(Guitar) "Yepes' cadenza is as clean and bright as a new pin, and his rapid repeated-note finish is fantastic." "I am coming to regard the Fantasia para un gentilhombre with it's gracious nobility and baroque feeling as a masterpiece to match the more famous Concierto de Aranjuez." (Harp): "Zabaleta plays most beautifully and the recording is immaculate." (Gramophone)

Regarding this performance of the 7th Symphony, The Sunday Times remarked; "This beautiful performance deserves to win many new friends for Dvorak's most Brahmsian symphony. Davis's love of this music shines out of every bar culminating in a towering account of the finale, which unlike many, here emerges as a fully satisfying conclusion" With reference to the 8th symphony, BBC Music Magazine applauded this performance; "More successfully than any other recording, Davis captures the slow movement's elusive heart of darkness." BBC Radio 3 1st Choice Recording.

Tirimo is a fine pianist with first-rate technical command, and understands Debussy's world well. (Gramophone). "Probably first choice for those wanting a modern digital recording offering the complete set... recording most realistic and natural." (Penguin Guide). "A most enjoyable recital, and one for which listeners will be grateful... What is Impressive is the pianist's integration of fragility and firmness, simplicity and complexity." (Gramophone). "I'm glad to be able to praise a fluid but unhurried Jeux d'eau that is well served, too, by the velvety-rich recorded sound... it 's attractive. So are the Sonatine, and the tenderly solemn Pavane pour une infante defunte." (Gramophone). "Dickinson made Satie's music a center point of his repertoire, and his thoughtful approach to this highly rewarding music is all his own... variety of articulation and color is fully at the service of the composer." (Penguin Guide).

Some of the earliest masterworks of Jordi Savall plus his famous authentic Forerunners !

crisp, clear-sighted approach, all proceeds at a proper tempo and, where appropriate, with a spring in it's heels. The slow movements are sensitively expressive... this is basically how such works would have been heard in their time, you may feel this is the way it should be... The strings are 'authentic' and respectful of every element... I thoroughly enjoyed this and the superb recording "Ivor Bolton is close enough to be heard in realistic balance, (his) clean and incisive fingers bring the music to life in these most enjoyable recordings." (Gramophone)

He was very well thought of by Stanford, at the Royal College of Music; and not just out of sympathy with allowing a black composer a hearing in London. The Clarinet Quintet (that pleased Stanford) also received approval from Joachim. It is a very agreeable quintet, most acceptably performed and recorded, and as easy on the ear as it's more famous predecessors (Mozart and Brahms). Petite suite de concert: lovable music; Other of the piano music could have great appeal: especially so could the arrangements of Spiritual Melodies with their easygoing simplicity (MusicWeb)

altogether this is as tempting a Hummel collection as any we know... His G major (mandolin) Concerto here in even more agreeable form, as Op.73 Piano Concertino, and Martin Galling is even more persuasive, helped by a very spirited backing in Berlin... also La Galante, a lilting Rondo for solo piano... Zukerman and Faerber return for Hummel's Bassoon Concerto, impressive to be discussed in the same breath as Mozart's, particularly with this splendid soloist, who is deliciously jocular in the characterful finale. The disc concludes with Septet Militaire, Op.114: the very happy finale, with it's ingenious upward scale, is most felicitous (Gramophone)

(His) Symphony is a very likeable discovery. Both middle movements display a disarming melodic felicity and assurance, and admiring glances towards Dvorak, although Stanford (his teacher) was never happy with the finale. It was first played by RCM students in 1896 (including Holst and Vaughan Williams !). Although it went down well, it gathered dust for over a century. Bostock's alert and affectionate lead enjoy making it's acquaintance... crisp and clear sound for this world premiere recording. In every respect, a solid thumbs-up [Gramophone] "The much-loved Hiawatha's Wedding Feast recalls the extraordinary excitement of it's first performance. Coleridge-Taylor was then 23 and the work an immediate and wild success. Parry suggested that because of the composer's West African father, "he loved plenty of sound, plenty of colour, simple and definite rhythms and, above all, plenty of tune". All these qualities kept it popular, and are admirably captured here: the Philharmonia provide the orchestral colour, and Sir Malcolm keeps the admirable Royal Choral Society on their rhythmic toes. Richard Lewis gives a suitably romantic Onaway! Awake, beloved ! Hiawatha's Wedding Feast has been done proud in every way" [Gramophone]

Amy Beach was one of the first prominent women composers in the United States. She is the first American woman to compose a symphony and to have it be performed by an orchestra. This recording presents some of Amy Beach's most popular works for piano. Originally released on KOCH this recording features pianist Virginia Eskin, a performer who has spent her career championing women composers. Alto is pleased to bring this recording back to international availability.

Heitor Villa-Lobos and Alberto Ginastera are two of the most popular South American classical composers to have lived. Paired here with composer Carlos Chavez, this recording features some of the best orchestral music Latin America has to offer.

