DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/Aug/2015 ] This album is a tribute features Lydia Mordkovitc's famous 1989 recording of Shostakovich's violin concertos with Neeme Järvi and the Scottish National Orchestra. |
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Violin sonata No 1 Lydia Mordkovitch (violin) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 1/Sep/2009 ] "..She is aided by a most lovely, close yet lustrous and deep Chandos recording. This is a precise yet yieldingly romantic version which can be placed alongside the finest: Oistrakh and Sitkovetsky." (MusicWeb Aug 2009) |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No.4 Lynda Russell (soprano) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD ] "Well there are a lot of fine Fourths, some of them name-brands. But this is as good as any of them - really - and costs a fraction of what they cost" American Record Guide |
PHILIPPE DECOUFLE
The Planet Decoufle: documentary profiles dancer, choreographer and film-maker Philippe Decoufle / Abracadabra Lyon National Opera Ballet / Francoise Jouillie, Dominique Laine, Jayne Plaisted / Yakov Kreisberg [ Kultur / DVD - released 1/Jun/2009 ] g - Abracadabra is a play on multiple reflections within the imaginary universe of Philippe Decouflé. |
RICHARD WAGNER
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete opera recorded at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus 2006) BLU-RAY Lyon National Opera / Klaus Florian Vogt, Solveig Kringelborn, Hans-Peter König, Waltraud Meier / Kent Nagano (cond) [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 1/Jun/2009 ] Blu-Ray - "Elsa remains constantly onstage to narrate and to dream. The cast includes the sexy, brainy Ortrud of Waltraud Meier and the controversially light-toned Klaus Florian Vogt in the title-role." (Gramophone) |
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Offenbach: Barbe-Bleue [Blue-beard] (complete operetta recorded in 2019) BLU-RAY Lyon National Opera / Yann Beuron, Heloise Mas, Christophe Gay, Christophe Mortagne, Jennifer Courcier / Michele Spotti [ Opus Arte Blu-Ray / Blu-ray Disc - released 23/Jul/2021 ] Offenbach composed a hilarious version of the gruesome story of Barbe-Bleue, made famous by Charles Perrault. As an adept of the comically and visually offbeat, the artist Laurent Pelly brings out its impertinent, fantastical universe. After... |
DEBUSSY
Orchestral Works Vol 1 (Incls 'La Mer', 'Children's Corner' & 'Jeux') Lyon National Orchestra / Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] Debussy was one of the most important and influential composers of the early twentieth century. This recording features two of Debussy's most harmonically innovative and imaginatively orchestrated works. Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to... |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Orchestral Works Vol 2 (Incls 'Pelleas et Melisande', 'Nocturnes' & '12 Etudes') Lyon National Orchestra, Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2008 ] "Throw in the popular Nocturnes, and the lesser-heard Berceuse, and you get over an hour of delicious listening. This disc is well worth the effort." (MusicWeb Feb 2009) |
DEBUSSY
Orchestral Works Vol 3 (Incls 'Images' & 'Marche ecossaise') Lyon National Orchestra / Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] The music of three nations-Britain, Spain and France-inspired Debussy's Images for orchestra, which occupied him from 1905 to 1912. Originally conceived for two pianos, this third set draws on several folk songs in its outer movements, the tripartite... |
MESSIAEN
Poemes pour Mi / Les offrandes oubliees / Un sourire Lyon National Orchestra / Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2009 ] "As with the accompaniment to the song cycle, the orchestral playing and the conducting of Jun Märkl cannot be faulted, while Tim Handley's engineering is admirable. My disc of the month." (David's Review Corner Oct 2009) |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Préludes - Books 1 & 2 (24, complete) [arr orchestra] Lyon National Orchestra, Jun Markl [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Nov/2012 ] "The impression is of a job professionally done and of performances that do what they have to do and do it well. They do not, however, extinguish the temptation to go back and relish Debussy's piano originals." (Gramophone) |
EDWARD GRIEG
Grieg: Complete Orchestral Works Malmö Symphony Orchestra & Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bjarte Engeset [ Naxos / 8 CD Box Set - released 28/Apr/2014 ] This boxed set of Grieg's complete orchestral works is a celebration of the composer's rich and multi-faceted aesthetic. Grieg was an idealistic humanist whose music and writings underlined a harmony between humans and nature. The sense of nostalgia... |
CHOPIN / ROSSINI / OFFENBACH / BIZET / LALO / CHABRIER / etc
Art and Music: Manet - Music of His Time Hungarian State Opera Orchestra; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Polish National Radio Symphony, Kodály Quartet, etc [ Naxos Educational / CD - released 31/Mar/2003 ] Edouard Manet (1832-83) has been called the father of modern painting. In the 1860s he was the leader of a group of young artists who later became known as the Impressionists, though his own work resists any simple label. On this CD, the world of... |
EDUARD LALO
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole (with works by Sarasate, Saint-Saens & Ravel) Marat Bisengaliev (Violin) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Johannes Wildner [ Naxos / CD - released 20/Sep/2009 ] "the performance develops plenty of life and character" (Penguin Guide) |
Marc Minkowski; Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine; Florian Sempey
Rossini: Figaro? Sì! [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 22/Apr/2022 ] The French baritone Florian Sempey has established himself as a key player on today's operatic scene. For his first solo recital, Rossini was the obvious choice, first of all because he has already performed the title role in Il barbiere di Siviglia... |
GE GAN-RU
Chinese Rhapsody Margaret Leng Tan (piano) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Jose Serebrier, conductor [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/May/2005 ] Featuring a Western symphony orchestra accented by Chinese percussion, both Chinese Rhapsody and Wu are perfect introductions to Ge's compositional fusion CD... |
CHOPIN / LOEWE
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor Op. 21 / Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Mari Kodama (piano) / Russian National Orchestra / Kent Nagano [ Pentatone SACD / SACD - released 6/Jul/2005 ] "Mari Kodama who numbers Brendel and Tatiana Nikolaeva among her teachers, is an impressive soloist happy to note-spin with all the required ease and facility in the Loewe and to provide a good deal more in the Chopin." ---Bryce Morrison, Gramophone... |
VERDI
Aida (Highlights from the complete opera) Maria Dragoni, Kristjan Johannsson, Barbara Dever, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland; Rico Saccani, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 30/Jun/2003 ] "The most impressive performer is indeed the fiery, plush-voiced, confident Dever... Gragoni is an interesting, highly individual Aida with some temperament and a good high C." - American Record Guide (Ralph V. Luciano) May/June 2001 |
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 |
CARPENTER / HEAD / DEAZLEY / JOHNSTON
Only a Singing Bird Karen Cargill (mezzo) & Philip Moore (piano) / NYCoS National Girls Choir, Christopher Bell [ Signum Classics / CD - released 20/Feb/2016 ] A beautiful collection of songs, 'Only a Singing Bird' features Michael Head's best-known works, 'The Ships of Arcady' and 'The Little Road to Bethlehem', as well as his beautifully-imagined, nostalgic song-cycle, 'Snowbirds'. The National Youth... |