ARVO PART
Arvo Part Viktoria Mullova (violin) / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi [ Onyx / CD - released 21/Sep/2018 ] "Immutable, austere, impassable - the strength of Arvo Pärt's music lies in its ability to project an image as powerful and complete as the religious iconography it often seeks to replicate." Gramophone |
FRANCIS POULENC
Poulenc: La Voix Humaine / Sinfonietta Véronique Gens (soprano) / Orchestre National de Lille, Alexandre Bloch [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 6/Jan/2023 ] "There is little question that it ranks among her finest achievements...Gens and Bloch take us through this complex terrain in ways that combine directness with admirable restraint." Gramophone Editor's Choice Feb 23 |
BERLIOZ / RAVEL
Véronique Gens sings Berlioz & Ravel Véronique Gens (soprano) / Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, John Axelrod [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Apr/2013 ] "Gens bring [Herminie] to life as sympathetically as any of her operatic portrayals...It is unusual to encounter a recording of Les nuits d'ete in which the colouring is so consistent throughout...Gens has in her sights a purer kind of poetry."... |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Cantates Pour Le Prix de Rome Véronique Gens, Vannina Santoni, Clarisse Dalles, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire [ BIS SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 6/May/2022 ] "a delicious surprise..what is beyond doubt in the three cantatas and handful of elaborated choruses presented here is his supremely affecting way with the voice above and beyond his already considerable orchestral skills." Gramophone Award Finalist |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Seven Gates of Jerusalem, 'symphony No. 7' Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir / Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Nov/2006 ] "A disturbingly moving and dramatic apocalypse for your front room" (Bargain of the Month MusicWeb Nov 2006) |
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
Szymanowski: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 13/Apr/2008 ] "The composer's love of exotic colours is exploited to the full by 'home' forces." (Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine May 2008) |
SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphonies / Jazz Suites / Chamber music [3 CD] WDR Symphony Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai / National Symphony of Urkraine, Theore Kuchar / Edwar Auer, piano [ Brilliant Classics / 3 CD - released 20/Jun/2010 ] "No. 9: Magnificent; Shostakovich's subversive, Haydnesque wit and underlying anxiety is made perfectly plain; wonderful brass playing. No. 10: A lithe, lean, and dramatic reading, with powerful climaxes" (10/10 ClassicsToday) |
GIACOMO PUCCCINI
Puccini: Symphonic Suites Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Carlo Rizzi [ Signum / CD - released 9/Feb/2024 ] Puccini never made any orchestral suites from his immensely popular operas. Carlo Rizzi's new imaginings neatly fill this gap (all the best bits without any of that pesky singing …) and this useful album also explores two early-and decidedly... |
JOHANN STRAUSS II
Strauss, (J II): Graduation Ball (arr. Dorati) / Le Beau Danube (arr. Desormiere) Wiener Philharmoniker / Antal Dorati (Graduation Ball) / National Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Bonynge (Beau Danube) [ Decca ABC Eloquence / CD - released 20/Sep/2005 ] "There is much to be said for well produced, played and recorded discs like these for impecunious collectors." (MusicWeb Feb 2006) |
SZYMANOWSKI
Harnasie / Mandragora / Prince Potemkin: Incidental Music Wieslaw Ochman (tenor) / Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Feb/2009 ] "..a marvellous addition to this much-praised Szymanowski series." BBC Music Magazine - Orchestral Choice of the Month April 2009 |
Williams/Ukraine National So
Hadley:symphony No.4/The Ocean [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Jun/2001 ] |
Wit/Polish National Radio So
Lutoslawski:orch Works Vol.7 [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Oct/2001 ] |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Symphonies Nos 1 & 5 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/2010 ] "These CDs are excellent readings of this 'modern' music by Anton Wit and his National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, who are probably very familiar with this stuff - because it shows in their passionate performances. The CDs have excellent sound,... |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Symphonies Nos 2 & 4 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 3/Jul/2000 ] "These CDs come at a bargain price, but they don't skimp on anything other than the cost. They are excellent readings of this 'modern' music by Anton Wit and his National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, who are probably very familiar with this stuff... |
SCHUMANN
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jun/1996 ] The Symphony No.1 in B flat major, Opus 38, scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons, with four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, three timpani, triangle and strings, is still generally known by the title Schumann first proposed... |
Wit/Polish National Radio So
Schumann:symphonies Nos.2&4 [ Naxos / CD ] |
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Bernstein: Songfest (with works by Gershwin & Copland) Wolf Trap Opera, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, James Judd [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 1/May/2020 ] An American in Paris is one of Gershwin's most vivacious works, an orchestral ballet saturated in homesickness and the blues. This recording, however, uses the new 2019 critical edition and offers Gershwin's original orchestration. |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Persephone (compete melodrama) Andrew Staples & Pauline Cheviller / Finnish National Opera, Esa-Pekka Salonen [ Pentatone SACD / CD - released 1/Apr/2019 ] "Orchestral textures are clean yet sensuous, rhythms exactingly precise. In lesser hands, the score can seem episodic. Salonen, however, forges it into a unified drama, in which not a note or word seems wasted…The choral singing is warm and focused." |
GERSHWIN / COPLAND / BARER
American Piano Concertos Xiayin Wang (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Peter Oundjian [ Chandos Classics SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2013 ] "This is a fine detailed and stylish account of [the Gershwin] that can sit confidently among the best." (Gramophone) |
TCHAIKOVSKY / KHATCHATURIAN
Tchaikovsky & Khachaturian: Piano Concertos Xiayin Wang (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Peter Oundjian, with Maya Iwabuchi (violin) & Aleksei Kiseliov (cello) [ Chandos Classics SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Apr/2016 ] "Xiayin Wang astounds at every turn, as does the recording; a terrific coupling, too." (MusicWeb March 2016) |