ARVO PART
Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel (LP) Benjamin Hudson (violin) Sebastian Klinger (cello) Jurgen Kruse (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / LP - released 1/Aug/2023 ] An LP reissue for a critically acclaimed best-seller of the Brilliant Classics catalogue, and an ideal introduction to the unique, meditative world of Arvo Pärt. The gentle piano arpeggios introducing Spiegel im Spiegel calm the pulse and invite... |
SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tippett: String Quartets Nos. 1 - 4 (recorded in 1990) The Britten Quartet [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2012 ] In his String Quartets, the most challenging and complicated musical form,Tippett draws inspiration from the late quartetsof Beethoven, particularly in hisfugal writing, and the intricate and complex textures of the 4 voices. |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Complete Organ Concertos Christian Schmitt (organ) Charlotte Balzereit (harp) / Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. Nicol Matt [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 22/Jan/2021 ] The first complete recording of the Breitkopf Urtext Edition of the organ concertos of George Frideric Handel. Handel's organ concertos enjoy a wide popularity, they are brilliant concert pieces, in which the organ plays a joyous, "worldly" part. |
ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
Glazunov: Music for Piano 4-hands and 2 Pianos Duo Datteri Lenconi [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 8/May/2022 ] Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936) was one of the most important Russian romantic composers, but he didn't belong to the "Mighty Handful" or "The Five", whose strongly nationalistic tendencies he respected, but did not embrace. |
NIKOLAI MEDTNER
Medtner: Angel - Complete Songs, Vol. 3 Ekaterina Levental (mezzo-soprano), Frank Peters (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 14/Jan/2022 ] Anybody who has entered into the cosmos of Medtner's music, and especially of his songs, will be aware of its introvert, secretive, sometimes even hermetic character. |
ISAAC ALBENIZ / MANUEL de FALLA / ENRIQUE GRANADOS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Spanish Piano Music [6 CD set] Esteban Sanchez, Benita Meshulam, Cristina Ortiz (pianos) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 10/Mar/2012 ] A collection of quintessential Spanish piano works, presenting the three Giants of Spain in their best and most popular works: the colossal piano cycle Iberia by Albeniz, the complete piano music of De Falla and the popular Goyescas by Granados. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Der Rosenkavalier (Complete opera recorded in 1976) Evelyn Lear, Frederica von Stade, Jules Bastin / Rotterdam Philharmonic Opera, Edo de Waart (conductor) [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD - released 20/Feb/2012 ] Evelyn Lear as the Marschallin and Frederica von Stade as her lover Octavian lead a strong cast as Edo de Waart's complete recording of Der Rosenkavalier returns to the catalogue. |
EDVARD GRIEG
Grieg: Complete Lyric Pieces, Piano Music Håkon Austbø (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "..all of Disc 5's small, relatively inconsequential miniatures turn into gems by virtue of Austbo's innate charm and subtle use of tone color. You won't find a better Grieg piano music bargain anywhere on the planet." ClassicsToday |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: La Finta Semplice (complete opera recorded in 1983) Helen Donath, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Robert Holl, Teresa Berganza / Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Leopold Hager(cond) [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2012 ] "Helen Donath is her usual bright-toned and fluent self and she has a fine trill; Teresa Berganza is lovely too, nuanced as always and still in creamy voice. Light and springy, even more delectable is Jutta-Renate Ihloff in the soubrette role." |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Famous Cantatas Holland Boy's Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] 'characteristic performances, marked by a great sense of authenticity' (Gramophone) |
PIETRO LOCATELLI
Locatelli: Complete Violin Concertos Igor Ruhadze (baroque violin) / Ensemble Violini Capricciosi [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 22/Jan/2021 ] Igor Ruhadze studied modern violin at the Moscow Central School of Music before pursuing his growing interest in music of the Baroque period. A pioneer of historically informed performance, he co-founded the Ensemble Violini Capricciosi. |
JOHN ADAMS
Adams: Piano Music (LP) Jeroen van Veen (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / LP - released 19/Jan/2024 ] The LP version of a highly successful CD issue of the complete piano music by John Adams (born 1947). "Minimalism, but not as you know it", thus described The Guardian the John Adams' music. John Adams is active in almost every musical genre,... |
GLASS / ADAMS / ten HOLT / EINAUDI / RICHTER / SAKAMOTO / PART / etc
Best of Minimal Piano Music Jeroen van Veen (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 23/Oct/2020 ] Highlights from the award-winning, much-praised series of Brilliant Classics recordings by today's leading champion of minimalist piano repertoire. |
LUDOVICO EINAUDI
