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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 |
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BOHUSLAV MARTINU
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Martinu: Double Concerto / Concerto for String Quartet / Sinfonietta La Jolla / etc Jean-François Heisser, Alain Planès (pianos), Jean Camosi (timpani), Brandis Quartet, French National Orchestra, James Conlon [ Erato Classics / 2 CD - released 2/Oct/1998 ] "Conlon keeps a tight rein on things, making the most of the edgy ostinati and driving neo-classical allegros...on a purely artistic level these are pretty compelling performances." MusicWeb |
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James Rhodes
The Piano Man [ SBS DVD / DVD - released 12/Apr/2012 ] With childhood abuse, drug addiction and suicide attempts behind him, James is not your typical concert pianist. But with his passion and rock-star aura, he's bringing new audiences to classical piano. In Piano Man, James plays the music of his... |
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CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Monteverdi: The Sacred Music 2 Carolyn Sampson, Rebecca Outram, James Gilchrist, Charles Daniels / Choir of The King's Consort, Robert King [ Hyperion SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 29/Mar/2004 ] "... there are joys here to melt icebergs ... I want Volume 3 immediately" The Times |
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J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: Cantatas (Vol 21) Nos 21, 65. 81, 83, 190 Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) James Gilchrist (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / CD - released 1/Mar/2003 ] If there is anyone who has yet to hear Masaaki Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan, they have the opportunity of a novel and stunning musical experience. |
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JAMES MacMILLAN
MacMillan: Quickening / Three Interludes from 'The Sacrifice' Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor) Gordon Jones (baritone) / BBC Philharmonic / James MacMillan [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "The three interludes from MacMillan's opera The Sacrifice are more than an interesting filler. The same exuberant invention can be found here as in Quickening... The sound is stunning..." BBC Music Magazine, March 2009 ***** |
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RALF VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending / Fantasia On A Theme, etc Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Orchestra, Andrew Manze, with James Ehnes (violin) [ Onyx / CD - released 11/Oct/2019 ] "The success-level here is excellently high. Collectors will savour a genuine rarity: the composer's own orchestra-only arrangement of the Serenade to Music…the music sounds as rapturously beautiful as ever" Five Stars BBC Music |
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto / The Wasps / English Folk Song Suite / The Running Set Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] "The Piano Concerto of Vaughan Williams has been seriously undervalued...a performance as fine as this one from Ashley Wass will simply have one marvelling at the originality of the piece and its distinctive slant on the idea of a piano concerto."... |
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W.A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera directed by Peter Sellars. Recorded in 1990) Sanford Sylvan / James Maddalena / Susan Larson / Jeanne Ommerle / Wiener Symphoniker / Craig Smith (cond) [ Decca Records / 2 DVD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] Sung in the original Italian but relocated to contrasting worlds of late 20th century USA, 'Le nozze di Figaro' takes place in the ersatz elegance of Fifth Avenue. |
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DAME ETHEL SMYTH
Smith: The Prison (Choral Symphony) Sarah Brailey, Dashon Burton / Experiential Orchestra and Chorus, James Blachly [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Choral GRAMMY Awards 63rd Awards (2021) Winner - Best Classical Solo Vocal Album |
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RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Parsifal (highlights from the opera) Simon Estes, Matti Salminen, Hans Sotin, Peter Hoffmann, Waltraud Meier / Bayreuthher Festspiele, James Levine [ Philips / CD - released 9/Nov/1987 ] Live recording from the Bayreuth Festival, July and August 1985 |
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Sonny James
Sonny James - 200 Years of Country Music & In Prison, In Person [ Demon - Westside / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] Jimmie Hugh Loden (May 1, 1928 - February 22, 2016), known professionally as Sonny James, was an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the "Southern Gentleman" for his congenial manner, his... |
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BRIDGE / BOWEN / SCHUMANN / BRAHMS / WOLSTENHOLME / KREISLER / etc
A Lionel Tertis Celebration Timothy Ridout (viola), Frank Dupree (piano), James Baillieu (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 22/Mar/2024 ] "All told, it's a most rewarding programme that gathers together an unusual array of ear-catching pieces in performances that present the music in its best possible light." Gramophone Award Finalist 2024 - Chamber |
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LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Beethoven & Schnittke: Violin Concertos Vadim Gluzman (violin), Luzerner Sinfonieorchester / James Gaffigan [ BIS / CD - released 7/May/2021 ] "Only time will tell, but I will be genuinely surprised if this account of the Beethoven doesn't join the ranks of such legendary performances as Kreisler, Menuhin or Schneiderhan...this isn't just a good modern version but good: full stop." MusicWeb |
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James Horner, London Symphony Orchestra / Traditional Scottish Bagpipe Music
Braveheart...More Music from the Soundtrack [ Decca / CD - released 2/Feb/1997 ] Bagpipes performed by the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders under the direction of Pipe Major Evan Macrae and drum Major G. Burrs |
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SHAKESPEARE / KEATS / CLARE / BLAKE / etc
Poetry For The Winter Season James Barraclough, Ron Bloomfield, Christine Dimble, Roger McGough, James Murphy, Hazel Pardon, and others [ Naxos Audiobooks / 2 CD - released 2/Oct/2006 ] In November 2005, hundreds of people submitted recordings of Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Roger McGough in an attempt to win a prize - participation in the recording of this new poetry collection by Christina Hardyment, historian and audiobook... |