GEORGES BIZET
Bizet: Carmen (Complete Opera recorded in June 2009) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique, Paris / Anna Caterina Antonacci, Andrew Richards, Nicolas Cavallier, Monteverdi Choir / John Eliot Gardiner (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 14/May/2021 ] On 3 June 1975, the day after the 33rd performance of Carmen - indicating limited success as the receipts were meagre - he died from a heart attack, at the age of 36, like Mozart. |
REYNALDO HAHN
Hahn: Ciboulette (Complete Operetta recorded in 2013) BLU-RAY Opéra Comique, Paris / Julie Fuchs, Jean-François Lapointe, Julien Behr, Eva Ganizate / Accentus Chamber Choir / Laurence Equilbey (cond) [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 10/Oct/2021 ] Even if Ciboulette, with its fresh and spruce title, depicts the dawning of sentiments between two young people - the urban aristocrat and the little farm girl - it was written by an experienced and scrupulous composer of almost 50 years of age. |
PAUL HINDEMITH
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler (Recorded in December 2012) [BLU-RAY] Wolfgang Koch, Kurt Streit, Franz Grundheber, Manuela Uhl / Slovak Philharmonic Choir, Wiener Symphoniker, Bertrand de Billy, Keith Warner [ Naxos Blu-ray / Blu-ray - released 13/Aug/2021 ] Recorded at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Austria, December 2012 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, [German Requiem] Op. 45 BLU-RAY AUDIO ONLY Christiane Libor (soprano) & Thomas E. Bauer (baritone) / Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos Blu-Ray Audio / Blu-ray Disc - released 25/Apr/2015 ] The longest work in Brahms's entire oeuvre, A German Requiem was almost certainly triggered by the death of his mother, although it also seems likely that the tragic loss of his friend Robert Schumann, some years earlier, added to its depth and... |
GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 8, 'Symphony of a Thousand' BLU-RAY AUDIO ONLY Polish Radio Choir, Warsaw Boys Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Antoni Wit (Conductor) [ Naxos Blu-Ray Audio / Blu-ray Disc - released 30/Jun/2011 ] Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound", was how Mahler himself described the impact of the closing pages of the Symphony. |
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI
Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 BLU-RAY AUDIO ONLY Ryszard Minkiewicz (tenor) Jan Krzysztof Broja (piano) / Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Antoni Wit [ Naxos Blu-Ray Audio / Blu-ray Disc - released 25/Apr/2015 ] Szymanowski's Symphony No. 3 'Song of the Night' creates a potent atmosphere of Persian mysticism in its rich blend of voices and exotic orchestration. His Symphony No. 4 is largely extrovert in character and has a prominent rôle for piano.... |
ELIZABETH POSTON
Poston: Carols and Anthems Alexandra McPhee (soprano) Nina Vinther (mezzo) Ciaran Yeo (bass), etc / St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir, Lay Clerks of St Albans Cathedral [ Naxos / CD - released 24/Nov/2023 ] Elizabeth Poston's long and distinguished career included significant work for the BBC during the Second World War, where she performed as a respected pianist and later composed scores for numerous radio and television productions. Describing herself... |
SIMON MAYR
Mayr: Samuele Andrea Lauren Brown, Susanne Bernhard, Rainer Trost, Jens Hamann / Simon Mayr Choir & Ingolstadt Georgian Chamber Orchestra, Franz Hauk [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 10/Jul/2012 ] Mayr set his oratorio to the Poesia of one of his pupils, Bartolomeo Merelli, the collaboration resulting in a fascinating work which combines theology with dramatic innovation such as the use of 'melodrama' or spoken text. |
JOSEPH HAYDN
Haydn: Jahreszeiten, Die (The Seasons) Andreas Karasiak (Tenor), Stephan MacLeod (Bass), Sibylla Rubens (Soprano), Gewandhaus Chamber Choir, Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Morten Schuldt-Jensen [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 12/Apr/2006 ] Joseph Haydn was born in the village of Rohrau in 1732, the son of a wheelwright. Trained at the choir-school of St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, he subsequently spent some years earning a living as best he could from teaching and playing the violin... |
ALEXANDER BORODIN
