VAUGHAN WILLAIMS
The Best of (Incls The Wasps Overture & Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis) Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor) David Greed (violin) / Bournemouth Symphony / English Northern Philharmonia / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / etc [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] One of the leading English composers of his generation, Vaughan Williams went some way towards creating a specifically English musical idiom, influenced by his interest in folk-song yet underpinned by a personal vision and language. |
EDWARD ELGAR
Very Best of Elgar (The) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and many more [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 25/Nov/2006 ] From raucous marches to private enigmas, the music of Elgar represents, for many, the ultimate symbol of England in the early 20th century, contrasting royal ceremonies with intimate family gatherings. This 2-CD set features Elgar's most frequently... |
GEORGES BIZET
The Best Of Bizet Various soloists / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos / CD ] Compiled from recordings previously released by Naxos International |
CHEN GANG / XIAN XING-HI
The Yellow River Piano Concerto / The Butterfly Lovers Piano Concerto Chen Jie (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Carolyn Kuan [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2012 ] The Yellow River Concerto is one of the most popular of all Chinese works, a richly melodic exploration of scenic variety, and a forceful expression of patriotic pride. Written in 1958 by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto... |
FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Piano and Orchestra Works (complete) Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) / Gavle Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / 5 CD Box Set - released 28/Jan/2022 ] Ferdinand Ries' works for piano and orchestra stand alongside those of Hummel as the finest and most important of their kind from the early decades of the 19th century. |
FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Piano Concertos Vol 1: No 6 Op 123 & No 8 Op 151 Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Uwe Grodd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 25/Nov/2005 ] "If its successors are as good as this, the series will introduce us to a lot of very attractive music." (MusicWeb Jan 2006) |
FERDINAND RIES
Ries: Piano Concertos Vol 5: Piano Concerto in E flat, Op. 42 / Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 177 / etc Christopher Hinterhuber (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Uwe Grodd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Dec/2012 ] The fourteen works for piano and orchestra of Ferdinand Ries stand alongside those of Hummel as the finest and most important of their kind from the early decades of the 19th century. Intensely lyrical and yet displaying at times a rugged... |
JOHN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
Hummel: Missa Solemnis / Te Deum David Griffiths (bass) Zan McKendree-Wright (alto) Patrick Power (tenor) Patricia Wright (sop) / TOWER Voices New Zealand / NZ Symphony / Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Apr/2004 ] Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine May 2004 - "This choir has a remarkable level of control, vocal development and musicality. The fact that they are all trained voices means that an effortless power is available to them, with a wide and dramatic... |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Concert Fantasia Eldar Nebolsin (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Michael Stern [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "Nebolsin hardly puts a foot wrong, and Michael Stern secures rhythmically vibrant playing from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra" BBC Music Magazine |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / HOWELLS / WALTON / BOWEN
British Music for Viola and Orchestra Helen Callus (viola) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Marc Taddei [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jun/2018 ] "Helen Callus plays with sumptuous tone matched by flawless intonation" Gramophone |
JENNY McLEOD
McLeod: The Emperor and the Nightingale / Rock Concerto / etc Helen Medlyn (narrator) & Eugene Albulescu (piano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Uwe Grodd [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2011 ] New Zealand-born composer Jenny McLeod's wide musical background is here distilled into three works of highly enjoyable directness. The Emperor and the Nightingale is a colourful score which accompanies the narration of a Hans Christian Andersen... |
LONG ZHOU / YI CHEN
Symphony, "Humen 1839" / The Rhyme of Taigu / The Enlightened New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Darrell Ang [ Naxos / CD - released 5/May/2015 ] "This is thrilling, cinematic music that, although challenging at times, is always gripping." The Kansas City Star |
ROSS HARRIS
Harris: Violin Concerto / Symphony No 5 Ilya Gringolts (violin), Sally-Anne Russell (mezzo-soprano) / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Eckehard Stier & Garry Walker [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Jul/2016 ] "orchestral tone and clarity is smooth and clean" (MusicWeb) |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Complete Incidental Music Jenny Wollerman, Pepe Becker (sopranos) / Varsity Voices / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Jul/2010 ] "The self-contained numbers...may be familiar items, but on disc...you discover and enjoy so much more: the flashes of instrumental colour, the exquisite little tone paintings that intersperse or accompany the spoken text...Judd's New Zealand and... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A Vaughan Williams Anthology [8 CD set] Joan Rodgers (sop) Christopher Maltman (bar) Jennifer Pike (violin) / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmon [ Naxos / 8 CD Box Set - released 8/Apr/2022 ] Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain's most illustrious composers, and this specially curated selection of works demonstrates the sheer breadth of his achievement. |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
The Very Best of Shostakovich Konstantin Scherbakov (Piano) Michael Houstoun (Piano) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Christopher Lyndon-Gee (Conductor) Ilya Kaler (Violin) [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 9/May/2006 ] "As an introduction to the composer's work, it gives a wide-ranging and typical selection, which is in itself some achievement." (MusicWeb August 2006) |
TELEMANN / BARTOK / MOZART / HINDEMITH / BRAHMS / etc
Vivid Viola: Best loved classical viola music Ladislav Kyselák, Hong-Mei Xiao, Roger Chase, Roberto Díaz, Tabea Zimmermann, Heinrich Koll (Violas) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] The viola is only slightly larger than the violin but possesses a middle range that is richly expressive and full of pathos. It has been played by some of the greatest composers, including JS Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Dvorak. |
ROSS HARRIS
Harris: Symphony No. 4, "To the memory of Mahinārangi Tocker" / Cello Concerto Li-wei Qin (cello) / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Brett Dean, Garry Walker [ Naxos / CD - released 10/May/2014 ] "There is no question that the Auckland Philharmonic are superbly in control as is Brett Dean, himself a violist and composer and just forging an extra career as a conductor. The recording is vivid and allows the music space although the quiet passag |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Egmont (complete incidental music) / Ah! perfido, / Marches Madeleine Pierard (soprano) / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Feb/2010 ] "Those curious for some not too often heard music by Beethoven can safely invest in this well played disc" MusicWeb May 2010 |
CHOPIN / ROSSINI / OFFENBACH / BIZET / LALO / CHABRIER / etc
Art and Music: Manet - Music of His Time Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Polish National Radio Symphony, Kodály Quartet, etc [ Naxos Educational / CD - released 31/Mar/2003 ] Edouard Manet (1832-83) has been called the father of modern painting. In the 1860s he was the leader of a group of young artists who later became known as the Impressionists, though his own work resists any simple label. On this CD, the world of... |