|
GUILLAUME CONNESSON
Cosmic Trilogy / The Shining One Eric le Sage (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Stephane Deneve [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2010 ] "If there's another living composer who combines fantasy with shimmering orchestral virtuosity as brilliantly as Guillaume Connesson, I've yet to hear him." (Daily Telegraph) |
|
R. STRAUSS
Elektra & Ariadne auf Naxos (Final Scenes) Erna Schlüter / Ljuba Welitsch / Maria Cebotari / Karl Friedrich / Margaret Field-Hyde / Royal Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / CD - released 1/Aug/2011 ] For the recording of Elektra, Beecham was fortunate to be to able call upon the renowned interpreters of Strauss's music Erna Schlüter, Ljuba Welitsch and Paul Schöffler, who were appearing with the Vienna State Opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent... |
|
RICHARD STRAUSS / AARON COPLAND
Strauss: Duet Concertino, Prelude To Capriccio / Copland: Clarinet Concerto, Appalachian Spring Ernst Ottensamer (clarinet) Stepan Turnovsky (bassoon) / Academy of London, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Richard Stamp [ Signum / CD - released 11/Dec/2020 ] "Richard Stamp secures real zip in the faster music, secures real zip in the faster music, and there is some lovely tender playing from the Royal Northern Sinfonia principals in the more tender passages." BBC Music |
|
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera recorded in 2006) The Royal Opera / Erwin Schrott, Miah Persson, Gerald Finley, Dorothea Roschmann / Antonio Pappano [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD - released 10/Sep/2008 ] "…so accomplished a cast, in which Gerald Finley's Count, Miah Persson's Susanna and Rinat Shaham's Cherubino stand out as ideal." (BBC Music) |
|
MOZART
Mozart: Cosi fan tutte European Opera Centre, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Laurent Pillot (conductor) [ Rubicon Classics / 2 CD - released 23/Nov/2018 ] A Così with a difference: studies of the composer's manuscript by Ian Woodfield reveal that Mozart was undecided whether to 'cross' the lovers or keep them uncrossed. Key passages are altered often to startling effect - Ferrando opens the opera... |
|
GRIEG
Complete Solo Piano Music (12 CDs for the price of 3) Eva Knardahl, Love Derwinger (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Kjell Ingebretsen / Norrkaping Symphony Orchestra / Jun'ichi Hirokami [ BIS / 12 CD - released 1/Oct/2006 ] Eva Knardahl's recordings of Grieg's music for solo piano - here completed with recordings by Love Derwinger of the works unpublished during Grieg's lifetime - have been a milestone ever since they were first released on LP at the end of the 1970s. |
|
FAMILY CAROLS
Family Christmas (Incls 'Sussex Carol', 'When Christ was Born' & 'The Holly & The Ivy') Bach Choir with the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, conducted by Sir David Willcocks [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] Reissue of classic recording |
|
ADIGEZALOV / GULIYEV / BADALBEYLI
Azerbaijani Piano Concertos Farhad Badalbeyli (piano) / Murad Adigezalzade (piano) / Joan Rogers (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Dmitry Yablonsky [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] All of the composers here combine elements of ancient Azerbaijani tradition with Western forms, colourful orchestration and vivid musical storytelling. |
|
LIAM SCARLETT / LOWELL LIEBERMANN
The Royal Ballet's Frankenstein Federico Bonelli, Laura Morera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Koen Kessels (cond.) [ DVD - released 22/Sep/2017 ] Inspired by Mary Shelley's Gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein is the world premiere of Liam Scarlett's new full-length ballet. A story of betrayal, curiosity, life, death and, above all, love, exploring the very depths of human nature. Federico... |
|
RICHARD STRAUSS
Four Last Songs / Lieder Felicity Lott (soprano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 20/Oct/2008 ] 'Voice, orchestra and sound are all gorgeous; this is well worth having, and I think you will play it often, as I have already. I could never tire of a voice as beautiful as this.' (American Record Guide) |
