CESAR FRANCK
Franck: Hulda (complete opera original version) Meagan Miller, Joshua Kohl, Irina Jae-Eun Park, Anja Jung / Opernchor des Theater Freiburg, Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Fabrice Bollon [ Naxos / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Oct/2021 ] "An intrepid cast led by Meagan Miller as Hulda and Joshua Kohl's Eiolf, her faithless lover, negotiates a top-heavy score that mixes Franck's thunderous organ chords with Berlioz and Wagner..all credit to Fabrice Bollon and the Freiburg Phil." BBC |
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) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Sonatas / Piano Concertos / Diabelli variations Paul Lewis (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek [ Harmonia Mundi / 14 CD - released 25/Oct/2019 ] "One of the most highly prized recording marathons of recent years… an unmissable benchmark." - Gramophone on the Sonatas |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Paul Lewis plays Schubert Paul Lewis (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / 6 CD Box Set - released 31/May/2024 ] Paul Lewis is today regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation. Having won the most coveted prizes of the great classical institutions for both his concert career and his recordings on harmonia mundi (Diapason d'Or of the year 2002,... |
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. |