British Composers
A series celebrating the numerous recordings of British composers which EMI have made over the years. From the very early recordings of Elgar conducting his own works, through a whole host of other composer-conductors to the more recent recordings of Nicholas Maw and Peter Maxwell Davies, this series celebrates all that is good about EMI's commitment to British music.
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Arnold conducts Arnold
RecommendedBournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Arnold
No Arnold collection captures his special magic quite as compellingly as this. — More…
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Very Best of English Song
RecommendedDame Janet Baker (mezzo), Gerald Moore (piano), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), Geoffrey Parsons (piano), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), David Willison (piano), Ian Partridge (tenor), Janet Craxton (piano), Ian Bostridge (tenor), Julius Drake (piano), Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone), Roger Vignoles...
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Building a Library, June 2018, Also recommended
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Building a Library, January 2021, Recommended orchestral version (Songs of Travel)
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Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 4-6
RecommendedJohn Williams (oboe)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Constantin Silvestri, Paavo Berglund, Sir Alexander Gibson
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Building a Library, March 2012, First Choice
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Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
RecommendedRichard Lewis (tenor), Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-Soprano) & Kim Borg (bass)
Hallé Choir, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Ambrosian Singers & Hallé Orchestra, John Barbirolli
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Building a Library, October 2006, First Choice
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Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music, The Lark Ascending & other favourites
RecommendedNew Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Sir Adrian Boult
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Building a Library, October 2001, Budget Choice
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Adès: America A Prophecy
RecommendedSongs & Choral Works
Robin Blaze, Christopher Maltman & Susan Bickley
Polyphony & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Layton & Thomas Ades
Adès’s take on a Madness song about a stressed businessman is a hoot. Although Adès apparently did it from memory, it’s fairly accurate, right down to the piano’s cluster chords. — More…
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Gramophone Awards, 2004, Winner - Contemporary
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Britten: Spring Symphony, Op. 44, etc.
Sheila Armstrong, Janet Baker, Robert Tear
London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Andre Previn
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Elgar: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2, In the South & other orchestral works
RecommendedLondon Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult
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Gramophone Awards, 1977, Winner - Orchestral
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
RecommendedSarah Chang (violin), Ian Bostridge (tenor)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Awards:
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Building a Library, May 2002, First Choice
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Benjamin Britten
RecommendedHeather Harper (soprano), Robert Tear (tenor)
Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, ECO, Sir Neville Marriner, Jeffrey Tate
Tear's Serenade and Nocturne are sterling performances, fervent and expressive without falling into preciousness. Harper's passionate Illuminations makes a strong case for a female voice in... — More…
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Building A Library, March 2022, Also Recommended
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