KIRCHNER / KILLMAYER / HARRISON / LEES / DENNY / ROSEN / etc
Fromm Music Foundation - Twentieth Century Composer Series Nathan Rubin, Ludwig Shapero (violins) George Neikrug (cello) Leon Kirchner (piano) / The New York Concert Choir & Orchestra, Juilliard String Quartet [ Sony Classical / 10 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2020 ] From January 1957 to March 1962 Columbia Masterworks in collaboration with the Fromm Music Foundation released a series of 9 highly acclaimed LPs in the Twentieth Century Composer Series with music by, then, contemporary composers. |
GERSHWIN / GROFE / HAYDN / BEETHOVEN / STRAVINSKY / BERNSTEIN / MAHLER
This is Leonard Bernstein: His Greatest Recordings Rudolf Serkin, Lukas Foss (pianos), Original Broadway Cast, Dietrich Fischer Dieskau (baritone) / New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein [ Sony Classical / 16 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2009 ] This special edition collects the conductor-composer's 15 most celebrated original albums from the 1950s and 60s on 16 CDs. The best selection of his benchmark recordings as a conductor, composer and pianist. |
LISZT / ZEMLINSKY / RAVEL / RACHMANINOV / MUSSORGSKY / etc
Nicholas Angelich: Hommage Nicholas Angelich (piano), with Martha Argerich, Quatuor Ebène, and others [ Warner Classics / Erato / 7 CD Box Set - released 29/Sep/2023 ] A musician as loved as he was admired, the pianist Nicholas Angelich died in Paris in April 2022 at the age of 51. Angelich was a modest, thoughtful man who brought tremendous integrity, depth and insight to the most demanding repertoire. His... |
LEHAR / STRAUSS II
Nicolai Gedda - My Favourite Operetta Heroes [five complete operettas] Nicolai Gedda, with Anneliese Rothenberger, Erich Kunz, Rita Streich, Lucia Popp, Grace Bumbry, etc [ Warner Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Jul/2015 ] The star tenor and his operetta heroes. These legendary releases on the former Electrola label document Nicolai Gedda's incomparable artistry as an operetta singer and have long enjoyed the status of benchmark recordings. Appearing alongside such... |
RAVEL / BERLIOZ / HONEGGER / ROUSSEL / BEETHOVEN / etc
Charles Munch - The Complete Warner Classics Recordings Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer (piano) André Navarra (cello) Alfred Cortot (piano) Denise Soriano (violin) Pierre Bernac (baritone) Charles Munch (cond) [ Warner Classics / 13 CD Box Set - released 10/Feb/2019 ] Prominent in the musical evolution of 20th century France, Charles Munch (1891-1968) also spent 13 epoch-making years with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This collection assembles newly-remastered versions all the recordings he made for EMI and Erato... |
NOEL COWARD
Noel Coward: His HMV Recordings Noel Coward with Gertrude Lawrence, Yvonne Printemps and various accompaniments [ Warner Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 6/Mar/2016 ] In compiling this Noel Coward Archive from the HMV vaults, we have had two guiding principles: that the recordings, spanning 25 years, should be kept in their chronological order, despite the fact that Noel often recalled earlier scores while in a... |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Piano Music (complete on 6 CDs) Noriko Ogawa, piano [ BIS / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2012 ] "This first instalment of an ongoing cycle should be collected by all Debussy enthusiasts who have so far missed out on it" (MusicWeb Feb 2008 on Vol 1) |
JOHN DOWLAND
Dowland: Complete Lute Music Nigel North (lute) [ Naxos / 4 CD - released 5/Oct/2009 ] Arguably the finest recordings of Dowland's much-loved lute music, Nigel North's Dowland Lute Edition has gained him a garland of critical accolades: 'A collector's item' (The Times on Vol 1, 8.557586), 'a remarkable performance of wonderful music'... |
SERGEY IVANOVICH TANEYEV
Taneyev: Orchestral Works Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra & Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Sanderling, with Ilya Kaler (violin) & Gnesin Academy Chorus [ Naxos / 4 CD Box Set - released 27/May/2022 ] Sergey Taneyev was a monumental figure of late 19th-century Russian music. He was a student of Rubinstein and Tchaikovsky, and became teacher to Rachmaninov and Scriabin. |
OTTORINO RESPIGHI
Respighi: The Complete Orchestral Music [8 CD set] Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, Francesco La Vecchia [ Brilliant Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 22/Aug/2015 ] The only edition of the orchestral works by Respighi, now available in a 8CD set! |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY / MAURICE RAVEL
