JANACEK
The Cunning Little Vixen (Complete opera recorded in 2012) Glyndebourne Opera / Lucy Crowe, Emma Bell, Sergei Leiferkus / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jurowski [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 31/Jul/2013 ] "Crowe's Vixen is vocally completely secure and delightfully and sharply characterized...[in the closing scene] there is just the right sense of pantheistic rapture...an outstanding achievement." (International Record Review, 2012) |
JANACEK
Janacek: The Cunning Little Vixen (Recorded June 2012, Glyndebourne) BLU-RAY Lucy Crowe / Emma Bell / Sergei Leiferkus / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jurowski [ Opus Arte Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 31/Jul/2013 ] Crowe's Vixen is vocally completely secure and delightfully and sharply characterized...[in the closing scene] there is just the right sense of pantheistic rapture...an outstanding achievement. |
CARL NIELSEN
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 2 'The Four temperaments' & 3 'Sinfonia espansiva' Lucy Hall (soprano), Marcus Farnsworth (baritone) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2013 ] 'Colin Davis establishes himself as a first-class Nielsenian on our pick of the week ... With this coupling, Davis leaves the best for last, too: Nielsen's most accessible symphony.' (The Sunday Times) |
Luigi Alva (tenor) / New Symphony Orchestra of London. Iller Pattacini
Luigi Alva - Spanish and Latin American songs: Including Granada & Valencia (Rec October 1963) [ Decca Classic Recitals / CD - released 12/Dec/2004 ] Peruvian-born Luigi Alva (born Lima 10 April 1927) first appeared in his native Lima in 1949 and made his European debut in 1954 when he sang Alfredo at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan. |
GINASTERA
Panambi / Estancia (Complete Ballets) Luis Gaeta / London Symphony Orchestra / Gisele Ben-Dor (Conductor) [ Naxos / CD - released 4/Dec/2006 ] Much admired by Aaron Copland, the Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) is widely regarded as one of the most important and original South American composers of the 20th century. |
Booth, Claire / London Sinfonietta / Ensemble Modern / Scottish Ensemble ao.
Bedford, Luke - Wonderful Two-Headed Nightingale [ Col Legno / CD - released 18/Sep/2017 ] |
WALTON
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra / Sonata for Violin and Orchestra / etc Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Jan Latham-Koenig [ Chandos / CD - released 15/Feb/2003 ] Recorded in: St Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London |
KABALEVSKY
Violin Concerto / Cello Concerto Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) London Philharmonic Orchestra ; Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 19/May/2003 ] The quirky fun music of Kabalevsky |
ALWYN / ARNOLD / BAX / BERKELEY / DELIUS / FOULDS / HODDINOTT / IRELAND / etc
Celebrating 50 Years Devoted To British Music - Set 1 Malcolm Binns (piano) David Pyatt (horn) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Philharmonic / London Symphony / London Philharmonic [ Lyrita / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2009 ] "The idea is to offer a single substantial orchestral track for the majority of composers represented in the Lyrita catalogue. You can sometimes argue with the selection but overall the right note has been struck - right and bold" (MusicWeb Oct 2009) |
SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
Stanford: Irish Rhapsody No.4 / Funeral March 'the Martyrdom' from Becket / Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor Malcolm Binns (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra / Nicholas Braithwaite / Sir Adrian Boult [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Apr/2007 ] One of the most respected independent labels, Lyrita Recorded Edition, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2009, has concluded a comprehensive license deal with Wyastone Estate Limited. |
MALCOLM WILLIAMSON
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra / Piano Concerto No. 3 / Sonata for Two Pianos Malcolm Williamson (organ & piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / London Philharmonic Orchestra (with Richard Rodney Bennett, piano) [ Lyrita / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] "Wholly involving from start to finish, with music of immense freshness and vitality" (MusicWeb Sept 2007) |
ESSENTAIL BALLROOM CLASSICS
Essential Ballroom Classics [2 CD set] Manuel amd his orchestra, Gran Orquesta de Profesores Solistas, London Sinfonietta, The John Wilson Orchestra, Wiener Johann Strauss Orchestra, etc [ EMI Essential / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2012 ] Over two hours of captivating dance music |
ARNOLD BAX
Orchestral Works, Volume 7 (Winter Legends & Symphonic Variations) Margaret Fingerhut (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bryden Thomson [ Chandos Classics / 2 CD - released 12/Nov/2003 ] This is the only available recording of Winter Legends, one of Bax's most successful works for piano and orchestra, and there is only one other recording of the Symphonic Variations. |
VERDI
Requiem (recorded live in 1983) Margaret Price / Livia Budai / Giuseppe Giacomini / Robert Lloyd/ London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir / Jesús López-Cobos [ LPO Live / 2 CD - released 6/Dec/2010 ] "...one of those performances which achieves memorability through the happy conjunction of its several parts...Both orchestra and choir acquit themselves with distinction and the soloists work well, both individually and as a team. The two British... |
BERG
Lulu-Suite / Altenberg Lieder / 3 Pieces for Orchestra Margaret Price (soprano) / London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon The Originals / CD - released 5/May/2000 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "Abbado makes it clear above all how beautiful Berg's writing is, not just in the Lulu excerpts but in the early Op 4 Songs and the op 6 Orchestral Pieces." (Three stars Penguin... |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 & Triple Concerto Maria João Pires (piano), Gordan Nikolitch (violin), Tim Hugh (cello), Lars Vogt (piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink [ LSO Live / CD - released 1/Mar/2019 ] LSO Live celebrates the 90th birthday of one of the conducting world's greats, Bernard Haitink. Few artists have a deeper understanding of the music of Beethoven than the celebrated Dutch conductor, who is known for his mastery of the great... |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 'Scottish' / Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 (with Schumann - Piano Concerto) Maria João Pires (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ LSO Live SACD + BLU-RAY / 2 Hybrid SACD/DVD - released 10/Nov/2014 ] "a reading formed by life experience…Pires is supported by conductor and orchestra magnificently...I've never heard so much of the orchestral colour and detail in any other Schumann recording … My anticipation that this might be a special recording h |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K626 Marie Arnet (soprano) Anna Stephany (mezzo soprano) Darren Jeffery (bass) / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Colin Davis [ LSO Live SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2008 ] 'this performance beneifts from marvellous sound and shows Davis secure in his tempo choices and bringing that combination of solemnity, grandeur and drama' Sound **** Performance ***** BBC Music Magazine |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Stravinsky: Pulcinella / Le baiser de la fee (The Fairy's Kiss) Mark Beesley (bass) / Robin Leggate (tenor) / Diana Montague, mezzo-soprano / London Symphony Orchestra / Philharmonia Orchestra / Robert Craft [ Naxos Stravinsky Edition Vol 5 / CD - released 23/Mar/2006 ] "This CD attracts another unhesitating recommendation and collectors should add it to the Stravinsky/Craft section on their shelves. This is turning into an excellent set whose recordings have that modern technical advantage over those in the elderly... |
ROBERT SCHUMANN
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri, Op. 50 Mark Padmore, Sally Matthews, Kate Royal, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle [ LSO Live SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 20/Oct/2015 ] "You can really tell that Rattle loves this work. His approach is full of affection - listen to the care he lavishes on the stunning ending of Part Two - but also architectural breadth." (MusicWeb) |