Gustav
MAHLER (1860–1911) Lieder
eines fahrenden Gesellen; Kindertotenlieder Robert
SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Liederkreis, Op. 39 
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone); Various
accompanists rec. 1952-5
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111300 [69:19][GF]
A
special treat to hear him in his early blossoming
... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder see Richard
STRAUSS
Pierre
de MANCHICOURT (c.1510-1564) Missa
‘Cuidez vous que Dieu nous faille’ etc.
The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2005
HYPERION CDA67604 [67:16][BW] 
Another
neglected composer receives his due ... see Full
Review
Marie-Martin
MARCEL (1769-1861) Nocturne
en quintetto; Deux trios sur des thèmes de Mozart; Nouvelle
grande sonate
Rachel Talitman (harp)
HARP AND COMPANY CD505012 [55:12][DB]
Delightful
performances of rarely-heard pieces … see
Full
Review
Joseph MARX (1882-1964)
Piano Music
Tonya Lemoh (piano) rec. 2006
CHANDOS CHAN10479 [54:38][WK]
Marx
presented with flow and serenity, sureness of touch and clarity ...
see Full
Review
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria
Rusticana Ruggero LEONCAVALLO
(1857-1919) I Pagliacci
Plácido Domingo; Beppe Union of Japan Professional Choruses NHK Symphony
Orchestra/Oliviero de Fabritiis rec. 1976
VAI 4438 
[158:02][RM]
Domingo
fans and all lovers of fine singing should seek this out ... see Full
Review
Nicholas MAW (b
1935) Sinfonia (1966) [30:00] John
ADDISON (1920–1998)
Divertimento for brass quintet, op.9 (1951) [8:17] John
GARDNER (b
1917) Theme and Variations for brass quartet, op.7 (1951) [9:55]
Stephen DODGSON (b 1924) Sonata
for brass quintet (1963) [10:48]
English Chamber Orchestra/Norman del Mar and the Philip Jones Brass
Ensemble. rec. 1970/1974
LYRITA SRCD 307 [62:56]
[BBr]
Full
marks for this enterprising series of re–issues
... see Full Review
George
Frederick McKAY (1899-1970)
Epoch: An American
Dance Symphony
University of Kentucky
Symphony Orchestra/John Nardolillo
rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.559330
[62:52][WK]
Another
side of McKay … not the “classic” American
1930s symphony ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) The
Symphonies - Vol.2 String Symphonies 7 & 12,
Symphony 4 Heidelberger
Sinfoniker/Thomas Fey
rec. 2007 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC
CD 98.281 [68:55] [TP]
Fey
is a fine conductor. Would that I could say the same about
his Mendelssohn ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Cristóbal de
MORALES (c.1500-1553) Magnificat etc.
The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen
Rice rec. 2007 HYPERION
CDA67694 [72.39][GH]
I
knew that I would like this disc almost from the start ... see Full
Review
Paul
MORAVEC (b. 1957) Chamber
Symphony; Autumn Song; Cool
Fire
Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival rec.
2007
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559393 [45:30][KS]
Superbly
crafted music by a composer refreshingly
addicted to a good tune ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concertos Nos.
21 & 22
Jonathan Biss (piano); Orpheus
Chamber Orchestra rec.
2008
EMI CLASSICS 2172702 [61:07][KS]
Thoughtful
and transcendent playing. A winner on all
counts ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-91) Chamber
Music for Winds Various
artists rec. 1988-96
EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 2153052 [3CDs: 71:46 + 73:38 + 60:34][BW]
Attractive
performances of attractive music, attractively priced ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don
Giovanni
Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House/Karl Böhm rec. 1957
WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVE WHRA6011 [3 CDs: 75.37 + 79.03 + 20.46][RH]
Historical
curiosity only ... see Full
Review
Georg MUFFAT (1653-1704)
Auserlesene Instrumentalmusik
Holland Baroque Society/Matthew Halls rec.
2007
CHANNEL CLASSICS CCSSA27408 
[64:26][JV]
An
eloquent and passionate plea for Muffat’s splendid music ... see Full
Review
Adrian
MUNSEY (b.
1947) Requiem, Theme from Images of Nature,
The Right Words, Faraway Place, The Distance Between, Broadwell, Beautiful
Earth, The Sky Inside, I Would Lay Down My Life for You, Voice of
an Angel, I’ve Been Praying, Faraway Place
City of Prague PO/Paul Bateman, John Bell and Nic Raine; English Sinfonia/Geoffrey
Alexander; Janice Graham (violin), English Studio Orchestra/Geoffrey
Alexander; Elin Manahan Thomas, Keedie, Treorchy Male Choir, London
Studio Players/Paul Bateman rec. 2005-8
MUSIC INFINITY INS109 [47:00] [BBr]
Very
approachable and most enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881) orch. Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Pictures at
an Exhibition Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Symphony No. 4
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse/Tugan Sokhiev rec.
