FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 'Scottish' / Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 (with Schumann - Piano Concerto) Maria João Pires (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ LSO Live SACD + BLU-RAY / 2 Hybrid SACD/DVD - released 10/Nov/2014 ] "a reading formed by life experience…Pires is supported by conductor and orchestra magnificently...I've never heard so much of the orchestral colour and detail in any other Schumann recording … My anticipation that this might be a special recording h |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626 Marie Arnet (soprano) Anna Stephany (mezzo soprano) Darren Jeffery (bass) / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2008 ] 'this performance beneifts from marvellous sound and shows Davis secure in his tempo choices and bringing that combination of solemnity, grandeur and drama' Sound **** Performance ***** BBC Music Magazine |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Pulcinella / Le baiser de la fee (The Fairy's Kiss) Mark Beesley (bass) / Robin Leggate (tenor) / Diana Montague, mezzo-soprano / London Symphony Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra / Robert Craft [ Naxos Stravinsky Edition Vol 5 / CD - released 23/Mar/2006 ] "This CD attracts another unhesitating recommendation and collectors should add it to the Stravinsky/Craft section on their shelves. This is turning into an excellent set whose recordings have that modern technical advantage over those in the elderly... |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri, Op. 50 Mark Padmore, Sally Matthews, Kate Royal, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 20/Oct/2015 ] "You can really tell that Rattle loves this work. His approach is full of affection - listen to the care he lavishes on the stunning ending of Part Two - but also architectural breadth." (MusicWeb) |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: The Piano Concertos / Le Tombeau de Couperin / etc Martha Argerich (piano) Michel Baroff (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 20/Jul/2001 ] "...it is clear from the initial whipcrack that it is to be exciting sonically, with an attractive orchestral crispness allied to bass strength." Gramophone |
PHILIP GLASS / IGOR STRAVINSKY
Glass & Stravinsky: Violin Concertos David Nebel (violin), London Symphony Orchestra, Baltic Sea Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi [ Sony Classical / CD - released 15/May/2020 ] This breath-taking new album features exceptional works by two of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century: The Violin Concerto No.1 by American minimalist composer Philip Glass and Igor Stravinsky's neoclassical Concerto. |
AARON COPLAND
Copland: Appalachian Spring / Fanfare for the Common Man / Dance Symphony / Lincoln Portrait / etc Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, English Chamber Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Zubin Mehta, Neville Marriner, Antál Do [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] |
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
An Introduction To Vaughan Williams (incls 'The Lark Ascending' & 'A London Symphony') Michael Davis (violin) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Intro / CD - released 1/Aug/2006 ] "Thomson's mighty London risks creating a following. This is a magnificent performance which impresses more with each hearing" (MusicWeb bargain of the Month Sept 2006) |
NICCOLO PAGANINI
Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 (with works by Tchaikovsky) [recorded 1987] Midori (violin) / London Symphony Orchestra / Leonard Slatkin [ Newton Classics / CD - released 16/Dec/2010 ] 'A splendid new version of Paganini's Violin Concerto in D, the most famous, because of the enticing lyrical theme of the first movement. Midori, an astonishingly accomplished 13-year-old, is fully equal to the work's formidable technical demands and... |
KHACHATURIAN / BARBER
Two Souls: Concertos Mikhail Simonyan (violin) / london Symphony Orchestra, Kristjan Jarvi [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Mar/2012 ] "Simonyan is a true virtuoso; his playing has a natural, unforced authority and, among other accomplishments, his clear, brilliant spiccato bowing is heard to great effect in the finales of both concertos." (Gramophone Feb 2012) |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Orchestral Music Minnesota Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski / London Symphony Orchestra, Louis Fremaux [ Brilliant Classics / 2 CD - released 20/Apr/2015 ] This generously filled 2CD set offers the near-complete orchestral works by Maurice Ravel. Ravel's oeuvre is small but of an exceptionally high quality, crafted by a perfectionist. His orchestral works are set in extraordinary colours and timbres,... |
SAINT-GEORGES / STILL / COLERIDGE-TAYLOR / CORDERO / KAY / WALKER / etc
Black Composer Series - The Complete Album Collection Miriam Fried, Jaime Laredo, Sanford Allen (violins) Faye Robinson, Doralene Davis (sopranos) Juilliard String Quartet, London Symphony Orchestra, etc [ Sony Classical / 10 CD Box Set - released 18/Jan/2019 ] "The sound is in general typical of Sony at this period in time, close set with good spatial definition. Some journey, this, and I'd heartily recommend it." Gramophone |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 1-7, Kullervo, Pohjola's Daughter, The Oceanides Monica Groop (mezzo), Peter Mattei (baritone) / London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD + Blu-ray audio / 6 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 14/Oct/2016 ] This digibox set of classic LSO Live recordings also features a Pure Audio Blu-ray, containing HD master audio, allowing listeners to experience this award-winning cycle in a whole new way. |
STRAVINSKY
Symphony of Psalms (with Boulanger - Psalms) The Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, John Elliot Gardiner [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 11/Sep/2002 ] 'A smooth but powerful reading of the Stravinsky that more than holds its own against stiff competition.' Gramophone |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Overture & Incidental Music Ceri-lyn Cissone (Hermia/Fairy/Titania); Alexander Knox (Lysander/Puck) / Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ LSO Live SACD + BLU-RAY AUDIO / 2 CD/Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Mar/2017 ] Continuing his award-winning cycle of works by Felix Mendelssohn, Sir John Eliot Gardiner leads the LSO, his Monteverdi Choir and three talented young actors from the Guildhall in a landmark performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. |
MAX BRUCH
Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 10/Aug/2015 ] As part of a tribute to Lydia Mordkovitch, this re-issue features Bruch's Violin Concertos Nos 2 and 3 performed by Lydia Mordkovitch with Richard Hickox and the London Symphony Orchestra. Both were recorded in 1998 in Blackheath Halls in London. |
RACHMANINOV / KHACHATURIAN
Moura Lympany - Decca Recordings 1951-1952 Moura Lympany (piano) New Symphony Orchestra of London / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Anthony Collins. Anatole Fistoulari [ Decca Original Masters / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/2004 ] "… the orchestra in this version has some real body, and the piano is excellently reproduced … Miss Lympany gives a masterly performance." Gramophone March 1953 (Khachaturian) |
W.A. MOZART
Requiem in D minor Marie Arnet (soprano) Anna Stephany (mezzo) Andrew Kennedy (tenor), Darren Jeffrey (bass) / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live / CD - released 9/Jun/2008 ] 'Davis's approach to the Requiem...contained both tragic grandeur and high drama, with the Dies Irae pointing the way towards the theatrical vividness of some 19th-century settings, but nothing was remotely sentimental of self-pitying' The Guardian |
HERBERT HOWELLS
Howells: Missa Sabrinensis / Stabat Mater Neill Archer (tenor) Janice Watson (soprano) Della Jones (contralto) Martyn Hill (tenor) / London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra. [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 27/Sep/2005 ] 'Gratitude, then, for an essential contribution towards the re-evaluation of an original visionary…' Gramophone 'Editor's Choice' on Missa Sabrinensis |
BRAHMS
The Collection: Six CD set (Incls Piano Concerto no 2, Symphonies & Ein Deutsches Requiem) Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Berliner Symphoniker / London Symphony Orchestra / Karl Leister (clarinet) [ Brilliant Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 8/May/2008 ] Enjoy Johannes Brahms' symphonies 3 and 4, the 2nd piano concerto, the violin and double concertos, Hungarian dances (version for orchestra), the 'German' Requiem and the Clarinet quintet. |