PAUL HINDEMITH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Hindemith: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra / Symphonic Metamorphoses on themes of Carl Maria von Weber / Mathis Der Maler David Oistrakh (violin) London Symphony Orchestra / Paul Hindemith, Claudio Abbado, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Paul Kletzki [ Decca Eloquence / CD - released 13/Jan/2003 ] Classic recordings now available at a budget price |
HENRYK GORECKI
Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs' Dawn Upshaw (soprano) / London Symphony / David Zinman [ Nonesuch Records / CD - released 26/Jun/1992 ] This is an outstanding rendition of Gorecki's Third, capturing the feeling of growing hope and joy that can ultimately break from the shackles of sorrow. Zinman and the London Sinfonietta really understand the mood and philosophy of this piece, and... |
VIVIAN ELLIS & RICHARD MYERS
Ellis/Meyers: Mr Cinders Deinis Lawson & Christina Matthews / Revival London Cast [ TER / Thats Entertainment / CD - released 2/Feb/1993 ] Mr Cinders is a 1928 musical with music by Vivian Ellis and Richard Myers and a libretto by Clifford Grey and Greatrex Newman. The story is an inversion of the Cinderella fairy tale with the gender roles reversed. The Prince Charming character has... |
GUSTAV HOLST
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Holst: The Cloud Messenger & The Hymn of Jesus Della Jones (mezzo-soprano) London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Nov/1990 ] Recorded in St. Jude's Church, London on 4, 5 & 9 June 1990. |
GUSTAV HOLST
Holst: The Cloud Messenger / The Hymn of Jesus / Seven Part-songs / Ode to Death / etc Della Jones (mezzo-soprano) Patricia Rozario (soprano) Finzi Singers / London Symphony Chorus / Richard Hickox [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/1999 ] All the best of Holst's choral works on a beautiful double CD |
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
Szymanowski: Symphonies Nos 2 & 4 / Stabat Mater Denis Matsuev (piano) Sally Matthews (soprano), Ekaterina Gubanova (mezzo) & Kostas Smoriginas (baritone) / London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Valery [ Alto / LSO Live / CD - released 15/May/2018 ] [2nd] "a natural inheritor of Scriabinesque exoticism, Szymanowski brings out the best in Scriabin's most imaginative interpreters, which is why Gergiev proves such a convincing interpreter … excellent playing from the LSO" [4th] "Matsuev has his... |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Harold en Italie / Overtures Donald McInnes (viola) / Orchestre National de France, Leonard Bernstein / London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn [ EMI Double Forte / 2 CD - released 16/Jun/1999 ] "This is excellent...The French orchestra plays beautifully for Bernstein...the most interesting performance of the symphony now on record" (Gramophone on Symphonie fantastique) |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience (Complete opera with full dialogue) D'Oyly Carte Opera Company with John Reed; Kenneth Sandford; Mary Sansom, Philip Potter / New Symphony Orchestra of London / Isidore Godfrey [ Decca Records / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/1989 ] "Great diction. You get to hang onto every word....Donald Adams as Colonel Calverley is dynamic and John Reed excels as Reginald." Mel@marbecks |
OTTORINO RESPIGHI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: The Essential Respighi [Incls 'Fountains of Rome' & 'The Birds'] Swiss Radio Orchestra, Ernst Ansermet / London Symphony Orchestra, István Kertész / Argo Chamber Orchestra, Laszlo Heltay [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/1995 ] "Ansermet, with his ear for detail and orchestral colour, yields up vivid results in the Fountains of Rome...Maazel's Pines of Rome is a strong, direct performance, and memorable in impact." (Penguin Guide) |
INSTRUMENTS OF THE MIDDLE AGES & RENAISSANCE
Instruments of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance Early Music Consort of London / David Munrow [ Virgin Veritas / 2 CD - released 11/Jul/2008 ] One of David Munrow's final and most ambitious projects was this recorded survey of the medieval and renaissance eras, originally accompanied by a lavishly illustrated book researched with all his typical thoroughness. |
HENRY PURCELL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Purcell: Birthday Odes for Queen Mary Early Music Consort of London / David Munrow, with Norma Burrowes, James Bowman, Charles Brett & Robert Lloyd [ EMI Classics For Pleasure / CD - released 24/Sep/1990 ] Purcell's odes for Queen Mary show him at his best. A glorious succession of overtures, choruses, arias and delicious ritornelli display astonishing imagination and ingenuity: whilst overtly celebratory, never far beneath the surface lies the sense... |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (highlights from the opera recorded in 1992) Edita Gruberova, Neil Shicoff, Alexander Agache / Ambrosian Singers, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Teldec Basic Edition / CD - released 16/Aug/2001 ] Highlights from the original 1992 release. |
GRACE WILLIAMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Williams: The Dancers / Two Choruses / Ave Maris Stella / Six Gerard Manley Hopkins Poems Eiddwen Harrhy (soprano) Helen Watts (contralto) Caryl Thomas (harp) / Richard Hickox Singers, City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 17/Mar/1999 ] "The recorded sound is excellent. .. I found this a fascinating disc. Anyone interested in fine choral writing and singing - or in exploring a new pathway in music - should seek it out. And I predict we will be hearing more of Grace Williams." A.R.G. |
GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell [ EMI Classics / CD - released 15/Feb/2000 ] The folk songs and poems of the collection Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Youth's Magic Horn), first published in the early 19th century, played a crucial role in Mahler's development as a composer. Encompassing the vast range of expression in these 12... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Shostakovich: Symphony No 15 / From Jewish Folk Poetry Elisabeth Soderstrom (soprano) Ortun Wenkel (contralto) / London Philharmonic, Haitink [ Decca Ovation / CD - released 5/May/2001 ] Rosette (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
WAGNER / WEBER / SMETANA / TCHAIKOVSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elizabeth Schwarzkopf - Romantic Opera Arias Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) / Philharmonia & London Symphony Orchestras, various conductors. with Christa Ludwig (mezzo) [ EMI Studio / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/1986 ] Original recordings from 1956 - 1958 |
AIRAT ICHMOURATOV
Ichmouratov: Viola Concerto No.1 / Piano Concerto Elvira Misbakhova (viola) Jean-Philippe Sylvestre (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Peacock [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 30/Jun/2023 ] The Volga-Tatar-born Canadian composer and conductor Airat Ichmouratov conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in this recording of two of his major works, in Chandos' third album devoted to the works of this outstanding composer. |
DOWLAND / JONES / HANDEL / ABEL / BOYCE / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Emma Kirkby: 5 Classic Albums Emma Kirkby (soprano) with Anthony Rooley (lute & orpharion) Evelyn Tubb (soprano) London Baroque, etc [ Erato / Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2015 ] With her uncommonly pure voice, agile coloratura and particular sensitivity to words, Dame Emma Kirkby is one of the world's leading sopranos in the field of early music. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Beethoven English Chamber Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas, with Éva Marton (soprano) [ Sony Classical Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 13/Mar/2020 ] "Ormandy's reading generates excitement through exact accentuation as well as vibrant instrumental color and striking ensemble balances. You'd expect to hear the piano clearly at the start of the first-movement development section, but it makes a... |
TCHAIKOVSKY / ALBÉNIZ / CHABRIER / de FALLA / DVORAK / GRANADOS / etc
Enrique Jorda - Decca Recordings 1950-51 Enrique Jorda conducting L'Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris & New Symphony Orchestra of London, with Clifford Curzon [ Decca Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 9/Apr/2021 ] A new collection of Decca's legendary 'ffrr' recordings from the early 1950s, made by an underrated Spanish master of orchestral colour in London and Paris. Includes several items new to CD. |