Brahms Song Book

Through Romany Songland, soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian takes the listener on a journey through lieder by Brahms, Bizet and Dvorak, operetta by Lehar, Kalman and Herbert, and spicy Spanish songs.

Some of Stephen Hough’s most exquisite recordings come from his collaborations with EMI and Virgin Classics during this early period, offering a taste of the pianist’s impeccable touch, his musical and intellectual rigor, and his fondness for the short showpieces that filled late 19th-century salons and peppered the 78 rpm records of golden-age pianists. In the two all-Liszt recitals, Stephen Hough is also in his element, creating atmospheric colors, with notes flowing like streams of pearls, shaping and magnifying the dramatic depth of these works. From Mozart to Schumann, Brahms to Britten, looking back at the great virtuoso tradition while looking forward through his own arrangements, Stephen Hough presents, through these early recordings, a fascinating portrait of a young artist whose brilliant, artistic intellect and appetite for creativity remains unmatched today.

Given the depth, range and quality of the Deutsche Grammophon catalogue, it’s hardly been difficult to put together another anthology of great recordings and great artists. The structure is as before – here are 53 original albums (including three double-sets), featuring the great names of Deutsche Grammophon’s recording history, presented, once more, in alphabetical order of artist. Claudio Abbado leads off with a complete Carmen and Krystian Zimerman rounds off with his memorable account of the Chopin Ballades.

From the notes: It is no surprise that Bach featured prominently among her first records. The G major French Suite, in particular, was one of her specialties, and she often programmed a number of preludes and fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier in her recitals. Scarlatti was another composer admired by Hess, and her recording of the two sonatas vividly display her clarity of articulation and sensitivity of touch. Of particular interest among the American Columbia recordings are the works by 20th century composers. … the selections by Debussy and Ravel which she recorded reveal her to be a superb colorist. ,,,, Perhaps most fascinating is the inclusion of De Falla's showy Ritual Fire Dance, although atypical of her preferred repertoire she carries it off with stylish aplomb." written by Wayne Kiley

A unique 8-CD collection comprising nine hours of the best loved classical music!
This Box-Set from the company Naxos could be called "Short Course of Classical Music" or "Music Encyclopedia." And indeed - the publication includes, perhaps, the most famous, popular, rumored and accessible even unprepared listener works, fully consistent with the company's philosophy: the provision of a wide range of good music, well-played and high-quality recorded, accessible to everyone. A great opportunity to discover this endless world of music, proven for centuries.

It is no surprise that Bach featured prominently among her first records. The G major French Suite, in particular, was one of her specialties, and she often programmed a number of preludes and fugues from the WTC. Scarlatti was another composer admired by Hess, and her recording of the two sonatas vividly display her clarity of articulation and sensitivity of touch. Of particular interest among the American Columbia recordings are the works by 20th century composers. … the selections she recorded reveal her to be a superb colorist. ,,,, Perhaps most fascinating is the inclusion of De Falla's showy Ritual Fire Dance, although atypical of her preferred repertoire she carries it off with stylish aplomb."

By Wayne Kiley

Deutsche Grammophon is lucky in that World War II didn't slow classical recordings in Germany as it did in the United States but stimulated them: It was essential for wartime morale. Thus, if you can get past any repugnance related to these recordings' genesis, there's a huge amount to enjoy. There's a disc of lieder by all the prewar greats (Franz Volker, Tiana Lemnitz, Erna Berger, and Heinrich Schlusnus), a disc of Wagner featuring young Hans Hotter, opera and operetta performances by Berger and Helge Roswaenge, and a disc showing how the German singers gave Italian opera a distinctively Nordic but highly communicative edge. The set is crowned by a complete Winterreise that was recorded by Peter Anders in 1945 (and sounds it): the cultivated tenor's anguished performance embodies a Germany facing the abyss. –David Patrick Stearns

A unique 8-CD collection comprising nine hours of the best loved classical music!