> Classical CD Review Archive - Classical - July 2002 part 4 M-R: Classical MusicWeb (UK)

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PART 4
M - R
Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
[Part 7 Misc]        



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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

 

Guillaume de MACHAUT (c.1300-1377) Messe de Notre-Dame - Ensemble Gilles Binchois Dominique Vellard (director) Rec Saint-Martin Collegiate Church, Champeaux, France, 5-9 September 1990 DDD HARMONIC RECORDS H/CD 8931 [56.03] [TH]

Recommended as a viable middle-of-the-road version for the newcomer … see Full Review
You may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Leevi MADETOJA (1887-1947) Comedy Overture (1923) [8.31] Kullervo - Symphonic Poem (1913) [14.06] Symphony No. 2 (1918) [42.29] Helsinki PO/Jorma Panula (Comedy Overture) Finnish RSO/Leif Segerstam (Kullervo) Tampere PO/Paavo Rautio (Symphony) rec 1978 (Symphony); 1985 WARNER CLASSICS APEX 0927 43074 2 [65.20] [RB]

Still the leading version of the Second Symphony - lovely, lissom and unemphatic. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 3 in D Minor (1895-6) Anna Larsson (Contralto) London Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Youth Chorus Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado Recorded "live" at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 11 October 1999 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 502-2 [2 CDs: 97.40] [TD]

Highly recommended as an all-round choice for Mahler’s most expansive work. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Das Lied Von Der Erde (1907-9) Richard Lewis (Tenor), Lili Chookasian (Mezzo) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy (Recorded in Town Hall, Philadelphia, February 9 1966) Five Rückert Lieder (1901-2) Frederica Von Stade (Soprano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Andrew Davis - Recorded in EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, December 8,15 & 16 1978 SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK53518 [77.31] [TD]

Ormandy and his great orchestra are the real stars of this fine bargain release. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.9 in D major (1909-10) Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin Recorded "live" at Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, 16 May 1967 ALTUS ALT-018 [69.50] [TD]

Playing that is "red in tooth and claw". Kondrashin’s grasp of structure and balancing so impressive. An absorbing and distinctive version that offers a challenging alternative … see Full Review

Johann Kaspar MERTZ - Bardenlänge, OP.13 (Bardic Sounds) - Unruhe, Lied ohne Worte, Fingals Hohle, Abendlied, Etude, Romanze: Andante, Elfenreigen, An Malvina, Capriccio, Gondoliera, Variations mignonnes, Sehnsucht, Kindermärchen, Gebeth, Liebeslied, Scherzo, Romanze: Moderato, An die Enfernte, Tarantelle Adam Holzman – Guitar - Rec 2001? NAXOS 8.554556 [62:41] [AD]

Less than compelling listening. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Les Noces De Figaro - Figaro, Nicolas Cavalier, (bass). Suzanne, Anne-Sophie Schmidt, (sop). Le Comte Almaviva, Philippe Le Chevalier, (bar). La Comtesse Almaviva, Sophie Fournier, (sop). Chérubin, Dominique Ploteau, (tenor). Bartholo, Christien Tréguier, (bass-bar). Chorus, 'Ensemble Mille E Tre', Orchestra De Chambre De L'Opéra D'État/Jerome Pillement. Recorded live: Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne, October 1997 - Le Conseil General de I'Oise, la Ville de Compiègne. EDITIONS TFM (without number) [3CDs: 176.55] [RJF]

Well-studied, vocally satisfying, performances. A pleasant memento; delightful to listen to and enjoy … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Der Schauspieldirektor, K. 486 (1) MOZART’S CIRCLE (c.1791) Der wohltätige Derwisch (2) Cynthia Sieden (soprano, 1), Sharon Baker (soprano, 1, 2), Deanne Meek (mezzo-soprano, 2), John Aler (tenor, 1, 2), Kevin Deas (baritone, 1, 2), Alan Ewing (bass, 2), Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman - Recorded 4th-6th March 2001, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts TELARC CD-80573 [66’ 14"] [CH]

