JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Manon (complete opera recorded in 1955) with works by Debussy & Berlioz Victoria de los Angeles / Henri Legay / Jean Borthayre / Michel Dens / Orchestra & Chorus of the Theatre National de lOpera Comique / Pierre Monteux [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/May/2009 ] "This set is essential listening for anyone who wants to get the feel for what Manon sounded like at the Opéra Comique. It is a precious record of a vanished performance style and has the great advantage of a ravishing Manon from de Los Angeles." --... |
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) |
SCHUBERT / WEBERN / RAVEL / BARTOK / BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY / etc
Salzburg Festival Concerts [2007 - 2013] BLU-RAY Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / West-Eastern Divan Orchestra / National Children´s Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela / Various conductors [ C Major Blu-ray / 6 Blu-ray Box Set - released 1/May/2015 ] A Box Set releasing 6 Concerts from the Salzburg Festival recorded between 2007 and 2013, featuring the Wiener Philharmoniker, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the National Children´s Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela under the batons of Pierre... |
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 |
SAINT-SAENS
Symphony No. 3 'Organ' / Danse macabre, Op. 40 / etc Vincent Warnier (organ) / Orchestre National de Lyon, Leonard Slatkin [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Jan/2015 ] To celebrate the inauguration of the newly restored former organ of the Palais du Trocadéro and Palais de Chaillot in Paris, the Orchestre National de Lyon and their organist-in-residence, Vincent Warnier, present two major works for organ and... |
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) |
PUCCINI
La Rondine (complete opera) Washington National Opera / Ainhoa Arteta / Marcus Haddock / Inva Mula / Emmanuel Villaume (cond) [ Decca Music Group / DVD - released 3/Aug/2009 ] G - A valuable addition to Decca's catalogue of Puccini DVDs. The piece is barely represented on DVD and Marta's Domingo's famous production is one of several recently which have started to make this work more a part of the standard operatic repertoire. |
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... |