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Alphabetical Listing

PART 7
Misc. M-Z

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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


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Michelangeli: The Early Recordings Vol. 2 - 1939-51 Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto 15 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonata 3 Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Scherzo 2, Berceuse, Mazurkas 25 & 47, Waltz 9 Arturo Michelangeli (piano) dell’Ente dei Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano SO/Ettore Gracis rec. 1939-51 NAXOS 8.112052 [74:18] [JW]

The young Michelangeli was a wizard and this second volume enshrines the seeds of his future greatness ... see Full Review 

Moods – Piano Music by American Women Composers Marilyn J ZIFFRIN (b.1926) Moods (2005) [6:23]; Piano Sonata (2006) [8:55] Elizabeth BELL (b.1928) Arecibo Sonata (1968 rev 2005) [13:15] Rami LEVIN Passages (2002) [8:24] Rain WORTHINGTON Hourglass (1991) [7:57]; Tangents (1996) [10:29]; Dark Dreams (2001) [8:06]; Always Almost (1996) [6:16] Max Lifchitz (piano) rec. 17–20 December 2007, Chapin Hall (Bernhard Music Center), Williams College, Williamstown, MA, DDD NORTH/SOUTH RECORDINGS N/S R 1049 [70:00] [BBr]

There is insufficient substance in the music … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Moviebrass Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) West Side Story Suite (arr. Marco Pierobon) [25:22] Samuel BARBER (1910-1981) Adagio for Strings (arr. Stephen McNeff) [7:16] John WILLIAMS (b. 1932), Jerry GOLDSMITH (1929-2004), James HORNER (b. 1953) and David ARNOLD (b. 1962) Space Brass (arr. Marco Pierobon) [17:03] John WILLIAMS Indiana Jones: Main Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [4:27] Danny ELFMAN (b. 1953) The Simpsons Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [1:38] Franco MICALIZZI (b. 1939) and Yuji OHNO (b. 1941) Lupin III: Main Title Theme (arr. Marco Pierobon) [3:17] Gomalan Brass Quintet (Marco Braito and Marco Pierobon (trumpets); Nilo Caracristi (French horn); Gianluca Scipioni (trombone); Oswald Prader (tuba)) rec. 2007 full tracklist at end of review NAXOS 8.572244 [59:03] [RB]

Whoop it up with the Gomalan. ... see Full Review

A Musical Journey Germany Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) ('illustrative') excerpts from: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, 1877 BRT Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander Rahbari (from Naxos 8.550279) Joseph JOACHIM (1831-1907) ('illustrative') excerpts from: In Memoriam Heinrich von Kleist, Op. 13, 1877 Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra/Meir Minsky (from Naxos 8.554733) Picture Format 4:3 No Region Code NAXOS 2.110534 [50:12] [MS]

A wealth of input for ear and eye can be recommended if only for a couple of playings … see Full Review

A MUSICAL JOURNEY - ITALY Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Romeo and Juliet (1869-1880)* Souvenir de Florence Op. 70 (1869)** Capriccio italien Op. 45 (1880)*** Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen Gunzenhauser (from Naxos 8.550030 nla)*,*** Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen Gunzenhauser (from Naxos 8.550030 nla)*,*** Vienna Chamber Orchestra/Philippe Entremont (from Naxos 8.550404)** Picture Format 4:3. No Region Code NAXOS 2.110253 [72:12] [MS]

Something of a collage … see Full Review

The Musical Landscape Gordon JACOB (1895 – 1984) Overture Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872 – 1958) Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis Edward ELGAR (1857 – 1934) Serenade Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 – 1976) Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge Royal Academy Soloists/Clio Gould (violin/dir.), rec. 1999 CANTORIS CRCD 6063 [53:58] [BBr]

Performances radiate delight and pleasure … see Full Review

Le Mystère des Templiers Ensemble Organum/Marcel Pérès; Discantus/Brigitte Lesne; Alla Francesca; Ensemble Gilles Binchois/Dominique Vellard rec. 2009 NAÏVE AMBROISIE AM195 [66:29] [MS]

