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CAROLINE NORTON / MAUDE VALERIE WHITE / LIZA LEHMANN / and others
In praise of Woman (English women composers) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 13/Jul/2004 ] PICK OF THE YEAR, CD REVIEW GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Symphonies complete (budget price) Arleen Auger, Catherine Robbin, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Gregory Reinhart / The Academy of Ancient Music / Christopher Hogwood [ Decca Collectors Edition / 5 CD - released 10/Aug/2007 ] "As befits Hogwood's performances, the L'Oiseau-Lyre recordings have a mingled size and clarity that tend to outshine not only Nimbus's obviously idiosyncratic sound but also the slightly grey sound of Norrington's EMI Seventh. Only time will tell... |
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HANDEL
Alexander's Feast / Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 4b in F major Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Felicity Palmer & Stephen Roberts / Stockholm Bach Choir & Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Teldec Warner Classics Das Alte Werk / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2009 ] "All three soloists are really very good indeed" Gramophone |
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HANDEL
Saul (complete recorded in 1986) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Paul Esswood & Julia Varady / Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics Das Alte Werk / 2 CD - released 26/Oct/2009 ] "Rolfe Johnson is outstanding...in this powerfully dramatic account" (BBC Music) |
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JOHN DOWLAND
First Book of Songes The Consort of Musicke / Anthony Rooley [ L'Oiseau-Lyre / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] 'This is the recording that launched The Consort of Musicke's series devoted to the complete works of John Dowland. It deserves a permanent place in the lists and the sympathetic performances have much to commend them. A disc for connoisseurs.' Good... |
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DOWLAND
Collected Works The Consort Of Musicke / Anthony Rooley with Emma Kirkby, Glenda Simpson, John York Skinner, Martyn Hill & David Thomas [ Decca Budget Boxes / 12 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2012 ] '...this box cannot be recommended too highly' The Penguin Guide To Compact Discs |
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CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Il quarto libro de madrigali, 1603 / Il quinto libro de madrigali, 1605 / etc Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] |
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JACK HEGGIE
Heggie: Great Scott (complete opera recorded in 2015) Dallas Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Ailyn Perez, Frederica von Stade, Anthony Roth Costanzo / Patrick Summers (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics DVD / DVD - released 12/Mar/2021 ] WQXR, the USA's leading classical music radio station, welcomed as a "deeply moving and musically brilliant work" that "should enter the standard repertory just as Heggie's two previous masterpieces - Dead Man Walking and Moby-Dick - already have". |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Messiah / Saul / Alexander's Feast / Ode for St Cecilia's Day / Belshazzar Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Paul Esswood, Felicity Palmer, Roberta Alexander / Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2016 ] These five splendid works for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra were composed by Handel in the 1730s and 1740s. Treating both sacred and secular themes, they are inspired by the same dramatic genius that made Handel a master of opera. Conducting a... |
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ARTHUR BLISS
Rout and Rhapsody Elizabeth Gale (soprano) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) / The Nash Ensemble [ Hyperion / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] 'Performances are outstanding... beautifully recorded' (The Monthly Guide to Recorded Music |
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JOSEF HAYDN
Operas (Armida / L'incontro improvviso / L'infedelta delusa / L'isola disabitata / etc) Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, Ileana Cotrubas, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Frederica von Stade / Antal Dorati (cond) [ Decca / 20 CD Box Set - released 10/May/2012 ] Haydn's operas are still something of a rarity both in the theatre and on record. Antal Dorati's advocacy of Haydn's music during the 1970s resulted in numerous award-winning recordings including his legendary cycle of all the symphonies as well his... |
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JOSEF HAYDN
The Creation (Complete oratorio in English) Emma Kirkby, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, The Chorus and Orchestra of the Academy of Ancient Music; Christopher Hogwood [ L'Oiseau-Lyre / Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "fine clarity of detail and an attractive freshness" *** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide |
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DOWLAND / CAMPION / HANDFORD / DANYEL / LAWES
Time Stands Still: Lute Songs Emma Kirkby (soprano) Anthony Rooley (lute) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Aug/2013 ] 'A fine recital that adds a few welcome items to the recorded repertory of the lute-song, engineered close to perfection' (Gramophone) |
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CHARLES GOUNOD
The Songs of Charles Gounod Felicity Lott (soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Graham Johnson (piano) [ Hyperion / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Nov/2009 ] 'Superb ... perfection ... Best of the year' (The Sunday Times) |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas BWV 106 "Actus tragicus", BWV 118, BWV 198 Nancy Argenta, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stephen Varcoe / English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir [ Deutsche Grammophon Archiv / CD - released 10/Apr/2000 ] "Gardiner's feeling for style and sense of drive strike a responsive chord with many music lovers. His choice of soloists is unerring, and his musicianship of the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists always imposing" (Penguin Guide) |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: St. John Passion (complete oratorio recorded in 1986) Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stephen Varcoe, Cornelius Hauptmann, Nancy Argenta / The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner [ Deutsche Grammophon Archiv / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/2000 ] "Gardiner conducts an exhilarating performance. Speeds are regularly on the fast side but, characteristically, he consistently keeps a spring in their rhythm. Chorales are treated in contrasted ways." Penguin Guide |
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THE KING'S SINGERS
The King's Singers: Madrigals & Songs from the Renaissance The King's Singers with The Consorte of Musicke, Anthony Rooley & Tragicomedia [ Warner Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2018 ] Founded at King's College in Cambridge in 1968, the King's Singers are one of the world's most sought-after and acclaimed vocal ensembles. This amazing set repackages eight of their greatest albums. |
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W.A. MOZART
Litanies / Vespers / Oratorios / Cantatas / Masonic Music SPECIAL PRICE Kiri Te Kanawa / Arleen Auger / Anthony Rolfe Johnson / Edith Mathis / Ilena Cotrubas / Fuchs / Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg / Staatskapelle Dresden [ Philips Complete Mozart Edition Box 11 / 13 CD - released 20/Nov/2005 ] The Philips Mozart Edition is now at budget price |
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SCHUMANN
Schumann: Violin Sonatas 1-3 Anthony Marwood (violin) & Aleksandar Madžar (piano) [ Wigmore Hall Live / CD - released 1/Sep/2015 ] "Thw two musicians form a closely wrought partnership, their exceptional musical sympathy shining through the whole performance; the lyricism of Marwood's tone is ideally complemented by Madzar's variety of touch and sensitivity to balance" BBC Music |
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MAHLER
Symphony No 8 Melanie Diener / Juliane Banse / Yvonne Naef / Anthony Dean Griffey / Stephen Powell / Schweizer Kammerchor / Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra / David Zinman [ RCA / Sony / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/May/2010 ] "it's clear (Zinman) remains one of the world's most inquiring senior maestros, looking for fresh perspectives. In his Mahler cycle, he has certainly found those." Sunday Times, 25th April 2010 |