MASSENET / VERDI / ROSSINI / MASSENET / BERLIOZ / DONIZETTI / TRADITIONAL / etc
Jose Carreras - The Philips Years Jose Carreras (tenor), with Montserrat Caballé, Katia Ricciarelli, Agnes Baltsa, Frederica von Stade, etc [ Philips / 21 CD Box Set - released 22/Dec/2023 ] Celebrating one of the most remarkable tenors of our time, this 21-CD set brings together the legendary Philips recital recordings of José Carreras: 17 CDs of recitals discs including Spanish and popular songs, plus highlights from complete operas. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Jessye Norman Complete Studio Recitals - Philips, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca (44CD + 3DVD) Jessye Norman (soprano) with Daniel Barenboim, Kathleen Battle, Herbert von Karajan, John Williams, etc [ Deutsche Grammophon / 45 CD Box Set - released 27/Oct/2023 ] Celebrating the life & recording career of the majestic American dramatic soprano Jessye Norman. Unquestionably one of the exceptional vocal performers of recent times, and most decorated sopranos of all time. |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin concertos Nos. 3-5 Gottfried von der Goltz (violin) / Freiburger Barockorchester, Kristian Bezuidenhout [ Aparte / CD - released 2/Jun/2023 ] "Von der Goltz plays with his customary intonational purity, elegance of phrasing, lively articulation, enhanced left-hand clarity and interpretative buoyancy.." BBC Music Concerto Recording of the Month March 2023 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies 1 - 9 [Complete 1963 recordings on CD & Blu-ray audio] Gundula Janowitz, Hilde Rassel Majdan, Waldemar Kmentt, Walter Berry / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Gramophone / 6 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 9/Jul/2022 ] The classic recording of the complete Beethoven symphonies conducted by master Karajan with the addition of a Blu-ray audio of all the symphonies plus rehearsals. |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 (LP) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / LP - released 3/Jun/2022 ] Original recording from 1976 |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 / Symphony No. 39 / 9 Variations on a Minuet by Duport Clara Haskil (piano) / Philharmonia Orchestra; Herbert von Karajan [ ICA Classics / CD - released 27/May/2022 ] "It's not just the tone and limpid phrasing, but the way that she imbues every note with meaning." BBC Music |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies No. 5 & 9 (Blu-ray) René Kollo, Anna Tomowa-Simtow, Agnes Baltsa, José van Dam / Choir of the Deutsche Oper, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 6/May/2022 ] This important visual document provides a rare insight into the way in which 'das Wunder Karajan' fashioned his unique style. The roused interpretation of Beethoven's most popular symphony, Symphony No. 9 with the Berliner Philharmoniker was recorded... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3 & 5 (LP) Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Vinyl / LP - released 25/Feb/2022 ] "...no one can deny the sheer beauty that this pair lovingly conjures." ClassicalNet |
EDVARD GRIEG
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite Nos.1 & No.2 / Sigurd Jorsalfar (LP) Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / LP - released 25/Feb/2022 ] "Very impressive indeed. Somehow one feels that one could stretch out and touch the players, so vivid is the sound here." Gramophone |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 (with works by Scriabin) (LP) Yevgeny Kissin (piano) / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / LP - released 25/Feb/2022 ] In 1988 pianist Evgeny Kissin, then 17 years old, started his world career with an electrifying interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Berliner Philharmoniker's New Year's Eve Concert. |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Candide Leonardo Capalbo (Candide), Jane Archibald (Cunegonde), Anne Sofie von Otter (Old Lady), Thomas Allen (Dr Pangloss/Narrator) LSO, Marin Alsop [ LSO / 2 CD - released 29/Oct/2021 ] Marin Alsop conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in a new recording of Leonard Bernstein's comic operetta based on Voltaire's satirical novella, in a performance that is full of dry wit, absurd humour, and stirring optimism. Marin Alsop leads... |
JOHANN STRAUSS II
