Nino Rota, Franz LehA¡r, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Fryderyk Chopin, Giacomo Puccini, Irish Traditional, Richard Heuberger, Josef Strauss, Antonin Dvorak, Johann Paul Aegidius Martini, Franz Schubert, Enrico Toselli, Friedrich von Flotow, AndrA© Rieu, J. Huijts, Teun Ramaekers, Arthur Cordewener - Romantic Moments

Set the table, open the wine, light some candles. Slip on this disc. Let the gentle sounds of André Rieu's slippery fiddle and fur-tipped orchestra lull you with classical music's most memorable soothers, from "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Plasir D'Amour" to the largo from Dvorák's New World Symphony and Nino Rota's "A Time for Us," which opens and closes the collection. Lightweight stuff, yes, but ingenuously arranged and performed, and the ribbon of reverb that surrounds the orchestra will please erstwhile Mantovani fans. --Jed Distler Amazon.com

Romantic Moments

I gave this tape to my mother. We now listen to it every time I'm in her car. No, she isn't doing it to show appreciation. It's playing when I get in. March 4, 2008

Romantic Moments.... Andre Rieu

Love this music & Andre Rieu is popular with not only my husband & myself but with our children & parents. It's fun & a wonderful way to introduce the classics to any & all lovers of music. February 24, 2007

Andre Rieu - Romantic Moments

Oh, So beautiful---- every track!!!!! My personal favorite has to be the soothing SERENATA. So, get comfy, put on the headphones so you won't miss a single note...... Andre Rieu's violin is magical!!!!! August 31, 2006

Decent playing, lousy arrangements

Well, apparently I'm in the minority, but I found this CD disappointing. I bought it because I fell in love with "Song to the Moon" when I heard it on the radio, but this track and possibly the "Londonderry Air" are the only ones worth listening to. Although the melodies chosen for this album are indeed beautiful, the arrangements (Rieu's own) are poorly done. I would much more highly recommend Joshua Bell's Romance of the Violin, which has a similar theme, albeit restricted to classical tunes. November 10, 2005

Forget the hype, this is great music

Try not to think about the cheesy "Andre Rieu in Tuscany" PBS special. This is a very pleasing program of selections of great romantic melodies, beautifully arranged. Few people are going to purchase a CD of Dvorak's Rusalka just to hear "Song to the Moon" so this is the place to hear it. And it's even better on Rieu's violin than in the original vocal version. Rieu plays perfectly in tune (not always easy in the higher registers of the violin) and has exquisite phrasing that brings out the musicality of even the most over-recorded selections.

Rhieu's arrangements (with Jo Huijts) have hints of "beautiful music" (think Ray Coniff) but only hints, and the result is very tasteful. For example, the piano obligato under the strings on "O mio babbino caro" makes you wish that Puccini had thought of that.

This is a wonderful album to listen to while relaxing and would make a great gift for someone who appreciates classical music but doesn't have specific preferences. August 4, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...