THE GREATEST CLASSICS · LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES · SPECIAL VALUE PRICE

Eloquence

SETTING THE ULTIMATE BENCHMARK IN CLASSICAL VALUE

2009

Eloquence

ADOLPHE ADAM (1803-1856) FRANCE

ADAM: GiselleOrchestre National de l'Opera de Monte-Carlo / Richard Bonynge'…this is just the sort of release to fill that basic ballet gap in manycollections' ClassicsToday.com'…this version, with its distinctive Monte-Carlo sound, appropriatelyFrench in style, has a pleasing atmosphere of the theatre’*** Penguin GuideDecca 442 9028 [2CD]

TOMASO ALBINONI (1671-1751) ITALY

ALBINONI: Concerti a cinque, Op. 5I MusiciPhilips 464 3672

J.S. BACH (1685-1750) GERMANY

BACH: The Best of BachExcerpts from Double Violin Concerto, St Matthew Passion,Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 & 5, Suite No. 3Zino Francescatti; David Oistrakh; Igor Oistrakh; Helmut Walcha;Karl RichterDG 461 1592

BACH: The No. 1 Bach AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5888 [2CD]

BACH: Orchestral Suites Nos. 1-4Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra / Karl MünchingerDecca 458 1692

BACH: Orchestral Suites Nos. 2 & 3; 2 Sinfonias; Cantatas,BWV 130, 67, 45, 101 & 105Elly Ameling, Agnes Giebel, Helen Watts, Werner Krenn,Ian Partridge, Tom Krause; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne;Choeur de la Radio Suisse Romande; L’Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Ernest Ansermet

‘Ansermet’s surprisingly warm-hearted way with this composer offersmuch joy … Ansermet’s complete Bach recordings are collectedtogether for the first time and beautifully recorded, too’Classical Source.com‘as documents of a great conductor’s seemingly profound responses toBach’s music [these recordings] are of considerable fascination’International Record ReviewDecca 480 0027 [2CD]

BACH: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 11, 32, 43, 54, 731Vladimir Ashkenazy; London Symphony Orchestra / David Zinman2Olli Mustonen; Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie3András Schiff; Chamber Orchestra of Europe4Alicia de Larrocha; London Sinfonietta / David Zinman‘sparkling, stylish pianism’ Limelight‘It was a stroke of genius to put together this collection of four greatcontemporary pianists doing a selection of the concertos. Schiff ...knows the key to Bach is pitching the playing between unmediatedsimplicity and lyric expressiveness ... Mustonen is typically dynamicand Alicia de Larrocha’s interpretation is strongly controlled butobviously heartfelt’ Sydney Star ObserverDecca 476 2729

BACH: The Six Brandenburg Concertos1; Sheep may safely graze2;Air from Suite No. 32

The 1953 Aldeburgh Festival Opening Concert: Sellinger’s Round3,4

PURCELL, ARNE: Anthems4

TRAD.: God Save the Queen31English Chamber Orchestra / Benjamin Britten2Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden /Sir Adrian Boult3, 4Peter Pears, Alfred Deller; The Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra /3Benjamin Britten; 4Imogen Holst5Trumpeters of Kneller Hall; London Symphony Orchestra /Kenneth Alwyn'…an essential purchase for Britten enthusiasts, but can also berecommended to others with an interest in him as composer orperformer, and to those who simply want a satisfying alternative toother recordings they may have of the Brandenburgs’ MusicWeb

3

Eloquence is one of the most critically-acclaimed classical reissueseries in the world today. Drawing on the vast catalogues of Decca, Philips, Deutsche

Grammophon and ABC Classics, the series presents music for the casual buyer as well asfor the connoisseur. The series has received the highest international critical praise for itsimagination and inventiveness and is noted for resurrecting several analogue recordingshitherto unreleased on CD. 2009-10 will see the series grow with a continuation of the

much vaunted Decca Ansermet Legacy as well as the recordings of Kirsten Flagstad, AlbertWolff, Anatole Fistoulari and the Vienna Octet. As well, listeners can expect a thoroughexploration of the adventurous recordings of The Consort of Musicke as well as earlier

L’Oiseau-Lyre recordings by Raymond Leppard. For regular online updates go towww.universalmusic.com.au/musicpages

orwww.buywell.com/eloquence

'[Although] Britten may have been seen as an unlikely candidate totackle these ancient scores, he managed to elicit forward-lookingperformances that are at once lively and elegant’ FanfareDecca 442 9521 [2CD]

BACH: Italian Concerto in F major BWV971; Toccata in C minor BWV911; Four Duets BWV 802-805; English Suite No. 6 in D minor BWV 811Angela Hewitt'… justly weighted, technically controlled and eloquent’ MusicWeb‘subtly proficient at emphasizing different voices… The sound qualityis excellent, the piano sounding brilliant and clear within a spaciousacoustic’ Fanfare'[Hewitt's] playing is enormously alive and stimulating…These areexhilarating performances’ *** Penguin GuideDG 442 9446

BACH: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 & 2 (selected Preludes &Fugues); Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother; Toccata &Fugue in D, BWV 912Wilhelm KempffDG 457 6532

BACH: ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ –Favourite Piano TranscriptionsBACH/KEMPFF: Ten Chorale-Preludes.BACH: English Suite No. 3; French Suite No. 5GLUCK: Dance of the blessed spiritsHANDEL: MinuetWilhelm Kempff‘Kempff’s 80-year-old fingers weave his Gluck and Handeltranscriptions into dulcet, lyrical gold … this miraculous recording’10/10 ClassicsToday.comDG 457 6242

BACH: Guitar Suites Nos. 1 & 3SCARLATTI, D: Sonata L.352SCARLATTI, A: GavotteJohn Williams‘self recommending’ 24 HoursDecca 450 0082

BACH: St Matthew Passion – Arias & ChorusesHermann Prey, Elly Ameling, Fritz Wunderlich; Stuttgart HymnusChoir; Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra / Karl MünchingerDecca 461 4582

BACH: Cantatas, BWV 169 ‘Gott soll allein mein Herze haben’1;BWV 170 ‘Vergnügte ruh’ (Contented Rest)2; Seven Sacred Songs3

Aafje Heynis; Netherlands Chamber Orchestra / 1Anton van derHorst; 2Szymon Goldberg; 3Simon Jansen, organPhilips 468 3102

BACH: Cantata ‘Vergnügte Ruh’,’ BWV 170; Cantata, ‘Ich habegenug,’ BWV 82; Cantata ‘Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem,’BWV 159Janet Baker; Robert Tear; John Shirley-Quirk;Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘Classic accounts of three cantatas ... Baker and Shirley-Quirk are inmarvellous voice ... This collection of cantatas is among the finest inthe catalogue and is well worth seeking out. The mid-1960srecordings are of Decca’s vintage quality’Rosette Award, Penguin Guide‘Excellent performances … A wonderful disc of Bach cantataswith a star cast’ MusicWebDecca 476 2684

BACH: Cantata ‘Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht’ BWV 211‘Coffee Cantata’; Cantata ‘Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet’,BWV 212 ‘Peasant Cantata’Julia Varady; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau;Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘Spirited, infectious, exuberant performances’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 476 2758

BACH & HANDEL: Sacred AriasArias from: BACH: St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion,Christmas Oratorio, Bist du bei mir, Ave MariaHANDEL: Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus, Samson, Dixit Dominus,Dank sei dirAafje Heynis; Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Hans GillesbergerPhilips 464 6312

5

P E N G U I N G U I D E

‘This collection of cantatasis among the finestin the catalogue’

Rosette Award, Penguin Guide

‘a real collector’s item’Penguin Guide

‘an admirable memento… buoyant and transparent’

Gramophone

‘A unique disc and wellworth any effort to obtain’Rosette Award, Penguin Guide

‘The performances overflowwith colour, and the tunes

come tumbling out, burstingwith joie de vivre’

Rosette Award, Penguin Guide

pleasure’ International Record ReviewDG 459 2342

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 8BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 1Wiener Philharmoniker / Claudio AbbadoDecca 476 9890

BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto1; Choral Fantasy21Claudio Arrau, Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker; New PhilharmoniaOrchestra / Eliahu Inbal2Alfred Brendel; London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra /Bernard HaitinkPhilips 464 3682

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto1

VIOTTI: Violin Concerto No. 222

Arthur Grumiaux; 1New Philharmonia Orchestra / Alceo Galliera2Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Edo de Waart‘Grumiaux’s trill is of electric velocity, the vibrato perfectly controlled,the gestures classical and pellucid, the phrasing of rapt naturalness …Playing of elevation and finesse’ MusicWebPhilips 476 8477

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto; Symphony No.2Arthur Grumiaux; Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam /Eduard van BeinumDecca 480 0428

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4Radu Lupu; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘sparkle and sensitivity’ Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)Decca 466 7072

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2; The Creatures of Prometheus –Overture & Incidental MusicRadu Lupu; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘strong and persuasive’ Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)‘ravishingly executed, classically poised’ ClassicsToday.com

‘a very fine Beethoven CD, off the beaten track’ RépertoireDecca 466 6812

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3; 32 Variations on an originaltheme in C minorRadu Lupu; London Symphony Orchestra / Lawrence Foster‘highly spontaneous’ Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)‘Lupu delivers an urgent, exhilarating performance full of poetry anddrama … a terrific disc that any Beethoven lover should snap up’CMW Classics‘a precious rarity for admirers of this pianist’ RépertoireDecca 466 6902

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’; Rondos Op. 51Nos. 1 & 2; Piano Sonatas Op. 49 Nos. 1 & 2Radu Lupu; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘striking thoughtfulness and poetry’ Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)‘port wine sonority and leonine temperament’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 466 6892

BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95(arr. string orchestra by Mahler)1

MENDELSSOHN: Octet (arr. string orchestra by Mendelssohn)21Wiener Philharmoniker / Christoph von Dohnanyi2Strings of the Israel Philharmonic / Zubin MehtaDecca 480 0813

BEETHOVEN: Famous OverturesFidelio, Leonora I & III, Egmont, Coriolan, Ruins of Athens, Creatures ofPrometheus, Consecration of the HouseBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von KarajanDG 445 1122

BEETHOVEN: Piano Trios – D major Op. 70 ‘Ghost’;B flat major Op. 97 ‘Archduke’Wilhelm Kempff, Henryk Szeryng, Pierre Fournier‘Kempff’s […] magisterial performances … Fournier’s cello tone isglorious … the sound and instrumental balance are excellent’ LibrettoDG 463 2382

BACH: A Bach Christmas – Magnificat, BWV 243a; Cantata:Christen, ätzet diesen Tag; Sanctus, BWV 238Catherine Bott, Elizabeth Scholl, Christopher Robson, Paul Agnew,Andrew King, Michael George; New London Consort / Philip Pickett‘This most enjoyable disc contains some marvellous life-enhancingmusic and it can be enjoyed at any time of the year, not just atChristmas’ MusicWebDecca 476 7863

MILY BALAKIREV (1837-1910) RUSSIA

BALAKIREV: TamaraMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on a Bare Mountain;Khovanshchina; GopakL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘a little known gem [Tamara] … utterly convincing’ FanfareDecca 480 0047

BÉLA BARTÓK (1881-1945) HUNGARY

BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra; Dance Suite; Romanian FolkDances; 2 Portraits; Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste; PianoConcerto No. 3Julius Katchen; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 442 9989 [2CD]

BARTÓK: Two PortraitsSTRAVINSKY: The FirebirdVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi‘refreshing and illuminating’ LimelightDecca 476 2700

BARTÓK: The Miraculous MandarinSTRAVINSKY: PetrushkaVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi‘the chase is one of the most exciting on disc, while the subsequentattack and attempted murder of the Mandarin (with terrifying organsound) will make your hair stand on end. It's a great performance’10/10 ClassicsToday.com

‘blistering playing’ LimelightDecca 476 2686

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) GERMANY

BEETHOVEN: The Best of BeethovenIncluding excerpts from Symphonies Nos. 3, 5, 6, 9; Emperor Concerto;Moonlight, Pathétique, Spring SonatasRafael Kubelik; Karl Böhm; Yehudi Menuhin; David Oistrakh;Wilhelm KempffDG 461 1322

BEETHOVEN: The No. 1 Beethoven AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5879 [2CD]

BEETHOVEN: The Nine SymphoniesWalter Berry, Gundula Janowitz, Waldemar Kmentt,Hilde Rossi-Majdan; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra /Herbert von KarajanDG 429 0362 [5CD]

BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 'Eroica'Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von KarajanDG 429 0372

BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von KarajanDG 429 0402

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 'Choral'Walter Berry, Gundula Janowitz, Waldemar Kmentt, Hilde Rossi-Majdan; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von KarajanDG 429 0412

BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 ‘Pastoral’Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Lorin Maazel‘they actually don’t get much better than this … the Berliners playtheir hearts out … even if you’ve heard the Fifth and the Sixth athousand times … these timeless documents will give enormous

76

BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 'Spring', 7, 8Arthur Grumiaux; Claudio ArrauStrongly recommended’ FanfarePhilips 442 8302 [2CD]

BEETHOVEN: Favourite Piano Sonatas – Volume 1: Op. 14 No. 2‘Moonlight’, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’Radu Lupu‘full of absorbing and inspired pianism’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 458 1702

BEETHOVEN: Favourite Piano Sonatas – Volume 2Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’, Op. 81a ‘Les Adieux’,Op. 31 No. 2 ‘Tempest’, Op. 78, Op. 79Wilhelm BackhausDecca 467 2402

BEETHOVEN: Missa solemnisRosamund Illing, Elizabeth Campbell, Rodney McCann, ChristopherDoig; Sydney Philharmonia Choir; Sydney Symphony Orchestra /Sir Charles Mackerras‘an excellent recording’ 24 Hours‘Beautifully recorded and quite sensational when played loud in thecar – forget the road rage as you listen to the inspirational, upliftingand rousing Gloria’ Adelaide GTABC 434 7222

HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869) FRANCE

BERLIOZ: Symphonie FantastiqueHungarian Radio & Television Orchestra / Charles Munch‘the orchestra follows Munch’s volatile tempo fluctuationsand dramatic impulses like starving tigers pouncing upon prey …fully conveys the primal impact Berlioz intends … fascinatingand recommendable’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 476 7962

BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique1; Roméo et Juliette2; Harold in Italy3;Reverie et Caprice41, 2Christa Ludwig, Yvonne Minton, Francisco Araiza, Jules Bastin;

Orchestre de Paris / Daniel Barenboim; 3Wolfram Christ; BerlinPhilharmonic Orchestra / Lorin Maazel; 4Guillermo Figueroa;Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.DG 480 0714 [3CD]

BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy1

BLOCH: Voice in the Wilderness21Daniel Benyamini, viola; 2Janos Starker, cello; Israel PhilharmonicOrchestra / Zubin Mehta‘the inner movements flow beautifully, while the outer ones are fleetand exciting’ ClassicsToday.com‘Mehta’s disc shows him at the height of his powers and belongs inany Berlioz lover’s collection’ International Record ReviewDecca 466 9072

BERLIOZ: Les Nuits d'été1

RAVEL: Shéhérazade2

DUPARC: Chanson triste2; L'invitation au voyage2

DEBUSSY: La damoiselle élue2, 31Hildegard Behrens, soprano; Wiener Symphoniker / Francis Travis2Elly Ameling, soprano; 3Janice Taylor-Warne, mezzo-soprano;3Women of the San Francisco Chorus; 2,3San Francisco SymphonyOrchestra / Edo de Waart‘Classic, competitive and eminently, radiantly desirable … so muchsplendour at such a splendid price’ FanfarePhilips 476 7982

GEORGES BIZET (1838-1875) FRANCE

BIZET: Symphony in C; Jeux d'enfants1

SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 'Organ Symphony'21Concertgebouw Orchestra / Bernard Haitink; 2Jean Guillou, organ;San Francisco Symphony Orchestra / Edo de Waart‘Haitink's Bizet Symphony always has been a reference recording,distinguished by its stunning playing and unfailing elegance ofphrasing … You won't find a better disc of these two marvelousFrench symphonies anywhere, for any price’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.com‘Bizet's youthful Symphony takes wing in this glorious performance by

9

E N C O R E !P R I C E L E S S G E M S F R OM TH E D E C C A

C ATA L O G U E O F P I E C E S Y O U ’ L L W A N T T OH E A R O V E R A N D O V E R A G A I N

KaleidescopePiano Encores

Shura CherkasskyDecca 476 8537

Con AmoreViolin Encores

Kyung Wha ChungDecca 476 7554

Andante CantabileCello EncoresLynn Harrell

Decca 476 7487

us … the Tragic Overture is splendidly dark and grand’2MBS Fine MusicPhilips 476 2816

BRAHMS: Serenades Nos. 1 & 2Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur‘Masur allows the Gewandhaus musicians plenty of freedom for genialinflection, local colour and relaxed, chamber-like interplay … thewarm, natural and robust ambience does ideal justice to Brahms'glorious scoring … A positively addictive disc, and a bargain at that’ClassicsToday.com‘beautiful, gracious and elegant performances … You will never hearthis music played better or, in fact, recorded better … I urge you tohear these lovely works and maybe like me you will see and hear themin a new light when you hear performances as convincing as these.Such is the power of music. Thank God!’ 4MBS Classic FMPhilips 442 8298

BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1-21Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur‘beautifully recorded and superbly played’2MBS Fine Music‘The playing captivates by its warmth and charm’ Gramophone‘Orchestra and conductor have this music in their bones …very highly recommended’ MusicWebPhilips 476 2797

BRAHMS: Double Concerto for violin, cello & orchestra1

MENDELSSOHN: Double Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra21Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink. 2Jaap van Zweden, Ronald Brautigam; NetherlandsRadio Symphony Orchestra / Kenneth Montgomery‘Janos Starker projects mastery and imagination throughout … a full,lush Brahmsian sound’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 464 3692

BRAHMS: Violin Concerto1; Academic Festival Overture;Tragic Overture; Alto Rhapsody21Arthur Grumiaux violin; 2Aafje Heynis contralto; 2Royal Male ChoirApollo; Concertgebouw Orchestra / Eduard van Beinum'Simply put, Grumiaux's 1958 recording of the Brahms concerto is

superb…With an hour and a quarter of excellent music-making,intelligently coupled and priced at the bottom of the market, how canyou possibly pass this up?' MusicWeb'Highly recommended’ Fanfare'Grumiaux is on superb form in the concerto: this is an immenselycultivated and refined reading…The Academic Festival Overture isardent, rhythmically exciting and utterly compelling, as is the TragicOverture. Finally, there is Heynis's rapt, beautifully sung account of theAlto Rhapsody’ International Record ReviewPhilips 442 9788

BRAHMS: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Pieces for Piano, Op. 118:Capriccio, Intermezzo, Rhapsody; Intermezzos: Op. 116/6; Op. 119/2;Op. 119/3Wilhelm Backhaus; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Böhm‘what a delectable issue … Backhaus’s style, while not flamboyant,strikes to the very pith of the music, drawing out all its drama’LimelightDecca 480 0800 [2CD]

BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 21

MOZART: Violin Sonata in E flat, KV 4811

GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 32

Arthur Grumiaux, violin & 1piano; 2István Hajdu, piano‘No admirer of Grumiaux's could resist hearing these one-man duos… Strongly recommended’ Fanfare‘Grumiaux, graciously quick and enlivening, cultivates beautifulwarmth’ MusicWebPhilips 476 7930

BRAHMS: Handel Variations; Paganini Variations (1958 recordings)SCHUMANN: Études symphoniquesJulius Katchen‘unbridled panache and cocky bravura’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8484

BRAHMS: Paganini VariationsSCHUMANN: Études symphoniques; ArabeskeJean-Yves Thibaudet‘A refreshingly individual, though never quirky, display of imaginative

Haitink and the Concertgebouw, whose polish and finesse also enliventhe charming Jeux d'enfants’ LimelightPhilips 476 7417

BIZET: Te Deum2

POULENC: Stabat Mater1; Gloria21Françoise Pollet; RTF Choeur de Radio France; Orchestre Nationalde France / Charles Dutoit2Sylvia Greenberg; Gösta Winbergh; Choeur de la Radio SuisseRomande; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne; L’Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Jesús López-Cobos‘rousing performance [Bizet] … Recorded sound is full and spacious[Poulenc]’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2947

ERNEST BLOCH (1880-1959) SWITZERLAND

BLOCH: Voice in the Wilderness1

BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy21Janos Starker, cello; 2Daniel Benyamini, viola; Israel PhilharmonicOrchestra / Zubin Mehta‘I can’t imagine a finer interpretation than Starker’s … Mehta and theIsraelis offer full and glowing support in this radiant score’International Record ReviewDecca 466 9072

ARRIGO BOITO (1842-1918) ITALY

BOITO: Mefistofele – prologue.STRAUSS: Orchestral Songs; Salome – excerptsMontserrat Caballé; Nicolai Ghaiurov; Vienna PhilharmonicOrchestra; Orchestre National de France / Leonard Bernstein‘Riveting and hugely impressive … at a purely musical level thisremains amongst the cream of the Eloquence catalogue’ MusicWebDG 476 2467

ALEXANDER BORODIN (1833-1887) RUSSIA

BORODIN: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3; Prince Igor – Overture &Polovtsian Dances; In the Steppes of Central Asia

Choeur des Jeunes Lausanne; Choeur de Radio Lausanne;L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘the 1960 recording is a thing of wonder’ Classical Source.com‘Ansermet conducts with a superb sense of style and momentum …immensely engaging performances’ International Record ReviewDecca 480 0488

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897) GERMANY

BRAHMS: The Four Symphonies; Haydn Variations; Tragic Overture;Academic Festival Overture; Nänie; Alto Rhapsody; A German RequiemAgnes Giebel; Hermann Prey; Helen Watts; L’Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Ernest Ansermet‘the excitement is in hearing these great works presented withhonesty’ Classical Source.com‘the conducting is energetic, rhythmically taut and accurate … andscrupulous without ever descending into fussiness’ Fanfare‘Ansermet’s Brahms has a real sense of perspective … the Fourthparades a mighty profile … the Tragic Overture receives one of itsfinest performances’ GramophoneDecca 480 0448

BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1; Variations on a theme by HaydnGewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur‘Masur is a natural Brahmsian … warmly expressive … grandeur andepic sweep’ Limelight‘I recommend this disc unreservedly’ MusicWebPhilips 476 2814

BRAHMS: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur‘This is an outstanding disc … the orchestra play their hearts out’MusicWebPhilips 476 2815

BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4; Academic Festival Overture; Tragic OvertureGewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur‘The playing is exemplary ... superb value’ MusicWeb‘meltingly beautiful ... Everything just seems right and the workunfolds like a map with the conductor knowing exactly where to guide

1110

vitality … his fingers sing as finely as they sparkle’ GramophoneDecca 476 8503

BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976) ENGLAND

BRITTEN: Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings1, 2;Les Illuminations2; Nocturne3

Peter Pears; 1Dennis Brain; New Symphony Orchestra /2Eugene Goossens; 3Benjamin Britten‘The Decca performance [of the Nocturne] is as nearly definitive asanything could be. Pears as always is the ideal interpreter, thecomposer a most efficient conductor, and the fiendishly difficultobbligato parts are played superbly. The recording is brilliant and clear,with just the right degree of atmosphere’ Penguin Guide'Dennis Brain's horn playing is magical, almost ethereal in its beautifultimbre, with Peter Pears superb in both these works…Goossens’sconducting cannot be faulted’ (***) Penguin Guide‘We have to be grateful to Eloquence for making these recordingsavailable again after so many years’ MusicWebDecca 476 8470

BRITTEN: Song CyclesWho are these Children?; Winter Words; Seven Sonnets ofMichaelangelo; Tit for Tat; Let the florid music praisePURCELL/BRITTEN: RealisationsPeter Pears; John Shirley-Quirk; James Bowman; Benjamin Britten‘This excellent compilation brings together two of Britten's finest songcycles – the Michelangelo Sonnets and Winter Words – in their mostmemorable and authoritative realizations … This music, and thePears/Britten performances, should be in the collection of every vocalmusic fan’ ClassicsToday.com'another valuable collection of rare Britten works … a must for allBritten enthusiasts’ *(**) Penguin GuideDecca 476 8492

BRITTEN: Favourite Folksong ArrangementsPeter Pears; Benjamin BrittenDecca 467 2362

BRITTEN: Folk Songs (with harp); A Birthday Hansel; Suite for Harp;Canticle V; Part SongsSir Peter Pears; Osian Ellis; Wilbye Consort'This is a very important release at a budget price and is a "musthave" for the pleasure of genius' MusicWeb‘Britten and/or Pears collectors need to grab this Eloquence doubleright now this minute, because most of the material is new toCD…This is an outstanding release’ FanfareDecca 442 9448

MAX BRUCH (1838-1920) GERMANY

BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1; Scottish FantasiaArthur Grumiaux; New Philharmonia Orchestra / Heinz Wallberg‘Playing that is boldly imaginative yet full of subtlety …his rich, beautiful tone and complete technical assuranceare unfailingly appealing’ Limelight‘… melts and yearns with an often aching beauty’ MusicWebPhilips 476 8485

ANTON BRUCKNER (1824-1896) AUSTRIA

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 1BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 8'can hardly fail to satisfy’ *** Penguin GuideWiener Philharmoniker / Claudio AbbadoDecca 476 9890

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 2WEBER: Euryanthe Overture; Invitation to the Dance‘Stein's interpretation [is] without doubt the most completelyrecommendable performance of the symphony currently availableaway from the complete sets...Terrific!’ ClassicsToday.comWiener Philharmoniker / Horst SteinDecca 442 8557

12

“One of themost enterprisingand imaginativereissue initiativesin recent years”

Rob Cowan, The Cowan Collection (BBC Radio 3)

CHOPIN: A Chopin Songbook – 19 Polish Songs, Op. 74Elisabeth Söderström; Vladimir Ashkenazy‘Ashkenazy’s rhythmic virility, soaring bass lines and dynamic powerconsistently ennoble the accompaniments … Söderström's darktimbre lends itself well to the Polish texts’ ClassicsToday.com‘A lovely recording’ FanfareDecca 476 7469

AARON COPLAND (1900-1990) USA

COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man1; Appalachian Spring1

GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue2; An American in Paris2;Cuban Overture21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta.2Cleveland Orchestra / Lorin MaazelDecca 458 1742

FRANCOIS COUPERIN (1668-1733) FRANCE

COUPERIN: Organ Masses – Messe pour les paroisses;Messe pour les couventsGillian WeirDecca 442 8197 [2CD]

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918) FRANCE

DEBUSSY: La Mer; Images; NocturnesRoyal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Eduard van Beinum‘crystalline purity of expression … extraordinarily noble’ClassicsToday.com‘unruffled serenity … the sirens sing as seductively as any on disc …a valuable reissue’ International Record ReviewPhilips 464 6362

DEBUSSY: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Nocturnes I & II; ImagesLondon Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux‘Monteux's sensitive, colourful performances reveal his deepimmersion in the Debussyian idiom … The London Symphony playsbeautifully, with impressive tonal and rhythmic precision’ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8472

DEBUSSY: Marche écossaise1; Berceuse Heroïque1; Danses sacrée etdanse profane1; Première Rapsodie2; Jeux2; Le Martyre de St. Sebastien:fragments symphoniques3

Concertgebouw Orchestra / 1Eduard van Beinum; 2Bernard Haitink.3London Symphony Orchestra /Pierre Monteux‘Australian Eloquence can boast what arguably is the most intelligentreissue program available today. From Universal's huge back cataloguenearly every release offers a well-chosen selection of familiar andunfamiliar material, so that both casual listeners and serious collectorswill find plenty of tantalizing titles. This Debussy collection, whichprimarily features less-familiar pieces, is a case in point’ClassicsToday.com‘All Haitink's Debussy is notable for his location of rhythm, and itsbuoyant and precise articulation ... Haitink's Jeux... is possessed of anear miraculous precision, definition and delicacy’ Gramophone‘a veritable treasure trove ... a delightful Debussy collection, excellentlyperformed’ MusicWebPhilips 476 8502

DEBUSSY: Sarabande; Danse (orch. Ravel)MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)RAVEL: BoléroRoyal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly‘this is one of Decca's ripely brilliant Concertgebouw recordings,very full and powerful’ Gramophone‘Sparkling performances, first-rate sound’ Fanfare‘Orchestral playing to die for … a real pleasure to listen to’ MusicWeb‘Very fine performances … magnificent playing, sonorously recorded… this is first-class, by any standard’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2452

DEBUSSY: String QuartetRAVEL: String QuartetQuartetto Italiano‘fulfilling, memorable and technically assured performances’ The AgePhilips 464 3602

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 5Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Lorin Maazel‘just the right degree of rustic tone on the brass and deep andsaturated strings’ 2MBS Fine MusicDecca 476 2746

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 6.WEBER: Overtures – Abu Hassan; Ruler of the SpiritsVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Horst Stein‘One of the great recorded performances of Bruckner’s Sixth …a real winner’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2745

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg Solti'a glowing and intense account, most beautifully played and hangingwondrously in the air of the Sofiensaal’ International Record ReviewDecca 442 9097

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg Solti'Solti’s achievement on this classic Decca recording is Bruckner as thecomposer surely wanted it and is hard to fault' MusicWeb'Ever since its first appearance on London LPs, Solti’s VPO Eighth hasbeen one of the work’s best-recorded accounts, and Decca’s CDtransfer is first-class’ Fanfare'mysterious and powerful, Solti melds drama and symphoniccohesiveness with a real sense of occasion’International Record ReviewDecca 442 9235

BRUCKNER: String QuintetSCHMIDT: Piano QuintetVienna Philharmonia Quintet‘This is a late-Romantic jewel … performances of great beauty andrichness’ Fanfare‘Excellent performances and recordings of two very worthwhile butunfamiliar works … Hidden gems of the late-Romantic chamberrepertoire, marvellously performed and recorded. A thoroughlyenjoyable release’ MusicWeb

'this superb account by the Vienna Philarmonic Quintet remains anexcellent way of getting to know this fine work’ *** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2455

WILLIAM BYRD (1543-1623) ENGLAND

BYRD: Masses for 3, 4 and 5 VoicesWinchester Cathedral Choir / David HillDecca 467 6112

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (1810-1849) POLAND

CHOPIN: The Best of ChopinIncluding Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2,Andante spianato, Polonaise, Op. 53Tamás Vásáry; Christoph Eschenbach; Lazar Berman;Stefan AskenaseDG 461 4212

CHOPIN: Les Sylphides (arr. Douglas)ROSSINI: La Boutique Fantasque (arr. Respighi)MASSENET: Thaïs – ‘Meditation’Nigel Kennedy, violin; National Philharmonic Orchestra /Richard BonyngeDecca 448 9842

CHOPIN: Complete Études – Op. 10 & Op. 25; Trois Nouvelles Études,Op. posthNikita MagaloffPhilips 464 3702

CHOPIN: 24 Préludes Op. 28; Ballades Nos. 2 & 4; Fantasie in F minorJorge Bolet‘Bolet’s aristocratic refinement and cultivated, deep-in-the-keyssonority resonate with gentle yet indisputable authority’ClassicsToday.comDecca 458 1722

CHOPIN: Nineteen WaltzesNikita Magaloff‘élan, insight and colour’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 456 5582

1514

‘Highly entertaining … a blazing performance of the DohnányiVariations by Schiff, who boldly shows off his stunning pianism atevery turn … Enthusiastically recommended’ ClassicsToday.com'[Liszt] full of demonic urgency…this classic account remains highlyenjoyable’ (**(*)) Penguin GuideDecca 476 7671

PAUL DUKAS (1865-1935) FRANCE

DUKAS: Symphony in C1

D’INDY: Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français21London Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter Weller2Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles DutoitDecca 467 6102

ANTONIN DVORÁK (1841-1904) CZECHOSLOVAKIA

DVORÁK: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9 ‘From the New World’Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘as fine a version as anyone has recorded (Symphony No. 8)’ClassicsToday.comDecca 461 3142

DVORÁK: Cello Concerto1; Symphony No. 9 'From the New World'21Heinrich Schiff; Concertgebouw Orchestra / 1Sir Colin Davis;2Antal Dorati‘Schiff ... matches the superb accompaniment of Sir Colin Davis incombining a measure of individual poetry with a generally fresh anddirect approach’ Gramophone‘Dorati’s is a really fine performance [of the New World] … the 1959sonics still offer remarkable freshness and impact’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 476 8482

DVORÁK: Violin Concerto1; Serenade for strings21Edith Peinemann; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Peter Maag2English Chamber Orchestra / Rafael Kubelík‘Peinemann plays with irresistable rhythmic drive in the Concerto'souter movements and tearless yet searing lyricism in the central slowone … an atmospheric and genial reading of the Serenade …strongly recommended’ Fanfare‘the Kubelik Serenade is springy, heart-warming, touching and not

afraid to be a touch sentimental’ MusicWebDecca 476 7405

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & Op. 72Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Antal DoratiDecca 458 1732

DVORÁK: Slavonic Rhapsodies Nos. 1-3, Op. 451;Slavonic Dances Op. 4621Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur;2Wiener Symphoniker / Karel Ancerl‘The best available modern recording of Dvorák's three gorgeousSlavonic Rhapsodies … the playing is lovely and Masur's direction ismusical and alert … This disc is a winner’ ClassicsToday.com‘The Rhapsodies are delicate, almost ethereal ... a truly lovely set’FanfarePhilips 476 7334

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, Op. 72 No. 71

MASSENET: Le Cid2

MEYERBEER: Les Patineurs21London Philharmonic Orchestra; 2Israel Philharmonic Orchestra /Jean Martinon‘very exciting, vibrant renditions … a wonderful singing quality’ClassicsToday.com‘An exuberantly vivacious collection of the Slavonic Dances …in Martinon’s hands, Massenet's tunes fizz and effervesce like the bestchampagne … the performances overflow with colour, and the tunescome tumbling out, bursting with joie de vivre’Rosette Award, Penguin Guide‘70 minutes of continuous, toe-tapping pleasure. Martinon’sperformances are lively and lovely … the sound is full and rich,bright and clear’ Fanfare‘deft and infectiously vivacious … overflowing with colour and energy… extremely enjoyable listening’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2742

DVORÁK: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2Beaux Arts Trio; Walter Trampler‘The Beaux Arts Trio plus Walter Trampler deliver a fine performance,

DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata1; Cello Sonata2

RAVEL: Violin Sonata3; Piano Trio41, 3Arthur Grumiaux, violin; 1, 3István Hadju, piano;2Maurice Gendron, cello; 2Jean Françaix, piano; 4Beaux Arts TrioPhilips 468 3062

DEBUSSY: Prélude à l'aprè-midi d'un faune; Violin Sonata;Cello Sonata; Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp; SyrinxBoston Symphony Chamber Players‘Performed with precision, delicacy and exquisite sensitivity’ Limelight‘Remarkably transparent [Prélude] ... an attractive collection’ PenguinGuide to CDs‘Excellent performances … virtually irresistible’ ClassicsToday.com‘The playing comes close to perfection’ FanfareDG 476 7703

DEBUSSY: Préludes – Books I & IIHans HenkemansPhilips 468 3112

LÉO DELIBES (1836-1891) FRANCE

DELIBES: Coppélia (complete ballet); Sylvia: suiteRAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé: Suite No. 2L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0083 [2CD]

FREDERICK DELIUS (1862-1934) ENGLAND

DELIUS: The Best of DeliusParis – The Song of a Great City; In a Summer Garden; Summer Nighton the River; The Walk to the Paradise Garden (from ‘A Village Romeoand Juliet’); A Song of SummerLondon Symphony Orchestra / Anthony CollinsDecca 461 3582

DELIUS: Two Pieces for Small Orchestra; Two Aquarelles; Fennimoreand Gerda – IntermezzoVAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Tantasia on “Greensleeves”;Concerto for Oboe and Strings; Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra;The Lark Ascending

WALTON: Two Pieces from Henry VNeil Black; Arnold Jacobs; Pinchas Zukerman; Chicago SymphonyOrchestra, English Chamber Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim‘…good performances and sound…' FanfareDG 442 8333

DELIUS: String Quartet; Cello SonataELGAR: Violin SonataIRELAND: Violin Sonata No. 2Burkhard Hofmann; Alan NewcombeDG 476 6884

DAVID DEL TREDICI (1937- ) USA

DEL TREDICI: Final AliceBarbara Hendricks; Folk group: Fred Hemke, Robert Black sopranosaxophones; Fred Spector mandolin; Frederic Chrisli tenor banjo;Herman Troppe accordion; Chicago Symphony Orchestra /Sir Georg Solti'All credit to the Decca team for doing this piece proud and toAustralian Eloquence for returning it to the catalogue. Not to bemissed' MusicWeb'The Decca release of Final Alice is a reissue of the original LP, and it’shard to imagine this performance will ever be bettered. Hendricks isspectacular, and the CSO never sounded more sonically Technicolor’Fanfare'a remarkable document…a modern American classic, superblyperformed and recorded’ International Record Review‘This much-delayed CD issue had me jumping for joy’ GramophoneDecca 442 9955

ERN”O DOHNÁNYI (1877-1960) HUNGARY

DOHNÁNYI: Nursery Variations1

LISZT: Totentanz2

RACHMANINOV: Paganini Rhapsody3

LUTOSLAWSKI: Paganini Variations31Andras Schiff; Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti2Peter Katin; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Jean Martinon3Peter Jablonski; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy

1716

with their typically excellent ensemble balance and a particularlyflowing and cogent account of the magnificent central variationmovement [of the First Piano Quartet]’ ClassicsToday.com'The playing of the Beaux Arts Trio is as fresh and spontaneous as themusic itself, and the early 1970s recording still sounds remarkably well– warm and beautifully balanced’ *** Penguin GuidePhilips 470 6622

DVORÁK: Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90 'Dumky'1

SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A 'Trout'21Suk Trio; 2Jörg Demus; Schubert Quartet‘a disc to cherish … glorious … the performance is as idiomatic asanyone could wish for’ International Record ReviewDG 480 0049

ROSS EDWARDS (B.1943) AUSTRALIA

EDWARDS: Piano Concerto1

WILLIAMSON: Concerto for 2 Pianos & Strings2

SCULTHORPE: Piano Concerto31Dennis Hennig; Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman2Malcolm Williamson, Simon Campion; Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestra / Barry Tuckwell. 3Anthony Fogg; Melbourne SymphonyOrchestra / Myer Fredman‘the performers are as playful and energetic as this radiantscore requires’ ClassicsToday.comABC 426 4832

EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934) ENGLAND

ELGAR: Symphonies Nos. 11 & 22; Cockaigne1; Sea Pictures2,33Della Jones; 1London Symphony Orchestra; 2Royal PhilharmonicOrchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras‘Mackerras here proves himself a fine Elgarian’ MusicWeb'both urgent and richly detailed - strongly projected and radinatlyplayed…Very warmly recommended’ International Record Review'Mackerras's performance of the First Symphony is one of the mostbitingly passionate readings since Elgar's own, brilliantly recorded …Della Jones gives a commanding performance of the Sea Pictures …The Cockaigne Overture is brilliantly done … Superb Decca sound’

*** Penguin GuideDecca 442 8277 [2CD]

ELGAR: Enigma Variations1; Cello Concerto21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta;2Lynn Harrell, cello; Cleveland Orchestra / Lorin Maazel‘among the very finest versions [of the Cello Concerto] ... a realdemonstration disc’ *** Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)‘Zubin Mehta’s “Enigma” rivals the best’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 450 0212

ELGAR: Cello Concerto2; Enigma Variations3; Froissart1;Starlight Express5; Dream Children6; Wand of Youth45Alison Hagley, 5Bryn Terfel; 2Robert Cohen; 1-3Royal PhilharmonicOrchestra; 4-6Welsh National Opera Orchestra/ Sir Charles Mackerras‘…first-class performances…' Fanfare**(*) Penguin GuideDecca 442 8280 [2CD]

ELGAR: Violin SonataDELIUS: Violin Sonata No. 3IRELAND: Violin Sonata No. 2Burkhard Hofmann; Alan NewcombeDG 476 6884

MANUEL DE FALLA (1876-1946) SPAIN

FALLA: The Best of Falla including El amor brujo; Nights in the Gardensof Spain; Harpsichord Concerto; Three-Cornered Hat; La vida breveClara Haskil; Rafael Puyana; Igor Markevitch; Sir Charles Mackerras;Roberto Benzi; Antal DoratiPhilips 468 3132

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845-1924) FRANCE

FAURÉ: Fantasie for Piano & Orchestra2

FRANCK: Variations Symphoniques2

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G1; Piano Concerto for the Left Hand1

Alicia de Larrocha; London Philharmonic Orchestra /1Lawrence Foster; 2Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

18

purpose, and with playing of real quality’ International Record ReviewDecca 442 9496

ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) RUSSIA

GLAZUNOV: The Seasons; Concert Waltzes; Carnaval(Schumann/Glazunov); Stenka RazinGLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmilla; Kamarinskaya; A Life for the Tsar;Valse-Fantasie; Jota argonesaLIADOV: Baba Yaga; Kikimora; Chants populairs russesL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘Ansermet made one of the best recordings of Glazunov’s The Seasons’Classical Source.comDecca 480 0038 [2CD]

MIKHAIL GLINKA (1804-1857) RUSSIA

GLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmilla; Kamarinskaya; A Life for the Tsar;Valse-Fantasie; Jota argonesaLIADOV: Baba Yaga; Kikimora; Chants populairs russesGLAZUNOV: The Seasons; Concert Waltzes; Carnaval(Schumann/Glazunov); Stenka RazinL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘Ansermet brings the bright colours to vivid life’ Classical Source.com‘a glorious Russian confection … this is a delight from start to finish –Ansermet and his orchestra seem to delight in every exotic colour andthey capture the Russian spirit of the music superbly’International Record ReviewDecca 480 0038 [2CD]

CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK (1714-1787) BOHEMIA

GLUCK: Don JuanHANDEL: Ariodante - ballet musicAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘stylish playing … the faster dances are bouncy and energetic’MusicWebDecca 476 2440

GLUCK: Opera AriasJanet Baker; English Chamber Orchestra / Raymond Leppard‘Magical’ Gramophone‘a thrillingly sung recital’ MusicWebPhilips 476 2617

KARL GOLDMARK (1830-1915) HUNGARY

GOLDMARK: Rustic Wedding Symphony1

GRIEG: Symphony in C minor21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Jesús López-Cobos2Bergen Symphony Orchestra / Karsten Anderson‘A refreshing and attractive reading of the Goldmark’ Penguin Guide‘López-Cobos leads a very good performance [of the Goldmark],characterized by lively tempos and fine playing by the Los AngelesPhilharmonic’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8743

HENRYK GORECKI (B.1933) POLAND

GORECKI: Symphony No. 3 ‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs’Zofia Kilanowicz; Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra /Jerzy SwobodaPhilips 450 1482

CHARLES-FRANÇOIS GOUNOD (1818-1893) FRANCE

GOUNOD: Faust – Ballet Music1

OFFENBACH: Gaîté Parisienne1

ROSSINI / RESPIGHI: Rossiniana21Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir Georg Solti2L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘The 1961 recording has satisfying presence and fullness …a well planned and highly enjoyable program’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2724

EDVARD GRIEG (1843-1907) NORWAY

GRIEG: Symphony in C minor1

GOLDMARK: Rustic Wedding Symphony21Bergen Symphony Orchestra / Karsten Anderson

‘Alicia de Larrocha’s limpid, elegant pianism is equally at home in thebrilliant, refined impressionism of Ravel and the late-Romanticintensity of Fauré and Franck’ Limelight‘uniformly outstanding … rich and opulent’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2351

