ELGAR
Symphony No. 1 / Sea Pictures (recorded in 1984) Janet Baker (contralto) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley [ LPO Live / CD - released 2/Nov/2012 ] "[Handley] projects a fiercely uncompromising view of Elgar [in the Symphony]...making the return of the opening march to crown the finale into a deeply ambiguous triumph." (Guardian) |
RESPIGHI
Trittico Botticelliano / Aretusa / Lauda per la Nativita del Signore / etc Janet Baker (mezzo) / City of London Sinfonia / Rchard Hickox [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 1/Apr/2010 ] Respighi studied orchestration with Rimsky Korsakov, another master of the orchestra, and his use of the orchestral palate was a huge influence on the young Italian. |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Peter Grimes (complete opera) Janice Watson, Yvonne Barclay, Anne Collins, Philip Langridge / City of London Sinfonia; London Symphony Chorus (amateur) / Richard [ Chandos Classics / 2 CD - released 10/May/2004 ] "Up to the highest tradition of Chandos sound: indeed, quite spectacular, vast in range, with well-managed perspectives and just enough hints of stage action to be convincing." - Alan Blyth (Gramophone) ) |
DVORAK
Stabat Mater [recorded live in 2010] Janice Watson (soprano) Dagmar Peckova (mezzo) Peter Auty (tenor) Peter Rose (bass) / London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, Neeme Jarvi [ LPO Live / CD - released 10/Feb/2013 ] |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Beethoven / Britten: Violin Concertos Janine Jansen (violin) / Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen / London Symphony Orchestra, Paarvo Jarvi [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] "Jansen and Decca have surpassed themselves with their new recordings of the Beethoven and Britten concertos. They confirm that digital technology has the potential to rival the best analogue recordings of 50 years ago." (Five Stars AudAud.com) |
GOUNOD / CHARPENTIER / MOZART / OFFENBACH / ROSSINI / etc
Janine Micheau - Operatic Recital Janine Micheau (soprano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Muir Mathieson, L´Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris, Alberto Erede [ Decca Most Wanted Recitals Vol. 29 / CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] A collection which celebrates the phenomenal career of this popular international soprano |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss (R.): Orchestral Lieder / Metamorphosen Gundula Janowitz (soprano) / Academy Of London, Richard Stamp [ Erato Classics Redline / CD - released 15/Oct/2018 ] "Janowitz's voice is inherently light...her relatively uncomplicated, 'classical' approach, brings dividends of its own in terms of clarity of expression and phrasing. And then, there is the sheer elation of that extraordinary, golden high register" |
HARTMANN
Symphonies 1 and 6 / Miserae Jard Van Nes (mezzo soprano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Leon Botstein [ Telarc / CD - released 10/Aug/2009 ] "Like all great music, the power of Hartmann's can be sensed long after its historical and biographical premises have receded from memory." |
MAX BRUCH / LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / LOUIS SPOHR
Bruch: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Beethoven: Romances / Spohr: Violin Concerto No. 8 Jascha Heifetz (violin) / London Symphony Orchestra; RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 29/Aug/2011 ] "More vintage (1951-1954) Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) performances as restored by veteran Mark Obert-Thorn grace this disc….The transfer of the G Minor Bruch Concerto (18 May 1951) has my personal appreciation" Audiophile Audition |
MAX BRUCH
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor (with Mozart - Violin Concertos 4 & 5) Jascha Heifetz (violin) / Chamber Orchestra, New Symphony Orchestra of London, Sir Malcolm Sargent [ Sony / RCA Originals / CD - released 10/Apr/2011 ] "The G minor Concerto finds Heifetz at his sweetest and most sympathetic, with even the incidental passagework shaped winningly." (Gramophone on the Bruch) |
EDWARD ELGAR / WILLIAM WALTON
Elgar/Walton: Violin Concertos (rec 1941 & 1949) Jascha Heifetz (Violin) Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra / Goossens, London Sym, Sargent [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 23/Jun/2001 ] "It is an incredibly moving experience to listen to these repertoire works performed here in a style from a bygone era without the distraction of hiss and crackles." - The Observer |
HENRI VIEUXTEMPS
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concertos Nos 4 & 5 (with works by Saint-Saens, Sarasate & Waxman) (Rec 1935-1947) Jascha Heifetz (Violin) / London Philharmonic, Barbirolli / London Symphony, Sargent [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 23/Jun/2001 ] Heifetz sets formidable standards of technique |
BRHAMS / BRUCH / GLAZUNOV
Great Violinists - Heifetz : Jascha Heifetz (violin) London Philharmonic / Barbirolli / RCA Victor / Steinberg [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 23/Jun/2001 ] essential listening, especially since the transfers are so uniformly satisfying |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Violin Concertos (with Mozart-Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major) [rec 1946-53] Jascha Heifetz (violin) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / RCA Victor Chamber Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 20/Jun/2008 ] One of the great 20th century violinists, at his best Heifetz played the concerto and sonata repertoire with a strong command of structure, minute attention to detail and an unequalled sensuous beauty of tone. |
MOZART / MENDELSSOHN
Great Violinists - Heifetz Jascha Heifetz, Violin, Royal Philharmonic, Beecham, London Philh, Barbirolli [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 23/Jun/2001 ] Recordings to be cherished |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
Symphonies Nos 1 - 9 London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox / BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba [ Chandos Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 15/Apr/2015 ] "Well done to Chandos, too, for recording it all. It's testimony not just to their commitment to British music but, more generally, to their great artistic vision and their willingness to follow an idea, particularly when it is championed by such ent |
ROSSINI
Arias Jennifer Larmore (mezzo soprano) / London Voices / English Chamber Orchestra [ Teldec Apex / CD - released 20/Aug/2007 ] Now reissued at a special price! |
HUMPERDINCK
Hansel & Gretel (Complete Opera in English) Jennifer Larmore (mezzo) Rebecca Evans (soprano) Rosalind Plowright (mezzo) / New London Children's Choir / Philharmonia Orch / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2007 ] "After 40-odd years, this is the English Hansel to have." Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine September 2007 |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Candide Jerry Hadley, June Anderson, Adolph Green, Christa Ludwig, Nicolai Gedda / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Leonard Bernstein [ Deutsche Grammophon CD & DVD / 3 CD/DVD - released 15/Mar/2018 ] Grammy Awards(1991): Best Engineered Album, Classical Classical Album of the Year |
BERNSTEIN
Candide (Complete musical) Jerry Handley, June Anderson, Della Jones, Christa Ludwig / London Symphony Orchestra / Leonard Bernstein [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 26/May/2003 ] "It was an Original Cast highlights LP that first turned Candide into a cult musical after what was only modest success for the show on Broadway in the winter of 1956-7. Nowafter what seems like an eternity of revivals and revisions Candide once... |