This is my archive..

Acis & Galatea

Handel wrote the masque Acis and Galatea in 1718 for the Duke of Chandos to words by John Gay. In arranging the work Mendelssohn added a viola part and parts for woodwind and brass, in part simply filling in the continuo harmonies. However, he went further than that and rewrote,…

Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 – Lidström: Rigoletto Fantasy

Vladimir Ashkenazy and Mats Lidström (OPO Solo Cello) began their collaboration in London in the 1980s, during Ashkenazy’s tenure at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where Lidström was principal cellist. They have since appeared together in concert as well as on disc, including a recording of concertos by Kabalevsky and Khachaturian on…

Nimrod Borenstein: Violin Concerto – The Big Bang and the Creation of the Universe – If You Will it,

‘[Irmina Trynkos’] poise in the final quick-fire scrambling of the final-movement Allegro never falters and, under the muscular direction of Ashkenazy, the Oxford Philharmonic matches her sense of power and conviction.’ Catherine Nelson, The Strad[Nimrod Borenstein recording]  BBC Music Magazine’s ‘Concerto Choice of the Month’, December 2017 ↔↔↔↔↔ ‘The…

Stravinsky: Concerto for Piano and Wind – Janácek: Capriccio, Sonata

“Papadopoulos is not merely in command of difficult piano parts, but has the RPO players splendidly in hand in both ensemble works. This is nothing short of amazing in the Stravinsky concerto. Hyperion’s 1984 recording deserves strong recommendation for its sturdy musical and technical values”.Fanfare…

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87 – Vol. II, Nos 13 to 24

‘’…These works are very well played and engineered and are deserving of every congratulation”.The Gramophone “… Marios Papadopoulos is a highly gifted player whose enterprise in recording the preludes & fugues deserves the highest praise… Papadopoulos is both sensitive and intelligent, and is generally well recorded”.The Penguin Guide…

O Holy Night: A Merton Christmas

The Choir of Merton College joins forces with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra for a recording of director Benjamin Nicholas’s favourite popular carols.  Two of John Rutter’s most exquisite works are complemented by orchestral versions of well-loved traditional fare. From the ecstatic brass fanfares that introduce O come, all ye faithful and Hark! the…

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 30, 31 & 32

Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Marios Papadopoulos has recorded a series of discs dedicated to Beethoven’s piano sonatas. The final disc in a series of five, this CD features the last three Piano Sonatas Beethoven wrote: Nos 30 (Op. 109), 31 (Op. 110) and 32 (Op.

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87 – Vol. I, Nos 1 to 12

… This music has been crying out for a complete modern recording, and it is a relief to find that this one is so successful”.CD Review “… This recording will form a more significant addition to the Shostakovich discography than the almost limitless flow of re-recordings of the symphonies…

Haydn: The Creation

The Creation may be embraced by all who love the natural world, of whatever persuasion: Creationist, Darwinian, or something in between. Haydn wrote the oratorio during the years 1796 and 1798. The libretto – a kaleidoscope of landscape, flora and fauna (including man) – was perfectly adapted to his imagination, as…

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 1, 2 & 3

Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Marios Papadopoulos has recorded a series of discs dedicated to Beethoven’s piano sonatas. The first in a series of five, this CD features Beethoven’s first three sonatas composed in 1795 which make up his Opus 2. Following his departure from Haydn’s…