Browse: Great Recordings of the Century (series)
‘A distinguished series of beautifully presented reissues.’ (Gramophone).
The EMI Classics flagship mid-price series of reissues Great Recordings of the Century has proved exceptionally successful since its launch in 1998.
It has achieved sales of over five-and-a-quarter million units.
A crucial element in maintaining the high standards achieved in Great Recordings of the Century is the work of EMI’s renowned team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios. Using the very latest technology, they make new transfers from the original materials (78s and analogue tape) and new remasterings (of both analogue and digital recordings).
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Mahler: Song Cycles
RecommendedJanet Baker
Hallé Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, John Barbirolli
The songs of the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen ('Songs of a Wayfarer') are quoted from Mahler's First Symphony and the fresh, springtime atmosphere is shared by both works. The orchestration... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, November 2001, Runner-Up
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Building a Library, First Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Lehár: Die Lustige Witwe
RecommendedElisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wachter, Josef Knapp, Nicolai Gedda, Hanny Steffek
Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic
Awards:
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Building A Library, October 2021, Recommended Recording
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A distinguished series of beautifully presented reissues. — More…
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Building a Library, January 2009, Historic Choice
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Building a Library, January 2017, Recommended recording (historic/mono)
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Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
RecommendedWillard White, Cynthia Haymon, Damon Evans, Cynthia Clarey, Harolyn Blackwell, Bruce Hubbard, Marietta Simpson & Gregg Baker
Glyndebourne Chorus & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
Glyndebourne's epoch-making production, taken to the recording studio two years later, helped cement the work's reputation as one of the greatest 20th-century operas. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1989, Winner - Opera
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Debussy: Images pour piano - Books 1 & 2, etc.
RecommendedPeter Lloyd (flute)
London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1979, Winner - Engineering
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Gramophone Awards, 1979, Winner - Orchestral
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As a former pupil of Cortot, it wasn't perhaps surprising that Lipatti always kept a special place in his heart for Chopin. And thanks primarily to the 14 Waltzes, played in a non-chronological... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, 100 Greatest Recordings
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Szymanowski - Choral Works
Elzbieta Szmytka, Florence Quivar, John Connell & Jon Garrison
CBSO Chorus & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
Three of Szymanowski's most important works show Rattle's ability to energise music in which he believes. Sensuality and cogency blend in refined sound. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1995, Winner - Choral
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Gramophone Awards, 1995, Winner - Engineering
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Puccini: La Bohème
RecommendedVictoria de los Angeles, Jussi Björling, Fernando Corena, Robert Merrill, Giorgio Tozzi
The Columbus Boychoir & RCA Victor Chorus & Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
A classic, with extra electricity derived from the hasty recording, with Beecham's living, vivid conducting and a superb cast, both stellar and supporting, even though the mono sound is less... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, June 2008, First Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Strauss, R: Ariadne auf Naxos
RecommendedElisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rudolf Schock, Rita Streich, Karl Dönch, Irmgard Seefried, Hugues Cuenod
Philharmonia, Herbert von Karajan
Karajan's Ariadne is perfectly cast, magnificently performed, and very well recorded. The scoring, for a small orchestra, demands virtuoso playing from what, in effect, is a group of soloists;... — More…
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
RecommendedVictoria de los Angeles, Luigi Alva, Ian Wallace, Carlo Cava
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vittorio Gui
Perhaps it's a shade misleading to refer to this classic EMI recording as a 'Glyndebourne' set. It has all the ingredients of a Glyndebourne production: notably the cast, the orchestra and chorus,... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, February 2017, Also Recommended
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