LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies Carole Farley (soprano) Alfreda Hodgson (contralto) Stuart Burrows (tenor), Norman Bailey (bass) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti [ Decca / 5 CD Box Set - released 7/Apr/2023 ] For Antal Doráti, one of the mid-twentieth century's most gifted conductors, Beethoven was a central repertoire choice. This symphony cycle was recorded in 1975-76 at the beginning of his tenure as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic... |
DEBUSSY / MUSSORGSKY / RAVEL / CHOPIN / RACHMANINOV / FAURE / etc
Cécile Ousset - The Complete Warner Recordings Cecile Ousset (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra [ Warner Classics / 16 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2022 ] "Cecile Ousset is an arrestingly ebullient artist...who leaves her own distinctive stamp on everything she plays" Gramophone |
W. A. MOZART / ROSSINI
Best Wishes from Cecilia Bartoli: Don Giovanni / Il Barbiere di Siviglia / Il Turco in Italia (complete operas recorded in 1988 - 2002) BLU-RAY Cecilia Bartoli, with David Kuebler, Ruggerio Raimondi, Rodney Gilfry, Isabel Rey, Robert Lloyd & others [ Arthaus Musik Blu-Ray / 2 Blu-ray Box Set - released 15/Apr/2016 ] Cecilia Bartoli sings a wide variety of genres in many different languages all over the world. In this special Arthaus Musik Edition she can be seen in three coloratura classics of Italian opera. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Choral Works & Folksongs [6 CD set plus CD Rom] Chamber Choir of Europe. Nicol Matt. with Jargen Meier, piano, and Martina Schrott, harp / Amadeus Choir [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2011 ] Brahms's choral music ranges from the severe magnificence of the Fest- und Gedenk-sprüche to the ravishing opulence of the Op.17 Songs for female voices, horns and harp. Brahms conducted amateur choirs throughout his professional life, both as a... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Symphonies Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, with Ekaterina Gubanova, Werner Gura, Accentus [ Deutsche Grammophon / 5 CD Box Set - released 15/Jul/2022 ] 'I am interested in how Beethoven's music can surprise us today. Our interpretation should feel to the audience as if they are hearing this music for the first time. That is my goal' - Yannick Nézet-Séguin. |
J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach, J. S.: Motets / Easter Oratorio BWV 249 Christine Brenk (soprano) Anne Greiling (alto) Frank Bossert (tenor) Thomas Pfeiffer (bass) / Kammerorchester Pforzheim / Ensemble vocal de Lausanne [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Jul/2007 ] It is uncertain how many motets Johann Sebastian Bach composed, because some have been lost, and there are some doubtful attributions among the surviving ones associated with him. There is a case for regarding the six motets catalogued BWV 225-230 as... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: Piano Works for 4 Hands Christoph Eschenbach and Justus Frantz (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 16/Jan/2006 ] Pianists Christoph Eschenbach and Justus Frantz are old hands at playing the piano and piano duets. Originally recorded by EMI. |
J. S. BACH
Bach: St Matthaus-Passion [St Matthew Passion] Christoph Prégardien, Matthias Goerne, Christine Schäfer, Dorothea Röschmann / Concentus Musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 26/Mar/2007 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER - Baroque Vocal |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / CHOPIN / DEBUSSY / SCHUMANN/ LISZT / GRIEG
Claudio Arrau - The Complete Warner Classics Recordings Claudio Arrau (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra, Alceo Galliera, Andreas Weissgerber (violin) [ Warner Classics / CD Box Set - released 14/Oct/2022 ] Claudio Arrau (1903-1991) is a pianist fully deserving of the epithet 'legendary'. His rigorous intellect and sense of the sublime found expression in his transcendent technique and sumptuous, yet lucid sonorities. The recordings in this 24CD... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Concerti per Violine Op 4 "La Stravaganza" I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone [ Erato / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1989 ] Originally recorded in 1977 |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Cinderella, Op. 87 [complete ballet] Cleveland Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 19/Apr/1983 ] "Ashkenazy gets excellent results from the Cleveland orchestra. The recording's fine definition is enchanced, yet not at the expense of atmosphere, and the bright, vivid image is given striking projection." (Penguin Stereo Guide) |
HELLENDAAL / WASSENAER / FESCH / SCHICKHARDT / SOLNITZ / GRONEMAN / HURLEBUSCH
Baroque Concerti from The Netherlands Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Jan Willem de Vriend, Musica Ad Rhenum, Jed Went [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2021 ] Excellent performances in Historically Informed Performance style by Dutch groups Combattimento Consort conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend and Musica Ad Rhenum, conducted by Jed Wentz, who is also a traverso soloist. |
BELLINI / DONIZETTI / CHARPENTIER / GOUNOD / HANDEL / MOZART / VERDI / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dame Joan Sutherland - The Art of (Five CD Special) Dame Joan Sutherland with various soloists and orchestras. Richard Bonynge, cond [ Decca Records / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2001 ] "a splendid collection… vividly fresh in these transfers" - Penguin Guide Yearbook (2000) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethven: Complete Piano Sonatas (with bonus Early Westminster Recordings) Daniel Barenboim (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 13 CD Box Set - released 30/Oct/2020 ] This project - recorded completely during this year's lockdown - is set to become one of the classical recording events of the year! |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: The complete piano sonatas, variations, etc Daniel Barenboim (piano) [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 26/Aug/2022 ] "His crispness of detail and clarity of partwriting and texture are everywhere admirable, his sheer nimbleness and dexterity are often a joy." Gramophone |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Complete Symphonies & Concertos Daniel Barenboim (piano), New Philharmonia Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 17/Mar/2023 ] The music of Brahms held an important place in Sir John Barbirolli's repertoire, and these recordings of the symphonies, made with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1966 and 1967, stand as one of the peaks of his discography. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Violin Sonatas, Cello Sonatas, String Trios, Piano Trios Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Lynn Harrell (cello), Pinchas Zukerman (violin) Itzhak Perlman (violin), Daniel Barenboim (piano) [ Warner Classics / 11 CD Box Set - released 5/Oct/2019 ] "The result is music-making of rare concentration, spontaneity and warmth." (Penguin Guide) |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: 48 Piano Sonatas (8CD Box Set) Daniel-Ben Peinaar (piano) [ Avie / CD Box Set - released 25/Aug/2023 ] Autumn 2020 offered Daniel-Ben Pienaar an opportunity, not because the world was in lockdown but rather for the benefit it provided. A professor at London's Royal Academy of Music, Daniel-Ben was allowed overnight access to the RAM's Angela Burgess... |
MAURO GUILIANI
Guiliani: Complete Music for Flute and Guitar Daniele Ruggieri (flute), Alberto Mesirca (guitar) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 11/Mar/2022 ] The combination of flute and guitar was a popular and appealing one for many amateur musicians of the early 19th century, and the Italian guitarist-composer Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) realised its full potential. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Destination Rachmaninoff: The Piano Concertos & Transcriptions (CD set with Blu-ray audio) Daniil Trifonov (piano), Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin [ Deutsche Grammophon / 4 CD Box Set - released 28/Apr/2023 ] "Nézet-Séguin and the superbly responsive Philadelphia Orchestra follow the soloist's every interpretative nuance." BBC Music |