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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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BEETHOVEN
Emil Gilels: Beethoven Piano Concertos[3 CD set] Emil Gilels (piano) / State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, Kurt Masur [ Brilliant Classics Historic Russian Archive Edition / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2011 ] Emil Gilels belongs to a select group of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Born in Odessa in 1916, he began his studies at the age of 5, and gave his first public recital at the age of 13. |
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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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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Early Music [Musique Ancienne]: From ancient times to Renaissance [10 CD set] Ensemble Organum, Marcel Peres / Soeur Marie Keyrouz / Arianna Savall / Paul O'Dette / The King's Noyse / The Orlando Consort / etc [ Harmonia Mundi Century / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2010 ] From the Ancient World to the Renaissance with recordings drawn from the vast Harmonia Mundi catalogue. |
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SCHUMANN
Gesange der Frube [2 CD set] Eric le Sage (piano) [ Alpha / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] |
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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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JEHAN ALAIN
Organ Works (2 CD set) Eric Lebrun (Cavaillé-Coll organ of l'Église Saint-Antoine des Quinze-Vingts, Paris) [ Naxos Organ Encyclopedia / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] |
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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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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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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... |
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MICHAEL HAYDN
Michael Haydn Collection [28 CD set] Ernst Schlader (clarinet) Johannes Hinterholzer (horn) Norbert Salvenmoser (trombone), Linde Brunmayr-Tutz (flute) Franz Landlinger (trumpet) etc [ Brilliant Classics / 28 CD Box Set - released 2/Sep/2019 ] "This is a wonderful set without a single duff disc and one which should win some new friends for Michael Haydn's music" MusicWeb Recommended Feb 2020 |
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ISAAC ALBENIZ / MANUEL de FALLA / ENRIQUE GRANADOS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Spanish Piano Music [6 CD set] Esteban Sanchez, Benita Meshulam, Cristina Ortiz (pianos) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 10/Mar/2012 ] A collection of quintessential Spanish piano works, presenting the three Giants of Spain in their best and most popular works: the colossal piano cycle Iberia by Albeniz, the complete piano music of De Falla and the popular Goyescas by Granados. |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Songs, Vol. 6 Esther Valentin-Fieguth, Konstantin Ingenpaß, Ulrich Eisenlohr [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Dec/2024 ] Brahms'lifelong preoccupation with the solo voice can be heard to great effect in this sixth volume of his complete songs. The ghostly and dreamlike opening of the Four Duets, Op. 28 and moods of desolation and loss in the Nine Songs, Op. 69 are... |
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ARVO PART
Pärt: Credo (LP) Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Male Choir, Ellerhein Girls' Choir, Ellerhein Alumni Choir, Estonian Festival Orchestra [ Alpha Classics / 2 LP - released 24/Apr/2026 ] Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra pay tribute to Arvo Pärt, who celebrates his 90th birthday in 2025. The Estonian composer has been part of Paavo Järvi's life since childhood: "Arvo was my sister's and my father's supercool friend. He... |