Sir Charles Mackerras was a towering figure in the world of classical music - renowned for his versatility, meticulous scholarship, and electrifying performances as principal conductor of the English National Opera and a frequent guest conductor with leading orchestras and opera companies worldwide. Mackerras was particularly celebrated for bringing a revelatory freshness to familiar scores through his deep understanding of period performance practices and original manuscripts. This set covers a substantial part of his recorded legacy, ranging over half a century, from his debut on record in 1951 to his finest later recordings.

Conductor Sir Thomas Beecham was one of the two most influential pioneers of early orchestral recording history, alongside Leopold Stokowski, both artists strikingly displaying a new potential in the gramophone's capacity for quality orchestra reproduction through the brilliant sonorities and dynamic shadings of their discs. When Sir Thomas formed his handpicked London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932, it is not an exaggeration to say that a new era of the very highest artistic and virtuosic orchestral quality was born, and he quickly discovered how to seize the kaleidoscopic colours, rhythmic panache and tight discipline of his LPO performances for the gramophone. He repeated the procedure again when he created his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946, and his prolific recording operations with both orchestras set legendary standards of artistry, virtuosity and sonority in gramophone history. All his mono recordings made for Columbia Graphophone and His Master Voice have been collected in this box set as a companion to Warner Classics' box of all his EMI stereo discs, revealing more vividly than ever before their luminous and exhilarating qualities. A lot of the recordings in this boxset have been specially remastered in HD from the original sources, many of them previously unreleased on CD.

With an unmistakable sound and repertoire that ranges from classical to pop, Renaissance to the Beatles, and from folksongs to pop songs through to the avant-garde, the fantastic vocal sextet the King's Singers have enjoyed a unique global career. Formed in 1968, this exceptional group of English vocalists will be celebrating it's 50th birthday in the coming year. 'The Sound of The King's Singers' combines three of the group's most famous albums. Whatever music finds it's way to the Singers' six stands, the product is always fresh and sung with a bright and full yet transparent vocal sound. This includes the lively madrigals from Italy, France, England, and Germany that they recorded in 1984 during their Madrigal History Tour, which, due to the collaboration with the instrumental ensemble 'Consort of Musicke' led by Anthony Rooley, is considered a gem of early music. This is in contrast to a further great achievement of the sextet - the King's Singers' 1985 interpretations of the cheeky musical and film hits of the Comedian Harmonists, which stand as a tribute to the legendary German vocal sextet from the 1930s. In further contrast, the 1989 album 'America' is a homage to the great US pop songs by Paul Simon, Randy Newman and Jimmy Web, with refined arrangements by David Cullen which were specially written for the King's Singers and the English Chamber Orchestra under Carl Davis.

UNDER ONE SKY

Eccentric and dilettante, the quintessential English grand bourgeois, Sir Thomas Beecham was a self-taught conductor with a highly personal style and taste, brimming with elegance and charm. Beyond his tireless activity on stages around the world, he championed an eclectic repertoire ranging from Handel to Stravinsky, encompassing great classics as well as French composers such as Debussy, Saint-Sa�ns, and Bizet -his Carmen remains a landmark recording. A passionate advocate for the music of his compatriot Frederick Delius, Beecham also played a pivotal role in 20th-century English musical life, founding both the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1932) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1946). This box set brings together all the stereo recordings from his rich discography for Columbia and HMV, including the very first experimental stereo recording of Mozart's Symphony No. 41 first movement from April 1934.

Jonas Kaufmann - "The Decca Recordings" [15 CD Boxset] The first boxset anthology chronicling a major chapter in the recording life of supreme tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Encompassing an entire decade of glorious music making from 2002-2012, the collection provides a rounded portrait of Kaufmann as opera star and Lieder recitalist, heard here at the height of his vocal prowess. All recordings unfailingly received rave reviews at the time of release; many of them are standard-setting and are now returned to physical circulation as part of this set. All additional material recorded in sessions for respective albums are included with those albums. Featured among the operatic repertoire is a rare recording of Humperdinck's fairytale opera K�nigskinder with the late Armin Jordan. Also included, is a disc devoted to Kaufmann speaking about Wagner's music and the roles he portrays on his Decca recital disc (audio only, in German and English). Presented on 15 CDs with their original jackets. Limited Edition.

Gabriel Olafs / POLAR - Icelandic composer Gabr?el Olafs' new album Polar is a work of speculative fiction in musical form. Polar provides the soundtrack to a frozen world. A world of towering mountain ranges, desolate tundra, forbidding oceans, and the monolithic remnants of a lost civilization.

