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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Messiah (Complete oratorio) Lynne Dawson (soprano) Catherine Denley (contralto) David James (counter-tenor) Maldwyn Davies (tenor) Michael George (bass) / Sixteen / Christophers [ Hyperion Dyad / 2 CD - released 25/May/2005 ] 'The performance is one of extraordinary quality. Unequivocally recommended' (The Sydney Sun Herald) |
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MOZART / PAISIELLO / SALIERI / SARTI / SOLER
Arias for Benucci: Arias written for the buffo bass-baritone Francesco Benucci, Mozart's first Figaro Matthew Rose (bass) / Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen [ Hyperion / CD - released 5/Nov/2015 ] Matthew Rose, Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen throw themselves into the riotous world of Francesco Benucci, the larger-than-life opera star for whom Mozart created the role of Figaro. |
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MATTI SALMINEN
Matti Salminen: Artist Portrait (works by Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Verdi, Rossini and Monteverdi) Matti Salminen (bass) with various accompaniments [ Warner Artist Portrait / CD - released 19/Sep/2005 ] The Finnish bass, Matti Salminen, has studied music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and with the famous Maestro Luigi Ricci in Rome. |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Jose van Dam - Autograph José van Dam (bass-baritone) with Roberto Alagna, Karita Mattila, Richard Leech, Cheryl Studer, etc [ Erato / Warner Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 15/Mar/2015 ] As one of the great singers of his era, and an artist favoured by such conductors as Herbert von Karajan and Georg Solti, José van Dam recorded for all the major labels, including Warner labels Erato and Teldec, but he enjoyed an especially close... |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Israel in Egypt (complete oratorio) Nancy Argenta (soprano) / Emily Van Evera (soprano) / Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) David Thomas (bass) / Taverner Choir and Players / Andrew Parrott [ Erato / Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 18/Mar/2003 ] 'If anyone needs to assure themselves as to whether the English choral tradition is alive and well, they need only buy this CD.' Gramophone |
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WILLIAM BYRD / JOHN DOWLAND / HENRY PURCELL / etc
Elizabethan Lute Songs / Purcell: Birthday Odes for Queen Mary Norma Burrowes (Soprano), James Bowman & Charles Brett (Countertenors) / Robert Lloyd (Bass) / Early Consort of Music / David Munrow [ Erato Veritas / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2019 ] "The solo singing, however, is strong, and the music represents Purcell at his finest - the counter tenor duet "Sound the trumpet" (Bowman and Charles Brett) never palls." (Irish Times) |
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CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Mors et Vita Barbara Hendricks (sop) Nadine Denize (mezzo) John Aler (ten) José van Dam (bass-bar) / Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2017 ] "Plasson's remains a serviceable rendition of Gounod's grandiose conspectus of human spiritual experience." BBC Music |
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WAGNER
Wagner Arias Rene Pape (bass) / Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 20/Sep/2011 ] "..this remains Wagner singing of a rare beauty that will give much pleasure" (International Record Review) |
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BOCCHERINI
Cello Sonatas Richard Lester (cello) David Watkin (cello) Chi-Chi Nwanoku (double bass) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Apr/2007 ] 'There is a touch of the impetuous about Richard Lester's playing of these sonatas which seems to me to capture very happily their character' (Gramophone) |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Dream of Gerontius Op 38 (Complete oratorio) Richard Lewis (tenor) Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) Kim Borg (bass) / Halle Choir and Shieffield Philharonic Chorus / Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 15/Sep/2003 ] "Barbirolli's red-blooded reading of Gerontius is the most heart-warmingly dramatic ever recorded" *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide |
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SCHUBERT
Schwanengesang Robert Holl (bass-baritone) Roger Vignoles (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Oct/2008 ] 'Holl feels and communicates superbly and can be awesomely delicate. In this recital of songs from Schubert's last year, the stark Heine settings emerge with heart-wrenching power' (The Times) |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Rejoice, the Lord is king! - Great Hymns from Westminster Abbey Robert Quinney (organ), Julian Empett (bass), Jonathan Brown (bass) Westminster Abbey Choir, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 6/Jan/2014 ] "the quality of the singing is on a high level and Robert Quinney negotiates the organ accompaniments excellently' (MusicWeb International) |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (complete opera recorded in 2011) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Aug/2016 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Opera / BBC MUSIC AWARD WINNER 2014: DVD Performance |
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GABRIEL FAURE
Fauré: Requiem & other sacred music Sarah Yanovitch (soprano) Edmund Milly (bass) Nola Richardson (soprano) / Yale Schola Cantorum, David Hill [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Oct/2017 ] "Edmund Milly has just the cantor-like voice Faure specified, with no boom or bluster, and the top choral parts are clear and bell-like." BBC Music |
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MARIN MARAIS
Marin Marais: 2nd Book Of Viole Pieces Jordi Savall (bass viol), Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord), Rolf Lislevand (theorbo & guitar) [ Alia Vox / CD - released 1/Sep/2003 ] |
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FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Trout Quintet / Wanderer Fantasy (recorded 1981 & 1963) Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Borodin Quartet with Georg Hortnagel, double bass [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 25/Jul/2017 ] "A legendary virtuoso, Richter was also a master chamber musician. Here we find him near his peak...this is sovereign musicianship throughout" (BBC Music Five Stars) |
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SCHUBERT / BRAHMS / GLANERT / BARBER
Serious Songs Teddy Tahu Rhodes (bass-baritone) / Australian String Quartet / Melbourne & Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras [ ABC Classics / CD - released 14/Apr/2011 ] "The new release from opera superstar Teddy Tahu Rhodes is called Serious Songs and lives up to its name, right from the opening chords. But far from being simply serious, it is profound and emotional, highlighting his dramatic voice and style." |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Lieder und GesANnge op. 32 / 5 Gesänge op. 72 / 5 Lieder op. 94 Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone) Justus Zeyen (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon Grand Prix / CD - released 14/Apr/2008 ] "A notable solo début for the Yellow Label from a young master of Lieder and a programme that impresses for its imaginative selection of Brahms and Liszt." (Gramophone, UK, June 2000) |
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OWAIN PARK
Park: Choral Works Anita Monserrat (soprano) Owain Park (bass) Karolina Csáthy (alto) / Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Stephen Layton (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 31/Aug/2018 ] As John Rutter (Owain Park's erstwhile teacher) shrewdly notes in the booklet, Park is one of a new generation of composers whose voice has been informed by music of many styles, traditions and periods. This is indeed music 'for us all to enjoy as... |
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C.P.E. BACH
Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu (The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus) Uta Schwabe (soprano) Christoph Genz (tenor) Stephen Genz (bass) / Ex Tempore / La Petite Bande / Sigiswald Kuijken [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Mar/2014 ] 'Sigiswald Kuijken's lively but sensitive and thoughtful direction, and his attention to details of the instrumental texture, ensure that the work gets the performance it merits. I found it compelling, and warmly recommend it' (Gramophone) . |