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NICOLO PAGANINI
Paganini: Complete Edition (40 CDs) Massimo Quarta (violin/director), Salvatore Accardo (violin), Franco Mezzena (violin), Franco Traverso (horn), Rino Vernizzi (bassoon), Luigi A. Bianc [ Dynamic / 40 CD Box Set - released 28/Sep/2018 ] It is practically impossible to speak of the violin without mentioning Paganini. He represented a veritable milestone in the history of the instrument, in that what came before him is without doubt different from what came after him. Paganini was... |
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GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Arianna in Creta (complete opera) Mata Katsuli (soprano) Mary-Ellen Nesi (mezzo) Irini Karaianni (mezzo) (Marita Paparizou (mezzo) Petros Magoulas (bar) / Orchestra of Patras / George [ MDG / 3 CD Box Set - released 15/Jul/2006 ] "One of Handel's underrated works ... never less than interesting ... a strong performance where vivid, dramatic values are to the fore" (MusicWeb June 2006) |
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FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Orchestral & Choral Works / A Village Romeo & Juliet / Songs Maureen Forrester, John Cameron, Dora Labbette / Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "A record to treasure. The greatest recordings made in stereo by the greatest British conductor at the peak of his career." - Gramophone |
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LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-32 Maurizio Pollini (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 8 CD Box Set - released 25/Nov/2019 ] Winner - Instrumental Gramophone Awards 1977 |
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THE COUPERIN FAMILY
Couperin Dynasty Michael Borgstede, Yago Mahúgo, Massimo Berghella (harpsichords) Simone Pierini (fortepiano) [ Brilliant Classics / 19 CD Box Set - released 5/Jan/2024 ] Admiration for the French composer, harpsichordist and organist, Louis Couperin continues to grow steadily today, but it was not so during his lifetime. The first important edition of his work in modern times catalogues 129 pieces as authentic. |
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W. A. MOZART
Piano Sonatas 1-18 (complete) Michael Endres (piano) [ Oehms Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2011 ] The pianistic refinement and interpretive imagination Michael Endres brings to his Mozart sonata cycle easily ranks alongside leading modern-day contenders... (ClassicsToday.com) |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Mitridate, Rè Di Ponto (complete opera) Michael Spyres, Julie Fuchs, Sabine Devieilhe, Elsa Dreisig, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djia / Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski [ Erato / 3 CD Box Set - released 29/Oct/2021 ] "that this is probably the most successful recording of Mozart's opera we will ever see on disc; there is no doubt in my mind that it is the most exciting by a long stretch." MusicWeb Recommended Jan 2022 |
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PROKOFIEV / LISZT / BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY / MENDELSSOHN / DEBUSSY / etc
Kurt Masur - The Complete Warner Classics Edition (Teldec & EMI recordings) Michel Beroff, Boris Berezovsky (piano) Sharom Kam (clarinet) Klaus Konig (tenor) Sylvia McNair (soprano) Sarah Chang (violin), etc / Kurt Masur [ Warner Classics / 70 CD Box Set - released 22/Apr/2022 ] Kurt Masur's achievement is defined above all by his relationships with two orchestras exemplifying vastly different traditions. This 70CD set consolidates the entirety of the catalogues that Masur built for EMI and Teldec between 1974 and 2009. |
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BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt Michel Dalberto, Jean-Claude Pennetier, Alain Planès [ Harmonia Mundi / 7 CD ] This box set assembles the complete Beethoven symphonies, patiently transcribed for piano over a quarter of a century and recorded for harmonia mundi by a glittering array of soloists in the late 1980s. Liszt's assiduity in this task reminds us of... |
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JOHANN LUDWIG KREBS
Krebs: Complete Harpsichord Music Michele Benuzzi (harpsichord) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 17/Sep/2021 ] This newly recorded 6-CD set contains the complete music for harpsichord by Krebs. Such was the power and influence of Bach that it is inevitable that Krebs' style is strongly inspired by his master. |
