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Armas
MAASALO (1885-1960) Tema con variazioni, Sonata see
OrganOrgan
Guillaume
de MACHAUT (c.1300-1377) Messe de Notre Dame,
Le Vray remède d'amour, Le Jugement du Roi de Navarre 
Ens Gilles Binchois/Dominique Vellard rec. 1988-1990-1994
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94217 [3 CDs: 190:35] [MS]
Excellent
recordings of widely different works by poet and composer Machaut, previously
unavailable; the three-CD set should be snapped up unhesitatingly for
the beauty of the music, speech and performance … and the price.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH James MacMILLAN
(b. 1959) A Different World
Gregory Harrington (violin) Simon Mulligan (piano) Caroline Stinson
(cello) rec. 2009
ESTILE RECORDS 391651 [63:56]
[MS]
A
compelling and wonderfully-executed recital of James MacMillan's smaller-scale
music for piano, violin and cello in a variety of combinations that
are not to be ignored. Buy this CD!
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony 3
Mihoko Fujimora (alto) Bamberger Domchores, Bamberg SO & Ch, Bayerische
Staatsphilharmonie/Jonathan Nott rec. live, 2010
TUDOR 7170 
[34:45 + 69:29]
[DM]
You
have been warned.
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 7
Lucerne Festival O/Claudio Abbado rec. 2005
EUROARTS 
205 4624 [78:00]
[DM]
A
mighty, long-shadowed Mahler Seventh.
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony 8
Warsaw PO/Antoni Wit rec. 2005
NAXOS BLU-RAY AUDIO
NBD0009 [80:15]
[DM]
A
mandatory purchase for anyone interested in superb Mahler and even better
sound.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Das lied von der Erde
David
Stout (baritone) Emma Curtis (alto) Brennen Guillory (tenor) Orchestra
of the Swan/Kenneth Woods. rec. 2010
SOMM SOMMCD0109 [79:27]
[GA]
Schoenberg’s
arrangements present this music in a new light, and these performances
are very successful.
Pieter
van MALDERE (1729-1768) Sinfonias
Academy of Ancient Music/Filip Bral; rec. 2000
ETCETERA KTC 4036 [58:47] [JV]
Fine
performances of early classical symphonies by an unjustly forgotten
master.
Niccolo
MANZARO (1795-1872)
Don Crepuscolo see HANDEL
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank MARTIN
(1890-1974) Der Sturm
Soloists, Netherlands Radio PO/Thierry Fischer rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67821/3 [3 CDs: 54:48 + 53:35 + 44:25] [RB]
Magically
re-imagined and brought to harvest.
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Songs - Volume 1
Jana Wallingerová (mezzo) Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572588 [79:28]
[Byz]
Martinů's
immense imagination keeps everyone on their toes with a constant supply
of unexpected chords, leaps and other musical twists and turns.
Rytis
MAŽULIS (b.1961)
Musica
Falsa
Manuel Zurria (flutes) rec. 2009/10
MEGADISC CLASSICS MDC 7794 [69:31] 
[Byz]
The
relentless, slowly mutating repetition of minimalism.
