JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 / Overtures / Haydn Variations Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "The finale [of the Third Symphony] is beautifully shaped and flighted … this is an excellent version of the Third" Gramophone Magazine |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Romeo et Juliette / Harold in Italy / Roman Carnival Overture The Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Jan/2014 ] Shakespeare and Byron meet for a double-CD of Maazel's recordings of two of Berlioz's symphonies for Decca, coupled with the Roman Carnival Overture, included on an Overtures disc for Decca. Back on CD after a long absence, the 1972 Vienna Roméo... |
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade & other works (with Prokofiev - Symphony No 5) The Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Jan/2014 ] 'Maazel draws characteristically brilliant playing from the Cleveland Orchestra ... a conclusion relentless in its power ... superb playing and powerfully brilliant recording.' (Prokofiev) Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé Suites Nos. 1 & 2 / Rapsodie Espagnole / etc Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Jun/2010 ] "Of course, these new performances have many rivals, some of them very fine, that have long been established in the catalogue, but few of them can match the clinging air of nocturnal mystery which Haitink gives to the "Prelude" of Rapsodie espagnole,... |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Orchestral Music (Incls Danse sacree et danse profane & Jeux) Concertgebouw Orchestra / Bernard Haitink / Eduard van Beinum / etc [ Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Jun/2006 ] "This Eloquence release makes for a delightful Debussy collection, excellently performed." (MusicWeb June 2006) |
SCHUBERT / NICOLAI / SIBELIUS / BORODIN / BERLIOZ / SOUSA / etc
Concertgebouw Lollipops [2 CD set] Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, Paul van Kempen, Eduard van Beinum, Igor Markevitch, Willem van Otterloo, Antal Dorati, etc [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/2019 ] "Haitink's sane if not intoxicating choices provide firm ballast." BBC Music |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies No. 94 'Surprise', 96 'Miracle' & 97 Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 8/May/2006 ] One of the world's most benevolent conductors who cajoled out of his orchestras some of the most luminous sounds ever to be heard in concert and on record. He recorded extensively with the Concertgebouw for Philips and earlier, for Decca. Three Haydn... |
BRUCKNER / WAGNER / BEETHOVEN / R. STRAUSS / MOZART / etc
Eugen Jochum - The Orchestral Recordings on Philips Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Eugen Jochum, with Veronica Jochum von Moltke, piano [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 15 CD Box Set - released 22/May/2020 ] According to one former violist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eugen Jochum was the type of conductor 'who doesn't "put on" spectacular performances, but whose music-making always bears the stamp of honesty. |
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade (with Borodin: Polovtsian Dances) Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum [ Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Feb/2019 ] "The orchestral playing in this issue of these vivid dances is positively brilliant - the whirling introductory dance is quite breathtaking" Gramophone |
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6 / Violin Concerto Ruggiero Ricci (violin) / Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris, Erich Kleiber / New Symphony Orchestra of London, M. Sargent [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 6/Mar/2020 ] Despite being recorded under 78rpm conditions, in four- or five-minute sections, the Fourth Symphony is marked by a palpable symphonic rigour as well as the edgy brass which lends such intensity to Decca's Paris recordings of Russian music. |
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 / Tone Poems Concertgebouw Orchestra, Paul van Kempen [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2014 ] Between January and December 1951 Dutch conductor Paul van Kempen recorded a series of major Tchaikovsky works with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. The performances are at once fiery and incandescent - a kind of meaningful sound and fury - and have long... |
JOHN MAYNARD
Maynard - The XII Wonders of the World (with Character songs by Campion, Hume, etc) Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / CD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] "...the singing is most attractive, the accompaniments rhythmically supportive, the recording clear and efficient" Gramophone Magazine |
JOHN WARD
Ward - The First Set of English Madrigals / Four Fantasias for Viols Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] "To hear such expressive singing and to encounter Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb as well as Joseph Cornwell and Richard Wistreich in their prime and freshness is unbeatable. Anthony Rooley's own contribution cannot be underestimated." Bargain of the... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano), James King (tenor) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink [ Philips Australian Eloquence / CD - released 16/Apr/2002 ] "This is the only Das Lied you'll ever need, and the recorded sound is of demonstration quality" - 10/10 ClassicsToday.com |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Concerto for 2 & 3 Pianos / Piano Concerto in D minor, KV 466 Daniel Barenboim, Andras Schiff, Sir Georg Solti (pianos) / English Chamber Orchestra [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Feb/2006 ] 'The finale, a kind of rondo-minuet, is delightful, with energetic keyboard work that nevertheless dances' [Concerto for 3 Pianos] Gramophone |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 & 7 / Pohjola's Daughter / Karelia Suite / etc Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Collins, Thomas Jansen [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "I think the star performance is that of the Sixth Symphony - so elusive, so easy to ruin by over-interpreting. I was fascinated by what seemed like a hint of Russian flavouring in the string chants of the coda - well why not?" (Gramophone) |
FREDE GROFE
Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite / Mississippi Suite (with Gershwin-Porgy and Bess Symphonic Picture) Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati / Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2007 ] "never more beautifully recorded … the performance is totally memorable and the sound quite superb" [Porgy and Bess] Penguin Guide to CDs |
IGOR BORODIN
Borodin: Prince Igor (complete opera recorded in 1955) Dragomir Ninkovich, Biserka Cvejic, Melanie Bugarinovich, Dragutin Petrovich, Dushan Popovich / Belgrade National Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Oskar Dano [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 3 CD - released 1/Mar/2019 ] "Popović strikes me as an excellent baritone, a muscular sound with ringing top notes. His is one of the best Prince Igors on disc - heroic and noble...Bugarinović has a dark, almost contralto-ish tone and no Slavic wobble" Gramophone Editor's Choice |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Overtures & incidental music (with works by Haydn & Brahms) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Eduard Van Beinum [ Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2018 ] A newly remastered collection of Decca and Philips recordings made by the under-rated Dutch conductor in Austro-German classics including a little-known account of Beethoven's Prometheus Overture. The ballet music which Beethoven wrote to... |
WILLIAM SHIELD
Rosina Elizabeth Harwood, Monica Sinclair, Margreta Elkins / The Ambrosian Singers & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "there is charm in abundance ... Margreta Elkins's voice is warm and pleasing. Monica Sinclair seizes the few chances she is given of injecting vitality into the proceedings. The orchestral playing is assured. [...]Performance and quality are excelle |