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HARRISON BIRTWISTLE
The Minotaur (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House / John Tomlinson, Johan Reuter, Christine Rice, Andrew Watts / Antonio Pappano (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Nov/2015 ] "The filming reinforces the strengths of Stephen Langridge's tightly controlled, potently expressive production in an economical yet atmospheric setting, with the whole ensemble totally engaged in the drama's dark enterprise." (Gramophone) |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walküre (complete opera recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY The Royal Opera / Stuart Skelton, Emily Magee, Nina Stemme, John Lundgren, Sarah Connolly / Antonio Pappano [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Mar/2020 ] "Pappano has always had a special relationship with the Ring's second part…and the Royal Opera House Orchestra rewards him with some of its most sumptuous playing." BBC Music Opera Choice June 2020 |
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VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Top 100 Favourite Classical Melodies [5 CD set] Royal Philharmonic, London Baroque Ensemble, Choir of St. John's College Cambridge, Consort of London and others [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2010 ] This set is newly compiled, choosing the 100 very best tracks in the best available performances, including London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Carl Davis, London Baroque Ensemble, Choir of St. John's College Cambridge,... |
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SIBELIUS
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra / Sir John Barbirolli [ Testament / CD - released 1/May/2010 ] "Barbirolli's October 1962 account of the Second Symphony with the RPO… finds Sir John at his inspirational best in a reading which marries outsize but never wilful temperament to edge-of-seat spontaneity and keen poetic instinct." (Gramophone) |
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The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / John Tavener
Plays John Tavener [ CD ] |
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PIERSON / RAWSTHORNE / MORGAN / ARNOLD / etc
Premieres & Encores Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / London Philharmonic Orchestra / London Syphony Orchestra / Vernon Handley / John Pritchard / Nicholas Braithwaite [ Lyrita / CD - released 18/Jan/2008 ] In the Britain, Scandinavia and the Netherlands edition of the Twentieth Century Composers series, Humphrey Searle commented on Alan Rawsthorne: "I feel that his contribution to English music is as important as that of any composer working in England... |
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Owain Arwel Hughes, Philip Ellis, John Rigby, Barry Wordsworth, Robin Stapleton
Classics for the People, Vol. 2 [ Brilliant Classics SACD / 2 CD - released 30/Nov/2014 ] The second volume of this well‐received series again features some of the world's most popular masterpieces of classical music performed by the ever‐reliable Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and some of the most experienced British conductors of our day. |
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DOUGIE MACLEAN
Till Tomorrow Royal Scottish National Orchestra, John Logan [ Linn Records SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 30/Jun/2014 ] Dougie MacLean needs no introduction; as a singer, song-writer, composer and instrumentalist, no artist captures the soul of Scotland with more authenticity or emotion. |
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CARL NIELSEN
Symphonies Nos. 1-6 (Complete) Gillian Keith (soprano) & Mark Stone (baritone) / BBC Philharmonic, John Storgårds [ Chandos / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Jun/2015 ] John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic here present a complete set of Nielsen's symphonies, following on from the successful release a year ago of Sibelius' complete symphonies. The two sets together celebrate the 150th anniversary this year of the... |
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ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD
Korngold: Violin Concerto / String Sextet Andrew Haverson (violin) / RTE Concert Orchestra, John Wilson (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 3/Apr/2020 ] "[The Sextet] gets an absolutely cracking performance here from key members of Wilson's newly reformed Sinfonia of London led by Haveron" Gramophone Editor's Choice May 2020 |
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ERROLLYN WALLEN
