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Alphabetical Listing

PART 4
M-R

Detailed listing (last five 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]
[Recommended recordings]

 

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 9 (1909/10) [72:09] Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedosseyev rec. live, Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, 5-7 December 2002 RELIEF CR991072 [72:09] [SV]

I can't recommend this as a first Ninth; it strays too far from the score. Still, it's well worth hearing - and it's persuasive on its own terms. ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete Piano Music 2 Puppets Book III H92 (1914) [9:35] Puppets Book II H116 (1918) [12:58] Puppets Book I H137 (1924) [11:09]Film en miniature H148 (1925) [13:21]Spring in the Garden H125 (1920) [7:12]Butterflies and Birds of Paradise H127 (1920) [15:36]The Fifth Day of the Fifth Moon H318 (1948) [2:57]Les bouquinistes du Quai Malaquais H319 (1948) [1:31] Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. RSI Lugano, October 2005 NAXOS 8.557918 [74:19] [JW]

Excellently performed, recorded and well annotated – athletic, brisk and fully up to all technical challenges. ... see Full Review

Pietro MASCAGNI (1863–1945) Cavalleria rusticana (1890) Paoletta Marrocu (soprano) – Santuzza; Andrea Bocelli (tenor) – Turiddu; Elena Belfiore (contralto) – Lucia; Stefano Antonucci (baritone) – Alfio; Enkelejda Shkosa (mezzo) – Lola; Salvatrice Rafisardo (soprano) – Una donna Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania/Steven Mercurio rec. Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania, 24 June–4 July 2002. DDD DECCA 475 7853 [77:55] [GF]

A pleasure to hear a fine baritone and a great dramatic soprano. For their contributions I will certainly return to this set. ... see Full Review

Johann MATTHESON (1681-1764) Suite No.1 in D minor (1714) [1638] Suite No.12 in F minor (extracts) (1714) [8:00] Suite No.11 (sarabande) in C major (1714) [2:22] Suite No. 5 (Air and Doubles) in C minor (1714) [6:12] Suite No. 4 in G minor (extracts) (1714) [13:15] Suite No. 6 in E flat minor (1714) [12:27] Suite No. 9 in G minor (1714) [15:05] Cristiano Holtz (harpsichord) rec. January 2006, Oud-Katholieke Kerk, Delft RAMÉE RAM 0605 [74:35] [GPu]

A pleasant CD, sampling the music of a remarkable man of many talents … see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony No. 4 in A major, Italian (1833) [27:52] Symphony No. 5 in D major, Reformation (1832) [26:19] La Chambre Philharmonique/Emmanuel Krivine rec. Opera Bastille salle Liebermann, Paris, July 2006. DDD NAÏVE V 5069 [54:13][MG]

If you want this coupling on period instruments, this Krivine CD is the one to go for. … see Full Review

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 3 Visions de l'Amen (1943) [43:47] Quatre Études de rythme (1949-50) [17:00] Cantéyodjayâ (1949) [12:17] Paul Kim (piano) Matthew Kim (piano 2, Visions de l’Amen) rec. August 2002 (Visions de l’Amen), Fallon Studios, Armonk, New York; September 2002, Patrych Sound Studios, New York City CENTAUR CRC 2668 [73:06] [DC]

Paul Kim’s complete set goes from strength to strength, and this disc is about as strong as they come. ... see Full Review

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 4 Préludes (1928-29) [41:46] Les offrandes oubliées (1930) [10:16] Fantasie burlesque (1934) [7:08] Pièce pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas (1935) [3:44] Rondeau (1943) [2:38] Prélude pour piano (1964) [2:49] Paul Kim (piano) rec. January 2004, Patrych Sound Studios, New York City CENTAUR CRC 2727 [68:45] [DC]

Paul Kim’s Messiaen is something quite special, and deserve as wide an audience as anything available today. ... see Full Review

