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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Enigma Variations / 'Cockaigne' Overture / Marches Philharmonia Orchestra, George Weldon [ IMP / CD - released 29/Aug/2011 ] "Turning to the 1953 Philharmonia Enigma Variations, we immediately become aware that Weldon is operating on a different plane altogether...One of the finest performances of the Variations I have heard. " MusicWeb |
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CARL MARIA von WEBER
Weber: Der Freischutz Christine Brewer, Sally Matthews, & Simon O'Neill / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 29/Apr/2013 ] "Simon O'Neill is virtually perfect for Max, not too über-Heldentenor and not too light" (Gramophone, Aug 2013) |
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ARENSKY / BUSONI / MOZART / POULENC / RACHMANINOFF
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Lyubov Bruk & Mark Taimanov Lyubov Bruk, Mark Taimanov (pianos) / Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Arnold Katz / Leningrad Chamber Orchestra, Lazar Gozman [ Philips Great Pianists Of The 20th Century Vol 15 / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/1998 ] Taimanov was a top concert pianist in the Soviet Union. With his first wife, Lyubov Bruk, he formed a piano duo, some of whose recordings were included in the Phillips and Steinway series Great Pianists of the 20th Century. |
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CHRISTOPH GLUCK / W. A. MOZART / JOSEF MYSLIVECEK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Magdalena Kozena - Le Belle Immagini Magdalena Kozena (soprano) / Prague Philharmonia / Michel Swierczewski [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 7/Feb/2002 ] "With good support from orchestra and conductor this is a disc which should be bought even by those who resist hype on principle." - MusicWeb Feb 2005 |
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THE BACH FAMILY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lamento: rarely-heard music by the Bach family Magdalena Kozena (soprano) / Musica Antiqua Koln / Reinhard Goebel [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] "A marvellous, thought-provoking recital by a singer in her glorious first bloom." (BBC Music) |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Maggio Muiscale Florentino / Jeanne Michele Charbonnet, Vladimir Vaneev, Vsevolod Grivnov / James Conlon (cond) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Oct/2012 ] "New Orleans-raised Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet proves a powerful if one-dimensional actress in the title-role. The other key protagonists are authentically Russian. The most distinguished singing comes from Vladimir Vaneev... The main attraction of... |
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PIETRO MASCAGNI
Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz (Complete Opera recorded in 2022) (Blu-ray) Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Salome Jicia, Charles Castronovo, Teresa Iervolino, Massimo Cavalletti / Riccardo Frizza,(cond) [ Naxos / Dynamic Blu-ray / DVD - released 17/Feb/2023 ] "Cucchi evokes a lively society, never overstated, of friendship and good cheer...Frizza controls the ebb and flow in masterly fashion. The whole thing is very nicely done." Gramophone Blu-ray of the Month April 2023 |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Golden Years of the Gramophone (incl. Gendarmes' Duet, Cats' Duet & Song of the Flea) Manchester School Children's Choir / Halle Orchestra / Peter Dawson / Feodor Chaliapin [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 20/May/2011 ] A nostalgic issue of mostly vocal pieces. Twenty-three original recordings - classic and fondly remembered recordings from the 78 era. |
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FREDERIC CHOPIN / ALEXANDER SCRIABIN / AKIO YASHIRO
Mao Fujita - 72 Preludes Mao Fujita (piano) [ Sony Classical / 2 CD - released 13/Sep/2024 ] Following his 'consistently impressive' (Gramophone) traversal of Mozart's complete Piano Sonatas for Sony Classical - winner of an Opus Klassik Award - Japanese pianist Mao Fujita has recorded a similarly ambitious project. |
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WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Mozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas Mao Fujita (piano) [ Sony Classical / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Nov/2022 ] "Despite his young years, Fujita is fully inside these works and makes an impressive job in imparting his vision. All the ingredients for outstanding Mozart performance are here." MusicWeb |
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FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: On wings of song Margaret Price (soprano) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 14/Apr/2004 ] "Mesmerising... as is usual, the Hyperion recording is perfectly balanced" - Classic CD |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE - Rossini: Heros and Heroines Marilyn Horne (mezzo soprano) / L'Orchestre de la Suisse romande / Royal Philharmonic Orchetra / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 20/Jun/1998 ] 'Marilyn Horne's generously filled recital disc brings us one of the most cherishable among all Rossini aria records ever issued. The voice is in glorious condition, rich and firm throughout its spectacular range, and is consistently used with... |
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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... |
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NICOLA PORPORA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Porpora: Opera Arias Max Emanuel Cencic (countertenor) / Armonia Atenea, George Petrou [ Decca Records / CD - released 15/Aug/2018 ] "Porpora's gift for characterisation pales beside Handel's, but his vocal fireworks bring modest delight, especially when backed by the bustling musicians of George Petrou's Armonia Atenea" The Times |
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VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini: I Puritani (complete opera recorded in 2007) Metropolitan Opera / Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo / Patrick Summers (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 28/Feb/2008 ] "Netrebko has perhaps the most appealing stage presence among contemporary sopranos. She is a natural stage animal who can sing as she moves around the stage and interacts with her colleagues. Her sheer physicality on stage is awesome." (MusicWeb) |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete opera recorded in 1977) The Metropolitan Opera / Placido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, Cornell MacNeil / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 27/May/2004 ] "Yes, Rigoletto is a singer's opera, but Verdi also poured into it some of his most dramatic as well as melodic music. That said, the vivid colours of the production have come up amazingly well and the sound is clear." (MusicWeb Dec 2006) |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |