City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music

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.Pärt: Alina
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: ECM New Series

October 25, 1999
If someone was to ask me to go through my music collection and pick out the perfect piece of music, Alina would be it. Neither offensive nor boring or shallow, it's uncomplicated with thought provoking phrasing, holding one's attention time after time without growing tiring. Yes, the tracks are slightly repetitive and the CD only has 2 tracks (albeit varied), but believe me you could stick your player on repeat and have this running for a couple of hours without wanting to change it.

What is interesting is that everyone who has heard this CD playing has complemented the music and asked for the details. It's a winner with my wife, who despises at least 90% of my music taste. It even manages to calm my baby down.
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.The Only Piano Album You'll Ever Need
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Victor

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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.24 Postcards in Full Colour
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Max Richter

August 25, 2008
As someone who has loved all Max Richter's recordings, from 'Memoryhouse' onwards, I know how beautiful and resonant his work can be. This is no exception, though many pieces leave you regretting their lack of brevity. My quibble, however, shallow as it may seem, is that the running time gets shorter with each album, '24' being half the length of 'Memoryhouse'. Size isn't everything but maybe some of the pieces could have been more expansive. Lovely, nonetheless.
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.The John Rutter Collection
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Universal Classics

October 21, 2002
The John Rutter Collection

Quite simply pure joy. This music is an experience that will inspire you, transport you and delight you. John Rutters arrangements are special and this particular collection is one treat after another. Buy the CD and you will appreciate all that lies within. I enjoyed it so much I bought two (in case one ever got damaged). Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
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.Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Deutsche Grammophon

April 17, 1989
This marvellous suite is the very embodiment of the Henrik Ibsen's unparalelled work of fantasy. The music is more than an accompaniment to the play, it is essential to a successful performance, enabling both the actors and the audience alike to become completely absorbed by Ibsen's stunning world.
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.Gorecki - Symphony No.3: Sorrowful Songs
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Nonesuch

July 06, 1992
I can't judge this from a musicians point of view, or from anything apart from that this music connects with some bit inside of me that I can't explain in technical language.

Sorrowful yes, you certainly feel that raw emotion from this album. It is also very peaceful and grounding - not great over-worked symphony that makes you wallow in your own depression. Very simple and beautiful.

All I can say is that this music connects with some inner part of me and that I love it. It's rather personal and you should take a listen to it before you buy it - but I'm sure you'll love it.
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.A Brides Guide to Wedding Music for Civil Ceremonies
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Various Composers

May 29, 2006
I can't judge this from a musicians point of view, or from anything apart from that this music connects with some bit inside of me that I can't explain in technical language.

Sorrowful yes, you certainly feel that raw emotion from this album. It is also very peaceful and grounding - not great over-worked symphony that makes you wallow in your own depression. Very simple and beautiful.

All I can say is that this music connects with some inner part of me and that I love it. It's rather personal and you should take a listen to it before you buy it - but I'm sure you'll love it.
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.Lang Lang: Nigel Hess Piano Concerto
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
by: Lang Lang

August 04, 2008
Nigel Hess's piano concerto was commissioned in memory of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: hence the somewhat portentous titles for each of the movements. It is a shame that it occupies a CD all on its own (at under 23 minutes) and it would make an excellent coupling with Howard Blake's, the latter piece having been dedicated to Princess Diana.

Hess is primarily a film music composer, and clearly needed the `hook' of a extra-musical concept in order to get his creative juices flowing, however he wouldn't be alone amongst composers in this. Certainly the concerto itself shows no signs of being any kind of detailed narrative.

If you're expecting a deep and intellectual work, then this isn't for you, but if you value melodic interest and ... Read More:
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.Vaughan Williams: Pilgrim's Progress
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Emi Classical

April 21, 1992
I had the privilege of working backstage during the 1954 Cambridge production of Pilgrim's Progress at the city's Guldhall and also had the pleasure of meeting the grand old man himself, when Vaughan Williams and his wife attended a performance and came backstage.
I found the performance of that work completely overwhelming and a fully emotional experience. The sequence when Pilgrim meets Mr. By-Ends is very Puccini-esque and the "Lord is My shepherd" sequence is quite sublime. The Entrance into Heaven completely surpasses Handel's Hallelujah Chorus and is most moving. I have worn out my three disc LP set over the years. The CD re-issue of this recording is highly recommended.
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.Chopin: Favourite Piano Works
City Travel Guides > Classical Music > Classical Music
from: Universal Classics

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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