Each month Alexander recommends a selection of music he's enjoying from the Universal Classics catalogue.
Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown
"I've been in love with Sarah Vaughan ever since I heard her sing the opening lines of "Lullaby of Birdland." One of the most perfect vocal albums of all time." – Alexander Neef
Purchase from: www.grigorian.com
Martha Argerich, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos with Riccardo Chailly and Kirill Kondrashin
"It's mind-blowing." – Alexander Neef
Brahms's Piano Concerti, Emil Gilels with the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Eugen Jochum
"Over the years I have become increasingly addicted to Brahms's music. Together with Carlos Kleiber's recording of Symphony No. 4 this recording presents two wonderful artists, Gilels and Jochum, with the greatest interpretation of the two concerti for piano and orchestra." – Alexander Neef
Mahler Symphony No. 5
"Karajan was, and remains, one of my favourite conductors and this is a recording that I have owned forever. Not having listened to it in a long time it gave me great pleasure to discover it again." – Alexander Neef
Schubert: The Late Piano Sonatas, D.958, D.959, & D.960
"One of the greatest pianists of our time just turned 70. This set of the late Schubert Sonatas is a beautiful reminder of his peerless artistry." – Alexander Neef
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies, conducted by Riccardo Chailly
"The most exciting Beethoven cycle in 50 years." – Alexander Neef
New Year's Concert From Vienna 1987
"My ultimate New Year's concert." – Alexander Neef
Martha Argerich – Debut Recital
"The most stunning debut of a wonderful pianist; an album that I have loved for a long time. The two Brahms Rhapsodies belong to my all-time favorite piano music on record." – Alexander Neef
Rossini's Guglielmo Tell (William Tell)
"The mother of grand opera and still one of the grandest." – Alexander Neef
"One of the greatest pianists and Mozart players of all time with two of Mozart's most sublime piano concerti. A recording I love more each time I listen to it." – Alexander Neef
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook – Three CD Set
"Next to Maria Callas, arguably the best singer of the 20th century." – Alexander Neef
Iphigénie en Tauride – Two CD Set
"The most intense and dramatic recording of Gluck's masterpiece to date." – Alexander Neef
Purchase From: The Opera Shop
Giulini in America – Six CD Set
"This is as good as it gets; the most unbelievable recording of this repertoire you'll ever hear. The energy of his conducting is just amazing." – Alexander Neef
La Cenerentola – Two CD Set
Cecilia Bartoli sings the role that brought her to operatic stardom. Riccardo Chailly leads an all-Italian cast, orchestra and chorus in Rossini's La Cenerentola.
Purchase from: The Opera Shop