Prices shown exclude VAT. (UK tax is not payable for deliveries to United States.)
See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Vernon Handley: Champion of British Music
Vernon George Handley was born in Enfield, London, in 1930. He disliked his first names and preferred to use the nickname Tod, given to him as a baby because he toddled along with his toes turned inwards. Handley was a great champion of British music. His first recording, made in 1965 for a minor record label, was of Bax's Fourth Symphony with the newly-formed Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra. He then went on to record for Lyrita, another small independent company specialising in British music. In the early 1970s Handley started to record for Classics for Pleasure and went on to make many more recordings for both CfP and the main EMI label. Probably because his professional appointments were nearly all in the UK, and the fact that he put great emphasis on performing British music, his reputation abroad wasn't as great as it deserved to be. He also devoted a great deal of his time to promoting the careers of young, up-coming, British musicians. This set of 5 CDs showcases recordings of Handley conducting five of the UK's great orchestras. It was in 1984 with 'Tod' Handley that a 28-year-old Nigel Kennedy made his début recording of the Elgar Concerto, here heard on disc one. The first three CDs in the set comprise works by English composers; the other two illustrate Handley conducting two great concertos from the standard repertoire, both with Tasmin Little, and some charming Fauré and popular Russian music. "Tod" Handley was a self-effacing, modest man who, nevertheless, did not suffer fools easily. This is illustrated no better than in his acceptance-speak at the 2007 Classical Brit Awards when he received the Lifetime Achievement award. A video of this is well worth seeing on YouTube. Handley died the following year. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Sir Adrian Boult conducts Elgar
Elgar: | Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 Recorded in 1949 London Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 63 Recorded in 1956 The Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 Recording first published in 1955 Alfredo Campoli (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Recorded in 1945 Pablo Casals (cello) BBC Symphony Orchestra Enigma Variations, Op. 36 Recorded in 1953 London Philharmonic Orchestra Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1-5, Op. 39 Recorded in 1955 London Philharmonic Orchestra Nursery Suite Recorded in 1955 London Philharmonic Orchestra The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Op. 1a Recorded in 1953 London Philharmonic Orchestra Falstaff - Symphonic Study in C minor, Op. 68 Recorded in 1950 London Philharmonic Orchestra Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 'In London Town' Recorded in 1956 London Philharmonic Orchestra In the South (Alassio), Op. 50 Recorded in 1955 London Philharmonic Orchestra |
A 5CD wallet box of Sir Adrian Boult conducting Elgar. Boult gives wonderfully idiomatic performances of his most famous orchestral works – the two symphonies, the violin concerto (Campoli), the cello concerto (Casals), the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Nursery Suite, The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Falstaff and the overtures. “Sir Adrian Boult, the incomparable Elgarian” Penguin Guide | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Delius, Howells & Hadley
Delius: | A Mass of Life Heather Harper (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Benjamin Luxon (baritone) London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves Songs of Sunset Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano, John Shirley-Quirk (baritone) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves An Arabesque John Shirley-Quirk (baritone) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Sir Charles Groves String Quartet (1916) Britten Quartet | Hadley, P: | My beloved spake James Lancelot (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir David Willcocks I sing of a maiden Francis Grier (organ) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Philip Ledger The Hills Felicity Palmer (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor), Robert Lloyd (bass) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus, Philip Ledger | Howells: | Phantasy String Quartet, Op. 25 Britten Quartet In Gloucestershire, (String Quartet No. 3) Britten Quartet Hymnus Paradisi Heather Harper (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Bach Choir, Sir David Willcocks Concerto for string orchestra Dennis Simons & Robert Growcott (violins), John Chambers (viola), Alexander Cameron (cello) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult |
