MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (complete ballet) / La Valse Orchestre et Choeurs de L'Opera national de Paris, Philippe Jordan [ Erato / Warner Classics / CD - released 1/May/2015 ] This new recording of Daphnis et Chloé, Ravel's most sumptuous score, marks a number of firsts as it evokes the heady days of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Paris in the early years of the 20th century. It grew from performances of the... |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich plays Shostakovich [2 CDs] Dmitri Shostakovich (piano) / French National Radio Orchestra, Andre Cluytens, with Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) [ Warner Classics / 2 CD - released 15/May/2015 ] All Shostakovich's recordings are distinguished by his masterly technique and the clean, non-legato touch, which is wholly in keeping with the character of his music. Yet beautiful tone and broad cantilenas are also in evidence, notably in the slow... |
HECTOR VILLA-LOBOS
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Nos.1, 2, 5, 9 Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) / Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Heitor Villa-Lobos [ Warner Classics Original Jacket Reissues / CD - released 20/Apr/2015 ] "In Bachianas Brasileiras No.5, the sheer seductive sound of de los Angeles is way ahead of her competitors and the other suites can be recommended without reserve." (Gramophone) |
PENDERECKI
St Luke Passion Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / National Radio Symphony Orchestra ./ Zrzysztof Penderecki [ Argo / CD - released 8/Sep/2007 ] |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Ernani (complete opera recorded in English) Alan Opie / Julian Gavin / Peter Wedd / Susan Patterson / English National Opera Chorus & orchestra / David Parry [ Chandos Opera in English / 2 CD - released 24/Nov/2006 ] 'American soprano Susan Patterson… proves a feisty Elvira, spirited and accomplished in delivery.' BBC Music Magazine |
FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 4 (Includes Rebus & A Prayer) Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Chorus of Wales / BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 5/May/2004 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - '... this is an essential purchase for Oration alone - and the music itself deserves the widest dissmenation.' Gramophone |
SIR LENNOX & MICHAEL BERKELEY
Symphony No. 4 / The Garden of Earthly Delights / Cello Concerto Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 7/Jul/2003 ] 'Throughout Richard Hickox draws brilliant playing from his band, energetic where necessary, sonically overwhelming in the Garden. Anthon Burton's notes are excellent, too, helpful and so objective that they don't tell you how good all the music on... |
LENNOX & MICHAEL BERKELEY
Symphony No. 4 / The Garden of Earthly Delights / Cello Concerto Alban Gerhardt (cello) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 7/Jul/2003 ] This third volume in Chandos' successful Berkeley series, featuring music by Lennox and Michael Berkeley, is released to celebrate the centenary of Sir Lennox Berkeley's birth. |
WAGNER
The Valkyries (complete opera in English) Alberto Remedios / Norman Bailey / Margaret Curphey / Rita Hunter / English National Opera Orchestra / Reginald Goodall [ Chandos / 4 CD - released 1/Sep/2000 ] "Goodall draws everything from savagery to delicacy from the ENO Orchestra, and is alive to every nuance of the drama, both on stage and in the pit. And as if that weren't enough, the translation is a masterpiece" (Amazon.co.uk) |
PROKOFIEV & OTHERS
Peter And The Wolf In Hollywood Alice Cooper (narrator) / National Youth Orchestra of Germany, Alexander Shelley [ Deutche Grammophon / CD - released 27/Nov/2015 ] A brand new DG recording of Prokofiev's childrens classic, "Peter and the Wolf" - now coupled for the first time with a specially-written prequel (pre-story). The best-loved story is now placed in an urban contemporary setting - Los Angeles! |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux [The Carnival of the Animals] (LP Version) Duo Jatekok (piano), Orchestre National de Lille, Lucie Leguay [ Alpha Classics / LP - released 27/Aug/2021 ] Alex Vizorek revisits Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals. The French composer never imagined that his bestiary would become one of the most famous works in musical history, a staple repertory piece on a par with Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. The... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 Alexander Anissimov, National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland [ Naxos / CD - released 26/Feb/2001 ] "Alexander Anissimov's Naxos account lingers nostalgically over lyrical episodes in a recording that's firmer at the bottom end than you'd expect from Dublin's airy National Concert Hall. Anissimov's Naxos account is an exceptional bargain" BBC Music |
FRANZ XAVER SCHARWENKA
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4 Alexander Markovich (piano) / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 31/Mar/2014 ] "Jarvi's watchful support and...control of orchestral dynamics gives Markovich more room to shape phrases effortlessly: his playing is especially fine [in the Scherzo of No. 1], cool-headed, but always meticulous...[in No. 2] Markovich blends fiery v |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Music For Cello And Orchestra Alexander Rudin (Cello) / National Symphony Orchestra Of Ukraine / Theodore Kuchar [ Naxos / CD - released 29/Sep/2007 ] "Alexander Rudin is, both technically and interpretively, one of the most authoritative cellists of his generation...all in all the most successful recording of this score in years....Highly Recommended" - Fanfare |
RICHARD STRAUSS / KELLY-MARIE MURPHY / KEVIN LAU
Poema 1. Ad Astra Alexander Shelley, Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra [ Analekta / CD - released 24/Jan/2025 ] Poema 1. Ad Astra is the first in a series of recordings by Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra in which Music Director Alexander Shelley asked Canadian Composers to craft compositions that respond to masterpieces by German Composer, Richard... |
EDWARD ELGAR
Elgar: Cello Concerto / Enigma Variations / Froissart / Starlight Express / etc Alison Hagley (soprano) Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone) Robert Cohen (cello) / Royal Philharmonic / Welsh National Opera Orch. / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2007 ] "Mackerras captures the wistful charm of the quieter pieces (on CD2) very effectively, and spirits are high in the more robust items" Gramophone |
SCHOENBERG
Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5 / Piano Concerto, Op. 42 Amalie Malling (piano) Scottish National Orchestra / Matthias Bamert. Danish National Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 4/Feb/2005 ] 'Amalie Malling proves an intelligent and sympathetic soloist… Michael Schønwandt gets very good results from the Danish Orchestra and the texture is lucid and transparent, and splendidly recorded.' The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs on the Piano... |
HUBERT PARRY
Choral Works (Incls 'Jerusalem' & 'The Birds of Aristophanes') Amanda Roocroft (soprano) / BBC National Chorus & Orchestra of Wales, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 15/Oct/2012 ] "This is breast-swelling stuff...the BBC National Orchestra of Wales gives warmly sympathetic renditions of music which was probably completely unfamiliar to them before the recording sessions. The Chandos sound is excellent." (BBC Music) |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra, André Cluytens [ Testament / CD - released 4/Feb/2002 ] |
MYROSLAV SKORYK
Skoryk: Violin Concertos 1-4 Andrej Bielow (violin) National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Volodymyr Sirenko [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Mar/2020 ] Myroslav Skoryk, a postgraduate student of Dmitry Kabalevsky, is one of Ukraine's leading composers and teachers. His works range from opera and ballet, a symphonic transcription of Paganini's 24 Caprices, and his cycle of nine Violin Concertos... |