BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 15 / Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 Rebecca Hirsch (violin) Tim Hugh (cello) / BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2000 ] "Not only does Rebecca Hirsch (for the most part) make light of the solo part's fiendish technical difficulties, her playing evinces a beguiling lyrical beauty that's breathtaking. By the side of both Ida Haendel and Lorraine McAslan, she perhaps... |
CHOPIN
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, etc. Istvan Szekely (piano) Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Gyula Nemeth [ Naxos / CD - released 30/Jun/1992 ] |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Complete Published Orchestral Works Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Košice; Polish National Radio Symphony; BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; etc [ Naxos / 17 CD Box Set - released 29/Apr/2013 ] Dvořák was a composer steeped in the national and folk music of his Bohemian homeland, and his orchestral music combines a broad and soulful melodic sweep with the wit of sparkling orchestration. |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser [ Naxos / CD - released 3/Mar/1990 ] "Gunzenhauser's coupling is recommendable even without the price advantage. The beguiling opening of the Fifth, with its engaging Slovak wind solos, has plenty of atmosphere, and the reading generates a natural lyrical impulse. The Seventh,... |
J. STRAUSS
J. Strauss II: Waltzes, Polkas, Marches And Overtures, Vol. 3 Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra, Katowice, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosice, Martin Sieghart, Ondrej L [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Feb/1993 ] "... first-rate performances, ... there is elegance and effervescence aplenty, and no shortage of charm." - Which Compact Disk Magazine |
JOHANN STRAUSS II
Strauss, (J.): Famous Waltzes, Polkas, Marches & Overtures Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra, Katowice; CSR Symphony Orchestra, CSR State Philharmonic Orchestra [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 2/Feb/2000 ] To many the Strauss family has been seen as the epitome of the golden age of Vienna, the city that set Europe dancing, with its waltzes and polkas. As the capital of an Empire that embraced the most musical parts of Europe, Bohemia, Slovakia and... |
WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI
Lutosławski: Symphonies / Concertos / Choral and Vocal Works Olga Pasichnyk (soprano) Andrzej Bauer (cello) Krzysztow Bakowsk (violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Choir, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / 10 CD Box Set - released 29/Jul/2013 ] "Naxos has collected its existing recordings and issued a 10-CD box Lutosławski-Symphonies; Concertos; Choral and Vocal Works…featuring the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (and others) under the direction of Antoni Wit." The WholeNote |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Complete Symphonies Capella Istropolitana & Northern Chamber Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth & Nicholas Ward [ Naxos / 11 CD Box Set - released 29/Apr/2013 ] One of the supreme musical geniuses and most loved composers of all time, Mozart wrote prolifically and excelled in every genre to which he turned his hand. His symphonies are among his greatest achievements, a consummate blend of dazzling invention... |
ALWYN / GORECKI / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / RAUTAVAARA / TAVENER / etc
Mystic Classics Various Artists incls Zofia Kilanowicz (soprano), Maria Kiegel (cello), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 17/Sep/2007 ] This specially priced 2 CD set presents a selection of moving music by a number of important modern composers including Alwyn, Gorecki, Tavener, Part and Rautavaara. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV / DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Rachmaninov/Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Bernd Glemser (piano) Michael Houstoun (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2000 ] The Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major was written in 1957 for Shostakovich's son Maxim, who gave the first performance of the work on his nineteenth birthday. The work has about it a youthful appeal for performers and audience alike. |
GLAZUNOV
The Seasons / Violin Concerto Ilya Kaler (violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Camilla Kolchinsky (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Mar/2008 ] Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov has not fared well at the hands of later critics. He enjoyed a remarkably successful career in music, becoming Director of the St Petersburg Conservatory in 1905 in the aftermath of the political disturbances of... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Orchestral Highlights Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Wildner [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2014 ] Richard Wagner inspired in his contemporaries extremes of reaction. For some his music seemed as misguided and repulsive as his anti-Semitism, while others were overwhelmed by the size of his ambition and achievement. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / JOSEPH JOACHIM
GERMANY - Bavarian Lakes and Schloss Herrenchiemsee - A Musical Tour BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari, Meir Minsky [ NAXOS MUSICAL JOURNEYS / DVD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] Bavaria has a place of its own in Germany, both geographically and culturally. The tour stars with the Alpine lake known as Königssee and explores the surrounding landscape, including the Berchtesgaden National Park and the gardens of Ludwig II's... |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: A Portrait: His works / His life (2 CDs of music plus a detailed essay and photographs) Various artists incls Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosice, Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos Educational / 2 CD - released 22/Dec/2007 ] Among the most popular of twentieth-century composers, Sergey Prokofiev is seen as a great musical giant of the Soviet Union. But after the 1917 Revolution he took his talents to the United States and France. Only later was he lured by the power of... |
ELGAR / PARRY / ARNOLD / HOLST / COATES / WOOD / WALTON / ALWYN / etc
The Best of British Various artists including the English Northern Sinfonia, Royal Artillery Band, New Zealand Symphony, Queensland Symphony Orchestra. [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 15/Oct/2006 ] Favourites from The Last Night of the Proms and other uplifting works celebrating the British Empire and its Royal Family. |
ORCHESTRAL SPECTACULAR
Orchestral Spectacular (Incls 'Bolero', 1812 Overture & 'Polovtsian Dances') Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / various conductors [ Naxos Super Budget Series / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provide their own Spanish magic" - Essex Chronicle |
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 3 / Coriolan Overture (Furtwangler, Commercial Recordings 1940-50, Vol. 2) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwangler (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical Great Conductors / CD - released 18/Apr/2006 ] The recordings presented on this disc of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and his Third Symphony, the ‘Eroica’, formed part of the extensive schedule of concerts and recordings which Furtwängler undertook with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 / Haydn Variations (Furtwangler, Commercial Recordings 1940-50, Vol. 5) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwangler [ Naxos Historical Great Conductors / CD - released 17/Jul/2007 ] Listening to Furtwängler's performances from the postwar period is to participate in some of the most intense realisations of the repertoire he held most dear, including that of Brahms with whom he shared a consuming interest in the roots of their... |
MORTON GOULD
Gould: Symphonies 2, 3 & 4 / Spirituals for String Choir & Orchestra Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Fagen [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2020 ] "The Symphonettes represent Gould's best crossover work - the Symphonette No. 4 deriving its character from Latin-American dance forms to make it one of his most popular compositions." CD Choice (UK) |