Posts tagged as "vladimir-ashkenazy"

Piano Library – Deutsche Grammophon Edition

September 17, 2024

Astounding debuts and legendary piano treasures on disc: newly remastered albums of 21 pianists from the analogue era, including many first-ever digital transfers. Before he became a Decca icon, Vladimir Ashkenazy appeared on DG in performances recorded live at the 1955 Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Their reissue here is complemented by a Rachmaninoff sequence with […]

From Darkness To Light

May 27, 2021

On two days in October 2016, Russian pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy and Australian cellist Catherine Hewgill went into the studio to make their first recording together. An all-Russian program, it features the Cello Sonatas of Shostakovich and Prokofiev with the added pendant of the Rachmaninov Vocalise in an arrangement by American cellist Leonard Rose. […]

A Visit To The Zoo (Classics for Kids)

June 15, 2018

What could be more fun than discovering the colours of classical music by visiting a zoo? A menagerie of birds and beasts come to life on this delightful collection – a perfect way to introduce to the wonderful world of classical music.  

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

October 31, 2016

Vladimir Ashkenazy recorded three of the Beethoven symphonies for Decca and this coupling of two of the most popular date from the early 1980s. They are grand and expressive readings, at once thrilling and visionary.

Aromatherapy Vol.4

August 18, 2016

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.

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 […]

The Best of Sibelius

May 25, 2016

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 Best of Rachmaninov

May 25, 2016

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.

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto; Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1

May 25, 2016

Two Russian violin concertos together on a single disc. The performances are staggering, to say the least… just try the finale of the Tchaikovsky to get an idea (which, incidentally, is released complete for the first time on CD). The brooding, expansive Shostakovich makes an ideal foil to the highwire Tchaikovsky, its meditative Passacaglia worth […]

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (piano version; Ravel orchestration)

May 25, 2016

As one of the releases in our ‘Primavera Series’, featuring illustrations by the gifted artists whose work has been displayed at the annual Primavera Exhibition in Sydney, it is appropriate that this CD should be adorned by a series of illustrations that make up Victoria Lobregat’s ‘Cloud of Flowers’. The music itself could hardly have […]

Für Elise – Piano Favourites

May 25, 2016

From Decca’s rich catalogue of piano music comes a generous selection of miniatures for piano, many of them quiet, all of them popular and much sought-after, in the finest of performances, of course.