FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Das Land des Lachelns [The Land of Smiles] Siegfried Jerusalem, Helen Donath, Martin Finke / Munchner Rundfunkorchester, Willi Boskovsky [ EMI / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Oct/1982 ] "This set comes with obvious pedigree. Siegfried Jerusalem is a first-rate, intelligent singer with an easy tenor voice that imparts to "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" a natural passion and fluency." Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Maurice Ravel: The Complete Works Sir Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, André Cluytens, Armin Jordan, Lorin Maazel, Charles Münch, etc [ Warner Classics / 21 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2020 ] An essential collection of landmark performances, this 21-CD box of Ravel's complete works brings together major interpreters of the present day and preceding generations. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: The Wind Concertos (Flute Clarinet Horn Oboe Bassoon) Charles Neidich (clarinet), Susan Palma (flute), Frank Morelli (bassoon) William Purvis (horn) / Orpheus Chamber Orchestra [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD - released 1/Jun/2002 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1761-1800) - "..a very persuasive collection, probably a 'best buy' for those wanting all the music in a digital format." Penguin Guide to Compact Discs |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 1979) Alfredo Kraus, Tatiana Troyanos, Matteo Manuguerra, Christine Barbaux, Jules Bastin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Michel Plasson [ EMI Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Jan/1997 ] "Few exponents of the title-role can match the refinement and delicacy of Alfredo Kraus's realisation - a true masterclass in operatic characterisation. Full of feeling, Tatiana Troyanos's Charlotte is never overdone." BBC Music |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms The Symphonies Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim [ Deutsche Grammophon / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2018 ] ""The blend of clarity, intimacy and power the engineers have been able to achieve here fits the lustre and glow of these Staatskapelle performances like a glove" Editor's Choice Gramophone |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Symphonies & Rosamunde Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt, Willi Boskovsky [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "The playing of the Staatskapelle Dresden is quite excellent, with fine work from the strings and commendable clarity of wind textures. This may be "big-band" Schubert, but never once did I sense a heaviness to the ensemble." (MusicWeb) |
BEDRICH SMETANA
Smetana Collection Stamitz Quartet, Joachim Trio, Roberto Plano (piano), Antonin Kubalek (piano) Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Theodore Kuchar [ Brilliant Classics / 8 CD - released 1/May/2023 ] Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer born in Bohemia and later became a national symbol of Czech culture. Smetana's musical style was influenced by Czech folk music, classical traditions and romanticism. He is best known for his cycle of six... |
MOZART / LISZT / CHOPIN / BRITTEN / MacDOWELL / QUILTER / GODOWSKY / etc
Stephen Hough: The Erato Years 1987-1998 Stephen Hough (piano) [ Erato / 9 CD Box Set - released 19/Nov/2021 ] Some of Stephen Hough's most exquisite recordings come from his collaborations with EMI and Virgin Classics during this early period. |
BACH FAMILY / WASSENAER / COUPERIN / VIVALDI / etc
Karl Munchinger - The Baroque Legacy Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Members of L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Karl Munchinger, with Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] A newly remastered treasury of Baroque ensemble music from Gabrieli to Haydn, including several recordings receiving their first international CD release. The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra was founded by Karl Münchinger in 1946, and it was only... |
VERDI / ROSSINI / MOZART / GOUNOD / STRAUSS / DONIZETTI / etc
Sumi Jo: The Erato Recitals Sumi Jo (soprano) / Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, Garzenich-Orchester Kalner Philharmoniker, English Chamber Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 16/Feb/2018 ] International Korean superstar Korean soprano Sumi Jo made 10 recital albums for Erato and Warner Classics. They include some of her most captivating performances from Mozart to Johann Strauss, from Bach to Rossini, from Scarlatti to Verdi, Baroque,... |
ERICH KORNGOLD
Korngold: Die Tote Stadt (complete opera) Katarina Dalayman, Lars-Erik Jonsson, Hilde Leidland / Royal Swedish Opera Chorus and Orchestra [ Naxos / 2 CD Box Set - released 26/Jul/1999 ] "This set from Naxos really does him [Korngold] proud....The result is addictive music, certainly when performed with this degree of loving care. Leif Segerstam has the measure of this idiom." Classic CD |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Hector Berlioz - The Complete Works Véronique Gens, Renaud Capuçon, Jose van Dam, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, René Schirrer, Jessye Norman, John Aler, Laurent Naouri, Nicolas Rivenq, etc [ Erato / Warner / Philips / 27 CD Box Set - released 6/Feb/2018 ] This, the first-ever complete Berlioz edition, comprises carefully selected recordings and even includes works completely new to the catalogue. |
FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Complete Piano Sonatas & Sonatinas Susan Kagan and Vassily Primakov (pianos) [ Naxos / 6 CD Box Set - released 28/Oct/2022 ] "Well recorded with an excellent booklet by the pianist." Gramophone 'Ries could not have asked for a better pianist and proponent than he has found in Susan Kagan' (Fanfare) |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia (complete opera with libretto) Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Giacomo Aragall, Ingvar Wixell / National Philharmonic, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set ] "Sutherland is in her element here - and what a wonderful score it is too...Horne has the odd moment of unsteadiness in the early parts of the opera, but she is impressive in the brilliant Brindisi of the last Act" Penguin Guide |
ARTHUR HONEGGER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Honegger: Symphonies / Le Roi David / Pacific 231 / etc (with Frank Martin - In terra pax) Suzanne Danco, Marie-Lise de Montmollin, Pauline Martin / L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2013 ] "This double CD set is almost worth its cost for the performance of Pacific 231 - one of the most vividly descriptive tone-poems of the twentieth century...Ansermet's is perhaps the finest ever committed to disc: it has a powerful, cumulative effect... |
PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY / MINKUS / MOZART
Ballets: Romeo & Juliet / The Sleeping Beauty / Don Quixote / Le Corsaire / The Lovers' Garden (Blu-ray) Teatro Alla Scala Ballet, with Natalia Osipova, Leonid Sarafanov, Nicoletta Manni, Roberto Bolle, Misty Copeland, etc [ C Major Blu-ray / 5 Blu-ray Box Set - released 12/Nov/2021 ] Five outstanding ballets from the legendary Teatro Alla Scala. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI / W. A. MOZART
Operas - Aida / I Due Foscari / Die Zauberflote / Le Nozze di Figaro / Die Entfuhrung] (complete operas recorded 2015 - 2019) Teatro alla Scala / Anita Rachvelishvili, George Gagnidze, Placido Domingo, Anna Pirozzi, Martin Summer, Yasmin Ozkan, Carlos Alvarez, Diana Damaru [ C Major DVD / 8 Blu-ray Box Set - released 20/Aug/2021 ] FIVE OUTSTANDING OPERAS FROM THE LEGENDARY TEATRO ALLA SCALA: ON BLU-RAY |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Thais (Complete Opera with libretto) Thomas Hampson, Renee Fleming, Giuseppe Sabbatini / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Yves Abel [ Decca Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Nov/2000 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST - Opera |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vaughan Williams: Concertos & String Music Howard Shelley (piano) David Theodore (oboe) Kenneth Sillito (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos / 2 CD Box Set ] The perfect introduction to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Tokyo String Quartet plays Beethoven [9 CD set] Tokyo String Quartet [ Sony Classical Masters / 9 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "I doubt whether quartet playing comes much better than in this Tokyo set of the Op. 18. Quite frankly I don't think that you can go far wrong with this set: the playing is unfailingly alive, sensitive and poised." (Gramophone) |