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BRAHMS / SCHUBERT / FINZI / FAURE
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Songs Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone) Roger Vignoles (piano) [ EMI Debut / CD - released 21/May/2002 ] RECORDING OF THE MONTH (Gramophone Magazine August 2002) |
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KURT WEILL
Weill: In Search of Youkali Katie Bray (mezzo-soprano), Murray Grainger (accordion), Marianne Schofield (double-bass), William Vann (piano) [ Chandos / CD - released 16/Jan/2026 ] Winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the British mezzo-soprano Katie Bray has become known for her magnetic stage presence and gleaming, expressive tone. Katie... |
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CHRISTOPH SCHAFFRATH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schaffrath: Flute Concerto / Cembalo Concerto / etc Konrad Hunteler (traversflote) Armin Thalheim (cembalo and basso continuo) / Handelspielorchester Des Opernhauses Halle, Howard Arman (bass continuo) [ NCA / CD - released 4/Apr/1996 ] Schaffrath was born in Hohnstein. He applied to be organist at the Sophienkirche in Dresden, but did not receive this position (Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was favoured for it). He did serve in the court of the Crown Prince Frederick (Frederick the... |
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HAVERGAL BRIAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brian: Symphony No.1 "The Gothic" Vladimir Dolezal (tenor) / Eva Jenisova (soprano) / Peter Mikulas (bass) / Dagmar Peckova (alto) / Various Choirs / Slovak Philharmonic, Ondrej Lenard [ Marco Polo / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1990 ] "Leonard leads a substantial percentage of the adult population of Bratislava in a noble effort, full of excitement, with enthusiastic choral singing and a very good lineup of soloists all vividly if a touch shallowly recorded" ClassicsToday... |
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JOHANN SIMON MAYR
Mayr: L'accademia di musica ['The Academy of Music'] Farsa in one act (1799 Filippo Morace (bass-baritone) César Cortés (tenor) Eleonora Bellocci (soprano) Ricardo Seguel (baritone) / Passionart Orchestra, Nicola Pascoli [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Oct/2022 ] Johann Simon Mayr was among the most successful composers prior to Rossini, and while he was long remembered as Donizetti's teacher his excellent music is now gaining the recognition it deserves. |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Oscar Natzka - A Legend in his time Oscar Natzka (bass) with various orchestras and accompanists [ Manu Records / CD - released 11/Jan/2016 ] |
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MICHAEL TIPPETT
Michael Tippett: A Child of Our Time Pumeza Matshikiza (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo), Joshua Stewart (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Jun/2024 ] "Its greatest glory is perhaps the powerfully galvanised singing of the well-focused BBC Symphony Chorus - a broad spectrum of visceral expression across a huge dynamic range with every word clearly audible." Gramophone Award Nomination 2024 - Choral |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Complete Songs, Vol. 4 (Incls 'Vier ernste Gesänge', Op. 121) Robert Holl (bass-baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion Brahms Song Edition / CD - released 1/Oct/2012 ] "This disc, while the whole recital has notable integrity and quality, would be worth having for [the Four Serious Songs] alone." (International Record Review) |
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JOHN STAINER
Stainer: Crucifixion (The) Simon Bailey (bass) / Stephen Farr (organ) / James Gilchrist (tenor) / Clare College Choir, Cambridge / Tim Brown (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] "Lovers of English choral music will relish this highly attractive release" - MusicWeb June 2005 |
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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart Arias & Orchestral Music Teddy Tahu Rhodes (bass-baritone) / Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Ola Rudner [ ABC Classics / CD - released 4/Oct/2003 ] Teddy Tahu Rhodes singing career is going from strength to strength. Hugely popular in New Zealand where he was born, and Australia, where opera aficionados adore him. |
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FRANCIS POULENC
