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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Sir Adrian Boult conducts Brahms & Mendelssohn
Just prior to the Second World War, Sir Adrian Boult (1889–1983) single-handedly built the BBC Symphony Orchestra into a world-renowned ensemble that attracted such artists as Arturo Toscanini, Serge Koussevitzky and Bruno Walter to conduct it. After retiring from the BBCSO in 1950, Boult became chief conductor of the London Philharmonic until 1957. He continued to guest conduct and record prolifically until 1978 and enjoyed an ‘Indian summer’ in the studio with both English music (Vaughan Williams and Elgar) and nineteenth-century German repertoire (Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Schubert and Wagner). His early studies at the Leipzig Conservatory with Max Reger and with the charismatic conductor Arthur Nikisch, who knew Brahms, gave Boult a unique understanding of this composer. Boult’s period in Leipzig also brought him in touch with the music of Mendelssohn, who had founded the Conservatory as well as being appointed as conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. The live 1975 Proms performance of Brahms’s Symphony No.4 has never been issued before. The live account is more electrifying than the studio recording made in 1972. It has been recorded in stereo and fully captures the ‘Indian summer’ that Boult enjoyed at the Proms and in the studio with EMI at the time. The Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 was recorded live in stereo and has never been issued before. It is a comparative rarity in that Boult’s only other recorded performances were in 1966 (unissued on CD) and in 1954 in mono. “Vintage Boult performances recorded at the Proms. The Brahms has tremendous forward momentum, while the Mendelssohn exudes virtuosity.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 **** | 
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
“These performances turn out to be the exact opposite anyone might expect from Klemperer… I like the opening tempo of the “Italian” enormously … the final Saltarello goes with great zest, the recording has excellent soft playing and the performance is everywhere very good.” Gramophone Magazine | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Sir Neville Marriner & Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Beethoven: | Grosse Fuge in B flat major, Op. 133 arr. Marriner. Royal Albert Hall, London, 25 August 1975 | Britten: | Les illuminations, Op. 18 Royal Albert Hall, London, 12 August 1983 Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor) | Handel: | Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (from Solomon) St John’s Smith Square, London, 23 & 24 May 1974 Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 11 in A major, HWV329 St John’s Smith Square, London, 23 & 24 May 1974 | Mendelssohn: | Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian' Royal Albert Hall, London, 12 August 1983 |
The brainchild of Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields was founded in 1959, quickly becoming an example of the highest level of chamber musicianship in Britain, paving the way for the revival of Baroque performances. Described by Denis Stevens as owning ‘more sense of style than all the chamber orchestras in Europe’, the Academy made a prolific number of recordings over the years, becoming the most recorded chamber orchestra in the world. Having taken conducting lessons from Pierre Monteux, Marriner became known for his rhythmic and precise style, and was responsible for the refined string sound for which the Academy became famous. Marriner’s rendition of Mendelssohn’s ‘Italian’ Symphony is energetic and committed, yet sensitively communicated. Rolfe-Johnson’s Proms performance of Britten’s Les Illuminations took place at the height of his career. He performed at the world’s major opera chouses (the Royal Opera House, La Scala, The Met) and with major orchestras (New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra), recording mainly for Hyperion. This performance is utterly convincing. Beethoven’s Große Fuge is a performance of Marriner’s own arrangement for chamber orchestra. Their recording of Beethoven 3 is described in the Penguin Guide as having the impression ‘of weight and strength, coupled with a rare transparency of texture and extraordinary resilience of rhythm’. The ‘interpretive skill and musicianship’ of Marriner and the ASMF, his ‘superb ensemble’ are described in the Penguin Guide featuring Marriner’s recording of the Handel Concerti grossi on Decca. This is the first DVD release of this material. Picture format: 4:3 Running time: 86’ Subtitles: n/a Menu languages: English Booklet languages: E/F/G Region code: 0 Territory Restrictions: None “As the Academy of St Martin in the Fields continues on into its sixth decade...this collection provides a worthwhile reminder of its length of service and the range of its founder...Despite their use of modern instruments and vibrato, Academy of St Martin in the Fields's music-making here is clean and decisive, their unhurried account of the Arrivel of the Queen of Sheba spry and animated.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2012 *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Boston Symphony Orchestra & Charles Munch play Mendelssohn
