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Alphabetical Listing

PART 4
M-R

[Click here for the most recent reviews (last five days)]
Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended recordings]

 

Otmar MÁCHA (1922-2006) The Pure Virgin - Variations on a Czech Mediaeval Song for violin and string orchestra (1997) see Bodorova

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 1 Tonhalle O Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2006 BMG-RCA 82876 871562 [61:43] [DM]

Attention to detail and the wonderful ‘hear through’ quality ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Polyptyque, Maria-Triptychon, Passacaille Muriel Cantoreggi (violin) Juliane Banse (soprano) German RPO/Christoph Poppen rec. 2006 ECM 2015 (173 3930) [57:57] [DC]

Looking for that elusive ‘tingle factor’? ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete works for violin and orchestra Vol. 3 Suite concertante (both versions) Rhapsody-Concerto Bohuslav Matoušek (violin) Czech PO/Christopher Hogwood rec. 2001-5 HYPERION CDA67673 [68:49] [DC]

Life enhancing stuff ... see Full Review

William MATHIAS (1934-1992) String Quartet No. 1 (single movement) op. 38 (1967) String Quartet No. 2 op. 84 (1980-81) String Quartet No. 3 op. 97 (1986) Medea Quartet. rec. 1993. DDD METIER MSVCD92005 [63:26] [RB]

Rooted tonality spiced with dissonance. ... see Full Review

Simon MAYR (1763–1845) L'Amor coniugale Cinzia Rizzone (soprano) Francescantonio Bille (tenor) Wurttemburg PO/Christopher Franklin rec. live 2004 NAXOS 8.660198-99 [43.49 + 39.08] [RH]

Not a masterpiece but strong and interesting ... see Full Review

Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Piano Concerto No.2 in D minor Op.23 – movements 1 and 2 only (1888-89) [18:11] see Stokowski

Simon McENERY (b. 1964) The Resurrection Imogen Roose (soprano), Carolyn Jackson (mezzo), Declan Kelly (tenor), Dyfed Wyn Evans (baritone), Daniel Cooke (piano) Salisbury Cathedral Ch, Sarum O/David Halls rec. 2007 PRIORY PRCD1002 [66.44] [RH]

A fascinating and accessible work, one to which I will return in the future. ... see Full Review

Colin McPHEE (1900-1964) Tabuh-Tabuhan see HARRISON

Nicholas MAW (b. 1935) Sinfonia* (1966) [30:00] John ADDISON (1920-1998) Divertimento for Brass Quartet op. 9 (1951) [8:17] John GARDNER (b. 1917) Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet op. 7 (1951) [9:55] Stephen DODGSON (b. 1924) Sonata for Brass Quintet (1963) [10:48] * English Chamber Symphony Orchestra/Norman Del Mar Philip Jones Brass Ensemble rec. 1970/74 ADD. LYRITA SRCD.307 [62:56] [RB]

Performances that are virtuosic in their brilliance of despatch and in their poetry. ... see Full Review

Nicholas MAW (b. 1935) Sonata for Strings and Two Horns (1967) see HODDINOTT

Sir Peter MAXWELL DAVIES (b. 1934) Psalm 124, Dove Star-Folded, Economies of Scale, Ave Maris Stella Gemini/Ian Mitchell rec. 2005/6 METIER MSV28503 [53.04] [GH]

All in all a deservedly high quality product delivered from the hands of top musicians ... see Full Review

Nicolai MEDTNER (1880-1951) Sonate-Idylle, Vergessene Weisen (Forgotten Melodies), Second Improvisation Earl Wild (piano) rec. 1988 IVORY CLASSICS 75003 [66:40][JW]

Wild proves a formidable champion of Medtner’s music ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) String Quartets - Volume 1 Quartets 1, 4 & 6 New Zealand String Quartet rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570001 [77:51] [DRD]

A good introduction … nobody new to these works should feel short-changed ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto see BRUCH 

Pierre MERCURE (1927-1966) Kaléidoscope see DEBUSSY

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Boxed set La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (1965-1969) Visions de l’Amen (1943) Des canyons aux étoiles .. etc. NAÏVE - DISQUES MONTAIGNE MO 782179 6CDs [531:07] [DC]

