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DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: Soundtrack from Tony Palmer's film 'Testimony' London Philharmonic, David Nolan, Rudolf Barshai [ Tony Palmer / CD - released 2/Mar/2009 ] The soundtrack to Tony Palmer's remarkable film portrait of composer Dmitri Shostakovich. Performed by The London Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Rudolf Barshai. |
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TCHAIKOVKY / LITOLFF / SCHUMANN / J. STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Shura Cherkassky II Shura Cherkassky (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic, Leopold Ludwig, Clemens Krauss, London Philharmonic, Adrian Boult [ Philips / EMI / Decca / Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 20/Jan/2018 ] Over seven decades of his concert career, starting in the 1920s, Cherkassky made a large number of recordings for RCA Victor, Vox, Swedish Cupol label, HMV, DG (the famous Tchaikovsky concerto recordings), Tudor, Nimbus and Decca. |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN / ARTHUR BLISS / FRANK BRIDGE / LENNOX BERKELEY
Britten, Bliss, Bridge, Berkeley: English Music For Strings Sinfonia of London, John Wilson [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 29/Jan/2021 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Orchestral |
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ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD
Korngold: Symphony in F Sharp / Straussiana / Theme & Variations Sinfonia of London, John Wilson (conductor) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 30/Aug/2019 ] "The playing of the Sinfonia of London is astonishingly brilliant, with Hollywood-dream glories in the string tone" BBC Music Magazine Awards 2020 WINNER - Orchestral |
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FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: Symphony No 2 'Lobgesang' Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jurgita Adamonyté (mezzo), Michael Spyres (tenor) London Symphony Orchestra, Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ LSO Live SACD + BLU-RAY AUDIO / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 22/Sep/2017 ] "The 44-strong Monteverdi Choir launch into 'Die Nacht ist vergangen' with real joy as day arrives...The final choral fugue is genuinely uplifting, a splendid way to conclude Gardiner's splendid cycle" Gramophone Editor's Choice Oct 2017 |
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SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS / W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Peter and the Wolf / Carnival of the Animals / Eine kleine Nachtmusik Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Academy of London, Richard Stamp [ Virgin Classics / CD - released 19/Oct/2004 ] "The new digital recording from Sir John Gielgud is a natural successor to that of his illustrious late colleague, Ralph Richardson, and every bit as enjoyable." (Gramophone) |
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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 |
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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 |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel In Italy Vol 1 Sophie Bevan (soprano), Mary Bevan (soprano) & Benjamin Bevan (baritone) / London Early Opera, Bridget Cunningham (director) [ Signum Classics / CD - released 10/Sep/2015 ] "it opens an enjoyable showcase for Sophie, Mary and Benjamin Bevan: two sisters and their youthful uncle. Sophie sings it peachily, with a richer-sounding soprano than previous recorded exponents." (Sunday Times) |
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RICHARD & ROBERT SHERMAN
Sherman: Mary Poppins Laura Micheele & Gavin Lee / Original 2005 London Cast Recording [ Walt Disney / CD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] Mary Poppins is a musical with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (the Sherman Brothers) and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and a script by Julian Fellowes. |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Complete concertos 2 (Incls Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" & Triple Concerto) Stephen Kovacevich (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, with Henryk Szeryng (violin) & Janos Starker (cello) [ Decca Duo / CD - released 27/Oct/1994 ] "..beautifully-judged textures-limpid, clean and with a wide range of sonority and very sensitive pedalling...both performances are worthy of the very highest comparisons, from the majority of which they will emerge unscathed." (Gramophone) |
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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 |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1 / Two Lieder, Op.91 Stephen Kovacevich (piano) with Ann Murray (soprano) & Nobuko Imai (viola) / London Philharmonic. Wolfgang Sawallisch [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/1992 ] Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
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JOHN TAVENER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tavener: The Protecting Veil (complete) / The Last Sleep of the Virgin) Steven Isserlis (cello) / London Symphony Orchestra, Gennadi Rhozdestvensky / Chilingirian Quartet [ Virgin Classics / CD - released 20/Feb/2009 ] "The Isserlis/Rozhdestvensky pioneering version of Tavener's Protecting Veil hardly needs any recommendation from me." (Gramophone) |
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DANIEL-FRANCOIS-ESPRIT AUBER
Auber: Le domino noir / Gustave III Ballet Music Sumi Jo, Isabelle Vernet, Bruce Ford, Patrick Power / London Voices & English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 13/Dec/2017 ] "Bonynge makes the ideal advocate, moulding melodies, springing rhythms and aerating textures to make the music sparkle from first to last. … The recording is among Decca's most vivid." Penguin Guide |
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JULIAN ANDERSON
Anderson: Heaven Is Shy Of Earth Susan Bickley (mezzo) / London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Oliver Knussen [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Jun/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION TOP THREE - Contemporary |
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HAVERGAL BRIAN
Brian: Symphony No 1 in D minor "Gothic" Susan Gritton (soprano), Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Peter Auty (tenor), Alastair Miles (bass) / London Symphony Chorus, Martyn Brabbins [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2012 ] "Hyperion's release is a perfect one, of a great event, a magisterial work and an encapsulation of the enormous difficulties of the project as a whole" Gramophone Editor's Choice Feb 2012 |
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SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphonies 6 & 14 [recorded live in 2006 & 2013] Tatiana Monogarova (soprano) & Sergei Leiferkus (baritone) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski [ LPO Live / CD - released 10/Mar/2015 ] "This is by far the most stunning Shostakovich disc I have heard this year...Here, the Sixth's opening is no introverted lament: rather, the LPO's string trills seem to express a rage a still young Shostakovich had much reason to feel" BBC Music |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] (complete opera recorded in 1972) Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Renato Capecchi, Paolo Montarsolo / Scottish Opera Chorus / London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2013 ] "One of the great classic opera recordings of a work that balances farce with touching romance." (BBC Music) |
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ROSSINI / SCARLATTI / TURINA / GRANADOS / FALLA / GUERRERO / etc
Brava Berganza! - Rossini: Arias / Canciones Espanolas: Spanish Songs & more Teresa Berganza (soprano) Félix Lavilla (piano) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson, Benito Lauret, Gerardo Gombau [ Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2018 ] "I called her performance of [the Falla songs] incomparable, and it still remains so, with her completely idiomatic interpretation, vitality, exemplary enunciation, beautifully clean melismata, and wide range of colour" Gramophone |