ARTISTS
Kurt Masur
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

TRACKLISTING
BRAHMS : Symphony No. 1
BRAHMS : Variations on a theme by Haydn

These glorious performances have never before been available on CD (outside Japan). Taking full advantage of the Gewandhaus' characteristic aural glow, these readings will soon work themselves to the top of the list of the complete Brahms symphony cycles. Symphony No. 1 receives a monumental performance with some delicious violin and oboe solos in the slow movement and the Gewandhausorchester's wind section delivers jewel after jewel in the Variations on a theme by Haydn.

ARTISTS
Kurt Masur
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

TRACKLISTING
BRAHMS : Symphony Nos. 2 & 3                                                                                                      

These glorious performances have never before been available on CD (outside Japan). Taking full advantage of the Gewandhaus' characteristic aural glow, these readings will soon work themselves to the top of the list of the complete Brahms symphony cycles. Thrilling performances of both symphonies is what you get here, and an aural sound picture of great amplitude.

ARTISTS
Kurt Masur
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

TRACKLISTING
BRAHMS:
Symphony No. 4
Academic Festival Overture
Tragic Overture

These glorious performances have never before been available on CD (outside Japan). Taking full advantage of the Gewandhaus' characteristic aural glow, these readings will soon work themselves to the top of the list of the complete Brahms symphony cycles. You'll probably never hear the memorable opening of the Fourth Symphony more lovingly or memorably done and the Overtures really pack in a punch.

ARTISTS
Dame Gillian Weir, organ

TRACKLISTING
J.S. BACH: Toccata, Adagio & Fugue, BWV 564; Fantasia in G, BWV 572; Trio Sonata No. 1; Passacaglia in C minor
MARCHAND: Pièces d'Orgue - Premier Livre; Cinquième Livre
JOHN BULL: Dr. Bull's My Selfe; Dr. Bull's Jewell

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Critical acclaim for Volume 1:

'cool and poised ... telling in its sense of controlled power' [Bach]; 'tangy and spirited' [Bull] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

ARTISTS
Dame Gillian Weir, organ

TRACKLISTING
CLERAMBAULT: Suite du Premier Ton; Suite du Deuxième Ton
BRUHNS: Praeludium Nos. 1-3; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Critical acclaim for Volume 2:
'Weir's sparkling registration tickles the ear' [Clerambault]; 'Gillian Weir has the full measure of this music ... She dazzles the ear not only with her vigour and virtuosity but also with some quite scrumptious registration ... The recording is marvellous, a demonstration of clarity and sonority admirably combined' [Bruhns] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

ARTISTS
Dame Gillian Weir, organ

TRACKLISTING
ROBERDAY: Fugues et Caprices pour orgue
LANGLAIS: Dialogue sur les Mixtures
SCHEIDT: Passamezzo

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Critical acclaim for Volume 3:

'Gillian Weir plays with enormous style and aplomb ... the recording has splendid range and presence' [Roberday] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

ARTISTS
Dame Gillian Weir, organ

TRACKLISTING
DANDRIEU: Premier Livre de Pièces d'Orgue
MARCHAND: Pièces d'Orgue - Troisième Livre; Quatrième Livre
DE GRIGNY: Tierce en Taille
MULET: Toccata tu es Petrus

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Critical acclaim for Volume 4:
'Her interpretations are marked by a vivid palette, authority and taste' [Dandrieu] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

ARTISTS
Dame Gillian Weir, organ

TRACKLISTING
CAMILLERI: Missa Mundi
WIDOR : Symphony No. 6: Allegro
VIERNE: Impromptu
DAQUIN: Noël Suisse
DUPRÉ: La Fileuse
TOMKINS: Worster Braules
SWEELINCK: Mein junges Leben hat ein End
DUBOIS: Toccata

The critically-acclaimed 5CD set King of Instruments is now reissued as five individual CDs retaining the original liner notes and recollections of Dame Gillian on the making of these seminal recordings.

