PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Complete ballet) London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn [ EMI Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 12/Feb/2010 ] "Here is luscious music given a warm, affectionate reading by Previn. The orchestral playing is expert and polished, and the rich acoustic brings out the full texture of Tchaikovsky's scoring." (Gramophone) |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No 2 / Vocalise / Aleko: Intermezzo & Dance London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn [ Warner Masters / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "This remains a classic account." - Rosette (Highest Rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
FREDERICK DELIUS
The Best of Delius [Incls 'In a Summer Garden' & 'The Walk to the Paradise Garden'] London Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Collins [ Decca Australian SBS Eloquence / CD - released 20/Sep/2015 ] Five substantial pieces of 'classic' Delius are brought together on this remarkable and heartfelt tribute to the English composer (who spent very little of his actual career in England!), Frederick Delius. |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 4 London Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Collins [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "Collins's readings possess a red-blooded fervour and thrusting energy to which many will rightly respond" (Gramophone) |
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No 3 / Leonore Overture No 2 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live / CD - released 16/Aug/2006 ] 'the clarity is exemplary ...Haitink's performance has a magnificently strong forward flow to it ... The orchestral detail is excellent and enhances the subtlety of Haitink's phrasing' Classicalsource.com (UK), July 2006 |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven Symphony No 3 / Leonore Overture No 2 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / SACD - released 16/Aug/2006 ] ‘Haitink is now hearing Beethoven with the experience of period-instrument interpretations in mind. The snap, the bite, the punchy fortissimos … taut rhythms and mounting tension crowned the night in the Eroica’ The Times (UK), 23 November 2005 |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 1 & 5 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live / CD - released 19/Oct/2006 ] "Beethoven's majesty as a symphonist is by no means in need of special pleading, but Haitink's interpretations authoritatively underline the substance, strength and span of utterance that make these works so great" The Daily Telegraph |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 1 & 5 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / SACD - released 19/Oct/2006 ] ‘His Fifth was a knockout … Beethoven’s Fifth has become so familiar that sometimes such innovative ideas can pass unnoticed, but not here. Haitink seemed in a state of exaltation throughout the final allegro …he is a different, energised man, caught... |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 2 & 6 Pastoral London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live / CD - released 26/Nov/2006 ] "The challenge, then, was not only to make the Eroica sound ground-breaking again, but to ensure that the Second worked on its own terms. It did so convincingly, thanks to an interpretation from Haitink that looked beyond the Second's springy... |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 4 & 8 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live / CD - released 26/Nov/2006 ] "This is without doubt on of the best Fourths around...[The Eighth] is one hell of a ride...the coda is about as thrilling as it's possible to be in this music." Artistic Quality 10 Sound Quality 10 ClassicsToday.com |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 4 & 8 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / SACD - released 26/Nov/2006 ] "All the performances are characterised by a freshness of approach and a lack of routine" (Disc of the Month BBC MUsic Magazine January 2007) |
BRAHMS
Symphony No.3 / Serenade No.2 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Jan/2005 ] "The third symphony received the really grand treatment, stately in tempo till the finale, often wonderfully profound in sonority and cumulatively contoured. The true climax of the opening movement was held back to the launch of the coda and the... |
BRUCKNER
Symphony No.4 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 12/Dec/2011 ] Bernard Haitink is internationally renowned for his interpretations of Bruckner and is widely recognised as the world's leading Bruckner conductor. Bruckner's Fourth Symphony, 'Romantic', conjures up visions of mediaeval knights, huntsmen and... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Eine Alpensinfonie [The Alpine Symphony] recorded live at the Barbican June 2008 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (conductor) [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 27/Mar/2010 ] "no-one has quite Haitink's sense of the piece as a rational symphonic argument...The performance gathers strength and intensity as it proceeds...Admirers should not hesitate to acquire an archetypal example of Haitink's unobtrusive podium manner."... |
BRAHMS
Symphonies Nos 1-4 / Tragic Overture / Double Concerto / Serenade No 2 London Symphony Orchestra. Bernard Haitink conductor [ LSO Live / 4 CD - released 5/Oct/2005 ] After struggling for years to come to terms with his fear of comparison to Beethoven , Brahms finally completed his First Symphony at the age of 43. It was hailed as a triumph and the remaining symphonies followed relatively easily. |
BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos 6 Pastoral & 2 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (conductor) [ LSO Live / SACD - released 19/Jun/2006 ] "Haitink and the LSO are on course for a great modern Beethoven cycle. Much as he is one of my favourite conductors, I’d never really been a fan of Haitink’s Beethoven until now. It seems as though he has returned to and rethought the scores. His way... |
BRAHMS
Symphony No 1 / Tragic Overture London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (conductor) [ LSO Live / CD - released 15/Apr/2004 ] 'This was the LSO surpassing even themselves … inspired by the man on the podium, Bernard Haitink … this was an exceptional reinvention of the work.' The Times (UK), 24 May 2003 |
BRAHMS
Symphony No 4 London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink (conductor) [ LSO Live / SACD - released 27/Feb/2005 ] "Contrasts were realised to the full without vagaries of tempo, and at the end, where Brahms finally breaks away from his bass line, the release of pent-up force came like an earthquake." - The Independent, 21 June 2004 - Hybrid SACD Compatible... |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Complete Orchestral Music: Bolero, Rhapsodie espagnole, Daphnis et Chloe, etc London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Trio / 3 CD Box Set - released 26/Jun/2002 ] "These strikingly empathetic performances shouldn't be missed, and the sound is outstanding." (BBC Music Magazine) |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.3 in A minor 'Scottish' / Overtures London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Oct/1985 ] Original recordings recorded St. John's, Smith Square, London, 1984 |