Franz Von Suppé Philharmonia Promenade Orchestra Henry Krips Ouvertüren (1957, CD Reissue 1990)

An exceptionally fine performance of the Mendelssohn string quintets by Jaime Laredo, Ani Kavafian, Heiichiro Ohyama, Kim Kashkashian and Sharon Robinson can be found on CD45883 (61 minutes: ADD). These are rhythmically alert and spirited readings, played with great charm and eloquence. They are an especially welcome addition to a catalogue that sports no rival version of No. 1 and only one of No. 2. The 1978 recording is one of the best in the batch, exceptionally well balanced with a fine feeling of depth and presence. Strongly recommended. (Gramophone)

Beethoven thought the libretto immoral, Wagner thought it trivial. It was Herbert von Karajan’s mentor and inspiration, the composer and conductor Richard Strauss, who brought Mozart’s Così fan tutte back centre stage in the early years of the 20th century, since when this exquisite, witty and subtly disturbing exploration of sexual politics has become one of Mozart’s best-loved works. The present set preserves one of its most admired recordings, originally released in the autumn of 1955 on the eve of the bicentenary of Mozart’s birth. Gramophone described it as a ‘superlative issue’, perfectly staged for the microphone with an ideal cast and conducting and playing of the finest quality. ‘Listening with friends in my music room’, wrote the critic Alec Robertson, ‘gave the impression that by some miracle the opera was being performed there to a scale proportionate to its size, enabling us to savour the exquisite music, without any of the usual distractions.’

It took Brahms many years to compose his First Symphony; he shared much of his compositional journey with Clara Schumann, sending her a birthday card in 1868 with the notation of an Alpine horn tune that became the famous theme of the symphony's finale. The whole work is underpinned by a version of Robert Schumann's own 'Clara' motif.

Singer Barbara Lea often recalls her idol and friend Lee Wiley on this set of love songs. The backup is uniformly tasteful but changes from song to song with such impressive stylists as trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, baritonist Ernie Caceres, Garvin Bushell (on oboe and bassoon), Dick Cary (the arranger on piano and alto horn), guitarist Jimmy Raney and (on a beautiful version of "True Love") harpist Adele Girard making memorable appearances. Lea's straightforward and heartfelt delivery is heard at its best on such songs as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Mountain Greenery," "More than You Know" and "Autumn Leaves" (which is partly taken in French). These interpretations are often touching.

The first recording of the second Mahavishnu Orchestra was a real stretch for John McLaughlin, an encounter with Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra. The union wasn't taken seriously at the time, and it ended up harming the reputation of Thomas - a remarkably adventurous young conductor who defied the stuffy classical powers-that-be and thus probably delayed his eventual rise to the top - more than McLaughlin. But those with ears, then and now, beheld a remarkable series of pieces that neatly juxtapose and occasionally combine the combustion of McLaughlin's group with rich, tasteful symphonic statements orchestrated for McLaughlin by Michael Gibbs…

Das berühmte Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker ist auch 2020 der prachtvolle und exzellente Auftakt zum neuen Klassik-Jahr.Im festlichen und für seinen Klang berühmten Goldenen Saal des Wiener Musikvereins präsentieren die Wiener Philharmoniker ein beschwingtes Programm.Erstmals leitet der lettische Dirigent Andris Nelsons, einer der besten Dirigenten der Welt und bekannt auch als Chef des Gewandhauses Leipzig, die Wiener Philharmoniker, mit denen er seit vielen Jahren eng verbunden ist.Das unterhaltsame Programm enthält bekannte und entdeckenswerte Walzer und Polkas von Johann Strauss Vater und Sohn, Carl Michael Ziehrer, Franz von Suppé, Hans Christian Lumbye und anderen Komponisten.Und das allererste Mal ist bei einem Neujahrskonzert auch Musik von Ludwig van Beethoven zu hören, dessen 250.Geburtstag die Klassik-Welt 2020 feiert.