> Classical CD Review Archive - Classical - Dec 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-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] 
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]





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ALPHABETICAL LISTING

James MACMILLAN (b.1959) The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (1990) - Tuireadh for clarinet and strings (1991) - The Exorcism of Rio Sumpul (1989) - Martin Fröst (clarinet) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä - Recorded at City Hall, Glasgow, September 1999 (Confession), Studio 1, BBC Scotland, Glasgow, January 2000 (Tuireadh), September 1999 (Exorcism) BIS CD-1169 [71.17] [TH]

Lovers of the approachable face of contemporary music should snap this up. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.10 (Reconstructed by Joe Wheeler) (1910-11) Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Robert Olson - Recorded in Grzegorz Fitelberg Concert Hall, Katowice, 29th May to 3rd June 2000 NAXOS 8.554811 [78.59] [TD]

This is a must for all Mahlerites and at Naxos price will be a first choice for many investigating Mahler for the first time. … see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER Symphony No.2 in C minor "The Resurrection" György KURTAG Stele op 33 for large orchestra Arnold SCHÖNBERG Kol Nidre op 39* for speaker, choir and orchestra James Johnson (Speaker)*  Juliane Banse (Soprano) Cornelia Kallisch (Alto) EuropaChorAkademie SWR Radio-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiberg Conducted by Michael Gielen Hänssler Classic CD 93.001 [107.28] [TD]

a DejaReView

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Piano Works: Three Caprices, Op. 33 (1833-35) [25'13]. Fantasies, Op. 16 (1829) [7'54] - No. 2 in E minor, Scherzo; No. 3 in E, Andante. Variations in E flat, Op. 82 (1847) [8'29]. Piano Sonata in G minor, Op. 105 (1821) [18'53] Pierre Laconte (piano). Rec Eglise Notre-Dame du Liban, Paris in 1981. PAVANE ADW7243 [61'28] [CC]

All in all, this is a carefully-prepared recital and is an enjoyable way to spend an hour. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K319 Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385 'Haffner' Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields/Iona Brown Rec April 1997, Henry Wood Hall, London HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 94.003 [40.18] Budget [TB]

a DejaReView

Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Petite Symphonie Concertante for Harp, Harpsichord, Piano and Double String Orchestra (1945) - 6 Monologues aus ‘Jedermann’ (1943) - Concerto for 7 Wind Instruments, Timpani, Percussion and Strings (1949) - Eva Guibentif (harp), Christiane Jaccottet (harpsichord), Ursula Ruttimann (piano), Jean-Claude Hermenjat (flute), Jerome Capeille (oboe), Michel Westphal (clarinet), Roger Birnstingl (bassoon), Bruno Schneider (horn), Yves Guigou (trombone), Stephen Jeandheur (trumpet), Yves Brustaux (timpani), Gilles Cachemaille (baritone) Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Armin Jordan - Recordings made between December 1989 and June 1991 DDD WARNER APEX 0927 48687 2 [62’42] [TH]

Lovers of central European music in the war-torn years of the last century should find much to stimulate and enjoy. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata No. 8 in A Minor K310 (300d) (1778) - Sonata No. 10 in C Major K330 (300h) (1781/3) - Sonata No. 11 in A Major K331 (300i) (1781-3) - Sonata No. 14 in C Minor K457 (1784) - Sonata No. 16 in C Major K545 Sonata facile (1788) Glenn Gould, piano - Recorded CBS Studios New York 1967-74 SONY SMK87860 [69.38] [JW]

One for Gould completists or anti-Mozartians. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 31 in D major ‘Paris’ K297 (1778) [18:08] Symphony No. 40 in G minor K550* (1788) [29:48] Symphony No. 41 in C major ‘Jupiter’ K551* (1788) [29:51] London Philharmonic Orchestra/Zdenek Macal/*Sir Charles Mackerras Recorded at Watford Town Hall, 7 and 8 January 1980 and *Barking Town Hall, United Kingdom, 2 (K551) and 15 (K550) April 1975 ADD EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 7243 5 75800 2 1 [77:47]

Joyfully majestic moods … fresh and stylish … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major K488 (1786) Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No 7 in C Minor Op 30/2 (1801-02) Clara Haskil, piano Arthur Grumiaux, violin Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana/Otmar Nussio Recorded June 1953 (Mozart) and September 1959 (Beethoven) AURA 188-2 [48.51] [JW]
A remarkable consonance of aesthetic understanding … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) String Quartets Sonare Quartet , Franz Schubert Quartet of Vienna BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99718 [approx. 7 hours 28 min.]

