LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, and 3 'Eroica' (recorded in 1998 & 2000) SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden and Freiburg / Michael Gielen [ EuroArts / SWR / DVD - released 5/Nov/2004 ] "Gielen exhibits a commanding presence on stage… The German conductor's simplicity of style distils the works to their essence." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
LEOS JANACEK / BELA BARTOK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Janacek: Sinfonietta Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Andre Previn [ Telarc Classics / CD - released 1/Dec/2002 ] "The Telarc recording captures the full bloom of the orchestra. The coupling is unique." (Penguin Guide) |
RICHARD STRAUSS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Strauss, (R.): Der Rosenkavalier (complete opera recorded in 1985) Royal Opera Covent Garden / Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Howells, Aage Haugland, Barbara Bonney / Georg Solti (cond) [ Kultur DVD / DVD - released 10/Sep/2009 ] This opulent production by director John Schlesinger, filmed in 1985, marked the 25th anniversary of Sir Georg Solti's spectacular debut at Covent Garden, conducting this very opera. |
BEDRICH SMETANA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Die Verkraufte Braut [The Bartered Bride] (complete opera recorded in 1982) Vienna State Opera / Lucia Popp / Siegfried Jerusalem / Karl Ridderbusch / Adam Fischer (cond) [ Deutsche Grammophon / DVD - released 7/Aug/2007 ] Every bar bubbles with the spirit of the Bohemian countryside in Otto Schenk's picturesque 1982 production from Vienna, where Smetana's comic masterpiece, The Bartered Bride, first conquered the hearts of opera lovers with its lilting melodies,... |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527 (Complete opera) Hakan Hagegard, Gilles Cachemaille, Arleen Auger, Della Jones / Drottningholm Court Theatre, Arnold Ostman [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 1/Aug/2007 ] "Even those who have never been to Drottningholm and experienced Arnold Ostman's Mozart in the flesh will know exactly what it is that makes his recorded performances live." (Gramophone) |
W. A. MOZART
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Don Giovanni... The definitive film edition of Mozart's classic opera! (filmed in 1979 and now remastered & restored) Kiri te Kanawa, Edda Moser, Teresa Berganza, Jose van Dam, Ruggero Raimondi, Lorin Maazel (conductor) [ Second Sight /Gammont DVD / 3 DVD Box Set - released 1/Aug/2011 ] Filmed on location in picturesque Vincenza, Italy, the operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni is beautifully translated to film by director Joseph Losey. Now restored and remastered. |
TCHAIKOVSKY / ADAM / MINKUS / SAINT-SAENS / DVORAK / STRAVINSKY
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Essential Ballet - Kirov at Coven Garden & Gala Performance in Red Square Kirov Ballet & Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Fedotv & Valery Gergiev [ Philips DVD / DVD - released 20/Sep/2003 ] Features the Kirov Orchestra and the Moscow radio Symphony Orchestra |
CILEA / PUCCINI / MASSENET / JANACEK / KORNGOLD / TCHAIKOVSKY / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Homage: The Age of the Diva Renee Fleming (soprano) / Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg / Valery Gergiev [ Decca / CD - released 20/Nov/2006 ] 2008 Grammy Award nomination for Best Classical Album |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 2005) Zurich Opera / Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Elena Mosuc, Marcello Giordani, Cheyne Davidson / Franz Welser-Most (cond) [ EMI Classics / DVD - released 26/Mar/2007 ] The Belgian director of this production, Philippe Sireuil, was heavily inspired by Aki Kaurismäki's film version of Henri Murger's novel "Scènes de la vie de Bohème". |
FRANCK / ELGAR / BERLIOZ / RAVEL / STRAVINSKY / BACH / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Leopold Stokowkski: Decca Recordings 1965-72 (Special Price) Leopold Stokowski conducts the London Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, New Philharmonia, etc [ Decca Original Masters / 6 CD Box Set - released 5/Feb/2003 ] Leopold Stokowski was one of the most dynamic and charismatic conductors of the twenthieth century. Born in London 18 April 1882 he went on to study at the Royal College of Music and after European travels returned to England where he held various posts. |
ARNOLD BAX
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bax: Piano Quintet in G Minor & String Quartet No. 2 David Owen Norris (piano), Mistry String Quartet [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Sep/2013 ] Recorded: 29 March 1990 |
ARNOLD BAX
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bax: Symphonic Variations & Morning Song Margaret Fingerhut (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bryden Thomson (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Aug/1987 ] Recorded At - All Saints Church, Tooting, London |
ARNOLD BAX
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bax: Winter Legends & Saga Fragment Margaret Fingerhut (piano) / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Bryden Thomson (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jan/1987 ] Recorded in All Saints' Church, Tooting, London, on April 3 & 4, 1986 |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 59, No. 2 & "Razumovsky" & String Quartet in E flat, Op 74 "Harp" Lindsay String Quartet [ ASV / CD - released 21/Apr/2003 ] The Lindsays' acclaimed new Beethoven series offers fresh interpretations of some of the composer's finest works for string quartet |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Carmen (complete Franco Zeffirelli production recorded in 1978) Vienna State Opera / Placido Domingo, Elena Obraztsova, Isobel Buchanan, Yuri Mazurok, Isobel Buchanan / Carlos Kleiber (cond) [ Arthaus DVD / Blu-ray Disc - released 12/Jul/2004 ] The Vienna Carmen from 1978 is a sensational filmed document from the musical legacy of Carlos Kleiber: the meticulous conductor only ever conducted a highly selected repertoire, and among his very few audio and video recordings are only seven... |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Carmen (complete opera recorded in 1985) Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, Mirella Freni, Justino Diaz / Vienna State Opera Choir & Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan [ Deusche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] This famous film of the world's best-loved opera, directed by Herbert von karajan, features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time. - "overwhelming in its truthfulness to the tragic vision of Carmen", wrote the... |
GEORGES BIZET
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bizet: Les Pecheurs des Perles [The Pearl Fishers] (Complete Opera recorded in 1963) Ileana Cotrubas, Alain Vanzo, Guillermo Sarabia, Roger Soyer / Choeur & Orchestre du Theatre National de 'Opera de Paris / Georges Pretre [ EMI Classics For Pleasure / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/1990 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die - "The well-recorded CfP set is valuable principally because it has Cotrubas at her best, a most appealing Leila and worth the bargain price of the discs on her own account." (Gramophone) |
MUSSORGSKY / BRITTEN / PELECIS / SCHUBERT / BACH / VIVALDI / LYADOV / WESTLAKE / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: From Winter's Stillness - Gentle music to awaken the soul Various Artists incls Wolfgang Holzmair, David Hobson, Choir of St. Pauls Cathedral,, George Winston, English Chamber Orchestra, etc [ ABC Classics / CD - released 9/Dec/2001 ] Capturing the beautiful icy quality of winter, the warmth of winter sunlight and the approach of spring. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience & The Sorcerer [2 DVDs] Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Sandra Dugdale, Donald Adams, Derek Hammond-Stroud, John Fryatt, Clive Revill, David Kernan & Nana Christie [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore Ambrosian Opera Chorus with Vincent Price, Keith Michell, John Treleaven, Ann Howard, Sandra Dugdale, Donald Adams & Johanna Peters [ BBC / Umbrella DVD / DVD - released 10/Aug/2014 ] For more than 100 years the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan have played to packed audiences around the world. These two names have become synonymous with classic light opera - music that is timeless and tuneful lyrics that are witty, scathing and memorable. |