J. S. BACH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bach: Two Wedding Cantatas BWV202 & BWV210 Edith Mathis, Lucia Popp / Kammerorchester Berlin, Peter Schreier [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/2014 ] The Bach's Cantatas have secured their place in the canon of human creations of eternal value. In no other oeuvre one finds the expression of all universal human emotions, from utter grief to extatic joy, from turbulant drama to serene contemplation. |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Kegelstatt-Trio Ensemble Wien-Berlin, with James Levine (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/1992 ] Recorded in Vienna 1990 & 1991 |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin) / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gerd Albrecht [ EMI / CD Box Set - released 27/Oct/2007 ] Frank Peter Zimmermann was born in Duisburg, West Germany, and started playing the violin when he was five years old, giving his first concert with orchestra at the age of 10. |
CARL ORFF
Orff: Carmina Burana Gundula Janowitz, Gerhard Stolze, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Berlin Opera, Eugen Jochum [ Deutsche Grammophon Originals / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] "Jochum's 1968 recording of Carmina Burana has never sounded better than it does in this reissue in DG's 'Originals' series. The recording has a wide dynamic range and when the music blazes it has real spedour and excitement." (Penguin Stereo Guide) |
WALTER BRAUNFELS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Braunfels: Die Vogel [The Birds] (complete opera ) Hellen Kwon, Endrik Wottrich, Michael Kraus, Marita Posselt, Wolfgang Holzmair, Matthias Görne / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Feb/2011 ] "Zagrosek's reading and the performances by his cast and orchestra are gripping and more than do justice to this wonderful score. Wottrich and Kraus are impressive in the male leads." ClassicalNet |
RICHARD WAGNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jonas Kaufmann - Wagner Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) / Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Donald Runnicles, with Markus Brück (bass-baritone) [ Decca / CD - released 21/Feb/2013 ] BBC Music Magazine Awards 2014 - Vocal WINNER |
VERDI / PONCHIELLI / PUCCINI / LEONCAVALLO / MASCAGNI / etc
Jonas Kaufmann - An Italian Night - Live from the Waldbuhne Berlin (recorded in 2018) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) with Anita Rachvelishvili (mezzo) / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Jochen Rieder [ Sony Classical DVD / DVD - released 1/Nov/2018 ] A magical evening dedicated to beautiful Italian music with the world's greatest tenor. Captured live for release on CD. Featuring Anita Rachvelishvili. This is the key release this year from "The world's greatest tenor" (The Telegraph). |
VERDI / PONCHIELLI / PUCCINI / LEONCAVALLO / MASCAGNI / etc
Jonas Kaufmann - An Italian Night - Live from the Waldbuhne Berlin (recorded in 2018) BLU-RAY Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) with Anita Rachvelishvili (mezzo) / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Jochen Rieder [ Sony Classical Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 1/Nov/2018 ] A magical evening dedicated to beautiful Italian music with the world's greatest tenor. Captured live for release on CD. Featuring Anita Rachvelishvili. This is the key release this year from "The world's greatest tenor" (The Telegraph). |
HANS WINTERBERG
Winterberg: Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto No. 1 / Rhythmophonie Jonathan Powell (piano) / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Johannes Kalitzke [ Capriccio / CD - released 2/Sep/2022 ] "...It certainly receives persuasive advocacy from Johannes Kalitzke and the Berlin Radio Symphony, and Jonathan Powell does a terrific job in projecting the piano concerto's dynamic energy." -BBC Music Magazine |
DVORAK / STRAVINSKY / RICHARD STRAUSS / BERNSTEIN / SHOSTAKOVICH
New Year's Eve Concert 2017 BLU-RAY Joyce DiDonato (mezzo) / Berliner Philharmoniker [Berlin Philharmonic], Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Apr/2018 ] With her flexible, slender but dark-timbred mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato is the star guest at Sir Simon Rattle's side during the New Year's Eve Concert, singing Richard Strauss's lavishly beautiful orchestral songs. The programme also includes works... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Concertos & Sinfonia Michel Schwalbe (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/1990 ] Recorded 1971 $ 1972 |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2 / Carmen - Suite No.1 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 2/Feb/1988 ] Original recordings from 1983 & 1985 |
BEDRICH SMETANA / JEAN SIBELIUS / FRANZ LISZT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Smetana, Liszt & Sibelius Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon Masters / CD - released 1/Jan/1990 ] "No one would deny the beauties of these performances...Recorded [in 1983], these are some of the most ravishingly beautiful performances of orchestral favorites by Sibelius ever preserved on disc." AllMusic on the Sibelius |
GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde [Song Of The Earth] Christa Ludwig, Rene Kollo / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 30/Nov/2001 ] "perfectly drilled execution, refined instrumental balancing and superb solo work distinguish virtually every measurer." New York Times on the original release |
KARL JENKINS
Jenkins: The Peacemakers Lucy Crowe (soprano), Chloë Hanslip (violin), Davy Spillane (Uilleann pipes) / London Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Karl Jenkins [ Universal Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2019 ] "Just about everyone has been roped in...fans will find this 70-minute plea for peace immaculately performed and recorded." The Times, 24th March 2012 ** |
PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY / SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Tchaikovsky/Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Kirill Gerstein (piano) / Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, James Gaffigan [ Myrios SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Apr/2015 ] "Zimmermann and Hoppe capture the poetry of these works, in their hands free from sentiment and rich as short stories." (Observer) |
JAROMIR WEINBERGER
Weinberger: Frühlingsstürme [complete operetta recorded in 2020] Komische Oper Berlin / Stefan Kurt, Alma Sade, Vera-Lotte Boecker / Jordan de Souza (cond) [ Naxos DVD / 2 DVD - released 6/Nov/2020 ] Czech-born composer Jaromír Weinberger, best known for his opera Schwanda the Bagpiper, was forced to flee to America in order to escape Nazi terror. Frühlingsstürme was first staged in 1933. |
EDOUARD LALO / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole / Cello Concerto / Saint-Saens: Violin Concerto No. 1 Kyung Wha Chung (violin) Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal,Charles Dutoit / Lynn Harrell (cello) Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca Ovation / CD - released 12/Oct/1993 ] Original recordings from 1981 and 1986 (Lalo Cello) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / BELA BARTOK
Prokofiev / Bartok: Piano Concertos [CD plus DVD documentary] Lang Lang (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle [ Sony Classics / 2 CD/DVD - released 1/Dec/2013 ] "this is a performance [of the Prokofiev] that glides by, impeccably beautiful and fleet, yet a trifle short of character. Still, Lang Lang's easy virtuosity is delicious; so is the absence of keyboard thumping...[the Bartok] offers genuine bite, whe |
EDWARD GRIEG / ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Grieg/Schumann: Piano Concertos Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Mariss Jansons [ EMI Classics / CD - released 5/Oct/2003 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER 2004: CONCERTO RECORDING "Though the Schumann concerto does pop up on programmes relatively frequently, it's remarkable how rarely the Grieg appears on concert programmes that don't fall into the classical pops event.... |