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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera (complete opera recorded in 1991) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, April Millo, Florence Quivar / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
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STEPHEN WILKINSON
The Sunlight On the Garden Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Clare Wilkinson (mezzo-soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass) [ Signum / CD - released 30/Aug/2017 ] One of the UK's leading choral directors for over 50 years, Stephen Wilkinson MBE has led both professional and amateur choirs across Europe, and is particularly renowned for his work with the BBC Northern Singers and the William Byrd Singers of... |
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JOHN ANTILL
Antill: Corroboree / Outback Overture New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] "This excellent recording of the complete ballet by James Judd and the New Zealand Symphony orchestra fills a big gap. With precision and charm, this disc brings out its originality and its primitivist colouristics." (Sydney Morning Herald) |
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AARON COPLAND
Copland: Symphony No 3 / Billy the Kid (Suite) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 1/Jan/2002 ] "It's the Billy the Kid Suite that makes the stronger impression. The pace is compelling through to the end, the flavouring is sharp and fresh, and it's hard to keep the feet from tapping spontaneously in the Mexican Dance." - Stephen Johnson, BBC... |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Dream Children / Wand of Youth / Nursery Suite New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Apr/2004 ] "The freshness of inspiration is a delight, superbly brought out in these fine performances from New Zealand, with James Judd always an idiomatic Elgarian. The Wand of Youth Suites in particular range wonderfully wide in mood and invention; they... |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Orchestral Miniatures (Incls Chanson de matin & 3 Bavarian Dances) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Sep/2006 ] "Especially impressive are the woodwind, which excel the rest of the ensemble in both beauty of playing and ability to follow their conductor...the horns are also impressive. This orchestra has a great future in front of it." MusicWeb September 2006 |
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LYELL CRESSWELL
Cresswell: The Voice Inside / Alas! How Swift / Cassandra's Songs / Kaea New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Jan/2010 ] New Zealand-born Edinburgh-based Lyell Cresswell has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, choir, voice and solo instruments which have been widely performed and broadcast. |
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MUSSORGSKY / BACH / STOKOWSKI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stokowski Transcriptions New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares [ Koch International Classics / CD - released 5/Jun/1994 ] "To his and the NZSO's credit, James Sedares comes close to reanimating Stokowski, and if you don't quite see the white nimbus of hair or hear the suspicious Polish accent, the showman's spirit must have been present when these recordings were made.... |
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MORTON GOULD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gould: Fall River Legend / Steven Foster Gallery / Of Time and the River New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. James Sedares, JoAnn Falletta / Greg Smith Singers, New York Choral Society [ Koch International Classics / CD - released 5/Jun/1996 ] "Next to perhaps Aaron Copland, Morton Gould was THE voice of American music during his long and fruitful life...a fine reading from the New Zealand Symphony under James Sedares." Daily Press (Virginia) |
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DANIEL ASIA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Asia: Piano Concerto / Gateways / Black Light New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares, with Andre-Michel Schub (piano) [ Koch International Classics / CD - released 5/Jun/1996 ] "André-Michel Schub gives an expert performance of the Concerto. Sedares' expert conducting is clearly in sympathy with the music. The playing of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is excellent. Great recorded sound." ClassicalNet |
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ALFRED NEWMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wuthering Heights - A tribute to Alfred Newman New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares, with the New Zealand Youth Choir [ Koch International Classics / CD - released 5/Jun/1994 ] Recorded at Symphony House, Wellington, New Zealand, April 1996 |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (highlights) Nicolai Gedda, Beverly Sills, Ruggero Raimondi, Sherrill Milnes / London Symphony Orchestra, James Levine [ EMI Classics Red Line / CD - released 1/Jul/2000 ] Original recording from 1975 |
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CHARLES IVES
Ives: Symphony No. 3 / Washington's Birthday / etc Northern Sinfonia, James Sinclair [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 10/May/2008 ] "In short, every aspect of this project has been realized about as well as it can be, and no admirer of Ives will want to miss out on the chance to hear it. 10/10 Artistic Quality, 10/10 Sound Quality" - Classicstoday.com, 6/22/03 |
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James Moody (Saxophone, Flute) / Kenny Barron (Piano)
Fly Me to the Moon [ Lone Hill jazz / CD - released 29/Aug/2006 ] Comin' On Strong: New York, September 16, 1963. Another Bag: Chicago, January 30, 1962. |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: The Canticles / A Birthday Hansel Peter Pears, John Hahessy, James Bowman, John Shirley-Quirk, with Bary Tuckwell (horn), Osian Ellis (harp) & Benjamin Britten (piano) [ Decca / London / CD - released 21/Oct/1990 ] Written at intervals between 1947 and 1974 Britten's five Canticles are miniature cantatas sharing a spiritual intensity that derives from Britten's own religious belief. |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Symphony No 9 Philadelphia Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2018 ] "As a Mahler interpreter, his performances are exciting, fabulously played, razor-sharp rhythmically, and sensitive to the myriad details of Mahler's scoring. Perhaps the two standout performances are the Fifth and Ninth, as much for the playing of... |
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CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (complete 1774 Naples version] Philippe Jaroussky, Iestyn Davies, Andreas Scholl, Gérard Lesne, James Bowman, David DQ Lee, Dominique Visse, Derek Lee Ragin [ Erato / CD - released 5/May/2018 ] "This brilliant recording of Gluck's famous opera has a vibrancy from start to finish. It flows along really nicely, a lively pace that is never hurried. All parts make a great whole with three superb soloists " Nicholas Butler/Marbecks |
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VIVALDI / HANDEL / HASSE / GLUCK / MOZART / J. C. BACH / ROSSINI
Angel Voices. The Magic Of The Castrato Philippe Jaroussky, James Bowman, René Jacobs, Max Emanuel Cencic, Gérard Lesne, David Daniels [ Erato Inspiration / CD - released 2/Feb/2011 ] The fascination engendered by castrati is a remarkable phenomenon of music history. From Handel's time up to the days of Mozart and Rossini, these vocal prodigies were the leading attraction of the world of opera. |
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FRANCESCO CILEA
Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur (Complete opera recorded in 1977) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Elena Obraztsova, Sherrill Milnes / Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, James Levine [ Sony Opera House / 2 CD - released 20/Feb/2010 ] "Francesco Cilea's… dramatic balance between light and shade, delicate orchestration and thunderous melodrama, are all superbly served by the Philharmonia and James Levine on top form… Maria Callas could not have outstripped Scotto in this title... |
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UMBERTO GIORDANO
Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ Sony Opera House / 2 CD - released 4/Jan/2010 ] "Scotto gives one of her most eloquent and beautiful performances, and Levine has rarely displayed his powers as an urgent and dramatic opera conductor more potently on record." Penguin Stereo Guide |