Gustav Schmidt

This 16-disc set contains what is without a doubt the most distinguished collection of Mahler performances ever to have been assembled in one place. DG has sensibly collected all of Bernstein's Mahler for Polygram labels, including the London "Das Lied von der Erde," and all of the orchestral song cycles: "Song of a Wayfarer," "Kindertotenlieder," "Rückert-Lieder," and "Des Knaben Wunderhorn." All of these recordings have been issued separately to general critical acclaim, and despite a veritable warehouse of new Mahler discs in the '90s, Bernstein's versions by and large still reign supreme.

Baroque Masterpieces - collection of Baroque music in the best performance in the company Sony BMG DHM Artenova. One of the best collections of Baroque music! The greatest works - the legendary performance! Baroque music is a style of European classical music in the period from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque era follows the Renaissance and the Classical period precedes. The main in this music was an expression of emotions. Baroque music - this violence and ecstasy, in contrast to the confidence and independence of the Renaissance.

These CDs serve their purpose well offering complete movements or sections of recordings available on Pentatone. The only listing of contents is on the back jewel-box cover; the booklet(s) are actually catalogs of what is available in the format. Each CD is given a full page in the booklet with complete track listings and performer informtion. I'm surprised each of the CD booklets doesn't list all of the multi-channel recordings (both new and RQR) on the label. One features excerpts from new multi-channel recordings; the most impressive sonically are those by the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, New Dutch Academy, Russian National Orchestra and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Dvorak/Tchaikovsky coupling. All of these are 5 channel recordings (left/right, front and rear, and center front).

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwängler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part of the music scene.

Cihat Askin is a violinist with an unusually rich and varied background. His beautiful sound, agile technique and persuasive musicality, which communicates spontaneously with every audience, have won him the highest critical acclaim. He is in demand both as a concerto soloist and as a recitalist and performs repertoire as diverse as Bach. Mozart, Paganini. Tchaikovski and Bartok.

"First integral of the cantatas of Bach on period instruments. In memory of Gustav Leonhardt."