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This is a terrific set of excerpts witt Domingo's golden tone. but the Brunnhilde here is weak compared to the great Brunnhildes. I also very very highly recommend the recent set of 3 CD excerpts by Astrid Varnay released by Deutsche Grammophon. Although it is supposed to be Astrid Varnay's CD, it features Wolfgang Windgassen in his absolute prime!! The exceprts include Walkure: Brunnhilde-Siegmund Death announcement scene, Siegfried: complete final scene between Brunnhilde-Siegfried and Gotterdammerung: opening love duet & Immolation Scene and Tristan & Isolde: Act 1 Isolde's Curse, Act 2 Love Duet and Liebestod. In the 3 CD set costing only 3 dollas more than this 1 CD set, you get Windgassen at the START of his career when his voice was absolutely unspoilt by the wear and tear of constantly singing the heaviest Wagnerian tenor roles. Yes, Windgassen is in glorious form in the 3 CD set MUCH fresher than he was to become in the Solti ring, Bohm ring or Bohm Tristan and Isolde. Added to that you have the glorious Brunnhilde and Isolde of Astrid Varnay in her absolute prime!! Again, this is before her voice became spoilt by the constant singing of heavy Wagnerian roles. All for 3 dollars (and 2 CDs more) more than this set which is only 1 CD. So while you enjoy this set, don't forget the other set which I think is even better.

Two duets seems very mean for an entire album. Yet that's what we have on this CD - most of the last scene of Siegfried and a hefty chunk of Tristan Act 2. And it's an interesting recording for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it's good - great - to hear Pappano conducting his soon-to-be own band. He is slated to conduct a Ring cycle at Covent Garden 2005 and on this evidence it isn't likely to disappoint. He really has the measure of this music, and manages to contrast the moonlit passion of Tristan (all darksomely glowing orchestral undertones) with the fierce sunlight of Siegfried - the sound he manages to coax from the Orchestra is somehow much brighter and more open. Very clever. He has the broad sweep, the internal drive of these long scenes and he makes a real success of them.

As far as the singers are concerned, it's a fascinating combination. Domingo is nearing the end of his career and it looks as though Tristan and Siegfried will be forever out of his reach (more's the pity). Voigt, on the other hand, is approaching her prime, and has yet to scale the dizzy heights of Isolde and Brunnhilde. So we are faced with a seasoned Siegmund and Sieglinde facing together new territory. Domingo is taxed to his limit by Siegfried but supplies the excitement and fascination of the young man's mountain-top discovery with some really powerful climaxes. His Tristan is altogether more subtle and subdued, a really well-internalised reading of this anti-passionate love scene. His previous Wagnerian qualities are there in abundance and in addition his tone is more burnished, darker and more mature. Voigt's bright, beautiful soprano is (unlike most)unfazed by Brunnhilde's high tessitura, and she attacks the high Cs with great courage. She doesn't have the power that Birgit Nilsson had but the voice copes well. As Isolde (a part that surely can't be far off) she sounds well at home. Praise, too, for Violeta Urmana who miraculously manages to stay in tune as Brangaene.

A really satisfying disc, then. For sheer quality, it has to be awarded top marks.

I knew Voigt would be fantastic but Domingo is a complete surprise. He's been a great Wagnerian in the past but Siegfried is pretty high and Domingo is no spring chicken. So it was amazing to hear him hitting the high notes and singing elegantly for the most part. Voigt is spectacular. Will she ever do Brunhilde? The opening "heil dir sonne" is a stunner. Pappano's conducting is good, though I like my "Tristans" to be a little darker, broodier. Anyway, the recording is more than worth it for the principals (and don't forget the luscious-voiced Violeta Urmana as Brangaene).

I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.

I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!

The recordings on this disc are pretty good. However, the editors selected only the *loud* parts, as indicated by the title. I was pretty disappointed to find that the pieces are, in many cases, edited to reflect the most famous themes, etc, instead of including the whole work. In general, I would recommend this to the classical music novice, or someone who wants to expand their knowledge of classical music in general. Those who already are familiar with these pieces will probably feel gypped.

The recordings are fair at best. The performances poor to better.

I will dispose of this one.

I used to think that classical music is boring, but this CD has changed my mind. The first time I listened to this CD I said, its OK. Later every time I listen to it I discover a new beautiful music. I feel calm and relaxed. I mostly liked the Borodin, Mozart and Faure songs. It is really 25 sentimental favorites. Now, many titles of the 25 "?" Favorites are on my wish list....