A 5CD set containing titles from the acclaimed EMI British Composers series, based around the music of Frederick Delius and his contemporaries; Herbert Howells and Patrick Hadley. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Elgar, Stanford & Parry
Elgar: | Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2 Minuet from Beau Brummel Starlight Express: My Old Tunes (Organ-Grinder's Song No. 5) Starlight Express: To the Children (Organ-Grinder’s Song No.1) The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Op. 1a: Sun Dance Dream Children, Op. 43 Salut d'amour, Op. 12 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Lawrance Collingwood Minuet May Song Rosemary Romance, Op. 62 Sevillana Sérénade lyrique Three Characteristic Pieces Carissima Mina Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner Scenes (6) from the Bavarian Highlands, Op. 27 Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Geoffrey Hughes Elegy for strings, Op. 58 City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Sospiri, Op. 70 City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox | Parry: | An English Suite City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Lady Radnor's Suite City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox Symphony No. 5 in B minor 'Symphonic Fantasia' Blest Pair of Sirens London Philharmonic Choir Symphonic Variations (1897) Elegy London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult | Stanford: | Symphony No. 3 in F minor 'Irish', Op. 28 Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Norman Del Mar Evening Service (Magnificat & Nunc dimittis) in G major, Op. 81 Alastair Hussain (treble), Francis Brett (bass) For lo, I raise up, Op. 145 Thomas Hopkinson (treble), Edward Gardner (tenor) A Song of Peace, Op. 113, No. 4 John Mark Ainsley (tenor) O for a closer walk with God, Op. 113 No. 6 Morning, Evening and Communion Services in C Op. 115 James Vivian (organ scholar) Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury |
A 5CD set containing titles from the acclaimed EMI British Composers series, based around the music of Sir Edward Elgar and his contemporaries; Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sir Hubert Parry. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Janet Baker: The Beloved Mezzo
Arne: | Where the Bee Sucks Martin Isepp (harpsichord), Ambrose Gauntlett (viola da gamba), Douglas Whittaker (flute) | Bach, J S: | Schlummer ein, ihr matten Augen from Cantata No. 82 Bath Festival Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin Christmas Oratorio, BWV248: Bereite dich, Zion St John Passion, BWV245: Es ist vollbracht Bist du bei mir, BWV508 Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner | Berlioz: | Les Nuits d'été, Op. 7 New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli | Boyce: | Tell, me lovely shepherd Martin Isepp (harpsichord), Ambrose Gauntlett (viola da gamba) | Brahms: | Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53 London Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir (men's voices), Sir Adrian Boult | Campion: | Never love unless you can Oft have I sigh’d for him that hears me not If thou longst so much to learn Faine would I wed Robert Spencer (lute) | Chausson: | Poème de l'amour et de la mer, Op. 19 London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn | Dowland: | Come again, sweet love doth now invite Robert Spencer (lute) | Elgar: | Sea Pictures, Op. 37 London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli Softly and gently, dearly-ransomed soul 'Angel's Farewell' (from The Dream of Gerontius) Halle Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli | Handel: | Messiah: He was despised English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras Ah! Crudel, nel pianto mio, HWV 78: aria 'Per trofei di mia constenna' English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: aria 'Ah! crudel, e pur ten vei' English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard | Liszt: | Die Lorelei Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh (Wandrers Nachtlied II), S.306 Geoffrey Parsons (piano) | Mahler: | Kindertotenlieder Halle Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli Rückert-Lieder (5 songs, complete) New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (4 songs, complete) Halle Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli Urlicht (from Symphony No. 2) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle | Mendelssohn: | Neue Liebe, Op. 19a No. 4 Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34 No. 2 Nachtlied, Op. 71 No. 6 Geoffrey Parsons (piano) | Munro, G: | My lovely Celia Martin Isepp (harpsichord), Ambrose Gauntlett (viola da gamba) | Purcell: | Sleep, Adam, and take thy rest, Z195 Lord, what is man?, Z192 Martin Isepp (harpsichord), Ambrose Gauntlett (viola da gamba) | Ravel: | Shéhérazade New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli | Schubert: | Gretchen am Spinnrade, D118 Ave Maria, D839 Gerald Moore (piano) Heidenröslein, D257 An die Musik D547 Die Forelle, D550 Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D774 Du bist die Ruh D776 (Rückert) Nacht und Träume, D827 An Sylvia, D891 Geoffrey Parsons (piano) | Schumann: | Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42 Daniel Barenboim (piano) | Strauss, R: | Liebeshymnus, Op. 32 No. 3 Das Rosenband, Op. 36 No. 1 Ruhe, meine Seele!, Op. 27 No. 1 London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult | Wagner: | Wesendonck-Lieder (5) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult |
“this is a treasurable set” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Truls Mørk
Dvorak: | Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 | Haydn: | Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb:1 Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb:2 (Op. 101) Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Iona Brown | Kernis: | Colored Field, concerto for cello and orchestra Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue Musica Celestis for string orchestra Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue Air for cello and orchestra for cello and orchestra Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue | Miaskovsky: | Cello Concerto in C minor, Op. 66 City or Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi | Prokofiev: | Sinfonia Concertante in E minor for cello & orchestra, Op. 125 | Shostakovich: | Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107 London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons Cello Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 126 London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons | Tchaikovsky: | Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Janácek: Chamber & Orchestral WorksA 5 CD box to mark the 150th anniversary of Janácek's birth
Janacek: | On an Overgrown Path Paul Crossley (piano) String Quartet No. 1 'The Kreutzer Sonata' Gabrieli String Quartet Violin Sonata Kenneth Sillito (violin) Paul Crossley (piano) Mládí (Youth), for wind sextet Capriccio for piano (left hand) & chamber ensemble, JW VII/12 'Vzdor' Concertino, JW VII/11 Pohádka (Fairy Tale) for Cello and Piano Presto for Cello & Piano Sinfonietta Taras Bulba Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Charles Mackerras Lachian Dances London Philharmonic Orchestra, François Huybrechts Suite for string orchestra, JW 6/2 Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Neville Marriner Rikadla (Nonsense Nursery Rhymes) Members of the London Sinfonietta
London Sinfonietta Chorus Glagolitic Mass Eva Urbanová (soprano), Marta Benackova (mezzo-soprano), Vladimir Bogachov (tenor), Richard Novák (bass), Thomas Trotter (organ) Slovak Philharmonic Choir
Wiener Philharmoniker, Riccardo Chailly String Quartet No. 2 'Intimate Letters' Gabrieli String Quartet Dumka for violin and piano Kenneth Sillito (violin) Paul Crossley (piano) Romance for violin and piano Kenneth Sillito (violin) Paul Crossley (piano) |
“a very useful and inexpensive way of acquiring a lot of Janacek...Chailly's strong and refined reading of the Glagolitic Mass makes a splendid finale for this set, with fine detail brought out in the glowing Decca recording.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 1-9
(some symphonies recorded in mono) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Glyndebourne DiamondsFive Great Opera Productions from the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Beethoven: | Fidelio, Op. 72 (1979) Elisabeth Söderström (Leonore), Anton de Ridder (Florestan), Curt Applegren (Rocco), Robert Allman (Pizarro), Elizabeth Gale (Marzelline), Ian Caley (Jaquino), Michael Langdon (Fernando), David Johnston (First Prisoner), Roger Bryson (Second Prisoner) Bernard Haitink | Monteverdi: | Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (1973) Benjamin Luxon (Ulisse), Janet Baker (Penelope), Ian Caley (Telemaco), Robert Lloyd (Nettuno), Anne Howells (Minerva), Rae Woodland (Giunone), Brian Burrows (Giove) Raymond Leppard | Stravinsky: | The Rake's Progress (1975) Leo Goeke (Tom Rakewell), Felicity Lott (Anne Trulove), Samuel Ramey (Nick Shadow), Richard Van Allan (Trulove), Rosalind Elias (Baba the Turk) Bernard Haitink | Verdi: | Falstaff (1976) Donald Gramm (Falstaff), Benjamin Luxon (Ford), Kay Griffel (Alice Ford), Elizabeth Gale (Nannetta), Max René Cosotti (Fenton), Nucci Condò (Mistress Quickly), Reni Penkova (Meg Page), Bernard Dickerson (Bardolfo), Ugo Trama (Pistola), John Fryatt (Dr Cajus) John Pritchard Macbeth (1972) Kostas Paskalis (Macbeth), Josephine Barstow (Lady Macbeth), James Morris (Banco), Keith Erwen (Macduff), Ian Caley (Malcolm), Rae Woodland (Dama), Brian Donlan (Medico), Ian Caddy (Domestico), John Tomlinson (Sicaro) John Pritchard |
Recording Date: 2007
