STRAVINSKY / BARTOK / SHOSTAKOVICH / PROKOFIEV
The 20th Century Violin Concerto Vikoria Mullova (violin) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Esa-Pekka Salonen / Andre Previn [ Philips / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2006 ] "This reissue brings together superb recordings of the Stravinsky and Prokofiev concertos, an excellent alternative reading of the Bartók and a decent performance of the Shostakovich. Great value from a greatly underrated artist." (MusicWeb June... |
ROSSINI / DONIZETTI / BIZET / BEETHOVEN / VERDI / WEBER / etc
50 Best Overtures & Preludes: Includes 'The Bartered Bride', 'William Tell' & 'The Barber of Seville') Philharmonia Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, La Scala Opera Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2012 ] 50 Favourite overtures and preludes from all your favourite operas & ballets. |
OLIVER DAVIS
Davis: Air Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman [ Signum / CD - released 6/May/2022 ] Similarly to his previous album SOLACE, AIR was written during lockdown and draws on themes of nature, environment and the natural world. Davis's previous albums with Signum have reached the top 10 on both iTunes Classical and UK Specialist Classical... |
HUGO ALFVEN
Alfven - The Symphonies & Rhapsodies Christina Högman (soprano), Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö (tenor) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ BIS / 5 CD - released 1/Nov/2004 ] "Järvi conducts his Swedish forces with enthusiasm and authority, and this is altogether most rewarding and not music one meets readily." Penguin Guide |
JODY TALBOT
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Austin [ Signum / CD - released 17/Mar/2013 ] The Royal Ballet's 2011 production of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was their first full-scale commission in 20 years and was instantly acclaimed as a classic. |
W. A. MOZART
Amadeus - The Best of Mozart (LP) Sabine Meyer (clarinet), Christian Zacharias (piano), Wiener Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics Vinyl / LP - released 26/Nov/2021 ] Selected highlights from Mozart's masterpieces by wonderful artists such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Riccardo Muti, Sabine Meyer, Natalie Dessay, Cecilia Bartoli and Christian Zacharias. |
OWAIN ARWEL HUGHES
Anatiomaros and other orchestral works Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Owain Arwel Hughes [ BIS / CD - released 1/Jun/2011 ] A student of Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst among others, Hughes early on began to work for the BBC and had limited opportunity to compose. This CD brings together most of his oeuvre for orchestra, from Anatiomaros (1943) to the 'legend' Owain... |
RAVEL / KORNGOLD / SHOSTAKOVICH / PREVIN / STRAUSS / PROKOFIEV
Andre Previn: A Celebration Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) Kyung Wha Chung (violin) / London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Andre Previn [ Deutsche Grammophon / 6 CD Box Set - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "Some performers make it all about themselves …while André puts the music first" Barbara Bonney (Gramophone 2008) |
AARON COPLAND
Appalachian Spring / El Salon Mexico / Billy the Kid / Rodeo (exc) / Fanfare for the Common Man Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Philip Ellis [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 20/Oct/2008 ] Founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, with his vision of bringing world-class performances of the greatest music written to the length of the country, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to maintain Beecham's legacy by offering audiences in... |
Dolora Zajick, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles MacKerras
The Art of Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano (Incls arias by Verdi, Gluck & Saint-Saens) [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 12/Aug/2000 ] This collection, amazingly enough, is Zajick's first solo recording! |
AS TIME GOES BY
As Time Goes By: orchestral versions of classic standards Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 10/Oct/2008 ] |
VERDI
Attila (Complete opera recorded in 1973) Cristina Deutekom, Carlo Bergonzi, Ruggero Raimondi, Sherill Milnes, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Lamberto Gardelli [ Decca Grand Opera / 2 CD - released 20/Jun/2012 ] Blazing drama and thrilling singing from an all-star cast as Attila returns to the catalogue. |
ADIGEZALOV / GULIYEV / BADALBEYLI
Azerbaijani Piano Concertos Farhad Badalbeyli (piano) / Murad Adigezalzade (piano) / Joan Rogers (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Dmitry Yablonsky [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] All of the composers here combine elements of ancient Azerbaijani tradition with Western forms, colourful orchestration and vivid musical storytelling. |
SAMUEL BARBER / MAX BRUCH
Barber / Bruch: Violin Concertos Ester Yoo (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 25/Aug/2023 ] "...its exquisite attention to the lower end of the dynamic spectrum. The opening recitativos of the Bruch No. 1 in G minor find violinist Esther Yoo magicking those well-worn phrases with yearning intensity and a sense of introspective awe." BBC |
Various Artists / Carl Davis / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Beatles for Orchestra [ Carl Davis Collection / CD - released 30/Aug/2011 ] |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies Carole Farley (soprano) Alfreda Hodgson (contralto) Stuart Burrows (tenor), Norman Bailey (bass) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti [ Decca / 5 CD Box Set - released 7/Apr/2023 ] For Antal Doráti, one of the mid-twentieth century's most gifted conductors, Beethoven was a central repertoire choice. This symphony cycle was recorded in 1975-76 at the beginning of his tenure as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 'Emperor' / Piano Concerto No. 0, WoO 4 Boris Giltburg (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 11/Mar/2022 ] These works share the common key of E flat major but represent two very different stages in the composer's life. The Piano Concerto No. 0, WoO 4, written when Beethoven was 13 years old, is one of his earliest works. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 & 'Triple' Concerto Elizabeth Sombart (piano), Richard Harwood (cello), Duncan Riddell (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Vallet [ Signum Classics / CD - released 9/Oct/2020 ] Born in Strasbourg, Elizabeth Sombart studied piano from the age of seven. She studied all over the world with various teachers, including Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, Peter Feuchtwanger, Hilde Langer-Rühl and Sergiu Celibidache. Elizabeth received the... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4 Elizabeth Sombart (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Vallet (conductor) [ Signum / CD - released 19/Jun/2020 ] Born in Strasbourg, Elizabeth Sombart studied piano from the age of seven. She studied all over the world with various teachers, including Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, Peter Feuchtwanger, Hilde Langer-Rühl and Sergiu Celibidache. |