ANTON BRUCKNER / OLIVIER MESSIAEN
Bruckner - Symphony No 8 / Messiaen - Couleurs de la Cité Céleste [Blu-ray] Sir Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra [ LSO Live / Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 11/May/2018 ] "Rattle's performance of Messiaen's 1963 score superbly well, and the control of rhythm and colour is exemplary. The LSO winds and percussion are on superb form and Pierre-Laurent Aimard's contribution is powerfully incisive." Gramophone |
RAVEL / DUTILLEUX / DELAGE
Ravel, Dutilleux, Delage BLU-RAY / DVD Sir Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra, Leonidas Kavakos, Julia Bullock [ LSO Blu-ray + DVD / Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 27/Oct/2017 ] "Rich sound and crystalline picture quality make this an enjoyable viewing experience." Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Maurice Ravel: The Complete Works Sir Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, André Cluytens, Armin Jordan, Lorin Maazel, Charles Münch, etc [ Warner Classics / 21 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2020 ] An essential collection of landmark performances, this 21-CD box of Ravel's complete works brings together major interpreters of the present day and preceding generations. |
EDWARD ELGAR / BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Sol Gabetta Live (Elgar & Martinu Cello Concertos) Sol Gabetta (cello) / Berliner Philharmoniker. Sir Simon Rattle & Krzystof Urbanski [ Sony Classics / CD - released 8/Feb/2018 ] "This is superb cello-playing and Krzysztof UrbaĆski directs a vital and sensitive accompaniment." Gramophone |
EDVARD GREIG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg/Schumann: Piano Concertos Stephen Bishop Kovacevich (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 5/May/1984 ] A highly regarded pianist, Stephen Kovacevich is particularly known for his original approach to the standard classical repertoire. Prominent in his repertoire is the music of such composers as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, and, Grieg. |
BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: The 3 Piano Concertos Stephen Kovacevich (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 1/Oct/1990 ] 'In each of the concertos it is Kovacevich's reading of the finale which crowns the performance...the recording represents the work of Philips engineers at its refined best [Concertos 1 & 3]' Gramophone |
BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: The 3 Piano Concertos / Violin Concerto / Concerto for Orchestra Stephen Kovacevich (piano) Henryk Szeryng (violin) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink [ Philips Duo / 2 CD - released 1/Oct/1993 ] 'In each of the concertos it is Kovacevich's reading of the finale which crowns the performance...the recording represents the work of Philips engineers at its refined best [Piano Concertos Gramophone] |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The 2 Piano Concertos / 4 Ballades, Op. 10 / etc Stephen Kovacevich (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 28/Aug/1993 ] "Kovacevich is a fiery pianist, an artist with a powerful technique and a tendency toward brisk tempos. Davis can be laid back, but he generally draws muscular and fairly straightforward performances from the orchestras he conducts." ClassicalNet |
GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: Orchestral Works Volume 3 [incls 'The Mystic Trumpeter, Op. 18'] Susan Gritton (soprano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 7/Oct/2013 ] "A superb release, in excellent sound. By far the best recording of the Choral Symphony available." (MusicWeb Nov 2013) |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle [ BR Klassik / CD - released 7/Oct/2022 ] For the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the performances on November 26 and 27, 2021 in the Isarphilharmonie marked the beginning of a new chapter in its Mahler interpretation: with its designated new principal conductor Simon Rattle, the... |
FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: Violin Concerto / Two Aquarelles / On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring / etc Tasmin Little (violin) / Welsh National Opera rchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Argo / CD - released 1/Oct/1992 ] Recorded: 1991 Recording Venue: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Don Giovanni (complete opera with full libretto) Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, Ann Murray, Michele Pertusi / London Philhmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca / 3 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1997 ] "It is as finely disciplined as any other Solti performance, the orchestral playing is excellent, and the rhythms are crisp, strong and tautly held. There is a sense of spaciousness to the direction that is unusual these days...But there is certainly... |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Les Troyens (complete opera recorded in 2003) BLU-RAY Theatre Musical de Paris / Yannis Kokkos, Susan Graham, Gregory Kunde / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ Opus Arte / BBC Blu-Ray / 2 Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "The magnificent high-definition recording does it ample sonic and visual justice. For anyone who loves Les Troyens, this is a revelatory and essential performance." (The Gramophone Classical Music Guide) |
GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn Thomas Allen (baritone) Ann Murray (soprano) / The London Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Virgin Ultraviolet / CD - released 5/Nov/1995 ] Recorded At - No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 1991 |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Opera Arias Cynthia Sieden, Charlotte Margiono, Anne Sofie von Otter, Rodney Gilfry, Bryn Terfel, Gerald Finley / English Baroque Soloists, Sir John Eliot Gardin [ Archiv Deutsche Grammophon Virtuoso / CD - released 8/Oct/2012 ] "Gardiner's Mozartian style is well sprung and subtly moulded rather than severe. The principals sing beautifully...The electrifying singing of the Monteverdi Choir adds to the dramatic bite." Penguin Guide |
JOHAN PACHELBEL
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon Sir James Galway, The Canadian Brass, Angel Romero etc [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 6/Oct/2003 ] From movies and TV commercials to church services and weddings, Pachelbel's Canon has become central to the soundtrack of our lives. Now, experience this little masterpiece in fifteen very different arrangements - for orchestra, piano, string... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: The Complete Adrian Boult Recordings London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Sir Adrian Boult [ Warner Classics / 13 CD Box Set - released 12/Sep/2018 ] "It seems superfluous to recommend this box. It contains around 17 hours of Boult's VW. Many of these recordings are amongst the very best you will hear." MusicWeb |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 1956) Victoria de los Angeles / Jussi Bjorling / Robert Merrill / Lucine Amara / RCA Victor Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 11/Apr/2007 ] Featuring Victoria de los Angeles and Jussi Björling in glorious form, the 1956 set ranks alongside the Callas De Sabata Tosca (Naxos 8.110256-57) as one of the greatest studio recordings of an opera ever made. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1958 & 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics The Home Of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jul/2019 ] "This classic Beecham set was originally welcomed in Gramophone with a glowing review from Philip Hope Wallace: 'I send up a loud "Ole".' It certainly stands the test of time, sparkling, swaggering and seducing in a way that is uniquely Beecham's. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1958 & 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Legendary Opera Recordings / 3 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2016 ] "a spacious recording in which the atmospheric off-stage effects are vividly caught. What is so individual is the way that Beecham points rhythms to captivate the ear, as well as his persuasive moulding of phrases." (Gramophone) |