COPLAND / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / STRAVINSKY / PONCHIELLI / SAINT-SAENS
Essential Ballets (excerpts from 'the Nutcracker', 'Petrushka', 'Giselle', 'Swan Lake' & 'Coppelia') Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Suisse Romande Orchestra [ Decca / 2 CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] All the very best ballet music on a specially priced double CD set. |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 & Orchestral Works Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek [ Warner Classics / 7 CD Box Set - released 19/Aug/2016 ] "(In the Scherzo) the Czech blood rises, the cross-rhythms stamp home and one glimpses something of the genuine article. I like his fresh and very personal characterization in the Trio here: a folksy lilt in the phrasing and subtle shading in the... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 / Prince Rostislav Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko [ Warner Classics / CD - released 1/May/2014 ] BBC Music Award Nomination 2015 - Orchestral |
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonic Queen [ DG Panorama / CD - released 17/Jun/2016 ] Queen, the famed British glam-rock band, were distinguished by their harmonies and operatic allusions, reflecting the classical background and training of lead singer Freddie Mercury. 45 years after the band's first show in the classic line-up of... |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
British Light Classics (Incls 'Mexican Hat Dance', 'Bells Across the Meadow' & 'Dam Busters March') Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth [ Warner Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 26/Oct/2007 ] "Old favourites and rarer items make this an outstanding collection… Altogether outstandingly compiled, played and recorded… If you want just one CD to represent British light music, this is it." (Gramophone on the first CD in this set, August 2004) |
ANTONIN DVORAK
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances / Czech Suite / American Suite / etc Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 9/Jan/2007 ] "The recording is very good, and the performances are both brilliant and affectionate, and benefit from very neat contributions from the RPO wind. Most enjoyable." (Gramophone) |
W.A. MOZART
The Symphonies Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Erich Leinsdorf [ DG Original Masters / 7 CD - released 1/Mar/2006 ] These are vibrant, dynamic recordings that blow away the cobwebs of many of the traditional performances of the time. Originally released on the WESTMINSTER label. |
PROKOFIEV
Romeo and Juliet (Complete Ballet) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca Records / 2 CD - released 24/Mar/2003 ] Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is undisputedly one of greatest ballet scores ever written and is also one of the most popular works in the ballet repertory. |
BORODIN
Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 / In the Steppes of Central Asia Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca Records / CD - released 17/Feb/2001 ] *** Three Stars. Penguin Stereo Guide |
SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 / Chamber Symphony Op.110a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy [ Decca 20th Century / CD - released 14/Jul/2014 ] " it is clear from the finale that the orchestra and conductor are both enjoying themselves." (MusicWeb) |
EDVARD GREIG
Grieg: Peer Gynt / Symphonic Dance No.2 / In Autumn / etc. Ilse Hollweg (soprano) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham [ Warner Classics / CD - released 13/Feb/2012 ] "Beecham showed a very special feeling for this score and to hear (these excerpts) under his baton is a uniquely rewarding experience. Ilse Hollweg makes an excellent soloist." Rosette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
JOSEF HAYDN
Die Schopfung (The Creation) (Complete Oratorio in German) Lucia Popp, Kurt Moll, Helena Dose & Benjamin Luxon / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Dorati [ Decca Originals / 2 CD - released 1/May/2012 ] "Dorati's joy in Haydn's inventiveness is contagious, and the operatic immediacy secures some minor miracles from the RPO." (BBC Music) |
FREDERICK DELIUS
Delius: 150Th Anniversary Edition Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves, [ Warner Classics / 18 CD Box Set - released 14/Nov/2011 ] The present generous set has no parallels nor would I anticipate that there will be for many years. The performances and recordings are healthy and pleasing." (MusicWeb) |
ROSSINI / VERDI / OFFENBACH / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / BELLINI / etc
100 Best Overtures & Preludes: Includes 'The Bartered Bride', 'William Tell' & 'The Barber of Seville') Philharmonia Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, La Scala Opera Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Emi Classics / 6 CD Box Set - released 10/Feb/2018 ] 100 Favourite overtures and preludes from all your favourite operas & ballets. |
Various Artists / Carl Davis / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Beatles for Orchestra [ Carl Davis Collection / CD - released 30/Aug/2011 ] |
ROSSINI / DONIZETTI / BIZET / BEETHOVEN / VERDI / WEBER / etc
50 Best Overtures & Preludes: Includes 'The Bartered Bride', 'William Tell' & 'The Barber of Seville') Philharmonia Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, La Scala Opera Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, etc [ Warner Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2012 ] 50 Favourite overtures and preludes from all your favourite operas & ballets. |
SCHUBERT
Ultimate Schubert [Incls 'Rosamunde, Symphonies Nos 5, 8 & 9, & 'Death and the Maiden'] Vienna Philharmonic / Sir Clifford Curzon (piano) / Beaux Arts Trio / Quartetto Italiano / Weller Quartet / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [ Decca Budget Boxes / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Sep/2007 ] 5 CDs in presentation slip case at SUPER-BUDGET price. Great value gift purchase. |
STRAVINSKY / BARTOK / SHOSTAKOVICH / PROKOFIEV
The 20th Century Violin Concerto Vikoria Mullova (violin) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Esa-Pekka Salonen / Andre Previn [ Philips / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2006 ] "This reissue brings together superb recordings of the Stravinsky and Prokofiev concertos, an excellent alternative reading of the Bartók and a decent performance of the Shostakovich. Great value from a greatly underrated artist." (MusicWeb June... |
BUSONI / DEBUSSY / FALLA / GRANADA / TURINA / etc.
Turina: Rapsodia Sinfonica Valerie Tryon (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Kenneth Woods [ Somm / CD - released 1/Oct/2013 ] SOMM has embarked on an exciting new series of recordings with the RPO and pianist Valerie Tryon and conductor Kenneth Woods. |
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto & Nutcracker Suite Alexandra Dariescu (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Darrwll Ang [ Signum / CD - released 13/Jan/2017 ] Alexandra Dariescu makes her concerto recording debut on Signum with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Darrell Ang, pairing this with Mikhail Pletnev's concert suite of arrangements from The... |