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Diane Wolkstein on Compact Disc

 
   

After many years of existence on analogue cassettes, Diane Wolkstein's storytelling legacy is now available on Compact Disc.

Because these recordings are considered modern classics in their own right, both Cloudstone and August House have taken painstaking care in re–rendering these albums for a digital age — and for a new generation of listeners. And we hope that everyone will enjoy the CD remasterings as much as they enjoyed the original cassette releases.

Hans Christian Andersen: Classic Stories, first released on the Weston Woods label in 1982 as Hans Christian Andersen in Central Park, was Diane's first album. Now on CD from August House, it is an American Library Association Notable and considered by many to be one of the best recordings of the Danish author's immortal fairy tales.

"Diane Wolkstein retells [Hans Christian Andersen's] stories in her characteristically clear and measured delivery with understated emphasis that always rings true. All are delightful… equally effective for individual and group listening." —Booklist.

"Andersen is being kept alive and well by such first rate storytellers as Diane Wolkstein… a superb recording." — Parents Magazine.

"…lively musical accompaniment that compliments each story perfectly — [a] kazoo for 'Hans Clodhopper,' a recorder for 'The Ugly Duckling,' and the tales become fresh and vital once more." — Rocking Chair.

"I grew up believing I was the match girl, the ugly duckling, the mermaid. How wonderful to hear these stories told again, bringing me back into all the fantasy." — Liv Ullmann, actress/filmmaker.

"…Wolkstein tells stories as they have probably never been told before...she moans and groans and meows so well [that] you look around for a real kitten." — The New York Times.

"What I love about Diane Wolkstein's storytelling is the power and clarity of the feelings, the wisdom and compassion for human nature. These are unforgettable stories for anyone, any age, beautifully told." — Written in The Village Voice.

Joseph, the Master Dreamer, was first released as The Story of Joseph in 1986. In this live album (recorded at the 92nd Street "Y" in New York City), Diane has woven the Midrash, or oral legends, into the classic Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers (the book of Genesis, chapters 37 to 50). The result is the most memorable rendition of Joseph's saga, without peer.

You will find more on the story of Joseph in Diane's collection of Jewish holiday stories, Treasures of the Heart.

"Wolkstein's rendition infuses the listener with the intense experiences of Joseph's joys, sufferings, sorrows and rejoicings." — Catholic World.

"…Neither ponderous or preachy, this story is recommended for audiences of all ages and religious backgrounds." — Library Journal.

Romping, Diane's collaboration with folksinger Shirley Keller (and first released on analogue cassette in 1986), features stories from Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad are Friends and M.B. Goffstein's My Crazy Sister, as well as such songs as Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train" and Tom Paxton's immortal classic, "The Marvellous Toy." This album is especially great for three to eight–year–olds and any parents who drive car pools.

" Romping is the perfect [album] to introduce your child to the joy of listening to a good story. Filled with imagination, gentleness, [and] excitement, the stories are told in a beautifully quiet and real manner, and a song comes at just the right moment." — Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Brooklyn, New York.

Both Joseph, the Master Dreamer and Romping are recipients of the Parents' Choice Gold Seal Award.

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©1986–2008 Diane Wolkstein/Cloudstone Productions. All rights reserved.