VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Symphony No 2 'London' [Original Version] (with Butterworth - Banks of Green Willow) London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Mar/2003 ] 'Hickox and the LSO respond with an unquenchable spirit, generous flexibility and tender affection that suit VW's admirably ambitious inspiration to a T, and Chandos' sound is big and bold to match. Quite simply, an essential purchase for anyone... |
RALF VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 2 'London' [Original Version] (with Butterworth-The Banks of Green Willow) London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/May/2004 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER, Orchestral and Recording of the Year |
AMERICAN TAPESTRY
American Tapestry (Incls 'Suite of Old American Dances' & 'Rhapsody in Blue') Lone Star Wind Orchestra / Eugene Migliaro Corporon (with Richard Shuster, piano) [ Naxos Wind Band Classics / CD - released 10/May/2008 ] John Williams' arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner sets the stage for this collection of American works for wind band spanning 100 years. Featuring traditional compositions from the likes of George Gershwin, Howard Hanson, Robert Russell Bennett... |
DELIBES / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / MINKUS / OFFENBACH / MASSENET / etc
Richard Bonynge - Complete Ballet Recordings L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, English Chamber Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 45 CD Box Set - released 18/Dec/2020 ] 48 CDs compiled by Cyrus Meher-Homji, a long-time friend of Richard Bonynge, including familiar scores by Tchaikovsky & Delibes alongside works revived by Maestro Bonynge throughout his career. |
JOHN GAY
Gay: The Beggar's Opera (Complete Opera) Joan Sutherland, Kiri te Kanawa, Angela Lansbury, Warren Mitchell, Alfred Marks / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 22/Sep/2015 ] Recording Location: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, March 1981 In 1981 Richard Bonynge, together with an illustrious cast of singers (Joan Sutherland, Kiri Te Kanawa, et. al.) and actors (Angela Lansbury, Warren Mitchell, Michael Hordern, et. al.) went... |
ARTHUR BLISS
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra / A Colour Symphony Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/2006 ] 'Bliss's A Colour Symphony needs a full Technicolour acoustic to do justice to its heraldic splendour. The Chandos sound certainly gives us that...A rewarding release.' The Times |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN / JOHN VEALE
Violin Concertos Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / BBC Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Jun/2001 ] 'It is a fine piece, at times not far from Walton in manner, and Lydia Mordkovitch obviously enjoys its resourceful writing for her instrument.' - Gramophone |
MALCOLM WILLIAMSON
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra / Piano Concerto No. 3 / Sonata for Two Pianos Malcolm Williamson (organ & piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / London Philharmonic Orchestra (with Richard Rodney Bennett, piano) [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] "Wholly involving from start to finish, with music of immense freshness and vitality" (MusicWeb Sept 2007) |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas Vol 7: BWV25, BWV78, BWV17; BWV50, BWV130, BWV19, BWV149 Malin Hartelius / Robin Tyson / Richard Wyn Roberts / James Gilchrist / Peter Harvey / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists / Gardiner [ Soli Deo Gloria / 2 CD - released 15/Nov/2006 ] RECORDING OF THE MONTH (JAN 2007) MUSICWEB.UK Three cantatas for the 14th Sunday after Trinity and cantatas for Feast of St Michael and All Angels. |
RICHARD FUCHS
