BRITTEN / DELIUS / ELGAR / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / TIPPETT / HOLST
The British Line: A celebration of British Music BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis, with Dame Evelyn Glennie, Thomas Hampson, Tasmin Little, Sir Bryn Terfel, etc [ Warner Classics / 16 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2019 ] In 1991, Hamburg-based record label Teldec Classics embarked on a fruitful partnership with Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. "The British Line" was soon to become an essential series of critically acclaimed digital recordings of major... |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Goldberg Variations Beatrice Rana (piano) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "Her detailing is one of the aspects that makes this performance so compelling, be it the bringing out of a new line in the repeat, subtle changes in phrasing, a touch of pedal - examples are to be found in every single variation." Gramophone |
Bela Fleck
Perpetual Motion [ Sony Classical / CD - released 17/May/2004 ] |
BEETHOVEN
The Complete String Quartets Belcea Quartet [ Alpha Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 23/Aug/2019 ] Alpha is reissuing the complete Beethoven quartets by the Belcea Quartet : 'Beethoven's music has been at the center of our life as a quartet from our very first rehearsal together back in 1994. However, it is more recently that we immersed ourselves... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Quartet No. 3 / Piano Quintet Belcea Quartet, Piotr Anderszewski (piano) [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 20/Apr/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Chamber |
RCAHMANINOV / DVORAK / MOZART / BIZET / ORFF / etc
Voice Of The Violin Joshua Bell (violin) / Orchestra of St. Luke's, Michael Stern [ Sony Classical / CD - released 18/Sep/2006 ] "The playing is unfailingly exquisite; the arrangements are generally sensitive - Mozart's Laudate Dominum being notably effective." Gramophone |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Complete Edition [17 CD set] Alessandro Deljavan, Ewa Kupiec, Vittorio Ceccanti, Lucius Ruhl, Earl Wild, Frank van de Laar, etc [ Brilliant Classics / 17 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2015 ] This 17CD set is the third Chopin Edition by Brilliant Classics, an all-time favourite of one of the most popular and universally loved composers of all times. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Violin Sonatas Bella Hristova (violin), Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle Records / CD - released 4/Sep/2023 ] The Brahms Violin Sonatas are at the core of the violin and piano duo repertoire. From the exquisitely flowing melodies of the G major sonata to the warm-heartedness of the A major sonata and finally to the vast and turbulent D minor sonata, the music... |
R. STRAUSS / WAGNER
Waldbühne: A Romantic Opera Night (recorded live in 1999) Ben Heppner (tenor) / Berliner Philharmoniker / James Levine [ ArtHaus Musik DVD / DVD - released 1/Aug/2011 ] Conducted by the celebrated James Levine, the 1999 Waldbühne concert for the Berlin Philharmonic features music by Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner. The orchestra is joined by the accomplished Canadian tenor Ben Heppner, who is renowned for his... |
GABRIEL FAURE
The Secret Fauré 3: Sacred Vocal Works Benjamin Appl (baritone), Katja Stuber (soprano) / Sinfonieorchester Basel, Balthasar-Neumann-Chor, Ivor Bolton [ Sony Classical Masters / CD - released 12/Jun/2020 ] Recording: August 23-29, 2019, Goetheaneum Dornach |
Benjamin Philharmonia/Zander
Mahler: Symphony No 1 [ Telarc Classical / 2 CD - released 13/Feb/2006 ] |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen (complete operas recorded in 2021) BLU-RAY Berlin Opera / Nina Stemme, Iain Paterson, Brandon Jovanovich, Elisabeth Teige / Sir Donald Runnicles (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / 4 Blu-ray Box Set - released 15/Sep/2022 ] "Donald Runnicles leads an impressive account of the score. His deep knowledge of the music comes through in the naturalness of the discourse, the easy communication with the singers and the vibrant colours he draws from the orchestra." Fanfare |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Claudio Abbado conducts Beethoven Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, with Maurizio Pollini (piano) Cheryl Studer (soprano) Ilya Gringolts (violin), etc [ Deutsche Grammophon / 10 CD Box Set - released 17/Jul/2015 ] "One could say, briefly but not inaccurately, that this is the antithesis of Karajan. Where he was smooth, this is rugged. Where he went in for broad tempos in slow movements, Abbado moves things along." (BBC Music Five Stars) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (LP) Berlin Philharmonic, Karl Bohm, Maria Stader, Marianna Radev, Anton Dermota, Josef Greindl, Choir of St. Hedwig's Cathedral [ Vinyl Passion Classical / 2 LP - released 1/Jan/2018 ] |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: The Nine Symphonies Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 20/Aug/2021 ] "Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic have given us one of the finest (and certainly the best-recorded) Bruckner Sixths of all time - this represents a major landmark in Brucknerian discography." Fanfare |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Symphonies, Ein deutsches Requiem & Concertos Berlin & Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, Wilhelm Furtwangler, with Yehudi Menuhin, Edwin Fisher, Willi Boskovsky, etc [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] Wilhelm Furtwängler saw "a wild, fantastic and even demonic universe" in the symphonies of Brahms. "Music is not something that is invented and constructed," he wrote, "but something that grows, emerging … directly from the hands of nature." With... |
RICHARD STRAUSS / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / LISZT / NONO
Claudio Abbado Edition Vol. 2 Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Claudio Abbado [ Sony Classical / 5 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/2014 ] As the endlessly sad news of Claudio Abbado's passing broke on Monday 20th January 2014, heartfelt tributes quickly poured in from around the world: "a great musician and a generous man" (Sir Simon Rattle); "will always be part of the exalted group... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT / JOSEPH HAYDN
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 'The Great' / Haydn: Symphony No. 88 (LP) Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Wilhelm Furtwangler [ Vinyl Passion Classical / 2 LP - released 25/Feb/2018 ] Recorded in Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, 1951 |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 [2 LP] Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon LP / 2 LP - released 20/Jan/2023 ] "Outstanding ... With excellent sound, there are few versions to match this, presenting Abbado at his peak." (Penguin Guide to Classical Music) |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: 9 Symphonies [9 CDs plus Blu-ray audio] Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra], Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Karajan Edition CD set plus Blu-ray audio / 10 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 19/Jul/2019 ] "It is Karajan who is best able to present a Bruckner Symphony as a single vision … some of the most consistently impressive Bruckner recordings of recent years" - Gramophone |