Mark Elder
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a sophisticated, entertaining Piano Concerto that avoids pastiche yet cleverly evokes lost musical words. […] It all leads to an exhilarating finale, a tarantella appassionata which sends the... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2025, Editor's Choice
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New. Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Original 1857 version)
RecommendedGermán Enrique Alcántara (Simon Boccanegra), Eri Nakamura (Maria/Amelia), William Thomas (Fiesco), Iván Ayón-Rivas (Gabriele Adorno), Sergio Vitale (Paolo Albiani)
The Hallé, Chorus of Opera North, RNCM Opera Chorus, Sir Mark Elder
With his long operatic experience [Elder] conducts a scrupulously-prepared performance cast with young voices. Germán Enrique Alcántara has the right grit and authority for the plebeian Doge... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 21st March 2025
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Rossini: Semiramide
RecommendedAlbina Shagimuratova (Semiramide), Daniela Barcellona (Arsace), Mirco Palazzi (Assur), Barry Banks (Idreno), Gianluca Buratto (Oroe), Susana Gaspar (Azema), David Butt Philip (Mitrane), James Platt (L’ombra di Nino)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment & Opera Rara Chorus, Sir Mark Elder
Semiramide has more than its share of grandness, and in the trumpet-crowned procession as the Queen of Babylon prepares to announce her choice of king you can't help but hear a pre-echo of Verdi's... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 7th September 2018
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2018, Recording of the Month
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Record Review, 6th October 2018, Recording of the Week
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2018, Recording of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2018
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The Times Records of the Year, 2018
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Opera, January 2019, Disc of the Month
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The Guardian Classical Albums of the Year, 2018
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2019, Finalist - Opera
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International Opera Awards, 2019, Winner - Complete Opera Recording
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2019, Winner - Opera (19th century)
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Gramophone Awards, 2019, Finalist - Opera
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Winner - Opera
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Delius: A Mass of Life
RecommendedRoderick Williams (baritone), Bergen Philharmonic, Sir Mark Elder
Williams brings a degree less heroic grit than some rivals, but compensates richly by his intelligent pointing of Nietzsche’s headily symbolic text, and his generously lyrical tone...But it’s... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 24th November 2023
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Gramophone Awards, 2024 Shortlist, Shortlisted - Choral
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Gramophone Awards, 2024 Shortlist, Finalist - Choral
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Choral
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Gramophone Magazine, Critics' Choice 2024
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Special offer. Lise Davidsen: Beethoven - Wagner - Verdi
RecommendedLise Davidsen (soprano), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder
Her voice reminds me now of Birgit Nilsson’s at the same stage, an Elsa and Sieglinde who is a Brünnhilde in waiting, with the same thrilling edge to her top register, though she isn’t lacking... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2021, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 2nd April 2021
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BBC Music Magazine, June 2021, Opera Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2021, Shortlisted - Voice & Ensemble
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Vocal
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
RecommendedKatherine Broderick (soprano), Roderick Williams (baritone)
Hallé, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, Schola Cantorum of Oxford, Ad Solem, Sir Mark Elder
Mark Elder's Vaughan Williams cycle with The Halle is turning out to be the finest since the two by Adrian Boult - and the opening bars of this live recording of A Sea Symphony show why. The... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2015, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2015
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Presto Recording of the Week, 4th September 2015
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Gramophone Awards, 2016, Shortlisted - Orchestral
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Special offer. Wagner: Götterdämmerung
RecommendedKatarina Dalayman (Brünnhilde), Lars Cleveman (Siegfried), Peter Coleman-Wright (Gunther), Attila Jun (Hagen), Nancy Gustafson (Gutrune), Susan Bickley (Waltraute), Andrew Shore (Alberich)
The Hallé, Sir Mark Elder
This is a beautifully paced performance - measured, poetic but dynamic. The orchestra responds superbly....Katarina Dalayman is one of the most appealing Brünnhildes on disc, Lars Cleveman a... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2011, Opera Finalist
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Record Review, December 2010, Critics' Disc of the Year
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2010, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2010, Winner - Opera
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Special offer. Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49
RecommendedRebecca Evans (The Angel Gabriel/The Blessed Virgin Mary), Alice Coote (Mary Magdalene/Narrator 2), Paul Groves (Narrator 1/John), Jacques Imbrailo (Jesus), David Kempster (Peter) & Brindley Sherratt (Judas)
Hallé & Hallé Youth Choir & Hallé Choir, Sir Mark Elder
It has all the tension and excitement of live performance, rising to incandescence in the closing pages, and Mark Elder has perfect control of the large forces and dramatic pacing. Brindley... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2012, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2012, Choral & Song Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2013, Winner - Choral
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2013, Recording of the Year & Choral Award Winner
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Special offer. Elgar: Violin Concerto
RecommendedThomas Zehetmair (violin), Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano)
Hallé, Sir Mark Elder
Zehetmair...is able to marry impassioned purpose with appreciation of Elgar's complexity...Mark Elder's direction is stunning...there's a warm glow about the Hallé sound that adds an extra strand... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, January 2012, First Choice
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Sunday Times, 2010, Albums of the Year
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Gramophone Awards, 2010, Winner - Concerto
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Puccini: Le Willis
RecommendedErmonela Jaho (Anna), Arsen Soghomonyan (Roberto), Brian Mulligan (Guglielmo)
Opera Rara Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder
Even at the age of 25 [Puccini] was already a composer of considerable skill, able to come up with musical ideas of exceptional quality. As the abandoned Anna, Ermonela Jaho is right inside... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, September 2019
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BBC Music Magazine, December 2019, Opera Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2019
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Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year, 2019, Nominated - Opera
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2020, Finalist - Opera
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