W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Serenades & Divertimenti Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner [ Philips Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Aug/2011 ] "This reissue … tends to sweep the board. The playing is marvellous, and Marriner's choice of tempi is equally apt. The Argo recording, rich in texture and detail, sounds admirably fresh here. […] The sparkle of this music-making is irresistible."... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5 Emperor / Concerto in D major for Piano & Orchestra (Arranged by the composer from the Violin Concerto) Alicia de Larrocha, Olli Mustonen (pianos) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 27/Jan/2006 ] Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha's first recording of Beethoven's Emperor is a grand and thrilling affair and this recording here receives its first release on CD. |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Piano Trios Vol 1 Andras Schiff (piano) Yuuko Shiokawa (violin) Boris Pergamenschikow (cello) [ ABC Decca Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] 'Schiff and his colleagues relish the wit, brilliance and sheer speed of Haydn's thoughts in the outer movements, with their comic off-beat accents, sudden changes of register and breathtaking harmonic scope., (Gramophone) |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Piano Trios Vol 2 Andras Schiff (piano) Yuuko Shiokawa (violin) Boris Pergamenschikow (cello) [ ABC Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] 'Schiff and his colleagues relish the wit, brilliance and sheer speed of Haydn's thoughts in the outer movements, with their comic off-beat accents, sudden changes of register and breathtaking harmonic scope., (Gramophone) |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Violin Concerto / Alto Rhapsody / Overtures Arthur Grumiaux (violin) Aafje Heynis (contralto) / Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam / Eduard van Beinum [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Jul/2010 ] "(Aafje Heynis') This is lovely, spontaneous singing. When the chorus enter the radiant solo line is further enhanced, integrated yet free. A truly moving performance unerringly paced." Gramophone Magazine |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / GIOVANNI BATTISTA VIOTTI
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D / Viotti: Violin Concerto No. 22 Arthur Grumiaux (violin) / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [ ABC Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] "Among the finest ever committed to disc...imbued with a spirit of classical serenity." - Penguin Guide to Compact Discs |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss (R.): Orchestral Songs / Tod und Verklärung Siegfried Jerusalem (tenor), Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Kurt Masur / Royal Concergebouw Orchestra Bernard Haitink [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] Lovers of Richard Strauss' music have long considered the Jerusalem disc of orchestral songs a 'must-have' in their collection. They are sheerly glorious - as is the 'heldentenor' of Siegfried Jerusalem. They are now reissued with Haitink's searing... |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: String Quartet / Piano Trio / Introduction et Allegro Beaux Arts Trio / Carmirelli Quartet / Chamber Music Society of Amsterdam / Eduard van Beinum [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Mar/2006 ] 'this new Beaux Arts performance, even more than their previous one, is most sensitive to the music's ebb and flow, acutely aware of its inventive new combinations of sounds ... the new Beaux Arts recording now becomes the prime recommendation'... |
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY / DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Tchaikovsky / Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Boris Belkin (violin) /New Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Vladimir Ashkenazy [ ABC Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Sep/2018 ] Now, Eloquence release, for the first time, Belkin's sizzling accounts of the Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich Violin Concertos.. |
JOHANN STRAUSS 11
Strauss Waltz Gala The Waltz Collection (Incls The Blue Danube & Roses from the South) Boston Pops Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Dorati, Arthur Fiedler [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] From 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube' to 'Roses from the South'. The ideal romantic evening escape with the Austrian waltz master. |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies No. 94 'Surprise', 96 'Miracle' & 97 Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 8/May/2006 ] One of the world's most benevolent conductors who cajoled out of his orchestras some of the most luminous sounds ever to be heard in concert and on record. He recorded extensively with the Concertgebouw for Philips and earlier, for Decca. Three Haydn... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano), James King (tenor) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink [ Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 16/Apr/2002 ] "This is the only Das Lied you'll ever need, and the recorded sound is of demonstration quality" - 10/10 ClassicsToday.com |
FREDE GROFE
Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite / Mississippi Suite (with Gershwin-Porgy and Bess Symphonic Picture) Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati / Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2007 ] "never more beautifully recorded … the performance is totally memorable and the sound quite superb" [Porgy and Bess] Penguin Guide to CDs |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
Gilbert & Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore (Complete Opera recorded in 1971) D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with John Reed, Pauline Wales, Thomas Lawlor, Christine Palmer, Ralph Mason / James Walker (cond) [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Jun/2018 ] "There is a real sense of staging and movement which is all to the good. The dialogue is well handled and is very much a plus factor.' Fanfare, November/December 1983 |
CAMPION / DOWLAND / MORLEY / BARTLETT / etc
An Elizabethan Songbook Emma Kirkby (soprano) Anthony Rooley (lute) [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 27/Jul/2005 ] "This a wonderful disc. Delightful songs. Kirkby's clear, pure voice complemented by Rooley's sympathetic lute accompaniment" (MusicWeb Dec 2005) |
HAYDN / MOZART / HUMMEL
Haydn, Mozart, Hummel: Oboe Concertos Ernest Rombout (oboe) / Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Jul/2005 ] These peerless recordings of Oboe Concertos are despatched with beautiful clarity by Ernest Rombout both playing the oboe and directing the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Magnificat / Cantata BWV 31 / Easter Oratorio Fritz Wunderlich (tenor) Friederike Sailer (soprano) Margarete Bence (alto) August Messthaler (bass) / Stuttgarter Bach-Orchester, Marcel Couraud [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2019 ] In 1957, Fritz Wunderlich together with colleagues Friederike Sailer, Margarete Bence and August Messthaler, set down complete versions of three Bach choral works - the Magnificat, the Cantata BWV 31 and the Easter Oratorio. |
MODEST MUSSORGSKY / PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Galina Vishnevskaya sings Russian Songs Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano) & Mstislav Rostropovich (piano) [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "Intensity is the keynote of these performances. Mme. Vishnevskaya has a rich dramatic voice of characteristically Slavonic timbre, highly charged emotionally..she is invaluably aided by accompaniments of infinite sensibility by her husband" Gramopho |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: 24 Préludes Hans Henkemans (piano) [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Jul/2019 ] Debussy's 'Preludes' represent one of the great cultural 'events' of the 20th century, exploring both the vivid and near-invisible colours of the piano...all 24 'Preludes' on a single disc. |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor / En Saga / Tapiola / Finlandia / Four Legends / etc (rec 1953 & 1958) Jan Damen (violin) / Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Eduard van Beinum [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2008 ] Eduard van Beinum was quite a Sibelius pioneer and collected here are his complete Sibelius recordings for Decca and Philips. The set also marks the first appearance on CD of his Violin Concerto in a 1952 performance by Jan Damen. |