GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Highlights from the complete opera) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson / Philharmonia Orchestra. James Levine [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/1991 ] Original recording made at Kingsway Hall, London, July, august 1980 |
FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: A Village Romeo and Juliet (complete opera recorded in 1971) Robert Tear, Elizabeth Harwood, John Shirley-Quirk, Benjamin Luxon / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Meredith Davies [ EMI / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2002 ] "Elizabeth Harwood and Robert Tear are both excellent as Vreli and Sali, winningly characterful and clearly focused...[Shirley-Quirk] is firm and forthright with an apt hint of the sinister" Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Manon (complete opera) Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Jose van Dam, Gilles Ragon / Chorus & Orchestra of the Theatre Royal of the Monnaie, Brussels, Antonio PappanoPappan [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 8/Mar/2000 ] "Major praise must go to Angela Gheorghiu. Not only does she draw a portrait of the irresistible, impetuous, selfish, luscious Manon from the very beginning, but she's totally in control of her vocal resources as well." ClassicsToday |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (Complete opera recorded in 1995) (with complete libretto) Roberto Alagna, Leontina Vaduva, Thomas Hampson, Ruth Ann Swenson / Philharmonia Orchestra, Antonio Pappano [ EMI Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Aug/2006 ] "Pappano's recording of Boheme is the finest in over 20 years or even longer - sumptuously played and recorded, and characterfully sung by a starry cast. This is a version to stand alongside the classics of the past." Rosette. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Alagna Roberto - Serenades Roberto Alagna (tenor) David Alagna, Federico Alagna (guitars) [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Jun/1997 ] '...sung by a voice which is excitingly within the tradition and with temperament to match. There is not a moment when you don't listen to hear what he is going to do next' Gramophone Awards Issue 1997 |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Opera Arias & Songs plus La Marseillaise Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Le Choeur de l'Armee Francaise / Bertrand de Billy [ EMI / CD - released 1/Jun/2006 ] "There are few tenors, from any era, who could embrace the many and varied challenges presented here and do so with such success." Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (March 2003) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Roberto Alagna - Verdi Arias Roberto Alagna (tenor) / The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ EMI Music / CD - released 1/Dec/1998 ] "In answer to all those nay-sayers concerning Alagna's talents, the tenor here shows, in the most demanding programme imaginable, that there is little if anything wrong with his technique and a great deal right with his sense of Verdian style" Gramop |
MAURO GIULIANI / JOAQUIN RODRIGO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rodrigo/Giuliani: Guitar Concertos Angel Romero (guitar) / English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, London Symphony, Andre Previn [ EMI Classics / CD - released 11/Feb/2013 ] The magnificent gardens of the Spanish royal palace of Aranjuez a place in music history thanks to the Rodrigo guitar concerto. This recording with Angel Romero is a highlight in the famous guitarist's large discography; here, he plays two concertos... |
J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Rosalyn Tureck I Rosalyn Tureck (piano) [ Philips / EMI / 2 CD - released 9/Oct/2006 ] This collection of Rosalyn Tureck's Bach partitas was, until now, a long-sought gem. The recordings, dating from the 1950s and recorded for EMI, have won praise from all corners for their mix of erudition and comfortable, at-ease command. Tureck, one... |
FERDINAND HEROLD / JOHN LANCHBERY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Herold: La Fille Mal Gardee (Ballet) Royal Liverpool Philharmionic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth. [ EMI / CD - released 16/Nov/1983 ] "With playing from the Philharmonic Orchestra that combines refinement and delicacy with wit and humour, this is even more highly recommendable, especially for those preferring modern, digital sound." Rosette Penguin Stereo Guide |
ARTHUR BLISS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bliss: Checkmate / Adam Zero / Meditations on a theme of John Blow Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birminham Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ EMI / CD - released 1/Mar/1980 ] "...lively, committed performers who appear to believe in every note of these works." (BBC Music) |
BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Two Portraits / The Miraculous Mandarin - Suite The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik / The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy [ EMI Red Line / CD - released 1/Feb/2000 ] "The Bartok Concerto for Orchestra is characterful...Compact Disc collector's will enjoy these performances." Gramophone |
EDVARD GRIEG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg: Peer Gynt / Symphonic Dance No.2 / In Autumn / etc. Ilse Hollweg (soprano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Beecham Choral Society, Sir Thomas Beecham [ EMI Classics Studio Plus / CD - released 10/Oct/1993 ] "Beecham showed a very special feeling for this score and to hear (these excerpts) under his baton is a uniquely rewarding experience. Ilse Hollweg makes an excellent soloist." Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
WEBER / MENDELSSOHN / BAERMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Works for Clarinet and Orchestra Sabine Meyer (Clarinet) / Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, Jörg Faerber [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/May/1985 ] In the 19th century the clarinet underwent a remarkable change of image: technical improvements made a new, cantabile style of playing possible. Now clarinet works emerged that called for brilliant technique and also for a fine feeling for mood and... |
MONTEVERDI / CARISSIMI / DVORAK / HUMPERDINCK / R. STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Soprano Duets Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Urmgard Seefried (sopranos) with Gerald Moore, Herbert von Karajan, Josef Krips [ EMI Classics / CD - released 10/Sep/1988 ] Irmgard Seefried said, "I sang a great deal with Elisabeth and was fortunate - not everybody was - in establishing an excellent rapport with her" |
ETHEL SMYTH / HAMILTON HARTY / HAMISH MacCUNN / EDWARD GERMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Music of the Four Countries (Incls The Land of the Mountain and the Flood & Welsh Rhapsody) Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ EMI Studio / CD - released 20/Mar/2000 ] Four classic tone poems depicting the British Isles including 'The Land of the Mountain and the Flood' which was a hit as the theme-tune for BBC's "Sutherland's Law" |
FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Das Land des Lachelns [The Land of Smiles] Siegfried Jerusalem, Helen Donath, Martin Finke / Munchner Rundfunkorchester, Willi Boskovsky [ EMI / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Oct/1982 ] "This set comes with obvious pedigree. Siegfried Jerusalem is a first-rate, intelligent singer with an easy tenor voice that imparts to "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" a natural passion and fluency." Gramophone |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: The Magic Flute (highlights from the complete opera) Siegfried Jerusalem, Lucia Popp, Wolfgang Brendel, Roland Bracht, Edita Gruberova / Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bernard Haitink [ EMI Classics Encore / CD - released 1/Jul/2001 ] "Haitink directs a rich and spacious account of Zauberflote, superbly recorded in spectacularly wide-ranging digital sound... a presentation that has been carefully thought through." (Penguin Guide 3 Stars) |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Favourite Lieder Simon Keenlyside (baritone) Malcolm Martineau (piano) [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 20/May/1996 ] Original recording made in March 1995 |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel - Organ Concertos Nos.1-10 Simon Preston (organ) / Menuhin Festival Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin [ EMI Double Forte / 2 CD - released 16/May/2002 ] "...there is no doubting that this set is at present the best to be had" Gramophone |