2006
NAÏVE V5068 [76:20][SV]
At
his best in the Mussorgsky-Ravel ... see Full
Review
Modest
Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition Alexander
Nikolayevich
SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Vers la flamme, Five Preludes,
Sonata 5 Mikahil ARKADIEV (b.1958) Sonata
brevis,
Eine Kleine Zaubermusik Mikhail
Arkadiev (piano)
rec. Moscow, 1994 CLASSICAL
PIANO ASSEMBLY RCD30108 [75:14]
[JW]
The
accent is on the performer-composer ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY
(1881-1950)
Complete Symphonies and Orchestral Works
USSR State Symphony Orchestra & Symphony Orchestra of the
Russian Federation/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1965-1994
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 69689-8 [16 CDs: c. 21:30:00][RB]
Wondrous
works, at minimal price (and presentation) – not to be missed ...
see Full Review
Per
NØRGÅRD (b.
1932) String Quartets 7-10 Kroger
Quartet rec. 2006/7 DACAPO
8.226059 [70:54] [HC]
Quite
strong stuff but well worth the effort ... see Full
Review
Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840)
Violin Concerto No. 1 see BRUCH
William PERRY
(b. 1930)
Jamestown Concerto William
SCHUMAN (1910-1992) A Song of Orpheus Virgil
THOMSON (1896-1989) Cello Concerto
Yehuda Hanani (cello) RTÉ Ntl SO/William Eddins rec. 2007
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559344 [72:09] [DM]
Well
worth hearing for the Schuman and Thomson ... see Full
Review
Wayne
PETERSON (b.1927) String Quartets
Nos. 1-3 Alexander
String Quartet rec. 2006
FOGHORN CLASSICS CD1994 [60:55][JW]
An
engaging discovery for chamber enthusiasts ... see Full
Review
Sergei
Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891-1953) Cinderella Agnès
Letestu Paris Opera Ballet, Paris Opera O/Koen Kessels rec.
live 2008 OPUS
ARTE OA0997D [2
DVDs: 360:05] [WK]
A
sumptuous package ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Manon Lescaut
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra/James Levine rec. 2008
EMI CLASSICS 2174209
[137:00][RJF]
The
superb TV picture cannot compensate for
the singing of the 1980 cast in the same
production ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca
Renata Scotto
– Tosca; Placido Domingo – Cavaradossi; Philharmonia Orchestra/James
Levine rec. 1980 EMI
CLASSICS 2088272 [46:08 + 70:11][GF] 
Hardly
a first choice but has a great deal to offer ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Il tabarro
Tito Gobbi (baritone) – Michele; Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Vincenzo
Bellezza rec. 1955
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111307 [73:25][GF]
As
good a version of Il tabarro as one is ever
likely to come across ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI
(1858 – 1924) Soprano
arias
Amarilli
Nizza (soprano) Orchestra of the Dvořák
Theatre of Ostrava/Gianluca Martinenghi,
except tracks 15-17, recorded live with
Orchestra of the Arturo Toscanini Foundation
of Parma/Julian Reynolds
rec. 2007 Italian texts enclosed
DYNAMIC CDS 595 [75:48]
[GF]
A
bit uneven but constantly thrilling to hear
... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La
Bohème Angela
Gheorghiu, Ramón Vargas
The Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/Nicola Luisotti
rec. live,2008 EMI CLASSICS
2174179 [136:00] [IL]
I
cannot fault this production ... see Full
Review
Jean PULLOIS (d. 1478) Flos de spina see BUSNOIS
Sergei RACHMANINOFF
(1873-1943) Piano Concerto No.2 in
C minor; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Prelude in C sharp minor
Arthur Rubinstein
(piano); NBC Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir Golschmann & Philharmonia
Orchestra/Walter Susskind rec. 1946-50
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111289 [55:54][JW]
Intensely
dramatic, sometimes uncomfortably so ... see Full
Review
Fountains Maurice
RAVEL (1875–1937) Jeux
d’eau, Pavane pour une infante defunte, Miroirs Claude
DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Suite Bergamasque,Les
soirs illuminés par l’ardeur du charbon Pour le
Piano John
Chen (piano) rec. 2006 ABC
CLASSICS 476 6834 [71:29] [BBr]
A
very enjoyable disk in every way ... see Full
Review
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin
Sonata see FRANCK
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Piano
Quartet Op. 133; String Trio Op. 141b
Aperto Piano Quartet rec. 2002-7
NAXOS
8.570786 [59:52][KS]
Rich
harmonies and virtuoso piano writing make for a good listen ... see
Full Review
Nikolay
Adreyevich RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Piano Concerto see
KABALEVSKY
François ROSSÉ
(b. 1945) Double Croixsens
Radek Knop (piano and saxophones) rec. 2002
QUANTUM QM7025 [54:08][MSJ]
Vaulting
over clichés onto an expressive plane ... see Full
Review
Frank
ROTHKAMM (b. 1965) Opus Spongebobicum
Frank Rothkamm
(computer generated piano)
FLUX RECORDS no catalogue number [36:47][DC]
Very
silly indeed; or brilliant – depending on your attitude or gullibility
... see Full Review
Superbudget £5.99 or less 
Budget £6-7.99 
Medium £8-10.99 
Full price £11+
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