JOSEF HAYDN
Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons) Elsie Morison (soprano) Alexander Young, Michael Langdon / Beecham Choral Society / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Sir Thomas Beecham [ EMI Gemini / 2 CD - released 12/Nov/2004 ] In 1798 Haydn's oratorio Die Schöpfung (The Creation) received its première; such was the enthusiasm that a sequel was duly requested. The subject was to be the four seasons of the year rather than the seven days of creation - which still allowed the... |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Symphonic Poems & Cantatas (Incls 'The Maiden in the Tower', 'Pelleas et Melisande' & 'Finlandia') Estonian National Symphony Orchestra & National Male Choir of Estonia / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi [ Virgin Classics / 4 CD Box Set - released 20/Oct/2011 ] "Sibelians will welcome this collection as might choral conductors looking for ideas for a short concert appetiser." MusicWeb |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Guglielmo Tell [William Tell] (Complete Opera recorded in 1972) Gabriel Bacquier, Montserrat Caballé, Nicolai Gedda / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Lamberto Gardelli [ EMI The Opera Series / 4 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2011 ] "Gardelli is a tasteful, alert conductor who raises the roof impressively in some of the more climactic moments and he maintains drive and interest throughout Tell's vast canvas." (International Record Review) |
GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor (complete opera recorded in 1984) Edita Gruberova, Alfredo Kraus, Renato Bruson, Robert Lloyd / Ambrosian Opera Chorus & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicola Rescigno [ Warner Classics The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 4/May/2017 ] "[Gruberova's] purity of tone, like her range and technical accomplishment, is outstanding." Gramophone |
DELIUS / ELGAR / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / SULLIVAN / WALTON / BLISS / etc
Sir Charles Groves: British Music London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves [ Warner Classics / 24 CD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2015 ] "The wonderful aggregate of soloists and musical personnel remains first-class." AudAud Feb 2017 |
JENNIFER HIGDON / PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Higdon/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos Hilary Hahn (violin) / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 27/Jan/2011 ] "This release is a must acquisition for anyone interested in new music, and for all lovers of great violin playing." (10 / 10 ClassicsToday Oct 2010) |
NICOLO PAGANINI
Paganini: Violin Concerto No 1 (with Saraste - Carmen Fantasy) Itzhak Perlman (violin) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Lawrence Foster [ Warner Classics / CD - released 30/Oct/2019 ] "There has been no better account of the D major Concerto" (Rosette Penguin Stereo Guide) |
TRADITIONAL / JOHN RUTTER / etc
The Colours of Christmas The Bach Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, John Rutter, with Over the Bridge [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 1/Dec/2011 ] "If you believe that Christmas music should have a warm, comfortable feel, then this CD will fit the bill perfectly." (Gramophone) |
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
Plays Andrew Lloyd Webber Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth [ Philips / CD - released 10/Aug/2007 ] "Fans of the Lloyd Webbers shouldn't be disappointed." --Warwick Thompson |
RUGGIERO LEONCAVALLO
Leoncavallo: Zingari (complete opera) Krassimira Stoyanova, Arsen Soghomonyan, Stephen Gaertner, Lukasz Golinski / Opera Rara Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Rizzi [ Opera Rara / CD - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "it's hard to imagine it better done, either. Arsen Soghomonyan was the dark-voiced, passionate Radu, slowly losing control when faced with Krassimira Stoyanova's imperious, self-determined Fleana, gloriously sung." The Guardian |
London Symphony Orchestra. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Andre Previn
Elgar - Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 / Cockaigne, 'In London Town' / Pomp And Circumstance Marches 1-5 [ Philips Duo / 2 CD - released 25/Jun/2004 ] "Previn's view of the opening movement of the first symphony is spacious, with moulding of phrase and lifting of fhythm beautifully judged, to bring natural flexibility within a strongly controlled structure, steadier than usual in basic tempo. The... |
HOOKED ON CLASSICS
Hooked On Classics / Can't Stop The Classics / Journey Through The Classics Louis Clark & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [ K-Tel / 3 CD - released 8/Feb/2008 ] Hooked on Classics was a series of record albums first introduced in 1981, toward the end of the Disco era's peak in popularity. |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: Orchestral & Choral Works / A Village Romeo & Juliet / Songs Maureen Forrester, John Cameron, Dora Labbette / Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 1/Mar/2017 ] "A record to treasure. The greatest recordings made in stereo by the greatest British conductor at the peak of his career." - Gramophone |
HAYDN / BEETHOVEN / SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN / BRUCKNER / etc
The Symphony Collection Royal Concertgebouw, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berlin Philharmonic, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Teldec Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 12/Oct/2009 ] "Under Harnoncourt the music's gently descending lines truly glow [in the Third], distinctively but never conspicuously, and the gradual 'dying away' is beautifully handled" (Gramophone) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Overture: 'Le Corsaire' / Royal Hunt and Storm & Trojan March ('Les Troyens') (recorded 1957-59) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Masters / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] Rosette Recording (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide - 'If you want a genuinely French Symphonie fantastique, wonderfully performed and superbly recorded, go out and get this release before it's snapped up by your neighbour.' (Gramophone) |
JOHN RUTTER
Distant Land (Incls The Beatles Concerto) Paul Shaffer, Peter Rostal (pianos) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / John Rutter [ Universal Classics / CD - released 20/Jun/2005 ] The Beatles Concerto is a panic. Composed for duo pianists Peter Rostal and Paul Schaefer, it treats these famous tunes (about eight of them) in the style of Rachmaninov or Tchaikovsky. |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Symphony No 9 Peter Jablonski (piano) Cristina Ortiz (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca Virtuoso / CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] "this kind of plain-spoken Shostakovich could make a good benchmark library choice" (Gramophone on the symphony) |
CHOPIN
Piano Concerto No.2 / Preludes (24), Op. 28 Maria João Pires (piano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Aug/2010 ] |