PUCCINI
Messa di Gloria / Preludio sinfonico, Op. 1 / Crisantemi (Rec 2000) Roberto Alagna (tenor) Thomas Hampson (baritone) / London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Antonio Pappano [ Warner Classics / CD - released 15/Feb/2013 ] "Puccini's early Mass is not a great piece of religious music, but its virtues shine forth in Pappano's loving performance." - Five Stars BBC Music Mag (Sept 2006) |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
A Cotswold Romance / The Death of Tintagiles Rosa Mannion / Thomas Randle / London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Aug/2012 ] 'Richard Hickox directs a vivid performance [of A Cotswold Romance] with splendid support from his assembled forces. Although not major works, these are notable additions to the catalogue, and the performances could hardly be better' BBC ***** |
Rosie Thomas
With Love [ Sub Pop Records / CD ] |
ADOLPHE ADAM
Giselle (complete ballet recorded in 2014) Royal Ballet / Natalia Osipova, Carlos Acosta, Thomas Whitehead / Boris Gruzin (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Oct/2014 ] "This new Opus Arte disc now joins [the 2011] Bolshoi version at the very top of the list…indeed, this Royal Ballet performance may well sweep the board as the new Giselle of choice." (MusicWeb) |
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
Hansel und Gretel (complete opera recorded in 2008) Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Angelika Kirchschlager / Diana Damrau / Elizabeth Connell / Thomas Allen / Colin Davis, conductor [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Jan/2012 ] 'Angelika Kirchschlager's tousled, boyish Hänsel and Diana Damrau's Gretel are dramatically convincing and vocally superb, while their parents, excellently sung and played by Elizabeth Connell and Thomas Allen, earn our sympathy as well as our... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Salome (complete opera recorded in 2008) Royal Opera House / Nadja Michael, Thomas Moser, Michaela Schuster / Philippe Jordan (cond) [ BBC / Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] "One of the most hotly anticipated, controversial and downright exciting opera productions of this year arrives quickly onto DVD. David McVicar, one of the most in-demand opera directors at work today, produces a visceral, exciting realisation of... |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [The Tales of Hoffmann] (compete opera recorded in 2016) The Royal Opera / Vittorio Grigolo, Kate Lindsey, Thomas Hampson, Christine Rice, Sonya Yoncheva / Evelino Pidò (cond) [ Sony Classical DVD / 2 DVD - released 10/Jul/2017 ] "Vittorio Grigolo acts with terrific fervour as both the drunken wreck of the exordia and the ingenuous patsy of the central episodes, making the conflicted character deeply sympathetic if faintly risible." Telegraph |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: 11 Favourites Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Alto / CD - released 20/Feb/2019 ] "Beecham's championship of the Bradford-born master yields a generous treasury, with some contrast (e.g. 'Sleigh Ride') to break the reveries. There may be silkier-sounding recordings, but none so characterful." BBC Music Four Stars |
HAYDN / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / WAGNER / LISZT
Sir Thomas Beecham: BBC Recordings [1954, 1956 & 1959] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham, with Alexander Young (tenor) [ ICA Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 5/May/2018 ] This release has been sourced from the Richard Itter archive. The collection is very important for collectors because it has never been released before onto the market. Beecham caught 'live' often showed the mercurial side of his character and no... |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4 (1946-1952) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Historical Great Conductors / CD - released 28/Feb/2005 ] "Naxos have put us in their debt by restoring these performances to the catalogue. Strongly recommended." MusicWeb |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Symphony Nos. 1 & 5 Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård [ Linn / CD - released 6/Mar/2020 ] Thomas Søndergård's sophomore album as Music Director marks his first symphonic recording with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Søndergård conducts an all-Prokofiev programme juxtaposing two contrasting symphonies: Symphony No. 1 in D major... |
EDVARD GREIG
Grieg: Peer Gynt / Symphonic Dance No.2 / In Autumn / etc. Ilse Hollweg (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / CD - released 13/Feb/2012 ] "Beecham showed a very special feeling for this score and to hear (these excerpts) under his baton is a uniquely rewarding experience. Ilse Hollweg makes an excellent soloist." Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
Rufus Thomas
The Best Of - The Singles [ Ace Records U.K. / CD ] |
Rufus Thomas
Can't Get Away From This Dog [ Ace Records U.K. / CD ] |
Rufus Thomas
The Funkiest Man [ Ace Records U.K. / CD ] |
Rufus Thomas
That Woman Is Poison! [ Alligator Records / CD ] The funky godfather of R&B delivers his first all-blues album. "A spectacular comeback album...it has soulful, swaggering strut"--ROBERT PALMER, author of DEEP BLUES RUFUS THOMAS, Vocals BRYAN BASSETT & ERNIE LANCASTER, Guitars LUCKY PETERSON,... |
WEIGL
Symphony No 5 'Apocalyptic Symphony' (1945) / Phantastisches Intermezzo Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin conducted by Thomas Sanderling [ BIS / CD - released 1/Apr/2002 ] ***** Five Stars BBC Music Magazine (Aug 2002) |
HANDEL
ARIAS RUSSELL OBERLIN (COUNTERTENOR) / BAROQUE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA / THOMAS DUNN [ DG / CD ] |
SHOSTAKOVICH
Balda (Comic Book Opera) / Orchestral Suite from Lady Macbeth Russian Philharmonic Orchestra / Thomas Sanderling (with the State Chamber Choir conducted by Alexander Soloviev) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Jul/2006 ] Shostakovich wrote the comic book opera Balda for an animated film based on text by Pushkin’s The Priest and the Fool; the film was never released and largely destroyed during the siege of Leningrad in 1941. |
MAHLER
Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth) Ruxandra Donose (mezzo-soprano) Thomas Harper (tenor) / Ireland National Symphony Orchestra / Michael Halasz, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 16/Nov/2004 ] "All in all this is an amazing bargain" - Gramophone |