Penguin Rosettes, Early 20th Century (era)
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony
Recommendedoriginal 1913 version
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox
Hickox and the London Symphony Orchestra have come up with a recording that you can cheerfully measure against most others in the catalogue, before you consider its unique extra charms! —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 1st December 2008
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Gramophone Awards, 2001, Recording of the Year
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2001, Editor's Choice
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Building a Library, November 2016, Also Recommended
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Ravel - Piano Concertos
RecommendedKrystian Zimerman (piano)
Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Zimerman's pianism is self-recommending.
His trills in the first movement of the G major Concerto are to die for, his passagework in the finale crystalclear, never hectic, always stylish. For... —Awards:
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Building a Library, May 2005, First Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 1999, Winner - 20th-Century Concerto
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building A Library, May 2024, Recommended Recording (Ravel)
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Building A Library, October 2025, Top Choice (Piano Concerto in G)
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This Bax symphony cycle comes under the baton of the composer's doughtiest champion, and superlatives are in order. Even seasoned Baxians will be startled by the propulsive vigour and sinewy... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, July 2026, 100 Greatest Recordings
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2003, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2004, Winner - Orchestral
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Special offer. Richard Strauss - Vier letzte Lieder and Other Lieder
RecommendedJessye Norman (soprano)
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur
[Norman is] grand, impassioned, noble, dignified, unmannered in this unforgettable interpretation —
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 1984, Winner - Solo vocal
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Presto Greatest Recordings of the 1980s
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building a Library, July 2019, Also Recommended
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: Phantasy Quintet & String Quartets
RecommendedGarfield Jackson (viola)
Maggini Quartet
Why isn't Vaughan Williams's Second Quartet part of the international chamber repertory? Played as eloquently as this it seems unarguably a masterpiece, one specifically of its time: 1942-3.... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Awards, 2001, Winner - Chamber
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Special offer. Moeran: Sinfonietta, Symphony in G minor & Overture for a Masque
RecommendedLondon Philharmonic Orchestra & New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult
Boult's affection for the G minor Symphony is in every phrase of this rapt and gloriously warm-hearted performance.
The New Philharmonia are on blistering form and, thankfully for us, captured... —Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Gramophone Awards, 2007, Winner - Historic Reissue
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Special offer. Vaughan Williams: Valiant for Truth, Symphony No. 5, The Pilgrim Pavement & other works
RecommendedCarys Lane (soprano)
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox Singers, Richard Hickox
This is an exceptionally powerful yet deeply moving account of the Fifth. Aided by glowing, wide-ranging engineering, Hickox's is an urgently communicative reading. The first and third movements... —
Awards:
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Building a Library, April 2003, First Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building A Library, July 2025, Top Choice - Symphony No. 5
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Steven Osborne's pedigree in French repertoire is such that it has been almost inevitable that he would record Debussy's Préludes at some point. He has much in his favour, notably a marvellous... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2006, Editor's Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Building a Library, March 2018, Also Recommended
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Special offer. Finzi: Clarinet Concerto & Cello Concerto
RecommendedJohn Denman (clarinet), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
The Cello Concerto was in many ways the composer's swansong… The beautifully slow movement is deeply searching and draws on an Elgarian quality, a poignant nobility. Yo-Yo Ma's wistfully introspective... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2007, Re-issue of the Month
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Special offer. Barber, Walton and Korngold: Violin Concertos
RecommendedJames Ehnes (violin)
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey
It's an inspired coupling, as well as a generous one, to have these three high-romantic concertos together. James Ehnes gives superb performances, bringing out their full emotional thrust without... —
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Grammy Awards, 50th Awards (2007), Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
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