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Joey Alexander
Origin [ Mack Avenue / CD - released 8/Jul/2022 ] Origin will be the 18-year-old pianist, composer and bandleader's sixth album. It follows 2020's Warna, released by Verve. "I'm honoured to be a part of the Mack Avenue family of amazing artists, and grateful to be able to work and collaborate... |
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FRANZ XAVER SCHARWENKA
Scharwenka: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4 Alexander Markovich (piano) / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 31/Mar/2014 ] "Jarvi's watchful support and...control of orchestral dynamics gives Markovich more room to shape phrases effortlessly: his playing is especially fine [in the Scherzo of No. 1], cool-headed, but always meticulous...[in No. 2] Markovich blends fiery v |
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SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux / etc Alexander Melnikov (piano), Elena Brilova (soprano) [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / CD - released 17/Jun/2016 ] "This stunning disc is finely recorded and makes you look forward to a further balance of songs and piano music from both these remarkable artists." Gramophone Magazine, April 2008 |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concerto no.1 - Tragic Overture (with Cherubini: Éliza) Alexander Melnikov (piano), Sinfonieorchester Basel, Ivor Bolton [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 27/Aug/2021 ] With his First Concerto, the young Brahms set his own course in the wake of Beethoven and Schumann and at the same time poured forth his personal emotions in this work of impressive dimensions. The Russian soloist has chosen an instrument... |
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ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
Glazunov: Works for Cello and Orchestra Alexander Rudin (cello) / Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Igor Golovschin [ Naxos / CD ] "I would draw your attention to the Concerto Ballata. Sweet, very Russian, and just the right amounts of melancholy and drama. Recorded only three times." Penguin Guide |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 11 - Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar" Alexander Vinogradov (bass), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2014 ] "Vasily Petrenko's generally sensational Shostakovich cycle concludes with this powerful and gripping performance of the Thirteenth Symphony. Naxos' sonics are also excellent, with particularly well-judged balances between the choir and the orchestra |
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SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Tharaud Plays Rachmaninov Alexandre Tharaud (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Alexander Vedernikov, with Sabine Devieilhe (soprano) [ Erato / CD - released 14/Oct/2016 ] "After the famous introductory bars - following the score rather than the composer's recording - the sweeping first subject enters faster, thankfully, than Richter's celebrated account but with the same majestic assurance" Gramophone Award Nomination |
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MEYERBEER / GOUNOD / J. STRAUSS JR / AUBER / OUCCINI /MASSENET / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Amelia Farrugia - Joie De Vivre! Amelia Farrugia (soprano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Briger [ Decca Records / CD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] "...a coloratura with fine agility, a real trill, a very high extension, and an intelligent way with the texts. She also has an innate sense of rubato that can make even a chestnut-showpiece like Auber's "Laughing Song" seem like a new experience." |
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GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: L'Arlesienne [complete incidental music] / Jeux d'enfants Belgium Radio & Television Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir Alexander Rahbari [ Discover / CD - released 10/Feb/2013 ] Currently selling for $35 (US) on Amazon |
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PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 Boris Berezovsky (piano) & Henri Demarquette (cello) Sinfonia Varsovia, Alexander Vedernikov [ Mirare / CD - released 29/Dec/2013 ] They are well played, especially the delicious Andante cantabile from the First string Quartet… the lyrical little 'Chanson triste', offer more in the way of Tchaikovskian charm. |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1, 14, 15 & Chamber Symphony Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, with Kristine Opolais (soprano), Alexander Tsymbalyuk (bass) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 13/Aug/2021 ] "No question that this latest release represents the Nelsons cycle at its best." Gramophone Editor's Choice August 202 |
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphony No.10 Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari [ Naxos / CD ] "Rahbari[']s…leadership is inspiring. The overall effect is low-key compared to some of the 'big guns', but it seems a legitimate other way to play the music. The Naxos sound is beautiful-better than many of the 'big' labels." American Record Guide |
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THOMAS HARDY
Winter Words Bruce Alexander & Janet Maw [ Naxos Audiobooks / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2001 ] |
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SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: The Bells Op 35 / The Rock Op 7 Ivan Choupenitch (tenor) / Helen Field (soprano) / Oleg Melnikov (bass) / RTE Philharmonic Choir. Choupenitch, Alexander Anissimov [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Apr/2002 ] "Budget or no, these are Bells you ought to hear." |
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W. A. MOZART / C.P.E. BACH
Young & Foolish: Mozart & CPE Bach Céline Frisch (harpsichord/piano), Alexander Melnikov (piano), Café Zimmermann, Pablo Valetti [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 16/Aug/2024 ] Young and foolish is the title Cafe Zimmermann has chosen for this programme, which features music from the 1770s and 1780s by Mozart and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, starting with Mozart's famous and sparkling Divertimento KV 138. For this fascinating... |
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RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Das Reingold (complete opera recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Deutsches Nationaltheater, Weimar / Mario Hoff / Alexander Gunther / Jean-Noel Briend / Erin Caves / Carl St. Clair (cond) [ Arthaus Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Jun/2009 ] DVD Blu-Ray - "Weimar National Theatre opens a promising 'Ring' cycle with Wagner's original ur-scene." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |
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PIETRO MASCAGNI
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana Giacomo Aragall, Stefka Evstatieva, Anna di Mauro, Alzbeta Michalkova / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Alexander Rahbari [ Naxos Opera Classics / CD - released 2/Feb/1995 ] Recorded: 1 - 10 April 1992 Recording Venue: Concert Hall of the Slovak Radio, Bratislava |
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PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: The Enchantress (complete opera recorded in 2022) BLU-RAY Frankfurt Opera / Asmik Grigorian, Iain MacNeil, Claudia Mahnke, Alexander Mikhailov / Valentin Uryupin [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 11/Nov/2022 ] "Discover one of Tchaikovsky's least-known, least-performed mature operas in a fine production from Frankfurt Opera". © 2024 Gramophone |
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W. A. MOZART
Fritz Busch at Glyndebourne - Mozart Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Audrey Mildmay, Heddle Nash, John Brownlee, Ina Souez, Sena Jurinac, Alexander Young, Richard Lewis / Fritz Busch (cond) [ Warner Classics / 9 CD Box Set - released 8/Jul/2017 ] Fritz Busch (1890-1951) was one the greatest German conductors of the first half of the twentieth century, noted for his illuminating performances and his ethical principles. |
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GOUNOD / VERDI / PUCCINI / MASSENET / CILEA / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / TCHAIKOVSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Inessa Galante - Heroines Inessa Galante (soprano) / Latvian Opera Orchestra, Alexander Vilumanis [ Campion / CD - released 2/Feb/1996 ] Recorded at Riga Studios, Latvia, September / November 1995. |