Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(43 customer reviews) 121 of 122 people found the following review helpful
This review is for the Bicentennial Edition 3 CD Boxed Set.,
January 30, 2000 Tyson Torres (Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)
This three disc set is an excellent starting point, not only for the beginning listener of Mozart, but to the beginning listener of classical music in general. That said, the selections are quite in tune with the film itself, which quite uniquely makes this soundtrack valuable both to people who loved the film as well as those who have never seen it. Perhaps 90% of the tracks are the compositions of Mozart, including the Commendatore scene of "Don Giovanni" and the Queen of the Night aria from "The Magic Flute." The remaining tracks consist of music heard during various scenes in the film, including the finale from Salieri's opera "Axur." Enough new material is here to warrant buying this set over one of the other less expensive editions of the "Amadeus" soundtrack. In short, the music contained herein is a virtual greatest hits album of Mozart, virtual only in that it's scope must be limited to only 3 discs. On an incidental...Read more
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Top-Chart Album of the 80's That Made Classical Music Sell !!,
July 30, 2005 Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" (Lennox, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)
In 1984, Milos Forman's film Amadeus, based on the hit Broadway play by Peter Schaffer, made it to the big screen with resounding success nationwide. When the soundtrack was released, it was a top seller and even found itself selling as much as such popular 80's artists as Madonna. The music from this well-made film, mostly Mozart but used some Classical-Era works by Salieri, Pergolesi and Salieri- hooked young people into classical music when they might have otherwise never given it a chance.
In the film, Mozart's music is used for dramatic effect and for ambiance. Vienna in the 1780's was the home of a blooming musical scene that would later see the likes of Beethoven. This musical kingdom is well captured in the soundtrack, which features tantalizing excerpts from Mozart's most illustrious works. The film opens to the frenzied, dark strains of the 1st movement of the 25th Symphony, as a crazed Salieri is taken from his home to a mental asylum after an attempted suicide...Read more
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Complete?,
April 30, 2002 gellio "gellio" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)
Okay, I want to start off by saying that even this set is not "complete." Several pieces, that were in the film are missing. Papageno's aria from 'Flute', Martern aller Arten from 'Seraglio' and the opening to 'Figaro', to name a few. However, this really is a great recording and a wonderful introduction to Mozart. Marriner is a wonderful conductor, but there are moments on this disc that are simply inadequate - namely The Queen of the Night's aria from 'Flute.' I have heard many many better readings than this. Christina Deutekom under the direction of Solti, with the Vienna Philharmonic is simply incredible as the Queen. This recording (complete) is hard to find, but amazon has a highlights version. It's the best 'Flute' out there. The Commendatore Scene from 'Don Giovanni' is well done, but pales in comparison to what Eberhard Wachter did under the direction of Guilini - this recording has been called the greatest opera recording ever. One critic said there's a...Read more
