Customer Reviews

Milestones: 30 Years Of Chandos (30 Landmark Recordings)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's difficult to find fault with this set. it's an extraordinary collection of excellent recordings, few of which would otherwise be in the collection of the average classical music listener. Covering a wide range of music which one night not be inclined to purchase by itself at full price, the set serves to broaden one's interests. And at litle more than $1.50 per disc. So far I've listened to about a third of the discs and have yet to hear anything less than firsrrate. Chandos has some of the best sound recording engineers in the business and it shows here. Crystal clear, with no distortions.

My only complaint is that Chandos felt inclined to include a beautifully prepared catelog of its recordings, but no liner notes for any of the cds in the set. Their inclusion would have been far more relevant than the catelog. But, again, such a minor complaint when so much beautiful music is presented.

This is one of the wackier box sets to have been released of late, but all the more interesting. It suffers the same fate as all these big sets, which is cheap packaging and a lack of information about the recordings-inexcusible when this set is a celebration of the company's history.

Much to enjoy and some stuff to marvel at. Both Hummel discs are crackers and all Hickox's recordings in the set are a painful reminder of what a loss to the recording industry his early death was. The Janacek, Shostakovich and Prokofiev discs are all very fine but probably things you may already possess. As mentioned by other reviewers, the treats you may enjoy the most are the rarities. The Bax Symphony, the Vaughan Williams film music and the Respighi orchestral works (all spectacularly recorded). A few weird choices. The recording of The Planet's is no longer up with the best, The Albinoni has dated somewhat and the King's Singer's disc is embarrassing. But good on them for not hiding the skeletons in the closet. Some Curio's like the brass band music disc and the Mandolin disc are less scary than I thought.

Very important to celegrate a company that keeps making fabulous recordings when the major labels are disappearing or trotting out crossover swill. Certainly a bargain and I am glad for the new discoveries.

This set collects a great cross-section of music, from a few quite familiar works (Tchaikovsky, Symphony #5; Holst, The Planets) to some that are by composers hardly known (Harty, Vanhal). There are symphonies, concertos (Hummel's piano concertos played by the outstanding pianist Stephen Hough are included), chamber music, opera, and choral music. Many of this reviewer's favorite discs are included, notably Bax's Fourth Symphony, and in particular a disc by the Black Dyke Mills Band. Recordings were made in the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Canada, and the U.S. All are at least excellent.

This set would be ideal for anyone who has become familiar with the best-known works of Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, ... and wants to try out a wider-ranging repertoire for a truly minimal cost.

The early 1980's : Chandos raises the bar.

I began distributing Chandos Records in Canada when they were actually "records." I mean, of course, 12" vinyl Long Play records! It was 1982 and Chandos was just a few years old. Remarkably, Brian Couzens, along with his young son Ralph, had established the company as a major new UK producer of high-quality classical records in a very short time, and their reputation for excellence in every aspect of music production was spreading quickly throughout the classical music world. This young, creative, independent, upstart company was challenging the major record labels by raising the bar to a new level.

Chandos leads the way with the first Compact Discs.

It was the spring of 1983, I remember quite vividly the excitement and anticipation around the office when Chandos announced the release of their very first Digital Compact Disc. None of us had even seen a CD player yet! Once again, the Couzens' were forging ahead with cutting edge technology, and applying it to the service of great music. Classical music fans and audiophiles, especially, embraced the Compact Disc in a big way, and it wasn't long before Chandos CDs were being used in Hi-Fi shops around the world as demonstration discs, slowly replacing the venerable LP record.

Truly International : Not just "Steak and Kidney Pie."

The extent to which Chandos supports British music and musicians simply cannot be covered in a few paragraphs. More than any other UK company, Chandos has brought British composers, musicians, singers, and orchestras to a world-wide audience. The incredible depth of the Chandos catalogue, and the steady stream of new recordings, bears ongoing testimony to their unwavering commitment to British music and culture.

But hang on a minute; they're not just "steak and kidney pie" either! The Chandos catalogue is a veritable treasure trove of the great composers of the world from the Medieval period to the present day. In the summer of 1989 the launch of the `Chaconne' series established Chandos as a major producer of Early Music performed on period instruments, using historical performance practices.

Chandos 30th Anniversary Collection "Milestones" : What a great way to celebrate!

What more difficult task could there be than to pour over hundreds and hundreds of great recordings and be limited to only thirty choices! Where do you start; with personal and staff favourites, audiophile blockbusters, award winners? Or do you draw a big circle on the floor, grab a few hundred, throw them in the air and go with the ones that land outside the circle? Whichever way the Couzens' decided to make their selections, it must have been excruciating to have been forced to leave out so many other superb recordings. But, I can say for certain that the thirty recordings in the "Milestones" set truly deserve the honour of being included in a collection that celebrates such a glorious history, so far!