Einaudi: Waves - The Piano Collection Jeroen van Veen (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2015 ] Ludovico Einaudi may well become the "Satie of the 21‐st century". His minimalist, deceptively simple piano works reach a massive audience well beyond the strict boundaries of traditional classical music. |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Brandenburg & Violin Concertos / Orchestral Suites Musica Amphion, P.J. Belder / Amsterdam Bach Soloists, Thomas Zehetmair (violin) / Netherlands Bach Ensemble [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] ."Zehetmair is by no means just a brilliant violinist; he is a very sincere musician...This is a most rewarding reissue. Even those lovers of baroque music who usually avoid modern instrument performances, should consider this disc." MusicWeb |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Symphonies & Serenades Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "This is an unfailingly warm-hearted, full-blooded Brahmsian sound and seems to represent a genuine attempt at redirecting the modern symphony orchestra towards the sort of sound-mix Brahms himself is likely to have heard." MusicWeb |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Symphonies Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland / Jaap van Zweden [ BRILLIANT CLASSICS / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/2011 ] "here's not a weak link here: every performance is full of life and sections that can be problematic are triumphantly successful...van Zweden is consistently inspiring and imaginative." (International Record Review) |
JOHN FIELD
Field: Complete Piano Concertos Paolo Restani (piano) / Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, Marco Guidarini [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2009 ] "A bargain for all fans of John Field's influential Piano Concertos" Gramophone |
DEBUSSY / FRANCK / RAVEL
French Violin Sonatas Shlomo Mintz (violin) & Yefim Bronfman (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon/ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 20/May/2010 ] "Taking into account the very engaging recording quality of this issue, the marvellously finished performances and the generously well-conceived coupling, I have no real hesitation in recommending this new disc." (Gramophone) |
MAX REGER
Reger: Organ Sonatas, B.A.C.H. Fantasy & Fugue Adriano Falcioni (organ) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 5/May/2017 ] This new recording contains three monumental organ works by Max Reger: the two Organ Sonatas and the B.A.C.H. Fantasy & Fugue. The Organ Sonatas are not written in the traditional sonata form, but use the generic title sonata for a 3 or 4... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Piano Music Alberto Miodini (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Mar/2014 ] This set could be rightly called "The unknown Schubert" as it contains a wealth of shorter, and sometimes unfinished piano pieces by the Viennese master. |
JOHANN KRIEGER
Krieger: Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music Alejandro Casal (harpsichord/organ) [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 28/Aug/2020 ] Johann Krieger (1652-1735) was an important composer of the German keyboard school, and together with Buxtehude, Böhm, Muffat, Pachelbel, Kuhnau and Lübeck he paved the way for the great Johann Sebastian Bach. Krieger was for most part of his life... |
PIETRO DEGLI ANTONI
Sonatas (12), Op. 4 Alessandro Ciccolini (violin) / Il Coro d'Arcadia [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 22/Feb/2016 ] Pietro degli Antoni (1639-1720) was a founding member of the famous Accademia Filarmonica in his native Bologna, an institution bringing together professional musicians "so well united that they always play together, creating fine sound". Many famous... |
DOMENICO CIMAROSA
Cimarosa: 21 Sonatas Andrea Chezzi (organ) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 24/Jan/2020 ] Brilliant Classics has already published all 88 of Domenico Cimarosa's keyboard sonatas in their commonly encountered appearance as harpsichord pieces (BC95027), as well as an album of 30 sonatas in arrangements for guitar (BC94172). He may still be... |
ALFREDO CASELLA
Casella: Complete Music for Cello and Piano Andrea Favalessa (cello) Maria Semeraro (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] Casella was, if it isn't a contradiction in terms, a kind of neoclassical Romantic; of sufficient pianistic skill that he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 13 and thus perhaps escaped from the pressure to plough the furrow of... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Short Cuts: 50 Piano Pieces Antonio Ballista (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 4/Dec/2020 ] A special and intriguing concept: ultra-short (one minute plus) piano pieces by 50 composers, encompassing 3 centuries, starting with Rameau and ending with Sciarrino, Crumb, Ligeti and Berio. Much can be said with few words, and so much can be... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Choral Works & Folksongs [6 CD set plus CD Rom] Chamber Choir of Europe. Nicol Matt. with Jargen Meier, piano, and Martina Schrott, harp / Amadeus Choir [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2011 ] Brahms's choral music ranges from the severe magnificence of the Fest- und Gedenk-sprüche to the ravishing opulence of the Op.17 Songs for female voices, horns and harp. Brahms conducted amateur choirs throughout his professional life, both as a... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Harp Concertos Charlotte Balzereit, Giselle Herbert, Jutta Zoff, Jana Bouskova, Roberta Alessandrini, etc (harps) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Dec/2020 ] The harp is an ancient instrument, with origins in the antiquity of perhaps many civilisations, and the modern orchestral harp is the culmination of a long evolution in form and technology. |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Op 41 The National Academic Choir of the Ukraine 'Dumka' / Yevhen Savchur [ Brilliant Classics Musica Sacra / CD - released 1/Sep/2009 ] After their successful recording of Rachmaninov' s Vespers the Dumka Choir made a new recording of Tchaikovsky's masterwork the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, in which he captures the spirit of the Russ. |