Young
Hearts on Fire Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Sinfonia for strings 10 Erich
KORNGOLD (1897-1957) String sextet Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Sonata a quattro 6
Ensemble Caméléon rec. 2010
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72368 [59:11]
[DC]
I’ve
enjoyed these pieces hugely.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847)
*Capriccio Brillant Béla BARTÓK (1881-1945)
Rhapsody Max REGER (1873-1916) Piano
Concerto
Wolfram Lorenzen (piano) SWR RSO Stuttgart/*Ernest Bour, Jirí Stárek;
St. Gallen SO/Reinhard Petersen rec. 1974-97
TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01437 [69:44]
[Byz]
Muscular
pianism, fleetness of fingers and lyrical finesse.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Elijah
Michael Volle (bass), Andrea Rost (soprano), Marjana Lipovsek (alto)
Bavarian Radio Ch/SO/Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. 2001
HäNSSLER PROFIL PH07019 [60:47 + 60:21]
[MC]
I
am delighted to have this Sawallisch release of Elijah in my collection
and I will play it often.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
Piano Concertos 1 & 2 Edvard GRIEG
(1843-1907) Piano Concerto
Peter Katin (piano) London SO/Anthony Collins, London PO/Colin Davis
rec. 1956/9
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC279 [75:35]
[CH]
In
the Grieg, Katin always plays with feeling, flexibility and a natural
sense of flow. You will be lucky to find these three concertos more
sympathetically played.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus from Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps see
CLIMATE CHANGES
Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791–1864) Songs
Sivan Rotem (soprano) Jonathan Zak (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572367 [71:54]
[GF]
Melodious
and attractive songs on a more modest plane with something of the opera
house about them.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Menuhin conducts Mozart
- Serenades, symphonies, wind concertos & opera overtures
Lausanne CO, Sinfonia Varsovia, English Chamber O rec. 1989-97
VIRGIN CLASSICS 6487942 [6 CDs: 374:24] [PK]
A
truly unique musician and human being conducting the works of a truly
unique composer, this set stands as a superb introduction to the most
enjoyable of orchestral Mozart.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Eva Mei (soprano) Rainer Trost (tenor) Patrizia Ciofi (soprano) Ch &
O Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Zubin Mehta rec. 2002
ARTHAUS MUSIC 107109 
[136:00] [RJF]
High
picture quality and sound, elegantly staged and well sung … a first
choice for me in this opera.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1759-1791)
Flute and harp concerto, Flute concertos 1 & 2
Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp) Berlin PO/ Claudio
Abbado rec. 1996
EMI CLASSICS 9659372 [71:06]
[CR]
Unmissable.
one of the best Mozart flute concerto recordings I’ve heard, with
musicianship and instrumental ability in abundance.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Symphonies 32, 35, 36, 39 & 41
Scottish CO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste rec. 1987/90
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0963702 [68:58 + 62:07]
[BW]
Too
tempting a bargain to resist.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Così fan
tutte
Margaret Marshall (soprano) Anne Murray (mezzo) Kathleen Battle (soprano)
Vienna State Opera Ch, Vienna PO/Riccardo Muti rec. live, 1983
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 219
[2 DVDs: 188:00]
[RJF]
This
traditional production, along with its costumes and sets, realise the
intention of Da Ponte’s story and Mozart’s music as few
other more modern ones do.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
La Clemenza di Tito
Michael Schade (tenor) Vesselina Kassarova (mezzo) Elina Garanča
(mezzo) Barbara Bonney (soprano) Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor,
Vienna PO/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. live, 2003
ARTHAUS MUSIK 107181
[75:00 + 86:00]
[ST]
A
very mixed bag, but happily the good is very good.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni
Gerald Finley (baritone) Anna Samuil (soprano) Kate Royal (soprano)
Glyndebourne Chorus, Orch of the Age of Enlightenment/Vladimir Jurowski
rec. 2010
EMI CLASSICS
0720179 [2 DVDs: 194:00] [RJF]
Mozart’s
opera deserves a better staging than this and a singer in the title
role who recognises that Don Giovanni is a nasty piece of work not merely
a suave womaniser.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Requiem
Simone
Kermes (soprano) Stephanie Houtzeel (alto) Markus Brutscher (tenor)
Arnaud Richard (bass) New Siberian Singers, MusicaAeterna/Teodor Currentzis
rec. 2010
ALPHA 178 [46.32]
[RH]
I
will certainly be playing this again.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
Sonata see Paul
Galbraith
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Boris Godunov
Matti Salminen (bass) Pär Lindskog (tenor) Anatoly Kocherga (bass)
José Manuel Zapata (tenor) Ch & SO of the Gran Teatre del Liceu,
Barcelona/Sebastien Weigle rec. 2004
ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 237 [152:00]
[RF]
Many
will look for more colour and grandeur than the minimalist sets and
overall greyness provided in this taut interpretation.
José
de NEBRA (1702
- 1768) Esta Dulzura Amable - Sacred cantatas
María Espada (soprano) Al Ayre Español/Eduardo López
Banzo (harpsichord) rec. 2010
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72509
[65:22]
[JV]
Every
reason to give an enthusiastic welcome to this disc.
