HUGO ALFVEN
Alfven - The Symphonies & Rhapsodies Christina Högman (soprano), Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö (tenor) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ BIS / 5 CD - released 1/Nov/2004 ] "Järvi conducts his Swedish forces with enthusiasm and authority, and this is altogether most rewarding and not music one meets readily." Penguin Guide |
BEETHOVEN / BRAHMS / DVORAK / WAGNER / etc
Icon: Rudolf Kempe: The Genius of the Podium Rudolf Kempe conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics Icon / 11 CD Box Set - released 1/Feb/2011 ] The German conductor Rudolf Kempe (1910-1976) began his musical career playing the oboe in various symphony orchestras. The programme begins with recordings of four Beethoven Symphonies that Kempe made with the Munich Philharmonic in 1971-72. |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: Symphonies 94 'Clock' + 100 'Military' Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Stefan Sanderling [ Royal Philharmonic SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 2/Feb/2005 ] Digitally recorded in June 1994 at C.T.S Studios, London |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4 / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Simon Trpceski (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vasily Petrenko [ Avie Records / CD - released 6/Jun/2011 ] "Trpceski is aided throughout by the unanimity of feeling produced by Vassily Petrenko's direction of the orchestra, conductor and pianist working hand in glove." (BBC Music) |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 / Overture on Hebrew Themes Simon Trpceski (piano) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ ONYX / CD - released 7/Jan/2017 ] "this is a hit; the most satisfying performances of these concertos I've heard in a long while. I wonder if they're thinking about embarking on a series?" MusicWeb June 2017 |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV / CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (with Bizet's Jeux d'enfants) Sir John Gielgud (narrator) Vivian Troon, Roderick Elms (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Andrea Licata (cond) [ Royal Philharmonic / CD - released 10/Apr/2006 ] In line with the tradition begun by Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to be closely associated with some of the world's outstanding conductors and soloists. |
CHRISTOPHER TIN
Christopher Tin: Calling All Dawns Soweto Gospel Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Frederica von Stade, Anonymous 4, Sussan Deyhim [ Decca / CD - released 2/Aug/2009 ] Twelve songs are featured on the album, each sung in a different language. Many of the lyrics find their sources in important pieces of world literature, including excerpts of long works such as the Hebrew Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and The Rubaiyat. |
SIR GRANVILLE BANTOCK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bantock: Sappho / Sapphic Poem Susan Bickley (mezzo) Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/May/1999 ] "No praise can be too high for Susan Bickley … [and] Tony Faulkner's stunningly natural engineering complements what is another triumphant addition to Hyperion's ongoing Bantock series" (Gramophone) |
GERALD FINZI
Finzi: Violin and Cello Concertos Tasmin Little (violin) Raphael Wallfisch (cello) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Vernon Handley / City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2007 ] This recording presents a comprehensive programme of some of Finzis finest works. Featuring probably his greatest work, the Cello Concerto played here by Raphael Wallfisch, a regular on Chandos, receives a passionate and keenly felt performance... |
EDMUND RUBBRA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rubbra: Violin Concerto / Viola Concerto Tasmin Little (violin), Rivka Golani (viola) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ Conifer Classics / CD - released 3/Oct/1994 ] "The recording has presence and there is ideal balance between orchestra and soloists, a tribute to one of the great British conductors, Vernon Handley, and his engineers." Review |
LEOS JANACEK
Janacek: Glagolitic Mass / Sinfonietta Teresa Kubiak, Anne Collins, Robert Tear, Wolfgang Schone. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe [ Decca Enterprise / CD - released 1/Nov/1990 ] An highly individual approach to Janácek's Glagolitic Mass |
HEROLD / ROSSINI
La Fille mal Gardée (hlts) / Boutique Fantasque (hlts) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Lanchbery / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Solti [ Alto / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] "John Lanchbery's score for La fille is one of the great ballet scores of the modern era - a creation to delight even those who do not normally care for ballet. (This recording) is of vintage Decca excellence…"Solti's Boutique is high-powered and... |
Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Brand New Me [ Warner Music / CD - released 10/Nov/2017 ] A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) pairs classic vocals from some of the most iconic songs that the Queen of Soul recorded for Atlantic Records with new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic... |
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Motown Orchestral [ Universal / CD - released 19/Nov/2021 ] Motown is one of the world's most important and iconic record labels, renowned for delivering an almost endless stream of global smash hits laden with glorious melodies and killer hooks that have continued to connect with every new... |
VERDI
Attila Ruggero Raimondi, Sherrill Milnes, Cristina Deutekom, Carlo Bergonzi / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Ambrosian Singers, Lamberto Gardelli [ Decca Operas / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2014 ] "Luisi gives it all he can, and has decent singers." (BBC Music) |
ARTHUR BLISS
A Colour Symphony / Things to Come / Cello Concerto / Christopher Columbus Suite / Checkmate - Suite / etc Arto Noras (cello) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley [ EMI / Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2015 ] "Has Bliss's music dated irrevocably? These two discs will give you all the data you need to decide, with lively, committed performers who appear to believe in every note of these works." (BBC Music Feb 2006) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Forever: Unforgettable Songs from Vienna, Broadway & Hollywood Diana Damrau (soprano) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Charles Abell [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/2014 ] "The operetta selections are this singer's natural habitat and there's no denying the panache and brilliance of her performances." (Gramophone, Jan 2014) |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 4 / Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini Earl Wild (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Jascha Horenstein [ Chesky / CD - released 2/Dec/2007 ] Liszt was often called a "piano-centaur," so at one was he with the instrument. Earl Wild could be described in similar terms. The gift of absolute pitch revealed itself at age three as his avidity for the keyboard took prodigious strides. |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Earl Wild Goes to the Movies (Incls Mozart' Piano Concerto No 21 & Slaughter on 10th Avenue) Earl Wild (piano) / London Promenade / RCA Symphony / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ Ivory Classics / CD - released 26/Jan/2008 ] Born on November 26, 1915 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the young Wild displayed extraordinary musical ability from the age of three. By the time he was six years of age, he was reading music fluently and before his twelfth birthday, he was studying... |
JOSEF HAYDN
Haydn: The 'London' Symphonies / The Seasons Elsie Morison, Alexander Young & Michael Langdon / Beecham Choral Society / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Budget Boxes / 6 CD Box Set - released 25/Sep/2013 ] From the outset of his career, Sir Thomas Beecham gained a reputation for his groundbreaking interpretations of the symphonies of Joseph Haydn. This collection brings together Symphonies 93-104 - among them, the 'Surprise' and the 'Miracle' - as well... |