. One of the best pieces is A Boy and a Girl, a lyrical piece that is simply stunning. Eric Whitacre is growing in reputation as one of the best choral composers of this generation. This album cements that reputation.

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Bach - Works for Trumpet

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Alina Ibragimova

January 09, 2006
Released in January 2006, this is the second CD from Alison Balsom - the third if you include The fam'd Italian master' released on the Hyperion label in 2003, which was music performed by various brass players and The Parley of Instruments group.

The title itself is interesting. It suggests that all the works are written by Bach, but this is only partially true, and none of them were originally scored for the trumpet. In fact, Bach wrote no works specifically for solo trumpet, only pieces such as the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 can be found as possible examples of Bach's affinity to the instrument. The two pieces not wholly Bach are the concerto in D, written as a violin concerto by Vivaldi, and the concerto in C minor by Marcello. Bach's ... Read More:

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The Best Classical Album in the World...Ever!

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Virgin TV

November 08, 2004
A fantastic selection of all the tunes you've ever said "Oh.. that's the tune from the ....advert, isn't it? What's it called?" about.

OK that's a very trite comment, but you get my point. Pure enjoyment, without the intervention of the tracks in a single classical album which you have to pretend to appreciate if you're not to look like a Philistine.

An absolute belter..an education, and a gateway to composers you'd never heard of, (neither had I).

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Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Naxos

November 04, 2002
If you love Tchaikovsky (you'll already have this), ballet or classical music his is for you. Lots of well known tunes and some lesser known ones that are just as good. A good quality recording too. Top quality.

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Beethoven - Complete Symphonies (LSO, Haitink)

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: London Symphony Orchestra, Twyla Robinson, Karen Cargill

March 05, 2007
this is my favourite set of the beethoven symphonies..the sound is superb, and the playing has plenty of energy and feeling - quite a fast pace to other versions though

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Stravinsky - Rite of Spring; Firebird - Suite

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Sony Classics

September 13, 1999
This is one piece of music is revolutionary. Instead of harmony or "tune" as it's content it uses rhythm. Primeval and dark it shows the picture of the tradition rite of spring Stravinsky was trying to show. This is ballet at it's best and at it's most raw. I cannot recommend this music enough. This forms a sort of bridge between the romantic era and the modern movement. Mix this music with works such as Picasso or even impressionists as Renoir washed down with buckets of absinthe and you will see what a revolution in sound and vision (plus resolve!) was going on. What are you doing you are reading on you should be buying this stop reading the review goes pretty boring from now on trust me! And for those not familiar with the ballet this was the music from the ... Read More:

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The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: TV soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Childrens Toy Shop > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Original Soundtrack

October 01, 1999
I bought this album after a search as basically I could not get the theme music out of my head after 40 plus years.

The haunting themes remain one of the great TV programme soundtracks. They were never obtrusive but added to the atmosphere to a stupendous series.

Much recommended to all 40 somethings and makes this reviewer wish for the simpler life and entertainment we had in those halcyon days of the 60's and 70's