Author: steve_p

With its recent release of Mahlerís symphonies conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, EMI Classics makes available in a single place an outstanding contribution to the composerís discography.

Although considered among Ravelís finest works, Daphnis et ChloÈ may be known best through excerpts, particularly the second suite that the composer derived from his score.

A 1979 recording originally released on LP in 1985, the CD reissue of this classic performance of Schoenbergís 1913 cantata Gurrelieder as part of its series entitled Originals makes this fine account of this magnificent work available to another generation of listeners.

Johanna Kinkel (1810-1858) was a talented contemporary of Fanny Hensel, and other fine musicians of the first half of the nineteenth century. Her legacy includes some fine Lieder, which are collected as An Imaginary Voyage through Europe in an arrangement that represents the various themes she explored in her music.

Released as part of Orfeoís series entitled Festspiel Dokumente, this recording makes available on CD the concert performance at the Salzburg Festival of Anton Brucknerís Seventh Symphony by the Vienna Philharmonic that Hans Knappertsbusch conducted on 30 August 1949.

Released in celebration of the recent Mozart year, Tutto Mozart! is a collection of nineteen arias, duets and other ensembles from the composerís operas that feature the baritone Bryn Terfel.

Recorded on 29 January 1978, this performance preserves a classic production of Beethovenís Fidelio, which involved a gifted cast.

When performances remain in the aural memory of the audience long after the final wave of applause, the event merits attention.

The two short films about the composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), The Early Years and Maturity & Silence comprise a video biography of Finnish artist.

Among the signal operas of the twentieth century, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (1934) by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) is a powerful transformation of Shakespeareís tragedy Macbeth, based on the 1865 short story by Nicolai Leskov.