In 1977, Decca released an LP entitled ‘Concertos from Spain’ which coupled two contemporary piano concertos – one by Montsalvatge (‘Concerto Breve’, written for Alicia de Larrocha) and the other, Surinach’s Piano Concerto. The Surinach recording – he was a kind of Spanish Khachaturian – has never before been released on CD. Taking advantage of the […]
The ‘Stabat Mater’ was one of those works which served to promote Haydn’s reputation in the rest of Europe, for a successful performance in Paris in April 1781 was followed by a lengthy and highly complimentary article in ‘Le Mercure de France’, publication of the full score in London (1783) and Paris (1785) and a […]
For a variety of reasons, the Romantic piano concerto remains one of the most engaging ambassadors for classical music. In the collective mind of the world audience, the names of Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Rachmaninov are synonymous with large and spectacular musical works during which a symphony orchestra and a dazzling pianist are set to engage […]
The glorious performances on this CD have never before been available on CD (outside Japan). Taking full advantage of the Gewandhaus’ characteristic aural glow, these readings will soon work themselves to the top of the list of the complete Brahms symphony cycles. ‘Symphony No. 1’ receives a monumental performance with some delicious violin and oboe […]
The critically-acclaimed 5CD set ‘King of Instruments’ is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and the recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings
The critically-acclaimed 5CD set ‘King of Instruments’ is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and the recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings
The critically-acclaimed 5CD set ‘King of Instruments’ is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and the recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings
Karel Ancerl’s recording of Dvorak’s scintillating ‘Slavonic Dances’, here receive their first release on CD. Recorded in 1958, they were some of the most popular LP recordings in their day and now receive their first exhumation on CD. The coupling is a rarity but no less beautiful – Dvorak’s three ‘Slavonic Rhapsodies’, in wonderfully glowing […]
Three wondrous Schumann piano works on a single CD. Gulda’s iridescent ‘Fantasiestucke’ was issued in the early days of the compact disc. Haebler’s beautifully-shaded account of ‘Papillons’ receives its first release on CD (outside Japan, where it is also currently unavailable) and likewise Magaloff’s ‘Etudes symphoniques’ (only ever issued in France, and no longer available).
Two magnificent French symphonies coupled on one disc. The Bizet is a light-hearted early work and this delectable recording by Haitink and the Concertgebouw has too long been out of the catalogue. Its sentiments aren’t that far removed from ‘Jeux d’enfants‘ (Children’s Games) – an orchestration of selected pieces from the piano-duet suite of the […]
If you think the three pieces on this disc make odd bedfellows, just listen to the opening of the finale of the Paganini, skip to the finale of the Strauss and then go into the Tchaikovsky Valse-Scherzo. Sparkling wit and virtuosity abound and what’s more, the Paganini receives its first release on CD (outside Taiwan), […]
This collection brings together a miscellany of orchestral works. In addition to the symphony, there’s Mozart’s most popular Serenade – ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’ – in a gloriously cushioned performance, plus five overtures. Four of these are lifted from the double-LP set ‘Mozart Opera Festival’ while that for ‘Cosi’ comes from the complete opera set.
