ANTON BRUCKNER
The Complete Bruckner Symphonies Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Georg Tintner, conductor [ Naxos / 12 CD Box Set - released 22/Dec/2015 ] "The pattern of the later symphonies is set here, emotional slow movement, galumphing scherzo and all. But there are moments of almost Sullivanesque sparkle. Tintner's account is wonderfully cohesive and fresh." - The Sunday Times (Paul Driver), May |
ALBERT ROUSSEL
Roussel: The Complete Symphonies [4 CD set] Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Stéphane Denève [ Naxos / 4 CD Box Set - released 6/Dec/2010 ] "an excellent disc, splendidly and idiomatically performed and a superb advertisement for composer, conductor and orchestra. Highly recommended." Gramophone Magazine on Symphony No 4 |
MUSSORGSKY / RAVEL / BRAHMS / BEETHOVEN / JANÁČEK / FRANCK / etc
Rudolf Firkusny Edition Rudolf Firkušný (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / Eloquence / 12 CD Box Set - released 5/Jul/2024 ] From a landmark Janáček album to a previously unpublished Schubert/Mozart recording, this collection presents the Deutsche Grammophon, British and American Decca, and Westminster legacy of Rudolf Firkušný (1912-1994). |
LUGWIG van BEETHOVEN / W. A. MOZART / JOHANNES BRAHMS
The Rudolf Serkin Edition Rudolf Serkin (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado, with Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) [ Deutche Grammophon / 9 CD Box Set - released 19/Jun/2020 ] "Serkin was an artist who shaped the world's conceptions of the "Viennese school," and there's much to be gained by tracing the evolution of his style over his long life.' (AllMusic.com) |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Secular Choral Works Ruth Ziesak, Angelika Kirchschlager, Christoph Prégardien, Robert Holl / Wiener Concert-Verein, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Erwin Ortner, with András Sch [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 19/Mar/2021 ] A voyage of discovery through a lesser-known area of Schubert's rich and prolific output, this collection comprises seven themed CDs: Transience; Love; Eternity; Heroism; Nature; Celebrations, and Circle of Friends. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Russian Orthodox Choral Music Rybin Male Choir, Dumka Choir, Yurlov Academic Choir [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 22/Jan/2021 ] A history of Russian Orthodox sacred music from the 'Moscow Baroque' to the present day, including many rare and long unavailable recordings. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Complete Symphonies (Nos 1-7) Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2008 ] "The recorded sound is great, the Scottish National Orchestra plays like a world class band. All in all, this is not only a set to complete your Prokofiev collection, it's also the one to start it - if you haven't yet." (MusicWeb bargain of the... |
SEGEI RUDNEV
Rudnev: Music for Guitar Sergei Rudnov, Aynur Begutov, Anton Baranov, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Vladimir Mityakov (guitars) [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 25/Feb/2022 ] Russian guitarist and composer Sergei Ivanovich Rudnev was born in 1955 in Tula. In 1975 he graduated in the accordion and balalaika class of Tula's "Dargomyzhsky" Conservatory, and while attending this school he studied guitar. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen Simon O'Neill, Matthias Goerne, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden [ Naxos / 14 CD Box Set - released 9/Aug/2018 ] Wagner's visionary Der Ring des Nibelungen was first performed as a cycle of four operas in 1876. One of the most sustained and remarkable achievements in all music, the tetralogy is performed by an all-star cast, conducted by the new music director... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies Simona Šaturová, Mihoko Fujimura, Christian Elsner & Christian Gerhaher / ewandhausorchester Leipzig, Herbert Blomstedt [ Accentus / 5 CD Box Set - released 3/Jul/2017 ] "Blomstedt's Beethoven seems 'right': tempi are never too fast or too slow, but never staid, and phrasing is alive with rhythmic energy and cumulative momentum. His Leipzig players give their all- the strings in particular have a glorious burnished... |
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE
Buxtehude: Complete Harpsichord Music Simone Stella (harpsichord) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 30/Jan/2012 ] "you can hardly go wrong with Stella's performances which are very good. He uses the harpsichord well and explores its various stops, mostly in a convincing and stylistically appropriate manner." MusicWeb |
JOHANN PACHELBEL
Pachelbel: Complete Keyboard Music Simone Stella (harpsichord & organ) [ Brilliant Classics / 13 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2019 ] "..the organ used here has much greater possibilities in variety of tonal colours, and Stella uses it to fine effect in the many fugues and chorale variations." Choir & Organ |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies [Complete] Sinfonia Finlandia, Patrick Gallois / Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Bela Drahos / Toronto Chamber Orchestra, Kevin Mallon [ Naxos / 34 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2009 ] One of the most extraordinary bequests in the history of music, Haydn's symphonies established his reputation as the greatest composer of his time. |
VLADIMIR MARTYNOV
Martynov Edition The Sirin Choir, Alexei Lubimov, Opus Posth Ensemble, Tatiana Grindenko and others [ Brilliant Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 7/Oct/2022 ] Vladimir Martynov (b. 1946) is one of the leading composers of the Russian avant-garde, an experimentalist of serial, minimalist and electronic music. His ethno-musicological studies into the folk music of Russia, his philosophical and religious... |
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: The Piano Music Of Sonia Rubinsky (piano) [ Naxo / 8 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2010 ] |
ANTONIN DVOARK
Dvořák: Complete Symphonies Staatskapelle Berlin, Otmar Suitner [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] In this complete edition of the Dvorák Symphonies, Otmar Suitner unites in an exemplary way the various characteristics of his conducting - formal awareness, idiomatic familiarity and an always onward-pressing, unsentimental temperament. |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Symphonies & Rosamunde Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt, Willi Boskovsky [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "The playing of the Staatskapelle Dresden is quite excellent, with fine work from the strings and commendable clarity of wind textures. This may be "big-band" Schubert, but never once did I sense a heaviness to the ensemble." (MusicWeb) |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Complete String Quartets Stamitz Quartet [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2017 ] "9/9, warmth and richness, highly rewarding" ClassicsToday |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Complete cantatas Vol 1 Stefanie True (soprano), Contrasto Armonico, Marco Vitale / Valentina Varriale (soprano), Mvsica Perdvta, Renato Criscuolo / etc [ Brilliant Classics / 14 CD Box Set - released 4/Aug/2017 ] This set presents an extensive collection of works which George Frideric Handel wrote during his short but astoundingly fruitful stay in Italy. Here he met the great composers of the day, imbuing the rich Italian style. |
WILHELM STENHAMMAR
Stenhammar: The String Quartets Stenhammar Quartet [ BIS SACD / 3 Hybrid SACD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] "Composed between 1894 and 1916 Wilhelm Stenhammar's body of six numbered string quartets is considered unique among Scandinavian music of its time, both in its consistency and in its musical aspirations. |