RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (highlights) Theo Adam, Sir Geraint Evans, Rene Kollo / Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert von Karajan [ EMI Studio / CD - released 23/Mar/1988 ] "For some, the finest Meistersinger recorded; for others, too self-consciously 'chamber' in style. There's enough punch in the big moments, though." BBC Music Five Stars |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Tone Poems (Incls Pohjola's Daughter & Karelia Suite) Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips ABC Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] 'In short, what you have here are Sibelius' three greatest tone poems (En Saga, Pohjola's Daughter, and Tapiola) in outstanding interpretations and great sound, along with two popular favorites done every bit as well. Need I say more?' 10/10... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No.1 in D major Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Originals / CD - released 25/Mar/2007 ] 'The Chicago players give Solti everything he asks for in sonority, power, and rhythmic attack...as an interpreter of this symphony Solti has lost little of his old flair and insight.' Gramophone October 1984 |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen / Kindertotenlieder / 5 Lieder Christa Ludwig (mezzo) / Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, Andre Vandernoot, Sir Adrian Boult (conds) [ Warner Classics Redline / CD - released 15/Oct/2018 ] "This disc is a classic, make no mistake." ArkivMusic.com |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E flat major 'Symphony of a Thousand' Christine Brewer, Soile Isokoski, Juliane Banse, Birgit Remmert, Jon Villars, etc / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 25/Jul/2017 ] "A Mahler 8 that seems dutifully fervent against a euphoric Rattle and his forces" - Recording of the Month Gramophone Magazine April 2005 |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 4 & 5 'Emperor' Claudio Arrau (piano) / Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips 50 / CD - released 13/Jan/2002 ] Especially remastered in 24 bits-96kHz for this new series. |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 / Cello Concerto Heinrich Schiff (cello) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis-Antal Dorati [ Philips Eloquence / CD - released 24/Aug/2006 ] 'Schiff ... matches the superb accompaniment of Sir Colin Davis in combining a measure of individual poetry with a generally fresh and direct approach.' (Gramophone) |
WAGNER
Wagner: Das Rheingold (Complete opera) Kirsten Flagstad, Claire Watson, George London / Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Heritage Masters / 2 CD - released 20/Sep/2009 ] It took a lot of effort for legendary producer John Culshaw to convince the powers-that-be at Decca that a state-of-the-art studio Ring should be recorded. With artists such as Kirsten Flagstad and George London in the cast, the recording of Die... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 & 2 Lars Vogt (piano) / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Red Line / CD - released 12/Feb/2007 ] "This is a remarkable record, as fine a recorded account of these two concertos as we have had for many a long year." (Gramophone) |
BEETHOVEN / ROSSINI / VERDI / SUPPE
Solti Overtures London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 16/Oct/2016 ] This collection of overtures - many of them appearing internationally on Decca CD for the first time - comes from the very start of Georg Solti's recording career. That for Beethoven's Egmont was, in fact, his first recording as conductor, issued as... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No 5 New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 20/Apr/2013 ] "Barbirolli's famous 1969 version on any count is one of the greatest, most warmly affecting performances ever committed to disc, expansive, yet concentrated in feeling: the Adagietto is very moving … A classic version." Rosette (highest rating)... |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Overture: 'Le Corsaire' / Royal Hunt and Storm & Trojan March ('Les Troyens') (recorded 1957-59) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] Rosette Recording (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide - 'If you want a genuinely French Symphonie fantastique, wonderfully performed and superbly recorded, go out and get this release before it's snapped up by your neighbour.' (Gramophone) |
EDVARD GREIG
Grieg: Peer Gynt / Symphonic Dance No.2 / In Autumn / etc. Ilse Hollweg (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / CD - released 13/Feb/2012 ] "Beecham showed a very special feeling for this score and to hear (these excerpts) under his baton is a uniquely rewarding experience. Ilse Hollweg makes an excellent soloist." Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
J. S. BACH
Cantatas Nos BWV140 & BWV147 Ruth Holton (soprano) Michael Chance (alto) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) / English Baroque Soloists / Sir John Elliot Gardiner [ DG Archiv / CD - released 21/Oct/2000 ] "The solo singing is by and large excellent. I very much enjoyed the unpretentious vocal quality of Ruth Holton" (Gramophone) |
Sir Howard Morrison
How Great Thou Art - The Very Best Of [ Sony / CD - released 30/Oct/2015 ] A brand new career retrospective for one of New Zealand's greatest ever entertainers Sir Howard Morrison. Lovingly curated by his family 'How Great Thou Art: The Very Best Of Sir Howard Morrison' draws content from his entire recording career. |
Sir Howard Morrison
Spectacular [ Rajon / CD - released 14/Mar/2011 ] Sir Howard Morrison's best selling album has been out of print for a number of years, but is now available again. This album contains all of his most famous songs recorded live in concert. |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Wonderful Town Kim Criswell, Audra McDonald, Thomas Hampson / Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, London Voices, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Original Jacket Recordings / CD - released 15/Feb/2018 ] An enormous success at the time, with a Broadway run of 559 performances, Wonderful Town shows off the talents of Bernstein, Comden and Green, who wrote the songs against the clock in just four weeks. Whether it's jazz, cod-Irish, ragtime, ballad or... |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Favourite Overtures [incls 'Ride of the Valkyries'] Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Opera Gala / CD - released 20/Jul/2016 ] Richard Wagner was one of the most revolutionary figures in the history of music, a composer who made pivotal contributions to the development of harmony and musical drama that reverberate even today. Indeed, though Wagner occasionally produced... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony / Concerto for Oboe and Strings in A minor Celia Nicklin (oboe) / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner / Philharmonia Orchestra, Owain Arwet Hughes [ Decca The Full Works / CD - released 1/Jan/2018 ] "I enjoyed Marriner's fresh, sympathetic approach to the Vaughan Williams" (Gramophone on the Oboe concerto) The London Symphony was originally released on the ASV label. |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Les Francs-juges Overture Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Ovation / CD - released 20/Jul/1987 ] Recording location: Krannert Center, University of Illinois, May 1972 (Symphonie) and 1974 |