W. A. MOZART
Mozart: The Lovers' Garden (complete ballet recorded in 2016) BLU-RAY Teatro alla Scala / Roberto Bolle, Nicoletta Manni, Marta Romagna, Claudio Coviello / Alexander Titov (cond) [ C Major BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Apr/2018 ] With lightness and irony, this journey into the universe of Mozart tips its hat to the 1700s also with the scenery and costumes, and fills the garden with fun and passionate virtuoso dances, which follow each other dynamically and quickly. |
ROSSINI / SCARLATTI / TURINA / GRANADOS / FALLA / GUERRERO / etc
Brava Berganza! - Rossini: Arias / Canciones Espanolas: Spanish Songs & more Teresa Berganza (soprano) Félix Lavilla (piano) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson, Benito Lauret, Gerardo Gombau [ Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2018 ] "I called her performance of [the Falla songs] incomparable, and it still remains so, with her completely idiomatic interpretation, vitality, exemplary enunciation, beautifully clean melismata, and wide range of colour" Gramophone |
BEETHOVEN / RIES / PUNTO / DANZI
Horn and Piano: A Cor Basse Recital Teunis van der Zwart (horn), Alexander Melnikov (paino) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Jan/2022 ] "van der Zwart exploits the disruptive contrasts between registers, and between stopped and open notes, as vividly as I've ever heard...A winner, and not only for horn fanciers." Gramophone Editor's Choice March 2022 |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
My First Violin Album [Incls 'Salut d'amour' & 'fantasy on Carmen'] Ilya Kaler (violin), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Jenö Jandó (piano), Alexander Jablokov (violin), Chloë Hanslip (violin) [ Naxos / CD - released 27/Feb/2012 ] From folk music to film music, the violin is the star of instruments. Millions of children all over the world learn how to play it and the top performers make it sound beautiful. They can also do clever things on it, with their fingers whizzing up... |
CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
Stanford: Cello Concerto / Piano Concerto No. 3 Alexander Baillie (cello) Malcolm Binns (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Braithwaite, conducter [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Aug/2007 ] "This CD is a must for all enthusiasts of Stanford's music. I guarantee that it will not disappoint: in fact it will inspire you and make you want to explore the music of this Great Man in much more detail. And that can be no bad thing!" (MusicWeb... |
Alexander Desplat (music)
The French Despatch - OST [ Search Light / CD - released 27/Jul/2021 ] The eclectic soundtrack features Jarvis Cocker, Grace Jones, Ennio Morricone, Charles Aznavour and more. |
GUBAIDULINA /TARPOLSKI / REDGATE
Alexander Ivashkin Plays Gubaidulina, Tarpolski & Redgate Alexander Ivashkin (cello) [ Alma Classics / CD - released 19/Nov/2013 ] Alexander Ivashkin Plays Gubaidulina, Tarpolski & Redgate |
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... |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Volume 2 | nos. 4, 7 & 9 Alexander Melnikov (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 18/Oct/2019 ] This first volume in the complete cycle must already be given pride of place in the discography," declared Classica magazine upon the release of Prokofiev's Sonatas nos. 2, 6, and 8 (awarded a "Choc" in 2016). |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: The preludes and fugues Alexander Melnikov (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2015 ] "Melnikov unquestionably gives an impression of freshness and daring, as if he's discovering the music for the first time." (BBC Music Award WINNER 2011 - Instrumental) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas nos. 1, 3 & 5 - Visions fugitives Alexander Melnikov (piano) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 6/May/2022 ] "With the three so-called 'war' sonatas 6, 7 and 8 covered in the two previous releases, you might think that the third instalment of Alexander Melnikov's Prokofiev cycle is a mopping-up job." BBC Music Five Stars |
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 |
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... |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Sonata in A minor, D.821 'Arpeggione' / Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 100, D. 929 Alexander Rudin (arpeggione/cello), Erich Hobarth (violin), Appo Hakkinen (fortepiano) [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Jan/2021 ] Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata has today become part of the cello repertoire but it was originally written for the arpeggione, a form of bowed guitar invented by the Viennese maker Johann Georg Staufer in 1823. With a unique ethereal sound, this... |
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 |
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 |
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." |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Fantasie in F Minor & other piano duets Andreas Staier, Alexander Melnikov (fortepiano Graf by Christopher Clarke) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 20/Apr/2017 ] "The Graf-style fortepiano's clarity brings out the fabulous textural richness of the F minor Fantasy's third movement and the Rondo in A, illumined by the players' lovely touches" Sunday Times |
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 |