George
Alexander MACFARREN (1813-1887)
Robin Hood - opera in three acts (performing edition
by Valerie Langfield) (1860) 
Soloists, Victorian Opera Chorus and Orchestra/Ronald Corp rec. 2010,
Includes detailed notes and synopsis Libretto downloadable from the
Naxos site
NAXOS 8.660306-07 [78:36 + 79:57] [CH]
Anyone
even minimally interested in opera in Victorian England needs to get
this set.
MC
MAGUIRE Nothing Left to Destroy
Benjamin Bowman (violin) Douglas Stewart (flute) MC Maguire (computer)
rec. 2011
INNOVA 813 [62:14] [Byz]
MC
Maguire will likely attract the same kind of cult following, just as
unwarranted, as Frank Zappa.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giuseppe
MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Piano Concerto 1, La canzone
dei ricordi
Gesualdo Coggi (piano) Silvia Pasini (mezzo) Roma SO/Francesco La Vecchia
rec.2007/8
NAXOS 8.570931 [67:53] [CH]
On
this showing La Vecchia was born to conduct Martucci. A masterly, even
great, vocal performance from Silvia Pasini.
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Mélodies
Sabine Revault d’Allonnes (soprano) Samuel Jean (piano)
Matthieu Fontana (cello) rec. 2011
TIMPANI 1C1191 [50.39] [PCG]
Expands
our views of Massenet’s still underestimated muse to as yet undreamed-of
new horizons.
William
Mathias - Santa Fe Suite and Other 20th Century Harp Classics
William
MATHIAS (1934-1992) Santa Fe Suite (1988) [12:40]
Improvisations, op.10 (1958) [5:17] Gabriel
FAURÉ (1845-1924) Une Châtelaine en sa Tour, op.110
(1918) [4:54] Marcel TOURNIER (1879-1951)
Au Matin - Etude de Concert (1925) [3:52] Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Harp Sonata (1939) [10:57] Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Impromptu, op.21 (1919) [6:26]
Germaine TAILLEFERRE (1892-1983)
Harp Sonata (1957) [10:57] Malcolm ARNOLD
(1921-2006) Fantasy, op.117 (1975) [10:29] Benjamin
BRITTEN (1913-1976) Suite, op.83 (1969) [14:09]
Elinor Bennett (harp) rec. 1993. DDD
NIMBUS NI 5441 [79:04] [Byz]
Lightness
of touch and ear for detail matched by superb technique, poise and panache.
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria Rusticana
Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919)
Pagliacci
Richard Tucker, Eileen Farrell, Anselmo Colzani, Franco Corelli, Lucine
Almara, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Nello Santi rec. 1964
SONY CLASSICAL 88691 909992 [76:08 + 70:05] [ST]
An
iffy release, and probably only for die-hard fans of the leads.
Nikolai
MEDTNER (1880-1951) Arabesques, Dithyrambs
& Elegies
Hamish Milne (piano) rec. 2010/11
HYPERION CDA 67851/2 [80:20 + 77:11] [SA]
These
short works encompass whole worlds and emerge fully formed with nothing
left to be added.
Aarre
MERIKANTO (1893-1958) Symphonies 1 & 3 Turku PO/Petri
Sakari rec. 2010 
ALBA
ABCD 336 [70:17] [RB]
Will
please those who like their Madetoja and Melartin.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus
Eugeniusz
Knapik (piano) rec. 1979
DUX 0848/49 [56:57 + 73:11] [DC]
Opens
the door on Messiaen’s vision ever wider.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Poèmes pour Mi
see Paysages
Arthur
MEULEMANS (1884 – 1966) Concertos
for Orchestra 1 & 2
Jef MAES (1905 – 1996) Concertante
ouverture Norbert
ROSSEAU (1907 – 1975) Scherzo
Royal Flemish Philharmonic/Martyn Brabbins rec. 2011
ROYAL FLEMISH PHILHARMONIC RFP 002 [49:07] [HC]
A very fine programme of unusual works somewhat let down by the short
playing time.
Federico
MOMPOU (1893-1987)
Spanish Songs and Dances, Preludes
Alicia de Larrocha (piano) rec. 1992/3
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802096 [58:29] [IL]
Delicious
little free-flowing confections often quite haunting and played to perfection.
