Peter Shaffer's Amadeus

Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca Broadway
• ASIN: B00003XAVS
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Broadway Success!, April 20, 2000

By 

Courtney M. Watson (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Peter Shaffer's Amadeus (Audio CD)

It seems like previous reviewers have missed the point of this album. The lastest incarnation of Peter Shaffer's masterpiece, "Amadeus," starring David Suchet, Michael Sheen, and Cindy Katz, is captured in essence on this CD. No one seems to realize that it is NOT supposed to be a sampling of all of Mozart's great works, but a selection of what musical accompaniment was used in performance. As far as that goes, this recording is accurate and enticing. It must also be understood that the play version of Shaffer's script is very different from the later film adaptation. Listeners, respect this album for what it attests to be, not what you misunderstand it to be. Thank you!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction, February 3, 2000

By 

B.Ricci (The West Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Shaffer's Amadeus (Audio CD)

"How do you do, Herre Mozart?" "Verr Gut!" This compilation serves as a fair sampler to what waits in store for those listeners who are moved by the music of W.A. Mozart. The recording starts off with a bang (Symphony No. 25 G minor, K183), then moves into the most delightful, tender serenade. With helpings of 'Don Giovanni', the great Requiem in D minor, K626 and, of course, other choice cuts; this album is worth exploring for the Mozart newcomer. Caveat Emptor: Mozart is even more than this album suggests.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What purpose does this CD serve?, February 10, 2000

By 

F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Peter Shaffer's Amadeus (Audio CD)

Sony would have done us all a better service had they given us the Shaffer play, dialogue and music, rather than just another rehash of bits and pieces from longer works. Ignorning the nonsense of this being an "official companion" to the play (did the spirit of Mozart give his permission?) as the press release puts it, what we have here is 10 selections from 4 operas, 2 piano concerti, 1 symphony, 1 serenade, and 1 requiem by the Master in very fine performances in no particular order. They are all well performed--Te Kanawa is enchanting as Pamina--and might whet someone's interest in hearing the complete works. Perhaps it will make Baby smarter.

However as a tie-in with the current production on Broadway, I can see no artistic purpose. My 3 stars are for the beauty of the music and the quality of the performances. And perhaps someone actually will take up the idea of committing the entire play to discs or better still to videos. Now that would be a real tie-in!