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]

 

Elizabeth MACONCHY (1907-1994) Overture, Proud Thames (1952) [5:58] * Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1953) [21:50] ** Serenata Concertante for Violin and Orchestra (1962) [21:37] ** Music for Strings (1983) [18:21] *** London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley * Manoug Parikian** (violin) London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley London Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth*** rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD; DDD*** LYRITA SRCD.288 [67.50] [JF]

Here is a small, but as they say, ‘perfectly proportioned’ corpus of Maconchy’s music now available to the listener. ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 2 in C minor ‘Resurrection’ (1894) Karina Gauvin (soprano); Yvonne Naef (contralto) WDR Sinfonieorchester, NDR Chor, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln/Semyon Bychkov Johannes Deutsch, Ars Electronica Linz (visual realisation) rec. Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany, 1 January 2006. DVD: Region 0; NTSC; 16:9; PCM stereo; DD 5.1. Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian ARTHAUS MUSIK 101 421 CD [44:11 + 36:10]; [87:00 + 48:00 bonus][DM] A bold and interesting package that could well appeal to some music-lovers, but if it’s the symphony you’re after there are many more satisfying versions ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-2) Symphony No.10 in F sharp minor (1910) Reconstruction and instrumentation after Mahler’s sketches by Rudolf Barshai Junge Deutsche Philharmonie/Rudolf Barshai Recorded in 1999 in the Philharmonie, Berlin (5) and September 12th 2001 in the Konzerthaus, Berlin (10) BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92205 [2CDs: 143.39] [TD]
We can now offer these recordings for sale from £7.07 including postage

Louis MARCHAND (1669-1732) Livre de pièces de clavecin, 1754 [Livre de Suittes pour le clavecin, 1754] RENARD Prélude par Renard [02:37] Louis MARCHAND (?) Allemande fait pour Mme Deville [04:22] anon Autre allemande Les Regards [04:53] Louis MARCHAND Courante La Florentine [01:44] Sarabande Les Soupirs [03:52] anon Menuet L'indifférente [01:39] Louis MARCHAND (?) Gigue d'orgue La Saint-Honoré [01:55] Louis MARCHAND Autre courante Les Contretemps [01:13] anon Loure en sicilienne L'angéline [03:05] anon (MARCHAND?) Badinage en rondeau La Marinelle [01:15] Louis MARCHAND Gavotte en rondeau L'Agarbelle [01:29] anon (RENARD?) Musette en rondeau [02:03] Louis MARCHAND Chaconne L'inconnue [04:10] Air tendre Les Regrets [02:43] [Recueil des airs pour le clavecin composés par plusieurs auteurs - extracts] anon Tombeau pour Monsieur de la Forestière par M. [04:09] Louis-Claude DAQUIN (1694-1772) La Louisette [03:13] anon Les Sirènes [02:20] La Ferrand par Guys. [01:42] Louis MARCHAND La Venitienne [01:58] Jean-Baptiste FORQUERAY (1699-1782) Allemande in e minor [04:23] Mario Martinoli (harpsichord) rec. November 2005, Pieve di San Pietro a Presciano, Arezzo, Italy. DDD OLIVE MUSIC OM 008 [54:57] [JV]

Hitherto unknown pieces from an 18th-century French manuscript – because of repertoire and performance it is highly recommendable to any lover of the harpsichord … see Full Review

Roger MARSH (b. 1949) Albert Giraud’s Pierrot Lunaire – vocal settings of all fifty of the Rondels Bergamasques (2002-2006) [100.47] Linda Hirst (mezzo); Joe Marsh (narrator) Hilliard Ensemble; Red Byrd; Juice Trio; Ebor Singers/Paul Gameson rec. University of York, 2002, 2005, 2006. DDD NMC D127 [50.00 + 50.47] [SH]

