JOSEF HAYDN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Haydn: The London Symphonies: Nos 94 'Surprise', 100 'Military', 104 'London' Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 1/Jan/1982 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1761-1800) Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: The London Symphonies Volume 1 [incls 'Roll Drum', 'London' & 'Miracle'] Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips Duo / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2009 ] Penguin Guide Rosette Winner |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (complete opera recorded in 1991) Royal Opera, Covent Garden / Kiri Te Kanawa, Alexandru Agache, Sylvesyer, Roberto Scandiuzzi / Sir Georg Solti (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 9/Nov/2007 ] A well-received, stylish 1991 Royal Opera production staged by Elijah Moshinsky and premiered with Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Georg Solti. |
W.A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (complete opera recorded in 2003) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside / Dorothea Roschmann / Will Hartmann / Diana Damarau / Franz-Josef Selig / Sir Colin Davis (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "Diana Damrau's supremely sung Queen of the Night oozes class, while Simon Keenlyside's profoundly human, touchingly sympathetic view of Papageno deserves an Olivier Award." (Classic FM) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Otello (complete opera recorded in 2017) Royal Opera House / Jonas Kaufmann, Marco Vratogna, Maria Agresta / Sir Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Sony Classical DVD / 2 DVD - released 15/May/2018 ] "Kaufmann's exceptional musicality makes itself felt throughout the opera in a manner that has rarely been equalled…The vulnerability of this Otello lies not so much in his ethnic otherness as in his emotional ingenuousness." Gramophone |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Otello (complete opera recorded in 2017) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / Jonas Kaufmann, Marco Vratogna, Maria Agresta / Sir Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Sony Classical Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 15/May/2018 ] 'Jonas Kaufmann Sings an 'Otello' for the Ages'- New York Times. On a sweltering night at London's Royal Opera House in June 2017, Jonas Kaufmann made his debut performance as Otello - one of the most coveted and challenging roles in the tenor... |
EDVARD GRIEG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg: Peer Gynt / Symphonic Dance No.2 / In Autumn / etc. Ilse Hollweg (soprano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Beecham Choral Society, Sir Thomas Beecham [ EMI Classics Studio Plus / CD - released 10/Oct/1993 ] "Beecham showed a very special feeling for this score and to hear (these excerpts) under his baton is a uniquely rewarding experience. Ilse Hollweg makes an excellent soloist." Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stravinsky: Symphonies / The Fairy's Kiss / Ode Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson, Neeme Jarvi / Nash Ensemble [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 30/Aug/2008 ] "A program that offers exceptional value for the money. A fine reissue." (ClassicsToday) |
CARL ORFF
Carmina Burana (recorded 31 December 2004 at the Philharmonie Berlin) BLU-RAY Sally Matthews (soprano) / Lawrence Brownlee (tenor) / Christian Gerhaher (baritone) / Berliner Philharmoniker / Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 22/Dec/2010 ] Simon Rattle is a musical force of nature and the interaction between his unique, varied musical gifts and the great performing traditions of the Berliner Philharmoniker is one of the most exciting features of our present cultural life. |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius / Sea Pictures Sarah Connolly, Stuart Skelton, David Soar / BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos Classics SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "[Davis's] patient and scrupulously observant conception of the whole work evinces a selfless authority, wisdom and instinctive ebb and flow" (Gramophone Magazine Award WINNER 2015 - Choral) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: Symphonies No. 2 & 5 Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 1/Nov/1991 ] "Alexander Gibson's 1980s Sibelius cycle on Chandos, one of the first digital sets, was praised for its clean lines, propulsive phrasing, and bracing impact." MusicWeb |
ETHEL SMYTH / HAMILTON HARTY / HAMISH MacCUNN / EDWARD GERMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Music of the Four Countries (Incls The Land of the Mountain and the Flood & Welsh Rhapsody) Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ EMI Studio / CD - released 20/Mar/2000 ] Four classic tone poems depicting the British Isles including 'The Land of the Mountain and the Flood' which was a hit as the theme-tune for BBC's "Sutherland's Law" |
ANTONIN DVORAK / CESAR FRANCK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A / Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor Sir Clifford Curzon (piano), Vienna Philharmonic Quartet [ Decca / CD - released 1/Jun/1988 ] "The Op. 81 Quintet (in a classic recording with pianist Sir Clifford Curzon) brims over with melodic inspiration." (BBC Music) |
EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: Symphonies 1 & 2 / etc London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] "Solti's way with the First Symphony is certainly exciting - some might say excitable...vivid, urgent and exciting." MusicWeb |
ZOLTAN KODALY / BELA BARTOK / LEO WEINER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sir Georg Solti - The Last Recording (Limited Edition Souvenir Booklet) Sir Georg Solti, conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra & Choir of Hungarian Radio & TV [ Decca / CD - released 20/Oct/1998 ] This disc was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Awards for "Best Classical Album" and "Best Choral Performance." A portion of the proceeds from sales of this disc will be given to the Solti Foundation.. |
Sir Howard Morrison
Spectacular [ Rajon / CD - released 14/Mar/2011 ] Sir Howard Morrison's best selling album has been out of print for a number of years, but is now available again. This album contains all of his most famous songs recorded live in concert. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS / W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Peter and the Wolf / Carnival of the Animals / Eine kleine Nachtmusik Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Academy of London, Richard Stamp [ Virgin Classics / CD - released 19/Oct/2004 ] "The new digital recording from Sir John Gielgud is a natural successor to that of his illustrious late colleague, Ralph Richardson, and every bit as enjoyable." (Gramophone) |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: L'Histoire du soldat [The Soldier's Tale] / Octet for Wind Instruments (with Schoenberg - Chamber Symphony No. 1) Sir John Gielgud (narrator), Tom Courtenay (The Soldier), Ron Moody (The Devil) / Boston Symphony Chamber Players [ Australian Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2011 ] "These Boston players give immaculately polished accounts of all five [chamber] works … The recording is excellent - clear without dryness, warm without over-resonance" (Reissue of the Month Gramophone Feb 2011) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with Bizet's Jeux d'enfants) Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Vivian Troon, Roderick Elms (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andrea Licata (cond) [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 10/Apr/2006 ] In line with the tradition begun by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to be closely associated with some of the world's outstanding conductors and soloists. |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Christ on the Mount of Olives Sir Simon Rattle, Elsa Dreisig, Pavol Breslik, David Soar, London Symphony Orchestra [ LSO Live SACD / CD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] Composed in 1803, while Beethoven was also writing the 'Eroica' Symphony, Christ on the Mount of Olives (Christus am Ölberge) is the composer's only oratorio, and combines the emotive force of his later Missa Solemnis with the theatre of a Bach... |