The Impresario is well worth knowing and the Dervish is quite interesting enough to strengthen the claims of the present version to be the preferred one. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos: no. 9 in E flat, K. 271, no. 25 in C, K.503 - Alfred Brendel (pianoforte) Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras - Recorded 3rd-6th July 2001, Usher Hall, Edinburgh PHILIPS 470 287-2 [67’44"] [CH]

Even if you have every other version of these two works that has ever been made, you should get this one too. … see Full Review

Maurice OHANA (1914 - 1992) Tombeau de Claude Debussy: for soprano, zither and chamber orchestra (1961-2) (Premiere recording) Silenciaire: for six percussionists and strings (1969) Chiffres de Clavecin: for harpsichord and chamber orchestra (1968) Sylvie Sullé (soprano) Christian Ivaldi (piano) Laure Morabito (zither) Elisabeth Chojnacka (harpsichord) Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Arturo Tamayo - Recorded in Luxemburg Conservatoire 1998 DDD Stereo TIMPANI 1C1044 [61:31] [DB]

A brilliantly recorded and performed CD containing music by a fascinating composer who may well be a neglected master of the avant-garde. … see Full Review
You may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc

Maurice OHANA (1914-1992) Douze Etudes d’Interpretation pour piano Set 1(1981-2) Set 2 (1984-5) Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) with Florent Jodelet (percussion) (tracks 11 and 12) Recorded at the Abbé Royale de Fonteyrand, October 1995 HARMONIC RECORDS HCD 9354 [68.56] [GH]

Bavouzet is an ideal interpreter. A recording in every way quite excellent. … see Full Review
You may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc

Maurice OHANA (1914 – 1992) Cello Concerto No.2 In Dark and Blue (1990)
T’Harân-Ngô (1974) Piano Concerto (1981) Sonia Wieder-Atherton (cello); Jean-Claude Pennetier (piano); Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire, Luxembourg, Jan and May 1997 TIMPANI 1C1039 [65:20]
Tombeau de Claude Debussy (1962)a Silenciaire (1969) Chiffres de clavecin (1968)b Sylvie Sullé (soprano)a; Christian Ivaldi (piano)a; Laure Morabito (zither)a; Elisabeth Chojnacka (harpsichord)b; Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire, Luxembourg, May 1998 TIMPANI 1C1044 [61:31]
Livre des Prodiges (1979) Anneau du Tamarit (1976)a Synaxis (1966)b Anssi Karttunen (cello)a; Pascal Devoyon, Christian Ivaldi (pianos)b; Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo Recorded: Conservatoire, Luxembourg, January and February 2000 TIMPANI 1C1056 [66:10] [HC]

The best possible introduction to Ohana’s idiosyncratic sound world … see Full Review
You may sample, purchase or make HUGE savings by downloading this disc

Carl ORFF (1895-1982) Carmina Burana - Hei-Kyung Hong (soprano), Stanford Olsen (tenor), Earle Patriarco (baritone), Gwinnett Young Singers, Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra/Donald Runnicles - Recorded 4th-5th November 2000, Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia TELARC CD-80575 [59’42"] [CH]

A performance with a definite character and one whose timeless, static quality (in spite of much incidental vivacity) is wholly in tune with Orff’s stated concerns. … see Full Review

 

Carl ORFF (1895 - 1982) Carmina Burana (1937) Lucia Popp (soprano) John van Kesteren (tenor) Hermann Prey (baritone) Bavarian Radio Chorus Tolz Children’s Choir Munich Radio Orchestra conducted by Kurt Eichhorn Film Directed by Jean Pierre Ponnelle Also includes picture documentation and an interview with the composer (audio only, but illustrated by photographs). Regional Code 0 Picture Format 4:3 Sound formats AC3 5.1 PCM Stereo 24 bit / 96 kHz Production 1975 from a 1973 Analogue Stereo Recording issued by RCA. Subtitles in Latin (!), English, German, French and Italian BMG DVD 74321 85285 9 [playing time 1.18] [DB]

Gripping: musical performance excellent in every respect; the film is entertaining and the availability of subtitles allows one to grasp what exactly what is being sung … see Full Review


Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918) I was glad (orch. Gordon Jacob), Judith: Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land, Blest pair of Sirens, Jerusalem (orch. Elgar). Choir of Winchester Cathedral, Waynflete Singers, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/David Hill Recorded in Winchester Cathedral, June 1990 Songs of Farewell: 1. My soul, there is a country Canterbury Cathedral Choir/Allan Wicks Recorded in Canterbury Cathedral, October 1983 English Lyrics: Bright Star, When comes my Gwen, O mistress mine, Blow, blow, thou winter wind, A Welsh lullaby, When lovers meet again, On a time the amorous Silvy, When we two parted, Love is a bable, Weep you no more, When icicles hang by the wall, Looking backward, Take, o take those lips away, There be none of beauty’s daughters, And yet I lover her till I die, From a city window, Thine eyes still shine for me, Marian, No longer mourn for me, There Robert Tear (tenor), Philip Ledger (piano) Recorded in the Church of George the Martyr, London, February 1977 DECCA 470 378-2 [78’05"]

Tear clarion-voiced, diction clear – at all times a musically superior musician. … see Full Review

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Sonata for Flute and Piano Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Sonata for Flute and Piano Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sonata for Flute and Piano Op 94 Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Sonata for Flute and Piano H306 Jiri Valek, flute Josef Hala, piano Recorded April 1978 Dvorak Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague except Martinů, recorded January and February 1989 SUPRAPHON SU 0096-2111 [68’22] [JW]

The rhythmically alive and exciting finale of the Martinů concludes a disc of enormous pleasures. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano sonatas, Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 8, Opus 84 - Sonata No. 9, Opus 103 - Toccata, Opus 11 Peter Dimitriew (piano) - Recorded June 2001, Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording House ARTE NOVA 74321 85291 2 [57.57][TB]

The style of No. 9 is relatively reticent in comparison with the heroic, transcendentally challenging sonatas which preceded it and the Toccata is a rhythmic tour-de-force, a challenge of dexterity and rhythmic attack. … see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924). Tosca (highlights) Tosca, Angela Gheorghiu, (sop).Cavaradossi, Roberto Alagna (tenor), Scarpia, Ruggero Raimondi (baritone). Tiffin Boys Choir, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Cond. Antonio Pappano. Recorded August 2000. No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London. Full Price. EMI CLASSICS CDC 7243 557364-2 [78.29] [RJF]

As far as highlights goes this scoops the prize by a long way for both quality and quantity. … see Full Review

Florence PRICE (1887-1953) Orchestral music - The Oak (c.1934) Mississippi River Suite (c.1934) Symphony No.3 in C minor (1940) The Women's Philharmonic/Apo Hsu Recorded at Skywalker Sound, Marin County, California (no date provided) KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 3-7518-2 HI [69.58] [NH]

More buried treasures of valuable Americana uncovered and demanding our full attention.….. see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Music for two pianos Introduction and allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet (1905) Rapsodie espagnole (1908) Entre cloches (1897) Ma mère l’oye (1910) Ouverture de Shéhérazade (1899) Frontispice for poème de Vardar (1918) La Valse (1920) Jennifer Micallef and Glen Inanga Recorded July 2001, Potton Hall, Suffolk, UK. SOMM NEW HORIZONS SOMMCD 025 [66.30] [WH]

A most sensitive performance, alive to every change of mood, wistful and touching in the opening pages, scintillating at the end. Nobody would be disappointed by it. … see Full Review

RECORD OF THE MONTH - Wolfgang RIHM (b.1952) Jagden und Formen (1995/2001)[51.02] Ensemble Modern/Dominique My - Rec. Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks, Frankfurt, 8/2001 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 20-21 471558-2 [51.02] [AT]

An explosively dramatic and expressive piece, and the musicians deserve the highest praise for making it so … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Boutique Fantasque arr Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Petrushka (1911)
London Symphony Orchestra (Rossini-Respighi) Suisse Romande Orchestra (Stravinsky) Ernest Ansermet Recorded Victoria Hall, Geneva November 1949 (Stravinsky), Kingsway Hall July 1950 (Rossini-Respighi) SOMM CD 027 [70’16]

A perfect opportunity to listen to these milestones of recorded sound and admire once more performances of intoxicating drama, wit and depth. … see Full Review

Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
[Part 7 Misc]   


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