DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: The Golden Age (Complete Ballet) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky [ Chandos Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 21/Sep/2001 ] "..anyone with the least interest in Shostakovich, or ballet music, or Soviet music, or indeed Soviet culture as a whole, from investigating this weird and intermittently wonderful score. A really fascinating disc." Gramophone |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets Rubio Quartet [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 11/Oct/2019 ] "The Rubio performances are refreshing, emotionally satisfying within the parameters of their smooth-edged approach, and highly accomplished." Fanfare |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / DVORAK / WAGNER / etc
Icon: Rudolf Kempe: The Genius of the Podium Rudolf Kempe conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics Icon / 11 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2011 ] The German conductor Rudolf Kempe (1910-1976) began his musical career playing the oboe in various symphony orchestras. The programme begins with recordings of four Beethoven Symphonies that Kempe made with the Munich Philharmonic in 1971-72. |
PAGANINI / SARASATE / VIVALDI / KREISLER / SAINT-SAËNS / BACH / etc
Ruggiero Ricci - Complete American Decca Recordings Ruggiero Ricci (violin) with Leon Pommers, Brooks Smith (piano) / Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra / Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Max Rudolf [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 9 CD Box Set - released 29/Oct/2021 ] "His hand has never been surer, his tone never more beautiful than in these enchanting performances, which are aglow with spontaneity, wit, and sheer delight … a classic matching of interpreter and material." Stereo Review |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tchaikovsky: Symphonic Poems (Incl Romeo & Juliet, Capriccio Italien, 1812 Overture & the Manfred Symphony Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 21/Jun/2004 ] "Whatever other versions you may have this issue is a must. Pletnev has quite a special feeling for Tchaikovsky's music...and essential purchase." (Rosette Penguin Stereo Guide) |
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: Complete Symphonies São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Isaac Karabtchevsky [ Naxos / 6 CD Box Set - released 13/Nov/2020 ] Villa-Lobos's symphonies well reflect the composer's status as the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music, from the early works that challenge European traditions through to his twelfth and final symphony |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven Révolution Vol. II Symphonies 6 to 9 Sara Gouzy, Salome Fischer, Mingjie Lei, Manuel Walser / Le Concert des Nations, La Capella Nacional de Catalunya, Jordi Savall [ Alia Vox / 3 CD Box Set - released 25/Feb/2022 ] "This is a very special release...Savall's may well have just become my favourite period-instrument Beethoven cycle of them all." Gramophone Award Finalist 2022 - Orchestral |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 1-9 / Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis / On Wenlock Edge; etc (7 CD set) Sarah Chang (violin) Ian Bostridge (tenor) / London Philharmonic Orchestra. Bernard Haitink [ Warner Classics Budget Boxes / 7 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2013 ] Building a Library - First Choice - May 2002 |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/1991 ] "Alexander Gibson's 1980s Sibelius cycle on Chandos, one of the first digital sets, was praised for its clean lines, propulsive phrasing, and bracing impact." MusicWeb |
FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Das Land des Lachelns [The Land of Smiles] Siegfried Jerusalem, Helen Donath, Martin Finke / Munchner Rundfunkorchester, Willi Boskovsky [ EMI / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Oct/1982 ] "This set comes with obvious pedigree. Siegfried Jerusalem is a first-rate, intelligent singer with an easy tenor voice that imparts to "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" a natural passion and fluency." Gramophone |
OLIVIER MESSIAEN
Messiaen: La Nativité Du Seigneur / La Transfiguration De Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ Simon Preston (organ) Yvonne Loriod (piano), Westminster Symphonic Choir, National Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati [ Decca Enterprise / 2 CD Box Set - released 9/Apr/2012 ] The first public performance was on June 7, 1969, in Lisbon, Serge Baudo was the conductor. The United States premiere was on March 27-30, 1972 in Washington, DC with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Westminster Choir; Antal Dorati was the... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies Simona Šaturová, Mihoko Fujimura, Christian Elsner & Christian Gerhaher / ewandhausorchester Leipzig, Herbert Blomstedt [ Accentus / 5 CD Box Set - released 3/Jul/2017 ] "Blomstedt's Beethoven seems 'right': tempi are never too fast or too slow, but never staid, and phrasing is alive with rhythmic energy and cumulative momentum. His Leipzig players give their all- the strings in particular have a glorious burnished... |
MAURICE RAVEL
Maurice Ravel: The Complete Works Sir Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, André Cluytens, Armin Jordan, Lorin Maazel, Charles Münch, etc [ Warner Classics / 21 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2020 ] An essential collection of landmark performances, this 21-CD box of Ravel's complete works brings together major interpreters of the present day and preceding generations. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: The Wind Concertos (Flute Clarinet Horn Oboe Bassoon) Charles Neidich (clarinet), Susan Palma (flute), Frank Morelli (bassoon) William Purvis (horn) / Orpheus Chamber Orchestra [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD - released 1/Jun/2002 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1761-1800) - "..a very persuasive collection, probably a 'best buy' for those wanting all the music in a digital format." Penguin Guide to Compact Discs |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 1979) Alfredo Kraus, Tatiana Troyanos, Matteo Manuguerra, Christine Barbaux, Jules Bastin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Michel Plasson [ EMI Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Jan/1997 ] "Few exponents of the title-role can match the refinement and delicacy of Alfredo Kraus's realisation - a true masterclass in operatic characterisation. Full of feeling, Tatiana Troyanos's Charlotte is never overdone." BBC Music |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Orchestral Works (Incls Symphonies, Concertos & The Isle of the Dead) St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra & Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons, with Mikhail Rudy (piano) [ Warner classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 10/Nov/2014 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) "Mariss Jansons is among the most respected musicians of his generation. He is a human dynamo, tireless in his pursuit of the highest musical standards." - David Gutman |
ANTONIN DVOARK
Dvořák: Complete Symphonies Staatskapelle Berlin, Otmar Suitner [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] In this complete edition of the Dvorák Symphonies, Otmar Suitner unites in an exemplary way the various characteristics of his conducting - formal awareness, idiomatic familiarity and an always onward-pressing, unsentimental temperament. |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Symphonies & Rosamunde Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt, Willi Boskovsky [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "The playing of the Staatskapelle Dresden is quite excellent, with fine work from the strings and commendable clarity of wind textures. This may be "big-band" Schubert, but never once did I sense a heaviness to the ensemble." (MusicWeb) |
BEDRICH SMETANA
Smetana Collection Stamitz Quartet, Joachim Trio, Roberto Plano (piano), Antonin Kubalek (piano) Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Theodore Kuchar [ Brilliant Classics / 8 CD - released 1/May/2023 ] Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer born in Bohemia and later became a national symbol of Czech culture. Smetana's musical style was influenced by Czech folk music, classical traditions and romanticism. He is best known for his cycle of six... |
J. S. BACH
Bach: St John Passion (Complete oratorio) Stephan MacLeod, Caroline Stam, Peter de Groot, Gert Turk / The Netherlands Bach Society / Jos van Veldhoven, conductor [ Channel Classics SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 23/Feb/2005 ] "Fine soloists such as the German tenor Gerd Türk and Dutch soprano Caroline Stam again join the exemplary choral forces of Jos van Veldhoven in the lush, reverential but joyous approach to Bach's masterworks which is the Veldehoven trademark."... |