Customer Reviews

Imagine

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I borrowed this CD from the library out of curiosity and what a delightful suprise. The interpretation of Beatles music is wonderfully simple - I especially love the different variations done with the same tune in some of the pieces giving them a fresh sound. Harmonies between cello and violin in "Norwegian Wood", "Across the Universe" and "Girl" are mesmerising. Mostly played with a slow tempo, this is great soothing music after a stressful day. This CD is definitely worth purchasing for a twist in popular Lennon-McCartney compositions.

4 stars for song selection, otherwise 5 stars for interpretation.

This cd was recommended to me by a luthier (violin maker), who simply described it as interesting and left me to search for the artist and title. Never having considered myself a big Beatles fan, I was nonetheless intrigued, found the cd and was rewarded with an incredible listening experience, melody you can get lost in and bass that breathes in your soul. Soothing, enchanting, delightful----strings as we were meant to enjoy them. Playing it in the car, I was so wrapped up in the music, I missed my freeway exit! I would recommend you buy it, and enjoy the ride. Free as a Bird is especially well done.

I always felt that if an artist is going to cover another artist's music they should either improve on the original or do it differently but tastefully. Rarely have I heard Beatle songs that accomplished that. Among the few Beatle covers I do think accomplished that are Judy Collins 'In My Life', Joe Cocker's 'With a Little Help From My Friends',Ray Charles' 'Yesterday' and a couple of the tracks on George Martin's recent release 'In My Life'. Unfortunatly most of the cuts are silly and an embarrassment to Mr Martin but I have to think that he was induldging his friends on many of the tracks letting non singers e.g,Goldie Hawn, Robin Williams, Jim Carey, sing. Outstanding are two instumentals with guitarist John Williams covering 'Here Comes the Sun' and violinist Vanessa Mae with as probably as beautiful a version of 'Because' as the original. Three or four other tracks are fair with the rest for the garbage heap. One more cover comes to mind, Linda Ronstadt's 'Goodnight', from her album of lullabies. As for Ms. Harnoy's 'Imagine', it is nearly flawless. It captures that Beatle sound of the middle part of their recording career together when they created the haunting,lonely, eerie sound most exemplified by 'Eleanor Rigby', 'In My Life', and 'Nowhere Man'. She infuses that feeling into the whole album with her instrument the cello which is perfectly suited for the task. My only complaint would be some of the song selections but that is a matter of personal taste. I'd love to hear her play 'If I Fell' and a few others but I think she covered a great portion of songs that adapt well to the cello. I'm sure in years to come other great classical virtuoso's will be following in her footsteps in covering this remarkable catalogue of music.

Very simply - this is an absolutely wonderful instrumental recording of the Beatles best songs, wonderful melodies at their best. The recording is classical cello, by one of the world's best cellists. However, this shouldn't put off any true fans of the Beatles. The melodies are there - so pure, so vibrant - and the mastery of the cello is evident. Buy and listen! You will not regret it.

I bought this CD for background music while driving in the car and soon found myself taking it into the office to continue listening for relaxation and enjoyment on my PC headphones.

One day I got a new PC delivered and was so caught up in the new computer, that I didn't notice that my CD was still in the old PC when they carted it away.

The next day, I realized what may have happened and spent several fruitless hours trying to track it down. To no avail. Here's the compliment......I missed it so much that I bought a new copy.

Ofra's style is easy and the sound is rich......and I think it will leave you humming your favorite tunes and relaxed. Enjoy!

The Beatles and Ofra Harnoy! The best of both worlds! What more could you ask for? A friend gave me this CD, and I have enjoyed listening to this right before bedtime every night. Ms. Harnoy, I applaud you for making some of the finest renditions of my favorite Beatles tunes. If you're a semi-professional classical musician like me and you don't have this in your CD collection, you're missing out--Big Time!!! 5 + stars for a wonderful CD!!!!

Before you write this off as another attempt to "muzak" the Beatles, listen to Harnoy's lovely playing on "She's Leaving Home," "Across The Universe" and "Girl" and see if you still feel that way once you've heard them. A great set of interpretations by a most evocative cellist.

We echo every word of the fantastic praise of the other reviewers. Listen to MICHELLE. Awesome.

I thought I was ordering a remastered Beatles album. Lo and behold! it was a wonderful instrumental by a terrific artist! Everyone who has heard it just loves it!

I am not a classical music fan and this is the only CD I own of the genre so I cannot speak on it from a classical music point of view. But I am a Beatles fan and if you like the Beatles music than this is a must own! You will definitely love this; the Beatles melodies are easily recognizable yet interestingly different. It is a fresh twist on songs that are an average of 40 years old, yikes!