BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / CHERUBINI / DVORAK / MOZART / ROSSINI / SMETANA / RICHARD STRAUSS / etc
Herbert von Karajan: The first recordings 1938-1943 Herbert von Karajan (conductor) with various orchestras [ DG Original Masters / 6 CD - released 20/Jul/2006 ] Karajan's fascinating first essays in the classical repertoire from Mozart (Symphony no. 40) to Richard Strauss (Don Juan), with Beethoven (Symphony no. 7) , Tchaikovsky (Pathétique Symphony), Dvorak (New World Symphony) and a beautiful CD of Opera... |
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Aromatherapy No 5 - The Heart of Tchaikovsky Herbert von Karajan, Neville Marriner, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lorin Maazel [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / CD - released 21/Jun/2001 ] A unique CD collection of music for relaxation |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Till Eulenspiegel, Don Juan, Salomes Tanz Herbert von Karajan with Vienna Philharmonic [ Decca legends / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] "The opening bars of this cd are SO wonderful that it raises goosepimples every time I hear it." (Amazon.co.uk) |
JOHANN STRAUSS
Die Fledermaus (complete opera recorded in 1960) Hilde Gueden, Walter Berry, Ericjh Kunz, Regina Resnik / Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Herbert von Karajan [ ALTO / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] "Hilde Gueden is by no means vocally perfect; but how ravishingly she plays the part! Regina Resnik, too, is convincing in Orlovsky's couplets, Walter Berry is an excellent Falke." (Gramophone) |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Octet D.803 / Fünf Menuette mit sechs Trios D. 89 Isabelle Faust (Violin) with Anne Katharina Schreiber (violin), Danusha Waskiewicz (viola), Kristin von der Goltz (cello), Lorenzo Coppola (clarinet) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 18/May/2018 ] In response to a commission from Count Troyer, who wanted a work closely modelled on Beethoven's famous Septet op.20, Schubert - despite his fervent admiration for the older composer - resolutely struck out on his own by delivering an . . . Octet.... |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Mass in B minor Janowitz / Ludwig / Schreier / Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 29/Apr/2000 ] "There is a strong sense of the works's architecture, and the highly polished surfaces do not obscure the depths of the music." Penguin Guide |
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: Missa in C Major 'Coronation' K 317 / Vesperae solennes de confessore K 339 Joan Rodgers, Josef Protschka, Laszlo Polgar, Elisabeth von Magnus / Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2016 ] "..Harnoncourt's fascinating exploratory way with the music: he never treats it simply for what it seems to be but looks more deeply into the score to see if he can bring out something fresh" Gramophone |
TRISTAN e ISEULT
Tristan & Iseult: A Medieval Romance in Music and Poetry Anne Azema, Henri Ledroit, Andrea von Ramm / The Boston Camerata, Joel Cohen [ Warner Music / CD - released 20/Mar/2008 ] The oldest versions of 'Tristan' from the Celtic lands of Western Europe were recited by bards and minstrels, and to a greater extent, were never written down. |
WAGNER
Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 1967) Jon Vickers, Martti Talvela, Thomas Stewart, Gundula Janowitz / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon The Originals / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2013 ] |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (Complete Opera recorded in 1967) [Remastered CDs plus Blu-ray Audio] Jon Vickers, Martti Talvela, Thomas Stewart, Gundula Janowitz, Régine Crespin / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Remastered CDs plus Blu-ray audio / 4 CD Box Set - released 12/Jun/2020 ] Remastered at Emil Berliner Studios in 24 bit/192kHz. Blu-ray Audio in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. CDs are produced from the new remastering. |
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. |
VERDI / PUCCINI / DONIZETTI / LEONCAVALLO / FRANCK / etc
José Carreras - The Great Carreras Jose Carreras (tenor). with Katia Ricciarelli, Frederica von Stade, various orchestras [ Philips / CD - released 28/Aug/2014 ] "Carreras's Cavaradossi is one of his best recorded performances: the voice untarnished, the line ample, and if he's tempted at times to over-sing one forgives the fault for the sake of his poetic ardour" (Gramophone on Tosca) |
JACK HEGGIE
Dead Man Walking (complete opera) Joyce DiDonato, Philip Cutlip, Frederica von Stade / Houston Grand Opera & Chorus, Patrick Summers [ Virgin Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2012 ] "If the opera seemed good before, it's rather better now...DiDonato [comes to the vocal lines almost as heightened speech...[and] leaves no question that she'll get a confession out of the killer." (Gramophone) |
Juan Atkins & Moritz Von Oswald
Borderland [ Tresor / CD - released 5/Jul/2013 ] |
MOZART
Mozart W.A.-Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (Highlights) Jules Bastin, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Ileana Cotrubas, Vienna Philh., von Karajan [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 5/Jul/2002 ] Classic Opera Gala recording |
C. P. E. BACH
Bach, CPE: Cello Concertos Julian Steckel (violoncello), Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Susanne von Gutzeit [ Hanssler Classic / CD - released 26/Feb/2016 ] C.P.E. Bach began writing his three cello concertos in 1750, not for his royal employer, but for middle-class musical society in Berlin and Potsdam. The works were later also published in versions for harpsichord and flute. Concertos for the cello... |
NICOLAI
Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor [The Merry wives of Windsor] (complete opera in German) Juliane Banse, Anna Korondi, Annette Markert, Ferdinand von Bothmer / Munchner-Rundfunkorchester / Ulf Schirmer [ CPO / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2008 ] This exhilarating opera of ebullient humour and melodic richness has lent Nicolai his enduring fame and is interpreted by a top cast. |
DEBUSSY / MAHLER / MESSIAEN / RAVEL / STRAVINSKY
Boulez & The Cleveland Orchestra Juliane Banse (soprano) Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) / Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez [ Deutsche Grammophon Conductors & Orchestras / 8 CD Box Set - released 25/Jul/2017 ] The sound throughout is exceptionally vivid, and Boulez, the orchestra and his soloists provide exemplary performances at almost every turn: heartily recommended." Gramophone Editor's Choice June 2004 [on the Debussy/Ravel] |
WAGNER
Gotterdammerung (complete opera) [Recorded in stereo live at the 1955 Bayreuth Festival] Jutta Vulpius, Elisabeth Schartel, Maria Graf, Wolfgang Windgassen, Georgine von Milinkovic / Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / Joseph Keilberth [ Testament / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2007 ] "Windgassen may be more vocally secure for Solti but nowhere else is he so tender, so moving as here. Josef Greindl is a far more saturnine, charismatic Hagen here than elsewhere. But it is Astrid Varnay who is the great revelation." Recording of... |