The world of classical music has a very bright future as long as we continue to be blessed with people like Brian and Ralph Couzens and the many talented people they have chosen to work with over the last three decades. Even in today's difficult market that has claimed many casualties in recent years, Chandos continues to forge ahead, steadfast and resolute in their commitment to capture great music for the enjoyment of generations to come.

It has been an honour and a pleasure for me to have been associated with the Couzens' and the many great people at Chandos, by serving as their Canadian distributor since 1982. Each coming year another "Milestone" will be laid to mark the history, and the future, of one of the world's greatest classical music companies. May we all be there to celebrate each one with you!

Happy 30th Anniversary Chandos! From all your Canadian fans!

(And now...let's open up a copy of "Milestones" and really celebrate!)

With deepest respect and admiration,

Yours truly,

Greg Pastic, President

SRI Canada.

Wonderful set & sound no matter your tastes, though no booklets included. You can download them. One at a time! Yikes.

This is an outstanding collection of well recorded usually a bit off-beat music.

A particular highlights is the Hummel Piano Concertos, but the selling point here is the wide variety of stuff you don't ususally see, all in great recordings, and at a great price.

COMPACT DISC ONE [Originally CHAN 0579]

Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni (1671-1751)

Oboe Concertos 71:48

Anthony Robson oboe

Collegium Musicum 90

Simon Standage

COMPACT DISC TWO [Originally CHAN 8312]

Arnold Bax (1883-1953)

Symphony No. 4 42:05

Tintagel 14:55

57:00

Ulster Orchestra

Bryden Thomson

COMPACT DISC THREE [Originally CHAN 9745]

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)

Psaume 24 3:25

Neil MacKenzie tenor

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus

Faust et Hélène 30:05

Lynne Dawson soprano

Bonaventura Bottone tenor

Jason Howard bass

D'un soir triste 10:37

D'un matin de printemps 4:42

Psaume 130. Du fond de l'abīme 24:08

Ann Murray mezzo-soprano

Neil MacKenzie tenor

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus

73:24

BBC Philharmonic

Yan Pascal Tortelier

COMPACT DISC FOUR [Originally CHAN 8482]

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Twelve Études, Op. 10 28:55

Twelve Études, Op. 25 32:24

Trois Nouvelles Études, Op. post. 6:02

67:21

Louis Lortie piano

COMPACT DISC FIVE [Originally CHAN 9214]

Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

Sea Drift 25:55

Songs of Farewell 18:02

Songs of Sunset 32:52

77:08

Sally Burgess mezzo-soprano

Bryn Terfel baritone

Waynflete Singers

Southern Voices

Members of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Richard Hickox

COMPACT DISC SIX [Originally CHAN 8380]

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Salut d'Amour, Op. 12 3:05

Mot d'Amour, Op. 13 No. 1 2:35

In Moonlight 3:04

Sospiri, Op. 70 5:13

Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15 No. 1 3:37

Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2 2:42

Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Positiion, Op. 22 7:06

Sonata, Op. 82 27:04

55:16

Nigel Kennedy violin

Peter Pettinger piano

COMPACT DISC SEVEN [Originally CHAN 9493]

Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

The Duke of Marlborough 2:27

Colonial Song 5:23

English Dance 8:56

Shepherd's Hey 1:59

There Were Three Friends 1:54

Fisher's Boarding-House 6:36

We Were Dreamers 3:49

Harvest Hymn 3:16

Blithe Bells 4:08

Walking Tune 3:55

In a Nutshell 20:20

Green Bushes 8:27

72:28

BBC Philharmonic

Richard Hickox

COMPACT DISC EIGHT [Originally CHSA 5044]

Alexander Grechaninov (1864-1956)

Passion Week, Op. 58 74:00

Caroline Markham mezzo-soprano

Paul Davidson tenor

Bryan Taylor baritone

Phoenix Bach Choir

Kansas City Chorale

Charles Bruffy

COMPACT DISC NINE [Originally CHAN 0503]

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Chandos Anthems, Volume 1

Anthem No. 1 'O be joyful in the Lord' 19:39

Anthem No. 2 'In the Lord I put my trust' 21:46

Anthem No. 3 'Have mercy upon me' 19:34

60:30

Lynne Dawson soprano

Ian Partridge tenor

Michael George bass

The Sixteen

The Sixteen Orchestra

Harry Christophers

COMPACT DISC TEN [Originally CHAN 8314]

Hamilton Harty (1879-1941)

An Irish Symphony 34:03

A Comedy Overture 14:12

48:15

Ulster Orchestra

Bryden Thomson

COMPACT DISC ELEVEN [Originally CHAN 8302]

