> Classical CD Review Archive - Classical - Sept 2002 part 4 M-R: Classical MusicWeb (UK]

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PART 4
M - R
[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
[Part 7 Misc]     



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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 5 in C minor (1901-3) Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester/Günter Herbig - East Berlin studio recording from the early 1980s BERLIN CLASSICS ETERNA 0030582BC [67:28] [TD]

Herbig’s is an interesting and rewarding earlier recording from a fine Mahlerian, but one that by the end doesn’t quite deliver what it promised earlier. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Das Lied von der Erde, Symphony No 5 – Adagietto, Ruckert Lieder – Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen Kerstin Thorburg, contralto Charles Kullmann, tenor Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno Walter Recorded 1936-38 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110850 [72’02] [JW]

Spiritual engagement of the profoundest kind … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 2 in C minor, ‘Resurrection’ Adagio from Symphony No.10   Barbara Bonney (soprano), Mary Phillips (mezzo) Atlanta Symphony Chorus Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Yoel Levi Recorded Atlanta, May 2000 and January 2002. Two CDs priced as one.   TELARC 2CD-80548 [1 hour 49 minutes, 31 seconds] [MB]

If the ‘Resurrection’ can be ruled out this performance of the Adagio demands to be heard. … see Full Review

Gian Francesco MALIPIERO (1882-1973) Quaranta e più anni nella turris eburnea - La notte dei morti (da poemi Asolani, 1916) - Barlumi (1917) - Tre preludi a una fuga (1926) - Risonanze (1918) - Hortus conclusis (1946) - Cinque studi per domani (1959) Gina Gorini (piano) - Rec 2001? RIVO ALTO CRR 9810 [50:02] [IL]

Excellent album of imaginative piano music … see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINU (1890-1959) Symphony No 5. H.310 [30’22"]* Memorial to Lidice. H.296 [8’36"]** Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca. H.352 [17’45"]*** The Parables. H.367 [20.00"]**** Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Karel Ancerl - Recorded in the Dvořák Hall of the House of Artists, Prague: *21-23 March 1955; **20 March 1957; *** 14 and 14 February 1959; ****26 and 28 April 1961. Items marked *** and **** in stereo SUPRAPHON 11 1931-2 001 [77’03"] [JQ]

Martinu admirers are strongly advised to snap this up while it remains available … see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Orchestral Suites: Esclarmonde (1890) - Cendrillon (1899) - Suite No. 1 (1865) Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra/ Kenneth Jean - Recorded in the Tsuen Wan Town Hall, April 1989 NAXOS 8.555986 [57:59] [OW]

Unrecommendable performances of suites that show Massenet in an unfavourable light…..See full review

Alexander MASON Beyond the score - Organ improvisations for Whit Sunday by Alexander Mason - Variations on Veni Creator [14’05"] - Messe de la Pentecôte [21’57"] - Machaut-fantaisie [13’02"] - Suite des Danses [18’51"] Alexander Mason (organ) - Recorded in Gloucester Cathedral 30-31 May 2000 SIGNUM SIGCD028 [68’00"] [JQ]

Most interesting and enterprising release, of great interest to organ devotees … see Full Review

Nikolai MEDTNER (1880-1951) Piano Concerto No.1 in C minor Op.33 (1918) Piano Quintet in C major Op. Posth. (1949) Dmitri Alexeev (piano) New Budapest Quartet BBC Symphony Orchestra/Alexander Lazarev Recorded on 18 March (Quintet), 23 March (Concerto) 1994 HYPERION CDA 66744 [58.59] [TH]

Recommended, particularly to those with an interest in the ‘other’ 20th Century. … see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1845) Concerto in A flat major for two pianos (1824) Concerto in E major for two pianos (1823) Stephen Coombes, Ian Munro (pianos) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Jerzy Maksymiuk Recorded in City Hall, Glasgow, on 31 August and 1 September 1991 HYPERION CDA 66567 [72.27] [TH]

