Gorecki’s Third Symphony entered the pop charts in the 1990s and has always been a favourite that has embraced an audience way beyond the classical aficionado. Here is one of its foremost (and earliest) recordings by a Polish team that knows the work of its countryman inside out.
The companion volume to Kubelik’s recordings of Schumann’s first and second symphonies. As with those, there is an air of elegance about these and the slow movement of the ‘Rhenish’ is perhaps without equal. There is also a refulgent ‘Manfred Overture’ to complete this well-filled disc. First release in Australia.
Other than the Symphonies and the Violin Concerto, these works represent some of Sibelius’ most popular orchestral pieces – and some of their finest performances. The ‘Finlandia’ is truly epic and searing, the ‘Valse triste’ ethereal, and the ‘Four Legends’ (which includes the famous ‘Swan of Tunonela’) in turn ethereal and commanding.
The first CD release of these priceless recordings from the Decca archives. Kertész brings his blend of thrust and tenderness (and huge architectural conviction) to the Fifth Symphony while John Ogdon and Neville Marriner perform the First Piano Concerto ‘to the manner born’ with not a single high-jink glossed over. Raymond Tuttle provides the fascinating […]
Taken from Anda’s much-vaunted complete recordings of these concertos, Nos. 24 & 25 are here presented in performances that have held their sway for limpidness, clarity and unforced beauty.
From some of the great Rachmaninoffian moments on Decca comes this compilation presenting the complete symphonic poem ‘The Isle of the Dead’ in a darkly dramatic reading by Ashkenazy (as conductor) and the Concertgebouw plus moments from the Piano Concertos and a selection of preludes with Ashkenazy this time as pianist.
Released by popular demand, this collection brings together 21 favourite hymns and sacred songs sung by that most beloved of tenors, Kenneth McKellar.
All your plum puddings at once… lustily sung and heartily played, this CD of traditional carols old and new includes all the Christmas ‘standards’ as well as the delectable offerings of John Rutter.
Three delightfully breezy concertos by Vivaldi are the centrepiece of this collection which begins with the familiar A major concerto of Giulani and ends with the beguiling 17-minute sonata by Paganini.
The 1961 recording of Rigoletto is the first of two in which Joan Sutherland sang the role of Gilda. Although the later cast – conducted by Richard Bonynge – was starrier with Pavarotti taking the role of the Duke, this earlier version is still favoured by Sutherland aficionados. ‘Sutherland is extraordinary’ wrote an Amazon customer. […]
This supreme recording of ‘La traviata’ with its principals in top form and Maazel delivering energy and beauty to the score, here offers some of the most memorable moments from the opera.
Delectable morsels for the recorder in sprightly, piquant performances from the world’s foremost exponent of the recorder, Michala Petri.