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Vingt regards sur l’enfant Jésus (1944) CD1 Regard du Père [08:09] Regard de l'étoile [03:10] L'échange [03:25] Regard de la Vierge [05:21] Regard du Fils sur le Fils [08:15] Par lui tout a été fait [10:50] Regard de la Croix [04:21] Regard des hauteurs [02:23] Regard du temps [02:45] Regard de l'Esprit de joie [08:50] CD2 Première communion de la Vierge [07:38] La parole toute - puissante [02:32] Noël [04:22] Regard des Anges [05:09] Le baiser de l'enfant Jésus [14:07] Regard des prophètes des bergers et des mages [03:10] Regard du silence [05:36] Regard de l'onction terrible [07:04] Je dors, mais mon coeur veille [11:01] Regard de l'Eglise d'amour [14:35] Håkon Austbø (pianoforte) rec. 11-18 August, 1993, St. Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, England. DDD NAXOS 8.550829-30 [57:29 + 75:14] [MS]

A sensitive and highly expressive performance with measured and studied performances of one of Messiaen’s most epic piano works. ... see Full Review

Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Sinfonietta (1944) [23:16] Symphony in G minor (1934-7) [44:24] Overture for a Masque (1944) [10:36] London Philharmonic Orchestra (Sinfonietta and Overture for a Masque); New Philharmonia Orchestra (Symphony in G minor)/Sir Adrian Boult rec. no place of recording is mentioned; Originally recorded 1968, 1975, 1970. 2007. ADD LYRITA SRCD.247 [78:55] [PC]

Boult shows us how this music can be performed and in places he does get it absolutely right. ... see Full Review

Stanisław MONIUSZKO (1819-1872) Halka (1857) Tatiana Borodina (soprano) - Halka; Oleh Lykhach (tenor) - Jontek; Aleksandra Buczek (soprano) - Zofia; Mariusz Godlewski (baritone) - Janusz; Radosław Zukowski (bass) - Stolnik Chorus and Orchestra of the Wrocław Opera/Ewa Michnik rec. Wrocław Opera, 8 September 2005. DDD Dolby Digital 2.5/5.0. 4:3 PAL. DVD9+1 DUX 9538 [136:00] [CC]

Superb and revelatory. Obscure opera rarely get a chance to shine as this one has. Perfect to see this opera at the Coliseum one day ... see Full Review

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria (1640) [148.00] text by Giacomo Badoaro (arr. Raymond Leppard) Ulisse - Benjamin Luxon (bar) Penelope - Janet Baker (mezzo) Minerva - Anne Howells (mezzo) Nettuno - Robert Lloyd (bass) Giove - Brian Burrows (tenor) Ericlea - Virginia Popova (mezzo) Telemaco - Ian Caley (tenor) L’humana Fragilta - Annabel Hunt (alto) Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra/Raymond Leppard Stage Direction: Sir Peter Hall; Design: John Bury rec. Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1973. Video Direction: David Heather Notes in English, Français, and Deutsch. Menu Subtitles in Italiano, Deutsch, Français, English, Castellano. NTSC 4:3. DVD 9. Region 0. 48kHz 16 bit PCM Stereo 2.0 channel sound. ARTHAUS MUSIK/EURO ARTS 101 101 [148.00][PSh]

If you love opera, if you love Monteverdi, if you love Janet Baker and good singing, you must own this DVD. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto no.22 in E flat K482 [34:46]* Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat K595 [32:11]* Adagio and Fugue in C minor K546 [08:48] Sviatoslav Richter (piano)* English Chamber Orchestra/Benjamin Britten rec. live, 13 June 1967, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival) (K482, K546), 16 June 1965, Blythburgh Church, Aldeburgh Festival (K595) BBC LEGENDS BBCL 4206-2 [76:04][CH]

K595 is a performance by which to remember Richter as a wonderful Mozartian, but there are problems ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) CD 1 Violin Concerto No. 1 in B flat major, K207 (c.1773) [19:37] Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K211 (1775) [17:56] Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K216 Strassburg (1775) [21:45] CD 2 Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K218 (1775) [21:18] Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K219 Turkish (1775) [26:02] Violin Concerto in D major, K271a (c.1775-77) [25:52] Thomas Zehetmair (violin)/Philharmonia Orchestra rec. August 1990 (Concertos 2, 3, 5); August 1991 (Concertos 1, 4, K271a) at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England. DDD WARNER CLASSICS APEX 2564 64329-2 [59:52 + 73:44] [MC]

