RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto / The Wasps / English Folk Song Suite / The Running Set Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] "The Piano Concerto of Vaughan Williams has been seriously undervalued...a performance as fine as this one from Ashley Wass will simply have one marvelling at the originality of the piece and its distinctive slant on the idea of a piano concerto."... |
W.A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro [The Marriage of Figaro] (complete opera directed by Peter Sellars. Recorded in 1990) Sanford Sylvan / James Maddalena / Susan Larson / Jeanne Ommerle / Wiener Symphoniker / Craig Smith (cond) [ Decca Records / 2 DVD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] Sung in the original Italian but relocated to contrasting worlds of late 20th century USA, 'Le nozze di Figaro' takes place in the ersatz elegance of Fifth Avenue. |
BERNARD HERRMANN
Herrmann: Symphony No. 1 / The Devil and Daniel Webster / Concerto Macabre / etc Sara Davis Buechner (piano) / Phonenix Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares [ Alto / Koch International / CD - released 7/Jul/2024 ] "James Sedares and the NZSO are on top form throughout this valuable addition to Koch's concert works by acclaimed film composers" (Gramophone) |
DAME ETHEL SMYTH
Smith: The Prison (Choral Symphony) Sarah Brailey, Dashon Burton / Experiential Orchestra and Chorus, James Blachly [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Choral GRAMMY Awards 63rd Awards (2021) Winner - Best Classical Solo Vocal Album |
Scott Joplin, Euble Blake, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, "Fats" Waller, Jimmy Blythe (piano rolls)
Greatest Ragtime Of The Century - Classic Ragtime, Blues and Stomps from Rare Piano Rolls [ Biograph Records / CD - released 2/Feb/2003 ] The piano rolls on this compact disc were digitally recorded directly from a 1910 Steinway 65/88 note player. |
JOHN STAINER
Stainer: Crucifixion (The) Simon Bailey (bass) / Stephen Farr (organ) / James Gilchrist (tenor) / Clare College Choir, Cambridge / Tim Brown (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Jun/2005 ] "Lovers of English choral music will relish this highly attractive release" - MusicWeb June 2005 |
Sonny James
Sonny James - 200 Years of Country Music & In Prison, In Person [ Demon - Westside / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] Jimmie Hugh Loden (May 1, 1928 - February 22, 2016), known professionally as Sonny James, was an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the "Southern Gentleman" for his congenial manner, his... |
ALFRED CELLIER
Cellier: The Mountebanks (operetta) / Suite Symphonique Soraya Mafi, Thomas Elwin, James Cleverton, John Savournin, Sharon Carty / BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Singers, John Andrews [ Dutton Epoch SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Sep/2018 ] "The Mountebanks is as much a Savoy operetta as any of Sullivan's…Nevertheless [Cellier] has his own distinctive voice, flowingly melodic, orchestral writing more elegant and modern-sounding , looking forward to Edwardian operetta." BBC |
CARL ORFF
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Orff: Carmina Burana Sylvia Greenberg, James Bowman, Stephen Roberts / RSO Berlin und Chor, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca / CD - released 2/Feb/1984 ] "...in recognition of the stunning range and brilliance of the Decca recording as presented on CD with bass drum at the very start shatteringly real-sounding in its specific focus." Gramophone |
C.P.E BACH
Bach: Complete Original Works For Violin & Keyboard Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin), James Ballieu (piano) [ Signum / 3 CD - released 11/Oct/2019 ] "Trills glisten over Waley-Cohen, the perfect partner to transform this into bowed song. Waley-Cohen's achievement of pure legato is wondrous" Gramophone Magazine December 2019 Editor's Choice |
MOZART / WAGNER / BORODIN / DONIZETTI / ROSSINI / VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bryn Terfel: Opera Arias Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) / Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/1996 ] Bryn Terfel is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro, Leporello and Don Giovanni, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles. |
OST / Various Artists (Incl The Who, James Brown, The Crystals, The Chiffons, Booker T., etc)
Quadrophenia [ Polydor Records / CD - released 2/Apr/2001 ] This is a digitally re-mastered re-issue CD of the soundtrack to the 'Quadrophenia' movie, featuring songs by The Who, James Brown, The Kingsmen, Booker T & The MG's, Chiffons, Ronettes, Crystals and more. |
HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR
Hancock's Half Hour: The Lift / Twelve Angry Men Tony Hancock with Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques & Bill Kerr [ BBC Audio / CD - released 4/Feb/2010 ] Two television soundtracks from the BBC's memorable series Hancock's Half Hour by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson starring Tony Hancock, Sid James and John Le Mesurier. In 'The Lift', Hancock gets stuck in a lift at the BBC with eight other people.. |
COPLAND / PERISCHETTI / IVES / CORIGLIANO
American Choral Music University of Texas Chamber Singers / University of Texas Chamber Orchestra / James Morrow (Conductor) [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 4/Dec/2006 ] "A very stimulating collection of fine performances of mainly unfamiliar repertoire" (MusicWeb Bargain of the Month May 2007) |
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Beethoven & Schnittke: Violin Concertos Vadim Gluzman (violin), Luzerner Sinfonieorchester / James Gaffigan [ BIS / CD - released 7/May/2021 ] "Only time will tell, but I will be genuinely surprised if this account of the Beethoven doesn't join the ranks of such legendary performances as Kreisler, Menuhin or Schneiderhan...this isn't just a good modern version but good: full stop." MusicWeb |
James Horner, London Symphony Orchestra / Traditional Scottish Bagpipe Music
Braveheart...More Music from the Soundtrack [ Decca / CD - released 2/Feb/1997 ] Bagpipes performed by the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders under the direction of Pipe Major Evan Macrae and drum Major G. Burrs |
Various Artists / James Horner
O.S.T - Titanic [ Sony Classics / CD - released 12/Aug/2002 ] Original UK version of the Titanic soundtrack featuring Celine Dion's smash hit "My Heart Will Go On." |
JOHAN PACHELBEL
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon Sir James Galway, The Canadian Brass, Angel Romero etc [ RCA Red Seal / CD - released 6/Oct/2003 ] From movies and TV commercials to church services and weddings, Pachelbel's Canon has become central to the soundtrack of our lives. Now, experience this little masterpiece in fifteen very different arrangements - for orchestra, piano, string... |
SHAKESPEARE / KEATS / CLARE / BLAKE / etc
Poetry For The Winter Season James Barraclough, Ron Bloomfield, Christine Dimble, Roger McGough, James Murphy, Hazel Pardon, and others [ Naxos Audiobooks / 2 CD - released 2/Oct/2006 ] In November 2005, hundreds of people submitted recordings of Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Roger McGough in an attempt to win a prize - participation in the recording of this new poetry collection by Christina Hardyment, historian and audiobook... |