RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 / The Rock L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / London Philharmonic Orchestra. Walter Weller [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 14/Aug/2005 ] "Surging, romantic readings from a re-juvenated Suisse Romande under their then chief conductor, unfortunately, not long with them" (MusicWeb) |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 & 9 / The Age opf Gold - ballet suite L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Walter Weller / London Symphony Orchestra, Jean Martinon (conductor) [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 12/Dec/2009 ] Venerated for their perky, piquant performances and the ripe, rich Decca sound, Walter Weller's thrilling readings of Shostakovich's Symphonies 1 and 9 have long been on the reissue request lists. Now, they appear on CD for the first time. |
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
Violin Concerto / Romance / Legend (with Julius Harris-Bredon Hill) Lorraine McAslan (violin) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Braithwaite [ Lyrita / CD - released 11/Nov/2007 ] "A real feel-good concerto and a work by Harrison that deserves to live on in its nostalgia and pastoral contentment" (MusicWeb Recording of the Month Oct 2007) |
RAVEL
The Best of Ravel: Bolero; Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2; etc Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta / London Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux [ Decca Eloquence / CD - released 21/Aug/2002 ] 'the visceral excitement Mehta produces is most compelling one marvels at the vivid Decca sound' Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook) |
ERNEST BLOCH
Sacred Service (Avodath Hakodesh) Louis Berkman (baritone) / The Zemel Choir / members of the London Chorale and the London Concord Singers / London Symphony Orchestra / Geoffrey Simon [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 6/Mar/2005 ] 'When this recording was originally issued on LP I compared it with all previous versions of the work… finding it to be superior with regard to both performance and sound… I remain enthusiastic about this Chandos release, especially in its CD... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss (R.): Vier Letzte Lieder [Four Last Songs / 12 Lieder / Daphne: Closing Scene Lucia Popp (soprano) Wolfgang Sawallisch (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks [ Warner Classics Red Line / CD - released 25/Oct/2018 ] "...an almost effortless spontaneity of approach, makes this into a glorious version of a much-recorded work." (Gramophone on the Four Last Songs) |
MARK-ANTHONY TURNAGE
Orchestral Works Vol 3 Lawrence Power (viola) Christian Tetzlaff (violin) Michael Collins (clarinet) / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop, Vladimir Jurowski [ LPO / CD - released 1/Oct/2012 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST 2013: Contemporary |
BEETHOVEN / ROSSINI / VERDI / SUPPE
Solti Overtures London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 16/Oct/2016 ] This collection of overtures - many of them appearing internationally on Decca CD for the first time - comes from the very start of Georg Solti's recording career. That for Beethoven's Egmont was, in fact, his first recording as conductor, issued as... |
BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 7 in E Major London Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanisław Skrowaczewski [ LPO Live / CD - released 29/Jul/2013 ] Stanisław Skrowaczewski is regarded as one of today's greatest living Bruckner conductors. Now in his 90th year, he brings a lifetime's accumulated wisdom to this work. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Panufnik Legacies London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth [ LSO Live / CD - released 29/Apr/2013 ] In May 2013, LSO Live releases an album of new works by 10 emerging young composers. The pieces, originally commissioned as part of the LSO Panufnik Scheme, were recorded in LSO St Luke's and are now presented on disc, enabling the LSO to share... |
TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 / The Voyevoda London Symphony Orchestra, Yondani Butt [ Nimbus Alliance / CD - released 28/Jan/2013 ] "These performances invite comparisons with entries by Furtwängler, Böhm, Szell, Karajan rather than figures of lesser stature." (American Record Guide) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5 (Requiem) Barry Banks (tenor) London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus & London Philharmonic Choir, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 11/Mar/2013 ] "..the combined LSO and LPO choirs - singing beautifully and bringing out the music's profound sadness - is wonderfully enhanced. Colin Davis fits the work to the conditions with a master hand. Memorable." (Sunday Times) |
WEBER
Der Freischutz Christine Brewer, Sally Matthews, & Simon O'Neill / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 29/Apr/2013 ] This is a sincere reading of the work, but sincerity should not be confused with a lack of sophistication. The orchestral textures are pristine, the tempos and colours bracing and plaintive, with faultless work from clarinettist Chris Richards. |
AARON COPLAND
Appalachian Spring / Billy the Kid / Rodeo (4 Dance Episodes) London Symphony Orchestra, Minnieapolis Symphony Orchesra, Antal Dorati [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] "Dorati pioneered the first stereo recordings of the complete Billy the Kid and (this) caused a sensation …for precision of detail and brilliance of colour, while the generous acoustics offered ambient warmth…The gunshots were and remain... |
RESPIGHI
The Birds / Ancient Airs & Dances / Canzone e Danza London Sym. Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, Antal Dorati [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] Birds) "vividness of detail particularly suits Dorati's spirited account..bringing pictorial piquancy of great charm and strongly projected dance rhythms" (Penguin) (Ancient Airs) "The Hungarian string players are exceptionally gifted" (Gramophone) |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Elektra (complete opera) Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet, Angela Denoke, Dame Felicity Palmer, Matthias Goerne, London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 2/Jul/2012 ] Valery Gergiev conducts Strauss' 'Elektra', one of the most powerful operas in the repertoire, accompanied by a superlative cast. Premiered in 1910 at Covent Garden, under the baton of Sir Thomas Beecham, 'Elektra' showcases many, of what were at the... |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast Suite, Op. 51 / Karelia Suite, Op. 11 (excerpts) / Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Kajanus [ Naxos Historical Kajanus conducts Sibelius Vol 2 / CD - released 2/Jan/2013 ] "The programme is artfully sequenced. First we get the fey and fragile exotica, glistening fantasy and wan orientalism of Belshazzar's Feast. Then come the exuberant outer movements of the Karelia Suite...Phrasing is nicely sculpted throughout." MW |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1-7 / Kullervo, Op. 7 Monica Groop (mezzo), Peter Mattei (baritone) / London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live / 4 CD Box Set - released 21/Sep/2009 ] "Combined with the innate warmth and pretty much faultless playing of the LSO, it makes for some of the most readily satisfying performances available." BBC Music |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Eine Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 Lucia Popp, Thomas Allen / London Philharmonic Choir / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Klaus Tennstedt [ BBC / CD - released 28/Apr/2008 ] "As an admirer of Klaus Tennstedt I'm pleased to add this performance to my collection though it would certainly yield to Klemperer and Gardiner as a library choice for this wonderful work." (MusicWeb July 2008) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The World's Favourite Tenor Arias Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) / Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra & Choir / John Alldis Choir / Berlin Philharmonic / London Philharmonic / various conductors [ Decca Pavarotti the Studio Albums / CD - released 15/Dec/2007 ] A fabulous collection, Luciano Pavarotti recorded 'The World's Favourite Tenor Arias' between 1971 and 1974 with a variety of world-class orchestras and conductors. It is one of Pavarotti's twelve original studio albums made during the course of his... |