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PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 in B flat minor (LP) Martha Argerich (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Dutoit [ Deutsche Grammophon / LP - released 16/Apr/2021 ] Original recording from 1971 |
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HANDEL / GIBBONS / PARRY / WALTON / WESLEY / STANFORD / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / etc
The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - Music From the Official Record 2nd June 1953 Massed Trumpeters from the Royal Military School of Music, Coronation Choir, Coronation Orchestra, Dr. Osborne Harold Peasgood (organ) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/May/2022 ] This recording of the BBC's broadcast of the coronation service from Westminster Abbey was taken by means of a direct line to Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, London. |
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FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Orchestral & Choral Works / A Village Romeo & Juliet / Songs Maureen Forrester, John Cameron, Dora Labbette / Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "A record to treasure. The greatest recordings made in stereo by the greatest British conductor at the peak of his career." - Gramophone |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 / 32 Variations in C minor, WoO 80 Mitsuko Uchida (piano) / Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfun. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Kurt Sanderling [ Philips Collector's Edition / 3 CD - released 25/Aug/2005 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1801-1850) "No surprise that a musician of such integrity and intelligence as Uchida has bided her time when it comes to Beethoven. Yet this set represents work in progress" MusicWeb Sept 2005 |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Aida (Complete Opera recorded in 1973) Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Royal Opera House Chorus & Orchestra, Riccardo Muti [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2016 ] 'An outright winner. Muti is the undoubted hero, so compelling is his interpretation of the score, and there are no weaknesses in his cast, which features five of the biggest operatic 'names' of the day.' (Gramophone) |
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PUCCINI / DONIZETTI / MOZART / VERDI / etc
An Evening with Montserrat Caballe Montserrat Caballa, soprano, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent garden, new Philharmonia Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sympho [ Philips Eloquence / CD - released 25/Jan/2003 ] Eloquence - the specially priced quality label from Europe |
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HAYDN / BEETHOVEN / SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN / BRUCKNER / etc
The Symphony Collection Royal Concertgebouw, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berlin Philharmonic, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Teldec Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 12/Oct/2009 ] "Under Harnoncourt the music's gently descending lines truly glow [in the Third], distinctively but never conspicuously, and the gradual 'dying away' is beautifully handled" (Gramophone) |
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SAINT-SAENS / TCHAIKOVSKY / VERDI / BERLIOZ / de FALLA / MOUSSORGSKY / etc
Olga Borodina: Portrait Olga Borodina (mezzo) / Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / etc [ Philips Portrait of an Artist / 2 CD - released 10/Jun/2006 ] "A mezzo-soprano is usually a woman with a tragic past, a tragic life - strong women, wilful women, and these roles have strengthened me as a character" (Olga Borodina) |
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MASSENET
Manon (complete ballet) Covent Garden Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 14/Nov/2011 ] |
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MASSENET
Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 1980) Jose Carreras, Frederica von Stadt, Thomas Allen / Orchestra Royal Opera House, Covent garden, Colin Davis [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/2012 ] "von Stade's performance can hardly be faulted. Her voice is the very incarnation of Charlotte's essential simplicity of character" (Gramophone) |
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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) |
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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. |
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JONGEN / LAZZARI
The Romantic Violin Concerto 18 - Jongen & Lazzari Philippe Graffin (violin) Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Martyn Brabbins [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Jan/2015 ] The Romantic Violin Concerto series reaches Belgium and the music of Joseph Jongen, a composer more celebrated for his organ music now, but who was equally admired in his day for his orchestral and chamber works. |
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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 ] |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Don Carlo (Complete Opera recorded in 1970) Placido Domingo, Montserrat Caballe, Shirley Verrett, Ryland Davies / Royal Opera, Carlo Maria Giulini [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2016 ] "Under Giulini's commanding and searching direction, the huge canvas is held together with unerring control" (Gramophone) |
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Ultimate Tchaikovsky: Includes Piano Concerto No.1, Symphony No.5 & 6 & The Nutcracker [selection] Rafael Orozco (piano) Henryk Szeryng (violin) / Chantal Juillet (violin) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Montreal Symphony Orchestra / etc [ Decca Budget Boxes / 5 CD Box Set - released 22/May/2007 ] 5 CDs in presentation slip case at SUPER-BUDGET price. An outstanding collection of Tchaikovsky favourites. Great value gift purchase. |
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FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: The Piano Concertos Rafal Blechacz (piano) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Jerzy Semkow [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Mar/2010 ] "…I would trade these richly satisfying accounts any day for others that lack the musical integrity and clarity of conception that Blechacz and Semkow bring to these works." Gramophone Magazine, December 2009 |
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LEONCAVALLO / PONCHIELLI / CILEA / ZANDONAI / PUCCINI / MASCAGNI / etc
Nessun Dorma (arias from opera) Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Mark Elder [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Jun/2006 ] Following on from the great success of his previous Berlioz releases, superstar tenor Roberto Alagna explores the world of opera with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden under conductor Mark Elder. |
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BAZIN / MASSENET / GOUNOD / GRe°TRY / HALe°VY / THOMAS / MEYERBEER
French Opera Arias Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Royal Opera House Orchestra, Bertrand de Billy [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Jun/2006 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER - Recital "Imaginative programming that combines some old favourites with some rarely encountered gems. All sung with panache by a tenor at home in this music" |
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MASSENET
Werther (complete opera recorded in 2011) Rolando Villazon, Sophie Koch, Audun Iversen / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD Box Set - released 22/Apr/2012 ] "This is Massenet with an Italianate cut but his sense of drama is second to none, rising to white heat at the climax of that fateful Christmas Eve meeting." (Gramophone Award Nomination 2012) |