CARLO GESUALDO
Sacre Cantiones liber secundus Vocal Consort Berlin, James Wood [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 10/Feb/2013 ] As we commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of Gesualdo in 2013, one of his last works still remains to be rediscovered: the second book of Sacrae Cantiones, motets for six and seven voices, of which the bassus and sextus parts have, alas,... |
CARL MARIA von WEBER
Clarinet Concertos Walter Boeykens, Paul Meyer, François-René Duchable / Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, James Conlon [ Warner Classics Erato Apex / CD - released 20/Dec/2014 ] Apex - the budget label from Warners |
WAGNER
Parsifal (the complete opera) Waltraud Meier / Siegfried Jerusalem / Metropolitan Opera / James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 16/Aug/2004 ] G :- "Meier's Kundry is electrifying ... she simply is Kundry, having thought herself voice, body and soul into the part, a wholly remarkable achievement which is the stuff of legends" (Gramophone) |
JAMES MacMILLAN
A Scotch Bestiary / Piano Concerto No. 2 Wayne Marshall (Organ & Piano) / BBC Philharmonic / James MacMillan (cond) [ Chandos / CD - released 29/Jun/2006 ] 'Review of A Scotch Bestiary: The piece was certainly fun: riotous, at times cacophonous, wittily orchestrated and cleverly structured. It also brilliantly integrated the organ into the orchestra proper. All these things and more merged in the work's... |
JOHN TAVERNER
Taverner: Missa Mater Christi sanctissima / Western Wynde Mass Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 5/Jul/2016 ] "Performances that are beautifully judged in both their balance and shaping." MusicWeb |
ELGAR
Great is the Lord Westminster Abbey Choir / James O'Donnell (cond) [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Feb/2007 ] From the regal opulence of Great is the Lord to the quiet devotion of Ave verum and Ave Maria, this varied programme is the perfect guide through Elgar's rich choral output. James O'Donnell transports the men and boys of Westminster Abbey through the... |
GERALD FINZI / ARNOLD BAX / JOHN IRELAND
Finzi / Bax / Ireland: Choral Music Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell, Daniel Cook (organ) [ Hyperion / CD - released 27/Jan/2017 ] "The choir's diffuse tone - breathier in the upper voices than rivals at New College or even King's Cambridge - is very effective" Gramophone |
HUBERT PARRY
I was glad & other choral works Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell, Daniel Cook (organ) [ Hyperion / CD - released 25/Jul/2015 ] The pageantry of a nation is encapsulated in the music of Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Baronet, Knight and fervent supporter of the suffragette movement. This new programme from Westminster Abbey contains some lesser-known early works... |
LASSUS
Missa Bell' Amfitrit' altera Westminster Cathedral Choir / His Majesty's Sagbutts & Cornetts / James O'Donnell, conductor [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 4/Oct/2005 ] 'Elegant and imaginative... the wind-band pieces are especially gorgeous. [The Mass] receives an opulent interpretation that stands out in a rather crowded field of challengers. Highly recommended' - Gramophone |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Panis angelicus - Sacred Music from Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral Choir, Iain Simcock (organ) James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] 'A beautiful disc of sacred motets from one of this country's finest choirs' (Classic FM Magazine) |
CARDOSO / DE CRISTO / REBELO
Masterpieces of Portuguese Polyphony Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] 'Although this music is likely to be unknown to most collectors it will prove, as it has to me, a welcome and important discovery' (The Tablet) |
PALESTRINA
Missa Aeterna christi Munera Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Mar/2011 ] "A perfect introduction to the breadth of Palestrina's genius, inspiringly sung" Organists Review |
FRANCISCO de PENALOSA
Masses Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell (conductor) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] "The exquisite performances under O'Donnell present the music to best advantage, given the masterly accomplishments of this choir" (Fanfare) |
SMETANA
Ma Vlast (Incls 'The Moldau') / Overture and Dances from 'Bartered Bride') Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon Entree / CD - released 6/Oct/2003 ] "The three Ma Vlast excerpts, taken from Levine's complete set, are quite splendid, full of momentum and trust. aptly paced, with much imaginative detail...the sound is full-blooded and vivid." (*** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide) |
CHARLES IVES
DVOŘÁK'S PROPHECY - Film 2: Charles Ives' America William Sharp, Steven Mayer, Paul Sanchez, James Sinclair Kenneth Schermerhorn, J. Peter Burkholder, Joseph Horowitz, Judith Tick [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 12/Nov/2021 ] DVOŘÁK'S PROPHECY A New Narrative for American Classical Music A PostClassical Ensemble 'More than Music' film series. Written and produced by Joseph Horowitz Visual presentation by Peter Bogdanoff |
Kenneth Williams / Leonard Rossitter / Sid James / Ronnie Barker
Britain's Greatest Comedy Heroes [ ViaVision Entertainment DVD / 4 DVD Box Set - released 11/Nov/2010 ] Featuring: Ronnie Barker, Sid James, Leonard Rossitter, Kenneth Williams. Enjoy some of the best moments ever written for TV and film as performed by four of Britain's best loved comedy performers. Relive some of their funniest moments throughout... |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Songfest (with works by Gershwin & Copland) Wolf Trap Opera, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, James Judd [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 1/May/2020 ] An American in Paris is one of Gershwin's most vivacious works, an orchestral ballet saturated in homesickness and the blues. This recording, however, uses the new 2019 critical edition and offers Gershwin's original orchestration. |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Quartets Nos. 1-3 / Souvenir de Florence Ying Quartet [with James Dunham (viola) Paul Katz (cello)] [ Telarc Classics / 2 CD - released 20/May/2007 ] 2008 Grammy Award nomination - Best Chamber Music Performance |
James Yorkston
I Was a Cat From a Book [ CD - released 24/Aug/2012 ] |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas (Vol 36) Nos 6, 42, 103 and 108 Yukari Nonoshita (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) James Gilchrist (tenor) Dominik Werner (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jul/2007 ] "This is another splendid achievement by Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan." (MusicWeb December 2007) |