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

The Planets, Op. 32 (1916) 52:28

Women's Voices of the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus

Scottish National Orchestra

Sir Alexander Gibson

COMPACT DISC TWELVE [Originally CHAN 8507]

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

Piano Concerto, Op. 85 30:19

Piano Concerto, Op. 89 35:59

66:08

Stephen Hough piano

English Chamber Orchestra

Bryden Thomson

COMPACT DISC THIRTEEN [Originally CHAN 0681]

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

Mass, Op. 111 37:39

Alma virgo 6:25

Susan Gritton soprano

Mass, Op. 77 32:07

76:19

Collegium Musicum 90

Richard Hickox

COMPACT DISC FOURTEEN [Originally CHAN 9310]

Leos Janacek (1854-1928)

Msa Glagolskaja 40:29

Per Salo organ

Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967)

Psalmus hungaricus, Op. 13 22:10

62:44

Tina Kiberg soprano

Randi Stene contralto

Peter Svensson tenor

Ulrik Cold bass

Copenhagen Boys Choir

Danish National Symphony Choir

Danish National Symphony Orchestra

Sir Charles Mackerras

COMPACT DISC FIFTEEN [Originally CHAN 8359]

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Symphony No. 6, Op. 111 41:37

Waltz Suite, Op. 110 14:40

56:30

Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme Jarvi

COMPACT DISC SIXTEEN [Originally CHAN 0521]

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Dido and Aeneas, Z 626 56:08

Emma Kirkby soprano - Dido

Judith Nelson soprano - Belinda

Judith Rees soprano - Second Woman

David Thomas bass-baritone - Aeneas

Jantina Noorman mezzo-soprano - Sorceress

Emily van Evera soprano - Enchantress

Rachel Bevan soprano - Enchantress/Sailor

Tessa Bonner soprano - Spirit

Taverner Choir

Taverner Players

Andrew Parrott

COMPACT DISC SEVENTEEN [Originally CHAN 8341]

Serge Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Trio élégiaque No. 1, Op. post. 15:18

Trio élégiaque No. 2, Op. 9 44:14

59:32

Borodin Trio

Rostislav Dubinsky violin

Yuli Turovsky cello

Luba Edlina piano

COMPACT DISC EIGHTEEN [Originally CHAN 8405]

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Belkis, Queen of Sheba 22:30

Metamorphoseon 25:36

48:12

Philharmonia Orchestra

Geoffrey Simon

COMPACT DISC NINETEEN [Originally CHAN 8820]

Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Concerto No. 1, Op. 99 38:23

Concerto No. 2, Op. 129 30:52

69:22

Lydia Mordkovitch violin

Scottish National Orchestra

Neeme Jarvi

COMPACT DISC TWENTY [Originally CHAN 8357]

Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 20:14

Dmitri Shostakovich piano

James Thompson trumpet

Maxim Shostakovich

Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a 23:24

Yuli Turovsky

43:49

I Musici de Montréal

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-ONE [Originally CHSA 5043]

Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Songs of the Fleet, Op. 117 26:04

Gerald Finley baritone

The Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet, Op. 24 25:17

Songs of the Sea, Op. 91 18:00

Gerald Finley baritone

BBC National Chorus of Wales

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Richard Hickox

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-TWO [Originally CHAN 3022]

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose) 79:40

(Highlights)

Yvonne Kenny soprano - The Feldmarschallin

John Tomlinson bass - Baron Ochs

Diana Montague mezzo-soprano - Octavian

Andrew Shore baritone - Herr von Faninal

Rosemary Joshua soprano - Sophie

Jennifer Rhys-Davies soprano - Marianne

Elizabeth Vaughan contralto - Annina

Eugene Ginty tenor - Major-Domo/Landlord

Gareth Roberts tenor - Valzacchi

Paul Parfitt bass-baritone - Boots

Peter Kay Children's Choir

Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

London Philharmonic Orchestra

David Parry

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-THREE [Originally CHAN 8351]

Peter Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Symphony No. 5, Op. 64 43:11

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

Mariss Jansons

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-FOUR [Originally CHAN 9607]

Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739-1813)

Symphony, g2 18:53

Symphony, D4 25:10

Symphony, c2 16:14

60:35

London Mozart Players

Matthias Bamert

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-FIVE [Originally CHAN 9902]

George Butterworth (1885-1916)

The Banks of Green Willow 6:15

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2) 61:19

67:39

London Symphony Orchestra

Richard Hickox

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-SIX [Originally CHAN 10007]

The Film Music, Volume 1

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Suite from the music for the film 'Scott of the Antarctic' 41:12

Merryn Gamba soprano

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Costal Command Suite 23:43

The People's Land 13:17

78:30

BBC Philharmonic

Rumon Gamba

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-SEVEN [Originally CHAN 8892]

