Into Eternity [Import]

1. Mr Happiness

2. Song For Bumiji

3. Ode To Workman

4. Mickey's Trip

5. Horizon

6. Eastern Egg

7. Kaze

8. Cycle Circle

9. Midnight

Tracks:

Novus Inceptum
Severe Emotional Distress
Nothing
Timeless Winter
Out
Past Beyond Memory
Surrounded by Night
Eternal
Pain Through Breathing
Suspension of Disbelief
Paralyzed

Customer Reviews:

One of the best bands out there!!!.......2007-03-31

I would have to say that out of the countless bands i have heard over the past few years Into Eternity is one of the best and has one solid album here!! I think they have something a lot of bands do not have and the one cool thing about them is Tim Roth seems to give a real crud about his fans as he does guitar videos on his website to show you how you can break down his guitar riffs and that to me as a guitarist is so helpful (ive learned some of their songs this way) and this shows how he is not afraid to be the nicest guy and actually take that kind of time to be close and original to his fans.you just never see that these days. And the rest of this band has so much talent, Stu can scream like halford growl too and has a high vocal range and it makes them sound interesting. Plus jims drum work, how can anyone say this dude isnt one of the better drummers, he is so tight but can slow it down and tempo change very well. This album plain rocks, It should be known as these guys were on Gigantour and rocked there too. Be cool if them and annihilator went on tour. I have become very fond of them and hope they stick around and keep making great albums in a world overflowing with the same ole un-original bands that all sound the same!!

Into Eternity is the greatest band in my opinion.......2007-03-30

I'm going to keep this review very brief. Usually when a band changes lineup, it can be expected that the band will change, but it may be a very slight change or a very dramatic change. With the new Troy Bleich on bass, and the new Stu Block on vocals, they have managed to retain the great sound that into eternity has delivered us on their previous 3 albums. The two masterminds Tim Roth (Vocals+ Lead Gutair) and Jim Austin (Drums) prove again that they seriously OWN, and are very successfull at creating appealing heavy music. I do say that Jim Austin is one of my favorite drummers out there in the music industry and I play the drums myself, so I look up to him.

The album is very good, and is full energy, pleasing melodies, a very wide array of vocal tonalities, fast and very good drumming, and gutiar work that is out of this world. Like The previous albums, This bands works consist of a very wide range of sounds both vocally and insrumental. Stu block has added a few more vocal sounds not seen in the previous albums, but for the most part, he works out very well with the band.

Basically this album is great, while in my opinion not as good as the first 3, but still deserves excellence and 5 stars. If you want a blend of death metal, melodic progressive metal, and music that shows tonality extremes in both instrumental and vocal forms, go get this album. Also check out their first 3

1.) The Debut album which most people do not know about. Theres more singing on this album too which to me is awesome. I discovered this band years ago, and i was introduced to their first works right when dead or dreaming made its debut. If you want the debut album go to this website and take a listen of 2 of the songs. http://www.dvsrecords.com/samples.htm

the album is DVS002

This is the website of their first record label, and i think its the only place you can find their debut album, sop check it out. Tim Roth (Lead Vocals, Guitar) Chris McDougall (Keyboards) Jim Austin Drums, Vocals, Scott Krall (Bass, Vocals) Daniel Nargang ( Guitar)

2.) Dead or dreaming. Another great Album. Daneil Nargang (Lead/BACking Vocals, Guitar) Jim Austin (Drums, Death Vocals), TIm Roth ( Lead/BAcking vocals, Guitar) Scott Krall (bass, backing vocals)

3.) another masterpiece, Buried In Oblivion. Jim Austin (Drums and backing vocals ) Scott Krall (Bass and backing vocals ) Rob Doherty (guitar and death vocals) tim Roth Clean/DEATH VOCALS AND guitar, and Chris Krall(clean and death vocals.)

Get all of these albums now. you only have one life to live, which means only one lifetime to fill your ears with appealing sounds.

=)

Fan-Freakin-Tastic!.......2007-03-28

This is the first release of Into Eternity I have heard (and purchased the next day). They are easily one of the best metal bands to come out in years. I must agree with many of the reviews that say the drum production is a bit off, but the drum work itself is fantastic. Tim is easily one of the best guitarists out there, but Stu is what completes the overall sound. I am a HUGE Halford (THE Metal God) fan so that may color my opinion of Stu. Stu's power metal screams rival Halford's at that age.