A sheer feast with dreams left over. Marsh shows the greatness of Giraud’s haunting images. ... see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) His Life and Music Vocal excerpts (sung by Illing unless otherwise stated): Eve: O nuit Sapho: Solitude, demain je partirai La Grand Tante: Je vais bientôt quitter Marie Magdeleine: O mes soeurs La Vierge: Rêve infini Hérodiade: Il est doux, il est bon Sapho: Ah, vous avez parlé Sapho: Ce que j’appelle beau Valse très lente (Noël Lee, piano) Song, Sainte Thérèse Prie Ariane: Avec tes compagnes guerrières Sapho: Vais-je rester ici? Grisélidis: Loÿs! Loÿs! Ariane: Je comprends un héros! Un roi La Vierge: O mon fils Le Cid: Plus de tourments Le Roi de Lahore: O Timour! Tu me croi (Sutherland) Esclarmonde: Esprits de l’air! (Sutherland) With opera performances from – Manon (Gruberova/Ariaza) [ORF 1983] Cendrillon: Von Stade/Wallis [Radio Canada] Rosamund Illing (soprano) Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra/Richard Bonynge Documentary containing interviews with Richard Bonynge and Dame Joan Sutherland, Thomas Hampson, John Cox, Andrew Porter, Rodney Milnes, Mme Anne Bessand-Massenet, James Harding. Graham Johnson, Annegret Fauser, Noël Lee (piano). Narrated by Richard Bonynge, with background of Massenet’s music sung by Rosamund Illing Directed by Scott Murray Produced by Maria Vandamme rec. Italy, Australia, France, Belgium and Britain, 1999 16:9 Widescreen format; PAL; All regions MELBA MR2000 [75:00] [RJW]

Excellent in every respect and compiled with no expense spared. Opera buffs can watch with pleasure ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture, Op. 21 (1826) [12.00] Lobgesang, Symphony-Cantata, Op. 52 (original version, 1840) [57:25]* *Anne Schwanewilms, Petra-Maria Schnitzer (sopranos) *Peter Seiffert (tenor) *Gewandhaus Chorus *Leipzig Opera Chorus Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly rec. Gewandhaus, Leipzig, September 2005 DECCA 475 6939 [69:25][SV]

The recorded sound has all the depth and burnished blend of past Gewandhaus recordings, adding a modicum of the color and definition one as one expects from Decca - most attractive. ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphony No. 3 in A minor Op.56 Scottish [44:16] Symphony No. 4 in A Op.90 Italian [29:13] Symphony No. 5 in D Op.107 Reformation [32:06] New Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti Overtures: The Hebrides Op.26 [9:32]; Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Op.27 [11:27]; Athalie Op.74 [9:20]; Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde Op.89 [7:48]; Ruy Blas Op.95 [7:28] New Philharmonia Orchestra/Moshe Atzmon rec. Kingsway Hall, London 1-2 October 1975 (No 3), 18-19 January 1979 (No 5); No 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London 23 July, 9-10 September 1976 (No 4); 9-11 August 1974 (Overtures) EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3 81788 2 [76:27 + 74:52][PCW]

Muti is an enthusiastic guide to the symphonies but, perversely, his Italian symphony is the weakest link … see Full Review

Claudio MERULO (1533-1604) Complete Organ Works - Volume 1 CD 1 Toccata I (1598) [05:23] Ricercar del 2. tuono [08:28] La Gratiosa [04:11] Petit Jacquet [04:54] La Leonora [03:04] Toccata III (1598) [04:56] Toccata III (1604) [04:50] Ricercar dell'ottavo tuono [06:53] La Cortese [04:03] Toccata V (1598) [03:33] La Seula [04:45] La Pazza [02:50] Toccata I (1604) [05:50] CD 2 Toccata IV (1604) [06:26] La Radivila [04:14] Ricercar del 3. tuono [08:47] L'Arconadia [02:53] La Palma [02:33] La Scarampa [03:26] Toccata VII (1604) [07:41] Toccata IX (1598) [05:46] Content [06:07] Languissans [08:03] Ricercar del 7. tuono [07:59] La Pargoletta [03:18] Toccata VIII (1598) [06:31] Stefano Molardi (organ, Vincenzo Colombi, 1533) rec. September 2003, Duomo di Valvasone, Pordenone, Italy DDD DIVOX CDX-70309/10-6 [63:47 + 73:41][JV]

A wonderful production in every respect: music, instrument, interpreter, recording technique and presentation … see Full Review

Wilhelm MIDDELSCHULTE (1863-1943) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Goldberg Variations arranged for Organ (1926) Jurgen Sonnentheil (organ) rec. 18-21 September 2005, Gerald Woehl Organ, St. Petrus Canisius, Freidrichshafen, Germany CPO 777 215-2 [50:51 + 50:17][GPu]

