W. A. MOZART
Amadeus: Best of Mozart Kiri te Kanawa (soprano) Sabine Meyer (clarinet) James Galway (flute) Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Muti, etc [ EMI Inspiration / CD - released 1/Dec/2010 ] The legendary movements from Mozart's symphonies, concertos, operas and choral works invite us to sit back and enjoy: find out for yourself how soothing and at the same time inspiring Mozart's music can be - one of the most brilliant and original... |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY / SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Tchaikovsky/Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Kirill Gerstein (piano) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, James Gaffigan [ Myrios SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Apr/2015 ] "Zimmermann and Hoppe capture the poetry of these works, in their hands free from sentiment and rich as short stories." (Observer) |
Kit Downes, Peter Eldh, James Maddren
Vermillion [ ECM Records / CD - released 11/Feb/2022 ] Kit Downes joins forces with long-time collaborators Petter Eldh on bass and James Maddren on drums for a carefully assorted piano trio programme that treads gentle lyricism and bold creative outbursts in equal measures. Downes, whose prior ECM... |
Kit Downes, Peter Eldh, James Maddren
Vermillion (LP) [ ECM Records / LP - released 11/Feb/2022 ] Kit Downes joins forces with long-time collaborators Petter Eldh on bass and James Maddren on drums for a carefully assorted piano trio programme that treads gentle lyricism and bold creative outbursts in equal measures. Downes, whose prior ECM... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Forza Del Destino (The Force of Destiny) - the complete opera. Metropolitan Opera / Leontyne Price, Giuseppe Giacomini, Leo Nucci, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Isola Jones, Enrico Fissore / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2005 ] "Who could begin to challenge the quality of (Leontyne Price's) singing even at this late stage of her career? For the occasion, and the tribute to one of the greatest Verdi singers of our time, this performance is recommended." (MusicWeb Jan 2006) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 2006) Los Angeles Opera / Renee Fleming (soprano) Rolando Villazon (tenor) Renato Bruson (baritone) / James Colon (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 12/Dec/2007 ] "With the benefit of the latest picture technology, this performance goes to the top of the list for those preferring a traditional production." (Recording of the Month May 2008) |
BERNSTEIN / IVES / BARBER / CRAWFORD
Americans Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, James Gaffigan [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/May/2021 ] Vivid testimony to the multifaceted partnership of James Gaffigan and the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, their latest release invites us to explore the conductor's American roots, from the most mischievous (Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story) to the... |
ANTONIN DVOARK / FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor / Schubert: "Arpeggione" Sonata Lynn Harrell (cello) / London Symphony Orchestra, James Levine (cond/pianist) [ RCA Papillon Collection / CD - released 26/Oct/1987 ] Lynn Harrell (January 30, 1944 - April 27, 2020) was an American classical cellist. Known for the "penetrating richness" of his sound, Harrell performed internationally as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with major orchestras. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Egmont (complete incidental music) / Ah! perfido, / Marches Madeleine Pierard (soprano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Feb/2010 ] "Those curious for some not too often heard music by Beethoven can safely invest in this well played disc" MusicWeb May 2010 |
JOSEF HAYDN
Tullochgorum - Haydn: Scottish Songs Masako Art, James Graham, Edin Karamazov, Pierre-Augustin Lay / The Poker Club Band [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] Between 1791 and 1804, Joseph Haydn arranged some 400 traditional songs for publishers in Scotland and England. Almost all of the songs were Scottish and the most common setting was for voice and piano trio. |
GLUCK / VIVALDI / HANDEL / MONTEVERDI / PURCELL / BELLINI / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Altus - From Castrato to Countertenor [3 CD set] Andreas Scholl, Alessandro Moreschi, Philippe Jaroussky, David Daniels, Max-Emanuel Cencic, James Bowman, Alfred Deller, Gérard Lesne, René Jacobs, et [ Virgin Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Oct/2008 ] All these artists are exponents of 'authentic' performance, but - fortunately for the gentlemen in question - true authenticity is restricted to the track performed by Alessandro Moreschi...the only known audio memento of a genuine castrato. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot (complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Eva Marton, Placido Domingo, Leona Mitchell / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 17/May/2003 ] Stage production & set design: Franco Zeffirelli |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Complete Franco Zeffirelli production recorded in March 1985) Metropolitan Opera / Hildegard Behrens, Placido Domingo, Cornell Macneil, Italo Tajo, James Courtney / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] "This production contains enough atmosphere for 20 Tosca's." (New York Magazine) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera recorded in 2008) Metropolitan Opera / Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani, Dwayne Croft, Dale Travis / James Levine (Cond) [ EMI Classics DVD / DVD - released 29/Sep/2008 ] "Ever willowy and ever inventive, Karita Mattila enacted the heroine's progress from gawky innocent to greedy charmer to tragic victim brilliantly." (Financial Times) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (Complete opera recorded in 1981) Metropolitan Opera / Louis Quilico, Christiane Eda-Pierre, Luciano Pavarotti, Isola Jones / James Levine (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / DVD - released 5/Nov/2014 ] "Musically there's much to admire...The vocalism is strong and occasionally outstanding." Gramophone |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Éva Marton, Dolora Zajick, Sherrill Milnes / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 1977) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Scotto, Ingvar Wixell / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 22/Sep/2005 ] Puccini's masterpiece shows young love at its most heartbreaking in this rich production from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Complete opera recorded in 1990) Metropolitan Opera / Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Pablo Elvira, Renata Capecchi / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] "What makes this performance rather special is the acted and sung interplay between Scotto and Domingo. The way she jumps up into his arms and he carries her to the coach is an effective and touching moment." MusicWeb |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Tannhauser (Complete Opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Richard Cassilly, Eva Marton, Tatiana Troyanos / James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2002 ] The Metropolitan Opera sings deeply passionate Wagner in this 1991 production on a spare but darkly atmospheric stage. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECK COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Les Troyens (complete opera recorded in 1983) The Metropolitan Opera / Tatiana Troyanos, Jessye Norman, Placido Domingo / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 28/Jun/2007 ] "Domingo's clarion (though stretched) Aeneas and Norman's passionate Cassandra are most memorable. Troyanos does not match Gardiner's Susan Graham, but Levine is admirably epic and provides the traditional finale." BBC Music |