Future Releases

A rare release of Rossini’s Semiramide, showcased by talented opera stars such as

Myrtò Papatanasiu, who has performed as Violetta in David McVicar’s La Traviata (Welsh National Opera).

The Quartet for Saxophones was written at the beginning of the last century. It is a treasure for lovers of the classical saxophone.

This special collection of his works showcases the way in which the composer’s love of poetry formed a crucial basis for much of his choral and operatic music; inspired by poets such as Auden, Smart and Hopkins, Britten crafted their works into compelling narratives. His imaginative text setting and the artful melodies of works such as Rejoice in the Lamb, A Ceremony of Carols and the iconic War Requiem have captivated listeners throughout the 20th century and beyond. Among the world-class performers featured in the collection are Robert Tear, Janet Baker, Elisabeth Söderström and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

This box set is part of our series of Britten releases to mark the composer’s centenary.

Back in 1920, having heard the young Adrian Boult conduct the Second Symphony, Sir Edward Elgar was certain: ‘My reputation in the future is safe in your hands. It was a wonderful series of sounds. Bless you!’ How right Elgar was, as this treasury confirms: the first set to unite all of Boult’s recordings for EMI of a composer he conducted and recorded throughout his long career. We can thereby hear four different versions of the Enigma Variations, recorded between 1936 and 1970, and marvel at their clear-sighted consistency as much as changing nuances of expression over the years.

The oldest recording in this collection, being Sir Adrian’s first of his long association with Elgar, that of the orchestration of the Chopin: Funeral March from his Piano Sonata No. 2, commissioned by the Gramophone Company, was attended by the composer and his daughter.

About a tenth of the total collection is available on CD for the first time in this box set.

This set is part of our series of releases marking 30 years since the conductor’s passing.

After having established her reputation for all time by singing ‘The Angel’ in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with Sir John Barbirolli in 1964, Dame Janet Baker became the mezzo-soprano of choice for numerous conductors, bringing to each performance her incisive musicality, clear diction and natural warmth of tone that endeared her to audiences all over the world. Her range was enormous - from Monteverdi through to 20th century composers, particularly Britten.

EMI is fortunate that it was able to capture so much of her unimpeachable artistic legacy and, although many classic recordings have been available on CD before, nearly 25% of the collection is new to this medium including her Monteverdi and Scarlatti with Leppard, two concerts of duets with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and many of her recordings of English and French songs. Indeed this collection is a fitting tribute to a remarkable talent who will shortly celebrate her 80th birthday.

This fascinating recording brings two contrasting composers together, linked by their 3rd violin and piano sonatas. Grieg’s third and final violin sonata was finished in January 1887, dedicated to the German painter Franz Lenbach. Medtner’s 3rd sonata was also his last one and this was dedicated to his brother Emil, completed in 1938 and premiered the following year at the Aeolian Hall, London by the violinist Arthur Catterall and Medtner himself at the piano.