Solti’s 1956 recordings of the Tchaikovsky Second and Fifth symphonies included on this collection are his only recordings of them. He never recorded a complete cycle, although, in the 1970s he recorded the Fifth and Sixth with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Both symphonies were recorded with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra. The story behind his recording […]
The name of Pierre Monteux evokes recollections of the man who conducted the Ballets Russes for Serge Diaghilev and the notorious scandal surrounding the first performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Le sacre du printemps’ in Paris in 1913 as well as for scrupulous attention to style that he brought to bear on French masterpieces of the turn […]
‘This is the only Das Lied you’ll ever need, and the recorded sound is of demonstration quality’ says ClassicsToday.com on this fabulous recording of Mahler’s symphony/song cycle set to German translations of Chinese poems for mezzo, tenor and a massive orchestra. A 10 (performance)/10 (recording) rating is what it enjoys … as it should!
One could be forgiven for being more surprised that sacred music does not account for a more substantial proportion of Vivaldi’s life’s work, especially in view of his having been ordained a priest. The music on this disc, however, presents the ‘other’ side of Vivaldi which in recent years has been gaining increasing popularity thanks […]
Sir Neville Marriner and his Academy made some of the most priceless recordings of Vaughan Williams for Decca and Philips and this collection restores to circulation his Philips traversal of music by this composer with the addition of five pieces made for Decca – the Romance for harmonica (with Tommy Reilly), possibly the best version […]
Erik Satie was eccentric and genius rolled into one. And his influence on generations of other composers cannot be underestimated. Here, together with the popular ‘Gymnopedies’ and ‘Gnossiennes’ (all of them), are heard some other lesser-known piano pieces of his. All are well worth exploring, especially in these mesmeric performances by the Dutch pianist, Reinbert de […]
The first-ever coupling of these two quintessential French symphonies. D’Indy’s atmospheric ‘Symphonie sur un chant montagnard Français’ is something of a Lisztian pastoral symphonic essay with a glorious obbligato part for solo piano, here performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Weller and the LPO then deliver a sumptuous performance of the little-known Dukas Symphony, a work just […]
Colin Davis’ recordings of Mozart have stood the test of time and his readings of the composer’s choral music are imposing, ennobling edifices of interpretation. The soloists in the ‘Great Mass’ blend marvellously and the ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ is given a reading of quiet intensity.
A superb collection of Verdi overtures, marvellously performed by the one-and-only Vienna Philharmonic in sumptuous readings by the late Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Herbert von Karajan’s famed 1960s recordings of the Second and Fourth of Beethoven’s symphonies. Of his recordings of the Fourth, the present one is perhaps the fiercest and the most obviously lyrical. Grecian and golden-toned, the spirits of Dionysus and Apollo held in a rapturous balance.
Two thrilling 20th-century orchestral works, ideally realised in the hands of Zubin Mehta and released for the first time on CD! The volley of timpani as they hurl challenges at each other in the Nielsen is one of the most exciting moments of orchestral music. And Scriabin’s ‘Poème de l’extase’ (Poem of Ecstasy) is one […]
A Beethoven extravaganza, coupling two of his works using the piano & other forces. The ‘Choral Fantasy’ receives one of its most powerful performances and the ‘Triple Concerto’ one of its most ennobling.
