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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies Carole Farley (soprano) Alfreda Hodgson (contralto) Stuart Burrows (tenor), Norman Bailey (bass) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti [ Deusche Grammophon / 5 CD Box Set - released 7/Apr/2023 ] For Antal Doráti, one of the mid-twentieth century's most gifted conductors, Beethoven was a central repertoire choice. This symphony cycle was recorded in 1975-76 at the beginning of his tenure as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic... |
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JULIAN ANDERSON
Julian Anderson: In lieblicher Bläue / Alleluia / The Stations of the Sun Carolin Widmann (violin) / London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski [ LPO Live / CD - released 20/May/2017 ] Vladimir Jurowski ensures everything is deftly paced in all three pieces, while the LPO's joyous commitment to new music shines through" BBC Music Magazine Awards 2017 - Premiere Winner |
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KREISLER / CORIGLIANO / VIEUXTEMPS / GERSHWIN / etc
Caroline Goulding Caroline Goulding (violin) & Christopher Riley (piano) [ Telarc Classical / CD - released 5/Oct/2009 ] Although she has already performed with several leading orchestras, violinist Caroline Goulding is still only sixteen. Her debut recording, in which she is accompanied by pianist Chris O'Riley, features an intriguing selection of works with an... |
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J. S. BACH
Mass in B minor Carolyn Sampson, Rachel Nicholls (sopranos) Robin Blaze (alto) Gerd Tark (tenor) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD FINALIST 2008 - Baroque Vocal - "Among the handful of best recordings made, regardless of style." (MusicWeb Jan 2008) |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Messiah (complete with bonus CD) Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (contralto) Mark Padmore (tenor) Christopher Purves (bass) / The Sixteen / Harry Christophers [ Coro / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2008 ] "a Messiah of splendid vitality and authority, a summation of Christophers's and The Sixteen's Handelian enterprise." International Record Review |
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J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 42) BWV13, BWV16, BWV32 & BWV72 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] The present volume in the cantata cycle of the Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki consists of four works all written for performances in January 1726. Among these is the New Year's cantata Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV16 (Lord God, we praise you). |
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FRANZ SCHUBERT
Carolyn Sampson: A Soprano's Schubertiade Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano) [ BIS / CD - released 20/Apr/2018 ] "In this recital of Schubert lieder we hear Carolyn Sampson's voice radiating with a sumptuous full tone. There is such a clarity and body, emphasised on the recording with Joseph Middleton's fine accompaniment on piano." Nicholas Butler/Marbecks |
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PURCELL
Victorious Love Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Lawrence Cummings (harpsichord & spinet) Elizabeth Kenny (archlute & thearbo) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Aug/2007 ] One of the most exciting young sopranos to emerge in recent years, Carolyn Sampson was born in Bedford, studied music at the University of Birmingham and lives in London. She made her opera début with English National Opera as Amor in The Coronation... |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas (Vol 41) (Nos BWV56, 82, 84, 156) Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2008 ] Masaaki Suzuki here concentrates on the so-called solo cantatas, providing an opportunity for two of the highly acclaimed soloists of this series, Carolyn Sampson and Peter Kooij, to shine even more brightly. |
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ERIC BIDDINGTON
Chamber Music for Friends (Including the Piano Trio & Three Pieces for cello and piano) Carolyn Scholes (violin) / Mark Hobson (alto saxophone/clarinet) / Greg McMillan-Perry (oboe) / Nicola Ansley (alto saxophone) / Maurice Till (piano) [ Ode Records / CD - released 18/Jan/2006 ] Eric Biddington was born in Timaru in October 1953. He received his schooling in Timaru and Christchurch. On leaving school he started work as a labourer and combined this with study at the University of Canterbury. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Serse (complete opera recorded in 1979) Carolyn Watkinson, Barbara Hendricks, Paul Esswood / la Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, Jean-Claude Malgoire [ Sony Classical Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 28/Mar/2017 ] Jean-Claude Malgoire conducts his Parisian ensemble, La Grande Ecurie et La Chambre du Roy, in a complete 1979 recording of Handel's delightful comic opera Serse, best known for its universally familiar opening aria "Ombra mai fu". |
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The Carpenters
Christmas Collection [ A & M / 2 CD - released 27/Nov/2020 ] How about snowy days and Mondays? The soft, soothing sounds of Karen and Richard Carpenter are perfectly suited to a white Christmas with a crackling fire; here are their Christmas Portrait ('78) and An Old Fashioned Christmas ('84) LPs, together in... |
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GOLDEN AGE OF THE GRAMOPHONE
The Golden Age of the Gramophone: 42 best-loved popular classical recordings 1907-1945 Enrico Caruso, Pablo Casals, Peter Dawson, Master Ernest Lough, Paul Robeson, Manchester Children's Choir, Glasgow Orpheus Choir, etc [ Nimbus Retrospective / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2010 ] "What you're getting are two well filled discs, neatly annotated. The period covered is just shy of forty years, so we go from acoustic to electric and all in mono, and we cover singers, instrumentalists, choirs and conductors." (MusicWeb June 2010) |
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Dame Malvina Major with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Brian Law, conducto
Casta Diva: arias from the opera stage [ Kiwi-Pacific / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] 100 Years of opera heroines: a beautiful concert by our top classic diva |
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TRADITIONAL
A Feast of Christmas Carols [4 CDs] The Cathedral Choirs of Durham, Norwich, Southwark and York Minster [ Priory / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2010 ] Featuring the famous cathedral choirs of Durham, Norwich, Southwark and York Minsister. Over four hours playing time. |
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J.S. BACH
A Bach Christmas: Magnificat, BWV 243a / Cantata: Christen, atzet diesen Tag / etc Catherine Bott & Elizabeth Scholl (sopranos) Christopher Robson (countertenor) Paul Agnew & Andrew King (tenors) / New London Consort / Philip Pickett [ ABC Philips Eloquence / CD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] "Marvellous life-enhancing music ... can be enjoyed at any time of the year, not just at Christmas" (MusicWeb Feb 2006) |
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GUSTAV HOLST / RICHARD STRAUSS
Holst: The Planets / Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra (LP) CBSO Youth Chorus, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Edward Gardner [ Chandos LP / LP - released 24/Feb/2017 ] "Edward Gardner's driven, finely balanced conducting ensures this is one for collectors as well as supporters." The Guardian, 10th February 2017 **** |
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MAURICE RAVEL / MODEST MUSSORGSKY
Ravel [Includes Piano Concertos & La Valse] Cédric Tiberghien (piano), Stéphane Degout (bartone) / Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD Box Set - released 14/Jun/2024 ] Les Siècles present two of their successful series of Ravel recordings on period instruments under François-Xavier Roth, with Cédric Tiberghien at the piano and baritone Stéphane Degout. |
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DEBUSSY / MUSSORGSKY / RAVEL / CHOPIN / RACHMANINOV / FAURE / etc
Cécile Ousset - The Complete Warner Recordings Cecile Ousset (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra [ Warner Classics / 16 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2022 ] "Cecile Ousset is an arrestingly ebullient artist...who leaves her own distinctive stamp on everything she plays" Gramophone |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: L'Italiana In Algeri (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Cecilia Bartoli, Ildar Abdrazakov, Edgardo Rocha, Alessandro Corbelli, José Coca Loza / Jean-Christophe Spinosi (cond) [ C Major Blu-Ray / Blu-ray - released 9/Aug/2019 ] "The role of Isabella is sung to perfection by Cecilia Bartoli - a clever, independent woman with an adventurous streak" (New York Times). Bartoli's superb performance in Gioachino Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) at... |