A genuinely interesting arrangement for organ, sensitive, sophisticated and inventive. Well worth a listen … see Full Review

Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Rhapsody No.2 (1924 rev. 1941) [13:19] Violin Concerto (1941) [34:54] Rhapsody No.3 in F sharp for piano and orchestra (1943) [19:14] John Georgiadis (violin) John McCabe (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult (Rhapsody 2) London Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley (Violin Concerto) New Philharmonia/Nicholas Braithwaite (Rhapsody 3) rec. 1970, 1979, 1977. ADD LYRITA SRCD 248 [67:21] [JW]

Clever programming ensures this is a very viable contender. ... see Full Review

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vespro della Beata Vergine (Vespers) (1610) Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116 and Salve Regina from Selva morale e spirituale (1641) Taverner Consort (Tessa Bonner; Emma Kirkby; Evelyn Tubb; Emily van Evera (sopranos); Margaret Philpot (mezzo); Rogers Covey-Crump; Joseph Cornwell; Charles Daniels; Andrew King; Nigel Rogers; John Dudley; Peter Long (tenors); Stephen Charlesworth (baritone); Richard Savage; David Thomas; Richard Wistreich; Simon Grant (basses))/Canto Gregoriano/Taverner Choir and Players/Andrew Parrott rec. All Saints, Tooting, London, August 1983 and March 1984 (Vespers); Temple Church, London, December 1982 (Psalms). DDD. Booklet with brief notes in English, French and German but no texts. VIRGIN VERITAS 5 61662 6 [2 CDs 74:53+72:57][BW]

Still very competitive with more recent versions; those who prefer a slightly smaller-scale version in a liturgical context may well prefer it to the opposition – and it comes at an attractive price … see Full Review

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Madrigals Book Six and Miscellaneous Madrigals Lamento d’Arianna [18:56] Zefiro torna [4:19] Una donna fra l’altre [4:03] A dio, florida bella [5:30] Lagrime d’amante al sepolcro dell’amata [21:43] Ohimè il bel viso [5:59] Qui rise, o Tirsi [8:19] Misero Alceo [6:58] Batto, qui pianse Ergasto [4:59] Presso un fiume tranquillo [7:07] Io ardo sì [4:03] Occhi miei [4:36] Quante son stelle [1:54] Se non mi date [2:11] Prima vedrò ch’in questi prati [2:56] O come vaghi [3:44] Taci Armellin [3:42] La mia turca [3:16] Ohimè ch’io cado [4:34] Si dolce è’l tormento [5:28] Perché se m’odiavi [3:18] Più lieto il guardo [5:51] Lamento d’Arianna (1623) [11:53] Delitiæ Musicæ/Marco Longhini rec. Chiesa di San Pietro in Vincoli, Azzago, Verona, 21-25 July 2003. DDD NAXOS 8.555312-3 [68:48+57:28][BW]

Good, scholarly performances, clearly recorded, but no match for the competition … see Full Review

Beata MOON (b.1969) Piano Works: Piano Sonata (2006) [17:10]; Submerged (1999) [3:12]; In Transit (1999) [7:02]; Guernica (2003) [3:26]; Inter-Mez-Zo (2006) [8:47]; Toccata (2000) [2:20]; Ode (1998) [3:34]; Piano Fantasy (1998) [4:53]; Nursery (1996) [2:04]; The Secret (2005) [3:13]; Prelude (1996) [4:06] Beata Moon (piano) rec. February 2007, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York. DDD NAXOS 8.570347 [60:21][CR]

A whole disc of this music was too much. A little more variety was needed to maintain my interest. ... see Full Review

Emanuel MOÓR (1863-1931) Cello Sonata in G major Op.55 (1901) [23:51] Cello Sonata in C minor Op.22 (1889) [23:02] Suite for four cellos Op.95  (c.1909) [20:50] Gregor Horsch (cello) Carole Presland (piano) Cellokwartet Amsterdam (Gregor Horsch; Judith Jamin; Pascale Went; Sebastiaan van Eck) rec. Bachzaal, Amsterdam, January 2007; June 2003 (Quartet) CELLO CLASSICS CC1018 [67:32] [JW]

