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J. S. BACH
Weihnachts-Oratorio [Christmas Oratorio] Kurt Equiluz (tenor) Barbara Schlick (soprano) Carolyn Watkinson (alto) Michel Brodard (bass) / Ensemble De Lausanne, Michel Corboz [ Warner Apex / 2 CD - released 23/Nov/2009 ] "Corboz has assembled a strong set of soloists, ones who would not be out place in a period performance. Barbara Schlick has an attractive, if slim, soprano which she uses with intelligence. It is, however, quite a distinctive sound with a swift... |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (recorded Nov 2018) Erin Wall (soprano) Annika Schlicht (mezzo) Attilio Glaser (ten) René Pape (bass) / World Orchestra for Peace & Würth Philharmoniker, Donald Runnicles [ C Major DVD / DVD - released 1/Jul/2019 ] In 2018, marking the exact 100th anniversary of the Armistice ending World War 1, the all-star World Orchestra for Peace gave two UNESCO designated performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Symbolically one in each of the UK and Germany - for the BBC... |
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RAUTAVAARA
Angel of Dusk: Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra / Symphony No 2 / Pelimannit (Fiddlers) Esko Laine (double-bass) Tapiola Sinfonietta / Jean-Jacques Kantorow [ BIS / CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] Editor's Choice Gramophone |
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TONU KORVITS
Kõrvits: Hymns to the Nordic Lights, Orchestral Works Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Risto Joost (conductor), Meelis Vind (bass clarinet) [ Ondine / CD - released 21/Feb/2020 ] Tõnu Kõrvits (b. 1969) is together with Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür among the most interesting Estonian composers of our time. This album by the Estonian NSO and Risto Joost consists of orchestral works written between a period of ten years, from... |
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J.S. BACH
The very best of Bach: Excerpts from orchestral, concertos, vocal and choral works Eteri Andjaparidze (piano) Bela Banfalvi (violin) Emilia Csanky (oboe) Lucy van Dael (violin) Nicholas Gedge (bass-baritone) and many others [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 8/Dec/2005 ] Presented in a stylish slipcase with a modern take on John Minnion's composer cartoons, with detailed track listings and accessible texts on the composer's life and an overview of their most famous works. |
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RAMEAU
Que les mortels servent de modele aux dieux Eugénie Warnier (soprano), Arnaud Richard (bass) / Ausonia / Frederic Haas [ Alpha / CD - released 20/Aug/2009 ] May the mortals be a model for the gods |
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EVAN PARKER
Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble: Toward the Margins Evan Parker (soprano saxophone) / Barry Guy (double-bass) / Paul Lytton (percussion, live-electronics) / Philipp Wachsmann (violin, viola, live elect) [ ECM Records / CD - released 5/Sep/2008 ] British saxophonist Evan Parker was one of the first musicians to record for ECM, appearing on the label's fifth album in 1970 as a member of the Music Improvisation Company |
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BEETHOVEN
Flagello conducts Flagello Ezio Flagello (bass-baritone) / London Philharmonic Orchestra & I Musici di Firenze & Ambrosian Singers, Nicolas Flagello [ NAXOS HISTORICAL / CD - released 1/Jun/2012 ] |
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Ezio Pinza (bass) with various orchestras
Some Enchanted Evening [ Naxos Nostalgia / CD - released 6/Mar/2005 ] Today, the concept of a "crossover artist" who sings classical as well as pop may almost be a cliché. But 55 years ago, when former Metropolitan Opera star Ezio Pinza was cast in the lead of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, it made front-page... |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius,Op. 38 [with Parry - Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad] Felicity Palmer (sop) Arthur Davies (ten) Gwynne Howell (bass) / London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos 241 Hickox Legacy / 2 CD - released 19/Jul/2013 ] 'It's one of the best digital versions, and sonorous renderings of Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens and I was glad complete a recommendable mid-price package.' Gramophone |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius,Op. 38 [with Parry - Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad] Felicity Palmer (sop) Arthur Davies (ten) Gwynne Howell (bass) / London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos / 2 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/1988 ] "...Howell is an imposing vocal presence...The choral singing is as good as any I've heard on disc...The playing of the LSO is superb throughout" MusicWeb International, 25th September 2013 |
