MAX REGER
Reger Collection [11 CD set] Amadeus Webersinke (piano) Manfred Scherzer (violin) Annelies Burmeister (alto) / Radio Chorus Berlin, Dietrich Knothe / RSO Leipzig / Dresden Philhar [ Brilliant Classics / 11 CD Box Set - released 22/Apr/2015 ] "splendid music in excellent, sympathetic performances." MusicWeb International, 1st July 2013 |
GLAZUNOV
The Seasons / Violin Concerto Ilya Kaler (violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Camilla Kolchinsky (conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Mar/2008 ] Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov has not fared well at the hands of later critics. He enjoyed a remarkably successful career in music, becoming Director of the St Petersburg Conservatory in 1905 in the aftermath of the political disturbances of... |
VERDI / CATALANI / PUCCIN
Soprano Arias From Italian Operas Miriam Gauci (soprano) / Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari [ Naxos / CD ] "For those interested in hearing a talented young soprano with serious potential for an important career, this is recommended" Fanfare |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Orchestral Highlights Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Wildner [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2014 ] Richard Wagner inspired in his contemporaries extremes of reaction. For some his music seemed as misguided and repulsive as his anti-Semitism, while others were overwhelmed by the size of his ambition and achievement. |
Various Artists (as Selected by BBC Radio DJ Charlie Gillett)
Sound of the World Presents - Anywhere on This Road [ Warner Music / 2 CD - released 23/Aug/2010 ] Some of the greatest names in world music - Khaled, Yasmin Levy, Bassekou Kouyate, Tinariwen, Ojos De Brujo, Staff Benda Bilili, Mahala Rai Banda, Nneka... even Fat Freddy's Drop! |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / JOSEPH JOACHIM
GERMANY - Bavarian Lakes and Schloss Herrenchiemsee - A Musical Tour BRT Philharmonic Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari, Meir Minsky [ NAXOS MUSICAL JOURNEYS / DVD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] Bavaria has a place of its own in Germany, both geographically and culturally. The tour stars with the Alpine lake known as Königssee and explores the surrounding landscape, including the Berchtesgaden National Park and the gardens of Ludwig II's... |
ARVO PART
Spiegel im Spiegel / Fratres / Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten / etc Vadim Gluzman (violin), Angela Yoffe, Alexei Lubimov (piano) Hans-Ola Ericsson (organ) Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet), Swedish Radio Choir, Tallinn Quar [ BIS / CD - released 1/Oct/2013 ] "There's much to be said for the BIS disc. Despite a rather pale performance of the violin and piano version of Fratres (Gluzman and Yoffe redeem themselves on Spiegel im Spiegel) this might well be the disc I'd plump for because of the inclusion of... |
ORCHESTRAL SPECTACULAR
Orchestral Spectacular (Incls 'Bolero', 1812 Overture & 'Polovtsian Dances') Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / various conductors [ Naxos Super Budget Series / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provide their own Spanish magic" - Essex Chronicle |
POUL RUDERS
Music of Poul Ruders Vol. 6 Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (violin) Vassily Primakov (piano) Mikko Luoma (accordion) / Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Thomas Sondergard [ Bridge / CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] Gramophone Awards 2011 Finalist - Contemporary |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ ALTO / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2010 ] "This superb Carmen wipes the floor with any other version I know. The instinctive rightness of the whole conception is simply marvellous." (Gramophone) |
Vienna Radio So/Botha/De Billy
Beethoven/Brahms: Symphony No [ Oehms Classics / Hybrid SACD - released 27/Nov/2012 ] |
MEHUL / GOUNOD / HALEVY / DELIBES / LECOCQ / OFFENBACH / etc
Opéra-Comique Overtures Vienna Radio Symphony, Michael Halász [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2020 ] With innovative features, colourful orchestration, drama, wit and atmospheric writing, these operettas proved very popular and these overtures encapsulate their immense vivacity and charm. |
MORTON GOULD
Gould: Symphonies 2, 3 & 4 / Spirituals for String Choir & Orchestra Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Fagen [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 20/Mar/2020 ] "The Symphonettes represent Gould's best crossover work - the Symphonette No. 4 deriving its character from Latin-American dance forms to make it one of his most popular compositions." CD Choice (UK) |
FRANZ WAXMAN
Rebecca (Film Score) Viktor Simcisko (violin) / Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Adriano [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Nov/2005 ] "At budget price interested parties could hardly refuse such a textually intelligent, well-played and con amore production." (MusicWeb Oct 2005) |
LUCIANO BERIO
Sinfonia / Calmo / etc Virpi Räisänen (mezzo-soprano) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Feb/2015 ] "In Hannu Lintu's marvellous new recording I hear and admire a rediscovery of the impatience and invention that drove Berio to write it, in the forward, piano-led instrumental balance and the unapologetic grandeur of the finale's climax." |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV / TCHAIKOVSKY / MUSSORGSKY / ARENSKY
Russian Arias - From the Queen of Spades, May night, Eugene Onegin, etc) Vladimir Grishko (tenor) Ukraine State Radio Symphony Orchestra Vladimir Sirenko [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Jun/2002 ] "Uwe Mund leads performances that pulse with intensity" - Courier Post |
SHOSTAKOVICH
The Song of the Forests, Op. 81 / The Sun Shines on Our Motherland, Op. 90 / etc Vladimir Ivanovsky (tenor) & Ivan Petrov (bass) / Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra / USSR Symphony Orchestra / Leningrad Radio & TV Chorus [ Praga Digitals / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Sep/2012 ] |
BARTOK / HINDEMITH / MARTINU
Works for Viola and Orchestra Vladimir Bukae (viola) / Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir VAIlek [ Calliope / CD - released 20/Mar/2007 ] "The spotlight turns on the viola in a superbly chosen, and played, set" (Editor's choice Gramophone Magazine March 2007) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25 Véronique Gens, Alastair Miles, Yann Beuron, Stephan Loges / Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Robin Ticciati [ Linn SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 10/Oct/2013 ] "Linn's recorded sound and beautiful packaging are outstanding, including the two booklet essays. Texts and translations are included, too. This L'enfance serves only to enhance Ticciati's reputation, and is worthy of comparison with any in the catal |