The music is fan-freakin-tastic to be sure, the only complaint I have is that the song lyrics could be more meaningful. Stu makes you want them to be more meaningful because the gut punch you get listening to him. The only way they will ever get to the point of being a true Metal Monster is to up the ante on their lyrics. I love the words, they just need to put them together more coherently.

The music speaks for itself.......2007-02-27

Take the best of black metal, the best of death metal, the best of power metal, mash it all together with a touch of progression and you get an artful blend of aggression and melody that is Into Eternity's "The Scattering of Ashes." A solid chunk of music that builds on the foundation of what is their own sound. From start to finish, this album never stops to give the listener a chance to comprehend what their ears have experienced.

The only negative thing about the album is the design and layout. It is unoriginal and boring for such a catchy and original piece of music.

Into Eternity has created a work of art that has put them in a league all their own. A must for one searching for music we all know and love in a whole new way.

Chuck Schuldiner Would Have Been Proud!!!!.......2007-02-10

One of my favorite new bands whose entire discography (which I own) parallels the greatest achievements in classical music in excellence, have managed to resurrect both Death and Metallica from their respective graves (although both were dead on a different level). In fact, with "SOTE" IE deserves that "new Death" moniker, so richly bestowed upon them almost unanimously by critics everywhere, not only in metal...In a lot of respects as sensational as Mastodon, though not nearly as original or groundbreaking. The key to IE's brilliance is not so much in originality, for granted we have all heard it before, but at the proficiency with which they marry seemingly disparate styles of metal and music in general while NEVER sacrificing an ounce of brutality. Though highly melodic, last year's offering of IE is both their most crushingly savage and most creative to date. One of the best and the strongest bands in metal today, a proof that metal is still far from its decline...My personal number 4 on 2006 metal's finest, beats even Scar Symmetry (though by a narrow margin)...

Average customer rating:

Jim Ausin on Drums
Boston for the Death Metal Set.....
Power Death ear candy
...What Rush would sound like if they were Metal!!!
An Enchanting Piece of Work.

Buried in Oblivion
Into Eternity
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dead Or Dreaming
Scattering of Ashes
Pitch Black Progress
Symmetric in Design
Under Reprisal

ASIN: B00018U9NE
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Splintered Visions
Embrace By Desolation
3 Dimensional Aperture
Beginning Of The End
Point Of Uncertainty
Spiraling Into Depression
Isolation
Buried In Oblivion
Black Sea Of Agony
Morose Seclusion

Album Description

''A musical mixture of skull-splintering aggression and razor-edged finesse'' - Revolver. A must for fans of Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, Death, Cynic, nevermore and Opeth. Ten tracks. Century Media. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Jim Ausin on Drums.......2007-04-11

Jim Austin is probably one of the most intense, creative and mind-blowing drummers on the scene today. If you love awesome drummers, you'll love this album. Oh, and the rest of the band is amazing too!

Boston for the Death Metal Set............2006-09-19

Ahh, death metal. Most people either love it or hate it. One of the biggest complaints levied against the genre in particular is typically the vocal style, which is (to the neophyte) an almost incomprehensible, guttural growl. Sort of like the crypt keeper meets the cookie monster. There are, however, many variations on this style, especially now that more "extreme" heavy metal has become more mainstream mid-decade, leading to a flood of different death metal bands. This Canadian group sets themselves apart primarily through an extremely poppy vocal style and superb musicianship. Sure, the requisite benchmarks of the genre are there-fast, heavy riffs and a vicious, almost acidic death metal bark; but this will suddenly give way to unbelievably catchy, hooky two-and three-part vocal harmonies during a chorus or verse then suddenly revert back to the "evil" vocal style. It really is quite unique and original. I am instantly reminded of the first time I heard a friend's Boston album in the eighties...It really is just a huge wall of sound, extremely well-produced. This really shouldn't work in the context of death metal, but it sounds AMAZING! Meanwhile, the guitarists are shredding all over the place in an often quite progressive and technical, and always ultra-heavy manner, as if they are auditioning for Dream Theater....the album opening deluge of neoclassical-style rapid fire twin-guitar shred licks are a good introduction to what you can expect for the rest of the album. The lyrics are a bit melodramatic, unfortunately, but of course, this is death metal. Sometimes it's kinda cool ("eradication of the mind/beginning of the end") and sometimes it's kinds lame ("floating in a black sea of agony") but always interesting. I am excited to hear the follow-up, which should be the band's big album, if this was just a warm-up....any fan of the genre should check this out, although purists might balk at the "non-traditional" vocal style. Highly recommended!

