Morandi

It's only natural we sometimes hit the high seas....make that Cs. This is one box set about which we sing praises. This set features more than two hours of the finest music from across the centuries by such composers as Schubert, Chopin, Mozart, Handel, Stravinsky and Glass. The set also comes with a 562-page illustrated book, detailing the lives of hundreds of composers, a
glossary of musical terms and a unique guide to the classical music used in 360 top films.

Naxos is a fabulous label -- you will not get samples of the best classical music through the ages at no better price. These tracks are as good as any of the over-priced major orchestras and in some cases better. This is a great starter set for a beginner or anyone who just wants to "taste" the classics. If you prefer Opera I would suggest the A to Z of Opera -- most of the tracks on A to Z Classical are orchestral. I was so impressed with this collection that I purchased the Discover the Classics Vol's 1-3 which will give you a more detailed look at the great classics. Take a look at the Naxos web site at NAXOSUSA.COM -- what you will see will blow your mind -- there are literally thousands of pieces that you could listen too!

This is pretty much a CD version of a mini-Naxos and Marco Polo catalog. All the pieces and extracts are ordered chronologically on the 2 CDs and are of very acceptable quality, but don't expect excellence in every track. Personally, I was particularly disappointed with one of my favourite Pachelbel pieces. The Naxos Canon & Gigue lacks all the emotion of my favourite versions.

Still, any possible weaker performances are of little importance after you get your hands on the fat booklet with over 500 pages. The booklet offers a short intro about the great composers, a glossary of musical terms, a list of works used in films and dozens of illustrations of several composers.

Overall, at this price, this is a must-have pack for any beginner, and might be useful for the occasion "quick check" of the work of many composers. Do not expect many detail, nor references to all the works of some composers; I often got frustrated with the lack of detail in some cases, but in general, the booklet is very effective for a quick reference.
You will need more titles that offer more complete information, and you won't truly learn to love classical music just by reading it, but it is small and compact.

It really puzzles me why Naxos did not include a full index of composers, a serious omission. To find a particular composer you will have to look for it yourself in over 500 pages. Also, the separation of the text is not so good, making the search even a bit slower. The lack of the index is truly annoying and I am sure it will be corrected in future editions.

Even with a few weaker pieces and the lack of the index, at this price, there isn't much to argue about. This is truly a bargain that you should not miss. I would also recommend the A-Z of Opera, which offers a bigger booklet with over 700 pages, focusing on opera works and mentioning several composers that are absent from the A-Z of Classical. That other booklet has a very complete index, and much clearer text layout and separation, that's the way both booklets should have been designed.

The two sets complement each other very well. Highly recommended.

I wanted to learn about opera and found the A-Z of Opera CD and book. I couldn't believe it when they got here. The price for the CD alone was a bargain, but this book is fantastic. It has the the complete A-Z of Opera from the Naxos website. That's plot synopses, cast lists and background details for hudreds of operas, plus a lot of other information.
I've received a lot of enjoyment from this set. I'm sure that Opera lovers would appreciate it and I know that it is perfect for those who would like to learn Opera.

Oh, such letter-perfect perfection! This marvel features a two-hour-plus showcase of well-known arias from "Cosi Fan Tuti," "Aida," "Carmen," "Madame Butterfly" and "The Barber of Seville." It also comes with a book --- 762 pages of remarkable facts, figures and illustrations.Encore!

This is, by far, the best introduction to opera on the market. It also contains some gem performances for anyone who already has a serious opera collection. Several tracks on this collection of mostly Eastern European singers rival those of their Western counterparts. This is a collection for EVERYONE - from the opera novice to the person who has long collected all the major Western stars. At this price, it's the best opera bargain in the world. GET IT NOW!!! Thank you, Naxos! I hope that some of these Eastern European singers at last get the attention they deserve.

I received this as my 20th birthday gift from my bestfriend and I was amazed at the quality and the content of this CD. Some of the arias which I am immensely fond of are included, i.e. "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen." And who would have guessed that the soprano on track 10 performing Queen of the Night's Aria from Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" was none other than Hellen Kwon? Amazing!

I really love this gift from my bestfriend for it was thoughtful and well, what can I say that this makes an excellant gift for opera neophytes (though I am not an opera neophyte).

