EDWARD GRIEG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
Grieg / Schumann: Piano Concertos (Rec 1989) Murray Perahia (piano) / Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 20/May/2011 ] "Murray Perahia's 1987 Schumann and Grieg concertos with Colin Davis remain the most recommendable digitally recorded pairing of these war-horses, and they bloom even more via Sony's Expanded Edition remastering." (ClassicsToday) |
BARTOK / BRAHMS / R. STRAUSS / BEETHOVEN / DEBUSSY / etc
Nelson Freire - Memories: The Unreleased Recordings (1970 - 2019) Nelson Freire (piano) / Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Uri Segal / Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Michael Gielen & Horst Stein [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] On November 21st 2021, Nelson Freire was taken before his time. One year on, we remember him with a new collection of previously unreleased Decca recordings, bonus tracks making their debut on disc and rare radio broadcast tapes. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Symphonies Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland / Jaap van Zweden [ BRILLIANT CLASSICS / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/2011 ] "here's not a weak link here: every performance is full of life and sections that can be problematic are triumphantly successful...van Zweden is consistently inspiring and imaginative." (International Record Review) |
JAMES LEE III
Voyages - Orchestral music by James Lee III ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor [ Avie / CD - released 20/May/2022 ] In Voyages, prolific American composer James Lee III takes the listener on a colourful journey through his endlessly creative orchestral music; painting biblical imagery in Beyond Rivers of Vision and celebrating the joyous Feast of Tabernacles... |
BEDRICH SMETANA
Smetana: Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), including Vltava (Moldau) The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Sep/2000 ] "this new Naxos offering enshrines an interpretation of no mean stature and individuality: an undoubted bargain, I would say" - Gramophone |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Sonata in D Major Tedi Papavrami (violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Feb/2009 ] "Tedi Papavrami is evidently someone to shout about, playing with flawless technique". - Classic CD |
FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: Fennimore and Gerda (complete opera) Robert Tear (tenor) Brian Rayner Cook (baritone), Hedwig Rummel (Mezzo Soprano) Elisabeth Söderström (Sop) / Danish national radio symphony, Meredith [ EMI Classics / CD - released 12/May/1997 ] "Throughout his career, (Meredith Davies) championed the cause of Frederick Delius, and his most celebrated association with Benjamin Britten came in May 1962, when he directed the premiere of Britten's War Requiem" Guardian |
BERTHOLD GOLDSCHMIDT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Goldschmidt: Beatrice Cenci (complete opera with libretto) Roberta Alexander, Stefan Stoll, Simon Estes, Della Jones / Berlin Radio Chorus, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek [ Sony Classical / 2 CD Box Set - released 7/Feb/1995 ] "The cast is a strong one, dominated by the burnished tone of Roberta Alexander in the title role of the abused daughter. Della Jones as her stepmother Lucrezia is equally fine" BBC Music |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Sonya Yoncheva - The Verdi Album Sonya Yoncheva (soprano) / Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra, Massimo Zanetti [ Sony Music / CD - released 8/Feb/2018 ] "She certainly has a go at just about everything, ranging from the delicacy of Desdemona's 'Ave Maria', to the wilder grief of the Forza Leonora's 'Pace! Pace, mio Dio!' OperaNews |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Prokofiev / Shostakovich: Cello Concertos Steven Isserlis (cello) / Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Apr/2015 ] BBC Music Magazine Awards 2016 Finalist - Concerto |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony no.5 Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Daniel Harding [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 11/Jan/2019 ] "In a market where modern rivals sound pedestrian or perfumed with finesse by comparison, this Fifth raises high hopes for what the graphic cover artwork implies may become a complete cycle." Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Best Of Ravel Dong-Suk Kang (violin), Pascal Devoyon (piano), Francois-Joel Thiollier (piano), Marat Bisengaliev (violin) Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Ph [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Jul/1999 ] Take a large spoonful of Bolero, add a small amount of Pavane, simmer in the heat of Feria, then mix with a little Blues and you have the perfect Ravel. Its the recipe for success in the 'Best of' market. |
RICAHRD WAGNER
The Best Of Wagner Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halasz, Uwe Mund & Johannes Wildner [ Naxos / CD - released 6/May/1997 ] The perfect introduction to the orchestral music of Richard Wagner |
J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach at Bedtime Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Andreas Greger, Arthur Grumiaux, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra [ Philips Lifestyle / CD - released 5/May/2000 ] Lullabies for the still of the night! |
GOUNOD / DELIBES / TCHAIKOVSKY / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / RACHMANINOV / etc
Aida Aida Garifullina (soprano) / ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Cornelius Meister [ Decca Records / CD - released 10/Mar/2017 ] 'Garifullina dazzles in this impassioned and musical performance' Opera recording of the Month April 2017 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Liebeslieder Aldis Liepiņš & Dace Kļava (pianos) Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava [ Ondine / CD - released 10/Jul/2015 ] "Under Sigvards Kļava these singers don't wallow in over-sentimentality but give an impressive interpretation of this glorious music, aided by two superb pianists." Choir & Organ |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Piano Concerto Nos. 3 & 4 Alicia de Larrocha (piano) / Radio-Symphonie-Orchester, Berlin, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca Eclipse / CD - released 27/Jan/1995 ] Recorded: June 1983 (No. 3); September 1984 (No. 4) |
REINHOLD GLIERE
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Glière Conducts Glière: Ballet Suites Nos. 1 & 2 All-Union radio Orchestra, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Reinhold Gliere [ Consonance / CD - released 22/Feb/1995 ] Recorded in 1947 |
PUCCINI / CILEA / VERDI / DONIZETTI / FRANCK / SCHUBERT / TRADITIONAL
Viaggio Italiano Andrea Bocelli (tenor) / Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra [ Philips / CD - released 8/Nov/1998 ] Viaggio Italiano sees Bocelli perform a concert of famous opera arias and traditional songs. It's an imaginary journey through the melodrama of the Italian opera |