In A Strange Land: the songs of Richard Fuchs Margaret Medlyn (mezzo) Jenny Wollerman (soprano) Richard Greager (tenor) Roger Wilson (bass) Bruce Greenfield, Richard Mapp (pianos) [ Roll Over Productions / CD - released 1/May/2011 ] This is the first CD of Richard Fuchs' music, released more than 60 years after his death. Fuchs was a German Jewish late-Romantic composer. His music was banned by the Nazis. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Forza Del Destino (complete opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas, Richard Tucker, Carlo Tagliabue / Chorus and Orchestra of La Scarla, Milan / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical / 3 CD - released 15/Feb/2008 ] "I have compared these extensively with a variety of EMI CD releases-and with original LP releases as well. ...There is a fullness, richness, to the sound here that EMI has missed in virtually all of its attempts." Fanfare |
VERDI
Aida (complete opera) Maria Callas (soprano) / Fedora Barbieri (mezzo) / Richard Tucker (tenor) / Tito Gobbi (baritone) / La Scala Chorus and Orchestra / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 7/Feb/2007 ] Callas' dramatic power and her ability to shade the beautiful vocal line here find the best imaginable medium". In, for example, the opening phrases of the Act III love duet with Radamès, 'Là, tra foreste vergini', her voice has a limpidity which... |
VERDI
Aida (Complete opera) Maria Callas (soprano) Richard Tucker (tenor) Fedora Barbieri (mezzo) Tito Gobbi (baritone) / La Scala Milan / Tullio Serafin [ Regis Records / 2 CD - released 10/Mar/2009 ] "The Nile scene has never been performed more powerfully and characterfully than on this vintage La Scala set. Though Callas is hardly as sweet-toned as some will think essential for an Aida, her imagination is irresistible and she is matched by Tito... |
HARRISON BIRTWISTLE
Gawain (complete opera) Marie Angel / Anne Howells / Richard Greager / John Tomlinson [ NMC / 2 CD - released 5/Sep/2014 ] Birtwistle's fascination with myth and ritual has influenced many of his works and this opera, its libretto by David Harsent, is based on the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, with a plot featuring castles, eerie nocturnal... |
JOSEF HAYDN
Masses ''Groae Orgelmesse' & 'Missa Cellensis' Mark Padmore, Susan Gritton / Collegium Musicum 90 / Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 1/May/2002 ] "Hickox chooses lively yet never hectic tempi, secures clean choral and orchestral textures and strikes a happy balance between dancing energy and due liturgical gravity...a clear first choice." ***** Five Stars BBC Music Magazine (Sept 2002) |
GEORGE DYSON
Nebuchadnezzar / Woodland Suite / etc Mark Padmore (tenor) Neal Davies (bass-baritone) / BBC Symphony Chorus / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 31/Oct/2007 ] "Enthusiasts for the festive yet idiosyncratic mainstream of British choral music need look no further." (MusicWeb April 2008) |
COPLAND / PIAZZOLLA / HOGBERG / BRAHMS / etc
Dances to a Black Pipe Martin Frost (clarinet) / Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2011 ] "This partnership of soloists and orchestra is an inspired one, not least in the smaller-scale pieces...There is a quirky and highly personal essay in lieu of booklet-note from Fröst himself." (Gramophone) |
JEAN FRANCAIX
The music for solo piano, duo & duet Martin Jones, with Richard McMahon & Adrian Farmer (pianos) [ Nimbus / 2 CD - released 20/Dec/2012 ] " Martin Jones and his accompanying colleagues also obviously have a high regard for his music and that comes out in sparklingly brilliant performances." (MusicWeb) |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
The Gondoliers (1950 recording) Martyn Green, Margaret Mitchell, Alan Styler, Ella Halman, Richard Watson, Leonard Osborn / D'Oyly Carte Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Isidore Godfrey [ Naxos Historical Great operetta recordings / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2011 ] "This recording will appeal to collectors who are confirmed Gilbert and Sullivan fans, particularly to those who want to hear why Martyn Green was such a beloved Savoyard." (ClassicalNet) |
BRITTEN
Serenade / Nocturne / Les Illuminations / Noyes Fludde Martyn Hill (tenor) / Frank Lloyd (horn) / Coull String Quartet / Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra from Schools of Salisbury and Chester / Richard Hicko [ Virgin de Virgin / 2 CD - released 21/May/2006 ] [Song cycles] ‘Rewarding alternatives to the classic recordings by Peter Pears... Ravishing.’ Penguin Guide |