The charm and sheer ‘likeability’ of these two pieces make them very hard to resist. ...see Full Review

Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) String Quartets 1-18 (1912; 1914 ; 1916; 1918 (26); 1919 (27); 1920; 1922 ; 1925 ; 1932 ; 1935 ; 1940 ; 1942 ; 1945 ; 1946; 1949 ; 1949; 1950-1972) Quatuor Parisii - recorded 1996–2001 DDD ASTREÉ NAÏVE V4900 [5CDs:5hrs 17mins] [PGW]

This intégrale cycle of 18 quartets displays to the full Milhaud's melodic gifts and sheer ingenuity in his command of polytonality. A bargain to be snapped up gratefully. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Symphony in G minor (1937) [44.30] Sinfonietta (1940) [23.03] Bournemouth SO/David Lloyd-Jones rec: 4-5 June 2001, Wessex Hall, Poole Arts Centre, Poole, Dorset, DDD NAXOS 8.555837 [67.33] [RB]

I came to this disc with exalted expectations which have been met. A superb bargain. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Quintet for clarinet and string quartet in A major, KV581 - Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Quintet for clarinet and string quartet in b minor, op.115 Berlin Soloists: Karl Leister, clarinet, Bernd Gellerman, Berhard Hartog, violins, Wolfram Christ, viola, Jörg Baumann, ’cello - Recorded in the Max-Joseph-Saal der Münchener Residenz, August 1988 APEX 0927 44350 [70:59] [GPJ]

A very worthwhile issue, coupling two major masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire in intelligent and immaculately prepared readings. … see Full Review

Michael NYMAN (b 1948) String Quartets Nos 1-3 Balanescu Quartet - Recorded Church Studios, Crouch End, London November 1990 DECCA BRITISH MUSIC COLLECTION 473 091-2 [63’24] [JW]

A thought-provoking and enjoyably moving disc. … see Full Review

DVD REVIEW - DAVID OISTRAKH: Artist of the People? A film by Bruno Monsaingeon made in 1995 WARNER MUSIC VISION/NVC ARTS DVD 3984-23030-2 [75mins][JL]

A moving film about a very great Soviet musician. … see Full Review

Leo ORNSTEIN (1892?-2002) - Piano Works: A Morning in the Woods, Danse Sauvage (Wild Men’s Dance), Piano Sonata Number 4, Impressions of the Thames, Tarantelle, Piano Sonata Number 7, A Long Remembered Sorrow, Suicide in an Airplane. Janice Weber, Piano - Recorded June 2-5, 2001, Toronto, Canada, [DDD] NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559104 [67:00] [KS]

A program beautiful in its contrasts … see Full Review

RECORD OF THE MONTH Ignaz PLEYEL (1757-1831); Symphony opus 3, number one in D (B. 126) ; Symphonie Concertante number 2 in F for piano and violin (B. 115) ; Sixth Symphonie Periodique in F (B. 140) ;   Jakub Dzialak, violin ; Riccardo Bovino, piano ; Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Howard Griffiths ; Recorded in the Kirche Neumünster, Zurich, July 27-30, 2000. DDD ;  CPO 9997592 [55:09] [KB]

A winner through and through … see Full Review

RECORD OF THE MONTH Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Les Animaux Modèles (1941) - Sinfonietta (1948) Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Jonathan Darlington - Recorded Luxembourg Conservatoire, 15th – 19th September 1997 TIMPANI 1C1041 [70:42] [GPJ]

lovingly shaped, sharply characterised, tight yet flexible. The Luxembourg Philharmonic play superbly … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Michael PRAETORIUS (1571-1621) Seven Dances from Terpsichore (1612) - Anthony HOLBORNE (1547-1603) Dances from ‘Short Airs Both Grave and Light’ (1599)- Christoph DEMANTIUS (1567-1643) German and Polish Dances (1601)- Thoinot ARBEAU Dances from Orchesographie (1589) Praetorius Consort directed by Christopher Ball - No other recording details given REGIS RRC 1076 [77.09] [GH]

