GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 8, 'Symphony of a Thousand' Polish Radio Choir, Warsaw Boys Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 9/May/2006 ] "Exceptional value … serious Mahlerians really should hear it" (MusicWeb Recording of the Month Oct 2006) |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 8, 'Symphony of a Thousand' BLU-RAY AUDIO ONLY Polish Radio Choir, Warsaw Boys Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos Blu-Ray Audio / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Jun/2011 ] Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound", was how Mahler himself described the impact of the closing pages of the Symphony. |
SZYMANOWSKI
Symphonies Nos 2-4 / Harnasie Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow / Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra / Jacek Kaspszyk / Jerzy Semkow / Antoni Wit [ EMI Gemini / 2 CD - released 21/Oct/2007 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "Excellent value. There's a touch of edge, a hint of congestion to the orchestral sound occasionally, but the playing throughout is first-class. Both conductors are perfectly at... |
LUTOSLAWSKI
Orchestra Works (Incls Symphonies 1 & 2 & Concerto for Orchestra) Polish Radio National Symphony orchestra / Witold Lutoslawski [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD - released 1/Mar/2009 ] 'It's my guess that posterity will judge Witold Lutowslaski among the supreme twentieth century musical colourists. All in all, this must surely count as the introduction to Lutoslawski's symphonic world.' Gramophone reviewing the original release |
BUSONI
Piano Concerto / Fantasia Contrappuntistica Victoria Postnikova (piano) / National de France Orchestra & Choeurs de Radio France Chorus, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky [ Warner Apex / 2 CD - released 20/Sep/2014 ] |
HEISE
Drot Og Marsk (Complete Opera) Poul Elming / Bent Norup / Eva Johansson / Kurt Westi / Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra And Choir / Michael Schonwandt [ Chandos / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Oct/2008 ] 'I have rarely heard the Danish Radio Orchestra and Chorus perform at such a level of passion, precision and conviction. Under Michael Schonwandt's fiery baton they are primed to made the best possible case…' Fanfare |
VLADIMIR FRANZ
Goldilocks (complete ballet recorded in 2008) Prague National Ballet / Alexander Katsapov, Adela Pollertova, Viktor Konvalinka / Peter Vrabel (cond) [ Supraphon / DVD - released 20/Mar/2010 ] G - We invite you to the dance fairy-tale about the beautiful princess Goldilocks, the intrepid Jirík and a love that helps them overcome all the obstacles laid in their path. |
Antonin Dvorak
Kate & the Devil Prague National Theatre Orchestra [ Supraphon / 2 CD - released 28/Apr/2008 ] |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1, 'Classical' / Symphony No. 5 National Symphony Orchestra Of Ukraine / Theodore Kuchar [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Sep/1997 ] Sergey Prokofiev belongs to the generation of Russian musicians who completed their studies before the Communist Revolution of 1917. His early education had been at home, where he had tuition from Glière, before entering the St. Petersburg... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Chill With Rachmaninov Vytautas Sondeckis (cello) Bernd Glemser (piano) / Ireland National Symphony Orchestra / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos / CD - released 30/Nov/2007 ] Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was born at Semyonovo, Russia in 1873, the son of aristocratic parents. However, his father's extravagant lifestyle depleted the family's fortunes to the extent that they were forced to sell off most of their estate and... |
WILLIAM WALTON
Belshazzar's Feast / Symphony No. 1 / Cello Concerto / etc Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) Sherrill Milnes (baritone) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/1999 ] "An excellent account of Belshazzar's Feast (1930)...this is a spectacular recording and there is particularly clear enunciation from the Royal Scottish National Chorus and from Sherill Milnes." (MusicWeb) |
HAMERIK
Choral-Symphony No. 7 / Requiem Randi Stene / Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Choir / Thomas Dausgaard [ DACAPO / CD - released 1/Mar/2010 ] Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Thomas Dausgaard |
JOHN JOUBERT / ROBERT SIMPSON / CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT
British Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales, William Boughton [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Jul/2015 ] "[Wallfisch] performs these pieces with the utmost musicianship." (MusicWeb) |
FINZI / LEIGHTON
Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello), Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2001 ] This is a new coupling featuring these two cello concertos |
PATRIC STANFORD
Stanford: Symphony No. 1 / Cello Concerto / Prelude to a Fantasy Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Feb/2015 ] Patric Standford wrote in a wide variety of forms, from large-scale orchestral and choral music to a cappella, chamber and instrumental pieces. While teaching at the Guildhall School of Music in London he won several major international composition... |
HOLBROOKE
Symphony No. 4 / Cello Concerto Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / George Vass [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 23/Aug/2010 ] Enquiries for Joseph Holbrooke's orchestral music have been heard from enthusiasts for many years, and are now answered by Dutton Epoch's recording shared between the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Soloist... |
PROKOFIEV
Divertimento, Op. 43 / Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125 / Sinfonietta, Op. 5/48 Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 16/Oct/2006 ] 'The Divertimento is a lovely piece… its long neglect is puzzling since it is highly attractive and ought to be popular… the recording is first class - as, indeed are the performances. An indispensable item in any Prokofiev collection.' The Penguin... |
FRANZ LEHAR
Lehar: Die Lustige Witwe [The Merry widow] (highlights in English) Joan Sutherland, John Brecknock, Francis Egerton, Regina Resnik, John Fryatt / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Mar/2016 ] Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this operetta, first performed in Vienna in 1905 and here given by a cast lead by Joan Sutherland and also featuring John Brecknock, Valerie Masterson and Werner Krenn. |