RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen Simon O'Neill, Matthias Goerne, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden [ Naxos / 14 CD Box Set - released 9/Aug/2018 ] Wagner's visionary Der Ring des Nibelungen was first performed as a cycle of four operas in 1876. One of the most sustained and remarkable achievements in all music, the tetralogy is performed by an all-star cast, conducted by the new music director... |
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... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Così fan tutte, K588 (complete opera recorded in 2014) Simone Kermes, Malena Ernman, Anna Kasyan, Kenneth Tarver, Christopher Maltman / MusicAeterna, Teodor Currentzis [ Sony Classical / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2016 ] In 2011, when invited to the post of Artistic Director at Perm's opera house, Currentzis negotiated unheard-of conditions: unlimited rehearsal time; the freedom to schedule performances depending on the quality reached in rehearsals; the necessary... |
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE
Buxtehude: Complete Harpsichord Music Simone Stella (harpsichord) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 30/Jan/2012 ] "you can hardly go wrong with Stella's performances which are very good. He uses the harpsichord well and explores its various stops, mostly in a convincing and stylistically appropriate manner." MusicWeb |
JOHANN PACHELBEL
Pachelbel: Complete Keyboard Music Simone Stella (harpsichord & organ) [ Brilliant Classics / 13 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2019 ] "..the organ used here has much greater possibilities in variety of tonal colours, and Stella uses it to fine effect in the many fugues and chorale variations." Choir & Organ |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies [Complete] Sinfonia Finlandia, Patrick Gallois / Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Bela Drahos / Toronto Chamber Orchestra, Kevin Mallon [ Naxos / 34 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2009 ] One of the most extraordinary bequests in the history of music, Haydn's symphonies established his reputation as the greatest composer of his time. |
VLADIMIR MARTYNOV
Martynov Edition The Sirin Choir, Alexei Lubimov, Opus Posth Ensemble, Tatiana Grindenko and others [ Brilliant Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 7/Oct/2022 ] Vladimir Martynov (b. 1946) is one of the leading composers of the Russian avant-garde, an experimentalist of serial, minimalist and electronic music. His ethno-musicological studies into the folk music of Russia, his philosophical and religious... |
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: The Piano Music Of Sonia Rubinsky (piano) [ Naxo / 8 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2010 ] |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The String Quartets [Live from Suntory Hall, Tokyo] Kuss Quartet [ Rubicon Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 10/May/2020 ] "This is one of the finest cycles I've heard and one I'll most certainly be returning to, especially over this Beethoven anniversary year." MusicWeb Recommended July 2020 |
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) |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Complete String Quartets Stamitz Quartet [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2017 ] "9/9, warmth and richness, highly rewarding" ClassicsToday |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Complete cantatas Vol 1 Stefanie True (soprano), Contrasto Armonico, Marco Vitale / Valentina Varriale (soprano), Mvsica Perdvta, Renato Criscuolo / etc [ Brilliant Classics / 14 CD Box Set - released 4/Aug/2017 ] This set presents an extensive collection of works which George Frideric Handel wrote during his short but astoundingly fruitful stay in Italy. Here he met the great composers of the day, imbuing the rich Italian style. |
WILHELM STENHAMMAR
Stenhammar: The String Quartets Stenhammar Quartet [ BIS SACD / 3 Hybrid SACD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] "Composed between 1894 and 1916 Wilhelm Stenhammar's body of six numbered string quartets is considered unique among Scandinavian music of its time, both in its consistency and in its musical aspirations. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Die Frau ohne Schatten Stephen Gould, Camilla Nylund, Wolfgang Koch, Nina Stemme / Wiener Staatsoper, Christian Thielemann [ Orfeo / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/May/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Opera |
STEVE REICH
Phases - A Nonesuch Retrospective Steve Reich and Musicians / Kronos Quartet / Theatre of Voices / Pat Metheny [ Nonesuch / 5 CD Box Set - released 31/Oct/2006 ] Pioneer of US minimalism Steve Reich is 70 this year and to celebrate Nonesuch has released a bargain-priced 5 CD set of his greatest works including definitive recordings of "Music for 18 Musicians", "Different Trains" and "Drumming". |
MOZART / HAYDN / BOCCHERINI
Karl Munchinger - The Classical Legacy Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Munchinger, with Christian Ferras, Willi Boskovsky, violin [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] A feast of Haydn and Mozart under the sure and stylish baton of Karl Münchinger, including several recordings making their first international appearance on CD. This box of Münchinger's legacy in Classical-era repertoire picks up where the... |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Theodora (Complete Oratorio) Susan Gritton, Susan Bickley, Robin Blaze, Paul Agnew / Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh [ Archiv / 3 CD Box Set - released 14/Aug/2000 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1700-1760) - 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST - Baroque Vocal |
SVIATOSLAV RICHTER
Icon: Sviator Richter - The Master Pianist (Complete EMI Recordings, 1961-1980) Sviatoslav Richter (piano) with with Oleg Kagaan (violin) David Oistrakh (violin) and others [ Warner Classics / EMI Icon / 14 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2011 ] 'Idiosyncratic, plain-speaking, heroic, reserved, lyrical, virtuosic and perhaps above all profoundly enigmatic, Sviatoslav Richter remains one of the greatest recreative artists of all time.' (Bryce Morrison) |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphonies, Overtures & Hungarian Dances Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard [ BIS SACD / 4 Hybrid SACD - released 25/Feb/2022 ] Brahms' symphonies and much more in Thomas Dausgaard's interpretations. |