SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 3 / Suite No 2 Martha Argerich & Nelson Freire (pianos) / Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly [ Philips 50 / CD - released 5/May/2001 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - One of the most electrifying "live" recordings of a concerto ever made and a constant best-seller. |
CARL MARIA VON WEBER
Weber: Overtures / Konzertstück in F minor / Arias Martin Helmchen; Anna Prohaska; Konzerthausorchester Berlin; Christoph Eschenbach [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 28/May/2021 ] 200 years ago, on May 26th 1821, today's Berlin Concert Hall was inaugurated as "Königliches Schauspielhaus". Destroyed as "Preußisches Staatstheater" during World War II, the building, located in eastern Berlin, was rebuilt during GDR times and... |
DAVID STOCK
Stock: A Little Miracle / Yizkor / Tekiah / Y'rusha Elizabeth Shammash (mezzo-soprano), Stephen Burns (trumpet), Richard Stoltzman (clarinet) / Seattle Symphony, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, etc [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 2/Oct/2006 ] "..there's no fancy stuff, no hamhanded sophistication and pretentions, to get in the way of the music's simple expression." American Record Guide |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Berlin Concert - Live From the 'Waldbuhne' Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko. Rolando Villazon / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Marco Armiliato [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 18/Jan/2007 ] "Three charming singing actors giving their audience a real treat, this concert is something to return to" (MusicWeb Feb 2007) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Waltzes & Arias / Folk Songs & Lullabies Rita Streich (soprano) / RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Kurt Gaebel [ SBS Deutsche Grammophon Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] 'A voice so bright that an inner light radiates in her singing, Streich is pure pleasure to listen to … Highly recommended' Fanfare |
BERTHOLD GOLDSCHMIDT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Goldschmidt: Beatrice Cenci (complete opera with libretto) Roberta Alexander, Stefan Stoll, Simon Estes, Della Jones / Berlin Radio Chorus, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek [ Sony Classical / 2 CD Box Set - released 7/Feb/1995 ] "The cast is a strong one, dominated by the burnished tone of Roberta Alexander in the title role of the abused daughter. Della Jones as her stepmother Lucrezia is equally fine" BBC Music |
ALFRED SCHNITTKE
Schnittke: Film Music Volume 5 Rundfunkchor Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Frank Strobel [ Capriccio / Hybrid SACD - released 8/Oct/2021 ] Alfred Schnittke's film music encapsulates almost everything that characterises the Russian composer's compositional style. A self-described polystylist, he began writing for film in the 1960s, penning 66 film scores between 1962 and 1984 for Soviet... |
ERICH KORNGOLD
Korngold: Piano Trio, Op 1 String Sextet, Op 10 Spectrum Concerts Berlin [ Naxos / CD - released 23/Oct/2020 ] Korngold's breathtaking precocity is everywhere in evidence in these two chamber masterpieces. The Piano Trio was composed when he was just twelve years old but its symphonic breadth and brilliantly demanding piano writing reveal myriad tonal colours... |
ERICH KORNGOLD
Korngold: Suite, Op 23 / Piano Quintet, Op 15 Spectrum Concerts Berlin [ Naxos / CD - released 13/Nov/2020 ] Erich Korngold was described as 'arguably the most remarkable prodigy in history', whose transition into artistic maturity was almost seamless. The successes of his youth continued with works such as the Piano Quintet, Op. 15, in which the brilliant... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms The Symphonies Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim [ Deutsche Grammophon / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Dec/2018 ] ""The blend of clarity, intimacy and power the engineers have been able to achieve here fits the lustre and glow of these Staatskapelle performances like a glove" Editor's Choice Gramophone |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Tannhauser (complete opera recorded in 2014) BLU-RAY Staatsoper Berlin / Peter Seiffert, Marina Prudenskaya, Ann Petersen, Peter Mattei, René Pape / Daniel Barenboim (cond) [ Bel Air Classiques Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 18/Dec/2015 ] "Daniel Barenboim provides spacious and lucid conducting … Mattei's finely enunciated Wolfram and Peter Seiffert encompassing the title-role's difficulties with a constant eye on their dramatic import." (Gramophone January 2016) |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1 - 5 (recorded live in 2007) Stattakapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (piano and conductor) [ Euroarts / 2 DVD Box Set - released 22/Dec/2007 ] In November 2007, Daniel Barenboim completed a cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos. Recorded live at the prestigious Klavier-Festival Ruhr in May 2007, this DVD recording reflects both a very individual and special reading of Beethoven's music. |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Violin Concerto Vilde Frang (violin) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Robin Ticciati, with Thomas Hoppe (piano) [ Warner Classics / CD - released 6/Sep/2024 ] "Her understanding of Elgar's kaleidoscopic writing is instinctive at all levels...Every lover of Elgar's masterpiece should try to hear this magnificent addition to the library." Gramophone Magazine Awards Issue 2024 Recording of the Month |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 30/Apr/2020 ] Perfect Synthesis. Bach's exploration of the Italian concerto grosso took the principles of instrumental 'rivalry' to the point of paroxysm, bringing to the form an unprecedented harmonic and contrapuntal refinement. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.1 & 2 (with CPE Bach: Symphonies Wq 175 & 183/4) Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 2/Jul/2020 ] BBC Music Award Nomination 2021 - Orchestral |
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Mozart: Gran Partita - Wind Serenades K. 361 & 375 Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 7/May/2021 ] "For those wanting the music played on the kinds of instruments that Mozart himself knew, this beautifully recorded new version sweeps the field." Gramophone Editor's Choice July 2021 |
J.S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: Triple Concerto BWV1044; Harpsichord Cto. BWV 1052 Akademie far Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 25/Oct/2002 ] "the gestures bold and the virtuosity glittering." - International Record Review |
ANTONIO VIVALDI / JEAN-FERY REBEL
Vivaldi: Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons] / Rebel: Les Eléments Midori Seiler (solo violin) / Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 14/Jun/2019 ] "..[Midori Seiler] and the Berliners have simply insisted on taking nothing for granted...the sheer flair of this new release dazzles as much as it delights." BBC Music |
VIVALDI / GABRIELI / PORTA / MARCELLO / etc
A Venetian Journey Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, with Xenia Löffler (baroque oboe) - Amandine Beyer, Gli Incogniti - Concerto Palatino [ Harmonia Mundi / 3 CD - released 18/Jan/2019 ] From the late Renaissance until the middle of the eighteenth century, Venice was the scene of unrivalled musical splendour, encompassing the magnificent ceremonial music heard at Saint Mark's Basilica and the virtuoso music-making at the charitable... |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Concerti grossi: Op. 6 (7-12) Akademie fϋr Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck [ Pentatone / CD - released 14/Feb/2020 ] The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin continue their Handel trilogy with this recording of the last six concerti grossi of the composer's Op. 6. Originally designed as attractive interludes to English oratorio performances, Handel's concerti grossi soon... |