Midnight Adagios at Music Hills.com

Music CD 1

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Romance: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": Adagio - Heinz Holliger, I Musici
Chanson de Nuit, Op.15 - L'Orchestra Dell'Accademia Di Santa Cecilia
Pavane, Op. 50 - Vladimir Ashkenazy, Cleveland Orchestra
String Quartet No. 2 in D Major: Notturno: Andante
Wiegenlied (Lullaby), Op. 49 No.4
Berceuse Romantique (Caprice)
O Silver Moon [Rusalka]
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": Adagio un Poco
Cello Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1029: Adagio - English Chamber Orchestra
Carmen Suite No.1: Intermezzo
Guitar Concerto in D Major, RV 93: Largo - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus - English Chamber Orchestra, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No.2
Ba?l?ro (Songs of the Auvergne) - Nigel Kennedy, National Philharmonic Orchestra
Gymnop?die No.1

Music CD 2

Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068 (Air on a G String) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Clair de Lune (Suite Bergamasque)
M?ditation (Tha?s) - Joshua Bell
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K467: Andante
String Quintet in C Major, D956: Andante - Pepe Romero
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op.26: Adagio
Oboe Concerto in D Minor: Adagio - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op.22: Larghetto - Alexander Kerr, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio
Consolation No.3 - I Salonisti
Fantaisie-Tableaux (Suite No.1) For Two Pianos, Op.5: La Nuit, ...
Romance [The Gadfly] - Marisa Robles
Barcarolle (The Tales of Hoffmann) - Joshua Bell

Music reviews of Midnight Adagios

Music Review: Enjoyable - but not beddy-bye music
Rating: 4 Stars

'Adagio' means 'at ease' or 'slow'--somewhere in between 'largo' and 'andante'--but it doesn't necessarily mean 'soft.' There are a few forte movements on both CDs that seem to occur just as I am finally drifting off to sleep. That's why I wouldn't recommend this album to those who are looking for music to lull them to sleep.

"Cello for Relaxation," "Celtic Lullaby," and "Soothing Harp" are all very soporific CDs if sleep is what you're searching for.

Other than the above caveats, "Midnight Adagios" is wonderful music to paint by or cook by (when I'm not fiddling with the volume control). There are a total of twenty-nine tracks interpreted by such artists and ensembles as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pilar Lorengar, Kiri Te Kanawa, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, etc. etc.

CD 1 begins with Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (how could it not?), the andante movement (oops, what happened to adagio?), and ends with Satie's "Gymnopedie No.1."

CD2 begins with Bach's "Air on a G String" and ends with Offenbach's "Barcarolle.

You've probably heard all of the musical offerings before except, perhaps, for the Marcello "Oboe Concerto." So if you can be lulled by the familiar, serene in the knowledge that the music won't send any adrenaline racing through YOUR bloodstream, then maybe you will find "Midnight Adagios" to be a truly relaxing experience.