Some of Messiaen’s biggest and best, brilliantly performed, at bargain price. ... see Full Review

Robin MILFORD (1903–1959) Piano Music and Songs Phillida Bannister (alto); Raphael Terroni (piano) rec. 2005/2006. DDD first recordings TOCCATA TOCC0009 [78:29] [RB]

Milford's lyric pastels ...A gentle muse. ... see Full Review

Ernest John Moeran (1894-1950) Cello Concerto, Cello Sonata, Prelude for cello and piano Peers Coetmore (cello); Eric Parkin (piano) London PO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1969 LYRITA SRCD.299 [60:25] [JF]

A concern for structure and a warm, lyrical tone ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Lionel MONKTON (1861-1924) Songs from the Shows Catherine Bott (soprano); Richard Suart (baritone); New London Light Opera Chorus; New London Orchestra/Ronald Corp rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67654 [77:31][IL]

A wonderful old-fashioned treat ... see Full Review

David MORGAN (1933-1988) Violin concerto see FRICKER

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor K491 (1786) [30:42] Piano Concerto No 25 in C K503 (1786) [32:25] Fantasia in D minor K397 (1782) [6:22] Imogen Cooper (piano & director)/Northern Sinfonia; Bradley Creswick rec. 2007 AVIE AV2175 [70:00] [JS]

One of my favourite discs of these concertos ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concerto for two pianos; Sonata in F major for piano duet; Sonata in D major for two pianos Earl Wild and Zaidee Parkinson (pianos); National Philharmonic Orchestra/Richard Dufallo rec. 1975 IVORY CLASSICS 76002 [71:00][JW]

Performances of energy, drama and enjoyable finesse ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Complete String Quartets - Volume 1 American String Quartet (Peter Winograd (violin); Laurie Carney (violin); Daniel Avshalomov (viola); David Geber (cello)) rec. 1994-96, exact dates and locations not given. NIMBUS NI 2508-10 [3 CDs: 58:15 + 68:58 + 59:36] [DC]

Performances with no discernible weakness ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden/Antonio Pappano rec. 2006 OPUS ARTE OA0990D [2 DVDs: 202:00][GF]

Excellent singing and acting … this is the real thing – and still up to date ... see Full Review

Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Cello Concerto see ELGAR

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) The Collector’s Edition: Symphonies, Concertos, Overtures, Choral works and piano solos EMI CLASSICS COLLECTORS EDITION 5194292 [7 CDs: 521:07] [RB]

Go for it: splendid performances radiating an aptly wild and woolly imagination coupled with great attention to mood and instrumental detail ... see Full Review

Emmanuel NUNES (b.1941) Litanies du feu et de la mer (1969) [24.07] Litanies du feu et de la mer (1973) [20.51] Rudolf KELTERBORN (b. 1931) Piano Pieces 1-6 (2001-4)* [32.44] See Siang Wong (piano) rec. Zürich, April 2003, April 2005 *world premiere recording GUILD GMCD 7318 [76.03] [AO]

Listen to this disc and you’ll hear how beautiful new music can be. ... see Full Review

Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880) La Périchole Chorus of the Grand-Théâtre, Geneva; Suisse Romande Orchestra/Marc Soustrot GALA GL100786 [78:58 + 79:20][JS] 

Especially welcome even if it cannot be regarded as an unqualified success ... see Full Review

Hisato OHZAWA (1907-1953) Piano Concerto 2, Symphony 2 Ekaterina Saranceva (piano) Russian PO/Dimitry Yablonsky rec. 2006 NAXOS JAPANESE CLASSICS 8.570177 [62:53] [DM]

Musically and sonically: nul points ... see Full Review

Nicoló PAGANINI (1782-1840) 24 Caprices Op. 1: Eliot Fisk (guitar) rec.1991,
NIMBUS NI 2505 [79:21] [ZT]

Giovanni Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Stabat Mater Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725) Stabat Mater Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 1998 NAÏVE OP30441 [79:39][GPu]

