FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: The Complete Piano Sonatas Paul Badura-Skoda (piano) [ RCA Red Seal / Sony Classical / 12 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2017 ] Badura-Skoda plays Schubert sonatas - The first CD release of a landmark edition Paul Badura-Skoda is unquestionably the outstanding Schubert pianist of the 20th century, declared the Leipzig Volkszeitung in 2012. An astute interpreter, a sensuous... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Played on Period Instruments Paul Badura-Skoda (fortepiano) [ Arcana / 9 CD Box Set - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "his set represents a stunning bargain, especially as it seems to be retailing at around £30 to £35 from various online retailers." MusicWeb April 2020 |
BRITTEN / SCHUMANN / SCHUBERT / HANDEL / BACH / etc
Anniversary Tribute [6 CD set] Peter Pears (tenor) with various orchestras & accompanists [ Decca Records / 6 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2012 ] "All in all, a superb tribute to one of the most characterful and important singers of the twentieth century." Penguin Guide, 2011 edition. |
J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: Complete Secular Cantatas Peter Schreier, Edith Mathis, Arleen Auger / Berliner Solisten, Kammerorchester Berlin, Peter Schreier [ Brilliant Classics / 8 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2007 ] In his secular cantatas J.S. Bach tackled some of the lighter issues of life. Like coffee and marriage… Somehow these are heard not that often in concert halls. |
W. A. MOZART
Peter Serkin plays Mozart Peter Serkin (piano) with Rudolf Serkin (piano), Richard Stoltzman (clarinet), English Chamber Orchestra [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 5/Jun/2019 ] Peter Serkin, whose recorded output is dwarfed by his fathers in sheer size but by no means in artistic distinction, is spotlighted in a new release playing Mozart: his complete RCA recordings of the composer. |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: L'equivoco stravagante (Complete opera) Petia Petrova, Marco di Felice, Marco Vinco / Czech Chamber Chours / Alberto Zedda [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 29/Jul/2002 ] "The cast is accomplished...with incisive diction and alert musicality. The one standout is the recording's Ernestina, the young Bulgarian mezzo Petia Petrova. She's a lively, vivid vocal presence, with the technique " - Opera News |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Eugene Ormandy Conducts Richard Strauss Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, with Rudolf Serkin (piano) & Lorne Munroe (cello) [ Sony Classical / 4 CD Box Set - released 13/Mar/0020 ] Ormandy is best known for his longstanding post as the conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He also developed what came to be known as the "Philadelphia Sound" emphasizing lush string sonorities and, legato phrasing and rounded tone. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Pianist and Conductor - Legendary Recordings, 1919-1942 Sergei Rachmaninov (piano) / Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski & Eugene Ormandy [ Naxos Historical / 9 CD Box Set - released 6/Dec/2010 ] In every recording by Rachmaninov, whether it be of his own compositions or not, one is immediately aware of his complete control. This is combined with acute clarity, sparse use of the sustaining pedal and an orchestral conception of sound. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Eugene Ormandy - The Columbia Legacy (Mono-Recordings) The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Philadelphia "Pops" Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, with Oscar Levant, György Sandor, Regina Resnik, etc [ Sony Classical / 120 CD Box Set - released 9/Apr/2021 ] The collaboration between Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, which lasted over 40 years, is one of the most enigmatic and longest-lasting relationships in the history of classical music. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Klemperer Conducts Wagner (3 LP) Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer [ Warner Classics LP / 3 Vinyl Box Set - released 8/Sep/2023 ] Several of the recordings on this disc date from 1960, when Otto Klemperer celebrated his 75th birthday and Wieland Wagner, the composer's grandson, saluted the conductor as "a unique artistic phenomenon". |
DVORAK
Andrew Davis conducts Dvorak (incls Symphonies 1-9) [7 CD set] Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Sony Classical Masters / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "This reissue of Andrew Davis's clean-cut, fresh performances has much in its favour. As a sample of Davis at his finest try the finale of the New World, an exhilarating reading of a movement which normally comes as a disappointment." (Gramophone) |
CHOPIN / DEBUSSY / TCHAIKOVSKY / RAVEL / SATIE / MOZART / etc
Debussy: Piano Music (Incls 'Children's Corner' & '2 Arabesques') Philippe Entremont (piano) [ Sony Classical Masters / 34 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2019 ] In celebration of renowned French pianist Phillippe Entremont's 85th birthday, Sony Classical is pleased to release Philippe Entremont's complete Columbia recordings for solo piano. This must have boxset is the first ever release of Philippe... |
TCHEREPNIN / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / STRAVINSKY / SATIE / PROKOFIEV / BALAKIREV / etc
Diaghilev - Ballets Russes Pierre Boulez, André Cluytens, Igor Markevitch, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn, Sir Simon Rattle, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jean Martinon, Charles Dutoit, et [ Warner Classics / 22 CD Box Set - released 11/Mar/2022 ] The Ballets russes was founded in Paris in 1909 by the visionary impresario Serge Diaghilev. Innovative and flamboyant, he had a genius for bringing together the most brilliant composers, dancers, choreographers and designers. |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Le voyage dans la lune (complete operetta) Violette Polchi, Sheva Tehoval, Matthieu Lécroart, Pierre Derhet / Chœur et Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie, Pierre Dumoussaud [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 27/May/2022 ] "With Offenbach's opéra féerie - Le Voyage dans la Lune Bru Zane has come up trumps." MusicWeb |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Complete Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord) [ Brilliant Classics / 15 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2020 ] This landmark set gathers all seven volumes of Pieter-Jan Belder's exhaustive exploration of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book in recordings spanning the current decade. |
ARCANGELO CORELLI
Corelli: Complete Edition Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord), Musica Amphion [ Brilliant Classics / 10 CD Box Set - released 15/Nov/2010 ] "The Concerti grossi, Op. 6 are full of verve here; there's a real sense of enjoyment in the playing and the same enthusiasm is to be found throughout. At its most zestful the set is excellent, and the disappointments are few." Penguin Guide |
J. S. BACH
Complete Concertos PieterāJan Belder (keyboard), Thomas Zehetmair (violin), Christine Schornsheim (harpsichord), Andrius Puskunigis (oboe) / Amsterdam Bach Soloists, etc [ Brilliant Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 6/May/2016 ] This 9 CD set contains the complete solo concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach: the Brandenburg Concertos, violin concertos, keyboard concertos for one, two, three and four harpsichords and the triple concerto. As an attractive "bonus" two CD's are... |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Lorin Maazel Conducts Sibelius [5 CD set] Julian Rachlin (violin) / Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel [ Sony Classical / 5 CD Box Set - released 4/Apr/2011 ] |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Symphonies Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg [ Deutsche Grammophon / 5 CD Box Set - released 15/May/2020 ] In 1952, William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra embarked on a Beethoven symphony cycle which utilized the new and sonically advantageous process of recording on 35mm film. |
CHARLES GOUNOD
The Gounod Edition: Operas, Choral Works, Symphonies Placido Domingo, Regine Crespin, Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Gedda, Mirella Freni, Marilyn Horne, Rolando Villazon, etc [ Warner Classics / 15 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/2018 ] "Anyone wanting a share in these darling old steeds at a tempting price will be amply satisfied." Opera |