THOMAS ADES
Adès Conducts Adès Mark Stone (baritone), Kirill Gerstein (piano), Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano), Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Adès [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "...for proof that Adès does what he does with mind-boggling brilliance, look no further." Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Contemporary |
CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN
Alkan: Concerto and Symphony for Solo Piano Paul Wee (piano) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "What is almost incredible is that the soloist Paul Wee is not a professional pianist but a highly successful international commercial London lawyer." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Instrumental |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49 (complete oratorio) Rebecca Evans, Paul Groves, Alice Coote / Halle Choir & Orchestra, Mark Elder [ Halle / 2 CD - released 10/Dec/2012 ] "It has all the tension and excitement of live performance, rising to incandescence in the closing pages, and Mark Elder has perfect control of the large forces and dramatic pacing." BBC Music Magazine Awards 2013 RECORDING OF THE YEAR |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Goldberg Variations Beatrice Rana (piano) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "Her detailing is one of the aspects that makes this performance so compelling, be it the bringing out of a new line in the repeat, subtle changes in phrasing, a touch of pedal - examples are to be found in every single variation." Gramophone |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier - Book II [excerpts] Piotr Anderszewski (piano) [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 29/Jan/2021 ] GRAMOPHONE Award WINNER 2021 - Piano |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 MusicAeterna, Teodor Currentzis [ Sony Classical / CD - released 12/Jun/2020 ] "In this most celebrated of symphonies the players sound at times as though they might explode with excitement." BBC Music Orchestral recording of the Month July 2020 |
GEORGE BENJAMIN
Written On Skin / Duet for piano and orchestra Christopher Purves, Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) / Mahler Chamber Orchestra, George Benjamin [ Nimbus / 2 CD - released 11/Feb/2013 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Contemporary / BBC MUSIC AWARD WINNER 2014: Premiere Award |
HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ BIBER
Biber: The Rosary Sonatas Rachel Podger (baroque violin) Marcin Świątkiewicz (harpsichord/organ), Jonathan Manson (cello/viola da gamba), David Miller (theorbo/archlute) [ Channel Classics SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Sep/2016 ] Gramophone Magazine award WINNER 2016 - Baroque Instrumental |
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE
Buxtehude: Abendmusiken Vox Luminis & Ensemble Masques, Lionel Meunier [ Alpha / CD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 2019 - Choral |
JOHN CAGE
Cage: Choral Works Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava (conductor) [ Ondine / CD - released 19/Aug/2022 ] "one is unsurprised by the unconventionality but taken aback by the richness and variety of the final musical result. It must be said as well that the singers sound as though they are enjoying themselves enormously." Gramophone Award WINNER 2023 |
ANONYMOUS
The Call of the Phoenix: rare 15th Century Church music (music of Dunstaple; Frye; Plummer; Anonymous) Orlando Consort [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 12/Dec/2002 ] "This forthright style of the Orlando Consort is accompanied by immaculate tuning, rhythmic concision and clear articulation of the text." BBC Music Magazine ( Dec 2002) Performance FIVE STARS - GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 2003 - Early Music |
J. S. BACH
Bach: The Cello Suites Steven Isserlis (cello) [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 26/May/2007 ] 'Isserlis asserts the music's dance roots, whether through his thrusting accents or by sweeping through with a winning lilt … Just listen to Isserlis, Bach and your heart, and the music that never dies' (The Times) |
MOZART / MEHUL / OFFENBACH / LEONCAVALLO / LEHAR / WAGNER / RAVEL / etc
Michael Spyres - BariTenor Michael Spyres (baritone/tenor) / Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, Marko Letonja, Choeur d'hommes de l'Opéra national du Rhine [ Erato Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/2021 ] "The range of roles is astonishing, but then so are these performances...Spyres really is a tenor - and a baritone, it seems - who has the operatic world at his feet." Gramophone Award WINNER 2022 - Vocal & Ensemble |
MAGNUS LINDBERG
Lindberg: Clarinet Concerto / Gran Duo / Chorale Kari Kriikku (clarinet) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo (conductor) [ Ondine / CD - released 26/Jan/2006 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER 2006: Contemporary - "A marvellous vehicle for the amazing virtuosity of clarinettist Kari Kriikku, this is a shiny, sophisticated, nostalgic cultural artefact... a stunning disc." BBC Music Magazine |
LEOPOLD GODOWSKY
Godowsky: The Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes Marc-Andre Hamelin (piano) [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 12/Jun/2000 ] "It is quite stunning, an extraordinary schievement even by Hamelin's own standards. No one with an interest in the piano should pass this by." Rosette (Highest Rating) - Penguin Stereo Guide |
BRETT DEAN
Dean: Hamlet (Complete opera recorded in 2018) Glyndebourne Opera / Allan Clayton, Sarah Connolly, Barbara Hannigan, Rod Gilfry / Vladimir Jurowski (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 WINNER - Contemporary |
GIACHES DE WERT
Giaches de Wert: Divine Theatre - Sacred Motets Stile Antico [ Harmonia Mundi SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "It is a testament to Werts's emotional immediacy that this album is one of their (Stile Antico's) most engaging recording; polyphony to grab one's attention rather than to carpet a devotional daydream" Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Early Music |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Stabat Mater Ilse Eerens, Michaela Selinger, Maximilian Schmitt & Florian Boesch / Collegium Vocale Gent - Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Philippe Herreweghe [ PHI / CD - released 22/Apr/2013 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD NOMINATION 2014 |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Four Last Songs and other Lieder Soile Isokoski (soprano) / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Marek Janowski, conductor [ Ondine 20th Anniversary / CD - released 10/Jun/2004 ] "Strauss singing doesn't come much better than this. I suspect that the composer him∆self‚ with his love of the soprano voice‚ would have been enthralled by Isokoski's glorious singing." (Gramophone Editor's Choice April 2002) |
THOMAS TALLIS
Tallis: Gaude gloriosa The Cardinall's Musick / Andrew Carwood (director) [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Aug/2005 ] Gramophone Magazine Award Finalist 2006 - "The Cardinall's Musick - a group specialising in music of the English Renaissance - excel themselves here. The singing is radiant, warm and luminous with the individual winding strands of voices clear and... |