‘Karajan’s producer’ on the podium – the complete recordings of Otto Gerdes for Deutsche Grammophon, including previously unpublished material and displaying some of the most thrilling versions of orchestral masterpieces to be recorded. Reviews for these recordings reached for superlatives: “a stunning disc from first moment to last” (Brahms 4); “Luminous sound” (Eugene Onegin); “rather […]

Ballet music was very much part of the great operas, sometimes inserted later for a bit of relief from the drama. Together with popular overtures – Rossini’s ‘Thieving Magpie’, Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ – this is a collection of some of those best-loved instrumental moments, some of which have even eclipsed the whole opera in popularity.

One of Bruckner’s most sublime Adagios is to be found in this String Quintet and a comparative rarity is his contemporary Franz Schmidt’s G minor Piano Quintet. Long unavailable on Decca, this is something of a connoisseur’s item, now restored to circulation and at super-budget price.