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ROBERT FRANZ
Franz: Songs Robin Tritschler, (tenor), Graham Johnson, (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 14/Jul/2017 ] " This concise music perhaps lacks the contained intensity of his two compatriots, but it's still hugely appealing. Tritschler and Johnson's performances capture precisely the mood and scent of each song." Sunday Times |
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BEDRICH SMETANA
Smetana: Ma vlast (Includes Vltava) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Classics For Pleasure / CD - released 7/Sep/2009 ] Recorded at Abbey Rd Studio, London, 1964 |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
New England Choirworks Yale Schola Cantorum / David Hill [ Hyperion / CD - released 29/Nov/2019 ] "The four unaccompanied movements [of the Williams] captivate from the moment the exhorting opening note merges to the Symphony's radiant conclusion." BBC Music |
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GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Telemann: Fantasias For Solo Violin Alina Ibragimova (violin) [ Hyperion / CD - released 7/Oct/2022 ] Telemann may have written his twelve fantasias for the amateur market, but he would surely have rejoiced to hear such superlative performances as these. Alina Ibragimova again demonstrates just what can be accomplished on the four strings of a solo... |
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FRANCOIS COUPERIN
Couperin: L'Apothéose de Lully & Leçons de ténèbres Arcangelo / Jonathan Cohen, with Katherine Watson (soprano), Anna Dennis (soprano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 28/Apr/2017 ] 'Excellently recorded, these performances of the Leçons approach perfection' (BBC Music Magazine) PERFORMANCE **** RECORDING **** |
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5 / Scenes adapted from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress Emily Portman (folk voice), Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano), Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), etc / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins [ Hyperion / CD - released 30/Oct/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Orchestral |
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CHRISTOPHER TYE
Tye: Missa Euge bone / Peccavimus / Western Wynde Mass Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] 'For a true celebration of the English high-treble phenomenon one need look no further than this. The amplitude of the basses makes a most wonderful balancing effect with the brightness of the boys." (Choir & Organ Magazine) |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies 1 & 3 Concertgebouworkest, Willem Mengelberg [ Audiophile Classics / CD - released 1/Jan/2015 ] Classic historical recording from October 1940, and, March 1942 |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas ['Moonlight', 'Pathetique', 'Appassionata'] Daniel Chorzempa (piano) [ EMI National Gallery Collection / CD - released 5/Feb/2012 ] This collection features a selection of classical masterworks in celebrated recordings from the EMI Classics catalogue, brought together with great artworks from The National Gallery's permanent collection. |
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FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Die lustige Witwe [Merry Widow] / Das Land des Lachelns [Land of Smiles] (operettas) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Erich Kunz, Nicolai Gedda / Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra / Otto Ackermann [ Warner Classics The Opera Series / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2010 ] The Record Guide described Schwarzkopf in Die lustige Witwe as 'enchanting from end to end' and said that in Das Land des Lächelns it is her 'radiant loveliness of tone that enchants us first, but also the consummate, irresistible artistry' |
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JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies Nos 102 & 104 "London" English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate [ EMI / CD - released 11/Jun/1986 ] "Tate here shows ... how winning a relaxed approach to these masterpieces can be. It keeps making you think what a delightful old man Haydn must have been." (Gramophone) |
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BELLINI / BIZET / DONIZETTI / PUCCINI / VERDI
Pearlfishers' Duet: World-Famous Operatic Duets Ettore Bastianini / Carlo Bergonzi / Mario del Monaco / Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Jose Carreras [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] There is always a special pleasure in the blending of two fine voices, and composers have usually been happy to provide it during the course of their operas. Characters may join their voices in a unity of feeling, or in extreme disagreement, or in... |
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GABRIELI & GIOVANNI GABRIELI
Gabrieli: A New Venetian Coronation, 1595 Gabrieli Consort and Players, Paul McCreesh [ Virgin Records / CD - released 20/Aug/2003 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 1990 |
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CRESSONNOIS / DELIBES / LECOCQ / PESSARD / GODARD / ILLEMACHER / DUPARC / etc
L'invitation au voyage John Mark Ainsley (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 14/Jul/2006 ] 'Graham Johnson is quite literally changing the way we hear French mélodie. What a voyage to be invited to join!' (International Record Review) |
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CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 1 - 4 / Bohemian-Danish Folk Tune, Andante Iamentoso Kirsten Schulz (sop) Peter Rasmussen (ten) Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle [ EMI 20th Century Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] "Splendid readings and Blomstedt's lively imagination and attention to mood and instrumental detail make these recordings endlessly rewarding. They sound better than ever" (MusicWeb Sept 2004) |
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TERRY RILEY
Riley: Sun Rings Kronos Quartet [ Nonesuch / Warner / CD - released 30/Aug/2019 ] Kronos Quartet's groundbreaking 2002 collaboration with composer Terry Riley, Sun Rings, is available in full for the first time. Riley incorporates into his composition "space sounds" (plasma waves) that NASA had collected from the Voyager probes,... |
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FRANZ LISZT
Liszt: Complete Piano Music: The Late Pieces Leslie Howard (piano) [ Hyperion Complete Liszt Edition Vol 11 / CD - released 1/Feb/2011 ] 'Howard's performances are quite marvellous: scrupulously prepared and enlightened by this performer's high degree of spontaneity. Hyperion's recording captures every nuance' - CDReview |
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BELA BARTOK / BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten and Bartók Ballets: The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19, Sz. 73 (suite) / The Prince of the Pagodas, Op. 57 - Suite London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen [ EMI Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] The Prince of the Pagodas and The Miraculous Mandarin: both titles suggest Oriental fairy tales, but while Britten set a fantastic scenario for choreographer John Cranko, Bartók controversially evoked and expressionist urban nightmare. |
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ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Apr/2014 ] "this performance from last year with the London Symphony Orchestra on stupendous form seems to mark a pitch of understanding and communication which it wouldn't be possible to surpass. There are several performances of this work that I take as doi |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 London Symphony Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 5/Oct/2018 ] "Noseda's broad, intense unfolding of the opening adagio builds up to a shattering climax, while the lighter succeeding moments drip with the composer's anti-militaristic parody and bitter sarcasm.." Sunday Times |