Thomas Zehetmair and the Philharmonia demonstrate an impressive affinity for these Mozart Violin Concertos but the competition in the catalogues is extremely fierce. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia concertante in E flat major for Violin and Viola, K364 (1779) [31:58] Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K218 (1775) [24:15] Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K211 (1775) [21:55] UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra/Maxim Vengerov (violin) Lawrence Power (viola) (K364) rec. 9-11 February 2006, Henry Wood Hall, London, England (K211); 16-18 August 2006, Salle Métropole, Lausanne, Switzerland (K218, K364). DDD EMI CLASSICS 378374-2 [78:52][MC]

Dazzling virtuosity put carefully aside by the thoughtful Vengerov who is heard here at his most mellow and beguiling in these rather understated Mozart performances. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) March, K. 189 [3:21] Serenade in D (Andretter) K. 185 [35:15] Rondo in C, K. 373 [5:42] Adagio in E, K 261 [7:30] Rondo Concertante in B-flat, K. 269 [6:51] Divertimento in E-flat, K. 113 [10:08] Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Janiczek (conductor; violin) rec. Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, 6-8 June 2006. LINN CKD 287 (SACD) [69:30] [KS]

Clear sound, fine balance, elegant music making. A splendid party disc. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) and Sigismund NEUKOMM (1778-1858) Requiem (1791) [51:09] (Requiem aeternam [6:26]; Dies irae [1:53]; Tuba mirum [1:09]; Liber scriptus [0:44]; Quid sum miser [1:14]; Rex tremendae [1:46]; Recordare [2:52]; Ingemisco tamquam [2:33]; Confutatis [2:25]; Lacrymosa [2:29]; Domine Jesu [6:34]; Sanctus [5:53]; Agnus Dei [3:11]; Lux aeterna [4:36]; Libera me [8:13]) Hjordis Thebault (soprano), Gemma Coma-Alabert (mezzo), Simon Edwards (tenor), Alain Buet (bass-baritone) Kantorie Saarlouis La Grande Ecurie et La Chambre du Roy/Jean-Claude Malgoire rec. 13 November 2005, Saint Barthelémy de Sarrebourg Church, Moselle TELERAMA K617180 [51:09] [EM]

Remarkable … to hear an added Libera Me is fascinating, and the performance itself is thrilling. The power easily makes up for lack of refinement and smoothness ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem in D minor, K626 (1791). Iwona Hossa (soprano); Urszula Kryger (alto); Adam Zdunikowski (tenor); Romuald Tesarowicz (bass) Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra/ Tadeusz Wojciechowski. rec. Łódz Cathedral, 2 April 2006. Dolby Digital 5.1. 16:9 PAL DUX 9555 [103‘00][CC]

Oh, for subtitles! As it is, this full-service option only really carries meaning for Poles or Polish speakers. A bit of a waste, really. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos for Horn and Orchestra: No. 1 in D, K386b (1791?) [8:13]; No. 2 in E flat, K417 (1783) [17:19]; No. 3 in E flat, K447 (1784-87) [15:17]; No. 4 in E flat, K495 (1786) [15:47] Franz Josef HAYDN (1732-1709) Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E flat, Hob.VIIe:1 [13:03] Claire Briggs (horn); Ian Balmain (trumpet) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Stephen Kovacevich. rec. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 11-12 January 1991. DDD CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3822272 [67:51] [CC]

There are so many fine and established recordings that any new one or reissue needs something exceptional to recommend it. A disc that brings more than its fair share of disappointments. ... see Full Review

Tristan MURAIL (b. 1947) Winter Fragments (2000)a [14:06] Unanswered Questions (1995)b [4:27] Ethers (1978)c [18:21] Feuilles à travers les cloches (1998)d [6:06] Le Lac (2001)e [23:06] Erin Lesser (flute)bcd Argento Chamber Ensembleacde/Michel Galante rec. Istanbul, November 2003 (Winter Fragments, Ethers, Feuilles à travers les cloches); New York, October 2004  (Unanswered Questions, Le Lac) AEON AECD 0746 [66:06][HC]

Murail’s is a distinctive voice in French contemporary music, and this magnificent release is to my mind the best introduction possible to his highly personal sound world ... see Full Review

Conlon NANCARROW (1912-1997) Player Piano 3: Conlon Nancarrow Vol. 2 Studies 13-32 rec. 19-24 June 2005, Immanuelskirche Wuppertal. DDD MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM 645 1403-2 [68:10] [DC]

This new series from MDG is/will be very much the one to have. ... see Full Review

