MENDELSSOHN / BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY / SIBELIUS
Mendelssohn/Beethoven/Tchaikovsky: The Great Violin Concertos Kyung Wha Chung (violin) / London Symphony / Vienna Philharmonic / Montreal Symphony [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 28/Sep/2007 ] Fluid, elegant, and lyric, violinist Kyung Wha Chung was the first Western-style classical virtuoso to emerge from Korea. |
WALTON
The Symphonies & Concertos Kyung Wha Chung (violin) Paul Neubauer (viola) Robert Cohen (cello) London Symphony Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Bournemouth Symphony / [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2005 ] This programme conveniently brings together Walton's two symphonies and three concertos onto 2 well-filled discs (around 155 minutes). |
VERDI
Verdi: La Traviata (Complete Opera) Pilar Lorengar, Giacomo Aragall, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Stefania Malagù [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/May/2014 ] "With Fischer-Dieskau a searchingly intense intense Germont and Aragall making a ringing a ringingly impressive Alfredo, this is a strong cast. Maazel's conducting is characteristically forceful." (Penguin Guide) |
SAINT-SAENS
Essential Saint-Saens (Incl Symphony No. 3, 'Organ' in C minor & Danse macabre) Marilyn Horne. Joshua Bell. Pascal Roge. Cristina Ortiz / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Opera Orchestra [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 15/May/2004 ] "This is very good value, with consistently fine playing and recording" (Gramophone on the piano concerto) |
COPLAND
Orchestral Works (Incl Rodeo, El Salon México & Billy The Kid) Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, David Zinman / The Cleveland Orchestra, Oliver Knussen [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "They know how to party in Baltimore. I need hardly say how good the Argo sound is. When it comes to a showdown-and I'm thinking of bassdrum bucking broncos as well as gunfight rim-shots-you are right in the line of fire." (Gramophone) |
AARON COPLAND
Copland: Appalachian Spring / Fanfare for the Common Man / Dance Symphony / Lincoln Portrait / etc Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, English Chamber Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Zubin Mehta, Neville Marriner, Antál Do [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] |
DEBUSSY
Orchestral Music (Inc La Mer, Jeux, Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune) Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles Dutoit [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] THe marvellously pictorial music of Debussy captured by Charles Dutoit |
JOHANN STRAUSS II
Aschenbradel, Ritter Pasman, Le Beau Danube (Ballets) National Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Bonynge [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 11/Jul/2002 ] "The orchestra plays with enthusiasm and the 1974 sound is strikingly vivid." *** (Three Stars) Penguin Stereo Guide |
VIVALDI
Vivaldi Adagios Neville Marriner / Philip Pickett / Christopher Hogwood / Karl Munchinger / Iona Brown / George Malcolm / etc [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 30/Sep/2007 ] 2 hours & 28 tracks of Vivaldi's most serene & beautiful slow movements |
EDWARD GRIEG
Grieg: Peer Gynt / Piano Concerto / Symphony Olli Mustonen (piano) / San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt / Bergen Symphony Orchestra, Karsten Andersen [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "The San Francisco Chorus is first-class, as is the orchestral playing, and in the more dramatic numbers Blomstedt conducts with a great deal of dash and flair." (Gramophone on Peer Gynt) |
BIZET
L'Arlesienne & Carmen Suites / Symphony in C / La Jolie fille de Perth Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal / Charles Dutoit [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 8/Sep/2003 ] "With playing that is both elegant and vivid, and with superb, demonstration-worthy sound, Dutoit's polished yet affectionate coupling of the L'Arlesienne and Carmen suites make a clear first choice." (Penguin Guide) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Laudate Dominum: Vespers & Litanies Schola Cantorum of Oxford, the Choir of St John's College Cambridge, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, The Wren Orchestra, Neville Marriner, George [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] "Mozart at his most imaginative and vital...highly responsive performance" Penguin Guide |
CHAUSSON
Symphonie, Piano Quartet, Poemes & Concert Pascal Roge (piano) Chantal Juillet (violin) Pierre Amoyal (violin) / Quatuor Ysaye. Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. Charles Dutoit [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2005 ] Chausson's musical output is not vast and his career was short-lived. His earliest works date from the late 1870s and his last were produced shortly before he was killed as a result of a cycling accident in 1899. |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos Nos 1 - 5 Pascal Roge (piano) / Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] All the Saint-Saens piano concertos together at a bargain price |
WIDOR / FRANCK / MENDELSSOHN / BRAHMS / LISZT / etc
Romantic Organ Works-Widor, Franck, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Liszt, etc Peter Hurford, organ [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 12/Jul/2000 ] Thrilling selection of the best-known works from the Romantic repertoire! |
FAURE
Piano Quartets & Quintets Quatuor Ysaye / Pascal Roge, piano [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 5/May/2005 ] Fauré's large musical output includes many solo piano pieces and songs but just a handful of chamber works; two violin sonatas and two cello sonatas; a string quartet; a piano trio and other small miscellaneous pieces and the four works included... |
VERDI
Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 1962) Renato Cioni, Joan Sutherland, Cornell MacNeil / Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma, Nino Sanzogno [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 20/Aug/2011 ] Joan Sutherland (Gilda), Cornell MacNeil (Rigoletto), Renato Cioni (Il Duca), Cesare Siepi (Sparafucile), Stefania Malagu (Maddalena), Anna di Stassio (Giovanna) |
J. S. BACH
Bach Adagio [incls 'Jesu, joy of man's desiring' & 'Air on a G string'] Riccardo Chailly, Kyung-Wha Chung, John Eliot Gardiner, Benjamin Grosvenor, Friedrich Gulda, Janine Jansen, Andreas Schiff, Pepe Romero, etc [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Jan/2016 ] The Adagios series has generated almost €7 million since the late 90s. Here with a refreshed tracklist and presented with a contemporary look is Bach Adagio. This compilation includes over two hours of instrumental music from orchestral to chamber... |
SMETANA
Ma Vlast / Overtures / Bartered Bride [excerpts] Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti / The Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "The sound is resonant and full-bodied,..this remains an enjoyable programme." (Gramophone on the Overtures & Dances) |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances / Czech Suite / American Suite / etc Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 9/Jan/2007 ] "The recording is very good, and the performances are both brilliant and affectionate, and benefit from very neat contributions from the RPO wind. Most enjoyable." (Gramophone) |