Marshall Philips

Joseph Haydn the composer of symphonies, string quartets, piano trios, piano sonatas, and a plethora of other instrumental works was also Joseph Haydn the composer, director, and producer of operas. His employer, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, greatly enjoyed opera, and for nearly 20 years Haydn's full-time job was running the theater at Esterháza, the Prince's pleasure palace in Hungary. In the first decade, Haydn wrote 10 operas for his company, the most successful of which ran for 20 performances. In tone, they range from the comic to the semi-serious to the wholly serious, and in quality, they range between the operas of Gluck and Mozart.

In 1718 Vivaldi entered the employment of Prince Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt who had been appointed governor of Mantua, then part of the Austrian Empire. His responsibilities seem to have been varied but probably the most important of them was to provide operas for his employer’s court. One of these was Tito Manlio, which was produced for the Mantuan Carnival season in 1719; and, if we are to believe a note by Vivaldi himself at the head of the score, written in the space of five days.

L’incontro improvviso (The unexpected encounter) is an opera in three acts by Joseph Haydn first performed at Eszterháza on 29 August 1775 to mark the four-day visit of Archduke Ferdinand, Habsburg governor of Milan and his consort Maria Beatrice d’Este. The opera is designated a dramma giocoso (a comic opera) and is an example of the then Austrian fascination with Turkish subjects...

John Eliot Gardiner's is a highly musical and inspired account of Messiah, featuring an excellent group of soloists and an outstanding period-instrument band. With dance rhythms athletically sprung and da capo arias tastefully ornamented, the performance generates consistent interest and is lively in spite of its length. There is splendid choral singing from the Monteverdi Choir–the ending of "All We Like Sheep" is quite potent–and much wonderful work from the soloists. The recording, made in 1982, is impeccable.

This Mass in B Minor led by Sir Neville Marriner is an excellent choice for those looking for modern orchestral instruments, lively, full adult choruses, and a solid lineup of soloists. Marriner’s performance lacks the ponderously stodgy tempos of those older recordings, but he does not bypass the beauty, spirituality, or grandiosity inherent in the music in favour of speed.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce a 2CD Anthology by the classic Scottish Progressive Rock group Beggars Opera. Drawing on material from the band’s first four albums, recorded for the legendary Vertigo label, "Nimbus" features 27 of the band’s best tracks.
Formed in Glasgow in 1969 with a line-up of Rick Gardiner (Guitar, Vocals), Alan Park (Keyboards), Martin Griffiths (Vocals), Marshall Erskine (Bass, Flute) and Raymond Wilson (Drums), the band signed to the newly established progressive arm of Philips Records, Vertigo, in 1970. Their debut album, "Act One" gained some success in Europe with tracks such as ‘Poet and Peasant’ and ‘Passacagalia’…

John Eliot Gardiner's is a highly musical and inspired account of Messiah, featuring an excellent group of soloists and an outstanding period-instrument band. With dance rhythms athletically sprung and da capo arias tastefully ornamented, the performance generates consistent interest and is lively in spite of its length. There is splendid choral singing from the Monteverdi Choir–the ending of "All We Like Sheep" is quite potent–and much wonderful work from the soloists. The recording, made in 1982, is impeccable.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce a 2CD Anthology by the classic Scottish Progressive Rock group Beggars Opera. Drawing on material from the band’s first four albums, recorded for the legendary Vertigo label, "Nimbus" features 27 of the band’s best tracks.
Formed in Glasgow in 1969 with a line-up of Rick Gardiner (Guitar, Vocals), Alan Park (Keyboards), Martin Griffiths (Vocals), Marshall Erskine (Bass, Flute) and Raymond Wilson (Drums), the band signed to the newly established progressive arm of Philips Records, Vertigo, in 1970. Their debut album, "Act One" gained some success in Europe with tracks such as ‘Poet and Peasant’ and ‘Passacagalia’…