SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: The Queen of Spades (Symphonic Suite) / On Guard for Peace Irina Tchistjakova (mezzo-soprano), Niall Docherty (boy soprano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Jun/2009 ] Neeme Järvi is universally applauded for his Prokofiev recordings. Here he conducts the first recording of Symphonic Fragments from The Queen of Spades, as arranged and elaborated by Michael Berkeley, coupled with the seldom performed oratorio On... |
GERALD BARRY
Barry: Alice's Adventures Underground Irish National Opera, Irish Chamber orchestra [ Signum / CD - released 19/Nov/2021 ] Signum Classics is proud to announce a new label partnership and recording debut with Irish National Opera, presenting the world-premiere recording of Gerald Barry's opera, Alice's Adventures Under Ground, based on the famous book by Lewis... |
THIERRY LANCINO
Violin Concerto & Prelude and Death of Virgil Isabelle Faust (violin) Orchestre national de France, Gerard Schwarz / Matteo de Monti (baritone) Orchestre philharmonique du Luxembourg, Arturo Tamay [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Sep/2014 ] Lancino writes of his Violin Concerto that his imagination was fired by 'the thought of a little piece of wood (in reality a 1704 Stradivarius), played by Isabelle Faust, confronting a gigantic machine (the full orchestra)'. |
PAUL BEN-HAIM
Ben-Haim: Evocation, Works For The Violin Itamar Zorman (violin), BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Philippe Bach Amy Yang (piano) [ BIS / CD - released 10/Mar/2019 ] Paul Frankenburger left his native Germany in 1933 in response to the National Socialists' rise to power. Up to that point he had been fully immersed in the German tradition and his compositions followed in the footsteps of the great German... |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Works for Cello & Orchestra (Concerto Grosso No. 1 for 3 Cellos / Largo / Sonata for Cello and Orchestra) Ivan Monighetti, Arto Noras, Rafa Kwiatkowski (cellos) Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra (Katowice) / Antoni Wit, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] Best known for his choral and symphonic works, Krzysztof Penderecki has also written many fascinating concertante pieces. His Concerto Grosso No. 1 makes full use of the potential for interplay between three solo cellos and orchestra. |
DIMITAR NEVOV
Piano Concerto & Ballade No 2 Ivo Varbanov, (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Emil Tabakov conductor [ Hyperion / CD - released 7/Jul/2017 ] A refusal to toe the party line in communist Bulgaria led to polymath Dimitar Nenov being marginalized in life, and to posthumous neglect. But this is hugely enjoyable music, well worthy of revival in such fiercely committed performances as we find here. |
ARAM KHACHATURIAN
Khachaturian - The Concertante Works for Piano Iyad Sughayer (piano) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Andrew Litton [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 9/Sep/2022 ] The expressive immediacy of Aram Khachaturian's music, with its sensuous melodic writing, vibrant orchestration and rhythmic drive, resulted in a popularity equalled by few composers of his generation. |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: St. Luke Passion Izabella Klosinska (soprano) Adam Kruszewski (baritone) Romuald Tesarowics (bass) Jaroslaw Malanowics (organ) / Warsaw National / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Jan/2004 ] "Naxos's Penderecki expert steers a sure, dramatic course through a 1960s classic." (Gramophone Jan 2004) |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Werther (Complete Opera) Jael Azzaretti (soprano) Marcus Haddock (tenor) Rene Massis (baritone) / Orchestre National de Lille-Region Nord, Jean-Claude Casadesus, conductor [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD - released 10/Jan/2003 ] The most successful opera composer of his generation in France, Massenet wrote music that has sometimes inspired cynicism and hostility through its particularly sensuous beauty. |
SAMUEL BARBER
Barber: Violin Concerto / Serenade for Strings / Souvenirs (Ballet Suite) James Buswell (violin) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 2/Apr/2002 ] "This is a performance with a genuine heart, superbly played, with a marked care for detail, instrumental colour and melodic inflection, and with a deeply communicative warmth and affection." Daily Telegraph |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Fat Knight / Serenade to Music / Henry V Overture James Clark (violin) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates [ Dutton Epoch SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/May/2017 ] "Yates secures some commendably alert playing from the RSNO, who seem to be thoroughly enjoying the whole experience…it's hard to conceive of a more sympathetic performance of either [the Henry V Overture] or the radiant Serenade to Music in its... |
SALLY BEAMISH
The Singing James Crabb (accordion) Branford Marsalis (alto saxophone) Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Aug/2015 ] The works on this disc of music by Sally Beamish were composed between 2003 and 2012. As a whole the programme highlights the inspiration she has found in Scotland, her adopted homeland. |
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
Cox and Box / Trial by Jury (Complete operettas) James Gilchrist, Neal Davies, Donald Maxwell, Rebecca Evans / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 8/Jul/2005 ] "If you are a G& If S fan, you won't be able to live without this disc; if you are not, this CD just might convert you." (William Dart NZ Herald 3rd Aug 2005) |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Schumann: Introduction and Concerto-Allegro Jeno Jando (piano) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Jul/1999 ] "Jeno Jando and his Polish colleagues strike me as getting the balance just about right" Classic CD |
DONIZETTI
Mary Stuart (Scenes from the opera in English) Janet Baker, English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos Opera in English / CD - released 17/Nov/2001 ] Janet Baker made her last appearances with English National Opera |
DONIZETTI
Mary Stuart (Complete Opera in English) Janet Baker, Rosalind Plowright, English National Opera, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos Opera in English / 2 CD - released 17/Nov/2001 ] Janet Baker made her last appearances with English National Opera |
ARTHUR SULLIVAN
Sullivan: Ivanhoe (Complete Opera) Janice Watson (sop) Geraldine McGreevy (sop) Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-sop) Toby Spence (ten) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales, David Lloyd-Jones [ Chandos / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2010 ] "The singers provide a polished performance, sing superbly and support each other admirably. Special mention should be made of Janice Watson with sincerity of portrayal and effortless top notes" (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Feb 2010) |
PADEREWSKI
Paderewski: Piano Concerto Janina Fialkowska (piano), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/1999 ] "Paderewski's...Piano Concerto of 1888 is a lovely work, a vehicle for virtuoso display, as is the Fantasy. Janina Fialkowska is an articulate, sensitive soloist." - The Independent |
VALENTIN SILVESTROV
Silvestrov: Symphony for Violin and Orchestra / Postludium for Piano and Orchestra Janusz Wawrowski (violin) Jurgis Karnavičius (piano) / Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Lyndon-Gee/ [ Naxos / CD - released 24/May/2024 ] Berlin-born Lukas Foss studied music in Paris before settling in Philadelphia in 1937. Though he freely explored diverse compositional styles, three of the works in this recording fall into his early neo-Classical period and exemplify his dictum that... |