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J. S. BACH
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 & 2 Edwin Fischer (piano) [ Warner Classics Masters / 3 CD Box Set - released 3/Sep/2012 ] 50 GREATEST RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME (No 44) - BBC MUSIC - "His ego-less playing bequeaths some of the most life-affirming Bach on disc." BBC Music Magazine |
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JAAKKO KUUSISTO / JOHN CORIGLIANO
The Red Violin: Concertos Elina Vahala (violin) / Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Jaakko Kuusisto [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 31/Jul/2013 ] "When performed like this, and the word 'perfect' comes to mind with Elina Vähälä's playing, and with a recording as sumptuous and detailed as here..you will not regret the purchase. I am glad to be acquainted with this music and will return to it." |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Piano Sonatas / Fantasia in C minor Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano) [ Warner Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 18/Feb/2022 ] 'Leonskaja always treads the tightrope between prettiness and excessive emphases...Perfection? For me, it's a yes. Can we have the Haydn and even the Beethoven sonatas complete from Leonskaja in good time, please?' BBC Recording of the Month April 20 |
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FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: The Complete Piano Sonatas Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano) [ Warner Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 26/Aug/2022 ] "Olympian interpretation […], a lifetime's wisdom is here, don't miss it." BBC Music magazine |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection' [LP] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Hilde Rössl-Majdan (mezzo-soprano) / Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer [ Warner Classics LP / 2 LP - released 28/Apr/2023 ] he German-born conductor Otto Klemperer, a towering figure in the musical history of the 20th century, died at the age of 88 on July 8th 1973, so 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of his death. |
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GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: L'étoile du nord (complete opera) Elizabeth Futral, Darina Takova, Agnete Munk Rasmussen, Patrizia Cigna, Juan Diego Flórez / National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Vladimir Jurowski [ Naxos / 3 CD Box Set - released 13/May/2022 ] After composing a spectacular series of grand operas for the Paris Opéra, Meyerbeer turned to two comic operas with spoken dialogue. One of these was L'Étoile du Nord ('The North Star'). |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos (LP) Emil Gilels (piano) / Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell [ Warner Classics Vinyl / 5 LP - released 1/Jun/2020 ] "Emil Gilels stands out as a giant among giants," wrote Gramophone when the Odessa-born pianist died in 1985. "In terms of virtuosity he was second to none, yet his leonine power was tempered by a delicacy and poetry that few have matched." |
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HANDEL
Handel in Italy - solo cantatas Emma Kirkby (soprano) / London Baroque [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] This exciting programme is presented by Emma Kirkby and London Baroque, household names in the sphere of 'early music' and beyond, and certainly no new-comers to the works of Handel. |
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JEAN-BAPISTE LULLY
Lully: Atys (complete opera recorded in 2011) Emmanuelle de Negri, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Bernard Richter / Compagnie Fêtes Galantes, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie [ Naxos DVD / 2 DVD - released 24/Sep/2021 ] "..the stage picture is consistently opulent, with even Atys and Sangaride dressed ornately, at least until the shattering final act." New York Times |
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BRITTEN
String Quartets / Three Divertimenti / Miniature Suite Emperor Quartet [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2010 ] Benjamin Britten always enjoyed performing with small ensembles - he played the viola as well as the piano - and his natural facility in writing for strings was evident from a very early age. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Water Music Suites 1-3, HWV348-350 [LP] English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner [ Erato Classics LP / LP - released 7/Apr/2023 ] John Eliot Gardiner will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 20th 2023. Erato Recordings are celebrating this wonderful conductor with two of his most emblematic albums to be released on vinyl: Handel's Water Music and Purcell's King Arthur. When... |
