James Galway: the Man with the Golden Flute

Format: CD
Label: Sony Masterworks
Release date: September 2014

James Galway is universally regarded as the supreme interpreter of classical flute repertoire, but his playing also crosses over into all musical genres. Now for the first time ever, in celebration of his 75 birthday, all of Sir James recordings for RCA Red Seal are being issued together in a single box set, The Complete RCA Album Collection. Born in Belfast, Galway studied in London and Paris and enjoyed a prestigious orchestral career in London before taking up the coveted position of principle flute with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan. Galway left Berlin to pursue a solo career that has made him one of the iconic musical figures of modern times. His recordings have sold over 30 million copies and have won numerous awards.

In a career spanning four decades, this collection features every important concerto and solo music piece composed for the flute including all Lennox Berkeley's flute works, Pachelbel's Canon, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusic, Clair de lune, Flight of the Bumblebee and much more. The box set also features traditional favorites from the Britain and America, including Danny Boy and Amazing Grace, great hits from Broadway and Hollywood, music by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Henry Mancini and Elton John, plus Christmas carols from all over the world. The beautifully designed box features a hardcover bound book and two performance DVDs including James Galway and the Chieftains in Ireland.

(Synopsis: Amazon)

• Sonatina (op. 13)
• Concerto for Flute (op. 36)
• Sonata (op. 97)

Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lennox Berkeley (conductor), James Galway (flute) & Phillip Moll (piano)