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Frederik
MAGLE (b.1977) Like a Flame 
Frederik Magle (organ) rec. 2009
PROPRIUS PRCD2061 [59:49 + 73:11] [Byz]
A
double CD that no fan of original organ music should be without.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony 4; Rückert-Lieder
Magdalena Kožená (mezzo) Lucerne FO/Claudio Abbado rec. 2009
EUROARTS 2057988 
[79:24]
[DM]
A
must-have for all Mahlerians.
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 6
Moravian PO Olomouc/Petr Vronský rec. live, May 2009, DKD Jihlava
ARCODIVA UP 0122-2 131 [77:12] 
[SV]
This
concert recording might better have been restricted to purely local
distribution.
Joan
MANÉN
(1883-1971)
Miniatures see TURINA
John
MAYNARD (1576/77 – 1614/1633) The XII Wonders
of the World, Character Songs and works by other composers
Emma Kirkby (soprano) The Consort of Musicke/Anthony Rooley rec. 1975
DECCA
ELOQUENCE 480 2145 [60:19]
[JV]
This
disc should appeal to all lovers of English early music and of English
culture in general.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Variations Sérieuses see
ALBENIZ
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Ludwig
MINKUS (1826-1917)
Don Quichotte
Artists of Het Nat. Ballet Amsterdam, Holland Symfonia/Kevin Rhodes
rec. 2010
ARTHAUS MUSIK BLU-RAY 
101
562 [152:00] [DM]
A
treasurable disc and a must-see for all ballet fans.
Giacomo
MEYERBEER (1791-1864) Songs
Sivan Rotem (soprano) Jonathan Zak (piano) rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572367 [71:06]
[JZ]
Good
songs that offer not only insights into the composer’s legacy but also
add to our knowledge of solo song in the first half of the nineteenth
century.
Lee
Pui MING (b.1956) She Comes to Shore
Lee Pui Ming (piano) The Bay-Atlantic Symphony/Jed Gaylin
INNOVA 796 [64:20]
[DC]
Jazz;
classical... improvisation is what you make of it.
Johanna
MÜLLER-HERMANN (1868-1941) String Quartet see ZEMLINSKY
Modest
MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition see STRAVINSKY
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Divertimento Franz
Peter SCHUBERT (1797-1828) String Trio
Trio Zimmermann rec. 2009/10
BIS BIS-SACD-1817 
[59:25]
[MC]
Beautifully
presented and recorded this impressive disc will prove a most worthwhile
addition to any chamber music collection.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphonies 39-41
Staatskapelle Dresden/Otmar Suitner
BERLIN CLASSICS 0014362BC [78:06]
[SV]
Suitner's
handling of these scores is fleet and vigorous.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata see BEETHOVEN
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Concerto for Clarinet see KODALY
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Exsultate, jubilate
see VIVALDI
Carl
ORFF (1895 – 1982) Carmina burana
Sheila Armstrong (soprano) Gerald English (tenor) Thomas Allen (baritone)
St Clement Danes Grammar Sch Boys’ Choir, London SO & Ch/André Previn
rec. 1974
EMI CLASSICS 6318022 [62:45]
[GF]
This
has deservedly achieved classic status. It’s fresh and youthful and
in excellent sound.
Giovanni
PACINI (1796 – 1867) Il convitato di pietra
Leonardo Cortellazzi (tenor) Geraldine Chauvet (mezzo) Transylvania
State Philharmonic Ch, Südwestdeutsches CO Pforzheim/Daniele Ferrari
rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.660282-83 [44:55 + 47:28]
[GF]
I
will return to this opera for pleasure now and then.
Andrzej
PANUFNIK (1910-1991)
Symphonic Works
Polish
RSO/Lukasz Borowicz rec. 2008/9
Vol.
1: Nocturne, Harmony
CPO 7774972 [61:16] Vol. 2: Sinfonia Rustica,
Sinfonia Concertante, Polonia
CPO 777 4962 [77:55] Vol. 3: Sinfonia Mistica, Autumn
Music, Hommage a Chopin, Rhapsody
CPO 7774982 [73:57]
[RB]
This
is an admirable series full of refreshing subtlety: old friends and
new discoveries.
Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736)
Nel chiuso centro, Questo è il piano, Stabat
Mater
Anna Netrebko (soprano) Marianna Pizzolato (alto) Accademia di Santa
Cecilia O/Antonio Pappano rec. 2010
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8857 [73:16 + DVD]
[BW]
Should
find a ready market but it won’t be to all tastes.
Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Sinfonia Buenos Aires, Aconcagua,
Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas
Daniel Binelli (bandoneón) Tianwa Yang (violin) Nashville SO/Giancarlo
Guerrero rec. 2009
NAXOS 8.572271 [79:38]
[DM]
A
most engaging collection… freshness, spontaneity matched by committed,
idiomatic playing.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giovanni
Benedetto PLATTI (1697 - 1763) Oboe sonatas, Cello
sonatas, Trios
Ensemble Cordia rec. 2005
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94007 [65:36]
[JV]
The
best possible recording of Platti's music.