Power Death ear candy.......2006-08-28

This has been one of the best metal investments i've made in a long time. Buried in Oblivion is an album you can listen to straight through without worrying about 'bad songs' and skipping to the singles. Their sound is also an amazing and unique style, mixing power, melodic and death (and they even have an acoustic song). Looking forward to their next album!

...What Rush would sound like if they were Metal!!!.......2006-01-19

INTO ETERNITY - Buried Into Oblivion
-
Into Eternity are a hidden gem in the world of metal... From the Prairies of Canada, (Saskatchewan to be exact), which is one of the least likely places on earth you'd expect them to be dishing out this quality of Metal.
They embody so many styles of metal it is mind boggling on top of their multitude of styles they employ 5 vocalists... Every member of the band contributes:
Chris Krall - clean + death vocals
Tim Roth - guitar/clean + death vocals
Rob Doherty - guitar/death vocals
Jim Austin - drums/backing vocals
Scott Krall - bass/backing vocals
At any given time on any given song they have 7 vocal styles. 3 types of growls/screams/yells and 4 different singing voices... fantastic! Though some of the voices are a bit higher octave than my usual preferences, within no time I was singing along.

The opener Splintered Visions leaves you speechless after the first listen... You know you are in for a treat with an intro like that... highly complex technical riffs mixed with brutal force. Every song on this disc is worth your full attention. The musicianship is outstanding... as said in my title picture Rush playing death metal... you've got it! (Even some of the higher vocals could almost be considered Geddy-esc.) Diversity is important and this band showcases it very well.
Each song is uniquely crafted with versatile technical riffs, odd-time signatures, powerful choruses, and masterful solos.

My only gripe is lyrically the song titles do not need be said 6 or more times during the song! Other than that this CD is pretty much flawless.

All fans of Metal should enjoy this...

Favorite Songs: Beginning of the End, Isolation, Spiraling into Depression, and Black Sea of Agony
-4.75

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An Enchanting Piece of Work........2005-12-25

Buried In Oblivion is a great effort by Into Eternity who are a very unique band in today's metal scene. This album is full of great intense drumming, catchy guitar riffs and some great vocals. This band does both the death metal growls and screams very well (and they should with 3 screamer/growlers). Another thing that sets this band apart form the rest is the way they mix the death vocals with the clean vocals (which are a little higher then your average vocals, but still sound great). I didn't give this album 5 stars because of the lyrics which aren't badly written parse, but every song takes on a negative/depressed theme about how miserable and hard life is. A song like this once in awhile is great because we can all relate to those feelings but having the whole album based on that can get really old and shows lack of creativity. All in all this is a solid album by Into Eternity and should NOT be overlooked. Try this if you like: Killswitch Engage, Soilwork, Mnemic, Bleed the Sky, or In Flames.

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Metal for the Masses Volume V
Various
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
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Metal for the Masses Vol. 2
Metal For the Masses Vol. 3
HELLYEAH

ASIN: B000NRZ7DK

Product Description

2CD 1DVD set of Various Metal bands. Including Lacuna Coil, Diecast, The Haunted, Into Eternity and many others.

