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ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Abridged) John Sessions (narrator) [ Naxos Audio Books / 2 CD - released 20/Aug/2009 ] Both a cracking tale of horror and a deeply audacious account of the human psyche, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has continued to thrill and fascinate since it was first published in 1886. Dr Jekyll wants to rid his soul of evil, and in... |
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FRANZ LEHAR
Lehar: Die Lustige Witwe [The Merry widow] (highlights in English) Joan Sutherland, John Brecknock, Francis Egerton, Regina Resnik, John Fryatt / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Mar/2016 ] Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this operetta, first performed in Vienna in 1905 and here given by a cast lead by Joan Sutherland and also featuring John Brecknock, Valerie Masterson and Werner Krenn. |
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SCHUMANN / WOLF / DEBUSSY / POULENC
Régine Crespin: Song Recital Régine Crespin (soprano), John Wustman (piano) [ Decca Most Wanted Recitals Vol. 11 / CD - released 16/Oct/2016 ] "Arguably the sexiest of classical female singers, Crespin creamily performs German and French songs, and there are four Italian operatic arias as makeweights. This would seduce anyone." (BBC Music) |
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Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Vanessa Redgrave
Wagner - The Mini-Series [ ViaVision Entertainment / 5 DVD Box Set - released 9/Jun/2011 ] A huge panorama of Wagner's life and work, from before the 1848 Revolution, through his exile in Switzerland, his rescue by the besotted King Ludwig II of Bavaria to the final triumph at Bayreuth. |
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WORDSWORTH / AUDEN / DONNE / BETJEMAN /LONGFELLOW / etc
The Gift of Poetry Richard Burton, Robert Donat, Alec guinness, John Betjeman, Orson Wells, Paul Robeson (narrators) [ Alto / CD - released 19/Apr/2018 ] Over 78 minutes of sustained quality in favourites, all performed by legendary voices. |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Shakespeare In Music & Words Richard Pasco, Vanessa Redgrave, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Sir John Gielgud, Paul Hardwick, Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming & others [ Decca / 2 CD - released 22/Apr/2016 ] To celebrate 400 years of William Shakespeare, Decca presents a 2 disc set of music inspired by the Bard as well as highlights of his greatest written work. |
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GERALD FINZI
A Finzi Anthology Robert Plane (clarinet), Tim Hugh (cello), Roderick Williams (baritone), Iain Burnside (piano), James Gilchrist (tenor), John Mark Ainsley (tenor) [ Naxos / 8 CD - released 9/Sep/2016 ] More than any other composer, Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) has come to embody the lyrical pastoralism so associated with English twentieth-century music. This anthology includes eight critically acclaimed recordings of Finzi's works. The themes of... |
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J.S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas Vol 5: BWV178, BWV136, BWV45; BWV46, BWV101, BWV102 Robin Tyson, Brindley Sherratt, Joanne Lunn, Daniel Taylor / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / John Elliot Gardiner [ Soli Deo Gloria / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] John Eliot Gardiner's choral Pilgrimage exploring the magnificence and grandeur of all of Bach's cantatas continues with this 2CD release, combining cantatas for the eighth and tenth Sunday after Trinity, recorded live in August 2000. |
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Roger Eno & Kate St. John
The Familiar [ Hannibal / All Saints / CD - released 29/Jun/2010 ] |
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ALUN HODDINOTT / S. COLERIDGE-TAYLOR / E.J. MOREAN / GERALD FINZI / etc
British String Concertos Rohan de Saram, Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Yfrah Neaman, John Georgiadis, Rodney Friend (violin), Cecil Aronowitz (viola) / Various orchestras [ Lyrita / 4 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/2015 ] "this is an historic collection for all sorts of reasons. These recordings will be listened to for many years to come. The heyday of Lyrita was an extraordinarily rich period for British music and for performers who were committed to it." (MusicWeb) |
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HEINRICH IGNAZ BIBER