Cellist and composer Peter Gregson presents his long-awaited self-titled album: a collection of contemporary songs without words for cello and synthesizer. Described by Gregson as "the closest to what I hear in my head that I've reached," the album reveals a confident self-portrait of a musician at the peak of his imaginative powers. During the recording sessions at Real World Studios, Gregson achieved his ideal sound by running his cello through his self-built synthesizer. The result is a collection of lyrical, atmospheric vignettes that together form the definitive representation of Peter Gregson's artistry.

Luciano Pavarotti - "Mamma" [LP] Originally released in 1984, Mamma is a collection of popular Italian songs, arranged and conducted by Henry Mancini. In his note on the record, Pavarotti exclaimed "I grew up with these songs as did many others of my generation and they now evoke the sound of my childhood." The album is being reissued with newly remastered HD audio for the very first time. These were taken from the pre-master tapes in the Decca vaults and bring a fresh and beautiful perspective to these historic recordings. Verve Label Group; Decca; Classical Crossover; Catalog.

Luciano Pavarotti - "The World's Favourite Tenor Arias" [LP] Originally released in 1975, Pavarotti's esteemed album, The World's Favorite Tenor Arias, is a collection of popular tenor arias from operas Carmen, La Boh�me, Turdandot and many more. To celebrate it's 50th anniversary, the album is reissued with newly remastered HD audio for the very first time. These were taken from the pre-master tapes in the Decca vaults and bring a fresh and beautiful perspective to these historic recordings. Verve Label Group; Decca; Classical Crossover; Catalog.

Harpist Ashley Jackson fuses music and storytelling in Take Me To The Water, a soulful exploration of spirituals, iconic works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Alice Coltrane, and an exhilarating interpretation of Debussy's "Danse Sacree." Take Me To The Water celebrates the transportive nature of water, and of the rivers that unite us.

Luciano Pavarotti - "The World's Favourite Tenor Arias" Originally released in 1975, Pavarotti's esteemed album, The World's Favourite Tenor Arias, is a collection of popular tenor arias from operas Carmen, La Boh�me, Turdandot and many more. To celebrate it's 50th anniversary, the album is reissued with newly remastered HD audio for the very first time. These were taken from the pre-master tapes in the Decca vaults and bring a fresh and beautiful perspective to these historic recordings. Verve Label Group; Decca; Classical Crossover; Catalog.

Luciano Pavarotti - "Mamma" Originally released in 1984, Mamma is a collection of popular Italian songs, arranged and conducted by Henry Mancini. In his note on the record, Pavarotti exclaimed "I grew up with these songs as did many others of my generation and they now evoke the sound of my childhood." The album is being reissued with newly remastered HD audio for the very first time. These were taken from the pre-master tapes in the Decca vaults and bring a fresh and beautiful perspective to these historic recordings. Verve Label Group; Decca; Classical Crossover; Catalog.

GOLDEN RENAISSANCE: PALESTRINA

For many, Oistrakh remains the violinistic ideal. His winning combination of tonal sumptuousness, clear interpretative focus, musical humility and effortless technical poise across a broad repertoire remains unmatched to this day. When Oistrakh played, one felt there was nothing coming between the composer and the listener... He combined fingers of steel with a heart of gold. The Strad magazine

Hollywood, the new album of German pianist Sebastian Knauer is centred around the music and family story of legendary American film music composer Alfred Newman. He recorded it with the son of Alfred Newman, conductor and composer David Newman and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Alfred Newman, the founding father of the Hollywood sound, composer of the world's most famous fanfare, the 20th Century Fox logo, winner of nine Academy Awards, nominated for 45, friend of Gershwin, Copland, Bernard Herrmann, mentor of Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith and founder of the most successful film music dynasty: his younger brothers Emil and Lionel Newman ("Hello, Dolly!"), his older son David Newman ("Ice Age", "Anastasia"), the younger son Thomas Newman ("American Beauty", "James Bond: Skyfall"), his nephew Randy Newman... and his grandchildren are already starting their careers... George Gershwin or Aaron Copland, Alex North or Elmer Bernstein, Bernard Herrmann or Jerry Goldsmith - all the composers on Sebastian Knauer's new album have three things in common: they come from the USA, they have naturally intertwined classical composition and film music and they are closely associated with Alfred Newman.

In 1974, at just 18, Andrei Gavrilov stunned the world by winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Weeks later, he replaced Sviatoslav Richter at the Salzburg Festival, where his dazzling program won rapturous acclaim and revealed a pianist of "virtually unlimited technique" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). From this electrifying debut, Gavrilov was celebrated for fearless, spontaneous yet refined artistry. His brilliance set him apart, though his career was later shadowed by years of political confinement in the Soviet Union. This collection gathers all his Warner Classics recordings, a vivid portrait of a pianist whose artistry remains bold and captivating.

