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GILBERT & SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance (with Overtures) George Baker, John Cameron, Owen Brannigan / Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / 2 CD Box Set - released 19/May/2008 ] "From the beginning of the Overture you sense a high spirited exceptional recording. George Baker is in his element as the Major-General and Monica Sinclair is a lovable Ruth." (Mel) |
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EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA
Rautavaara: Rubaiyat / Balada / Cantov / Four Songs from Rasputin Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) Mika Pohjonen (tenor) / Helsinki Music Centre Choir, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Apr/2016 ] "John Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic, in fine form, record a selection of [Rautavaara's] recent, largely vocal works…well worth hearing" (BBC Music) |
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CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Monteverdi: Vespro della beata Vergine (1610) / Magnificat / Antiphona - Benedicamus / Sonata Sopra "Sancta Maria, Ora Pro Nobis Gillian Fisher, David Cordier, Peter Kooy, Philippe Cantor, John Elwes / Kammerchor Stuttgart, Musica Fiata, Choralschola Niederalteich, Frieder Berni [ Deutsche Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/1989 ] "(The) Kammerchor Stuttgart has become a prize-winning vocal ensemble, touring the world and producing dozens of recording. The Musica Fiata Koln is dedicated to preserving 16th and 17th century music in techniques and instruments of the time." |
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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare: All's well that ends well (recorded live at the Globe Theatre London in 2011) Globe Theatre / Michael Bertenshaw, Sam Cox, Sam Crane, Naomi Cranston, John Cummins [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 20/Feb/2013 ] G: - Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well centres on the tale of Helena's quest to marry the man she loves, the rather unimpressed Bertram, who initially refuses her due to her lack of social standing. |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Billy Budd (complete operetta recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Glyndebourne Opera / John Mark Ainsley, Jacques Imbrailo, Phillip Ens / Mark Elder (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "..this is the most compelling Billy Budd on video, and superb in Blu-ray." (DVD Choice - July 2011 BBC Music *****) |
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JOHN IRELAND
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ireland: Violin Sonatas Frederick Grinke (violin) John Ireland (piano) Albert Sammons (violin), Florence Hooten (cello), Kendall Taylor (piano), Lawrence Pratt (piano) [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 2/Feb/1999 ] "... the playing wonderfully alive and always radiating a most winning understanding and spontaneity." Gramophone |
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BRUCKNER
Mass Nos.2 in E minor & 3 in F minor / Te Deum / 5 Motets Heather Harper, Anna Reynolds, Robert Tear, Marius Rintzler, Anna Pashley / John Alldis Choir / English Chamber Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim [ EMI Gemini / 2 CD - released 28/Nov/2003 ] Welcome to Gemini, the new two-for-the-price-of-one series from EMI Classics: 'Two CDs in perfect harmony for the price of one CD'. |
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FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Requiem / Idyll / A Song before Sunrise / Songs of Farewell Heather Harper (soprano) John Shirley-Quirk (baritone) / Royal Choral Society / Royal Philharmonic / Meredith Davies / Sir Malcolm Sargent [ EMI British Composers / CD - released 1/Nov/2006 ] "This disc deserves a warm welcome from enthusiasts for Delius." (Amazon.com) |
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SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Light Of Life, Op. 29 Judith Howarth, Linda Finnie, Arthur Davies, John Shirley-Quirk / London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Richard Hickox/ [ Chandos / CD - released 2/Feb/1993 ] "In the glorious orchestral 'Meditation' Hickox's conducting demonstrates a noble flexibility, sensitivity to dynamic nuance and feeling for climax. Equally the engineering, sumptuous yet detailed, comes close to the ideal." Gramophone |
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KORNGOLD / ARLEN / RODGERS / STEINER / NEWMAN / WAXMAN / BERNSTEIN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Hollywood Dreams Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, John Mauceri [ Philips / CD - released 20/Jul/1991 ] The great yearning melodies and the seductiveness of Korngold's orchestration are hard to resist. Featured here is the famous score to 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' along with many famous scores by various composers. |
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SIR RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT
Bennett: Orchestral Works, Volume 2 Howard McGill (saxophone), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, John Wilson [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Jul/2018 ] The recent partnership of John Wilson and BBC SSO on record reaches this second volume in their invigorating exploration of fascinating orchestral works by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. Less well known than his widely famous film music (Murder on the... |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas Nos 35 & 169 Iestyn Davies (counter-tenor), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Neal Davies (bass) / Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 4/Feb/2022 ] Both of these cantatas may have been written for an outstandingly gifted boy alto in Bach's Leipzig, but-listening to these peerless accounts-it's impossible to believe he could have approached Iestyn Davies's flawless technique. |
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SAMUEL BARBER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Barber: Violin Concerto / Piano Concerto / Adagio for Strings Isaac Stern (violin) John Browning (piano) / Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy, Leonard Bernstein, George Szell (conds) [ Sony Essential Masterworks / CD - released 1/Nov/2009 ] "Isaac Stern's Barber Concerto with Bernstein was the recording which belatedly gave this warmly expressive masterpiece the international currency it plainly deserved. The superb performance can stand comparison with any version since" (Gramophone) |
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JOSEPH HAYDN / LUIGI BOCCHERINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (with Boccherini: Cello Concerto in B flat) Jacqueline Du Pre (cello) / English Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, Sir John Barbirolli [ EMI Classics Great Recordings of the Century / CD - released 23/Oct/1998 ] At the age of four du Pré is said to have heard the sound of the cello on the radio and asked her mother for "one of those". She began with lessons from her mother, before enrolling at the London Violoncello School at age five. |
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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. |
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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Cello Concerto / Sea Pictures / Overture: Cockaigne Jacqueline Du Pre (cello) Dame Janet Baker (mezzo) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 22/Aug/2015 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE 100 GREATEST RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME |
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SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Arnold: Wind Concertos Jane Hilton (clarinet) Gordon Hunt (oboe) Richard Adeney (flute) Alan Civil (horn) John Wallace (trumpet) / Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Norman Del Mar [ EMI Classics / CD - released 2/Oct/1989 ] Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold CBE was an English composer and conductor. His works feature music in many genres, including a cycle of nine symphonies, numerous concertos, concert works, chamber music, choral music and music for brass band and wind band.... |
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MAURICE RAVEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Ravel: Sheherazade (with lieder by Chausson, Duparc, Schumann & Brahms) [recorded in 1967] Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) / New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn, & Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (ba [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/1999 ] A classic recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade, evoking a wealth of moods and sensations. Janet Baker, an irresistible storyteller, is accompanied on her journey by Sir John Barbirolli, conducting the New Philharmonia with sensitivity and imagination |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas BWV170, BWV82. BWV159, BWV56, BWV211, BWV212 Janet Baker, Robert Tear, John Shirley-Quirk, Julia Varady, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Academy of St. Martin of the Fields, Neville Marriner [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 18/Mar/2020 ] PENGUIN ROSETTE AWARD: Cantatas BWV 170, 82, 159 |
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GABRIEL FAURE
Faure: The Complete Songs Vol. 2 Jennifer Smith, Geraldine McGreevy, Felicity Lott and Stella Doufexis, sopranos / John Mark Ainsley and John-Paul Fouchecourt, tenors / Christopher Ma [ Hyperion / CD - released 12/Apr/2005 ] "This disc has given me enormous pleasure and will continue to do so, I know. I recommend it urgently" (MusicWeb April 2005) |