|
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Orchestral Songs Vol 1 Felicity Lott (soprano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 26/May/2003 ] 'Voice, orchestra and sound are all gorgeous; this is well worth having, and I think you will play it often, as I have already. I could never tire of a voice as beautiful as this.' (American Record Guide) |
|
W. A. MOZART
Fernando Corena: Arias for Bass Fernando Corena (bass) / Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Sep/2015 ] "'Corena sings with a fine, resonant, clean tone. His production is easy and completely natural, and his diction, phrasing and general musicianship are most praiseworthy" (Gramophone) |
|
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin Concertos 3 & 4 Francesa Dego (violin), Francesca Leonardi (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 21/Sep/2021 ] "These performances capture the very essence of Mozart's Salzburg style best, setting up, meticulously matching and weaving in and out of the solo line with captivating suppleness and alertness." Five Stars BBC Music Recording of the Month Nov 21 |
|
NICOLA ANTONIO ZINGARELLI
Zingarelli: Giulietta e Romeo (complete opera) Franco Fagioli (countertenor), Adèle Charvet (mezzo-soprano) / Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Stefan Plewniak [ Château de Versailles Spectacles - L'opéra de Napoléon CD + DVD / CD/DVD - released 27/Aug/2021 ] Napoleon's fervor for opera was extreme. This music-loving conqueror brought to him a young Italian star, the contralto Giuseppina Grassini, and the most dazzling castrato: Girolamo Crescentini, the only singer to move the Emperor to tears. Invited... |
|
NICCOLÒ ANTONIO ZINGARELLI
Zingarelli: Giulietta e Romeo Franco Fagioli; Adèle Charvet; Krystian Adam; Valentino Buzza; Nicolò Balducci; Florie Valiquette; Chœur & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal; Stefan Plewniak [ Château de Versailles Spectacles / DVD - released 14/Feb/2025 ] In an intrigue-filled Verona, Giulietta and her beloved Romeo struggle to live out their love in the face of conflicts between their families... Inspired by Luigi Da Porto's original 16th-century novella, Niccoló Antonio Zingarelli breathed new life... |
|
GIOACHINO ROSSINI / FRANCESCO MORLACCHI / SAVERIO MERCADANTE / PAOLO BONFICHI / GIUSEPPE NICOLINI
The Last Castrato. Arias for Velluti Franco Fagioli, Stefan Plewniak, Chœur & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal [ Château de Versailles Spectacles / CD - released 28/Feb/2025 ] Giovanni Battista Velluti, born in 1780, was the last heir of the great Italian castrati. His exceptional voice, both powerful and agile, and his impressive vocal mastery opened the doors to the most prestigious opera houses in Europe. |
|
HENRY PURCELL
O Sing Unto The Lord: Sacred Music By Henry Purcell Frederick Teardo (organ) & John Scott (conductor/solo organ) Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys, Fifth Avenue, New York, Concert Royal [ Resonus Classics / CD - released 17/Mar/2017 ] Fifth Avenue, New York and conductor John Scott release this compelling programme of choral works by Henry Purcell which also features the acclaimed New York period ensemble Concert Royal. Recorded on period instruments, this collection of sacred... |
|
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 10: Symphony No. 14 in G minor, Op. 135 Gal James (soprano), Alexander Vinogradov (baritone) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] At its première in June 1969 Shostakovich described his Symphony No. 14, in effect a symphonic song cycle, as 'a fight for the liberation of humanity... a great protest against death, a reminder to live one's life honestly, decently, nobly...'... |
|
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven - Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5 Mario Galeani (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Grzegorz Nowak [ Orchid Classics / CD - released 7/Sep/2009 ] Recorded in 2007, and featuring one of the most important and active Italian pianists of his generation, Mario Galeani. This recording reflects a bright and fresh version of these concerti, particularly the attention given to the dialogue between... |