JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (with works by Franck & Litolff) Clifford Curzon (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult, London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell [ Decca Legends / CD - released 9/Aug/2010 ] Another great Brahms performance: Curzon's beautifully judged fantasy matched by a smiling, sympathetic Szell - James Jolly, Gramophone 1000th issue |
Dalby / London Esterhazy Orche
Emilia [ Signum / CD - released 27/Apr/2009 ] |
ELGAR
Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 / Sea Pictures, Op. 37 Dame Janet Baker (contralto) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley CBE [ LPO Live / CD - released 10/Jun/2010 ] "Handley's heart, Elgar-attuned, is in the right place - as is his stick...his passionate account of this wonderful movement [the adagio] is very fine. And the work's dramatic coda is superbly done. Janet Baker is in glorious voice in Sea Pictures."... |
Dan Laurin & London Baroque
Stravaganze Napoletane [ Bis / CD - released 4/Oct/2004 ] |
Dana Gillespie with The London Blues Band
Dana Gillespie Live - with The London Blues Band [ Ace Records U.K. / CD ] |
MARK-ANTHONY TURNAGE
Speranza / From the Wreckage Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet), London Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (conductor) [ LSO SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 11/Oct/2013 ] BBC Music Award Nomination 2015 - Orchestral |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Romeo et Juliette (Romeo and Juliet) Daniela Barcellona, Kenneth Tarver / London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Colin Davis [ LSO Live / 2 CD - released 11/Jan/2008 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1801-1850) -- 'Sir Colin Davis's third recorded Roméo et Juliette with fine young soloists and his superb LSO forces. The refinement of the sound brings pianissimos of breathtaking delicacy,... |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Wonderful Town Danielle de Niese, Alysha Umphress, Nathan Gunn, Duncan Rock / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2018 ] 'I cannot imagine better casting for the sisters than the quintessentially sassy Danielle de Niese and the effortlessly funny Alysha Umphress.' The Times |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 & 7 / Pohjola's Daughter / Karelia Suite / etc Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Collins, Thomas Jansen [ Australian Decca SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "I think the star performance is that of the Sixth Symphony - so elusive, so easy to ruin by over-interpreting. I was fascinated by what seemed like a hint of Russian flavouring in the string chants of the coda - well why not?" (Gramophone) |
Dave Brubeck with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. The London Symphony Orchesra. The London Voices. Russell Gloyd, conductor
Classical Brubeck: Beloved Son / Pange Lingua Variations / Voice of the Holy Spirit / Regret [ Telarc Records / 2 CD - released 25/Aug/2003 ] Classical Brubeck is an incredible 2-CD collection based on sacred text and is comprised of four specific works: Beloved Son, Pange Lingua Variations, Voice of the Holy Spirit and Regret. CD |
KHACHATURIAN
Khachaturian (incls Violin Concerto & Spartacus [excerpts]) David Oistrakh (violin) Mindru Katz (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra / etc [ EMI 20th Century Classics / Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2010 ] "Another valuable EMI reissue is a 2-disk set of works of Aram Khachaturian many with the composer on the podium. The major work is the violin concerto played by David Oistrakh who collaborated with the composer in writing the work. One might... |
TCHAIKOVSKY / BRAHMS
Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 / Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77 (Rec 1960/61) David Oistrakh (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Norman Del Mar; London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ BBC Legends / CD - released 7/Jan/2004 ] "The big tone, the generous gestures, the energy and the poetry, all are here, plus an extra shot of 'live' adrenalin" Gramophone |
MALCOLM ARNOLD / YORK BOWEN / RUTH GIPPS / GILBERT VINTER
British Horn Concertos David Pyatt (horn) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Braithwaite (conductor) [ Lyrita / CD - released 12/Apr/2007 ] "For sheer listening pleasure this is one of the best discs to have come my way for a long time" (MusicWeb May 2007) |
ALUN HODDINOTT / FRANK BRIDGE / E.J. MOREAN / ALAN RAWSTHORNE / etc
British Piano Concertos David Wilde, Philip Fowke, Malcolm Binns, Howard Shelley, Peter Wallfisch (piano) / London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, New Philharmonia, etc [ Lyrita / 4 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/2015 ] "A set of 'British Piano Concertos' compiled from the Lyrita catalogue is a very tempting proposition…[the] sound is consistently excellent, the notes are informative and at a budget price, it's an extremely attractive way of acquiring a lot of... |
LENNOX BERKELEY
Piano Concerto in B flat / Concerto for Two Pianos David Wilde (piano) / New Philharmonia / Nicholas Braithwaite / Garth Beckett & Boyd McDonald (pianos) / London Philharmonic / Norman Del Mar [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Jun/2007 ] "The recording is superb. The performance seems to me to bring out the best of the music...although these pieces may not be for those of you unfamiliar as yet with Lennox Berkeley, for those of you looking to add these pieces to your library then do... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 [German Requiem] David Wilson-Johnson (bass-baritone), Felicity Lott (soprano) / London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Richard Hickox Legacy / CD - released 28/Jul/2017 ] This reissue is a moving experience in itself, and not only for returning to the catalogue a superlative recording of Brahms's masterpiece, not the best known at the time of its release in 1991, but also for the exceptional soloists, majestically... |
BERLIOZ
Symphonie Fantastique / Béatrice et Bénédict, Op. 27: Overture London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live / CD - released 12/Feb/2001 ] Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice - May 2001 |
GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: The Planets London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis [ LSO Live / CD - released 5/May/2003 ] |
GORECKI
Symphony No 4 "Tansman Episodes" Op 85 London Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrey Boreyko [ Nonesuch / CD - released 10/Feb/2016 ] "Under Andrey Boreyko's sober control the LPO negotiates these contrasts with aplomb." (BBC Music) |
VERDI / DONIZETTI / GIORDANO / MASCAGNI / ROSSINI / etc
More Favourite Tenor Arias Dennis O'neill (tenor) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, David Parry [ Chandos Opera in English / CD - released 8/Mar/2004 ] This is the second recital disc from Dennis O'Neill, one of Britain's finest tenors.The first recital received great critical acclaim. |