This highly appealing collection of light-orchestral classics, gathers up eighteen years in the history of one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras during the golden age of the LP. Ever since its foundation in 1883, the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam has been blessed with a hall that to all intents and purposes, belongs to them. […]

‘I think that every art is an art of authority but between “authoritarian” and “dictatorial” there is a vast difference.’ So remarked the Hungarian conductor, Antal Doráti, towards the end of a long career which included, near its beginning, almost a decade spent working closely with orchestras in The Hague and Amsterdam. That work, very […]

Is nothing sacred? The Cambridge Buskers bring their madcap humour to the greats of classical music – everything from the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and the ‘1812 Overture’ to Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ and the ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’! And not forgetting Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies in under four minutes… This 4CD set brings together the pair’s most famous albums, released […]

Aromatherapy, the quiet moments of classical music. And in the fourth volume, Music of the Night, there’s the ‘Barcarolle’ from Offenbach’s ‘Tales of Hoffmann’, slow movements from String Serenades by Mozart, Dvorak and Suk and of course, Chopin’s night music, celebrated by his popular D flat major Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 2.

Exhuming two glorious chamber music recordings. Jorg Demus is pianist in this joyous, sunny recording of Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet and the Suk Trio’s only recording of the Dvorak ‘Dumky’ Trio, much sought after by collectors, finally makes an appearance on CD.

Dorati at his colourful best in these timeless dances, here presented in their entirety.

Another addition to the ‘Zubin Mehta: The Decca Years’ series. All these works are issued for the first time on CD. Symphony  No. 7 is given one of its most stirring readings while the haunting symphonic poem ‘The Wood Dove’ makes a rare appearance on CD capped off by a thrilling, impetuous performance of the […]

Some of Dvořák’s most popular orchestral works – his two sets of Slavonic Dances as well as lesser-known ones (Legends, Miniatures, Prague Waltzes and the B major Notturno) – were all recorded for Philips in stunning sound by Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. The Slavonic Dances were critically acclaimed when they first appeared […]

A delectable – and ever popular – collection of sacred songs sung by four of the most famous female singers of our time. Includes the Bach/Gounod ‘Ave Maria’ and the Schubert ‘Ave Maria’, favourite soprano arias from Bach’s sacred works and inspiring movements from the sacred works of Bruckner, Stradella and Dvorak.

One of the most impassioned accounts of the ‘New World Symphony’ to be committed to disc, is generously coupled with the lyrical Eighth Symphony. Outstanding performances all.

Jean Martinon (1910-76) was not only a successful conductor but also an accomplished composer and his musical intuition and fine ear for detail is evident at every turn in these recordings. This release will achieve cult status, as did the original recordings, made in 1958 (Massenet, Meyerbeer) and 1959 (Dvorak). The French works were recorded […]

You will search far to find such potent, explosive recordings of the Smetana ‘Bartered Bride’ excerpts or the selection of five ‘Slavonic Dances’ here included, or as picturesquely sculpted a ‘Vltava’. Istvan Kertesz brings poetry and fire in equal measure to these works in a superbly recorded concert that is rounded off with Dvorak’s tuneful […]