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ARNOLD BAX
Four Orchestral Pieces / Phantasy / etc Philip Dukes (viola) / BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis [ Chandos / CD - released 20/Aug/2014 ] "Dukes deliver the Phantasy's solo part with a forthright energy that seems to thwart loveliness of tone. In every other department these performances could hardly be finer. The orchestral playing is vivid and precise." (BBC Music) |
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TCHEREPNIN / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / STRAVINSKY / SATIE / PROKOFIEV / BALAKIREV / etc
Diaghilev - Ballets Russes Pierre Boulez, André Cluytens, Igor Markevitch, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn, Sir Simon Rattle, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Jean Martinon, Charles Dutoit, et [ Warner Classics / 22 CD Box Set - released 11/Mar/2022 ] The Ballets russes was founded in Paris in 1909 by the visionary impresario Serge Diaghilev. Innovative and flamboyant, he had a genius for bringing together the most brilliant composers, dancers, choreographers and designers. |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Complete Violin Concertos & Sinfonia Concertante Rachel Barton Pine (violin) / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, with Matthew Lipman (viola) [ Avie / 2 CD - released 18/Apr/2015 ] "there is much to enjoy in Barton Pine's sensitive, finely honed performances, especially of Nos. 4 & 5 (plenty of temperament in the latter's 'Turkish' eruption). With a nod to period performance, she articulates crisply and uses vibrato modestly." |
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BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 3 E flat Major op. 55 & No. 4 B flat Major op. 60 Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart; Sir Roger Norrington [ Hanssler / CD - released 10/Jan/2004 ] "A great, wild fantasy… hardly a symphony" one audience member from the premiere of the Third Symphony proclaimed. Another moaned: "…it lasts a whole hour!" With the premiere of the Third Symphony in 1804, Beethoven forever altered the relationship... |
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BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 1 C Major op. 21 & No. 2 D Major op.36 Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart / Sir Roger Norrington [ Hanssler / CD - released 10/Jan/2004 ] It would be no coincidence that Beethoven would choose the year 1800 for the premiere for his First Symphony, ushering in with the new century, a new major work. |
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DVORAK
Symphony No 9 / Carnival Overture Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart; Sir Roger Norrington [ Hanssler Classic / CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] Roger Norrington and his historically sensitive orchestra turn to the music of Dvorak, beginning with the composer's most famous symphony. Norrington and company provide a performance as exciting as discovering a New World. The programme is completed... |
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WILLIAM WALTON
Walton: Belshazzar's Feast / Symphony No. 1 / Cello Concerto / etc Ralph Kirshbaum (cello) Sherrill Milnes (baritone) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/1999 ] "An excellent account of Belshazzar's Feast (1930)...this is a spectacular recording and there is particularly clear enunciation from the Royal Scottish National Chorus and from Sherill Milnes." (MusicWeb) |
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DVORAK
Cello Concerto (with Dohnányi - Konzertstück for Cello and Orchestra) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 26/Apr/2012 ] The Cello Concerto in B minor by DvoĆák has become one of his most popular works, and perhaps the most popular concerto ever written for the instrument. He was asked to write this piece by a friend of Wagner, the cellist Hanuš Wihan. Initially... |
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GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: - The Planets Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 25/May/2016 ] Simon Rattle's original 1980 recording of The Planets with the Philharmonia Orchestra. |
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SIR RICHARD BURTON
The Arabian Nights - The book of a thousand nights and a night (Read by Philip Madoc) [ Naxos Audio Books / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Aug/2009 ] Though The Arabian Nights are generally known as stories for children, they were originally tales for adults full of adventure, sexuality, violence and the supernatural. They certainly inspired the imagination of Sir Richard Burton, the... |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Complete Opera recorded in 1967) Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Anna di Stasio, Rolando Panerai / Rome Opera, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 25/Apr/2018 ] 'a performance that will remind you of the first time you fell in love with this opera' (Good CD Guide) |
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ANDZEJ PANUFNIK
Symphony No. 9 / Bassoon Concerto Robert Thompson (bassoon) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andzej Panufnik [ Heritage / CD - released 1/May/2015 ] "[the Bassoon Concerto] has a pronounced grainy grimness offset by dramatic impulses and Thompson's beautiful lyric tone. The hopeful symphony not only takes the rainbow as a symbol, but endeavours to translate its optical principles into music." (Su |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts [Requiem Mass] Ronald Dowd (tenor) / Wandsworth School Boys Choir / London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus / Sir Colin Davis [ Pentatone SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Aug/2008 ] "AT LONG LAST! WE GET TO HEAR THE FIRST REALLY GOOD RECORDING OF THE BERLIOZ REQUIEM THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE HEARD!!!" (SA-CD.net *****) |
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HAYDN / BEETHOVEN
Haydn: Symphonies Nos 88 & 99 / Beethoven: Symphony No 1 in C Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ Pentatone SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 12/Apr/2005 ] "With its warmth, exuberance and pungency of detail, this is modern-instrument Haydn as its finest." Richard Wigmore, Daily Telegraph |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (complete opera recorded in 2003) Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside / Dorothea Roschmann / Will Hartmann / Diana Damrau / Franz-Josef Selig / Sir Colin Davis (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 24/Oct/2003 ] G :- "This production by David McVicar has been rightly lauded, and with such a cast of singers and sound quality to match, I urge you to take advantage of a first-rate venture." -CLASSICWEB |
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W.A. MOZART
Mozart: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (complete opera recorded in 2003) BLU-RAY Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Simon Keenlyside / Dorothea Roschmann / Will Hartmann / Diana Damarau / Franz-Josef Selig / Sir Colin Davis (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "Diana Damrau's supremely sung Queen of the Night oozes class, while Simon Keenlyside's profoundly human, touchingly sympathetic view of Papageno deserves an Olivier Award." (Classic FM) |
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JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphony No 1 / Karelia Suite / Swan of Tuonela / Finlandia Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ ALTO / CD - released 10/Nov/2012 ] "Gibson was a much under-recorded conductor, so this reissue of his tight-reined, yet sweepingly intense way with early Sibelius is especially welcome. The RPO responds to him in classy style." (BBC Music) |
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DANIEL JONES
Symphony No.6 / Symphony No.9 / The Country Beyond the Stars Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra / Sir Charles Groves & Bryden Thomson [ Lyrita / CD - released 30/Aug/2008 ] "I have no doubt that there are those who will find this disc (or at the very least parts of it) nothing short of revelatory." (MusicWeb March 2004) |
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SIBELIUS
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra / Sir John Barbirolli [ Testament / CD - released 1/May/2010 ] "Barbirolli's October 1962 account of the Second Symphony with the RPO… finds Sir John at his inspirational best in a reading which marries outsize but never wilful temperament to edge-of-seat spontaneity and keen poetic instinct." (Gramophone) |
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BERLIOZ
Symphonie Fantastique / Le Carnaval Romain Overture Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Royal Philharmonic / SACD - released 10/Oct/2008 ] Digitally recorded in 1994 and now released on SACD sourround sound. |