ZOLTAN KODALY / LEOS JANACEK
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 |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN / etc
Discovering Mendelssohn Christian Li (violin) / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis, with James Baillieu (piano), Xuefei Yang (guitar) [ Decca / CD - released 21/Jul/2023 ] A new album from Australian-Chinese violinist Christian Li. Having topped the Australian Classical Charts with his debut album in 2021 (with which he became the youngest artist ever to record Vivaldi's Four Seasons) the award-winning musician... |
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... |
VICAR OF DIBLEY
The Vicar of Dibley - Volume 2 - Autumn, Spring, Winter, Summer Dawn French with Guy Waldhorn, James Fleet, Emma Chambers & cast [ BBC Audio / 2 CD - released 10/Jun/2010 ] These four episodes have been specially adapted to bring the gentle humour of Dibley and its residents to audio. |
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) |
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. |
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 |
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 |
WALTER BRAUNFELS
Braunfels: Die Vogel [The Birds] (complete opera recorded in 2009) BLU-RAY Désirée Rancatore / Brandon Jovanovich / James Johnson / Martin Gantner / Los Angeles Opera Orchestra & Chorus / James Conlon [ Arthaus Musik Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 16/Feb/2011 ] "A rare chance to hear Braunfels's lighthearted, tenderly spiritual and little-known fable…" The New York Times "A marvelous performance…the orchestra sounded radiant." Los Angeles Times "Conlon conducted with lustrous élan…We should hear more... |
GEORG FREDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel: Messiah (Highlights) Elsie Morison, Richard Lewis, Marjorie Thomas, James Milligan, Huddersfield Choral Soc., M Sargent [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 20/Nov/2006 ] "Throughout, Sargent's pacing, even when slow, is seemingly spontaneous and has the confident hallmark of authority which stems from conducting and admiring Messiah for 40 years." (Gramophone) |
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' |
CAMILE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No.1 - Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3 Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello) / Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, James Gaffigan. with Pascal Amoyel (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "[A] luscious and lyrical account of the concerto, with rich orchestral detail" Irish Times |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Kegelstatt-Trio Ensemble Wien-Berlin, with James Levine (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/1992 ] Recorded in Vienna 1990 & 1991 |
Etta James
The Essential Etta James [ Sony Music / 2 CD - released 5/Jul/2010 ] 31 of her best, including "The Blues is My Business", "Crawlin' King Snake", "Born on the Bayou", "I've Been Lovin' You Too Long", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", "Somebody to Love", "Try A Little Tenderness" and many more. |
Etta James
Etta James: The Montreux Years (LP) [ BMG / ADA / 2 LP - released 25/Jun/2021 ] Etta James: The Montreux Years is a treasure trove of timeless classics, powerful and electrifying performances and raw, soaring vocals by one of the greatest ever female vocalists. The collection, featuring recordings from James' Montreux Jazz... |
Etta James
Five Classic Albums (Miss Etta James / At Last! / Second Time Around / Etta James / Sings For Lovers) [ Avid / 2 CD - released 4/Aug/2017 ] As a 14 year old Etta James' singing talents were noticed while singing in a doo wop group. At this point she ran into Johnny Otis who took her under his wing, changed her name from Jamesetta Hawkins to Etta James and the name of the group to The... |
Etta James
Gold / Best of [ 2 CD ] |
Etta James
Matriarch Of The Blues (LP) [ Music on Vinyl / CD - released 10/Jan/2020 ] Matriarch of the Blues, as Etta James is called many times, is an 2000 album marking her return to the blues, after recording country, jazz, and pop songs. The album reached a peak position of number two on Billboard's Top Blues Albums chart, and was... |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Pulcinella [complete] / Danses Concertantes Fiona James (soprano) / Ian Bostridge (tenor) / Henry Herford (baritone) / Bournemouth Sinfonietta / Stefen Sanderling [ Naxos / CD - released 27/Apr/2008 ] "Even if the performance were less than excellent this newcomer would be welcome. But it is very good indeed... Fiona James, Ian Bostridge and Henry Herford are outstandingly good... What can I say? Another "another Naxos winner"!!" - Classic CD 5... |
FRANCIS POULENC
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Poulenc: Concertos for Organ, Piano, 2 Pianos & Harpsichord Marie-Claire Alain (organ) Ton Koopman (harpsich) Francois-Rene Duchable, Jean-Philippe Collard (piano) Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, James Conlon [ Erato Ultima / 2 CD - released 30/Jan/1991 ] Francis Poulenc had his first major successes as an 18-year-old composer without a single composition lesson. Despite some study, he remained largely self-taught. |