JOHN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel: Missa Solemnis / Te Deum David Griffiths (bass) Zan McKendree-Wright (alto) Patrick Power (tenor) Patricia Wright (sop) / TOWER Voices New Zealand / NZ Symphony / Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Apr/2004 ] Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine May 2004 - "This choir has a remarkable level of control, vocal development and musicality. The fact that they are all trained voices means that an effortless power is available to them, with a wide and dramatic... |
JENNY McLEOD
McLeod: The Emperor and the Nightingale / Rock Concerto / etc Helen Medlyn (narrator) & Eugene Albulescu (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2011 ] New Zealand-born composer Jenny McLeod's wide musical background is here distilled into three works of highly enjoyable directness. The Emperor and the Nightingale is a colourful score which accompanies the narration of a Hans Christian Andersen... |
ROSS HARRIS
Harris: Violin Concerto / Symphony No 5 Ilya Gringolts (violin), Sally-Anne Russell (mezzo-soprano) / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Eckehard Stier & Garry Walker [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Jul/2016 ] "orchestral tone and clarity is smooth and clean" (MusicWeb) |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A Vaughan Williams Anthology [8 CD set] Joan Rodgers (sop) Christopher Maltman (bar) Jennifer Pike (violin) / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmon [ Naxos / 8 CD Box Set - released 8/Apr/2022 ] Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain's most illustrious composers, and this specially curated selection of works demonstrates the sheer breadth of his achievement. |
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Overtures and Entr'actes from the French Operas New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Darrell Ang [ Naxos / CD - released 10/May/2014 ] "The New Zealand Symphony…plays with spirit and has been well trained. Singaporean conductor Darrell Ang brings to these performances an obvious love for the music, infusing them with taut rhythms, crisp attacks, and bountiful energy." Fanfare |
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) |
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau / Sinfonietta New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Aug/2009 ] "James Judd… galvanises the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra into playing this challenging score with sensitivity and a good deal of virtuosity." BBC Music |
DOUGLAS LILBURN
Lilburn: The Three Symphonies New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 2/May/2002 ] "There's a freshness and enthusiasm in Judd's readings, and he takes care with the music, observing every detail. Throughout all three symphonies there is a greater breadth and warmth of emotion than we've heard before." - Sunday Star Times (May 2002 |
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 |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Tanzsuite Divertimento, Op 85 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl [ Naxos / CD - released 23/Oct/2020 ] Richard Strauss was appointed co-director of the Vienna State Opera in 1919 and soon set about composing a new ballet for the refurbished historic Redoutensaal in the city. At carnival in February 1923 the work was unveiled - a delectable series of... |
FRANZ LISZT
Liszt: Symphonic Poems (Vol. 3) Incls 'Battle of the Huns' New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halasz [ Naxos / CD - released 8/Aug/2006 ] "There is some absolutely brilliant playing on this disc...With this sort of playing Liszt's orchestrations come fully alive, allowing us to appreciate some music that is very easy to see as inflated." (John Dutton ***** five stars Dominion Post) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Scenes historiques I and II / King Christian II Suite New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Pietari Inkinen [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Jan/2008 ] "As an addition to the ever-growing Sibelius catalogue this is most welcome" (MusicWeb Feb 2008) |
RON GOODWIN
Goodwin: Drake 400 (includes the New Zealand Suite) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Ron Goodwin [ Naxos British Light Music / CD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] Ron Goodwin is famous for several iconic film scores such as the rousing 633 Squadron. His was an instantly recognisable musical voice, combining an innate ability to write both memorable tunes and to evoke the many moods demanded by film directors. |
YASUSHI AKUTAGAWA
Akutagawa: Ellora Symphony / Trinita Sinfonica / Rhapsody New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Takuo Yuasa, conductor [ Naxos Japanese Classics / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] "Thanks be to Naxos for continuing to plumb the mines of interesting and unusual music, and presenting it at their ever-attractive price. Highly recommended." (MusicWeb June 2005) |
TOSHIRO MAYUZUMI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mayuzumi: Bugaku / Mandala Symphony / Rumba Rhapsody New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Takuo Yuasa (conductor) [ Naxos Japanese Classics / CD - released 15/Jan/2006 ] "Excellent performances from New Zealand and very fine recording throughout." (MusicWeb April 2006) |
JACK BODY
Poems of Love and War Robert Easting (narrator) David Greco (bar) Somara Ouk, Budi Putra (vocals) Martin Riseley (violin) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Young [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Mar/2014 ] "works of immense skill and real communication that in these fabulous performances will give him a worldwide audience. Even the splendid Meditations on Michelangelo for violin and strings really catches the ear. Don't pass on thjis." (John Button) |
PETER SCULTHORPE
Sculthorpe: Earth Cry / Piano Concerto / Kakadu / etc William Barton (didgeridoo) / Maria Anna Cislovska (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Dec/2004 ] "Tasmanian composer Sculthorpe's psychedelic images of primeval times, nature and infinity are well worth your trouble. A superb and breathtakingly inexpensive disc. Miraculously good value at every level." - MusicWeb Nov 2004 |
GEORGES BIZET
The Best Of Bizet Various soloists / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos / CD ] Compiled from recordings previously released by Naxos International |
CHEN GANG / XIAN XING-HI
The Yellow River Piano Concerto / The Butterfly Lovers Piano Concerto Chen Jie (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Carolyn Kuan [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2012 ] The Yellow River Concerto is one of the most popular of all Chinese works, a richly melodic exploration of scenic variety, and a forceful expression of patriotic pride. Written in 1958 by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto... |