Luigi NONO (1924-1990) Fragmente – Stille, An Diotoma (1980) [38:08] LaSalle Quartet: Walter Levin (violin); Henry Meyer (violin); Peter Kamnitzer (viola (alto); Lee Fiser (cello). DDD DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 415 513-1 [38:08] [MS]

Highly personal music full of almost imperceptible meaning played and produced impeccably by the work’s dedicatees … see Full Review

Johannes OCKEGHEM (c.1410-1497) The Ockeghem Collection Salve Regina (Edited John Milsom) [8:48] Missa Mi-Mi [30:18] Alma redemptoris Mater [5:16] Missa Prolationum [32:38] Missa De plus en plus [34:19] Credo “de village” [7:08] Gaude Maria (attributed) [10:03] Missa Fors seulement [8:12] Fors seulement (chanson) [8:12] Requiem [29:57] Intemerata Dei mater [6:53] Ave Maria [2:45] Missa "Ecce Ancilla Domini" [36:51] Missa Cuiusvis toni [27:34] Celeste beneficium (attributed) [9:24] Missa Quinti toni [27:03] S'elle m'amera / Petite camusette [3:50] Intemerata Dei mater [5:53] Missa "L'homme armé" [25:48] "Missa sine nomine (a3)" [24:34] Missa "Au travail suis" [18:54] Missa "Sine Nomine a5" [7:03] The Clerks' Group/Edward Wickham rec. St Andrew’s Church, West Wratting, 1994-99 GAUDEAMUS CD GAU 550 [5 CDs: 76:57 + 75:57 + 76:33 + 73:57 + 76:27][JW]

The reappearance of ASV’s groundbreaking Ockeghem series not only confirms the profound excellence of the undertaking but also subtly adjusts one’s perspective of the composer. ... see Full Review

Johannes OCKEGHEM (c. 1420-1497) Alma Redemptoris Mater [5.14] S'elle M’amera/Petite Camusette [3.49] Ma Maistresse [6.27] Fors Seulement [8.09] Offertorium (from Requiem) [8.17] Kyrie (from Missa 'Caput') [3.09] Gloria (from Missa 'Prolationum') [7.09] Credo (from Missa 'L'homme Armé') [6.39] Sanctus (from Missa 'Mi-Mi') [3.38] Benedictus (from Missa 'Mi-Mi') [2.34] Agnus Dei (from Missa 'De plus en plus') [5.37] Intemerata Dei Mater [5.53] The Clerks Group/Edward Wickham rec. St Andrew’s Church, West Wratting, 11-12 April 1994 (1, 9, 10), 22-24 February 1999 (2, 3, 12), 5-6 May 1996 (4, 5), 6-7 November 1997 (6), 24-25 February 1995 (7), 1, 23 February 1999 (8), 30-31 October 1995 (11) GAUDEAMUS CD GAM 357 [66.41][EM]

Performed with conviction, confidence and a wonderful sense of radiance ... see Full Review

Jacques OFFENBACH (1819–1880) Les contes d’Hoffmann (1881) Acquiles Machado (tenor) – Hoffmann; Konstantin Gorny (bass-baritone) – Lindorf, Coppélius, Dr. Miracle, Dapertutto; Katherine Goeldner (mezzo) – Nicklausse, The Muse; María Bayo (soprano) – Antonia; Valentina Kutzarova (soprano) – Giulietta; Milagros Poblador (soprano) – Olympia; Christopher Fel (bass) – Luther, Crespel; Christian Jean (tenor) – Spalanzani; Itxaro Mentxaka (mezzo) – Antonia’s mother; José Ruiz (tenor) – Andrés, Cochenille, Franz, Pitichinaccio; Marco Moncloa (bass) – Hermann, Schlemil; Manuel De Diego (baritone) – Nathanaël; Itziar Fernández De Unda (actor) – Stella; David Aguayo Marqués – Bass voice; Chorus of Ópera de Bilbao Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa/Alain Guingal Stage director: Giancarlo Del Monaco; Set and Costume Design: Michael Scott; Lighting designer: Wolfgang von Zoubek; TV director: Angel Luis Ramírez rec. live, Palacio Euskalduna de Bilbao, 12, 15 May 2006 Audio formats: LPCM Stereo; DTS Surround Sound Extra features: Interviews with Maria Bayo, Aquiles Machado and Juan Carlos Matellanes (President of ABAO) OPUS ARTE OA0968D [2 DVDs: 185:00] [GF]

