Classical
Albums
5
albums sorted by Date: from newest to oldest and filtered by More than £50.00
From
CD£66.19
Haydn : The Complete Symphonies
Joseph Haydn
Classical - Released February 2, 2009 | Nimbus Records
From
CD£56.90
Don Giovanni (Intégrale)
Dimitri Mitropoulos
Full Operas - Released September 25, 2007 | Myto Historical
Distinctions
Diapason d'or -
9 de Classica-Répertoire
From
CD£113.80
The Complete Mozart Symphonies
Northern Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released March 1, 2004 | Naxos
Booklet
Recorded between 1988 and 1993, and previously released as individual discs, this 2004 box set of Mozart's complete symphonies features exciting performances by Nicholas Ward and the Northern Chamber Orchestra, and Barry Wordsworth and the Capella Istropolitana. Discs 1-6, under Ward's direction, present the first 24 symphonies in sequence, with the Symphonies No. 26 and No. 37 included. The remaining 15 symphonies, conducted by Wordsworth, fill up the last five discs in a staggered arrangement. This corresponds to the order of the original CDs -- the repressing no doubt reduces production costs -- but it requires that the uninitiated pay close attention to the booklet for track listings. Beyond that difficulty, the performances are quite enjoyable and refreshing. Both conductors take brisk tempi and observe aspects of authentic performance practice, and their orchestras manage something close to a lean and bright period sound, even though the instruments are apparently modern. The recorded sound varies a little, for Ward's performances are noticeably closer than Wordsworth's, perhaps because of microphone logistics in the different concert halls. Once accommodation is made for this, though, the listener can sit back and enjoy these fine performances without sudden volume adjustments. Part of the desirable White Box series, this set is de rigueur for collectors.© TiVo
From
CD£57.46
Don Giovanni (Intégrale)
Hans Rosbaud
Full Operas - Released July 19, 2007 | INA Mémoire vive
Booklet
Distinctions
4 étoiles du Monde de la Musique
From
CD£56.39
Mozart : Don Giovanni
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Full Operas - Released January 1, 1986 | Warner Classics
If you can have only one recording of Mozart's Don Giovanni, should this be the one? Yes. Taped at the Salzburg Festival on August 3, 1954, it features a tremendous cast from top to bottom, plus the best possible orchestral playing, and, beyond all argument, the greatest Mozart conductor in a performance of tremendous effectiveness and overwhelming spiritual impact. Why? Start with the cast. Cesare Siepi is a sexy and dangerous Don Giovanni. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is a strong and self-willed Donna Elvira. Elisabeth Grümmer is a heartrendingly affecting Donna Anna. Otto Edelmann is a robust and hilarious Leporello. Anton Dermota is so good he almost makes Don Ottavio appealing. Erna Berger is a saucy and seductive Zerlino. The young Walter Berry is so good he almost makes Masetto register as a character. Deszö Ernster is scary enough as the Commendatore when he's alive in Act I; when he returns from the dead at the end of Act II, he's flat-out terrifying. But, superlative as the singing is, it's the conductor who makes the performance and Wilhelm Furtwängler brings more to the work and gets more out of the work than any other recorded conductor. He brings to the work his uniquely luminous sound world, his intensely dramatic interpretations, his pronounced preoccupation with the metaphysical, and his irresistible inclination toward the transcendental. He gets out of the work its almost-but-not-quite post-Enlightenment mind, its almost-but-not-quite pre-Romantic heart, its nearly but-not-entirely Austrian-Catholic soul and its nearly but-not-completely rebellious spirit. The amazing thing is that, whether beforehand you agree that they're there, he gets these things out of the work. The more amazing thing is that afterwards you agree without reservations that they've always been there. This is the only recording of Don Giovanni to have if you're having only one.EMI's sound is distant but honest.© TiVo