The highlight of this CD is track 13, Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" from "The Barber of Seville." When I first heard this, I was contemplating to myself as to where have I heard this before. Then it hit me: Michigan J. Frog's signature tune! (In case people are wondering who on earth is Michigan J. Frog is, he is the Warner Brother's frog; the frog can be seen on WB network channel). I love this track! Buy this for yourself if not this makes a perfect gift for your opera neophyte friend(s)! This track brings joy and smiles on my face everytime I hear this piece!

More than just a promotional sampler, the Naxos (8.555037-38) contains not only 2 CDs crammed with 39 excerpts from that company's seemingly bottomless catalogue, but also a 762 page book. The text offers plot summaries of almost every important opera and many of far lesser renown (Delius' "The Magic Fountain," Mascagni's "Iris," for example), a brief biography of the composers, a glossary, and finally a discography. The recorded examples are in chronological order from Monteverdi to Korngold. The entries in the book, however, are in alphabetical order--so be careful to look for "Zauberflote," not "Magic Flute," and so on.

Of course, Big Names do not appear on many Naxos opera sets; but this set is an introduction to that vast area of culture and is meant to be an educational (and of course a promotional ) device. Nevertheless, many of the selections on the CDs are beautifully sung, a very few lack characterization (the arias from"Don Giovanni" and "Nozze di Figaro" for two). But at this incredibly low budget price, who can complain?

As soon as I saw what this set had to offer, I immediately ordered a copy as a seasonal gift for a friend who wants to "get into" opera. I could think of no better gift.

There is a sister set titled (8.555319-20) that uses the same format. There are 2 CDs with 36 selections from Gregorian Chant to Glass. The 562-page book gives us the major facts about "the Great Composers and Their Greatest Works, " a glossary, and a 45-page list of classical music heard in films. The discography is included in the composers section. Again, the value of this set as an educational tool is enormous and well worth the extremely low price Naxos is asking.

great album and for a great cause

This is one of the most beautiful CD's I have ever heard. The combination of Pavarotti, Mirah Carey, BB King, Lionel Richie and the children's choir is magnificent!!! Listening to those children singing in Italian was very beautiful.

I am a big fan of Pavarotti and have been for years. I have given this CD to many friends as a gift and they have all enjoyed and loved it. The Italian songs brought back memories of growing up in NY and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

As always, Pavarotti and 'his friends' have made another great album. This time he is joined by such diverse acts as Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, B.B.King, Joe Cocker, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, and Boyzone, among others. These benefit concerts are a great way to raise money for children in war torn countries, as a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this album goes to 'War Child'. The 28 page book is packed with photos from the night, and of some of the children who will benefit from this. Recommended.

After accidently seeing the PBS show I rushed to find the CD and soon after found the video at Amazon. What an entertaining show and as all others have said, Ricky Martin shined and sang Mamma in Italian perfectly. Pavarotti blended in so beautifully with every guest and you should especially listen to Boyzone who are from Ireland but in my ears top the Back Street Boys and all other American boy groups. The only singer who really needs some developing was Laura Pausini of Italy. All in all, I highly reommend this CD and I will enjoy it for years to come.

I listen to Pavarotti while I do household chores...his voice adds an elegance to the humdrum duties, and this album provides a brilliant blend of talent. This is my first of his series of benefit albums and I'm off to purchase more...a brilliant must for the PAvarotti library...Brava to Gloria Estefan and Frank...they are fabulous with the Master Tenor!

Look at my customer review for the first volume as it pertains to this CD as well. In short, the playing is excellent and the prices are impossible to beat. Thank you for your valuable time =)

This recording is better than many of the other Figaro CDs I've bought and for the price it's really a great value.

No kidding. This album has the best Cherubino part compared to the other Le Nozze di Figaro copycat. After you've listened to Non so più cosa son, you would feel bad hearing the other rendition of the same song.

you do not have to be an opera expert to appreciate this cd , as a person who is just beging to appreciate fine opera this is a wonderful choice . waht is nice amazon gives you the opportunity to listen to the tracs prior to buying it. i am extremelly pleased with this item and im sure you will be to. sincerly christian john nielsen

If right now you need to know joy and timelessness, a heart filled with light, beauty that has been and will be always, overflowing with the splendor you are fashioned from, knowing all that is your own, that you are only in the least important sense alone, with nothing to fear other than never perceiving any of this, close your eyes and listen to the Duettino Sull'aria from Le Nozze di Figaro...

