GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Don Carlo (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Salzburg Festival / Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros, Matti Salminen, Thomas Hampson / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Antonio Pappano [ Sony Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Sep/2014 ] Giuseppe Verdi's late opera Don Carlo delivers all the big topics while Ferdinand Wögerbauer's ultra-simple décor provides a spartan counterpoint to the dramatic action. |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten to America: Music for Radio & Theatre Samuel West (narrator) Mary Carewe, Jean Rigby (mezzos) / Halle, Sir Mark Elder / Ex Cathedra, Jeffrey Skidmore, etc [ NMC / CD - released 14/Feb/2014 ] "Unexpected postscript to the composer's centenary shows his versatility and completes the picture of his formative years" (Financial Times) |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Fantasio (complete operetta) Sarah Connolly, Brenda Rae, Russell Braun, Neal Davies / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment & Opera Rara Chorus, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 2 CD - released 27/Apr/2018 ] 'Opera' - Recording of the Month - December 2014 |
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
The Last Night of the Proms: Land of Hope & Glory Sarah Walker (mezzo) Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) / London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Roger Norrington [ Australian SBS Decca Eloquence / CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] "A great collection of British favourites that are just right for any time of the year, very well recorded and performed … and at a great price too! You won't be disappointed." (MusicWeb June 2008) |
ARTHUR BUTTERWORTH
Symphony No 4 / Viola Concerto Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Arthur Butterworth / Halle Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ Dutton Epoch / 2 CD - released 20/Mar/2009 ] "This double CD set from Dutton Epoch brings together two of Arthur Butterworth's most powerful symphonies and his finest concerto. It makes the perfect introduction to his unique sound-world. Butterworth's music casts a potent spell that looks to... |
BEETHOVEN
The Creatures of Prometheus Op. 43 Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 3/May/2005 ] 'A dashing performance of unreasonably neglected music... superb' - Classic CD |
BRAHMS
Serenades Nos 1 and 2 Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles MacKerras [ Telarc Records / CD - released 12/Jan/2001 ] The latest recording from Sir Charles MacKerras and the Scottish Chamber |
BRAHMS
Symphonies No. 3 & No. 4 Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 20/Sep/2005 ] "The Third Symphony is particularly fine in this performance, probably the most successful of the four gathered in this collection. The autumnal postlude of the finale glows warmly, casting its reflection across the whole work, the spreading of the... |
BRAHMS
Symphony No. 1 / Academic Festival Overture Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 20/Sep/2005 ] "An example of what's best in a new school of thought on the subject, the discs are indispensable." - Los Angeles Times |
BRAHMS
Symphony No. 2 / Variations On A Theme By Haydn Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 20/Sep/2005 ] "as an example of what's best in a new school of thought on the subject, the discs are indispensable." -- Los Angeles Times |
SCHUBERT
Symphony No 8 Unfinished / Symphony No 9 The Great Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles MacKerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] Following an unprecedented success with his Brahms symphony cycle on Telarc, Sir Charles Mackerras and the SCO bring their special brand of scholarship, clarity and vigor to two of Schubert's most important works-both on one CD! |
W.A MOZART
Sir Charles Mackerras Conducts Mozart: 10th Anniversary Edition Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras (cond) [ Linn Records / 5 CD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] This is the definitive collection of Charles Mackerras's Mozart recordings for Linn, with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Comprising nine symphonies plus the Requiem, this boxed set exemplifies why Mackerras was acclaimed as one of the world's... |
KODALY / BARTOK
Dances of Galanta / Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste; Divertimento Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Sir Charles Mackerras [ Linn ECHO / CD - released 1/Jul/2015 ] 'He paints the Bartók score with rich colours and draws forth some splendidly rhythmic energy.' Gramophone |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: Symphonies No. 1 & 4 Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 1/Nov/1991 ] "Alexander Gibson's 1980s Sibelius cycle on Chandos, one of the first digital sets, was praised for its clean lines, propulsive phrasing, and bracing impact." MusicWeb |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Overtures Scottish National Orchestra / Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 20/Sep/2002 ] "energetically played, vividly recorded " (Fanfare) |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 13 & 15 (with Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death) Sergei Aleksashkin (bass) Men of the Chicago Symphony Chorus / Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] Solti came late in life to the music of Shostakovich, and in his introduction to the recording of the Thirteenth Symphony (reprinted in the booklet) explains the music's effect on him. These rare recordings have long been out of the catalogue, and... |
WEBER
Der Freischutz (Complete opera) Siegfried Lorenz, Karita Mattila, Eva Lind, Thomas Thomaschke / Staatskapelle Dresden / Sir Colin Davis [ Decca Classic Opera / 2 CD - released 20/Oct/2008 ] "The actual sound in this new recording is, especially in the Wolf's Glen, vivid and detailed, well capturing the eloquence of Weber's wonderful scoring." (Gramophone) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Otello (complete opera recorded in 2009) Simon O'Neill, Gerald Finley, Anne Schwanewilms / London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 15/Oct/2010 ] "O'Neill is an unusual Otello in that he is so unequivocally a tenor, with no hint of baritone in his timbre...the playing is alert and sensitive to drama and text." Gramophone Award Finalist 2011 - Opera |
JOSEF HAYDN
Symphonies No. 31 & No. 45 'Farewell' Orchestra of St. Luke's, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 25/Aug/2003 ] "Sir Charles Mackerras' performance with the Orchestra of St. Luke's is first rate. His is a cohesive overall conception...The sound is warm, full and crystal clear." -Classical Music |
HANDEL
Water Music Sir Charles Mackerras / Orchestra of St. Luke's [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2002 ] "The playing and recording are brilliant, the music breathless." -Stereo Review |