Wagner: Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music (Die Zauberfeuer)

Released for the Wagner bicentenary in May 2013, the first disc by a British organist entirely devoted to Wagner, and a major contribution to the small discography of Wagner transcriptions for a solo instrument.

Wagner’s major orchestral works, including the Overture to Mastersingers and Ride of the Valkyries, in virtuoso transcriptions for solo organ by Edwin Lemare.

Played by Jonathan Vaughn on the 1911 Harrison and Harrison organ of St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol – regarded as one of the finest high Romantic organs ever built.

Jonathan Vaughn is a former organ scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, and is most often heard accompanying the world-class choir of Wells Cathedral in his capacity as assistant organist of the Cathedral.

This debut solo recording from Jonathan Vaughn demonstrates his supreme virtuosity in powerfully dramatic repertoire, as well as the immense range of tone colour of the Redcliffe organ, and will capture the imagination of all lovers of Wagner’s music.

The Masters of the Piano Roll continues with Volume 14 in this series of recordings of the great pianists of the 20th Century.

These piano rolls are nearly 100 years old and come from a collection owned by Denis Condon who is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the piano roll and has some 18,000 in his collection

These recordings were made in 1992 and recorded on a brand new Yamaha Concert Grand under Denis’s supervision – they are not historical recordings.

After the Telefunken recordings of Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Tah 698-700), this is another welcome reissue: several rarities from the famous Capitol label which seem to have disappeared completely. Music lovers have long searched for these rare performances, at last made available. In these recordings we can admire the wonderful playing of the famous Hamburg strings, led by Erich Röhn and Arthur Troester, but also the beauty of the sound of Gerhard Otto’s flute and above all the incredible clarinet playing of Rudolf Irmisch (Waldweben).

Recorded April and December 1955

Early recordings of favourite Wagner orchestral selections still possess a special mystique. Five conducting giants, all born within 20 years of Wagner's death and all of whom made notable appearances at the Bayreuth Festival, are represented in this collection. Especially notable is the comparison between Hans Knappertsbusch's youthful exuberance for Polydor in 1927-28 and his final moving studio documents (on the Westminster label, in stereo) of 1962. Also featured: Furtwängler, de Sabata, Elmendorff and Jochum.