LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 Martin Helmchen (piano) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Andrew Manze [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 13/Dec/2019 ] As the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth approaches, and following a much admired version of the Diabelli Variations (Alpha 386 - Gramophone Editor's Choice), Martin Helmchen has decided to record his complete piano concertos... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1 - 5 [1994 recordings] Maurizio Pollini (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD Box Set - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "...my principal choice is Maurizio Pollini, for his unfailing musicianship and level of drama, superbly accompanied by Berliner Philharmoniker under Claudio Abbado." MusicWeb |
TCHAIKOVSKY / GLAZUNOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tchaikovsky/Glazunov: Violin Concertos Maxim Vengerov (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic / Claudio Abbado [ Teldec / CD - released 19/Jan/1996 ] "Vengerov's reading of the Tchaikovsky emerges clearly as a leading contender among the many superb versions." Gramophone |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 (with Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A minor) Maxim Vengerov (violin) / London Symphony, Mstislav Rostropovich / Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado [ Teldec Elatus / CD - released 20/May/2003 ] "Vengerov and Rostropovich take an unashamedly epic, wide-open-steppes view of Prokofiev's First Concerto. His tone is gloriously rich, every note hit dead centre....this is an extremely fine disc and comes thoroughly recommended." Gramophone |
W. A. MOZART / CHOPIN / DEBUSSY / SCHUBERT / DVORAK / etc
Menahem Pressler: The Pianist (recorded live 2011-2014) Menahem Pressler (piano) / Orchestre de Paris, Berlin Philharmonic, Quatuor Ebene [ Euroarts DVD / 4 DVD Box Set - released 24/Sep/2016 ] "the playing is eloquent in its simplicity, and the final reprise of the melody, with the piano doubled by the first violins on their own, is infinitely touching. Pressler is sympathetically accompanied throughout by Paavo Järvi" |
FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Piano Trios Mendelssohn Trio Berlin [ Cpo / CD - released 28/Mar/2005 ] Ferdinand Ries was a slightly younger contemporary of Beethoven and even studied piano with him for a time. Like Beethoven, Ries took composition with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. The resemblance of Ries' music to Beethoven's own was so close that... |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: VERDI: Requiem (coupled with Bruckner's te Deum) Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Carlo Cossutta, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 26/Mar/2000 ] "If you are an adherent of Karajan's Verdi, you will certainly enjoy this performance. It has all the characteristics of measured tempos and forceful attack that one expects from him...Ludwig is satisfying in every way." Gramophone |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / TCHAIKOVSKY / VERDI / WAGNER / etc
Paul van Kempen - the Complete Philips Recordings Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Paul van Kempen [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 10 CD Box Set - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "Beethoven is represented by an Eroica that is truly among the greatest of the period - of any period, I'd say...testimony to a genuinely great conductor who up until now has rarely been acknowledged as such." Gramophone reissue of the Month June '20 |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berliner Philharmoniker - Vivaldi ltd edition (CD+DVD) Nigel Kennedy (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra [ EMI CD + DVD / CD - released 1/Jan/2003 ] This recording by Nigel Kennedy with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra inlcudes a 17-minute DVD of Kennedy in session and performance footage, as well as an interview. |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Mass No 3 In F Minor Lenneke Ruiten, Iris Vermillion, Shawn Mathey, Franz Josef Selig / Swiss Romande Orchestra, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Marek Janowski [ Pentatone / Hybrid SACD - released 8/Apr/2013 ] "The greatest plaudit here goes to the bass, Franz Josef Selig, who is warmly resonant. This flawless performance is of the highest quality." Gramophone |
CHARLES KOECHLIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Koechlin: The Jungle Book Johan Botha (tenor) Ralf Lukas (baritone) iris Vermillion (mezzo) / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra [ RCA / 2 CD - released 3/Nov/1994 ] CD released in 1994; DDD recordings from June 1993. |
LUGWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Choral Fantasia Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Daniel Barenboim (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / CD - released 6/Feb/2017 ] "They perform with the most tender expression in the slow movement, and there are fireworks from all three in the last movement" James Longstaffe |
ALEXANDER SCRIABIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Scriabin: Complete symphonies - Prometheus - Poame de l'extase - Piano Concerto Peter Jablonski, piano - Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin - Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 14/Jul/2003 ] "outstanding sound-quality" (Penguin Stereo Guide on Symphony No 1) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Berlin Concert - Live from the 'Waldbuhne' (complete concert) BLU-RAY Placido Domingo / Anna Netrebko / Rolando Villazon / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Marco Armiliato [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "The vocalism consistently stood out as superior...Domingo at 65 remains a phenomenon...His junior colleagues never lapsed vocally below their wonted high levels" (MusicalAmerica.com) |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: Antigone, Op. 55 Rene Pape (baritone) / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin), Stefan Soltesz [ Capriccio / CD - released 10/Nov/1993 ] Incidental Music to the Tragedy of Sophocles for speakers, solo bass, two male choruses and orchestra. |
LUKAS FOSS / EINAR ENGLUND / WILLIAM THOMAS MCKINLEY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Foss / Englund / McKinley - Clarinet Concertos Richard Stoltzman (clarinet) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lukas Foss [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 30/Sep/1996 ] Recorded in Berlin, May 1993 |
J. STRAUSS / SAINT-SAENS / VERDI / GODARD / ARDITI / FLOTOW / etc
Waltzes & Arias Rita Streich (soprano) / Radio-Symphonie orchester Berlin, RIAS-Symphonie Orchester Berlin [ Newton Classics / CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] "…she delights the ear from start to finish. Highly recommended, this true Original." (Gramophone) |
W. A. MOZART
Rita Streich - Mozart Arias Rita Streich (soprano) / RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Camerata Academica des Salzburger Mozarteums, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks [ Deutsche Grammophon Centenary Collection / CD - released 10/Apr/1998 ] 'Like a bird on the wing, crystal-clear, astounding in its virtuosity … sings with absolute naturalness, with the utmost ease and a completely unforced intimacy' Opéra International |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Tannhauser (complete opera recorded at the Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden 2008) BLU-RAY Robert Gambill, Camilla Nylund, Waltraud Meier / Berlin Deutsches Symphony Orchestra, Philippe Jordan, conductor [ Arthaus Musik BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Oct/2012 ] "The solo singing is the outstanding feature of this new recording. Robert Gambill might have more of the 'mad axeman' about him than Bayreuth's Spas Wenkoff, but he has immense stamina and the presence to command the stage, especially during the big... |
ZIEHRER / LEHAR / LANNER / STOLZ / STRAUSS FAMILY
Robert Stolz in Vienna : Waltzes, Marches, Polkas, etc Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Robert Stolz [ RCA Red Seal / Sony music Masters / 12 CD Box Set - released 3/Dec/2017 ] Robert Stolz was operetta royalty, and his recordings with the Berliner Symphoniker and Wiener Symphoniker document the world of light orchestral music with unique authority. Across 12 CDs, this Sony Classical Masters collection brings together... |