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43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original 1976 recording reissued, August 6, 2006
This review is from: Glass: Einstein on the Beach (Audio CD)
This is a budget-priced reissue of the original CBS Records Masterworks release, which contains the original booklet with libretto and copious liner notes. The only differences are the cover artwork and price. Definitely a complete and utter steal! If you're at all curious about Einstein on the Beach, this is a must purchase. 4-CD set packaged in jewel case with slip cover.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unusually brilliant................, September 13, 2007
This review is from: Glass: Einstein on the Beach (Audio CD)
This is a bizarre and relentless opera-as the surreal title implies, more dream than drama. Where the earlier recording had an abrasive edge, this new one is more refined, melding the different elements, electronic alongside acoustic, more subtly and persuasively than before. Even so, the first train episode, over 20 minutes long, remains mind-blowing in its relentlessness. The impact is heightened by the vividness of the recording, with spoken voices in particular given such presence that they startled me as if someone had burst into my room. The vision remains an odd one, but with a formidable group of vocalists and instrumentalists brilliantly directed, often from the keyboard, by Michael Riesman, the new recording certainly justifies itself.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
repeating magic, July 13, 2010
This review is from: Glass: Einstein on the Beach (Audio CD)
This title I bought in 1979 as a 4 LP-album, right after its original release. It is one of the milestones of modern music. Hypnotic, repeated phrases ("faaa-faaa-faaa-faaa; do-re-mi-la-ti-do/do-re-mi-la-ti-do;one-two-three-four-five-six/one-two-three-four-five-six/one-two-three-four-five-six..."), interchanged by beautiful, romantic melodies with a dominant role for the violin. Not as accessible als Glass' later recordings, but phenomenal in its groundbreaking combination of minimal music with pompousness and sweet melodies. And now released as a 4 CD-box for only $ 16,-! A must have for this special price, including a 38-page booklet. This original version is much tighter played an sung than its 1993 re-release. Don't miss to give a listen to the first 5 minutes of this work: the phenomenal intro with its suppressed tension, pregnant of all what will follow. But listen especially to what I think is absolutely the CLIMAX of the piece: the exhausting a capella sung "Knee Play 3"; after this you can relax while listening at the outro, the romantic "Knee Play 5" (women's chorus, vilon & electric organ). Relaxation might be wise, beacause it might take a while to land back on earth! Alwin Boon, Netherlands
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