Top Performer Artists on Rhapsody Online

Andrea Bocelli

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:28:08 -0800

Andrew Bocelli (born 1958) sings light pop renditions of romantic Italian opera favorites to often-synthesized accompaniments for a beloved worldwide audience. With Pavarotti's stamp of approval, he took the world by storm in the mid-1990s by singing "Con te partiro" with Sarah Brightman. He became famous in the U.S. for his recording work with Celine Dion. Bocelli's populist character has led him since that time to sell 55 million records and to appear on late-night television, American Idol, the NBA All-Stars, Sesame Street and at the White House, among other places. His Spanish-, Italian- and English-language renditions of dramatic love songs have proven to be especially popular hits at weddings. - Daphne Carr

Yo-Yo Ma

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:41:17 -0800

The prolific and prodigiously talented cellist Yo-Yo Ma is as at home with Brahms and Bach as he is with Astor Piazzolla or Antonio Carlos Jobim. Like many virtuosos, Ma took up the cello early: his father started him at age four. Decades and several degrees later (he was a star pupil at Juilliard and later graduated from Harvard), Ma is the face of classical music around the world. Everyone knows the ubiquitous cello player with the improbable, happy-go-lucky name. He has taken the cello from its classical confines and forced it into places it's never been before. Cello in bluegrass? Middle Eastern music? Tango? Bossa nova? No style is too "out there" for Ma, and as a result he's become a musical ambassador, finding commonalities between disparate musical traditions and introducing an uncurious world to the world's many musical curiosities. This is perhaps what led him to found the Silk Road Ensemble in 1998, an East-meets-West cross-cultural music collective. Cultural heritage has increasingly become his interest, as evidenced by his recent solo and Ensemble recordings: Appalachian Journey, 2002's Silk Road Journeys and 2003's Obrigado Brasil. - Sarah Bardeen

City of Prague Philharmonic

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:28:16 -0800

City of Prague Philharmonic is a sort of European Boston Pops but with less brass and more strings. Their polished, crisp renditions of TV and film soundtracks and other things popular are the perfect accompaniment to a long Epsom salt soak. - Henry B.

Luciano Pavarotti

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:28:39 -0800

The Caruso of our times, Italian lyric tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) was beloved by millions of vocal music fans. He was known equally for his leading roles in 19th century Italian operas and for his album collections of popular, folk and love songs. His voice had a quintessential Italianate character and a passionate delivery. He was known as the "King of the High Cs" for his effortless range, as displayed in his favorite roles as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme, Nemorino in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore, and Riccardo in Verdi's Un Ballo Maschera. His greatest success was as one of the the Three Tenors, a group of noted opera singers (including Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras) who performed at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The recording of Carreras - Domingo - Pavarotti: the Three Tenors in Concert holds the record as best selling classical album. Born to a poor family in Modena, Italy, Pavarotti lived in a two room house listening to his father, a baker by trade but fine tenor as well, as well as to popular opera stars of the day. Pavarotti began his music study, unable to read music, at the age of 19. A disastrous concert early in his life almost convinced him to quit, but in 1961 he was encouraged once again by winning the Achille Peri Competition. From there, he began a 40-year professional career as an opera singer. Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 71 in Modena where his funeral was attended by thousands. Flags flew at half mast and signs in windows read "Adieu maestro." - Daphne Carr

Placido Domingo

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:16 -0700

Few classically trained singers have had the continued crossover success that Placido Domingo enjoys. He's reached the top of the charts with both his solo selections and his immensely popular collaborations with Pavarotti and Carreras. His strength as a performer is the classic love scene, as audiences melt to hear his powerful versions of great themes by Verdi, Wagner, and others. Outside of Opera, Domingo has enjoyed success with traditional Spanish love songs, as well as with pop music ("Perhaps Love" with John Denver and "Till I Loved You" with Jennifer Rush were huge chart toppers). In regard to Christmas music, it's just another day, another dollar for Domingo: his nearly annual holiday releases satisfy discerning listeners who are tired of Manheim Steamroller, while filling his coffers all the more. But let's not knock his talent for making money. Domingo is a true talent -- perhaps one of the greatest of the modern age. - Jessy Terry