The sets are not the most inspiring and the shaping of the title role is a serious misconception but there is some splendid singing and acting here ... see Full Review

Giovanni PAISIELLO (1740–1816) La serva padrona (1781) Cinzia Forte (mezzo) – Serpina; Antonio Abete (bass) – Uberto La Cetra/Attilio Cremonese rec. live, 5-6 May 2006, Théâtre de Poissy ZIG-ZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT 070102 [60:24] [GF]

Played with a fire and pizzazz that is breath-taking and even though this "straight-to-the-point" approach may rob the music of some subtlety, I find that an easy loss to take, considering the vibrant vitality of the performance ... see Full Review

Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) Summa (1977) [4.56] John TAVENER (b. 1944) The Lamb (1982) [3.14] Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) The Beatitudes (1990, rev. 1991) [6.59] John TAVENER (b. 1944) Funeral Ikos (1981) [7.43] Alan RIDOUT (1934-1996) Litany (1985) [13.49] John TAVENER (b. 1944) Two Hymns to the Mother of God (1985): (A Hymn to the Mother of God [2.21]; Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God [3.31]) Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991): (O Weisheit [1.22]; O Adonai [1.47]; O SproB aus Isais Wurzel [0.51]; O Schliissel Davids [1.49]; O Morgenstern [1.53]; O Konig aller Volker [1.50]; O Immanuel [3.10]) John TAVENER (b. 1944) Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Collegium Regale) (1986) (Magnificat [7.20]; Nunc dimittis [2.30]) Henryk GORECKI (b.1933) Totus tuus Op.60 (1987) [8.59] Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse John Keys (organ) Andrew Angus (bass) rec. Church of St Giles, Cripplegate, London, 3-5 February 1995 DDD CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 0946 3 75935 2 3 [74.09][EM]

Not, perhaps, quite as radiant as they could be, but well, if not spectacularly, sung. An excellent introduction to this kind of music. ... see Full Review

Harry PARTCH (1901-1974) The Harry Partch Collection – Volume 2 The Wayward (1943-1972) I U.S. Highball – A Musical Account of a Transcontinental Hobo Trip (1943, rev. 1955) [25:20] II San Francisco--A Setting of the Cries of Two Newsboys on a Foggy Night in the Twenties (1943, rev. 1955) [2:28] III The Letter – A Depression Message from a Hobo Friend (1943, rev. 1972) [2:48] IV Barstow - Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, California (1941, rev. 1968) [9:57] And on the Seventh Day Petals Fell in Petaluma (1963-64, rev. 1966) [35:50] Gate 5 Ensemble/Jack McKenzie [Highball] Harry Partch; Danlee Mitchell; Elizabeth Gentry [San Francisco] Harry Partch; David Dunn; Dennis Dunn; Randy Hoffman (with interludes dubbed from the 1950 recording by Harry Partch, Donald Pippin, Ben and Betty Johnston) [Letter] The Harry Partch Ensemble (Ron Caruso, Randy Hoffman, Gary Irvine, Alan Silverstein, Francis Thumm)/Danlee Mitchell (music director) [Barstow] Gate 5 Ensemble/Harry Partch (director) [Petals] rec. 1958, Evanston, Illinois [Highball, San Francisco]; 1964, Petaluma, California [Petals]; 1972, Encinitas and San Diego, California [Letter]; 1982, Mills College, Oakland, California [Barstow] Previously issued on Composers’ Recordings Inc. CRI CD 752 NEW WORLD RECORDS 80622-2 [76:23][PSe]

You want something to stir your viscera, make your belly laugh, move you to tears, and intrigue your intellect? Partch provides it all in here. ... see Full Review

Ernst PEPPING (1901-1981) Symphony No. 2 in F minor [37:53] Heinz SCHUBERT (1908-1945) Hymisches Konzert for soloists, organ and orchestra [37:41]* Erna Berger (soprano) * Walter Ludwig (tenor) * Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. live 30 October 1943 (Pepping); 6 December 1942 (Schubert) MELODIYA MELCD 1001101 [75:37] [JW]

Rare examples of Furtwängler’s promotion of contemporary German music. ... see Full Review