Appealing music and convincing performances. … see Full Review 

Naked Byrd William BYRD (c.1540-1623) Ave Verum Corpus Morten LAURIDSEN (b.1943) O Magnum Mysterium Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585) Loquebantur variis linguis Gregorio ALLEGRI (1582-1652) Miserere mei Henryck GÓRECKI (b.1933) Totus Tuus John TAVENER (b.1944) Song for Athene Armonico Consort/ Christopher Monks rec. 2008 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD180 [55:30] [BW]

Some slow tempi and lack of texts spoil an otherwise attractive recording ... see Full Review 

Not Just Dowland Carolyn Sampson (sop.), Matthew Wadsworth (lute & theorbo), rec. 2008 WIGMORE HALL LIVE WHLIVE0034 [76.16] [RH]

Riches to be found here … see Full Review

Ombre de mon amant - French Baroque Arias Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER (1634 – 1704) Michel LAMBERT (1610 – 1696) Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683 – 1764) Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo) Les Arts Florissants/William Christie rec. 2008 ARCHIV PRODUKTION 477 8610 [65:04] [GF]

In every way a high quality product that no lover of Baroque vocal music should miss ... see Full Review

Once upon a time - Children’s tales for piano and narrator Francis POULENC (1899-1963) The Story of Babar Richard WILSON (b. 1941) A Child’s London ( Soulima STRAVINSKY (1910-1994) Three Fairy Tales Henri BARRAUD (b.1900) Histoires pour les Enfants Haskell Smith (piano); Robert Aubry Davis (narrator) rec. 1998 ONGAKU RECORDS 024-114 CD [66:56] [JS]

Either too literal and studied or pleasant but instantly forgettable … see Full Review 

Perspectives 3 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Sonatas “Pastorale” & “Appassionata” Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Sonata 21 Andreas Haefliger (pno), rec. 2007 AVIE AV2148 [49:08 + 41:31] [JW]

One listens with admiration and respect. ... see Full Review

Phantasy of Spring Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987) Spring of Chosroes Bernd Alois ZIMMERMANN (1918-1970) Sonate für Violine & Klavier Arnold SCHÖNBERG (1874-1951) Phantasy for Violin Iannis XENAKIS (1922-2001) Dikhthas Carolin Widmann (violin), Simon Lepper (pno), rec. 2006 ECM NEW SERIES 2113 [52:25] [DC]

Fascinating 20th century selection. ... see Full Review

Prague Symphony Orchestra William WALTON (1902-1983) Scapino Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto 3 Miloslav KABELÁČ (1908-1979) Reflections Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Rapsodie espagnole Peter Katin (piano) Prague SO/Zdeněk Košler, Václav Smetáček rec. live 1967/8 ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS CD2/2008 [71:43] [JW]

Another engaging entrant ... see Full Review 

The Romantic Generation Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) Nocturne in B major Op.62 No.1 (1846) [6:23] Nocturne in D flat major Op.27 No.2 [5:05] Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849) - Franz LISZT (1811-1886) My Joys [3:44] Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Reminiscences of Don Juan [18:19] Die Loreley (1856) [5:59] Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Davidsbündlertänze Op.6 (1837) [33:44] Charles Rosen (piano) rec. June, July and October, 1993, American Academy of Arts and Letters, NYC NIMBUS NI 2559 [73:14] [JW]

Palpable affection – a fitting judgement on his playing throughout ... see Full Review

Scandinavian Classics - Vol. 2 Friedrich KUHLAU (1786-1832) Incidental music to The Elf Hill Niels W. GADE (1817-1890) Concert Overture, Echoes of Ossian,Novelettes for String Orchestra J.P.E. HARTMANN (1805-1900) Little Kirsten Overture C.F.E. HORNEMAN (1840-1906) Aladdin, Fairy-Tale Overture,Gurre-SuiteCarl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Maskarade - Excerpts Poul SCHIERBECK (1888-1949) Fête Galante Overture Peder GRAM (1881-1956) Poème lyrique Svend S. SCHULTZ (1913-1998) Serenade for Strings Danish State RSO/Erik Tuxen, Launy Grøndahl  rec. 1942-52 DANACORD DACOCD 673-4 [73:44 + 72:25] [RB]

