BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY
Herbert von Karajan Memorial Concert (concert recorded in 2008) BLU-RAY Berlin Philharmonic / Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) / Seiji Ozawa (cond) [ Unitel Classics / Medici Arts BLU-RAY / Blu-ray Disc - released 20/Sep/2011 ] "For Anne-Sophie Mutter the saying "Make every note count" becomes less a vague cliché and more a matter of fact. Her violin playing has an imagination, a curiosity and a near-endless reserve of psychic energy." The New York Times |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Classic Karajan: The Essential Collection Herbert Von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic & Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, with Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) [ Deutche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 30/May/2014 ] In the 25th anniversary of his passing, Deutsche Grammophon celebrate Herbert von Karajan - the best-selling conductor of all time...in a new collection of essential classics, now newly remastered. |
CHABRIER / SAINT-SAENS / MASSENET / RAVEL / POULENC / BRAHMS
Silvesterkonzert - New Year's Eve Concert 2015 Berliner Philharmoniker / Sir SImon Rattle / Anne-Sophie Mutter [ EuroArts DVD / DVD ] It is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical music fan in Berlin - and beyond: On New Year's Eve, the Berliner Philharmoniker invite an exceptional soloist for a festive gala. Together the musicians bid farewell to the old year and... |
MARTIN SHAW
Shaw: Songs - The Airmen Sophie Bevan (soprano), Andrew Kennedy (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone) & Iain Burnside (piano) [ Delphian / CD - released 6/Feb/2012 ] "This attractive selection benefits from having three excellent singers, all with good diction. With persuasive performances like these it looks as if there's a case for making room for another English song composer." Gramophone |
BELLINI
I Puritani (complete opera recorded in 1980) Montserrat Caballe, Alfredo Kraus, Julia Hamari / Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/May/2016 ] "Caballé's warmth and inwardness goes above anything else...for beauty of tone and grace Caballé wins hands down...Muti's recording is the one to have." (MusicWeb) |
JOHANN MELCHIOR MOLTER
Molter: Orchestral Music & Cantatas; Camerata Bachienis, Julia Kirchner (soprano) [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 19/Aug/2016 ] Johann Melchior Molter was born in 1696 in Thüringen, where his musical talent was quickly recognised. He served in the orchestra at the court of Karlsruhe. Later he broadened his horizon by going to Italy, where he encountered Albinoni, Vivaldi... |
HILDUR GUDNADOTTIR & OTHERS
TÁR (LP) Cate Blanchett (piano), Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello, vocals), Sophie Kauer (cello) / Dresdner Philharmonia, London Contemporary Orchestra [ Deutsche Grammophon Vinyl / LP - released 9/Dec/2022 ] "More a concept album than a traditional musical facsimile of the film, the result is both creative and curious. Hildur Guðnadóttir's music lives within and without the film, and it rubs shoulders with snippets of Elgar and Mahler." BBC Music |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: Gloria RV589 / Nisi Dominus (Psalm 126) RV608 / Nulla in mundo pax sincera RV630 Julia Lezhneva (soprano), Franco Fagioli (countertenor) / I Barocchisti, Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera, Diego Fasolis [ Decca Records / CD - released 1/Aug/2018 ] "Crisp tempos, disciplined ensemble, and solo improvisations both vocal and instrumental unleash the tremendous energy of the choir-and-solo Gloria." (BBC Music) |
HANDEL
Handel Classics (Includes 'Let the Bright Seraphim', Dead March from Saul, 'Ombra mai fu' & the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba) Collegium Musicum 90, Sophie Yates (harpsichord), The Purcell Quartet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Sixteen, etc [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2004 ] "Handel poured out music faster that a copyist could copy it. This outstanding 40-track selection celebrates his genius in real style." Classic FM Magazine |
HANDEL
