This is Ray conniff playing classical masterpieces like Tchaikovski's FIRST PIANO CONCERTO, SWAN LAKE BALLET and ROMEO AND JULIET, the great Debussy's REVERIE, the gracious ON THE TRAIL (from Grand Canyon Suite), the incredible RHAPSODY IN BLUE (this is the best), and what a surprise!! a one Ray Conniff's composition, the precious EARLY EVENING (what a wonderful song); including Rachmaninoff's SECOND PIANO CONCERTO (simply excellent)…this cd is the fusion of classical and swing music in the unique Ray Conniff Style!!!
-By C. Bellegarrigue-

Pavaroti is in great voice, Caballe is brilliant, Sutherland is OK,It doesn't have the excitement of other "Norma's", but is a good addition to a "Norma" collection.
-By Thomas E. Lawson-

Of all Pavarotti´s opera recordings, this is, for me, the most memorable. Not just because of him: this 'Aida' is one of those opera recordings that offers the excitement of a live event, where everything gells. The singers do a good job individually - Chiara as a lovely Aida - but are even more convincing as an ensemble. Maazel conducts a sensitive performance, grander in scale than Abbado, Muti and many others.
-By E. J. Van Sten

One of several two-fer reissues of Percy Faith's classic Columbia LPs on the Collectables reissue label, TARA'S THEME/JEALOUSY combines two of the Toronto-born orchestra leader/arranger/producer's best-selling albums on one disc. Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind Jealousy CD music TARA'S THEME, from 1961, is most notable for containing the original version of Faith's signature song, the gently swaying, instantly recognizable "Theme From A Summer Place," his biggest hit. Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind Jealousy music CDs The rest of the album, which is primarily composed of movie themes, is equally remarkable. Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind Jealousy songs JEALOUSY is a darker and more brooding affair, featuring stately but dramatic renditions of a dozen classic love songs. Tara's Theme from Gone with the Wind Jealousy album .
cd Universe

After Faust (1859) and Roméo et Juliette (1867) the most popular score of Gounod's Mireille (1864), although its international diffusion is somewhat hampered by his argument quite parochial, based on the poem Provencal Frédéric Mistral .

In 1957, the bop was a "Hot teen-age dance". Ray Conniff had been making waves with his new style of music for a couple of years. It's too bad that "DANCE TO THE BOP" didn't make it big when it was first released by COLUMBIA RECORDS, but this re-issue is better than I remember. This swingin' collection is still very danceable and it's obvious that Conniff got his inspiration from Country, Rock'n Roll and Rhythm and blues of the era. Ray's trombone is heard throughout the arrangements and he can be heard (on a couple of cuts) singing with his own playing. This effect produced a new and fascinating tonal color for the era that is still very vivid today. This CD also included Conniff "En Espanol". This album was recorded in Mexico in 1966. It's fun to hear "Days Of Wine And Roses" in Spanish. What sells this CD are the first 12 cuts. I recommend this CD highly to anyone that loved the early Conniff sound.
- By Ken Rogers-

Never has a ballet recording been so phenomenal and at the same time doesn't quite meet my criteria for selecting the definitive ballet recording–that is, the quality of the recording itself aside, GENERALLY, the music also has to be performed by the orchestra that premiered it and that the orchestra has had a long tradition of playing it. Such is the case with Abravanel's 60s recording of Swan Lake.
- By Gary -

This is considered Arrigo Boito's masterpiece. Some consider it a semi-masterpiece, but it is definitely the masterpiece among the few operas that Boito composed. I do agree with those who think this opera is a less than ideal masterpiece. I will start the review by discussing the opera's virtues and faults. Cesare Siepi is in glorious voice and characterizes Mephistopheles very well. Mario del Monaco is also in excellent voice.
-Amazon-

Since Madama Butterfly has more stage time than other sopranos, it is imperative that the singing actress captures extensive dramatic variety in addition to singing with exquisite tone and an affinity to Puccini. Mirella Freni, one of the greatest recorded Butterfly's of all time, succeeds at these demands with vocal sensitivity and eloquence. She is assisted by Karajan's superb, symphonic conducting, crisply and poignantly realizing all of Puccini's vast moods; Ludwig's urgent, loving and tenderly sung Suzuki; and Pavarotti's endearing and almost likeable Pinkerton. In addition, the Pavarotti-Freni duets are nectars of the gods. Get out the tissues and indulge. - Barbara Eisner Bayer- Amazon -

Domingo, Sutherland, Bacquier and Tourangeau star in this lively and very French recording of "Hoffmann". Richard Bonynge, the conductor, follows what he considered at the time to be the most "Offenbach-ish" version of the opera, one in which a little new music is added, other music is cleaned up, other music left alone and the recitatives cut out all together. The cast is entirely French except for Domingo and Sutherland, so it is a delightful experience to hear Frenchies speak French in true Opera-Comique style.
- By "bellavoce"-

This disc has most of the right ingredients for a classic Manon Lescaut. Plácido Domingo and Montserrat Caballé in their prime were two of the loveliest Puccini voices of the late 20th century. Their Spanish temperaments only aid in conveying the passion in this story of a love that survives unpleasant parents, religious vows, and arrest, and ends without a shred of dignity in the swamps of Louisiana. The main drawback here is that conductor Bruno Bartoletti, for all of his experience, could've given a fresher account of the score and, in general, the whole thing sounds a bit studio bound. However, operatic decisions are made on the basis of voices, and this set has them. –David Patrick Stearns

Don't be put off that this Nutcracker is played by the Utah Symphony. It is first class in every way in the glorious sound that Vanguard lavished on the orchestra.Maurice Abravanel was one of the most significant theater conducters of the 20th century. You can feel immediately that he grasps the balletic nature as well as the symphonic majesty of Tchaikovsky's score. The interpretation is brisk, light, nimble, well balanced and masterfully cohesive. Right from the beginning of the overture you will understand what I mean! The playing of the Utah Symphony is transparent, clean, and full of color. You can tell they enjoy playing it! I bought this recording years ago on Vanguard Everyman LPs. The CD transfer is excellent. Grab the it while you can still get it!
-Amazon-

With the exception of the title cut on the first album, Those Were The Days (which is given a rather stodgy treatment), this CD is vintage Percy Faith. The second LP, Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet, came out in 1969, when Faith's new sound of orchestra with female chorus had just hit its stride. The trademark harpsichord is there, too. I had this album on LP when I was eight years old, and am pleased to discover that it is absolutely delightful all these years later. The two tunes from Hair are highlights of the album, brimming with energy and delicacy at the same time. Faith also commemorates the tenth anniversary of his big instrumental hit, Theme from A Summer Place, by writing a new version with female chorus. It doesn't displace memories of the original, but it is a welcome piece on this album. If you like your '60's music in a form that is evergreen, this Percy Faith CD is for you.
-Amazon-

There is tough competition for the best recording of 'Macbeth', but for me the combination of Abbado's explosive and rhythmically taut way with the score and Shirley Verrett's tour de force as Lady Macbeth give this one the edge.
- Amazon By Julian Grant -