J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach, J. S.: Motets / Easter Oratorio BWV 249 Christine Brenk (soprano) Anne Greiling (alto) Frank Bossert (tenor) Thomas Pfeiffer (bass) / Kammerorchester Pforzheim / Ensemble vocal de Lausanne [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Jul/2007 ] It is uncertain how many motets Johann Sebastian Bach composed, because some have been lost, and there are some doubtful attributions among the surviving ones associated with him. There is a case for regarding the six motets catalogued BWV 225-230 as... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: Piano Works for 4 Hands Christoph Eschenbach and Justus Frantz (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 16/Jan/2006 ] Pianists Christoph Eschenbach and Justus Frantz are old hands at playing the piano and piano duets. Originally recorded by EMI. |
HELLENDAAL / WASSENAER / FESCH / SCHICKHARDT / SOLNITZ / GRONEMAN / HURLEBUSCH
Baroque Concerti from The Netherlands Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Jan Willem de Vriend, Musica Ad Rhenum, Jed Went [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2021 ] Excellent performances in Historically Informed Performance style by Dutch groups Combattimento Consort conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend and Musica Ad Rhenum, conducted by Jed Wentz, who is also a traverso soloist. |
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel Edition Costantino Mastroprimiano (fortepiano), Madoka Inui (piano), Luigi Bianchi (violin), Aldo Orvieto (piano), Luigi Bianchi (viola), Claudio Maccari (gui [ Brilliant Classics / 20 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2018 ] Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) was a pupil of Mozart, a protégé of Haydn, a friendly rival of Beethoven, and renowned throughout Europe as one of the greatest pianists of his day, a sought-after teacher who instructed some of the most... |
EDUARDO GARRIDO / NIKITA KOPSHKIN / REGINALD SMITH-BRINDLE / ALEXANDRE TANSMAN
Easy Studies for Guitar Cristiano Porqueddu (guitar) [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 24/Jan/2017 ] The growing library of guitar music on Brilliant Classics already encompasses several albums of etudes and miniatures written for students and amateur players. From rare to well-known, there are the studies of Gangi (BC95204), Tansman (BC95221),... |
EDWARD ELGAR
Complete Original Organ Music Daniel Justin (Grand organ of the Leeds Cathedral) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/2015 ] This new recording contains Elgar's complete original works for organ, as well as several arrangements of his famous showpieces, the first Pomp & Circumstance March, the Imperial March and Nimrod from the Enigma Variations, an iconic piece of English... |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: String Quartet No. 3 / Piano Quintet Daniel Quartet & Klara Wurtz (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 22/Feb/2014 ] This new recording presents two of Schumann's best and most famous chamber music works. |
MAURO GUILIANI
Guiliani: Complete Music for Flute and Guitar Daniele Ruggieri (flute), Alberto Mesirca (guitar) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 11/Mar/2022 ] The combination of flute and guitar was a popular and appealing one for many amateur musicians of the early 19th century, and the Italian guitarist-composer Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) realised its full potential. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, [The Damnation of Faust] Op. 24 Denés Gulyás, Maria Ewing, Robert Lloyd / Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt, Kölner Rundfunkchor, Südfunk-Chor Stuttgart, Eliahu Inbal [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 2 CD - released 10/Dec/2012 ] 'Inbal has a fine ear for Berlioz's orchestration, matched by sensitive recording, so that time and again details spring into dramatic life…a distinctive and intelligent performance… No lover of the work should miss hearing it.' Gramophone, July 1991 |
MODEST MUSSORGSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina (complete opera recorded in 1978) Dimiter Petrov, Todor Kostov, Nicola Ghiuselev / Sofia National Opera Orchestra, Atanas Margaritov [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Sep/2011 ] Khovanschina occupied the composer during 1872, as Boris was being 'adjusted' to suit the theatre authorities ahead of the premier. |
ANTON RUBINSTEIN
Ribinstein: Music for Piano Four Hands Vol 1 Duo Pianistico di Firenze [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 20/Nov/2014 ] "Given that the CD is extremely competitively priced, the Steinway piano superbly recorded and the playing is of the very highest order, this disc of attractive and unfamiliar piano music for four hands is well worth acquiring." (MusicWeb Nov 2014) |