For this box, ALTO has compiled ten albums by as many outstanding pianists of the 20th century. These include both exemplary recordings and new compilations by ALTO as well as live recordings from the catalogs of the great labels. The entire 20th century is covered from Artur Schnabel and Artur Rubinstein to Marta Argerich with works by composers they were highly celbrated for. The interested enthusiast doesn't get a random grab bag here, but rather a well-thought-out program that also impresses connoisseurs. 10 Giants of the Keyboard: Marta Argerich; Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Ravel, Prokofiev Vladimir Ashkenazy; Chopin Alfred Brendel; Schubert including complete Impromptus Emil Gilels; Schumann, Chopin, Tchaikovsky GLenn Gould; Bach 1955 Goldbergs, Partitas, Fugues Vladimir Horowitz; Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Scriabin, othrs Wilhelm Kempff; Mozart concerti Sviatoslav Richter; Iconic Schubert Artur Rubinstein; Chopin Favourites Artur Schnabel; Beethoven collection

Leopold Stokowski was one of the pre-eminent conductors of the early to mid 20th century. For the first time ever his complete recordings for the Everest and Vanguard labels are in one box set.

The complete Symphonies of Tchaikovsky along with other favourite orchestral works in one box set. Featuring famous Russian conductors such as Rozhdestvensky, Mravinsky, Svetlanov, Kogan and Kondrashin along with famous artists such as Richter, Oistrakh and Rostropovich.

Ledger has the advantage of fresh and detailed digital recording. He directs resilient, well-paced readings of all 6 concertos on modern instruments, lively, yet never over-forced. The slow movements in particular are most beautifully done, persuasively and without mannerism. Flutes rather than recorders are used in No.4. (Penguin Guide 3 stars) "I suggested this as the best of the budget-price CD versions - a commendation it now retains. All the soloists (listed inside) play with accuracy and sensitivity, Garcia earning an honourable mention for the fleet-fingered dispatch in Concerto No.4. There are many good things in this set, not least the expressively played slow movements" (Gramophone)

Szymanowski is among the most exciting of twentieth century composers... a highly individual style which owes nothing to anyone... Try the first few bars of this recording; I should be surprised if you wanted to (stop) before the end... his early sonata, has many signs of that strange genius... It's melodies, like it's structural features, allow a highly personal rather than nationalistic flavour, in this very well recorded performance... "Oistrakh's superbly poised and eloquent performance of the Hindemith Concerto... when a great artist does take up a modern work, what a difference it makes!... this is a really outstanding violin concerto - one of the finest of our time; and exquisitely beautiful at times." (Gramophone)

Here (Jurowski) offers performances that are near ideal, the electric tension giving the illusion of live music-making. We have had some impressive recordings from this orchestra in the past but this one is among the finest. Tchaikovsky's Third Suite... Jurowski, maybe influenced by conducting opera and ballet, brings out the surging lyricism...'Elegie', the phrasing totally idiomatic. The rhythmic Waltz leads to a dazzling Scherzo, taken at a genuine presto, while the Variations have rarely seemed so attractive, with a thrilling build-up and conclusion. With exceptionally vivid sound, recorded by Dutch engineers in Moscow, this disc cannot be recommended too highly. (Gramophone)

VERY BEST OF JUSSI BJORLING: PEARL FISHERS DUET

that Albinoni wrote excellent solo concertos is clear enough from this record, all players involved are splendid... very well recorded. These will please admirers of I Musici, the group is well-balanced and the soloists admirable. The oboe concerto No.2 is splendid, while the finale of No.5 is irresistible. Of the violin concertos Nos.7 and 10 are outstanding... Op.5 is an altogether tauter piece, and indeed a very distinguished one by any standards, with an exquisite central Adagio(Gramophone)

A brand new collection of dances for orchestra, all together for the first time on one disc from Malcolm Arnold, Peter Warlock, Iain Hamilton, Edward Elgar and Gustav Holst.

Tebaldi offers a forthright, lusty account of Mascagni's piece of blood and thunder and has the distinction of three excellent soloists. She is most moving in Voi lo sapete and the rich firmness of Bastianini's baritone is beautifully caught. As always, Bj�rling shows himself the most intelligent of tenors [Penguin Guide]

PUCCINI: LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST- GIRL OF THE GOLDEN

Sviatoslav Richter was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, known for his profound musical intellect, colossal technique, and uncompromising artistic integrity. His interpretations, spanning composers from Bach to 20th-century contemporaries, remain benchmarks for pianists and listeners alike. This new collection from Alto brings together Richter's performances of Brahms from the Melodiya and RCA labels.

Giuseppe Tartini's "Devil's Trill Sonata" is one of the most famous and dramatic violin sonatas of the Baroque era, known as much for the legend behind it as for it's technical brilliance. In this new collection from Alto, this famous work is paired with Tartini's "Didone abbandonata" sonata and Vivaldi's Five Double Violin Concertos. All performed by the legendary violinist David Oistrakh.

(Fireworks) "The resulting sound is splendid, helped along by judicious editing the brass and percussion do often kindle a glorious blaze which is caught beautifully by the recording, an extravaganza which can scarcely fail to become a collectors' piece." (Concerto a due Cori) "chief praise to Mr. Mackerras for uncovering this splendid Concerto for two wind bands - a transcription of some of Handel's arrangements from oratorio and organ concertos - I expect to see it widely performed." (Water Music) "orchestral playing throughout is quite outstanding: the strings wonderfully expressive, the horns excel. A splendid bargain." (Penguin Guide)

Two of the Top 10 Jazz Albums of all time, First time budget price for both albums on 1 CD. [Giant Steps] "perhaps Coltrane's most playable, memorable, and best-sustained record. The tunes are uniformly marvellous, riffs or steps or even melodies which have become integral parts of the modern jazz book" [MFT] "dominated by his soprano sax.. The important thing is that both Coltrane and Tyner reduce the material to a couple of scales and ignore the changes, without forgetting to return to the main theme.gives the music a suitably endless feel" (Penguin Jazz Guide)