TRADITIONAL
Waiata Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra [ Sony / CD - released 15/Nov/2013 ] In 1999 Dame Kiri Te Kanawa released 'Maori Songs', her second collection of Maori folk songs and prayers. That project was initiated by prominent NZ pianist/arranger Carl Doy, who has 13 years later created the follow up album 'Waiata'. |
BENDA / PISENDAL / TORELLI
Concerti By Benda, Pisendal, Torelli Lara Hall (baroque violin) / NZ Barok, Peter Walls [ Atoll Records / CD - released 25/May/2018 ] This CD is the culmination of a long-held desire to record little-known 18th century concerti. Players' parts were prepared for this project from digital copies of manuscripts in the Schank II Collection (Dresden) including Pisendel's scores of his... |
LEN LYE
Len Lye: Composing Motion Len Lye [ Atoll Records New Zealand / CD - released 5/Jan/2006 ] A fascinating document of the sounds made by the kinetic sculptures made by legendary NZ artist Len Lye who said "if there was such a thing as composing music, there could be such a thing as composing motion. After all, there are melodic figures, why... |
ROSS HARRIS
Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 Madeleine Pierard (soprano) / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Marko Letonja [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Mar/2012 ] Described as "often beautiful and sometimes frightening" (NZ Listener), Ross Harris's Symphony No 2 is a setting of poems on the subject of New Zealand soldiers shot for desertion in World War One. |
MANOS ACHALINOTOPOULOS
Flight on Light Manos Achalinotopoulos (clarinet) / John Psathas (sequencing) / Tim Prebble (synth) / etc. [ Rattle Records / CD - released 29/Mar/2011 ] Flight On Light is an extraordinarily passionate and moving album. Clarinetist Manos Achalinotopoulos is one of Greece's most emotive musicians. His music is grounded in folk traditions, but his performances transport the listener into profound and... |
DOUGLAS LILBURN
Lilburn: Piano Music Margaret Nielsen (piano) [ Ode Records / CD - released 23/Apr/2007 ] Margaret Nielsen was born in Hawera, New Zeland, She graduated BMus from the University of Canterbury and at the same time was a pupil of Ernest Empson for several years in Christchurch. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120 & Clarinet Trio, Op. 114 Marie Ross (clarinet), Petra Somlai (piano), Claire-Lise Démettre (cello) [ Centaur / CD - released 15/Nov/2019 ] A ground-breaking recording of Brahms' Chamber Works for the Clarinet and Piano, this is the new disc from University of Auckland Lecturer, Marie Ross. Performed with original instruments from the period in the rarely-heard historically informed... |
Martin Riseley & Diedre Irons
Stradivariazioni [ Rattle Records / CD - released 3/May/2013 ] Martin Riseley (violin) Diedre Irons (piano) The variation form is at the foundation of many forms of music, and was of particular importance in the classical period. Stradivariazioni demonstrates various elements of the form: a central unifying... |
SETCHELL / MOZART / DUBOIS / SOUSA / FAURE / VERDI / etc
Bon Bons for Organ Martin Setchell (organ) [ Atoll Records New Zealand / CD - released 12/Feb/2001 ] Here's one-in-the-eye for those who believe classical-music can't be fun |
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
The Juniper Passion Stepanie Acraman, Julia Booth, Lilia Carpinelli, James Loelu, etc, with orchestra & chorus [ Atoll Records / 2 CD - released 25/Jun/2012 ] Three worlds collide in this moving tale of conflict, passion and betrayal. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Diabelli Variations Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle Records / CD - released 18/Aug/2017 ] Following the monumental set of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, Michael Houstoun and Rattle proudly release a superb account of the Diabelli Variations, thirty-three variations on a waltz by Anton Duabelli composed by Ludwig van Beethoven... |
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 |
DOUGLAS LILBURN / KENNETH YOUNG / MIKE NOCK / GAO PING / etc
Inland: New Zealand composers Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle Records / 3 CD/DVD - released 13/Dec/2007 ] NZ MUSIC AWARDS: CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2008 - This 2 disc, solo piano album by New Zealand's favourite classical musician both stretches and soothes. Inland realizes Michael Houstoun's long-held goal to record the music of composers he has... |
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 |
BEETHOVEN
The Middle Period Sonatas includes 'Waldstein' 'Moonlight' 'Appassionata' and 'Pastoral' Sonatas Michael Houstoun, piano [ Trust / 3 CD - released 13/Apr/2006 ] The middle period piano sonatas of Beethoven played by Michael Houstoun. Unavailable for a long time but available now! |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 9-11 & 16-18 Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Morrison Music Trust / 2 CD - released 2/Feb/2001 ] Micael Houstoun continues his recordings of the Beethoven sonatas |
FRANZ LISZT
Liszt: Piano Works (Incls Sonata in B minor) Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Trust / CD - released 1/Aug/2000 ] Renowned New Zealand pianist Michael Houstoun performs a solo piano recital of works by Franz Liszt. These recordings were featured in the New Zealand Television documentary Icon in b minor, which first aired in 1996. The romantic performer-composer... |
SATIE / RAVEL / DEBUSSY / FAURE / POULENC
Trois Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle Records / CD - released 27/Oct/2017 ] Michael Houstoun's second release on Rattle in 2017, following the exceptional tour de force of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, is a selection of personal favourites from the repertoire of French piano music. Trois is an album of absolutely... |
JENNY MCLEOD
McLeod: 24 Tone Clocks Michael Houstoun (piano), Diedre Irons (piano) [ Rattle Records / 2 CD - released 11/Nov/2016 ] Featuring two of New Zealand's finest pianists, Jenny McLeod's 24 Tone Clocks is the definitive recording of an extraordinary series of compositions. A lifetime in the making, 24 Tone Clocks is a summation of Jenny's decades-long immersion into Peter... |
VERDI / DONIZETTI / BELLINI / CHARPENTIER / etc
The Early Years Mina Foley [ Ode Records / CD - released 28/Nov/2001 ] These archival Mina Foley tracks were recorded in New Zealand, between 1949 and 1953. |