Average customer rating:

Imagination Overdose!!!
very good metal
A great find...
AMAZING!
Into Eternity

Dead Or Dreaming
Into Eternity
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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Buried in Oblivion
Scattering of Ashes
Pitch Black Progress
Symmetric in Design
Under Reprisal

ASIN: B00006IGTW
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

Absolution Of The Soul
Distant Pale Future
Shallow
Unholy (Fields Of The Dead)
Elysium Dream
Selling God
Imagination Overdose
Dead Or Dreaming
Cyber Messiah
Identify

Album Description

Long heralded in Canada as a band to watch, Into Eternity have finally arrived in America with the domestic release of last years Dead or Dreaming. Striking artwork courtesy of Mattias Noren. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Imagination Overdose!!!.......2006-02-04

INTO ETERNITY - Dead or Dreaming
-
Canada's Into Eternity is by far one of the most creative metal bands around... Not just in this Country, but in the metal world as a whole. Their styles and influences are greatly varied... it is seldom that a band is able incorporate so many different styles into their music. In addition to their top notch Musicianship, they also use a multi-vocalist assault. (An actual singer /screamer, plus the guitars and bass players lend their voices as back ups.) Which only further adds to their unique Metal Approach. Though I heard this album after their Masterpiece "Buried in Oblivion"... "Dead or Dreaming" still sounds incredible. Granted the production is a bit more `raw' but the song writing is just as good. And even though they've clearly grown as musicians their performance on this CD is still note worth... These guys have a fantastic Rhythm section, Drums are incredible and the Bass is audible and sounds great... And then of course there is the Guitar playing... lots of great licks and tons of classic and some not so classic solos. Easily some of the finest young talent around in todays Metal world.
Favorite Songs: Absolution of the Soul, Distant Pale Future, Selling God, and Cyber Messiah.
-4.5 Stars.

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very good metal.......2005-02-05

I relly like this album because it's sooooo well done i just dont know what to say about it . Just keep up the awesome work Into Eternity you guys defenitly ROCK :-)

A great find..........2004-07-01

The last reviewer said these guys are better than Opeth...well I would not go that far (not even close to that far), but they are VERY good. Definitly one of my top 10 bands. I bought this CD though, because of a few reviewers who mentioned that if you liked Opeth you would like these guys. On first listen, I thought, "Ummm...what were they thinking?" After a few more listens I changed my tune. They sound much different than Opeth, yet have many common attributes which is what I think attracts lovers of Opeth...the changes from ultra-heavy to mellow and melodic, the use of solid clean vocals and nice, heavy growling, and the excellent song writing. The music is certainly not as awe-inspiring as Opeth, but in this world where 5 star worthy music is hard to come by, Into Eternity is a joyous discovery.

AMAZING!.......2004-02-17

this is one of the best style blending groups ever in history of metal. i like it even better than dream theater and opeth. these guys have riveting melodies and ripping vocals that just annihalate you with the diversity of their music.

Into Eternity.......2003-12-23

Into Eternity mixes a few kinds of metal with heavy and power metal which is good songs like "Absolution Of The Soul", "Selling God", "Distant Pale Future" and "Unholy" are the most tops ones is really a great cd you listen to it and start head banging is really good!

Dance into Eternity: Selected Pieces 1987-1998

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Oh So Wonderful!
Wonderful
Exotic

Dance into Eternity: Selected Pieces 1987-1998
Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Manufacturer: Celestial Harmonies
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Turkey | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

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3
Mystical Garden
Suleyman The Magnificent: Original Soundtrack
Crescent Moon
Fire Dance

ASIN: B00004TTN6
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Tracks:

A Call To Prayer
Imaginary Traveler
Sisler
Ayasofya (Saint Sophia)
Song Of The Pharoahs
Hasret
John The Baptist And Salome
Crescent Moon
Gawazi
Laz
Kolaymi
Mastika
Topkapinin Bahcesi (Garden At Topkapi)
Whirling Dervish
Village Song

