LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 Maria João Pires (piano) / Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding [ Onyx / CD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] "That wonderfully rounded, opalescent tone that her touch invariably produces is coupled with the insight, poetic sensibility and discreet life-giving force that come from years of experience." (Gramophone Award WINNER 2015 - Concerto) |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107 / Cello Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 126 Maria Kliegel (cello) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra; Antoni Wit, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Jan/2004 ] "Kliegel manages to convey a feeling of spontaneous improvisation and her command of the instrument is impressive. Naxos's recording is nicely ambient." - Gramophone - Oct.1996 |
SCHNITTKE
Cello Concerto / Stille Musik for violin & cello / Sonata for cello & piano Maria Kliegel (cello) Raimund Havenith (piano) Burkhard Godhoff (violin) / Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra / Gerhard Markson (cond) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] The Russian composer Alfred Schnittke was born in 1934, the son of a journalist of Lithuanian-Jewish origin and a mother who taught German. |
ROSSINI
La Donna Del Lago (complete opera recorded in 2006) Mariana Pizzolato / Sonia Ganassi / Maxim Mironov / Prague Chamber Choir / SWR Radio Orchestra / Alberto Zedda [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD - released 20/Feb/2012 ] "Maxim Mironov is memorable as the King and there are equally compelling performances by Sonia Ganassi, Marianna Pizzolato and Ferdinand von Bothmer." (Gramophone) |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saens: Messe de Requiem / Partsongs Marie-Paule Dotti (sop) Guillemette Laurens (mezzo) Luca Lombardo (tenor) Nicolas Testa, bass Coro della Radio Svizzera, Lugano Orchestra del Italiana [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 6/Jul/2004 ] This is the only available recording of the Requiem Mass, a highly appealing work with beautiful and complex harmonies. |
GEORGE ENESCU
Isis / Symphony No. 5 Marius Vlad (tenor) / Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, NDR Chor, Peter Ruzicka [ CPO / CD - released 10/Sep/2014 ] These two works by the Rumanian composer Enescu defy classification and exist only in particella form. During the 1990s Pascal Bentoiu completed them and instrumented them in such a way that he might well qualify for consideration as their coauthor.... |
TCHAIKOVSKY / DVORAK / BORODIN / SMETANA / SZMANOWSKI / etc
Slavic Heroes Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone) / Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lukasz Borowicz [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 1/Jan/2012 ] "The basis for this recital is refreshing...Kwiecien really enters the spirit of [The Haunted Manor aria], his focused voice blazing forth in what was the composer's barely concealed encouragement of his countrymen after their unsuccessful uprising... |
RAUTAVAARA / SIBELIUS / SALLINEN / PINGOUD / KAJANUS / ENGLUND / etc
Suomi - Finland 100 - A Century of Finnish Classics Marko Ylönen (cello) / Finnish Radio Symphony / Helsinki Philharmonic / Karelia Philharmonic / Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra / etc [ Ondine / 5 CD Box Set - released 10/Dec/2016 ] 2017 marks the centenary of Finland's independence. This 5 CD collection encompasses works by native composers from 1917 to the present and reflects the flourishing talent, artistry and experimentation of Finland's classical music scene. These... |
GEORGE ANTHEIL
Antheil: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 Markus Becker (piano) / North German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra / Eiji Oue [ CPO / CD - released 24/May/2006 ] "Bad-boy Antheil's Jolly, jazzy piano music is a real steal" (Editor's Choice Gramophone June 2006) |
RAVEL
Daphnis & Chloe-Suite No. 2 / Piano Concerto in G major / La Valse Martha Argerich (piano) / Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra / Gary Bertini [ Capriccio SACD / SACD - released 11/Nov/2006 ] In 1987 Bertini was awarded the Israel Prize, the most prestigious award handed out by the State of Israel. In 1995 he won two prizes: Conductor of the Year, and Fermio Abiatti Prize of the Italian Music Critics Union. |
ANDERS HILLBORG / VAGN HOLMBOE / KARIN REHNQVIST / BERNHARD HENRIK CRUSELL
Nordic Concertos Martin Fröst (clarinet) / Swedish Radio Symphony / Aalborg Symphony / Swedish Chamber / Östgöta Symphonic Wind Ensemble [ BIS / CD - released 10/Dec/2014 ] "Martin Fröst displays versatility and staggering virtuosity: eventful Anders Hillborg, assertive Holmboe, atmospheric Karin Rehnqvist and jolly Crusell." (BBC Music) |
JESPER NORDIN
Jesper Nordin - Emerging from Currents and Waves Martin Fröst (clarinet) / Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Jun/2022 ] 'The fantastic thing about art and music is that one can pose questions and conjure up visions at the same time.' The words are those of the Swedish composer Jesper Nordin, who does exactly that in Emerging from Currents and Waves. |
MOZART / WAGNER / SCHUMANN / HUMPERDINCK / RICHARD STRAUSS / KORNGOLD / BERG
Sings German Arias Matthias Goerne (baritone) / Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 5/Jul/2015 ] "This is a voice with a honeyed, mellow beauty right through its range, and considerable power when needed'" (MusicWeb) |
ANTON BRUCKNER / MICHAEL HAYDN
Anton Bruckner & Michael Haydn: Motets MDR Leipzig Radio Choir Philipp Ahmann [ Pentatone / Hybrid SACD - released 12/Mar/2021 ] TWO MASTERS OF AUSTRIAN CHURCH MUSIC COMBINED The MDR Leipzig Radio Choir and its chief conductor Philipp Ahmann present motets by Anton Bruckner and Michael Haydn. While Bruckner's Locus iste, Christus factus est and Ave Maria enjoy great... |
EUGEN D'ALBERT
Symphony in F major / Tiefland, Op. 34 MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra / Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 7/Feb/2013 ] The ambitious Symphony in F major is d'Albert's single work in this form, showing him as a gifted composer in the tradition of Brahms. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Symphony in C Major / Symphony in E MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl [ Naxos / CD - released 10/Mar/2017 ] Although he is best known for his innovative operas and iconic music dramas, Richard Wagner maintained a keen interest in symphonic composition throughout his career. Written in his late teens and early twenties, these two symphonies stand as a... |
FAURE / DURUFLE
Requiems Miah Persson (soprano) Malena Ernman (mezzo-soprano) Olle Persson (baritone) / Swedish Radio Choir / Fredrik malmberg (conductor) [ BIS / SACD - released 1/Nov/2005 ] Musical settings of the Mass for the Dead have a tendency to dwell on the dramatic high points of the day of judgement and the trumpets of doom (Dies irae and Tuba mirum) – partly for the reason that they really are dramatic high points. |
ANDERS ELIASSON
Quo Vadis for Tenor, Choir and large Orchestra Michael Weinius (tenor) / Swedish Radio Choir / Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Johannes Gustavsson [ CPO Records / CD - released 10/Aug/2011 ] The Swedish composer Anders Eliasson is one of the great nonconformists in the world of contemporary music. |
PETER EOTVOS
DoReMi / Cello Concerto Grosso / Speaking Drums Midori, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Martin Grubinger Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France [ Alpha / CD - released 10/Jul/2016 ] "The first of these three concertos was not only written for Midori, but playfully takes the (adjusted) syllables of her name as a quasi-tone row from which to concoct a tripartite argument." (Sunday Times) |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps, Capriccio & Octuor Mikko Franck; Nathalia Milstein; Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] After Franck, Debussy and Strauss, Mikko Franck and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France here continue their collaboration with Alpha Classics, this time with the spotlight on Igor Stravinsky. The programme begins with two pieces from his... |