Spanish conductor Ataúlfo Argenta cheated death many times in his short life; during the Spanish Civil War, he talked his way out of execution by a firing squad, contracted typhoid in prison, and survived that in addition to its recurrence later in his life.
Kyung Wha Chung's dazzling and probing artistry has made her one of classical music's most acclaimed performers. Lauded for her passion, her musicality and the intense excitement that she brings to her performances, Chung's uniquely expressive interpretations of the violin literature have established her as an artist of the very highest stature.
This set brings together for the first time Britten's complete Decca recordings as pianist and conductor in which he performs music by other composers - an astonishing variety of music that ranges from large-scale choral works by Bach and Purcell to Schumann and Elgar, as well as orchestral works by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Solo vocal repertory is generously represented with important works by Schubert and Schumann and early twentieth-century English song. Chamber music features Britten the pianist in partnership with two of Britten's closest collaborators: Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter.
A genius signed to Decca in 1946 who defined Deccas piano sound in the 1950s and 1960s with ravishing cantabile and depth of sonority borne of matchless technique. Complete Decca Recordings on 35CDs, including new-to-CD early recordings remastered from 78s, plus some of Deccas first-ever LPs.
Presentation includes 35CD Lift-off- lid box; notes by Cyrus Meher-Homji in English, German and French; rare photos and selected original covers in booklet. A child prodigy of startling promise, Julius Katchen matured into a pianist of broad interests and unique artistry. His death at age 42 denied a discerning public the presence of one of Deccas star instrumentalists during the 1950s and 1960s.
Pierre Monteux was remembered by Sir Georg Solti in his memoirs as "one of most brilliant conductors of the first half of the twentieth century"
• Assembled together, for the first time, Pierre Monteux’s complete recordings for Decca,Philips, Westminster and Decca/RCA.
• Including bonus disc of rehearsal material never before released, from producer Christopher Raeburn’s archives (courtesy of the British Library) – including
Daphnis et Chlo? and Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 3& 9.
• Includes the first international CD release of a Ravel disc conducted by Claude Monteux – Pierre’s son.
Pierre Monteux was remembered by Sir Georg Solti in his memoirs as "one of most brilliant conductors of the first half of the twentieth century"
• Assembled together, for the first time, Pierre Monteux’s complete recordings for Decca,Philips, Westminster and Decca/RCA.
• Including bonus disc of rehearsal material never before released, from producer Christopher Raeburn’s archives (courtesy of the British Library) – including
Daphnis et Chlo? and Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 3& 9.
• Includes the first international CD release of a Ravel disc conducted by Claude Monteux – Pierre’s son.
As Sir András Schiff turns 70 (in December 2023), this 78-disc edition celebrates an artist who has made a significant contribution to shaping Decca’s history through an array of artistic endeavours. Neatly divided into four sections – solo, concertante, lieder and chamber music, the set includes several currently unavailable recordings; the first international release of Beethoven’s complete Violin Sonatas, with Sándor Végh; four CDs’ worth of material recorded on Mozart’s fortepiano; and the booklet includes an interview with Misha Donat in which Schiff tells the story of his journey with Decca.