JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Paris National Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Ludovic Tezier / Michel Plasson (cond) [ Decca Music Group Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 14/Sep/2015 ] "..comes beautifully to life, with Sophie Koch's Charlotte much more involving in close-up than she was at a distance and Jonas Kaufmann an absolute dream of a Werther. Their scorching Act 3 duet will simply blow your head off." (Daily Telegraph) |
STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Sondheim: Pacific Overtures Paul Strathearnj & Eric Roberts / English National Opera/Original London Cast, James Holmes [ TER / Thats Entertainment / 2 CD Box Set - released 3/Nov/1989 ] Pacific Overtures is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by John Weidman, with "additional material by" Hugh Wheeler. |
DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / VERDI / ROSSINI / MEYERBEER / MASSENET / GODARD
Pene Pati Pene Pati (tenor) / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Emmanuel Villaume [ Warner Classics / Warner / CD - released 25/Mar/2022 ] "A generosity of spirit not always to be taken for granted with tenors is in constant evidence on Pene Pati's debut album…His voice certainly has the colour for both the French and Italian repertoire presented here" BBC Music Choice of the Month May |
IGOR STRAVINSKY / SERGE PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, Petrushka, Pulcinella (suite), Divertimento (with works by Prokofiev) Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise, Igor Markevitch [ EMI Classics / CD - released 18/Mar/1989 ] Recorded 1954 - 1959 |
PAUL DUKAS
Dukas: Music for Piano / Orchestral Music / Ariane et Barbe-Bleue Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Jean Hubeau, Martha Argerich, Alexander Rabinovitch (pianos) / Orchestre National de I'O.R.T.F., etc [ Warner Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 15/Mar/2024 ] The composer Paul Dukas was known for abandoning many of his musical undertakings, resulting in a limited output of published works. This collection consolidates the core of his oeuvre in landmark renditions by prominent artists. |
WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI
Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 [(ncls Symphony No. 2] The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, with Piotr Paleczny (piano) [ Naxos / CD ] "An excellent disc at bargain price.": BBC Music |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Leaper [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/1992 ] "excellent playing from the Polish orchestra enhanced by vivid recording, fresh and clear with plenty of body" Penguin Guide |
WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI
Lutoslawski - Orchestral Works Vol 3: Symphony No. 3 / Paganini Variations Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra; Antoni Wit, conductor, with Bernd Glemser, piano [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Sep/2003 ] "a series that is setting high standards in budget-price contemporary music....Wit conjures a fantastic range of tone colour from his well-drilled Polish orchestra ...the third symphony has never sounded more convincing" - Classic CD |
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Szymanowski: Concert Overture / Symphonies Nos 2 & 3 Wieslaw Ochman (tenor) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jacek Kasprzyk & Jerzy Semkow [ EMI Classics Matrix / CD - released 10/Jul/1994 ] "The Third Symphony Song of the Night...It is a passionate performance of an intense and beautiful work - the tenor, Wieslaw Ochman, is deeply convincing, and the orchestra and chorus are committed to a highly charged performance." MusicWeb |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: Overtures (Incl. Overture, Scherzo and Finale, Op. 52 & Manfred, Op. 115) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Johannes Wildner, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2004 ] "Has anyone ever put these pieces together before? It's a good idea, sparing one the need of picking them up as fillers which can be expensive." - Fanfare |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 (Threnody, De Natura Sonoris, Symphony No. 3, Flourescences) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (Katowice) / Antoni Wit, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 20/May/2003 ] "The performances are remarkably fine, the three earlier pieces at least as eloquent as the symphony; the recording is both clear and ample." - International Record Review |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Symphony 7 / Sinfonietta Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 2/Feb/1986 ] ..."the performances simply knock your socks off. The recorded sound is great, the Scottish National Orchestra plays like a world class band.. (a) marvelous, charming, sweeping Järvi Seventh" MusicWeb |
SERGE PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokoviev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 23/Jan/1989 ] Recorded in Glasgow City Hall, September 1988 |
ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Glazunov: Complete Concertos Rachel Barton Pine (violin) Alexander Romanovsky (piano) Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) Marc Chisson (saxophone) / Russian National Orchestra, Jose Serebrier [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 21/Feb/2011 ] "there's little doubt that both Serebrier and his soloists, supported by warmly idiomatic playing from the Russian National Orchestra and a beautifully clear recording, make a highly persuasive case for the reappraisal of these works." BBC Music |
EDWARD ELGAR
An Introduction to Elgar (Incls 'Cello Concerto' & 'Enigma Variations) Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) / Scottish National Orchestra / Bournemouth Sinfonietta [ Chandos Intro / CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] 'Richly expressive playing, heartfelt performance' The Penguin Complete Guide |
LIONEL SAINSBURY / JOHN FOULDS
Sainsbury/Foulds: Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 1/Apr/2012 ] "One really could not ask Messrs Wallfisch and Yates and both orchestras for more persuasive world premieres of two concertos that already seem like old friends." Gramophone Editor's Choice July 2012) |
ALAN RAWSTHORNE
Rawsthorne: Cello Concerto / Oboe Concerto / Symphonic Studies Stephane Rancourt (oboe) Alexander Baillie (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / David Lloyd-Jones [ Naxos / CD - released 27/Apr/2008 ] "A fascinating release, in excellent sound; highly recommended." - Fanfare (Christopher Williams), July/August2001 |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Carol Neblett, Sherrill Milnes, Paul Plishka / Ambrosian Opera Chorus / National Philhrmonic / James Levine [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2006 ] "Scotto sings a lovely "Si, mi chiamano Mimi", and her phrasing is always beautiful...no one newly smitten by the opera will find this performance of it disappointing." (Gramophone) |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Opera Series / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1977 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone This set is currently unavailable |
UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Red Seal / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1997 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone |