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KARL JENKINS
Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace [25th anniversary edition] National Youth Choir of Great Britain, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Jenkins [ Decca / CD - released 1/Aug/2025 ] The 25th anniversary edition includes a cover redesign; a history of the commission by Guy Wilson, Master of the Armouries; updated biographies for contributors; and new notes from Julian Lloyd Webber reflecting on the debut performance, and more |
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VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / ELGAR / DELIUS / HOLST / BAX
O, to be in England: Music for a green and pleasant land New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / The English Northern Sinfonia [ Heritage of Music / Gift of Music / CD - released 20/Jun/2011 ] A fine collection of moving and wistful orchestral works which celebrate the English landscape and its natural beauty. English composers have always excelled at pastoral music with a hint of nostalgia: from 'the lark ascending' to the strains of... |
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Orch National De France/Gatti
Debussy: La Mer/Prelude A L'ap [ Sony Classical / CD - released 16/Apr/2012 ] |
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Orch National De France/Gatti
Stravinsky: Pretrouchka/Le Sac [ Sony Classical / CD - released 27/May/2013 ] |
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MESSAGER
Les Deux Pigeons (Complete ballet) Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Eloquence / CD - released 1/May/2005 ] A real rarity of the ballet world, this marvellous score, 'rediscovered' by Sir Frederick Ashton, was one of Decca's most glorious recordings of ballet music by that pioneer of this genre, Richard Bonynge. Not included on the 10CD Penguin... |
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ALBERT ROUSSEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane / Le Festin de l'araignee Orchestre National de France, Georges Pretre [ EMI Classics / CD - released 20/May/1986 ] Albert Roussel (1869-1937) was a French composer who spent seven years in the French Navy, only turning to music at the age of 25. He became one of the most prominent French composers of the inter-war period. |
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WALTON
Symphony No 1 & 2 Orchestre National de Lille / Owain Arwel Hughes [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2010 ] Rarely appearing together on disc, William Walton's two symphonies are separated by some 25 years. |
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TAN DUN
Tan Dun: Buddha Passion Shenyang (bass-baritone) Zhu Huiling (soprano) Yining Chen (pipa), etc / Orchestre National de Lyon, International Choir Academy Lübeck, Tan Dun [ Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2023 ] "This is an attractive work, instantly and uncomplicatedly gratifying. Where the Water Passion wrestles and distils and provokes, the Buddha Passion affirms and entertains. Is it enough? Perhaps. Is it really a Passion? I'm not so sure." Gramophone |
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MIKHAIL IVANOVICH GLINKA
Glinka: Ivan Susanin (A Life For The Tsar) (complete opera recorded in 1955) Maria Glavachevich, Miro Changalovich, Drago Startz, Vladeta Dimitrievich / The Yugoslav Army Chorus, Belgrade National Opera Orchestra, Oskar Danon [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 3 CD Box Set - released 28/Sep/2018 ] 'The stereo sound is remarkable for its time ... Cangalovc is quite moving as Susanin prepares for the supreme sacrifice in his country's cause.' - Gramophone, June 1974 |
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W.A. MOZART
Die Zauberflote [The Magic Flute] (complete opera recorded in 2001) Paris National Opera / Piotr Beczala / Dorothea Roschmann / Desiree Rancatore / Ivan Fischer (cond) [ TDK / DVD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] "A Paris National Opera production of The Magic Flute in German sounds like an unlikely prospect, yet the stage settings are beautifully rich and imaginative, as are the costumes. Dorothea Roeschmann as Pamina is outstanding" (Giv Cornfield) |
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TAKEMITSU
Dreamtime / Orion and Pleiades / Star-Isle / A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden Paul Watkins (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 1/Jul/1996 ] Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) was a Japanese composer, who explored the compositional principles of Western classical music and his native Japanese tradition both in isolation and in combination. Takemitsu was largely self-taught in music. He was... |
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DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / VERDI / ROSSINI / MEYERBEER / MASSENET / GODARD
Pene Pati Pene Pati (tenor) / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Emmanuel Villaume [ Warner Classics / CD - released 25/Mar/2022 ] "A generosity of spirit not always to be taken for granted with tenors is in constant evidence on Pene Pati's debut album…His voice certainly has the colour for both the French and Italian repertoire presented here" BBC Music Choice of the Month May |
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TAKEMITSU
A String Around Autumn / I Hear the Water Dreaming / Riverrun Philip Dukes (viola) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 1/Sep/2002 ] Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (Jan 2003) |
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SZYMANOWSKI
Symphonies Nos 2-4 / Harnasie Polish Radio Chorus of Krakow / Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra / Jacek Kaspszyk / Jerzy Semkow / Antoni Wit [ EMI Gemini / 2 CD - released 21/Oct/2007 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "Excellent value. There's a touch of edge, a hint of congestion to the orchestral sound occasionally, but the playing throughout is first-class. Both conductors are perfectly at... |
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ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Glazunov: Complete Concertos Rachel Barton Pine (violin) Alexander Romanovsky (piano) Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) Marc Chisson (saxophone) / Russian National Orchestra, Jose Serebrier [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 21/Feb/2011 ] "there's little doubt that both Serebrier and his soloists, supported by warmly idiomatic playing from the Russian National Orchestra and a beautifully clear recording, make a highly persuasive case for the reappraisal of these works." BBC Music |
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ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Cello Concerto (with works by Ukrainian composers) Raphaela Gromes (cello) / National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Volodymyr Sirenko [ Sony Classical / CD - released 4/Oct/2024 ] Following the tremendous success of her album "Femmes" (2023), Raphaela Gromes releases a new album, "Dvorák: Cello Concerto", featuring one of the most renowned cello concertos alongside inspiring and moving pieces by Ukrainian composers. It was... |
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FRANZ LEHAR
Lehar: Die Lustige Witwe [The Merry widow] (highlights in English) Joan Sutherland, John Brecknock, Francis Egerton, Regina Resnik, John Fryatt / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 20/Mar/2016 ] Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this operetta, first performed in Vienna in 1905 and here given by a cast lead by Joan Sutherland and also featuring John Brecknock, Valerie Masterson and Werner Krenn. |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Carol Neblett, Sherrill Milnes, Paul Plishka / Ambrosian Opera Chorus / National Philhrmonic / James Levine [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2006 ] "Scotto sings a lovely "Si, mi chiamano Mimi", and her phrasing is always beautiful...no one newly smitten by the opera will find this performance of it disappointing." (Gramophone) |
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UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Opera Series / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1977 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone This set is currently unavailable |
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MASCAGNI
Cavalleria Rusticana (Complete Opera recorded in 1978) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Pablo Elvira / Ambrosian Opera Chorus & National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ Sony Opera House / CD - released 20/Feb/2010 ] "This now stands as a clear first recommendation for Mascagni's red-blooded opera, with Domingo giving a heroic account of the role of Turiddu, full of defiance...James Lveine directs with a splendid sense of pacing." Penguin Stereo Guide |