With performances this ardent we can wallow in the moment and relish the intensity of the music making ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sinfonia Concertante in E flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra, KV 364 (1779) [30:08] Concertone in C Major for Two Violins and Orchestra, KV 180 (1774) [29:09] Alan Loveday (violin), Stephen Shingles (viola), Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner (Sinfonia Concertante) Emanuel Hurwitz and Eli Goren (violins), English Chamber Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis (Concertone). rec. St. John's, Smith Square, London, UK, October 1970 (Sinfonia Concertante); London, UK, 1960 (Concertone). ADD DECCA ELOQUENCE 442 8239 [59:27][TP]

Another lovely release from Australian Eloquence, but there are sonic reservations. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 15 in B flat major, K450 (1784) [24:30] Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K 537, Coronation (1788) [31:31] Piano Concerto No. 15 in B flat major, K450 (1784): Andante (first version) [5:32] Robert Levin (fortepiano) The Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood rec. Grosser Saal, Mozarteum, Salzburg 3–5 February 1997. DDD. L’OISEAU-LYRE 455 814-2 [62:07][MG]

The novel use of Mozart’s instrument is vindicated by a fresh and creative approach to the interpretations … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No.20, K466 in D minor (1785) [36:15] Piano Concerto No.22, K482 in E flat major (1785) [31:44] Prague Chamber Orchestra/Martino Tirimo (piano) rec. Athens (exact venue not stated), 2004. DDD REGIS RRC1273 [68:15][BW]

Good direct performances, recommended for this coupling but there are better alternatives … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Sonata in F major K. 533/494 [23:48] Sonata in E flat major K. 282 [13:44] Sonata in D major K. 284 [27:44] Zeynep Ucbasaran (piano) rec. 24-25 October 2006, Abravanel Hall, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California EROICA JDT 3311 [65:16][CH]

Three of Mozart’s rarer sonatas played with real conviction. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze di Figaro K492 (1786) Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (bass) – Figaro; Anna Netrebko (soprano) – Susanna; Bo Skovhus (baritone) – Il Conte di Almaviva; Dorothea Röschmann (soprano) – La Contessa di Almaviva; Christine Schäfer (soprano) – Cherubino; Marie McLaughlin (soprano) – Marcellina; Franz-Josef Selig (bass) – Bartolo; Patrick Henckens (tenor) – Basilio; Oliver Ringelhahn (tenor) – Don Curzio; Florian Boesch (bass) – Antonio; Eva Liebau (soprano) – Barbarina; Uli Kirsch (mime) – Cherub; Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor Wiener Philharmoniker/Nicolaus Harnoncourt Stage Director: Claus Guth; Stage and Costume Design: Christian Schmidt; Choreography: Ramses Sigl; Video Director: Brian Large Picture format: NTSC Colour 16:9; Sound formats: PCM Stereo, DRS 5.1 rec. live, 2006 Salzburg Festival, Haus für Mozart, Salzburg, 17 July–6 August 2006 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4245 [2 DVDs: 202:00] DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 6558 [3 CDs: 50:22 + 64:26 + 75:08] DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON Highlights 477 6544 [78:18][GF]

As always with Harnoncourt there are some idiosyncratic touches but the general impression is that this set belongs in the top-tier of Figaro recordings. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Cosi fan Tutte - Dramma giocosa in two acts, libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (1789) Fiordiligi (soprano) – Miah Persson; Dorabella (mezzo) – Anke Vondung; Ferrando (tenor) – Topi Lehtipuu; Guglielmo (baritone) – Luca Pisaroni; Despina (soprano) – Ainhoa Garmendia; Don Alfonso (bass-baritone) – Nicolas Riveno Glyndebourne Chorus Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Ivan Fischer Directed for the stage by Nicholas Hytner Directed for TV by Francesca Kemp rec. Glyndebourne Festival Theatre, 19 May 2006 OPUS ARTE OA0970D [2 DVDs: 210:00] [TH]

If you’re in the market for stimulating theatre that will survive trends and fads, this has to be on your shortlist ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphonies vol. 5 (1772) Symphony No. 15 in G major, K124 [14:15] Symphony No. 16 in C major, K128 [11:56] Symphony No. 17 in G major, K129 [14:27] Symphony No. 18 in F major, K130 [17:59] Danish Radio Sinfonietta/Adam Fischer rec. Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen, 2006. DDD DACAPO 6.220540 [58:45] [MG]