Debussy / Ravel: Orchestral Works (Incls 'La Mer', 'Images', 'Bolero' & 'Daphnis et Chloe') Orchestre National de l ORTF, Orchestre de Paris, Jean Martinon, with Aldo Ciccolini (piano) Itzhak Perlman (violin) [ Erato / Warner Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 25/Jul/2018 ] "If you are satisfied with performances that are lucid, imaginative, thoughtful and unselfconscious then you will be very happy with Martinon." (MusicWeb on the Debussy) |
TELEMANN / MOLTER / TORELLI / HAYDN / VIVALDI / L. MOZART / etc
Trumpet Concertos [special priced box set] Otto Sauter, Thomas Hammes, Franz Wagnermeyer, Reinhold Friedrich, Joachim Pliquett, etc (trumpets) [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 25/May/2018 ] "Many good things: music by composers generally badly served by other labels, the standard of musicianship high and sound quality generally excellent." (Bargain of the Month MusicWeb April 2011 on the original release) |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: The Complete Piano Sonatas Paul Badura-Skoda (piano) [ RCA Red Seal / Sony Classical / 12 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2017 ] Badura-Skoda plays Schubert sonatas - The first CD release of a landmark edition Paul Badura-Skoda is unquestionably the outstanding Schubert pianist of the 20th century, declared the Leipzig Volkszeitung in 2012. An astute interpreter, a sensuous... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Played on Period Instruments Paul Badura-Skoda (fortepiano) [ Arcana / 9 CD Box Set - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "his set represents a stunning bargain, especially as it seems to be retailing at around £30 to £35 from various online retailers." MusicWeb April 2020 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Sonatas / Piano Concertos / Diabelli variations Paul Lewis (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek [ Harmonia Mundi / 14 CD - released 25/Oct/2019 ] |
BRITTEN / SCHUMANN / SCHUBERT / HANDEL / BACH / etc
Anniversary Tribute [6 CD set] Peter Pears (tenor) with various orchestras & accompanists [ Decca Records / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2012 ] "All in all, a superb tribute to one of the most characterful and important singers of the twentieth century." Penguin Guide, 2011 edition. |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: L'equivoco stravagante (Complete opera) Petia Petrova, Marco di Felice, Marco Vinco / Czech Chamber Chours / Alberto Zedda [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 29/Jul/2002 ] "The cast is accomplished...with incisive diction and alert musicality. The one standout is the recording's Ernestina, the young Bulgarian mezzo Petia Petrova. She's a lively, vivid vocal presence, with the technique " - Opera News |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Pianist and Conductor - Legendary Recordings, 1919-1942 Sergei Rachmaninov (piano) / Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski & Eugene Ormandy [ Naxos Historical / 9 CD Box Set - released 6/Dec/2010 ] In every recording by Rachmaninov, whether it be of his own compositions or not, one is immediately aware of his complete control. This is combined with acute clarity, sparse use of the sustaining pedal and an orchestral conception of sound. |
TCHEREPNIN / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / STRAVINSKY / SATIE / PROKOFIEV / BALAKIREV / etc
Diaghilev - Ballets Russes Pierre Boulez, André Cluytens, Igor Markevitch, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn, Sir Simon Rattle, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jean Martinon, Charles Dutoit, et [ Warner Classics / 22 CD Box Set - released 11/Mar/2022 ] The Ballets russes was founded in Paris in 1909 by the visionary impresario Serge Diaghilev. Innovative and flamboyant, he had a genius for bringing together the most brilliant composers, dancers, choreographers and designers. |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Le voyage dans la lune (complete operetta) Violette Polchi, Sheva Tehoval, Matthieu Lécroart, Pierre Derhet / Chœur et Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie, Pierre Dumoussaud [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 27/May/2022 ] "With Offenbach's opéra féerie - Le Voyage dans la Lune Bru Zane has come up trumps." MusicWeb |