JANACEK
The Makropulos Case (complete opera in English) Cheryl Barker (soprano) Neal Davies (bass-baritone) John Graham-Hall (tenor) / English National Opera / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] "This electrifying performance has been captured in sound that is exceptionally clear and full-bodied, and it also has great immediacy. I very much welcome a recording in English." (International Record Review March 2007) |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The World of Wagner Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Vienna State Opera Chorus & Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti, Birgit Nilsson (soprano) / [ Decca / CD - released 10/Nov/1993 ] A great beginners guide to the operas of Richard Wagner. |
TRADITIONAL
50 Favourite Christmas Carols Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 3/Dec/2007 ] A collection of all the great carols performed by the world-famous King's college choir. |
HERBERT HOWELLS
Howells: Collegium Regale / St Paul's Service (with works by Vaughan Williams) Choir of King's College, Cambridge. Sir David Willcocks [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Mar/2014 ] Issued following several requests is Sir David Willcocks complete 1966 LP of Howells choral music originally issued on Argo makes its first appearance on CD. Howells contributes his own notes (reprinted from the original LP) in which he outlines the... |
ELGAR / TOMKINS / ATKINS / GUEST / DAY / WILLCOCKS
Great Cathedral Anthems Vol. 12 The Choir of Worcester Cathedral / Sir David Willcocks with Adrian Lucas (organ) [ Priory / CD - released 21/Aug/2006 ] The Choir of Worcester Cathedral |
GRIME / ADES / BIRSTWISTLE / KNUSSEN / ELGAR
This Is Rattle Christian Tetzlaff (violin) London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Blu-ray / 2 Blu-ray - released 6/Sep/2019 ] Sir Simon Rattle's arrival in London heralded a new era for the LSO, and the ten day festival that opened his inaugural season as the Orchestra's Music Director wowed critics and audiences alike, going on to win the prestigious Royal Philharmonic... |
JOSEF HAYDN
Die Schopfung [The Creation] Christine Oelze (sop) Scot Weir (tenor) Peter Lika (bass) / Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Sir Roger Norrington [ Hanssler Profil / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2008 ] The Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801) are two works of unique artistic excellence. In them Haydn combined the theatrical gestures of Handel's oratorios with elements of his own symphonic style. Both The Creation and The Seasons represent the... |
JAMES MacMILLAN
St John Passion (complete) Christopher Maltman / London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Feb/2009 ] "James MacMillan has delivered a St John Passion that stirred its premiere audience to a standing ovation, Maltman sought out the lyrical core of this striking portrayal, while acknowledging its angry edge." (The Independent) |
WILLIAM WALTON
Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario Christopher Plummer (narrator) Celia Nicklin (oboe) / Academy of St.Martin / Sir Neville Marriner [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] 'Chandos's stunning sound captures with unflinching ease the rousing spectacle of the battle music at full tilt. In all, another winner of a CD in what's turning out to be a most distinguished series.' Hi-Fi News |
JEAN SIBELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sibelius: Symphony No 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 (with Nielsen - Symphony No. 4 'The Inextinguishable') City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle [ EMI Recommends / CD - released 14/Oct/2007 ] "Rattles account of the Fifth Symphony with the Philharmonia was to the 1980s what Karajan's Berlin account was to the 1960s. The Philharmonia Orchestra play spendidly and the EMI recording is very good indeed." (3 Stars Penguin Stereo Guide) |
Claire Martin & Sir Richard Ro
When Lights Are Low [ Linn / CD - released 31/Oct/2011 ] |
ELGAR
Crown of India, Op. 66 [Orchestrations by Anthony Payne] Clare Shearer (mezzo-soprano), Gerald Finley (baritone), various narrators / Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus & BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2009 ] "The music… is from start to finish authentic middling Elgar, highly enjoyable and well worth revival. Gerald Finley shines as St George in 'The Rule of England', however embarrassing the words." BBC Music Magazine |
TELEMANN / VIVALDI / ALBINONI / FASCH / HERTEL / etc
Concerto à la Carte Claude Monteux (flute) John Wilbraham (trumpet) / Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ SBS Australian Decca Eloquence / 2 CD - released 15/Feb/2016 ] "The most alert string-playing distinguishes this record … first-class quality of recording throughout" The Gramophone |
SATIE / BRITTEN / DVORAK
GymnopACdies / Sinfonia da Requiem, Op.20 / Symphony No 7 Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam / Sir John Barbirolli [ Testament / CD - released 27/May/2003 ] The great Sir John Barbirolli conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra |
SUK
Asrael Symphony, Op. 27 Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Supraphon / CD - released 8/Sep/2011 ] "this more recent Mackerras performance digs just that little bit deeper and for that reason edges nearest to the classics by Talich and Kubelík." (Gramophone Award Finalist 2011 - Orchestral) |
DVORAK
Dvorak - Symphonic Poems Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Supraphon / CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2010 ] "The Golden Spinning Wheel, a performance full of warmth and vitality, very realistically recorded and surely the highlight of the disc." Gramophone Awards 2010 WINNER - Orchestral |
HANDEL / BEETHOVEN / BACH / VERDI / ROSSINI / DELIBES / GOUNOD / etc/
Joan Sutherland: Oratorios & Recitals Dame Joan Sutherland, with Sir Peter Pears, Marilyn Horne, Kenneth McKellar, Barry Tuckwell, Richard Bonynge and others [ Decca / 37 CD Box Set - released 19/Jul/2024 ] The first set comprises Sutherland's complete Recitals and Oratorio recordings for Decca, ranging from the 1959 operatic recital recorded in Paris, with Nello Santi (has Verdi's "Santo di patria" ever rung out with greater thrill?). |
SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Music Makers / The Spirit of England Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples (solo tenor), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/Nov/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 - Choral |
SIR ARTHUR BLISS
Bliss: Mary of Magdala Dame Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-soprano), James Platt (Bass), BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2019 ] Bliss composed The Enchantress in 1951, the year of his sixtieth birthday, for Kathleen Ferrier. The text is a free adaptation of the Second Idyll of Theocritus, made by Henry Reed, and well suited to Bliss's love of classical Greek... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Concerto for 2 & 3 Pianos / Piano Concerto in D minor, KV 466 Daniel Barenboim, Andras Schiff, Sir Georg Solti (pianos) / English Chamber Orchestra [ Decca ABC Australian Eloquence / CD - released 10/Feb/2006 ] 'The finale, a kind of rondo-minuet, is delightful, with energetic keyboard work that nevertheless dances' [Concerto for 3 Pianos] Gramophone |