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Abraham Lincoln Portraits
Anthony LaMarchina • Sharon Mabry • Mary Kathryn van Osdale
Barry M Scott • Roger Wiesmeyer
Nashville Symphony Chorus & Orchestra • Leonard Slatkin
8.559373-74
In this time of so many changes, with echoes of Lincoln's impact on our country and society, this recording is wonderful and rewarding. I especially liked Bacon's Ford's Theatre. - J Butterfield, USA
Ernst Bacon's Ford's Theatre was eloquent and evocative.
- M Jurs, USA
Ford's Theatre by Ernst Bacon was particularly well performed and is a beautiful piece. - S Farrell, USA
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because the whole Lincoln bicentennial recording is so very value-filled with some of the most rewarding musical American expressions, one of those favorites of mine definitely being Ernst Bacon's "Ford's Theater". Thank you for getting these gems out to the public to reward our lives, hence the planet, in very important ways!
- E J Holm, USA
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BÉRIOT Violin Concertos Nos 2, 3 & 5
Philippe Quint • Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra • Kirk Trevor
8.570360
This is an excellent recording of previously unknown works. Immediately appealing music, coupled with great performances from both soloist and orchestra. More like this please! - C Stock, UK
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BERNSTEIN Mass
Jubilant Sykes • Morgan State University Choir
Peabody Children's Chorus • Baltimore Symphony Orchestra • Marin Alsop
8.559622-23
Marin Alsop and her orchestra are splendid! The more I listen, the more I like it! You can almost feel that all the performers are deeply involved in this Mass. Waw! - Ekmai, Belgium
It's a very nice work!!! I didn't know this Mass. - S Freddi, Italy
The performance is inspired and upbeat, the playing is wonderful and the singing is so enthusiastic. - B M Scheiner
It is the first and, as far as I know, the only good CD recording of this, one of Leonard Bernstein's masterworks. The recording is excellent, and the singers equally excellent. - D Broadribb, Australia
Gramophone described this recording as "triumphant" - how does one find words to better this? This work was a marvellous one to open Washington's Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. Marin Alsop brings together excellent but disparate forces to provide a masterful performance.
- C Monty, Australia
It's a fantastic rendition of this piece. It is so good as the original recording conducted by the composer. The sound is fantastic also and the vocal soloist is top class. - A Gallegos, Chile
Sometime in the past I had a recording of the Mass, perhaps on cassette tape, but I had never encountered it in the digital age. Hearing it again was overwhelming. Thanks for bringing it back to my attention, and for all the other wonderful music you find. - S Kehr, USA
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BOTTESINI Music for Double Bass and Piano Vol 2
Andrew Burashko • James Campbell • Joel Quarrington
Harold Hall Robinson • Monica Whicher
8.557042
J'adore les bass. J'aime les arrangements de musique. La qualité du disque est excellente. Je donne une cote de 5***** ce disque. [I love the doublebass. I like musical arrangements. The quality of this disc is excellent. I give it 5 stars.] - P-P Lantagne, Canada
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BRETON Escenas Andaluzas
Madrid Community Orchestra • Miguel Roa
8.572076
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because it let me listen to an interesting but almost forgotten composer who deserves to be rediscovered...A CD well worth acquiring. - J-A Femenia, The Netherlands
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DELIUS Florida Suite, Over the Hills and Far Away
Irene Evans • Sarah Francis • Susannah Glanville • Susan Lees
Sue Pearce • Shirley Thomas • English Northern Philharmonia
David Lloyd-Jones
8.553535
I enjoyed this Naxos recording, especially the Florida Suite, because I find it beautiful to listen at and it's also tender and powerful. I think it is well recorded and David Lloyd-Jones does a good performance here. - O Vermeer, The Netherlands
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DOWLAND Lute Music Vol 4 - The Queen's Galliard
Nigel North
8.570284
Lute music is so special for me as an amateur cellist.
- J Heinrichs, The Netherlands
Nigel North's playing is very pleasing, the recording is professional, and the lute is a wonderful instrument. It's great to be able to hear early and baroque music of this quality at a reasonable price. - B Gaist, Cyprus
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Great Speeches in History
Read by Elizabeth Bell, Peter Marinker, Norman Rodway, Samuel West
NA208312
It gives me countless hours of pleasure as it helps to fire up my intelligence and, by their fine model, it inspires me to pursue each orator's line of thinking. Thank you Naxos for putting these recordings together.
- M Chromecki, Japan
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GUERNEY Songs
Susan Bickley • Iain Burnside
8.572151
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because it is beautiful music excellently performed by Bickley and Burnside. Gurney is neglected and under-rated and I hope this disc will go some way towards rectifying this situation.
