Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Jules Massenet, Gabriel Faure :: Heavenly Adagios

Two and a half hours of divine music...what more can I say?

Jasmine | New York | 02/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, a lot! And since no one else has taken the trouble to review my favorite Adagios collection, I'm just gonna hafta go an' do it myself, won't I?



Starting with the stunningly gorgeous 'Jesu, joy of man's desiring' by Bach, this tape reels you in instantly. I'm not much of a fan of 'slow' and 'peaceful' music; I like the beautiful, sublime type that just makes you tingle all over whenever you hear it. (If only Canon in D was in this tape my cup of joy would overflow) Anyway, don't stop listening because Delibes' 'Flower Duet' comes soon after and it is the very meaning of divine. I listen to the taoe just to hear that one song over and over--but not too much, or it'll loose it's touch. This is a Opera duet (sorry, don't know technical terms, my passion is music, not the science of) sung by two women, for those of you out there like me who know practically nothing!! Gorgeous! Sugoi!! (That's Japanese)



Ahem.

The lovely 'Ombra mai fu' (which, I believe Elizabeth Bennet's sister horribly sings in the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries) is another memorable piece (hear the previews of these titles, please) and finally, William Vaughan's 'The Lark Ascending' a sixteen minute piece of violin heaven played so expertly you will see larks flying in circles about your head--or is that because your noggen got whacked?



Well, as for the second CD, it wasn't quite as memorable, but it's up against perfection, ok? Brahms' 'lullaby' (yes, THAT lullaby) is really sweet and of course there's 'Claire de Lune', a favorite of the Adagios collection, besides 'Sheep may safely graze' and 'Air on a G string'. (Honestly, does EVERY Adagios collection have that one? It's not even that wonderful.)



But what am I going on and on for?

BUY IT!!!!



NOW!!!!



STOP THINKING ALREADY AND BUY IT!!!

=^-^= "

Better than most

Alexander T. Gafford | Midland, Ga United States | 09/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are countless collections like this out there so why should this one be recommended? The normal reasons not to buy these are that first, listening only to the slow movements of these pieces leaves missing the real aesthetic quality of alternation of moods that the composer wanted to communicate, that second, the performances are often by second rate or unknown performers, and that third, the same old warhorses are trotted out and nothing new is learned.



However,in general, the response to the first critique is that at times in the world we inhabit in the 21st century, we need some joy without pain, some happiness without sorrow, some relaxation without velocity.In specific, treating the next two points, these two discs feature some of the top artists of our time, conductors like Marriner, von Karajan, Davis, Dutoit, Gergiev, and Solti, orchestras like the ASMF,Chicago SO,Kirov Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw. We are clearly listening to committed and highly competent performances. In addition, although some of the "old favorites" like Air on a G String are indeed present, other less common contributions by Faure, Delius, Franck, Saint Saens, Gorecki, Pergolesi, and Gluck are also present to our benefit.



Altogether, well worth buying when relaxtion and enjoyment is needed more than engagement in struggle, the narrative of so much European music of the last two centuries.

"

Music just this Side of Heaven

J. Peterson | Ohio | 12/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are looking for a nice mix of some choral and mostly instrumental adagios, then this is the CD (or MP3) for you! To me, quality music and average music is separated by how often you choose to listen to it. Average music sounds good the first few times, but eventually you get "tired" of it. Quality music sounds good the first time, but gets better and more satisfying with each additional play. The Heavenly Adagios CD qualifies as quality music."