Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Arts & Entertainment, Music

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Title: The Life and Works of Franz Liszt

Author: Jeremy Siepmann

Narrator: Jeremy Siepmann, Neville Jason, David Timson, Elaine Claxton, Laura Paton, Raphael Clarkson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The life of Franz Liszt was as daring and spectacular as his music. Famed throughout Europe as the greatest pianist of the 19th century, he was one of the most original and prophetic composers who ever lived. Beautiful in youth, glowering in age, his high-profile love affairs were the talk of the town wherever he went and his generosity to young musicians was legendary. In this account of his epic life, actors readings combine with plentiful musical excerpts to paint a living portrait of a highly complex man.

The greatest surprise in this audio-biography of Franz Liszt is that, despite his reputation as a lion of the keyboard and one of the hugely popular superstars of his era, he was, in fact, a steady personality. As Jeremy Siepmann shows, for all Liszts pyrotechnics on the keyboard, and itinerant life, he did not succumb uninhibitedly to the temptations of his environment. There existed a deeply reflective strain within him, which is why and how he eventually transformed his public persona from the fabulous virtuoso to Abbé Liszt - as can be experienced in the readings from his letters and memories by Neville Jason.

Members Reviews:

Great resource

Great resource for a school project!

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Title: The Life and Works of Beethoven

Author: Jeremy Siepmann

Narrator: Jeremy Siepmann, Bob Peck, Neville Jason, David Timson, Elaine Claxton, Karen Archer

Format: Original Recording

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

For many people, Beethoven is the greatest composer who ever lived. In this portrait-in-sound, actors readings combine with his music to reveal a titanic personality, both vulnerable and belligerent, comic and tragic, and above all heroic, as he comes to grips with perhaps the greatest disability a musician can suffer. No mans music is more universal; few mens lives are more inspiring. In every sense but one - his modest height - he was a giant.

The great bonus of this audio-biography is that the development of Beethovens music can be heard in the context of his life. What did he write in those early, ambitious years when he was at the peak of his musical powers? What did he write when beset with anxiety over his failing hearing? And what was the music that insisted on pouring out of him, even though he couldnt hear it himself?

Jeremy Siepmann draws us into the private world of Ludwig van Beethoven, with the composer portrayed with rugged vividness by Bob Peck.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

I'm a Believer

Makes a great case for Beethoven. I didn't realize there were so many of his works I don't know in addition to the ones I do. Chopin is still my favorite, but I have new music to explore now and I do recognize the genius.

A great audible experience

A great intertwining of story and the music that is vital to that story. Edifying and thoroughly enjoyable.

Get Greenberg's Beethoven His Life and Music

This is fine for what it is--well, sort of fine. Not really. It's neither a real biography of Beethoven, nor an analysis of his work; it's an entertaining but fluffed-out skim over both. Half is segments of Beethoven's compositions, interleaved with brief narrations of his life and descriptions of him by contemporaries (acted quite well; the narrators are very good).

But while the compositions connect to the narrations, they are long (half the book) and nothing is done with them. And while the snippets on B's life are good, they are just that--snippets. The print equivalent of this work would be a short magazine article with glossy illustrations.

A wonderful version of the very same topic is Robert Greenberg's Great Masters: Beethoven - His Life and Music. Greenberg is professor of musicology and a composer. He gives the same material as this book/article, but even more entertainingly, with much greater depth, and an enlightening, sophisticated, accessible analysis of B's compositions and life. It's better in every way, and costs less, if you are buying without credits. Greenberg's is 6 hours long vs. this work's 5 hours. It's not a pedantic work; it's this work, done better.

Okay, long review. Short form--it's definitely not worth the money.

Best part was to hear music.

Maybe little bit short, you are supposed to know everything already. Story closer to Wikipedia than proper storytelling, but to able to hear the actual music makes it all worth.

Excellent introduction

I wanted to learn more about the great man and this book was the perfect introduction to his life, character and music. It was engaging, informative and interesting.

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Title: The Life and Works of Bach

Author: Jeremy Siepmann

Narrator: Jeremy Siepmann, John Shrapnel, Trevor Nichols, Ruth Sillers, David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Although now beloved and revered by millions as the greatest composer who ever lived, Johann Sebastian Bach (16851750) was best known in his lifetime as an organist, and was eclipsed in fame as a composer by two of his twenty children. For the last twenty-seven years of his life he was a schoolteacher and choir director whose duties extended to meal supervision and dormitory inspection. Yet throughout his career he composed a vast body of music which is amongst the most joyful, dancing and enrapturing ever written. This portrait-in-sound includes many examples of the music that made him immortal. With compelling narration by Jeremy Siepmann, character portrayals by acclaimed actors, and the interpolation of over twenty-five substantial musical extracts reflecting the development of one of musics most enduringly awe-inspiring composers, we are transported back three centuries straight into the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. This innovative sense of immediacy is at the heart of this comprehensive audio-biography, depicting the life of a composer whose music is universally admired.

