Customer Reviews

Vivaldi's Ring of Mysteries (Classical Kids)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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We've had this CD (and others in the Classical Kids series) for over a year now. Both we and our boys (now 6 and 8) have enjoyed them considerably. Of the various CDs, this one has one of the best story lines as it has a sense of mystery around it. At first, the story helped keep the kids interested. It provided a sense of history and helped set the stage for the era and place where Vivaldi lived. However, as they listened (time and time again), they started to pay more attention to the musical portions. Recently, we've been able to tell that they've picked up a sense of the music. When we listen to classical music on the car radio, time and again, they perk up when listening to a piece of music and surprise us by saying "That's Vivaldi" or "That's Beethoven". Sure enough - they've picked up something about the style of music that's characteristic of the composer. Sometimes it's the snippet of music from the CD and other times it's just the rhythms that are characteristic of that piece. As a family, we all recommend this.

We have many of the Classical Kids CD collection, but this one is my children's favorite (ages 5 & 7). The story on this CD is a mystery that contains some sadness, clues, dangers & problems to overcome, fun, excitement - and of course great Vivaldi music. Even though my children knew the ending after hearing it the first time, the story & music are so compelling that they love hearing it over and over again anyway. It's one of the CDs I enjoy listening to with them. If you like Classical Kids' Mozart's Magic Fantasy/Magic Flute, you'll probably like Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery (my 5-yr-old thinks the Mozart story is too scary for nighttime, but not this Vivaldi CD, if that helps you guage the 'danger' at all). Enjoy!!

A nice piece of historical fiction for youngsters, with nicely performed clips of non-synthesized music by various artists, this is my 3-yr-old daughter's favorite CD, eclipsing even 'Toddler's Sing'! While I think the story is rather beyond her, she still grasps enough to have interest and sympathy for the young heroine, Katerina. Recently while in a mall, my young daughter excitedly recognized a piped-in composition as belonging to 'Valdi (Vivaldi), from a clip played on this CD. My favorite part of the CD music-story is where Antonio Vivaldi spontaneously composes an opera from a children's quarrel, which encourages young ones to spontaneously compose songs and perhaps 'operas' of their own (my only quibble is that I would have liked to have heard children singing this small section rather than adults). My little one sings along. The story line also has great atmosphere and pathos, the latter which although cliche for adult listeners, is certainly satisfying for children. And even this adult listener gets a lump in her throat sometimes listening to the tale of an orphan who starts out life not unlike my adopted daughter did as an infant.

I am now a 23 year old student and I remember my parents playing these tapes to my sister and me in car rides multiple times when I was about 7 years old. To this day, I can recognize Vivaldi and know the differences, musically, between him, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. If you are hoping that these tapes will work their magic into the sponge-like minds of your kids, then I can offer first hand proof that they are worth every penny! Some of my best early childhood memories.

When I was much younger than I am now (19), my parents bought me this album on tape. I fell in love with it immediately. I was swept away with the music and storyline and spent hours listening over and over again. Unfortunately I misplaced my tape and to this day have not listened to it. It was only recently that it struck me to look for it on amazon. Listening to samples has brought me back ten years. Even now I would love to listen to this album. Parents: please expose your children to this album. They will benefit in more ways than one would expect. This album not only helped to nurture my love of music, but helped me appreciate music more and more every time I listened. Every time I hear a piece of music, I hear the story behind it, thanks in part to this wonderful album. You can't go wrong!

What color was Vivaldi's hair? Why do Venetians fill egg shells with perfume? The only Christmas gift from a parent to a child that would be more valuable than Vivaldi's The Ring of Mystery would be the parent who listens to the story with the child. Parents will reward their children and themselves with this entertaining and informative mystery about Katarina, a young girl sent off to an all-girl orphanage in Venice, where Vivaldi is musical director. With the help of Giovanni, the gondolier, she searches all Venice during the festival for clues about her own mysterious past. Katarina tells her own story and interweaves it with more than 25 excerpts of the greatest music of her teacher, Vivaldi. The story and music are best enjoyed by parent and child on a cold Winter's evening in front of a warm fire! Or perhaps on a bright Spring morning in a field of flowers! Or on a warm Summer's night under a sky full of stars! Or on a blustery Fall afternoon overlooking an angry sea! Whatever the season, children will forever remember the first time they listened to The Four Seasons and heard the story of Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery.

For parents who want to educate their Chidren about the beauty of music, this is a wonderful buy. It is a story of a young violinist living in beautiful Italy. This story not only is enjoying to children, but adults get into the story as much as the children. Buy this book. Its wonderful. Make sure you also order the tape for the wonderful music.

When I was a young girl I started taking violin lessons. I had this and many other albums from the seious such as Beethovan lives upstairs, Mr Bach Comes to Call, Tchicovsky Discovers America and Mozart's Magic Flute. I listened to them until the casset tape was starting to stretch and ware out. Unfortunately the only one that I had on CD was the one with Mozart. I used to act out scenes from these albums as I listened to them. I am confidant that because of these tapes I have a more open mind to music today than I ever could have had I not listened to them. They got me into opera when I was seven and I still love it. Now there is not one genre that I can't appreciate and learn to love.

I am now 17 years old and listened to this when it wasn't even a CD it was a tape. Yet the music on this CD still haunts me. Vivaldi is one of my favorite composers and I think this is the CD that started it all. The story is enchanting (though perhaps a little cliche at times) and I must admit that I have listened to it again and again. In fact the last time I listened to it was driving around last sunday. I would reccomend this to anyone and unlike barney I think the parents can really enjoy it too.

Nora via. her fathers account

My daughter is 3 and loves this CD. She goes to sleep many nights listening to it and love the characters in the story. I think it is a great way to humanize the composers, by letting them listen to wonderful music and a very entertaining story as well.

In our home, we don't place much value on television, computer games etc..., but we LOVE books and stories. If I can't be there reading to my child, this is DEFINITELY the next best thing.