With two accomplished quartets, performing some of Mozart’s most intense compositions, this bargain set is a must-have. … see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni (1787) Don Giovanni (baritone) Eberhard Wächter Donna Anna (soprano) Joan Sutherland Leporello (bass) Giuseppe Taddei Il Commendatore (bass) Gottlob Frick Donna Elvira (soprano) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Don Ottavio (tenor) Luigi Alva Masetto (bass) Piero Cappuccilli Zerlina (soprano) Graziella Sciutti Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini Recorded 7th-15th October, and 23rd-24th November 1959, No.1 Studio, Abbey Rd. London UK EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 7243 5 67869 2 9 [3 CDs: 61:39+64:52+35:49] [GPJ]

One of the greatest musical and dramatic experiences available on disc, then, and one that I personally will always treasure. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro - Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte after Beaumarchais - Rodney Gilfry (Count) - Eva Mei (Countess) - Carlos Chausson (Figaro) - Isabel Rey (Susanna) - Liliana Nikiteanu (Cherubino) - Elisabeth von Magnus (Marcellina) - Robert Holl (Dr Bartolo) - Volker Vogel (Basilio) - Martin Zysset (Don Curzio) - Werner Groschel (Antonio) - Lisa Larsson (Barbarina) - Chorus and Orchestra of the Zurich Opera/Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor) Jurgen Flimm (director) - Felix Breisach (film director) - Recorded 1996 TDK DV-OPNDF DVD [2 discs: 197"] [PQ]

One knows with Nikolaus Harnoncourt to expect the unexpected … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Lucio Silla (1): Il tenero momento, Pupille amate, D’elisio in sen m’attendi, Cecilio, a che t’arresti, Quest’improvviso tremito, Le nozze di Figaro (2): Voi, che sapete, Non so più cosa son, cosa faccio, Così fan tutte (3): Ah guarda, sorella, E’ amore un ladroncello, Soave sia il vento, Prenderò quel brunettino, Il core vi dono, Ah, scostati, Smanie implacabili Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano), Edith Gruberova (soprano) (1), Yvonne Kenny (soprano) (1), Lella Cuberli (soprano) (3), Ferruccio Furlanetto (baritone) (3), John Tomlinson (bass) (3), Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt (1), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim (2, 3) Locations: Konzerthaus, Vienna (live) (1), Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin (2, 3) Dates: 4th-6th June 1989 (1), 6th-17th May 1990 (2), 3rd-12th November 1989 (3) WARNER CLASSICS 0630 14074-2 [53’56"] [CH]

A cheap way for Cecilia Bartoli fans to pick up her contributions to three opera sets they may not have, but judged as a recital disc it adds up to an unsatisfactory whole. … see Full Review

Carl ORFF (1895-1982) Carmina Burana (1936/1956) Sarah Macliver, soprano; Paul McMahon, tenor; Jonathan Summers, baritone; Cantillation; Sydney Children’s Choir; Synergy Percussion; Australian Virtuosi, conducted by Antony Walker. Recorded October 2001, Eugene Goossens Hall, Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney, Australia ABC CLASSICS 472 481-2 [61.50] [WH]

Given in the composer’s own reduced version with accompaniment of two pianos and percussion. … see Full Review

Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Orient Occident - Wallfahrtslied [Pilgrim’s Song] for men’s choir and strings (1984) - Orient Occident for strings (2000) - Como cierva sedienta for women’s choir and orchestra (1998) - Swedish Radio Choir Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Tönu Kaljuste - Recorded: Berwaldhallen, Swedish Radio, Stockholm, 28 May - 1 June 2001 DDD ECM NEW SERIES 472 080-2 [47.29] [TH]

Some outstanding and thought-provoking works here … see Full Review

Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Orchestral music - Summa (1978) - Trisagion (1982?) - Symphony No. 3 (1971) - Fratres (1977-82) - Silouans Song (1980s?) - Festina Lente (1980s?) - Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten (1977) Estonian National Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi, conductor - Recorded in the 'Estonia' Concert Hall, Tallinn, 9th- 17th June 2000 VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 45501 2 6 [73.04] [NH]

An unmissable disc of Arvo Pärt's non-choral offerings. … see
Full Review

Manuel PONCE (1882 - 1948) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1943) - Allegro non troppo - Andante espressivo - Vivo, giocoso - Eric Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897 - 1957) Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major Op. 35 (1937-39) - Moderato nobile - Romance: Andante - Finale: Allegro assai vivace - Miranda Cuckson (violin) Czech National Symphony Orchestra/Paul Freeman - Recorded at ICN Polyart, Prague, October 9 and 10, December 1 and 2, 1999 CENTAUR CRC 2513 [57. 52] [CF]

Korngold: gets to the heart of the music from the start. Ponce: may well grow on you … see Full Review

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Sacred Choral Music - Gloria (1959) - Salve Regina (1941) - Ave verum corpus (1952) - Exultate Deo (1941) - Litanies à la Vièrge Noire (1936) - Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence (1938-39) - Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël (1951-52) - Donna Deam (soprano) - The Cambridge Singers City of London Sinfonia/John Rutter - Recorded in the Great Hall of University College School, London, January 1988 COLLEGIUM RECORDS CSCD506 [67.15] [TH]

