VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Elina Garanca - When Night Falls ... Elina Garanca (Mezzo), Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, with Raphaël Feuillâtre (guitar), Raimonds Pauls (piano), Albrecht Mayer (oboe) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 15/Mar/2024 ] This intimate album, says Elīna Garanča, is meant for "that time of day when you withdraw to your own private life". The celebrated mezzo has selected songs to help her listeners "tune out the world for two or three minutes and immerse themselves in... |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Vespro della beata Vergine Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 8/Mar/2024 ] 'This has to be one of the most gripping and impactful recordings of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 available right now. It is bursting with energy and passion at every opportunity.' Gramophone Award Nomination 2024 - Choral |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart 'The Weber Sisters' Sabine Devieilhe (soprano) / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 10/Nov/2015 ] "Sabine Devieilhe, a lyric coloratura who combines a pure, sweet timbre and dazzling virtuosity." Gramophone Magazine Award WINNER 2016 - Recital |
SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN / BRAHMS / WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schubert / Schumann / Brahms / Wagner: Les Filles Du Rhin / Rhinemaidens Bernarda Fink (mezzo), Anneke Scott, Joseph Walters, Olivier Picon, Chris Larkin (horns) Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 18/Mar/2016 ] "The vocal ensemble Pygmalion, resident at the Opera de Bordeaux, are suitably seductive sirens - and even Bernarda Fink makes a cameo appearance in Schubert's D920 Grillparzer Ständchen, her serenading awash with fellow female songsters, and harp." |
MEINRAD SCHUTTER / CHRISTIAN HENKING / LEOS JANACEK
Bap Nos - In Memoriam Meinrad Schutter Cappella Nova, Raphael Immoos, with Susanne Doll (organ) & Vera Schnider (harp) [ Guild / CD - released 2/Feb/1996 ] The Swiss composer Meinrad Schütter would be celebrating his 100th birthday in 2010. Reason enough and about time to finally introduce this highly original composer to an interested, international audience. |
LALANDE / CHIEN / COLIN / ANONYMOUS / etc
Les Funérailles Royales de Louis XIV BLU-RAY + DVD Céline Scheen, Lucile Richardot, Samuel Boden, Marc Mauillon, Christian Immler / Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi Blu-ray + DVD / 2 Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 23/Feb/2018 ] The funeral of Louis XIV mirrored his reign: grandiose and filled with pathos. Raphaël Pichon has chosen the setting of the Chapelle Royale in Versailles, built 'for the use' of the Sun King, to present a musical reconstruction of the event, with... |
JACQUES OFFENBACH / FRIEDRICH GULDA
Offenbach / Gulda: Cello Concertos Edgar Moreau (cello) / Les Forces Majeures, Raphaël Merlin [ Erato Classics / CD - released 15/Feb/2019 ] "Moreau is a commanding presence, singing tone that illuminates Offenbach's debt to bel canto. His virtuosity can be thrilling…The Menuett [of the Gulda] is done especially beautifully, with plenty of rhythmic point." Gramophone |
ARNOLD BAX
Bax: Orchestral Works, Volume 1 (Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto / Morning Song) Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Margaret Fingerhut (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 12/Nov/2003 ] 'The Cello Concerto is rhapsodic in feeling and Raphael Wallfisch plays it with marvellous sensitivity and finesse, given splendid support by the LPO under Bryden Thomson.' The Penguin Complete Guide |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / MAX BRUCH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Concerto for Violin & Cello / Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1 Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / London Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 23/Jan/1989 ] Recorded in St Jude's Church, Central Square, London, July 1988 |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Lakme (complete opera recorded in 2022) BLU-RAY Opera Comique, Paris / Sabine Devieilhe, Grederic Antouni, Stephane Degout, Ambroisine Bre / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 20/Oct/2023 ] "Laurent Pelly transforms Delibes's opera into an exploration of colonialism and cultural appropriation...Raphaël Pichon, conducting Pygmalion on original instruments, relishes Delibes's lush orchestration." BBC Music Blu-ray of the Month Jan 2024 |
J. S. BACH
Bach: St Matthew Passion Julian Prégardien, Stéphane Degout, Sabine Devieilhe, Hana Blažiková, Tim Mead / Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / 3 CD Box Set - released 29/Apr/2022 ] "With its glowing inner vitality and penetrating observations, this is a Passion that makes a very definite statement about what this work can communicate in our times." Gramophone Award WINNER 2022 - Choral |
