Search - Johann Pachelbel, Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederick Handel :: Essential Baroque: 35 Great Masterpieces

High-quality, marvelously varied intro to baroque music

Frank T. Manheim | Fairfax VA | 12/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am buying this as the perfect gift for Russian and Chinese scientist friends. They have knowledge of classical music but perhaps not much about baroque music, which achieved special popularity in the U.S. during the 1970's and 1980's. Russians seem to have more familiarity with romantic classical music, while the more recently arrived Asian classical buffs have special affinity to the "Classical" classical period and the great 19th Century romantics. How can a baroque sampler be better than with a span of music ranging from solo harpsichord to full orchestra and chorus, and from the very familiar (Pachelbel Canon and Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah) to a trio sonata by Zelenka and the Dardanus Overture by Rameau. Not only that, but both the period instrument and living tradition baroque styles are represented by noted performers (e.g. Trevor Pinnock and Christopher Hogwood; and Henryk Szeryng, Andras Schiff, Pepe Romero, and Alicia de Larrocha, respectively). The producers were careful enough to state that the "Albinoni Adagio in g minor" was actually composed by Remo Giazotto - though in fact Giazotto did use a fragment of Albinoni. This is definitely not a supermarket special, but a box of choice musical bonbons."

Great Collection

N. Shivar | Georgia, USA | 01/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Essential Baroque is a great collection, especially for the price. It has two CDs packd full of the best Baroque music. Like most Baroque collections, it has the best of some of the better known artists like Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. However, unlike most other collections, it excels in adding some good pieces from lesser known artists from the period."

A remarkable anthology

Alex | Italy | 09/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A fine selection of pieces excerpted from the chamber ensemble, solo and opera repertory. Some recordings, though from paramount artists, are elderly; yet, performers are anyway flawless. It may be objected that a few of Vivaldi's masterpieces were disregarded."