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DESPREZ des PREZ / DUFAY / OCKEGHEM / ISAAC / LASSUS / de WERT / etc
Josquin & the Franco-Flemish School Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Taverner Consort, The Hilliard Ensemble, King's Singers, etc [ Warner Classics / 34 CD Box Set - released 24/Mar/2004 ] "Indeed, these performances will kindle the enthusiasm of the uninitiated as few others can. The recording is expertly balanced and eminently truthful.' PENGUIN GUIDE on the Josquin Chansons & Motets |
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OLD ROMAN CHANT
Chant de l'eglise de Rome: Old Roman Chant: Christmas Masses Ensemble Organum / Marcel Peres (director) [ Zig Zag Territories / CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] "If you think that you would like to recreate in your sitting room the world of a thousand years ago in a land somewhere between Jerusalem and Athens - whilst discovering the mysterious by-ways of Karanic cantillation - then this disc is for you."... |
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GABRIEL FAURE
Faure: Quintets with Piano Eric Le Sage (piano) / Quatuor Ébène [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2013 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Chamber |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Heavenly Harp: Best Loved Classical Harp Music Erica Goodman (harp), Elizabeth Hainen (harp), Judy Loman (harp), Claudia Antonelli (harp), Ellen Bødtker (harp), Elisa Netzer (harp), Cristina Bianch [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Jun/2020 ] For those who are new to an instrument, the first question is often: where to start? The 'Best Loved' series offers an easy answer to that question and a perfect introduction to the wonderful, varied world of classical music. Spotlighting individual... |
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CRISTIAN CARRARA
Carrara: The Devil's Bridge Erica Piccotti, Sonia Prina (contralto), Massimo Mercelli FVG Orchestra, Nir Kabaretti [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Dec/2024 ] Cristian Carrara, born and educated in the Friuli region of north-east Italy, has earned critical admiration as one of the most creative composers of his generation. Clarity and directness inform much of his music, as does a sense of mystery,... |
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MOZART / SCHUBERT / BERLIOZ / ROSSINI / SMETANA / DVORAK / etc
Erich Kleiber - The Complete Polydor 78s Erich Kleiber conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker & Staatskapelle Berlin [ Deutsche Grammophon Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 9/Apr/2021 ] Collected for the first time - Erich Kleiber's rare recordings with the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Berliner Philharmoniker made for Polydor/Grammophon and newly remastered for this release. |
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TELEMANN / BACH / HANDEL / VIVALDI / EYCK
Baroque Edition, the Artistry of Erik Bosgraaf Erik Bosgraaf (recorder), Ensemble Cordavento [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2021 ] "That man can do anything!" exclaimed Frans Brüggen, after hearing a concert by Erik Bosgraaf in 2007. The eminent recorder player and conductor's encouragement was the starting point of an international career and rise to fame of the young player. |
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J. S. BACH / RACHMANINOV / CHOPIN / DEBUSSY / SCHOENBERG / RAVEL / STRAVINSKY / IVES / etc
Piano Library - Deutsche Grammophon Edition Erik Then-Bergh, Paul Baumgartner, Roberto Szidon, Zola Mae Shaulis, Jorge Luis Prats, Ewa Poblocka, Elly Ney, Alexander Lonquich, David Lively, etc [ Deutsche Grammophon Australian Eloquence / 22 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2024 ] Astounding debuts and legendary piano treasures on disc: newly remastered albums of 21 pianists from the analogue era, including many first-ever digital transfers in this limited edition (single pressing only) 22 CD box set. |
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SHUYING LI • JESS LANGSTON TURNER • KEN STEEN GILDA LYONS • ROBERT CARL • JOSEPH TURRIN
Crimson Roses: Contemporary American Choral Music Erinn Sensenig, Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) Musica Viva NY Choir, Musica Viva NY Orchestra, Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez [ Naxos / CD - released 22/Nov/2024 ] The three world premiere choral recordings on this album represent the enduring commitment of Musica Viva NY's artistic director, Alejandro Hernandez Valdez, to perform new works by living composers. Richard Einhorn's The Luminous Ground is a deeply... |