These late works by Brahms are like a testament. But what is this secretive man revealing to us here? Or rather, what is he still trying to hide? Hiding it until the very end, arousing in us an irresistible desire to guess what it is? Perhaps that is where the beauty of these scores lies. - Piotr Anderzewski. A short album, a selection of jewels from Brahms' Late Piano works (Op. 116 to 119, with Op. 119 No.4 being the last piano piece Brahms ever wrote) presented in a carefully chosen order. Op. 116 to 118 represent the composer's late piano works, written during the final decade of his life. Here we find a more mature, intimate and subtle Brahms, far removed from the roaring Romanticism of his earlier works.

Abel Selaocoe, the innovative South African cellist, composer and vocalist, announces the release of his second album, Hymns of Bantu on Warner Classics on 21st February 2025. Abel follows the acclaimed release of his 2022 debut Where Is Home (Hae ke Kae) with a remarkable new body of work celebrating his South African heritage, and tracing his ancestral path that leads into his vast influences including Western classical repertoire.

The term 'living legend' is genuinely apt to Martha Argerich, whose dazzling amalgam of virtuosity, insight, eclecticism, generosity and mystery makes her a pianist of unrivalled fascination. Argentinian-born, Viennese-trained, and winner of the 1965 Chopin Competition, she became a sometimes elusive figure whose every appearance and recording aroused eager anticipation.

The German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter is celebrated for her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to her craft. A child prodigy, she rose to international acclaim under the mentorship of Herbert von Karajan. Throughout her illustrious career, Mutter has collaborated with renowned orchestras and conductors, showcasing her versatility and technical brilliance. This LP features two of the most celebrated concertos for two instruments: Bach's Concerto for Two Violins and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, recorded in the 1982 and 1991. Anne-Sophie Mutter magnifies them with her powerful and distinguished playing, still imbued with a youthful energy in Bach (she was only 19 at that time). Her interpretations are marked by a perfect balance of sensitivity and power, making her a true icon in the world of classical music.

Rufus Wainwright's Dream Requiem is an extremely prestigious project, the result of a commission from major cultural institutions in the US, UK, and Europe. This world premiere recording features a new composition by the legendary, Grammy-nominated musician, who has collaborated with the who's who of the pop music world. With narration by Meryl Streep, the project will be followed by a worldwide tour starting in January 2025. Written during the pandemic, it's a requiem "for the people we have lost in this crisis, for the past from which we are cut off and for the future to which we do not yet know how to connect, a Requiem for human contact, solidarity and the human voice that have all become dangerous and contagious"; It's also a reflection on environmental collapse and the increase in the number of natural disasters. The text of Dream Requiem weaves together words from the Latin Mass for the Dead - as used by his hero Verdi - with Lord Byron's apocalyptic poem 'Darkness', written after the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 and which brought about "the year without summer".

Aldo Ciccolini (1925-2015) launched his career in 1950 after winning the prestigious Marguerite Long Competition. A child prodigy, he dedicated himself to rigorous study, drawing influence from Busoni, Liszt, and the Bel Canto tradition, which shaped his emotionally charged interpretations-he described himself as a "lirico spinto pianist." His rich discography, largely released by Warner/Erato, includes complete piano cycles by Liszt, Saint-Sa�ns, and S�verac, along with acclaimed performances of Debussy and Satie. This enriched collection also features exclusive, previously unreleased recordings, including live recitals at the Nohant Festival and a studio session of his favorite Encore pieces. To experience Aldo Ciccolini through his extraordinary recorded legacy is to be immersed in a masterclass of elegance and humility, struck by the richness of his tone or captivated by the mysteries of an entrancing piano.

Following on the acclaimed 'Where is Home' and 'Hymns of Bantu', two genre-defying albums, 'Four Spirits' is also drawn from Abel's South African roots and seeks to create a communal experience with the audience through cello concerto, percussion, singing & improvisation. His first solo cello concerto and, formally speaking, a concerto cast in four movements - each movement takes an essential aspect of township life: ancestors, children, faith and community. Selaocoe positions himself as chief storyteller, combining cello improvising with lyrics in the Southern Sotho and Zulu languages.

Mikhail Pletnev, a virtuoso pianist of the Russian school, rose to global fame after winning the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. Known for his formidable technique and deep musical insight, his Erato recordings (formerly Virgin Classics) showcase his remarkable versatility and unique ability to bring emotional depth and fresh perspectives to works by Chopin, Haydn, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky. Despite his reserved nature, Pletnev's deeply personal interpretations continue to captivate listeners, solidifying his reputation as one of the most thoughtful and imaginative musicians of his generation.