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GEORGE ENESCU
Enescu: Piano Quintet in D major / Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, Op. 11 (arr. piano & string quintet) Fine Arts Quartet, Alexander Bickard (double bass), Gisele Witkowski & Fabio Witkowski (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 18/Aug/2023 ] It was in Paris just before the end of the 19th century that George Enescu began to compose prolifically, but it is only in recent years that a number of these scores have emerged. The Piano Quintet in D major is one such work, lost for decades, but... |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 5, "Emperor" (arr. for piano and string quintet) Hanna Shybayeva (piano) / Animato String Quartet, with Bas Vliegenthart (double bass) [ Naxos / CD - released 3/Dec/2021 ] Ignaz Lachner's superb arrangements of Mozart's piano concertos are well known, but his brother Vinzenz Lachner's arrangements of Beethoven's concertos are a rarity, though equally as valuable. |
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FRANCESCO DURANTE
Durante: Requiem Francesca Cassinari (soprano), Elena Carzaniga (contralto), Roberto Rilievi (tenor), Matteo Bellotto (bass) / Astrarium Consort [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 10/Mar/2020 ] Francesco Durante (1684-1755) was the most important representative of the Neapolitan School in the first half of the 18-th century, "the greatest harmonist in Italy, that is the world" wrote Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Kingdom Francesca Chiejina (sop) Sarah Connolly (contralto) Benjamin Hulett (tenor) Ashley Riches (bass) / Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players [ Signum / 2 CD - released 16/May/2025 ] Elgar's unjustly neglected 'greatest choral masterpiece' (Jeremy Dibble) is given an outstanding new recording by conductor David Temple, Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players, and soloists Francesca Chiejina, Dame Sarah Connolly,... |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Tosca (Complete opera) (Recorded August 1953) Franco Calabrese (bass) Maria Callas (soprano) Dario Caselli (bass) Alvaro Cordova (tenor) Tito Gobbi (baritone) /Milan La Scala / Victor De Sabata [ Naxos Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 27/Jan/2004 ] "This new remastering is streets ahead of the others; it irons out the sourness and surface noise of the original, without adding the implausible sheen and reverberance of previous transfers" - The Times (London) |
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PENDERECKI
St Luke Passion Franziska Hirzel (soprano) Francois le Roux (baritone) Jean-Phillippe Courtis (bass) / WDR Rundfunkchor Koln / Marc Soustrot (cond) [ MDG / CD - released 22/Sep/2007 ] This is an outstanding recording with some superb solo singing, especially by soprano Fraziska Hirzel, and technically brilliant choral and orchestral performances. Conductor Marc Soustrot leads the gargantuan forces with flair, skillfully... |
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TOMKINS
Above the Starrs: Verse Anthems & Consort Music Fretwork, Emma Kirkby-soprano, Catherine King-alto, Charles Daniels-tenor, Donald Greig-baritone, Richard Wistreich-bass, Jo [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 22/Sep/2003 ] " Fretwork's considerable experience in this kind of repertoire shows in these faultlessly assured performances. A clear and attractive recorded sound completes a most accomplished release." - Gramophone |
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JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
BACH, J.S.: CHRISTMAS ORATORIO, BWV 248, PARTS I-III (1955) Fritz Wunderlich (Evangelist/tenor), Friederike Sailer (soprano), Erika Winkler (contralto) & Hannes Swedberg (bass) Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chorknaben & R [ Profil Medien / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] For many, the opening of JS Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachtsoratorium) is one of the quintessential signs of the arrival of Christmas. Profil are delighted to present a rare recording of the legendary work performed by one of the most well-known... |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Il Trovatore (Highlights) Zsuzsa Csonka (sop), Maurizio Frusoni (tenor), Franco de Grandis (bass), Daniela Longhi (sop) Irina Tschistiakova (mezzo) / Budapest Festival Chorus [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Aug/2000 ] "Will Humburg leads an exciting series of globs of the opera. Unbeatable at this price." ClassicsToday |