BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / TCHAIKOVSKY / VERDI / WAGNER / etc
Paul van Kempen - the Complete Philips Recordings Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Paul van Kempen [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 10 CD Box Set - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "Beethoven is represented by an Eroica that is truly among the greatest of the period - of any period, I'd say...testimony to a genuinely great conductor who up until now has rarely been acknowledged as such." Gramophone reissue of the Month June '20 |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Great Baritone Arias Peter Mattei (baritone) / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Lawrence Renes [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] "Peter Mattei is now in his prime, and his voice miraculously preserves the freshness and vibrancy of youth. His fast notes are excellently articulated, his slow ones are just beautiful. A glorious disc!" (MusicWeb Recording of the Month MusicWeb... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn [ Telarc / CD - released 27/May/2002 ] "For me, the dominant Rachmaninoff Second of the digital era was recorded by Telarc in 1985. André Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra outdid themselves on this disc; since then, no recording of this symphony has been so exciting, passionate,... |
BAX / BLISS / MOERAN / FINZI
British Cello Concertos Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Ulster Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Vernon Handley / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bryden Thomson [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 29/Apr/2016 ] This two-album set features British cello concertos from Raphael Wallfisch's best late-1980s recordings. He has always worked closely with leading British composers of our time and is now regarded as the finest performer of their works for cello.... |
SIR EDWARD ELGAR / SIR ARNOLD BAX
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: Cello Concerto, Three Characteristic Pieces / Bax: Phantasy for Viola & Orchestra Rivka Golani (viola) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Conifer Classics / CD - released 1/Apr/1989 ] Rivka Golani is an Israeli viola player. She has performed as soloist with many orchestras throughout the world and more than 250 pieces have been written for her, including over 60 concertos. |
BENJAMIN FRANKEL
Frankel: Curse Of The Werewolf (Soundtrack) and other film music by Benjamin Frankel Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Carl Davis [ Naxos Film Music Classics / CD - released 29/May/2006 ] |
FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: A Village Romeo and Juliet (complete opera recorded in 1971) Robert Tear, Elizabeth Harwood, John Shirley-Quirk, Benjamin Luxon / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir, Meredith Davies [ EMI / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2002 ] "Elizabeth Harwood and Robert Tear are both excellent as Vreli and Sali, winningly characterful and clearly focused...[Shirley-Quirk] is firm and forthright with an apt hint of the sinister" Penguin Guide, 2010 edition *** |
Roy Orbison And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Love So Beautiful [ Sony / CD - released 10/Nov/2017 ] Following the popular and chart topping Elvis with the Phil, this brand new album infuses Orbison's best original vocal performances, consisting of hits and fan favourites such as 'Oh, Pretty Woman,' 'Crying' and 'Only the Lonely,' with the emotion... |
Roy Orbison with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Unchained Melodies [ Sony Music / CD - released 16/Nov/2018 ] The follow-up to A Love So Beautiful features Roy Orbison vocal performances with brand-new orchestral arrangements by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Additional accompaniment from Roy's three sons and backing vocals... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Nos. 2 'To October' & 15 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2012 ] These two hugely contrasting symphonies come from the opposite ends of Shostakovich's life and career. The Second Symphony was written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Bolshevik October Revolution. Its advanced idiom of experimental... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 8: Symphony No 7 "Leningrad" Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Jul/2013 ] "Is the Leningrad a pastoral symphony? Petrenko would like us to think so. Throughout the performance he looks for pockets of expressive intimacy quite as much as sheer excitement, although he is also capable of eruptive urgency." (Gramophone) |
ARNOLD BAX / RICHARD ARNELL / STEPHEN DODGSON / NORMAN DEL MAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: English Music for Strings Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra; Martin Yates (conductor) [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] "To avoid sounding mawkish, this kind of idiom needs a really focused sound in performance: Martin Yates conjures exactly that from the RLPO string section, which responds with serious class" Classic FM |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony / The Lark Ascending Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, James Ehnes (violin), Sarah Fox (soprano), Mark Stone (baritone) [ Onyx / CD - released 30/Nov/2018 ] The penultimate album in the critically acclaimed Vaughan Williams symphony cycle from the RLPO and Andrew Manze is of his 1st Symphony 'A Sea Symphony' set to words by Walt Whitman. Premiered in 1910, the start of this work is one of the most... |
ARTHUR BLISS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bliss: Checkmate / Adam Zero / Meditations on a theme of John Blow Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birminham Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ EMI / CD - released 1/Mar/1980 ] "...lively, committed performers who appear to believe in every note of these works." (BBC Music) |
WILLIAM ALWYN
Alwyn: Concerti Grossi Nos. 2 and 3 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / David Lloyd-Jones [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Oct/2011 ] "Lloyd-Jones, as you would expect of a past master in this repertoire, leads his polished Liverpool players in atmospheric performances of tender affection." (Classic FM) |
WILLIAM ALWYN
Alwyn: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / David Lloyd-Jones (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Jan/2006 ] "A most rewarding issue, which I recommend strongly.' (MusicWeb April 2006) |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto / The Wasps / English Folk Song Suite / The Running Set Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / James Judd (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] "The Piano Concerto of Vaughan Williams has been seriously undervalued...a performance as fine as this one from Ashley Wass will simply have one marvelling at the originality of the piece and its distinctive slant on the idea of a piano concerto."... |
COATES / BINGE / DUNN / KETELBEY /GRAINGER / DUNCAN / FARNON / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: British Light Classics (Incls 'Shepherd's Hey', 'Bells Across the Meadow' & 'Portrait of a Flirt') Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves / Studio Two Concert Orchestra, Reginald Kilbey / Philharmonia Orchestra, John Lanchbery [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / CD - released 21/Jul/2008 ] "This is music to cherish and enjoy and these performances are top notch. The sound is generally very good...Don't be without this scrumptious disk." (MusicWeb Nov 2008) |
IGOR STRAVINSKY / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Stravinsky: The Firebird (complete ballet) / Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Onyx / CD - released 1/Jan/2019 ] After the critically acclaimed Rite of Spring (ONYX4182) the award - winning team of Vasily Petrenko and the RLPO continue their survey of the Stravinsky ballets with The Firebird. As with the earlier album, the coupling is a fascinating one.... |