Posts tagged as "wiener-philharmoniker"

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4

February 21, 2017

A collection of all of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies and ballet suites from the rich archives of Deutsche Grammophon. All the performances have been justifiably critically appraised. This volume includes First, Second and Fourth Symphonies, the latter two with Abbado, and the First in Michael Tilson Thomas’s suave, fairy-lights recording with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. ‘Michael Tilson […]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 / Manfred Symphony

February 21, 2017

A collection of all of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies and ballet suites from the rich archives of Deutsche Grammophon. All the performances have been justifiably critically appraised. This volume includes Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, the ‘Pathétique’ and the tone poem ‘Romeo and Juliet’ – both recorded by Claudio Abbado in the early 1970s – as well as a […]

Mozart: Requiem

November 11, 2016

The version of Mozart’s Requiem most frequently performed today – and heard on this recording – is Süssmayr’s completion. Many have labelled his edition as a rushed, student effort (his own opera, ‘Moses’, was postponed due to his working on the Requiem) while others believe that no new edition or reworking, irrespective of how learned […]

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

October 31, 2016

This recording of ‘Die Meistersinger’ was one of the first operas released on LP by Decca in January 1952. Act II was recorded in 1950 and released separately; a year later came Acts I and III. It was also the first complete studio recording of the opera to be released on LP and came early […]

From Melba to Sutherland: Australian Singers on Record

October 18, 2016

‘From Melba to Sutherland: Australian Singers on Record’ is the first-ever comprehensive survey of the recordings of Australia’s greatest singers – in a unique, new, 4CD set from Decca, complete with biographies of each of the 80 artists, rare photographs, all contained within a 68-page booklet. Why has there been such an extraordinary procession of […]

The Voice of Cesare Siepi

September 30, 2016

In the 1950s and much of the 60s, the great bass roles in the Italian repertoire and the title part in ‘Don Giovanni’, were synonymous with the name of Cesare Siepi. Gifted with a commanding presence on stage and a firm, sonorous, pliant ‘basso cantante ‘– a true successor to the mantle of Pinza and Pasero, […]

Schubert: Symphony No. 5; Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5 & 7

September 30, 2016

Erich Kleiber was one of Georg Solti’s idols and it was a Kleiber performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony that transformed his life and was the catalyst in his decision to become a conductor – a decision he made at the age of fourteen. The Schubert recording comes from one of only two recording sessions with […]

Great Bass Arias

September 30, 2016

The Dutchman, Arnold van Mill (1921–1996), never enjoyed the international fame of his German contemporary, Gottlob Frick or the younger Martti Talvela and Nicolai Ghiaurov. Yet at the height of his formidable powers in the 1950s and 60s, he had few rivals for rotund depth and sonority of tone (with what Hope-Wallace called ‘double bass […]

Aromatherapy Vol.8

August 18, 2016

Aromatherapy, the quiet moments of classical music. And the seventh volume is a collection of music inspired by the countryside. This album takes a tour of many and varied landscapes beginning with the English countryside as seen through the eyes of Vaughan Williams, coupled with the Vienna Woods, in Johann Strauss II’s popular waltz, France’s […]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 ‘Romantic’

June 15, 2016

Part of a mini-series within ‘Zubin Mehta: The Decca Years’ celebrating the vintage recordings he made for Decca. Here is the popular ‘Romantic’ Symphony coupled with a wondrous performance of the Prelude to the first act of ‘Meistersinger’.

Hilde Gueden – The Early Years

June 2, 2016

Gifted with great beauty and a natural stage presence, Hilde Gueden was unfailingly easy on the ear as well as the eye. With her creamy tone and ability to spin the silvery upper-register sonority needed for her Strauss roles, she was a natural successor to Elisabeth Schumann, Lotte Schöne and Adele Kern. Fortunately for posterity, […]

Strauss: Burleske; Duet-Concertino; Oboe Concerto; Aus Italien; Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

May 25, 2016

Relative rarities among his output are Richard Strauss’ concertos, many written later in his life. This collection brings together works for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (the Duet Concertino) and the scintillating ‘Burleske’ for piano and orchestra. In addition to conducting the concertos, Ashkenazy also conducts the early tone poem ‘Aus Italien’ and Maazel’s humorous reading […]