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SCHOENBERG
Gurrelieder Yvonne Naef (Mezzo) Ralf Lukas (Bariton) Andreas Schmidt (Bass) / MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig / Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freibu / Michael Gielen [ Hanssler SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 30/Dec/2007 ] "There are a number of very fine recordings of this extraordinary work, but this newcomer, celebrating the great Michael Gielen's 80th birthday, is, in my view, the finest of the lot. Everything has the feel of absolute 'rightness', and the SWR... |
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W. A. MOZART
Bruno Walter conducts Mozart [6 CD set] Zino Francescatti (violin) Irmgard Seefried (soprano), Jennie Tourel (alto), Léopold Simoneau (tenor) & William Warfield (bass) / Columbia Symphony [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2011 ] Born in Berlin in 1876, Bruno Walter entered the Stern Conservatory at the age of eight, intending to become a concert pianist, and made his conducting debut in Cologne at 17. Following appointments in Pressburg (now Bratislava), Riga and Berlin, he... |
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FELIX MENDELSSOHN / MAX BRUCH
Mendelssohn / Bruch: String Octets Zsolt Fejervari (Double bass) / Auer Quartet / Kodaly Quartet [ Naxos / CD - released 9/May/2006 ] 'Featuring two of Hungary's finest quartets, this performance [of the Mendelssohn] captures all the youthful fervour of the opening Allegro moderato, the brilliant delicacy of the Scherzo and the driving perpetual motion of the Finale, while also... |