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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: An Ode for St Cecilia's Day Carolyn Sampson (soprano) James Gilchrist (tenor) / Choir of the King's Consort, The King's Consort Robert King, director [ Hyperion / CD - released 3/Nov/2004 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE CD OF THE MONTH/EDITOR'S CHOICE |
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PAVEL HAAS / ANTOINE REICHA / LEOŠ JANÁCEK / BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Echoes of Bohemia: Czech Music for Wind Chamber: Orsino Ensemble, with James Baillieu (piano) [ Chandos / Hybrid SACD - released 8/Sep/2023 ] Following their début album, Belle Époque, the Orsino Ensemble turns its attention to music from Bohemia. There is a strong tradition of Czech wind playing, and hence a wealth of great repertoire on which to draw. Antoine Reicha was a contemporary... |
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CHRISTOPHER TYE
Tye: Missa Euge bone / Peccavimus / Western Wynde Mass Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] 'For a true celebration of the English high-treble phenomenon one need look no further than this. The amplitude of the basses makes a most wonderful balancing effect with the brightness of the boys." (Choir & Organ Magazine) |
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ZOLTAN KODALY / LEOS JANACEK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Kodaly/Janacek: Masses Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell (director) [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Feb/2010 ] GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE -- GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE - RADIO 3 DISC OF THE WEEK -- CRITICS' CHOICE INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano), James King (tenor) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink [ Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 16/Apr/2002 ] "This is the only Das Lied you'll ever need, and the recorded sound is of demonstration quality" - 10/10 ClassicsToday.com |
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TRADITIONAL
Transeamus (English Carols and Motets) David James (countertenor), Rogers Covey-Crump, Steven Harrold (tenor), Gordon Jones (baritone) / The Hilliard Ensemble [ ECM Records / CD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] Having recorded more than twenty albums for ECM since the mid-80s, The Hilliard Ensemble caps its discography before retirement (at the end of 2014) with a final release: 'Transeamus', a collection of polyphony - in two, three and four parts - from... |
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ANTONIO VIVALDi
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Sacred Music Vol 2 Deborah York, Catherine Denley, James Bowman / Kings Consort, Robert King [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Jan/1997 ] 'Utterly beguiling pieces of music, impossible to dislike and easy to be beguiled by' (Gramophone) |
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ROBERT SIMPSON
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Simpson: Energy / Four Temperaments / Volcano / etc Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band, James Watson [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Jan/1990 ] 'Marvellously played … superlative … performances of a calibre I do not recall ever hearing before. Strongly to be recommended to serious listeners of any persuasion' (Gramophone) |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Fidelio (opera recorded 1962/63) Deutsche Oper Berlin / Walter Berry, James King, Christa Ludwig, Lisa Otto / Artur Rother (cond) [ Arthaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 7/Aug/2011 ] For the four main roles, singers were chosen who already had international experience but were still fresh and vigorous. Christa Ludwig, James King and Walter Berry. |
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GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan Favourites (from The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, Ruddigore, The Mikado & The Yeomen of the Guard) The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company / James Walker / Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 7/Jul/1995 ] 'all the performances are as good as they get' ClassicsToday.com |
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GILBERT and SULLIVAN
Gilbert & Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore (Complete Opera recorded in 1971) D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with John Reed, Pauline Wales, Thomas Lawlor, Christine Palmer, Ralph Mason / James Walker (cond) [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Jun/2018 ] "There is a real sense of staging and movement which is all to the good. The dialogue is well handled and is very much a plus factor.' Fanfare, November/December 1983 |
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HENRY PURCELL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Purcell: Birthday Odes for Queen Mary Early Music Consort of London / David Munrow, with Norma Burrowes, James Bowman, Charles Brett & Robert Lloyd [ EMI Classics For Pleasure / CD - released 24/Sep/1990 ] Purcell's odes for Queen Mary show him at his best. A glorious succession of overtures, choruses, arias and delicious ritornelli display astonishing imagination and ingenuity: whilst overtly celebratory, never far beneath the surface lies the sense... |
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ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Gloria in D / Nulla In Mondo Pax Sincera / Stabat Mater Emma Kirkby, Judith Nelson, James Bowman / The Academy Of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood [ Decca Virtuoso / CD - released 1/May/2012 ] The men and boys of Christ Church Cathedral sing with a clarity and fineness of tuning on this album that all choirs everywhere should emulate. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel: Messiah (highlights) Emma Kirkby (sop) Margaret Cable (alto) James Bowman (countertenor) Joseph Cornwell (ten) David Thomas (bass) / Taverner Choir and Players / Parrott [ Virgin Virgo / CD - released 19/Oct/2004 ] Highlights from the classic recording including 'Behold the Lamb of God', 'He was despised' and 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' |
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Etta James
Time After Time [ RCA Records / CD - released 9/May/1995 ] American imported disc. |
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FRANCIS POULENC
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Poulenc: Concerto for Piano,, 2 Pianos & Aubade Francois-Rene Duchable, Jean-Philippe Collard (piano) / Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, James Conlon [ Erato / 2 CD - released 30/Jan/1986 ] Francis Poulenc (January 7, 1899 - January 30, 1963) had his first major successes as an 18-year-old composer without a single composition lesson. Despite some study, he remained largely self-taught. In fact, his music is so individual, it's remained... |
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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare: Hamlet (recorded live at Shakespeare's Globe, 2018) Globe / Catrin Aaron, James Garnon, Colin Hurley, Michelle Terry / Federay Holmes, Elle While (director) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 23/Oct/2020 ] Encompassing political intrigue and sexual obsession, philosophical reflection and violent action, tragic depth and wild humour, Hamlet is a colossus in the story of the English language and the fullest expression of Shakespeare's genius. |
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LUKAS FOSS
Foss: Song Of Anguish / Elegy for Anne Frank / etc (with Beaser: The Heavenly Feast) James Maddalena (baritone), Kevin McCutcheon (piano), Mark Wilde (tenor), Constance Hauman (sop) / Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 31/Oct/2005 ] "..on the list was a real discovery for me, and a stunner it is, too, from the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music: Robert Beaser's one-act opera The Heavenly Feast, coupled with a differently themed but equally powerful Song of Anguish by Lukas... |
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LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Symphony No.1 'Jeremiah' / Concerto for Orchestra, "Jubilee Games" Helyn Medlyn (mezzo-soprano) Nathan Gunn (baritone) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 1/Jan/2004 ] "Judd's interpretations are unforced and exciting, and his fine orchestra of New Zealanders performs the music idiomatically. …Naxos CDs remain an incredible value, and Judd's readings would be at least among the top choices at any price." Fanfare |
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CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 4 Idil Biret (piano) / Philharmonia Orchestra, James Loughran [ Naxos / CD - released 10/May/2008 ] "Saint-Saens' plano concertos require brilliance and panache and Idil Biret has those qualities ... Good support from the Philharmonia and James Loughran." - SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY - 23 Sept 90 |