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CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saëns: Complete Music for Organ Michele Savino (organ) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2021 ] Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) is one of the most important French composers of the nineteenth century, his oeuvre embracing important orchestral and chamber works, as well as works for solo instruments, alongside a few operas and church music.... |
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EDVARD GRIEG
Grieg: The Complete Songs [6 CDs special price] Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano), Roger Vignoles, Ilmo Ranta & Love Derwinger (piano) [ BIS / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2010 ] 'Something of a landmark in the Grieg discography… Monica Groop penetrates the very essence of the Grieg spirit with the artlessness that conceals art', wrote International Record Review |
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CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Complete Madrigals Le Nuove Musiche, Krun Koetsveld [ Brilliant Classics / 12 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2019 ] This set presents the complete recording of all nine books of Madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi, as performed by Le Nuove Musiche conducted by Krijn Koetsveld. "A polished, well-balanced sound.. consistently musical and intelligent" (Early Music) |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Giacomo Puccini: The Warner Classics Edition Montserrat Caballé, Jose Carreras, Mirelle Freni, Tito Gobbi, Victoria de los Angeles, Barbara Hendricks, Maria Callas, Angela Gheorghiu, Kiri Te Kana [ Warner Classics / 23 CD Box Set - released 15/Nov/2024 ] Central to this performance is Montserrat Caballé's Turandot, a characterisation of striking subtlety and beauty. As the icy, but alluring princess she confronts the Calaf of José Carreras - heroic, seductive and irresistibly appealing to the slave... |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito (complet opera) Anna Stéphany, Antoinette Dennefeld, Nicky Spence, David Steffens / Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie, Ben Glassberg [ Alpha Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 11/Nov/2022 ] Flanked by a spectacular cast featuring the role debuts of Nicky Spence (named 'Personality of the Year' by BBC Music Magazine in 2022) and Simona Šaturová, the conductor Ben Glassberg (Music Director of the Opéra de Rouen Normandie) once again... |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosí fan Tutte, Die Zauberflöte; Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande Monica Groop, Huub Claessens, Nancy Argenta, Christina Högman, Soile Isokoski, Harry van de Kamp / La Petite Bande [ Brilliant Classics / 12 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2019 ] "..this is an excellent way to obtain four of Mozart's greatest works, well performed, cleanly recorded and at a very modest price point." Gramophone |
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GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Telemann: Tafelmusik (complete) (Rec 2003) Musica Amphion / Pieter-Jan Belder (conductor) [ Brilliant Classics / 4 CD - released 26/Aug/2005 ] "There is plenty of variety and colour and moments...Characterisation of the various movements, whether Francophile or Vivaldian is acutely judged and the rewards are uniform - and lasting." (Musicweb) |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Brandenburg & Violin Concertos / Orchestral Suites Musica Amphion, P.J. Belder / Amsterdam Bach Soloists, Thomas Zehetmair (violin) / Netherlands Bach Ensemble [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] ."Zehetmair is by no means just a brilliant violinist; he is a very sincere musician...This is a most rewarding reissue. Even those lovers of baroque music who usually avoid modern instrument performances, should consider this disc." MusicWeb |
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BELLINI / OFFENBACH / MOZART / DELIBES / MONTEVERDI / DONIZETTI / etc
Natalie Dessay: The Opera Singer [33 CD & 19 DVDs] Natalie Dessay, with Francesco Meli, Jose Van Dam, Patricia Petibon, Sara Mingardo, Kathleen Kim, Ian Bostridge, Veronique Gens, and others [ Erato / Warner Classics / 52 CD Box Set - released 26/Feb/2021 ] "Dessay's performance is simply jaw-dropping.' BBC Music Magazine Award Finalist 2008: Opera [La Sonnambula] |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Complete Symphonies & Serenades Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "This is an unfailingly warm-hearted, full-blooded Brahmsian sound and seems to represent a genuine attempt at redirecting the modern symphony orchestra towards the sort of sound-mix Brahms himself is likely to have heard." MusicWeb |