Borodin: Prince Igor (Highlights) / In the Steppes of Central Asia Angelina Shvachka (mezzo-soprano) Dmytro Popov (tenor) Mykola Koval (baritone) Taras Shtonda (bass) / Kiev Chamber Choir / Theodore Kuchar [ Naxos / CD - released 19/Sep/2005 ] "With such excellent performances in clear, well-balanced sound, full texts of the vocal numbers and a handy plot synopsis, this disc is a bargain. Get to know Borodin a bit better" (MusicWeb Oct 2005) |
SPYRIDON SAMARAS
Samaras: Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle (Complete opera) Angelo Simos, Tassis Christoyannis, Pavlos Maropoulos, Pantelis Kontos / Kaval Choir of Sofia, Pazardzhik Symphony, Byron Fidetzis [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 11/Jun/2021 ] Remembered today for the Olympic Anthem, Spyridon Samaras was the most distinguished Greek composer of his day and the first to gain international recognition. |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Ciro in Babilonia (complete opera) Anna Rita Gemmabella / Islam-Ali-Zade / Riccardo Botta / ARS Brunensis Chamber Choir / Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra / Antonino Fogliani [ Naxos Opera / 2 CD - released 4/Mar/2007 ] Rossini's Ciro in Babilonia is a bold fusion of biblical and secular subjects set to brilliant, thrilling music. Although intended to be staged during Lent, Ciro includes all the time-honoured ingredients of serious opera such as the test of love,... |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Torvaldo e Dorliska (complete opera) Anna Rita Gemmabella, Huw Rhys-Evans, Paola Cigna / ARS Brunensis Chamber Choir / Czech Chamber Soloists / Alessandro de Marchi [ Naxos Opera / 2 CD - released 14/Sep/2006 ] Torvaldo e Dorliska belongs to the category, stemming from France, of rescue opera, so called from the basic pattern of plot that is common to these pieces, among them Rossini's La gazza ladra as well as Beethoven's Fidelio. |
GEORGE DYSON
Dyson: Choral Symphony ' St paul's Voyage to Melita The Bach Choir / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Jun/2017 ] "Karabtchevsky and his Sao Paulo forces drive through the thick and teeming turmoil with panache. But they also cherish the tender and thinner moments when Villa Lobos's pulse slackens and lyricism peeks through" BBC Music |
Bach Choir/Southern Sinf/Hill
Rütti: Requiem [ Naxos / CD - released 5/Oct/2009 ] Carl Rütti's choral music is "sensuous and exuberant by turns, combining dazzling rhythms and soaring melodies with distinctively lush harmonies" Choir & Organ magazine Of his Requiem, immense in scale yet often intimate in tone, the composer... |
JOHANN SIMON MAYR
Mayr: Innalzamento al trono del giovane re Gioas (Oratorio) Cornel Frey, Andrea Lauren Brown, Andreas Burkhart, Robert Sellier / Bavarian State Opera Chorus, Simon Mayr Choir, Simon Mayr Ensemble, Franz Hauk [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 3/Sep/2012 ] "American soprano Andrea Lauren Brown is brilliant and expressive in the fiery role of Sebia, which is enhanced in the oratorio with arias originally intended for other roles in I Misteri." Opera News |
SAMUEL BARBER
Barber: Choral Music (Incl. Agnus Dei, vocal arr. for Adagio for Strings) Ben Dickson / Deborah Kayser / Grantley McDonald / Len Vorster / Ormond College Choir / Douglas Lawrence (Conductor) [ Naxos American Classics / CD - released 14/Sep/2006 ] "Barber's growing band of supporters will relish this well sung Naxos release which is certainly worth exploring" (MusicWeb Nov 2006) |
HERBERT HOWELLS
Howells: Stabat Mater / Sine Nomine, Op. 37 / Te Deum Benjamin Hulett (tenor) Alison Hill (soprano) / The Bach Choir & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Dec/2014 ] "The Bach Choir has a palpable vibrancy in its range and layers of dynamics which are complemented by the extensive and highly sensitive palette of Howells's orchestra...and the incisive solo tenor role of Benjamin Hulett." Gramophone Editor's Choice |
Bratislava City Choir/Krechek
Handel:messiah Choruses [ Naxos / CD ] |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb / Te Deum in C / Jubilate Deo / Antiphon / etc Choir of St John's College, Cambridge / Christopher Robinson [ Naxos English Choral Music / CD - released 30/May/2009 ] "This disc will make an excellent introduction to Britten's choral music-and will satisfy Britten aficionados who just can't resist adding another top drawer compilation to their collection." - Classics Today |