Poulenc: Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 5 (Incls Barbar, the little Elephant) Francois Mouzaya (narrator), Alexandre Tharaud (piano), Laurent Lefevre (bassoon), Stephane Logerot (double bass), Ronald van Spaendonck (clarinet) [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Dec/2000 ] "The narrators are two gifted children, the pianist Alezandre Tharaud, whose acute playing has sparked the series." Turok's Choice |
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J. S. BACH
Trinity: J.S. Bach soprano arias Ursula Langmayr (soprano), with Alison Dunlop (oboe, oboe d'amore), Uwe Grodd (flute, bass flute), Martin Rummel (cello) [ Atoll Records / CD - released 25/Oct/2015 ] 'This beautifully recorded CD introduces us to Ursula Langmayr who's full-bodied but pliant tone suits this repertoire perfectly. The ensemble playing is world class' Ella@Marbecks |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Music We Love Viktoria Mullova (violin), Misha Mullov-Abbado (bass) [ Onyx / CD - released 25/Sep/2020 ] Violinist Viktoria Mullova and son, the bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado in music they love - a very personal and affectionate collection of music ranging from traditional Brazilian folk songs to JS Bach, via Antonio Carlos Jobim and Schumann. |
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BIZET / BOITO / DONIZETTI / VERDI / GOUNOD / etc
Duets - Rolando Villazón & Ildar Abdrazakov Rolando Villazón (tenor) Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) / Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Yannick Nézet-Séguin [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 13/Dec/2017 ] Three exceptional artists join forces for an operatic treat! Star tenor Rolando Villazón, who was just named artistic director of Salzburg Mozart week, Ildar Abdrazakov, one of the most sought-after young basses in the operatic world (Vanity Fair),... |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: La Pietra del paragone (complete opera) Agata Bienkowska (mezzo) / Alessandro Codeluppi (tenor) / Raffaele Constantini (bass) / Anna Rita Gemmabella (sop) / Anke Herrmann (sop) [ Naxos Opera Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 2/Jun/2004 ] "Polish mezzo Agata Bienkowska...here evinces a rich-toned flexible voice of considerable promise ..The conductor, Alessandro de Marchi, is well known in early music circles. He brings clear articulation to the ensembles." MusicWeb |
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WOLF / BRAHMS
Lieder by Wolf & Brahms Alastair Miles (bass) & Marie-Nöelle Kendall (piano) [ Signum Classics / CD - released 3/Jun/2014 ] Miles's oaken depth of tone and amplitude of line are impressive, and ultimately moving...it's a nobly sung recital, confirming that the leading English operatic basso cantante is also a Lieder singer of intelligence and insight. |
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ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy {with Alma Mahler Lieder) Albert Dohmen (bass) Iris vermillion (mezzo) Heinz Kruse (tenor) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca Records Entartete Musik / CD - released 27/Jan/1995 ] Recorded: Grote Zaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, April 1996 |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Aleksandra Kurzak - Bel Raggio: Rossini Arias Aleksandra Kurzak (soprano), Artur RuciĆski (bass-baritone) / Sinfonia Varsovia, Warsaw Chamber Choir, Pier Giorgio Morandi [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 3/Jun/2013 ] "Without over-egging the pudding, Kurzak acts vividly for a 'blind' audience, alive to verbal nuance and using coloratura not merely as a vote-catching circus trick, but to enhance character." Gramophone |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 11 - Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar" Alexander Vinogradov (bass), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2014 ] "Vasily Petrenko's generally sensational Shostakovich cycle concludes with this powerful and gripping performance of the Thirteenth Symphony. Naxos' sonics are also excellent, with particularly well-judged balances between the choir and the orchestra |
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J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: Cantatas for alto / Cantatas for Solo Bass / German Cantatas [before Bach] Andreas Scholl (countertenor) Peter Kooy (bass) / Collegium Vocale Orchestra Philippe Herreweghe (conductor) [ Harmonia Mundi Herreweghe Bach Edition / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2010 ] "There is probably no living countertenor whom I would rather hear singing these cantatas than Andreas Scholl. Scholl is on top form in BWV170, paying close attention to the relationship between text and music." (Gramophone) |