Violin Sonatas Romanesca: Andrew Manze (violin) / Nigel North (lute & theorbo) / John Toll (harpsichord & organ) [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / 2 CD - released 20/May/2011 ] "This is masterful playing...The range of expression is indeed a constant joy. Amongst the finest baroque chamber music to have appeared in recent years." - Gramophone Magazine |
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FRESCOBALDI / KAPSBERGER / SCHMELZER
Fantastic Style - 17th Century Violin Music (Frescobaldi, Kapsberger, Schmelzer) Romanesca: Andrew Manze (violin) / Nigel North (theorbo) / John Toll (organ) [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD ] Harmonia Mundi's Fantastic Style is a two-for-the-price-of-one combination of two great albums by Romanesca: Phantasticus, originally released in 1996, and Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas from 1998. Phantasticus takes as its point of departure an extract... |
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Romanesca: Andrew Manze, violin / Nigel North, theorbo / John Toll, organ
Uccellini - Sonatas [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 13/Mar/2005 ] "Some of the most uninhibited baroque playing around. Any disc released by Romanesca is a 'must'". - Classic CD |
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PURCELL
Purcell Edition (The Indian Queen, The Tempest, Dioclesian, Timon of Athens) Rosemary Hardy, Dinah Harris, Jennifer Smith, Lynne Dawson, Rogers Covey-Crump etc / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists, John Elliot Gardiner [ Warner Erato / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2010 ] "The choral singing is especially fine, with the close of the work movingly expressive… for The Tempest, Gardiner demonstrates how delightful it is, a masterly collection, in performances both polished and stylish and with excellent solo and choral... |
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HEROLD
La Fille mal Gardee (complete ballet with cheography by Frederick Ashton recorded in 1981) The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden / Lesley Collier / Michael Coleman / John Lanchberry (cond) [ Kultur / NVC Arts / Warner Music Vision / DVD - released 22/Jun/2005 ] G :- Frederick Ashton's delightful ballet has proved irresistible to audiences of all ages and The Royal Ballet's production has immediate appeal for newcomers to ballet as well as for those who return time and again to enjoy its lyrical comedy. |
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STRAVINSKY
The Firebird / Les Noces (complete ballets recorded in 1996) The Royal Ballet / Leanne Benjamin / Jonathan Cope / Zenaida Yanowsky / John Carewe (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] G - 'The Firebird and Les Noces in revelatory and near definitive versions…' Best DVDs of the Year 2002 The Independent |
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PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (complete ballet recorded in 1968) Royal Ballet / Lesley Collier, Rudolf Nureyev, Merle Park, Leslie Edwards, Betty Kavanagh, Keith Martin, Ann Jenner, Gerd Larsen, Wayne Sleep / John L [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 27/Nov/2020 ] "Explore the dreamlike world of Rudolf Nureyev's interpretation of The Nutcracker. In his imaginative retelling of a 19th-century classic, the young Clara is propelled by dark forces from the realm of childhood into a radiant kingdom where she takes... |
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ERIC COATES
London Again Suite and other orchestral works Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra /John Wilson [ Avie / CD - released 27/Jun/2005 ] "Sweet tuneful nostalgic delight - a must for Eric Coates admirers." (MusicWeb May 2005) |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Made in Britain Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, John Wilson [ Avie Records / CD - released 3/Oct/2011 ] "[Clark's] playing has rapturous firepower...John Wilson's conducting secures ultra-vivid, sparklingly finished performances that also respond memorably to the quieter moments" BBC Music Magazine, March 2012 **** |
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MEYERBEER
Robert Le Diable (complete opera recorded in 2012) Royal Opera House / Bryan Hymel, Patrizia Ciofi, John Relyea, Marina Poplavskaya / Daniel Oren (conductor) [ Opus Arte Royal Opera House Collection DVD / 2 DVD - released 20/Aug/2013 ] A grand opera that dominated the stages of Europe for most of the 19th century, Robert le diable is a masterpiece. Director Laurent Pelly breathes new life into Giacomo Meyerbeer's great spectacle and audaciously entertaining moral fable, in this... |