LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 'Choral' (LP) Aase Nordmo Løvberg (sop), Christa Ludwig (mezzo), Waldemar Kmentt (tenor), Hans Hotter (bass-baritone) / Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, Otto Klempe [ Warner Classics Vinyl / 2 LP - released 9/Jun/2023 ] The German-born conductor Otto Klemperer, a towering figure in the musical history of the 20th century, died at the age of 88 on July 8th 1973, so 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of his death. |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 15 CD Box Set - released 22/Jan/2021 ] With the delightful original LP cover illustrations, this 'original jackets' presentation collects together for the first time the 33 Haydn Symphonies recorded by Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. |
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Symphony No. 40 and 41 Academy St Martins in the Fields (soloists), Neville Marriner (conductor) [ Philips / CD - released 1/Jul/1999 ] Recorded: 1979 NOTE: Cover may differ from that shown |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: La Pietra del paragone (complete opera) Agata Bienkowska (mezzo) / Alessandro Codeluppi (tenor) / Raffaele Constantini (bass) / Anna Rita Gemmabella (sop) / Anke Herrmann (sop) [ Naxos Opera Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 2/Jun/2004 ] "Polish mezzo Agata Bienkowska...here evinces a rich-toned flexible voice of considerable promise ..The conductor, Alessandro de Marchi, is well known in early music circles. He brings clear articulation to the ensembles." MusicWeb |
ALESSANDRO SCARLATTI
Scarlatti: Griselda Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs [ Harmonia Mundi / 3 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2019 ] Scarlatti's Griselda, premiered in Rome in 1721, received a single performance at the Teatro Capranica, and was never taken into the repertoire elsewhere, both for financial reasons and because of the changing tastes of the time. The tragic story of... |
HANDEL / RAMEAU / BACH / COUPERIN / SCARLATTI / POULENC / etc
Handsome Harpsichord: Best loved classical harpsichord music Alan Cuckston, Laurence Cummings, Luc Beauséjour, Glen Wilson, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichords), Wolfgang Rubsam (lute-harpsichord), etc [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Mar/2020 ] For those who are new to an instrument, the first question is often: where to start? The 'Best Loved' series offers an easy answer to that question and a perfect introduction to the wonderful, varied world of classical music. Spotlighting individual... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: L'Estro Armonico, op.3 / 4 Concertos for Wind Instruments Alan Loveday (violin) William Bennett (flute) Martin Gatt (bassoon) Neil Black (oboe) / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/1994 ] The many recordings Neville Marriner made with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and originally released on the ARGO label include several albums of Vivaldi. |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: Peter Grimes (complete opera filmed on Aldeburgh beach in 2013) BLU-RAY Alan Oke, Giselle Allen, David Kempster / Guildhall School of Music & Drama & Britten-Pears Orchestra, Steuart Bedford [ Arthaus Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 10/Feb/2019 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD NOMINATION 2014 |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: Elias (Elijah) (Complete Oratorio in German) Alastair Miles, Jard van Nes, Helen Donath / Israel Philharmonic, Kurt Masur [ Teldec / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/May/1993 ] Contains comprehensive book and translations |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: String Quartets, Trout Quintet & String Quintet Alban Berg Quartet, Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano), Georg Hörtnagel (double bass) [ Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 17/Mar/2023 ] The Alban Berg Quartett approach Schubert with classical discipline while vividly conveying the mysterious fervent power that is so instantaneously unique in the composer's works. They capture the quintessentially Viennese spirit of Schubert, as... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete String Quartets Alban Berg Quartett [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 24/Aug/2012 ] "The Alban Berg Quartet possess a wonderfully burnished tone, superbly blended ensemble and unanimity of attack as well as flawless intonation." (Gramophone) |
GEORGE LLOYD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lloyd: Eleventh Symphony Albany Symphony Orchestra, George Lloyd [ Albany / CD - released 2/Jul/1990 ] "The performance has all the power and freshness of discovery of a masterwork and the recording is splendidly worthy of the music" Gramophone |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Semiramide (complete opera) Albina Shagimuratova, Daniela Barcellona, Mirco Palazzi, Barry Banks, Gianluca Buratto / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 4 CD Box Set - released 5/Oct/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 TOP THREE - Opera |
ERIC SATIE
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Les Inspirations insolites Eric Satie Aldo Ciccolini, Michel Legrand, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Mady Mesple, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, etc [ Erato / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/1990 ] The music of Erik Satie (1866-1925) remains as provocative, delightful - and surprising - as ever. These 2 CDs, featuring artists with impeccable credentials in French repertoire, draw together more unusual and rarely recorded repertoire. |
ERIC SATIE
Satie (LP) Aldo Ciccolini (piano) [ Erato / LP - released 13/May/2022 ] A special re-release for Record Store Day 2016, this LP of Gymnopédies, Gnossiennes and other piano pieces by Erik Satie salutes Aldo Ciccolini, the Italian-born pianist who launched the Satie 'boom' when this album first appeared in 1956. Whether... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rachmaninov: Complete Operas (Aleko; Francesca da Rimini; The Miserly Knight) Sergei Aleksashkin, Sergei Larin, Sergei Leiferkus, Ilya Levinsky, Anne Sofie von Otter / Gothenburg Opera Chorus & Orchestra. Neeme Jarvi [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 21/Jun/2004 ] "Fine version" (Alexo)..."recording quality quite outstanding" (Francesca)..."A most desirable set" (Miserly Knight) (Penguin Guide) |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Complete Piano Music Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age) Alessandro Marangoni (piano), with Giuseppina Bridelli (mezzo-soprano), Ars Cantica Choir & others [ Naxos / 13 CD Box Set - released 26/Nov/2021 ] Rossini drew a line under his hugely successful operatic career at the age of 37 and wrote little until his final years in Paris, where he became renowned for his musical salons. For these he wrote numerous short piano pieces. |
ALEXANDER SCARLATTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Scarlatti: Alexandre Tharaud plays Scarlatti Alexandre Tharaud (piano) [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2011 ] "Tharaud brings all of the resources of the modern grand piano to Scarlatti's music and is unapologetically pianistic in his approach." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb March 2011) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No. 29 "Hammerklavier" & 26 "Les adieux" Alfred Brendel (piano) [ Philips / CD - released 2/Feb/1996 ] Original recording 1994 and 1995 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Alfred Brendel II Alfred Brendel (piano) [ Philips / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2000 ] Brendel frequently performed the music of Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart. He has played relatively few 20th century works but has performed Arnold Schoenberg's Piano Concerto. |