JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
A Sousa Celebration Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 28/Apr/2017 ] "Looking for something foot-tapping and beguiling, and with a fund of tunes? This Chandos Sousa release could be the answer." Classical Source |
TALIVALDIS KENINS
Kenins: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6 Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Guntis Kuzma [ Ondine / CD - released 22/Oct/2021 ] The first album of orchestral works by one of Latvia's most prominent composers, Tālivaldis Ķeniņš (1919-2008), released in October 2020 has received a warm response from music critics around the world. This second volume by the Latvian National... |
RICHARD STRAUSS / LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN / MIKHAIL GLINKA
The Princess and the Bear: Strauss (R): Duet-Concertino / Beethoven: Trio / Glinka: Trio pathétique Laurence Perkins (bassoon), with Sarah Watts (clarinet), Martin Roscoe (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sian Edwards (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 27/Jul/2018 ] "[the Glinka] finds Watts and Perkins squaring off and duetting like protagonists from one of the bel canto operas that inspired it, while Roscoe accompanies them with understated subtlety." Gramophone |
HAVERGAL BRIAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brian: Symphony No.1 "The Gothic" Vladimir Dolezal (tenor) / Eva Jenisova (soprano) / Peter Mikulas (bass) / Dagmar Peckova (alto) / Slovak National Opera / Ondrej Lenard [ Marco Polo / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1990 ] "Leonard leads a substantial percentage of the adult population of Bratislava in a noble effort, full of excitement, with enthusiastic (if somewhat rough) choral singing and a very good lineup of soloists (including the young Dagmar Pecková), all... |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78 / Scythian Suite, Op. 20, from `Ala et Lolly` Linda Finnie (contralto) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra & Chorus / Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 20/Aug/1988 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) "Neeme Jarvi's wide-screen spectacular captures the icy intensity in the scenes of devastation and the glitter of the musical patriotism in equal measure." (1001 recordings) |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies National Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Academy Symphony, Mstislav Rostropovich [ Warner Classics / 12 CD Box Set - released 19/Mar/2007 ] Composed over a period of nearly 50 years, Dmitri Shostakovich's 15 symphonies are astonishingly diverse in conception and expression, reflecting the composer's personal experiences, the history of the 20th century and the tensions and struggles of... |
DELIBES / ADAM / TCHAIKOVSKY / MINKUS / OFFENBACH / MASSENET / etc
Richard Bonynge - Complete Ballet Recordings L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, English Chamber Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 45 CD Box Set - released 18/Dec/2020 ] 48 CDs compiled by Cyrus Meher-Homji, a long-time friend of Richard Bonynge, including familiar scores by Tchaikovsky & Delibes alongside works revived by Maestro Bonynge throughout his career. |
LEO DELIBES
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delibes: Coppelia [Complete Ballet] (with Massenet - Le Carillon) L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca Ballet Edition / 2 CD Box Set - released 28/Aug/2014 ] This recording of Coppelia with the L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the earlier of two made by Richard Bonynge, was the top recommendation when BBC Radio 3 compared different recordings in its programme Building a Library in 2010. |
ALEXANDER MacKENZIE
Mackenzie: Violin Concerto / Pibroch Suite Malcolm Stewart (violin) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Vernon Handely, conductor / David Davies, conductor [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Jun/2009 ] 'Stewart is the real red-blooded article, with a big sound and a bow that travels across the strings so fast that it must look like a blur in the concert hall. But not a single note is blurred or slighted here' - Fanfare, USA |
VERDI / DONIZETTI / BELLINI / DONIZETTI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Marcelo Alvarez - Bel Canto Marcelo Alvarez (tenor) / Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Carlo Rizzi [ Sony Classical / CD - released 17/Sep/1998 ] Álvarez travels widely, performing with top singers in major opera houses and concert halls around the world. Since the beginning of his career in 1994, he has maintained an active touring schedule and debuted in 34 roles. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (3 LP) Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Andréa Guiot, Robert Massard / Orchestre du Théâtre National de L'Opera, Georges Pretre [ Warner Classics LP / 3 Vinyl Box Set - released 19/May/2023 ] Towards the end of Callas's career, there were many rumours that she was planning to perform Carmen on stage. This was never to be, but Carmen became her penultimate complete recording of an opera. |
GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1964) Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Andréa Guiot, Robert Massard, Nadine Sautereau / Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris, Georges Prêtre [ Warner Classics Maria Callas Remastered / 2 CD - released 1/Apr/2015 ] Towards the end of Callas's career, there were many rumours that she was planning to perform Carmen on stage. This was never to be, but Carmen became her penultimate complete recording of an opera - and her only complete recording of a French opera.... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107 / Cello Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 126 Maria Kliegel (cello) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra; Antoni Wit, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 28/Jan/2004 ] "Kliegel manages to convey a feeling of spontaneous improvisation and her command of the instrument is impressive. Naxos's recording is nicely ambient." - Gramophone - Oct.1996 |
BEETHOVEN / ELGAR / BRAHMS / SAINT-SAENS / FAURE / POPPER / etc
Maria Kliegel - Anniversary Edition Maria Kliegel (cello) / with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Camerata Transsylvanica, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland [ Naxos / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Nov/2022 ] "Her playing has great virtuosity, but it is her phrasing especially in the Elgar, which suggests a great musical intelligence" - Classic CD |
DEBUSSY / DUPARC / FAURE / RAVEL
Marianne Crebassa - Séguedilles Marianne Crebassa (mezzo), Orchestre et Choeur du National du Capitole de Toulouse, Ben Glassberg; Thibaut Garcia (guitar), Alphonse Cemin (piano) [ Erato Classics / CD - released 22/Oct/2021 ] Marianne Crebassa's new album celebrates her French-Spanish roots: centered around French composers taking inspiration from Spain and Spanish composers searching for new ideas in France. |
MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI
Moszkowski: Piano Concerto, Op. 59 / From Foreign Lands Op.23 Markus Pawlik (piano) / National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra A. Wit, conductor [ Naxos Romantic Piano Concertos / CD - released 13/Oct/2002 ] Moritz Moszkowski was born in Breslau on 23rd August, 1854, and began his music studies in Dresden, eventually moving to Berlin to continue his education with Kullak and Wüerst. |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Martha Argerich: Complete Chopin Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon Martha Argerich (piano) with Mischa Maisky (cello) Mstislav Rostropovich (cello & conductor) / London Symphony & National Symphony Orchestras [ Deutsche Grammophon / 5 CD Box Set - released 5/Jun/2016 ] This 5 CD set brings together Martha Argerich's complete studio, live and radio recordings on Deutsche Grammophon, and documents her special, intuitive and passionate relationship with Chopin's music. |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Martha Argerich: Complete Chopin Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon [CDs & Blu-ray audio] Martha Argerich (piano) with Mischa Maisky (cello) Mstislav Rostropovich (cello & conductor) / London Symphony & National Symphony Orchestras [ Deutsche Grammophon CDs + Blu-ray audio/Dolby Atmos / 6 CD Box Set - released 14/May/2016 ] 50 GREATEST RECORDINGS OF ALL TIME (No 19) - BBC MUSIC This 5 CD set brings together Martha Argerich's complete studio, live and radio recordings of Chopin on Deutsche Grammophon.. |
ERNO DOHNANYI
Dohnanyi: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 Michael Ludwig (violin) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / JoAnn Falletta [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] "These are excellent pieces that ought to be in the modern performance repertory. If you don't know these works, you owe to yourself to hear this disc." -- ClassicsToday 10/10 |
MOZART / MEHUL / OFFENBACH / LEONCAVALLO / LEHAR / WAGNER / RAVEL / etc
Michael Spyres - BariTenor Michael Spyres (baritone/tenor) / Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, Marko Letonja, Choeur d'hommes de l'Opéra national du Rhine [ Erato Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/2021 ] "The range of roles is astonishing, but then so are these performances...Spyres really is a tenor - and a baritone, it seems - who has the operatic world at his feet." Gramophone Award WINNER 2022 - Vocal & Ensemble |