Amazon.com

Turkish born and bred, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a musician whose virtuosity is nurtured by grace and passion. Faruk can play just about any Middle Eastern instrument you can think of--the ney flute, the stringed baglama, the percussive dumbek--and he's a master of them all. But if not for producer Brian Keane, Faruk would be just another Middle Eastern musician playing for belly dancers, which he did for years with a group called the Sultans, who have one track on the disc. In 1988, Keane plucked Faruk from a Middle Eastern bar and made him the centerpiece of a soundtrack and album, Suleyman the Magnificent. Selections from that album and seven other CDs comprise Dance into Eternity. As Faruk and Keane's relationship became more closely interwoven, you can hear them creating a unique Middle Eastern fusion. Keane backed Faruk's searingly beautiful ney melodies with synthesizers and acoustic guitar, and added other Middle Eastern players such as Ara Dinkjian and Arto Tunboyaciyan from the group Night Ark. This wasn't belly dance music anymore, although tracks such as "Siseler," featuring Faruk on the whining zurna, would get any exotic dancer gyrating. Keane and Faruk worked in orchestral territory, with Faruk's gorgeous melodies curving around ballads such as "Koyaymi" or the trance meditations of "Whirling." Skillfully selected and annotated by John Schaefer, Dance into Eternity is a wonderful introduction to Omar Faruk Tekbilek. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Omar Faruk Tekbilek's first international exposure was on Brian Keane's 1988 album Suleyman the Magnificent (13023-2). A film was being made about the Ottoman emperor Suleyman to coincide with the opening of an exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Keane was hired to do the soundtrack. Wanting to incorporate Turkish instruments and players, Keane called Arif Mardin, the legendary producer of the Bee Gees and Aretha Franklin and asked if he knew any Turkish musicians. He didn't, but called later saying his cooks went to Fazils, a belly dance club in Manhattan. This is where Keane first heard Faruk play, and he recalls, "You could tell immediately that he was different. His playing was so emotional, he really stood out."

Keane knew what he wanted for the soundtrack - the mystical sound of the Sufi flute, or ney, added to his own synthesizer. As far as he knew, this combination hadn't been done before, and he invited Faruk to his studio to try it. "When Faruk started playing," he says, "the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was magic from the start."

This compilation, Dance into Eternity: Selected Pieces 1987-1998, contains Faruk's finest work, including a previously unissued performance from a WNYC-FM radio concert recorded in New York City in 1990 and a track by Faruk's old band, The Sultans, culled from a private release. "Working with Faruk has been one of the most satisfying musical experiences of my life," says Keane. Both helped with the music selection on this compilation, which reflects some of the finest flowerings of Faruk's Tree of Patience.

Customer Reviews:

Oh So Wonderful!.......2001-02-02

I just returned from a trip to Egypt and Jordan and was spellbound by both cultures. As soon as I returned I went on a quest here at Amazon to find the best middle eastern music to listen to so I could remember my adventure. After listening to many many sound clips, I happended upon this album and bought it instantly. Now that I've been listening to it for several days, I'm looking for more cd's by Omar Faruk Tekbilek. His music captures your imagination and transports you beyond the western world. The mastery of the musicians and the production of this album, which is a compilation of best of his carreer, is indisputable. If you're looking for a solid, creative world music experience, buy this one!

Wonderful.......2000-09-12

A wonderful album of gorgeous music. Should be heard by anyone who enjoys traditional Turkish, Arabic and other types of Middle Eastern music. The pieces which make the album can be found on other albums as well, but here is where some of the most evocative I've heard, as of yet, can be found. "Whirling Dervish," "Imaginary Traveler," "Kolaymi," "John the Baptist in Salome," and "Gawazi" are among my favorites.

Exotic.......2000-09-01

I love exotic music! I love to sit back with candles lit and listen to the unique sounds of Dance into Eternity. I feel like it takes me away to an strange and foregin land! I would recommend this CD to anyone!

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Made In Voyage
Bottom
Manufacturer: Mudflap Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000IFKU52

Product Description

Lead by siren mosh-heads, BOTTOM's neck-thrashing metal is built on riffs that are heavier than Hell itself. Originally hailing from New York City's deep Lower East Side and sexier than Satan, the all-femme rock-outfit continues to raise hell. Bottom is like PJ Harvey spliced with Black Sabbath and Rage Against the Machine (at RAM's greatest). Just imagine it. If that's not enough for you, apparently Ozzy signed their sticker with "girls rock." Now that's a certified stamp of approval. CONTENTS: 1) 25 Hawaiian 2) Whipping Child 3) The Garden 4) Wish You Were Mine 5) The Liar, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 6) Bullseye 7) Here 8) Evil Out 9) OhighO 10) SemiAutomatic 11) Shine

Max Schubel: Aquirelle; Aurora Angelica; April's Ascension into Blue Eternity; Cellophonica

