Glassmasters [LIVE]

Philip Glass (Composer), Christopher Keene (Conductor), Dennis Russell Davies (Conductor), Michael Riesman (Conductor, Performer), Robert Shaw (Conductor), Jack Kripl (Performer), Paul Lustig Dunkel (Performer), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra), New York City Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), New York City Opera Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra), Philip Glass Ensemble (Orchestra), Philip Glass Ensemble & Chorus (Orchestra), Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Orchestra), Women's Chorus (Orchestra), Philip Glass (Performer), Jon Gibson (Performer), Richard Peck (Performer), Paul Kukovsky (Performer), Bernard Fowler (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Michael Riesman, Jack Kripl, Paul Lustig Dunkel, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson, et al.
• Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, New York City Opera Orchestra, New York City Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Philip Glass Ensemble, Philip Glass Ensemble & Chorus, et al.
• Conductor: Christopher Keene, Dennis Russell Davies, Michael Riesman, Robert Shaw
• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (February 25, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029VX
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #387,808 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great selection of Glass' Music, November 4, 2000

By A Customer

As anyone who has listened to Glass before knows, his music is not the easiest to listen to, but it is also wonderful once you get used to it. This is probably the best selection that you will get from his compositions without having to buy each of the operas separately. If you enjoy Philip Glass (but don't want to spend hundreds on the full operas) or are just interested in hearing his music, this is definitely the place to start. An incredible compilation!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Collection, January 16, 2002

By	Timothy Dougal (Madison, Wi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was so relieved when this 3-disc set was released, because, while I like Glass's music generally, complete operas are out of my already overextended budget. At last I could hear highlights from the operas and other Glassworks without breaking the bank.

I don't fully understand the arrangement of pieces on the discs, which mixes and matches works indiscriminately (it seems), and the two songs from the "Liquid Days" disc are recorded at a much higher volume level from the rest of the material, so I frequently program them out to avoid the annoyance. But all in all, I'm glad I got "Glass Masters".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Appetizers but Patchy Sound Quality!, May 21, 2006

By	Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Philip Glass' music is probably very unlike what you are used to hearing if you are new to his style. For me when I first heard this album, it was like an assault on the senses and my first reaction was to cringe and I wanted to throw it out after just a few minutes. But then as I decided to give the album another chance - after all, I had spent quite a bit of cash on this 3-disc album - I realised that the music definitely grows on you.

It dawned upon me after a few listens that some of the material here is really very beautiful indeed. The tracks are also chosen by Philip himself as is explained in the liner notes that he penned as well. The tracks have been remastered too, except the problem is that the tracks are a combination of DDD and ADD mastering. As a result, the sound quality suffers from track to track, as all the "Einstein On the Beach" selections are ADD mastered while the rest are DDD and the difference is very noticeable: volume and sound quality levels dip considerably as the tracks change which is quite irritating.

Still, if you are interested in sampling Glass' work without having to buy the whole albums, this is probably the best place to start. I know that as a result of this appetizer, I am now interested in seeking out well remastered versions of "Solo Piano", "Einstein on the Beach" and "Glassworks." Music that defies description and is yet so addictive, let's hope they release a better remastered version of this and indeed the entire Glass catalog soon. I, for one, am waiting with baited breath...