Critical acclaim for Volume 5:
'an astonishing range of organ technique and sonority ... Weir gives a thrillingly dedicated performance ... The recording is superb. It is as clear and clean as a whistle, immensely wide in dynamic range' [Camilleri] Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

TRACKLISTING
BERLIOZ : Les Troyens

Without doubt one of the greatest achievements in the history of records. Sir Colin Davis' Philips recording of Berlioz' epic classical drama was based on performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with an outstanding cast led by Jon Vickers in ringing voice as Aeneas. This performance is the centrepiece of Davis' life-long devotion to the music of Hector Berlioz and did much to bring the composer's music back from decades of neglect.

Gramophone has selected this recording as one of the 100 greatest recordings of all time.

'Throughout this score ... Davis compels the listener to concentrate, to appreciate its epic logic ... Veasey ... makes a splendid Dido, singing always with fine heroic strength, with Vickers a ringing Aeneas ... the Covent Garden Chorus and Orchestra excel themselves in virtuoso singing and playing, while the CD brings out the superb quality of sound all the more vividly.' The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs 1994 Edition

TRACKLISTING
BOITO : Mefistofele

A REAL BARGAIN! - NOW ON 2 MID PRICE DISCS (instead of three at full price) WITH COMPLETE LIBRETTO.

A less well known version of the Faust legend with music and text by the author of many of Verdi's greatest operas but one which deserves its place in every opera lover's collection. It contains a lot of beautiful music and also one of the greatest bass roles in all opera.

This performance enshrines an amazing cast - Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni, Montserrat Caballé with Nicolai Ghiaurov in the title role, all at their glorious best and all in superb Decca sound.

'The late de Fabritiis. in what proved to be his swan-song for the gramophone, enters fully into the spirit of the piece, balancing carefully its poetic and dramatic images, emphasising subtly the quaint beauty of Boito's scoring, revelling in its opportunities for orchestral brio ... in an opera named after him, the Devil rightly receives the most imposing interpretation ... Nicolai Ghiaurov ... has a high old time portraying the evil/jolly fellow, all his solos delivered with the vocal equivalent of a leering smile. .. I think the new version is the one to have ... it should make Mefistofele many friends.' Gramophone February 1984

TRACKLISTING
PONCHIELLI: La Gioconda

3CDs WITH COMPLETE LIBRETTO, AT MID PRICE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

After a period of neglect Ponchielli's high drama is again enjoying a rise in popularity at the start of the 21st Century. When listening to this miraculously tuneful work it is hard to believe that it could ever have been out of favour. It is full of famous arias like 'Cielo e mar' and 'Suicido!' and, of course, the Dance of the Hours is known to all music lovers.

Surely this recording will never be bettered - Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Agnes Baltsa and Sherill Milnes give inspired performances. Each of these artists were perfect for their parts and were all caught at the summit of their form. When you add that the whole enterprise is captured in spectacular Decca sound of demonstration quality, it really is a tremendous recording fully worthy of the piece.

'The recording (digital) is possibly the best the opera has had to date, with plenty of presence from the voices and orchestra ... I consider the new set a compelling interpretation of a compelling work, and a worthwhile addition to the catalogue.' Gramophone December 1981

2CDs WITH COMPLETE LIBRETTO, AT MID PRICE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Jessye Norman as Ariadne is at her considerable vocal peak in this rightly acclaimed Philips recording with Kurt Masur and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. The role of the abandoned wife suits Norman to perfection and the role's difficulties hold no terrors for her. Just as in her definitive recording of the same composer's Four Last Songs (also available on Philips 464 7422) demonstrates, Jessye Norman is a Strauss singer without peer.

This reissue is a sparkling foretaste to the re-release of many of Jessye Norman's greatest performances throughout 2005.

This recording features definitive performances from Julia Varady as the Composer and Edita Gruberova in one of her greatest recordings, as Zerbinetta. The cast also includes such fine singers as Paul Frey, Olaf Bär and even Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.

