Tír Na HiFi

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 played by S. Richter, Vienna Philharmonic Orch./von Karajan.

Maybe not many of you have heard of Joseph Rheinberger, an organist and composer contemporary of Brahms. He was considered one of the finest organists after Bach, and probably the greatest of the XIX Century. He was also a very competent composer.
The Star of Bethlehem is a lovely Christmas cantata, and a rare example of XIX Century Christmas music, since we got nothing from Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, etc.
It is written for soprano, baritone, chorus and large orchestra, it is very enjoyable. There have been 4 or 5 recordings, the first, made in the 60´s had Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, no less, as soloist, but this recent recording has much better sound and could be a prime recommendation.

Prokofiev - Symphony No.1 Classical (Malcolm Sargent, London Symphony Orchestra, Decca), Lieutenant Kije Suite (Adrian Boult, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Decca) & The Love of Three Oranges Suite (Walter Weller, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Decca)

Vivaldi - Concerto for Guitar and String Orchestra in D major (John Williams, English Chamber Orchestra, CBS Masterworks)

Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez (John Williams/Louis Fremaux, Philharmonia Orchestra, CBS Masterworks)

after a feed of chatueneuf de pape and mince pies something big is required to get the blood pumping again...!!! this fit the bill nicely

Sibelius - Symphony No.2 (Anthony Collins, London Symphony Orchestra, Decca Eloquence)

bombasticDarren wrote:

I was listening to a different version of Peter and the Wolf only the other day.

bombasticDarren wrote:

There are some great Guitar Concertos on that set Darren.

The beautiful and gentle Cantata BWV132....