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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Orchestral Miniatures (Incls Chanson de matin & 3 Bavarian Dances) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Sep/2006 ] "Especially impressive are the woodwind, which excel the rest of the ensemble in both beauty of playing and ability to follow their conductor...the horns are also impressive. This orchestra has a great future in front of it." MusicWeb September 2006 |
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JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Orchestral Suites 1-3 / Herodiade (Ballet Suite) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Jean-Yves Ossonce [ Naxos / CD ] "The playing of the New Zealand orchestra is first class, polished and vivid." Penguin Guide |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Tanzsuite Divertimento, Op 85 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl [ Naxos / CD - released 23/Oct/2020 ] Richard Strauss was appointed co-director of the Vienna State Opera in 1919 and soon set about composing a new ballet for the refurbished historic Redoutensaal in the city. At carnival in February 1923 the work was unveiled - a delectable series of... |
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JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Scenes historiques I and II / King Christian II Suite New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Pietari Inkinen [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Jan/2008 ] "As an addition to the ever-growing Sibelius catalogue this is most welcome" (MusicWeb Feb 2008) |
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RON GOODWIN
Goodwin: Drake 400 (includes the New Zealand Suite) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Ron Goodwin [ Naxos British Light Music / CD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] Ron Goodwin is famous for several iconic film scores such as the rousing 633 Squadron. His was an instantly recognisable musical voice, combining an innate ability to write both memorable tunes and to evoke the many moods demanded by film directors. |
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YASUSHI AKUTAGAWA
Akutagawa: Ellora Symphony / Trinita Sinfonica / Rhapsody New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Takuo Yuasa, conductor [ Naxos Japanese Classics / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] "Thanks be to Naxos for continuing to plumb the mines of interesting and unusual music, and presenting it at their ever-attractive price. Highly recommended." (MusicWeb June 2005) |
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ARTHUR HONEGGER
Honegger: Symphony No. 3 / Liturgique / Rugby / Pacific 231 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2004 ] "His Third Symphony is one of his most powerful works, a purely musical requiem written towards the end of the Second World War and full of its horrors and its hopes for peace… The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under Takuo Yuasa makes a highly... |
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JACK BODY
Poems of Love and War Robert Easting (narrator) David Greco (bar) Somara Ouk, Budi Putra (vocals) Martin Riseley (violin) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Young [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Mar/2014 ] "works of immense skill and real communication that in these fabulous performances will give him a worldwide audience. Even the splendid Meditations on Michelangelo for violin and strings really catches the ear. Don't pass on thjis." (John Button) |
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ROSS HARRIS
Harris: Face / Symphony No. 6 'Last Letter' Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Giordano Bellincampi, Antony Hermus [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Dec/2020 ] In Symphony No. 6 'Last Letter', Ross Harris explores settings of four poems by Vincent O'Sullivan, interlinking them with three musical interludes. The darkness of the subject matter draws from the composer music of powerful and at times despairing... |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Very Best of Elgar (The) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and many more [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 25/Nov/2006 ] From raucous marches to private enigmas, the music of Elgar represents, for many, the ultimate symbol of England in the early 20th century, contrasting royal ceremonies with intimate family gatherings. This 2-CD set features Elgar's most frequently... |
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CHEN GANG / XIAN XING-HI
The Yellow River Piano Concerto / The Butterfly Lovers Piano Concerto Chen Jie (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Carolyn Kuan [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2012 ] The Yellow River Concerto is one of the most popular of all Chinese works, a richly melodic exploration of scenic variety, and a forceful expression of patriotic pride. Written in 1958 by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto... |
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FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Piano and Orchestra Works (complete) Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) / Gavle Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / 5 CD Box Set - released 28/Jan/2022 ] Ferdinand Ries' works for piano and orchestra stand alongside those of Hummel as the finest and most important of their kind from the early decades of the 19th century. |
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VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / HOWELLS / WALTON / BOWEN
British Music for Viola and Orchestra Helen Callus (viola) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Marc Taddei [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jun/2018 ] "Helen Callus plays with sumptuous tone matched by flawless intonation" Gramophone |
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FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Complete Incidental Music Jenny Wollerman, Pepe Becker (sopranos) / Varsity Voices / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Jul/2010 ] "The self-contained numbers...may be familiar items, but on disc...you discover and enjoy so much more: the flashes of instrumental colour, the exquisite little tone paintings that intersperse or accompany the spoken text...Judd's New Zealand and... |
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A Vaughan Williams Anthology [8 CD set] Joan Rodgers (sop) Christopher Maltman (bar) Jennifer Pike (violin) / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmon [ Naxos / 8 CD Box Set - released 8/Apr/2022 ] Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain's most illustrious composers, and this specially curated selection of works demonstrates the sheer breadth of his achievement. |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
The Very Best of Shostakovich Konstantin Scherbakov (Piano) Michael Houstoun (Piano) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Christopher Lyndon-Gee (Conductor) Ilya Kaler (Violin) [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 9/May/2006 ] "As an introduction to the composer's work, it gives a wide-ranging and typical selection, which is in itself some achievement." (MusicWeb August 2006) |
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ROSS HARRIS
Harris: Symphony No. 4, "To the memory of Mahinārangi Tocker" / Cello Concerto Li-wei Qin (cello) / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Brett Dean, Garry Walker [ Naxos / CD - released 10/May/2014 ] "There is no question that the Auckland Philharmonic are superbly in control as is Brett Dean, himself a violist and composer and just forging an extra career as a conductor. The recording is vivid and allows the music space although the quiet passag |
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CHOPIN / ROSSINI / OFFENBACH / BIZET / LALO / CHABRIER / etc
Art and Music: Manet - Music of His Time Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Polish National Radio Symphony, Kodály Quartet, etc [ Naxos Educational / CD - released 31/Mar/2003 ] Edouard Manet (1832-83) has been called the father of modern painting. In the 1860s he was the leader of a group of young artists who later became known as the Impressionists, though his own work resists any simple label. On this CD, the world of... |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos.1 & 2 / Festival Overture / The Age of Gold Suite Michael Houstoun (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon-Gee [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2010 ] "Michael Houston is a clear and characterful soloist." (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) |