MAURICE RAVEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ravel: Sheherazade (with lieder by Chausson, Duparc, Schumann & Brahms) [recorded in 1967] Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) / New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn, & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (ba [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/1999 ] A classic recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade, evoking a wealth of moods and sensations. Janet Baker, an irresistible storyteller, is accompanied on her journey by Sir John Barbirolli, conducting the New Philharmonia with sensitivity and imagination |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1962) Joan Sutherland, Carlo Bergonzi, Robert Merill / Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Sir John Pritchard [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 15/Mar/2012 ] "Sutherland's performance puts lovely things in the listener's way at every stage" (Gramophone) |
FALLA / GRANADOS / DEBUSSY / ALBENIZ / RAVEL
Falla: Noches en los jardines de Espana [Nights in the Gardens of Spain] (recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Joaquín Achúcarro (piano) / Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / DVD - released 20/Sep/2011 ] "There is something special with Achucarro. Very few musicians can extract this kind of sound from the piano" Sir Simon Rattle |
RICHARD WAGNER
The Flagstad Recitals Vol 3: Opera Arias / Wesendonk-Lieder (with Mahler - Kindertotenlieder, etc) Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) / Vienna Philharmonic / Sir Georg Solti / Hans Knappertsbusch / Sir Adrian Boult [ Decca ABC Eloquence / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/2009 ] "The recorded sound is excellent and at Eloquence price this should be attractive for all lovers of great singing" (MusicWeb Jan 2010) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / RICHARD WAGNER / GIUSEPPE VERDI
Lise Davidsen: Beethoven - Wagner - Verdi Lise Davidsen (soprano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder [ Decca / CD - released 16/Apr/2021 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Voice & Ensemble |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Operatic Arias Magdalena Kozena (soprano) / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Simon Rattle [ Archiv / Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 6/Sep/2006 ] "Here is a singer with both a rich, colourful and 'alive'-sounding voice and the musical intelligence to use that gift." Recording of the Month - Gramophone Magazine (September 2006) |
EDWARD GRIEG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
Grieg / Schumann: Piano Concertos (Rec 1989) Murray Perahia (piano) / Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 20/May/2011 ] "Murray Perahia's 1987 Schumann and Grieg concertos with Colin Davis remain the most recommendable digitally recorded pairing of these war-horses, and they bloom even more via Sony's Expanded Edition remastering." (ClassicsToday) |
ARTHUR SULLIVAN
Sullivan: Pineapple Poll / Henry VII / Victoria and Merrie England Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royston Nash [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2010 ] "its glowing ambience casts a pleasing bloom over the spirited and elegantly polished playing of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Mackerras conducts with great warmth" Penguin Guide (Pineapple Poll) |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
G & S: The Yeomen of the Guard / Trial by Jury (Complete operettas) Richard Suart / Felicity Palmer / Welsh National Opera / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 12/Nov/2000 ] Two all-time G & S favourites recorded in Telarc's 20-bit digital sound. |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Falstaff / Orchestral Songs / Grania and Diarmid Roderick Williams (baritone) / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Jan/2018 ] "All told, a terrific anthology, and absolutely not to missed." Gramophone Editor's Choice January 2018 |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera recorded in 1994) Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Frank Lopardo, Angela Gheorghiu, Leo Nucci / Sir Georg Solti (cond) [ Decca Classics DVD / DVD - released 1/Jan/2017 ] "The singing is glorious, and this is one of the DVDs that should be the cornerstone in any collection. A superb stage spectacle." Penguin Guide Rosette Winner |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (tenor), Gerhard Siegel, Iain Paterson, Martin Winkler, Hallé, Sir Mark Elder [ Hallé / 4 CD - released 7/Jun/2019 ] The Hallé completes its highly regarded Ring cycle, with the live recording of its acclaimed Bridgewater Hall performance under Sir Mark Elder. "Roaring jubilation and radiant beauty from Elder and the Halle….Elder is a superb Wagnerian, acutely... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (Siegfried), Michael Volle (Der Wanderer), Peter Hoare (Mime), Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle [ BR Klassik / 3 CD - released 6/Oct/2023 ] Following the 2015 release of Das Rheingold and of Die Walküre in 2019, BR-KLASSIK is now releasing Siegfried as part of the enthusiastically received Ring cycle under Sir Simon Rattle. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECK COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1994) Angela Gheorghiu, Frank Lopardo, Leo Nucci / Royal Opera / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2012 ] "... the Decca engineers here offer one of the most vivid and involving versions ever of La Traviata ... Gheorghiu brings heartfelt revelations, using her rich and vibrant, finely shaded soprano with consistent subtlety." Rosette Penguin Guide |
Sir Howard Morrison
How Great Thou Art - The Very Best Of [ Sony / CD - released 30/Oct/2015 ] A brand new career retrospective for one of New Zealand's greatest ever entertainers Sir Howard Morrison. Lovingly curated by his family 'How Great Thou Art: The Very Best Of Sir Howard Morrison' draws content from his entire recording career. |
W. A. MOZART
Sir Colin Davis conducts Mozart Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Colin Davisa, The Orchestra of St. Luke's, Sir Colin Davis [ Sony / RCA Classical Masters / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2021 ] "Twelve of Mozart scintillating Overtures are given superlative performances with the justly famous Staatskapelle of Dresden conducted with great panache by Colin Davis on this marvellous CD." classical-music.com |
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 |
JOHAN PACHELBEL
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon Sir James Galway, The Canadian Brass, Angel Romero etc [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 6/Oct/2003 ] From movies and TV commercials to church services and weddings, Pachelbel's Canon has become central to the soundtrack of our lives. Now, experience this little masterpiece in fifteen very different arrangements - for orchestra, piano, string... |
BEETHOVEN / MENDELSSOHN / BRUSTAD / GRIEG
Europakonzert 2016 from Røros, Norway - Beethoven: Symph. No 3 / Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto BLU-RAY Vilde Frang (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Apr/2017 ] "[Frang] is predictably fine in the Mendelssohn, technically accomplished and emotionally engaged. And what a joy it must be to play this concerto with the Berliners, whose sensitivity to Mendelssohn's instrumental imaginings is second to none." |
LUDWIG van BEEHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 "Pastorale" Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra], Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 13/Feb/2012 ] "These are not interpretations set in stone, deeply as Rattle has obviously thought them through; and his encouragement of the brilliant VPO woodwind and horn soloists to challenge each other in imagination and individuality adds to the impression of... |