IGOR STRAVINSKY
Igor Stravinsky conducts Stravinsky - Symphonies and concertos [3 CD set] Isaac Stern (violin) Benny Goodman (clarinet) Charles Rosen, Philippe Entremont (piano) / CBC Symphony Orchestra, Columbia Symphony Orchest [ Sony Classical Masters / 3 CD Box Set - released 26/Jan/2016 ] Hearing a composer conduct their own work offers a fascinating interpretive insight into their oeuvre, all the greater when the composer in question is one of the biggest and most-influential names in 20th century music, Igor Stravinsky. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Spotless Rose - Hymns to the Virgin Mary Phoenix Chorale, Charles Bruffy [ Chandos / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Sep/2008 ] 'Where has this fabulous choir been all my life? No choral strength you can name eludes them…,' wrote American Record Guide on Shakespeare in Song, the first release by the Phoenix Chorale in 2004. |
DVORAK / IBERT
Cello Concerto / Concerto for Cello and Wind Instruments (Rec 1969) Jacqueline Du Pre (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Charles Groves / Michael Krein Orchestra / Michael Krein [ BBC Legends / CD - released 17/Nov/2004 ] "A stunning performance and up there with the classic Rostropovich/Karajan . An absolute must buy!" (Amazon.co.uk) |
DONIZETTI
Mary Stuart (Scenes from the opera in English) Janet Baker, English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos Opera in English / CD - released 17/Nov/2001 ] Janet Baker made her last appearances with English National Opera |
DONIZETTI
Mary Stuart (Complete Opera in English) Janet Baker, Rosalind Plowright, English National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos Opera in English / 2 CD - released 17/Nov/2001 ] Janet Baker made her last appearances with English National Opera |
W.A. MOZART
Cosi Fan Tutti (Complete opera in English) Janice Watson, Diana Montague, Cristopher Maltman / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2008 ] "This may seem a bit repetitive but the music making here has the same quality as in the symphonies and Cosi is one of my favourite operas. Here it is sung in English and the OAE, chorus and cast are excellent. This is a considerable bargain too."... |
FRANZ LISZT
Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Hungarian Fantasy / etc Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) / Orchestre symphonique de Montreal / Charles Dutoit [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Dec/2006 ] "Indeed, I have only praise. Each of the four works here is well characterized, and the typically Lisztian varying tempos are spot on, unrushed but never deliberate and always leading naturally from one to the next. Climactic passages are powerful,... |
ARNOLD / BERKELY / MAW / HAMILTON / MATHEWS / BOWEN
British Flute Music Jeffrey Khaner (flute) Charles Abramovic (piano) [ Avie / CD - released 26/May/2003 ] "This release is enthusiastically recommended." |
HUMPERDINCK
Hansel & Gretel (Complete Opera in English) Jennifer Larmore (mezzo) Rebecca Evans (soprano) Rosalind Plowright (mezzo) / New London Children's Choir / Philharmonia Orch / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2007 ] "After 40-odd years, this is the English Hansel to have." Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine September 2007 |
Joan Hammond & Charles Craig
Opera Arias & Duets [ Testament / CD - released 18/Sep/1998 ] |
JOHN CHARLES THOMAS
An American Classic John Charles Thomas (baritone) with various accompaniments [ Nimbus Prima Voce / CD - released 25/Mar/2008 ] 'If I had to choose the four greatest voices I've heard, I would list Thomas along with Caruso, Ponselle and Pinza,' said Frank Chapman in Opera News in 1961. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
John Charles Thomas in Opera and Song (rec 1932-42) John Charles Thomas (baritone) with various accompaniments [ Nimbus Prima Voce / CD - released 27/Jun/2006 ] "If I had to choose the four greatest voices I've heard, I would list Thomas along with Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, and Ezio Pinza ..." Frank Chapman, Opera News, 1961 |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
Highlights from the operettas John Mark Ainsley / Thomas Allen / Rebecca Evans / Felicity Palmer / Richard Suart / Welsh National Opera / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Nov/2005 ] "...this anthology is a delight." -Daily Press (Newport News, VA) |
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST
The Spirit of Christmas Past (rec 1908-1944) John McCormack, Emmy Destinn, Enrico Caruso, Alma Gluck, Charles Laughton, Celebrity Quartet, Isobel Baillie, Gladys Ripley, John McHugh, etc [ Nimbus Prima Voce / CD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] Listeners to this disc will be entertained by a couple of dozen of the best, roundest and sturdiest voices ever to be gathered together under one yuletide roof. |
W.A. MOZART
Piano Concertos NO. 17 & No. 24 John O'Connor (piano) / Sir Charles Mackerras / Scottish Chamber Orchestra [ Telarc / CD - released 25/Mar/2008 ] Through his recitals, concerto appearances and critically acclaimed recordings, the Irish pianist John O'Conor has earned a reputation as a masterful interpreter of the Classic and Early Romantic piano repertoires. |
JOHN FIELD
Field: Piano Concerto No. 2 n A-flat major / Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major John O'Conor (piano) Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] "These Telarc versions are beautifully recorded and the warm, naturally balanced sound gives the music the elegance it needs." *** Three Stars Penguin Stereo Guide |
W.A. MOZART
Piano Concertos 17, 20, 22 & 24 John O'Conor (piano) / Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Everybody's Classics / 2 CD - released 20/Sep/2008 ] Through his recitals, concerto appearances and critically acclaimed recordings, the Irish pianist John O'Conor has earned a reputation as a masterful interpreter of the Classic and Early Romantic piano repertoires. |
W.A. MOZART
Piano Concertos No. 19 & No. 23 John O'Conor (piano) / Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 15/Nov/2004 ] "Beautiful accounts of all three works...O'Conor's playing is highly intelligent..." -CD Review |
JOAQUIN RODRIGO
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez / Fantasia Para un Gentilhombre (with Villa-Lobos - Guitar Concerto) John Williams (guitar) / English Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim & Charles Groves [ Sony Originals / CD - released 10/Apr/2011 ] "A warm, outgoing account, captured in a recording that focuses sharply on both guitaristic and orchestral details without seeming overly clinical" (New York Times) |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Preludes / Piano Music Jorge Bolet (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Fischer / Montreal Symphony, Charles Dutoit [ Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Mar/2014 ] "a greatly superior recording is one of the attractions of this CD, and at countless points it highlights Bolet's absolute command of this work's myriad pianistic complexities … the finale's central scherzando is executed with great pianistic acuity" |