Alfred Brendel (piano)Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner
Decca · 4425712 · 2 hours 34 minutes
Brendel and Marriner just click in a way that feels almost unreasonably good — there’s a conversational quality between the piano and the Academy that makes these concerti feel alive rather than performed. Brendel brings this wonderful clarity and wit to Mozart that never tips into coldness, and Marriner keeps everything buoyant without ever rushing the magic. It’s the kind of set that quietly becomes your reference point before you even realize it’s happened.
Awards:
- Gramophone Awards — 1977 — Winner – Concerto
Peter Hurford (organ), Alan Stringer (trumpet), Gwynne Howell (bass), John Wilbraham (trumpet), Philip Jones (trumpet), Leslie Pearson (organ), The Michael Laird Brass Ensemble, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, London Festival Orchestra, Sir Neville Marriner, Elgar…
Decca · 4761644 · 73 minutes
Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields have always had a knack for making orchestral showpieces feel genuinely joyful rather than just impressive, and this Decca collection is a perfect example of that gift. The brass playing from the Philip Jones Ensemble is downright thrilling, and having Peter Hurford on organ adds this gorgeous, cathedral-sized warmth to the whole affair. If you want something that reminds you why ceremonial music can be genuinely moving and not just pomp for pomp’s sake, this one earns its Penguin Rosette without breaking a sweat.
Awards:
- Penguin Guide — Rosette
Dame Janet Baker
Decca · 4767091 · 73 minutes
Dame Janet Baker’s voice carries such an extraordinary weight of feeling here that it’s almost impossible to listen without getting a little emotional. Paired with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, she finds exactly the right balance between elegance and raw expressiveness that makes this disc a genuine keeper. The Penguin Guide Rosette is well earned — this one belongs in your collection.
Awards:
- Penguin Guide — Rosette
Alfred Brendel (piano)Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner
Decca · 4422692 · 2 hours 38 minutes
Brendel and Marriner together feel like two old friends finishing each other’s sentences — there’s a warmth and natural intelligence here that makes Mozart’s piano concertos sound utterly inevitable, like they couldn’t possibly exist any other way. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields plays with that perfect blend of crispness and tenderness that only comes from musicians who genuinely love this repertoire. At over two and a half hours of music, it’s a seriously generous package, and honestly, you’ll want every minute of it.
Awards:
- Building a Library — March 2013 — CD Choice
- Penguin Guide — Rosette
Pepe Romero (guitar)The Academy of St.Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Philips · 4380162 · 63 minutes
Pepe Romero and Marriner just *get* each other here, and you can hear it in every phrase — the guitar sings, the strings breathe, and the whole thing feels like a conversation between old friends. The Rodrigo concertos especially have this gorgeous warmth that never tips into sentimentality, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds. If you only ever own one recording of this repertoire, make it this one.
Awards:
- Building a Library — February 2017 — First Choice
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner
Philips · E4000202 · 51 minutes
Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields bring such a natural, unforced elegance to whatever they touch, and this recording is a perfect example of why they became one of the most beloved chamber orchestras in the world. The playing feels both polished and alive, never stiff or overly manicured, with a warmth that just pulls you in. If you’re looking to spend 51 minutes in genuinely good company, this one earns its Building a Library recommendation without any hesitation.
Awards:
- Building a Library — December 2018 — Also Recommended