'... where the recording scores most convincingly ... is in the casting of Ariadne and Bacchus. Jessye Norman brings to the title-role opulence of tone, nobility of phrasing and Straussian richness ... and Norman gives us the classical dignity and tragedy of the role in generous measure ... Paul Frey ... really sings the role, riding the climaxes effortlessly and tunefully and, with Norman, making the final duet the ecstatic experience Strauss had in mind but which so rarely materialises ... the playing of the instrumentalists from the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is exemplary ... there's no doubt in my mind that this is an Ariadne with outstanding virtues.' Gramophone November 1988

2CDs AT MID PRICE, WITH COMPLETE LIBRETTO

In last year's Gramophone survey of all recordings of this opera this recording was acknowledged to be one of the best ever made. The great Welsh baritone Sir Geraint Evans was, for many people, the most outstanding Falstaff of the 20th century. He really 'owns' the role and vocally and dramatically captures the character of the fat knight and his many misadventures delightfully. This sparklingly energetic recording is also one of Sir Georg Solti's finest Verdi performances in which he evinces an obvious love of the score.

Evan's Falstaff is joined by a superbly balanced ensemble cast that includes Mirella Freni as a wondrously sung Nanetta, Robert Merrill as Ford and two of the other greatest opera stars of the day in Giulietta Simionato and Alfredo Kraus.

'Geraint Evans has deservedly earned great praise for his splendid characterisation and singing of Falstaff ... in all this is a very good-humoured and well-rounded portrait of the part ... this new issue is imbued with fun, laughter and excitement, and it is exceedingly well-performed as a whole, with fine precision in the orchestral detail and the ensembles.' Gramophone May 1964

4CDs WITH COMPLETE LIBRETTO, AT MID PRICE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Sir Georg Solti made many legendary recordings over his long career with Decca and developed a great affinity with the music of many composers. Perhaps above all, however, would be the name of Richard Wagner, whose music really brought out the best in Solti's abilities.

This reissue of Wagner's Meistersinger is a fine companion release to the immortal Ring Cycle recordings made by Solti between 1958 and 1965, a true classic of the gramophone (available on Decca 455 5552).

Solti's first recording of Wagner's most human work with the Vienna Philharmonic is full of riches, but perhaps its greatest glory is the central performance by Norman Bailey as the shoemaker Hans Sachs: 'Bailey's ... is the most rounded portrayal to date ... the set as a whole is a considerable achievement, a worthy addition to the Decca/Solti Wagner discography.' Gramophone September 1976

The rest of the cast work so well individually and as an ensemble to bring this endlessly satisfying work to life. It really is a fine recording that will not fail to enchant any listener to this, perhaps Wagner's most approachable opera.

ARTISTS
Karl Richter, organ

TRACKLISTING
J.S. BACH:
Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Triosonate No.2 in C minor BWV 526
Präludium and Fugue in D major BWV 532
Präludium and Fugue in A minor BWV 543
Fantasie and Fugue in G minor BWV 542
Präludium and Fugue in E flat major BWV 552
Präludium and Fugue in E minor BWV 548
Triosonate Nr. 1 in E flat major BWV 525
Triosonate Nr. 5 in C major BWV 529
3 Chorale Preludes
Prelude and Fugue in B minor BWV 544
Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 546
Canzona in D minor BWV 588
Toccata and Fugue in F major BWV 540
Choralpartita 'O Gott, du frommer Gott' BWV 767
Toccata (Präludium) and Fugue in D minor ('Dorian) BWV 538
Partite diverse sopra: 'Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig' BWV 768
Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582

It is often forgotten that Karl Richter (1926-1981), besides being one of the foremost Bach conductors of his generation, was also a superb organist. Here, released internationally on CD for the first time, are all the Bach recordings he made on the Jaegersborg organ in Denmark, coupled with a late disc made shortly before his death at the Silbermann organ in Freiberg, Saxony.

The recordings were previously contained on a 3 CD set available only in Germany plus a now deleted Archiv Galleria single CD. Those 4 CDs have now been compressed onto 3, making a wonderful bargain. Together with the Organ Concertos BWV 592-597 still available on Archiv Galleria 431 119-2, all of the Bach recorded by Richter as an organist for Deutsche Grammophon is now available again.

