[.ca] The Ultimate Recorder Collection (2 CD Set) - Featuring ...

More than the sum of the parts.:
I bought this as wallpaper music - and got a very pleasant surprise! Several of the pieces stopped me in my tracks, made me sit down and forced me to listen. Michala Petri demonstrates a masterly control of her instrument and a high level of musicianship in a wide ranging selection of material - from reconstituted Bach to specially composed 20th Century pieces. Outstanding for me was the Sammartini Concerto: Ms Petri shows a lightness of touch combined with serious enthusiasm and an obvious delight that literally stopped me from working and made me listen. The support given by the Moscow Virtuosi also deserves mention. Koppel's pieces are fun, as are the arrangements from Grieg and Satie. Overall, although this could be taken as a glorified sampler... it is much more - there are complete works played intelligently and lighter, throw away pieces you'll want to chase after and listen to again.

The sublime collection:
I must confess up front to being a Michala Petri fanatic. I also play the recorder, although after listening to this album, I feel like throwing my instruments into the nearest dumpster. Michala Petri is a national hero in Denmark, and a recognized name among classical music fans in Europe, Asia, and Canada. If you listen to this album, you will ask yourself how the music business in the USA can frantically promote "The Three Tenors" while mostly ignoring the genius of this amazing young woman. This is not your kid's recorder. Ms Petri's complete technical and musical mastery of her instrument transforms the recorder into the equal of other familiar solo instruments, but with its own peculiar sound, penetrating but sweet, that sets it apart. This album is made up mostly of tracks from her many earlier recordings. Some are transcriptions of well-loved piano miniatures (the Grieg numbers are perhaps more charming here than on the piano, if that is possible); of baroque works for flute, recorder, or strings; of modern recorder music written for Ms Petri by contemporary masters. Some are accompanied by small orchestra and others by Ms Petri's husband, the excellent guitarist and lutist Lars Hannibal. The combination of recorder and guitar is an intimate match made in heaven, and I recommend also this duo's complete album, 'Air'.

Ultimate Collection is Gross Understatement:
This is by far the best "sampler" I have ever heard. The playing is so superb and the recorder so perfect a vehicle that I found myself listing to too often played pieces like Satie's Gymopedie No.1 as if for the first time. Same for the Grieg. It is very hard to believe these renderings aren't the original intention of the composers. This is a guaranteed winner.

Make your ears dance!:
I bought this as wallpaper music - and got a very pleasant surprise! Several of the pieces stopped me in my tracks, made me sit down and forced me to listen. Michala Petri demonstrates a masterly control of her instrument and a high level of musicianship in a wide ranging selection of material - from reconstituted Bach to specially composed 20th Century pieces. Outstanding for me was the Sammartini Concerto: Ms Petri shows a lightness of touch combined with serious enthusiasm and an obvious delight that literally stopped me from working and made me listen. The support given by the Moscow Virtuosi also deserves mention. Koppel's pieces are fun, as are the arrangements from Grieg and Satie. Overall, although this could be taken as a glorified sampler (and it has made me go to Amazon and buy some of the featured CDs) it is much more - there are complete works played intelligently and lighter, throw away pieces you'll want to chase after and listen to again.

A Great First CD:
After falling in love with the recorder, I started searching for CDs and this was the first I bought. It quickly became a favorite CD. I like the fact that it ranges over a wide period--Baroque to Modern, and showcases the instrument in different settings. The liner notes are quite comprehensive as well. In a word--enchanting.

• Concerto In E, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 - Spring: Allegro
• Concerto In E, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 - Spring: Largo e pianissimo
• Concerto In E, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 - Spring: Allegro - Danza pastorale
• Gymnopedie No. 1
• Op. 55 No. 4: Solveig's Song
• Op. 46 No. 3: Anitra's Dance
• Sonata In G Minor, Op. No. 2, HWV 360: Larghetto
• Sonata In G Minor, Op. No. 2, HWV 360: Andante
• Sonata In G Minor, Op. No. 2, HWV 360: Adagio
• Sonata In G Minor, Op. No. 2, HWV 360: Presto
• Moonchild's Dream (Conlusion)
• Sonata No. 3 In F Minor: Triste
• Sonata No. 3 In F Minor: Allegro
• Sonata No. 3 In F Minor: Andante
• Sonata No. 3 In F Minor: Vivace
• Conerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 - 4th Movement: Vivace - Allegro - Pastorale ad libitum
• Melody And Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
• Op. 43, No. 4: Little Bird
• Op. 43 No. 1: Butterfly
• Sonata No. 5 In D Minor - For Treble Recorders: Largo
• Sonata No. 5 In D Minor - For Treble Recorders: Vivace
• Sonata No. 5 In D Minor - For Treble Recorders: Grazioso
• Sonata No. 5 In D Minor - For Treble Recorders: Allegro
• Concerto For Recorder And Orchestra, Op. 133: Lento
• Concerto Op. 10 No. 3 In D: II Gardellino - III. Allegro
• Two Norwegian Dances, Op. 35: No. 1
• Two Norwegian Dances, Op. 35: No. 2
• Air From Suite In D
• Concerto In F For Soprano Recorder: Allegro
• Concerto In F For Soprano Recorder: Andante
• Concerto In F For Soprano Recorder: Allegro assai
• Variations
• Sonata In E Flat, BWV 1031: Allegro moderato
• Sonata In E Flat, BWV 1031: Siciliano
• Sonata In E Flat, BWV 1031: Allegro
• Nele's Dances: No. 15
• Nele's Dances: No. 16
• Nele's Dances: No. 17
• Nele's Dances: No. 18
• Dance Suite, Op. 29 - V -: Molto Vivace
• Sonata In G Minor - Devil's Trill: II. Allegro
• Zion Hears The Watchmen's Voices
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Largo
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Presto 'Fantasmi'
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Largo
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Presto
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Largo 'Il sonno'
• Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Allegro
• Op. 54, No. 3: March Of The Trolls
• Op. 71, No. 1: Once Upon A Time
• Souvenir: An Encore For Michala