A mixed-bag collection of Danish incidental music … see Full Review 

SOLO + Øistein SOMMERFELDT (1919 – 1994) Sonata Saxifraga, op 69a (1985) [7:41] Ketil HVOSLEF (b 1939) Violino Solo (1980/1989) [15:42] Wolfgang PLAGGE (b 1960) Duels for two violins (2007) [9:30] Kjell Mørk KARLSEN (b 1947) Fantasia Religiosa per violino solo [12:43] Bjørn KRUSE (b 1946) Memento mori (2002) [14:06] Terje BJØRKLUND (b 1945) Three Contrasts for two violins (2007) [11:11] Stig and Anders Kjellberg Nilsson (violins) rec. November 2006, March 2007, Ullensvang Church, Hordaland, Norway. DDD 2L 2L47SACD [70:53] [BBr]

A fine example of music from Norway … see Full Review

Songs of Springtime E.J. MOERAN (1894 - 1950) Songs of Springtime & other short works Arthur BENJAMIN (1893 - 1960) Three Mystical Pieces Edgar BAINTON (1880 - 1956) Open Thy Gates, Night, In the Wilderness Leslie HEWARD (1897 - 1943) The Witches’ Sabbath City Chamber Ch London/Stephen Jones rec. 1995 BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY BMS417CD [49:35] [BBr]

There is quality here … see Full Review 

Spirit of Vienna Johann STRAUSS Jr (1825-1899) Reiche Mädchen overture, Fanny Elssler overture Johann STRAUSS III (1866-1939) March, waltz, and polka from Katz und Maus Siegfried TRANSLATEUR (1875-1944) Traumverloren waltz Paul LINCKE (1866-1946) Casanova waltz Alfons CZIBULKA (1842-1894) Von der Hochschule polka-mazurka Edmund EYSLER (1874-1949) Schützenliezel waltz Joseph HELLMESBERGER (1855-1907) Veilchenmädel waltz Die flotten Geister/Christian Pollack rec. 2005 JOHANN STRAUSS SOCIETY JR0160-2 [79:35] [BR]

More world premiere recordings of Straussian delights … see Full Review 

Starry Night Project: Music Based on Visual Art Matthew HARRIS (b.1956) Starry Night - Seven Paintings for Violin, Cello and Piano (1984) Stephen PAULUS (b.1949) Art Suite for Cello and Piano (1999) Libby LARSEN (b.1950) Black Birds, Red Hills - A Portrait of Six Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe for B-flat Clarinet, Viola and Piano (1996) Andrew LIST (b.1956) Noa Noa: A Gauguin Tableau for Violin, Clarinet and Piano (2008) MONTAGE Music Society rec. 2008, MSR CLASSICS MS1264 [62:44] [OL]

The entire disc is like a modern "Pictures at an Exhibition": a wonderful, unforgettable journey... see Full Review

In the Still of the Night Anna Netrebko (soprano); Daniel Barenboim (piano) rec. live, 2009 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8589 [68:54] [MC]

You would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this engaging and moving recital ... see Full Review 

Terruño Works for guitar by Lindsey-Clark, Solis, Sinesi, Gismonti, Falu & Henze Berta Rojas (guitar) rec. 2009 ONMUSIC RECORDINGS [58:06] [ZT]

A refreshing and elevating programme played with bravura and much passion … see Full Review 

Three Portraits With Shadow Rodolfo HALFFTER (1900-1987) Suite para Orquesta, Marinero en Tierra Ernesto HALFFTER (1905-1989) Canciones Portuguesas Julián BAUTISTA (1901-1961) Tres ciudades, Sinfonía breve Lola Casariego (mezzo) Extremadura SO/Jesús Amigo rec. 2009 NON PROFIT MUSIC NPM0909 [62:56] [OL]

