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RODION SHCHEDRIN
Carmen Suite / Naughty Limericks / The Chime Russian National Orchestra / Mikhail Pletnev [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD ] |
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PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: The Symphonies & Tone Poems [7 CD set] Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev [ Deutsche Grammophon Collector's Edition / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2012 ] "All the innate aristocratic feeling Tchaikovsky could ask for . . . very fine and well-detailed sound" The Penguin Guide |
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ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op 46 & 72 Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev [ Deutsche Grammophon First Choice / CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra add to their store of fine recordings for DG with this distinctive and highly enjoyable version of Dvorak's colourful dances. These are, after all, works which for all their lack of pretension are... |
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PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphony Nos 4 - 6 Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev [ Deutsche Grammophon Duo / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "There is a choir-like blend and evenness of tone from the top to the bottom of the orchestra" (Gramophone). "All the innate aristocratic feeling Tchaikovsky could ask for . . . very fine and well-detailed sound" The Penguin Guide |
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OLIVIER MESSIAEN
Messiaen: La Nativité Du Seigneur / La Transfiguration De Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ Simon Preston (organ) Yvonne Loriod (piano), Westminster Symphonic Choir, National Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati [ Decca Enterprise / 2 CD Box Set - released 9/Apr/2012 ] The first public performance was on June 7, 1969, in Lisbon, Serge Baudo was the conductor. The United States premiere was on March 27-30, 1972 in Washington, DC with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Westminster Choir; Antal Dorati was the... |
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SCHUMANN
Piano Concerto / Introduction and Allegro / Toccata / Waldszenen Sviatoslav Richter (piano) / Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Witold Rowicki [ Deutsche Grammophon Originals / CD - released 11/Jan/2008 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1801-1850) - "Sviatoslav Richter captures the essential intimacy of Schumann's concerto without neglecting its grander gestures. His reading of the first movemnet is among the most volatile on... |
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MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (complete ballet) / La Valse Orchestre et Choeurs de L'Opera national de Paris, Philippe Jordan [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 1/May/2015 ] This new recording of Daphnis et Chloé, Ravel's most sumptuous score, marks a number of firsts as it evokes the heady days of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris in the early years of the 20th century. It grew from performances of the... |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich plays Shostakovich [2 CDs] Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) / French National Radio Orchestra, Andre Cluytens, with Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 15/May/2015 ] All Shostakovich's recordings are distinguished by his masterly technique and the clean, non-legato touch, which is wholly in keeping with the character of his music. Yet beautiful tone and broad cantilenas are also in evidence, notably in the slow... |
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GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1958 & 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics The Home Of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jul/2019 ] "This classic Beecham set was originally welcomed in Gramophone with a glowing review from Philip Hope Wallace: 'I send up a loud "Ole".' It certainly stands the test of time, sparkling, swaggering and seducing in a way that is uniquely Beecham's. |
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HECTOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos.1, 2, 5, 9 Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) / Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Heitor Villa-Lobos [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 20/Apr/2015 ] "In Bachianas Brasileiras No.5, the sheer seductive sound of de los Angeles is way ahead of her competitors and the other suites can be recommended without reserve." (Gramophone) |
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PENDERECKI
St Luke Passion Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / National Radio Symphony Orchestra ./ Zrzysztof Penderecki [ Argo / CD - released 8/Sep/2007 ] |
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VARIOUS
We'll Keep A Welcome-The Welsh Album Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) / Welsh National Opera / Gareth Jones [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 29/Jun/2000 ] With The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Gareth Jones |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Ernani (complete opera recorded in English) Alan Opie / Julian Gavin / Peter Wedd / Susan Patterson / English National Opera Chorus & orchestra / David Parry [ Chandos Opera in English / 2 CD - released 24/Nov/2006 ] 'American soprano Susan Patterson… proves a feisty Elvira, spirited and accomplished in delivery.' BBC Music Magazine |
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FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 4 (Includes Rebus & A Prayer) Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Chorus of Wales / BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 5/May/2004 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - '... this is an essential purchase for Oration alone - and the music itself deserves the widest dissmenation.' Gramophone |
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SIR LENNOX & MICHAEL BERKELEY
Symphony No. 4 / The Garden of Earthly Delights / Cello Concerto Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 7/Jul/2003 ] 'Throughout Richard Hickox draws brilliant playing from his band, energetic where necessary, sonically overwhelming in the Garden. Anthon Burton's notes are excellent, too, helpful and so objective that they don't tell you how good all the music on... |
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LENNOX & MICHAEL BERKELEY
Symphony No. 4 / The Garden of Earthly Delights / Cello Concerto Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 7/Jul/2003 ] This third volume in Chandos' successful Berkeley series, featuring music by Lennox and Michael Berkeley, is released to celebrate the centenary of Sir Lennox Berkeley's birth. |
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WAGNER
The Valkyries (complete opera in English) Alberto Remedios / Norman Bailey / Margaret Curphey / Rita Hunter / English National Opera Orchestra / Reginald Goodall [ Chandos / 4 CD - released 1/Sep/2000 ] "Goodall draws everything from savagery to delicacy from the ENO Orchestra, and is alive to every nuance of the drama, both on stage and in the pit. And as if that weren't enough, the translation is a masterpiece" (Amazon.co.uk) |
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PROKOFIEV & OTHERS
Peter And The Wolf In Hollywood Alice Cooper (narrator) / National Youth Orchestra of Germany, Alexander Shelley [ Deutche Grammophon / CD - released 27/Nov/2015 ] A brand new DG recording of Prokofiev's childrens classic, "Peter and the Wolf" - now coupled for the first time with a specially-written prequel (pre-story). The best-loved story is now placed in an urban contemporary setting - Los Angeles! |
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CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux [The Carnival of the Animals] (LP Version) Duo Jatekok (piano), Orchestre National de Lille, Lucie Leguay [ Alpha Classics / LP - released 27/Aug/2021 ] Alex Vizorek revisits Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals. The French composer never imagined that his bestiary would become one of the most famous works in musical history, a staple repertory piece on a par with Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. The... |
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SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 Alexander Anissimov, National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Feb/2001 ] "Alexander Anissimov's Naxos account lingers nostalgically over lyrical episodes in a recording that's firmer at the bottom end than you'd expect from Dublin's airy National Concert Hall. Anissimov's Naxos account is an exceptional bargain" BBC Music |