Vincent PERSICHETTI (1915-1987) Serenade No.5 for Orchestra Op.43 (1950) [10:44] Symphony for Strings (Symphony No.5) Op.61 (1953) [18:08] Symphony No.8 (1967) [28:50] * Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney Louisville Orchestra/Jorge Mester * rec. 1954 (No.5); 1960 (Serenade); 1970 (No.8), Louisville, Kentucky FIRST EDITION FECD 0034 [57:42][JW]

Standards remain admirably high in this welcome series ... see Full Review

Laurent PETITGIRARD (b.1950) Les Douze Gardiens du Temple (2004) [26.29] (1) Poème (2002) [12.03] (1) Euphonia (1989) [28.31] (2) Orchestre National Bordeau Aquitaine/Laurent Petigirard (1) Ljublana Radio Symphony Orchestra/Laurent Petigirard (2) rec. Salle Franklin, Bordeaux, 7-9 September 2005 (1); live, Ljubljana 29 May 1992 (2) NAXOS 8.570138 [67.03][RH]

Lush music, attractively orchestrated and evoking the sound-worlds of Honegger or Koechlin ... see Full Review

Wenzel PICHL (1741-1805) Sinfonia in C major, ‘Calliope’, Zakin 11 (c. 1768-1769) [14:26] Sinfonia in B flat major, ‘Melpomene’, Zakin 14 (c. 1768-1769) [19:08] Sinfonia in E major, ‘Clio’, Zakin 8 (c. 1768-1769) [17:53] Sinfonia in D major, ‘Diana’, Zakin 16 (c. 1768-1769) [21:35] Toronto Chamber Orchestra/Kevin Mallon rec. St Anne’s Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2-5 January 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.557761 [73:02][TP]

This well filled and attractively priced disc can be warmly recommended to anyone looking to explore the Classical era beyond Haydn and Mozart. ... see Full Review

Michael PRAETORIUS (c.1571-1621) Dances from Terpsichore (1612) [48:38]: Passameze/Gaillarde [3:36] La Bouree [1:56] Bransle De La Torche [1:58] Bransles Simples/Bransles Gays/Bransles Doubles [4:27] Bransles De Villages [4:02] Philou [2:58] Ballet Des Sorciers/Ballet Des Princesses/Ballet/Ballet De Princesses [3:19] Ballet/Ballet Des Baccanales/Ballet Des Matelotz/Ballet Des Coqs [3:17] Bransle De La Torche [1:20] Pavane De Spaigne/Spagnoletta [5:46] Passameze Pour Les Cornetz [1:47] Courante M.M. Wustrow/Courante/Courrant De Bataglia [5:20] La Sarabande [1:42] Volte Du Tambour/Voltes [5:01] Voltes [3:51] New London Consort/Philip Pickett rec. March, 1985, Henry Wood Hall, London. DDD L’OISEAU-LYRE 414 6332 [48:38] [MS]

A hardy and handy selection from the unpretentious dance suite by Praetorius played with panache and care by experts central to this aspect of the ‘early music revival’ ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) String Quartet No. 1 in B minor, Op. 50 [22:49] String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92 [21:15] Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34 [8:33] Quintet in G minor, Op. 39 for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass. [17:57] Russian String Quartet (Tatiana Berkul (violin); Maria Suchkova (violin); Elena Ozol (viola); Ludmila Krushkova (cello)); Igor Fedorov (clarinet); Mikhail Khoklov (piano); Dmitri Kotenok (oboe); Oleg Tantsov (clarinet); Yuri Goloubev (double bass) rec. May-July 1996, Russian Broadcast and Recording Department Studio I, Moscow. ARTE NOVA 74321 654272 [72:21][KS]

You really should have it, and I am not sharing mine! ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Betrothal in a Monastery - lyric comedy in four acts (1940) [157.00] (Text by the composer and M. Mendelson after Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Duenna 1775) Anna Netrebko (sop) - Louisa, daughter of Don Jerome Larissa Diadkova (mezzo) - The Duenna to Don Jerome Nikolai Gassiev (ten) - Don Jerome, father of Louisa and Ferdinand Aleksander Gergalov (bar) - Don Ferdinand, son of Don Jerome Marianna Tarassova (mezzo) - Clara, sequestered daugher of a wealthy family Yevgeny Akimov (ten) - Don Antonio, a poor musician Sergei Aleksashkin (bass) - Isaac Mendoza, rich fish merchant Yuri Shkliar (bass) - Don Carlos, impoverished nobleman, friend of Mendoza Kirov Orchestra, Opera Chorus and Ballet/Valery Gergiev Stage Director - Vladislav Pazi Video Director - Aarno Cronvall rec. live, 1998, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia. Menu Screens and Notes in English. Subtitles in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese. DVD 9, 16 x 9 anamorphic, NTSC region 0 (all regions). dts 5.0 surround, LPCM 2.0 sound. Co-produced by Decca, Euro-Arts, NHK PHILIPS 0743076 [157.00] [PSh]