Highly recommended, with lively and colourful performances especially as it is at bargain price. … see Full Review

Jaan RÄÄTS (b.1932) Sonata for Two Pianos Op. 82 (1990) [16.02] Piano Trio No. 6 Op. 81 (1989) [10.47] Piano Quintet No. 3 Op.38 (1970) [13.00] Violin Concerto No. 2 Op. 63 (1979) [16.43]   Nata-Ly Sakkos; Toivo Peäske (pianos) rec 1992 (Sonata) Mari Tampere (vn); Peeter Paemurru (vc); Vladimir Igoschew (pf) rec 1989 (Trio) Mati Kärmas (vn); Alexander Sagorulko (vn); Paul Purga (va); Toomas Tummeleht (vc); Rein Rannap (pf) rec 1975 (Quintet) Jewgeni Schuk (vn); Soloists' Ensemble of the Moscow State Philharmonic/Valentin Schuk, rec 1987 (Concerto) recordings from Estonian Radio - Analogue original material  ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9065 [56.33] Jaan RÄÄTS (b.1932) Twenty-Four Marginalia for Two Pianos Op. 68 (1982) [32.10] Twenty-Four Estonian Preludes for Piano Op. 80 (1988) [38.42] Nora Novik and Raffi Charadjanjan (pianos), Marginalia   Peep Lassmann (piano), Preludes recordings from Estonian Radio - 1985 (Marginalia); 1993 (Preludes)   ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9064 [70.52]

There is enough ‘true North’ in this music to draw you in. Rääts the Bachian Estonian minimalist with overtones of Schnittke, Nyman and Kapustin. ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) - Sonata for Cello and Piano - Vocalise (transcription by A. Brandukov) - César FRANCK (1822-1890) Sonata for Cello and Piano (transcription from the Violin Sonata) - Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Après un rêve (transcription by P. Casals) Sonia Wieder-Atherton (cello) and Imogen Cooper (piano) - Recorded at the Tibor Varga Foundation – Sion – 17-20 August 2001 DDD RCA RED SEAL 74321 911552 [79:00][IL]

Disappointing performances of well-loved works. Look elsewhere. … see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony No.3 in A minor Op.44 (1936) Symphonic Movement in D minor (‘Youth Symphony’) (1891) Vocalise Op.34 No.14 (arrangement for orchestra, 1912) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Owain Arwel Hughes - Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, Scotland on 10 and 11 September 2001 BIS-CD-1299 [68. 25] [CF]

Owain Arwel Hughes clearly loves the music of Rachmaninov. … see Full Review


Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 - 1943)
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), Op.37 (1915) - Mass for Unaccompanied Choir [61’50"] Olga Borusene (Soprano); Yuri Korinnyk (Tenor); Mykhaylo Tyshchenko (Tenor) The National Academic Choir of Ukraine "Dumka"/Yevchen Savchuk Recorded in Kiev Cathedral, December 2000 Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.31 (1910) - Chorus a capella [91’02"] (recorded 1990) O Mother of God, vigilantly praying (1893) - 4vv Sacred Concerto [9’29"] Chorus of Spirits for "Don Juan" (?1894) - Chorus a capella [1’25"] Panteley the Healer (1900) - Chorus a capella [4’11"] The Russian State Symphony Cappella/Valery Polyansky recorded 1987 Licensed from Claves, Switzerland BRILLIANT CLASSICS 6215 [3 CDs: 2.48’27"] [JPo]

I urge you to make its acquaintance; an hour and a half flew by, the performance in no small way adding to my enjoyment. … see Full Review