Access to the publicly broadcast BSO concerts from this era has been extremely difficult even for researchers. This series of DVDs will make these performances available for the first time since they were broadcast. Munch launched the BSO into television in 1955. He was an immensely popular conductor and well suited to being filmed. This material represents some of the earliest televised concerts with the Boston Symphony and Charles Munch, and has been restored using the greatest care and state-of-the-art techniques. It is of exceptional musical interest and rare historic value. Munch recorded Mendelssohn’s Symphonies Nos 3, 4 and 5 with the BSO on RCA. Characteristically lively renditions, Munch’s interpretations of both symphonies are energetic and precise with excellent articulation from the BSO. With Mozart’s Masonic Funeral Music as a bonus track – a new addition to his discography – this DVD is another fine example of a first class orchestra under one of its most charismatic Music Directors. Two Munch/BSO DVDs from ICA Classics’ first set of releases have been awarded the Diapason d’Or in France’s Diapason magazine. 1DVD Sound format: Ambient Mastering Picture format: 4:3 Running time: 70’ Subtitles: n/a Menu languages: English Booklet languages: E/F/G Region code: 0 Territory Restrictions: None | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3-5
Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony, Riccardo Muti’s choice for his first orchestral recording, led Gramophone magazine to judge that: ‘Muti seems a natural Mendelssohnian … this could hardly be more auspicious … full of electricity and a sense of occasion.’ The ‘Italian’ Symphony was subsequently greeted as ‘a glowing, exhilarating performance’, while assessing the ‘Reformation’ Symphony, the reviewer stated: ‘I am immediately impressed’. Complementing the works by Mendelssohn in this collection are tone-poems by Liszt and Franck. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
“Vasary's Scottish Symphony accommodates both forward momentum and Romantic ardour in the slow movement. The Italian has great poise” BBC Music Magazine, October 2011 *** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Haydn, Schubert & Mendelssohn: Symphonies
Born in Vienna in April 1902, the cheery-looking Josef Krips seems to have been pre-destined to achieve eminence in the Viennese classics. He recorded with both, the Wiener Philharmoniker and the key London orchestras for Decca in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and the interpretations have genuine expressive power while remaining devoid of exaggeration or affectation. What could be more enjoyable than spending an hour or two in the company of Haydn, Schubert and Mendelssohn in their sunniest moods, especially when our guide is the amiably expert Viennese conductor Josef Krips? The recordings here take in two London orchestras as well as the Vienna Philharmonic and span nearly ten years (1948-1957). They are especially notable for bringing together all of Krips’s Haydn recordings for Decca. The notes for this issue are by Tully Potter and it forms part of a series of five reissues devoted to the art of Josef Krips. Recording producers: Erik Smith (Haydn Nos. 94, 99); Victor Olof (Haydn Nos. 92, 104, Schubert, Mendelssohn) Recording engineers: James Brown (Haydn Nos. 94, No. 99); Kenneth Wilkinson (Haydn Nos. 92, 104, Schubert, Mendelssohn) Recording locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, April 1948 (Schubert), April 1949 (Haydn No. 104), May 1953 (Haydn No. 92), October 1953 (Mendelssohn); Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, September 1957 (Haydn Nos. 94, 99) “Delightful Viennese peasants in minuet of Surprise and warm good humour in No. 99” BBC Music Magazine, June 2011 **** “This remains the best available version of Haydn’s splendid Symphony No. 99 in E flat” Gramophone Magazine “meticulous dynamics and sensitive phrasing” Gramophone Magazine (Schubert Symphony No. 6) “gracious pleasure to be obtained from the sunshine” Gramophone Magazine (Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Mendelssohn - Orchestral Works
The Decca Ansermet Legacy on Eloquence continues to garner the highest plaudits from publications all around the world and the latest batch presents the maestro’s recordings of four key Austro-German Romantics: Schubert, Weber, Mendelssohn and Schumann. This 2-CD set brings together all of Ansermet’s Mendelssohn and Schubert recordings for Decca. Adopting clarity and muscularity over homogeneity, Ansermet’s Mendelssohn has dalliance and grace, not to mention wit. The Schubert Rosamunde music is notable particularly for its gorgeously cradled B-flat Entr’acte as well as the Ballet Music No. 1, previously unpublished, possibly due to the limiting length of the LP side – the original LP coupling the Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream excerpts with Schubert’s Rosamunde. [Mendelssohn Symphony and Overtures] “…fresh, lovely and perceptive Mendelssohn playing, beautifully recorded” Gramophone [Midsummer Night's Dream & Rosamunde] “…enjoyable and musicianly performances…” Gramophone | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Schumann & Mendelssohn - Symphonies
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