- G Linnell, UK
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HAGEN Shining Brow
Tony Barton • Matthew Curran • James Demler • Elem Eley
Deborah Fleischer • Eric Fleischer • Robert Frankenberry • Brenda Harris
Gilda Lyons • Robert Orth • Jennifer Lynn Reckamp • Elaine Valby
Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra • JoAnn Falletta
8.669020-21
I enjoyed this Naxos recording not just because I am the composer but because the performance was superb and the reviews were just plain excellent. - D Hagen, USA
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HAYDN Complete Masses
Soloists • Trinity Church Choir • Rebel Baroque Orchestra • Owen Burdick, Jane Glover
8.508009
The Trinity Choir and Rebel Baroque Orchestra sang and played these Masses exceptionally well. Better in fact than many European choirs and orchestras that I have heard in this repetoire. I can only hope that they'll do the Mozart Masses next... - P C Holloway, Hong Kong
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HAYDN Complete String Quartets
Kodály Quartet
8.502400
While Naxos is well known for its wide range of music Classical and more modern, not just the old masters, to have the full range of musicical expression by the original perfector of the string quartet, all in one box set and by the and excellent Kodály quartet, allows one to experience the musical genius of the Classical at its genesis. - E Spalding, Australia
Wonderful achievement of the important works of Haydn.
- S Sderlind, Sweden
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because it's never routine. Papa Haydn's wicked humor, musical pictures, and soaring sensuality come through. The set gives a picture of a long life of musical development. Of course I didn't buy the whole set, but have accumulated it over the years, but I frequently dip in and surprise myself. It's become a great old companion.
- K Minault, USA
Wonderful interpretation, recording excellent, worth hearing a hundred.
- T Ma, China
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IRELAND Sextet, Clarinet Trio, Fantasy-Sonata, The Holy Boy
Alice Neary • Rober Plane • David Pyatt • Sophia Rahman
8.570550
The Maggini British Composers series continues to amaze! Robert Plane's clarinet is sweet, icy clear and vibrant, a credit to the player and the engineers. If you have always thought of twentieth century British Music as caught in an Elgarian timewarp this is as good a place to start learning that you have been mistaken and that there is variety and brilliance in abundance. The music reflects the fears and hopes of the times: a mix of harshness and gritty realism, but one tempered by hope of a brighter and enlightened future. Stunning! - A Stedman, UK
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JANÁČEK Operatic Orchestral Suites Vol 2 (arr. P. Breiner)
- Kát'a Kabanová, The Makropulos Affair
Vesa-Matti Leppänen • New Zealand Symphony Orchestra • Peter Breiner
8.570556
I find Janáček's opera music intensely enjoyable and usually prefer to listen to an orchestral suite rather than part or all of a complete opera. There were no other performances of these operas' music available in orchestral suites. The Breiner arrangements seem very good and are quite well performed and recorded, although a Czech orchestra would have been preferable. - S Whitney, USA
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JANÁČEK Operatic Orchestral Suites Vol 1 (arr. P. Breiner)
- Jenůfa, The Excursions of Mr Brouček
Vesa-Matti Leppänen • New Zealand Symphony Orchestra • Peter Breiner
8.570555
A real gem, seldom I have the pleasure to enjoy such a performance.
- J Piperidis, Greece
Janáček is one of my favorite composers. But much of his best music is found in operas infrequently performed. The orchestral suites in this CD are faithful to the composer's mature style, amazingly original and rewarding. Janáček's orchestral pieces have increased! - R Fraga, Argentina
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KABALEVSKY Complete Preludes
Alexandre Dossin
8.570976
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because these 24 preludes Op. 38 have the same natural appeal as the Russian folk-songs they are derived from and Alexandre Dossin does this music full justice. - H van Tuijl, The Netherlands
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LISZT Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2, Totentanz
Eldar Nebolsin • Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra • Vasily Petrenko
8.570517
Eldar Nebolsin is an under-recorded consummate artist, and it's great that Naxos is giving him well-deserved exposure. Though it doesn't qualify for this year's running, your 2005 CD 8.557274 BERLIOZ Les Nuits d'ete / CHAUSSON Poème de l'amour et de la mer / DUKAS La peri is a tremendous stand-out. What a magnificent surprise was Elsa Maurus! - R Carter, USA
The best CD of 2009 and perfect recording [of these] works.
- T Dudus, Brazil
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MENDELSSOHN String Quartets Vol 2
New Zealand String Quartet
8.570002
Superb overall performance of the repertoire, but also showing the distinctiveness of Mendelssohn in relation to other Romantic composers and so giving a new insight into his string quartets. - G Hawke, New Zealand
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MOZART Piano Trios Vol 2
Kungsbacka Piano Trio
8.570519
These 2 CDs of Mozart's piano trios from the Kungsbacka Trio are first class.[Vol 1 is on 8.570518 - Ed.] The performance matches my old recording by Beaux Arts Trio, and the sound is better. I look forward to more from these young performers. - Kennett, Australia
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PLEYEL Symphonies Concertantes
Victoria Chiang • Isabella Lippi • David Perry
Baltimore Chamber Orchestra • Markand Thakar
8.570320
The music is so fresh and uncluttered. Vitality abounds in the pieces which are all beautifully played. This recording presents to me a "new" composer from old times who certainly should not be left on the shelf.
