HUGO ALFVEN
Alfven - The Symphonies & Rhapsodies Christina Högman (soprano), Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö (tenor) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ BIS / 5 CD - released 1/Nov/2004 ] "Järvi conducts his Swedish forces with enthusiasm and authority, and this is altogether most rewarding and not music one meets readily." Penguin Guide |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / DVORAK / WAGNER / etc
Icon: Rudolf Kempe: The Genius of the Podium Rudolf Kempe conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics Icon / 11 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2011 ] The German conductor Rudolf Kempe (1910-1976) began his musical career playing the oboe in various symphony orchestras. The programme begins with recordings of four Beethoven Symphonies that Kempe made with the Munich Philharmonic in 1971-72. |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies 94 'Clock' + 100 'Military' Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Stefan Sanderling [ Royal Philharmonic SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] Digitally recorded in June 1994 at C.T.S Studios, London |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 / Overture on Hebrew Themes Simon Trpceski (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ ONYX / CD - released 7/Jan/2017 ] "this is a hit; the most satisfying performances of these concertos I've heard in a long while. I wonder if they're thinking about embarking on a series?" MusicWeb June 2017 |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with Bizet's Jeux d'enfants) Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Vivian Troon, Roderick Elms (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andrea Licata (cond) [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 10/Apr/2006 ] In line with the tradition begun by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to be closely associated with some of the world's outstanding conductors and soloists. |
CHRISTOPHER TIN
Christopher Tin: Calling All Dawns Soweto Gospel Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Frederica von Stade, Anonymous 4, Sussan Deyhim [ Decca / CD - released 2/Aug/2009 ] Twelve songs are featured on the album, each sung in a different language. Many of the lyrics find their sources in important pieces of world literature, including excerpts of long works such as the Hebrew Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and The Rubaiyat. |
SIR GRANVILLE BANTOCK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bantock: Sappho / Sapphic Poem Susan Bickley (mezzo) Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/May/1999 ] "No praise can be too high for Susan Bickley … [and] Tony Faulkner's stunningly natural engineering complements what is another triumphant addition to Hyperion's ongoing Bantock series" (Gramophone) |
GERALD FINZI
Finzi: Violin and Cello Concertos Tasmin Little (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley / City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] This recording presents a comprehensive programme of some of Finzis finest works. Featuring probably his greatest work, the Cello Concerto played here by Raphael Wallfisch, a regular on Chandos, receives a passionate and keenly felt performance... |
EDMUND RUBBRA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rubbra: Violin Concerto / Viola Concerto Tasmin Little (violin), Rivka Golani (viola) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Conifer Classics / CD - released 3/Oct/1994 ] "The recording has presence and there is ideal balance between orchestra and soloists, a tribute to one of the great British conductors, Vernon Handley, and his engineers." Review |
HEROLD / ROSSINI
La Fille mal Gardée (hlts) / Boutique Fantasque (hlts) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Lanchbery / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Solti [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] "John Lanchbery's score for La fille is one of the great ballet scores of the modern era - a creation to delight even those who do not normally care for ballet. (This recording) is of vintage Decca excellence…"Solti's Boutique is high-powered and... |
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY / FRANZ SCHREKER
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau / Schreker: Der Geburtstag der Infantin Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, European Opera Centre, Vasily Petrenko (conductor) [ Onyx / CD - released 13/Aug/2021 ] "Petrenko's interpretation [of the Schreker] is a pleasure from first to last. The excellent playing of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic brings each of the episodes vividly to life" Gramophone Editor's Choice July 2021 |
Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Brand New Me [ Warner Music / CD - released 10/Nov/2017 ] A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) pairs classic vocals from some of the most iconic songs that the Queen of Soul recorded for Atlantic Records with new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic... |
BUSONI / DEBUSSY / FALLA / GRANADA / TURINA / etc.
Turina: Rapsodia Sinfonica Valerie Tryon (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Kenneth Woods [ Somm / CD - released 1/Oct/2013 ] SOMM has embarked on an exciting new series of recordings with the RPO and pianist Valerie Tryon and conductor Kenneth Woods. |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto & Nutcracker Suite Alexandra Dariescu (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Darrwll Ang [ Signum / CD - released 13/Jan/2017 ] Alexandra Dariescu makes her concerto recording debut on Signum with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Darrell Ang, pairing this with Mikhail Pletnev's concert suite of arrangements from The... |
GRIEG
Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2, Piano Concerto & 7 Lyric Pieces Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ronan O'Hora (piano), Mark Ermler & James Judd (conductors) [ ALTO / CD - released 10/Feb/2014 ] "When it comes to generous emotional engagement you will look in vain in this price bracket. Ronan O'Hora is an extremely classy act and this version of the concerto need not look bashful in the company of the conventionally recognised reference... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 Alicia de Larrocha (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Concerto). The Philadelphia Orchestra (Symphonic Dances). Charles Dutoit [ Decca ABC Eloquence / CD - released 18/Aug/2005 ] Recorded early in Dutoit's career and originally coupled with the Schumann concerto, this is the first appearance on CD of his Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 with Alicia de Larrocha as a fine and poetic soloist. |
VERDI
Attila Ruggero Raimondi, Sherrill Milnes, Cristina Deutekom, Carlo Bergonzi / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Ambrosian Singers, Lamberto Gardelli [ Decca Operas / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "Luisi gives it all he can, and has decent singers." (BBC Music) |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Conc. No. 2 / Haydn Variations Andre Previn (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Horacio Guiterrez [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2002 ] "this Telarc recording will be hard to beat for some time to come." -Fanfare |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Homage to Maria Callas Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Marco Armiliato [ EMI Classics / CD - released 14/Nov/2011 ] "she occupies [Callas's] role with aplomb. Gheorghiu animates these arias with such gusto that her interpretations sometimes border on the eccentric, so enthusiastic is her characterisation" The Independent, 4th November 2011 **** |
DANIEL BORTZ
His name was Orestes (complete oratorio) / Concerto for recorder and orchestra Anita Bjark (narrator) Annalena Persson, Ingrid Tobiasson, Marianne Eklaf (vocals) / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Alan Gilbert [ BIS / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2007 ] "… a fine eye for detail and imaginatively spare use of full orchestral resources which now distinguishes Bortz as a composer of music drama." Gramophone |