FAURÉ: Requiem; Pelléas et Mélisande; Masques et BergamasquesSuzanne Danco, Gérard Souzay; Choeur et Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 450 1312

ANDREW FORD (1957- ) AUSTRALIA

FORD: Night and DreamsSCHOENBERG: Ode to NapoleonGerald English; London Sinfonietta / David AthertonExcellent, and very compelling, performances’ MusicWebDecca 480 0461

CÉSAR FRANCK (1822-1890) BELGIUM

FRANCK: Le chasseur maudit1; Rédémption1; Psyché1;Nocturne2; Les Eolides32 Christa Ludwig; 1, 2 Orchestre de Paris / Daniel Barenboim3L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘Characterful and atmospheric performances … a thrillingLe Chausseur Maudit and translucent Les Eolides’ Limelight‘Excellent performances … brightly coloured and beautifully realised’ClassicsToday.com‘An excellent compilation of Franckian gems.Very strongly recommended indeed’ MusicWebDG 476 2800

FRANCK: Variations Symphoniques2

FAURÉ: Fantasie for Piano & Orchestra2

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G1; Piano Concerto for the Left Hand1

Alicia de Larrocha; London Philharmonic Orchestra /1Lawrence Foster; 2Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos‘Alicia de Larrocha’s limpid, elegant pianism is equally at home in thebrilliant, refined impressionism of Ravel and the late-Romantic

intensity of Fauré and Franck’ LimelightDecca 476 2351

FRANCK: String Quartet1; Violin Sonata21Fitzwilliam Quartet. 2Pierre Amoyal; Pascal Rogé‘This magnificent performance by the Fitzwilliam Quartet superblytriumphs over the technical challenges with totally dedicated,passionately conceived playing ... This is one of the finest chamberrecords of the 1980s’ Penguin Guide‘Amoyal and Rogé impress through their impeccable musicianship andconfident virtuosity … a powerful and stimulating performance of theString Quartet’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8463

GIOVANNI GABRIELI (1557-1612) ITALY

GABRIELI, G & A: ‘The Glory of Venice’Music for Choir and Brass EnsemblePhilip Jones Brass Ensemble; Choir of King’s College, Cambridge /Philip Jones; Stephen CleoburyDecca 448 9932

GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937) USA

GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue1; An American in Paris1;Cuban Overture1

COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man2; Appalachian Spring21Cleveland Orchestra / Lorin Maazel2Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin MehtaDecca 458 1742

GERSHWIN: Porgy & Bess - Symphonic Picture1

GROFÉ: Grand Canyon Suite1; Mississippi Suite21Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Doráti; 2Eastman-RochesterOrchestra / Howard Hanson'This disc is a must-have… stunningly well recorded and played to thenines… a very attractive issue’ MusicWeb'this CD is hard to resist’ Fanfare'conducted with bags of conviction, rhythmic animation and a sense of

2120

2Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Jesús López-Cobos‘A refreshing and attractive reading of the Goldmark’ Penguin Guide‘López-Cobos leads a very good performance [of the Goldmark],characterized by lively tempos and fine playing by the Los AngelesPhilharmonic’ ClassicsToday.com‘The recordings sound exceedingly fine’ Fanfare'a terrific bargain…don't miss this one!' International Record Review*** Penguin GuideDecca 476 8743

GRIEG: Holberg Suite1; Two Elegiac Melodies1; Two Nordic Melodies1;The death of Aase (from Peer Gynt)1; Ceremonial March (from SigurdJorsalfar)1; Lyric Pieces2; Wedding Day at Troldhaugen31National Philharmonic Orchestra / Willi Boskovsky2London Symphony Orchestra / Stanley Black3London Proms Symphony Orchestra / Sir Charles Mackerras‘an attractive Grieg program and the recording is both rich andbrilliant … played with sympathy and taste’ Penguin Guide‘This collection is beautifully performed’ ClassicsToday.com'the performances are all very good … a worthwhile introduction toGrieg's music’ International Record ReviewDecca 476 8494

GRIEG: Peer Gynt – Incidental Music1; Holberg Suite21Elly Ameling; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Edo deWaart. 2Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville MarrinerPhilips 456 5612

GRIEG: Piano Concerto1

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto Nos. 11, 22 & 32

Peter Jablonski; 1Philharmonia Orchestra / Peter Maag;2Charles Dutoit‘brilliantly played by all concerned’ LimelightDecca 480 0482 [2CD]

GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 31

MOZART: Violin Sonata in E flat, KV 4812

BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 22

Arthur Grumiaux, violin & 2piano; 1István Hajdu, piano‘Grumiaux balances the folkloric and the effortlessly lyric with

marvellously calibrated precision’ MusicWebPhilips 476 7930

FERDE GROFÉ (1892-1972) USA

GROFÉ: Grand Canyon Suite; Mississippi Suite1

GERSHWIN: Porgy & Bess - Symphonic PictureDetroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Doráti;1Eastman-Rochester Orchestra / Howard Hanson'This disc is a must-have…stunningly well recorded and played to thenines… a very attractive issue’ MusicWeb'… this CD is hard to resist’ FanfareDecca 442 9496

GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759) GERMANY

HANDEL: The No. 1 Handel AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5907 [2CD]

HANDEL:Water Music (complete)1;Music for the Royal Fireworks (complete)2

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / 1Eduard van Beinum;2Bernard Haitink‘these performances are fresh and as toe-tappingly alive as if they weremade today’ Illawara MercuryPhilips 461 3362

HANDEL: Ariodante – ballet musicGLUCK: Don JuanAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘stylish playing … the faster dances are bouncy and energetic’MusicWebDecca 476 2440

HANDEL: Oboe Concertos Nos. 1-3; Arrival of the Queen of Sheba;Berenice: Overture; Ballet Music from Ariodante, Alcina, Il pastor fido;Concerti a due cori; Alexander’s FeastAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville MarrinerDecca 480 1388 [2CD]

23

KURT MASUR’S GLOWINGLY BEAUTIFULBRAHMS RECORDINGS FOR PHILIPS

‘I urge you to hear these lovely works and maybe like me you willsee and hear them in a new light when you hear performances as

convincing as these. Such is the power of music. Thank God!’Classic FM

‘Coin is assertive, self-confident and precise … Hogwood's orchestraplays with exuberance and elegance’ FanfareDecca 476 2470

HAYDN: Violin Concertos Nos. 11,3 & 41,4

M. HAYDN: Violin Concerto in A2,5

MOZART: Adagio, Rondo1,4

Arthur Grumiaux; 3English Chamber Orchestra;4New Philharmonia Orchestra; 5Concertgebouw Orchestra /1Raymond Leppard; 2Edo de Waart‘For admirers of Grumiaux’s readings of Mozart, the Adagio andRondo will be obligatory… a very strong recommendation’ FanfarePhilips 442 8294

HAYDN: Oboe Concerto in C, Hob. VIIg:C1MOZART: Oboe Concerto in C, KV314HUMMEL: Introduction, Theme and Variations in F, Op. 102Ernest Rombout; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra‘Rombout’s tone is slim, well suited to Classical music, and his fingersdextrous; he phrases neatly and with a good sense of style’GramophoneDecca 476 2450

HAYDN: String Quartets Op. 77 Nos. 1 & 2; String Quartet, Op. 103Takács Quartet‘Excellent performances … the Takács Quartet has a real feeling forthe music's style’ ClassicsToday.com'The Takács Quartet play with warmth, expressive refinement andvitality' *** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2575

HAYDN: Piano Trios Vol. 1 (H 12, 26. 28, 30)András Schiff; Yuuko Shiokawa; Boris Pergamenschikow‘What a joy it is to have these virile, intelligent, and gorgeouslygroomed performances back in circulation! …Wonderful music,inspired interpretations, excellent sound and perceptive booklet notes’10/10 ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2577

HAYDN: Piano Trios Vol. 2 (H 14, 27, 29, 31)

András Schiff; Yuuko Shiokawa; Boris Pergamenschikow‘Volume 2 upholds the first volume’s exemplary standards …all Haydn lovers should add these modestly priced discs to theircollection’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.com‘Schiff and his colleagues relish the wit, brilliance and sheer speed ofHaydn’s thoughts in the outer movements, with their comic off-beataccents, sudden changes of register and breathtaking harmonic scope.Rapid keyboard passagework is always imaginatively shaped anddirected … Decca’s recording, made in Vienna’s Brahms Saal, is first-class – intimate and finely balanced, with just the right degree ofambient warmth’ GramophoneDecca 476 2576

HAYDN: Stabat MaterArleen Augér, Alfreda Hodgson, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson,Gwynne Howell; London Chamber Choir; Argo Chamber Orchestra /László HeltayDecca 476 2441

HAYDN: Arias & CantatasArianna a Naxos; Berenice che fai; Miseri noi! misera patria! –Funesto orror; Solo e pensoso; Son pietosa, son boninaArleen Augér; Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra /Christopher Hogwood’Arleen Augér is superbly dramatic in the cantatas, gauging theemotional temperature perfectly and translating that into her voicethrough a subtle use of tone-colour and a commendably flexibleapproach to vibrato: drama without vocal histrionics. […] I found thisa most enjoyable recording, one I won't tire of hearing in a long time’Gramophone‘A wonderful tribute to the art of Arleen Augér … Augér really isperfect for this music … a terrific release’ ClassicsToday.com‘A recording that should be in the collection of every Haydn-lover’MusicWebDecca 476 2519

MICHAEL HAYDN (1737-1806) AUSTRIA

M. HAYDN: Violin Concerto in A2,5

HAYDN: Violin Concertos Nos. 11,3 & 41,4

HANDEL: Organ Concertos Op. 4 Nos. 1 & 2VIVALDI: Bassoon Concerto in A minor, RV 497; Bassoon Concerto inD minor, RV 481 (transc. Malipiero)MARCELLO: Oboe Concerto in C minor (trans. Bonelli)Jeanne Demessieux, organ; Henri Helaerts, bassoon; Roger Reversy,oboe; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘given unashamedly big-style readings. How delightful! It’s great tohave them available again’ Classical Source.com‘the start turn here is the blazing performance of the Op. 4 No. 2Organ Concerto’ International Record ReviewDecca 480 0833

HANDEL: Four Coronation Anthems1;Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne21Choir of King’s College, Cambridge; English Chamber Orchestra /Sir David Willcocks.2Emma Kirkby, James Bowman;Academy of Ancient Music /Simon Preston‘an excellent bargain’ *** Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)Decca 466 6762

HANDEL: MessiahMargaret Price, Hanna Schwarz, Stuart Burrows, Simon Estes;Chor und Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks /Sir Colin Davis‘Davis is an enthusiastic and fleet-footed exponent of the work, andPrice’s soprano solos are stellar’ International Record ReviewPhilips 480 0120 [2CD]

HANDEL: Italian CantatasTu fedel? tu costante?; Mi palpita il cor; Alpestre monte; Tra le fiammeEmma Kirkby; Steven Lubin; The Academy of Ancient Music /Christopher Hogwood‘A delightful selection; a record which I will play again and again’MusicWeb‘Emma Kirkby is admirably fluent and agile, discovering nuances bothof text and music with her accustomed sensibility …a splendid issue… warmly recommended’ GramophoneDecca 476 7468

HANDEL & BACH: Sacred AriasArias from HANDEL: Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus, Samson, DixitDominus, Dank sei dirBACH: St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Christmas Oratorio,Bist du bei mirAafje Heynis; Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Hans GillesbergerPhilips 464 6312

HANDEL: Julius Caesar (highlights)Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Monica Sinclair, Richard Conrad;New Symphony Orchestra of London; English Chamber Orchestra /Richard Bonynge‘By and large this is, of course Sutherland’s record; she sings for morethan half of it, and all her arias are superlatively lovely’ GramophoneDecca 467 2382

JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809) AUSTRIA

HAYDN: Symphonies Nos. 94 'Surprise', 96 'The Miracle' & 97Concertgebouw Orchestra / Eduard van Beinum‘These joyous and stylish interpretations contain plentyof great playing’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8483

HAYDN: 24 MinuetsPhilharmonia Hungarica / Antal Dorati‘A marvellous and important reissue … Dorati catches the spiritof the dance especially well … an essential addition to any collectionof Haydn’s orchestral music’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.com‘Delightfully pointed performances and superbly recorded by Decca’2MBS Fine MusicDecca 476 7693

HAYDN: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2Christophe Coin; The Academy of Ancient Music /Christopher Hogwood‘Coin's Haydn is superb, balancing grace and refinement withemotional warmth and virtuosic display’ Limelight

2524

EDUARD LALO (1823-1892) FRANCE

LALO: Symphonie EspagnoleSAINT-SAENS: Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso; HavanaiseCHAUSSON: PoèmeRAVEL: TziganeArthur Grumiaux; Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux /Manuel RosenthalPhilips 462 5792

ALEXANDRE LECOCQ (1832-1918) FRANCE

LECOCQ: Mam'zelle Angot1

HÉROLD: La Fille mal gardee21National Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Bonynge; 2Orchestra ofthe Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / John Lanchbery'Lovers of what might be called serious light music will not bedisappointed' MusicWeb'A winner…' FanfareDecca 442 9048

FRANZ LEHÁR (1870-1948) HUNGARY

The Best of Franz LehárHighlights from: The Merry Widow; Schön ist die Welt; The Land ofSmiles; Paganini; Der Zarewitsch; Friederike; Der Graf von Luxemburg;Eva; Gypsy LoveRenate Holm;Werner Krenn; Orchester der Wiener Volksoper /Anton PaulikPilar Lorengar; Wiener Opernorchester / Walter Weller‘A pleasing reissue’ MusicWebDecca 476 2703

LEHÁR: The Merry Widow (highlights – sung in English)Joan Sutherland, Valerie Masterson, Werner Krenn, Graeme Ewer;Ambrosian Singers; National Philharmonic Orchestra /Richard BonyngeDecca 461 3152

ANATOLY LIADOV (1855-1914) RUSSIA

LIADOV: Baba Yaga; Kikimora; Chants populairs russesGLAZUNOV: The Seasons; Concert Waltzes; Carnaval (Schumann,Glazunov); Stenka RazinGLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmilla; Kamarinskaya; The Life for the Tsar;Valse-Fantasie; Jota argonesaWerner Krenn; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne; L’Orchestre de laSuisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘The 1960s recordings are superbly transferred’ Classical Source.comDecca 442 9992

FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886) HUNGARY

LISZT: Eine Faust-Symphonie; Mephisto-Valse; Procession nocturne(from 2 Episodes from Lenau's Faust); Battle of the HunsMAGNARD: Symphony No. 3Werner Krenn; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne; L’Orchestre de laSuisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘A vivid, graphic Faust Symphony plus one of the very few recordingsof the lovely Magnard Third Symphony make this a bargain not to bemissed’ MusicWeb‘Ansermet matches the flamboyance of the writing [Battle of the Huns]with a spontaneous, hell-for-leather performance, which is excitingfrom first note to last’ Classical Source.comDecca 442 9992

LISZT: Piano Concertos 1 & 2; Totentanz; Hungarian FantasiaJean-Yves Thibaudet; Orchestre symphonique de Montréal /Charles Dutoit‘I have only praise. Each of the four works here is well characterized,and the typically Lisztian varying tempos are spot on, unrushed butnever deliberate and always leading naturally from one to the next.Climactic passages are powerful, but the sound remains pleasant’GramophoneDecca 442 8833

MOZART: Adagio, Rondo1,4

Arthur Grumiaux; 3English Chamber Orchestra;4New Philharmonia Orchestra; 5Concertgebouw Orchestra /1Raymond Leppard; 2Edo de Waart‘For admirers of Grumiaux’s readings of Mozart, the Adagio andRondo will be obligatory…For everybody else, merely a very strongrecommendation’ Fanfare'stylishly played' *** Penguin GuidePhilips 442 8294

FERDINAND HÉROLD (1791-1833) FRANCE

HÉROLD: La Fille mal gardee1

LECOCQ: Mam'zelle Angot21Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden /John Lanchbery;2National Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Bonynge‘Lovers of what might be called serious light music will not bedisappointed' MusicWeb'A winner…' Fanfare'…with the sound of spectacular Decca fidelity, Lanchbery conducts ahighly seductive account of the complete ballet with an orchestra longfamiliar with playing it in the theatre’ *** Penguin GuideDecca 442 9048

GUSTAV HOLST (1874-1934) ENGLAND

HOLST: The PlanetsELGAR: Pomp & Circumstance Marches Nos. 1 & 4Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Neville Marriner‘very beautifully played and warmly recorded’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 450 0532

JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL (1778-1837) AUSTRIA

HUMMEL: Introduction, Theme and Variations in F, Op. 102HAYDN: Oboe Concerto in C, Hob. VIIg:C1MOZART: Oboe Concerto in C, KV314Ernest Rombout; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra‘Rombout’s tone is slim, well suited to Classical music, and his fingers

dextrous; he phrases neatly and with a good sense of style’GramophoneDecca 476 2450

HUMMEL: Septet; QuintetWEBER: Clarinet QuintetThe Melos Ensemble of London‘elegant and polished … the smoothly phrased playing of Gervase dePeyer is delightful’ LimelightDecca 476 2447

VINCENT D’INDY (1851-1931) FRANCE

D’INDY: Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français1

DUKAS: Symphony in C2

1Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles Dutoit2London Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter WellerDecca 467 6102

JOHN IRELAND (1879-1962) ENGLAND

IRELAND: Violin Sonata No. 2ELGAR: Violin SonataDELIUS: Violin Sonata No. 3Burkhard Hofmann; Alan NewcombeDG 476 6884

FRITZ KREISLER (1875-1962) AUSTRIA

KREISLER: ‘Homage to Kreisler’22 original compositions and arrangements, including Praeludium andAllegro, Liebesleid, Liebesfreud, Schön Rosmarin, Tambourin Chinois,Danse Espagnole, Polichinelle-Serenade, Rondino on a theme ofBeethoven, Variations on a theme of Corelli, Tango (Albéniz), Waltz inA flat (Brahms), Ave Maria (Schubert)Alfredo Campoli, violin; Eric Gritton, piano; Norihko Wada, piano‘Campoli’s performances are full of flair’ *** Penguin Guide to CDs(2000 Yearbook)Decca 466 6662

2726

ALBÉRIC MAGNARD (1865-1914) FRANCE

MAGNARD: Symphony No. 3LISZT: Eine Faust-Symphonie; Mephisto-Valse; Procession nocturne(from 2 Episodes from Lenau's Faust); Battle of the HunsWerner Krenn, tenor; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne; L’Orchestre dela Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘plenty of vigour … full of vitality’ Classical Source.com‘this symphony is likely Magnard’s finest creation. If you care at allabout late-Romantic French music, buy it!’ FanfareDecca 442 9992

GUSTAV MAHLER (1860-1911) AUSTRIA

MAHLER: Symphonies Nos. 11 & 321Israel Philharmonic Orchestra2Maureen Forrester; The California Boys' Choir, Members of The LosAngeles Master Chorale. Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; /Zubin Mehta‘plenty of attention to detail and nobility in the crowning moments’International Record ReviewDecca 480 1133 [2CD]

MAHLER: Das Lied von der ErdeJanet Baker, James King; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink‘The finest of all recorded versions of the work ... this is the onlyDas Lied you’ll ever need, and the recorded sound is of demonstrationquality’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.comPhilips 468 1822

MAHLER: Rückert-Lieder1; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen1;Kindertotenlieder2

Marilyn Horne; 1Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta2Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Henry Lewis'A splendid idea to gather Marilyn Horne's Mahler recordingstogether…her wonderfully rich mezzo is a joy to hear…' **(*)Penguin Guide‘I urge you to hear this exceptional record. Horne is a superb Mahler

singer, full of intelligence and insight’ International Record ReviewDecca 442 8287

BENEDETTO MARCELLO (1686-1739) ITALY

MARCELLO: Oboe Concerto in C minor (trans. Bonelli).HANDEL: Organ Concertos Op. 4 Nos. 1 & 2VIVALDI: Bassoon Concerto in A minor, RV 497; Bassoon Concerto inD minor, RV 481 (transc. Malipiero)Roger Reversy, oboe; Jeanne Demessieux, organ; Henri Helaerts,bassoon; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0833

PIETRO MASCAGNI (1863-1945) ITALY

MASCAGNI: Cavalleria RusticanaMario del Monaco, Giuletta Simionato; Academy of St. Cecilia,Rome / Tullio Serafin‘very well performed’ Illawara MercuryDecca 450 0162

JULES MASSENET (1842-1912) FRANCE

MASSENET: Le Cid1

MEYERBEER: Les Patineurs1

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, Op. 72 No. 721Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; 2London Philharmonic Orchestra /Jean Martinon‘In Martinon’s hands, Massenet's tunes fizz and effervesce like thebest champagne … the performances overflow with colour, and thetunes come tumbling out, bursting with joie de vivre’Rosette Award, Penguin Guide‘deft and infectiously vivacious … overflowing with colour and energy… extremely enjoyable listening’ ClassicsToday.com'the sound is stunningly good and the performances themselves areequally beyond reproach. This is an attractive and well-filledcompilation of superior light orchestral and ballet music’ InternationalRecord ReviewDecca 476 2742

28

F R OM TH E

R O Y A L O P E R A HO U S E ,C O V E N T G A R D E N

TWO PR ICE L E S S 2CD COMP I L AT IONS , MUCH OFTHE MUS IC RE L EA S ED INTERNAT IONAL LY FORTHE F I RST T IME ON CD , FROM ONE OF THE

GREAT P ERFORMANCE HOUSE S OF THE WORLD .

