JOSEF HAYDN
The Creation (Complete oratorio in English) Emma Kirkby, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, The Chorus and Orchestra of the Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood [ L'Oiseau-Lyre / Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "fine clarity of detail and an attractive freshness" *** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven:piano Sonatas Friedrich Gulda (piano) [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] |
BACH / VIVALDI / HANDEL / PACHELBEL / MARCELLO / PURCELL / etc
Essential Baroque (Includes 'the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba', Albinoni's Adagio & the Hallelujah chorus) George Malcolm (harpsichord) Barbara Bonney (soprano) RenACe Fleming (soprano) / The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] Essential Baroque is the perfect CD for those who would like to purchase an introduction to baroque music. |
J. S. BACH
Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin BWV1001-1006 Gidon Kremer (violin) [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Nov/2012 ] "It is hardly necessary, perhaps, for me to remark upon the formidable technique of this artist, but formidable it certainly is. Kremer's intonation is well nigh faultless, his bowing easy and relaxed, and his phrasing graceful." (Gramophone) |
HANDEL
Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330 Handel & Haydn Society, Christopher Hogwood [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 22/Oct/2013 ] |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: The Piano Trios Pinchas Zukerman (violin), Lynn Harrell (cello) & Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] Recorded: 1996-11-10 |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection' Heather Harper (sop) Helen Watts (cont) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Originals / CD - released 20/Jun/2007 ] "... the new Decca stereo recording has special points of excellence all its own. The most striking thing in the whole performance, for me, is the first movement, in which Solti penetrates to the inner significance of the unusual structure with an... |
J.S. BACH
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Complete) Helen Watts, Peter Pears, Elly Ameling, Tom Krause / Karl Manchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 11/Sep/2001 ] Double Decca - 2 CDs at a special price |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Orchestral Works (Including Concerto for Oboe and Strings in A minor & English Folk Song Suite) Iona Brown (violin) Celia Nicklin (oboe) Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conducted by Sir Neville Marriner [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 15/May/2004 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "I enjoyed Marriner's fresh, sympathetic approach to the Vaughan Williams" (Gramophone) |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Vespro Della Beata Vergine 1610 [Vespers] / Motetes [with works by Gabrieli] Jill Gormez, James Bowman, John Shirley-Quirk, Philip Langridge, Michael Rippon / Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] "Gardiner's purposeful approach is stirringly dramatic, boldly eventful and full of ideas" Gramophone |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Requiem / Quattro pezzi sacri Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti, Martti Talvela / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Originals / 2 CD - released 11/Nov/2007 ] "Horne is the formidable mezzo, although her singing isn't always lit with inner feeling. The beauty of the youthful Pavarotti's tone is admirable, but he is sometimes restrained by four-square support. Talvela is sonorous but lacks legato.... |
FRITZ KREISLER & OTHERS
Violin Favourites & Virtuoso Showpieces Joshua Bell (violin) / Samuel Sanders (piano) / Paul Coker (piano) [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 11/Jun/2006 ] "As readily shown by the opening Praeludium & Allegro, Joshua Bell refuses to treat this music as trivial, and there is a total absence of schmalz... the recording is completely realistic." The Penguin Guide to Comoact Discs 2002 |
HANDEL
4 Coronation Anthems / Foundling Hospital Anthem / Utrecht te Deum / Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne HWV74 Judith Nelson, Shirley Minty, James Bowman, David Thomas / Choir Of Winchester Cathedral, The Brandenburg Consort, David Hill [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "the choir sing most beautifully throughout and of the soloists, John Elwes is particularly sensitive to Handel's setting of charitable texts." (Gramophone on the Foundling Hospital Anthem) |
Julian Bream, Eduardo Fernandes, Alexandre Lagoya, John Williams, Gonan Sollscher, etc
Guitar Adagios-Over 155 minutes of smooth guitar classics [ Decca Double / 2 CD - released 25/Jun/2004 ] Over 155 minutes of smooth guitar classics |
LISZT
The Piano Concertos / Mephisto Waltz No 1 / Hungarian Rhapsody No 12 (with piano works by Grieg, Mussorgsky & Balakirev) Julius Katchen (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ataulfo Argenta, Isreal Philharmonic Orchestra, Istvan Kertesz [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 26/Feb/2002 ] One of the great pianistic virtuosos of the 20th century |
Kenneth McKellar
The Decca Years 1955 -1975 (2CD) [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 19/Aug/1999 ] Remastered double set: varied musical accomplishments of Scotland's finest tenor |
W.A. MOZART
Five Masses (K337, K317, K257, K139, K167) King's College Choir / English Chamber Orchestra / Stephen Cleobury [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 6/Sep/2007 ] Internationally recognised as the pre-eminent representative of the great British church music tradition, the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, owes its existence to King Henry VI who, in founding the College in 1441, envisaged the daily singing of... |