CESAR FRANCK
Franck: Hulda (complete opera original version) Meagan Miller, Joshua Kohl, Irina Jae-Eun Park, Anja Jung / Opernchor des Theater Freiburg, Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Fabrice Bollon [ Naxos / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2021 ] "An intrepid cast led by Meagan Miller as Hulda and Joshua Kohl's Eiolf, her faithless lover, negotiates a top-heavy score that mixes Franck's thunderous organ chords with Berlioz and Wagner..all credit to Fabrice Bollon and the Freiburg Phil." BBC |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Piano Sonatas Michael Endres (piano) [ Capriccio / 6 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2011 ] "the Steck piano that Endres plays has a pleasing bloom, which has been recorded with satisfying natural presence, and his lyrical, lovingly shaped performances undoubtedly deserve a place among the very best alternatives." Gramophone |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas (14 CDs plus Book) Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle / 14 CD Box Set - released 15/Oct/2014 ] NZ LISTENER BEST CLASSICAL Recordings 2014 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Last Five Piano Sonatas (28-32) Includes 'Hammerklavier' Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Trust / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2001 ] The most difficult of piano sonatas played by our Michael |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Fliegende Hollander [The Flying Dutchman] ( Alfred Muff, Ingrid haubold, Erich Knodt, Peter Seiffert / Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Pinchas Steinberg [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1992 ] "The recording is both atmospheric and clear, and the set comes with libretto, translation, notes and detailed synopsis, an outstanding bargain." Penguin Guide |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Brandenburg & Violin Concertos / Orchestral Suites Musica Amphion, P.J. Belder / Amsterdam Bach Soloists, Thomas Zehetmair (violin) / Netherlands Bach Ensemble [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] ."Zehetmair is by no means just a brilliant violinist; he is a very sincere musician...This is a most rewarding reissue. Even those lovers of baroque music who usually avoid modern instrument performances, should consider this disc." MusicWeb |
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] |
HERRMANN / NEWMAN / KORNGOLD / TIOMKIN / ROZSA / WAXMAN
Charles Gerhardt conducts Classic Film Scores National Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Gerhardt, with Kiri te Kanawa (soprano) & Norma Procter (contralto) [ RCA Red Seal / Sony music Masters / 12 CD Box Set - released 13/Mar/2020 ] In the 1970s, the Classic Film Scores series introduced a new generation to the sumptuous sound of music in Hollywood's "Golden Age." |
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 |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: The Collector's Edition Nikolai Lugansky, Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Michael Beroff, Steven Isserlis, Borodin Quartet, Truks Monk, Andre Previn, Mstislav Rostropovich [ Erato / Warner Classics / 36 CD Box Set - released 31/Mar/2023 ] March 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of death of Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). A Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, he made a part of his career in "the west", moving to the United States and France after the 1917 Revolution. |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / MOZART / MENDELSSOHN / WAGNER / etc
Otto Klemperer - The Warner Classics Remastered Edition Otto Klemperer (conductor) with Daniel Barenboim, Alan Civil, Yehudi Menuhin, Janet Baker, Dennis Brain, Annie Fischer, Christa Ludwig, etc [ Warner Classics / 95 CD Box Set - released 2/Jun/2023 ] The German-born conductor Otto Klemperer, a towering figure in the musical history of the 20th century, died at the age of 88 on July 8th 1973, so 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of his death. |
J. S. BACH / BEETHOVEN / DVORAK / BRAHMS / BOCCHERINI / etc
Pablo Casals - The Complete HMV Recordings (Rec 1926-1955/39) Pablo Casals (cello) with Alfred Cortot, Jacques Thibaud, Mieczyalaw Horszowski & others [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 25/Aug/2023 ] "In these splendid recordings, Casal's superb playing offers us the finest fruits of his great art." (Gramophone on the Bach Suites) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
The Verdi Opera Selection: "Shakespeare" Otello / Macbeth / Falstaff Plácido Domingo, Barbara Frittoli, Leo Nucci, Thomas Hampson, Ruggero Raimondi, Manuel Lanza, etc [ Arthaus Opera Editrion / 3 DVD - released 1/Jul/2020 ] Otello - Live from the Teatro alla Scala Milan, 2001 Macbeth - Live from the Opernhaus Zurich, 2001 Falstaff - Live from the Teatro del Maggio Muusicale Fiorentino, 2006 |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Complete opera) Price - Kollo - Fassbaender - Fischer-Dieskau - Moll. Rundfunkchor Leipzig Staatskapelle Dresden. Carlos Kleiber [ Deutsche Grammophon Originals / 3 CD Box Set - released 19/Apr/2005 ] If ever a recording has become legendary, this is it - the last time that Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) ever entered a recording studio. This release will commemorate the 75th anniversary of his birth in 2005. |
GIUSEPPE SAVERIO MERCADANTE
Mercadante: Il Proscritto (complete opera) Ramón Vargas, Irene Roberts, Elizabeth DeShong, Sally Matthews / Britten Sinfonia, Carlo Rizzi [ Opera Rara / 2 CD Box Set - released 14/Apr/2023 ] "Mercadante wrote for a stellar cast, and Opera Rara field fine singers too" BBC Music Opera Choice July23 |
RICHARD STRAUSS / ANTON BRUCKNER / HUGO WOLF
Renee Fleming in Concert (recorded live in 2011 & 2012) Renee Fleming (soprano) / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD Box Set - released 5/Mar/2018 ] Two unforgettable evenings showcase the artistry of Renée Fleming alongside Christian Thielemann's mastery of the Austro-German Romantic idiom...."Beautifully filmed and recorded … worthy of special praise." (MusicWeb Nov 2013) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 (Recorded live from the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier, Paris 2014-15) Ricarda Merbeth, Daniela Sindram, Robert Dean Smitm, Günther Groissböck / Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Philippe Jordan [ Arthaus DVD / 4 DVD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "A seasoned Beethovenian will likely conclude that a lot of care and thought went into the interpretations as well." Classical-Net |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 (Recorded live from the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier, Paris 2014-15) BLU-RAY Ricarda Merbeth, Daniela Sindram, Robert Dean Smitm, Günther Groissböck / Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Philippe Jordan [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / 3 Blu-ray Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "A seasoned Beethovenian will likely conclude that a lot of care and thought went into the interpretations as well." Classical-Net |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: The Piano Sonatas Robert Levin (fortepiano, Anton Walter, 1782) [ ECM New Series / 7 CD Box Set - released 2/Sep/2022 ] BBC Music AWARD NOMINATION 2023 - INSTRUMENTAL |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Variations & Bagatelles, etc. Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) [ BIS SACD / 6 CD Box Set - released 6/Sep/2019 ] Between 2003 and 2015, Ronald Brautigam recorded all of Beethoven's music for solo piano - a huge undertaking resulting in a grand total of 15 highly acclaimed discs. Choosing to perform the works on the fortepiano, Brautigam began with a sonata... |