LIGETI / WAGNER / ELGAR / STRAVINSKY
Sir Simon Rattle & Sol Gabetta (Recorded live at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, 2014) BLU-RAY Sol Gabetta (cello) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 10/Apr/2017 ] "Overall then this is rather more than a souvenir of a very good concert, for it enshrines four performances each of which is worth not only hearing, but rehearing." MusicWeb Feb 2017 |
STRAVINSKY
Le sacre du printemps [The Rite of Spring] / Symphonies of Wind Instruments / Apollon musagète Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic] / Sir Simon Rattle [ EMI Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2013 ] Simon Rattle returns to Stravinsky with a recording of the ground-breaking ballet 'Le Sacre du printemps', whose premiere a century ago marked a turning point in 20th century music history. |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic] / Sir Simon Rattle [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Orchestral |
FRANZ SCHUBERT / JOSEPH HAYDN
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 'The Great' / Haydn: Symphony No. 88 (LP) Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Wilhelm Furtwangler [ Vinyl Passion Classical / 2 LP - released 25/Feb/2018 ] Recorded in Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, 1951 |
ANTON BRUCKNER
Bruckner: 9 Symphonies [9 CDs plus Blu-ray audio] Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra], Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Karajan Edition CD set plus Blu-ray audio / 10 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 19/Jul/2019 ] "It is Karajan who is best able to present a Bruckner Symphony as a single vision … some of the most consistently impressive Bruckner recordings of recent years" - Gramophone |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Finlandia / En Saga / Karelia Suite / Swan of Tuonela / etc Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 22/Aug/2015 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1851-1900) - "Virile, atmospheric readings. Another classic to treasure in this series with very good sound" (MusicWeb Jan 2007) |
FRANZ LISZT
Les Preludes / Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 / etc (with Smetana-Die Moldau) Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra], Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Originals / CD - released 11/Jan/2008 ] MUST HAVE . . . Record Review / Classic FM (London) / 01 April 2004 |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 4-7 / The Swan of Tuonela / Tapiola Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon The Originals / 2 CD - released 22/Jan/2004 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "This set is a convenient way of collecting Karajan's splendid DG performances of Sibelius's last four symponies, including the outstanding version of the Fourth. The Berlin... |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 (Rec 1982/3) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Entree / CD - released 11/Oct/2002 ] Beethoven wrote nine symphonies spanning twenty-three years. No. 5 has perhaps the most familiar opening of any piece of music, while No. 7 is a life-affirming masterpiece. Both are conducted by one of the composer’s foremost interpreters. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 / Symphony No. 8 (Rec 1961-62) Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Herbert von Karajan [ ABC Australian Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence / CD - released 20/Jun/2007 ] "Of Karajan's four recorded cycles, the 1961-62 set is the most compelling, combining high polish with a biting sense of urgency and spontaneity..these are incandescent performances, superbly played." (Penguin Stereo Guide) |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOSVKY
Tchaikovsky: Symphony Nos. 4, 5 & 6 'Pathetique' Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Herbert von Karajan [ EMI Gemini / Warner / 2 CD - released 20/May/2007 ] "Interpretatively Karajan's reading remains very similar to his later view. By 1960 Karajan had already moulded the Berlin Philharmonic into a superb, uniquely polished band." (Gramophone Magazine on the 4th Symphony) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: The Symphonies Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Karl Bohm [ DG Collector's Edition / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2006 ] 'An excellent bargain, and not just for the historical specialist, but for all Mozartians.' Penguin Guide |
GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: The Planets (with Matthews' 'Pluto' and other works) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 11/Nov/2006 ] "Rattle conducts the [Planets] suite with uncritical gusto, letting the orchestra's lush sheen show... This audacious project is carried by Rattle's flair, and nurtured with the optimal conditions needed to give new works a wider orbit. Watch the... |
BORODIN / MUSSORGSKY
Simon Rattle conducts Mussorgsky & Borodin (Live-recording from the Philharmonie Berlin Dec 31, 2007) BLU-RAY Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Music Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 27/Oct/2010 ] "Technically speaking this is an outstanding issue…picture quality and colour balance are exceptional…the sound-picture [is] clear and truthfully balanced." (International Record Review) |
BERG / MOZART / ELGAR / SCHUBERT / RODRIGO / BERLIOZ / etc
Daniel Barenboim: A Retrospective - complete Sony recordings [43 CDs + 3 DVDs] English Chamber Orchestrea, Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim [ Sony Classical / 46 CD/DVD Box Set - released 1/Jul/2017 ] Celebrating Pianist, Conductor and Ambassador of music...Daniel Barenboim. The first ever collection of Daniel Barenboim's complete recordings as conductor and pianist for RCA and Sony Classical in an original-jackets collection. |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D major Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Leonard Bernstein [ Decca Originals / CD - released 25/Jan/2010 ] "quite an emotional experience" (Penguin Guide) |
SCHUBERT
Octet D803 / String Quintet D956 Berliner Solisten / Brandis Quartett berlin, with jorg Baumann (cello) [ Warner Apex / 2 CD - released 23/Apr/2007 ] "A robust Octet reading, but the sublime String Quintet is soft-focus, a gentle approach taking precedence over the raging torment of this masterpiece." (BBC Music) |
WAGNER
The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Hollender) (Complete Opera) Bernd Weikl - Cheryl Studer - Placido Domingo / Berlin Opera, Giuseppe Sinopoli [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 17/May/2000 ] The complete Dutchman at a special price |
HERMANN WOLFGANG VON WALTERSHAUSEN
Oberst Chabert (complete opera) Bo Skovhus / Raymond Very / Manuela Uhl / Simon Pauly / Stephen Bronk / Paul Kaufmann / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Jacques Lacombe [ CPO / 2 CD - released 14/Apr/2011 ] A Forgotten Sensational Success |
BRAHMS
Symphony no. 4 in E minor op.98 Berlin Symphony Orchestra /GAnther Herbig [ Berlin Classics Basics / CD - released 10/Mar/2008 ] "Mature collectors will be happy to accept this as a reminder that, in the faltering last years of one of Eastern Europe's greyest regimes, the music-making was of a high standard and Günther Herbig was one of those who ensured that it was so."... |