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ELGAR
Crown of India, Op. 66 [Orchestrations by Anthony Payne] Clare Shearer (mezzo-soprano), Gerald Finley (baritone), various narrators / Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus & BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2009 ] "The music… is from start to finish authentic middling Elgar, highly enjoyable and well worth revival. Gerald Finley shines as St George in 'The Rule of England', however embarrassing the words." BBC Music Magazine |
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TELEMANN / VIVALDI / ALBINONI / FASCH / HERTEL / etc
Concerto à la Carte Claude Monteux (flute) John Wilbraham (trumpet) / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ SBS Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 15/Feb/2016 ] "The most alert string-playing distinguishes this record … first-class quality of recording throughout" The Gramophone |
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SATIE / BRITTEN / DVORAK
GymnopACdies / Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 / Symphony No 7 Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam / Sir John Barbirolli [ Testament / CD - released 27/May/2003 ] The great Sir John Barbirolli conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra |
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CHOPIN / BALAKIREV / RACHMANINOV / DOHNANYI / etc
Cyril Smith: The Complete Solo Recordings HMV & Columbia recordings Cyril Smith (piano) with Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ APR / 3 CD - released 10/Aug/2015 ] We tend to remember Cyril Smith (1909-1974) these days as the pianist who overcame the misfortune of a paralysing stroke to form a hugely successful duo for three hands with his wife, pianist Phyllis Sellick. Before then though, he had conquered the... |
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SUK
Asrael Symphony, Op. 27 Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Supraphon / CD - released 8/Sep/2011 ] "this more recent Mackerras performance digs just that little bit deeper and for that reason edges nearest to the classics by Talich and Kubelík." (Gramophone Award Finalist 2011 - Orchestral) |
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DVORAK
Dvorak - Symphonic Poems Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Supraphon / CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2010 ] "The Golden Spinning Wheel, a performance full of warmth and vitality, very realistically recorded and surely the highlight of the disc." Gramophone Awards 2010 WINNER - Orchestral |
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WILLIAM WALTON
Facade / Siesta / Scapino Overture / Portsmouth Point Overture (with music by Bax & Bliss) Dame Edith Sitwell and Sir Peter Pears (narrators), English Opera Group Ensemble, Anthony Collins / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Nov/2010 ] "As for the performance, it stands above all others since … must remain a classic to the end of time" Gramophone Magazine |
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HANDEL / BEETHOVEN / BACH / VERDI / ROSSINI / DELIBES / GOUNOD / etc/
Joan Sutherland: Oratorios & Recitals Dame Joan Sutherland, with Sir Peter Pears, Marilyn Horne, Kenneth McKellar, Barry Tuckwell, Richard Bonynge and others [ Decca / 37 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2024 ] The first set comprises Sutherland's complete Recitals and Oratorio recordings for Decca, ranging from the 1959 operatic recital recorded in Paris, with Nello Santi (has Verdi's "Santo di patria" ever rung out with greater thrill?). |
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SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Music Makers / The Spirit of England Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples (solo tenor), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/Nov/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Choral |
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SIR ARTHUR BLISS
Bliss: Mary of Magdala Dame Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-soprano), James Platt (Bass), BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] Bliss composed The Enchantress in 1951, the year of his sixtieth birthday, for Kathleen Ferrier. The text is a free adaptation of the Second Idyll of Theocritus, made by Henry Reed, and well suited to Bliss's love of classical Greek... |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Concerto for 2 & 3 Pianos / Piano Concerto in D minor, KV 466 Daniel Barenboim, Andras Schiff, Sir Georg Solti (pianos) / English Chamber Orchestra [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Feb/2006 ] 'The finale, a kind of rondo-minuet, is delightful, with energetic keyboard work that nevertheless dances' [Concerto for 3 Pianos] Gramophone |
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ELGAR / WALTON / BRITTEN / DELIUS / KNUSSEN / TIPPETT / RODNEY-BENNETT
Best of British from the 2007 BBC Proms [2 CD set] Daniel Hope (violin), Philip Dukes (viola) Christian Poltéra, Paul Watkins (cello) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis, Jiríi Belohlávek [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] This special priced two-CD set features selected highlights from the 2007 BBC Proms season, compiled to a survey of the best of British music of the last 100 years. The Album captures the world premiere performance of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's... |
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LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Wonderful Town Danielle de Niese, Alysha Umphress, Nathan Gunn, Duncan Rock / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2018 ] 'I cannot imagine better casting for the sisters than the quintessentially sassy Danielle de Niese and the effortlessly funny Alysha Umphress.' The Times |
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W. A. MOZART / HANDEL / JENKINS / MARCELLO
Diva [incls 'Exsultate, jubilate'] Danielle de Niese (soprano) with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Charles Mackerras & Bryn Terfel [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 10/Mar/2011 ] "Her vocal and musical vitality shines out of every track" (BBC Music) |
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TCHAIKOVSKY / BRAHMS
Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 / Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77 (Rec 1960/61) David Oistrakh (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Norman Del Mar; London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ BBC Legends / CD - released 7/Jan/2004 ] "The big tone, the generous gestures, the energy and the poetry, all are here, plus an extra shot of 'live' adrenalin" Gramophone |
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J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: The Art Of Fugue Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Pentatone SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 16/Feb/2004 ] "The playing is often voluptuous and always polished.....The sound is quite spectacular, despite the vintage (July 1974). This is one of a series of remastered Quadraphonic recordings, originally issued on the Philips label in the 1970's."... |
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GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Yeomen of the Guard (complete operetta recorded in 1958) Denis Dowling, Richard Lewis, Elsie Morison, Alexander Young, Marjorie Thomas / Glyndebourne Festival, Sir MalcolmSargent [ EMI / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Feb/1987 ] "This is a very operatic Yeomen which certainly suits the work and gives the soloists an opportunity to shine. Sir Geraint Evans makes a better Jack Point than a Ko-Ko and 'When a wooer goes a-wooing' is very moving." Mel (Marbecks) |
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Dolora Zajick, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles MacKerras
The Art of Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano (Incls arias by Verdi, Gluck & Saint-Saens) [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 12/Aug/2000 ] This collection, amazingly enough, is Zajick's first solo recording! |
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REINHOLD GLIERE
Gliere: Symphony No. 1 BBC Philharmonic, Sir Edward Downes [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jan/1993 ] |
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GILBERT & SULLIVAN
The Very Best of Gilbert & Sullivan D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Isidore Godfrey, Royston Nash, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Decca / 2 CD - released 14/Jul/2003 ] "If you are looking for a CD to cheer you up on a dull day, either of the pair which make up this Double Decca will serve admirably." Rosette Recording. Penguin Stereo Guide. |