'Some of the most exciting organ playing ever recorded' International Classical Record Collector, Autumn 1999, reviewing the Jaegersborg recordings in this set

'One of Karl Richter's very finest records and given a superlative recording, which is quite in a class of its own. Even a sustained pedal note (which usually causes a feeling of strain) is handled by the engineers with aplomb, and the sound remains clear in the spectacular cadences. This is one of the finest available accounts of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor' *** Penguin Guide (1975)

ARTISTS
Géza Anda, piano
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, violin
Pierre Fournier, cello
Janos Starker, cello*
Radio-Symphonie Orchester Berlin / Ferenc Fricsay

TRACKLISTING
BEETHOVEN : Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra in C major, Op. 56 'Triple Concerto'
BRAHMS : Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 102 'Double Concerto'*

For a long time these recordings with their distinguished soloists were staples of the LP catalogue and later the Dokumente label on CD. The Brahms has not been in the catalogue for some while and the Beethoven is at present only available within a 2 CD set.

'We have always appreciated the Schneiderhan/Starker/Fricsay version of the [Brahms] Double Concerto ever since it first came out on a ten-inch LP in 1961. [...] The acoustic of the Berlin Jesus-Christus-Kirche provides warmth, even though the two soloists are very forwardly balanced. Fricsay shapes the work splendidly and there is plenty of impetus.' Penguin Guide (1992)

'It is not to belittle the contributions of a fine crop of soloists to say that this disc belongs to the Berlin RSO and Fricsay. Both works were recorded towards the end of the conductor's brief career, and they offer a striking contrast: a questing, passionate Brahms Double following a meditative and lovely reading of the Beethoven Triple. The common factor is Fricsay's impeccable sense of shape which seems to make of whole movements one long, memorable utterance.' BBC Music Magazine, February 1997 [Top star rating]

ARTISTS
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano

TRACKLISTING
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Préludes - Book I
Images - Book I
Images - Book II

One of the classics of the gramophone ever since their first release in the 1970s, these recordings are now available at mid-price.

'I could listen to this forever. When it was new, nearly 15 years ago, I described it as the strongest, most colourful, most musical and most poetic Debussy you ever heard from a pianist. I don't feel much cooler about it now... Here is a powerful musical personality taking possession of the music and projecting it on a big scale, as great concert artists do. [...] If you're interested in examining the nature of small miracles, it's instructive to study the copy of the first two pieces in the second book of Images - 'Cloches à travers les feuilles' and 'Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut' - and to note the beauties which result from a master pianist's control of different planes of sound. This is the sort of 'technique' most people never notice.'
Gramophone , July 1986, reviewing the Images

'It goes without saying that Michelangeli's account reveals the highest pianistic distinction. It is in many ways a wholly compelling and masterful reading of these miniature tone poems, with hardly a note or dynamic out of place, and it can be confidently recommended. '
Penguin Guide (1982), reviewing the Préludes

'Michelangeli subjects each note to the last refinements of shading and places it with hairsbreadth precision. All 12 performances are outstanding, but 'Voiles' should be noted as a remarkable instance of this pianist's ability to project the several strands of a texture at different degrees of poetic intensity.'
Gramophone , November 1984, reviewing the Préludes

ARTISTS
Carmen                                    Teresa Berganza
Don José                                  Plácido Domingo
Escamillo                                 Sherrill Milnes
Micaela                                    Ileana Cotrubas
Frasquita                                 Yvonne Kenny
Mercédès                                Alicia Nafé
Zuniga                                      Robert Lloyd
Moralès                                    Stuart Harling
Dancaire                                  Gordon Sandison
Remendado                            Geoffrey Pogson
Andrès                                     Jean Lainé
Une Marchande                     Shirley Minty
Un Bohémien                           Leslie Fyson
Lillas Pastia                             George Main
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

TRACKLISTING
BIZET : Carmen

Still a benchmark recording of the most famous opera of all, with an idiomatic assumption of the title role by Teresa Berganza and with the young Plácido Domingo contributing an impassioned Don José. Abbado has his forces under perfect control. The recording has now been compressed onto 2 CDs instead of 3, while still including the libretto.

