BIZET / MASSENET / ROSSINI / BELLINI
Aigul Akhmetshina - Aigul Aigul Akhmetshina (mezzo), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniele Rustioni; with Freddie De Tommaso (tenor), Elisabeth Boudreault (soprano), Kezia Bien [ Decca / CD - released 16/Aug/2024 ] "She has a superb voice, no question, warm and even in tone, admirably agile, with a full, effortless top, and a tangy lower register...It all adds up to a fine recital, and a most auspicious debut." Gramophone September 2024 Editor's Choice |
OLIVER DAVIS
Davis: Blue Beth & Flo (Pianos / Piano Four Hands), Grace Davidson and Julia Doyle (sopranos), Joshua Davidson (treble), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Signum / CD - released 6/Oct/2023 ] This is Oliver Davis' first album dedicated to the piano, and specifically two pianists, Dutch piano duo Beth & Flo. The album features this dynamic duo playing four hands piano and also on two pianos with full orchestra. The song cycle 'Siren Songs'... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Rondo, WoO 6 Boris Giltburg (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "Here's a very promising start to what I assume will be a new Beethoven piano concerto cycle...Fine playing, fine conducting, fine engineering-in short, a really fine release generally." ClassicsToday |
DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / etc Boris Giltburg (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 17/Dec/2016 ] "Much of the credit for this belongs to Vasily Petrenko as well, who continues his series of top-notch Shostakovich recordings for Naxos." 10 / 10 ClassicsToday Jan 2017 |
ALEXANDER BORODIN
Essential Borodin (Includes Symphonies 1-3 & In the Steppes of Central Asia) Borodin Quartet / Nicolai Ghiaurov / London Symphony Orchestra / Suisse Romande Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / etc [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 2/Jun/2004 ] "Ashkenazy's (1st) many delights come richly, thanks not only to the quality of the RPO playing but also to the warm (1992) digital recording." (Penguin Guide) |
DANNY ELFMAN
Danny Elfman: Percussion Concerto / Wunderkammer Colin Currie (percussion) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta [ Sony Classical / CD - released 17/May/2024 ] " After 115-plus movies Elfman can't help but make pictures of sound and the fabulous engineering here certainly makes them pop." Gramophone |
CHOPIN / BALAKIREV / RACHMANINOV / DOHNANYI / etc
Cyril Smith: The Complete Solo Recordings HMV & Columbia recordings Cyril Smith (piano) with Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ APR / 3 CD - released 10/Aug/2015 ] We tend to remember Cyril Smith (1909-1974) these days as the pianist who overcame the misfortune of a paralysing stroke to form a hugely successful duo for three hands with his wife, pianist Phyllis Sellick. Before then though, he had conquered the... |
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. |
SZYMANOWSKI / RAVEL / YSAYE / LUTOSLAWSKI
Janusz Wawrowski - Phoenix Janusz Wawrowski (violin), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Grzegorz Nowak [ Warner Classics / CD - released 12/Mar/2021 ] Janusz Wawrowski's new album, Phoenix, could be subtitled 'Hidden Concerto'. It pairs violin concertos by Tchaikovsky and the 20th century Polish composer Ludomir Różycki. |
SCHUMANN / SAINT-SAENS / GLIERE
Konzertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra Markus Maskuniitty (horn), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo (conductor) [ Ondine / CD - released 2/Aug/2019 ] "The playing of Maskuniitty and his three colleagues is simply superb, with exemplary balance between them and the thrilling arpeggio swoops in the last movement" BBC Music Award Finalist - Concerto 2020 |
FERDINAND HEROLD / CHARLES LECOCQ
Herold: La Fille Mal Gardee / Lecocq: Mam'zelle Angot (Complete Ballets) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Lanchbery / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/May/2007 ] "Here, with sound of spectacular Decca digital fidelity, Lanchbery conducts a highly seductive account of the complete ballet with an orchestra long familiar with playing it in the theatre." (Rosette Penguin Stereo Guide) |
ARTHUR SULLIVAN
Sullivan: Pineapple Poll / Henry VII / Victoria and Merrie England Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royston Nash [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Nov/2010 ] "its glowing ambience casts a pleasing bloom over the spirited and elegantly polished playing of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Mackerras conducts with great warmth" Penguin Guide (Pineapple Poll) |
ANTONIN DVORAK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: Symphony No 3 in E flat, Op.10 / Scherzo Capriccioso / Carnival Overture Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Libor Pesek [ Virgin Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Oct/2005 ] Recording: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, October 1988. |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony / The Voyevoda Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] Gramophone Award WINNER 2009: Orchestral - "This is top-quality sound and playing - at bargain price, too." BBC Music Magazine, November 2008 **** |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 9: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Nov/2013 ] "the Liverpool players get around the enormous technical challenges with great verve, and the self-destructive climaxes are never shirked. But there's a brittleness to how Petrenko treats some of the episodes. Much of his reading, though, is spot-on" |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 / The Lark Ascending Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2002 ] "A must for devotees of Vaughan Williams." -Audio |
OLIVER DAVIS
Davis: Air Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Bateman [ Signum / CD - released 6/May/2022 ] Similarly to his previous album SOLACE, AIR was written during lockdown and draws on themes of nature, environment and the natural world. Davis's previous albums with Signum have reached the top 10 on both iTunes Classical and UK Specialist Classical... |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Arnold - Symphonies Nos 7 & 8 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Conifer / CD - released 20/May/1991 ] "There are ear-catching melodies in these two symphonies from the 1970's, given superb first recordings by the Royal Philharmonic under Vernon Handley." New York Times |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Arnold - Symphony No. 6 / Fantasy on a Theme of John Field / etc Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley, with John Lill (piano) [ Conifer / CD - released 20/May/1993 ] "As his Symphony No. 6, completed in the summer of 1967, shows, Arnold was as great a symphonist as Tippet or Walton, but he was a harder, tougher, and sharper composer than them." AllMusic.com |
FRANZ BERWALD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 / Racing / etc Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,Ulf Bjorlin [ EMI Classics Maxtrix 21 / CD - released 1/Mar/1977 ] Recorded Jan and Sep 1976 |