RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Recorded Live at the Bayreuth Festival, Germany, in 2008) Bayreuther Festspiele Chorus & Bayreuther Festspiele Orchestra / Christian Thielemann (Conductor) / Tankred Dorst (Director) [ Opus Arte / 14 CD Box Set - released 26/Oct/2009 ] "The live recordings capture the grandeur and theatrical flair of Thielemann's approach very vividly. He's especially good in the big set pieces in Die Walküre and Götterdämmerung." (The Guardian) |
CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: The Symphonies / Helios Overture / Saga-Drom / Pan and Syrinx BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska [ BIS / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2010 ] "Collectors who have not yet sampled Osmo Vänskä in Nielsen should hasten to make good that omission by investing in this excellent set." (Bargain of the Month MusicWeb June 2011) |
BRITTEN / DELIUS / ELGAR / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / TIPPETT / HOLST
The British Line: A celebration of British Music BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis, with Dame Evelyn Glennie, Thomas Hampson, Tasmin Little, Sir Bryn Terfel, etc [ Warner Classics / 16 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2019 ] In 1991, Hamburg-based record label Teldec Classics embarked on a fruitful partnership with Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. "The British Line" was soon to become an essential series of critically acclaimed digital recordings of major... |
BEETHOVEN
The Complete String Quartets Belcea Quartet [ Alpha Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 23/Aug/2019 ] Alpha is reissuing the complete Beethoven quartets by the Belcea Quartet : 'Beethoven's music has been at the center of our life as a quartet from our very first rehearsal together back in 1994. However, it is more recently that we immersed ourselves... |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Complete Edition [17 CD set] Alessandro Deljavan, Ewa Kupiec, Vittorio Ceccanti, Lucius Ruhl, Earl Wild, Frank van de Laar, etc [ Brilliant Classics / 17 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2015 ] This 17CD set is the third Chopin Edition by Brilliant Classics, an all-time favourite of one of the most popular and universally loved composers of all times. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: The Symphonies / Scythian Suite / Romeo and Juliet, Suites Nos 1-3 / etc Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Litton [ BIS SACD / 5 Hybrid SACD - released 3/Sep/2021 ] "Litton and the Bergen players brilliantly point up the wit, elegance and joy of this great work, turning out one of its finest performances on record...this superb set of Prokofiev's symphonies. Highly recommended!" MusicWeb Recommended |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen (complete operas recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 4 Blu-ray Box Set - released 15/Sep/2022 ] "Donald Runnicles leads an impressive account of the score. His deep knowledge of the music comes through in the naturalness of the discourse, the easy communication with the singers and the vibrant colours he draws from the orchestra." Fanfare |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Claudio Abbado conducts Beethoven Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, with Maurizio Pollini (piano) Cheryl Studer (soprano) Ilya Gringolts (violin), etc [ Deutsche Grammophon / 10 CD Box Set - released 17/Jul/2015 ] "One could say, briefly but not inaccurately, that this is the antithesis of Karajan. Where he was smooth, this is rugged. Where he went in for broad tempos in slow movements, Abbado moves things along." (BBC Music Five Stars) |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: The Nine Symphonies Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 20/Aug/2021 ] "Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic have given us one of the finest (and certainly the best-recorded) Bruckner Sixths of all time - this represents a major landmark in Brucknerian discography." Fanfare |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Symphonies, Ein deutsches Requiem & Concertos Berlin & Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, Wilhelm Furtwangler, with Yehudi Menuhin, Edwin Fisher, Willi Boskovsky, etc [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] Wilhelm Furtwängler saw "a wild, fantastic and even demonic universe" in the symphonies of Brahms. "Music is not something that is invented and constructed," he wrote, "but something that grows, emerging … directly from the hands of nature." With... |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: 9 Symphonies [9 CDs plus Blu-ray audio] Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra], Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Karajan Edition CD set plus Blu-ray audio / 10 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 19/Jul/2019 ] "It is Karajan who is best able to present a Bruckner Symphony as a single vision … some of the most consistently impressive Bruckner recordings of recent years" - Gramophone |
BEETHOVEN / RICHARD STRAUSS / WAGNER / BRUCKNER / MENDELSSOHN / BRUCH / TCHAIKOVSKY / RACHMANINOV
Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic] - Great Recordings Berliner Philharmoniker Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa, Herbert von Karajan, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, Gunter Wand, etc [ Sony Music / 8 CD Box Set - released 11/Sep/2015 ] The Berlin Philharmonic is consistently ranked as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. As is fitting such an eminent orchestra, they consistently work with the world's most renowned conductors and soloists. |
SIBELIUS / NIELSEN / GRIEG / SVENDSEN / STENHAMMAR / ALFVEN
Nordic Symphonies Berliner Sinfonie‐Orchester, Kurt Sanderling / Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bjarte Engset / etc [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2024 ] This generous 10 CD set presents a comprehensive collection of symphonies written by Nordic composers. Their Symphonies hold a unique place in music history, blending lush melodies with the evocative power of nature. |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Complete Symphonies / Symphonic Poems Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, Kurt Sanderling / Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Vassily Sinaisky [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "Sanderling glories in detail..brings out details that others gloss over or elide. He is not afraid to allow these Northern flowers and trees to bloom at a natural pace. He is no stranger to drama but will not force it unnaturally." MusicWeb |
DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE
Buxtehude: Organ Works Bernard Foccroulle (organ) [ Ricercar / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/May/2011 ] "What better way to mark the 300th anniversary of Buxtehude's death in 1707 than with this wonderful box-set? What a central figure Buxtehude was to subsequent generations of Northern European organists working in the German Lutheran tradition" Gramo |
Boris Giltburg; Mateusz Borowiak; Lukáš Vondrá?ek; Alberto Ferro
Queen Elisabeth Competition: Piano 2013 & 2016 [ Queen Elisabeth Competition / 4 CD - released 12/May/2023 ] This 4CD box set includes mostly unreleased performances of the First Prizes and winners of the audience prizes from the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition in 2013 and 2016. You will find: Boris Giltburg (First Prize and Canvas-Klaraprijs 2013);... |
BEETHOVEN
String Quartets [complete on 8 CDs] Borodin Quartet [ Chandos / 8 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/2012 ] "Anyone who doesn't know these masterpieces should, and anyone who does will welcome this eight-disc set by the revered Borodin Quartet…" (Observer) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies 1 - 9 (5 CD set) Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 20/May/2012 ] "The recording is atmospheric in the Boston manner, and with Dynagroove makes even small machines give an impression of opulence." (Gramophone on the LP release) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Late String Quartets Brodsky Quartet [ Chandos / 3 CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "There is no shortage of outstanding recordings of these summits of the quartet repertory... they certainly have their own distinctive virtues...Technically, these performances are immaculate" Guardian |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: String Quartets [complete] (recorded 2016) Brodsky Quartet [ Chandos / 6 CD Box Set - released 16/Oct/2016 ] This new box set with the Brodsky Quartet features Shostakovich's fifteen string quartets at a special price. |