Gino Marinello Orchestra

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra Despite many name changes, the Czech (or Prague) Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of the country's most significant cultural institutions.

The BBC reversed its position in 1933 and re-expanded its regional orchestras. Thus the BBC Northern Orchestra was founded. Initially there was an arrangement by which the BBC NO and the Hallé used many of the same musicians, but during the War this proved impractical as both maintained a busy morale-building touring schedule. The BBC NO remained popular and thus was able to survive a new BBC push to eliminate regional orchestras in the 1950s. In the end, the orchestra was expanded to sixty-seven players and named the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra and continued to grow in prestige for the next two decades.

Charles Villiers Stanford felt a special affinity for the orchestral song, an idiom which began to establish itself as a distinct art form in its own right at the end of the nineteenth century with composers such as Mahler, Richard Strauss, Elgar and Bantock. This recording, released to mark the composer's centenary year, features a wide selection of colourful and inventive orchestrations he made of his own songs and arrangements of Irish folk melodies for the concert hall, many of which were made for the leading soloists of the days such as Harry Plunket Greene, David Bispham, Marie Brema and Olga Michailoff (the wife of Henry Wood).

The BBC reversed its position in 1933 and re-expanded its regional orchestras. Thus the BBC Northern Orchestra was founded. Initially there was an arrangement by which the BBC NO and the Hallé used many of the same musicians, but during the War this proved impractical as both maintained a busy morale-building touring schedule. The BBC NO remained popular and thus was able to survive a new BBC push to eliminate regional orchestras in the 1950s. In the end, the orchestra was expanded to sixty-seven players and named the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra and continued to grow in prestige for the next two decades.

Four of the finest roots albums ever to see issue.. Includes tracks new to CD. Performed and produced by one of British music’s greatest talents. By the mid-1970s, having made his name as one of Britain’s most gifted and versatile musical talents with leading UK reggae outfit Matumbi, Dennis ‘Blackbeard’ Bovell sought to expand his horizons further by creating new material away from the confines of the group. Arguably his most impressive works from this time were four albums released under the nom-de-plume of the 4th Street Orchestra. Released between 1976 and 1978, each set comprised a mixture of high-quality roots and dub, with their sound so authentic, reggae connoisseurs were convinced the music had to be of Jamaican origin. Today, these seminal – and now hugely collectable - LPs are widely regarded by music fans to be among the finest British produced reggae music ever to see issue during the roots era. Now, at long last, they are brought together for this essential set, with a further eight Dennis Bovell-produced bonus tracks from the period making this 2CD even more compelling.

This album of some of the 20th century’s most captivating songs and standards are heard here in dazzling new arrangements by Richard Balcombe. With a perfect marriage of words and music, these classic songs have a timeless appeal. Whether written for movies, revues or musicals, or specifically for the most renowned singers of the day, all the greatest composers and lyricists of the time are represented in this outstanding new collection.

Inspired by hearing performances of Handel’s oratorios during his visits to London, Haydn composed Die Schöpfung (The Creation) in 1798. Through a series of accompanied recitatives, arias, duets and choruses, the music depicts the creation of the universe and the carefree existence of Adam and Eve. Haydn drew on the full complement of his symphonic and vocal prowess which reach peaks of almost operatic intensity.

Inspired by hearing performances of Handel’s oratorios during his visits to London, Haydn composed Die Schöpfung (The Creation) in 1798. Through a series of accompanied recitatives, arias, duets and choruses, the music depicts the creation of the universe and the carefree existence of Adam and Eve. Haydn drew on the full complement of his symphonic and vocal prowess which reach peaks of almost operatic intensity.

Charles Villiers Stanford felt a special affinity for the orchestral song, an idiom which began to establish itself as a distinct art form in its own right at the end of the nineteenth century with composers such as Mahler, Richard Strauss, Elgar and Bantock. This recording, released to mark the composer's centenary year, features a wide selection of colourful and inventive orchestrations he made of his own songs and arrangements of Irish folk melodies for the concert hall, many of which were made for the leading soloists of the days such as Harry Plunket Greene, David Bispham, Marie Brema and Olga Michailoff (the wife of Henry Wood).

Four of the finest roots albums ever to see issue.. Includes tracks new to CD. Performed and produced by one of British music’s greatest talents. By the mid-1970s, having made his name as one of Britain’s most gifted and versatile musical talents with leading UK reggae outfit Matumbi, Dennis ‘Blackbeard’ Bovell sought to expand his horizons further by creating new material away from the confines of the group. Arguably his most impressive works from this time were four albums released under the nom-de-plume of the 4th Street Orchestra. Released between 1976 and 1978, each set comprised a mixture of high-quality roots and dub, with their sound so authentic, reggae connoisseurs were convinced the music had to be of Jamaican origin. Today, these seminal – and now hugely collectable - LPs are widely regarded by music fans to be among the finest British produced reggae music ever to see issue during the roots era. Now, at long last, they are brought together for this essential set, with a further eight Dennis Bovell-produced bonus tracks from the period making this 2CD even more compelling.