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EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Coronation Ode, Op.44 / The Spirit of England, Op.80 Teresa Cahill (sop) Anne Collins (alto) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 1/Sep/1992 ] "Gibson's performances combine fire and panache, and the recorded sound has an ideal Elgarian expansiveness, the choral tone rich and well focused, the orchestral brass given plenty of weight." Penguin Guide |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Les Troyens (complete opera recorded in 2003) BLU-RAY Theatre Musical de Paris / Yannis Kokkos, Susan Graham, Gregory Kunde / Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Sir John Eliot Gardiner [ Opus Arte / BBC Blu-Ray / 2 Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "The magnificent high-definition recording does it ample sonic and visual justice. For anyone who loves Les Troyens, this is a revelatory and essential performance." (The Gramophone Classical Music Guide) |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn Thomas Allen (baritone) Ann Murray (soprano) / The London Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Virgin Ultraviolet / CD - released 5/Nov/1995 ] Recorded At - No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London, 1991 |
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EDWARD ELGAR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Elgar: The Collector's Edition: The Masterpieces (30 CDs at a special price) Vernon Handley / Adrian Boult / Sir John Barbirolli / Janet Baker / Robert Tear / Charles Groves / Jacqueline du Pre / etc [ EMI Classics / 30 CD Box Set - released 1/Jan/2009 ] Elgar is the quintessential English composer. He is loved as our Shakespeare of music, and we turn to him at times of solemn remembrance and national rejoicing. This edition, released to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth,... |
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GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in 1958 & 1959) Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Janine Micheau / French National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics Legendary Opera Recordings / 3 CD Box Set - released 23/Sep/2016 ] "a spacious recording in which the atmospheric off-stage effects are vividly caught. What is so individual is the way that Beecham points rhythms to captivate the ear, as well as his persuasive moulding of phrases." (Gramophone) |
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BEETHOVEN / MENDELSSOHN / BRUSTAD / GRIEG
Europakonzert 2016 from Røros, Norway - Beethoven: Symph. No 3 / Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto BLU-RAY Vilde Frang (violin) / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 10/Apr/2017 ] "[Frang] is predictably fine in the Mendelssohn, technically accomplished and emotionally engaged. And what a joy it must be to play this concerto with the Berliners, whose sensitivity to Mendelssohn's instrumental imaginings is second to none." |
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LEOS JANACEK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Janacek: Sinfonietta / Taras Bulba Wiener Philharmoniker [Vienna Philharmonic], Sir Charles Mackerras [ Decca / CD - released 29/Apr/1983 ] Much as the name Charles Mackerras is rightly associated with Janácek's music, when it comes to the pairing of his two greatest orchestral works, Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba, this recording remains a favourite. |
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IGOR STRAVINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Stravinsky: Ebony Concerto / Symphony in 3 Movements / Petrouchka Woody Herman & his Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Eugene Goossens [ Philips / CD - released 19/Aug/1989 ] "The Ebony Concerto is played by the same artist whom it originally was dedicated in 1945. This remarkable virtuoso ensemble performed it at carnegie hall on March 25, 1946, conducted by Walter Hendl." |
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Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell
Check 'em Before You Wreck 'em [ Rise Above / CD - released 9/May/2014 ] The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell are the last of a dying breed of Grease Rock Bastard musicians who somehow, despite and in spite of the last three decades trying their best to kill off balls out, non-bullshit rocknroll music, somehow, against all... |
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Sir Richard Bishop
Hillbilly Ragas [ Drag City / CD - released 26/Sep/2025 ] Our fave shaman of the six-string is back. Waving his axe of choice, Sir Richard Bishop once again summons forth damnable truth and beauty on an all-new musical kamikaze run through histories both written and-as of yet-not commonly known. Since... |
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Sir Richard Bishop
Hillbilly Ragas (LP) [ Drag City / LP - released 26/Sep/2025 ] Our fave shaman of the six-string is back. Waving his axe of choice, Sir Richard Bishop once again summons forth damnable truth and beauty on an all-new musical kamikaze run through histories both written and-as of yet-not commonly known. Since... |
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Sir Was
Digging A Tunnel [ City Slang / CD - released 17/Mar/2017 ] "Blending Tame Impala-reminiscent vocals like a beam of light with playful yet melancholy electronic production" - Stereogum Sir Was' debut full length, Digging A Tunnel, is an album that constantly bucks trends and confounds expectations.... |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Semiramide (complete opera) Albina Shagimuratova, Daniela Barcellona, Mirco Palazzi, Barry Banks, Gianluca Buratto / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 4 CD Box Set - released 5/Oct/2018 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD NOMINATION 2019 TOP THREE - Opera |
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GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti: Il Paria (complete opera) Albina Shagimuratova, René Barbera, Misha Kiria, Marko Mimica / Britten Sinfonia, Sir Mark Elder [ Opera Rara / 2 CD Box Set - released 15/Jan/2021 ] "The music is splendid, well worth discovering...Shagimuratova is superb...Barbera is breathtakingly wonderful...Elder conducts with his customary zeal. Subtlety, too." Gramophone |
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W.A. MOZART
Piano Concertos No 12 K414 & No 17 K453 Alfred Brendel (piano) / Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Sir Charles MacKerras [ Decca / CD - released 15/Nov/2005 ] This is the latest release in the highly acclaimed Philips series of Mozart Piano Concerti from two of the World's most distinguished Mozartians - pianist Alfred Brendel and conductor Sir Charles Mackerras (who celebrates his 80th birthday in 2005). |
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W. A. MOZART
Piano Concertos Nos. 24-27 Alicia de Larrocha (piano) / Chamber Orchestra of Europe & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti [ Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Feb/2011 ] "it would be a strange person indeed who did not submit to such warm-hearted, unmannered Mozart....Larrocha's pearly toned, lightly pedalled touch and the way she can taper a phrase ending to resemble musical speech (try the opening of K491) make... |
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W. A. MOZART / BEETHOVEN / SCHUMANN / LISZT / BARTOK / SCHUBERT
Annie Fischer: The Complete London Studio Recordings Annie Fischer (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Otto Klemperer, etc [ Warner Classics Icon / 8 CD Box Set - released 23/Aug/2014 ] 'I can find no praise too high for Annie Fischer's playing, for she makes every phrase a delight. Sawallisch partners his soloist to perfection. Everybody has here combined to produce something really outstanding among recordings of Mozart... |
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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) |
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Orchestral Suites Nos. 1-4, BWV1066-1069 William Bennett (flute), Thurston Dart (continuo) / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner [ Decca / CD - released 2/Feb/2004 ] Originally recorded in 1970 |