BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Death in Venice (complete opera recorded in 2013) English National Opera / John Graham-Hall, Andrew Shore, Tim Mead / Edward Gardner (cond) [ Opus Arte DVD / DVD - released 3/Mar/2014 ] "Graham-Hall is a real stage-animal, convincing us utterly of his descent into obsession...every colour, timbre and texture of this richly imaginative score comes blazing through under Gardner's baton". (Gramophone Award Nomination 2015 - Opera) |
LEO DELIBES
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delibes: Sylvia (complete ballet), with Massenet: 'Le Cid' ballet National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 16/Apr/1989 ] Original recording: Kingsway Hall, London, June 1972 (Sylvia) & January 1975 |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius Nicky Spence, Anna Stéphany, Andrew Foster-Williams /Angel of the Agony), Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli, Paul McCreesh [ Signum Records / 2 CD - released 26/Apr/2024 ] "Even if you are a dyed-in-the-wool Elgarian with special loyalties to a particular interpretation, this CD is brimful of edifying delights and surprises worthy of repeated listening." Gramophone Award Finalist 2024 - Choral |
MIKHAIL IVANOVICH GLINKA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Glinka: Ivan Susanin [A Life for the Tsar] (complete opera recorded in 1986) Nicola Ghiuselev, Elena Stoyanova, Hristina Angelakova / Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Ivan Marinov [ Brilliant Classics Opera Collection / 3 CD Box Set - released 11/Sep/2011 ] "In the title role we hear one of the foremost basses of the second half of the 20th century, Nicola Ghiuselev. ...he gives a rounded and deeply moving portrait of the folk hero Ivan Susanin." MusicWeb |
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini Overtures [Incls 'L'Italiana in Algeri' & 'Semiramide'] National Philharmonic Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 10/Apr/2014 ] Original recordings from 1981 and 1985 |
MALCOLM ARNOLD
Arnold: Symphonies (Complete) / Dances Ireland National Symphony Orchestra; Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Penny [ Naxos / 6 CD Box Set - released 29/Oct/2021 ] "These performances have the composer's imprimatur (he was present at the recording sessions) and can be cordially recommended." Penguin Guide |
LEO DELIBES
Delibes: Coppelia (complete ballet) (with Minkus - Don Quixote highlights) Orchestre du Theatre National de l'Opera de Paris / Jean-Baptiste Mari [ EMI Ballet Edition / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2010 ] The Ballet Edition is a series of 2 CD sets drawn from the catalogues of EMI Classics, presenting the best-loved and most popular ballets, performed by the world's leading orchestras and conductors. |
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
Meyerbeer: Robert le Diable (complete opera) John Osborn, Nicolas Courjal, Amina Edris, Erin Morley, Nico Darmanin / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine; Marc Minkowsk [ Bru Zane CDs + Book / 3 CD/Book - released 23/Sep/2022 ] "It all adds up to a formidable re-evaluation of a seminal if neglected work, as well as being a remarkable achievement in its own right." Gramophone Recording of the Month Awards Issue 2022 |
ALBERT ROUSSEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Symphonies No.1 - 4 Orchestre National de France, Charles Dutoit [ Erato Ultima / 2 CD - released 30/Jan/2001 ] Original recordings from 1987 |
ALBERT ROUSSEL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane / Le Festin de l'araignee Orchestre National de France, Georges Pretre [ EMI Classics / CD - released 20/May/1986 ] Albert Roussel (1869-1937) was a French composer who spent seven years in the French Navy, only turning to music at the age of 25. He became one of the most prominent French composers of the inter-war period. |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Saint-Saens - Symphony No 3 Organ / Phaeton Op 39 / Le Rouet d'Omphale Op 31 Orchestre National de France. Seiji Ozawa [ EMI Redline / CD - released 18/Feb/2001 ] "The symphony is distinguished by...rich string playing...vivid clarity of detail...and a great sense of enjoyment." - Gramophone |
TAN DUN
Tan Dun: Buddha Passion Shenyang (bass-baritone) Zhu Huiling (soprano) Yining Chen (pipa), etc / Orchestre National de Lyon, International Choir Academy Lübeck, Tan Dun [ Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2023 ] "This is an attractive work, instantly and uncomplicatedly gratifying. Where the Water Passion wrestles and distils and provokes, the Buddha Passion affirms and entertains. Is it enough? Perhaps. Is it really a Passion? I'm not so sure." Gramophone |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Complete Orchestral Works (9CD) Orchestre National de Lyon, Jun Märkl [ Naxos / 9 CD Box Set - released 10/Apr/2012 ] This collection contains all Debussy's works for orchestra as well as many orchestral arrangements of his piano music. Together these display a rich panorama of Debussian sound and a remarkable insight into the composer. Established arrangements by... |
RICHARD ARNELL
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Arnell: Piano Concerto / Symphony No. 2 "Fufus" David Owen Norris (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 19/Feb/2007 ] "... Yates draws superb playing from the RSNO ... and all in all this is a very welcome release. Music of this quality manifestly does not deserve the long-time neglect which has befallen it." International Record Review, May 2007 |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Mireille (complete opera recorded in 2010) Paris National Opera / Inva Mula / Charles Castronovo / Franck Ferrari / Marc Minkowski (conductor) [ FRA Musica DVD / 2 DVD - released 10/Oct/2010 ] Gramophone Magazine DVD of the Month - March 2011 |
JULES MASSENET
Massenet: Werther (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY Paris National Opera / Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch, Ludovic Tezier / Michel Plasson (cond) [ Decca Music Group Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 14/Sep/2015 ] "..comes beautifully to life, with Sophie Koch's Charlotte much more involving in close-up than she was at a distance and Jonas Kaufmann an absolute dream of a Werther. Their scorching Act 3 duet will simply blow your head off." (Daily Telegraph) |
STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Sondheim: Pacific Overtures Paul Strathearnj & Eric Roberts / English National Opera/Original London Cast, James Holmes [ TER / Thats Entertainment / 2 CD Box Set - released 3/Nov/1989 ] Pacific Overtures is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by John Weidman, with "additional material by" Hugh Wheeler. |
PUCCINI / GOUNOD / MASSENET / MASCAGNI / VERDI / BERLIOZ
Nessun Dorma Pene Pati (tenor) / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Emmanuel Villaume [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Sep/2024 ] Taking its title, Nessun Dorma, from the greatest tenor hit of them all, Pene Pati's second album balances favourite numbers with operatic rarities - one of them in world premiere recording. In addition to Puccini, the Italian composers are Verdi,... |
PUCCINI / GOUNOD / MASSENET / MASCAGNI / VERDI / BERLIOZ
Nessun Dorma (LP) Pene Pati (tenor) / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Emmanuel Villaume [ Warner Classics / LP - released 20/Sep/2024 ] Taking its title, Nessun Dorma, from the greatest tenor hit of them all, Pene Pati's second album balances favourite numbers with operatic rarities - one of them in world premiere recording. In addition to Puccini, the Italian composers are Verdi,... |
DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / VERDI / ROSSINI / MEYERBEER / MASSENET / GODARD
Pene Pati Pene Pati (tenor) / Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Emmanuel Villaume [ Warner Classics / Warner / CD - released 25/Mar/2022 ] "A generosity of spirit not always to be taken for granted with tenors is in constant evidence on Pene Pati's debut album…His voice certainly has the colour for both the French and Italian repertoire presented here" BBC Music Choice of the Month May |