'Superbly disciplined, Abbado's performance nails its colours to the mast at the very start in a breathtakingly fast account of the opening prelude. Through the four acts there are other examples of idiosyncratic tempi, but the whole entertainment hangs together with keen compulsion, reflecting the fact that these same performers - Sherrill Milnes as Escamillo excepted - took part in the Edinburgh Festival production directly associated with this recording project.' *** Penguin Guide (1982)

ARTISTS
Amadeus Quartet
Cecil Aronowitz, second viola

TRACKLISTING
MOZART :
Quintet in B flat major KV 174
Quintet in C major KV 515
Quintet in G minor KV 516
Quintet in C minor KV 406 (516 b)
Quintet in D major KV 593 (with 2 versions of the 4th movement)
Quintet in E flat major KV 614

The Amadeus' 1960s recordings of the Mozart string quintets are now reissued on 2 CDs compared with the 3 they occupied in the DG Chamber Music series. The bargain is obvious when compared with most rivals. The Amadeus Quartet, joined as usual for quintets by Cecil Aronowitz, has always been considered among the most successful exponents of this repertoire.

'The Amadeus Quartet is distinguished by fine playing and the recordings are remarkably successful in their CD transfers. The Amadeus accounts of the C minor (K.406) and C major (K.515) works are particularly searching and spontaneous, and obviously much thought and skill have gone into the matter of internal balance as well as the interpretations. Their account of the G minor (K.516) with its Elysian slow movement has also been admired, and there is no question about the refinement and polish of the playing, both here and in the D major (K. 593).'

ARTISTS
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Paul Strauss

TRACKLISTING
OFFENBACH/ROSENTHAL : Gaité Parisienne - Ballet Suite*
J.STRAUSS/DÉSORMIÈRE : Le beau Danube - ballet
BERLIOZ : Ouverture 'Le Corsaire' Op.21
AUBER : Ouverture 'Fra Diavolo'
DVORAK : Ouvertüre 'Carneval' Op.92

Here is a champagne disc to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DG's The Originals series.

There is much talk of Living Presence and Living Stereo, but in the early days of stereo Deutsche Grammophon's engineers produced results that could easily rival theirs. Here is a coupling of irresistibly sparkling music in effervescent performances given colourful, brilliant sound. Gaîté Parisienne was the very first classical LP (133 001) to be released in Deutsche Grammophon's 10-inch (25cm) stereo series in 1958!

Notwithstanding the many fine recordings made by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra with its chief conductors Ferenc Fricsay and Lorin Maazel, this compilation must be a strong candidate for the most virtuoso performance it committed to disc during the 1950s. The playing is confident, colourful, and racy or charming as the mood of the music demands. Dvorak's Carnival Overture receives a most idiomatic performance (listen to the clarinet tone in the middle section) while revealing far more detail than is audible in most other recordings of the piece. The slowly retreating side-drum rhythm at the beginning of Auber's Fra Diavolo Overture is splendidly caught by the engineers.

ARTISTS
Dido                                                 Tatiana Troyanos
Belinda                                            Sheila Armstrong
Aeneas                                            Barry McDaniel
Sorceress                                       Patricia Johnson
First Sailor                                      Nigel Rogers
First Witch                                      Margaret Baker
Second Witch                                Margaret Lensky
Second Woman                            Margaret Baker
Spirit                                                 Paul Esswood

ARTISTS
Monteverdi-Chor Hamburg
Kammerorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks /
Sir Charles Mackerras
Simon Woolf, treble*
Paul Esswood / Roland Tatnell, countertenors*
Alexander Young, tenor*
Michael Rippon / John Shirley-Quirk, bass*
Festival Strings Lucerne / Rudolf Baumgartner

TRACKLISTING
PURCELL :
Dido and Aeneas
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day*
The Married Beau
 
Both of these recordings have been out of the catalogue for some years and are now appearing for the first time in a double pack complete with libretto.

Sir Charles Mackerras will celebrate his 80th birthday in 2005 and has been associated with Deutsche Grammophon since 1958 when he contributed the orchestral accompaniments to a recital of Mozart concert arias by Rita Streich (now reissued in the Original Masters series). This release, comprising all the Purcell he recorded for the company, is a telling reminder of his path-breaking approach to early music.

Purcell's only opera is one of the great masterpieces of the baroque era and Dido's Lament is one of the most heartrending arias in all opera. Here it is sung by Tatiana Troyanos in her absolute prime.

