|
MAURICE RAVEL / HECTOR BERLIOZ
Ravel: Sheherazade / Berlioz: Les Nuits d'ete [recorded in 1967] Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) / New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 10/Feb/2019 ] A classic recording of a classic pairing of French song cycles. Composed some 60 years apart, Berlioz's Les Nuits d'été and Ravel's Shéhérazade both visit romantic, mysterious and exotic locations, evoking a wealth of moods and sensations. Janet... |
|
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Requiem / Quattro pezzi sacri Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti, Martti Talvela / Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Originals / 2 CD - released 11/Nov/2007 ] "Horne is the formidable mezzo, although her singing isn't always lit with inner feeling. The beauty of the youthful Pavarotti's tone is admirable, but he is sometimes restrained by four-square support. Talvela is sonorous but lacks legato.... |
|
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
An Olde English Christmas (Incls 'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing' & 'We Three Kings of Orient Are') John Alldis Choir / London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ Decca / CD - released 9/Nov/2007 ] "The ideal Christmas collection of 18 popular carols. Originally released by Decca in 1980, An Olde English Christmas presents 18 Christmas carols in opulent arrangements that should appeal to anyone who enjoys a "light classics" approach to the season." |
|
MENDELSSOHN
String Symphonies Nos 9, 10 & 12 / Concerto in A minor for Piano & Strings John Ogdon (piano) / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 12/Jun/2006 ] "If you are looking to experience more of the young Mendelssohn, then this is the disc for you" (MusicWeb Feb 2007) |
|
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: L'Ange de Nisida (complete opera) Joyce El-Khoury, David Junghoon Kim, Laurent Naouri, Vito Priante / Royal Opera Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Mar/2019 ] Opera Rara presents, 179 years after it was written, the world premiere recording of a Donizetti 'lost' masterpiece, restored and brought thrillingly back to life. Written in 1839 for the Theâtre de la Renaissance in Paris, rehearsals started but the... |
|
W. A. MOZART
Cosi fan Tutte (Complete Opera recorded in 1990) Karita Mattila, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Allen, Francisco Araiza / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca Classic Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2008 ] "A strikingly light, fresh Così with a truly superb ensemble, idiomatic and characterful; the voices are large, but only Mattila sounds a little weighty." (Five Stars BBC Music) |
|
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No 2 in C minor 'Resurrection' Kate Royal (soprano), Magdalena Kozena (mezzo) / Berliner Philharmoniker & Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 1/May/2011 ] "Kožená brings her customary depth of feeling to the still maternal voice of "Urlicht"...Rattle's famous piano-pianissimos are deployed to breathtaking effect." (Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice March 2011) |
|
TRADITIONAL
Carols from King's College, Cambridge (LP) King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Philip Ledger, with The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble [ Warner Classics / LP - released 4/Nov/2022 ] It's not Christmas without the angelic voices of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. These fifteen popular carols were originally recorded between 1969 and 1976 |
|
GABRIEL FAURE / MAURICE DURUFLE
Faure / Durufle: Requiems Janet Baker (mezzo) Stephen Roberts (baritone) Robert Chilcott (treble) / King's College Choir Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger, Sir David Willcocks [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 3/Sep/2012 ] Since the advent of the compact disc, the Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, of Gabriel Fauré and the Requiem, Op. 9, of Maurice Duruflé have frequently been paired, not only because they neatly fit the running time, but also because they are complementary... |
|
Traditional
Carols From King's College Cambridge: 25 of the most popular carols Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Philip Ledger with the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble [ Warner Classics / CD - released 17/Nov/1997 ] Twenty Five of the most popular carols on one CD. |
|
WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (Complete opera) Kirsten Flagstad, Claire Watson, George London / Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Heritage Masters / 2 CD - released 20/Sep/2009 ] It took a lot of effort for legendary producer John Culshaw to convince the powers-that-be at Decca that a state-of-the-art studio Ring should be recorded. With artists such as Kirsten Flagstad and George London in the cast, the recording of Die... |
|
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 & 2 Lars Vogt (piano) / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Red Line / CD - released 12/Feb/2007 ] "This is a remarkable record, as fine a recorded account of these two concertos as we have had for many a long year." (Gramophone) |
|
BEETHOVEN / MOZART / BRAHMS / HANDEL / HAYDN / MENDELSSOHN / ROSSINI / etc
Roger Norrington - The Complete Erato Recordings London Classical Players, The Schutz Choir of London, Sir Roger Norrington, with Melvyn Tan (piano) & Daniel Hope (violin) [ Erato Veritas / 45 CD Box Set - released 11/Nov/2022 ] Innovator, erudite, entertaining and acclaimed conductor Sir Roger Norrington founded the Schütz Choir, became founding music director of Kent Opera and established the London Classical Players, the period-instrument orchestra. |
|
GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: The Planets (LP) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Sir Adrain Boult [ Warner Classics / LP - released 19/Jun/2020 ] 'This magnificent performance of The Planets, recorded with an opulent realism, brings to a culmination Boult's supreme understanding of this work.' Gramophone |
|
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Symphonies 1 & 2 / Introduction & Allegro for strings / etc London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult [ Warner Classics British Composers / 2 CD - released 23/Feb/2007 ] "(Symphony 1 is) a dedicated performance by one of the composer's finest interpreters and you'll hear some really great conducting in the other pieces, the Second Symphony above all." (MusicWeb March 2007) |
|
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Enigma Variations (with Holst - The Planets) London Symphony Orchestra / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 1/Nov/2010 ] "This is a desirable reissue that cannot be faulted. Wonderful performances of two orchestral masterworks." (MusicWeb Jan 2011) |
|
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Semele (complete opera recorded in 2019) BLU-RAY Louise Alder, Hugo Hymas, Lucile Richardot / Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 29/Jan/2021 ] In Spring 2019, the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, led by John Eliot Gardiner, presented a critically-acclaimed European tour of Handel's opera 'Semele', including Alexandra Palace Theatre in London. |
|
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Double Piano Concertos Lucas Jussen (piano), Arthur Jussen (piano) / Academy of St Martin in the fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 16/Mar/2017 ] ".The Jussen boys have found perhaps the perfect collaborator in Sir Neville Marriner, who has conducted more Mozart than most; the Academy acquit themselves well." Editor's Choice Gramophone January 2016 |
|
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
Gluck: Orphee et Eurydice (Complete opera recorded in 2000) Theatre Musical de Paris / Magdalena Kozena, Madeline Bender, Patricia Petibon / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ Warner Classics DVD / DVD - released 10/Oct/2009 ] When the historic Theatre du Chatelet in Paris re-opened after a period of extensive refurbishment, the first two productions mounted in the theatre were Gluck's Alceste and Orphée et Eurydice. |