ALEXANDER BORODIN / MODEST MUSSORGSKY
Simon Rattle conducts Mussorgsky & Borodin (Live-recording from the Philharmonie Berlin Dec 31, 2007) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Medici Arts DVD / DVD - released 20/Aug/2009 ] G : - "…is a sophisticated Russian New Year's Eve event from Berlin. …the impression remains that Rattle brings off the subtler, more atmospheric passages best." BBC Music Magazine, July 2009 **** |
RACHMANINOV / TCHAIKOVSKY / STRAVINSKY
Simon Rattle conducts (Live-recording from the Berlin Waldbühne, 2009) [Incls 'The Rite of Spring'] Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Medici Arts DVD / DVD - released 20/Dec/2009 ] G - "Orchestral concerts al fresco don't get more spectacular or more wide-spectrum than this. Here are Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic in the Waldbuhne, a ravine-hollowed amphitheatre outside the city" (BBC Music) |
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. |
TCHAIKOVSKY / BORODIN / MUSSORGSKY / GLINKA
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 & Russian Orchestral Works Berliner Philharmoniker, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2016 ] "Solti's hurricane-like Tchaikovsky Serenade has to be heard to be believed - the finale almost flies off with the gale" (Penguin Guide) |
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) |
BERLIOZ / BERNSTEIN / R. STRAUSS / LIGETI / PUCCINI / STRAVINSKY / etc
Sir Simon Rattle: Essence of an Era (7DVD) Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, with Wayne Marshall, Miksuko Uchida (piano), Sol Gabetta (cello) & others [ EuroArts DVD / 7 DVD Box Set - released 18/May/2018 ] Sir Simon Rattle took up his post as chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2002. In doing so, he took over an inheritance which was not only demanding, but which required a delicate balance of tradition and innovation. |
CHABRIER / SAINT-SAENS / MASSENET / RAVEL / POULENC / BRAHMS
Silvesterkonzert - New Year's Eve Concert 2015 Berliner Philharmoniker / Sir SImon Rattle / Anne-Sophie Mutter [ EuroArts DVD / DVD ] It is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical music fan in Berlin - and beyond: On New Year's Eve, the Berliner Philharmoniker invite an exceptional soloist for a festive gala. Together the musicians bid farewell to the old year and... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Dona Nobis Pacem & Towards the Unknown Region Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Corydon Singers, Matthew Best [ Hyperion / CD - released 19/Jul/1993 ] |
Big Sir
Before Gardens After Gardens (Digipak) [ Rodriguez Lopez Productions / CD - released 7/Feb/2012 ] |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Die Walküre (LP) Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter, Régine Crespin, James King, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca / 5 Vinyl Box Set - released 4/Aug/2023 ] For these new editions, a decade since the last remastering, a completely new set of high-definition 24 bit/192kHz transfers of the original master tapes have been utilized. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Götterdämmerung (LP) Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Gottlob Frick, Gustav Neidlinger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti [ Sony Classical / 6 Vinyl Box Set - released 4/Aug/2023 ] "The greatest recording of all time": Gramophone Magazine 1999 · BBC Music Magazine 2011 |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 / Finlandia / Valse Triste / Swan of Tuonela Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips / CD - released 20/Oct/1989 ] "The new digital transfers give greater presence to the wind and brass, and place them more vividly in the aural picture." (Gramophone on the reissue) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 / En Saga Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Pentatone SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "This is a disk well worth having for the superb performances offered and the insights which Davis brings to the music." (MusicWeb August 2008) |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Tone Poems (Incls Pohjola's Daughter & Karelia Suite) Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ Philips ABC Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] 'In short, what you have here are Sibelius' three greatest tone poems (En Saga, Pohjola's Daughter, and Tapiola) in outstanding interpretations and great sound, along with two popular favorites done every bit as well. Need I say more?' 10/10... |
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade Op 35 / Capriccio Espagnol Op 34 London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 25/Jan/2003 ] "It also demands a performance which combines virtuosity with excitement, sensuous ardour with subtlety of feeling and above all is seemingly spontaneous. Mackerras meets all these requirements admirably in a reading of great power and romantic... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 4 & 5 'Emperor' Alfred Brendel (piano) / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Decca Philips Originals / CD - released 6/Sep/2016 ] "The bond between these two musicians is evident throughout these committed and vigorous readings. Brendel's authentically rugged pianism is offset by the Vienna Philharmonic's sumptuous playing." (BBC Music) |
BARTOK
Bluebeard's Castle -: Sung in English (translation by Chester Kallman) Sally Burgess, Sir John Tomlinson / Opera North Orchestra, Richard Farnes [ Chandos / CD - released 1/May/2006 ] |
VERDI
Aida [recorded live in 1953] Maria Callas, Kurt Baum, Giulietta Simionato, Jess Walters / Covent Garden Opera Chorus & Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli [ Testament / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] "it was in many ways a performance that outshines all [Callas's] studio recordings, with the stage atmosphere well caught. Barbirolli too is a winningly warm and sympathetic Verdian" (Penguin) |
Mozart, Wo
Symphonie KV 551, Divertimento KV 136 Camerata Academica; Sir Roger Norrington [ ORFEO / CD - released 20/Jul/2001 ] |
VERDI
Falstaff (Complete opera) Carlos Alvarez, Balent Bezduz, Alasdair Elliott, Ana Ibarra, Peter Hoare / London Symphony Chorus / London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 SACD - released 1/Nov/2004 ] "A memorable evening's fun is fully captured on disc: bouquets all round" Editor's Choice Gramophone Nov 2004 - Hybrid SACD Compatible with all CD players. Includes high denstity stereo and surround tracks that can be read by SACD players. |