FREDERIC CHOPIN / CLAUDE DEBUSSY / CESAR FRANCK / MAURICE RAVEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Ivan Moravec Ivan Moravec (piano) [ Philips / 2 CD - released 20/Jan/1998 ] A native of Prague, Moravec has eschewed the spotlight, mostly because of his emphasis on teaching and assiduous practice. He's famous for insisting that every aspect of his performance be near-perfect. |
EDVARD GRIEG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg: Piano Works (Incls Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7) Ivana Gavrić (piano) [ Champs Hill / CD - released 18/May/2014 ] "...the Sonata comes across with all its youthful exuberance, passion, winning lyricism and tender wistfulness." (Daily Telegraph) |
MODEST MUSSORGSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (with Ravel - Valses nobles et Sentimentales) Ivo Pogorelich (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 20/Jul/2001 ] Prizes - 1998: Cannes Classical Awards |
J. S. BACH / DOMENICO SCARLATTI / LUDWIG van BEEETHOVEN
Ivo Pogorelich : Recital - Live in Castello Reale di Racconigi Ivo Pogorelich (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 10/Feb/2009 ] "Pogorelich has a reputation for willful interpretations, very idiosyncratic tempo choices, etc. I was half-prepared to see some of that here, but it was just the opposite. The sobriety, absolute technical mastery, and musical depth on display... |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Violin Concerto / Violin sonata & sonatina Jack Liebeck (violin) Katya Apekisheva (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Garry Walker [ Sony Classical / CD - released 24/Aug/2009 ] "He shines most with the pianist Katya Apekisheva in Dvorák's Violin Sonata, winningly dispatched with plenty of depth and colour... Sweetness of tone and a prancing gait enliven the Violin Concerto." The Times, 30th May 2009 |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Cello Concerto / Waldesruhe (Silent woods) (LP) Jacqueline du Pre (cello) / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim [ Warner Classics / LP - released 15/Nov/2018 ] "Impressively remastered, spectacular in its realism, with well-defined detail, superb warmth and body, and fine perspective." |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Orchestral Works, Cello Concerto, Sea Pictures, Dream of Gerontius Jacqueline du Pre (cello) Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) Richard Lewis (tenor) / Halle Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ EMI British Composers / 7 CD Box Set - released 25/Mar/2022 ] Born in London of Italian-French parents, Sir John Barbirolli (1899-1970) trained as a cellist and played in theatre and café orchestras before joining the Queen's Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1916. |
FREDERICK DELIUS & VARIOUS COMPOSERS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jacqueline du Pre - Recital plus Delius Cello Concerto Jacqueline du Pre (cello) with Gerald Moore (piano) Osian Ellis (harp) John Williams (guitar) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ EMI Classics / CD - released 3/Jun/1995 ] Jacqueline du Pré was recognised during her brief prime as one of the supreme cellists of the 20th century, with an intense commitment and a well-honed technical mastery to back up her heaven-sent talents. |
BACH / SATIE / VIVALDI / CHOPIN
Classic Jacques Loussier Jacques Loussier Trio [ Concord / Telarc / 5 CD Box Set - released 16/Mar/2019 ] Ever since his landmark recordings (over six million albums were sold) made with the Play Bach Trio in the '60s, the name of classically-trained pianist/composer Jacques Loussier has been linked with that of the great master of Western... |
BRAHMS / MOZART / SAINT-GEORGES / BRUCH / MENDELSSOHN / SARASATE / etc
Jaime Laredo - The Complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection Jaime Laredo (violin/viola) with Emanuel Ax (piano) Vladimir Sokoloff (piano), Yo Yo Ma (cello), Rudolf Serkin (piano), Isaac Stern (violin), etc [ Sony Classical / 22 CD Box Set - released 11/Jun/2021 ] The complete recordings by Grammy-winning violinist Jaime Laredo in a single 23-CD edition in celebration of his 80th birthday June 7, 2021. |
HENRYK CZYZ / TADEUSZ BAIRD / KAROL SZYMANOWSKI etc
Jakub Józef Orliński - Farewells (LP) Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor), Michał Biel (piano) [ Erato / LP - released 6/May/2022 ] With Farewells, Warsaw-born countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, partnered by pianist Michał Biel, offers a panorama of Polish song. Often nostalgic in spirit, the programme of the album spans 150 frequently turbulent years. |
JOHN TAVENER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Tavener: Akathist of Thanksgiving James Bowman & Timothy Wilson (counter-tenors) / Westminster Abbey Choir & BBC Singers, Martin Neary [ Sony Classical / CD - released 10/Oct/1994 ] "the score is a catalogue of riches. The dark-hued, quasi Bulgarian male-voice sections, the sparkling countertenor duets, the variety of the scoring and the deeply moving recurring ''Amin'', and the unexpected quiet climax." Gramophone |
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Hummel: Potpourri, Op. 94 / Adagio and Rondo alla Polacca / Variations, Op. 115 / Violin Concerto in G James Ehnes (violin & viola) / London Mozart Players / Howard Shelley, piano & conductor [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 27/Aug/2004 ] "One of the most highly regarded composers during his life (1778-1837), Hummel's reputation has suffered neglect ever since...f you like Mendelssohn's concertos, the charm of this one should captivate you." - Editor's Choice - Gramophone 2004 |
James Rhodes (piano)
Fuck Digital (LP) [ Signum / LP - released 16/Nov/2018 ] A special release showcasing James Rhodes's most popular performances on 180g vinyl for the very first time. |
J. S. BACH
In the Italian Style James Tibbles (harpsichord) [ Atoll Records New Zealand / CD - released 10/Jun/2009 ] This recording of eighteenth-century German harpsichord music, made in Auckland, New Zealand, is really about the relationship between an instrument and its music; to be brought to life it relies on a unique collaboration between instrument builder,... |
WHITLOCK / DAVIES / STANLEY / WESLEY / HOWELLS / BRIDGE / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: English Organ Music from the Temple Church James Vivian (1926 harrison & harrison organ) [ Signum Records / CD - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "[a] satisfying and diverse programme, tailor-made for this gloriously unabashed Romantic instrument...The recorded sound is absolutely first-rate. I loved this disc." (Gramophone) |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Complete Nocturnes (2 LP) Jan Lisiecki (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 24/Feb/2023 ] For his latest Deutsche Grammophon album, Polish-Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki has chosen to return to the music of Frédéric Chopin, featuring profoundly personal interpretations of some of the most beautiful and best-loved pieces ever written for... |
EDOUARD LALO / ENRIQUE CASALS
Lalo / Casals: Cello Concertos Jan Vogler (cello) / Moritzburg Festival Orchester, Josep Caballé-Domenech [ Sony Classical / CD - released 12/May/2023 ] "Well recorded in a superb acoustic, these fine performances of two richly Romantic works are well worth investigating." BBC Music |
NICO MUHLY / SVEN HELBIG / ZHOU LONG / DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Muhly/Helbig/Long: Cello Concerto 'Three Continents' & Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2 Jan Vogler (cello), WDR Sinfonieorchester Mariinsky (Kirov) Orchestra, Cristian Macelaru, Valéry Gergiev [ Sony Classical / CD - released 31/Jul/2020 ] German Cellist Jan Vogler's new album features two modern cello concertos. The first is the world premiere recording of the cello concerto "Three Continents" by Nico Muhly (*1981), Sven Helbig (*1968) and Zhou Long (*1953). |