Customer Reviews

Essential Baroque: 35 Great Masterpieces

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I am buying this as the perfect gift for Russian and Chinese scientist friends. They have knowledge of classical music but perhaps not much about baroque music, which achieved special popularity in the U.S. during the 1970's and 1980's. Russians seem to have more familiarity with romantic classical music, while the more recently arrived Asian classical buffs have special affinity to the "Classical" classical period and the great 19th Century romantics. How can a baroque sampler be better than with a span of music ranging from solo harpsichord to full orchestra and chorus, and from the very familiar (Pachelbel Canon and Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah) to a trio sonata by Zelenka and the Dardanus Overture by Rameau. Not only that, but both the period instrument and living tradition baroque styles are represented by noted performers (e.g. Trevor Pinnock and Christopher Hogwood; and Henryk Szeryng, Andras Schiff, Pepe Romero, and Alicia de Larrocha, respectively). The producers were careful enough to state that the "Albinoni Adagio in g minor" was actually composed by Remo Giazotto - though in fact Giazotto did use a fragment of Albinoni. This is definitely not a supermarket special, but a box of choice musical bonbons.

Essential Baroque is a great collection, especially for the price. It has two CDs packd full of the best Baroque music. Like most Baroque collections, it has the best of some of the better known artists like Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. However, unlike most other collections, it excels in adding some good pieces from lesser known artists from the period.

A fine selection of pieces excerpted from the chamber ensemble, solo and opera repertory. Some recordings, though from paramount artists, are elderly; yet, performers are anyway flawless. It may be objected that a few of Vivaldi's masterpieces were disregarded.

This collection contains just about every major well known Baroque piece ever used for a wedding,graduation or ultimate Baroque 'starter kit'.Vocalists such as the Welsh Baritone Bryn Terfel,the late great Pavarotti,the world's foremost oboist of the '70 and '80is Heinz Holliger and Orchestras such as Saint Martin-in-the-Fields and I Musici are assembled with defining renditions of these great favorites.There are two tracks of particular interest that is of great delight:the little recorded "Le Coucou" by Jean Daquin as performed by harpsichord virtuoso Trevor Pinnock.Pinnock wisely has chosen a "stopped" sound for his performance instead of full sound and it is a delight to the ears;another unusual delight was to hear the choral "Zadok the Priest" from Handel's "Coronation Anthems", a most majestic rendering from The Westminster Abbey Choir and The English Consort under the baton of Simon Preston.This 2 disc collection is hard to beat for the price.It has vocal,instrumental,orchestral,chamber,solo,allegro and largo,German,Italian,French and Polish to present an outstanding overview of the Baroque Era.Highly recommended.

This is the essential Baroque collection! I have always loved Baroque music the best out of all the classical styles. Sonia Choquette recommended listening to Baroque music as one way to meditate, so I sought out this album. It has 35 pieces, which is more than enough for me to choose from when putting together my "meditation music" on my MP3 player.