BEETHOVEN
'Rasumovsky' Quartets Opus 59 No's 2 & 3 New Zealand String Quartet [ Atoll Records New Zealand / CD - released 25/Jul/2002 ] Eagerly awaited recording by the New Zealand String Quartet |
WEBER
Overtures (Incls 'Euryanthe' & 'Der Freischutz') New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "Weber was a great tunesmith, and some of his overtures were on the same level of popularity (in the time before pervasive aural garbage) with William Tell, 1812 and the like. Polish-born and trained conductor Wit I'm sure is familiar with the... |
MiECZYSLAW KARLOWICZ
Symphonic Poems, Vol. 2 (Incls 'Powracajace fale') New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] Mieczysław Karłowicz's six symphonic poems, composed between 1904-09, are the pinnacles of a career tragically ended when he perished in an avalanche during a solitary mountain hike. His fame as one of the outstanding Polish composers of his... |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Jeux d'enfants / Symphony in C-major / Jeux d'enfants New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Donald Johanos, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] Popular Bizet played by our own symphony orchestra. |
STRAVINSKY
Symphony in C / Symphony in Three Movements / etc New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / En Shao (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] "First prize for both value and most informative sleeve note goes to En Shao's account with the New Zealand SO on Naxos." - The Sunday Times, September 26, 1999 |
HINDEMITH
Mathis der Maler; Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Weber New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Franz-Paul Decker, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] A programme of Hindemith with our beloved NZSO |
MAX REGER
Reger: Mozart and Hiller Variations New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Franz-Paul Decker (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] A programme of Reger variations with our beloved NZSO |
GEORGE GERSHWIN
Gershwin: An American in Paris / Porgy and Bess Suite / Cuban Overture / etc New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 1/May/2002 ] Recorded at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand, 2001 |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Marches (Including Pomp and Circumstances) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Apr/2005 ] "a desirable bargain-price collection which should certainly find a niche in the market" - MusicWeb April 2005 |
FRANK BRIDGE
The Sea / Enter Spring / Summer New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 12/Aug/2004 ] Now generally remembered as the teacher of Benjamin Britten, who made his gratitude clear in his variations on a theme by his mentor, Frank Bridge has been largely neglected as a composer until recent years. Born in Brighton in 1879, he was a pupil... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia / Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 / Fantasia on Greensleeves and others New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 25/Aug/2003 ] "The whole is nicely balanced in a warm but clear acoustic. There is good solo work, too, from the leading string players as well as the woodwind and brass soloists." Gramophone |
VIRGIL THOMSON
Thomson: Symphonies Nos. 1-3 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares (conductor) [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 18/Aug/2002 ] "the New Zealand Symphony is the best [Thomson recording] yet" |
LISZT
Symphonic Poems Volume 4 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Michael Halasz [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Feb/2007 ] "The sonics are crisp and cleanly recorded, and Keith Anderson's booklet notes are to the usual high standard. This Naxos series has gone from strength to strength." (MusicWeb March 2007) |
LISZT
Symphonic Poems (Vol 2) Hamlet; Orpheus; From the Cradle to the Grave etc New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Michael Halasz (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] "real performances rather than unimaginative run-throughs" - BBC Music Magazine |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: American Overture / Four Sea Interludes (Peter Grimes) / Sinfonia da Requiem New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] "Myer Fredman conducts warm and purposeful performances of this group of orchestral works....a full-ranging recording." - Penguin Guide |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Paris / Brigg Fair / Eventyr / Irmelin / La Calinda New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Aug/2002 ] Popular Delius played by our own symphony orchestra. |
JANACEK
Janacek: Orchestra Suites from the Operas Vol. 3 - The Cunning Little Vixen / From the House of the Dead New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Peter Breiner [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Sep/2009 ] "These are fine performances and stunningly dynamic recordings, with some fine low drum rumbles and plenty of sparkle and colour in the spectrum… if you want some refreshingly new orchestral music and an alternative view on Janácek then this is a... |
MODEST MUSSORGSKY
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Songs & Dances of Death & The Nursery (Orchestrated by Peter Breiner) New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Peter Breiner [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Dec/2013 ] Peter Breiner's new orchestration creates a showpiece for our times, achieving contemporary sounds through unusual instrumental combinations, right up to a spectacular Great Gate of Kiev performed by 104 musicians. |
LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: Operatic Orchestral Suites, Vol. 1 [Jenufa / The Excursions of Mr Broucek] New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Peter Breiner, with Vesa-Matti Leppanen, violin [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Feb/2009 ] "These are fine performances and stunningly dynamic recordings, with some fine low drum rumbles and plenty of sparkle and colour in the spectrum." (MusicWeb April 2009) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Night Ride and Sunrise / Belshazzar's Feast Suite / Kuolema New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Pietari Inkinen [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "This is one terrific disc! Pietari Inkinen is a Sibelian of the first order. The young conductor has the New Zealand Symphony playing its collective hearts out for him and the recorded sound is superb." Bargain of the Month MusicWeb April 2009 |