ALBERT LORTZING
Der Waffenschmied (The Armorer of Worms) (complete opera) John Tomlinson, Ruth Ziesak, Boje Skovhus, Kjell Magnus Sandve, Ursula Kunz / Munich Radio Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus, Leopold Hager [ Hanssler Profil / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Oct/2008 ] Munich Radio Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus, Leopold Hager |
JORG WIDMANN
Elegie Jorg Widmann (clarinet) Heinz Holliger (piano) / Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Christoph Poppen [ ECM New Series / CD - released 1/Jun/2011 ] "These concentrated miniatures of almost Webern-like brevity showcase Widmann's virtuosity as well as his comprehensive understanding of his instrument's capabilities." The Guardian, 21st April 2011 *** |
SALLINEN
Kullervo (complete opera) Jorma Hynninen, Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, Matti Salminen, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Ulf Soderblom [ Ondine / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2009 ] Derived from the Finnish national epic Kalevala and from the play Kullervo by Aleksis Kivi, it tells the story of the magician Kullervo, the ill-fated son of Kalervo and the only irredeemably tragic character in Finnish mythology. |
AARRE MERIKANTO
Juha (complete opera) Jorma Hynninen, Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, Raimo Sirkia / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Jukka-Pekka Saraste [ Ondine / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2009 ] Opera in Three Acts |
LEEVI MADETOJA
Juha (complete opera) Jorma Hynninen, Maija Looka, Eero Erkkila, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Jussi Jalas [ Ondine / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2009 ] This double CD contains one of the great Finnish national operas, Juha, composed by Leevi Madetoja in 1934. The libretto by Aino Ackté and Leevi Madetoja is based on the novel of the same name by Juhani Aho. |
BRAHMS / STRAUSS
Brahms & Strauss Joseph Moog (piano), German Radio Philharmonic, Nicholas Milton (conductor) [ Onyx / CD - released 8/Dec/2017 ] Brahms was 48 years old and at the height of his powers when he completed his Piano Concerto No.2. The Olympian B flat Concerto is, famously, not only one of the most technically challenging of all piano concertos to play but also one of the longest... |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: La Cenerentola (Cinderella) (Complete opera) Joyce DiDonato (mezzo) Josa Manuel Zapata (tenor) Paolo Bordogna (baritone) / Prague Chamber Choir / SWR Radio Orchestra Kaiserslauten / Alberto Zedda [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 18/Dec/2005 ] "A wonderfully spirited live recording of what is probably Rossini's masterpiece. With an ensemble of mostly young singers, where American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in the title role could hardly be bettered." (MusicWeb) |
VERDI
Rigoletto (highlights from the opera) Jozef Abel, tenor / Alida Ferrarini, soprano / Alzbeta Michalkova, contralto / Slovak Philharmonic Chorus / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Alexande [ Naxos Opera Classics / CD - released 8/Mar/2004 ] "Eduard Turmagian gives...a lucidly thought-through performance, dramatically sensitive...This recording of Rigoletto is astonishing value" - Gramophone |
VERDI
Rigoletto (Complete opera) Jozef Abel (tenor) Alida Ferrarini (soprano) Alzbeta Michalkova (contralto) / Slovak Philharmonic Chorus / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Rahbari [ Naxos Opera Classics / CD - released 8/Mar/2004 ] "Eduard Turmagian gives...a lucidly thought-through performance, dramatically sensitive...This recording of Rigoletto is astonishing value" - Gramophone |
J. R. R. TOLKIEN
The Hobbit [The Original BBC Radio Drama] {nearly four hours on one MP3 CD) Radio Dramatisation [ BBC Radio Collection / CD - released 10/Jun/2010 ] Tolkien's famous saga, the prelude to the Lord of the Rings, has all the ingredients of fantasy and adventure: dwarves, elves, goblins and trolls, a fearsome dragon, a great wizard, a perilous quest and a dramatic climax. At the centre is the... |
J. R. R. TOLKIEN
The Lord of the Rings - Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring Radio dramatisation with Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens & others [ BBC Audio / 4 CD Box Set - released 10/Jun/2010 ] A BBC radio dramatisation of the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Brian Sibley's famous 1981 adaptation, starring Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, has been divided into three corresponding parts. |
PUCCINI
Edgar (Complete Opera) Julia Varady, Mary Ann McCormick, Carl Tanner / ChAÅ“ur de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, Yoel Levi [ Astree Naive / 2 CD - released 30/Jun/2003 ] "there is much to enjoy, especially when the piece gets the right degree of belief and commitment, as it does here. Levi plays the score as if it's top-drawer Puccini, and though the only really star name here is Julia Varady, the rest are in good... |
HANS WERNER HENZE
Henze: Nachtstücke und Arien / Los caprichos / Englische Liebeslieder Juliane Banse, Narek Hakhnazaryan / ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, Marin Alsop [ Naxos / CD - released 24/Jan/2022 ] Hans Werner Henze was initially an avant-garde composer but Nachtstücke und Arien symbolised his departure from dodecaphonic writing, to the annoyance of his contemporaries Boulez, Nono and Stockhausen at Darmstadt. |
BIZET / GOUNOD / MASSENET / MOZART / PUCCINI / etc
Per Amore: Opera Arias Juliane Banse (Soprano) / Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Christoph Poppen [ Hanssler / CD - released 20/Mar/2011 ] "Banse consistently uses her exceptionally sweet and pure voice with extraordinary precision, hitting exposed top notes effortlessly and shading her tone most subtly." Recording of the Month Gramophone Magazine, April 2011 |
CHARLES KOECHLIN
Vocal Works With Orchestra Juliane Banse (Soprano) / SWR Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart / Heinz Holliger (cond) [ Hanssler / 2 CD - released 16/Apr/2003 ] BBC Music Magazine Awards 2007: Premiere Recording Award |
CARL ORFF
Orff: Carmina Burana Jutta Vulpius, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Kurt Rehm / Radio Symphony Orchestra of Leipzig / Herbert Kegel [ Berlin Classics Basics / CD - released 10/Mar/2008 ] |
Kamu/Finnish Radio S.O.
Sallinen:sinfonia [ Bis / CD ] |
Kamu/Swedish Radio S.O.
Strausse Aus Wien [ Bis / CD ] |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Violin Concerto (with works by Halvorsen, Sinding & Svendsen) Dong-Suk Kang (violin) / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Leaper [ Naxos / CD ] "Even if it were at full price it would feature quite high in the current lists." Penguin Guide |
SAARIAHO
D'Om le Vrai Sens / Laterna Magica / Leino Songs Kari Kriikku (clarinet) / Anu Komsi (soprano) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Oct/2011 ] "This is a superbly produced recording from the Ondine label, which has been championing Saariaho's music for some time now. Justly celebrated as one of the leading composers of our time, this varied and deeply fascinating programme is as good a... |