Excellent performances, full of character and intelligent variation of tone and dynamic,  but not available in surround sound … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Sonata in C major KV 296 [13:03] Violin Sonata in B flat major KV 378 [17:43] Violin Sonata in B flat major KV 454 [20:27] Duo in B flat major for violin and viola K424 [17:09] ¹ Jascha Heifetz (violin) William Primrose (viola) ¹ Emanuel Bay (piano) rec.1936-47 IDIS 6521 [68:26] [JW]

Ornately over-perfumed … dangerously indulged … a lack of discrimination between the demands of external and internal projection … Heifetz’s masculinity admits of little light and shade ... see Full Review

Svend NIELSEN (b. 1937) Sommerfugledalen, Et Requiem - (Butterfly Valley, a Requiem) for 12 solo singers (1998/2004) [58:25] Inger Christensen (b. 1935) reads Sommerfugledalen (1991) [14:10] Ars Nova Copenhagen/Tamás Vetö rec. Mariendal Kirke, June 2006 DACAPO 8.224706 [62:35][DC]

This is a genuinely fine work of art. ... see Full Review

Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918) Songs of farewell (1916-1918): (My soul there is a country [3:50]; I know my soul hath power [2:31]; Never weather-beaten sail [3:18]; There is an old belief [4:13]; At the round earth’s imagined corners [7:08]; Lord, let me know mine end [9:41]) Charles Villiers STANFORD (1852-1924) Three motets, Op. 38 (1905): (Justorum animae [3:48]; Coelos ascendit [1:54]; Beati quorum via [3:50]) Eternal Father, Op. 135, No. 2 (1913) [6:28] Magnificat in B flat, Op. 164 (1918) [11:34] Choir of Trinity College Cambridge/Richard Marlow. rec. Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge. DDD CONIFER ARKIV CD 75605-51155-2 [59:32] [MG]

The sensibility of Marlow’s emotive performances catches well the sensitivity of the composers’ settings … see Full Review

Giovanni Benedetto PLATTI (1692/97-1763) Six Flute Sonatas, Op. 3 Sonata No. 1 in D [12:32] Sonata No. 2 in G [13:41] Sonata No. 3 in e minor [14:26] Sonata No. 4 in A* [12:12] Sonata No. 5 in C [09:08] Sonata No. 6 in G [16:05] Paul Wåhlberg (transverse flute); Knut Erik Sundquist (double-bass); Hans Knut Sveen (clavichord*, harpsichord) rec. 30 May, 1 June 2005, Hastad Kulturhaus, Norway. DDD NAXOS 8.570282 [78:43][JV]

Highly original sonatas which contain elements of the developing classical style. They are performed with flair and imagination ... see Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) King Arthur Suite (1691) [13:26] Dido and Aeneas Suite (1689) [9:03] Dioclesian: Dance of the Furies (1690) [4:52] The Fairy Queen Suite (1692) [7:26] Abdelazar Suite (1695) [5:34] Thomas ARNE (1710-1778) Organ Concerto No. 2 in G major [13:09]* John STANLEY (1713-1786) Organ Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 10 [10:39]* Thomas CHILCOT (c. 1709-1766) Harpsichord Concerto No. 3, Op. 2 [12:20] ^# The City of London Chamber Orchestra/Thomas McIntosh (^*organ conductor, ^#harpsichord conductor) rec. 1980. DDD VOX ALLEGRETTO ACD 8165 [77:22][MG]

Unusual and interesting but the performances fall into the ‘variable, sometimes good’ category and sometimes rather oddball too.  … see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Sonata in D minor op.28 (1907) [36:47] Nikolaj MEDTNER (1880-1951) Sonata Reminiscenza in A minor op.38/1 (1918-1920) [13:07] Tomás Kramreiter (piano) rec. Autumn 1987, Co-Production with Radio DRS, Studio Zürich; The Rachmaninov Sonata was issued in 2005 as the work of Joyce Hatto on Concert Artist/Fidelio CACD 9129-2 EX LIBRIS CD 6074 [50:38] [CH]