All in all, an excellent achievement. … see Full Review

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Suite from ‘Les Animaux Modèles’ (1942) Suite from ‘Les Biches’ (1923) Two pieces from ‘Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel’ (1921) Deux Marches et un Interlude (1937) Südwestfunk Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden/Marcello Viotti Recorded by SWF Baden-Baden in February and July 1990 CLAVES CD 50-9111 [48:39] [GPJ]

Unfortunately, though they play with real feeling for the music, the Baden-Baden Orchestra is far from a great one. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Alexander Nevsky, Cantata Op.78 (1939) Scythian Suite ‘Ala and Lolli’ Op.20 (1915) Carolyn Watkinson (mezzo-soprano) Latvija Choir Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur Recorded live at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig on 23 February and 13 May 1991 DDD WARNER APEX 0927 48747-2 [56.20] [TH]

If you’re on a severe budget, you probably won’t be disappointed in Masur, but pay the extra for Abbado – it’ll be worth it. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major Op. 10 (1911-12) Prelude in C major Op. 12/7 Tales of the Old Grandmother Op. 31 Nos. 1-3 (1918) Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Piano Concerto in D flat (1936) Toccata (1932) Mindru Katz, piano London Philharmonic Orchestra/Adrian Boult Recorded London, December 1958 CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 109 [66.19] [JW]

A welcome reminder of Katz’s conspicuously superior talent. … see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Excerpts from five of his popular operas: Bohème (1896); Madama Butterfly (1904); Tosca (1900); Turandot (1926); Manon Lescaut (1893) Bargain price EMI CLASSICS 5 75576 2 [5CDs: 289.40] [RJF]

Not generously timed but has its moments of tenderness and visceral excitement … see Full Reviews

Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Pièces de Clavecin: Allemande in A Minor - Allemande in E Minor - La Dauphine - La Livri - Les Tourbillons - La Triomphante - Gavotte Variée - L’Enharmonique - La Joyeuse - Tambourin - Les Soupirs - L’Egyptienne - Les Tendres plaints - La Poule - Le Lardon - Les Cyclopes - L’Entretien des Muses - Les Sauvages - Le Rappel des Oiseaux Mordecai Shehori, piano - Recorded New York 1998 CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD 104 [57.52] [JW]

A most enjoyable disc; crisp, playful, rhythmically sure, above all communicative … see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875 - 1937) Pavane pour une Infante Défunte (1899/orch. 1910) - Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell - Ma Mère L’Oye (Suite) (1911) - London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas - Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (1911/orch. 1912) - Philadelphia Orchestra/Charles Munch - Rapsodie Espagnole (1908) - Boléro (1928) - La Valse (1920) - Alborada del Gracioso (1905/orch 1918) - Concerto in g (1931) - Philippe Entremont, piano - Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy - Gaspard de la Nuit (1980) - Tombeau de Couperin (1917) - Sonatine (1905) - Jeux d’eau (1901) Philippe Entremont, piano - String Quartet in F (1903) - Tokyo String Quartet - No recording information supplied but were recorded various location 30-40 years ago [ADD] SONY SBK 509556 2 [3 CDs: 205.27] [PS]

Ravel’s Greatest Hits in fine performances with good sound, but serious collectors and audio buffs will want to look elsewhere. … see Full Review


Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Violin Sonata (1927) Tzigane - Rapsodie de Concert (1924) Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Violin Sonata (1943) Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Violin Sonata (1917) Tasmin Little, violin Piers Lane, piano Recorded in St. George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol, 8-10 May, 1995 and St. Michael’s Highgate, 31 July, 1991 (Tzigane) [DDD] EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 7243 5 758042 [60:43] [KS]

A worthy addition to any collection, and one that is sure to give hours of repeated listening enjoyment. … see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Chamber Works: Piano Quintet in F minor (1992) Adagio con Variazioni for cello and piano (1903-10) Sonata in D minor for violin and piano (1897) Melodia in E major for violin and piano (1902) Piano Sonata in F minor (1897) Marco Vincenzi (piano) Ensemble Filarmonico Italiano Recorded at Dynamic Studio, Genoa, Italy 9-11 April 2001 DYNAMIC CDS 404 [70:31] [IL]

A valuable addition to the Respighi catalogue: accessible, melodic, sympathetically performed … see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Compositions for violin and piano: Sonata in D minor for Violin and Piano (1897) Six Pieces for Violin and Piano (1902-1905) Sonata in B minor for Violin and Piano (1917) Ingolf Turban (Violin) and Katia Nemirovitch-Dantchenko (piano) Recorded at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, in May, July and September, 2001 CLAVES CD 50-2109 [70:34] [IL]

