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WAGNER / HAYDN / BERLIOZ / BRITTEN / R. STRAUSS
Jessye Norman - The Unreleased Masters Jessye Norman (soprano) / Gewandhauorchester, Kurt Masur, Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine, Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa [ Decca / 3 CD - released 4/Aug/2023 ] Decca Classics presents Jessye Norman - The Unreleased Masters, showcasing never-before-heard recordings of one of the greatest classical singers of all time. |
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VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini: I Puritani (complete opera) Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Royal Opera House Covent Garden / London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Bonyng [ Decca / 3 CD - released 10/Aug/2006 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1801-1850) -- Building a Library First Choice - January 2005 |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Agrippina (complete opera) Joyce DiDonato, Elsa Benoit, Biagio Pizzuti, Franco Fagioli, Andrea Mastroni, Jakub Józef OrliĆski / l Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev [ Erato Classics / 3 CD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] "With DiDonato nonpareil in the title-role and a uniformly strong cast, this now becomes a first choice for Handel's Venetian masterpiece." Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Opera |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti - La Fille du Régiment [Daughter of the Regiment] & Don Pasqual (recorded 2005/2006) Juan Diego Florez, Patricia Ciofi, Isabel Rey, Ruggero Raimondi, etc [ Decca Music Group DVD / 3 DVD Box Set - released 12/Dec/2019 ] Juan Diego Flórez proves he's the new King Of The High C's in one of his greatest stage roles. He gives a sensational performance of Tonio's aria 'Ah! mes amis...' - with 9 top Cs sung not once, but twice! |
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OSCAR BROWN Jr / JOHN ADAMS / SAMUEL BARBER / BILLY TAYLOR / SANDY DENNY
Julia Bullock - Walking in the Dark Julia Bullock (singer) & Christian Reif (piano) [ Nonesuch Records / CD - released 9/Dec/2023 ] "The tracks for voice and piano are a highlight. Bullock's performance of 'City Called Heaven', a traditional Black spiritual in an arrangement by Hall Johnson, is quite something." BBC Music Magazine January 2023 Choral & Song Choice |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphony No.9 "Ode an die Freiheit" (LP) June Anderson, Sarah Walker, Klaus Konig, Jan-Hendrik Bootering / Various orchestras, Leonard Bernstein [ Deutsche Grammophon LP / 2 LP - released 27/Sep/2019 ] Bernstein's legendary Beethoven performance "Ode to Freedom" (Symphony No. 9) with a special orchestra formed by members from both German States and the four Occupation Powers, celebrating the fall of Berlin Wall. |
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CESAR FRANCK
Cesar Franck: Edition Khatia Buniatishvili, Aldo Ciccolini, Jean-Philippe Collard, Marie-Claire Alain, Renaud Capucon, Nathalie Stutzmann, Augustin Dumay, etc [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Apr/2016 ] A towering figure in French music of the later 19th century, César Franck created a distinctive fusion of German Romanticism and French Classicism, enriching the symphonic, chamber, instrumental, vocal and sacred repertoires. As a teacher and mentor... |
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TRADITIONAL
Carols from King's College, Cambridge (LP) King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Philip Ledger, with The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble [ Warner Classics / LP - released 4/Nov/2022 ] It's not Christmas without the angelic voices of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. These fifteen popular carols were originally recorded between 1969 and 1976 |
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THE KING'S SINGERS
The King's Singers: Madrigals & Songs from the Renaissance The King's Singers with The Consorte of Musicke, Anthony Rooley & Tragicomedia [ Warner Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2018 ] Founded at King's College in Cambridge in 1968, the King's Singers are one of the world's most sought-after and acclaimed vocal ensembles. This amazing set repackages eight of their greatest albums. |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (Complete opera recorded in 1978) Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberova, Kurt Moll, Kathleen Battle / Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Alain Lombard [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 8/Jan/2021 ] A real gem looking at the incredible cast, a veritable "Who's Who" of opera singers of the time: Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberova, Kathleen Battle, Kurt Moll and Jose Van Dam. |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (complete opera) Klaus Florian Vogt, Rolando Villazon, Regula Mühlemann, Christiane Karg, Albina Shagimuratova / Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD Box Set - released 6/Sep/2019 ] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised Villazón's "comic talent" in his first Papageno, "achieving 'heights of emotion' with the captivating Regula Mühlemann's Papagena", as well as the "magical tenor" of Klaus Florian Vogt as Tamino. |
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FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: 4 Ballades / Barcarolle / Fantaisie (LP) Krystian Zimerman (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / LP - released 28/Aug/2017 ] "Krystian Zimerman captures the poetry, fantasy and fire of these works with exquisite tone and unfailing sensitivity." BBC Music |
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KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
Szymanowski: Piano Works {LP) Krystian Zimerman (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 LP - released 28/Aug/2017 ] "Krystian Zimerman captures the poetry, fantasy and fire of these works with exquisite tone and unfailing sensitivity." BBC Music |
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MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: The Piano Concertos / Valses nobles et sentimentales (orchestral version) Krystian Zimerman (piano) Cleveland Orchestra / London Symphony / Pierre Boulez [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 20/Jul/2001 ] 1999 Gramophone Award Winner: Concerto - A Penguin Stereo Guide Rosette recording |
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FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (LP) Krystian Zimerman (piano/conductor) / Polish Festival Orchestra [ Deutsche Grammophon Vinyl / 2 LP - released 11/Sep/2016 ] Original tapes remastered by EBS and pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl. |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527 (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY La Scala Milan / Anna Netrebko, Bryn Terfel, Anna Prohaska, Barbara Frittoli / Daniel Barenboim (conductor) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 6/Dec/2015 ] Recorded live at the opening of the 2011-12 La Scala season, Don Giovanni was released in honour of Bryn Terfel's 50th birthday which was on 9 November 2015. It also tied in with the traditional opening of the new season at La Scala - 7 December. |
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SAINT-SAENS / DEBUSSY / RAVEL / FAURE / BOULANGER / FARRENC / etc
LP: Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals / Piano Concerto No. 2 (with other works by French composers) Lang Lang (piano), with Gina Alice (piano), Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons [ Deutsche Grammophon LP / 2 CD - released 26/Apr/2024 ] This is a carnival of French works for all generations by world-renowned pianist Lang Lang who offers music lovers of all ages the pleasure of discovery. Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Gewandhaus Orchestra and conductor Andris Nelson,... |
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Lawson/Parley Of Instruments
English Classical Clarinet [ Helios / CD - released 30/Oct/2006 ] |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: La finta giardiniera, K196 (complete opera sung in Italian recorded in 2014) Le Concert d'Astrée / Carlo Allemano, Erin Morley, Enea Scala, Marie-Adeline Henry / Emmanuelle Haim (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/Jun/2015 ] The French conductor Emmanuelle Haïm conducts here her music ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée during this performance of Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera at the Opéra de Lille (France) on March 22nd and 25th 2014. This production, directed by David Lescot |
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MONTEVERDI / BONONCINI / CHARPENTIER / HANDEL / LULLY / PURCELL / RAMEAU
William Christie: The Complete Erato Recordings Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, with Sophie Daneman, Natalie Dessay, Renee Fleming, Ian Bostridge, Philippe Jaroussky, Mark Padmore, etc [ Erato / 61 CD Box Set - released 7/Mar/2025 ] William Christie is renowned for his pioneering work in the revival of Baroque music. Born in 1944, he founded the ensemble Les Arts Florissants in 1979, which has become a leading force in historically informed performance. |