Members Reviews:

Interesting

Very interesting

Not to long

Lot of musical performance

Some new information

Clear voice and easy to understand

A good introduction to Bach's Life and Work

I am very fond of J S Bach

I cannot read music. I find the format of the Naxos Life and Works series well tailored to my needed

There is narration that moves the story along , but there is the words of JS Bach and other members of his family. One learns of his great appetite for work, and his various quarrels with students, town councils and Church administrators.

The focus is Bach and his work-- from his childhood to his death.

There is good linking between the narrative and the other extended musical examples

A first class introduction.

I also like the other volumes in the series

Not as good as the others

This edition was a little lacking in content as well as in music choice. Not as good as the others in the series

The perfect way to learn and listen to Bach

This is audio books at their best! How else to get a great grasp of the life of a famous composer than to hear his story, interspersed at appropriate places by samples of his wonderful music? The book brings JS Bach's life into focus, giving us a realistic picture of his life in the late 1600 and early 1700s in Germany. And just when you might be getting a little too much detail the audio brakes into a sample of his trademark Baroque music. Bliss!

Padded with music, short on substance.

Would you try another book written by Jeremy Siepmann or narrated by the narrators?

No - the book was poor in detail and substance being excessively padded with music performances (not even good ones, at that).

I felt that i'd been conned by the book

What could Jeremy Siepmann have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Researched Bach's life, given details, and cut out the padding

How could the performance have been better?

Rather dull vocal delivery, he sounds disinterested. So was I.

You didnt love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Nope, not one.

Any additional comments?

i want my money back.

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Title: Puccini: Madame Butterfly

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Madama Butterfly runs the gamut of operatic emotions. The title heroine has a fragility wonderfully expressed in her entry music, deep sexual instincts as shown in the love duet, and immense tragic stature in her last hours. The fate of Madama Butterfly - married to an American sailor and then abandoned - engages our emotions to a degree equaled by few other opera heroines. The oriental setting and the exquisite orchestral and choral writings are treasured bonuses.

This audiobook is the perfect introduction to Madama Butterfly. We learn about the background to Puccini's "Japanese" opera, the social themes of honor and loyalty it involves, and how it progressed from a surprisingly unsuccessful premiere to one of the central and best-loved works of the international operatic repertory. As the story unfolds, we get to know the melodies which make this such a moving and compelling opera.

Editorial Reviews:

"Every night, since May 28th, 1904, somewhere in the world, there has been a performance of Madame Butterfly. Why is Madame Butterfly one of the best-loved operas in the world? Infused with the passionate, breathtaking music of Giacomo Puccini, this audiobook explains not only the dramatic content of the opera, but its context as well. Many listeners might not know that the opera's premiere was a huge flop - audiences were outrageously critical! It was only after Puccini revised and edited the score, that it became the wild success that it remains today. Delving deep into the political, historical, and musical elements of the opera, music historian Thomson Smillie gives listeners a comprehensive and entertaining education on this opera. The audio is narrated by David Timson, whose cheery voice lends a light touch to the information-packed exploration of this adored opera.

Members Reviews:

Excellent introduction.

A great introduction to this opera. The mix of music, story and comment works well. Well read. To really appreciate the opera when you see it make sure you listen to this first. Your enjoyment and understanding will be greatly enhanced.

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Title: Puccini: Turandot

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Puccinis swansong has a claim to being the last great popular opera. Its melodies have enchanted audiences since its posthumous premiere in 1926, two years after Puccinis death. It involves a chilling story of love and cruelty, an intriguing cast of characters against the exotic backdrop of Imperial China, magnificent choruses and ensembles, and dazzling orchestration in an exotic score that comprises a string of remarkable arias - among which the great tenor aria "Nessun dorma" is the jewel. It is more than Puccinis last opera: It is the last word, in every sense, on Italian opera.

Editorial Reviews:

You will recognize Puccini's melody immediately. Turandot is known for its enchanting and influential sound. It is also famous for being one of the last operas that was viewed as popular entertainment. And even now Puccini's melodious Turandot remains one of the most well-known tunes, and it continues to fill us with emotion. Smillie's study of this early 20th-century opera is thorough and endlessly interesting. This audio is made even more appealing by David Timson's energetic and heartfelt narration. You'll be moved and engaged.

