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GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Le Prophete (Complete opera recorded in 1976) Marilyn Horne, Renata Scotto, James McCracken, Jerome Hines / Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Henry Lewis [ Sony Classical Opera / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2016 ] "The role calls for a Brünnhilde range with an Amneris-type voice: the vocal flexibility and dramatic punch needed are extraordinary. Miss Horne has them all, and she brings out the pathos of the part without sentimentalizing it." (Gramophone) |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Martin Fröst: Roots Martin Frost (clarinet) / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra & The Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir [ Sony Classical / CD - released 1/Jul/2016 ] "Clarinettists and clarinet fans will revel in Fröst's buoyant performance of Crusell's Variations on a Swedish Song…and in his mercurial, technically staggering playing throughout this scatter-shot assortment" BBC Music Magazine, June 2016 ***** |
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W. A. MOZART
Violin Concertos Nos. 1-7 Mayumi Fujikawa (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Walter Weller [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2015 ] "Fujikawa brings unexpected sparkle to the finale of the Second Concerto. She is at her best in the marvelous Adagio of the G major which she sustains most beautifully at an unusually slow tempo […] There is plenty of polished, stylish orchestral pla |
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MARCEL DUPRE / JOSEF RHEINBERGER
Dupre: Symphony in G minor / Rheinberger: Organ Concerto No. 1 Michael Murray (organ) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Jahja Ling [ Telarc Records / CD - released 26/Jan/2004 ] Michael Murray's recordings for Telarc are among the classical music industry's worldwide best sellers. |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 & other shorter works Natalie Clein (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2007 ] "At first what can seem somewhat too introverted is revealed on closer listening as something altogether darker than we are used to in this work. Nothing's comfortable about this reading, nor should it be." Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine... |
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BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / TCHAIKOVSKY / VERDI / WAGNER / etc
Paul van Kempen - the Complete Philips Recordings Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Paul van Kempen [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 10 CD Box Set - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "Beethoven is represented by an Eroica that is truly among the greatest of the period - of any period, I'd say...testimony to a genuinely great conductor who up until now has rarely been acknowledged as such." Gramophone reissue of the Month June '20 |
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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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COPLAND / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / STRAVINSKY / PONCHIELLI / SAINT-SAENS
Essential Ballets (excerpts from 'the Nutcracker', 'Petrushka', 'Giselle', 'Swan Lake' & 'Coppelia') Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Suisse Romande Orchestra [ Decca / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] All the very best ballet music on a specially priced double CD set. |
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HOVHANESS
Mysterious Mountains (Includes Symphony No. 50 Mount St. Helens) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Gerard Schwarz [ Telarc SACD / SACD - released 9/Jun/2003 ] Hovhaness' musical style was unlike any other 20th century composer. He followed his "instinct and his voice." - On Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) format, presented in surround sound! PLAYABLE ON ANY CD SYSTEM |
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RALF VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos 6 & 9 / Fantasia on Greensleeves Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 29/Jun/2002 ] "Handley, with rich, full recording, gives warm-hearted readings of Nos 6 & 9, two works that in their layout can be seen as related, quite apart from sharing the same key." *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide |
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 / The Lark Ascending Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2002 ] "A must for devotees of Vaughan Williams." -Audio |
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VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Symphony No. 5 & Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andre Previn [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 7/Mar/2004 ] "Previn in a noble view...and gives both satisfaction and pleasure...the recording capturing faithfully the contrasting layers of string sound." -Gramaphone |
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andre Previn, conductor [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 22/Sep/2003 ] Telarc Classics - Top quality recordings at mid-price. |
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SCHUBERT / DVORAK
Death and the Maiden / American (Quartets scored for string orchestra) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Charles Rosekrans [ Telarc SACD / SACD - released 25/Aug/2003 ] On Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) format, presented in full 5.1 surround sound! PLAYABLE ON ANY CD SYSTEM |
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VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / MOZART / HANDEL / VERDI / ROSSINI / KHACHATURIAN / etc
Classics for Pleasure Volume 2 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Boult / John Ogdon (piano) / Barry Tuckwell (horn) / etc [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 2/Feb/1983 ] The perfect introduction to the classics from the vast EMI catalogue |
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OWAIN ARWEL HUGHES
Anatiomaros and other orchestral works Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Owain Arwel Hughes [ BIS / CD - released 1/Jun/2011 ] A student of Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst among others, Hughes early on began to work for the BBC and had limited opportunity to compose. This CD brings together most of his oeuvre for orchestra, from Anatiomaros (1943) to the 'legend' Owain... |
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PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony / Elegie for Strings Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca Eloquence / CD - released 24/Aug/2006 ] 'The alertness of the Philharmonia's playing consistently conveys the feeling of live communication ... an outstanding choice' Gramophone |
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BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Two Portraits / The Miraculous Mandarin - Suite The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik / The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy [ EMI Red Line / CD - released 1/Feb/2000 ] "The Bartok Concerto for Orchestra is characterful...Compact Disc collector's will enjoy these performances." Gramophone |
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Swan Lake & The Sleeping Beauty Suites Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 6/Dec/2004 ] "Mackerras brings every section to life with an appealing lilt and plenty of high spirits. The reproduction is superb." -Fanfare |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony no 9 in D Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Alan Gilbert [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Aug/2009 ] Gramophone Magazine: Editor's Choice November 2009 - Mahler collectors surely will want to hear this recording right away, but less specialized collectors also should give it serious consideration as a prime choice among available Ninths" (10/10... |