CARL ORFF
Carmina Burana (recorded 31 December 2004 at the Philharmonie Berlin) BLU-RAY Sally Matthews (soprano) / Lawrence Brownlee (tenor) / Christian Gerhaher (baritone) / Berliner Philharmoniker / Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 22/Dec/2010 ] Simon Rattle is a musical force of nature and the interaction between his unique, varied musical gifts and the great performing traditions of the Berliner Philharmoniker is one of the most exciting features of our present cultural life. |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius / Sea Pictures Sarah Connolly, Stuart Skelton, David Soar / BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos Classics SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "[Davis's] patient and scrupulously observant conception of the whole work evinces a selfless authority, wisdom and instinctive ebb and flow" (Gramophone Magazine Award WINNER 2015 - Choral) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: Symphonies No. 2 & 5 Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 1/Nov/1991 ] "Alexander Gibson's 1980s Sibelius cycle on Chandos, one of the first digital sets, was praised for its clean lines, propulsive phrasing, and bracing impact." MusicWeb |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/1991 ] "Alexander Gibson's 1980s Sibelius cycle on Chandos, one of the first digital sets, was praised for its clean lines, propulsive phrasing, and bracing impact." MusicWeb |
ANTONIN DVORAK / CESAR FRANCK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A / Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor Sir Clifford Curzon (piano), Vienna Philharmonic Quartet [ Decca / CD - released 1/Jun/1988 ] "The Op. 81 Quintet (in a classic recording with pianist Sir Clifford Curzon) brims over with melodic inspiration." (BBC Music) |
EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: Symphonies 1 & 2 / etc London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] "Solti's way with the First Symphony is certainly exciting - some might say excitable...vivid, urgent and exciting." MusicWeb |
ZOLTAN KODALY / BELA BARTOK / LEO WEINER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sir Georg Solti - The Last Recording (Limited Edition Souvenir Booklet) Sir Georg Solti, conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra & Choir of Hungarian Radio & TV [ Decca / CD - released 20/Oct/1998 ] This disc was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Awards for "Best Classical Album" and "Best Choral Performance." A portion of the proceeds from sales of this disc will be given to the Solti Foundation.. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Vier letzte Lieder [Four Last Songs] / 13 Lieder Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir George Solti [ Decca / CD - released 22/Sep/2007 ] Kiri Te Kanawa gained legendary status almost overnight after her sensational debut as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1971. From then, she moved rapidly into the front rank of international opera. |
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. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS / W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Peter and the Wolf / Carnival of the Animals / Eine kleine Nachtmusik Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Academy of London, Richard Stamp [ Virgin Classics / CD - released 19/Oct/2004 ] "The new digital recording from Sir John Gielgud is a natural successor to that of his illustrious late colleague, Ralph Richardson, and every bit as enjoyable." (Gramophone) |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: L'Histoire du soldat [The Soldier's Tale] / Octet for Wind Instruments (with Schoenberg - Chamber Symphony No. 1) Sir John Gielgud (narrator), Tom Courtenay (The Soldier), Ron Moody (The Devil) / Boston Symphony Chamber Players [ Australian Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2011 ] "These Boston players give immaculately polished accounts of all five [chamber] works … The recording is excellent - clear without dryness, warm without over-resonance" (Reissue of the Month Gramophone Feb 2011) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with Bizet's Jeux d'enfants) Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Vivian Troon, Roderick Elms (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andrea Licata (cond) [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 10/Apr/2006 ] In line with the tradition begun by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to be closely associated with some of the world's outstanding conductors and soloists. |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Christ on the Mount of Olives Sir Simon Rattle, Elsa Dreisig, Pavol Breslik, David Soar, London Symphony Orchestra [ LSO Live SACD / CD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] Composed in 1803, while Beethoven was also writing the 'Eroica' Symphony, Christ on the Mount of Olives (Christus am Ölberge) is the composer's only oratorio, and combines the emotive force of his later Missa Solemnis with the theatre of a Bach... |
ANTON BRUCKNER / OLIVIER MESSIAEN
Bruckner - Symphony No 8 / Messiaen - Couleurs de la Cité Céleste [Blu-ray] Sir Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra [ LSO Live / Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 11/May/2018 ] "Rattle's performance of Messiaen's 1963 score superbly well, and the control of rhythm and colour is exemplary. The LSO winds and percussion are on superb form and Pierre-Laurent Aimard's contribution is powerfully incisive." Gramophone |
RAVEL / DUTILLEUX / DELAGE
Ravel, Dutilleux, Delage BLU-RAY / DVD Sir Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra, Leonidas Kavakos, Julia Bullock [ LSO Blu-ray + DVD / Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 27/Oct/2017 ] "Rich sound and crystalline picture quality make this an enjoyable viewing experience." Gramophone |
MAURICE RAVEL
Maurice Ravel: The Complete Works Sir Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, André Cluytens, Armin Jordan, Lorin Maazel, Charles Münch, etc [ Warner Classics / 21 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2020 ] An essential collection of landmark performances, this 21-CD box of Ravel's complete works brings together major interpreters of the present day and preceding generations. |
CLAY / WOOD / SULLIVAN / COATES / WALLACE / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: More Songs My Father Taught Me (music of Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) Malcolm Martineau (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 30/Jun/2003 ] "Drawing-room songs that make their mark again, thanks to such a strong advocate" - Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine (August 2003) |
SULLIVAN / COATES / NOVELLO / PENN / WOOD / etc
Songs my father taught me Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) Malcolm Martineau (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 26/Feb/2002 ] A persuasive case for the often sublime artistry of the humble parlour song' (Gramophone) |
EDWARD ELGAR / BOHUSLAV MARTINU
Sol Gabetta Live (Elgar & Martinu Cello Concertos) Sol Gabetta (cello) / Berliner Philharmoniker. Sir Simon Rattle & Krzystof Urbanski [ Sony Classics / CD - released 8/Feb/2018 ] "This is superb cello-playing and Krzysztof UrbaĆski directs a vital and sensitive accompaniment." Gramophone |
EDVARD GREIG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg/Schumann: Piano Concertos Stephen Bishop Kovacevich (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 5/May/1984 ] A highly regarded pianist, Stephen Kovacevich is particularly known for his original approach to the standard classical repertoire. Prominent in his repertoire is the music of such composers as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, and, Grieg. |