Members Reviews:

Fire and ice, hope and blood

Turandot is Puccini's last opera. He died while composing the third act, leaving the work unfinished.

The plot is based on an ancient Persian legend, and the setting that of imperial Peking. Turandot is the daughter of the emperor. He wants her to marry but she resists, so the emperor agrees to her terms: any suitor who wishes to marry her must answer three riddles. If he cannot, he will be executed.

As if the story is not dramatic enough, there is the reimagining of ancient China, the evocation of place through pentatonic elements and unusual instrumentation, the costuming, and demanding roles for the performers.

For all that, some parts are silly. For example, ministers named Ping, Pang, and Pong. And the violence and drama feels relentless after a point. Still, other parts are transcendent, most famously, the "Nessun dorma."

The author explains the story, staging, and production very well. David Timson's narration is, as always, simply perfect. For that, five stars.

But I won't be going to a production or purchasing a recording of Turandot. Puccini wrote so much that puts this opera in the shade.

That's just my opinion. Decide for yourself. That is one of the many benefits of the "Opera Explained" series. If you're unfamiliar with an opera, as I was with Turandot, listen and see what you think. You might hate it, or you might become a devoted fan. Either way, it's time well-spent if you love classical music.

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Title: Puccini: La Bohème

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

La Bohème is one of the three operas - the others are Carmen and Aida - believed to be the most popular ever written. In the case of La Bohème the reason is that it virtually defines the term "romantic". The poignant story of Mimì and Rodolfo is told in music of such tender beauty, allied, as always, to Puccinis intuition of what works in the theatre. The result is an opera that readily appeals to our emotions and senses.

"Che gelida manina - Your tiny hand is frozen..." The moment when Mimì and Rodolfo meet and first touch is one of the very great moments of opera - created by the master hand of Giacomo Puccini, who unerringly trod the fine line between romance and sentimentality.

Thomson Smillie outlines the background to the opera, explaining how painstakingly the composer worked to achieve this effect. An absorbing introduction both for those approaching La Bohème for the first time and for those wanting to know a bit more than just the big arias.

Editorial Reviews:

One of the most popular operas to ever be written, La Bohème combines high-spirited antics with one of the most tender and romantic scenes ever performed onstage. Through narrator David Timson's graceful performance, Thomson Smillie outlines the background to the opera, explaining how Puccini created its exquisite moments of beauty, expertly treading the fine line between romance and sentimentality. Listeners approaching La Bohème as novices will find themselves experiencing a moment of frisson when Mimì and Rodolfo meet for the first time.

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Title: The Flying Dutchman

Subtitle: Opera Explained

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The Flying Dutchman is the perfect opera with which to approach the operatic mountain that is Richard Wagner. It is short, has a great story (the legend of the Dutch captain doomed to sail forever unless redeemed through love), and the striking score has many pre-echoes of Wagner's later great music dramas. It contains wonderful tunes in its arias, ensembles, and big choruses, and the orchestral writing - from the gale that blows out of the Overture to the final theme of "Redemption through Love" - will "blow you away".

These "wonderful tunes" are enriched by a lively explanation of their context. From the opera's dramatic opening, which reflects Wagner's own nautical experiences as he fled from creditors and the law, we see how it contains many of the hall-marks, many of the foot-prints, of his later, greater works. And we find out why The Flying Dutchman was such a blazing triumph for this most controversial and Romantic of composers.

Editorial Reviews:

Thomson Smillie's Opera Explained series warmly enfolds listeners into a musical world that they might have previously considered elitist. In Smillie's esteemed opinion, opera is inviting, not intimidating, and in this episode he succeeds in making The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner accessible to a wider audience. This guided listening experience performed by the distinguished actor David Timson opens with an excerpt from Wagner's 1843 opera and goes on to discuss the composer's idea of Gesamtkunstwerk (a synthesis of poetic, visual, musical, and dramatic arts), his use of leitmotifs, his controversial life, and the revolution he accomplished in opera. Timson's artful narration deepens a listener's understanding not only of The Flying Dutchman, but of music in general.

Members Reviews:

An introduction to Wagner

The first twenty or so minutes are spent on a whirlwind review of Wagner's operas and personality, which hardly seems necessary in a short selection such as this. Only after that do we begin with this opera itself, which Smillie says is the perfect introduction to Wagner's work because it contains "all of the elements of his mature genius, but on a human scale."