Michel
Pignolet DE MONTÉCLAIR
(1667 - 1737)
CD 1 Concerts 1 - 6 
Marie-Céline Labbé, Marion Treupel-Franck (transverse flute) rec. 2009,
DDD
RAMÉE RAM 1102 [54:18 + 52:23] [JV]
Very
fine music, exquisite performances - what more do you want?
Xavier
MONTSALVATGE (1912-2002) Piano Trio see GERHARD
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
The Complete Piano Concertos - Volume 7 Piano Concerto No.27
, 5
Cyprien Katsaris (piano) Salzburg Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra/Yoon
Kuk Lee rec.199/1998/1999
PIANO 21 P21 039N [67:57][JW]
Warm-hearted
performances … Katsaris’s take on the Mozart concertos should not be
overlooked.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin concerto 4,
Violin sonata Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827) Violin sonata 8
Johanna Martzy (violin) Jean Antonietti (piano); Bavarian Radio CO/Eugen
Jochum rec. 1952
FORGOTTEN RECORDS FR250 [57:16] [JW]
Every
scrap of Martzy is valuable.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Entführung
aus dem Serail
Diana Damrau, Christoph Strehl, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona/Ivor
Bolton rec. 2011
C MAJOR 709204 
[188:00] [RJF]
Despite
minimalist sets and modern dress this is a convincing production.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Coronation Mass,
Ave verum corpus, Vesperae solennes de Confessore
Laurence
Kilsby (treble) Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, Charivari Agréable/Benjamin
Nicholas rec. 2011
DELPHIAN DCD34102 [54:59] [WH]
Outstandingly
fine performances of three Mozart choral works from these young musicians,
but more light and shade would have been welcome.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonatas
Daniel
Barenboim (piano) rec. 1988-90
EUROARTS 2066528 
[3
discs: 330:00] [KM]
Excellent
performances, fine sound, this complete collection of Mozart’s piano
sonatas is a joy to listen to and to watch.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH NEIDHART
(c.1185-c.1240)
A Minnesinger and his 'Vale of Tears' : Songs and Interludes
Ensemble
Leones rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572449 [64:39] [Byz]
Peerless
musicianship.
Arne
NORDHEIM (1931-2010) Rendezvous see
GRIEG
Per
NØRGÅRD (b.1932)
Helle Nacht – Violin Concerto No. 1 (1986-87/2002) [26:20]
Spaces of Time (1991) [20:06] Borderlines – Violin
Concerto No. 2 (2002) [22:51]
Peter Herresthal (violin) Stavanger Symphony Orchestra/Rolf Gupta rec.
2010,
BIS BIS-CD-1872 [68:29] [DC]
Supernatural
virtuosic sorcery.
Michael
NYMAN (b.1944)
Initial Treat/Secondary Treat, Waltz, Bird List Song, M-Work
Michael Nyman Band rec. 1981
MN RECORDS MNRCD123 [41:49] [DC]
Compulsive
listening.
Sir
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Hear my words, ye people
see Rise
Heart
Arvo
PÄRT (b.1935) Spiegel im Spiegel see SCHNITTKE
Robert
PATERSON (b.1970)
The Book of Goddesses, Freya's Tears, Embracing the
Wind
MAYA, Clockwise, American Modern Ens rec. 2010/11
AMERICAN MODERN RECORDINGS AMR1034 [61:23] [Byz]
Atmospheric,
thoughtful, rhythmic and melodic, this can be enjoyed by believers,
agnostics and atheists alike!
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b.1933) Viola Concerto; Cello Concerto
2 Warsaw
PO/Antoni Wit rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572211 [57:33] [JZ]
These
two concertos are well worth exploring.
Krzystof
PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Three pieces in old style,
Capriccio, Intermezzo, Sinfoniettas 1 & 2, Serenade
Jean-Louis Capezzali (oboe) Artur Pachlewski (clarinet) Warsaw Philharmonic
CO/Antoni Wit rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572212 [58:10] [PCG]
Every
bit as good as one would expect from his superb continuing survey.
Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Adriano in Siria, Livietta
e Tracollo Marina Comparato (mezzo), Lucia Cirillo (mezzo),
Monica Bacelli (mezzo), Carlo Lepore (bass) Accademia Bizantina/Ottavio
Dantone rec. 2010 OPUS ARTE OA
1065 D [190.00 + 12:00 (bonus)] [RM]
Seriously
enjoyable.
Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Tango Distinto
Achilles
Liarmakopoulos (trombone) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572596 [62:00] [OL]
Piazzolla
suits the trombone surprisingly well and when its voice soars so expressively
I doubt that anyone will remain unmoved.
