André Kostelanetz Albums (9)
'The Music of Irving Berlin'
Release Date 11/14/2000
Tracks 8
Label Collectables
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Music of Irving Berlin was originally released on Columbia Records and had been out of print until Collectables began reissuing the Andre Kostelanetz catalog in 2001. This pleasant set includes Kostelanetz conducting his orchestra on symphonic medleys of the Berlin classics "Say It With Music/Remember/Blue Skies," "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails/How Deep Is the Ocean," and "White Christmas." Those who appreciate easy listening music should find this a welcome addition to their collections. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
'Music of Jerome Kern'
Release Date 11/9/1999
Tracks 8
Label Collectables
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Christmas Concert'
Release Date 10/10/1995
Tracks 10
Label Sony Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Christmas Concert is another worthwhile budget-priced collection of Kostelanetz's typically exquisite readings of seasonal favorites; highlights include "What Child Is This?," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Sleigh Ride" and "O Holy Night." ~ Raymond McKinney, All Music Guide
'Joy to the World: Music for Christmas'
Release Date 9/1/1995
Tracks 8
Label Sony Special Products
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Listeners in search of easy listening renditions of seasonal favorites would be hard pressed to find a better budget-priced collection than Andre Kostelanetz' Joy to the World: Music for Christmas. Spotlighting baritone Earl Wrightson, the disc offers lush orchestral performances of "White Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," "O Holy Night" and a series of holiday medleys. ~ Raymond McKinney, All Music Guide
'You Light Up My Life'
Release Date 1/1/1978
Tracks 11
Label Columbia
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What The Critics Say
You Light Up My Life is typical 1970s orchestral cheese from Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra. The album's title comes from Debby Boone's Oscar-winning song from the film of the same name. The rest of the album is made up of orchestral versions of songs by Billy Joel, the Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, Dan Hill ("Sometimes When We Touch"), the Beach Boys ("God Only Knows"), and the themes to Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Oh, God! (one of the few covers of it ever). "Oh, God!" is right. An inessential memento of a bygone era. Unlikely to ever be re-released but fun for kitsch value and movie soundtrack fans. But God only knows how many times you could play this album. ~ JT Griffith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
OK, so it's easy listening music, but Kostelanetz and his orchestra bring an added luster to this most lyrical of all composers that makes this CD almost intoxicating -- the perfect accompaniment to a romantic dinner (especially if you've already run through your Sinatra collection), unless your partner happens to be a serious opera aficionado, in which case she or he will be driven to distraction by the absence of any singing where it's supposed to be. Seriously, Columbia has done a superb job with the sound on this CD, so good that it's almost an embarrassment in light of the way they botched several rounds of Leonard Bernstein and George Szell reissues (not to mention Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan CDs) before getting them right. And the music itself is beautiful enough in its own right that, even in this light classical incarnation, one cannot complain. And along with his recordings of the Aaron Copland A Lincoln Portrait and the William Schuman New England Triptych with the New York Philharmonic, this CD may be the best representation of Kostelanetz's art that one can find on CD. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
