Bestsellers > Classical Music > Scherzo
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The Art of Nathan Milstein(more) »rank: 64967from: EMI Classics
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Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall(more) »rank: 61819from: Deutsche Grammophon
: 's Best of 2001:The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne,' Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation ... |
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Essential Chopin(more) »rank: 19841from: Decca
: 's Best of 2001:The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne,' Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation ... |
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The Composer Pianists(more) »rank: 140657from: Hyperion UK
: 's Best of 2001:The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne,' Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation ... |
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Ibert: Complete Piano Music(more) »rank: 78877by: Hae-Won Chang
: 's Best of 2001:The 44-year-old Russian pianist-conductor Mikhail Pletnev made a belated Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist in November 2000. Listening to that recital on this CD confirms the wisdom of the pianist's decision to resign as music director of the Russian National Orchestra. In the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne,' Pletnev's crescendos wash over the listener like tidal waves; the mighty edifice of the music seems to rise, mysteriously and inexorably, on its own. The angry surges in the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 111, are perhaps overdrawn. But the concluding movement's variations glide by as if in a dream, suggesting the transformation ... |
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Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks; Song of the Nightingale(more) »rank: 127181from: Philips
: :Antal Dorati was a veteran ballet conductor and a personal friend of Stravinsky. His recording of The Firebird was a legend in its own time, and its reappearance on CD, sounding better than ever, immediately reestablished its supremacy. All of Stravinsky's complete ballets--as opposed to the suites-- have 'dead spots,' moments when the music sort of stops and lurches about, illustrating something happening onstage. That's why the composer made the suites in the first place. However, many of his most fascinating orchestral ideas occur precisely in these 'dead spots,' which is why many conductors and audiences prefer the works complete. Trust Dorati: he's ... |
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Maurice DuruflĂ©: Complete Organ Works [Hybrid SACD](more) »rank: 142549from: Cpo Records
: :Antal Dorati was a veteran ballet conductor and a personal friend of Stravinsky. His recording of The Firebird was a legend in its own time, and its reappearance on CD, sounding better than ever, immediately reestablished its supremacy. All of Stravinsky's complete ballets--as opposed to the suites-- have 'dead spots,' moments when the music sort of stops and lurches about, illustrating something happening onstage. That's why the composer made the suites in the first place. However, many of his most fascinating orchestral ideas occur precisely in these 'dead spots,' which is why many conductors and audiences prefer the works complete. Trust Dorati: he's ... |
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Schubert: Complete Waltzes - Paolo Bordoni(more) »rank: 148840from: EMI Classics
: :Antal Dorati was a veteran ballet conductor and a personal friend of Stravinsky. His recording of The Firebird was a legend in its own time, and its reappearance on CD, sounding better than ever, immediately reestablished its supremacy. All of Stravinsky's complete ballets--as opposed to the suites-- have 'dead spots,' moments when the music sort of stops and lurches about, illustrating something happening onstage. That's why the composer made the suites in the first place. However, many of his most fascinating orchestral ideas occur precisely in these 'dead spots,' which is why many conductors and audiences prefer the works complete. Trust Dorati: he's ... |
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Horowitz Encores(more) »rank: 31382from: RCA
: :Whether you love Vladimir Horowitz or not, you had to admit that in some showpieces he is incomparable. Here are lots of them: his own Variations on a Theme from Carmen, his souped-up versions of the Danse Macabre and Rakoczy March, and Moszkowski's Sparks. Stars and Stripes Forever sounds as though the pianist had at least three hands--and good ones at that. I never cared for Horowitz's Chopin, and I'm afraid he beats the hell out of the Chopin Polonaise he plays here. But when you want to hear Horowitz the great showman, this is definitely the disc to play. --Leslie Gerber |
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Fright Night: Music that Goes Bump in the Night(more) »rank: 36158from: Sony
: :Whether you love Vladimir Horowitz or not, you had to admit that in some showpieces he is incomparable. Here are lots of them: his own Variations on a Theme from Carmen, his souped-up versions of the Danse Macabre and Rakoczy March, and Moszkowski's Sparks. Stars and Stripes Forever sounds as though the pianist had at least three hands--and good ones at that. I never cared for Horowitz's Chopin, and I'm afraid he beats the hell out of the Chopin Polonaise he plays here. But when you want to hear Horowitz the great showman, this is definitely the disc to play. --Leslie Gerber |

Where the NBA Dynasty series (the other initial entry is the slightly meatier Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History) outdoes Ultimate Jordan is in the six playoff games--one for each year--as they were originally broadcast, minus halftime and commercials. Having the nearly complete game (usually running 90-100 minutes, from the TV introductions to post-game interviews) means you can skip straight to John Paxson's clutch basket or what was expected to be the final shot of Jordan's career. Or you can savor each game in its entirety, all the better to appreciate the artistry of Jordan in his three-pointer barrage against Portland or his "flu game" against Utah. You can see other great players too, of course, including Jordan's teammates--Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman--and those opponents unfortunate enough to face the Bulls--Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, and others. Because these are all NBA Finals games, you won't see Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo or his 63-point coming-out party against Boston, but the 1990s Chicago Bulls were a team for the ages, and merely having their games--some of them all-time classics--available for home viewing is a major milestone in archived sports. --David Horiuchi

While last-minute heroics tend to be the standard by which we define excellence, there are many other moments that have left an indelible impression, many of them highlighted here. The video clips fall into 10 categories: Dunks, Alley-oops, Assists, Steals, Blocks, Teamwork, the Clutch Shot, Moves, Hustle, and Buzzer-Beaters. At the beginning of each section is a brief introduction. Before showing the top 10 dunks of all time, for example, we learn about the evolution of the dunk--from the first slam to the man who could fly, Michael Jordan--and we hear background commentary from NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Dr. J, and Bill Russell. This video recalls familiar moments of NBA lore that you will want to own for countless repeat viewings. --Jeremy Storey