Niccolò
PAGANINI (1782-1840)
24
Caprices
Thomas Zehetmair (violin)
ECM NEW SERIES 2124 4763318 [67.24]
[EM]
A
most interesting and rewarding performance of a technical Mount Everest
of the solo-violin repertoire.
Nicolò
PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin Concerto 2 see
SIBELIUS
Giovanni
Pierluigi da PALESTRINA
(c.1525-1594) Masses and Motets
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford/Stephen Darlington rec. 1996,
Texts included. DDD
NIMBUS NI5650 [71:04]
[JW]
These
light, brightly projected performances are very satisfying indeed.
Dora
PEJAČEVIC (1885-1923) Symphony, Phantasie Concertante
Volker
Banfield (piano) Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/Ari Rasilainen
rec. 2008
CPO 777 418 2 [62:42]
[RB]
The
Symphony is a pleasing discovery if not totally compelling while the
Phantasie Concertante is hyper-romantic fun.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Hans PFITZNER
(1869-1949)
Violin Concerto Siegfried WAGNER
(1869-1930) Violin Concerto Richard WAGNER
(1813-1883) Träume
Juraj Cizmarovic (violin) WDR RSO Cologne/Marcus Bosch rec. 2009
COVIELLO CLASSICS COV31104 [64:03]
[MC]
Quite
a discovery.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Mario PILATI
(1903-1938)
Preludio, Aria e Tarantella, Four Italian Folksongs, Bagatelles,
Divertimento
Moscow SO/Adriano rec. 2007/8
INEDITA PI 2757 [52:32]
[IL]
A
thoroughly delightful, light-hearted collection.
Manuel
PONCE
(1873-1945)
String Quartet, Duo Sonata, Petite Suite dans le Style Ancien
Robert
Lehmann (violin) Jennifer Elowitch (violin) Kimberly Lehmann (viola)
William Rounds (cello) rec. 2009. DDD
CENTAUR CRC 3064 [55:58]
[Byz]
A
short disc, but sweet - delicious, in fact.
Amilcare
PONCHIELLI (1834-1886) La Gioconda
Zinka Milanov, Giovanni Martinelli, Bruna Castagna, Carlo Morelli, Metropolitan
Opera O/Ettore Panizza rec. 1939
IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1012-3 [3 CDs: 203:42]
[DBe]
An
excellent recording of this fine opera - a cast to die for - and all
in good sound.
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Sonata for Cello and Piano see CLIMATE
CHANGES
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Music for children Op.65
see Russian Piano Miniatures
for Children
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca Renata Tebaldi (soprano) Ferruccio Tagliavini (tenor)
Tito Gobbi (baritone)
The Covent Garden Opera Chor and Orch/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli rec.
1955
ICA CLASSICS 5022 [42:45 + 67:00]
[RMo]
The
palm must go to Gobbi, who is in sovereign voice, singing as well as
I have ever heard him sing anywhere.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Turandot
Gabriele Schnaut (soprano) Johan Botha (tenor) Cristina Gallardo-Domàs
(soprano) Wiener Philharmoniker/Valery Gergiev rec. 2002
ARTHAUS 107 094 [125:00;
Bonus: 16:00]
[GF]
Worth
seeing.
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) The Purcell Edition 2 - Theatre Music
Monteverdi
Ch & O, English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1979-2000
WARNER
2564 691990 [4 CDs: 247:29] [EM]
All
in all a rather mixed set – with some superb moments, but some others
that are slightly below par.
Roger
QUILTER
(1877-1953) Songs see British
Romantics
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) A Tribute to Rachmaninoff
Vladimir
Feltsman (piano) Russian National Symphony Orchestra/Mikhail Pletnev
rec. 1992/2010
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6148 [65:14]
[RMo]
A
collector’s disc where it is very easy to make allowances for the sonic
deficiencies in the concerto.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto 3 Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Sonata
Vladimir Horowitz (piano) London SO/Albert Coates rec. 1930/2
ST-LAURENT STUDIO YSL 78-025 [63:25]
[JW]
Blistering
performances but the transfers leave quite a lot to be desired.
