MYASKOVSKY
Symphony No. 27, Op. 85 / Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 66 Alexander Ivashkin (cello) / Russian State Symphony Orchestra. Valeri Polyansky [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 4/Oct/2002 ] ***** Five Stars BBC Music Magazine (Jan 03) "Symphony No 27 is given a reading to match its nobility and proud assertion of a Russian symphonic tradition that goes back, predominantly, to Tchaikovsky. Superbly played and recorded." |
PROKOFIEV
Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40 / Symphony-Concerto, Op. 125 Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Valeri Polyansky [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 22/Sep/2002 ] 'With its subtle understanding of the interplay between soloist and orchestra, and among sections of the orchestra, this recording is a wonderful addition to the Prokofiev catalogue.' Fanfare |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Complete Works for Cello and Piano Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Rustem Hayroudinoff (piano) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/Jun/2004 ] 'Alexander Ivashkin and Rustem Hayroudinoff are both players in the great Russian virtuoso tradition, and in the Sonata the piano flourishes all come over with the necessary brilliance, while Ivashkin's tone is strong enough to sail above the most... |
ALFRED SCHNITTKE
Schnittke: Cello Concertos / Cello Sonatas / Concerto grosso No. 2 Alexander Ivashkin (cello) Tatiana Grindenko (violin) / Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Valeri Polyansky [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Oct/2007 ] "A disc that critic Philip Clark calls in his review "the definitive document of Schnittke's relationship with the cello" can make for uncomfortable listening. Properly so, as the First Concerto was composed around Schnittke's dreadful stroke in... |
SHOSTAKOVICH
The Unknown Shostakovich Alexander Ivashkin / Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Valeri Polyansky [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 20/May/2000 ] A nifty orchestration of Schumann's Cello Concerto by Shostakovich! |
FRANZ XAVER SCHARWENKA
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4 Alexander Markovich (piano) / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 31/Mar/2014 ] "Jarvi's watchful support and...control of orchestral dynamics gives Markovich more room to shape phrases effortlessly: his playing is especially fine [in the Scherzo of No. 1], cool-headed, but always meticulous...[in No. 2] Markovich blends fiery v |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: Spring Symphony / Welcome Ode / Psalm 150 Alfreda Hodgson (contralto), Elizabeth Gale (soprano), Martyn Hill (tenor) / Southend Boys Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Hickox Legacy / CD - released 19/Jul/2013 ] This re-release of the Spring Symphony, complemented by two smaller but equally life-confirming works by Britten, marks the composer's centenary year. It also forms part of our ongoing Richard Hickox Legacy series, which pays tribute to this great co |
FINZI / BRITTEN / HOLST
Works for Choir and Orchestra Alison Barlow (sop) John Mark Ainsley (ten) David Hoult (bar) Stephen Varcoe (bar) / Britten Singers, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Hickox Legacy / CD - released 19/Jul/2013 ] "If any lover of the music of English twentieth century composers does not have this disc in their collection, they should take steps to rectify the omission immediately." (Recording of the Month musicWeb Aug 2013) |
HUMMEL
Mandolin Concerto, Trumpet Concerto, Ballet Music 'Das ZauberglAckchen' Alison Stephens (mandolin) Urban Agnes (trumpet), London Mozart Players, Shelley [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 19/Jun/2001 ] the first recording of the newly discovered Mandolin Concerto. |
VERDI / ROSSINI / VERDI / BELLINI
Great Operatic Arias Alistair Miles (bass) with various accompaniments [ Chandos Opera in English / CD - released 4/Apr/2000 ] Sensational bass arias recorded in English for the first time! |
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Schoenberg: Gurrelieder Alwyn Mellor, Anna Larsson, Thomas Allen, Stuart Skelton / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 16/Oct/2016 ] "A top class performance and magnificent recording of this vast piece." MusicWeb International, 20th January 2017 |
SCHOENBERG
Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5 / Piano Concerto, Op. 42 Amalie Malling (piano) Scottish National Orchestra / Matthias Bamert. Danish National Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 4/Feb/2005 ] 'Amalie Malling proves an intelligent and sympathetic soloist… Michael Schønwandt gets very good results from the Danish Orchestra and the texture is lucid and transparent, and splendidly recorded.' The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs on the Piano... |
HUBERT PARRY
Choral Works (Incls 'Jerusalem' & 'The Birds of Aristophanes') Amanda Roocroft (soprano) / BBC National Chorus & Orchestra of Wales, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 15/Oct/2012 ] "This is breast-swelling stuff...the BBC National Orchestra of Wales gives warmly sympathetic renditions of music which was probably completely unfamiliar to them before the recording sessions. The Chandos sound is excellent." (BBC Music) |
AMY BEACH
Quartet for Strings, Op. 89; Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 34; Pastorale, Op. 151; etc Ambache (with Gabrielle Lester (violin), Helen Keen (flute ) and Diana Ambache (piano) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 28/Nov/2003 ] Penguin Stereo Guide (Rosette Recording) - 'Amy Beach's music inhabits conservative rather than progressive ground, a universe or two removed from American contemporaries like Ives. Nevertheless it is fine work, and it's good to welcome this... |
WALTON
Belshazzar's Feast / Coronation Te Deum / Gloria Ameral Gunson (contralto) Gwynne Howell (baritone) / Philharmonia Orchestra / Willcocks [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Jul/2002 ] "The soloist, Gwynee Howell, firm and dark of tone, is among the finest of all exponents." (Penguin Stereo Guide) |
CESAR ANTONOVICH CUI
A Feast in Time of Plague: A dramatic work in one act Andrei Baturkin (baritone) Dmitri Stepanovich (bass) Ludmila Kuznetsova (mezzo) / Valeri Polyansky (cond) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 7/Jun/2004 ] Chandos presents the premiere recordings of the one-act opera A Feast in Time of Plague, Three Scherzos, Op. 82 and three songs for solo voice and orchestra. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ (complete oratorio) Andrew Goodwin, Shane Lowrencev, Matthew Brook, Sasha Cooke / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2019 ] "The marvelous solo singers are utterly convincing, from Andrew Staples' mellow tenor as the Narrator and Matthew Brook's complex Herod, to the love of Joseph and Mary (Williams and Cooke) for their baby and their rush to escape." 10/10 ClassicsToday |
BERG
Wozzeck (Complete opera in English) Andrew Shore (baritone); Alan Woodrow (tenor); Peter Bronder (tenor); Geoffrey Mitchell Choir ; Philharmonia Orchestra ; Paul Daniel [ Chandos Opera in English / 2 CD - released 26/May/2003 ] "This English language version is an almost unqualified success … a fresh and illuminating perspective a harrowing and original masterpiece." (Music Web) |
DONIZETTI / ROSSINI / MOZART / VERDI
Great Operatic Arias: (In English) Andrew Shore (baritone) / Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Parry [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jun/2002 ] The latest volume of Chandos' Great Operatic Arias recordings |
VERDI
Falstaff (Complete Opera in English) Andrew Shore (baritone) Yvonne Kenny (soprano) / English National Opera, Paul Daniel [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2002 ] "It is serious competition for the currently available recordings in Italian." (Pick of the Month BBC Music Magazine Aug 2002) |