One of the great advocates of period-instrument performance he has received more Gramophone awards than any other living artist ... and now Sir John Eliot Gardiner is reaching the ripe old age of 70 without any signs of letting up on his almost frenetic life in music.
He was most enthusiastic when approached by DG about choosing his favourite recordings from his Universal Music catalogue, on the Archiv, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips labels, going back to the late 1970s, to mark the occasion. He came up with a challenging list of classics, ranging from Monteverdi to Stravinsky, taking in the Baroque Greats, the Viennese Classics, the Romantics and modern composers most dear to his heart.
The 30-CD box, presents the recordings in their original jackets, the 108-page booklet includes an extended interview-article with Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in London, recording producer and trumpet-player.