Energetic, dense interpretations, which deserve to become the definitive account of these attractive works ... see Full Review 

Paul Tortelier - The Great EMI Recordings rec. 1946-84 EMI CLASSICS 6 88627 2 [20 CDs] [JW]

Tortelier’s many admirers will find here much that has slipped through the net; merits the highest admiration. ... see Full Review

Trendsetters Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphony Gustav HOLST (1874-1934) First Suite for Military Band Joseph SCHWANTNER (b. 1943) … and the mountains rising nowhere Percy Aldridge GRAINGER (1882-1961) Lincolnshire Posy Peabody Conservatory Wind Ens/Harlan D. Parker rec. 1998-2008 NAXOS 8.572242 [56:36] [BM]

Core band repertoire, worth exploring … see Full Review 

The Virtuoso Quartet César FRANCK (1822-1890) String Quartet Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) String Quartet, Op.18/6 Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Moment Musical Virtuoso Qt rec. 1925-7 HISTORIC RECORDINGS HRMP00032 [72:18] [JW]

Urgent, affectionate careful to bring out the intensity ... see Full Review 

The Virtuoso Viola Includes Arthur BENJAMIN (1893-1960) Le Tombeau de Ravel Georges ENESCU (1881-1955) Pièce de Concert Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Fantasia cromatica Joseph JONGEN (1873-1953) Introduction et Danse Henry VIEUXTEMPS (1820-1881) Elégie Nicolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Sonata per la gran viola Roger Chase (viola) Michiko Otaki (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.572293 [68:43] [JW]

A strongly Francophile recital played with assurance and perception … well recorded ... see Full Review 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Visions of Beyond Late works by Liszt, Brahms, Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin, Schubert and Schumann Edward Rosser (piano) rec. 2007 CONNOISSEUR SOCIETY CD4260 [63:49] [BR]

Not a recital but a great narrative in music … see Full Review 

WEINGARTNER Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Der Freischütz - overture Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Rosamunde – Entr’acte Felix WEINGARTNER (1863-1942) The Tempest – scherzettino Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Invitation to the dance Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony 3 Basle Symphony Orchestra/Felix Weingartner (Weber, Schubert, Weingartner), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Felix Weingartner (Mendelssohn) rec. 1928/9 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 210 [58:41]

Much to enjoy in - and to learn from – this new release ... see Full Review

With Endless Teares Songs by Robert JOHNSON (1583-1633), Nicholas LANIER (1588-1666), Henry LAWES (1596-1662), Jacques GAUTIER (late C16-before 1660), Pelham HUMFREY (1647-1674) & Henry PURCELL (1658-1695) Johannette Zomer (sop.), Fred Jacobs (lute & theorbo), rec. 2008 CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 26609 [65:12] [BW]

Another enterprising release from an enterprising label ... see Full Review

Michael Zadora (piano) - the Complete Recordings rec. c.1922-38 APR 6008 [71:53 + 66:51] [JW]

Splendid to have this corpus of recordings available in one handy slim-line double ... see Full Review 

Zarzuelas (Highlights) Emilio ARRIETA (1823-1894) Marina (1871) [39:53] Tomás BRETÓN (1850-1923) La Verbena de la Paloma (1894) [39:07]
Amadeo Vives (1871-1932) Bohemios, Doña Francisquita NAïVE V5213 [79:00 + 69:56] [JS]

If you have a general interest in zarzuela but no real knowledge of it this will make a splendid addition to your collection.… see Full Review 

 

BOOK REVIEWS

Let Beauty Awake: Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Literature Edited by Julian Rushton Elgar Editions, hardback 2010

Will surely add value to your listening pleasure ... see Full Review

The Music of Lord Berners (1883-1950) ‘The Versatile Peer’ by Bryony Jones
Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2003, hardback 155 pages £52.25 post free from Amazon

Essential for the musicologist, amateur and professional ... see Full Review


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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 



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