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Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2 -
List Price: $17.98
Amazon Price: $9.28
Used Price: $4.99
| Someone once commented on the "sulphurous devilishness" of Haydn's surprises in the London symphonies. But it should come as no surprise that one of the best recordings of these works is from Sir Colin Davis, whose accounts with the Concertgebouw Orchestra stand among the most exalted phonographic accomplishments of recent years. There is a Beechamesque quality to these readings, and when it comes to Haydn, that is praise indeed. They are exceptionally personable, characterful, likable interpretations, with wit, warmth, and life in every measure. All 12 symphonies are wonderfully played and very well recorded. At full price, these recordings would be a top choice; as midprice offerings, three symphonies to a disc (averaging more than 75 minutes of music each), they're a steal. --Ted Libbey
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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7 -
List Price: $16.98
Amazon Price: $9.28
Used Price: $3.99
| Estimates will appear in the order form. After placing your order, you will see both shipping and delivery date estimates in the order confirmation e-mail and in the order summary in Your Account.
Calculating Cost
Shipping costs for orders from Amazon.com depend upon the method and option you choose.
If you choose to group items into as few shipments as possible, you'll be charged for one regular per-shipment fee, as well as a per-item fee for each item in that shipment.
If you choose to ship items as soon as they become available, we'll charge you full per-shipment fees for each shipment as well as a per-item fee for each item.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
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Mozart: The Last Five Symphonies -
List Price: $17.98
Amazon Price: $9.28
Used Price: $6.02
| These were always fine performances of Mozart's last five symphonies (Nos. 36 and 38-41; Michael Haydn wrote his 37th) and they stand up wonderfully. Marriner was never an over-Romanticizer, and even here, with a pretty-good-sized band of modern instruments, the touch is thoroughly "Mozartean," without being at all fussy. In other words, this is a very classy set--tempi and emphasis are never less than ideally judged, and there's energy to spare. What a buy! --Robert Levine
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Mahler: Symphony No. 1 -
List Price: $16.98
Amazon Price: $10.99
Used Price: $8.49
| Folks who generally shy away from Boulez's Mahler ought to hear this performance. It's a whale of a good time, plain and simple. Far from being cold and analytical, the first movement positively glows with romantic warmth. Boulez is especially generous with the big retard leading to the first movement's climax, where the Chicago brass literally whoop it up, just as Mahler demands. The second movement is fast, but never lacking in charm, while the funeral march of the third movement has the right quality of cartoon ghoulishness. Good klezmer-like interludes, too, if not quite up to Kubelik's incomparable standard. Best of all, the finale positively blazes--no dragging, no underplayed climaxes--simply a blast from beginning to end. Indeed, it's hard to dismiss the notion that the usually cerebral Boulez is simply getting a naughty thrill letting his Chicagoans play the pants off of this most colorful of romantic symphonies. They've recorded it at least four times previously (for Giulini, Tennstedt, Solti, and Abbado), but this really is Chicago's best. Great sound, as well, with room-shaking bass. Take this to your local stereo store, play the last five minutes, and see if you can dim the lights in your neighborhood while you blow out some woofers. --David Hurwitz
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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 6 "Pastoral" & 8; King Stephen Overture -
List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $6.99
Used Price: $3.86
| Estimates will appear in the order form. After placing your order, you will see both shipping and delivery date estimates in the order confirmation e-mail and in the order summary in Your Account.
Calculating Cost
Shipping costs for orders from Amazon.com depend upon the method and option you choose.
If you choose to group items into as few shipments as possible, you'll be charged for one regular per-shipment fee, as well as a per-item fee for each item in that shipment.
If you choose to ship items as soon as they become available, we'll charge you full per-shipment fees for each shipment as well as a per-item fee for each item.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
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Dvorak: Symphony Nos.7 & 8 -
List Price: $9.98
Amazon Price: $6.02
Used Price: $6.15
| This orchestra learned to play these symphonies under the legendary George Szell, whose Sony recordings have been reissued on CD and remain a prime recommendation in this music. For those seeking digital sound, however, these new versions are very distinguished, combining the Cleveland Orchestra's customary superb ensemble with a warmth and urgency of expression usually in short supply from this conductor. At mid-price, this is an excellent recommendation. --David Hurwitz
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Ode to Freedom: Symphony No. 9 -
List Price: $24.99
Amazon Price: $15.64
Used Price: $18.99
| Leonard Bernstein's historical concert in celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has long become almost as legendary as the revolutionary moment that it celebrated. Recorded at the beautiful Schauspielhaus right on Gendarmenmarkt in the centre of Berlin on Christmas 1989, it has now become available on DVD, along with a short documentary film as bonus. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 1989 unleashed a wave of democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe that radically transformed the world order and Leonard Bernstein spontaneously accepted an invitation to conduct a performance to mark this new era. It was only fitting that East Germany's new-found freedom should be celebrated with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The monumental work, perhaps the world's most famous Symphony, was inspired by Schiller´s poem "Ode to Joy", a passionate eulogy to freedom. Adding to the symbolism of the event, Bernstein conducted an orchestra and chorus formed from musicians from both East and West Germany (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden), as well as the United States (New York Philharmonic), Great Britain (London Symphony), France (Orchestre de Paris) and the Soviet Union (Orchestra of the Kirov Theater).
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Copland: Symphony No. 3 - Symphony for Organ & Orchestra -
List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $6.42
Used Price: $4.58
| Leonard Bernstein's performance of Copland's Third Symphony has had to wait a long time before finally appearing on CD. Part of the delay no doubt stemmed from the fact that DG released a second, later recording with the same orchestra, in digital sound. Comparing the two versions, both of which are very good, one prefers this first performance. Not only does the music move a bit more quickly, with sharper rhythms and a stronger sense of the dance (never far from Copland's musical thoughts), but the sonics are more naturally pleasing. The coupling is a terrific performance of the early Organ Symphony, which the composer wrote for his teacher, Nadia Boulanger. --David Hurwitz
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Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish"); Chichester Psalms -
List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $6.90
Used Price: $5.95
| Leonard Bernstein's Kaddish, Symphony No. 3, from 1963 is probably his most famous. It's dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy, and comprises spoken and sung texts from Jewish prayers for the dead. It's quite dramatic, very listenable, and not at all pretentious, as some critics have avowed. It ranks with Shostakovich's harrowing Symphony No. 14 and deserves more attention than it usually gets. Which is damned little. The same goes for Bernstein's Chichester Psalms (1964). It's a very engaging choral work that celebrates the practice of psalmody or choral festivals, a kind of celebratory music we don't hear much. --Paul Cook
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Schmidt: Symphony No. 4; Variations on a Hussar's Song -
List Price: $6.98
Amazon Price: $5.38
Used Price: $5.66
| Estimates will appear in the order form. After placing your order, you will see both shipping and delivery date estimates in the order confirmation e-mail and in the order summary in Your Account.
Calculating Cost
Shipping costs for orders from Amazon.com depend upon the method and option you choose.
If you choose to group items into as few shipments as possible, you'll be charged for one regular per-shipment fee, as well as a per-item fee for each item in that shipment.
If you choose to ship items as soon as they become available, we'll charge you full per-shipment fees for each shipment as well as a per-item fee for each item.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
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