Rossini (1942)

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime - he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwangler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part ofthe music scene.

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwängler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part of the music scene.

Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the New York Philharmonic, America’s oldest symphony orchestra. 65 CDs of famous New York Philharmonic performances conducted by many of its most renowned music directors, from the very first recording in 1917 up to 1995.

If you're considering a career in opera, it doesn't hurt to have your parents speaking Swedish and Russian at home while your school teaches you French, German and English. It also helps to have one of the most beautiful tenor tones and strongest technical foundations in the world. The wide-ranging repertoire that resulted for Gedda is explored across 11 CDs…

10 CD Wallet Box of the greatest voices in Opera including Maria Callas, Rosa Ponselle, Kirsten Flagstad, Lotte Lehman, Enrico Caruso, Giuseppe Stefano, Benjamino Gigli, Lauritz Melchior, Richard Tauber and Tito Gobbi.

Malcolm Sargent's reputation as one of the great popularizers of classical music in Britain arose not only through his long association with the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (1947-67), but was evident much earlier through chief conductorships of the Halle (1939-42), Liverpool Philharmonic (1942-48), and BBC Symphony Orchestras (1950-57).
By the time he became a fixture at the Proms in 1947 Sir Malcolm (he was knighted in 1947) his was one of the best-known names in England. In personality, showmanship, and energy he was ideal for the nightly concerts.

Among his extensive chamber music output, Bohuslav Martinu left behind three magnificent cello sonatas, as well as a host of smaller works for cello and piano. Though not as extensively recorded as other standard repertoire works, there are some exemplary recordings of Martinu's sonatas, most notably the one made by Janos Starker and Rudolf Firkusný (who premiered the First Sonata with Fournier).