Strauss, (J.): Waldmeister (complete operetta) Martina Bortolotti von Haderburg, Andrea Chudak, Annika Egert, Dorothe Ingenfeld / Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Dario Salvi [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 24/Sep/2021 ] Johann Strauss II's operetta Waldmeister ('Woodruff') was staged for the first time in December 1895. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Parsifal (Complete Opera recorded in 1979/80) Peter Hofmann, Dunja Vejzovic, Kurt Moll, José van Dam, Siegmund Nimsgern / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / 4 CD Box Set - released 4/Jun/2021 ] The finest of all the principal singers is surely the Gurnemanz of Kurt Moll, a wonderful blend of bel canto and Lieder singing, the voice a true bass, perfectly poised and projected, finely nuanced, ever attentive to the colour and meaning of words |
MOZART / BEETHOVEN / WAGNER / C.P.E. BACH / HANDEL / DVORAK / etc
Dennis Brain - Homage Dennis Brain (horn) with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Sena Jurinac, Walter Gieseking, George Malcom, Gerald Moore, Malcolm Sargent, Herbert von Karajan, etc [ Warner Classics / 11 CD Box Set - released 14/May/2021 ] This 11CD collection presents all of Brain's Warner recordings as concerto soloist and chamber and ensemble player - including music composed with him in mind - and his most notable contributions to symphonic, choral and operatic works. |
CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR
Widor: Complete Organ Symphonies / 5: Organ Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 / Symphony No. 8 / I. Prélude (original 1887 version) Christian von Blohn (organ) [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Apr/2021 ] Widor's cycle of ten organ symphonies underwent profound development and transformation over many years. Classical elements became more obviously virtuosic and, by the time of these Op. 42 symphonies, his musical language had become monumental.... |
JACK HEGGIE
Heggie: Great Scott (complete opera recorded in 2015) Dallas Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Ailyn Perez, Frederica von Stade, Anthony Roth Costanzo / Patrick Summers (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics DVD / DVD - released 12/Mar/2021 ] WQXR, the USA's leading classical music radio station, welcomed as a "deeply moving and musically brilliant work" that "should enter the standard repertory just as Heggie's two previous masterpieces - Dead Man Walking and Moby-Dick - already have". |
CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR
Widor: Organ Symphonies, Vol 4 - Symphony No 8, Op 42, No 4 Symphonie romane, Op 73 (Christian von Blohn) Christian von Blohn (organ) [ Naxos / CD - released 27/Nov/2020 ] Widor's cycle of organ symphonies sits at the heart of his compositional achievement. They are vivid and innovative-none more so than Symphony No. 8 in B major, which takes performer and listener alike to the limits of the genre. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete opera recorded in 2018) Staatsoper Stuttgart / Michaël König, Simone Schneider, Martin Gantner, Okka von der Damerau / Cornelius Meister [ Bel Air Classiques DVD / DVD - released 20/Nov/2020 ] What are heroes made of and why do our societies need them so badly ? At the Staatsoper Stuttgart, stage director Árpád Schilling tries to answer this mythological, political and existential question, lying at the core of Richard Wagner's Lohengrin.... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Staatsoper Stuttgart / Michaël König, Simone Schneider, Martin Gantner, Okka von der Damerau / Cornelius Meister [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Nov/2020 ] What are heroes made of and why do our societies need them so badly ? At the Staatsoper Stuttgart, stage director Árpád Schilling tries to answer this mythological, political and existential question, lying at the core of Richard Wagner's Lohengrin.... |
Leontyne Price, Vienna Philharmonic Herbert Von Karajan (conductor)
Songs For Christmas (LP) [ Vinyl Passion / LP - released 6/Nov/2020 ] Leontyne Price's heavenly soprano lights up 13 Christmas favorites on this wonderful 1961 album recorded in Vienna, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. On this vinyl "Silent Night", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "O Tannenbaum", "Ave Maria", "O Holy... |