Historical
Recordings over 50 years old.
A huge catalogue featuring many of the greatest artists of the 20th Century.
Made up of the following series:
Great Cellists - Great Conductors - Great Opera Recordings
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Special offer. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
RecommendedMaria Callas, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Raffaele Arié, Valiano Natali, Anna Maria Canali, Gino Sarri
Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tullio Serafin
Today, for a very modest price, all lovers of bel canto operas and their performance on record can listen and make their own judgement on what was, without doubt, a seminal recording of the... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, October 2008, First Choice
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Building A Library, May 2025, Recommended Recording
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Special offer. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 & Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
RecommendedVladimir Horowitz (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building a Library, November 2022, Also Recommended - Tchaikovsky
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
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Special offer. Stravinsky conducts Stravinsky
Recommended1940 & 1946 Recordings
Philharmonic-Symphony of New York, Igor Stravinsky
Invaluable new transfers of Stravinsky on top form as a conductor. This electrifying performance is the finest of his Rite of Spring recordings, and the 1945 Firebird Suite is gripping. — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, March 2013, First Choice
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The LSO plays out of its skin for the composer; Falstaff is brilliantly characterised, the Symphony has serious intensity. Fair sound for the vintage, with some harshness in the Symphony. — More…
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Presto Recording of the Week, 16th February 2009
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Building a Library, October 2016, Historic Choice
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Special offer. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 4 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
RecommendedSergey Rachmaninov (piano)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, Leopold Stokowski
Awards:
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Building a Library, January 2003, Historic Choice
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Awards:
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Building a Library, March 2010, First Choice (Scherzo 4)
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Cortot’s 1928 recording of the Second Sonata is one of the earliest studio recordings of the work. He takes dizzying tempos at various points: both the scherzo and the finale are rapid and threaten... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2007, Re-issue of the Month
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Special offer. Verdi: Un ballo in maschera
RecommendedGiuseppe di Stefano (Riccardo), Tito Gobbi (Renato), Maria Callas (Amelia), Fedora Barbieri (Ulrica), Eugenia Ratti (Oscar), Silvio Maionica (Samuele), Nicola Zaccaria (Tom), Ezio Giordano (Silvano)
Orhcestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala, Antonino Votto
Gobbi's chocolate-smooth tones almost steal the show, but Callas gives a touching Amelia, and di Stefano is dashing and irresponsible. There is a strong cast and theatrical conducting from... — More…
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Building a Library, October 2013, Recommendation available on single CD
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Special offer. Great Violinists - Joseph Szigeti
RecommendedJoseph Szigeti (violin)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris, Thomas Beecham, Constant Lambert, Charles Munch
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
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Special offer. Great Violinists - Kaufmann
RecommendedLouis Kaufman (violin), Peter Rybar (violin)
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra, Clemens Dahinden
this is avowedly old-school Vivaldi; indeed, the oldest on disc. Recorded in 1947, this is the first-ever recording of The Four Seasons; Louis Kaufman is worlds away from Alessandrini's account... — More…
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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