WAGNER
Der fliegende Holländer [The Flying Dutchman] (Complete Opera) Robert Hale, Hildegard Behrens, Josef Protschka, Kurt Rydl / Wiener Philharmoniker, Christoph von Dohnanyi [ Decca Opera! / 2 CD - released 10/Mar/2011 ] "Singers, conductor, chorus, orchestra and engineers combine to make this the most successful recording of the work to date." (Gramophone) |
SMETANA
Ma Vlast / Overtures / Bartered Bride [excerpts] Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Antal Doráti / The Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "The sound is resonant and full-bodied,..this remains an enjoyable programme." (Gramophone on the Overtures & Dances) |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas Vol 6 (BWV 50, 59, 69, 69a, 75, 76, 104, 179, 186, 190) Ruth Ziesak (soprano) Elisabeth von Magnus (alto) Paul Agnew (tenor) Klaus Mertens (bass) / Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir / Ton Koopman [ Challenge Classics / 3 CD - released 1/Oct/2006 ] “Ton Koopman once again seems to be able to express the whole range of Bach’s sacred music from spiritual exaltation to religious terror, from giddiest joy to deepest sorrow, from festive celebration to personal mortification." - All Music Guide |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: On The Town Frederica von Stade, Tyne Daley, Thomas Hampson, Samuel Ramey, Cleo Laine / London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices, Michael Tilson Thomas [ Deutsche Grammophon First Choice / CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "The energy and fun make this irresistable" (Five Stars BBC Music) |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No 4 Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano), Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic], Claudio Abbado [ Decca Virtuoso / CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "this has a gleaming Vienna Philharmonic and a most touching soloist in von Stade" (Five Stars BBC Music) |
MUSIC FROM THE MIDDLE AGES
Music from the Middle Ages [5 CD set] Andrea von Ramm, Richard Levitt & Sterling Jones / Studio der fruhen Musik, Thomas Binkley [ Virgin / Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2011 ] |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No 1 / Rococo Variations (Rec 1962 & 1968) Sviatoslav Richter (piano) Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) / Wiener Symphoniker / Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Karajan Master Recordings / CD - released 26/Jan/2008 ] Karajan's rare collaborations with Soviet musicians in the 1960s resulted in exceptional recordings that have become classics - including the ones presented here: "a performance of astonishing intimacy and refinement" from Richter in Tchaikovsky's... |
RACHMANINOV
Piano Concertos nos. 2 (with Tchaikovsky-Piano Concerto No 1) Sviatoslav Richter (piano) / Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra / Stanislaw Wislocki / Wiener Symphoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Originals / CD - released 1/Jan/2002 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "Svyatoslav Richter, one of the greatest pianist of the 20th century who was largely self-taught, had survived traumatic events and restrictions on his concert tours during the... |
MAHLER
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen / Ruckert-Lieder / Kindertotenlieder Thomas Quasthoff, Violeta Urmana, Anne Sofie von Otter. Wiener Philharmoniker. Pierre Boulez [ DG Boulez 2005 / CD - released 28/Feb/2005 ] Anne Sofie von Otter sings the Kindertotenlieder, Violeta Urmana will be heard in the Rückert Lieder and Thomas Quasthoff in the early Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphonies / Overtures / Violin Concerto Thomas Zehetmair (violin) / Cleveland orchestra, Christoph Von Dohnanyi [ Warner Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 2/Apr/2007 ] Four CDs of classic performances at a very special price |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Le Nozze de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (complete opera) Tom Krause / Anna Tomowa-Sintow / Ileana Cotrubas / Frederica von Stade / Wiener Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ Decca Classic Opera / 3 CD - released 12/Feb/2006 ] "Karajan fans, who lack this recording, should not hesitate and I hope that others now have some idea of what to expect. Karajan's approach is refreshing and the singing is superb. At its new mid-price it can certainly be a valuable alternative.... |
W. A. MOZART
Cosi Fan Tutte (complete opera recorded in 1990) Karita Mattila, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Allen, Francisco Araiza / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca Classic Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2009 ] "A strikingly light, fresh Così with a truly superb ensemble, idiomatic and characterful; the voices are large, but only Mattila sounds a little weighty." (Five Stars BBC Music) |
100 BEST WALTZES & POLKAS
100 Best Waltzes & Polkas Various artists including John Barbirolli, Willi Boskovsky, Andrew Davis, Louis Fremaux, Herbert von Karajan, Andre Previn, John Lanchbery, etc [ Warner Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 3/Oct/2011 ] This 6 CD set contains a collection of 100 waltzes and polkas performed by some of the world's leading orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Wiener Johann Strauss-Orchester,... |
TCHAIKOVSKY
The Essential Tchaikovsky Various artists incl Valery Gergiev, Herbert von Karajan, Akiko Suwanai [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 16/Mar/2002 ] Two and a half hours of the magical music of Tchaikovsky |
BERLIOZ / CHOPIN / DELIBES / MOZART / OFFENBACH / TCHAIKOVSKY / etc
My Ballerina Album: Favourite ballet scenes and melodies Various orchestras conducted by Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, Arthur Fiedler, Neeme Jarvi, Herbert von karajan, John Lanchbery, Neville Marriner [ Deutsche Grammophon Double / 2 CD - released 16/Nov/2004 ] A 2-CD compilation containing all-time favourite ballet melodies, specially chosen to be suitable for children |
DVORAK
Symphonies No. 8 & No. 9 / Slavonic Dances (selection) / Scherzo capriccioso op. 66 (with works by Smetana) Vienna Philharmonic / Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan [ DG Karajan Collection / 2 CD - released 24/Apr/2003 ] This 2-CD album is essentially a run-down of the most famous pieces classical music has to offer, in the interpretation of the most famous conductor ever, conducting one of the world's leading orchestras, the Berliner Philharmoniker. |
STRAUSS FAMILY / MOZART / GOUNOD / WAGNER / KODALY / etc
100 Best Wiener Philharmoniker Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra], John Barbirolli, Andre Cluytens, Mariss Jansons, Herbert von Karajan, etc [ Warner Classics / 6 CD - released 8/Nov/2010 ] This 6CD set contains 100 tracks from the finest EMI recordings of the famous Wiener Philharmoniker, know in English as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under some of the world's greatest conductors including Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von... |
BEETHOVEN / HAYDN
Beethoven: Symphony No 7 / Haydn: Symphony No 104 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan [ Decca Legends / CD - released 26/Feb/2002 ] Haydn's Symphony No.104 comes already remarkably close to Beethoven's expansive and revolutionary use of the Classical symphonic genre and in that respect a combination with the latter's Seventh Symphony is an interesting one. |
HANDEL
Hercules (Complete oratorio) von Otter - Croft - Dawson - Daniels - Pujol Les Musiciens du Louvre. Minkowski [ Archiv / 3 CD - released 25/Aug/2002 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2002 - Baroque vocal |