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SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Cinderella (Complete ballet recorded in 2012) Muziektheater, Amsterdam / Anna Tsygankova, Matthew Golding, Larissa Lezhnina, Megan Zimny Gray / Ermanno Florio (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Oct/2013 ] "After a convoluted start, Christopher Wheeldon's narrative offers magic in every sphere - design, choreography, and orchestra. Anna Tsyganova's Cinderella is charming." BBC Music Magazine, Christmas Issue 2013 **** |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
Salome (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Nadja Michael, Michael Volle, Michaela Schuster, Thomas Moser / Philippe Jordan [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2010 ] "Nadia Michael… is an attractive Salome, moving like a dancer, as physically unafraid as she is vocally… Michael Volle is an imposing, rich-toned Narraboth" (Gramophone) |
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J. S. BACH
50 Best Bach (3 CDs special price) Nancy Argenta, Bob van Asperen, Fabio Biondi, Ian Bostridge, Philippe Herreweghe, Monica Huggett, etc [ Warner Classics / 3 CD - released 20/Jun/2010 ] An amazing selection of period performances of the greatest pieces of Bach recorded by some of today's top musicians. |
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Natalia Osipova with various artists & various ballet companies
Natalia - Force of Nature: Portrait of dance superstar Natalia Osipova BLU-RAY [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Feb/2020 ] An in-depth portrait of dance superstar Natalia Osipova directed by BAFTA winning filmmaker Gerry Fox. Force of Nature Natalia follows a season in the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova. . |
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BELLINI / OFFENBACH / MOZART / DELIBES / MONTEVERDI / DONIZETTI / etc
Natalie Dessay: The Opera Singer [33 CD & 19 DVDs] Natalie Dessay, with Francesco Meli, Jose Van Dam, Patricia Petibon, Sara Mingardo, Kathleen Kim, Ian Bostridge, Veronique Gens, and others [ Erato / Warner Classics / 52 CD Box Set - released 26/Feb/2021 ] "Dessay's performance is simply jaw-dropping.' BBC Music Magazine Award Finalist 2008: Opera [La Sonnambula] |
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 (The Royal Swedish Ballet) Nathalie Nordquist, Anders Nordström, Marketta Kaila, Christian Rambe Royal Swedish Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra, Michel Quéval [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 8/Nov/2002 ] This stunning production by The Royal Swedish Ballet, produced by Ross MacGibbon, stars Nathalie Nordquist as Odette/Odile and Anders Nordström as Prince Siegfried. Choreographer Peter Wright stages Swan Lake as a romantic Gothic tragedy. This... |
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JOSEF HAYDN
Trumpet Concerto / Cello Concerto / Double Horn Concerto Georges Barboteu, Gilbert Coursier (horns) Andre Navarra (cello) Maurice Andre (trumpet) / Orchestre de Chambre Radiodiffusion Sarroise, Jean-Francois [ Warners Classical The Erato Story / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] |
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HERBERT HOWELLS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Howells: Missa Sabrinensis Neill Archer (tenor) Janice Watson (soprano) Della Jones (contralto) Martyn Hill (tenor) / London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra., Gennady Rozhdestvensky [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 27/Sep/2005 ] 'Gratitude, then, for an essential contribution towards the re-evaluation of an original visionary…' Gramophone 'Editor's Choice' on Missa Sabrinensis |
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VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini: Norma (the complete opera, recorded in 2005) Netherlands Opera / Hasmik Papian / Hugh Smith / Irini Tsirakidis / Julian Reynolds (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 7/Nov/2006 ] G :- "Conductor Julian Reynolds extensively studied Bellini's score in manuscript and introduces lots of surprising details." -De Telegraaf |
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BRAHMS
The Collection: Six CD set (Incls Piano Concerto no 2, Symphonies & Ein Deutsches Requiem) Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Berliner Symphoniker / London Symphony Orchestra / Karl Leister (clarinet) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 8/May/2008 ] Enjoy Johannes Brahms' symphonies 3 and 4, the 2nd piano concerto, the violin and double concertos, Hungarian dances (version for orchestra), the 'German' Requiem and the Clarinet quintet. |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Symphonies & Serenades Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "This is an unfailingly warm-hearted, full-blooded Brahmsian sound and seems to represent a genuine attempt at redirecting the modern symphony orchestra towards the sort of sound-mix Brahms himself is likely to have heard." MusicWeb |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 / Five Ruckert-Lieder (LP) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, Janet Baker (mezzo) [ Warner Classics Vinyl / 2 LP - released 5/Nov/2021 ] "… an interpretation of commitment and intensity and the recording is one of the finest I have heard from EMI." Gramophone |
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LEOPOLD MOZART
Mozart, (L.): Symphonies New Zealand Chamber Orchestra. Donald Armstrong, conductor [ Naxos 18th Century Symphony / CD - released 18/Aug/2002 ] "Clean, vital playing" (BBC Music Magazine) |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Semele (Blu-ray) Emma Pearson, Amitai Pati, Sarah Castle, Paul Whelan / New Zealand Opera Chorus, Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir, NZ Opera Baroque Orchestra, Peter Walls [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 21/Jul/2023 ] "Amitai Pati is the pick of the bunch. The Samoan tenor is an outstanding Jupiter, bright-toned and fullvoiced, lyrical lines anchored by enough weight to make this reluctant smiter believable as both lover and thug." Gramophone |
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PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: The Queen Of Spades & Voyevoda: Orchestral Suites arranged by Peter Breiner New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Peter Breiner [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Apr/2013 ] Slovak-born composer and conductor Peter Breiner has received considerable international acclaim for his adaptations, and his Tchaikovsky arrangements are particularly impressive examples of his art. He has already arranged The Seasons (8553510) and... |
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DOUGLAS LILBURN
Lilburn: String Quartet in E Minor / Phantasy Quartet / Canzonettas New Zealand String Quartet [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Feb/2015 ] "the music is well worth hearing especially in performances as convincing as these. A useful addition to the discography of a still under-appreciated composer." (MusicWeb March 2015) |
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WEBER
Overtures (Incls 'Euryanthe' & 'Der Freischutz') New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "Weber was a great tunesmith, and some of his overtures were on the same level of popularity (in the time before pervasive aural garbage) with William Tell, 1812 and the like. Polish-born and trained conductor Wit I'm sure is familiar with the... |
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MiECZYSLAW KARLOWICZ
Symphonic Poems, Vol. 2 (Incls 'Powracajace fale') New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] Mieczysław Karłowicz's six symphonic poems, composed between 1904-09, are the pinnacles of a career tragically ended when he perished in an avalanche during a solitary mountain hike. His fame as one of the outstanding Polish composers of his... |
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GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Jeux d'enfants / Symphony in C-major / Jeux d'enfants New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Donald Johanos, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] Popular Bizet played by our own symphony orchestra. |
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STRAVINSKY
Symphony in C / Symphony in Three Movements / etc New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / En Shao (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] "First prize for both value and most informative sleeve note goes to En Shao's account with the New Zealand SO on Naxos." - The Sunday Times, September 26, 1999 |