• Amazon Sales Rank: #151200 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-02
• Number of discs: 1

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Picture

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Image

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Photo

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Picture

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Image

Kyung Wha Chung Souvenirs A Collection Picture

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Chung at her best
By P. Rah
This is only the second recital disc she has done (the first was ‘Con amore’ in 1987). Chung is at her best here, warm and fiery at the same time – unlike just the impulsive Chung of 20 years ago. Ever since the late 1980s, her playing suffered from an uncertainty in the technique and expression – burnout maybe?. Anyway, since the middle of 1990s. her playing blossomed into a warmer, more ‘pleasant’ playing. Still fiery, but as I said, warm. And this disc shows Chung at her peak. She fully realsised the different facets of emotions the pieces can convey to the listener. Listen to ‘Tambourin chinois’ she really captures that ‘Oriental feel’ about the piece (very Viennese at the same time too) – I am Korean, so I know about these things (except for that Viennse thing!)! The whole disc is a pleasure to listener and I recommend every bit of this disc to anyone interested in Chung’s playing. Buuuuuuuuuuuuy it!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Heavenly beauty
By A
My only regret for this recording is that Chung chose to record only the fifth movement of Stravinsky. I recently heard her playing the whole five movements of Stravinsky’s Duo Concertante. I hope someday soon she will record the all five movements of Stravinsky. This Souvenir album is a beauty of beyond description.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Really beautiful.
By A
I’ve always loved her music . . . and I enjoy this album very much. I bought another one of hers (Vivaldi CD) which came out very recently (like last year or this year) [....]

Anyway, I love the Vivaldi CD even more. It’s really superb. It calms you down while at the same time motivates and excites you from the bottom of your heart. She’s a great artist.

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #1603852 in Music
• Released on: 2000-01-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Pic

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Pic

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Photo

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Image

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Image

The Royal Treasury Of Classical Music Box Image

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Best Of Prokofiev

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #107717 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Best Of Prokofiev Pic

Best Of Prokofiev Image

Best Of Prokofiev Pic

Best Of Prokofiev Photo

Best Of Prokofiev Photo

Best Of Prokofiev Picture

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
This collection focuses more on Prokofiev’s ballet works
By Lawrance M. Bernabo
I found it quite interesting that the two main CD collections featuring the assorted works of Sergei Prokofiev have so little overlap. Outside of key works like the March from “The Love for Three Oranges” and excerpts from his Classical Symphony in D Major, the two collections go in opposite directions. This particular collection emphasizes “Romeo and Juliet” and “Cinderella,” while completely ignoring “Peter and the Wolf.” What I like most about this one is that it has an excerpt from Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto, which is the one the Amy Irving character plays in “The Competition.” Consequently, this is one of the few times when you do not really have to choose between two competing “hits” collections, you can simply pick them both up. The “Best of Prokofiev” might be the one I would recommend picking up second, but it will still be a worthwhile addition to your classical music collection.

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R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #403234 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Picture

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Pic

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Image

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Pic

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Pic

R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Parergon Photo

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Zinman’s Strauss
By Eric S. Kim
Critically acclaimed maestro David Zinman is as outstanding as the late Rudolf Kempe: he handles Richard Strauss’ masterful tone poems magnificently. Every note is taken under direct precision, and there is no overblowing whatsoever. The Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich gives out spectacular emotion in almost every piece. The soloists, especially Melanie Diener as the soprano for “Four Last Songs”, do a fine job and play their parts with clarity. As for the sound quality, it is most excellent when it comes to volume and beauty.

Each tone poem strikes me like lightning. Ein Alpensinfonie, Macbeth, Metamorphosen, & Tod Und Verklarung are very powerful to listen to. Aus Italien, Don Quixote, Don Juan, & Sinfonia Domestica have pure dynamism. Also Sprach Zarathustra, Oboenkonzert, Parergon, Vier Letzte Lieder, & Festliches Präludium are at their finest when it comes to Zinman’s conducting. To know the rest is to listen to them straight through.

I highly recommend these seven CD’s to anyone who is starting to have a keen fascination with Richard Strauss. It is low-priced for seven discs, and the brilliant performances from the Tonhalle Orchestra will just dazzle you completely. Also, try the Rudolf Kempe renditions with the Staatskapelle Dresden: they’re either on EMI Classics or on Brilliant Classics.

Volume 1: Aus Italien, Macbeth Richard Strauss: Aus Italien; Macbeth

Volume 2: Ein Heldenleben, Tod und Verklarung Richard Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Tod und Verklärung

Volume 3: Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegels, Also Sprach Zarathustra Richard Strauss: Don Juan; Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche; Also sprach Zarathustra

Volume 4: Ein Alpensinfonie Eine Alpensinfonie / Festliches Praludium

Volume 5: Metamorphosen, Oboe Concerto, Four Last Songs Metamorphosen / Oboe Concerto / Four Last Songs

Volume 7: Don Quixote R.Strauss: Don Quixote; Celloromanze; Bläserserenade

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Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #38532 in Music
• Released on: 2010-10-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Image

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Pic

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Picture

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Photo

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Picture

Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Sea Hawk Picture

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Demonstration material since analogue days
By K. Ketterer
I have been using this recording as my favorite demonstration recording since it was first released on RCA in the 70′s. Korngold’s music is suitably sweeping and lush and the sound is impeccable. Don’t let this one get away!

