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W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Piano Concertos KV 466, 488, 491, 503 Ivan Moravec (piano) / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Piano Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2002 ] The great Czech pianist Ivan Moravec is one of the most highly regarded musicians of his generation. His sparkling and witty Mozart concerto recordings from the 1990s feature conductor Sir Neville Marriner leading The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-... |
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KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Szymanowski: Songs of a Fairytale Princess, Op. 31 / Hafiz' Love-Songs, Op. 26 Iwona Sobotka, Katarina Karneus, Timothy Robinson / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ EMI Classics / CD - released 23/Nov/2006 ] "Always supreme in Szymanowski, Simon Rattle returns to his old stomping ground for these orchestral songs. The Birmingham band welcome him with full-blooded commitment and an almost hypnotically rich orchestral palette." Editor's Choice Gramophone |
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ANTONIN DVORAK / EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak/Elgar: Cello Concertos Jacqueline Du Pre (cello) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ EMI / CD - released 23/Oct/1989 ] Du Pré was born in Oxford, England, the second child of Iris Greep and Derek du Pré. Derek was born in Jersey, where his family had lived for generations. After working as an accountant at Lloyds Bank in St Helier and London, he became assistant... |
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IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto / Apollon musagète / etc James Ehnes (vioin) / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 23/Feb/2024 ] "…James Ehnes gives a performance of unobtrusive elegance … Ehnes's intonation is, as ever, second to none." Gramophone |
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ALBAN BERG
Berg: Violin Concerto / Three Pieces for Orchestra James Ehnes (violin) / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Andrew Davis (conductor) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 30/Sep/2022 ] "His mellow tone is ideally captured on the recording, as is his readiness to play the role of accompanist when the main melodic line lies in the orchestra." Five Stars BBC Music - Concerto Choice Dec 2022 |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Kindertotenlieder / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen / etc Janet Baker (mezzo) / Halle & New Philharmonia Orchestras / Sir John Barbirolli [ EMI Great Recordings of the Century / CD - released 27/Aug/1999 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "The spontaneous feeling of soloist and conductor of this music comes over as in a live performance and brings out the tenderness to a unique degree. An indispensable CD." Penguin |
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MAURICE RAVEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ravel: Sheherazade (with lieder by Chausson, Duparc, Schumann & Brahms) [recorded in 1967] Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) / New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn, & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (ba [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/1999 ] A classic recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade, evoking a wealth of moods and sensations. Janet Baker, an irresistible storyteller, is accompanied on her journey by Sir John Barbirolli, conducting the New Philharmonia with sensitivity and imagination |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Beatrice et Benedict (Complete opera) Janet Baker, Robert Tear, Christiane Eda-Pierre, Thomas Allen, Helen Watts, London Symphony Orchestra. Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / 2 CD - released 5/May/2005 ] Dame Janet Baker and Robert Tear lead an outstanding cast in this classic recording of Berlioz' operatic setting of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, under the baton of the distinguished Berlioz conductor Sir Colin Davis. |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Messiah (complete oratorio recorded in 1954) (with Bach: Magnificat) Jennifer Vyvyan, Norma Procter, George Maran, Owen Brannigan, London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 27/Sep/2019 ] "Beautifully engineered sound. Balance is exceptional … excellent singing … really fine choral discipline" High Fidelity (Handel) |
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FALLA / GRANADOS / DEBUSSY / ALBENIZ / RAVEL
Falla: Noches en los jardines de Espana [Nights in the Gardens of Spain] (recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Joaquín Achúcarro (piano) / Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / DVD - released 20/Sep/2011 ] "There is something special with Achucarro. Very few musicians can extract this kind of sound from the piano" Sir Simon Rattle |
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DVORAK / STRAVINSKY / RICHARD STRAUSS / BERNSTEIN / SHOSTAKOVICH
New Year's Eve Concert 2017 BLU-RAY Joyce DiDonato (mezzo) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Apr/2018 ] With her flexible, slender but dark-timbred mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato is the star guest at Sir Simon Rattle's side during the New Year's Eve Concert, singing Richard Strauss's lavishly beautiful orchestral songs. The programme also includes works... |
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BRAHMS / CHAUSSON / RUBBRA / FERGUSON / WORDSWORTH
Kathleen Ferrier Edition Volume 5 Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent / Halle Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli / Ernest Lush (piano) [ Decca / CD - released 9/Aug/1992 ] Kathleen Ferrier was an artist held in awe and affection by numerous colleagues and countless fans worldwide and her reputation is undiminished to this day. A true contralto, whose repertory encompassed English song as well as German Lieder. |
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PUCCINI
La Boheme (Complete Opera) Katia Ricciarelli / Jose Carreras / Ingvar Wixell / Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis [ Decca Opera! / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2010 ] "Not Davis's normal repertoire, but he conducts a lively, detailed, idiomatic performance of this masterpiece, and has strong soloists. Carreras was then at his peak, and Ricciarelli is an affecting Mimi." (BBC Music) |
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J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach, (J.S.) - St Matthew Passion (Arias and Choruses) Kiri te Kanawa, Anne Sofie von Otter, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Chicago Sym., Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Records / 3 CD - released 11/Nov/1990 ] Classic recording with a top-line cast lead by our Kiri |
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CHARLES GOUNOD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gounod: Faust (complete opera with full libretto recorded in 1986) Kiri te Kanawa, Francisco Araiza, Evgeny Nesterenko, Andreas Schmidt / Symphonie-Orchester & Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / 3 CD Box Set - released 28/Aug/2014 ] "Let me say at the outset that this is the most satisfying performance of Gounod's favourite opera yet to appear in the LP/CD era...In the lyrical music Araiza manages a real pianissimo not found in his rival's assumptions." Gramophone |
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ERICH KORNGOLD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Korngold: Abschiedslieder / Symphony 3 Linda Finnie (contralto) / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Edward Downes [ Chandos / CD - released 2/Feb/1993 ] "Korngold's lush orchestration needs sound with a full bloom, and the Chandos engineers provide that in spades" The Times |
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EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: The Wand of Youth Suites / Three Bavarian Dances / etc London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult. [ EMI Studio / CD - released 20/Mar/2006 ] Original recordings from 1968 & 1975 |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL, arr BEECHAM
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel arr. Beecham: The Gods Go A'Begging' / The Great Elopement / etc London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Dutton / CD - released 20/Aug/1996 ] Digitally remastered from the original 78rpm shellac pressings |
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ERNEST JOHN MOERAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Moeran: Sinfonietta / Symphony in G minor / Overture for a Masque London Philharmonic Orchestra / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult [ Lyrita / CD - released 20/Apr/2007 ] "Classic versions still unmatched and now stealing with nonchalant confidence the poll place in the Moeran discography" (Recording of the Month MusicWeb March 2007) |
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams:Complete Symphonies London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Hickox, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos Classics / 6 Hybrid SACD - released 27/May/2022 ] 'Impeccable playing' The Times |