Glenn Gould

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:02:18 -0700

It's hard to overstate the importance of Canadian pianist Glen Gould, who is most noted for performing J.S. Bach's keyboard works with unmatched technical and artistic facility, as a modern ambassador of Baroque music. Gould was born in Toronto in 1932 and studied with his mother until he was 10, when he was accepted as a student at the Royal Conservatory of Music. There he took lessons under Alberto Guerrero and Frederick C. Silvester. In 1945 he gave his first recital, and he performed Beethoven's 4th piano concerto that year with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Though his stage career was fairly short -- he gave up public performance in 1964 -- he was the first North American pianist to play in Russia after World War II and gave a number of great performances on the CBC. Between 1964 and '82, Gould made scores of recordings; he taped definitive interpretations of Bach, Beethoven and Schumann, but he is perhaps best known for performing complex contrapuntal passages of Bach with remarkable clarity. His life has been the subject of exhaustive study, as has his eccentric personality, which included an aversion to handshakes and regular trips to a diner for scrambled eggs at 2 A.M. - Nate Cavalieri

Charlotte Church

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:06:27 -0700

Charlotte Church is the youngest classical vocalist ever launched into superstardom. The thirteen-year-old's down-to-earth and fun-loving personality no doubt enhances record sales, though there's no denying that her talent could stand on its own -- even without the big label PR machinery. - Henry B.

John Williams (Guitar)

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:43:41 -0700

First things first, this is not the guy who wrote music for Star Wars. This John Williams is among the elite classical guitarists alive today, having proved his mastery countless times with many forms, from early classics by Bach and Vivaldi to contemporary works by Takemitsu. But Williams's greatest asset is his subtle interpretation of Spanish masters such as Joaquin Rodrigo and Isaac Albeniz. The Australian born Williams first learned the craft from his father, then went on to master every technical aspect of the guitar under the tutelage of pioneer Andres Segovia. Due to his studies with Segovia, Williams has become a living link to the classical guitar's founding master. Collaborations have furthered his repertoire, whether working with a large symphony orchestra, a fellow guitarist such as Julian Bream or others, including jazz pianist/conductor Andre Previn or violinist Itzak Perlman. Through the years Williams has returned to his roots, performing lush, romantic suites such as Concierto De Aranjuez. - Jessy Terry

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:07 -0700

The Royal Philharmonic deftly maneuvers around a large songbook, handling with extreme ease both (quasi-) modern pop and classical. They have fun with the pop numbers, adapting their instrumentation to work in an orchestral context. - Will Lerner

London Symphony Orchestra

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:50:44 -0700

Formed in 1904 by a group of disgruntled members of the Queen's Hall Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra has grown to be one of the most respected and best known ensembles in the world. This is due in part to the orchestra's mind-boggling catalogue of recordings. Certainly one of the most recorded orchestras in history, the London Symphony has appeared on hundreds of discs, and has achieved enormous success as performers of motion picture soundtracks. - Doug Russell

Joshua Bell

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:14:33 -0800

One of today's preeminent names in violin performance, Joshua Bell is often on the road concertizing; keep an eye on the newspapers and you might catch a performance near you. Since his concert debut in Philadelphia in his early teens, his career has been one ascending graph line. Composers such as John Corigliano have written works for him, and Bell collaborates with major players of the classical world, including Aaron Jay Kernis, John Williams and Nicholas Maw. All this is to say that Bell plays the violin very, very well. - Henry B.

Leonard Bernstein

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:27:42 -0800

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:28:09 -0800

The famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir has perhaps one of the longest running histories of any American choir, and certainly one of the most accomplished. Established in 1847, the choir has performed for 10 US Presidents and at the funerals for Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy. Their weekly radio broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word, is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in the world. Their list of gold and platinum records, Grammys, medals and other international accolades runs on, but their performance speaks more loudly of their skill. Singing fully orchestrated choral arrangements of hymns, patriotic songs and other traditional classics, the Choir has a clean, 360-voice blend that's dynamic and climactic. With later additions of the "Orchestra at Temple Square," the "Temple Square Chorale," and the "Bells on Temple Square" bell choir, their presence and performance are both visually and sonically overwhelming. - Amy Bartlett

Murray Perahia

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:09:07 -0700

Yiruma

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:37:32 -0800

This young pianist was born in South Korea but grew up and trained in England from the age of five. He released his first album, Love Scene, in 2001, and over time he became renowned for his delicate, emotional solo piano compositions. Despite his strong connections to England, Yiruma gave up his British citizenship when it came time to return to South Korea for mandatory military service. He has released albums steadily since his debut. - Sarah Bardeen