Another important addition to the Respighi discography. Melodic romantic works played with refinement and sensitivity. … see Full Review

Josef Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Complete Organ Works Vol.7: Sonata in E flat major, No.13, Op.161: Phantasie; Maestoso, Adagio-Canzone; Allegretto-Intermezzo; Largo-Fuge; Allabreve - Charakterstücke für Orgel, op.156: Präludium; Con moto-Romanze; Andante-Canzonetta; Andantino-Intermezzo; Allegretto-Vision; Adagio molto-Duett; Andantino amabile-In memoriam; Con moto-Pastorale; Andantino-Klage; Lrgo-Abdefriede; Lento-Passacaglia; Lento maestoso-Trauermarsch; Alla marcia Rudolf Innig, Organist - Organ by: Kuhn, 1879, St Johann at Schaffhausen, Germany - Recorded:8-9/05/2002, Schaffhausen MDG 317 0897-2 [71’39] [CA]

Innig has a very good sense of expressiveness and his use of rubato is well handled … see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901 – 1999) Concierto de Aranjuez (1939)a Fantasía para un gentilhombre (1954)a Concierto Andaluz (1967)b Ricardo Gallén (guitar)a EntreQuatre Guitar Quartetb Asturias Symphony Orchestra/Maximiano Valdés Recorded: Auditoria Felipe, Oviedo, Asturias, June 2001 NAXOS 8.555841 [68:14] [HC]

If this particular coupling appeals to you, you need not worry about this very fine and rewarding release; it may be safely recommended. … see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901 – 1999) Complete piano works Sara Marianovich (piano) Recorded: Joaquín Rodrigo Auditorium, Las Rozas (Madrid), February 2001 SONY S2K 89828 [76:32 + 78.17] [HC]

"Aranjuez, well, yes, but what else?" Here is part of the answer. … see Full Review

Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868) Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1845) Variations in C for Clarinet and Orchestra (1810) Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra (1810) Variations in C (Version for Oboe and Orchestra) (1810) Une Larme for Cello and Strings (arr. Giovanni Sollima) Sergio Azzolini (Bassoon) Lorenzo Guzzanti (Clarinet) Diethelm Jonas (Oboe) Wen-Sinn Yang (Cello) Streicher-Akademie Bozen - Accademia d’Archi di Bolzano Georg Egger, Leader and Conductor Recorded August/ December 2000, Auditorium Collalbo ARTS 47634-2 [56.28] [RH]

Not top rank Rossini, but an interesting side-light on his career. Worth hearing for the first recording of the Bassoon Concerto … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Tancredi (1813): O Patria! – dolce e ingrata patria!; Di tanti palpiti; Dove sono io? …; Ah Che scordar non so; Oh Dio … lasciarti io deggio Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) Nabucco (1842)*: Ben io t’invenni… Anch’io dischiuso un giorno … Salgo già del trono aurato, Il Corsaro (1848): Egli non riede ancora … Non so le tetre immagini, Don Carlo (1867): O don fatale, Ernani (1844): Surta è la notte … Ernani, Ernani involami, Un ballo in maschera (1859): Ecco l’orrido campo … Ma dall’arido stelo; Morrò, ma prima in grazia Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo-soprano), Cappella Coloniensis/Gabriele Ferro (Rossini), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Nello Santi (Verdi), with *Ivo Vinco (bass), Ambrosian Singers Locations: Schulzentrum Lindlov, Cologne (Rossini), All Saints’ Church, London (Verdi) Dates: 6th-18th October 1978 (Rossini), July 1978 (Verdi)
WARNER FONIT 0927 43350-2 [57’ 50"] [CH]

An extraordinarily interesting record in which the mezzo Cossotto comes to terms first with original instruments and then with some true soprano roles. … see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) String Quartet No. 1 Op. 35 (1933/1946) - String Quartet No. 3 Op. 112 (1964) - Improvisation for Unaccompanied cello Op. 124 (1967) - Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 60 (1946) Dante Quartet - Pierre Doumerge (cello) and Michael Dussek, (piano) - Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London, April 2002 DUTTON LABS CDLX 7123 [71.41] [GH]

These performances rank at a very high level and the disc, especially at medium price is a must for lovers of twentieth century British music. … see Full Review

Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-94) Piano Concerto No. 4 in D minor, Op. 70 (1864) [32'30] - Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1942) Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (1934) [23'50] - Natasha Paremski (piano) Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky - Recorded in Moscow Radio Studio 5 in May 2002. [DDD] BEL AIR MUSIC BAM2030 [56'20] [CC]

Rubinstein: demanding to listen to it certainly is not. The playing of the Rhapsody lacks character. Disappointing despite the promising programming. … 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-Z]
[Part 6 Misc A-L] 
[Part 7 Misc M-Z]
Revolving notes from clipart.com



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