After Nojima, Kramreiter is maybe the most interesting pianistic find among the “Hatto” pianists I’ve investigated. ... see Full Review

Ruth Slenczynska – Tribute to Rachmaninoff Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Preludes [27:00] Prelude in C major Op.32 No.1 Prelude in D minor Op.23 No.3 Prelude in G sharp minor Op.32 No.12 Prelude in G minor Op.23 No.5 Prelude in E flat major Op.23 No.6 Prelude in E flat minor Op.23 No.9 Prelude in B flat major Op.23 No.2 rec. broadcast, 1963 Bonus: An Interview with Ruth Slenczynska; “Remembering Josef Hofmann”, recorded in 2002 [29:00] Ruth Slenczynska (piano) Audio; Mono, Video; 4; 3, Black and White, Region Code 0 (all regions), Subtitles; none VAI DVD 4412 [56:00][JW]

This is a rather fascinating DVD though its audience will be confined to confirmed pianophiles and admirers of the remarkable Ruth Slenczynska. ... see Full Review

Carl Heinrich REINECKE (1824-1910) Symphony no.1 in A major op.79 (1856-63) [25:45] Violin Concerto in G minor op.141 (1876) [34:03]* Romance in A minor for violin and orchestra op.155 (1879) [9:48]* Romance in E minor for violin and orchestra op.93 (Prelude to Act IV of König Manfred) (mid-1860s) [3:39]* Ingolf Turban (violin)* Berne Symphony Orchestra/Johannes Moesus rec. 12 October 2004 and 23-24 September 2004*, Grosser Saal, Kultur-Casino Bern, Switzerland. The violin works are live recordings. CPO 777 105-2 [73:18][CH]

Provided you don’t expect a goldmine, investigation of Reinecke’s vast output is to be welcomed. ... see Full Review

Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838) Piano Sonatas Op. 1: No. 1 in C (1806) [29:18]; No. 2 in A minor (1803/04) [23:14] Susan Kagan (piano) rec. Concertgebouw De Doelen, Rotterdam, 1 July 2005. DDD RAPTUS 305.05.03 [52:32][CC]

The low running time is balanced out by the rarity of the material and the excellence of both the playing and the recording. ... see Full Review

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) Works for Orchestra Overture to ‘The Maid of Pskov’ (1868) [6:52]; Legend (Conte féerique), Op. 29 (1879-80) [16:44]; Neapolitan Song, Op. 63 (1880) [3:21]; Overture to ‘The Tsar’s Bride’ (1899) [6:17]; Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, Op. 31 (1880 – 84) [24:31]; Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 (1887) [16:00] BBC Philharmonic/Vassily Sinaisky rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, 16 December 2005 (Capriccio, Sinfonietta); 18 October 2006 (other works) CHANDOS CHAN 10424 [74:32][GF]

Not everything is quite top-drawer music but it is always interesting and fascinating to investigate lesser known works and the playing is uniformly good. ... see Full Review

George ROCHBERG (b. 1918) Violin Concerto (1974, rev. 2001 by Christopher Lyndon-Gee in collaboration with composer) [51.44] Peter Sheppard Skærved (violin) Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra/Christopher Lyndon-Gee rec. Halberg Broadcasting House, Saarlandischer Rundfunk, Saarbrücken, Germany, 16-18 Apr 2002. DDD NAXOS 8.559129 [51.44][RB]

A powerful work ... music of grit and emotionally fluent power sustained across five meaty movements. ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’italiana in Algeri - opera giocosa in two acts (1813) Mustafa, Bey of Algiers - Marco Vinco (bass); Elvira, Mustafa’s wife - Barbara Bargnesi (soprano); Haly, captain of the Algerian pirates - Alex Esposito (bass); Lindoro, a young Italian and Mustafa’s favourite slave - Maxim Miranov (tenor); Isabella, an Italian lady - Marianna Pizzaloto (mezzo); Taddeo, Isabella’s companion - Bruno De Simone (buffa baritone) Prague Chamber Choir Orchestra of the Teatro Communale, Bologna/Donato Renzetti rec. live, BPA Palais, Pesaro, August 2006, Rossini Opera Festival Performed in the Critical Edition by Azio Corghi for the Rossini Foundation in collaboration with Casa Ricordi Director, set and costumes designer: Dario Fo Video Director: Tiziano Mancini Recorded in High Definition. Presented in dts digital surround sound, Dolby, PCM 2.0. Vision 16:9 Colour. NTSC Menu language English. Subtitles in Italian (original language), English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese. Notes and synopsis in Italian, English, German, and French DYNAMIC 33526 [2 DVDs: 150:00][RJF]

