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The Only Classical Album You'll Ever Need

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
from: Classics

November 03, 2003

The budget price doesn't reflect the quality of this 2 disc collection of classical music highlights, for the soloists, orchestras, conductors and the recordings themselves ensure it is a good quality selection of mostly familiar music from the classical music repertoire.

The choices lean heavily towards the opera style, so for that reason alone will not be the only album necessary to cover everyone's taste - even the complete classical beginner will find many of their familiar favourites are absent.

The tracks are mostly single movements from the whole score, which may not please the more enthusiastic classical fan, but it's unavoidable given the short time permitted by only 2 CDs. In any case, this album really ... Read More:

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Beethoven: Favourite Piano Sonatas

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by: Alfred Brendel

January 18, 1994
Brendel sets the mark for other performers for seven of Beethoven's finest piano sonatas.

Although brendel sticks to the notes, he still manages to leave his mark on the music.

recommended !

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Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
by: Vladimir Ashkenazy London Symphony Orchestra André Previn

September 18, 1995
To my ears this was a very good recording of the great composer's piano concertos.

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Beethoven - Complete Piano Sonatas

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
from: EMI Classics

September 28, 1998
I play these pieces regularly on my piano but I was reduced to tears on hearing several of these renditions by Barenboim. They are intensely intellectual and emotive interpretations and may not be to your taste but boy, they do have impact. I am now searching for Barenboim's later recordings to compare the styles. Impetuous youth, or genius? Only you can tell!!

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The Only Piano Album You'll Ever Need

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
by: Various Artists

May 26, 2003
As a professional concert pianist for the last thirty years or so, it was a great relief to find that they have released everything you need on 2 CDs. Sure enough, since I bought it I have been able to discard the 1000 or so CDs that I had collected of performers like Cortot, Horowitz, Rachmaninoff and Schnabel (and I now have enough room for a pool table!). They are simply not necessary when you have these two CDs.

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Beethoven: The Piano Concertos

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
by: Vladimir Ashkenazy Chicago Symphony Orchestra Georg Solti

November 20, 1995
Vladimir Ashkenazy must rank as one of the greatest pianists of the modern era. His blend of flawless technique and sensitive interpretation marks him out as being uniquely placed to deliver as near to definitive performances as it is possible to get. This set of piano concerti was my introduction to his work, and I remain as impressed now as I was when I first heard them. He is ably supported by a rich and warm sound from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by the incomparable Sir Georg Solti. Ashkenazy was apparently apprehensive about approaching Beethoven and attempting to play him in the West when he emerged from the Soviet Union as a young man in the sixties; he need not have been. His command of the tonal energy and colours of the piano works is unrivalled. ... Read More:

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Mozart: Great Piano Concertos

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
by: Vladimir Ashkenazy Philharmonia Orchestra

July 07, 1997
Mozart is deceptively hard to play - everything is so exposed and must sound clean and polished. I have a lot of respect for Ashkenazy as a pianist, because in these Mozart concertos he has achieved just that. Perfect legato, even playing. I find these recordings so satisfying to listen to, as he is in utter control of everything. The playing of the Philharmonia is beautifully refined (Ashkenazy conducting from the keyboard) - every melodic line is brought out, and the emphasis on phrases is exactly where it should be. I would say that the orchestral playing in the Ashkenazy cycle is superior to that of the revered Murray Perahia cycle - Mozart - The Piano Concertos.

The D minor concerto has to be one my favourites of Mozart's 27, and it is given an amazing ... Read More:

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Chopin: Favourite Piano Works

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
by: Vladimir Ashkenazy

September 18, 1995
As an avid lover of Chopin I felt a "Best of" collection would lack depth, however i found this to be simply not the case. From the deeply moving Nocturns, powerful Ballades to the surprisingly interesting waltzes and Sherzos this collection is the best introduction to a brilliant composer. Ashkenazy as ever plays Chopin's works with more fluency than almost anyone on modern record, enough to spark anyone's interest in Chopin and his era of piano musc, i strongly urge you to buy this collection and then expand upon it!

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Beethoven - Triple Concerto. Brahms - Double Concerto

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
from: EMI Classics

October 05, 1998
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:

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Mozart for Meditation

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Keyboard
from: Philips

February 10, 1997
I really enjoyed this CD and I did find the music relaxing. However as someone who meditates regularly I do not think that it is music that would be used to meditate to. One can sit and relax to this CD but if you want to meditate this CD, in places, can be quite stirring and would not lend itself to an actual meditation practice.