Customer Reviews

The 99 Most Essential Vivaldi Masterpieces (Amazon Exclusive)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This collection is a real breakthrough for Amazon and the X5 music group, which offers these collections of bargain MP3s of classical music.

Like previous collections, this Vivaldi set puts together a strong roster of lesser-known players, often (but not only) lesser-known ensembles from Eastern Europe who still offer really nice performances.

A huge change, and a tremendously welcome one, is that complete works are offered! Until now, all these sets have just slapped together stray movements of pieces out of order. This one offers cohesive works in their entirety, from beginning to end.

If they could now go back to Beethoven and start over using this Vivaldi set as a model, that would be fantastic.

At the $2.99 "Deal of the Day" price on Oct 30, 2009, this is a great bargain. I think it would still be pretty good at the normal price too, and I don't usually say that. Highly recommended.

So, as one reviewer already said, you may not know most of the performers on this great collection; some names you will recognize. It makes no difference as all of these performances are very, very good indeed! Much of this music I am familiar with, but I have to say, that there is an intimacy to most of these recordings that makes me feel as if I am sitting very close to the musicians. I am hearing notes, instruments, and inflection that I've missed in other very well known recordings. So, whether you're new to this grand composer and want a thorough collection of his music, or if you are very well versed with multiple renditions, you will be pleased with the few dollars invested.

Thank you, Amazon, for making quality music possible in hard economic times. Music that is uplifting and centering. Even when I can shop other places, I come to you because you are kind enough to do such great things like this for your customers. And, one good turn always deserves another. Bravo Vivaldi! Bravo Amazon!

In the more than 5 hours of music included here are some fine performances of Vivaldi's most enjoyable works. My one quibble is that the "essential" Vivaldi really should include the Gloria in D-Major, which is not in this collection. So, go get that from another recording, add it to this, and you have a great introduction to one of the Baroque era's most prolific composers.

I could not be happier! What a steller collection from Amazon! Actually, I have purchased the other 99 packages of great composers (Amazon Exclusives) and all of them have been excellent!

I keep buying from Amazon because they keep offering products and services to the consumer that are simply amazing - The offer now of buy any MP3 album priced at $7.99 or higher and receive a $5.00 promotional gift to purchase more music! I was able to stretch my music buying dollar further by 100% (thank you, Amazon).

This package of various recordings of Vivaldi's music is simply ear candy. The Four Seasons is absolutely delicious. I have a new favorite recording of The Four Seasons! This is, in itself, reason enough to rejoice but the whole set is high quality, well recorded, ear-kissing Vivaldi music!

This collection is a 5 star across the board purchase! As are all the sets in this series from Amazon - Buy it - heck buy them all. What a great way to fill your Ipod and computer with wonderful music! Thank you again, Amazon!

After buying this as a bargain (along with The 99 Most Essential Mozart Masterpieces at its original price) I must say that both of them are worth what they are at regular, let alone getting them so cheaply;
I assure you will *not* regret if you buy this, don't hesitate if you want it - it's at a veery cheap price, you'll feel like you stole it at such a low price.

Oh, and better hurry, so far only yesterday (October 31st) and today (November 1st), they might put the regular price. :)

Yes, only one word to describe Vivaldi (and sure this album): Woooow! I'm currently listening to it, bought only a few hours ago. I cannot state how great buy this album is.

You know, you hear many classical music pieces everywhere, it's difficult to miss so many of them. And you will realize, so many of these oh-so-beautiful pieces are vivaldi's, like, "Four Seasons", and so many more. Definitely worth your money!

Excellent recording. I cannot stop listening to this. Once I bought this, i got all the other masters in this series as well.

I have a few of Amazon's The 99 [something] MP3 albums. This one is very good. I especially enjoy the Four Seasons Winter (track #10).

The "99 Most Essential" series is a great deal . . . a little too great. The albums are too big to download before the links expire. I bought several of these, but by the time one album loaded, the download links expired on the others and I just received error messages. My internet connection is a fairly good cable modem connection and should have been more than adequate. I had to call Amazon customer support to have them refresh the links TWICE, which meant I had to click on a few hundred individual songs in the "your media library" section to receive my purchases. Even then, I ran into several error messages and could not get the complete albums. I finally just asked for a refund (on my 5th call to customer support). What a pain!

This was not a pleasant buying experience. If you buy 99 song mp3 albums, only buy one album at a time and make sure you have a very fast internet connection. Amazon - please allow more time for download, have a better way to refresh download errors, and have a way to download entire albums from "your media library" instead of only individual songs.