Itzhak Perlman

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:20 -0800

One of the most important and visible classical artists of the 20th century, Itzhak Perlman gives performances marked by a balance of technical prowess and artistic sensitivity. Born in Israel, he began playing the violin at a young age, performed on the Ed Sullivan show at 13 and was a student at Juilliard. He made his official debut in 1963 at Carnegie Hall and shortly thereafter performed with the New York Philharmonic, then led by Leonard Bernstein. Helped by the management of Sol Hurok, he embarked on an active schedule of international solo performances. In the 1970s he became a fixture on television, an international celebrity and a frequent performer at the White House. Over the next 30 years he performed with every major symphony and conductor in the world and recorded a series of definitive performances of violin repertoire. - Nate Cavalieri

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:17 -0800

One of the top orchestras in the world, from a city that is blessed with many. The London Philharmonic has had some of the greatest players and conductors, expertly rendering thousands of works with subtle tone colors and instrumental prowess. - Jessy Terry

Sharon Isbin

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:49:29 -0700

Arthur Fiedler

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:40 -0700

Arthur Fiedler was a bona fide superstar of classical music, the kind of character whose death is mourned around the world -- as indeed his was. Born in 1894 to Austrian parents, Fiedler's father was a violin player with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and his mother was a gifted pianist. It was only a matter of time before the young Fiedler joined the BSO himself in 1915. Although he joined as a violinist, Fiedler was a musical polyglot -- he also played viola, percussion, organ and piano for the symphony. A few years later, he formed the acclaimed Boston Sinfonietta and began giving his first free concerts. In 1930, Fiedler was asked to lead the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the rest is history. His musical adventurousness and his commitment to free outdoor concerts brought orchestral music to more people than any other musician had. The Boston Pops became the most recorded symphony in the world under his direction, and The Guinness Book of World Records states that Fiedler conducted the largest classical music concert ever - a performance on July 4, 1976, for over 400,000 people. Fiedler was an internationally loved character, a true man of the people with a boundless enthusiasm for his work. He died in 1979. - Sarah Bardeen

Arthur Rubinstein

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:48:33 -0800

Philharmonia Orchestra

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:52 -0800

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:49:38 -0800

Neville Marriner founded this British chamber orchestra in 1959 and it held early performances in the London church of St Martin. It quickly gained an international reputation through high quality recorded interpretations of classical and modern works. - Nate Cavalieri

Grace Williams

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:48:08 -0700

Anne-Sophie Mutter

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:31 -0700

- Daphne Carr

Maria Callas

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:45 -0800

Maria Callas is one of Opera's immortal stars. At the peak of her career, her international fame rivaled that achieved by Caruso or Chaliapin, and the continuing dominance of her recordings is a testament to her talent. Like few Opera stars before or since, Callas lived each role, riveting all who saw her with absolutely mesmerizing sympathy for her characters. Every inflection is a carefully inspired dramatic act made surprisingly real. She was integral in reviving the popularity of Italian opera, though she did not limit herself to the form, and remains an icon to Verdi fans around the world. - Doug Russell

Ahn Trio

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:17 -0700

King's Singers

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:40:01 -0800

The King's Singers grew out of a group of choral scholars at King's College in Cambridge, England, in 1965. After a copy of their one-off joke album fell into the right hands and a concert was arranged, the Singers realized they had a potential moneymaker on their hands. They parlayed that success into more concerts and a record deal with EMI. Their approach? "Nothing that could be sung in six parts was ignored," the Singers have said. Their repertoire mingles traditional choral music with Beatles arrangements; the group has even covered the Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkle, and their classical choral work can also be stunning. As for their pop music, listen for yourself and decide if, in their words, "vocal music...can be enjoyed rather than endured." Although none of the original members are with the group now, the Singers have enjoyed considerable stability: two original members sang with the band for 25 years. - Sarah Bardeen

Lang Lang

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:29 -0700

Sviatoslav Richter

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:52:23 -0800

Kronos Quartet

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:50:51 -0800

If the punks, goths and weirdos of the world voted on their favorite string ensemble, San Francisco's Kronos Quartet would be a likely contender. What other string quartet has covered Television's "Marquee Moon"; duetted with Mexican alt rockers Cafe Tacvba; and devoted nearly an entire album to Sigur Ros? The group has highlighted African composers in one decade (on 1993's charting Pieces of Africa) and then gone on to pay tribute to Bollywood (on 2005's You've Stolen My Heart) the next. Founded in 1973 by violinist David Harrington, Kronos were initially inspired by George Crumb's eerie and experimental look at the Vietnam War, Black Angels (later the title of an excellent 1990 Kronos album). The players (Harrington, John Sherba, Hank Dutt and Joan Jeanrenaud, later replaced by Jeffrey Zeigler) have mentored composers and players and developed long-running relationships with renowned minimalists like Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Henryk Gorecki and many others. But the members never let any dogma cloud their explorations, and the result is a growing discography of more than 40 albums that are breathtaking in their scope and virtuosity. - Sarah Bardeen

