The Classical Album 2005

Andrea Bocelli (Artist), Hayley Westenra (Artist), Luciano Pavarotti (Artist), Bryn Terfel (Artist), Bond (Artist), Russell Watson (Artist), Ludovico Einaudi (Performer), Katherine Jenkins (Performer), Duel (Performer), Nigel Kennedy (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ludovico Einaudi, Katherine Jenkins, Duel, Nigel Kennedy
• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000A8AXWW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,939 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #68 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Choruses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Amazing! Two CDs packed with the world's most beautiful classical music..., November 7, 2005

By 

Christine "loves to read" (Setauket, NY, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Classical Album 2005 (Audio CD)

First, let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert in classical music, but have grown to appreciate it immensely in the past year. I can say wholeheartedly that this is the most beautiful compilation of music I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. It's simple irresistible. There are few words to describe how emotional it is to hear Pavarotti sing "II Canto", or Placido Domingo belt out "Questa o quella". You just get numb with joy!! I have NO idea what they are saying but a translation not necessary. The entire collection (TWo jammed-packed CDs) is phenomenal (excluding the selections from "Bond" which I found to be particularly annoying and not at all "classical" in the true sense of the word). There is something here for everyone, regardless of your personal musical tastes or tolerances.

A guaranteed hit -- Don't miss this one.

CD One

Andrea Bocelli "En Aranjuez con tu amor"
Bryn Terfel - "Granada"
Bond - "Viva" ( not my favorite, sounds almost disco-ish)
Hayley Westenra - "Pokarekare Ana"
Luciano Pavarotti - "Una Mattina"
Katherine jenkins - "Time To Say Goodbye" (a heart stopper - so beautiful!)
Duel - "Canon" (lovely!)
Janine Jansen - "Allegro from 'Spring'"
Andreas Scholl - "Ombra mai fu"
Nigel Kennedy - "The Unknown Soldier"
Kiri Te Kanawa - "Nuns' Chorus"
Nelson Freire - "Chopin Etude No. 1 op. 25
Julian Lloyd Webber - "Flight of the Bumble-bee"
James Horner - "For the Love of a Princess
Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard "Now We Are Free"
Renee Fleming - "Mesicku na nebi hlubokem"
Russell Watson - "Amore e Musica"

CD TWO

Luciano Pavarotti - "II Canto" (I MUST see him sing this in person!!)
Placido Domingo - "Questa o quello" (I never tire of hearing this)
Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel - "the Pearl Fisher's Duet"
Jose Carreras - "Funiculi, funicula
Dominc Miller & Kaori Muraji - "Fragile"
Tavener - "Song for Athene"
Josep Calleja - "La donna e mobile"
Jean-Yves Thibaudet - "Gymopedie No. 1"
Juan Diego Florez - "Una furtiva lagrima"
Kathleen Ferrier - "Blow the Wind Southerly"
Angela Gheorghiu - "Ave Maria"
Janine Jansen - "Schindler's List Main Theme"
Bond - "explosive"
Secret Garden - "You Raise Me Up"
Hayley Westenra - "Never Say Goodbye"
The Three Tenors - "Nessun Dorma"

Enjoy!

Cris Cunningham for Amazon.com

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable for all music fans, March 2, 2006

By 

Neil Etter "fenwcksand" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Classical Album 2005 (Audio CD)

This is very good collection of music that brings to life a wide variety of music that is both old and contemporary. The selections vary from composers, historical and famous such as Pavarotti and Puccini to today's James Horner (Titanic, A Beauituful Mind) and John Williams (Star Wars, Sabrina, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan).

If you enjoy the sounds of Sarah Brightman, Charlotte Church, Enya, Kate Bush, Andrea Bocelli, and various theatre music (Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Cats), then you will find this collection worthy of your appreciation.

I have often wondered why classical music radio channels do not play modern composers (i.e., Horner, Willams), and am glad that this album gives them credit that they deserve. There is so many good compositions being created every day that only appear to have a voice on the big screen, which is unfortunate.

Track 11, composed by The Doors, and is a nice version, indeed. I also enjoy the Bond players giving a new twist to some old favourites.

Ciao,
Neil

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent crossover classical assortment, June 5, 2009

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Classical Album 2005 (Audio CD)

The 2004 release in this annual series (always titled one year later, just like children's annuals, because they come out in time for Christmas) provides a nice sample of the most popular classical crossover music of the year although not all of it was new that year. The music in these compilations doesn't fit my former stereotypical idea of what classical music is all about. It mainly features vocalists but they don't necessarily sing traditional operatic pieces though some do. Often they sing covers of pop, folk or gospel songs, albeit in an operatic style. The few instrumental tracks here feature soloists rather than symphony orchestras. The credits give pictures of album covers together with titles and catalog numbers to tempt you to pick out your favorite artists and buy their individual albums.

The featured artists here include Hayley Westenra, Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, Lesley Garrett, Nigel Kennedy, Luciano Pavarotti, Vanessa Mae, Placido Domingo, Bond and Renée Fleming. Highlights among the tracks include Time to say goodbye (performed by Katherine Jenkins), Granada (performed by Bryn Terfel), Song to the moon (performed by Lesley Garrett), Flight of the bumblebee (performed by Julian Lloyd Webber), The entertainer (performed by Emma Johnson), Sabre dance (performed by Vanessa Mae), River of dreams (performed by Hayley Westenra) and Blow the wind southerly (performed by Kathleen Ferrier). The last-named track was already more than half a century old when this set was compiled, its inclusion being due to a revival in the singer's music.

This series is aimed at those who don't take classical music too seriously, but who like to dabble in it. On that level, it works brilliantly.