Jesús
Rodríguez PICÓ (b.1953) Clarinet Concertos 1 &
2, Concertino
Josep Fuster (clarinet) Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya SO/Manel Valdivieso
rec. 2010
COLUMNA MÚSICA 1CM0261 [47:56] [Byz]
Corking
attractively tonal music bulging with creativity, colour and energy
and likely to have broad appeal.
Ignaz
PLEYEL (1757-1831) Symphonies, Flute Concerto
Sinfonia
Finlandia Jyväskylä/Patrick Gallois rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572550 [79:15] [Byz]
Always
well crafted, melodious and original, with an abundance of memorable
themes and surprising turns of direction.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Francis POTT
(b. 1957) In The Heart Of Things
Grace Davidson (soprano) Commotio/Matthew Berry rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.572739 [66.58] [PCG]
A
most beautiful disc of some absolutely beautiful music.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca see
Italian Operas
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) arr. Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1973)
Chacony in G minor see
Bliss
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Symphony 3
Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) Singapore SO/Lan Shui rec. 2011
BIS BIS-SACD-1988
[68:32] [DC]
Great
Rhapsody, good symphony.
John
RAMSAY (b.1931)
String Quartets 1-4
Fitzwilliam String Qt rec. 2010/11
METIER MSV 28528 [38:32 + 48:29] [DC]
Deserving
of respect and attention.
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata see
French Impressions
Vladimir
REBIKOV (1866-1920)
Piano music
Jouni Somero (piano) rec. 2010, DDD
FC RECORDS FCRCD 9739 [77:48] [RB]
A
stimulating collection with some surprises along the way.
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Fontane di Roma, Pini
di Roma see Fellini,
Jazz & Co
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Armida
Renée Fleming, Lawrence Brownlee, Metropolitan Opera Ch
& O/Riccardo Frizza rec. 2010
DECCA 074 3416
[2 DVDs: 171:00 + 12:00 (bonus)] [RJF]
Stunning
singing, but the production and sets miss a few tricks for Rossini’s
most romantic opera.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Le Comte Ory
Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera
Ch & O/Maurizio Benini rec. 2011
VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709599
[2 DVDs: 153:00 plus bonus] [RJF]
Outstanding
singing from the three principals. Quirks of production spoil what should
have been an issue deserving the highest accolade.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il barbiere di Seviglia
see Italian
Operas
Nino
ROTA (1911-1979) La Strada Suite see
Fellini,
Jazz & Co
Alec
ROTH (b.
1948) Shared Ground
Philippe Honoré (violin) Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore rec. 2011
SIGNUM
CLASSICS SIGCD270 [42.27 + 49.00] [RH]
Music
that is well put together and finely crafted. Choral textures of great
beauty and melodic interest.
RECORDING
OF THe MONTH Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Le festin de l’araignée,
Pâdmavatî suites
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Stéphane Denève rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572243 [54:42] [BR]
As
sad as it is that this Naxos series had to end, the final volume is
just as glorious as the first four.
Justin
Henry RUBIN (b.1971)
Chamber music with violin
Erin Aldridge (violin) Shannon Wettstein, Justin Rubin (piano) Jefferson
Campbell (bassoon) Duo Gelland, Gene Koshinski (percussion) Minnesota
U Duluth Faculty Woodwind Qnt rec. 2009/10
MSR CLASSICS MS1398 [74:15] [JW]
Unthreatening
but thoughtful music with attractive sonorities.
Pierre
de la RUE (c.1450-1518) Masses
Capilla Flamenca/Dirk Snellings and Psallentes/Hendrick Vanden Abeele
rec. 1996-2011
MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE MEW1159 [3 CDs: 187:41] [JW]
Strong
melodic gifts, intelligent use of imitation and unselfconsciousness
setting of melancholy texts.
Federico
RUIZ (b.
1933) Pieces for children under 100 years of age & other piano
works
Clara Rodríguez (piano)
NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6179 [64:06] [PCG]
We
should be grateful to Rodríguez for what we are given here and for delivering
it to us so well.
Jeffrey
RYAN (b. 1962) The linearity of light, Equilateral, Symphony
1 "Fugitive colours"
Gryphon Trio Vancouver SO/Bramwell Tovey rec. 2008-2010
NAXOS CANADIAN CLASSICS 8.572765 [69:13] [PG]
Playing
and recording superlative … one hopes that future issues will prove
more revelatory.
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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