FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Complete Piano Sonatas Michael Endres (piano) [ Capriccio / 6 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2011 ] "the Steck piano that Endres plays has a pleasing bloom, which has been recorded with satisfying natural presence, and his lyrical, lovingly shaped performances undoubtedly deserve a place among the very best alternatives." Gramophone |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas (14 CDs plus Book) Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Rattle / 14 CD Box Set - released 15/Oct/2014 ] NZ LISTENER BEST CLASSICAL Recordings 2014 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Last Five Piano Sonatas (28-32) Includes 'Hammerklavier' Michael Houstoun (piano) [ Trust / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/2001 ] The most difficult of piano sonatas played by our Michael |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Der Fliegende Hollander [The Flying Dutchman] ( Alfred Muff, Ingrid haubold, Erich Knodt, Peter Seiffert / Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Pinchas Steinberg [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1992 ] "The recording is both atmospheric and clear, and the set comes with libretto, translation, notes and detailed synopsis, an outstanding bargain." Penguin Guide |
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 |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: The Collector's Edition Nikolai Lugansky, Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Michael Beroff, Steven Isserlis, Borodin Quartet, Truks Monk, Andre Previn, Mstislav Rostropovich [ Erato / Warner Classics / 36 CD Box Set - released 31/Mar/2023 ] March 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of death of Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). A Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, he made a part of his career in "the west", moving to the United States and France after the 1917 Revolution. |
GEORGE ENESCU
Enescu: Symphonies Nos. 1-3 / Romanian Rhapsodies 1 & 2 Orchestre National de France, Cristian Măcelaru [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD - released 26/Apr/2024 ] DG present a new recording of fascinating repertoire completely new to the Universal Music catalogue: Symphonies No. 1-3 by George Enescu, plus his most well-known works, the Romanian Rhapsodies. GRAMMY® Award winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru,... |
J. S. BACH / BEETHOVEN / DVORAK / BRAHMS / BOCCHERINI / etc
Pablo Casals - The Complete HMV Recordings (Rec 1926-1955/39) Pablo Casals (cello) with Alfred Cortot, Jacques Thibaud, Mieczyalaw Horszowski & others [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 25/Aug/2023 ] "In these splendid recordings, Casal's superb playing offers us the finest fruits of his great art." (Gramophone on the Bach Suites) |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Famous Concertos [Includes 'Brandenburg Concertos'] Thomas Zehetmair (violin), Amsterdam Bach Soloists / Pieter-Jan Belder, Musica Amphion / Erik Bosgraaf, Ensemble Cordevento [ Brilliant Classics Quintessence / 5 CD Box Set - released 22/Jan/2021 ] "This is a most rewarding reissue. Even those lovers of baroque music who usually avoid modern instrument performances, should consider this disc at budget price." (MusicWeb Sept 2013 Violin Concertos) |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
The Verdi Opera Selection: "Shakespeare" Otello / Macbeth / Falstaff Plácido Domingo, Barbara Frittoli, Leo Nucci, Thomas Hampson, Ruggero Raimondi, Manuel Lanza, etc [ Arthaus Opera Editrion / 3 DVD - released 1/Jul/2020 ] Otello - Live from the Teatro alla Scala Milan, 2001 Macbeth - Live from the Opernhaus Zurich, 2001 Falstaff - Live from the Teatro del Maggio Muusicale Fiorentino, 2006 |
GIUSEPPE SAVERIO MERCADANTE
Mercadante: Il Proscritto (complete opera) Ramón Vargas, Irene Roberts, Elizabeth DeShong, Sally Matthews / Britten Sinfonia, Carlo Rizzi [ Opera Rara / 2 CD Box Set - released 14/Apr/2023 ] "Mercadante wrote for a stellar cast, and Opera Rara field fine singers too" BBC Music Opera Choice July23 |
REINHARD KEISER
Keiser: Croesus René Jacobs [ Harmonia Mundi / 3 CD - released 30/Aug/2019 ] Keiser is one of the most astonishing early German composers to have been brought to light in recent years. The composer of a good sixty operas, all of them for the Hamburg Opera, during his lifetime he was regarded as 'the greatest and most... |
RICHARD STRAUSS / ANTON BRUCKNER / HUGO WOLF
Renee Fleming in Concert (recorded live in 2011 & 2012) Renee Fleming (soprano) / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann [ Opus Arte DVD / 2 DVD Box Set - released 5/Mar/2018 ] Two unforgettable evenings showcase the artistry of Renée Fleming alongside Christian Thielemann's mastery of the Austro-German Romantic idiom...."Beautifully filmed and recorded … worthy of special praise." (MusicWeb Nov 2013) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 (Recorded live from the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier, Paris 2014-15) BLU-RAY Ricarda Merbeth, Daniela Sindram, Robert Dean Smitm, Günther Groissböck / Paris National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Philippe Jordan [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / 3 Blu-ray Box Set - released 20/Sep/2016 ] "A seasoned Beethovenian will likely conclude that a lot of care and thought went into the interpretations as well." Classical-Net |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: The Piano Sonatas Robert Levin (fortepiano, Anton Walter, 1782) [ ECM New Series / 7 CD Box Set - released 2/Sep/2022 ] BBC Music AWARD NOMINATION 2023 - INSTRUMENTAL |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Variations & Bagatelles, etc. Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) [ BIS SACD / 6 Hybrid SACD - released 6/Sep/2019 ] "...the late sets Opp 119 and 126 are delivered with a sense of simplicity that can only come from depth of knowledge. The recording, configured for 5.0 stereo, is exemplary." International Piano |
DELIBES / ADAM / HEROLD / TCHAIKOVSKY / TALBOT / PROKOFIEV / etc
The Royal Ballet - The Collection BLU-RAY The Royal Ballet / Leanne Benjamin, Carlos Acosta, Alina Cojocaru, Johan Kobborg, Marianela Nunez, Sarah Lamb, Federico Bonelli, Lauren Cuthbertson, e [ BBC / Opus Arte Blu-ray / 15 Blu-ray Box Set - released 8/Oct/2021 ] Over a decade of dance is represented here with no fewer than 22 ballets in this magnificent 15-disc collection of stunning performances by The Royal Ballet. |
FRANZ LEHAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Lehar: Das Land des Lachelns [The Land of Smiles] Siegfried Jerusalem, Helen Donath, Martin Finke / Munchner Rundfunkorchester, Willi Boskovsky [ EMI / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Oct/1982 ] "This set comes with obvious pedigree. Siegfried Jerusalem is a first-rate, intelligent singer with an easy tenor voice that imparts to "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" a natural passion and fluency." Gramophone |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (tenor), Gerhard Siegel, Iain Paterson, Martin Winkler, Hallé, Sir Mark Elder [ Hallé / 4 CD - released 7/Jun/2019 ] "The outstanding performances here come from the Hallé and their music director. With quality playing from all departments, Wagner's complex orchestral timbres are carefully presented." BBC Music |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Siegfried Simon O'Neill (Siegfried), Michael Volle (Der Wanderer), Peter Hoare (Mime), Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle [ BR Klassik / 3 CD - released 6/Oct/2023 ] Following the 2015 release of Das Rheingold and of Die Walküre in 2019, BR-KLASSIK is now releasing Siegfried as part of the enthusiastically received Ring cycle under Sir Simon Rattle. |