ANTONIN DVORAK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: Cello Concerto / Rondo in G minor for cello & orchestra / etc Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek [ Decca / CD - released 21/Apr/2014 ] "Hers is an interpretation of passion. It is by no means heart-on-sleeve but, rather, it is distinguished by well-harnessed vigour and attack, susceptibility to the music's lyrical heart." (Gramophone Award Nomination 2015 - Concerto) |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Schwanengesang Andrè Schuen (baritone), Daniel Heide (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] "one enjoys Schuen's fresh, beautifully contoured baritone, deployed with breath control that allows him to sail into long vocal lines with an illuminating sense of long-term musical direction, plus telling articulation of text." Gramophone |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier Books 1 & 2 Andras Schiff (piano) [ ECM New Series / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Instrumental |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Vespro della beata Vergine (1610) Dorothee Mields, Peter Kooij, Barbora Kabátková, etc / Collegium Vocale Gent & Orchestre des Champs-Elysées, Philippe Herreweghe [ PHI / CD - released 18/May/2018 ] Gramophone award finalist 2019 - Choral |
J.S. BACH / C.P.E. BACH / J.C. BACH
The Bach Family: Magnificats Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 16/Feb/2018 ] "You would be hard-pressed to find a more illuminating disc than this latest offering from Arcangelo" BBC Music Choral & Song Choice March 2018 |
THOMAS ADES
Ades: The Exterminating Angel (complete opera recorded in 2017) Metropolitan Opera / Audrey Luna, Amanda Echalaz, Sally Matthews, Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies / Thomas Ades (cond) [ Erato DVD / DVD - released 20/Feb/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 TOP THREE - Contemporary |
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 |
IGOR STRAVINSKY / MAURICE RAVEL
Stravinsky: Petrushka & The Firebird / Ravel: Miroirs & La Valse Beatrice Rana (piano) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 25/Oct/2019 ] International Classical Music Awards 2021 Winner - Solo Instrumental |
GEORGE GERSHWIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue / Piano Concerto in G major (with Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto No 2) Benjamin Grosvenor (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, James Judd [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 16/Aug/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Concerto |
HERBERT HOWELLS
Howells: Stabat Mater / Sine Nomine, Op. 37 / Te Deum Benjamin Hulett (tenor) Alison Hill (soprano) / The Bach Choir & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2014 ] "The Bach Choir has a palpable vibrancy in its range and layers of dynamics which are complemented by the extensive and highly sensitive palette of Howells's orchestra...and the incisive solo tenor role of Benjamin Hulett." Gramophone Editor's Choice |
AGOSTINO STEFFANI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Steffani: Mission Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano) / I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis, with Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor) [ Decca / CD - released 4/Oct/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Vocal |
THOMAS WEELKES
Weelkes: Grant The King A Long Life: English Anthems & Instrumental Music The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge / Fretwork [ Obsidian / CD - released 2/Apr/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Early Music |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann - Myrthen Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Camilla Tilling (soprano), Gerold Huber (piano) [ Sony Classical / CD - released 18/Oct/2019 ] "Certainly a top choice for this wonderful cycle." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Solo Vocal |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / JEAN SIBELIUS
Beethoven / Sibelius: Violin Concertos Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Robin Ticciati [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Sep/2019 ] If Beethoven's Concerto emerges as uncompromisingly provocative, Tetzlaff's Sibelius also errs on the side of danger…In many respects, a real knock-out." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Concerto |
CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: The Symphonies Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD - released 12/May/2023 ] "These are quite marvellous - and in the case of the Fourth Symphony, incendiary - performances" Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral (Symphonies 4 & 5) |
THOMAS ADES / ER NORGARD / HANS ABRAHAMSEN
Ades: Arcadiana / Norgard: Quartetto Breve / Abrahamsen: 10 Preludes The Danish String Quartet [ ECM New Series / CD - released 15/Apr/2016 ] "The Danish are remarkable, as ever - capable of intense blend, extreme dynamic variation (in which they seem glued together), perfect intonation even on harmonics, and constant vitality and flow" Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Chamber |
HUGO WOLF
Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch Diana Damrau (soprano), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), Helmut Deutsch (piano) [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 11/Jan/2019 ] "We're presented with a welcome alternation of moods which beautifully showcase these musicians' enormous expressive versatility." BBC Music Choral & Song Choice April 2019 |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day Dunedin Consort, John Butt (Director), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Ian Bostridge (tenor), Polish Radio Choir [ Linn Records / CD - released 12/Oct/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Choral |
FRANZ SCHUBERT / JEAN SIBELIUS
Schubert: String Quartet No 14 'Death and the Maiden' / Sibelius: String Quarte 'Intimate Voice' Ehnes Quartet [ Onyx Classics / CD - released 9/May/2017 ] "I never would have thought of putting these two works together, but in this group's hands it has resulted in something wonderful." Gramophone Magazine, Editor's Choice, January 2017 |
GOUNOD / PUCCINI / STEIBELT / MASSENET / MOZART / ROSSINI / etc
Miroir(s): Opera Arias Elsa Dreisig (soprano), Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée, Michael Schønwandt [ Erato Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 TOP THREE - Recital |