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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: King Olaf / The Banner of Saint George Emily Birsan, Barry Banks, Alan Opie, Bergen Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 12/Feb/2015 ] "The Chandos sound is full-blooded and excellent in every respect... for this project Ralph Couzens was assisted by Gunner Herleif Nilsen of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation; between them they've produced very fine results." (MusicWeb Feb '15) |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (complete opera recorded in 2021) Berlin Opera / Derek Welton, Tobias Kehrer, Thomas Blondelle, Markus Blondelle / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos DVD / DVD - released 16/Feb/2024 ] As early as 1851, Wagner wrote, 'I propose to produce my myth in three complete dramas, preceded by a lengthy Prelude.' The Prelude was Das Rheingold ('The Rhine Gold') the preliminary evening of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Derek Welton, Tobias Kehrer, Thomas Blondelle, Markus Blondelle / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 16/Feb/2024 ] As early as 1851, Wagner wrote, 'I propose to produce my myth in three complete dramas, preceded by a lengthy Prelude.' The Prelude was Das Rheingold ('The Rhine Gold') the preliminary evening of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Gotterdammerung (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Clay Hilley, Thomas Lehmann, Aile Asszonyi / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 17/May/2024 ] Götterdämmerung ('Twilight of the Gods') is the final opera of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') in which his visionary masterpiece reaches its cataclysmic conclusion. Betrayal and death, murder and remorse,... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos DVD / 2 DVD - released 15/Mar/2024 ] Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') comprises four operas of which Die Walküre ('The Valkyrie') is the second, famous for its spectacular set-pieces such as the Ride of the Valkyries and Wotan's Farewell. |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 15/Mar/2024 ] Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') comprises four operas of which Die Walküre ('The Valkyrie') is the second, famous for its spectacular set-pieces such as the Ride of the Valkyries and Wotan's Farewell. The plot focuses on... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen (complete operas recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 4 Blu-ray Box Set - released 15/Sep/2022 ] "Donald Runnicles leads an impressive account of the score. His deep knowledge of the music comes through in the naturalness of the discourse, the easy communication with the singers and the vibrant colours he draws from the orchestra." Fanfare |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Ya-Chung Huang, Tobias Kehrer / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos DVD / 2 DVD - released 19/Apr/2024 ] Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung'). Siegfried, raised by the evil dwarf Mime, discovers that he is the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde. He must negotiate... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Clay Hilley, Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Ya-Chung Huang, Tobias Kehrer / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 19/Apr/2024 ] Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung'). Siegfried, raised by the evil dwarf Mime, discovers that he is the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde. He must negotiate... |
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RICHARD STRAUSS
Ein Heldenleben / Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle [ EMI / CD - released 20/Mar/2006 ] "Rattle digs deep to deliver a reading of breathtaking power." Recording of the Month (Gramophone May 2006) |
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ALEXANDER BORODIN / MODEST MUSSORGSKY
Simon Rattle conducts Mussorgsky & Borodin (Live-recording from the Philharmonie Berlin Dec 31, 2007) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Medici Arts DVD / DVD - released 20/Aug/2009 ] G : - "…is a sophisticated Russian New Year's Eve event from Berlin. …the impression remains that Rattle brings off the subtler, more atmospheric passages best." BBC Music Magazine, July 2009 **** |
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RACHMANINOV / TCHAIKOVSKY / STRAVINSKY
Simon Rattle conducts (Live-recording from the Berlin Waldbühne, 2009) [Incls 'The Rite of Spring'] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Medici Arts DVD / DVD - released 20/Dec/2009 ] G - "Orchestral concerts al fresco don't get more spectacular or more wide-spectrum than this. Here are Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic in the Waldbuhne, a ravine-hollowed amphitheatre outside the city" (BBC Music) |
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TCHAIKOVSKY / BORODIN / MUSSORGSKY / GLINKA
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 & Russian Orchestral Works Berliner Philharmoniker, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2016 ] "Solti's hurricane-like Tchaikovsky Serenade has to be heard to be believed - the finale almost flies off with the gale" (Penguin Guide) |
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BORODIN / MUSSORGSKY
Simon Rattle conducts Mussorgsky & Borodin (Live-recording from the Philharmonie Berlin Dec 31, 2007) BLU-RAY Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Music Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 27/Oct/2010 ] "Technically speaking this is an outstanding issue…picture quality and colour balance are exceptional…the sound-picture [is] clear and truthfully balanced." (International Record Review) |
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BERLIOZ / BERNSTEIN / R. STRAUSS / LIGETI / PUCCINI / STRAVINSKY / etc
Sir Simon Rattle: Essence of an Era (7DVD) Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, with Wayne Marshall, Miksuko Uchida (piano), Sol Gabetta (cello) & others [ EuroArts DVD / 7 DVD Box Set - released 18/May/2018 ] Sir Simon Rattle took up his post as chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2002. In doing so, he took over an inheritance which was not only demanding, but which required a delicate balance of tradition and innovation. |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walküre (LP) Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter, Régine Crespin, James King, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca / 5 Vinyl Box Set - released 4/Aug/2023 ] For these new editions, a decade since the last remastering, a completely new set of high-definition 24 bit/192kHz transfers of the original master tapes have been utilized. |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Birgit Nilsson Sings Wagner Birgit Nilsson (soprano) / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Leif Segerstam / London Symphony, Sir Colin Davis [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2008 ] "Even allowing for the fact that these were demonstration records when they first appeared, the sound on this CD is astonishing in its lifelike presence and its warmth." Gramophone |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Götterdämmerung (LP) Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Gottlob Frick, Gustav Neidlinger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti [ Sony Classical / 6 Vinyl Box Set - released 4/Aug/2023 ] "The greatest recording of all time": Gramophone Magazine 1999 · BBC Music Magazine 2011 |
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JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 / Finlandia / Valse Triste / Swan of Tuonela Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 20/Oct/1989 ] "The new digital transfers give greater presence to the wind and brass, and place them more vividly in the aural picture." (Gramophone on the reissue) |
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JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 / En Saga Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Pentatone SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "This is a disk well worth having for the superb performances offered and the insights which Davis brings to the music." (MusicWeb August 2008) |