EDWARD ELGAR — The Collector's Edition · The Masterpieces · The Greatest Artists (2007) 30xCD BOX-SET | WV (image+.cue), lossless

If you love the music of Edward Elgar, England's most characteristically English composer, you probably already have heard many of the recordings in EMI's 30-disc set of nearly all his music. Certainly most Elgar fans will have heard John Barbirolli's deeply moving accounts of the two symphonies and The Dream of Gerontius, Janet Baker's sweeping reading of Sea Pictures, and Jacqueline du Pré's soaring performance of the Cello Concerto. Those who have heard Boult's delicate The Sanguine Fan and incidental music from Grania and Diarmid, or Neville Marriner's tender Carissima and Salut d'amour are probably rarer, and those who have heard the elegiac chamber music performed by the Music Group of London and the heroic piano music played by John Ogdon are much rarer still. For those who love Elgar, the less frequently recorded works are probably the most eagerly sought after, and with uniformly excellent performances and superb sound, plus an amazingly low price, this set will be irresistible. James Leonard
EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934)
Tracklist :
Credits :
Symphonies Concertos Overtures - Sir John Barbirolli
The Dream of Gerontius - Sir John Barbirolli
The Kingdom The Apostles - Sir Adrian Boult
Choral Music - Sir Charles Groves · Richard Hickox
Orchestral Songs - Janet Baker · Robert Tear
Incidental Music - Vernon Handley
Bonus CD - Elgar conducts Elgar

ALKAN : Piano Works (Ronald Smith) 2CD (2002) Serie Double ƒƒorte | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
CD1 : 1-4. Grande Sonate Op.33 « Les Quatre Âges » (43:26)    
5-8. 4 Études ([From] 12 Études Dans Tous Les Tons Mineurs, Op.39)
 9.  La Chanson De La Folle Au Bord De La Mer, Préludes 4:21
10. Allegro Barbaro, 12 Études Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs 2:33
CD2 : 1-4. Sonatine, Op.61    (18:16)
5-7. Trois Grande Études Pour Les Deux Mains Séparées  (38:41)
 8-10. Trois Études De Bravoure, Op.16 (Tre Scherzi)    (19:41)
Credits :
Piano – Ronald Smith
Front cover: Adolph von Menzel (1895-1905) – A Weekday in Paris (Kunstmuseum, Düsseldorf/AKG, London)

MASSENET : Piano Music (Aldo Ciccolini) 2CD (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
CD1 : 78:45
1-3. Piano Concerto in E flat major 29:59
4-5. Deux Pièces (Papillons noirs,  Papillons blancs) 3:46
6-7. Deux Improntus 4:45
8. Toccata 1:50
9. Musique pour bercer les petits enfants 1:51
10-19. Dix Pièces de genre, Op. 10 19:00
20-26. Sept Improvisations 15:47
CD 2 : 78:00
1. Valse folle 2:26
2. Valse très lente 3:35
3. Devant la Madonne 4:03
4-6. Année passée I 6:55
7-9. Année passée II 7:24
10-12. Année passée III 6:18
13-15. Année passée IV 6:33
16-21. Six Dances 10:05
22-24. Trois Marches 12:58
25. La Vierge : Danse galiléenne 2:33
26-28. Première Suite, Op.11 7:03
29-30. Deux Berceuses 5:17
Credits :
Orchestra – Orchestre National De L'Opéra De Monte-Carlo
Conductor [Dirigent] – Sylvain Cambreling
Piano [Klavier] – Aldo Ciccolini