CHABRIER / RAVEL / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / MUSSORGSKY / BORODIN
Orchestral Spectacular [Incls 'Espana', 'Capriccio Espagnol' & 'Bolero'] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Adrian Leaper [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Apr/2009 ] "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provide their own Spanish magic" - Essex Chronicle |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Orchestral Works [Incls 'Rapsodie Espagnole', 'La Valse', 'Daphnis & Chloe' & 'Bolero'] Orchestre National de France, Eliahu Inbal / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Jesus Lopez-Cobos [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2010 ] An outstanding compilation of the very best of Ravel. Recordings originally made in Paris and released on Denon. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Overture: 'Le Corsaire' / Royal Hunt and Storm & Trojan March ('Les Troyens') (recorded 1957-59) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] Rosette Recording (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide - 'If you want a genuinely French Symphonie fantastique, wonderfully performed and superbly recorded, go out and get this release before it's snapped up by your neighbour.' (Gramophone) |
SCHUBERT
Male Choruses Orphei Drangar conducted by Robert Sund with Instrumentalists from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra [ BIS / CD - released 6/Jun/2000 ] Schubert's some 100 songs for men's choir have been strangely neglected, probably because they are musically highly demanding. |
BIZET
The Complete Orchestral Works (Incls Carmen Suites & Symphony in C) Orquestra Filarmonica de Maxico / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Enrique Batiz [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD - released 29/Sep/2006 ] French composer Georges Bizet is famous for only one masterpiece: the opera Carmen. From that we can already hear that he is a brilliant orchestrator. |
HOWARD BLAKE
The Passion of Mary / 4 Songs of the Nativity Patricia Rozario / Robert William Blake / David Wilson-Johnson / London Voices / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Howard Blake [ Naxos / CD - released 11/May/2010 ] "Choirs looking for new repertoire need look no further. Here are two works which can communicate easily and make a real impression on the audience. This music is far too good to miss." (MusicWeb Bargain of the Month May 2010) |
JOHN RUTTER
Distant Land (Incls The Beatles Concerto) Paul Shaffer, Peter Rostal (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / John Rutter [ Universal Classics / CD - released 20/Jun/2005 ] The Beatles Concerto is a panic. Composed for duo pianists Peter Rostal and Paul Schaefer, it treats these famous tunes (about eight of them) in the style of Rachmaninov or Tchaikovsky. |
MUSSORGSKY
Pictures at an Exhibition & other Russian works (Recorded 1956/57) Philharmonia Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Eugene Goossens [ Medici Masters / CD - released 20/Oct/2007 ] Sir Eugene Goossens was the third member of the illustrious Goossens family - Leon and Sidonie being the others. After leaving the Royal College of Music (1907-1912) he became a violinist with the Queen's Hall Orchestra (1912-15) before becoming an... |
ELGAR
Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (with Chausson - Poeme for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 25) Philippe Graffin (violin) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Avie / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] "I'd say that Graffin loves the concerto very much and that comes through." (MusicWeb Sept 2009) |
CHOPIN
Piano Concerto No.2 / Preludes (24), Op. 28 Maria João Pires (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Aug/2010 ] |
BRIDGE / ELGAR
Oration / Cello Concerto (with Holst's Invocation) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Dickins (conductor) [ Nimbus / CD - released 27/Jun/2006 ] These three notable British works for cello and orchestra from the early 20th century - two of them, the Elgar and the Bridge, ranking among the finest for the medium ever written by British composers - are linked by various strands, both... |
BARBER / BJORK / HILLBORG
Renée Fleming: Distant Light Renée Fleming (soprano) / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo [ Decca / CD - released 19/Jan/2017 ] "At once alluring and uneasy, the songs are a gift for Renée Fleming, whose siren-like soprano draws the listener on to the unknown. The atmosphere is potently captured by Sakari Oramo and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra." Financial Times |
CHRISTOPHER GUNNING
Gunning: Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto / Birdflight Richard Harwood (Cello) Harriet Mackenzie (Violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Signum / CD - released 19/Jun/2020 ] Gunning's Violin Concerto was composed after inspiration whilst the composer was out hiking in Wales. The violin is supposed to represent ducking and weaving, rather like the insects and animals found in the Welsh hills and valleys. |
WILLIAMS / BARRY / ELFMAN / ZIMMER / DAVIS / etc
Great Movie Themes Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Carl Davis (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Oct/2007 ] "The disc has many delights and finishes off with music which most children will immediately relate to - the music from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." MusicWeb |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Willow-Wood / The Sons of Light / Toward the Unknown Region Roderick Williams (baritone) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra / Ian Tracey (choirmaster) / David Lloyd-Jones (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 16/Dec/2005 ] "Eloquent treatment for a rewqarding haul of VW rarities" Editor's Choice Gramophone Dec 2005 |
COPLAND / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / STRAVINSKY / PONCHIELLI / SAINT-SAENS
Essential Ballets (excerpts from 'the Nutcracker', 'Petrushka', 'Giselle', 'Swan Lake' & 'Coppelia') Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Suisse Romande Orchestra [ Decca / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] All the very best ballet music on a specially priced double CD set. |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra / Gunter Neuhold (conductor) [ Naxos Super Budget Series / CD - released 30/Jun/1998 ] Bruckner's Symphony No.4 in E flat major, was written in its first version in 1873 and 1874, further revisions, as always, taking place in the following years. |
JON LORD
Durham Concerto Matthew Barley (cello), Jon Lord (hammond organ), Ruth Palmer (violin) & Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian pipes) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra [ Avie / CD - released 28/Jan/2008 ] "Jon Lord has concentrated on composition since leaving Deep Purple. Lord's music is compellingly sonorous, his programmatic narratives are crystal-clear, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic play with passion and tenderness." (Gramophone) |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Sea Pictures Op.37, The Music Makers Op.69 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Kathryn Rudge (mezzo-soprano), Vasily Petrenko [ Onyx / CD - released 24/Apr/2020 ] "No question about it, Petrenko's abundantly communicative conception demands to be heard" Editor's Choice Gramophone July 2020 |
RALF VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies No. 2 'London' & 8 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Manze [ ONYX / CD - released 10/Jun/2016 ] "This is expressive and atmospheric playing, rarely heard since Boult." (BBC Music Orchestral Choice July 2016) |