Royal Opera GalaVarious artistsDecca 480 0952

Royal Ballet GalaErnest AnsermetDecca 442 9986

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1805-1847) GERMANY

MENDELSSOHN: Symphonies Nos. 3 'Scottish'1 & 4 'Italian'21London Symphony Orchestra; 2Israel Philharmonic Orchestra /Sir Georg Solti‘dynamic, energetic and with just a smidgen of “old-world” stringsound: irresistibly spontaneous, Solti at his best’ [No. 4] Rob Cowan,BBC Radio 3Decca 476 8459

MENDELSSOHN: String Symphonies Nos. 9, 10 & 12;Concerto for Piano & Strings11John Ogdon; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘played with great verve and spirit’ Penguin GuideDecca 476 8460

MENDELSSOHN: Double Concerto for violin, piano & orchestra1

BRAHMS: Double Concerto for violin, cello & orchestra21Jaap van Zweden, Ronald Brautigam; Netherlands Radio SymphonyOrchestra / Kenneth Montgomery.2Henryk Szeryng, Janos Starker; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra /Bernard Haitink‘Both van Zweden and Brautigam give crackerjack performances’ClassicsToday.comPhilips 464 3692

MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night's Dream1;Die erste Walpurgisnacht21Lynne Dawson, Dalia Schaechter; Frauenchor des Rundfunk, Berlin;Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (RSO) / Vladimir Ashkenazy2Margarita Lilowa, Horst Laubenthal, Tom Krause, Alfred Sramek;Wiener Singverein; Wiener Philharmoniker / Christoph von DohnányiDecca 480 1279

MENDELSSOHN: Octet (arr. string orchestra by Mendelssohn)1

BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95 (arr. string orchestraby Mahler)21Strings of the Israel Philharmonic / Zubin Mehta2Wiener Philharmoniker / Christoph von DohnanyiDecca 480 0813

ANDRÉ MESSAGER (1853-1929) FRANCE

MESSAGER: Les deux PigeonsOrchestra of the Welsh National Opera / Richard BonyngeDecca 476 2448

GIACOMO MEYERBEER (1791-1864) GERMANY

MEYERBEER: Les Patineurs1

MASSENET: Le Cid1

DVORÁK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, Op. 72 No. 721Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; 2London Philharmonic Orchestra /Jean Martinon‘The performances overflow with colour, and the tunes come tumblingout, bursting with joie de vivre’ Rosette Award, Penguin Guide‘70 minutes of continuous, toe-tapping pleasure. Martinon’sperformances are lively and lovely … the sound is full and rich, brightand clear’ Fanfare‘deft and infectiously vivacious … overflowing with colour and energy… extremely enjoyable listening’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2742

RICHARD MILLS (B.1949) AUSTRALIA

MILLS: Aeolian Caprices1; Soundscapes for Percussion & Orchestra2;Seaside Dances1; Fantastic Pantomimes1

Queensland Symphony Orchestra/ 1Richard Mills;2Werner Andreas Albert‘Mills is a virtuoso composer with a genuine command of theorchestra … the performances throughout are excellent’ Fanfare‘I found this generously filled CD very impressive indeed’ MusicWebABC 476 7595

MILLS: Snugglepot and CuddlepieQueensland Symphony Orchestra / Richard Mills‘masterfully crafted by Mills … the pick of the bunch’ NoteworthyABC 422 9332

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791) AUSTRIA

MOZART: The Best of MozartIncluding excerpts from Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Eine kleineNachtmusik, A Musical JokeI Musici; Neville Marriner; Mitsuko Uchida; NetherlandsWind EnsemblePhilips 450 0492

MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 25, 29, 35 'Haffner'Wiener Philharmoniker / István Kertész‘Performances infused with vibrant energy wedded to crisp rhythmsand articulation ... The Vienna Philharmonic produces a gorgeous,distinctly Mozartean sound’ ClassicsToday.com‘Serenely, satisfyingly elegant … a stupendous wealth of finelychiseled detail’ FanfareDecca 476 7401

MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 28, 33, 36 'Linz' & 38 'Prague';Divertimenti Nos. 10 & 11English Chamber Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis'... the performances have an energy and sparkle that fully justify theirreissue … an engaging combination of liveliness and poetry in Davis'sapproach…' International Record Review'A thoroughly recommended set on modern instruments'*** Penguin GuideDecca 442 8149 [2CD]

MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 281, 291, 322 & 341; Serenata notturna21L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; 2London Symphony Orchestra /Peter Maag‘first-rate Australian transfers’ Classical Record CollectorDecca 476 9692

MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 33, 39, 40Wiener Philharmoniker / István Kertész‘Consistently lively and stylish throughout … Kertész's fine-tunedMozartean sensitivity lends his performances both vibrancy and grace’ClassicsToday.com‘Very highly recommended, and a feather in the hat of Australian

Eloquence’ MusicWebDecca 476 7402

MOZART: Symphony No. 36 'Linz'; Eine kleine Nachtmusik; March inC; Overtures – La clemenza di Tito, Idomeneo, Così fan tutte, Le nozzedi Figaro, Die ZauberflöteWiener Philharmoniker / István Kertész‘Fresh and appealing performances’ Limelight‘A stirring yet warm-hearted Linz ... spirited renditions of the overtures… easily recommendable’ ClassicsToday.com‘As fine an Eine kleine Nachtmusik as one could hope to find’ FanfareDecca 476 7403

MOZART: Symphony No. 38 'Prague'; Six German Dances; Overture:Lucio Silla; Four Interludes from 'Thamos, König in Ägypten'London Symphony Orchestra / Peter Maag‘Performed with brilliance, conviction, flair and charm’ClassicsToday.com‘Maag's Mozart gives much pleasure ... played with vitality, warmthand finesse’ GramophoneDecca 476 9702

MOZART: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 ‘Jupiter’Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl BöhmDG 463 2322

MOZART: Sinfonia Concertante for violin & viola, KV3641;Concertone for two violins, KV19021Alan Loveday; Stephen Shingles; Academy of St. Martin in theFields / Sir Neville Marriner2Emanuel Hurwitz; Eli Goren; English Chamber Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis'This extremely attractive 1970 Argo recording, very well conducted byNeville Marriner, was always a favourite on LP … it's a pleasure tosee it back in circulation’ International Record ReviewDecca 442 8239

MOZART: Serenades Nos. 41 & 9 'Posthorn'21New Symphony Orchestra; 2L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande /Peter Maag‘Maag was a born Mozart interpreter … un-selfconscious crispness

3130

Géza Anda; Camerata Accademica of the Salzburg MozarteumDG 463 2372

MOZART: Concerto for 2 Pianos1, 2; Concerto for 3 pianos1, 2, 3;Piano Concerto No. 20, KV46611Sir Georg Solti; 2Daniel Barenboim; 3Andras Schiff;English Chamber Orchestra‘The performances of the two-piano and three-piano concertos sparklewith elegance and vivacity’ Limelight‘The spontaneous interplay, rhythmic vivacity, and virile fingerwork thatSolti, Barenboim and Schiff bring to their collaborations are positivelyaddictive’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2451

MOZART: Adagio, Rondo1,4

HAYDN: Violin Concertos Nos. 11,3 & 41,4

M. HAYDN: Violin Concerto in A2,5

Arthur Grumiaux (violin); 3English Chamber Orchestra;4New Philharmonia Orchestra; 5Concertgebouw Orchestra /1Raymond Leppard; 2Edo de Waart'For admirers of Grumiaux’s readings of Mozart, the Adagio andRondo will be obligatory…For everybody else, merely a very strongrecommendation’ FanfarePhilips 442 8294

MOZART: Flute Quartets1; Oboe Quartet2; Clarinet Quintet3

SCHUBERT: String Quintet41William Bennett; Grumiaux Trio2Pierre Pierlot, Arthur Grumiaux, Max Lesueur, János Scholz3George Pieterson, Arthur Grumiaux, Koji Toyoda, Max Lesueur,János Scholz4Arthur Grumiaux, Arpad Gerecz, Max Lesueur, Paul Szabo,Philippe Mermoud'Grumiaux and his colleagues give us superbly polished chamber musicplaying, full of intelligence and poetry’ International Record ReviewPhilips 442 8289 [2CD]

MOZART: Clarinet Quintet2

SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A ‘Trout’11Ingrid Haebler, piano; Grumiaux Trio; Jacques Cazauran,

double-bass. 2Jack Brymer, clarinet; Allegri QuartetPhilips 450 0562

MOZART: Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2Sir Georg Solti; Melos Quartet‘The selling point here is that Sir Georg Solti is the pianist. He musthave spent far more time conducting than playing the piano, but heneeds few excuses for he is very able, indeed at times brilliant’Gramophone‘There’s a real spaciousness to these performances – nobody’s in ahurry, and the melodic material is beautifully shaped’ LimelightDecca 442 8221

MOZART: Violin Sonata in E flat, KV 4811

BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 21

GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 32

Arthur Grumiaux, violin & 1piano; 2István Hajdu, piano‘No admirer of Grumiaux's could resist hearing these one-man duos… Strongly recommended’ Fanfare‘Grumiaux, graciously quick and enlivening, cultivates beautifulwarmth’ MusicWeb'one of those rare discs that should have a special place in anycollection’ International Record ReviewPhilips 476 7930

MOZART: Favourite Piano Sonatas KV 331, 332, 333, 545Ingrid HaeblerPhilips 464 6322

MOZART: Mass in C ‘Coronation’; Vespers, KV339; Exsultate, jubilateIleana Cotrubas, Erna Spoorenberg, Helen Watts, Felicity Palmer,Robert Tear, John Shirley-Quirk; Schola Cantorum of OxfordAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner;George GuestDecca 470 1662

MOZART: Mass in C minor, KV427 ‘Great Mass’; Ave verum corpusHelen Donath, Heather Harper, Ryland Davies, Stafford Dean;London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus / Sir Colin DavisPhilips 470 1322

3332

and uncontrived warmth of heart’ Classical Record CollectorDecca 476 9701

MOZART: Great Wind SerenadesSerenade for 13 Wind Instruments ‘Gran Partita’, KV361;Serenade in E flat, KV375; Adagio, KV410Netherlands Wind Ensemble / Edo de WaartPhilips 464 6372

MOZART: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4; Notturno for Four OrchestrasBarry Tuckwell; London Symphony Orchestra / Peter Maag‘the seamless, effortless legato Tuckwell achieves in slow movementsgently soars in the ambience the way Joan Sutherland's Bellinicantilenas used to "float" across the footlights out to my balconyseat’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 9700

MOZART: Clarinet Concerto1; Flute & Harp Concerto2; Serenade ‘Einekleine Nachtmusik’31Harold Wright, clarinet; 2Karlheinz Zoeller, flute; 3Nicanor Zabaleta,harp; 1Boston Symphony Orchestra; 2, 3Berlin PhilharmonicOrchestra / 1Seiji Ozawa; 2Ernst Marzendorfer; 3Karl BöhmDG 450 0352

MOZART: Clarinet Concerto1

WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No. 22

SPOHR: Clarinet Concerto No. 12

Gervase De Peyer; London Symphony Orchestra / 1Peter Maag;2Colin Davis‘These performances have acquired classic status’ Gramophone‘This is a delectable disc ... Highly recommended’ MusicWeb‘This kind of musicianship never goes out of style: it is timeless andeternal, powerful and dramatic’ FanfareDecca 476 7404

MOZART: Oboe Concerto in C, KV314HUMMEL: Introduction, Theme and Variations in F, Op. 102HAYDN: Oboe Concerto in C, Hob. VIIg:C1Ernest Rombout; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra‘Rombout’s tone is slim, well suited to Classical music, and his fingers

dextrous; he phrases neatly and with a good sense of style’GramophoneDecca 476 2450

MOZART: Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 5Iona Brown; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields‘a freshness and vigour that is winning’*** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2748

MOZART: Violin Concertos Nos. 2, 4; Sinfonia Concertante for violin,viola & orchestra, KV 364Iona Brown; Josef Suk; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields‘all these performances have an engaging liveliness and arevery well integrated’*** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2747

MOZART: Piano Concertos Nos. 18 & 19Géza Anda; Camerata Accademica of the Salzburg Mozarteum‘Anda elicits tartly delineated woodwind detail and crisp stringarticulation … he projects the piano parts with playful fluency’ClassicsToday.comDG 463 2332

MOZART: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21Géza Anda; Camerata Accademica of the Salzburg Mozarteum‘Anda commands an extraordinary knack for adjusting hissilver-etched sonority to blend in with the varied orchestral choirs likea pianistic Zelig’ ClassicsToday.comDG 463 2342

MOZART: Piano Concertos Nos. 22 & 23Géza Anda; Camerata Accademica of the Salzburg MozarteumDG 463 2352

MOZART: Piano Concertos Nos. 24 & 25Géza Anda; Camerata Accademica of the Salzburg MozarteumDG 463 2362

MOZART: Piano Concertos Nos. 26 & 27

‘This collection finds Kirkby at her mature best … artful, heartfelt, andlovely singing’ ClassicsToday.com‘These recordings are indispensable’ MusicWebDecca 476 7459

MODEST MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) RUSSIA

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition – piano version1;orchestral version (orch. Ravel) 2

1Vladimir Ashkenazy 2Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra /Zubin MehtaDecca 467 1272

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)DEBUSSY: Sarabade; Danse (orch. Ravel)RAVEL: BoléroRoyal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly‘this is one of Decca's ripely brilliant Concertgebouw recordings, veryfull and powerful, and that comes out strikingly in the Mussorgsky’Gramophone‘Sparkling performances, first-rate sound’ Fanfare‘Orchestral playing to die for … a real pleasure to listen to’ MusicWeb‘Very fine performances … magnificent playing, sonorously recorded… this is first-class, by any standard’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2452

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel); Night on aBare Mountain; Khovanshchina; GopakBALAKIREV: TamaraL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0047

MUSSORGSKY: Songs and Dances of Death; Khovanshchina PreludeSHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 13 & 15Sergej Aleksashkin, bass; Chicago Symphony Orchestra /Sir Georg SoltiDecca 442 8235 [2CD]

CARL NIELSEN (1865-1931) DENMARK

NIELSEN: Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’SCRIABIN: Poem of EcstasyLos Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘one of the great Nielsen Fourths … it’s wonderful to have theseclassic recordings on CD’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 466 9042

JACQUES OFFENBACH (1819-1880) FRANCE

OFFENBACH: Gaîté Parisienne1

GOUNOD: Faust - Ballet Music1

ROSSINI / RESPIGHI: Rossiniana21Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir GeorgSolti. 2L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet.‘There's plenty of colour and sparkle in Solti's Gaîté Parisienne …the various dances spring with vitality thanks to the conductor'semphasis on rhythm and articulation’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2724

CARL ORFF (1895-1982) GERMANY

ORFF: Carmina BuranaNorma Burrowes, Luc Devos, John Shirley-Quirk; Brighton FestivalChorus; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Antal DoratiDecca 458 1782

NICCOLÒ PAGANINI (1782-1840) ITALY

PAGANINI: The Best of PaganiniViolin Concertos Nos. 11 & 22; Moto perpetuo31Jaap van Zweden; Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra /Kenneth Montgomery. 2Ivry Gitlis; Warsaw National PhilharmonicSymphony Orchestra / Stanislaw Wislocki.3Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville MarrinerPhilips 464 3712

PAGANINI: Violin Concerto No. 11

R. STRAUSS: Violin Concerto2

TCHAIKOVSKY: Valse-Scherzo3

MOZART: 1Requiem; 2Masonic Funeral Music: Die Maurerfreude,Maurerische Trauermusik, Eine kleine Freimaurer-Kantate1Elly Ameling, Marilyn Horne, Ugo Benelli, Tugomir Franc; WienerStaatsopernchor; Wiener Philharmoniker / István Kertész2Werner Krenn, Tom Krause; Edinburgh Festival Chorus; LondonSymphony Orchestra / István Kertész‘A most rewarding disc’ International Record ReviewDecca 476 9781

MOZART: Ergo interest, KV143; Exsultate, jubilate, KV165;Regina coeli, KV108; Regina coeli, KV127Emma Kirkby; Westminster Cathedral Choir (Boys' Voices);The Academy of Ancient Music / Christopher Hogwood‘Emma Kirkby sings with stunning virtuosity and apparently effortlessfluency ... these are spectacular performances, enhanced by the finechoral and orchestral support guided by the sure hand of ChristopherHogwood, and vividly recorded’ Gramophone‘This is a superb issue, and deserves wide circulation’ MusicWeb'A refreshing and enjoyable collection’ *** Penguin GuideDecca 476 7460

MOZART: Così fan tutte (highlights)Gundula Janowitz, Brigitte Fassbaender, Hermann Prey, PeterSchreier; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl BöhmDG 450 1142

MOZART: Don Giovanni (highlights)Joan Sutherland, Gabriel Bacquier, Marilyn Horne;English Chamber Orchestra / Richard Bonynge‘Gabriel Bacquier is the subtlest Giovanni, every inch the relaxednobleman playing with fire’ GramophoneDecca 450 0802

MOZART: The Magic Flute (highlights)Kurt Böhme,Wilma Lipp, Hilde Gueden, Leopold Simoneau,Walter Berry; Vienna State Opera Chorus; Vienna PhilharmonicOrchestra / Karl BöhmDecca 450 1822

MOZART: The Marriage of Figaro (highlights)Jessye Norman, Mirella Freni, Ingvar Wixell;BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin DavisPhilips 450 0472

MOZART: Opera Arias and Duets from Le Nozze di Figaro,Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, Die ZauberflöteIsobel Buchanan, John Pringle; Queensland Symphony Orchestra /Richard Bonynge‘deeply affecting’ 24 Hours‘[this disc] captures Buchanan’s sweet lyricism and Pringle’s perfect foilto her coquette’ The Courier-MailABC 432 2492

MOZART: Mozart Opera FestivalArias, duets and ensembles from Le nozze di Figaro,Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni,Così fan tutte, Il re pastore, ZaïdeLucia Popp; Brigitte Fassbaender; Werner Krenn; Tom Krause;Manfred Jungwirth; Wiener Haydn-Orchester / István Kertész‘There is splendid singing from all involved … Popp's clear, fresh-voiced soprano and the resonant, powerful baritone of Tom Krause arereal standouts … Kertész's accompaniments are crisp and stylish’Limelight‘As a varied program, well recorded and with five of the best Mozartsingers of their generation, this reissue can be confidentlyrecommended’ MusicWeb‘This lovely collection makes for a charming program. Beautifullyrecorded … and a sensitive orchestral contribution from the Vienneseplayers and the wonderful István Kertész’ 2MBS Fine MusicDecca 476 7437

MOZART: Concert Arias – Aer tranquillo e dì sereni ... L'amerò,sarò costante' (Il rè pastore); Ruhe sanft, meine holdes Leben ...Trostlos schluchzet Philomele (Zaïde); Ah, lo previdi; Voi avete un corfedele; Nehmt meinen Dank; Ch'io mi scordi di te1

Emma Kirkby; 1Steven Lubin; The Academy of Ancient Music /Christopher Hogwood‘The interplay of Kirkby's voice, orchestra and Lubin's fleet-fingeredfortepiano is deeply satisfying’ Gramophone

3534

Boris Belkin; 1Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta;2Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; 3New Philharmonia Orchestra /2,3 Vladimir Ashkenazy‘Belkin's commanding and dashing performances earn astrong recommendation’ Fanfare‘A real treat for violin fans … Belkin's technique is beyondreproach, with many passages that stun for their sheer audacityas well as accuracy’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7488

PAGANINI: 24 Caprices, Op. 1 (arr. Schumann for violin & piano)David Garrett; Bruno Canino‘The exposed technical demands of this music certainly provide asevere test of a violinist’s capabilities, and Garrett survives the ordealin great style … Canino’s playing is wonderful, the simplest figuresfull of Schumannesque character’ GramophoneDG 476 2466

ILDEBRANDO PIZZETTI (1880-1968) ITALY

PIZZETTI: La Pisanella - Suite1; Concerto de l'estate1

RESPIGHI: Three Botticelli Pictures2

ROTA: Concerto for strings31L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Lamberto Gardelli2Argo Chamber Orchestra / Laszlo Heltay. 3I Musici‘A real gem of a reissue … perfectly played and recorded. At budgetprice this release promises tremendous and long-lasting pleasure’10/10 ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 9766

FRANCIS POULENC (1899-1963) FRANCE

POULENC: Stabat Mater1; Gloria2

BIZET: Te Deum2

1Françoise Pollet; RTF Choeur de Radio France; Orchestre Nationalde France / Charles Dutoit2Sylvia Greenberg, Gösta Winbergh; Choeur de la Radio SuisseRomande; Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne; L’Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Jesús López-Cobos‘rousing performance [Bizet] … Recorded sound is full and

spacious [Poulenc]’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2947

SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) RUSSIA

PROKOFIEV: Symphonies Nos. 1, 5 & 6Paris Conservatoire Orchestra; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande /Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0834 [2CD]

PROKOFIEV: Violin Concertos Nos. 11 & 22; The Love for ThreeOranges – suite31, 2Boris Belkin; London Philharmonic Orchestra / 1Kirill Kondrashin;2Rudolf Barshai; 3Walter Weller‘Belkin’s playing style - a mixture of lean, sinewy articulation and silkysmooth tone - ideally suits the Prokofiev concertos’ ClassicsToday.com‘The playing is first class … I have had much pleasure from this discand will be returning to it regularly. I highly recommend it’ MusicWebDecca 476 2744

PROKOFIEV: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 21; Piano Concerto No. 321Ruggiero Ricci; 2Julius Katchen; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande /Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0837

PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet; Cinderella; Scythian Suite;The Prodigal Son; The Love for Three Oranges: March & ScherzoL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0830 [2CD]

PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf1

SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of the Animals2

Uncle Ken’s Nursery Rhymes3

1, 2Beatrice Lillie, narrator; 2Julius Katchen & Gary Graffman, pianos;London Symphony Orchestra / Skitch Henderson3Kenneth McKellar; Orchestra / Robert SharplesDecca 466 6732

