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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Les Nuits d'été / Harold en Italie Michael Spyres (baritenor), Timothy Ridout (viola) / Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, John Nelson [ Erato Classics / CD - released 25/Nov/2022 ] Continuing Warner Classics' multiple-award-winning Berlioz cycle (Les Troyens, La Damnation de Faust) with conductor John Nelson and the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. |
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LULLY / HANDEL / VIVALDI / VINCI / PORPORA / SARRO / HASSE / etc
Michael Spyres - Contra-Tenor Michael Spyres (tenor) / Il Pomo d'Oro, Francesco Corti [ Warner / Erato / CD - released 21/Apr/2023 ] "Michael Spyres's now famous range coupled with his superb sense of drama and glorious technique singles him out - once again - as one of the finest opera singers before us today. " Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Voice & Ensemble |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust Michael Spyres, Joyce DiDonato, Nicolas Courjal, Alexandre Duhamel / Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, John Nelson [ Erato / Warner Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 22/Nov/2019 ] "The most dramatic piece that Berlioz ever wrote," is how conductor John Nelson describes La Damnation de Faust. The composer designated this thrilling hybrid of oratorio and opera a 'légende dramatique'. Following in the triumphant footsteps of Les... |
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MEHUL / ROSSINI / BEETHOVEN / WEBER / MEYERBEER / WAGNER / etc
Michael Spyres - In the Shadows Michael Spyres (tenor) / Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset [ Warner / Erato / CD - released 8/Mar/2024 ] "this is another fine, fascinating album from an unusually interesting and intelligent artist, handsomely recorded." Gramophone Award Finalist 2024 - Voice & Ensemble |
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DAVID LYON
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lyon: Concerto For Horn And Strings - Fairytale Suite Michael Thompson, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, David Lloyd-Jones [ Marco Polo British Light Music / CD - released 1/Jan/1998 ] The English composer David Lyon was a pupil of John Gardner at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His career has involved music for the theatre and an association with the activities of younger people. He writes in an approachable style,... |
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FRANZ DANZI
Danzi: Wind Quintets Op.67 1-3 / Sonata for Horn Michael Thompson Wind Quintet, with Michael Thompson (horn) Philip Fowke (piano) [ Naxos / CD ] "...These three are as cleverly written as always, appealing to the listener's intelligence but also to a sense of humour." © 2000 Gramophone |
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CHARLES IVES
Charles Ives Symphonies No.s 1 & 4 Michael Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus [ MUSIC ON CD / CD ] Charles Ives (1874-1954) was a late-Romantic composer with an important spiritual statement to make. His polyrhythms, "dissonance", etc, were only parts of the even more adventurous techniques he used in getting closer to the specific streams of... |
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SCARLATTI / RACHMANINOV / BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY / SCRIABIN / etc
Mikhail Pletnev - The Erato Recordings 1988 - 2001 Mikhail Pletnev (piano/conductor), with Michael Collins (clarinet) [ Erato / Warner Classics / 16 CD Box Set - released 22/Aug/2025 ] Mikhail Pletnev, a virtuoso pianist of the Russian school, rose to global fame after winning the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. Known for his formidable technique and deep musical insight, this collection of his Erato recordings... |
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ANONYMOUS / CORNYSHE / HENRY VIII / MASCHERA / SUSATO
The Tudors - Courtly Pastimes: Songs and dances from 'Henry VIII's Book' Musica Reservata & Purcell Consort of Voices, Grayston Burgess & Michael Morrow [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 15/Dec/2015 ] "[a] most attractive record" (Gramophone) |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Alexander's Feast (complete oratorio) Nancy Argenta, Ian Partridge, Michael George. The Sixteen. The Symphony of Harmony and Invention. Harry Christophers [ Coro / 2 CD - released 7/Jul/2005 ] "A remarkable recording is welcomed to the catalogue." Repertoire, France |
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HENRY PURCELL / GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Purcell: Dioclesian / Handel: Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 6, "Il duello amoroso" HWV 82 Nancy Argenta (soprano) Michael Chance (counter-tenor) / Freiburger Barockorchester, Gottfried von der Goltz [ Deutsche Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 1/Mar/1994 ] Recorded: January 1993, Maria Minor, Utrecht |
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EDMUND RUBBRA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rubbra: Violin Sonatas Krysia Osotowicz (violin) Michael Dussek (piano) [ Dutton / CD - released 2/Feb/2000 ] "An invaluable and enormously rewarding release, in sum, enthusiastically recommended...Osostowicz and Dussek form an outstandingly sympathetic partnership." The Gramophone Editor's Choice January 2000 |
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Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Louis Armstrong
Hello Dolly! (Soundtrack) [ Philips / CD - released 6/Apr/2009 ] Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman |
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BERTHOLD DAMCKE
Damcke: Chamber Works Pianotrio, Ilona Then-Bergh (violin) Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) Michael Schafer (piano) [ CPO / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/2015 ] "There is great give-and-take between the players [in Piano Trio No. 2], with pianist Michael Schäfer having lion's share as the strings play with grace and energy... The minuetto has debonair opening, played with gentle and mellifluous sensitivity" |
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PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tchaikovsky: Suites Nos 2 & 4 / Serenade Melancolique / Melodie Pinchas Zukerman (violin) / Philharmonia Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas / Israel Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta [ Sony Records Masterworks / CD - released 23/Oct/1990 ] Original recordings from 1981 & 1985 |
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FRANZ LISZT / JOHANNES BRAHMS
Liszt/Brahms: Piano Variations Michael Ponti (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 7/Jul/1990 ] The name of Bach was to provide a theme for a number of subsequent composers, following the example of Johann Sebastian Bach himself, who had used his own name as a fugal subject in The Art of Fugue. |
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HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras, etc Renee Fleming (soprano) / BBC Singers, New World Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 1/Apr/1996 ] Originally recorded in January 1996 |
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MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG
Weinberg: Clarinet Music Robert Oberaigner (clarinet), Michael Schöch (piano), Dresden Chamber Soloists, Michail Jurowski [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Mar/2020 ] Mieczysaw Weinberg was familiar with the clarinet from his youth, given its prominent place in klezmer bands and theatre ensembles, and he wrote three works specifically for the instrument. In the Clarinet Concerto he draws a wide range of textures... |
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CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: Saul & David (complete opera recorded in 2015) The Royal Danish Opera / Johan Reuter, Ann Petersen, Morten Staugaard, Susanne Resmark / Michael Schønwandt (cond) [ Dacapo DVD / DVD - released 20/Apr/2016 ] "a riveting performance by Johan Reuter in both voice and acted intensity...Pountney's direction and the conducting of Michael Schonwandt help make much of characters who might easily remain sinecures." (Gramophone DVD of the Month March 2016) |
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J. S. BACH
Cantatas Nos BWV140 & BWV147 Ruth Holton (soprano) Michael Chance (alto) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) / English Baroque Soloists / Sir John Elliot Gardiner [ DG Archiv / CD - released 21/Oct/2000 ] "The solo singing is by and large excellent. I very much enjoyed the unpretentious vocal quality of Ruth Holton" (Gramophone) |