William Walton (1902-1983)

Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario 60:59

Ian Watson harpsichord

Appendix 1

Giles Farnaby (c. 1563-1640)

Rosa Solis 2:26

Ian Watson harpsichord

Anonymous

Watkin's Ale 1:57

Ian Watson harpsichord

Appendix 2

Joseph Canteloube (1879-1957)

Obal, dinlou Limouzi 1:34

Celia Nicklin oboe

Ian Watson harpsichord

Christopher Plummer narrator

Choristers of Westminster Cathedral

Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Sir Neville Marriner

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-EIGHT [Originally CHAN 4509]

The Complete Champions

John Wilfred Heaton (1918-2000)

Contest Music 13:55

George Lloyd (1913-1998)

Royal Parks 14:38

Gilbert Vinter (1909-1969)

Salute to Youth 12:19

John McCabe (b. 1939)

Cloudcatcher Falls 17:54

59:05

Black Dyke Mills Band

Peter Parkes

COMPACT DISC TWENTY-NINE [Originally CHAN 6562]

The King's Singers: Original Debut Recording

Sunshine/Gilbert/Simons

The Peanut Vendor 2:32

Traditional

Shenandoah 3:18

Traditional

Cherry Ripe 2:36

George and Ira Gershwin

Summertime 2:15

Pruda/Luna/Russell

Time Was 2:43

Traditional

Scarborough Fair 3:21

Peter Il'yich Tchaikovsky

None but the Lonely Heart 2:46

Traditional

Linstead Market 2:10

Traditional

The Oak and the Ash 2:48

Burt Bacharach

Wives and Lovers 2:15

Traditional

Blow Away the Morning Dew 1:55

Tiomkin/Webster

The Green Leaves of Summer 2:52

Ron Goodwin

What Kind of Things 1:53

36:38

The King's Singers

with

The Gordon Langford Trio

COMPACT DISC THIRTY [Originally CHAN 9780]

Music from the Novels of Louis de Bernières

'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' and the Latin Trilogy

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Concerto in C major, RV 425 8:01

Craig Ogden guitar

Alison Stephens mandolin

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)

from Concerto for Mandolin in G major 5:18

Craig Ogden guitar

Alison Stephens mandolin

Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)

Grand duo concertant, Op. 85 6:12

Craig Ogden guitar

Alison Stephens mandolin

Benedetto Persichini (c. 1880/90-?)

Polcha variata 3:19

Alison Stephens mandolin

Raffaele Calace (1863-1934)

Amor si culla, Op. 133 4:05

Alison Stephens mandolin

Angy Palumbo (unknown)

Petite Bolero 2:38

Craig Ogden guitar

Alison Stephens mandolin

Julio Sagreras (1879-1942)

El Colibri 1:15

Craig Ogden guitar

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Choros No. 1 4:50

Craig Ogden guitar

Prélude No. 1 4:28

Craig Ogden guitar

Antonio Lauro (1917-1986)

Four Venezuelan Waltzes 6:51

Craig Ogden guitar

Agustin Barrios (1885-1944)

Choro da Saudade 5:15

Craig Ogden guitar

Las Abejas 2:11

Craig Ogden guitar

Miguel Llobet (1878-1938)

El Noi de la Mare 2:05

Craig Ogden guitar

El Testament d'Amelia 2:06

Craig Ogden guitar

El Mestre 3:35

Craig Ogden guitar

Traditional

Mis Dolencias 3:05

Craig Ogden guitar

Alison Stephens mandolin

Celedonio Romero (1918-1996)

from Suite Andaluza 4:04

Craig Ogden guitar

Joaquin Turina (1882-1949)

from Homenaje a Tárrega 1:51

Craig Ogden guitar

71:55

I actually got this before it was released here in the states straight from Chandos.

Just an amazing Classical CD Collection from Chandos!!

Several Cd's in this set are award winners and are a essential addition to any Classical Music Collection.

Set is very well presented in a nice box and original art sleeve's.

Chandos is one of the biggest and best CD Labels in the UK and it shows in this Collection.

This a GREAT set to have if your a beginner in Classical Music or a seasoned Collector.

The price of this set is a SUPER DEAL considering many of the Cd's in this set individually sell for $16.99 each.

Can't find anything negative to say about this set at all!!

You won't be disappointed with this wonderful Collection.

BIG KUDOS to Chandos and their 30th Year of spectacular releases.

I was looking for some other classical music to listen to while exercising. I had some stuff from chandos and looked in that direction.

sounds pricey at first but there is a lot of hours of very enjoyable things. nicely recorded too.

I just received this set. I'm impressed w/the box, CD sleeves & booklet. Nicely done!