This CD is a wonderful value with top-notch recording. The Cherubino character (mischievous lovestruck youth) is especially delightful on this CD. I fell in love with "Sul Aria" in The Shawshank Redemption, and later saw this opera live. Though it's only a highlights album, I found it rather complete, with solid linear notes (plot summary for you to follow along), and ALL of the beloved songs I had remembered. I recommend this one!

This 2CD set from Naxos at super-budget price is a wonderful way for teens or adults to acquaint themselves with the Romantic Era of classical music. It contains complete movements from works ranging from Beethoven (the 'Eroica' Symphony that started the Romantic era) to Elgar (the Nimrod variation from the 'Enigma Variations'). And pegged to those selections is an extensive and clearly-written 100-page essay by David McCleery that gives all kinds of background information as well as blow-by-blow descriptions of the pieces being played [e.g., in Schubert's song, 'Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel', "when she imagines kissing him the piano stops its repetitive spinning motif, indicating that she is so overcome by the thought that she has stopped working."]. Accompanying the text are pictures of the composers as well a quotation from most of them, from the sober [Mahler: 'To write a symphony is, for me, to construct the world.'] to the humorous [Grieg: 'I am sure my music has the taste of codfish in it.']. Also, there are reproductions of historical documents that illustrate the social currents of each period of time, from the Declaration of Independence, illustrating the spread of the idea of democracy, to a letter from Dvorák to his music publisher taking him to task for his anti-Czech sentiments.

Composers represented by their music are Beethoven, Berlioz, Liszt, Chopin, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, Glinka, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Smetana, Dvorák, Fauré, Grieg, Mahler, Rachmaninov and Elgar. Among the musical selections are all sorts of music, from the Beethoven symphony movement, chamber music of Schumann, a song by Schubert, an operatic duet (from 'Don Carlo') by Verdi, Fauré's Romance for Violin and Piano, the first movement of Mahler's First Symphony, a Chopin polonaise, and a Liszt piano concerto. The recordings of all these works are excerpted from Naxos's huge library of releases of classical music, and the performances are universally quite acceptable and in good stereo sound.

Provided as a kind of background for the newcomer to classical music is a Timeline of the Romantic Era (music, history, art, literature) so they can place various composers and their works in a cultural context. There are extensive suggestions for further listening, a listing of Romantic era composers including many more than those whose works are included here, and a helpful glossary of musical terms written in everyday language.

This is a very thoughtfully done short-course in the Romantic era that will not only answer questions of casual classical music listeners but also stimulate interest in further exploration. I recommend it highly.

2 CDs TT=2hrs30mins and 161 page booklet in a slipcase

Scott Morrison

In the 1960's, the great and immortal Marilyn Horne began her astonishing operatic career with her ability to use her mezzo soprano voice in the execution of the most intricate coloratura of Rossini. She was, in a very real sense, like Callas and Sutherland, a "restorer" rather than an "innovator". Revivals of Rossini operas like "Semiramide", "Tancredi", "L'Italiana in Algeri", "Ermione", "L"Assedio di Corinto" returned to the operatic repertoire because Marilyn Horne could sing them. She even sang Jocasta in Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex", as well as works of Handel, Donizetti, and Bellini.
Now comes Ewa Podles, whose voice is NOT a mezzo-soprano, but a real contralto with a technical ability to match Horne's. Podles' voice is a truly amazing instrument, one which can encompass the lowest "basement" notes of Verdi's Ulrica and Azucena, and can then enter the world of florid Rossini coloratura and deliver it with the precision of a machine gun. Virtually all of the items on this recording have been previously recorded (in the most spectacular fashion) by Marilyn Horne. Her versions of these pieces are cherished vocal documents. Podles, in a very real sense, is even more amazing in the sense that she is a real contralto, a voice all but extinct today. This Rossini disc deserves a place alongside of Horne's versions. Voices of this caliber are from another planet.

Ewa Podles is a dramatic contralto who is not as familiar to American audiences as she should be. She hasn't sung at the Metropolitan Opera in something close to 20 years, but is scheduled to sing the role of La Cieca in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda" there next year. There is speculation that she may be past her prime now, but this recording of her singing Rossini arias shows her off very nicely. Her singing is very distinctive and she is a committed performer.