PROKOFIEV: Peter and the WolfL. MOZART: CassationDUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

3736

R U S S I A N MU S I CON TH E

D E C C A A N S E R M E TL E G A C Y

DECC

A

ANSERMET LEGACY

‘Kletzki's is one of the finest-ever recordings of the Third Symphony …unabashedly romantic … An excellent release’ ClassicsToday.com‘A superb issue – don’t hesitate – buy it and enjoy – you won’tregret it’ MusicWebDecca 476 7692

RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 11; The Rock21L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; 2London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Walter Weller‘Highly volatile and arrestingly dramatic … a fine Rachmaninov disc’ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7724

RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 21; Isle of the Dead21L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Paul Kletzki2Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy‘A searingly powerful reading of The Isle of the Dead’ Gramophone‘Two terrific performances that belong in the collection of everyRachmaninov fan’ ClassicsToday.com‘Wonderfully ardent ... performances such as these should betreasured’ MusicWebDecca 470 6752

RACHMANINOV: Piano Concertos Nos. 11 & 321Peter Katin; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult2Alicia de Larrocha; London Symphony Orchestra / André PrevinDecca 461 3482

RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 21; Symphonic Dances2

Alicia de Larrocha; 1Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; 2The PhiladelphiaOrchestra / Charles Dutoit‘A luminous and moving account of Rachmaninov's Second PianoConcerto … playing of exquisite beauty’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7701

RACHMANINOV: Paganini Rhapsody1

LUTOSLAWSKI: Paganini Variations1

DOHNANYI: Nursery Variations2

LISZT: Totentanz31Peter Jablonski; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy2Andras Schiff; Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti

3Peter Katin; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Jean Martinon‘vital and well played [Rachmaninov] … a first class performance[Lutoslawski]’ MusicWebDecca 476 7671

RACHMANINOV: The Isle of the Dead1

SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4; Tapiola21Paris Conservatoire Orchestra; 2L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; /Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0044 [2CD]

MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937) FRANCE

RAVEL: The Best of Ravel: Boléro1; Daphnis et Chloé – Suite No. 21;Ma mère l’Oye: Suite1; La Valse1; Rapsodie espagnole21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta.2London Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux‘the visceral excitement Mehta produces is most compelling …one marvels at the vivid Decca sound’ Penguin Guide to CDs(2000 Yearbook)‘opulence and sensuality [Daphnis] … La Valse simply smokes’ClassicsToday.com‘of the highest quality … sumptuous recording’ RépertoireDecca 466 6672

RAVEL: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1Boléro; Une Barque sur l'ocean; Menuet antique; Alborado delgracioso; Pavane pour une infante défunte; La ValseBoston Symphony Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa‘There's simply nothing here not to enjoy …this is great entertainment’ ClassicsToday.comDG 476 8500

RAVEL: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2Le Tombeau de Couperin; Ma Mère l'oye - complete ballet;Rapsodie EspagnoleBoston Symphony Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa‘Excellent … absolutely magical playing’ ClassicsToday.com‘Ozawa communicates an athletic grace and buoyancy that never failsto vivify these modern gems’ FanfareDG 476 8501

SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabreJacqueline du Pré, narrator; English Chamber OrchestraOrchestre de Paris / Daniel BarenboimDG 480 0475

GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924) ITALY

PUCCINI: The Best of PucciniHighlights from La bohème, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, TurandotJoan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi,Carlo Bergonzi,Giuseppe di StefanoDecca 450 0072

PUCCINI: The No. 1 Puccini AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5903 [2CD]

PUCCINI: La bohème (highlights)Renata Scotto, Gianni Poggi, Tito Gobbi; Orchestra of the MaggioMusicale, Fiorentino / Antonino VottoDG 450 1342

PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly (highlights)Renata Tebaldi, Giuseppe Campora, Nell Rankin; Accademia diSanta Cecilia, Rome / Alberto EredeDecca 466 6952

PUCCINI: Tosca (highlights)Renata Tebaldi; George London; Mario del Monaco; FernandoCorena; Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome / FrancescoMolinari-PradelliDecca 450 1852

HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695) ENGLAND

PURCELL: A Purcell SongbookHark! Hark! How all things; Crown the altar, deck the shrine; If musicbe the food of love; Not all my torments; O, O let me weep; I attemptfrom love's sickness to fly; Olinda in the shades unseen; Urge me nomore; Bess of Bedlam; Lovely, lovely Albina; Sweeter than roses; Dear

pretty youth; When first Amintas sued for a kiss; The cares of lovers; Yegentle spirits of the air; An evening hymnEmma Kirkby; Catherine Mackintosh; Richard Campbell;Anthony Rooley‘Kirkby's pure white tone is a joy throughout, her diction immaculateand her technique equal to all the demands of Purcell's many notes toa word’ Gramophone‘Kirkby’s crystal-clear tones catch the words so effortlessly asto immediately beguile the ear, with incisiveness or long-floatedcrispness’ MusicWebDecca 476 7467

PURCELL: Dido and AeneasJosephine Veasey, John Shirley-Quirk, Helen Donath, ElizabethBainbridge, Delia Wallis, Gillian Knight, Thomas Allen, FrankPatterson; John Alldis Choir; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields /Sir Colin Davis'…this is a distinguished recording, surely one of the greatestrenditions of Dido and Aeneas available’ FanfarePhilips 442 8334

SERGEI RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) RUSSIA

RACHMANINOV: The No. 1 Rachmaninov AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5900 [2CD]

RACHMANINOV: Symphonies Nos. 11; 22 & 321L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; 2London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Walter Weller'…a good bargain…and it’s good news for Rachmaninov collectorswho’ve missed previous issues' Fanfare'…still sounds great and Weller's interpretation is still one of the mostconvincing accounts…much to admire' International Record ReviewDecca 480 0824 [2CD]

RACHMANINOV: Youth Symphony1; Symphony No. 32;Piano Concerto No. 431Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy. 2L'Orchestrede la Suisse Romande / Paul Kletzki. 3Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano;London Symphony Orchestra / André Previn.

38 39

RAVEL: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3Daphnis et Chloé1; Valses nobles et sentimentales1Tanglewood Festival Chorus; Boston Symphony Orchestra /Seiji Ozawa‘Ozawa's 1974 Daphnis offers deluxe sound and a powerhouse, lushreading of the score’ Gramophone‘Beautiful, atmospheric and idiomatic … This is really fine Ravel’ClassicsToday.comDG 476 8429

RAVEL: BoléroMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)DEBUSSY: Sarabade; Danse (orch. Ravel)Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly‘this is one of Decca's ripely brilliant Concertgebouw recordings,very full and powerful’ Gramophone‘Sparkling performances, first-rate sound’ Fanfare‘Orchestral playing to die for … a real pleasure to listen to’ MusicWeb‘Very fine performances … magnificent playing, sonorously recorded… this is first-class, by any standard’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2452

RAVEL: Orchestral works (the early recordings)Rapsodie espagnole; Alborada del gracioso; Pavane pour une infantedéfunte; Valses nobles et sentimentales; Ma mere l’oye; Daphnis etChloé; Le Tombeau de CouperinL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘These are performances of refreshing lucidity as well as having thecharacteristic sonority of the OSR that seems so well suited to thismusic’ International Record ReviewDecca 442 8321 [2CD]

RAVEL: Tzigane; Piano ConcertosRuggiero Ricci, Jacqueline Blancard, L’Orchestre de la SuisseRomande / Ernest Ansermet‘the slow movement of the G major Concerto is gorgeously poised andthe finale has an enjoyable elegance … Ricci’s brilliantly played andrecorded stereo version of Tzigane remains thoroughly enjoyable’Classical Source.comDecca 480 0070

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G1; Piano Concerto for the Left Hand1

FAURÉ: Fantasie for Piano & Orchestra2

FRANCK: Variations Symphoniques2

Alicia de Larrocha; London Philharmonic Orchestra /1Lawrence Foster; 2Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos‘You know straight away that this is to be a take-no-prisonersperformance … superb playing … intricate passage-work isdispatched with ease and relish [Left Hand Concerto] ... exciting,edge-of-seat stuff at times with calm, gentleness at others’ Fine Music‘Alicia de Larrocha’s limpid, elegant pianism is equally at home in thebrilliant, refined impressionism of Ravel and the late-Romanticintensity of Fauré and Franck’ Limelight'this Australian release is very welcome indeed. The performances areexcellent, with de Larrocha, in her distinctive way, finding plenty ofcolour and sparkle' *** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2351

RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé: Suite No. 2DELIBES: Coppélia (complete ballet); Sylvia: suiteL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0083 [2CD]

RAVEL: L'enfant et les sortilegèges1

Shéhérazade; Deux mélodies hébraiquesTrois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé2

L'heure espagnole3

Bolero4; La Valse41Suzanne Danco, Hugues Cuenod, Lucien Lovano, AdrienneMigliette, Juliette Bise, Gisele Bobillier, Pierre Ollet, Marie-Lise deMontmollin, Genevieve Touraine, Flore Wend; Motet de Genève2Suzanne Danco3Suzanne Danco, Heinz Rehfuss, Michel Hamel, Paul Derenne,André Vessieres1-3L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; 4Paris Conservatoire Orchestra /Ernest Ansermet‘the vividness in the recording of L’enfant et les sortilèges still amazes… mouth-watering … you will not hear this repertoire sung withgreater style or authenticity’ Classical Source.com‘This is a superb collection of vintage Ravel singing and playing’

4140

“deserves a medal … buy these now; a projectlike this comes along once in a lifetime”

Fanfare

DECC

A

ANSERMET LEGACY

‘languid, sensuous and intoxicating … the Los Angeles Philharmonicproves itself to be a powerful and colourful storyteller’ClassicsToday.com'Mehta's Scheherazade was considered a demonstration disc in its dayand still sounds impressive…a high powered performance’ **(*)Penguin GuideDecca 466 6862

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade; Suite: Le Coq d'OrL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘the sound is astonishingly good’ Classical Source.com‘a rousing and atmospheric Le coq d’or Suite’ GramophoneDecca 480 0081

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792-1868) ITALY

ROSSINI: La Boutique Fantasque (arr. Respighi)CHOPIN: Les Sylphides (arr. Douglas)MASSENET: Thaïs – ‘Meditation’Nigel Kennedy, violin; National Philharmonic Orchestra /Richard BonyngeDecca 448 9842

ROSSINI / RESPIGHI: Rossiniana1

OFFENBACH: Gaîté Parisienne2

GOUNOD: Faust - Ballet Music21L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet. 2Orchestra ofthe Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir Georg Solti‘A sense of freedom informs Ernest Ansermet's stirring performance ofRespighi's clever Rossini arrangements and paraphrases, marvelouslyplayed by the Suisse Romande orchestra… a well planned and highlyenjoyable program’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 4762724

ROSSINI: Famous OverturesThe Silken Ladder, Semiramide, William Tell, The ItalianGirl in Algiers, The Barber of Seville, Cenerentola, The ThievingMagpie, Il signor BruschinoMontreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles DutoitDecca 460 5902

ROSSINI: The Barber of Seville (highlights)Ugo Benelli, Fernando Corena, Teresa Berganza, Manuel Ausensi,Nicolai Ghiaurov; Orchestra e Coro Rossini di Napoli / Silvio VarvisoDecca 466 6742

NINO ROTA (1911-1979) ITALY

ROTA: Concerto for strings1

PIZZETTI: La Pisanella - Suite2; Concerto de l'estate2

RESPIGHI: Three Botticelli Pictures31I Musici2L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Lamberto Gardelli3Argo Chamber Orchestra / Laszlo Heltay‘immaculately played by I Musici … an absolutely delightful workfrom first note to last’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 9766

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) FRANCE

SAINT-SAËNS: The Best of Saint-SaënsSymphony No. 3 ‘Organ’1; Carnival of the Animals2;Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso3; Havanaise31Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta. 3Kyung WhaChung; 2, 3Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles DutoitDecca 466 6822

SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 'Organ Symphony'1

BIZET: Symphony in C; Jeux d'enfants21Jean Guillou, organ; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra /Edo de Waart. 2Concertgebouw Orchestra / Bernard Haitink.‘A superb version of the Organ Symphony, one of the great modernrecordings of the piece … … You won't find a better disc of thesetwo marvelous French symphonies anywhere, for any price’ 10/10ClassicsToday.com‘an agile and exciting version of Saint-Saens Organ Symphony’Limelight‘When organist Jean Guillou launches the finale we realise what amighty beast is the Ruffatti Organ in Davies Hall’ MusicWebPhilips 476 7417

International Record ReviewDecca 480 0124 [2CD]

RAVEL: Piano Trio1; Introduction et Allegro2; String Quartet31Beaux Arts Trio. 2Chamber Music Society of Amsterdam /Eduard van Beinum. 3Carmirelli Quartet‘This new Beaux Arts performance, even more than their previous one,is most sensitive to the music's ebb and flow, acutely aware of itsinventive new combinations of sounds … now becomes the primerecommendation’ GramophoneDecca 476 8458

RAVEL: String QuartetDEBUSSY: String QuartetQuartetto Italiano‘One listens and learns and wishes all playing could be of such highquality … it is how all chamber music should be’ The AgePhilips 464 3602

RAVEL: Violin Sonata1; Piano Trio2

DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata3; Cello Sonata41, 3Arthur Grumiaux, violin; 1, 3István Hadju, piano; 4Maurice Gendron,cello; 4Jean Françaix, piano; 2Beaux Arts TrioPhilips 468 3062

RAVEL: Piano Works: Gaspard de la nuit1; Pavane pour une Infantedefunte1; Valses nobles et sentimentales1; Jeux d'eau2; Miroirs21Vladimir Ashkenazy; 2Naida Cole‘Ashkenazy's [recording of ‘Gaspard’], is the most dramatic and unified... [His] Valses are as fine a piece of Ravel-playing as I have heard:highly poetic, shaded by a remarkable diversity of nuances and with asensitive regard for contrasts in tempo’ Gramophone‘Cole is a major young talent ... her playing is consistently engaging,with her gossamer filigree outstanding’ Fanfare‘Nearly 77 minutes of stunning piano playing; this is a disc to treasure’MusicWebDecca 476 8499

RAVEL: Shéhérazade1

DUPARC: Chanson triste1; L'invitation au voyage1

DEBUSSY: La damoiselle élue1, 2

BERLIOZ: Les Nuits d'été31Elly Ameling, soprano; 2Janice Taylor-Warne, mezzo-soprano;2Women of the San Francisco Chorus; 1San Francisco SymphonyOrchestra / Edo de Waart. 3Hildegard Behrens, soprano;Wiener Symphoniker / Francis Travis‘Classic, competitive and eminently, radiantly desirable … so muchsplendour at such a splendid price’ Fanfare‘Asie seldom has sounded more picturesque or fantastic, and Amelingrides its big climax with joyous abandon … One of [La demoiselleélue’s] best peformances on disc … [Ameling] was, and remains,fabulous’ ClassicsToday.comPhilips 476 7982

OTTORINO RESPIGHI (1879-1936) ITALY

RESPIGHI: Three Botticelli Pictures1

PIZZETTI: La Pisanella - Suite2; Concerto de l'estate2

ROTA: Concerto for strings31Argo Chamber Orchestra / Laszlo Heltay2L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Lamberto Gardelli3I Musici‘this performance of the Pictures reveals itself as one of the veryfinest: beautifully detailed in its chamber-like textures, but sonorousand full at the climax of The Birth of Venus’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 9766

NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) RUSSIA

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Antar; May Night; The Tale of Tsar Saltan; TheFlight of the Bumblebee; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter FestivalOverture; Christmas Eve; Dubinushka; Sadko; The Snow MaidenL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘Sadko has marvellous atmosphere and intensity … the sparkle of therecordings amazes’ Classical Source.comRosette Award, Penguin GuideDecca 480 0827 [2CD]

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade1; Capriccio Espagnol21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra;2Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta

4342

SAINT-SAENS: Violin Concerto No. 3VIEUXTEMPS: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 & 5Arthur Grumiaux, violin; Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux /Manuel Rosenthal'Everyone’s fortunate to have these recordings available’ Fanfare'Eloquence have another well-filled winning bargain on their hands’MusicWeb'The Violin Concerto No. 3 by Saint-Saëns is a work that comesmagnificently to life in the skilled hands of Grumiaux’International Record ReviewPhilips 442 8561

SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Wedding CakePascal Rogé / Charles Dutoit (Nos. 1 & 3); Bella Davidovich /Neeme Järvi (No. 2); Michele Campanella / Aldo Ceccato (No. 4);Magda Tagliaferro / Jean Fournet (No. 5); Daniel Chorzempa / Edode Waart (Wedding Cake)Decca 442 8274 [2CD]

SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of the Animals1

PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf2

Uncle Ken’s Nursery Rhymes31, 2Beatrice Lillie, narrator; 1Julius Katchen & Gary Graffman, pianos;London Symphony Orchestra / Skitch Henderson.3Kenneth McKellar; Orchestra / Robert SharplesDecca 466 6732

ERIK SATIE (1866-1925) FRANCE

SATIE: The Best of Erik SatieGymnopédies, Gnossiennes, Pièces froides, Sonneries de la Rose-Croix,Petite ouverture à danserReinbert de LeeuwPhilips 468 1602

FRANZ SCHMIDT (1874-1939) AUSTRIA

SCHMIDT: Piano QuintetBRUCKNER: String QuintetVienna Philharmonia Quintet

‘This is a late-Romantic jewel … performances of great beautyand richness’ Fanfare‘Excellent performances and recordings of two very worthwhile butunfamiliar works … Hidden gems of the late-Romantic chamberrepertoire, marvellously performed and recorded. A thoroughlyenjoyable release’ MusicWebDecca 476 2455

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) AUSTRIA

SCHOENBERG: Ode to NapoleonFORD: Night and DreamsGerald English, tenor/narrator; London Sinfonietta / David AthertonDecca 480 0461

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797-1828) AUSTRIA

SCHUBERT: Rosamunde: Incidental Music; Die Zauberharfe: OvertureRohanzig Yachmi; Vienna State Opera Chorus; Vienna PhilharmonicOrchestra / Karl Münchinger‘glows with an affectionate warmth …one of Münchinger’s very bestrecords … the VPO is at its magnificent best’ *** Penguin Guide toCDs (2000 Yearbook)‘a fresh vital performance … the sound is bright, clear and full …Irresistible’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.comDecca 466 6772

SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A ‘Trout’1

MOZART: Clarinet Quintet21Ingrid Haebler, piano; Grumiaux Trio; Jacques Cazauran,double-bass. 2Jack Brymer, clarinet; Allegri QuartetPhilips 450 0562

SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A 'Trout'1

DVORÁK: Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90 'Dumky'21Jörg Demus, piano; Schubert Quartet2Suk TrioThese are Golden Age recordings from one of the world’s elite houses

4544

P E T E R M A A G ’ S C E L E B R AT E DMO Z A R T L E G A C Y ON D E C C A

‘steely poetry … rhythmic authority … unerring sense of architecture… these performances are both muscular and delicate’ LimelightDecca 476 9910 [2CD]

SCHUMANN: Fantasiestücke1; Papillons2; Études symphoniques31Friedrich Gulda; 2Ingrid Haebler; 3Nikita Magaloff‘Gulda finds an appropriately dreamy, veiled sound … Haeblercaptures the playfulness and whimsical character of Papillons …Magaloff plays the Etudes symphoniques magnificently …a wonderful performance’ FanfarePhilips 470 6662

SCHUMANN: Études symphoniques.BRAHMS: Handel Variations; Paganini Variations (1958 recordings)Julius KatchenDecca 476 8484

SCHUMANN: Études symphoniques; ArabeskeBRAHMS: Paganini VariationsJean-Yves Thibaudet‘A refreshingly individual, though never quirky, display of imaginativevitality … his fingers sing as finely as they sparkle’ GramophoneDecca 476 8503

SCHUMANN: Dichterliebe; Liederkreis, Opp. 24 & 39; Kerner Lieder,Op. 35; Rückert Lieder; Heine Lieder; Myrthen (selection)Wolfgang Holzmair; Imogen Cooper‘One of the great living partnerships in song’ The Times (London)‘nothing short of sublime … displays all the elements of good liedersinging in abundance: a wide tonal palette, clear diction and an equalsensitivity to text and melodic line … a must-have’ LimelightPhilips 476 9974 [2CD]

SCHUMANN: Frauenliebe und leben; Liederkreis, Op. 24; Heine-LiederBrigitte Fassbaender; Irwin Gage‘Lieder-singing on the most exalted level … a masterly rendering ofFrauenliebe und leben … No lover of great Lieder-singing can affordto be without this disc’ MusicWeb'Positively characterized, with a wide range of expression and fine

detail’ **(*) Penguin GuideDG 476 2386

ALEXANDER SCRIABIN (1872-1915) RUSSIA

SCRIABIN: Poem of EcstasyNIELSEN: Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘The real find here is Mehta’s voluptuous conducting of Scriabin’ssweaty tone poem’ International Record ReviewDecca 466 9042

PETER SCULTHORPE (B.1929) AUSTRALIA

SCULTHORPE: The Best of Peter SculthorpeThe Fifth Continent: Small Town; Little Serenade; Sun Music III; PianoConcerto: Calmo; Earth Cry; Djilile; Awake, Glad Heart; Sonata forStrings No. 3; Child Of Australia: An Australian Anthem; AdvanceAustralia Fair; Port Arthur: In MemoriamAustralian Chamber Orchestra; Sydney Symphony Orchestra;Synergy; David Porcelijn; Stuart Challender‘you have no excuse for not buying this disc’ 24 Hours‘The landscape seeps into Sculthorpe’s scores, his violins play likebirds, his scores have a sunburned radiance mingled with an almosteerie sense of isolation’ Panorama‘Drop the others, here is the standard reference for Sculthorpe’ SydneyMorning HeraldABC 465 2702