- D Bennison, Australia
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RAVEL L'Enfant et les sortilèges, Shéhérazade
Julie Boulianne• Philippe Castagner • Julie Cox • Genevieve Despres
Ian Greenlaw • Kirsten Gunlogson • Agathe Martel • Cassandre Prevost
Kevin Short • Chattanooga Boys Choir • Chicago Symphony Chorus
Nashville Symphony Chorus & Orchestra • Alastair Willis
8.660215
This was a superb performance. - B Maher, USA
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RICHTER Grandes Symphonies (1744) Nos 7-12 (Set 2)
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra • Aapo Hakkinen
8.570597
Revealing a great, modern Richter before Mannheim. A great discovery of neglected works that in my opinion seem to be very important in the history of music. A memorable recording. - G Bernacchi, Italy
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RIES Piano Concertos Vol 3
Christopher Hinterhuber • Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Uwe Grodd
8.570440
Naxos is the label with the largest repertoire in classical music and continues to be more courageous than any other label to explore rarities and important work of less known composers. Ferdinand Ries is an important composer and was a fried of Beethoven. His oeuvre, although more relevant to explore than that of many baroque composers, has been neglected which cannot be justified from a rational point of view. It is [to] Naxos' credit that we know his piano works and concertos and I encourage Naxos to continue the efforts on discovering this composer. - S Hueller, France
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RIES Piano Sonatas & Sonatinas Vol 2
Susan Kagan
8.570743
Ries has composed fresh and very nice piano music; just one of the discoveries in 2009. You can hear some Beethoven in his music (he was one of his students) This album is just one of the very nice recordings of Ries sonates and piano concerts produced in 2009 by Naxos.
- W Glasz, The Netherlands
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ROSSINI Il Turco in Italia
Filippo Adami • Elena Belfiore • Andrea Concetti • Alessandra Marianelli
Bruno Taddia • Marco Vinco • Daniele Zanfardino
Prague Chamber Chorus • Bolzano-Trento Haydn Orchestra
Antonello Allemandi
2.110259
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because it is an overall success, musical performance, singing, staging, humour and not least of all the costumes which are so often out of place these days and so tiring in a home video which is the subject of repeated viewings. Great in every way. Certainly I will watch it over and over. - M Earles, Kuwait
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SIERRA Missa Latina
Heidi Grant Murphy • Nathaniel Webster
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus & Orchestra • Andreas Delfs
8.559624
I enjoyed this Naxos recording because of it's production values which earned a Grammy nomination in that category, plus another for composition. - K Bothwell, USA
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STANFORD Symphony No 1, Clarinet Concerto
Robert Plane • Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra • David Lloyd-Jones
8.570356
I guess it surprised me. I did not know anything about Stanford, so the Symphony was an unexpected treat. It was so lush and lyrical that it enchanted me. Certainly one of my favorite CD purchases in 2009.
- F Newman, USA
Wonderful. - W De Loenen, Belgium
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STILL Symphonies Nos 4 & 5
Fort Smith Symphony • John Jeter
8.559603
It's an orchestra no one has ever heard of, and yet they are very good - it makes you wonder how many orchestras are this good and go unrecorded. William Grant Still is one of a handful of American composers who write easily-likable music, much of which also goes unrecorded.
- J Horrocks, USA
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TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred Symphony, The Voyevoda
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra • Vasily Petrenko
8.570568
It is refreshingly played music. - L Keppens, Belgium
The intensity and combined mature and youthful interpretation by the young Petrenko had a very strong impact on me. Ever since I heard the Manfred Symphony the first time, in 1972 when I was a student in Uppsala, I have looked for a recording that could match the old Russian recording by Svetlanov, and here it is! Splendid! And with a sound quality surpassing that of the old Melodya vinyl disc from the late sixties.. - O Blix, Sweden
It was a good solid performance which conveyed the symphony well, and added to the pleasure by its interpretation being slightly different to other recordings. - A Lewis, UK
It was so full of enigmatic and exciting playing that it was like discovering a new Tchaikosky symphony since the only other recording was a very dull affair. Although rarely overlooked in any catalogue of composers this symphony still appears to be the least regarded and cetainly the most under recorded. So bravo Naxos for issuing a real treasure!! Plus the inclusion of The Voyevoda, a totally new piece to me, was an added bonus
- D Spanswick, UK
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The Full Monteverdi
I Fagiolini
2.110224
It's brilliant - the concept, the realisation, the music. - M Berkmen
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