WALTON
Hamlet: A Shakespeare Scenario / As you Like it: A Poem for Orchestra Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Catherine Bott (soprano) / Academy St Martins / Neville Marriner [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] "Marriner and the Academy draw out all the romantic warmth of both scores, and the sound is richly atmospheric to match, with a sharper focus and a keener sense of presence than on some recordings from this source. The Hamlet music may not match... |
SCHUBERT
Schubert: Swansong Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Christopher Glynn (piano), Sophie Bevan (soprano), Juian Bliss (clarinet), Alec Frank-Gemmill (horn) [ Signum / CD - released 12/Oct/2018 ] Christopher Glynn continues his series of late Schubert song cycles in English, joined by celebrated soloists Sir John Tomlinson, Sophie Bevan, Julian Bliss and Alec Frank-Gemmill. Titled by the works first publisher following Schubert's death,... |
BARTOK
Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11 Sir John Tomlinson, Michelle DeYoung & Juliet Stevenson (narrator) / Philharmonia Orchestra & Philharmonia Voices, Esa-Pekka Salonen [ Signum Classics / CD - released 3/Jun/2014 ] An unforgettable live-concert recording, selected from the Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa- ekka Salonen's season of works by Béla Bartók - 'Infernal Dance'. |
KEATS / WORDSWORTH / SHELLEY / COLERIDGE / BYRON / BLAKE
Poetry of the English Romantics Sir Ralph Richardson / Sir Cedric Hardwicke / Tyrone Power / Vincent Price [ Forum / 3 CD Box Set - released 9/Aug/2013 ] Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir Cecile Hardwicke, Vincent Price and Tyrone Power read the poetry of the English Romantics |
Sir Richard Bishop
Oneiric Formulary [ Drag City / LP - released 19/Jun/2020 ] The Sir Richard Bishop show is back in town, alive as ever with exotic action, plus a bit of everything but the kitchen sink. Oneiric Formulary is the sound of surprise - first Sir Rick being surprised, then us! Not simply by six-string acoustic... |
BARTOK / STRAVINSKY / BERNSTEIN / SHOSTAKOVICH / MAHLER / R. STRAUSS / etc
Orchestral Music in the 20th Century Sir Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, with Felicity Palmer, Gidon Kremer, Anne Sofie von Otter, Willard White, etc [ Arthaus Musik DVD / 7 DVD Box Set - released 1/Jan/1999 ] "The series was one of the last intelligent contributions to classical music by British television and, even by 1996, one suspects that only a musician of Rattle's stature and determination could have got it made." Gramophone |
HAYDN
Haydn: An Imaginary Orchestral Journey Sir Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra [ LSO / CD - released 2/Feb/2018 ] Sir Simon Rattle pays homage to a composer he holds close to his heart with An Imaginary Orchestral Journey through the music of Joseph Haydn. Rattle trawls through the great composer's impressive catalogue, piecing together excerpts from symphonies,... |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande (complete opera) Christian Gerhaher, Magdalena Kožená, Bernarda Fink, Franz-Josef Selig / London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Live SACD + BLU-RAY AUDIO / 4 Hybrid SACD - released 6/Dec/2017 ] "Rattle maintains both a clear pulse in individual scenes and a through line which positively celebrates Debussy's and Maeterlinck's radical intercutting of scenes of varied physical and emotional locations in the central acts." Gramophoe |
Sir T
Walk With Me [ Move the Crowd / CD - released 16/Apr/2012 ] Sir T is an exciting newcomer to the New Zealand Hip Hop scene. The Auckland-based rapper creates music packed full of insane rhymes, killer beats, catchy hooks and real life stories. |
SIR THOMAS ALLEN
Great Operatic Arias: Thomas Allen Vol 2 Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) / Philharmonia Orchestra / David Parry (with Susan Gritton soprano) [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Mar/2008 ] "The careful husbanding of his vocal resources, and choice of repertoire, over his career means he can take on a recording such as this without fear for his reputation. Darker tone of course, but, unlike many others there is no sign of vocal spread... |
Sir Thomas Beecham
Conducts Mozart: Symphony 35 [ Sony Classical / CD - released 12/Nov/2001 ] |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: A Village Romeo and Juliet (1946-1952) René Soames, Lorely Dyer, Dennis Dowling, Frederick Sharp / Luton Choral Society; Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Naxos Historical Great Conductors / 2 CD - released 2/Aug/2004 ] "It is also good to hear such vintage singers of the period as Dennis Dowling and Frederick Sharp as the respective fathers of the hero and heroine, with an excellent line-up of soloists in the many incidental roles." Penguin Guide |
Sir Thomas Beecham
The Founding Years - Beecham [ Lpo / CD - released 3/Oct/2005 ] |
Sir Victor Uwaifo
Guitar Boy Superstar 1970-1976 [ Soundway Records / CD - released 18/May/2009 ] Nigerian legend, Sir Victor Uwaifo combined the rhythms and traditions of the historic culture of the Empire of Benin with the sounds of Highlife, Soul and Reggae to produce his own unique and culturally vital musical hybrid. |
Sir Was
Digging A Tunnel (LP) [ City Slang LP / LP - released 17/Mar/2017 ] "Blending Tame Impala-reminiscent vocals like a beam of light with playful yet melancholy electronic production" - Stereogum Sir Was' debut full length, Digging A Tunnel, is an album that constantly bucks trends and confounds expectations.... |
Sir Winston Churchill
Great Speeches [ Regis Records / CD - released 12/Jun/2007 ] This collection from one of the greatest orators of the 20th Century - Winston Churchill - is timeless. All his major speeches throughout the war years are featured on this disc. |
W.A. MOZART
Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) Highlights Soloists / Scottish Chamber Chorus / Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles MacKerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 15/Feb/2006 ] This highlight disc contains the favorite arias and orchestral music from The Marriage of Figaro as the third installment in Telarc's opera series. |
W.A. MOZART
Favourite Arias from The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte and The Magic Flute. Soloists. Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 20/Sep/2005 ] A richly-varied selection of favorite arias taken from four complete, celebrated Mozart operas on Telarc: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte and The Magic Flute |
BERLIOZ
Overtures [Including Le Carnaval Romain & Benvenuto Cellini] Staatskapelle Dresden / Sir Colin Davis [ RCA Red Seal Classic Library / CD - released 1/Jun/2005 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1801-1850) - "Mercurial, full of vitality and poetic feeling, wonderfully light in articulation, and superbly played and recorded. A glorious issue, outstanding in every way, and now the best... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 4 & 5 "Emperor" Stephen Kovacevich (piano) / BBC Symphony Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis [ Decca Virtuoso / CD - released 27/Oct/2011 ] "..beautifully-judged textures-limpid, clean and with a wide range of sonority and very sensitive pedalling...both performances are worthy of the very highest comparisons, from the majority of which they will emerge unscathed." (Gramophone) |