LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Complete incidental music to Egmont, Op. 84 Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic], George Szell, with Pilar Lorengar (soprano) & Klaus-Jurgen Wussow (narrator) [ Decca The Classic Sound / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] Original 1970 recording recording remastered in 1996 |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / CHOPIN / SCHUBERT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Wilhelm Backhaus I Wilhelm Backhaus (piano) [ Philips / Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2000 ] Backhaus made his first concert tour at the age of sixteen. In 1900 he went to England and in 1901 played for the first time in Manchester at the Gentleman's Concerts. In 1902 he performed at the Hallé Concerts, and thereafter in 12 concerts at the... |
BACH / BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / COUPERIN / HANDEL / RAMEAU / SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE - Wilhelm Kempff: Complete 1950s Solo Recordings Wilhelm Kempff (piano) [ DG Original Masters / 5 CD - released 21/Jul/2003 ] "A free spirit liberated in the studio - these Kempff performances are beyond price." (Gramophone Awards Issue 2003) |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / FAURE / MOZART / SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Wilhelm Kempff III Wilhelm Kempff (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic, Ferdinand Leitner [ Decca / Philips / Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 20/Jan/1998 ] Few pianists on record convey quite the impression of actually composing the music while they perform it that sets Wilhelm Kempff's artistry apart. This quality may owe something to his gift as an improviser (Kempff had also received early training... |
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Music for Flute (Incls Bachianas Brasileiras No 6) William Bennett (flute) with Thea King (clarinet) Neil Black (oboe) and others [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Feb/2006 ] 'A disc of pure delight from beginning to end. Another example of why Hyperion gets my vote as the most innovative record label. Full marks!' (Which CD) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Missa Solemnis William Kendall, Charlotte Margiono, Alastair Miles, Catherine Robbin / English Baroque Soloists / Monteverdi Choir / John Elliot Gardiner [ Deutsche Gramophon Archiv / CD - released 16/Apr/1992 ] "A disc that revealed Gardiner's Beethoven credentials but which also showed off his magnificent Monterverdi Choir as it edged into the 19th century. Another Record of the Year." Gramophone [100 greatest classical recordings of all time] |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Don Giovanni (Highlights from the complete opera) William Shimell, Cheryl Studer, Samuel Ramey / Vienna Philharmonic / Riccardo Muti [ EMI Encore / CD - released 22/Feb/2005 ] Combining comedy and drama, Don Giovanni is one of the most well-known and often praised operas ever written. First performed in 1787, it has been appealing to audiences ever since with its multitude of moral, as well as musical themes. |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schumann: Dichterliebe / Liederkreis / Myrthen / etc [2 CD set] Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone) Imogen Cooper (piano) [ Philips SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Apr/2011 ] "Singer and pianist work together almost by instinct in thinking themselves into the very heart of these songs... Holzmair's plangent, very Viennese voice bespeaks the vulnerability that lies at the soul of Robert's Eusebius side." (Gramophone) |
WYNTON MARSALIS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sweet Release & Ghost Story - two more ballets by Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis (trumpet/conductor) / Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra [ Sony Music / CD - released 2/Sep/1999 ] The fifth in Wynton Marsalis's avalanche of eight releases in 1999 was another pairing of ballets, again issued on Sony Classical rather than Columbia. Sweet Release is easily the more ingratiating of the two - obviously, even slavishly, modeled on... |
RICHARD STRAUSS / CHRISTOPHER HEADINGTON
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss/Headington: Violin Concertos Xue-Wei (violin) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jane Glover [ ASV / CD ] The Strauss Violin Concerto was first performed publicly on 5 December 1882, in the Bösendorfersaal of the Herrengasse in Vienna. The soloist was the dedicatee Benno Walter. Strauss himself played his own piano reduction of the orchestral parts.... |
Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli (violins), Alan Claire Trio, etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jealousy [ EMI Music / CD - released 26/Jul/2005 ] A classic album from these two masters of their art. Full of fun and infectious music-making, the recording is supplemented here with tracks from the 1975 LP 'Fascinatin' Rhythm'. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: The Sonatas for Cello and Piano Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Emanuel Ax (piano) [ Sony Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/1987 ] Grammy Awards 29th Awards (1986) Best Chamber Music Recording [for sonata no 4 & variation] |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1-3 (Complete) Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Emanuel Ax (piano) Leonidas Kavakos (violin) [ Sony Classics / 2 CD - released 25/Oct/2017 ] "The quality of their playing is never in doubt, and the ensemble is faultless. There's tremendous authority in the assertive movements...but there could be something more personal in the more wistfully introspective ones." The Guardian |
FRANZ SCHUBERT / ROBERT SCHUMANN / MAX BRUCH / GEORGES ENESCO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert / Schumann / Bruch ./ Enesco Yuri Bashmet (viola) & Mikhail Muntian (piano) [ RCA Victor Red Seal / CD - released 10/Aug/1991 ] "Yuri Bashmet (viola) and Mikhail Muntian (piano) are highly praised for their RCA recordings....MusicWeb International praises their collaborative performance style, describing them as a "true duo" with "strong readings". |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Chopin: Complete Waltzes Zoltan Kocsis (piano) [ Philips Insignia / CD - released 1/Jan/1994 ] Zoltan Kocsis won the Hungarian Radio Beethoven Competition in 1970, and made his first concert tour of the United States in the following year. He received the Liszt Prize in 1973, and the Kossuth Prize in 1978 |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi per due (Verdi For Two) Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) / Roberto Alagna (tenor) / Berliner Philharmoniker / Claudio Abbado [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] "Tenor and soprano bring meltingly beautiful tone and impeccable legato" BBC Music |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI / GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini & Donizetti Arias (1963-1964) Maria Callas (soprano) / Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Nicola Rescigno [ EMI Classics / CD - released 10/Nov/1997 ] Although the bel canto repertoire was crucial to Callas's career, and she played a significant part in reviving its fortunes, she never sang any of the roles - from both serious and comic operas - that are represented in this recital. |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini Overtures [Incls 'L'Italiana in Algeri' & 'Semiramide'] National Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] Original recordings from 1981 and 1985 |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: Symphony No.5, Op.47 The Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Ahronovitch [ BIS / CD - released 2/Feb/1987 ] Originally recording made at the Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, November 1986 |
JULES MASSENET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Massenet: Manon (complete opera) Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Jose van Dam, Gilles Ragon / Chorus & Orchestra of the Theatre Royal of the Monnaie, Brussels, Antonio PappanoPappan [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 8/Mar/2007 ] "Major praise must go to Angela Gheorghiu. Not only does she draw a portrait of the irresistible, impetuous, selfish, luscious Manon from the very beginning, but she's totally in control of her vocal resources as well." ClassicsToday |