Her voice is rich and warm but with an amazing agility - perfect for the coloratura mezzo-soprano and contralto roles that Rossini wrote for the virtuosa lower-voiced female singer. Her ornaments are showy and when she ends on a high note, the power and the range of her voice just amazes. She uses chest voice to great effect.

Great price also for this CD - it is a specialty recording for someone looking for something different but masterful.

why do some people with great knowledge of music confuse the type of voices and then write a review about it EWA PODLES is not a mezzo or thought the first time naxos releasd the rossini arias they did launch it as "ARIAS FOR MEZZO SOPRANO" IT AS SINCE BEING RIGHTLY RECTIFIED TO "ARIAS FOR CONTRALTO"AND WHAT IS THIS ABOUT HER VOICE NOT SOUNDING YOUNG ENOUGH FOR ROSINA(FROM ONE 5 STARS REVIEW CUSTOMER?)I'M AFRAID THEY'RE ARE ALOT OF MUCH YOUNGER SINGERS THAT COULD NOT DO HALF OF WHAT E PODLES DOES.
SHE WILL BE AT THE WIGMORE HALL IN JANUARY 2008 WITH RUSSIANS SONGS AND I CAN NOT WAIT WHILST I WOULD NOT CROSS THE PAVEMENT FOR CECILIA BARTOLI! BUT THAT'S MY CHOICE.(BY OTHER WAY I WILL PROBABLY MAKE SOME PEOPLE FURIOUS BY ADMITTING WITH PRIDE THAT MY FAVORITE SINGER IS WAIT FOR it!DAME JOSEPHINE BARSTOW!)what about that then?
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The Polish-born Mezzo-soprano is truly magnificent on this CD. Her voice is amazing and one-of-a-kind: it is full, rich and strong with an unbelievable range and a nice coloratura. She maintains full strength throughout her range and her voice never wavers and is never weak or shrill. If you like the beautiful melodies of Rossini and the sound of a great Mezzo-soprano, you'll like this CD.

This is an amazing, surprising and refreshing way of looking/hearing Rossini. After years of hearing most mezzo-sopran and alt roles conquered just by force of numbers by counter-tenors and Cecilia Bartoli (don't get me wrong,she's really good, but have you ever asked yourself why she doesn't perform usually on big stages but on small ones or on studios? Her voice, though wonderful for coloratura, is small for a big audience), I have come to adore, simply adore, this polish singer. Her way of singing, her voice's colour, her strength and her ability to sing the most damned roles written for a low voice....including coloratura (just hear her in "Dovver, iustizia, amor..." from Handel's Ariodante) make her a wholesome alto. Which makes me hope for a better day for alto and mezzo-sopran voices. I must confess I don't like counter-tenors a bit, they sound too un-natural.

This isn't a bad CD, and it serves as a useful introduction to the style of Vivaldi. However, there is one less than ideal concerto on this disc, namely the concerto for 'flautino'. Musicologists now agree that the instrument in question is the sopranino recorder (see the very good Naxos recording of Vivaldi's recorder concertos). However, here it is played on the piccolo. I imagine some people like this instrument, and I think it does have its place in the orchestra for ornaments and flourishes. However, I find it nauseating as a solo instrument. In addition, the tempo is way too fast and Jiri Stivins took some very non-baroque liberties in his ornamentation. It is a shame since I like this concerto.

Whatever problems there are with the Flautino concerto are made up for by the trumpet concerto and especially the cello concerto, which is very dark for Vivaldi. The others are also good, so this really makes a good introduction to Vivaldi (if you ignore the piccolo).

Bought this for my husband for his birthday and he is thoroughly enjoying it. Nice varied selection of concertos with good mastering.

This is an exciting album that showcases a relatively small collection of Vivaldi's MASSIVE output. At the last count, there were something like over 600 concertos to his name!! Given this, I believe that Naxos has done a brilliant job of compiling this album, choosing works of astonishing variety and excitement.

I assure you that you will never tire of this album. I have owned it for many years now, and I still listen to it regularly. It has provided many, many hours of listening pleasure, and it would be a crime to give the recording anything less than a solid 5 out of 5.