Till Fellner

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:07:25 -0700

Sir Neville Marriner

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:36:33 -0700

Wiener Philharmoniker

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:26 -0800

Julia Fischer

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:53:44 -0700

Vladimir Horowitz

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:32 -0700

Vladimir Horowitz is a modern concert piano virtuoso, known for his legendary control, flawless technical prowess, and powerful interpretations of a broad range of classical works. In his prime, he was considered among the most distinguished and sought-after pianists in history, and though he was occasionally criticized for his flamboyant showmanship, his devoted fans and numerous recordings have secured his place on the shortlist of great 20th century pianists.

Horowitz was born in the Ukraine in 1903 (though his family lied, saying he was born a year later so he would avoid being conscripted into military service). He entered the Kiev Conservatory in 1912, and debuted in the US in 1928. He became a US citizen in 1944 and continued to perform until his death in 1989. Though the majority of his career was spent as an American citizen, he returned to the USSR near the end of his life to perform in 1986. - Nate Cavalieri

Anna Holbling

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:23:52 -0700

Violinist Holbling and her ensemble (featuring a second violinist, cellist, harpsichordist and organist) perform works from the Baroque period that display the musicians' dizzying technical ability as well as their capacity to plumb emotional depths. A joy for fans of Baroque music. - Will Lerner

Richard Goode

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:54:14 -0700

Berliner Philharmoniker

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:17 -0800

There are few orchestras that have the exalted reputation and prestige of the Berlin Philharmonic, an ensemble that has existed since the mid-1800s. Listing the names of the conductors the group has had over the years would be enough to impress any fan of classical music -- Hans von Bulow, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado have all held the reigns and expertly guided the top-notch musicians. Guest conductors have been towering figures in music -- Richard Strauss, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. The orchestra has a long history of championing the works of modern composers such as Schoenberg and Hindemith, even when doing so meant stoking the ire of the Nazi regime. This is not to diminish its ability at performing masterful versions of the unequivocal classics: one need only listen to the group's interpretation of Bach's Air in D Major to hear the beauty and precision achieved by the Berlin Philharmonic. - Will Lerner

Christy Nockels

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:39:33 -0800

Christy Nockels got her start as one half of the Christian pop duo Watermark, along with husband Nathan. The pair released five albums for Michael W. Smith's Rocketown Records, scoring seven No. 1 radio singles and several Dove Award nominations. On the side, they regularly led worship at Louie Giglio's Passion events, and Christy became a sought-after soloist, lending her voice to many compilations. A growing family led to the decision to disband Watermark. Then in 2008, the Nockels family began a new chapter, relocating to Atlanta to help found Passion City Church. In summer 2009, Christy officially launched her solo career with Life Light Up on Giglio's sixstepsrecords label.

London Philharmonic Choir

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:57:40 -0700

The Academy Of Ancient Music

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:46 -0800

Philadelphia Orchestra

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:35 -0800

Founded in 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra was first conducted by Fritz Scheel. Under the baton of Leopold Stokowski, it became one of the world's leading orchestras in the first half of the 20th century and made very popular recordings and radio broadcasts. Its homes are Philadelphia's Academy of Music and the summer festivals at Mann Center for the Performing Arts and in Saratoga, New York. - Nate Cavalieri

New York Philharmonic

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:44 -0700

The founding of the New York Philharmonic in 1842 makes it one of the oldest continually operating orchestras in the world -- older than any in the United States and younger than only two in Europe. It was first conducted by Ureli Corelli Hill, who dedicated the orchestra to "the advancement of instrumental music," a tradition that continues at its current home in Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Among the orchestra's many renowned conductors are American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, who made some of the organization's most progressive changes between 1958-69, and Hector Boulez, who introduced New York audiences to many great 20th century works. Over its long and proud history it has produced a number of the finest orchestral recordings ever captured. - Nate Cavalieri

Canadian Brass

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:38 -0800

For the past thirty years, the Canadian Brass Ensemble has been entertaining appreciative audiences around the world. With infectious panache, the ensemble performs a repertoire of astonishing range, including Mozart, Ellington, the Beatles and everything in-between. - Doug Russell

Juilliard String Quartet

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:01:54 -0700

Midori

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 10:07:34 -0700

Martha Argerich

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:50:07 -0800

Alfred Brendel

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:17 -0800

E. Power Biggs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:06 -0800

Pepe Romero

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:46:34 -0700