'Sir Charles Mackerras gives perhaps the most satisfying direction, for as well as being scholarly it is very vital, with tempi varied more widely and - as he himself suggests - more authentically than usual. There is also the question of ornamentation, and as a whole Mackerras manages more skilfully than any of his rivals, with shakes, backfalls, forefalls, springers and so on, all placed authentically [...] As to the singing, Tatiana Troyanos makes an imposing, gorgeous-toned Dido, and Sheila Armstrong as Belinda, Barry McDaniel as Aeneas, and Patricia Johnson all outshine the rival performances' Penguin Guide (1982)

'A splendid all-male performance of Purcell's joyous Ode on DG, with an exceptionally incisive and vigorous choral contribution matched by fine solo singing. Simon Woolf is ideally cast here and the recording is excellent' *** Penguin Guide (1994)

ARTISTS
Monique Haas, piano
Orchestre National de Paris
Paul Paray

TRACKLISTING
RAVEL:
Piano Concerto in G
Piano Concerto for the left hand in D
Sonatine
Valses nobles et sentimentales

This is the first release on CD of the Ravel solo pieces and first international release on CD of the Ravel concertos played by Haas.

ARTISTS
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Eugen Jochum

TRACKLISTING
SCHUBERT:
Symphony No.5 in B flat, D.485
Symphony No. 9 in C, D.944 'The Great'

This is the first international release on CD of this coupling.

Eugen Jochum (1902-1987) may have achieved greatest fame as a Bruckner conductor, but he was completely at home in the entire Austro-German Classical and Romantic repertoire, as these and other recordings demonstrate.

The coupling of the attractive early Symphony No.5 with No. 9, the 'Great' C major Symphony, is unusual and generous.

ARTISTS
Tristan                                           René Kollo
König Marke                                Kurt Moll
Isolde                                             Margaret Price
Kurwenal                                      Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Melot                                              Werner Götz
Brangäne                                     Brigitte Fassbaender
Ein Hirt                                          Anton Dermota
Ein Steuermann                         Wolfgang Hellmich
Ein junger Seemann                 Eberhard Büchner
Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Staatskapelle Dresden
Carlos Kleiber

If ever a recording has become legendary, this is it - the last time that Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) ever entered a recording studio. This release will commemorate the 75th anniversary of his birth in 2005. This performance is also the only Wagner recording that Kleiber made.

The cast is maginificent; the title roles are sung by René Kollo and Margaret Price who were two of the finest singers of the day, but not recorded very often. The supporting cast includes performers of the calibre of Kurt Moll, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Brigitte Fassbaender and even Anton Dermota.

ARTISTS
Staatskapelle Dresden
Giuseppe Sinopoli

TRACKLISTING
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 5

'The Dresden Staatskapelle provide playing of incandescent intensity in a reading of high dramatic contrasts, with the towering climaxes of the outer movements both rugged and refined, purposeful and warm. The energy of the Scherzo and the passion of the slow movement complete the picture of an exceptionally high-powered reading, recorded in glowing sound.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Sir David Willcocks

TRACKLISTING
BYRD:
Mass for 3 Voices
Mass for 4 Voices
Mass for 5 Voices

'Inspired singing ... the recording is extraordinarily real. The performances of the Masses for 3 and 4 voices remain classics of the gramophone: the latter is particularly fine - just sample the souring Sanctus-Bendictus . Willcocks completely captures the music's spiritual and emotional feeling.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

TRACKLISTING
HANDEL
Water Music
Music for the Royal Fireworks

'The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra are always impressive but here their playing and ensemble are little short of superlative. It is not always simple to talk of a "best version" in popular repertoire like this, but there is no doubt that these marvellously polished and alive performances sweep the board ... so crisp and buoyant are the rhythms. In short, this is joyously irresistible. It is like listening to this marvellous music for the very first time.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood

TRACKLISTING
Symphony No. 94 'Surprise'
Symphony No. 96 'Miracle'

'The playing is superb: polished and full of imaginative detail. The oboe solo in the Trio of the third movement of the Miracle Symphony is a delight. With superb recording, full yet transparent, this can be strongly recommended.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Alfred Brendel, piano
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

TRACKLISTING
LISZT:
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Totentanz

'The playing has a striking freshness and spontaneity. Brendel brings a musing improvisatory quality to the A major work and his control of bravura in both concertos is illuminating as well as exciting.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Clifford Curzon, piano
English Chamber Orchestra
Benjamin Britten

