Review of Mahler Symphony No. 1 "Titan"

Artist:  The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Album:  Mahler Symphony No. 1.  "Titan."
Recording Company:  Arch Media.
Recording Date:  1999.

Mahler Symphony No. 1. "Titan."
St. Louis Symphony with Hans Vonk.

I.  Langsam, Schleppend
II.  Kraftig Bewegt
III.  Feierlich und Gemessen, Ohne Zu Schleppen
IV.  Sturmisch Bewegt

Overview and Impressions:
The late Hans Vonk and the St. Louis Symphony did a workman like recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 1.  "Titan."  I don't listen to it often.  But I enjoy hearing it when I do.  But I'm not a big fan of Mahler.  I'd rather listen to Bruckner all day.  Or hear some Brahms.

Still, I recommend the album.

Real life gets in the way of art...

My dream of getting a double barreled Yamaha French horn will have to remain a dream for the foreseeable future.  My car was totaled last week.  I need to buy another vehicle.  So I can't afford to save for a French horn, if that's the case.  It a case of being pragmatic.  But I don't like the situation...

The Vivaldi Album by Cecilia Bartoli

Artist:  Cecilia Bartoli.
Album:  The Vivaldi Album.
Recording Company:  Decca.
Recording Date:  1999.

Dell'aura al susurrar Dorilla in Tempe
Dopo un'orrida procella Griselda
Di due rai languir costante Foa 28
Qual favellar? ... Andero, volero, gridero L'Orlando finto pazzo
Zeffiretti, che sussurrate Foa 28
Alma oppressa Dite, oime La fida ninfa
Sventurata navicella.  Sorte, chem invitasti ... Ho nel petto un cor si forte Giustino
Tra le follie ... Siam navi all'onde algenti L'Olimpiade
Gelido in ogni vena Farnace
Anch'il mar par che sommerga Bajazet
Di trombe guerriere Tenzzone

These are selections of Vivaldi's lesser know operas.  The album is worth listening to.  Recommended.

Review of Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Artist:  Richard Wagner.
Album:  Twilight of the Gods - The Essential Wagner Collection.
Recording Studio:  Deutsche Grammophone.
Copyright:  1998.

Disc One:  Songs of Power, Conflict, and Death
Ride of the Valkyries from THE VALKYRIES
Siegfried's Funeral March from TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
Prelude to Act III from LOHENGRIN
Overture from THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Sailors' Chorus from THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Journey to Nibelheim from THE RHEINGOLD
Overture from THE MASTER SINGER OF NUREMBURG
Overture from TANNHAUSER
Entry of the Guests from TANNHAUSER
Tannhauser's Pilgrimage from TANNHAUSER
Act III Orchestral Interlude from SIEGFRIED
Siegfried's Rhine Journey from TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
Finale from TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
Entry of the Gods into Valhalla from THE RHEINGOLD

Disc Two:  Music of Love, Ecstasy, & Redemption
Prelude to Act I from LOHENGRIN
Bridal Chorus from LOHENGRIN
Prelude to Act I from PARSIFAL
Good Friday Music from PARSIFAL
Transformation Scene from PARSIFAL
Venusburg Music from TANNHAUSER
Pilgrims' Chorus from TANNHAUSER
Prelude to Act III from THE MASTER SINGER OF NUREMBURG
Vision of Valhalla (Scene II Introduction) from THE RHEINGOLD
Siegfried Idyll
Brunnhilde's Awakening from SIEGFRIED
Prelude to Act III from TRISTAN AND ISOLDE
Death of Isolde from TRISTAN AND ISOLDE

Overview:
This is 2.5 hours of Richard Wagner, who is responsible for the death of the Romantic era in classical music.  Aside from being an anti-Semite, Wagner was a musical genius.  Composers either admired or hated his work.

Wagner wrote for the stage.  Opera was his forte.  Most of his stories revolve around lust, power, love, and murder.  There are also tales of redemption and hope.  If you want to hear most of Wagner's musical work without much of the operatic singing, this two disc collection is for you.  Recommended.  

Review of Caroline Goulding

Artist:  Caroline Goulding.
Album:  Caroline Goulding.
Recording Company:  Telarc.
Release Date:  2009.

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
La Gitana
Gypsy Caprice
Berceuse Romantique
Syncopation

John Corigliano (b. 1938)
The Red Violin Caprices for Solo Violin

Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947)
Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
Souvenir D'Amerique Variations on "Yankee Doodle"

George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Selections from Porgy and Bess

Traditional Cape Breton Island Fiddling:
Hector the Hero
Hey, Johnny Cope!; Tulllochgorum; Jean's Reel

I heard Caroline Goulding on NPR a while back.  This was her debut album at age 16.  She's moved onto touring in Europe after spending sometime at the New England Conservatory.  Goulding's playing is amazing.  Recommended.

Review of Hero Soundtrack

Album Name:  Hero - Music From the Original Soundtrack.
Record Label:  Sony Classical.
Recording Date:  2004.

Hero:  Overture
For the World - Theme Music
Warriors
Gone with Leaves
Longing
At Emperor's Palace
In the Chess Court
Love in Distance
Spirit Fight
Swift Sword
Farewell, Hero
Sorrow in Desert
Above Water
Snow
Yearning for the Peace

Music composed and conducted by Tan Dun.  China Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.  I liked the movie Hero.  I enjoyed the soundtrack even more.  Izkak Perlman is on this album.  I wish it had been a straight up historical film, instead of a fantasy martial arts piece.  But I still enjoyed the music.  Recommend.

Review of The Canadian Brass Plays the Pachelbel Canon

Artists:  The Canadian Brass.
Album:  The Canadian Brass Plays The Pachebel Canon.
Recording Studio:  RCA Red Seal.
Recording Date:  1980.

J.S. Bach:
Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Sheep May Safely Graze
"Giggue" Fugue
"Little" Fugue
Wachet Auf
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor

Handel:
Suite from "Water Music"

Frescobaldi:
Toccata

Pachelbel:
Canon

The Canadian Brass consists of Fredrick Mills, Ronald Romm, Graeme Page, Eugene Watts, and Charles Daellenbach.  This is one of their earlier recordings on the RCA Red Seal label.  It consists of the Pachelbel Canon, J.S. Bach's works, Handel's "Water Music," and Frescobaldi's Toccata all on one disc.  This along with The Canadian Brass's other work, High, Bright, Light, and Clear:  The Glory of Baroque Brass is recommended for those who like 17th century and early 18th century Baroque masters.