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Max Schubel: Aquirelle; Aurora Angelica; April's Ascension into Blue Eternity; Cellophonica

Manufacturer: Opus One
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000C6NO7S
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Average customer rating:

For He Who Has Ears

Manufacturer: Catfi$H
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CADXI4
Release Date: 2003-07-01

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Into Eternity
Terumasa Hino
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005G9G3
Release Date: 2001-08-13

Tracks:

Mr Happiness
Song For Bumiji
Ode To Workman
Mickey's Trip
Horizon
Eastern Egg
Kaze
Cycle Circle
Midnight

Average customer rating:

Beautifully understated drama
More beautiful music than we'd any right to expect.
Two short beautiful, somber lyric operas.

Nicolae Bretan: Golem and Arald

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000037FS
Release Date: 1995-09-05

Tracks:

Golem: Intro - PO Moldova, Iasi/Cristian Mandeal
Golem: Leave Me Alone, Golem, Leave Me! - Alexandru Agache
Golem: I Looked Deep Into Her Eyes... - Alexandru Agache
Golem: I Cannot Change You Into A Man - Tamas Daroczy
Golem: I Formed You Of Clay... - Tamas Daroczy
Golem: Under The Earth, You Do Not Feel The Cold - Alexandru Agache
Golem: Did You Call Me? - Dan Zancu
Golem: No! I Won't Tear It Out! - Alexandru Agache
Golem: Why Don't You Give Me That Talisman? - Alexandru Agache
Golem: Peace To You, Dream Of The Human Mind - Sounds Of The Autumn Wind
Arald: Prologue- Arald On His Charger Sweeps... - Dan Zancu
Arald: To You, O Timeless Seer, Across The World I Ride... - Ionel Voineag
Arald: You Were Still But A Child - Alexandru Agache
Arald: My People Ceased Their March... - Ionel Voineag
Arald: Out Of The Heart Of Earth Let Man The Dead Awake... - Alexandru Agache
Arald: Come, Arald, Your Sweet Brow Against My Bosom Lean... - Sanda Sandru
Arald: Interlude - PO Moldova, Iasi/Cristian Mandeal
Arald: Lost Of All Eternity Within The Tomb's Constraint - Alexandru Agache

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully understated drama.......2005-06-10

Despite a lack of big arias, Golem is a good opera. The singers in this production are very effective in conveying the inner tensions of their characters. Although there is little physical movement, the drama of Rabbi Judah Loeb confronting the monster he has created is intense.
The scenic cantata, Arald, is Bretan's masterpiece. It is a lyrical evocation of memory, despair, and resignation. Arald puts the listener through all of the emotional upheaval of Das Lied von der Erde in half of the time. This performance of Arald is as affecting as the best performances of Das Lied von der Erde that I have heard.

More beautiful music than we'd any right to expect........2001-01-25

The Transylvanian composer Bretan had one of the grimmer lives of any notable composer - his wife's family were murdered in Auschwitz; his refusal in post-war Romania to become a Communist led to his silencing - but you wouldn't know it from either of these operas.

They are serious and solemn enough. 'Golem' takes the old story of a rampaging Frankenstein-type monster and turns it into a melancholy dialogue about life, science, creation, family. 'Arald', with its hero supplicating the Seer of the Underworld to resuscitate his dead love, forswears doomy Gothic in favour of more metaphysical musings.

From a dramatic point of view, both works are static. Musically, however, they are gloriously reminiscent of mid-period Verdi - bountifully melodic, rapturously sad - with an Eastern European flavour. The fact that an opera composer in the mid-20th century dared even write a TUNE is reason enough to rejoice.

Two short beautiful, somber lyric operas........1999-05-07

"Golem" is a one-act opera about the legendary clay man created by the Rabbi of Prague. The poignant libretto is by the composer. The music is beautiful and lyric, but has no memorable tunes. Stylistically, it is a bit like Rimsky-Korsakoff's operatic writing. "Arald" is not really an opera but a scenic cantata. It tells of the despair of the khan of the Avars over the loss of his wife. The gloom of both text and music put me off at first. On second hearing, I loved it! It is more tuneful than "Das Lied von der Erde" and has none of the dissonance of Bartok's "Duke Bluebeard's Castle", but the mood is similar.

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