FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 (1928, 1938) London Select Choir / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Historical Great Conductors / CD - released 13/Jan/2002 ] "Classic and mostly pioneering recordings of Delius by his finest ever interpreter, Sir Thomas Beecham." - Classic FM (Robert Layton), August, 2000 |
ALUN HODDINOTT
Symphony No.2 / Symphony No.3 / Symphony No.5 London Symphony Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Norman Del Mar / David Atherton / Andrew Davis [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] "Alun Hoddinott is one of the best and most resourceful of living British symphonists, and the return to the catalogue of three demonstrations of that fact is welcome. … these symphonies are more than ‘resourceful’, more than examples of formal... |
HOOKED ON CLASSICS
Hooked On Classics: The Ultimate Collection Louis Clark & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Music Club Deluxe / CD - released 1/May/2010 ] The Hooked-On-Classics series brings together classical legends like Tchaikovsky, Bach and Mozart and gives them a unique disco twist. |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast Suite, Op. 51 / Karelia Suite, Op. 11 (excerpts) / Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Kajanus [ Naxos Historical Kajanus conducts Sibelius Vol 2 / CD - released 2/Jan/2013 ] "The programme is artfully sequenced. First we get the fey and fragile exotica, glistening fantasy and wan orientalism of Belshazzar's Feast. Then come the exuberant outer movements of the Karelia Suite...Phrasing is nicely sculpted throughout." MW |
PROKOFIEV
Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra in E minor (with Shostakovich-Cello Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 126) Lynn Harrell (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Gerard Schwarz [ Avie / CD - released 12/Jun/2006 ] "a generous coupling of two masterworks, both of which are delivered in performances of distinction and personality." (MusicWeb may 2006) |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Cello Concerto / Introduction and Allegro / Serenade for Strings Maria Kliegel (cello) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Michael Halasz, conductor. Capella Istropolitana. Adrian Leaper, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2004 ] Sir Edward Elgar enjoys a curious reputation in his own country. To many he is, above all, the composer of the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the celebrator of Edwardian Imperialism, the man who preferred the races to a rehearsal of his Violin... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Song Cycles: Rackert-Lieder / Kindertotenlieder / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Marilyn Horne (mezzo-soprano) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Dec/2006 ] Marilyn Horne's plum-tinged mezzo and the music of Mahler are inseparable. So far, only the Fahrenden Gesellen songs and the Kindertotenlieder have made their way to CD (now deleted), so it is appropriate to collect on a single CD, the three... |
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Le Prophete (Complete opera recorded in 1976) Marilyn Horne, Renata Scotto, James McCracken, Jerome Hines / Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Henry Lewis [ Sony Classical Opera / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2016 ] "The role calls for a Brünnhilde range with an Amneris-type voice: the vocal flexibility and dramatic punch needed are extraordinary. Miss Horne has them all, and she brings out the pathos of the part without sentimentalizing it." (Gramophone) |
FRANCIS POULENC
Poulenc: Piano Concerto & Concert champêtre Mark Bebbington (piano), Jan Latham-Koenig, John Roberts (oboe), Jonathan Davies (bassoon) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Resonus / CD - released 6/Mar/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Concerto |
RODERICK ELMS
Festive Frolic: A celebration of Christmas Mark Wilde (tenor) Stuart Nicholson (organ) Joyful Company of Singers / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Stephen Bell [ Naxos / CD - released 11/Nov/2007 ] Roderick Elms' Christmas music ranges from charming and witty arrangements of well-loved traditional carols to new settings and festive orchestral pieces written for this very special season. The charm and immediate appeal of his music has been... |
RAVEL / PROKOFIEV / SHOSTAKOVICH
Nobel Prize Concert 2009 [includes the Ravel Piano Concerto] Martha Argerich (piano) / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Yuri Temirkanov [ Euroarts DVD / DVD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] "Temirkanov's antics make him hugely photogenic, while Argerich's fingers, if not her hair-do, are a revelation. As a musician she cuts a modest, humble figure, which she is." (Bargain of the Month MusicWeb Sept 2010) |
MALCOLM WILLIAMSON
Elevamini-Symphony No 1 / Sinfonia Concertante / etc Martin Jones (piano) Malcolm Williamson (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Charles Groves [ Lyrita / CD - released 27/Apr/2008 ] Though Malcolm Williamson lived in London for fifty years, many of the titles and first performance venues of his works confirm that he was at heart an Australian: as well as his pieces for Australian Bicentennial Year, 1988, his last two symphonies... |
ARNOLD BAX
Orchestral Works, Volume 8 (Incls 'Enchanted Summer' & 'Walsinghame') Martyn Hill (tenor) Anne Williams-Kingm, Lynore McWhirter (sopranos) / Brighton Festival Chorus / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] 'This issue represents a considerable achievement for all involved. The spacious recording copes beautifully with everything Bax can muster.' Hi-Fi News |
BERLIN / GERSHWIN / FIELDS / PORTER / ELLINGTON / RODGERS / etc
Long ago and far away - Classic Songs of Love and Romance Mary Carewe (vocal) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Graham Bickley [ Naxos / CD - released 8/Oct/2021 ] This album of some of the 20th century's most captivating songs and standards are heard here in dazzling new arrangements by Richard Balcombe. With a perfect marriage of words and music, these classic songs have a timeless appeal. |
W. A. MOZART
Violin Concertos Nos. 1-7 Mayumi Fujikawa (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Walter Weller [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2015 ] "Fujikawa brings unexpected sparkle to the finale of the Second Concerto. She is at her best in the marvelous Adagio of the G major which she sustains most beautifully at an unusually slow tempo […] There is plenty of polished, stylish orchestral pla |
MARCEL DUPRE / JOSEF RHEINBERGER
Dupre: Symphony in G minor / Rheinberger: Organ Concerto No. 1 Michael Murray (organ) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Jahja Ling [ Telarc Records / CD - released 26/Jan/2004 ] Michael Murray's recordings for Telarc are among the classical music industry's worldwide best sellers. |
BEETHOVEN
Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 5 Emperor Michael Roll (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Howard Shelley (cond) [ Royal Philharmonic / SACD - released 10/Apr/2006 ] The world's largest-ever classical recording contract with one of the most outstanding orchestras, was begun in September 1993 and has been built into a collection of over 150 albums of the world's best classical music. |
OFFENBACH
Tales of Hoffmann (complete opera) Monica Sinclair, Robert Helpmann, Margherita Grandi, Robert Rounseville, Owen Brannign, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Pearl / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2005 ] This recording was used for the film, famous for its balletic pairing of Monica Sinclair and Robert Helpmann. Cast and conductor provide a freshness and magic to the score perhaps unequalled since. |
DVORAK / SCHUMANN
Cello Concertos Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Leningrad Symphony Orchestra [ Alto / CD - released 20/Sep/2014 ] |
FRANK MARTIN / FRANCIS POULENC / DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH / ARYEH LEVANON
Works For Pianos and Orchestra MultiPiano Ensemble / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky [ Naxos / CD - released 11/Nov/2022 ] Concertante orchestral works for more than one keyboard instrument saw a revival after the First World War with the neo-Baroque trends of the time helping to revitalise the neglected concerto grosso genre. |