|
Bomb the Bass
Back to Light [ !K7 Records / CD - released 3/May/2010 ] The dusky atmosphere of 'Future Chaos' (2008) has given way here to a more radiant sound, buoyed by waves of synthesizers and propelled by clean-lined grooves. |
|
Bomb the Bass
Into the Dragon... Plus [ Cherry Pop / CD - released 15/Feb/2010 ] This awesome reissue of 'Into the Dragon' - their debut album from the same year - remains a successful blend of breakbeats, samples and scratching, which includes contributions from: Merlin, 23 Skidoo, Nellee Hooper and others. |
|
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 38) BWV52, BWV82 (bass version), BWV55 & BWV58 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2008 ] "Easily the best-known piece here is Ich habe genug (BWV 82). Peter Kooij's tender, yearning account is more modestly stated than versions by his more extrovert rivals. Gerd Türk, assisted by Suzuki's beautifully shaped phrasing, makes a stronger... |
|
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 42) BWV13, BWV16, BWV32 & BWV72 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] The present volume in the cantata cycle of the Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki consists of four works all written for performances in January 1726. Among these is the New Year's cantata Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV16 (Lord God, we praise you). |
|
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123 Carolyn Sampson (sop) Marianne Beate Kielland (alto) Thomas Walker (ten) David Wilson-Johnson (bass) / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Daniel Reu [ Glossa / CD - released 1/Aug/2017 ] "this is a Missa Solemnis that, for me, really taps into the spirituality of Beethoven's vision. There is depth and insight in every movement, and the overall result is as moving as it is musically impressive." MusicWeb |
|
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 34) Nos 1, 126 & 127 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] " Masaaki Suzuki's poised grandeur brings considerable richness to this marvellous score, a sparkling duo of solo violins offset deftly against the full ivory texture of high horns and low oboes in the chorus, and joined by top-drawer solo singing."... |
|
J.S. BACH
Cantatas, Vol.39 (BWV28, 68, 175, 183) Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Apr/2008 ] After two volumes concentrating on solo cantatas, the full forces - including the splendid choir - of Bach Collegium Japan return in this programme of five cantatas dated 1725. The choir instantly makes its presence felt in the first movement of the... |
|
JANACEK
Katya Kabanova (complete opera sung in English) Cheryl Barker (soprano) Gwynne Howell (bass) Kathleen Wilkinson (mezzo) Owen Webb (baritone) / Welsh National Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Carlo Rizzi [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Oct/2007 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD FINALIST 2008 - Opera - 'This English-language performance captures the visceral impact of Janacek's great tragedy with unerring immediacy. Vividly recorded with magnificent orchestral playing, the drama is delivered with a... |
|
JANACEK
The Makropulos Case (complete opera in English) Cheryl Barker (soprano) Neal Davies (bass-baritone) John Graham-Hall (tenor) / English National Opera / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] "This electrifying performance has been captured in sound that is exceptionally clear and full-bodied, and it also has great immediacy. I very much welcome a recording in English." (International Record Review March 2007) |
|
HANDEL / MOZART
Timotheus oder die Gewalt der Musik Roberta Invernizzi (soprano), Werner Güra (tenor) & Gerald Finley (bass) / Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Sony Classical / 2 CD - released 27/May/2013 ] "The 'authentic' movement resulted in so many anaemic, small-scale recordings that Timotheus, performed in such a way as Handel all too rarely is these days." (Gramophone Disc of the Month - September 2013) |
|
PIAZZOLLA / GARDEL / SALGAN / etc
Argentinian Tangos - Mi Buenos Aires Querido (Tangos amongst friends) Daniel Barenboim (piano), Rodolfo Mederos (bandoneon), Hector Console (bass) [ Teldec / CD - released 22/Mar/1996 ] German import (catalog 0630134742) |
|
WAGNER / GOUNOD / MASCAGNI / CILEA / VERDI / PUCCINI
