EDVARD GRIEG
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2 / Lyric Suite / Sigurd Jorsalfar Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, with Barbara Bonney & Marianne Eklof [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 21/Sep/2004 ] "This coverage of Grieg's 'music with orchestra', with many of the performances unsurpassed, would make an ideal basis for any Grieg collection." (Five Stars Penguin Guide) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 / Waltz Suite, Op. 110: Nos. 1, 3 & 4 Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Aug/2013 ] "Järvi celebrates [the symphony's] epic grandeur" International Record Review |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV988 (LP) Jean Muller (piano) [ Hänssler / LP - released 29/Sep/2017 ] In 1741, at the height of his creativity, Bach published one of his pioneering works under the modest title "Keyboard exercise comprising an ARIA with diverse variations for harpsichord with two manuals". The title "Goldberg Variations" has attached... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano / director); Karin Egardt (oboe); Kevin Spagnolo (clarinet); Mikael Lindström (bassoon); Terése Larsson (horn) [ Chandos SACD / 3 Hybrid SACD - released 4/Sep/2020 ] Following his acclaimed recording of sonatas by contemporaries of Beethoven, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet further celebrates the great composer's anniversary year with this set of the complete Piano Concertos. |
TELEMANN / LECLAIR / LALANDE / COUPERIN / RAMEAU / etc
French Baroque Music Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra, Jean-François Paillard, with Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), Pierre Pierlot (oboe), Maurice Andre (trumpet), etc [ Erato / 14 CD Box Set - released 26/Aug/2022 ] A founding member of Erato, Jean-François Paillard always placed French Baroque music at the heart of his orchestra's repertoire and maintained it in a privileged position despite the growth of musical range and number of concerts. |
JOSEF HAYDN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Cello Concertos (with Monn - Concerto for cello, strings and harpsichord) Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello) / Freiburger Barockorchester / Petra Mallejans - director [ Harmonia Mundi Haydn Edition / CD - released 20/Apr/2009 ] "Queyras benefits from the much more alert playing of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra: and in their account of the D minor central episode, the piece suddenly springs to life. (This) can confidently be recommended as a period-instrument choice." (BBC) |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schumann: Piano Music (Incls 'Papillons', 'Carnaval' & ' Piano Sonatas) Jean-Philippe Collard, Christian Zacharias, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Leif Ove Andsnes, Sviatoslav Richter, Lars Vogt [ EMI Budget Boxes / 6 CD Box Set - released 15/Oct/2010 ] Celebrating Robert Schumann's 200th Anniversary with CD sets from EMI's catalogue performed by many of the world's leading artists, orchestras and conductors. |
GABRIEL FAURE
Fauré Edition - Piano Works, Chamber Music, Orchestral Works & Requiem JeanâPhilippe Collard (piano) Augustin Dumay (violin) Frédéric Lodéon (cello) Michel Debost (flute) Nicolai Gedda (tenor) / Michael Plasson (cond) [ Erato / 12 CD Box Set - released 24/Aug/2018 ] Gabriel Fauré, whose long and influential life spanned the eras of romanticism and early modernism, enriched a diversity of genres with music of proverbial subtlety. |
MOZART / TARTINI / TELEMANN / C.P.E. & J. S. BACH / MERCADANTE / VIVALDI / etc
Jean-Pierre Rampal: Famous Flute Concertos Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute) with various orchestras & soloists [ Erato / 12 CD Box Set - released 25/Aug/2023 ] Legendary flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal devoted just as much effort to establishing the masterpieces in their rightful place as to unearthing countless works from the baroque, classical and romantic eras. As far as concertos are concerned, cornerstones... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Perfect Piano: Best loved classical piano music Jenö Jandó, Idil Biret, Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, François-Joël Thiollier, Benjamin Frith, Boris Giltburg [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] For those who are new to an instrument, the first question is often: where to start? The 'Best Loved' series offers an easy answer to that question and a perfect introduction to the wonderful, varied world of classical music. Spotlighting individual... |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Leonard Bernstein: The Composer [25 CD set] Jennie Tourel, Zino Francescatti, Benny Goodman, Nancy Walker, Carol Lawrence, Yo-Yo Ma, Alan Titus, Harolyn Blackwell, etc / Leonard Bernstein (cond) [ Sony Classical Masters / 25 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2017 ] With his centenary upon us, Sony Classical releases the most comprehensive recorded collection ever released of the music of American conductor, composer and educator Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). |
GIOVANNI PACINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Pacini Rediscovered Jennifer Larmore (mezzo), Majella Cullagh (soprano), Annick Massis (soprano), Bruce Ford (tenor), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, David Parry, etc [ Opera Rara / CD - released 30/May/2006 ] Pacini himself claimed to have composed over 100 operas and, although modern estimates would be more conservative (since several of the works he listed were revisions, and some of them more strictly oratorios and cantatas than operas), even the most... |
EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: The Sanguine Fan / Froissart Overture / 'Enigma' Variations Jenny Miller (soprano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 6/Apr/1996 ] 'Bryden Thomson… finds all the charm of The Sanguine Fan ballet, characterising it well without inflating it…' ***The Penguin Complete Guide |
ERIK SATIE
Satie: Complete Piano Music Jeroen van Veen (piano) with Sandra Van Veen (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 20/Apr/2016 ] This set contains the complete music for piano by Erik Satie, including the works for 4 hands. |
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO
Sakamoto: For Mr Lawrence - Piano Music; Jeroen van Veen (piano) with Sandra van Veen (piano) [ Brilliant Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 2/Sep/2019 ] "This is an interesting and enjoyable set. I would not recommend that you sit down and listen to the whole set at once...this was an enjoyable listen. Brilliant Classics should be applauded for bringing us such a comprehensive set as this." MusicWeb |
MARAIS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Maris: Pieces de viole Jerome Hantai (bass viol) / Alix Verzier (bass viol) / Pierre Hantai (harpsichord) [ Virgin Veritas / 2 CD - released 22/Sep/2010 ] "This double helping of Marais (majoring on books 2 and 3) keeps things in the family. Pierre Hantaï accompanies brother Jérôme in a persuasive display of musical fraternité, interpretative égalité and fantasy-filled expressive liberté." (BBC Music) |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] (Complete Opera recorded in 1992) Jerry Hadley, Bruno Praticò, Susanne Mentzer, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey / Orchestra della Toscana, Gianluigi Gelmetti [ EMI Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/1993 ] "..an absolutely complete text (the recent critical edition by Alberto Zedda is used) shorn of the accretions of nearly 200 years, and singers of the calibre of Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey." Classical-Music |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Lohengrin (Complete Opera recorded in 1964) Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grummer, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2016 ] "The playing of the orchestra is absolutely glorious throughout, the choral singing is very good and, often, very beautiful, the cast is excellent and the overall interpretation provides the required theatrical immediacy and tension" (Gramophone) |
JESSYE NORMAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jessye Norman - A Portrait Jessye Norman (soprano) with various accompaniments [ Deccal DVD / DVD - released 14/Mar/2008 ] An intimate and in-depth 90 minute portrait of the legendary soprano, including specially staged studio films of 12 bestloved pieces from Jessye Norman's repertoire. |
WAGNER / HAYDN / BERLIOZ / BRITTEN / R. STRAUSS
Jessye Norman - The Unreleased Masters Jessye Norman (soprano) / Gewandhauorchester, Kurt Masur, Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine, Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa [ Decca / 3 CD - released 4/Aug/2023 ] Decca Classics presents Jessye Norman - The Unreleased Masters, showcasing never-before-heard recordings of one of the greatest classical singers of all time. |