From RCA's 'Living Stereo' series, this re-issue of Stephen Foster compositions and Negro spirituals was recorded in 1958 and 1961. Mr. Shaw, whose illustrious career spanned a directorship at Julliard in 1945 to a 21-year tenure at the Atlanta Symphony (before his death earlier this year), treats his material with sensitivity and respect, a respect that was obviously shared by Stephen Foster for the pre-Civil War South. Foster did not defer to a European classical model for his inspiration or precedent. Songs such as 'Beautiful Dreamer,' 'Oh Susanna' and 'Nelly Bly' are powerful because of their elegant simplicity, not in spite of it. Likewise, the mournful expression of 'I Want To Die Easy' speaks louder than any history book. Frequently a cappella, but with some banjo and guitar accompaniment.

Sometimes sprightly, sometimes pensive, but always graceful, these Irish traditionals are given a refined treatment by the Robert Shaw Chorale. The Alice Parker arrangements are simple, merely fleshing out the melodies, but the full, resonant tone of this famous classical ensemble lends elegance as well. A mixed chorale, but soloists are featured on some tracks, as suggested by the text. Styles have changed since 1968, when this was originally released, but songs such as 'The Girl I Left Behind Me' and 'The Parting Glass' have a timeless flavor. With some Irish harp accompaniment.

The remastered A Festival of Carols by the Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra, originally recorded in 1957 and 1963, is a timeless classic. It includes four of Robert Russell Bennett's medleys and beautiful a cappella versions of holiday favorites many of which are by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker. Selections include, 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,' 'My Dancing Day' and 'Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming.' This CD will keep your spirits up all season long.

A classic recording remastered. In arrangements by Robert Russell Bennett, the Robert Shaw Chorale sings patriotic favorites with the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra. Selections include a medley from the Civil War of songs from both North and South, a medley from the Revolutionary War and a Service Songs Medley. A great recording with or without fireworks.

We hardly need to mention Robert Shaw's credentials as a group leader and director of the Fred Waring Glee Club, the RS Festival Singers, RS Chorale and RS Chamber Singers, his Grammys and ASCAPS and his 50-plus year legendary career in music. This is a digitally remastered reissue of a classic lp of one of some of the most beloved music of all time, the Great Choruses from Handel's Messiah. The piece is given to us in 17 parts, from 'And the Glory of the Lord' and the famous 'For Unto Us a Child Is Born' to 'Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands,' 'Hallelujah' and finishing with 'Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain.' Of course this CD is orchestrally accompanied, with harpsichord and organ, throughout. As with all the CDs associated with Robert Shaw that we carry in our catalog, 'Great Choruses' is a powerful, wonderfully performed work of art!

The legendary Robert Shaw conducts sacred songs on this remastered recording from 1964. The Robert Shaw Chorale with orchestra and organ sing such selections as the triumphant 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,' the spiritual 'Were You There?,' arranged by Alice Parker and both the Shubert and Bach-Gounod 'Ave Maria.' The orchestral arrangements were done by Robert Russell Bennett. This is a classic!

Recorded in 1966, Robert Shaw's Grammy Award-winning performance of Handel's Messiah marks an important turning-point in this work's interpretation, clearly moving away from the ponderous, overly reverential style of early twentieth century renditions and pointing toward the leaner versions of the 1970s onwards, which follow Baroque-period practices. Shaw employed a small orchestra that complemented the vocal soloists with a light, transparent string sound -- complete with an audible continuo of harpsichord and cello -- and he eschewed reinforcing wind parts in all but the choruses. Ornamentation is cleanly and tastefully applied, and Shaw's tempi are usually brisk and propulsive, with sparing use of ritardandi; even then, there is always a firm rhythmic thrust to his cadences. Soprano Judith Raskin, contralto Florence Kopleff, tenor Richard Lewis, and bass Thomas Paul are equally matched in expressive depth and vocal strength, and the Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra is consistently motivated and responsive to the conductor's fluid direction. The listener may regret that the ADD sound is a little weak, but the tape hiss has been minimized in the remastering and is fairly easy to ignore. Evenly divided between two discs, this recording of Messiah is complete, and it is preferred over RCA's 1992 excerpt album The Great Choruses from Messiah.

Winner of the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Choral Recording this release was the first of the Bach masterpiece and is still considered a definitive recording. This double CD is a true delight.

RCA Victor presents Robert Shaw, the preeminent choral conductor of his time, and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus in sacred choral works that are symphonic in scale, and eternal in their appeal. Newly remastered with state-of-the-art 24/96 technology, this superb album presents the magic of these performances in the widest range of musical reproduction ever.