ANTONIN DVORAK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: String Quintet No. 3 / String Sextet The Raphael Ensemble [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Feb/1989 ] "Warmly effusive playing, captured in exquisite sound" (American Record Guide) |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: String Quintets Nos 1 & 2 The Raphael Ensemble [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Jul/2012 ] 'The performances are both inspired and passionate. I suspect they will provide great listening pleasure to all who admire these scores for many years to come' (Fanfare, USA) |
SCHULHOFF / MARTINU
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schulhoff / Martinu: String Sextet / Sextet & Three Madrigals The Raphael Ensemble [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] "This enjoyable disc...offers warmly aerated performances, persuasively realised" (MusicWeb Sept 2008) |
KORNGOLD / SCHOENBERG
String Sextet, Verklärte Nacht The Raphael Ensemble [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Sep/2013 ] 'The Raphael Ensemble are superb in every respect; their performances have blazing commitment and integrity, and Hyperion's recording is in the demonstration category' (BBC Music Magazine Top 1000 CDs Guide) |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: Trios Nos. 1 & 2 The Raphael Trio [ Discover / CD - released 10/Feb/1989 ] Recorded in Belgium in 1989 |
BAX / BLISS / MOERAN / FINZI
British Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Ulster Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vernon Handley / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 29/Apr/2016 ] This two-album set features British cello concertos from Raphael Wallfisch's best late-1980s recordings. He has always worked closely with leading British composers of our time and is now regarded as the finest performer of their works for cello.... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: Cello Concerti Vol. 2 Rv 400, 401, 408, 413, 422 & 531 Raphael Wallfisch (Cello) / City Of London Sinfonia / Nicholas Kraemer (Director And Harpsichord) [ Naxos Vivaldi Collection / CD - released 12/Jul/2008 ] "performances which revel in the vitatlity of Vivaldi's music and which are sensible to its beguiling but all too often overlooked fantasy" - Gramophone |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
Arnold: Cello Concerto / Saxophone Concerto / Fantasy for Recorder and String Quartet / etc Raphael Wallfisch (cello) John Turner (recorder) / Northern Chamber Orchestra & Manchester Sinfonia, Richard Howarth & Nicholas Ward [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Sep/2011 ] "The disc is a hands-down winner in the Naxos catalogue and slips nicely into the same rank occupied by Penny's symphonies." (MusicWeb Recording of the Month Sept 2011) |
ARNOLD BAX
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bax: Cello Concerto / Northern Ballad No 3 / Overture to a Picaresque Comedy / etc Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 12/Nov/1987 ] 'The Cello Concerto is rhapsodic in feeling and Raphael Wallfisch plays it with marvellous sensitivity and finesse, given splendid support by the LPO under Bryden Thomson.' The Penguin Complete Guide |
LUIGI BOCCHERINI
Boccherini: Cello Concertos Vol 3 No. 9-12 Raphael Wallfisch, cello / Northern Chamber Orchestra / Nicholas Ward, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Mar/2005 ] "Completists will want all 12 of Boccherini's cello concertos and the bargain-priced Naxos series is the most obvious choice... this new offering would certainly be my recommendation for a single sampler." - MusicWeb March 2005 |
LIONEL SAINSBURY / JOHN FOULDS
Sainsbury/Foulds: Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 1/Apr/2012 ] "One really could not ask Messrs Wallfisch and Yates and both orchestras for more persuasive world premieres of two concertos that already seem like old friends." Gramophone Editor's Choice July 2012) |
KENNETH LEIGHTON
Complete Chamber Works For Cello Raphael Wallfisch (cello), with Raphael Terroni (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jul/2015 ] "Wallfisch gives eloquent performances of wors characterised by anguished restraint and reflection. Leighton's early Elegy affords a lyrical oasis in this programme of otherwise spare and sometimes jagged music." BBC Music |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Clarinet Works Raphaël Sévère (clarinet), Quatuor Modigliani / Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, Lars Vogt [ Mirare / CD - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "In the terrible period when we were all deprived of culture, Mozart's music has really been life-saving for me, it has truly filled my life. To make up for these months of solitary confinement, I have worked on several recording and composition... |
J. S. BACH / GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Sabine Devieilhe - Bach, Handel Sabine Devieilhe (soprano) / Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon, with Stéphane Degout (baritone) [ Erato Classics / CD - released 5/Nov/2021 ] Great sorrow and great joy, expressed in in sacred and secular arias and cantatas, are the themes of Sabine Devieilhe's album of Bach and Handel. Recorded with the Pygmalion ensemble and conductor Raphaël Pichon. |