SCULTHORPE: Piano Concerto1

WILLIAMSON: Concerto for 2 Pianos & Strings2

EDWARDS: Piano Concerto31Anthony Fogg; Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman2Malcolm Williamson, Simon Campion; Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestra / Barry Tuckwell3Dennis Hennig; Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman‘uncommon levels of hallucinatory beauty’ ClassicsToday.com‘good performances, reliably recorded’ International Record ReviewABC 426 4832

…The performance [of the Schubert] is full of detailed aural coups’MusicWebDG 480 0049

SCHUBERT: String Quintet4

MOZART: Flute Quartets1; Oboe Quartet2; Clarinet Quintet31Arthur Grumiaux, violin; William Bennett, flute; 2Pierre Pierlot, oboe;3George Pieterson, clarinet; 1Grumiaux Trio; 3Koji Toyoda, violin;4Arpad Gérecz, violin; 2,3,4Max Lesueur, viola; 2,3János Scholz, cello;Paul Szabo; 4Philippe Mermoud, cello'Recommended to Grumiaux fans and collectors who want a decentsurvey of Mozart’s chamber music with winds, conveniently packagedand offered at a budget price’ FanfarePhilips 442 8289

SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 14 ‘Death and the Maiden’;String Quartet No. 12 ‘Quartettsatz’Allegri QuartetDecca 461 4632

SCHUBERT: Piano Trios 1 & 21; Notturno1

Piano Quintet in A ‘Trout’2; Adagio & Rondo Concertante21Beaux Arts Trio2Melos Ensemble of London'…performed splendidly. Given the fine sound and reasonable price,we have reissues that are particularly welcome' Fanfare'[The Trout] is a performance full of fizz, charm and guile’ InternationalRecord ReviewPhilips 442 9375 [2CD]

SCHUBERT: Deutsche Messe, D872; Mass No. 2 in G, D167Vienna Boys’ Choir; Chorus Viennensis; Vienna Symphony Orchestra /Uwe Christian HarrerPhilips 468 3122

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856) GERMANY

SCHUMANN: Symphonies Nos. 1-4; Manfred Overture;Genoveva OvertureWiener Philharmoniker / Zubin Mehta

‘These are wonderful performances: extravagantly conceived, elegantlyexecuted and with that glorious Vienna sound’ Limelight'[Mehta's] direct approach blows away any notion that Schumann'sorchestration is too heavy’ **(*) Penguin Guide'[Mehta] draws unfailingly alert and imaginative playing from thegreat Viennese orchestra…This is a very good cycle, full of zest andwell-observed details’ International Record ReviewDecca 476 9771 [2CD]

SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto1; Cello Concerto2; Konzertstück for FourHorns3; Introduction and Allegro appassionato, Op. 924; ConcertAllegro with Introduction in D minor, Op. 1344; Violin Concerto in Dminor5; Overture, Scherzo and Finale61Ingrid Haebler; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Eliahu Inbal2Lynn Harrell; The Cleveland Orchestra / Neville Marriner3Dale Clevenger, Richard Oldberg, Thomas Howell, NormanSchweikert; Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim4Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano / conductor [Op. 92]; London SymphonyOrchestra / Uri Segal [Op. 134]5Joshua Bell; The Cleveland Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi6Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg Solti‘Ingrid Haebler is poised yet passionate [Piano Concerto] …a warmly romantic account of the Cello Concerto that probably stillhasn’t been bettered … magnificent [Violin Concerto] … Anembarrassment of riches’ Limelight'This generous collection of Schumann’s concertante works goesstraight to the top of the list … A far-sighted release satisfyingbeginner and seasoned collector alike' MusicWeb'breathtaking virtuosity and compelling artistry …Sound quality is excellent throughout' **(*) Penguin GuideDecca 442 8410 [2CD]

SCHUMANN: Carnaval; Kreisleriana; Novelette No. 8;Faschingsschwank aus Wien; Allegro, Op. 8; Romance, Op. 28No. 2; Fantasie in C, Op. 17Alicia de Larrocha'Alicia de Larrocha shows herself an accomplished and searchinglyreflective artist in this repertoire … a committed personal view whichdemands attention'. **(*) Penguin Guide

4746

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) RUSSIA

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 91; The Age of Gold21L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Walter Weller2London Symphony Orchestra / Jean Martinon'Walter Weller made some very good recordings for Decca in the1970s and these recordings are among the best’ **(*) Penguin Guide'The Age of Gold is dashingly done by Martinon’ InternationalRecord ReviewDecca 442 8413

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 51; Piano Concerto No. 121L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / István Kertész2John Ogdon, piano, John Wilbraham, trumpet; Academy of St.Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘one of John Ogdon’s best records’ Penguin Guide to CDs(2000 Yearbook)‘fascinating’ [Symphony No. 5] Répertoire'Ogdon's clean stylish performance … encompasses both the humourand romanticism of the score … the trympet playing of JohnWilbraham is masterly in the finale … Kertész's Fifth Symphony is athoroughly musical reading’ **(*) Penguin GuideDecca 466 6642

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 131 & 15MUSSORGSKY: Songs and Dances of Death; Khovanshchina Prelude1Sir Anthony Hopkins; Sergei Aleksashkin; Chicago SymphonyOrchestra & Chorus / Sir Georg Solti'… formidably impressive, powerfully and purposefully directed bySolti, stunningly well played and sung, and well recorded. Of modernrecordings of the Symphony [No. 13], this is certainly one of the mostwrenchingly effective’ International Record Review'the Mussorgsky Songs and Dances of Death is a strong incentive toacquire this testimonial to Solti's musicianship’ FanfareDecca 442 8235 [2CD]

SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 11

TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto2

Boris Belkin; 1Royal Philharmonic Orchestra;

2New Philharmonia Orchestra / Vladimir AshkenazyDecca 467 6042

JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957) FINLAND

SIBELIUS: The Best of SibeliusFinlandia1; Karelia Suite2; Valse Triste3; Leminkaïnen Legends41, 2Philharmonia Orchestra; 3Boston Symphony Orchestra;4L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / 1, 2, 3Vladimir Ashkenazy;4Horst Stein‘Ashkenazy performs Finlandia with plenty of growling brass and highenergy ... Stein, a masterful Sibelius interpreter, vividly recreates thefantastic world of this music‘ ClassicsToday.comDecca 466 6872

SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4London Symphony Orchestra / Anthony Collins'…these recordings are of considerable historic significance, andthey’ve never sounded so good. Recommended to the serious Sibelian’Fanfare'…still sounding fresh as well as deeply considered of Sibelius'sabsolute mastery of symphonic form’ International Record Review'In terms of sheer electricity [Collins'] 1952 account of the FirstSymphony remains pretty well unsurpassed …' (***) Penguin GuideDecca 442 9490 [2CD]

SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 & 7; Karelia Overture; Pohjola'sDaughter; Pelleas et Melisande; Nightride and Sunrise1 Karelia Suite21London Symphony Orchestra / Anthony Collins2Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Thomas Jensen'This remains classic Sibelius tellingly put across in pioneering monosound… A must-get for Sibelius enthusiasts and collectorseverywhere’ MusicWeb'…these authoritative accounts…have a prized and special place inthe Sibelius discography and still sound remarkably vivid’ (***)Penguin GuideDecca 442 9493 [2CD]

SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4; Tapiola1

RACHMANINOV: The Isle of the Dead2

4948 49

RICHARD STRAUSSAN ORCHESTRAL FIESTA

ROBERT STOLZ (1880-1975) AUSTRIA

STOLZ: Two Hearts in Waltztime –18 Favourite WaltzesRobert Stolz Orchestra / Robert StolzDecca 461 0492

JOHANN STRAUSS II (1825-1899) AUSTRIA

STRAUSS, J: The No. 1 Strauss AlbumWiener Philharmoniker / Willi BoskovskyDecca 476 5894 [2CD]

STRAUSS, J: Graduation Ball (arr. Dorati)1;Le Beau Danube (arr. Desormiere)21Wiener Philharmoniker / Antal Dorati2National Philharmonic Orchestra / Richard Bonynge‘This disc is of excellent value, both from a monetary standpoint, andmore importantly an artistic one as well … Highly recommended’MusicWebDecca 476 7522

STRAUSS, J: Strauss Waltz GalaOn the Beautiful Blue Danube; Tales from the Vienna Woods; Voices ofSpring; Artist's Life; Wine, Women and Song; Roses from the South1

London Philharmonic Orchestra / Antal Dorati1The Boston Pops Orchestra / Arthur Fiedler‘A disc that can be confidently recommended’ MusicWebDecca 476 7864

RICHARD STRAUSS (1864-1949) GERMANY

R. STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben1; Don Juan1; Also sprach Zarathustra2;Tod und Verklärung21Dresden Staatskapelle; 2New York Philharmonic / Giuseppe Sinopoli‘These are opulent performances, superbly played’ InternationalRecord ReviewDG 480 0411 [2CD]

R. STRAUSS: Don Quixote1; Till Eulenspiegel2; Rosenkavalier Waltzes2;Metamorphosen3; Die Frau ohne Schatten; Symphonic Fantasy3; Love

Scene (Feursnot)3; Dance of the Seven Veils (Salome)3; Sextet fromCapriccio4

Concertgebouw Orchestra / 1Bernard Haitink; 2Eugen Jochum3Staatskapelle Dresden / Giuseppe Sinopoli4Stuttgarter Kammerorchester / Karl Münchinger‘Haitink’s airy account of Don Quixote [is] noble and visionary …Jochum leads this great Dutch ensemble in a witty and furtive versionof Till Eulenspiegel as well as fiery and eloquent ones of the two WaltzSequences from Der Rosenkavalier…a particularly moving account ofMetamorphosen' Classical Source.com‘seriously impressive: eloquent and with a strong sense of trajectory[Metamorphosen] … a lovely reading [Don Quixote] … soaffectionately and so beautifully played’ International Record ReviewDG 480 0478 [2CD]

R. STRAUSS: Sinfonia domestica1; Eine Alpensinfonie1; Parergon zurSymphonie Domestica2; Macbeth31Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta2Gary Graffman;Wiener Philharmoniker / André Previn3Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati'sumptuous analogue Decca sound for Zubin Mehta’s Los AngelesPhilharmonic accounts of Sinfonia Domestica and An Alpine Symphony(fine performances both, quite luxuriant, often glorious)’ ClassicalSource.com‘magnificently recorded [Sinfonia Domestica] … sonically spectacular[Alpensinfonie]’ International Record ReviewDecca 480 0408 [2CD]

R. STRAUSS: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Andante for Horn & Piano;Introduction, Theme & Variations; Capriccio: final scene; AlphornBarry Tuckwell; Marie McLaughlin; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /Vladimir Ashkenazy‘A well-intentioned and enterprising disc’ Gramophone‘Lyrical warmth, elegant phrasing and rich gorgeous tone’ Limelight‘Tuckwell's smooth playing and obvious musicianship are veryimpressive … Recommended’ Fanfare'very enjoyable … this CD brings the advantage of some rarities: all ofthem pleasingly attractive …' **(*) Penguin GuideDecca 476 2699

1L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande;2Paris Conservatoire Orchestra / Ernest Ansermet‘Ansermet responds with some of his best work [in the FourthSymphony]… This is a top-notch performance’ Fanfare‘a measured but powerful account of the Sibelius Second Symphony’GramophoneDecca 480 0044 [2CD]

SIBELIUS: Karelia Suite; Pohjola's Daughter; En Saga;Valse Triste; TapiolaBoston Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis'the perspectives are close, but thrillingly so, revealing every iota ofcolour and textural interest …These are magnificent performances all,the conductor and players totally inside the composer's special idiom… what you have here are Sibelius' three greatest tone poems (EnSaga, Pohjola's Daughter and Tapiola) in outstanding interpretationsand great sound, along with two popular favourites done every bit aswell. Need I say more?' 10/10 ClassicsToday.com'Beautifully refined and imaginative performances…a very welcomereturn to the catalogue’ **** Penguin GuidePhilips 476 2817

SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto1; En Saga2; Finlandia2; Valse Triste2; Tapiola2;Four Legends31Jan Damen violin; 1London Philharmonic Orchestra2Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam / Eduard van Beinum3Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Thomas Jensen'Van Beinum is, on this evidence, a towering giant among Sibelianconductors … a box of delights and discoveries for Sibelians’MusicWeb'… if you’re really serious about the music of Sibelius, you should buythis CD for the ear-opening van Beinum items’ FanfareDecca 442 9487 [2CD]

SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto1; Two Melodies for violin & orchestra1; TwoSerenades for violin & orchestra1; Rakastava: Suite21Boris Belkin, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy.2Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘pulses with all the ice-and-fire casting of the work’ Courier Mail‘one of the fieriest versions of the Concerto ever put to disc’ 24 Hours

‘sends shivers running up and down the spine’ Sunday Herald SunDecca 466 9052

SIBELIUS: String QuartetDELIUS: String Quartet; Cello SonataFitzwilliam String Quartet; George Isaac, cello; Martin Jones, piano'Powerhouse performances of three little known works’ MusicWeb'a thought-provoking and impressive recording which makes awelcome return ot the catalogue' *** Penguin GuideDecca 442 9486

SIBELIUS: SongsSTRAUSS: SongsTom Krause; Pentti Koskimies; John Williams'The young Tom Krause caught in golden and resoundingly ringingyouth’ MusicWebDecca 442 9447

BEDRICH SMETANA (1824-1884) CZECHOSLOVAKIA

SMETANA: Ma Vlast (1956 mono recording)Concertgebouw Orchestra / Antal DoratiPhilips 476 8717

LOUIS (LUDWIG) SPOHR (1784-1859) GERMANY

SPOHR: Clarinet Concerto No. 11

WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No. 21

MOZART: Clarinet Concerto2

Gervase De Peyer; London Symphony Orchestra / 1Colin Davis;2Peter Maag‘These performances have acquired classic status’ Gramophone‘This is a delectable disc ... Highly recommended’ MusicWeb‘This kind of musicianship never goes out of style: it is timeless andeternal, powerful and dramatic’ FanfareDecca 476 7404

5150

R. STRAUSS: Violin Concerto1

TCHAIKOVSKY: Valse-Scherzo2

PAGANINI: Violin Concerto No. 13

Boris Belkin;1 Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; 2New PhilharmoniaOrchestra / 1, 2Vladimir Ashkenazy. 3Israel Philharmonic Orchestra /Zubin Mehta‘Belkin bestows on this music the same sterling musicianship youwould expect of him when playing one of the great concertos,especially in the engaging, brightly-lit first movement and the finale'sdriving presto’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7488

R. STRAUSS: Burleske1; Duet-Concertino2; Oboe Concerto3;Aus Italien3; Le Bourgeouis Gentilhomme41Jean-Yves Thibaudet; Gewandhausorchester Leipzig /Herbert Blomstedt2Dimitri Ashkenazy, Kim Walker; 3Gordon Hunt; Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Vladimir Ashkenazy3The Cleveland Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy4Wiener Philharmoniker / Lorin Maazel'Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Cleveland Orchestra (in 1990) are fineadvocates for this Italy-inspired, four-movement work … Gordon Huntbrings spruce technique and plenty of feeling to the Oboe Concerto… the Burleske (effectively a whimsical piano concerto) finds Jean-Yves Thibaudet revelling in the music’s unpredictability … a nice mixof repertoire on this release’ Classical Source.com‘a wonderfully ebullient account of Le bourgeois gentilhomme … anabsolute gem’ International Record ReviewDecca 480 0404 [2CD]

R. STRAUSS: Orchestral Songs; Salome – excerptsBOITO: Mefistofele – prologueMontserrat Caballé; Nicolai Ghaiurov; Vienna PhilharmonicOrchestra; Orchestre National de France / Leonard Bernstein‘Caballé sings with solid, beautifully produced tone … Ghaiurov givesan arresting portrayal of Mefistofele … full of colour, sparkle andsensuality’ ClassicsToday.com‘Riveting and hugely impressive … at a purely musical level this

remains amongst the cream of the Eloquence catalogue’ MusicWebDG 476 2467

R. STRAUSS: Twelve Orchestral Songs1; Tod und Verklärung21Siegfried Jerusalem; Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur2Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Bernard Haitink‘Siegfried Jerusalem is in superb form’ RépertoirePhilips 464 3642

R. STRAUSS: Vier letzte Lieder1; Orchestral songs21Karita Mattila; 2Christine Schaefer; Berliner Philharmoniker /Claudio Abbado‘This is a wonderful compilation!' Classical Source.com‘fresh, lyrical and unselfconscious [Karita Mattila] … ravishing[Christine Schaefer]’ International Record Review‘Schäfer sings the Strauss songs with a wonderfully silvery voice, asuperb sense of line and a very old-fashioned feeling of pureness andfocus … Mattila combines richness with power and flexibility … sheis superb, turning in a vocal part which is gloriously rich, but with astrong sense of line’ MusicWebDG 480 0414

R. STRAUSS: LiederSIBELIUS: SongsTom Krause; Pentti Koskimies; John Williams'The young Tom Krause caught in golden and resoundingly ringingyouth’ MusicWebDecca 442 9447

IGOR STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) RUSSIA

STRAVINSKY: The FirebirdBARTÓK: Two PortraitsVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi‘this is the finest complete Firebird on disc … this budget releaseshouldn't be missed. It's thrilling, and it's a steal’ 10/10ClassicsToday.com‘ravishingly beautiful’ LimelightDecca 476 2700

5352

“Australian Eloquence is the mostexciting and enterprising reissue series.

It draws on a vast back catalogue inhighly imaginative ways – from historic recordings,

some of them appearing on CDfor the first time, to recent material that

has a new lease of life at budget price.

This is a series to cherish.”International Record Review

'…immensely worthwhile… colourful, vibrant playing that is alwaysintelligent shaped and very excitingly propelled… sumptuousorchestral playing. Fistoulari's passionate advocacy of the score iscompelling’ International Record Review'Fistoulari was a great conductor of ballet music, and we have longadmired this 1960 selection…a real collectors' item'**** Penguin GuideDecca 442 9032

TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballet at the Opera – excerpts from Eugene Onegin,The Maid of Orleans, Oprichnik, The Sorceress, CherevichkiOrchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Colin Davis'An unhackneyed sample of the operatic-balletic Tchaikovsky culledfrom the well known and the neglected operas – brilliantly performedand recorded' MusicWeb'a supremely engaging collection of rare Tchaikovsky dances…lovely,characterful playing' *** Penguin GuidePhilips 442 8933

TCHAIKOVSKY: Valse-Scherzo1

R. STRAUSS: Violin Concerto2

PAGANINI: Violin Concerto No. 13

Boris Belkin; 1New Philharmonia Orchestra; 2Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / 1, 2Vladimir Ashkenazy. 3Israel PhilharmonicOrchestra / Zubin Mehta‘Belkin's commanding and dashing performances earn a strongrecommendation’ Fanfare‘A real treat for violin fans … Belkin's technique is beyond reproach,with many passages that stun for their sheer audacity as well asaccuracy’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7488

TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture1; Marche Slave1; Romeo & Juliet:Fantasy Overture1; Capriccio Italien21Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra;2Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / Zubin Mehta‘roof-raising … powerful … insistent forward momentum’ClassicsToday.comDecca 466 6842

TCHAIKOVSKY: Capriccio italien1; Eugene Onegin: Polonaise, Waltz1;Nutcracker: Suite, Op. 71a1; Francesca da Rimini2; Serenade for Strings21London Philharmonic Orchestra; 2London Symphony Orchestra /Leopold Stokowski'Warmly and enthusiastically recommended’ Fanfare'This is very late Stokowski on miraculous form … marvellousalertness to colour and character and great individuality’ InternationalRecord ReviewPhilips 442 8335 [2CD]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto Nos. 11, 22 & 32

GRIEG: Piano Concerto1

Peter Jablonski; 1Philharmonia Orchestra / Peter Maag;2Charles Dutoit'This is a very good collection and conveniently gives us all ofTchaikovsky’s keyboard concertos in excellent performances by PeterJablonski and very well supported by the Philharmonia under Maagand Dutoit … once again, Eloquence has dug up some real gems’2MBS-FMDecca 480 0482 [2CD]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto1

SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 12

Boris Belkin; 1New Philharmonia Orchestra;2Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir AshkenazyDecca 467 6042

GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN (1681-1767) GERMANY

TELEMANN: 12 Fantasias for solo violin1; 5 Violin Concertos21Arthur Grumiaux 2Iona Brown; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields /Iona Brown'... a fine document of Grumiaux … [and] a great pleasure to haveIona Brown’s recording of Telemann concertos back in the catalogue'MusicWeb'Strongly recommended' Fanfare'these warmly vital readings of Telemann's Violin Concertos are mostenjoyable. The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields offer theircharacteristic style and polish' *** Penguin Guide‘boisterous, contrapuntally rich dance sequnces superbly played and

55

STRAVINSKY: PetrushkaBARTÓK: The Miraculous MandarinVienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi‘A great performance … Sonically this stands among Decca's bestrecordings from this source. A sensational reissue, and a bargain toboot’ 10/10 ClassicsToday.com‘First-rate performances of two of the most exciting scores in thetwentieth-century ballet repertoire … the VPO’s playing is excellent …a splendid reissue that can be confidently recommended’ MusicWebDecca 476 2686

SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN (1842-1900) ENGLAND

SULLIVAN: The Gondoliers (highlights)D’Oyly Carte Opera Company / Isidore Godfrey‘ideal … a winner’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 450 0092

SULLIVAN: The Mikado (highlights)Donald Adams, Thomas Round, Peter Pratt, Jean Hindmarsh;New Symphony Orchestra of London / Isidore GodfreyDecca 461 3282

SULLIVAN: Favourites from The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, Ruddigore,The Mikado, The Yeomen of the GuardD’Oyly Carte Opera Company / Sir Malcolm Sargent‘all the performances are as good as they get’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 461 0062

PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) RUSSIA

TCHAIKOVSKY: The Best of Tchaikovskyincluding excerpts from Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, SymphonyNo. 6, Serenade for stringsBoris Belkin; Vladimir Ashkenazy; Neville Marriner; Antal Dorati;Lorin MaazelDecca 461 1612

TCHAIKOVSKY: Manfred Symphony1; Elegie for strings21Philharmonia Orchestra; 2Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /Vladimir Ashkenazy

‘Colourful, dramatic performances, warmly sympathetic yet never self-indulgent ... The alertness of the Philharmonia's playing consistentlyconveys the feeling of live communication ... an outstanding choice’Gramophone‘Manfred fans will be glad to have this, so many thanks to AustralianEloquence’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 7415

TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 31; Suite No. 4 ‘Mozartiana’21Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Lorin Maazel2L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetGlorious string playing and integrated brass and wind with realmomentum and purpose in the playing … Maazel is the winner andthe sound is stunning’ 2MBS Fine Music‘It’s a bargain of a lifetime. There is no need to delay, only extremeenjoyment awaits you’ MusicWeb'…ravishing playing of the VPO…with Maazel relaxed and unforced(Suite No. 3) … All the things one expects from a classic Ansermetperformance are here (Suite No. 4)' **(*) Penguin GuideDecca 476 2723

TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker; Suite No. 3; Suite No. 4 ‘Mozartiana’L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetRosette Award, Penguin GuideDecca 480 0557 [2CD]

TCHAIKOVSKY: The Sleeping BeautyL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0560 [2CD]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake; Variations on a Rococo theme; SymphonyNo. 6 ‘Pathétique’Maurice Gendron; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande /Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0563 [2CD]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (highlights)Concertgebouw Orchestra / Anatole Fistoulari'Fistoulari and the Concertgebouw Orchestra play with passion andconviction' Fanfare

54

57

coupled with five vigorous and elegantly turned Telemann violinconcertos’ GramophonePhilips 442 8291 [2CD]

SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT (1905-1998) ENGLAND

TIPPETT: Fanfare for brass1; Suite for the Birthday of Prince Charles2;Fantasia Concertante on a theme of Corelli3; Little Music for Strings3;Concerto for Double String Orchestra31Philip Jones Brass Ensemble2London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis3Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner‘This compilation leaps straight to the top of the heap as the finestavailable Tippett collection … thank God for Australian Eloquence’ClassicsToday.com‘The Concerto for Double String Orchestra receives a performancemore sumptuous and warm-hearted than any before on record ...the recording is outstanding' Penguin Guide‘magnificently played and recorded … I don’t think one could expectbetter performances or recording of these marvellous pieces and I urgeyou for the modest sum asked to discover all of Sir Michael’s mostapproachable music on one well-filled CD’ 2MBS Fine MusicDecca 476 7960

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) ENGLAND

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Tallis Fantasia; In the Fen Country;Norfolk Rhapsody No.1; Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus;Variations for Orchestra; The Wasps: Overture; Fantasia onGreensleeves; Concerto Grosso; English Folk Song Suite;Romance for harmonica1; The Lark Ascending2

BRITISH FOLK SONG ARRANGEMENTS1Tommy Reilly; 2Iona Brown; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields /Sir Neville Marriner'… a good bargain collection of some of this composer’s best lovedworks …' MusicWeb*** Penguin GuideDecca 442 8341 [2CD]

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on Greensleeves; Oboe Concerto

Tuba Concerto; The Lark AscendingDELIUS: Two Pieces for Small Orchestra; Two Aquarelles;Fennimore and Gerda – IntermezzoWALTON: Two Pieces from Henry VNeil Black; Arnold Jacobs; Pinchas Zukerman; Chicago SymphonyOrchestra; English Chamber Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim'Barenboim’s Vaughan Williams is forthright and convincing'MusicWeb'… good performances and sound …' FanfareDG 442 8333

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Job: A Masque for Dancing; The Wasps:Aristophanic SuiteLondon Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Adrian BoultDecca 461 1222

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) ITALY

VERDI: The Best of VerdiOvertures, Arias & Choruses from La Traviata, Aida, Luisa Miller, Otello,Nabucco, Rigoletto & Il TrovatoreJoan Sutherland; Renata Tebaldi; Giuletta Simionato;Carlo Bergonzi; Mario del MonacoDecca 450 1332

VERDI: The No. 1 Verdi AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5897 [2CD]

VERDI: Famous OverturesLa forza del destino, Aida, Attila,La Traviata (Acts I & III), Luisa Miller,Un ballo in maschera, Nabucco, Rigoletto, Macbeth, I vespri SicilianiVienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Orchestra dell’AccademiaNazionale di Santa Cecilia; Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin /Giuseppe SinopoliPhilips 468 1832

VERDI: Aida (highlights)Leontyne Price; Jon Vickers; Rita Gorr; robert Merrill; Orchestra delTeatro dell'Opera di Roma / Sir Georg SoltiDecca 480 1283

56

DECC

A

ANSERMET LEGACY ANSERMET’STCHAIKOVSKY & PROKOFIEV

TCHAIKOVSKY: The Sleeping Beauty TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker;Suite Nos. 3 & 4

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake; RococoVariations; Symphony No. 6

PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet;Prodigal Son; Cinderella, etc

PROKOFIEV: Symphony Nos. 1, 5, 6 PROKOFIEV: Violin Concertos1 & 2; Piano Concerto 3

RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883) GERMANY

WAGNER: The No. 1 Wagner AlbumWiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg SoltiDecca 476 5891 [2CD]

WAGNER: Overtures & Preludes – Rienzi1; Lohengrin2; Parsifal2;Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg2; Tristan und Isolde3; Eine Faust-Overtüre4; Die Feen5; Tannhäuser5; Der fliegende Höllander5;Symphony in C4; Kinderkatechismus61Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; 2Wiener Philharmoniker /Zubin Mehta3Wiener Philharmoniker / Sir Georg Solti4San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; 5Concertgebouw Orchestra /Edo de Waart6Wiener Sängerknaben with members of the Wiener Philharmoniker'If you are serious about your Wagner, this double CD set is anessential purchase' MusicWeb**(*) Penguin GuideDecca 442 8283 [2CD]

WAGNER: Lohengrin: Prelude, Act I; Götterdämmerung: Siegfried'sFuneral March; Meistersinger: Prelude, Act I; Parsifal: Prelude & GoodFriday MusicL’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘thanks to the 1963 Decca sound, and Ansermet’s ear for detail, you’llhear more of the textures in these scores than you will on virtually anyother recording … fascinating’ Classical Source.comDecca 480 0567

WAGNER: Tristan und Isolde (highlights)Birgit Nilsson, Fritz Uhl, Regina Resnik, Tom Krause, Arnold van Mill,Ernst Kozub; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti‘Nilsson's gleaming voice was in its prime in 1960 and she singsIsolde with tireless concentration and an appreciable feeling for thevarious aspects of the part – frustration and revenge in Act 1, love'sdelirium in Act 2 and the elevation of the Liebestod’ Gramophone‘Knife-edged dramatic tension ... Birgit Nilsson responds superbly toSolti's direction ... Fritz Uhl is a really musical Heldentenor... theKurwenal of Tom Krause and the King Marke of Arnold van Mill are

both excellent’ Penguin Guide to Opera on Compact DiscsDecca 442 8288

SIR WILLIAM WALTON (1902-1983) ENGLAND

WALTON: Two Pieces from Henry VDELIUS: Two Pieces for Small Orchestra; Two Aquarelles; Fennimoreand Gerda – IntermezzoVAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on “Greensleeves”;Concerto for Oboe and Strings; Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra;The Lark AscendingNeil Black; Arnold Jacobs; Pinchas Zukerman; Chicago SymphonyOrchestra, English Chamber Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim'… good performances and sound …' FanfareDG 442 8333

CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786-1826) GERMANY

WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No. 21

SPOHR: Clarinet Concerto No. 11

MOZART: Clarinet Concerto2

Gervase De Peyer; London Symphony Orchestra / 1Colin Davis;2Peter Maag‘These performances have acquired classic status’ Gramophone‘This is a delectable disc ... Highly recommended’ MusicWeb‘This kind of musicianship never goes out of style: it is timeless andeternal, powerful and dramatic’ FanfareDecca 476 7404

WEBER: Overtures – Abu Hassan; Ruler of the SpiritsBRUCKNER: Symphony No. 6Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Horst SteinDecca 476 2745

WEBER: Euryanthe Overture; Invitation to the DanceBRUCKNER: Symphony No. 2Wiener Philharmoniker / Horst SteinDecca 442 8557

VERDI: Rigoletto (highlights)Renato Cioni, Cornell MacNeil, Joan Sutherland, Cesare Siepi;Chorus & Orchestra of Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome /Nino SanzognoDecca 450 1872

VERDI: La Traviata (highlights)Pilar Lorengar; Giacomo Aragall, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Chorus &Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Lorin MaazelDecca 450 1012

HENRI VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881) BELGIUM

VIEUXTEMPS: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 & 5SAINT-SAËNS: Violin Concerto No. 3Arthur Grumiaux, violin; Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux /Manuel Rosenthal'Everyone’s fortunate to have these recordings available’ Fanfare'Eloquence have another well-filled winning bargain on their hands’MusicWebPhilips 442 8561

GIOVANNI BATTISTA VIOTTI (1755-1824) ITALY

VIOTTI: Violin Concerto No. 221

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto2

Arthur Grumiaux; 1Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Edo de Waart.2New Philharmonia Orchestra / Alceo Galliera.‘Playing of elevation and finesse … the Viotti is a charmer of aperformance’ MusicWebPhilips 476 8477

ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678-1741) ITALY

VIVALDI: The No. 1 Vivaldi AlbumVarious artistsDecca 476 5885 [2CD]

VIVALDI: The Four Seasons; Two Violin ConcertosFelix Ayo; I MusiciPhilips 456 5672

VIVALDI: The Four Seasons; Concerto for 2 Violins RV 552; Gloria in DRicci · Prystawski · Höver · SchneidtStradivarius Chamber OrchestraLucerne Festival StringsCapella Academica WienRegensburger DomspatzenBaumgartner ∙ MelkusDG 477 6674

VIVALDI: Violin Concertos from ‘L’Estro Armonico’Alan Loveday, Iona Brown, Carmel Kaine, Roy Gillard; Academy ofSt. Martin in the Fields / Neville MarrinerDecca 467 4322

VIVALDI: Six Flute Concertos Op. 10Severino Gazzelloni; I MusiciPhilips 464 3622

VIVALDI: Bassoon Concerto in A minor, RV 497; Bassoon Concerto inD minor, RV 481 (transc. Malipiero)MARCELLO: Oboe Concerto in C minor (trans. Bonelli)HANDEL: Organ Concertos Op. 4 Nos. 1 & 2Henri Helaerts, bassoon; Roger Reversy, oboe; Jeanne Demessieux,organ; L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest Ansermet‘warmly stylish playing from the orchestra and Henri Helaerts’Classical Source.comDecca 480 0833

VIVALDI: Concertos for 1, 2 & 4 GuitarsLos Romeros; San Antonio Symphony Orchestra / Victor AlessandroAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Iona BrownPhilips 468 1462

VIVALDI: Great Sacred WorksStabat Mater; Salve Regina; Nisi DominusJochen Kowalski; Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra /Vittorio NegriPhilips 468 1642

58 59

61

WEBER: Clarinet QuintetHUMMEL: Septet; QuintetThe Melos Ensemble of London‘elegant and polished … the smoothly phrased playing of Gervase dePeyer is delightful’ LimelightDecca 476 2447

MALCOLM WILLIAMSON (B.1931) AUSTRALIA

WILLIAMSON: Concerto for 2 Pianos & Strings1

EDWARDS: Piano Concerto2

SCULTHORPE: Piano Concerto31Malcolm Williamson, Simon Campion; Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestra / Barry Tuckwell.2Dennis Hennig; Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman3Anthony Fogg; Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman‘the performance is first rate’ ClassicsToday.comABC 426 4832

60

the no. 1 albumsa perfect introduction to

the music of great composers

6362

“Australian Eloquencecan boast what arguably is

the most intelligentreissue program

available today”ClassicsToday.com

COLLECTIONSAROMATHERAPY

AROMATHERAPY 01: NOCTURNE including nocturnal music byDebussy, Chopin, Grieg, Beethoven, Massenet, MendelssohnRadu Lupu, Richard Bonynge, Alicia de Larrocha, Stanley BlackDecca 466 7032

AROMATHERAPY 02: THE ROMANTIC BACH including Jesu Joy ofMan’s Desiring, Sheep May Safely Graze, Sleepers Awake, Prelude No.1 in C, Orchestral Suites Nos. 2 & 3Neville Marriner, Karl Münchinger, Alicia de Larrocha, András SchiffDecca 466 6992

AROMATHERAPY 03: THE MAGIC OF MOZART including excerptsfrom Piano Concerto No. 21, Clarinet Concerto, Flute & Harp Concerto,Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Piano Sonata KV545Vladimir Ashkenazy, András Schiff, Alfred Prinz, Willi BoskovskyDecca 466 7042

AROMATHERAPY 04: ADAGIO including favourite Adagios byAlbinoni, Barber, Mahler, Dvorák, RodrigoRichard Hickox, Neville Marriner, Zubin Mehta, István KertészDecca 466 6962

AROMATHERAPY 05: THE HEART OF TCHAIKOVSKY includingmusic from Romeo and Juliet, Serenade for Strings, The Nutcracker,Swan Lake, Souvenir de FlorenceHerbert von Karajan, Neville Marriner, Vladimir Ashkenazy, LorinMaazelDecca 466 6972

AROMATHERAPY 06: SONGS OF THE MORNING including musicby Grieg, Ravel, Bach, Haydn, Elgar, DeliusHerbert von Karajan, Neville Marriner, Antal Dorati,Sir Charles MackerrasDecca 466 6982

AROMATHERAPY 07: REFLECTIONS IN THE WATERincluding music by Handel, Debussy, Vivaldi, Ravel, ChopinHerbert von Karajan, Neville Marriner, Pascal Rogé,Richard BonyngeDecca 466 7052

AROMATHERAPY 08: COUNTRY CLASSICS including music byCanteloube, Beethoven, Schubert, Grieg, Debussy, MacDowellKiri Te Kanawa, Neville Marriner, Ernest Ansermet, András SchiffDecca 466 7022

AROMATHERAPY 09: A TOUCH OF ROMANCERomantic Classics by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Kreisler, Elgar, LisztHerbert von Karajan, Neville Marriner, Jorge Bolet,Vladimir AshkenazyDecca 466 7002

AROMATHERAPY 10: NIGHT OF LOVEOffenbach, Chopin, Dvorák, Mozart, HandelJoan Sutherland, Neville Marriner, Christopher Hogwood,Vladimir AshkenazyDecca 466 7012

ORCHESTRAL

20 FAVOURITE MARCHES: including Radetzky March, Annen Polka,Gypsy Baron Entracte March, Light Cavalry, Under the Double Eagle,Egyptian march, Persian MarchBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von KarajanDG 469 6502

BAROQUE CONCERTOSVIVALDI: Bassoon Concerto in A minor, RV 497; Bassoon Concerto inD minor, RV 481 (transc. Malipiero)MARCELLO: Oboe Concerto in C minor (trans. Bonelli)HANDEL: Organ Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 4 No. 1, HWV 289;Organ Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 4 No. 2, HWV 290Henri Helaerts, Roger Reversy, Jeanne Demessieux;L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Ernest AnsermetDecca 480 0833

65

DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice2

SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre21Jacqueline du Pré, narrator 1English Chamber Orchestra;2Orchestre de Paris / Daniel BarenboimDG 480 0475

LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY:Music for The Last Night of the PromsRule Britannia, Crown Imperial, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory,Serenade to Music, Fantasia on British Sea SongsSarah Walker; Thomas Allen; London Philharmonic Choir andOrchestra / Sir Roger Norrington'…a great collection of British favourites that are just right for anytime of the year, very well recorded and performed…and at a greatprice too! You won’t be disappointed’ MusicWebDecca 480 0476

LATIN AMERICAN CLASSICS Orchestral music by Piazzolla,Copland, Revueltas, Chávez, Ginastera, Roldán, CaturlaThe New World Symphony / Michael Tilson ThomasDecca 467 6032

LINCONSHIRE POSY – Works for Wind EnsembleGRAINGER: Linconshire Posy; Hill Song No. 2PERSICHETTI: Symphony for BandKHACHATURIAN: Armenian DancesHARTLEY: Concerto for 23 WindsROGERS: Three Japanese DancesEastman Wind Ensemble / Frederick FennellDecca 480 2089

MUSIC FOR STRINGSHINDEMITH: Fünf Stücke1

PROKOFIEV (orch. Barshai): Visions fugitives1

BARTÓK: Divertimento2

VIVALDI: Two Concertos21Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner;2Moscow Chamber Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai'This is a performance [Bartók] of consummate virtuosity, bristling withenergy and tension. The Moscow ensemble tears into this music with

tremendous abandon and breathtaking control and acute sensitivity tocolour’ International Record Review'The playing of Barshai and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra [Vivaldi]is fresh and brilliant (technically it is impeccable)' *** Penguin GuideDecca 442 8414

OPERA WITHOUT SINGINGGreatest Hits from La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Turandot,Carmen, LakméBBC Concert Orchestra / Barry WordsworthDecca 480 0460

PACHELBEL’S CANON: Favourite Baroque MiniaturesPACHELBEL: CanonALBINONI: AdagioL. MOZART: Toy SymphonyGLUCK: Dance of the Blessed SpiritsBOCCHERINI: MinuetBACH: Air on the G stringHANDEL:Water Music: Suite No. 3; Oboe Concertos Nos. 2 & 3;Organ Concerto No. 13 ‘The Cuckoo and the Nightingale’Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra / Karl MünchingerDecca 448 2392

SCANDINAVIAN SERENADEGRIEG: Holberg Suite; Elegiac melodiesSIBELIUS: Valse Triste; RakastavaNIELSEN: Little SuiteWIRÉN: SerenadeAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville Marriner‘This programme shows the particular qualities of both Sir Neville andhis Academy at their best – the playing always alert, yet with feelingin the more deeply expressed pieces ... Highly recommended’Gramophone‘Immaculately played ... the performances are excellent … this lovelydisc deserves a home in any collection’ ClassicsToday.com‘This is a very special recording, impossible to recommend toostrongly. Snap it up and enjoy!’ MusicWebDecca 442 8196

64

BAROQUE FAVOURITES Albinoni, Handel, Corelli, BachI MusiciPhilips 456 5532

THE BEST OF BAROQUE Baroque hits by Pachelbel, Albinoni,Purcell, Handel & VivaldiRichard Hickox Orchestra / Richard HickoxAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields / Neville MarrinerDecca 461 1392

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODYDVORÁK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 Nos. 1, 3, 8, Op. 72 Nos. 1, 21;Slavonic Rhapsody No. 32

SMETANA: The Bartered Bride (excerpts)1; Vltava1

ENESCU: Romanian Rhapsody No. 12

1Israel Philharmonic Orchestra / István Kertesz;2Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Antal Dorati‘splendid performances … vigourous and hugely enjoyable’ Limelight‘the music is fun, the program nicely planned … has all the necessarysparkle and verve’ ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 2453

CONCERTOS IN CONTRASTHAYDN: Trumpet Concerto1

VIVALDI: Piccolo Concerto P.832

WEBER: Clarinet Concertino3

WIENIAWSKI: Polonaise de Concert; Scherzo-Tarentelle4

BLOCH: Schelomo51Thomas Stevens, trumpet; 2Miles Zentner, piccolo; 3MicheleZukovsky, clarinet; 4Glenn Dicterow, violin; 5Janos Starker, cello;1-4Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; 5Israel PhilharmonicOrchestra / Zubin Mehta‘exactly the right balance of virtuosity and taste … smoulderingintensity, darkly brooding and intense … quite possibly the bestperformance available [of Schelomo]’ ClassicsToday.com‘I have yet to come across better orchestral accompaniment or asuperior trumpeter than Thomas Stevens [Haydn] … truly exceptional,powerful and passionate [Bloch] ... brilliant [Wieniawski]’ RépertoireDecca 466 6832

ENGLISH IDYLLSDelius, Bax, Bridge, Elgar, Dyson, Holst, Ireland,Vaughan Williams, GraingerJulian Lloyd Webber; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields /Neville Marriner'… first-class performances' FanfarePhilips 442 8415 [2CD]

FAVOURITE RHAPSODIESLISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2DVORÁK: Slavonic Rhapsody, Op. 45 No. 3ALFVÉN: Swedish Rhapsody No. 1, Op. 19 'Midsommarvaka'(Midsummer Vigil)ENESCU: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, Op. 11GLAZUNOV: Rhapsodie orientale, Op. 29Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal / Charles Dutoit‘Played with exuberance and expressive warmth’ Limelight‘The richness of the sound, outstanding even by Decca’s Montrealstandards, wraps you round from the very start … a cherishable discwhich will appeal to the widest range of collectors’ GramophoneDecca 476 7104

FRENCH OPERETTA OVERTURESOffenbach, Adam, Boieldieu, HéroldLondon Philharmonic Orchestra / Jean Martinon‘Under Martinon these Overtures explode like a suddenly-shakenbottle of ice-cold champagne … A unique disc and well worth anyeffort to obtain’ Rosette Award, Penguin Guide‘Martinon whips the orchestra into shape with the sheer energy of hisconducting. All of these performances will set your pulse racing andtoes tapping, from the élan of Hérold's Zampa to an absolutely wildaccount of the "can-can" finale to Offenbach's Orpheus in theUnderworld’ ClassicsToday.com‘Witty, spirited and vivacious, this disc is a joy from beginning to end’LimelightDecca 476 2757