Opera Gala: Live from Baden-Baden Ekaterina Gubanova (mezzo) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Anja Harteros (soprano) Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) / Badische Staatskapelle, Marco Armiliato [ Sony Classical DVD / DVD - released 8/Dec/2016 ] The Festspiel-Saison at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden culminated with Jonas Kaufmann, Bryn Terfel, Anja Harteros and Ekaterina Gubanova all on stage in this magnificent Opera Gala. The gala presented a diverse range of solo-arias and duets. Among the... |
|
WAGNER / GOUNOD / MASCAGNI / CILEA / VERDI / PUCCINI
Opera Gala: Live from Baden-Baden 2016 BLU-RAY Ekaterina Gubanova (mezzo) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Anja Harteros (soprano) Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) / Badische Staatskapelle, Marco Armiliato [ Sony Classical Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 8/Dec/2016 ] The Festspiel-Saison at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden culminated with Jonas Kaufmann, Bryn Terfel, Anja Harteros and Ekaterina Gubanova all on stage in this magnificent Opera Gala. The gala presented a diverse range of solo-arias and duets. Among the... |
|
COUPERIN / de LALANDE
Lecons de Tanabres Emma Kirkby and Agnas Mellon (sopranos)Charles Medlam (bass viol) Terence Charlston (organ) [ BIS / CD - released 1/Dec/2007 ] The five Leçons de Ténèbres gathered here are performed by two of the finest sopranos in the field of early music, Emma Kirkby and Agnès Mellon, who here makes her first appearance on BIS. They are given expert support by Charles Medlam |
|
BUXTEHUDE
Membra jesu nostri / Laudate, pueri, Dominum (with Weckmann - Kommet her zu mir alle) Emma Kirkby (soprano) Michael Chance (counter-tenor) Charles Daniels (tenor) Peter Harvey (bass) / Purcell Quartet [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Nov/2010 ] "Charles Daniels's soft high tenor has a hushed devotional character...The Purcell Quartet play with reliable stylishness." (Gramophone) |
|
BUXTEHUDE
Sacred Cantatas - Volume 2 Emma Kirkby (soprano) / Michael Chance (counter-tenor) / Charles Daniels (tenor) / Peter Harvey (bass) / Purcell Quartet [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Aug/2005 ] "If Buxtehude cantatas are the object of your enthusiasm, this disc provides a good number of them performed by some of the best early music specialists out there. They are a homogeneous bunch of works, so listening to the disc in one sitting borders... |
|
J.S. BACH
Early Cantatas, volume 2 (Weimar) Emma Kirkby (soprano) / Michael Chance (counter-tenor) / Charles Daniels (tenor) / Peter Harvey (bass) / The Purcell Quartet [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jun/2007 ] "This undirected group of soloists and instrumentalists works together with impressive cohesiveness. Without the sense - which in other kinds of performance one can never quite escape, for good or ill - of the personality and interpretative of a... |
|
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Alda in Opera and Song Frances Alda (soprano) with Enrico Caruso (tenor) / Giovanni Martinelli (tenor) / Marcel Journet (bass) etc. [ National Library of New Zealand / CD - released 23/Jan/2011 ] Legendary New Zealand-born soprano Frances Alda in excerpts from famous operas and songs. Includes duets and ensembles with Enrico Caruso and Giovanni Martinelli. Limited stock remaining. |
|
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 9 & 14 Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano) Mark Reshetin (bass) / USSR Symphony Orchestra, David Oistrakh / Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai [ Russian Compact Disc / CD - released 1/Jan/1993 ] Recorded live in the Large Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire October (No.14) & December 1969 |
|
TCHAIKOVSKY / MUSSORGSKY / ROREM
Tchaikovsky/Mussorgsky,Rorem: Songs (recorded in 2007) Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) / Julius Drake (piano) [ Wigmore Hall Live / CD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "The 'Wigmore Hall Live' series reflects the high quality of chamber music and art-song available at this admirable venue. Many of the 25 CDs so far issued preserve events of special value (and at a reasonable price). This beautifully recorded... |