The plot is quite simple by Wagnerian standards. A sea captain, cursed to sail the seas for all eternity, is given the possibility of reprieve. Every seven years the waves will send him back to shore. While there, if he can find a woman to be a true and faithful wife to him, he will be released from his curse. (One of Wagner's recurring themes finds its origin in this work: redemption through love).

The author discusses each leitmotif, as well as the orchestration, theme, and resolution of the plot. Overall, a good introduction.

David Timson is always a wonderful narrator. (I could listen to him read out a tax return and be enraptured). Five stars for his performance.

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Title: Pelleas et Melisande

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Dating from the last decade of the 19th century, Pelléas et Mélisande points the way into the 20th century. The score is hauntingly beautiful, but there is more to the work than shifting panels of elusive, impressionistic sound. Debussy retains the text of Maeterlincks play, and the linguistic subtleties of the French text are matched perfectly by the musical detail. Taking a little time to explore the romantic, elusive world of this opera is particularly rewarding.

Editorial Reviews:

Thomson Smillie, a renowned performing arts educator and author of How to Listen, Learn, Love Opera, is informatively radiant in this installment of Opera Explained, performed by the multilingual David Timson. Smillie clearly admires Claude Debussy, the composer of Pelleas et Melisande, and he offers a brief lesson on tonality in addition to Debussy's musical biography. By the end of the episode, listeners will be better able to pick out Debussy's delicate piano textures and impressionistic style. Fragments from the composer's other works like "Clair de lune" supplement the operatic excerpts. Finally, no discussion of Debussy would be complete without examining the profound influence of Wagner on the French composer's work.

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Title: Ring of the Nibelung: Opera Explained

Author: Stephen Johnson

Narrator: Stephen Johnson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Wagners Ring cycle is the most ambitious work in the history of music: four operas that combine to tell a single epic story. Based in legend, it has become a legend in its own right: a supreme challenge for conductors, singers, opera producers, and indeed for audiences. But for all its grandeur and complexity, The Ring is far more accessible than many music lovers think.

This audiobook guide explains the basics of the plot, profiles the leading characters, and shows how Wagners revolutionary music adds fascinating layers of meaning and psychological insight, as well as providing some of the most stirring and intoxicating moments in the entire operatic repertoire.

Editorial Reviews:

As part of the Opera Explained series, Stephen Johnson takes a look at, what he calls, "the biggest and most ambitious work in the history of music": Wagners Ring of the Nibelung. The epic four part opera which draws upon Nordic and Germanic legend has gained a prestigious status, with dedicated followers eager to sit through the lengthy experience.

Members Reviews:

Der Ring des Nibelung

In this brief introduction Johnson takes us from the opening e-flat of the Das Rheingold to the consuming flames of Götterdämmerung. Discussions of staging, orchestration, plot development, mythic elements and more are interspersed with musical excerpts.

Wagner designed the tetralogy to begin with the Vorabend, (a "preliminary evening") in which Das Rheingold is perfomed, followed by the succession of the operas Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. Johnson makes an admirable presentation of each part of the cycle without excessive digression.

Of course, countless volumes have been devoted to the discussion of meaning, leitmotif, scoring, and all things Wagnerian, should one want to look deeper. But for a brief discussion of Ring essentials, look no further.

These operas share a somewhat daunting reputation. Even opera fans have been known to quaver before Valhalla! But don't be one of them. Listen to this book, then jump right in. Some of the most beautiful music ever written awaits you.

Start here

Wagner's great work can appear daunting to the novice: you don't know how to approach it or where to start. This audio book is the perfect answer to your dilemma. I have found it to be an excellent guide and introduction. The mixture of narrative, explanation and musical illustration is very informative and interesting. I feel now that I have the confidence to tackle the entire work.. I would recommend everyone to listen to this first: you will not be disappointed.

Clearing Up The Legend

A well read and well presented piece that not only covers the stories of the four operas, but gives useful insights into the structure of the music, the recurring musical themes and the innovations that Wagner introduced. I listened to this in conjunction with a DVD set of the complete cycle and it increased my understanding and enjoyment of the works greatly.

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Title: Orfeo: Opera Explained

Author: Thomson Smillie

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Monteverdis Orfeo, first performed in 1607, generates a special excitement because it is the first unquestioned masterpiece of opera. Notable for its precise orchestration and powerful drama it was a groundbreaking work. It concerns the legend of Orpheus, the demigod whose music had the power to conquer the forces of Hell and to bring his wife back, briefly, to life. The extracts used in this introduction are from Naxos full recording; it uses authentic period instruments, which serve to evoke the early Baroque period of the operas composition.