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Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Picture

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Pic

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Photo

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Pic

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Pic

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 4 And 5 Photo

95 of 102 people found the following review helpful.
Ludwig van Beethoven-Complete Piano Sonatas
By I’d rather be rich than stupid
This book is an excellent value! For only about 10 bucks you receive over 350 pages of music in a high quality book. It opens flat, and doesn’t fall off the piano while you’re using it. The binding has not cracked or split, and shows no signs of doing so. I would pay twice as much as I did for this book.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful.
Cheap, Well-Printed, Good Fingerings, Schenker’s Footnotes
By J Scott Morrison
This is a reprint of one volume of the two volume set of the legendary 1923 Universal Editions set of all 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas in Heinrich Schenker’s scrupulous edition, complete with his footnotes and an explanatory introduction. Physically the book (and its companion comprising the rest of the sonatas) is well done. It lies flat, the binding doesn’t crack (or at least mine hasn’t in several years’ usage), the printing is legible, the fingerings are easy to read and generally pretty apt. This book and its companion have had a lot of use and they’re still in pretty good shape. And, of course, they provide many hours of pleasure at the piano.

Perhaps best of all is that Dover’s price won’t break anyone’s bank. I don’t know how Dover does it, but I have bought many of their scores–not just Beethoven–with general satisfaction.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful.
Great value for the price you pay!
By A
This Dover edition of the Beethoven Sonatas is a great buy! The book is binded well and will last you many years. I own volume 1 and 2 and after 5 plus years of abuse, the book lies flat, the binding doesn’t crack or split, and the pages aren’t discolored. In addition, the score is well edited with dynamics and fingering notations. The editor also left plenty of space for you to write in notes. Compared with the Henle edition, this book is cheaper and it will last longer.

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #240350 in Music
• Released on: 2002-08-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Classical Child Dreams Image

Classical Child Dreams Picture

Classical Child Dreams Picture

Classical Child Dreams Photo

Classical Child Dreams Pic

Classical Child Dreams Image

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Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #553472 in Music
• Released on: 2004-06-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Pic

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Pic

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Picture

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Pic

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Pic

Grainger Works For Solo Piano Vol 3 Picture

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #167085 in Digital Music Album
• Released on: 2004-10-01
• Running time: 3462 seconds

Classical Daydreams Picture

Classical Daydreams Photo

Classical Daydreams Picture

Classical Daydreams Picture

Classical Daydreams Picture

Classical Daydreams Photo

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful.
By Lauren Ortiz
This is a particularly beautifully arranged collection of classical favorites. It is very relaxing and soothing, but also quite moving. I bought a copy of it to listen to as background music at work. Since that time I have bought five more copies to give to friends, because everyone who hears it just has to have it. The arrangement of Debussy’s Clair de Lune, in particular, is very moving. It brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
mesmerizing
By A
This is a soothing album to play in the background to help concentration or to just relax.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Ultimate relaxation and meditation music
By A
I am ordering 2 more copies for my collection. This is my all time favorite for relaxation and meditation. If I am having a bad day, I will put this on when I climb into the hot tub and drift away. I also use this for when I am happy and want to reflect. The 2 copies are for me so that I can have a backup at home and also a copy for work to help me to concentrate at work. I can honestly say this is the most beautiful CD I have ever heard.

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• Amazon Sales Rank: #29768 in Digital Music Album
• Published on: 2005-01-11
• Released on: 2005-01-11
• Running time: 3157 seconds

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Picture

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Image

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Photo

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Photo

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Image

Chopin Scherzi And Impromptus 2 Picture

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Yundi Li has done it again
By Wham
I have been very excited after listening to this CD. Again, this disc demonstrated Li’s virtuosity and poetic style. There are plenty of fresh and inspiring interpretations without any distortion whatsoever. From the way he had played these pieces, you know he is an artist with great depth.

Li’s scherzi are more dramatic, masculine and full of contrasts if you compare him with other pianists such as Pollini, Ashkenazy, Martha argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Dang Thai Son, Arthur Rubinstein, Samson Francois, Josef Hofmann, Claudio Arrau, Benedetti Micheiangeli, Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter and a few others. I have never heard scherzi played with so much virtuosity and contrasts before. Li had played these scherzi with rare clearity and details. He had brought out all the details not only from the outer section, there are clear details from the bass as well. You will notice at once his clear bass for bar 14, 15, 22 and 23 of scherzo No.1 which I don’t hear from other pianists. I thought I had liked Benedetti Micheiangeli’s scherzo No. 2 the best, but Li’s scherzo No.2 is even more inspiring and masculine. The way he surged forward and slowing down, you seem to agree with every note he had played. But what you will enjoy most is the emotion Li had put in for these scherzi. Li’s scherzi is full of life, youthful energy and passion. He is just the opposite to Pollini who is always too detached and clinical for me. It’s exactly the emotion and virtuosity he had put in for these four scherzi that had distinguished his scherzi from others’. At the end of Scherzi No.3, Li had built up the crescendo gradually with great virtuosity and then just exploded with full emotion. I had never enjoyed scherzi so much before. For the slower lyrical parts of the four scherzi, being a first prize winner of the prestigious Chopin Competition, Li had certainly played with very tasteful and convincing rubati.