Place of recording: From the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Running Time: 681 min
Picture Format: 4:3
Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Menu Languages NTSC: D, F, GB, SP
Subtitle Languages NTSC: D, F, GB, I, SP
“[On Falstaff] This performance is typical of the high standards of ensemble playing pertaining at Glyndebourne in the 1970s.” Gramophone Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | London Philharmonic Orchestra plays Elgar
Elgar: | Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 recorded 1972 Sir Georg Solti Symphony No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 63 recorded 1980 Vernon Handley Enigma Variations, Op. 36 recorded 1985 Sir Charles Mackerras Sea Pictures, Op. 37 recorded live 1984 Dame Janet Baker (contralto) Vernon Handley Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 recorded 1954 Alfredo Campoli (violin) Sir Adrian Boult Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 recorded 1972 Paul Tortelier (cello) Sir Adrian Boult Falstaff - Symphonic Study in C minor, Op. 68 recorded 1956 Sir Adrian Boult The Sanguine Fan, Op. 81 recorded 1973 Sir Adrian Boult Introduction & Allegro for strings, Op. 47 recorded 1972 Sir Adrian Boult Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15 No. 1 recorded 1967 Sir Adrian Boult Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2 recorded 1967 Sir Adrian Boult Froissart Overture, Op. 19 recorded 1933 Sir Edward Elgar Elegy for strings, Op. 58 recorded 1933 Sir Edward Elgar Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 'In London Town' recorded 1976 Sir Georg Solti Contrasts, Op. 10 No. 3 recorded 1933 Sir Edward Elgar Coronation March, Op. 65 recorded 1935 Sir Landon Ronald Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 recorded 1933 Sir Edward Elgar In the South (Alassio), Op. 50 recorded 1979 Sir Georg Solti Imperial March, Op. 32 recorded 1975 Sir Charles Mackerras |
32-page booklet includes photographs of the conductors at work, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Elgar. “Most cherishable of all is a Sea Pictures with Janet Baker and Vernon Handley, a live recording from 1984 that was rescued from the Capital Radio archives; it's a wonderful alternative to the much-loved LSO/Barbirolli version. Baker's voice is still gloriously rich, and the live occasion inspires a performance of great urgency and intensity. A wonderfully rich collection that all Elgarians should try to hear.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2007 “... the other performance conducted by Handley is a gem ... a live performance of Janet Baker singing Sea Pictures .... Baker is on radiant form passionately engaged and in superb voice too…” International Record Review, June 2007 “....special interest attaches to a previously unreleased recording of the Sea Pictures by Janet Baker …” The Observer, April 2007 “What a brilliant idea of the LPO to gather together Elgar recordings from many different sources, some rare and unexpected. They range from the composer's recordings with the newly founded LPO to Sir Charles Mackerras and Vernon Handley in the 1980s. Most Elgarians will know the great majority, but it is many years since the Campoli recording of the Violin Concerto, fresh and urgent, was freely available.
The nobility in 'Sabbath Morning at Sea' is heart-stopping, from full-throated richness down to a hushed pianissimo on 'brooded soft on waters deep', and the attack in 'The Swimmer' is thrilling. Handley beautifully conjures up the surge of the sea in the brilliant orchestration.
Sir Adrian Boult is the principal contributor to the set in recordings from a number of labels.
The excellent transfer gives wonderful body to the mono recording of the Violin Concerto while Falstaff, Boult's 1956 Nixa recording, has a restricted frequency range but still reveals plenty of detail, the close chilling. It is good, too, to have Paul Tortelier's warm and steadily paced reading of the Cello Concerto, and Handley's noble CfP version of the Second Symphony is valuable for the use of organ to reinforce the bass at a key point in the finale. Mackerras's Imperial March, made for Reader's Digest, is a rarity, and his other contribution, a 1985 Enigma Variations (EMI Eminence), brings an unusually slow 'Nimrod'.
It is good to have Elgar's own beautiful account of the Serenade for Strings, spacious in the slow movement, and his Froissart. From the 1930s, too, an excellent Coronation March by Sir Landon Ronald sounds wonderfully rich for the period. Solti's Decca recordings have tingling clarity and brilliance, warmth and panache.
A wonderfully rich collection that all Elgarians should try to hear. Praise must go to the transfer engineers.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | (also available to download from $32.75) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
|
|
| |
|
Building a Library
Penguin Guide