Jean RACINE Phèdre - in French - Olivier Werner - Hippolyte, Denis Manuel - Théramène, Geneviève Esménard - Śnone, Natacha Amal - Phèdre, Dominique Marcas - Panope, Karine Fellous - Aricie, Agnès Proust - Ismène, Marc Zammit - Thésée mise-en-scène - Jean-Marie Villégier, Théâtre Nationale de Strasbourg, prise de son - Raymond Burger, rec 24-25 Oct 1991, Théâtre Nationale de Strasbourg, L'Illustre-Théâtre DDD K617 022/023 [CD1 77.30; CD2 59.20] [RB]

A stylistic cleansing for any serious student of French. Eases study and enjoyment of the play for both students and a more general audience ... see Full Review

Alfred REYNOLDS (1884-1969) Festival March - Suite; Alice through the Looking-Glass - Suite; The Toy Cart - Overture; The Taming of the Shrew - Suite; 1066 and All That - Suite of five dances from The Duenna - Overture for a Comedy - The Sirens of Southend - Swiss Lullaby and Ballet from Swiss Family Robinson - Suite; Marriage a la Mode - Three Pieces for Theatre; - (i) Overture to Much Ado about Nothing - (ii) Entr’acte from The Critic - (iii) Mascarade from The Merchant of Venice - Royal Ballet Sinfonietta Gavin Sutherland - Recorded Whitfield Street Studios, London December 2000
MARCO POLO BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC 8.225184 [77’26] [JW]
How good to hear the until-now neglected Alfred Reynolds receive his due at last in this spirited and blemish free production. … see Full Review

Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade Russian Festival Overture Capriccio espagnol  Anshel Brusilow, violin Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy Recorded 1959 (Russian Festival Overture), 1962 (Scheherazade), 1965 (Capriccio espagnol)  SONY SBK 46537 [74’57] [JW]

Brimful of vivacity and engulfing generosity. … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868); ; La Petite Messe Solennelle ; Original version for four soloists, choir, harmonium and two pianos. ; Danielle Borst (soprano), Lucile Vignon (mezzo soprano), Charles Workman (tenor), Armand Arapian (baritone). ; Choir, Ensemble Vocal Michel Piquemal. Musical Director, Michel Piquemal. ; In collaboration with the Rossini Foundation and the Pesaro Festival. (Musicological consultant, Philip Gossett). Performed with the support of Jacobs Holdings Plc, London. ; Recorded live at the Théâtre Impérial Compiègne 10 October 1998 ; CD enquiries to: le Conseil Général de l'Oise, la Ville de Compiègne. 70 -7 France ; CHANT DU MONDE (Un-numbered) [64.00?] [RJF]

Warm and pleasant on the ear. Given the paucity of recordings this performance is worth pursuing … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Piano Works Vol.3 Pêches de Vieillesse (Selection) Stefan Irmer, piano Recorded August 23-25, 2001, Furstliche Reitban Bad Arolsen MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 618 1108-2 [59:21] [OW]

A charming disc of unusual piano repertoire from a major operatic talent, performed to perfection….See Full Review.

Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Symphony No 4 Op 95 Dramatic Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Košice - Robert Stankovsky - Recorded House of Arts, Košice March 1990 NAXOS 8.555979 [65’44] [JW]

Never reaches the heights of a genuine Romantic crisis symphony but contains intriguing material … see Full Review

William RUSSO (b.1928) Street Music, op.65 - Three Pieces for Blues Band and Symphony Orchestra, op.50 - George GERSHWIN (1898-1937) An American in Paris - Siegel-Schwall Band: Corky Siegel, harmonica and electric piano, Jim Schwall, guitar, Al Radford, bass, Shelly Plotkin, drums San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa - Gershwin and Russo Street Music recorded May 1976, Cupertino Flint Center at DeAnza College USA - Russo Three Pieces recorded June 1972 ibid DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON ‘The Originals’, DG 463 665-2 [73:38] [GPJ]

A pity that the Gershwin is tucked away amongst this otherwise unremarkable music. … see Full Review

 

[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
[Part 7 Misc]

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