HANDEL
Messiah (highlights recorded in 1967) Judith Raskin, Florence Kopleff, Richard Lewis, Thomas Paul / Robert Shaw Chorale & Orchestra, Robert Shaw [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 10/Dec/2011 ] Robert Shaw Chorale, Robert Shaw |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets (the 1982 Live recordings) Juilliard String Quartet [ Sony Classical Masters / 9 CD Box Set - released 13/Nov/2020 ] The Juilliard String Quartet, which was founded in 1946 is one of the world's most prestigious string quartets in the world. In February 2011, the quartet received the NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award for its outstanding contributions to music. |
MENDELSSOHN / MOZART / BRAHMS / BEETHOVEN / SCHUBERT / HAYDN
Juilliard String Quartet - The Complete EPIC Recordings Juilliard String Quartet [ Sony Classical Masters / 11 CD Box Set - released 16/Feb/2018 ] The first ever release of the Juilliard String Quartet's complete Epic recordings from 1956 to 1966 in a single 11-CD edition. |
W. A. MOZART
The Six Quartets dedicated to Haydn & Six String Quintets [6 CD set] Juilliard String Quartet, with Harold Wright (clarinet) [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2011 ] Founded in 1946, this amazing group's current lineup has had only fifteen different members. The founding members were together until 1955 and the group only had two changes in the first twenty years. |
FRANZ SCHUBERT / JOHANNES BRAHMS
Juilliard String Quartet plays Schubert & Brahms [5 CD set] Juilliard String Quartet, with Walter Trampler, viola II [ Sony Classical Masters / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2012 ] The great Juilliard Quartet present a boxed set with late Schubert quartets and the Brahms quintets |
JOAQUIN RODRIGO
Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuez / Fantasia para un Gentilhombre / etc Julian Bream (guitar) / Chamber Orchestra of Europe, RCA Victor Chamber Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner, Leo Brouwer [ Sony RCA Classical Masters / CD - released 10/Dec/2017 ] "There is Bream's marvellous performance of the solo part, excellent orchestral playing and excellent recording." (Gramophone) |
BERNSTEIN / BRAHMS / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / SHOSTAKOVICH / MAHLER / etc
Leonard Bernstein: The pianist - concertos, solo works & songs [10 CD set] Leonard Bernstein (piano) with Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Jennie Tourel (mezzo-soprano) & others [ Sony Classical Masters / 11 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2018 ] Sony Classical celebrates the 2018 centenary of Leonard Bernstein - one of the 20th century's most celebrated, multi-faceted and influential musicians - with a box set devoted to his complete RCA Victor and Columbia Masterworks recordings as pianist. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Requiem Leontyne Price, Dame Janet Baker, Veriano Luchetti, Jose van Dam / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 1/May/2011 ] "Solti's 1977 Chicago version, with an unusually sensitive and pure-toned quartet of soloists, and with superb choral singing and orchestral playing, has all the ingredients for success." (Penguin Guide) |
BEETHOVEN / BACH / BRAHMS / MAHLER / etc
Leopold Stokowski: The Stereo Collection 1954-1975 [14 CD set] Leopold Stokowski conducting various orchestras [ Sony Classical Masters / 14 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2012 ] "It is a vital, electrifying and colourful reading, sensuously beautiful as one would expect of Stokowski, helped by (a) refined recording." (Gramophone on Scheherazade) |
W. A. MOZART
Lili Kraus plays Mozart Piano Concertos Lili Kraus (piano) / Vienna Festival Orchestra, Stephen Simon [ Sony Classical Masters / 12 CD Box Set - released 26/May/2017 ] The first ever release of Lili Kraus's complete Mozart piano concerto recordings for piano solo on EPIC/Columbia in a single 12 CD edition. All recordings restored from the original analog master tapes using 24 bit / 192 kHz technology. |
RAVEL
Bolero / Rapsodie Espagnole / la Valse / etc (rec 1984) L'Orchestre National de France, Lorin Maazel [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 20/May/2011 ] "La valse is high powered with a mannered ending, but I enjoyed the rather sultry performance of the Rapsodie espagnole, while the Alborada is certainly brilliant." (Gramophone) |
W. A. MOZART
Requiem in D minor, K626 / Exsultate, jubilate, K165 - Alleluia / etc Lynne Dawson, Jard van Nes, Keith Lewis, Simon Estes / Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini / with Kathleeen Battle [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 20/May/2011 ] "It is a marvellously polished and accomplished performance. The Philharmonia Chorus are in sterling voice; the string playing is immaculate." (Gramophone) |
HANDEL / ALBINONI / VIVALDI / BACH / TELEMANN
Michala Petri plays Concertos & Sonatas Michala Petri (recorder) Keith Jarrett (harpsichord) / I Solisti Veneti, Moscow Virtuosi, Claudio Scimone, Vladimir Spivakov [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2011 ] "What do you get when two 'big' names join forces to record 'little' music such as these sonatas? This disc gives you your answer: it's a rare treat" (MusicWeb June 2005 on the Handel) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Piano Concertos (Complete) / Rondos K382 & K 386 [12 CD set] Murray Perahia (piano & conductor) / English Chamber Orchestra [ Sony Classical Masters / 12 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2012 ] "An indispensible set in every respect." Penguin Guide Rosette Recording / GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE 100 GREATEST RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 / Missa Solemnis NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini, with Jerome Hines (bass), Robert Shaw Chorale [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] Between 1949 and 1952, in his mid-80s, Arturo Toscanini conducted his hand-picked NBC Symphony Orchestra in the 9 Symphonies, with RCA Victors microphones (mostly in Carnegie Hall) capturing the legendary maestros final thoughts on the great works.... |
MAHLER
Bruno Walter conducts Mahler [7 CD set] New York Philharmonic, Columbia Symphony, Bruno Walter [ Sony Classical Masters / 7 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2012 ] "This record comes to us so loaded with history and legend, and it carries its burden with such triumphant sure-footedness, that I have no hesitation in declaring it one of the greatest musical monuments of our time." (Gramophone on Symphony No 9) |
JOSEF HAYDN
Leonard Bernstein conducts Haydn (symphonies 93-104) [5 CD set] New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein [ Sony Classical Masters / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "He has the same affinity for the composer that he did for Mahler: the music's energy, humor, and sheer emotional range played to the conductor's strengths. Many of these performances never have been surpassed" (Arkivmusic.com) |
WAGNER
Orchestral Music (Incls 'Good Friday Music') New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 1/May/2011 ] "Zubin Mehta became the Philharmonic's Music Director in 1978. Mehta's 13-year tenure as the New York Philharmonic's Music Director - during which he conducted more than 1,000 concerts - was the longest in the Orchestra's history." (nyphil.org) |
TCHAIKOVSKY / KHACHATURIAN / PROKOFIEV / ADAM / STRAVINSKY / DELIBES
The Most Beautiful Ballets [incls 'Swan Lake' & 'Romeo & Juliet'] The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Mark Ermler & Barry Wordsworth [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] "..the players have responded with both refinement and red-blooded commitment not just to the conductor but to the free, warm acoustic of All Saints' Church, Tooting." (Gramophone on Swan Lake) |
W. A. MOZART
Peter Serkin plays Mozart Peter Serkin (piano) with Rudolf Serkin (piano), Richard Stoltzman (clarinet), English Chamber Orchestra [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 5/Jun/2019 ] Peter Serkin, whose recorded output is dwarfed by his fathers in sheer size but by no means in artistic distinction, is spotlighted in a new release playing Mozart: his complete RCA recordings of the composer. |