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ARRIGO BOITO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Boito: Mefistofele (Complete opera recorded in 1995) Samuel Ramey, Vincenzo La Scola, Michele Crider / Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Alla Scala, Milano, Riccardo Muti [ RCA Victor Red Seal / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/1996 ] "Ramey was already a splendid Mefistofele...but here he is even more in command of the role, and has the advantage of Muti's masterly conducting. Crider is an affecting Margherita and La Scola a mellifluous Faust." Peformance & Sound: 5 (out of 5) |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (tenor), Gerhard Siegel, Iain Paterson, Martin Winkler, Hallé, Sir Mark Elder [ Hallé / 4 CD - released 7/Jun/2019 ] "The outstanding performances here come from the Hallé and their music director. With quality playing from all departments, Wagner's complex orchestral timbres are carefully presented." BBC Music |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (Siegfried), Michael Volle (Der Wanderer), Peter Hoare (Mime), Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle [ BR Klassik / 3 CD - released 6/Oct/2023 ] Following the 2015 release of Das Rheingold and of Die Walküre in 2019, BR-KLASSIK is now releasing Siegfried as part of the enthusiastically received Ring cycle under Sir Simon Rattle. |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies Simona Šaturová, Mihoko Fujimura, Christian Elsner & Christian Gerhaher / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Herbert Blomstedt [ Accentus / 5 CD Box Set - released 3/Jul/2017 ] "Blomstedt's Beethoven seems 'right': tempi are never too fast or too slow, but never staid, and phrasing is alive with rhythmic energy and cumulative momentum. His Leipzig players give their all- the strings in particular have a glorious burnished... |
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BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / GRIEG / MOZART / SCHUMANN / LISZT / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Icon: Solomon - The Master Pianist Solomon (piano) with various orchestras & conductors [ EMI Icon / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2008 ] "Noble, characterful and poetic musicianship..a strong, solid conspectus of Solomon's art. Strong on Beethoven of course, with a representative concerto arsenal; good representative Mozart; a serious-minded collection in fact, befitting Solo's... |
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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) |
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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. |
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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,... |
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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 |
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JOSEPH HAYDN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Haydn: The Complete Mass Edition Susan Gritton, Pamela Helen Stephen, Janice Watson, Stephen Varcoe, Mark Padmore / Collegium Musicum 90 / Richard Hickox [ Chandos / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2007 ] Richard Hickox's plaudit-winning Haydn Mass Edition is now available as a complete boxed set. A full price collection but now available at a special price. |
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ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: The Symphonies and Overtures Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard, conductor [ BIS SACD / 3 CD Box Set - released 3/Feb/2023 ] During their long collaboration (1997 - 2019) Thomas Dausgaard and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra developed a project they named 'Opening Doors', performing orchestral works from the Romantic era with the smaller-than-usual forces of a chamber... |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio) Kiri te Kanawa, Anne Gjevang, Richard Lewis / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 19/Nov/2000 ] *** (3 Stars) Penguin Stereo Guide |
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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. |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Don Giovanni (complete opera) Thomas Allen, Robert Lloyd, Sharon Sweet, Karita Mattila, Francisco Araiza / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Philips Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Jan/2008 ] "The playing of Sir Neville's Academy is exemplary, with perfect articulation in the string figures and spicy winds-and aside from a vocal moment or two, the solo singing is impressive." ClassicsToday |
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CHARLES IVES
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Ives Thomas Hampson (baritone) / San Francisco Symphony orchestra & Chorus, Michael Tilson Thomas, Richard R. Webster (organ) [ Sony Classical ./ RCA / 4 CD Box Set - released 17/May/2002 ] Rosette (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
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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 |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: 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) |
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JOACHIM RAFF
Raff: Complete Piano Works Tra Nguyen [ Grand Piano / 6 CD Box Set - released 19/Jan/2024 ] "excellent Nguyen playing with intelligence and devotion - especially the ambitious Grande Sonate." BBC Music (Vol 5) |
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BEDRICH SMETANA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Smetana: Libuse (Festive Opera In 3 Acts) Eva Urbanová, Vratislav Kriz, Ludek Vele, Helena Kaupová / Prague National Theatre Chorus & Orchestra, Oliver Dohnanyi [ Supraphon / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Oct/2009 ] "The cast is splendid, reflecting that the extraordinary musical traditions of the Czech's (Europe's most musical nation?) are alive and well. The whole performance captures the sense of occasion." MusicWeb |
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FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: Lieder On Record Victoria de los Angeles, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Kirsten Flagstad, Elisabeth Schumann, Christa Ludwig, Brigitte Fassbaender, Ian Bostridge, etc [ EMI Classics / 17 CD Box Set - released 2/Jul/2012 ] "there's an incredible sense of broadness and of historical perspective that makes this something of a museum item...There's a song here for almost any occasion, mood, scene and emotion."BBC Music |