It might be more pantomime than opera, but Dario Fo’s inventive production is full of visual spectacle and action even if it sometimes inhibits the singing of some of the cast. Enjoyable nonetheless. ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La donna del lago - opera in two acts (1819) Giacomo, James V, King of Scotland, under the name of Uberto - Kenneth Tarver (ten); Elena - Carmen Giannattasio (sop); Douglas d'Angus, Elena’s father - Robert Gleadow (bass); Rodrigo di Dhu, rebel leader - Gregory Kunde (ten); Malcolm Groeme - Patricia Bardon (mezzo); Serano, Douglas’s retainer - Mark Wilde (ten) Albina, Elena’s confident -Francesca Sassu (mez) Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus/Maurizio Benini rec. live, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 18 August 2006, Edinburgh International Festival OPERA RARA ORC 34 [3CDs: 39.31 + 56.40 + 63.30][RJF]

Sets the gold standard for recorded performances of Rossini’s opera seria composed for Naples. This cast on DVD, in the Pesaro production, would be manna from heaven in the dreams of Rossini enthusiasts ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Le Comte Ory - opera in two acts (1825) Count Ory, a young and licentious nobleman - Huw Rhys-Evans (tenor); Countess Adele - Linda Gerrard (soprano); Isolier, page to Count Ory and in love with the Countess Adele - Luisa Islam-Ali-Zade (mezzo); Raimbaud, friend to Count Ory - Luca Salsi (bass-baritone); Governor, tutor to Count Ory - Wojtek Gierlach (bass); Ragonde, companion to Countess Adele - Gloria Montanari (mezzo); Alice, a young peasant - Sofia Soloviy (soprano) Czech Phiharmonic Choir; Czech Chamber Soloists/Brad Cohen rec. live, 12, 16, 19 July 2002, Kursaal, Bad Wildbad, Germany, Rossini In Wildbad Festival NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660207-08 [66.37 + 60.58][RJF]

Composed for the Paris Opéra in 1828 shortly before he gave up writing for the stage, this performance does full justice to Rossini’s only comic opera in the French style and language. ... see Full Review

Christopher ROUSE (b.1949) Trombone Concerto (1992) [29:48] Gorgon (1984) [16:43] Iscariot (1989) [14:18] Joseph Alessi (trombone) Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop rec.1997 (no other details) originally released on RCA Red Seal PHOENIX PHCD 167 [60:34][TH]

This represents the ideal introduction to Rouse’s music and its return to the catalogue is very welcome ... see Full Review

Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Padmâvatî op. 18 – opera in two acts (1913-1918) Marilyn Horne – Padmâvatî Nicolai Gedda – Ratan-Sen José van Dam – Alaouddin Jane Berbié – Nakamti Charles Burles – Brahmin Marc Vento – Gora Laurence Dale – Badal Thierry Dran – Watchman Jean-Jacques Cubaynes – Priest Martine Mahé, Elena Perez – Palace attendants Henri Amiel – Warrior Hugues Brambilla – Merchant Gérard Blatt – Craftsman Isabel Alvarez, Marian Etxeberria, Hermina Laborde – Women Orfeón Donostiarra/Antxón Ayestarán Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson rec. 17-19 November 1982, 1-3 July 1983; Halle aux Grains, Toulouse, France EMI CLASSICS 3 81867 2 [53:15 + 49:58][DM]

A rather disappointing experience, this. ... see Full Review

Miklós RÓZSA (1907-1995) The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes - complete film score (1970) Lucie Svehlová (violin) City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra/Nic Raine rec. Barrandov Studios, Prague, January 2007 premiere recording - based on Rózsa’s Violin Concerto op. 24 (1956) TADLOW MUSIC TADLOW004 [77:50] [IL]

The present disc offers a winning performance of a colourful, exciting and atmospheric score. It is one of Rózsa’s best, drawing on music from his own beautiful Violin Concerto. ... see Full Review

 

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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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