GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Symphony No 9 Philadelphia Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2018 ] "As a Mahler interpreter, his performances are exciting, fabulously played, razor-sharp rhythmically, and sensitive to the myriad details of Mahler's scoring. Perhaps the two standout performances are the Fifth and Ninth, as much for the playing of... |
BELA BARTOK
Béla Bartók - The Hungarian Soul Pierre Amoyal, James Conlon, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Franz Welser-Möst, Mariss Jansons, Constantin Silvestri, András Schiff, Iván Fischer [ Warner Classics / 20 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2021 ] Béla Bartók is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, the creator of a body of works as immense as it is complex. He was passionate about Hungarian folk music and carried out serious ethnological research in the field. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Carol Neblett, Sherrill Milnes, Paul Plishka / Ambrosian Opera Chorus / National Philhrmonic / James Levine [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2006 ] "Scotto sings a lovely "Si, mi chiamano Mimi", and her phrasing is always beautiful...no one newly smitten by the opera will find this performance of it disappointing." (Gramophone) |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Opera Series / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1977 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone This set is currently unavailable |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Red Seal / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1997 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Highlights from the complete opera) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson / Philharmonia Orchestra. James Levine [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/1991 ] Original recording made at Kingsway Hall, London, July, august 1980 |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ Sony Opera House / 2 CD - released 4/Jan/2010 ] "Scotto gives one of her most eloquent and beautiful performances, and Levine has rarely displayed his powers as an urgent and dramatic opera conductor more potently on record." Penguin Stereo Guide |
BOHUSLAV MARTINU
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Martinu: Double Concerto / Concerto for String Quartet / Sinfonietta La Jolla / etc Jean-François Heisser, Alain Planès (pianos), Jean Camosi (timpani), Brandis Quartet, French National Orchestra, James Conlon [ Erato Classics / 2 CD - released 2/Oct/1998 ] "Conlon keeps a tight rein on things, making the most of the edgy ostinati and driving neo-classical allegros...on a purely artistic level these are pretty compelling performances." MusicWeb |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera) BLU-RAY Los Angeles Opera / Renee Flemin, Rolando Villazon, Renato Bruson / James Colon (cond) [ Decca Music Group Limited Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 9/Mar/2009 ] "With the benefit of the latest picture technology, this performance goes to the top of the list for those preferring a traditional production." (Recording of the Month May 2008) |
James Rhodes
The Piano Man [ SBS DVD / DVD - released 12/Apr/2012 ] With childhood abuse, drug addiction and suicide attempts behind him, James is not your typical concert pianist. But with his passion and rock-star aura, he's bringing new audiences to classical piano. In Piano Man, James plays the music of his... |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Monteverdi: The Sacred Music 2 Carolyn Sampson, Rebecca Outram, James Gilchrist, Charles Daniels / Choir of The King's Consort, Robert King [ Hyperion SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 29/Mar/2004 ] "... there are joys here to melt icebergs ... I want Volume 3 immediately" The Times |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony / The Lark Ascending Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, James Ehnes (violin), Sarah Fox (soprano), Mark Stone (baritone) [ Onyx / CD - released 30/Nov/2018 ] The penultimate album in the critically acclaimed Vaughan Williams symphony cycle from the RLPO and Andrew Manze is of his 1st Symphony 'A Sea Symphony' set to words by Walt Whitman. Premiered in 1910, the start of this work is one of the most... |
W.A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera directed by Peter Sellars. Recorded in 1990) Sanford Sylvan / James Maddalena / Susan Larson / Jeanne Ommerle / Wiener Symphoniker / Craig Smith (cond) [ Decca Records / 2 DVD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] Sung in the original Italian but relocated to contrasting worlds of late 20th century USA, 'Le nozze di Figaro' takes place in the ersatz elegance of Fifth Avenue. |
DAME ETHEL SMYTH
Smith: The Prison (Choral Symphony) Sarah Brailey, Dashon Burton / Experiential Orchestra and Chorus, James Blachly [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Choral GRAMMY Awards 63rd Awards (2021) Winner - Best Classical Solo Vocal Album |
Scott Joplin, Euble Blake, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, "Fats" Waller, Jimmy Blythe (piano rolls)
Greatest Ragtime Of The Century - Classic Ragtime, Blues and Stomps from Rare Piano Rolls [ Biograph Records / CD - released 2/Feb/2003 ] The piano rolls on this compact disc were digitally recorded directly from a 1910 Steinway 65/88 note player. |
JOHN STAINER
Stainer: Crucifixion (The) Simon Bailey (bass) / Stephen Farr (organ) / James Gilchrist (tenor) / Clare College Choir, Cambridge / Tim Brown (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] "Lovers of English choral music will relish this highly attractive release" - MusicWeb June 2005 |
Sonny James
Sonny James - 200 Years of Country Music & In Prison, In Person [ Demon - Westside / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] Jimmie Hugh Loden (May 1, 1928 - February 22, 2016), known professionally as Sonny James, was an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the "Southern Gentleman" for his congenial manner, his... |
CARL ORFF
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Orff: Carmina Burana Sylvia Greenberg, James Bowman, Stephen Roberts / RSO Berlin und Chor, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca / CD - released 2/Feb/1984 ] "...in recognition of the stunning range and brilliance of the Decca recording as presented on CD with bass drum at the very start shatteringly real-sounding in its specific focus." Gramophone |
C.P.E BACH
Bach: Complete Original Works For Violin & Keyboard Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin), James Ballieu (piano) [ Signum / 3 CD - released 11/Oct/2019 ] "Trills glisten over Waley-Cohen, the perfect partner to transform this into bowed song. Waley-Cohen's achievement of pure legato is wondrous" Gramophone Magazine December 2019 Editor's Choice |