Wallen - Orchestral Works Ruby Hughes (mezzo-soprano), Idunnu Munch (mezzo-soprano), Miwa Rosso (cello), BBC Concert Orchestra, John Andrews [ Resonus / CD - released 28/Mar/2025 ] This new album of orchestral works by Errollyn Wallen, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of John Andrews, offers a rich journey through over two decades of the composer's diverse and innovative music. |
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J.S. BACH
Cantatas Vol 21: BWV22, BWV23, BWV127, BWV159; BWV182, BWV54 & BWV1 Ruth Holton / James Gilchrist / Peter Harvey / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner [ Soli Deo Gloria / 2 CD - released 16/Mar/2006 ] John Eliot Gardiner's award-winning series of live recordings from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage continues with cantatas for Cantatas for Quinquagesima and Cantatas for the Annunciation/Palm Sunday & Oculi. |
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J. S. BACH
J.S. Bach: Complete works on 142 CDs Ruth Holton; Peter Schreier; James Bowman; John Mark Ainsley; Dmitry Sitkovetsky; The Sixteen, Jaap ter Linden, Pieter-Jan Belder; Holland Boys Choir; [ Brilliant Classics / 142 CD Box Set - released 20/Aug/2014 ] 142 CDs representing the entirety of Johann Sebastian Bach's oeuvre in historically informed performances. This includes all 200 sacred cantatas recorded for Brilliant Classics on period instruments and sung by the Holland Boys Choir. Big name... |
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J.S. BACH
Cantatas Vol 17: BWV143, BWV41, BWV16; BWV171, BWV153, BWV58 Ruth Holton, Sally Bryce-Payne, James Gilchrist, Peter Harvey / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / John Elliot Gardiner [ Soli Deo Gloria / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] "So this is one of the more interesting releases to come along, peppered with Gardiner's unique musical and spiritual way with Bach. The sound remains clear and warm in this difficult recording venue, and so the journey continues." (**** AudAud.com) |
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JOHN RUTTER
Rutter: Magnificat Patricia Forbes (soprano) / The Cambridge Singers & City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter [ Collegium / CD - released 1/Jul/2017 ] Rutter's Magnificat for soprano soloist, choir, and orchestra was written in 1990. The text, based on the prayer ascribed by St Luke to the Virgin Mary on learning that she was to give birth to Christ, is extended by the interpolation of Marian... |
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NIELSEN
Nielsen - Complete Concertos: Violin, Clarinet, and Flute Saeka Matsuyama, violin / John McCaw, clarinet / Jennifer Stinton, flute / all with various orchestras [ Regis Records / CD - released 17/May/2005 ] "..stunning performance [violin].. uplifting rhythmic lift.. certain rustic vigour.. perfect intonation.. result is as fine a version of this work as any.." - David Hurwitz, Classics Today |
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SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Rachmaninoff: Vespers (All-Night Vigil, Op. 37) Ory Brown mezzo (soprano) & David Vanderwal (tenor) / Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Fifth Avenue, New York (choir); John Scott [ Resonus Classics / CD - released 1/Jul/2016 ] "It is a magnificent rendition, showing just how this masterpiece has been convincingly absorbed into the wider choral tradition, and I recommend it very highly indeed.' - Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Choral |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Motets Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys & John Scott [ Resonus Classics / CD - released 1/May/2015 ] One of the world's leading liturgical choirs, the Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys of Fifth Avenue, New York, with their renowned director John Scott, begin a major new collaboration with Resonus Classics with this new and exciting recording of... |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Mass in C major, Op. 86 / O welche Lust! (Prisoners' Chorus) Sally Matthews (soprano) Sara Mingardo (mezzo) John Mark Ainsley (tenor) Alastair Miles (bass) / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] Sir Colin Davis recently collected the Best Male Artist award at the Classical Brits for the second time. |
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MICHAEL WILLIAM BALFE
Satanella (or 'The Power of Love') (complete opera) Sally Silver, Catherine Carby, Christine Tocci, Elizabeth Sikora, Kang Wang / Victorian Opera Orchestra & John Powell Singers, Richard Bonynge [ Naxos Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2016 ] Satanella was Michael William Balfe's 23rd opera, first presented at Covent Garden in 1858 to much acclaim. It remained in the repertoire for over 60 years, touring to Sydney, New York and Philadelphia. A hybrid of classical opera with a sprinkling... |