RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Gotterdammerung (complete opera recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Clay Hilley, Thomas Lehmann, Aile Asszonyi / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - due 17/May/2024 ] Götterdämmerung ('Twilight of the Gods') is the final opera of Wagner's epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen ('The Ring of the Nibelung') in which his visionary masterpiece reaches its cataclysmic conclusion. Betrayal and death, murder and remorse,... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.4 & 8 (with Mehul: Symphony No. 1 & Cherubini: Lodoiska Overture) Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] The least famous of Beethoven's symphonies? Yet these two works are genuine tours de force: the composer takes the listener on a journey whose destination never seems to be known in advance, one brimming over with structural innovations subtly... |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Isabelle Faust, Antoine Tamestit [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 17/Sep/2021 ] Johann Sebastian Bach and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin go back a long way together! This recording, made with the welcome participation of Isabelle Faust and Antoine Tamestit, follows the complete violin concertos (2019), which left a lasting... |
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Coronation anthems Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS-Kammerchor Berlin, Justin Doyle [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Apr/2023 ] In 1727, having just become a naturalised British subject, Handel was commissioned to write a set of anthems for the coronation of George II. Since he could hardly have expected ever to see a more majestic occasion, the composer took full advantage... |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Manon (Complete opera recorded in 2007) Staatsoper unter den Linden, Berlin / Anna Netrebko / Rolando Villazon / Alfredo Daza / Christof Fischesser / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 7/Aug/2008 ] Following the artistic success of their last DVD project, La Traviata from the 2005 Salzburg Festival, opera superstars Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón bring their combined talents to Jules Massenet's Manon. |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 4-9 (The Mature Symphonies) (6-DVD Box Set) Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim [ Unitel Classics DVD / 6 DVD - released 8/Aug/2011 ] "This unforgettable Bruckner cycle sets new standards, and guarantees the Staatskapelle Berlin and their principal conductor "a place in the Bruckner pantheon." Der Tagesspiegel |
FRANZ LISZT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Liszt: Dante Symphony / Dante Sonata Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (piano/conductor) [ Teldec / CD - released 1/Jun/1994 ] Recording location: Schauspielhaus Berlin, Live Recording February 1992 [Symphony], Neues Schloß Bayreuth, July 1989/August 1993 |
BEETHOVEN / FUCIK / SUPPE / JOHANN STRAUSS / SCHRAMMEL / etc
20 Favourite Marches Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan. [ Deutsche Grammophon Australian Eloquence / CD - released 13/Apr/1993 ] Herbert von Karajan turns his attention to the swaggering pomp of favourite marches by the 'other' Strauss family and many others in this good natured and emblazoned romp. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 6 & 8 (recorded 2001) Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Claudio Abbado [ EuroArts DVD / DVD - released 1/Mar/2014 ] Recorded live at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome, February 2001 |
LIGETI / WAGNER / ELGAR / STRAVINSKY
Sir Simon Rattle & Sol Gabetta (Recorded live at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, 2014) Sol Gabetta (cello) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Simon Rattle [ EuroArts DVD / DVD - released 10/Apr/2017 ] "Rattle's presence can be heard, and felt, in virtually every bar of the score: the way he moulds phrases, nudges details to the fore, bends the line, holds tight to a salient accompanying detail (especially along the lower end of the spectrum) or re |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Wagner: Arias from Der Fliegende Hollander / Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg / etc Bryn Terfel (baritone) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 6/Apr/2002 ] "This disc is only of extracts, but already it is clear that Terfel is going to be an outstanding Wagnerian bass-baritone of his generation, His tone colour is rich and full in the nest tradition, his declamation vivid and lively." Five Stars BBC |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV / FRANCIS POULENC
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Poulenc: Organ Concerto Cameron Carpenter (International touring organ) / Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Christoph Eschenbach [ Sony Classical / CD / CD - released 29/Mar/2020 ] "Cameron Carpenter (1981- ) is a spectacular musician and showman. But don't let his showmanship fool you. He is a brilliant and disciplined musician and arranger and belongs to a tradition of flashy virtuosos. He is also not the first organist to... |
FRANZ SCHREKER
Schreker: Der ferne Klang... Orchestral Works & Songs (2 CDs) Chen Reiss (soprano), Matthias Goerne (baritone) / Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Christop Eschenbach [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 7/Jul/2023 ] "The playing of the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach is both meticulously prepared and wonderfully idiomatic." Gramophone Editor's Choice June 2023 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / GIOVANNI BATTISTA VIOTTI / ANTONIN DVORAK
Brahms: Double Concerto / Viotti: Violin Concerto No 22 / Dvorak: Silent Woods Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Tanja Tetzlaff (cello) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Paavo Jarvi [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Oct/2023 ] This album by violinist Christian Tetzlaff and cellist Tanja Tetzlaff together with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin conducted by Paavo Järvi, is dedicated in the memory of their longtime artistic partner, pianist Lars Vogt (1970-2022). At... |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Fantaisie / Violin Sonata / Cello Sonata / La Mer Daniel Barenboim (piano), Michael Barenboim (violin), Kian Soltani (cello) / Martha Argerich (piano), Staatskapelle Berlin [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 25/Jun/2021 ] Daniel Barenboim performs Debussy with Martha Argerich, Michael Barenboim, Kian Soltani and the Staatskapelle Berlin. |
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane (complete opera recorded in 2018) Deutsche Oper Berlin / Sara Jakubiak, Brian Jagde, Josef Wagner, Okka von der Damerau, Derek Welton / Christof Loy [ Naxos DVD / 2 DVD - released 7/Jun/2019 ] Erich Wolfgang Korngold regarded Das Wunder der Heliane as his greatest work, but the opera has been neglected since its premiere in 1927. This 2018 production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin features the American soprano Sara Jakubiak as Heliane, and... |
ARLEN / BERNSTEIN / GERSHWIN / LOEWE / SONDHEIM
New Year's Eve Concert 2019 - An Evening with Broadway Melodies Diana Damrau (soprano) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Kirill Petrenko [ EuroArts DVD / DVD - released 19/Jun/2020 ] The Berliner Philharmoniker played under the baton of their new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko for the first time at the New Year's Eve concert - presenting a vibrant facet to Petrenko's repertoire. |
ARLEN / BERNSTEIN / GERSHWIN / LOEWE / SONDHEIM
New Year's Eve Concert 2019 - An Evening with Broadway Melodies BLU-RAY Diana Damrau (soprano) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Kirill Petrenko [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 19/Jun/2020 ] "The Berliner Philharmoniker and Diana Damrau bring American sass and swing to the Silvesterkonzert" - Financial Times |
FRANZ LISZT / SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Evgeny Kissin Evgeny Kissin (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra [ Philips / BMG / Sony / Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2000 ] Few recent prodigies have endured like Evgeny Kissin. His technique is flawless, he articulates both notes and expression with a maturity beyond his years, and his romantic repertoire is some of the best available. |
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Bach, (J.S.): Violin Concertos / Sinfonias / Overture / Sonatas Isabelle Faust (violin) / Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 15/Mar/2019 ] "Faust's tone is both lean and exquisitely sweet, combined with consistent stylistic elegance which reaches the heights of eloquence in the slow movement of the E major Concerto." BBC Music Concerto Choice June 2019 |