Bach Adagios

This is a Great Classical piece for the lovers of classical, as well as the ones who may hate it. These Adagios CDs get beter and better each time there is a new release. I must warn you there some good as well as some bad ones. There is a certain Adagio flavor for everyones.

Various Artist - Violin Adagios (2CDs) (2001)
Classical | Easy CD-DA / Flac & Cue, No Log | Cover included | 680 MB | RS
Audio CD: March 20, 2001 | Label: Decca

Continuing their Adagios series, the folks at Decca have combed the archives once again and assembled another soothing collection of beautiful melodies, Violin Adagios. This time the soulful sound of the violin takes center stage in a program of the most memorable slow-paced music written for the instrument. Opening with Kennedy's rendition of Massenet's mournful "Meditation" from Thaïs, the double-disc set continues with performances by legends like Arthur Grumiaux and Henryk Szeryng, along with newly minted stars such as Joshua Bell, Kyung-Wha Chung, and Leila Josefowicz. And all the essential composers – from Bach to Beethoven to Brahms – are represented, too, on this album in celebration of the violin, that most lyrical of instruments.

Barnes & Noble

The spectacular pristine CD cover photo graphically portrays the richness and beauty of this Christmas collection. "Over two and half hours of peaceful seasonal music." The photo is of a shining white church in a pastoral setting with snow, lighted tree, stream and bridge. This is relaxing music!

Romantic Adagios II is an interesting introduction to instrumental art music, though. Decca's stable of truly great performing artists are well represented. Among them are the Academy of Ancient Music, the London Symphony, the Concertgebouw Orchesta; performers Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lynn Harrell, and Joshua Bell; and conductors Georg Solti, Bernard Haitink, and Herbert von Karajan. Compositions range widely through music history, including works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and Debussy. Especially lovely are the adagios from Rachmaninov's Second Symphony and Grieg's Piano Concerto.

The title is Romantic Adagios II. The description is "Over 2 1/2 hours of the world's most passionate music." What these are, in other words, are two discs of seduction music, which is fine. Using music for seductive purposes is the oldest ploy in the world. From Orpheus up to Ol' Blue Eyes, music hath charms to arouse, inflame, and incite lascivious and lubricious behavior. The whole purpose of this disc is to ensure a successful seduction. It sure isn't because sticking all of these Adagios together doesn't make any sort of musical sense.

While Decca is well aware that the average listener no longer knows the difference between a symphony, an overture, or a concerto, they are hoping that the general consumer will remember that an adagio is a slow musical piece. At least Decca is banking on that to the tune of ten double-disc Adagio sets, in which Midnight Adagios is a single entry. Given its scope, generous program, and top-notch artists, Midnight Adagios is a safe bet for musical enjoyment, in addition to providing the relaxation trumpeted on the front cover.