Historically instructive and moving, these two settings from Naples get outstanding performances … see Full Review

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Tango Sensations Casal Quartett rec. 2003 SOLO MUSICA SM106 [71:41][GF] 

It is always fascinating to make discoveries off the beaten track ... see Full Review

Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cinq Mélodies Op. 35 (1920)[15.20] Classical Symphony Op. 25 (1926) [14.32] Concertino for cello and orchestra Op. 132 (1953) Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b. 1932) Parabola Concertante for cello with strings and timpani (2001) [16.27] Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Southbank Sinfonia/Simon Over rec. 2007 NIMBUS NI 5816 [66.05] [GH]

Wallfisch is in marvellous form and obviously has a rapport with this music ... see Full Review

Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Suite from The Love of Three Oranges Op.33a (1921) Stokowsi see review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Theatre Music - Volume 1 Amphytrion, The Gordion Knot Unty’d, Circe Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570149 [59:32] [MS]

A pleasing and pleasingly played selection performed with style and a certain detachment ... see Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Victorious love: Songs Carolyn Sampson (soprano) rec. St Paul’s Church rec. 2006 BIS BISSACD1536 [71:40][MG]

A fine flowing line, great virtuoso technique yet also expressive feeling … see Full Review

Phillip RAMEY (b. 1939) Piano Music, Volume 2: 1966-2007 Mirian Conti (piano) rec. 2007. DDD first recordings; all made in the presence of the composer TOCCATA TOCC0077 [64:00] [RB]

American dissonance tracing lineage to Prokofiev and Bartók ... see Full Review

Shulamit RAN (b. 1949) Legends; Violin Concerto Ittai Shapira (violin); Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim & BBC Concert Orchestra/Charles Hazlewood rec. 2003-6 ALBANY TROY970 [52:18][RB]

Brilliance and vulnerable humanity ... see Full Review

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Street Corner Overture, Madame Chrysanthème, Practical Cats, Theme, Variations and Finale, Medieval Diptych, Coronation Overture Simon Callow, Jeremy Huw Williams, Royal Liverpool PO/David Lloyd-Jones rec. 2007 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7203 [72:35] [RB]

Excellent performances and recordings … fills gaps in the Rawsthorne discography with panache ... see Full Review

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Quartet for clarinet, violin, viola and cello see BERKELEY

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) The Pines of Rome, Impressioni brasiliane Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Boutique fantasque (arr./orch. Respighi) Philharmonia O/Alceo Galliera rec. 1955-59 MEDICI ARTS MM0222 [73:19] [KS]

Famous performances nicely mastered and packaged for this outstanding compilation ... see Full Review

Christian Heinrich RINCK (1770–1846) Sacred Works Collegium vocale Siegen/Ulrich Stötzell rec. 2006 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD98.262 [40.24] [RH]

Fascinating, confident, stylish performances of Lutheran music from the early 19th century ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Joaquín RODRIGO (1902-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez Toru TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) To the Edge of Dream Malcolm ARNOLD (1931-2006) Guitar Concerto Julian Bream (guitar); City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle rec. 1990-2 EMI CLASSICS CDC 7546612 [58:16][OW]

Bream’s input pushes this disc way into the category of ‘sublime’... see Full Review

Aemilian ROSENGART (1757–1810) Te Deum laudamus and other sacred works Orpheus Vokalensemble, Ars Antiqua Austria/Jurgen Essl rec. 2007 CARUS 83.427 [56.31] [RH]

Charming pieces in winning performances ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986) Song of the Soul, Four Mediæval Latin Lyrics, Inscape, Veni, creator Spiritus, Advent Cantata Stephen Varcoe, ASMF Ch, City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox rec. 1999 CHANDOS DOWNLOAD (CHAN9847) [56:21] [BW]

Even if you have never yet downloaded anything, do make the effort to obtain this wonderful recording ... see Full Review


[Click here for the most recent reviews (last five days)]
Click for alphabetical listings by composer:
[Part 1 New] [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R] [Part 5 S-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] [Part 7 Misc M-Z]
[Recommended recordings]





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