MOZART / FLOTOW / WAGNER / CORNELIUS / J. STRAUSS II / KALMAN / LEHAR / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Fritz Wunderlich: The Very Best Of Fritz Wunderlich (tenor) with various orchestras & conductors [ EMI Classics / 2 CD - released 10/Oct/2003 ] "I urge every lover of the tenor to buy this set...one of the most beautiful, natural, refined and unforced tenor voices we have ever heard." (MusicWeb) |
BEDRICH SMETANA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ma Vlast: complete orchestral works Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra / Theodore Kuchar [ Brilliant Clasics / 3 CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] "The performances are of a superfine brilliance, energy and affection, making it invidious to single out this or that special success or the individual triumphs of wind, brass or strings." (Gramophone) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Il Trovatore (complete opera recorded in 1988) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Éva Marton, Dolora Zajick, Sherrill Milnes / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 30/May/2008 ] "The best justification for buying this issue is to see and hear Pavarotti nearer to his vocal peak in a role which his strong lyric voice and clear diction is ideally suited" (MusicWeb) |
CILEA / PUCCINI / MASSENET / JANACEK / KORNGOLD / TCHAIKOVSKY / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Homage: The Age of the Diva Renee Fleming (soprano) / Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg / Valery Gergiev [ Decca / CD - released 20/Nov/2006 ] 2008 Grammy Award nomination for Best Classical Album |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Barber of Seville, The [Il barbiere di Siviglia] complete studio recording of the opera recorded in 1972 Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Enzo Dara / Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 21/Jun/2005 ] In the 1970s, the era from which this production emanates, the director Jean Pierre Ponnelle was reaching the height of his powers. In his 1972 production at Milan's La Scala, Ponnelle designed a realistic set that still feels fresh. |
LEOS JANACEK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Janacek: Sinfonietta / Taras Bulba (with Shostakovich: 'The Age of Gold' Suite Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic], Sir Charles Mackerras / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink [ Decca Ovation / CD - released 29/Apr/1991 ] Much as the name Charles Mackerras is rightly associated with Janácek's music, when it comes to the pairing of his two greatest orchestral works, Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba, this recording remains a favourite. |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel for the Holidays (Incls 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' & Water Music Suite No 1) Academy of St Martins, English Baroque Soloists, I Musici, Antiqua Musica, etc [ Philips Lifestyle / CD - released 5/Dec/2001 ] Handel makes your party a celebration! |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Piano Concertos: Nos 20 & 23 / 2 Concert Rondos Alfred Brendel (piano) / Academy of St Martins in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Philips Mozart Collection / CD - released 12/Dec/2005 ] Gramophone has described Brendel's partnership in Mozart with Sir Neville Marriner as having produced "some of the most exultant music making on record... a ready and attentive response to the greatest of all concertos, to music in which rain and... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (arr. for three guitars) Amsterdam Guitar Trio [ Red Red Seal / CD - released 3/Jan/1984 ] Recorded October 1983 in The Old Catholic Church, Utrecht, Netherlands. |
C.P.E. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach (C.P.E.): Cello Concertos, Symphonies Anner Bylsma (cello) / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Gustav Leonhardt [ Erato Veritas / 2 CD - released 5/Jul/2000 ] [Cello Concertos Wq.170-2] 'It is difficult to imagine a better partnership to provide authentic versions of these three fine works.' Penguin Guide |
HANDEL / MOZART / BRAHMS / BACH / FAURE / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Anthony Way: Wings of a Dove Anthony Way (treble), with Barbara Bonney, Tabitha Watling, Choir of Uppingham School [ Decca / CD - released 15/Aug/2019 ] Anthony Way was born in London on 14 December 1982, and was a chorister by the age of eight. He is the 6th child out of 8 siblings. Wings of a Dove was originally released in 1997. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Violin & Piano Kristóf Baráti (violin) Klára Würtz (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Sep/2012 ] Sonatas for piano with violin, Beethoven thought of them, and the early set of three Op. 12 does seem to look back towards the early Classical, even late-Baroque emphasis on the multi-voiced part to which the violin adds emphasis or decoration as... |
EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: String Quartet / Piano Quintet Bernard Roberts (piano) / Chilingirian String Quartet [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 23/Jun/1994 ] Classics recordings from EMI at budget price |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bernstein conducts Bernstein: Symphonies Nos 1. & 2 Christa Ludwig (mezzo) Lukas Foss (piano) / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Feb/1982 ] Recorded in Tel Aviv. October 1978 |
BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: Duke Bluebeard's Castle (Complete Opera) Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry / London Symphony Orchestra, Istavan Kertesz [ Decca The Classic Sound / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "In 1965 Kertesz set new standards in his version of Bluebeard's Castle with Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry, not only in the playing of the LSO at its peak, in the firm... |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: 'Elias', Op. 70 / 'Paulus', Op. 36 (Rec 1994) Christine Schafer (soprano) Cornelia Kallisch (alto) / Andreas Schmidt (bass) Czech Philharmonic / Helmuth Rilling [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 14/Aug/2005 ] "Is this a Bargain of the Month? That's for the Editor to decide. For my money, this is set fair to be a Bargain of the Year. Urgently recommended." (MusicWeb April 2003) |
BEETHOVEN / SZYMANOWSKY / SHOSTAKOVICH / FRANCK / MOZART / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: les Introuvables de David Oistrakh David Oistrakh (violin), Lev Oborin (piano), Various orchestras, various conductors [ EMI Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2005 ] Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras and musicians from many parts of the world and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works, including both of Dmitri Shostakovich's violin concerti and the violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian. He is... |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (complete opera) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Wolfgang Schene, Julia Hamari, Peter Schreier, Tatiana Troyanos / Munchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 4 CD - released 1/Dec/2006 ] 'Tatiana Troyanos copes marvellously well with Cleopatra's essentially soprano part' (Gramophone) |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: Golden Mountains / Trilogy About Maxim Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Michail Jurowski [ Capriccio / CD - released 1/Jan/1995 ] Original recordings from 1994 |
HENRY PURCELL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Purcell: Birthday Odes for Queen Mary Early Music Consort of London / David Munrow, with Norma Burrowes, James Bowman, Charles Brett & Robert Lloyd [ EMI Classics For Pleasure / CD - released 24/Sep/1990 ] Purcell's odes for Queen Mary show him at his best. A glorious succession of overtures, choruses, arias and delicious ritornelli display astonishing imagination and ingenuity: whilst overtly celebratory, never far beneath the surface lies the sense... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Symphony No. 6 (Blu-ray) Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly [ Accentus Music Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 29/Sep/2014 ] "The playing of Chailly's Gewandhaus Orchestra is unarguably superb and it is fair to say that not even Abbado or Boulez reveal more in the way of instrumental substrata...Mahler's rural interludes glisten in decidedly novel fashion, sounding as much... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Symphony No. 7 (Blu-ray) Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly [ Accentus Music Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 29/Sep/2014 ] "The Leipzig players do [Chailly] proud. There are so many stunning solos, from tenor horn at the start to the first trumpet who never splits brilliant top notes in the finale, that names should have been given in the booklet…even in a field of... |
BACH / CHOPIN / HAYDN / MOZART / SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Ingrid Haebler Ingrid Haebler (piano) / Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra [ Philips / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2000 ] "Ingrid was always admired for the grace and shapeliness of her phrasing, her pellucid cantabile touch and her crystalline articulation, all of which can be heard in the Mozart items on these discs." Gramophone |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert: The Great Masses (D678 & D 950) Helen Donath, Peter Schreier, Ingeborg Springer, Theo Adam, Staatskapelle Dresden, Wolfgagng Sawallisch [ Philips / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Jun/2003 ] Schubert's six masses cover the period 1814-28 and deserve to be much better known than they are at present. |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 2010) Paris National Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Ludovic Tezier / Michel Plasson (cond) [ Decca Music Group DVD / 2 DVD - released 14/Oct/2010 ] Hard on the heels of a triumphant Lohengrin, Decca follows up with an equally astonishing debut performance from Jonas Kaufmann: Goethe's love-lorn hero Werther, in Massenet's romantic opera. |
GEORGE GERSHWIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris / etc Katia and Marielle Labaque (two pianos) / The Cleveland Orchestra / Chailly [ Decca Records Ovation / CD - released 25/May/2000 ] This is a re-issue of a brilliant digital recording of a programme containing a selection of Gershwin's most popular works. |
IRVING BERLIN / RICHARD RODGERS / COLE PORTER / JEROME KERN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Kiri: Blue Skies Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) / Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra [ Decca / CD - released 22/Sep/1985 ] Kiri Te Kanawa gained legendary status almost overnight after her sensational debut as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1971. From then, she moved rapidly into the front rank of international opera, and... |
