Favourites,
Benjamin Britten
"I do not claim that these personal favourites represent the best available versions of the works I have selected - as we all experience music in different ways there can be no definitive criteria of excellence! But I am confident that they are all recordings of outstanding quality and hope that you will find one or more of them worth further consideration." (Maurice Millward, founder of Presto Classical)
Operas
Tim Albury’s dark and intense ENO production, finely sung and acted with Philip Langridge's deeply moving Grimes.
Available Format: DVD Video
Richard Hickox conducts the LSO, with an outstanding trio of principals – Phillip Langridge as Vere, Simon Keenlyside as Billy and John Tomlinson as Claggart.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The set, singing, acting and musical direction are all superb in this outstanding 2010 Glyndebourne production.
Available Format: 2 DVD Videos
The set, singing, acting and musical direction are all superb in this outstanding 2010 Glyndebourne production.
Available Format: Blu-ray
Philip Langridge is an inspired interpreter of the role of Aschenbach, matched by Alan Opie’s sinister portrayal of the six characters who convey him to his doom.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Steuart Bedford elicits crisp and witty playing from the Northern Sinfonia, with an outstanding cast including Christopher Gillett (Albert), Josephine Barstow, Gerald Finley, Felicity Palmer and Susan Gritton.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC
Colin Davis conducts a stellar performance with Heather Donath as the Governess, Heather Harper as Miss Jessel and Robert Tear as Quint.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Vocal and Choral Works
A wonderful LSO live recording conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, with Ian Bostridge, Simon Keenlyside and Sabina Cvilak as outstanding soloists.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The War Requiem was commissioned for the dedication of Coventry Cathedral which provides a dramatic setting for this anniversary performance by the CBSO under Andris Nelsons. Mark Padmore is magnificent in the tenor role, with baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann (a pupil of Fischer- Dieskau) and the Canadian soprano Erin Wall.
Available Format: DVD Video
Stephen Layton conducts sparkling performances of both works, with Allan Clayton in fine form as St Nicolas and the ladies of Trinity College Cambridge acquit themselves beautifully in the Ceremony, originally conceived for female voices rather than the trebles which have become more usual in this work.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Rostropovich in the Cello Symphony; Peter Pears and Fischer-Dieskau in the Cantata. Britten himself conducts dramatic and powerful readings.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Orchestral Works
Rostropovich in the Cello Symphony; Peter Pears and Fischer-Dieskau in the Cantata. Britten himself conducts dramatic and powerful readings.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Three distinctive and characterful works wonderfully played by soloists Anthony Marwood and Lawrence Power with Ilan Volkov and the BBC Scottish Orchestra.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Britten brings energy and warmth to his conducting of the the LSO and ECO – music making that is really fun.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Maurice Millward - Former Owner
