Customer Reviews

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Okay, I just read trough almost all the 30 reviews for this CD, and I dont ever write a review but I feel that I should for this one.
First of all, I am a piano player of over 14 years, I understand where many of the negative reviews are coming from. The point that is being missed though is that this CD is a collection of BEAUTIFUL music, whether or not you want to critic it to the bone. Very few people are professional "classical" musicians and very few people would really know that is CD has only bits of entire pieces of work on it. I think this CD did what it said, its relaxing. A lot of "classical" music can make you feel like your in a race or in a argument between lovers, and thats all fine and dandy if thats the mood you want, If you turn on your classical music station on your radio most likely you will hear what I am talking about. But for those of us out there that want to hear the "classic" Classical music thats soothing and mellow ( compared to a lot if it) this is a great CD. Now if you want to skin it dry and make it rigid and "100% untampered with" It wont be "relaxing" and thats the whole point of the CD (thus the title). If you are wanting to use this for your labor, i would suggest not using "classical" music to do so, there is too much emotion in even the very most mellow classical music, but thats me, ??
Bottom line- This CD is good and worth the 14$. Happy Hunting

There are so many compilations out there like this that for the lay classical listener it's difficult to rummage through them all and choose the best one that will really live up to its title. I can't stop listening to the two CDs that are in this compilation. They have so many of the great soothing classics---the soft gentle melodies that everyone knows and loves but many don't know what they are called. This CD is most likely marketed towards people that are wanting a broad view of classical music with a slant towards the relaxing side of it. All the publicity is worth it, because this album is great. It will associate you with all the soft melodies and get you interested in hearing more. The beauty of Pachelbel's Canon, the haunting serenity of Barber's Adagio for Strings, the tranquility of O Mio Babbino Caro, the very recognizable theme Nimrod from Elgar's Enigma Variations, etc. There's also all that great piano music. It's hard to listen to the adagio of some of those piano concertos and not hear the rest of the concerto. Regardless, this compilation is great. Follow what the TV commercials have said and buy this CD.

In response to the person above who stated that one misses out on great works with only the slow movements...i AGREE with you. HOWEVER, this is sold as a RELAXING CD set, not as a collection of everything ever written. it does just that--it takes timeless classics, and puts them together in a wonderful blend of soothing music. i've had over 10 years of formal music training, and i have a high appreciation of every genre of classical music. i've played everything under the sun (i play french horn)--from baroque artists to modern music, such as music for prague by korel husa. i know the thrill of these pieces, and i hope others can discover the splendor of the entire realm of classical music. but this CD was not meant to be that. it was meant to be a calm, soothing blend. a lot of people don't find it easy to relax to pieces such as the bombing of dresden (another fine piece), as i do. i also agree with above person, who stated that this is a good CD for the classical beginner. and i hope that those of you that are the beginners discover the wonders of all the classical music genres.

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

I'm afraid I hated this collection. I was looking for relaxing music for the end of my pregnancy, labor, and the early days of childraising. Unfortunately, it wasn't clear from the description that there is a LOT of vocal music on this collection. I don't know about other people, but I don't find a mix of vocal and instrumental to be relaxing. The cuts between the pieces are very jarring. You might be able to edit this into a good collection, but, as is, it's more startling than relaxing.

This and John McArthur's, HIDDEN album, will be the best solo piano albums and the most relaxing of the 21st Century. And both are going to be hard to beat. A must for any lover of the ivory, wood and keys. And people who like to dream.

This was a gift and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't pretend to be very knowledgeable about classical music. I had bought a Wagner album and did not like it at all. But I knew that there were some of the slower, relaxing, sensitive pieces by other composers that I loved. I especially love instrumental music, and this 2-CD album features so much variety of instruments, using violin, guitar, cello, oboe, flute, piano, clarinet and harp. Out of the 36 songs on this set, there are only 5 where there is singing. But they are "classics" too, and are the soaring, beautiful ones that are featured in some movies. The song "Meditation" by Jules Massenet from Thais is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. It brings up some some real and deep emotions in me, as do many of the others. I also loved the quitar rendition of Concierto de Aranjuez, by Joaquin Rodrigo. I have so many favorites it is hard to list them. I could say much more about this soothing, relaxing album, but take my word for it, you will be pleased. I think this one could be a good one in the car to ease any "road rage" that one might feel.

I love this CD. For the astute listener and keen critic of classical music, listening to excerpts from some of the world's greatest masterpieces may seem trite. However, if you're new to the art of classical music, this CD is for you! It provides a wonderful introduction to the "classics" and I think anyone who has never experienced a certain genre of music will greatly benefit from a "greatest hits" CD. The music is relaxing, the performances are adequate and I feel this CD was a worthy investment.

Wow! I really love this CD. It features some of the most beautiful, relaxing pieces ever recorded, from "Sleepers Awake!" to "Flower Duet", I like every song. (my personal favorite is "Claire de Lune") I highly recommend this album to anyone in need of some time for themselves, a nice rest, or who just loves soft classical music. A MUST!!!!

Like the French Horn player, I was a professional musician before switching careers. I enjoy very complex atonal music, as well as Eastern music, African music, jazz, and much more. One doesn't have to hear each piece in it's original form to thoroughly enjoy the music that's here. I've heard the complete works many many times, and I still enjoy this list of slow movement favorites from the Western canon. I gave a copy to a friend who knows nothing about classical music, and she loves it too. Highly recommended.