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. |
GEOFFREY BUSH
Overture, Yorick / Music (1967) for Orchestra / Symphony No 1 & 2 New Philharmonia Orchestra / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Braithwaite / Vernon Handley / Barry Wordsworth [ Lyrita / CD - released 4/Apr/2008 ] "Bush's style is "traditional" yet not overindebted to any predecessor...There is an audible affinity, at times, with Walton in his exuberant vein, once or twice with Constant Lambert. Bush's individuality lies in his sound, which is colourful,... |
ARNOLD BAX
Symphony No. 6 / Irish Landscape / Overtures New Philharmonia Orchestra, Norman Del Mar / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Aug/2007 ] "Bax’s violent and phantasmal Sixth Symphony is the central work here and is also essential Bax in performance and recording terms...The Del Mar/Lyrita Bax 6 is violent and phantasmal - essential Bax in performance and recording terms. The other... |
EDWARD ELGAR / GERALD FINZI
Elgar / Finzi: Violin Concertos Ning Feng (violin) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Miguel Prieto [ Channel Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2018 ] 'Ning Feng delivers all these demanding works with the fire, ice, and sugar, in different measures, that they require. His technique is beyond cavil, of course, but he also plays with a purity and sweetness of tone rare among the current crop" AudAud |
CHABRIER / RAVEL / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / MUSSORGSKY / BORODIN
Orchestral Spectacular [Incls 'Espana', 'Capriccio Espagnol' & 'Bolero'] Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Adrian Leaper [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Apr/2009 ] "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provide their own Spanish magic" - Essex Chronicle |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Orchestral Works [Incls 'Rapsodie Espagnole', 'La Valse', 'Daphnis & Chloe' & 'Bolero'] Orchestre National de France, Eliahu Inbal / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Jesus Lopez-Cobos [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2010 ] An outstanding compilation of the very best of Ravel. Recordings originally made in Paris and released on Denon. |
SCHUBERT
Male Choruses Orphei Drangar conducted by Robert Sund with Instrumentalists from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra [ BIS / CD - released 6/Jun/2000 ] Schubert's some 100 songs for men's choir have been strangely neglected, probably because they are musically highly demanding. |
BIZET
The Complete Orchestral Works (Incls Carmen Suites & Symphony in C) Orquestra Filarmonica de Maxico / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Enrique Batiz [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD - released 29/Sep/2006 ] French composer Georges Bizet is famous for only one masterpiece: the opera Carmen. From that we can already hear that he is a brilliant orchestrator. |
HOWARD BLAKE
The Passion of Mary / 4 Songs of the Nativity Patricia Rozario / Robert William Blake / David Wilson-Johnson / London Voices / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Howard Blake [ Naxos / CD - released 11/May/2010 ] "Choirs looking for new repertoire need look no further. Here are two works which can communicate easily and make a real impression on the audience. This music is far too good to miss." (MusicWeb Bargain of the Month May 2010) |
MUSSORGSKY
Pictures at an Exhibition & other Russian works (Recorded 1956/57) Philharmonia Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Eugene Goossens [ Medici Masters / CD - released 20/Oct/2007 ] Sir Eugene Goossens was the third member of the illustrious Goossens family - Leon and Sidonie being the others. After leaving the Royal College of Music (1907-1912) he became a violinist with the Queen's Hall Orchestra (1912-15) before becoming an... |
ELGAR
Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (with Chausson - Poeme for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 25) Philippe Graffin (violin) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Avie / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] "I'd say that Graffin loves the concerto very much and that comes through." (MusicWeb Sept 2009) |
BRIDGE / ELGAR
Oration / Cello Concerto (with Holst's Invocation) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Dickins (conductor) [ Nimbus / CD - released 27/Jun/2006 ] These three notable British works for cello and orchestra from the early 20th century - two of them, the Elgar and the Bridge, ranking among the finest for the medium ever written by British composers - are linked by various strands, both... |
CHRISTOPHER GUNNING
Gunning: Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto / Birdflight Richard Harwood (Cello) Harriet Mackenzie (Violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Signum / CD - released 19/Jun/2020 ] Gunning's Violin Concerto was composed after inspiration whilst the composer was out hiking in Wales. The violin is supposed to represent ducking and weaving, rather like the insects and animals found in the Welsh hills and valleys. |
WILLIAMS / BARRY / ELFMAN / ZIMMER / DAVIS / etc
Great Movie Themes Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Carl Davis (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Oct/2007 ] "The disc has many delights and finishes off with music which most children will immediately relate to - the music from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." MusicWeb |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Ballet Highlights Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Avie / CD - released 26/Nov/2007 ] "Vasily Petrenko demonstrates his qualities in choice selections from Tchaikovsky's masterful ballet scores, characterising every moment while his orchestra brings their colours to vibrant life." (BBC Music) |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Willow-Wood / The Sons of Light / Toward the Unknown Region Roderick Williams (baritone) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra / Ian Tracey (choirmaster) / David Lloyd-Jones (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 16/Dec/2005 ] "Eloquent treatment for a rewqarding haul of VW rarities" Editor's Choice Gramophone Dec 2005 |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra / Gunter Neuhold (conductor) [ Naxos Super Budget Series / CD - released 30/Jun/1998 ] Bruckner's Symphony No.4 in E flat major, was written in its first version in 1873 and 1874, further revisions, as always, taking place in the following years. |