Netrebko at her lovely best, a completely delightful opera evening — good music, a good comic play, excellently acted and sung, very well recorded, lavishly staged. ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor (1892) [12:39] Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9 (1893, rev. 1907) [44:44] Valeri Grohovski (piano); Eduard Wulfson (violin); Dmitry Yablonsky (cello) rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 6-7 September 2005. DDD NAXOS 8.557423 [57:23][TP]

This disc is full of beautiful music, beautifully played and recorded.  If you do not know these pieces, here is your introduction. ... see Full Review

Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Anacréon (1757) [41:24] Thiery Félix (baritone) (Anacréon); Véronique Gens (soprano) (la Prètresse de Bacchus); Annick Massis (soprano) (l’Amour); Rodrigo del Pozo (counter-tenor) (Agathocle) Le Berger fidèle (1728) [15:07] Véronique Gens (soprano) Chœur des Musiciens du Louvre Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski rec. Cité de la Musique, France. DDD ARCHIV 449 211-2 [56:31] [MS]

Simple, gentle, sensitive playing of out of the way Rameau that ought to remind you why you like Rameau so much. … see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Daphnis et Chloé, complete ballet in three scenes (1909-12) [59:16] Bordeaux Opera Chorus Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine/Laurent Petitgirard rec. 3-5 January 2006, Franklin Hall, Bordeaux, France. DDD NAXOS 8.570075 [59:16] [MC]

This superb Naxos release will sit comfortably on the shelf alongside my treasured versions from Monteux on Decca and Munch on RCA ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Daphnis et Chloé, complete ballet in three scenes (1909-12) [59:16] Bordeaux Opera Chorus Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine/Laurent Petitgirard rec. 3, 5 January 2006, Franklin Hall, Bordeaux, France. DDD NAXOS 8.570075 [59:16][GH]

Petitgirard is no Monteux but he brings a composer’s ear to this ballet conveying a symphonic flow which captivates from start to finish ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Boléro (1927) [15.39] Lamoureux Concerts Orchestra/Maurice Ravel Chansons Madécasses (3) (1926) [11.40] Madeleine Grey (soprano) Maurice Ravel (piano), and conducting an uncredited ensemble. rec. Paris, 1932 (Boléro); 1928 (sic) (Chansons) Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2, Op 64a (1937) [31.04] Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra/Sergei Prokofiev rec. Moscow 1938, Myezhdunarodnaya Kniga No notes, no song texts, no track list or timings. ADD PHILIPS 420 778-2 [58.23] [PSh]

For collectors, historians, and students, valuable historical musical documents in easy to listen to form; for all of us, authoritative and as good a set of Chansons Madécasses as we’re likely to hear. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade [14:57] Cinq Mélodies populaires grècques (nos. 2-4 orch. Manuel Rosenthal) [6:58] Deux Mélodies hébraïques [6:14] Quatre Chants populaires* [10:38] Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Trois Chansons de Bilitis* [9:16] Fêtes galantes (Premier receuil)* [7:17] Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maisons* [2:46] Récit et Air de Lia: L’année en vain chasse l’année (L’Enfant prodigue) [4:51] Henri DUPARC (1848-1933) L’Invitation au voyage [4:08] Phidylé [5:20] Victoria de los Angeles (soprano) Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/Georges Prêtre/*Gonzalo Soriano (piano) rec. 20-21 February 1962, Salle Wagram, Paris; *19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26 January 1966, EMI Studios, Barcelona. ADD. Stereo EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3458212 [72:27] [JQ]

This is a wonderful disc, featuring one of the most cherishable singers of the post-war era. ... see Full Review




Detailed listing (last five 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]
[Recommended recordings]

 

 



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