ARTUE KAPP / ARTUR LEMBA / MIKEL LUDIG
Kapp / Lemba / Ludig: Orchestral Works Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi [ Chandos / CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "Anyone a little hesitant about straying outside the well-known should not be concerned with this release: it invites exploration." MusicWeb |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, Vespers Eugen Antoni, tenor / Raisa Palmu, soprano / Erja Wimeri, contralto / Finnish National Opera Chorus / Eric-Olof Soderstrom, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Dec/2004 ] Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was born into a wealthy estate-owner's family near Novgorod. His father squandered the family property, which had to be sold in 1880. The family moved to St Petersburg. |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Also Sprach Zarathustra / Don Juan / 2 songs Felicity Lott (soprano) / Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi [ Chandos / CD - released 14/Apr/1987 ] '..the skilled Chandos engineering ensures that the orchestral layout is very believable, heard within a natural perspective.' - The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs |
SEBASTIAN FAGERLUND
Fagerlund: Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata), an opera Finnish National Opera Chorus, Anne Sofie von Otter, Tommi Hakala, Helena Juntunen, Finnish National Opera Orchestra [ BIS / CD - released 28/Sep/2018 ] Sebastian Fagerlund has made a name for himself primarily through his concertos and orchestral works. As demonstrated on previous recordings, his music displays a huge range of colours and an uncommon rhythmic vitality, as well as a sure feel for... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin Concertos 3 & 4 Francesa Dego (violin), Francesca Leonardi (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 21/Sep/2021 ] "These performances capture the very essence of Mozart's Salzburg style best, setting up, meticulously matching and weaving in and out of the solo line with captivating suppleness and alertness." Five Stars BBC Music Recording of the Month Nov 21 |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Violin Concertos, Vol. 2 Francesca Dego (violin) / Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington [ Chandos / CD - released 14/Oct/2022 ] Following their critically acclaimed first volume of Mozart's violin concertos (CHAN 20234), Francesca Dego and Sir Roger Norrington complete the set, once again with outstanding support from a reduced Royal Scottish National Orchestra. |
GRIEG / BARBER / MORRICONE / DVORAK / PROKOFIEV / etc
Gautier Capuçon: Sensations Gautier Capuçon (cello) Jerome Ducros (piano) / Orchestre national de Bretagne, Johanna Malangré [ Erato Classics / CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] The follow-up to Intuition (2018) and Emotions (2020), Sensations is a collection of 20 peices from cellist extraordinaire Gautier Capuçon, working alongside regular arranger and pianist Jerome Ducros. Remarkably, Capuçon sounds every bit as... |
CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
Stanford: Songs of the Fleet / Songs of the Sea / A Ballad of the Fleet Gerald Finley (baritone) / BBC National Chorus of Wales / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/May/2006 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER 2006: Choral Recording - "An out-and-out winner, with Finley on top form - heartily recommended!" (Recording of the Month Gramophone July 2006) |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saens: Orchestral Works [Incls 'Suite algerienne'] Guillermo Pastrana (cello) / Basque National Orchestra, Jun Märkl [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Mar/2017 ] "Guillermo Pastrana performs the cello solos with fine musicianship and Jun Märkl conducts with taste, avoiding any sort of bombast. The Basque National Orchestra plays beautifully for him and the sound is of a high calibre." MusicWeb |
JOSE SEREBRIER
José Serebrier - Composer & Conductor Sharon Bezaly, Alexandre Kantorow, Australian Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra José Serebrier, Richard Tognetti (conductors) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] "Substantial concertos and stunning musicianship" MusicWeb Feb 2020 |
ENNIO MORRICONE / BERNARD HERRMANN / SONNY BONO / NINO ROTO
The Morricone Duel - The most dangerous concert ever [Recorded live in Copenhagen, 2018] BLU-RAY Hans Ulrik (saxophone) Tuva Semmingsen (mezzo) Christine Nonbo Andersen (soprano) / Danish National Symphony, Sarah Hicks [ EuroArts Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 9/Nov/2018 ] The Wild West meets the soulful sound of Italy. Fearless New York gangsters meet cowboys from the dusty prairie. Godfather meets Taxi Driver. And the magic of cinema meets the rich sound of a first-class symphony orchestra. This exclusive live... |
ENNIO MORRICONE / BERNARD HERRMANN / SONY BONO / NINO ROTO
The Morricone Duel - The most dangerous concert ever Hans Ulrik (saxophone) Tuva Semmingsen (mezzo) Christine Nonbo Andersen (soprano) / Danish National Symphony, Sarah Hicks [ Euroarts CD / CD - released 28/Apr/2006 ] The Wild West meets the soulful sound of Italy. Fearless New York gangsters meet cowboys from the dusty prairie. Godfather meets Taxi Driver. And the magic of cinema meets the rich sound of a first-class symphony orchestra. |
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha (complete opera with libretto) Helen Field, Arthur Davies, Bryn Terfel / Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, Kenneth Alwyn [ Argo / 2 CD Box Set - released 5/Nov/2007 ] "The performance is both spirited and sensitive...Bryn Terfel is splendid in his dramatic strength and sharpness of focus" Gramophone |
KAROL SZYMANOWSK
Szymanowski: King Roger (Krol Roger), Op. 46 (Complete Opera) plus Prince Potemkin (Kniaz Patiomkin): Incidental Music to Act V Henryk Grychnik (tenor), Andrzej Hiolski (baritone), Anna Malewicz Madej (contralto) / Polish National Radio Symphony / Wit [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD - released 6/Jan/2004 ] "The recorded sound surpasses the others. Perspective is good; voices aren't drowned, but the delicacy of the orchestration is not lost" - American Record Guide |
KENNETH LEIGHTON
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Leighton: Orchestral works Vol 3 (Incls 'Symphony No 1') Howard Shelley (piano) / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Martyn Brabbins [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] "Shelley proves a marvellously stylish, involving exponent and is backed to the hilt by Brabbins and the BBC NOW. Chandos's sound and balance, too, are beyond reproach." (Gramophone) |
RACHMANINOV
Piano Concertos Nos 1-4 / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Howard Shelley (piano) / Scottish National Orchestra / Bryden Thomson (conductor) [ Chandos 241 / 2 CD - released 20/Dec/2005 ] "The Second Concerto's finale easily holds its ground in the proverbial dazzle department, and the Third is a master-class in poise and proportion." (ClassicsToday) |
RICHARD RODGERS / OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Oklahoma! Hugh Jackman & Josefina Gabrielle / 1998 Royal National Theatre [ First Night Records / CD - released 13/Mar/1998 ] Oklahoma! is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. It is set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906. |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Schumann-Introduction and Concert-Allegro) Idil Biret, Jeno Jando (pianos) / Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit (conductor) [ Naxos Super Budget Series / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] "Jeno Jando and his Polish colleagues strike me as getting the balance just about right" - Classic CD |
SERGEI RACHMANIMOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 4 / Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini Idil Biret (piano) / Polish National Radio Symphony, Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2012 ] "...for Biret's incisive, sharply accented pianism is an absolute delight. Naxos' price makes this disc well worth investigating." ClassicsToday |