SPIRITUALS / VERDI / BRAHMS / SCHUMANN / HAYDN / SCHUBERT / etc
Marian Anderson - Beyond the Music - Her complete RCA Victor recordings [15 CDs with large book] Marian Anderson (contralto) [ Sony Classical / 15 CD/Book - released 27/Aug/2021 ] "Special mention must be made of this set's presentation, which stands among the glories of the CD era not just for its musical comprehensiveness, but also for its artful design." Opera |
MANUEL de FALLA
De Falla Collection Marta Senn, Cecilia Angell, Fernando de La Mora, Timora Rosler, Benita Meshulam, Jutta Czapski, Klára Würtz, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venez [ Briliant Classics / 5 CD - released 17/Oct/2021 ] Regarded as the greatest Spanish composer of the twentieth century, Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) developed an interest in native Spanish music - in particular Andalusian flamenco - while studying with Felipe Pedrell in Madrid in the late 1890s. |
W. A. MOZART / SCHUBERT / STRAVINSKY / BEETHOVEN / RAVEL / CHOPIN / etc
Martha Argerich Martha Argerich (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, with Daniel Barenboim, Guy Braunstein, etc [ EuroArts DVD / 6 DVD Box Set - released 18/Jun/2021 ] This special edition, released for the occasion of Martha Argerich's 80th birthday, combines some of her most impressive recordings. At the same time, it is testimony to the enormous musical and creative versatility with which she has succeeded in... |
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... |
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) |
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. |
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) |
SILVIUS LEOPOLD WEISS
Weiss: London Manuscript Sonatas Nos.1‐26 Michel Cardin (baroque lute) [ Brilliant Classics / 12 CD Box Set - released 26/Jan/2015 ] Weiss (a near exact contemporary of Bach: 1687‐1750) was a famous lute player and composer in his, time, a highly regarded court musician at the Dresden court. He wrote extensively for his instrument. |
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... |
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. |
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.... |
BRAHMS / SCHUBERT / BEETHOVEN / STRAVINSKY / TCHAIKOVSKY
Misha Dichter - The Complete RCA Victor Recordings Misha Dichter (piano) / Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf [ Sony Classical / 3 CD Box Set - released 6/Sep/2024 ] It was inevitable, perhaps, that Dichter's debut release for the label would be given over to the Tchaikovsky B-flat minor concerto, the same work that catapulted the competition's first winner Van Cliburn to international stardom. |
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 |
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) |
J. S. BACH / BEETHOVEN / STRAVINSKY / SCHUMANN / MOZART / HANDEL / etc
Sir John Eliot Gardiner: Complete recordings on Archiv and Deutsche Grammophon The Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner [ Deutsche Grammophon / Archiv / 104 CD Box Set - released 21/May/2021 ] Vocal soloists include Nancy Argenta, Olaf Bär, Barbara Bonney, Michael Chance, Bernarda Fink, Magdalena Kožená Derek Lee Ragin, Sara Mingardo, Anne Sofie von Otter, Mark Padmore, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Andreas Schmidt and Stephen Varcoe. ... |
HENRY PURCELL
Purcell: King Arthur, Music for Queen Mary, The Indian Queen, The Tempest Monteverdi Choir, Monteverdi Orchestra, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner, with Jennifer Smith, Gillian Fisher, Stephen Varcoe, etc [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 25/Mar/2022 ] "Solo singing for the most part is excellent, with Stephen Varcoe outstanding among the men." *** Three Stars (Penguin Stereo Guide on King Arthur) |
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... |
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 |
LISZT / SCHUBERT / TCHAIKOVSKY / BRAHMS / CHOPIN / SHOSTAKOVICH / etc
Emil Gilels - the complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection Emil Gilels (piano) [ Sony / RCA Originals / 7 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2017 ] One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, Gilels was best-known for his remarkable vitality and sensitivity to the Romantic style. |
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) |