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Poulenc: Stabat Mater; Gloria

April 29, 2016

Few more radiant expressions of choral singing exist than the opening of Poulenc’s Stabat Mater with Dutoit’s fine recording here restored to circulation and coupled with Lopez-Cobos conducting the energetic Gloria, also famous for its soprano solo. The coupling appears for the first time on CD: Bizet’s Te Deum, the original LP coupling for the […]

Haydn: Piano Trios – Vol. 1

April 29, 2016

Together with associate performers from the Musiktage Mondsee, András Schiff recorded chamber music by Haydn, Bartók and Janácek for Decca. This is the first of a critically-acclaimed two-volume set of selected Haydn Piano Trios recorded by Schiff together with cellist Boris Pergamenschikow and violinist Yuuko Shiokawa.

Bruckner: Symphony No. 6

April 29, 2016

A thrilling performance of Bruckner’s Sixth in a recording that has long languished in the archives. It is coupled with Stein’s legendary Weber performances.

The Holly and the Ivy – 20 Joyful Carols for Christmas

April 29, 2016

Initially released in 1979, this album built on the success of the legendary ‘Carols for Choirs’ volumes thereby establishing John Rutter’s name with the wider public. The accomplished Clare College Choir features male and female voices and the recording was made in the glorious acoustics of Ely Cathedral’s Lady Chapel.

Kiri Te Kanawa in Recital

April 29, 2016

One of Kiri Te Kanawa’s rare recorded excursions into song repertoire, this consummate recital is once more restored to the Decca catalogue. Including such popular favourites as Rachmaninov’s ‘Vocalise’ and Granados’ ‘La maja y el ruiseñor’, Obradors’ wonderful ‘Cinco canciones clasicas espanolas’ and a quartet of beautiful songs by Liszt.

Songs of Inspiration

April 29, 2016

For their 1989 festival, the committee of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir invited Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to join the Choir and the Utah Symphony Orchestra under maestro Julius Rudel. The choice of repertoire remained open and Dame Kiri selected a highly appropriate program of inspirational works that she could share with the choir and its […]

Messager: Les Deux Pigeons

April 29, 2016

A real rarity of the ballet world, this marvellous score, ‘rediscovered’ by Sir Frederick Ashton, was one of Decca’s most glorious recordings of ballet music by that pioneer of this genre, Richard Bonynge.

R. Strauss: Horn Music

April 29, 2016

Barry Tuckwell provides his own, insightful liner notes for this, his second recording of the Strauss Horn Concertos (the first being with Istvan Kertesz). What makes this a particularly sought-after release is the inclusion of the rarities and the fact that Tuckwell has gone back to the original manuscripts. The Final Scene from ‘Capriccio’ is […]

Haydn: String Quartets, Opp. 77 & 103

April 29, 2016

The high spirits of the opening movement of Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 77 No. 1 are totally infectious and the playing of the ‘original’ Takacs Quartet is without peer – with sweep and a vocalism so particular to their ensemble.

Jerusalem – British Choral Classics

April 29, 2016

Recorded in the splendidly-lush acoustic of Winchester Cathedral, this popular Decca/Argo release is now restored to circulation at super-budget price with such popular favourites as Parry’s ‘I was glad’ and Elgar’s orchestration of ‘Jerusalem’. But there are also many other pieces for choir and orchestra here to be discovered.

Jewish Sacred Songs

April 29, 2016

The program on this CD is composed of various liturgical songs, arranged around four different themes within the Jewish year: the high festivals, the three main festivals, the Sabbath and Hanukah.

Dvorak: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

April 29, 2016

These 1970s recordings make their first appearance on CD in this compilation and are masterfully performed by the Beaux Arts Trio and Walter Trampler. Dvorak’s two piano quartets have lain in the shade of his glorious Op. 81 Piano Quintet but where this composer’s chamber music is concerned, beautiful surprises await the listener who steps […]