JACQUELINE DU PRÉ'S MUSICAL STORIESPROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf1

L. MOZART: Cassation1

67

‘all the performances are good, the recordings excellent’ InternationalRecord Review‘an extremely attractive buy’ NoteworthyABC 426 4832

CONCERTOS FROM SPAINALBÉNIZ: Rapsodia española (arr. Halffter)1

TURINA: Rapsodia sinfónica1

MONTSALVATGE: Concerto Breve for Piano & Orchestra2

SURINACH: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra2

Alicia de Larrocha; 1London Philharmonic Orchestra; 2RoyalPhilharmonic Orchestra / Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos‘Vintage Larrocha ... the performances are spectacular, the sonics areterrific ... the ultimate 20th-century Spanish piano concerto collection’10/10 ClassicsToday.com‘Larrocha lives up to her reputation as the foremost interpreter ofSpanish piano music by mastering the solo challenges with ease andbrilliance’ Limelight‘All the performances are exceptional’ MusicWeb‘Authority and conviction’ *** Penguin GuideDecca 476 2971

DANGEROUS MOONLIGHTPiano Classics from the Silver ScreenAddinsell, Rachmaninov, Rozsa, Gershwin LitolffIsador Goodman; Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Patrick Thomas‘A good selection of ‘silver screen’ romantic favourites for pianoand orchestra’ MusicWebPhilips 476 7333

FÜR ELISEBEETHOVEN: Für Elise; Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight"; Rondo acapriccio in G; Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique"SCHUMANN: Traumerei (Kinderszenen); Vogel als Prophet(Waldszenen)SCHUBERT: Impromptus Nos. 3 & 4, Op. 90Antole Ugorski; Wilhelm Kempff; Emil GilelsDG 477 6676

KALEIDOSCOPE: Piano EncoresChopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rubinstein, Godowsky, Scriabin,Hofmann, Glazunov, MoszkowskiShura Cherkassky‘Cherkassky's sumptuous tone, ravishing legato touch, and propensityfor bringing out inner voices thrive like crazy in this repertoire’ClassicsToday.comDecca 476 8537

L’ISLE JOYEUSE: Virtuoso piano musicLISZT: Rapsodie EspagnoleMENDELSSOHN: Variations sérieusesDEBUSSY: L’Isle JoyeuseMOZART: Rondo in A minor, KV511HYDE: Valley of RocksSCHUBERT:Wanderer FantasyKathryn Selby‘L’Isle Joyeuese gets a sexy, colourfully, nuanced reading …Selby admirably projects the Liszt’s flamboyant momentum’ClassicsToday.comABC 432 7002

PIANO ROMANCE – 21 Romantic Piano MelodiesGranados, Chausson, Jarnefelt, Sibelius, Scott, Chopin, Mozart,Marcello/Bach, AlbénizJohn Champ‘a super solo piano purchase’ Herald SunABC 446 0592

RAGS & TANGOSJoseph F. Lamb, Ernesto Nazareth, James ScottJoshua Rifkin‘Rifkin is the pre-eminent interpreter of ragtime … clever use ofdynamics and clear understanding of rhythmic contrasts … verysatisfying’ Limelight‘Respectful, polished, tastefully sculpted, well-judged performances’ClassicsToday.com‘Rifkin plays each work with the energy and exuberance the genredemands … all the pieces are very well performed’ MusicWebDecca 476 2445

66

STANDING OVATION: Popular OverturesBERNSTEIN: CandideROSSINI: William Tell, The Silken Ladder; La gazza ladraWEBER: Oberon; Der FreischützVERDI: La Forza del Destino; I vespri siciliani; La Traviata: Acts I & IIISUPPE: Poet and PeasantJ. STRAUSS: Die FledermausBIZET: Carmen: Acts I & IVMOZART: Le nozze di Figaro; Eine kleine NachtmusikMENDELSSOHN: Nocturne & Scherzo from A MidsummerNight's DreamDVORÁK: CarnavalBEETHOVEN: EgmontLos Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra /Zubin MehtaDecca 476 9907 [2CD]

WITCHES' BREWARNOLD: Tam O’Shanter OvertureMUSSORGSKY: Gnomus; Night on a bare mountainSAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabreHUMPERDINCK: Witch’s Ride (Hänsel und Gretel)LISZT: Mephisto Waltz No. 1GOUNOD: Funeral March for a Marionette. Faust: Ballet MusicNew Symphony Orchestra of London; Orchestra of the Royal OperaHouse, Covent Garden / Sir Alexander Gibson'Most audiophiles want a copy of Witches’ Brew’ Fanfare'The recorded sound [is] outstanding and a perfect example of howbrilliant the Kingsway Hall acoustics were when the top Decca teamwas in charge’ 2MBS-FM'exceptionally fine performances of devilish pieces, including a riotousand unequalled account of Arnold's Tam O'Shanter Overture’International Record ReviewDecca 442 9985

BALLET

ROYAL BALLET GALAAdam, Chopin, Delibes, Rossini, Schumann, TchaikovskyOrchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden /Ernest Ansermet'…performances that will, no doubt, give as much pleasure to manylisteners as they first did almost half a century ago’ MusicWeb‘The orchestral playing is first class in every way … so full of life …beautifully balanced and rich in detail – in short: classic Decca sound’Classical Source.comDecca 442 9986 [2CD]

BRASS

COPS PLAY POPS: Popular music for Winds & Brass includingInspector Gadget, The Addams Family, Starlight Express, Oz Singalong,Tin Pan AlleyNSW Police Band / L.T. LambertABC 461 7572

CHAMBER

THE BEST OF THE RENAISSANCE21 Renaissance favourites, including music by Dunstable, Dufay, Byrd,Morley, Willaert, di Lasso, Josquin Desprez, John DowlandKonrad Ragossnig, renaissance lute; Pro Cantione Antiqua, HamburgWind Ensemble for Early Music / Bruno Turner. Ulsamer-Collegium /Josef UlsamerDG 469 6712

PIANO

AUSTRALIAN PIANO CONCERTOSEDWARDS: Piano Concerto1

WILLIAMSON: Concerto for 2 Pianos & Strings2

SCULTHORPE: Piano Concerto31Dennis Hennig; Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman2Malcolm Williamson, Simon Campion; Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestra / Barry Tuckwell. 3Anthony Fogg; Melbourne SymphonyOrchestra / Myer Fredman

RECORDER FAVOURITES22 miniatures by Handel, Corelli, Telemann, Paganini, Rimsky-Korsakov, Monti, etcMichala Petri, recorder; Hanna Petri, harpsichord; David Petri, celloPhilips 464 3612

PANPIPES

THE PANPIPES OF ZAMFIRAlbinoni, Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Schubert, Puccini, Verdi,Brahms, Zamfir, WebberGheorghe Zamfir; English Chamber Orchestra / James Judd; PragueNational Theatre Orchestra / Petr Vronsky; Orchester Harry van HoofPhilips 468 1382

CELLO

ANDANTE CANTABILE: Cello EncoresSchubert, Fauré, Saint-Saens, Debussy, Ravel, Falla, Granados, Handel,Elgar, Chopin, Bloch, DuparcLynn Harrell; Bruno Canino‘In its field, a total winner’ Gramophone‘an entertaining and beautifully played program in fine sound’LimelightDecca 476 7487

VIOLIN

BAROQUE VIOLIN SONATASLeclair; Veracini; Nardini; Tartini; Corelli; VitaliArthur Grumiaux; Riccardo Castagnone; István Hajdu'I can’t think of much I’d recommend with greater urgency than this'Fanfare‘tastefully moulded … Violin connoisseurs will have a field day’GramophonePhilips 442 8240 [2CD]

BRITISH VIOLIN SONATASELGAR: Violin SonataDELIUS: Violin Sonata No. 3IRELAND: Violin Sonata No. 2Burkhard Hofmann; Alan NewcombeDG 476 6884

FRENCH & BELGIAN VIOLIN SONATASFauré; Franck, Lekeu, Ravel; Debussy, Vieuxtemps, YsayeArthur Grumiaux; Paul Crossley; György Sebok; Dinorah Varsi;István Hajdu'The repertoire on Philips Eloquence’s re-release of [Grumiaux's]French and Belgian sonatas provides an unparalleled look into yetanother musical world in which he reigned supreme. Urgentlyrecommended' Fanfare'This is a set to cherish’ International Record ReviewPhilips 442 8299 [2CD]

CON AMORE - VIOLIN ENCORESKreisler, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Chopin, Wieniawski, Brahms,Saint-Saëns, GossecKyung Wha Chung; Phillip Moll‘A splendid selection of encore pieces … a stunning demonstration ofencore-playing’ Gramophone‘For technically and musically accomplished violin lollipops, no oneneed look further than this inexpensive collection’ MusicWeb‘Chung displays all the warmth and ease of technique she isrenowned for’ 2MBS Fine MusicDecca 476 7554

VIOLIN ROMANCEBeethoven, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski, Svendsen, SchubertArthur Grumiaux; New Philharmonia Orchestra / Edo de Waart,Raymond Leppard'Strongly recommended' Fanfare'Grumiaux evinces a refined nobility, with a suave vocality but withoutundue exaggeration, and with no loss of temperament' MusicWebPhilips 442 8290

6968

ROGER WRIGHT: PIANO MASTERPIECESSchumann, Fabregas, Debussy, Sculthorpe, Haydn, Liebermann, Chopin,Rachmaninov (recorded ‘live’ at the 2000 Sydney International PianoCompetition)Roger Wright‘CD of the Year … a disc of sometimes transcendental playing …a compendium of marvels’ The West Australian‘intellectual yet passionate … his masterly way with colour … his[Haydn] is as fine as the best in the catalogue … an impressivelyimaginative piano recital’ dB magazineABC 461 6572

ORGAN

KING OF INSTRUMENTS – The Art of Gillian Weir Volume 2CLERAMBAULT: Suite du Premier Ton; Suite du Deuxième TonBRUHNS: Praeludium Nos. 1-3; Nun komm, der Heiden HeilandGillian Weir‘Weir’s sparkling registration tickles the ear [Clerambault] ... GillianWeir has the full measure of this music … She dazzles the ear notonly with her vigour and virtuosity but also with some quitescrumptious registration … The recording is marvellous, ademonstration of clarity and sonority admirably combined’ [Bruhns]*** Penguin Guide to Compact Discs‘There is an aristocratic poise and restraint which illuminate Weir’sreadings of Clerambault’s two Suites’ BBC Music Magazine’Remarkable for its sheer sense of drama’ MusicWebDecca 460 1872

KING OF INSTRUMENTS – The Art of Gillian Weir Volume 3ROBERDAY: Fugues et Caprices pour orgueLANGLAIS: Dialogue sur les MixturesSCHEIDT: PassamezzoGillian Weir‘Gillian Weir plays with enormous style and aplomb … the recordinghas splendid range and presence’ [Roberday] Penguin Guide toCompact Discs‘her light touch and prismatic registrations enliven one hour's worth ofFrancois Roberday's beautiful but severe Fugues et Caprices’ 10/10ClassicsToday.com

‘The Fugues and Caprices of Roberday are among the most profoundrecordings of the whole series’ MusicWebDecca 460 1882

KING OF INSTRUMENTS – The Art of Gillian Weir Volume 4DANDRIEU: Premier Livre de Pièces d’OrgueMARCHAND: Pièces d’Orgue – Troisième Livre; Quatrième LivreDE GRIGNY: Tierce en TailleMULET: Toccata tu es PetrusGillian Weir‘Her interpretations are marked by a vivid palette, authority and taste’[Dandrieu] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs‘Weir’s formidable virtuosity is given free rein in Mulet’s Tu es Petrus’BBC Music Magazine‘These atmospheric, dramatic and intense readings have stood the testof time remarkably well’ MusicWeb‘Idiomatically convincing and infectiously vervy performances’ FanfareDecca 460 1892

KING OF INSTRUMENTS – The Art of Gillian Weir Volume 5CAMILLERI: Missa MundiShort pieces by Widor, Vierne, Daquin, Dupré, Tomkins,Sweelinck, DuboisGillian Weir‘an astonishing range of organ technique and sonority …Weir gives athrillingly dedicated performance … The recording is superb. It is asclear and clean as a whistle, immensely wide in dynamic range’[Camilleri] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs‘Incredibly virtuosic playing of Camilleri’s Missa Mundi … The dazzlingperformances of Dubois, Vierne, and especially Dupré have scarcely, ifever been beaten’ MusicWebDecca 460 1902

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE ORGAN EXTRAVAGANZABach, Buxtehude, Daquin, Clarke, Haydn, Gigout, Boely, Bonnet,Messiaen, VierneMichael DudmanABC 465 6492

RECORDER

71

OPERA

BEL CANTO ARIASBellini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer, Rossini, VerdiJoan Sutherland; Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera /Richard Bonynge‘There is such obvious joy in her singing’ MusicWebDecca 476 2444

FAVOURITE GERMAN OPERA CHORUSESMozart, Beethoven, Weber, Nicolai, WagnerLeipzig Radio Chorus; Dresden Staatskapelle / Silvio VarvisoPhilips 464 6452

LA NILSSON – Opera & Concert AriasArias fromWAGNER: Tannhäuser, Die Walküre, LohengrinWEBER: Oberon, Der FreischützBEETHOVEN: Fidelio; Ah, perfidoADAM: O holy nightBACH/GOUNOD: Ave MariaFRANCK: Panis angelicusGRUBER: Silent NightBirgit Nilsson, soprano; Ake Leven, organ; Orchestra of the RoyalOpera House, Covent Garden / Sir Edward DownesDecca 480 0901

LAURIS ELMS SINGS FRENCH & ITALIAN OPERA ARIASBizet, Saint-Saëns, Thomas, Gluck, Donizetti, Verdi, RossiniLauris Elms; West Australian Symphony Orchestra / Geoffrey Arnold.Sydney Symphony Orchestra / Eric ClaphamABC 465 6502

ROYAL OPERA GALAArias and orchestral music from operas byBeethoven, Berlioz, Bizet, Britten, Donizetti, Gounod, Mozart,Mussorgsky, Offenbach, Ponchielli, Puccini, Rossini, Richard Strauss,Tippett, Verdi, Wagner, WaltonJean Bonhomme, Delme Bryn-Jones, Joan Carlyle, Marie Collier,John Dobson, Geraint Evans, Tito Gobbi, Anne Howells, Gwyneth

Jones, David Kelly, Michael Langdon, John Lanigan, Richard Lewis,Kenneth McDonald, Yvonne Minton, Peter Pears, Maria Pelligrini,Forbes Robinson, Elizabeth Robson, Joseph Rouleau, Amy Shuard,Joan Sutherland, Elizabeth Vaughan, Josephine Veasey, David Ward;Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / RichardBonynge, Edward Downes, Rafael Kubelik, Sir Georg Solti, SirWilliam WaltonDecca 480 0952 [2CD]

SONG

AN ELIZABETHAN SONGBOOKDowland, Campion, Morley, Edwards, Danyel, Pilkington,Jones, BartlettEmma Kirkby; Anthony Rooley‘Affecting treatment of the intimate lute songs of the Elizabethans’Fanfare‘This is a wonderful disc … Kirkby conveys a wonderful sweetness.Her intonation is absolutely spot-on, her enunciation is perfect ... Thesongs are all delightful, and Kirkby captures the nuances of the textsbrilliantly. Highly recommended’ MusicWebDecca 476 7466

ARIE ANTICHEVivaldi, Carissimi, Gluck, Handel, Caldara, Scarlatti, Caccini, StradellaDmitri Hvorostovsky; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields /Neville Marriner‘rich, full-bodied tone, strength and depth across the range andexcellent dynamic control … the lyricism and stamina of his sustainedlegato passages are impressive’ LimelightPhilips 476 2442

AVE MARIA: Sacred songsBach, Pergolesi, Bruckner, Dvorák, Mozart, Brahms, Schubert, StradellaLisa Otto, Mirella Freni, Teresa Berganza, Rita StreichDG 461 0112

LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN: 21 Scandinavian SongsGrieg1, Sibelius1, Rangström1, Eggen2, Alnaes2, Lie21Birgit Nilsson; Vienna Opera Orchestra / Bertil Bokstedt

70

GUITAR

FAVOURITE GUITAR CONCERTOSGiuliani, Vivaldi, PaganiniEduardo Fernández; English Chamber Orchestra / George MalcolmDecca 448 7092

GUITAR FAVOURITESJeux Interdits, Asturias (Albéniz), Serenata Española (Malats),Mozart Variations (Sor), Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Tarrega)Pepe RomeroPhilips 456 5522

THE BEST OF THE SPANISH GUITARAlbéniz, Tarrega, Rodrigo, Sor, Soler, FallaNarciso YepesDG 469 6492

CHORAL & SACRED

JERUSALEM – British Choral ClassicsPARRY: I was glad; Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land; Blest pair ofSirens; Jerusalem (orch. Elgar)BAIRSTOW: Blessed City, heavenly SalemELGAR: Great is the Lord; O hearken Thou; Give unto the LordSTANFORD: Te Deum laudamus in B flat; Magnificat in B flat; Nuncdimittis in B flatHADLEY: My beloved spakeChoir of Winchester Cathedral; Waynflete Singers; BournemouthSymphony Orchestra / David Hill‘Finally “Jerusalem” itself comes as the culminating tableau, with thesolidity of massed unison voices and the flaming chariots and swirlingarrows of desire set ablaze in the orchestral score which Elgar wrote for itfour years after Parry's death. […] This is a sumptuous programme, andDavid Hill's by no means meagre forces present it with a fine sense ofstyle and occasion, vividly recorded too. There is not only the splendour ofsheer amplitude but also a spring in the rhythm… and beauty of tone’GramophoneDecca 476 2443

FAVOURITE HYMNSPraise my soul; Spirit of mercy; Lead us heavenly Father; Immortal,invisible, God only wise; Jesu, lover of my soulChoir of St John’s College, Cambridge / George GuestDecca 450 0112

GREGORIAN CHANTChoir of the Monks of the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos / DomIsmael Fernández de la CuestaDG 457 2932

JEWISH SACRED SONGSSongs for The Great Feasts; The Three Feasts; Sabbath; HanukahSingers of the Amsterdam Synagogue / Ger van LeeuwenPhilips 476 2726

KENNETH McKELLAR’S BOOK OF HYMNS21 hymns & sacred songs including The Lord’s My Shepherd,By cool Siloam, Great is Jehovah, There is a Green Hill, The Holy City,Praise my SoulKenneth McKellar, tenor; Choir of Paisley Abbey / George McPheeDecca 461 4952

MISERERE – Sacred Choral musicAllegri (Miserere), Tallis (Spem in alium), Palestrina, Lotti, Gabrieli,Victoria, Monteverdi, Cavalli, ByrdChoir of Westminster Cathedral; Choir of King’s College, Cambridge;Cambridge University Musical Society / Stephen Cleobury;David WillcocksDecca 467 4312

MYSTERIES OF BYZANTINE CHANTA musical pilgrimage to the Christian East. Liturgical music fromGreece and RomaniaKontakion'The singing is uniformly light and airy, the choral voices of incrediblybeautiful quality’ FanfarePhilips 442 9629

7372

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Jacqueline du Pré’s last recording asnarrator in Peter and the Wolf

Beatrice Lillie’s hilarious narrationsfor Carnival of the Animals

and Peter and the Wolf David Del Tredici’s children’s musicfor adults – his sound-spectacular

Final Alice CD internationally for thefirst time

2Kirsten Flagstad; London Symphony Orchestra / Øivin Fjelstad‘astonishing, both in terms of quality and value … a great burst ofheart-warming vision’ International Record Review‘Sometimes bargains can exceed their worth beyond riches. Such acase is this marvellous recording … [these songs are] beauteous,proud and memorable … A great, great recording’ The Age‘A model reissue’ RépertoireDecca 466 6752

ROMANTIC TRIOSSongs for soprano, horn and piano by Denza, Proch, Kreutzer, Nicolai,Donzetti, Lachner, Massenet, BerliozJoan Sutherland; Barry Tuckwell; Richard BonyngeDecca 442 9098

RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS34 folk songs, including Dark Eyes, The Lime Tree, Oh, sweet night,Kalinka, Ah, shady spotDmitri Hvorostovsky; Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra / NicolaiKalinin; St Petersburg Chamber Choir / Nikolai Korniev'…a wonderful collection that should appeal to all lovers of Russianmusic. Another winner from Eloquence’ MusicWebPhilips 480 0472 [2CD]

SONGS OF INSPIRATIONNuns’ Chorus; O divine Redeemer; Hear My Prayer; Easter Hymn; OnWings of Song; You’ll Never Walk Alone; Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves;Hallelujah; Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod); Psalm 150 (Franck); Come, comeye saints; Home sweet home (sung in Maori); Climb Ev’ry MountainKiri Te Kanawa; Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Utah SymphonyOrchestra / Julius RudelDecca 476 2456

CHRISTMAS

A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL: 26 Favourite CarolsThe Bach Choir; Philip Jones Brass Ensemble / Philip Jones;David WillcocksDecca 448 9802

CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

CHILDREN’S CLASSICSPROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf1

SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of the Animals2

Uncle Ken’s Nursery Rhymes31, 2Beatrice Lillie, narrator; 2Julius Katchen & Gary Graffman, pianos;London Symphony Orchestra / Skitch Henderson3Kenneth McKellar; Orchestra / Robert Sharples‘it will appeal to children of all ages … a collector’s item’Penguin Guide to CDs (2000 Yearbook)Decca 466 6732

75

“Australian Eloquenceis one of the most

inspired and refreshingCD series in the world today

and offers some of thegreatest performancesin recording history"

Penguin Guide

Eloquence AUSTRALIAUniversal Classics & JazzPO Box 17Millers Point NSW 2000AUSTRALIA

www.getmusic.com.auwww.musicpages.com.au

UNIVERSAL MUSIC