GERALD FINZI
Finzi: Violin and Cello Concertos Tasmin Little (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley / City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] This recording presents a comprehensive programme of some of Finzis finest works. Featuring probably his greatest work, the Cello Concerto played here by Raphael Wallfisch, a regular on Chandos, receives a passionate and keenly felt performance... |
Raphael
Te Llevo En El Corazon [ CD ] |
Raphael Saadiq
Stone Rollin' [ CD ] |
FRANCOIS COUPERIN
Lecons de Tanabres pour le Mercredy Alfred Deller (countertenor) Philip Todd (tenor) Raphael Perulli (viola) [ Harmonia Mundi Musique d'abord / CD - released 1/Aug/2001 ] Rare works by Couperin |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Alexandre Dumas: Et La Musique Karine Deshayes (mezzo-soprano), Marie-Laure Garnier (soprano), Kaëlig Boché (tenor), Raphaël Jouan (cello), Alphonse Cemin (piano) [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Oct/2020 ] 'There are few people as susceptible to certain musical beauties as I am; the more learned and complicated the instrumentation, the less I sense it, the faster it escapes me; on the contrary, if a simple and melancholic motif appears, I feel flooded... |
HANDEL / SCARLATTI / CALDARA
Cantate d'Amore-Italian Love Cantatas Axel Kohler (countertenor) / Christoph Huntgeburth (transverse flute) / Anne Schumann (violin) / Balazs Mate (cello) / Raphael Alpermann (harpsichord) [ Capriccio / CD - released 1/Jan/1995 ] |
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Rameau: Castor & Pollux (complete opera) Colin Ainsworth, Florian Sempey, Emmanuelle de Negri, Clémentine Margaine / Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2015 ] 'Ensemble Pygmalion's choir, orchestra and reduced ensemble of two violins, three cellos and two harpsichords play and sing with uncommon variety of timbre and attack, and with a real sense of engagement with the drama.' (BBC Music) |
Christine Raphael
Raphael: Works For Violin [ Cpo / 2 CD - released 30/Aug/2010 ] |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
The Best of Malcolm Arnold East Winds; English Piano Trio; Maggini Quartet; Raphael Wallfisch (cello); Carl Raven (saxophone); English Northern Philharmonia, etc [ Naxos / CD - released 25/Jun/2021 ] Sir Malcolm Arnold was one of the most gifted British composers of his generation. His music communicates directly with listeners through its rhythmic vitality and brilliant orchestration, with melodies that are eloquent, memorable and catchy. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R,): Symphony No. 2, Op. 12 / Romanze in F major / Six Songs, Op. 68 Eileen Hulse (soprano) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi (conductor) [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 12/Oct/2004 ] 'Järvis Strauss series is an important set of recordings that will hold an honoured place alongside Chandos Prokofiev and Bax cycles.' Fanfare |
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Dardanus Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphael Pichon [ Alpha / CD - released 27/Sep/2013 ] |
Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon, cond.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Libertà! [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 30/Aug/2019 ] Between Die Entführung aus dem Serail and the advent of the famous 'Da Ponte trilogy', Mozart threw himself frantically into the search for the right libretto, capable of taking the spectator to lands still unexplored where the drama and the... |
FANTINI / MALVEZZI / CACCINI / MARENZIO / BRUNELLI / STRIGGIO
Stravaganza d'Amore! (Reissue) Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 22/Jul/2022 ] Late sixteenth-century Florence was a theatre: first and foremost a political one, in the eyes of the dynasties that wished to use the arts to display their power. A humanist one too, as is shown by these intermedi (interludes) that sought to achieve... |
FANTINI:/ MALVEZZI / CACCINI / MARENZIO / BRUNELLI / STRIGGIO
Stravaganza d'Amore!: The Birth of Opera at the Medici Court Ensemble Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD Box Set - released 15/Nov/2017 ] "The performances are highly polished, chorus and ensemble, producing a glossy and liberally embellished sound while the dozen soloists give fine and well-balanced contributions." BBC Music Opera Choice Oct 2017 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Complete Chamber Music [12 CDs special price] The Florestan Trio / The Raphael Ensemble / New Budapest Quartet / Marc-Andre Hamelin (piano) Steven Isserlis (cello) Krysia Osostowicz (violin) [ Hyperion / 12 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2008 ] 'Immerse yourself in this set of 12 CDs of Brahms's chamber music … In the last 25 years, Hyperion has managed to persuade some of the finest of chamber musicians to reveal their affection for Brahms in recordings of remarkably consistent quality …... |