Sergei
RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Accentus,
Eric Ericson Chamber Ch/Laurence Equilbey rec. 2010
NAÏVE V5239 [60:43] [JQ]
Laurence
Equilbey and her superb singers will open your ears to the serene beauties
of Rachmaninov’s liturgical music.
Sergey
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Aleko
Artur Eisen (baritone) Lyudmila Sergienko (soprano) Gleb Nikolsky (bass)
USSR Academic Grand Ch of Radio and TV/Lyudmila Yermakova, USSR State
Academic SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1990
MELODIYA MEL CD 10 01703 [69:21] [DM]
Where
Svetlanov is measured and almost conversational Järvi is more thrustful
and extrovert.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Pieces see
SCHUMANN
Väinö
RAITIO
(1891-1945) Legenda see OrganOrgan
Max
REGER (1873-1916)
Sonatinas, Five Humoresques, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach
Wolfram
Lorenzen (piano) rec. 1992
TROUBADISC TRO-CD 01438 [68:22]
[GD]
An
enjoyable recording, and a valuable introduction to one of the most
neglected areas of this still scandalously neglected composer's work.
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Piano Concerto in F minor, op.114 see
MENDELSSOHN
Antonín
REICHENAUER
(1694?-1730) Concertos
Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) Xenia Löffler (oboe) Lenka Torgersen (violin)
Collegium 1704/Václav Luks rec. 2010,
SUPRAPHON SU 4035-2 [68:20]
[BR]
Baroque
enthusiasts will love this: was Reichenauer the Vivaldi of Prague?
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Ancient Dances and Airs Suites
1-3; The Birds; Brazilian Impressions; Fountains of Rome; Pines of
Rome
Philharmonia Hungarica, London SO, Minneapolis SO/Antal Dorati rec.
1958-60
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802048 [54:34 + 73:05]
[MC]
Almost
perfect for anyone wanting a double set of Respighi’s best known scores.
In addition the super budget price makes this a real bargain.
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838) Piano
Sonatas Vol. 5
Susan Kagan (piano) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572300 [62:04] [Byz]
Susan
Kagan's finest possible tribute to Ries's piano sonatas.
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade Pyotr
Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Romeo and Juliet, Marche Slave
Cleveland Orch/Artur Rodzinski rec. 1939
ST-LAURENT STUDIO YSL 78-001 [70:59]
[JW]
One
moment apart this disc is vivid and captures the strength of the performances
very nicely.
Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901-1999)
Concierto de Aranjuez, Fantasia para un gentilhombre, Elogio de la guitarra
Charles
Ramirez (guitar) CO Europe/Douglas Boyd. rec. 2010
SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD244 [59:57]
[ZT]
Well
worth the long wait.
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Sonata a quattro 6 see
MENDELSSOHN
Sens(e)
Absence Daniel
ROTHMAN (b.1958) Sense Absence Ernstalbrecht
STIEBLER (b.1934) Sehr Langsam
Bozzini Quartet rec. 2007/2010
COLLECTION QUATUOR BOZZINI CQB 1111 [67:54]
[Byz]
A
strong liking for Stockhausen or LaMonte Young is probably a prerequisite
in any prospective listener.
Poul
RUDERS (b.1949)
Four Dances, Nightshade, Abysm
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Oliver Knussen rec. 2008/9
DA CAPO 8.226028 [50:47]
[CR]
Ruders’
music is captivating throughout.
Poul
RUDERS (b.1949)
Piano Concerto 2, Bel Canto, Serenade on the Shores of the Cosmic Ocean
Vassily
Primakov (piano) Rune Tonsgaard (violin) Mikko Luoma (accordion) iO
Qt, Norwegian Radio O/Thomas Søndergård rec. 2009/10
BRIDGE RECORDS 9336 [64:03]
[Byz]
Colourful,
bustling, often unhinged, sometimes aggressive.
Johann
RUFINATSCHA (1812-1893)
Die Braut von Messina overture, Symphony 6
BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010
CHANDOS CHAN10665 [71:05]
[BR]
Listen
past the not-always-inspired playing, to a vital missing link between
Schubert and Bruckner.
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1 New] [Part
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