Peter
POPE
(1917-1991)
Heaven-Haven - The Songs of Peter Pope
Susan Legg (mezzo soprano) Ann Martin-Davis (piano, and solo piano ¹)
rec. May 2010, Challow Park, Wantage
NIMBUS NI 6135 [55:49]
[JW]
Pope
emerges as a thoughtful and sensitive song composer, very much in the
Ireland tradition.
Francis
POULENC
(1899-1963)
Violin sonata see Echoes
of Paris
Adam
POUNDS (b.1954) Life Cycle; Martyrdom of
Latimer see RESURRECTION
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Sonata 7 Franz
LISZT (1811-1886) Rhapsodie Espagnole Joseph
HAYDN (1732-1809) Piano Sonata Hob. XVI:34 Alexander
SKRIABIN (1872-1915) Piano Sonata 1
Vanessa Benelli Mosell (piano) rec. 2008
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94209 [68:20]
[Byz]
For
a debut recording this is certainly impressive in every respect
Sergei
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Peter and the Wolf, Symphony
1, Violin Concerto 1
Hu Kun (violin), Christopher Lee (narrator) English CO/Yehudi Menuhin
rec. 1989
NIMBUS NI 5192 [63:21]
[OL]
An
excellent document of Menuhin’s conducting prowess. The three works
receive royal treatment.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cinderella
Elisha
Willis, Iain Mackay, Royal Ballet & Sinf/Koen Kessels
KULTUR VIDEO/NVC ARTS
BD4712 [149:45]
[RC]
A
first-rate offering that more than merits your attention.
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Sonata No. 2 see
Echoes of Paris
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Essential Puccini - Arias
from the operas
EMI CLASSICS 9071392 [74.35+77.41] [DBe]
A
pretty typical selection of arias and ensembles made interesting by
off-the-beaten-track choices including singers not famous in Puccini.
Overall very satisfying.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Gianni Schicchi
Tito Gobbi, Victoria de los Angeles, Rome Opera O/Gabriele Santini rec.
1958
REGIS RRC 1318 [52:58]
[GPu]
A
classic recording, which captures the spirit of the opera superbly.
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Love Songs
Dorothee Mields (soprano) Lautten Compagney Berlin/Wolfgang Katschner
rec. 2009
CARUS 83.435 [76:12]
[JV]
Purcell's
strokes of genius twisted by bad taste.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Variations on a Theme of Corelli Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) arr. Ferruccio BUSONI
(1866-1924) Chaconne from Partita 2 Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Valses Nobles et Sentimentales Igor
STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Trois Mouvements de Petrouchka, La
semaine grasse
Freddy Kempf (piano) rec. July 2010
BIS-SACD-1810 [63.45]
[RBe]
A
perfect vehicle to showcase Freddy Kempf’s talents as a virtuoso pianist.
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Ma mère l’Oye
Suite see DEBUSSY
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Max REGER
(1873-1916)
Piano Concerto Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Burleske
Marc-Andre Hamelin (Piano) Berlin RSO/Ilan Volkov rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67635 [56.53]
[RBe]
Absolutely
outstanding.
Steve
REICH: Phase to Face A documentary by Eric Darmon
and Franck Mallet; Bonus: Talks in Tokyo, A Brief History of Music
rec.
2007-9
IDEALE AUDIENCE 3058128
[52:00 (Documentary) + 28:00 (Bonus)]
[KM]
An
interesting documentary for those unfamiliar with the work of Steve
Reich.
Aribert
REIMANN (b. 1936) Medea
Marlis Petersen (Medea) Michaela Selinger (Kreusa) Vienna St Op Orch/Michael
Boder rec. 2010
ARTHAUS MUSIK DVD VIDEO
101551 [113:00] [DB]
An
electrifying new opera in a superb production, but not for the faint-hearted.
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838) Concert Overtures: Die Braut von Messina,
Don Carlos, Große Festouvertuere und Siegesmarsch, Ouverture bardique,
Ouverture dramatique
WDRSO Köln/Howard Griffiths rec. 2008
CPO 777 6092 [59:34]
[RW]
Strong
performances of music that is soft-toned in colour yet engaging to the
ear.
Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901-1999) Cançoneta see TURINA
Alessandro
ROLLA (1757-1841) Viola Music
Jennifer Stumm (viola) Connie Shih (piano) Liza Ferschtman (violin)
rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572010 [62:02]
[Byz]
Handsome
melodic reward from fine performances.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Petite messe solennelle
Katia Ricciarelli (soprano) José Carreras (tenor) Samuel Ramey (bass)
Ruggero Raimondi (bass) June Anderson (soprano) Ambrosian Singers &
Opera Ch, Philharmonia O/Claudio Scimone rec. 1981/3
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802059 [39:35 + 44:55] [RMo]
This
reissue is very welcome.
John
RUTTER (b.1945)
Gloria, Magnificat, Te Deum
Elizabeth Cragg (soprano) Tom Winpenny (organ) St. Albans Cathedral
Ch, Ens DeChorum/Andrew Lucas rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572653 [64:40]
[NB]
I
cannot imagine anyone who engages with John Rutter’s music being
anything but delighted with this disc.
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]
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