GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Maria Stuarda (complete opera recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Elza van den Heever, Matthew Polenzani, Matthew Rose / Maurizio Benini (cond) [ Erato / Warner Classics Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 16/Nov/2015 ] On New Year's Eve 2012 Joyce DiDonato became the first singer to take the title role in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda at New York's Metropolitan Opera. With her at its heart, the production became, in the words of Opera magazine, "a high point of the... |
VINCENZO BELLINI
Bellini:Norma (complete opera recorded in 2017) Metropolitan Opera / Joyce DiDonato, Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja, Matthew Rose / Carlo Rizzi (cond) [ Erato DVD / 2 DVD - released 15/Nov/2018 ] In the Met's 2017-18 season, powerhouse soprano Sondra Radvanovsky tackled one of opera's most fearsome roles, the title druid priestess of Bellini's Norma, who wrestles with love and betrayal before making the ultimate sacrifice on a funeral pyre. |
Tri-Fi: Phil Palombi, Matthew Fries, Keith Hall
Staring into the Sun [ CD - released 1/Apr/2014 ] |
ALLEGRI / GJEILO / TALLIS / TAVENER / TODD / etc
Lux VOCES8, with Christian Forshaw (saxophone) & Matthew Sharp (cello) [ Decca / CD - released 20/Jul/2016 ] 'LUX' is a luminous selection of pieces spanning over 400 years: from Thomas Tallis and Gregorio Allegri to Massive Attack (Teardrop) and Ben Folds (The Luckiest - which appeared on the soundtrack for Richard Curtis's film About Time) sung |
TALLIS / WILLIAMS / WHITACRE / MEALOR / BRITTEN / etc
Eventide VOCES8 with Christian Forshaw (saxophone) & Matthew Sharp (cello) [ Decca / CD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "Pitch-perfect harmonies, in dreamily sumptuous sonics." (BBC Music) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ (complete oratorio) Andrew Goodwin, Shane Lowrencev, Matthew Brook, Sasha Cooke / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Andrew Davis [ Chandos SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2019 ] "The marvelous solo singers are utterly convincing, from Andrew Staples' mellow tenor as the Narrator and Matthew Brook's complex Herod, to the love of Joseph and Mary (Williams and Cooke) for their baby and their rush to escape." 10/10 ClassicsToday |
FAURE / DURUFLE
Requiem Ann Murray & Mary Seers (sopranos) Thomas Allen & Michael George (baritones) / Corydon Singers & English Chamber Orchestra / Matthew Best [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/May/2007 ] 'Superb' (Fanfare, USA) |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (complete opera recorded in 2010) Metropolitan Opera / Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, John Del Carlo / James Levine (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophone DVD / DVD - released 26/May/2011 ] A red hot ticket at the Metropolitan Opera in 2010/2011 was Donizetti's comic gem, Don Pasquale, with Anna Netrebko reviving Norina, the part that made her a star in New York. |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
St Nicolas / Hymn to St Cecilia Anthony Rolf Johnson (tenor) Corydon Singers, English Chamber Orchestra, Matthew Best (conductor) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Nov/2009 ] "A fresh and atmospheric account of Britten's colourful cantata" Penguin Guide |
ALESSANDRO SCARLATTI
Euridice dall'Inferno / La Concettione della Beata Vergine Ars Lyrics Houston / Matthew Dirst [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Apr/2009 ] For its Naxos début Ars Lyrica presents première recordings of two of Alessandro Scarlatti's vocal works: Euridice dall'Inferno and La concettione della Beata Vergine. The Houston-based early music ensemble has gained praise for its "zestful... |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Piano Trios Volume 4 Bartolozzi Trio: Matthew Truscott (violin), Richard Lester (cello) & Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Dec/2014 ] Haydn's thirty Piano Trios were written between 1784 and 1797, reflecting both changes in keyboard instruments, as the piano replaced the harpsichord, and developments in sonata form. The Trios included here, dating from the earlier years of this... |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: La Favorite [complete opera recorded in 2016] BLU-RAY Bavarian State Opera / Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecień, Elina Garanca, Mika Kares / Karel Mark Chichon (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Sep/2017 ] The premiere of the French version of Gaetano Donizetti's La Favorite at the Bayerische Staatsoper on 23 October 2016 was a memorable event and this is why: • star mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanca gave her acclaimed theatrical role debut as Léonor de... |
FRANCIS JACKSON
Jackson - Sacred Choral Works The Exon Singers, Matthew Owens, David Bednall (organ) [ Delphian / CD - released 16/Oct/2006 ] Now in his early nineties, Francis Jackson remains one of the finest, best loved and most versatile church musicians of our age. The eleven works on this disc, none of them previously recorded, have all the colour, emotional depth and attention to... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Dona Nobis Pacem & Towards the Unknown Region Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Corydon Singers, Matthew Best [ Hyperion / CD - released 19/Jul/1993 ] |
YORK BOWEN
Viola Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 The Bridge Duo: Matthew Jones (viola) & Michael Hampton (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2011 ] "Admirers of Bowen will not have any pause for thought and certainly people who enjoy fine recitals of viola and piano playing will find much to give pleasure here." (MusicWeb March 2012) |
J. S. BACH
Easter and Ascension Oratorios Carolyn Sampson, Iestyn Davies, James Gilchrist & Peter Harvey / Retrospect Ensemble, Matthew Halls [ Linn ECHO / CD - released 1/Dec/2014 ] This, the second release of the highly anticipated Retrospect Ensemble series, features the Easter Oratorio, one of Bach's best-known oratorios and a monumental work, as well as the Ascension Oratorio. |
J. S. BACH
St Matthew Passion, BWV244 [First version Leipzig 1727] Charles Daniels, Peter Harvey, Bethany Seymour, Helen Neeves, Sally Bruce-Payne, Nancy Cole, Matthew Brook / Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Peter Seymour [ Signum / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/May/2015 ] "Nancy Cole, a very promising young singer...a musical and coherent performance...some fine singing by many of the singers and lovely playing especially by the strings." (Early Music Review) |
PETER PHILIPS & RICHARD DERING
Philips & Dering: Motets The Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge; In Echo; Matthew Martin [ Linn Records / CD - released 12/May/2023 ] One of the UK's leading collegiate choirs, The Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, and its Precentor Matthew Martin make their debut on Linn. This new recording offers a fresh insight into the lives and works of two expatriate English... |
The Choir of The King's School, Canterbury, Directed by Howard Ionascu with Matthew Martin (organ)
The Complete New English Hymnal (Vol 16) (Includes 'Father Eternal Lord of Ages') [ Priory / CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] Recorded in Sandwich Parish Church on 22&23 April 2003 |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas / Dona Nobis Pacem Christina Pier (soprano) Matthew Brook (baritone) Andrew Staples (tenor) / Winchester Cathedral Choristers / Winchester College Quiristers [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2010 ] "These performances under David Hill are fine, responsive to the beauty and the terror" Gramophone Awards 2010: Finalist - Choral |