Saul (complete recorded in 1986) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Paul Esswood & Julia Varady / Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Warner Classics Das Alte Werk / 2 CD - released 26/Oct/2009 ] "Rolfe Johnson is outstanding...in this powerfully dramatic account" (BBC Music) |
FRANCOIS COUPERIN
Couperin: Trois Lecons De Tenebres pour le Mercredi Saint / 4 Versets du Motet Sophie Daneman, Patricia Petibon / Les Arts Florissants, William Christie [ Erato / CD - released 28/Feb/1997 ] "Singing, accompaniment and recording are all that could be desired. The accompaniment is, appropriately, the lightest possible." MusicWeb |
HUGO WOLF
The Complete Songs Volume 1 Sophie Daneman / Anna Grevelius / James Gilchrist / Stephan Loges [ Stone / CD - released 2/Jan/2013 ] The first disc in the first complete recording of the songs of Hugo Wolf (1860-1903), recorded live at the Oxford Lieder Festival. This first disc features settings of Mörike. |
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
Lyric Symphony Op.18 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Julia Varady / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 20/Feb/2015 ] 'This is, in short, a very fine performance and recording of a work that is looking more and more like a crucial document of what one might term 'pre-modernism'. Gramophone, June 1987 |
BEETHOVEN / HAYDN / WEBER
Folk Song Arrangements [2 CD set] Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Edith Mathis, Alexander Young, Julia Hamari, RIAS Kammerchor, with accompliment [ Deutsche Grammophon SBS Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/May/2010 ] "Between them these discs contain forty-six songs and over two hours of delightful and often neglected music. Taken a few at a time I find that they lift the spirits and open the ears delightfully." (MusicWeb Jan 2010) |
VERDI
Falstaff (complet opera recorded in 1996) Domenico Trimarchi, Roberto Servile, Julia Faulkner / Hamburg State Opera / Will Humburg [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/2009 ] "a Falstaff to savour and one that will surely bear reptition " - Gramophone Editor's Choice |
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Samson Joshua Ellicott, Sophie Bevan, Fflur Wyn, Mary Bevan, Jess Dandy, Hugo Hymas / Dunedin Consort, John Butt [ Linn / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "This new Samson now becomes the top recommendation: for its uniformly excellent soloists, its excitingly 'present' choral singing and, above all, its more urgent sense of theatre" Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Choral |
J. S. BACH
Bach: St Matthew Passion [highlights] Elly Ameling, Julia Hamari, Helen Watts, Peter Pears, Fritz Wunderlich, Walter Berry, Tom Krause / Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Karl Munchinger [ Decca Eloquence / CD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] 'Many will be glad to hear Peter Pears's superb performance of the Evangelist' Gramophone, March 1965 |
JOSEF MYSLIVECEK
Il Boemo {soundtrack) Emőke Baráth (soprano), Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Sophie Harmsen (mezzo-soprano), Simona Šaturová (soprano) / Collegium 1704, Václav Luks [ Erato / CD - released 25/Mar/2017 ] Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and soprano Emőke Baráth appear on the soundtrack of a 2022 film by the award-winning Czech director Petr Václav. Called Il Boemo (The Bohemian), it tells the story of the Prague-born composer Josef Mysliveček... |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Chamber Music with flute Emmanuel Pahud (flute) with Daniel Barenboim, Daishin Kashimoto, Amihai Grosz, Sophie Dervaux & Silvia Careddu [ Warner Classics / CD - released 11/Dec/2020 ] Warner Classics' final release for Beethoven's 250th anniversary year is a charming programme of chamber music with flute. The four works, all dating from the earlier years of the composer's career, were recorded in June 2020. |
W.A. MOZART
Die ZauberflAte (The Magic Flute) complete opera Erika MiklAsa / Dorothea RAschmann / Julia Kleiter / Christoph Strehl / Hanno MAller-Brachmann / Mahler Chamber Orchestra / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / 2 CD - released 24/May/2006 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD FINALIST 2006: Opera - "Abbado's first shot at the flute proves to be a strong contender" (Editor's Choice Gramophone June 2006) |