ANTONIO ROSETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rosetti: Bassoon Concertos Vol. 2 (with Mozart: Bassoon Concerto KV 191) Eckart Hubner (bassoon) / Kurpfalzisches Kammerorchester [ CPO / CD - released 1/Oct/2012 ] Antonio Rosetti was a marvelous composer with a fresh, original classical style. Although he used the Italianized version of his name, he was Czech, which is practically a guarantee of superior musical quality, especially in the treatment of wind... |
EDWARD GRIEG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg/Schumann: Piano Concertos Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons [ EMI Classics / CD - released 5/Oct/2003 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER 2004: CONCERTO RECORDING "Though the Schumann concerto does pop up on programmes relatively frequently, it's remarkable how rarely the Grieg appears on concert programmes that don't fall into the classical pops event.... |
Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Pavarotti - Ti Adoro [ Decca Records / CD - released 15/Oct/2003 ] A shining star in Pavarotti's esteemed career, "Ti Adoro" showcases his total range, and also features guitar legend, Jeff Beck! |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Ernani (complete opera recorded in 1983) Metropolitan Opera / Luciano Pavarotti, Leona Mitchell, Sherrill Milnes / James Levine (cond) [ Decca DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2008 ] " Mr. Pavarotti gave a splendid full-throated performance... He was also a sensitive partner in the many ensemble numbers... Miss Mitchell filled the house gloriously... " New York Times |
GIOACCHINIO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (Complete opera recorded in 1986). Metropolitan Opera / Marilyn Horne, Paolo Montarsolo, Douglas Ahlstedt / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / 2 DVD - released 13/Oct/2005 ] Marilyn Horne takes centre stage in this production of Rossini's opera, recorded live at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1986. Other performers include Douglas Ahlstedt, Paolo Montarsolo and Allan Monk. James Levine conducts. |
NICOLO PAGANINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Paganini: 24 Caprices (recorded 1958) Michael Rabin (violin) [ EMI Great Recordings of the Century / CD - released 15/Feb/2003 ] 'The legendary Michael Rabin, who died tragically young, was a stupendous technician. Superb dexterity is coupled with a fine control of pitch and a wonderful singing quality in the highest register.' (Gramophone) |
JOHANN STAMITZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stamitz: Orchestral Trios Vol 1 New Zealand Chamber Orchestra / Donald Armstrong [ Naxos / CD - released 25/Mar/2002 ] "The playing is fleet, lively, expressive - altogether first-rate - and the recorded sound is fine. Most warmly recommended." - Fanfare - July/August 1996 |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berliner Philharmoniker - Vivaldi ltd edition (CD+DVD) Nigel Kennedy (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra [ EMI CD + DVD / CD - released 1/Jan/2003 ] This recording by Nigel Kennedy with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra inlcudes a 17-minute DVD of Kennedy in session and performance footage, as well as an interview. |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Mandolins / Concerto in D for lute / Concerto in C for 2 trumpets / etc New London Consort, Philip Pickett / The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood [ L'Oiseau-Lyre / Double Decca / 2 CD - released 28/Nov/2008 ] The celebrated Concerto for 2 mandolins heads this richly varied programme of fourteen Vivaldi concertos. |
C. P. E. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach, (C.P.E.): Preussische und Württembergische Sonaten [3 CD set] Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord and clavichord) [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2012 ] Fifth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel was in his time even more celebrated than his father. |
JOSEF HAYDN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Haydn: The London Symphonies: Nos 94 'Surprise', 100 'Military', 104 'London' Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 1/Jan/1982 ] 1001 Classical recordings to hear before you die (1761-1800) Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
ELGAR / GRIEG / DELIUS / WARLOCK / HOLST
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Music For Strings Scottish Chamber Ensemble, Jonathan Rees [ Virgin Classics Virgo / CD - released 10/Jul/1992 ] Rees puts together a group of musicians and arrangements that carry the spirit of the ages old musical form on the absolutely "highest" level. Whatever these musicians create is to be sought and collected. (Review) |
JOHN TAVERNER / THOMAS TALLIS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Taverner: Western Wynde / Tallis: Missa Salve Intemerata Virgo St. John's College Choir Cambridge, George Guest [ EMI Eminence / CD - released 5/Nov/1989 ] "Listening in, the individual vocal strength of various singers, particularly in the back rows, came as no surprise - John's have long been a powerful crew... What did take me aback, though is just how much everyone seemed to be enjoying things ...... |