The three impromtus are beautifully played. You will also notice Li’s sensitivity in music from the way he played these impromptus. Li is so articulate that you sometimes hear whispering and murmuring from him as if he was telling you a tale.

Like Li’s previous Liszt album which had won him New York Times Best CD award in 2003, I strongly recommend this Chopin scherzi and impromtus.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful.
Li’s deeply felt, patrician Chopin rises to definitive here
By David H. Spence
This is the third disc released by this amazing young Chinese pianist and 2000 winner of the Warsaw Chopin prize – the first winnner of first prize there in fifteen years (contest held every five) – after the jury may have been embarrassed by who they gave it out to one or two previous times. This disc, above the other two he has released (though the Liszt is certainly very nearly worth owning too), shows a thorough command of the idiom, whereas his debut first Chopin disc did not quite. Li continues his studies in Hannover with Arie Vardi, and took a year off from making any recordings, before making this one. He’s 22 and taking his time, i.e., has not made it here to Houston yet, whereas we’ve had five visits from Lang Lang, so at least a few of us here hope he will eventually get around to us.

Emotional connection with the music on this disc shows a little containment or a slight lack of abandon in a few spots, but he makes something very dramatic and narrative about the B-Flat Minor Scherzo, and which reveals an unusually heard grand formal scheme to this warhorse, very convincingly making something of the charnel house out of it – better than the more laidback Rubinstein (1959, RCA) mentioned below. He takes the almost enormous risk of a huge, very steeply arched crescendo toward the end of the C-sharp Minor. He also brings a special feeling of melancholy to the middle section of the fourth in E Major, as he also does in the second impromptu over very controlled rolling octaves, if he misses the little extra lightness that Rubinstein brings to arpeggi and trills in a few spots during the fourth scherzo here. Any sectional feeling about the B Minor I did not find quite excessive, but the voice leadings from lower registers impressive, if all in all not quite the performance to put Rubinstein again in the shade. And yet, if any moments during the scherzi reveal any mild shortcomings interpretatively, his spinning out of the long lyric line in each of the three impromptus, lit from within with deep feeling and introspection finds an artist who has matured intepretatively a good ways beyond his age, and one who has put backphrasing or any such excess far off to the side by the time these Chopin sessions of last year were put together. His first Chopin disc dates from 2001.

Ultimately, this is playing that goes toe-to-toe with any of the great Chopin pianists of at least the recent past – Rubinstein, Pollini, Argerich, Zimerman. I made the comparison with Argerich after hearing this guys’ first disc, then revoking it after listening to her late 1960′s recording of the Chopin B Minor Sonata (on Mr. Li’s first disc), yet while still acknowledging that I had heard something worth reckoning with. No such comparison was necessary this time. This is a truly amazing disc – from a notably still young pianist originally from the innermost reaches of mainland China (Szechuan) and one who is indefatigably fastidious, and by the same token somewhat patrician in tastes about his Chopin, yet doing his level best to hide anything so painstaking about it. One looks forward to his expansion into other repertory.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
next generation starts here
By V. Makarov
As a musician myself i take great care in reviewing others’ works. I would like to start by addressing what I believe is a common “mistake” in music analysis. For example, comparing Pollini or Arrau with Yundi Li and Leif Andsnes. Just as music evolves, so does its audience. What stirred the soul in 1950 may not be equivalent today. Further, since the pieces do not change while pianists do, they are forced to play it differently if for no other reason than to avoid comparison. Today’s pianist has to address today’s audience. Thus, if you are buying Li’s cd to hear something that sounds like Arrau or Horowitz I believe you are missing the point. In the end the pianist’s appeal should rest on the individual soul.

Having said that I wish to comment on the more “academic” aspects of the work. What is striking about Yundi’s playing is his sense of continuity. He seems to understand intuitively the evolution and structure of the individual piece. This is a trait that is essential in composition. Great veteran pianists possess this as well. For his age it is remarkable. Second, he has a very smooth style that combines sensitivity with a sense of effortlessness. For this reason, overall I believe his Chopin is better than his Liszt. This is not to say that he has an inadequate sense of drama. His finale to the third scherzo is rather impressive. Third, he has his own voice – a pre-requisite for a lasting career.

It will certainly be interesting to see him record something from the classical repertoire, like Beethoven. In the mean time, I would highly recommend this CD to all piano lovers. For now its four stars…hopefully the best is yet come from this very promising talent.

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