TRACKLISTING
MOZART:
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, KV 466
Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat, KV 595

'Anyone hearing this magical record, full of the glow and natural expressiveness which always went with Britten's conducting of Mozart, will recognize both performances as uniquely individual and illuminating, with Clifford Curzon at his finest. The sound is rich and beautiful.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Anthony Halstead, horn
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood

TRACKLISTING
MOZART:
Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
Rondeau in E flat, KV 371 (reconstr. J. Humphries)
Rondo in D, KV 514 (cpt. Süssmayr)

'This takes its place at the top of the list ... beautifully recorded, with splendidly alert and sympathetic accompaniments. Not only are the performances special, but textually this set comes closest to Mozart's intentions ... it cannot be praised too highly for its imaginative musical phrasing, technical fluency and spontaneity. A fascinating booklet note accompanies the CD.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Marilyn Horne, mezzo soprano
L'Orchestre de la Suisse romande
Royal Philharmonic Orchetra
Ambrosian Singers
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Henry Lewis

TRACKLISTING
ROSSINI: Arias from:
Semiramide
L'italiana in Algeri
Tancredi
La Cenerentola
La donna del lago
L'assedio di Corinto

'Marilyn Horne's generously filled recital disc brings us one of the most cherishable among all Rossini aria records ever issued. The voice is in glorious condition, rich and firm throughout its spectacular range, and is consistently used with artistry and imagination, as well as brilliant virtuosity in coloratura. By any reckoning this is thrilling singing. The sound is full and brilliant.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Dame Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano
And associate artists

TRACKLISTING
Arias by Bach, Purcell, Cavalli, Rameau, Ravel, Chausson & Delage

'The performances of French mélodies included on this record are very beautiful indeed. With superb, atmospheric playing by the Melos Group and an outstanding recording, this ravishing collection must be placed among Dame Janet's most outstanding recordings. Includes her heart-rending account of Dido's lament, When I am laid in earth.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Michala Petri, recorder
George Malcolm, harpsichord

TRACKLISTING
Recorder Sonatas by
Vivaldi · Corelli · Bigaglia · Bononcini · Sammartini · Marcello

'This collection is immensely enjoyable ... the music has so much charm and is a source of much delight. Throughout, Michala Petri's playing is wonderfully fresh whilst George Malcolm proves an equally imaginative partner: both artists embellish with admirable flair and taste. The Philips recording is quite perfectly balanced and wonderfully tangible.' Penguin Guide

ARTISTS
Paavali Jumppanen, piano

TRACKLISTING
BOULEZ:
Piano Sonata No. 1
Piano Sonata No. 2
Piano Sonata No. 3

This recording brings together all the first three Piano Sonatas of Pierre Boulez played by virtuoso pianist Paavali Jumppanen.

By the age of 23 Boulez had written the first two of these sonatas. He seems never to have performed his massive Second Sonata in public, and the Third he played only during its first run of performances. The piano was the voice not of his performing persona but of his creative mind. It was a voice coming - to quote a remark he made at the time about Schoenberg's op. 11 pieces - from 'a percussive piano which is at the same time remarkably prone to frenzy'.

After the young Finnish pianist Paavali Jumppanen auditioned for him, Boulez recommended him for the recording. His enthusiasm for Krystian Zimerman's former pupil was shared by The New York Times, which praised Jumppanen's playing after his New York début in 2001 as 'fresh and exciting . . . he performs with immense power and an extraordinary range of colors.'

ARTISTS
Hilary Summers mezzo-soprano
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Pierre Boulez conductor

TRACKLISTING
BOULEZ:
Le Marteau sans maître
Dérive 1
Dérive 2 (1988/2002)

It was with Le Marteau sans maître, a setting of surrealistic poetry by René Char, that Boulez made his international breakthrough in the mid-1950s. The work, which looked far ahead into the compositional future, has lost none of its intense power to seduce the ear.

For this new recording with the Ensemble Intercontemporain, Boulez couples this 'classic' with ensemble pieces from the 1980s, Dérives 1 & 2, and again proves that razor-sharp calculation and sensuous power are no contradiction.