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Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphonies Nos.
1 & 3 
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra & Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/Zubin
Mehta rec. 1974-8
DECCA ELOQUENCE 4801133 [69:55 + 78:54][BW] 
This
strong challenger comes at a super-bargain price ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 5
Bamberg Symphony/ Jonathan Nott
TUDOR 7126 
[72:20][SV]
Musicality
and scrupulous musicianship - a conductor to watch. Stay tuned ... see
Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphonies 4 & 8
Lucia Popp, Elizabeth Connell, Felicity Lott, Jorma Hynninen, London
PCh & O/Klaus Tennstedt rec. 1986
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3615722 [79.50 + 57.57]
[EM] 
Incredible,
intriguing, and worth a hearing
Gian Francesco
MALIPIERO (1883-1973) The Symphonies – Volume
1
Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Antonio de Almeida rec. 1993
NAXOS 8.570878 [72:29][JF]
Great
if somewhat idiosyncratic works that deserve attention and study ...
see Full Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Sextet;
Three Madrigals for violin and viola Ervin
SCHULHOFF (1894-1942) Sextet
The Raphael Ensemble rec. 1991
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55321 [56:14][JW]
Warmly
aerated performances, persuasively realised ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Cello Sonatas
Nos. 1-3 Mattia
Zappa (cello); Massimiliano Mainolfi (piano) rec. 2003-6
CLAVES 502803 [56:10][JW]
These
powerful, studio-cold and defiant readings
have real merit ... see Full
Review
Michele
MASCITTI (1664-1760)
Sonate a violino solo e a due violini op.
1:-
Ensemble Baroques-Graffiti (Jaroslaw
Adamus, Sharman Plesner (violin), Frédéric
Audibert (cello), Agustina Meroño (viola
da gamba), Jean-Christophe Deleforge (violone),
Jean-Paul Serra (harpsichord)) rec. August-September
2006, crypt of the basilica Sacré-Coeur,
Marseille, France. DDD
ACTE PRÉALABLE: AP0156 (Vol. 1)
[51:01]; AP0157 (Vol. 2) [55:48]
[JV]
Fine
performances of captivating and enjoyable
sonatas by an Italian master ... see Full
Review
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES
(b. 1934) Psalm
124 (1974) [8:44] Dove, Star-Folded
(2000) [8:21] Economies of Scale (2002)
[7:12] Ave Maris Stella (1975)
[28:34]
Gemini/Ian Mitchell rec. PATS Studio I, Surrey
University, 23 December 2005 and 8 October
2006 (Ave Maris Stella)
METIER MSV28503 [52:46]
[DC]
Good
craftsmanship throughout. ... see Full
Review
George Frederick
McKAY
(1899-1970) Epoch
- An American Dance Symphony (I.
Symbolic Portraits; II Pastoral;
III. Westward; IV. Machine Age Blues)
(1935) [62:52]
University of Kentucky Women's Choir University
of Kentucky Symphony/John Nardolillo rec.
Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall,
Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 6-8 February 2007
NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559330 [62:52]
[RB]
Yields
its rewards in intensely pensive currency.
... see Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847) Symphonies
Nos. 4 & 5; Piano Concerto
Ania Dorfmann (piano); LSO/Walter Goehr, Hallé Orchestra/Hamilton Harty,
L’Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire de Paris/Charles Munch
rec. 1938-1947 DUTTON
CDBP9781 [64:25][JW]
Enjoyable
historical reclamations ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) An Introduction
to Felix Mendelssohn
Various artists rec. 1981-2006
CHANDOS CHAN2025 
[76:51][BW]
An
excellent introduction but there’s the peril of future duplication
... see Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphonies 3 & 4 see
SCHUMANN
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Mitten wir im Leben sind see BRAHMS
Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-1992)
Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte-Trinité, L’Ascension,
La Nativité du Seigneur, Messe de la Pentecôte
SharonRose Pfeiffer, James E. Jordan, David Chalmers (organ) rec. 2007
GLORIÆ DEI ARTES GDCD044 [68:27] [JW] 
Slightly
unsatisfying ... see Full
Review
Krzysztof
MEYER (b.1943) Cello
Concerto 2, Violin Concerto 2, Clarinet Concerto Boris
Pergamenshikov (cello) Magdalena Rezler (violin) Eduard Brunner
(clarinet) National Polish RSO Katowice/Antoni Wit, Gabriel
Chmura rec. 1998-2003 DUX
0594 [79:42] [BBr]
Brilliantly
scored, full of tunes, very satisfying ... see Full
Review
Nikolai MIASKOVSKY
(1881–1950) String
Quartet No.13 in A minor, op.86 (1949) [25:35]
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
(1906–1975) String Quartet No.1
in C, op.49 (1938) [14:06] String Quartet
No.8 in C minor, op.110 (1960) [22:28] Kopelman
Quartet (Mikhail Kopelman (violin), Boris
Kuschnir (violin), Igor Sulyga (viola), Mikhail
Milman (cello)) rec. 22 – 23 June 2006 (Miaskovsky)
and 26 – 28 July 2007 (Shostakovich), Wyastone
Leys, Monmnouth, UK. DDD NIMBUS NI 5827
[62:18]
Their
work is not to be missed and neither is this
excellent disk ... see Full
Review
Cristóbal
de Morales (c1500-1553) Magnificat,
Motets, Lamentations The
Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2007 HYPERION
CDA67694 [72:39] [BW]
The
Brabant Ensemble confirm their position as a force to be reckoned
with ... see Full Review
Cristobal
de MORALES (c.1500-1553) Andreas
Christi famulus, Sancta Maria, Succurre miseris, Clamabat
autem mulier Chananea, O sacrum convivium, Regina
caeli, Missa Queramus cum pastoribus Jean MOUTON (before 1459 – 1522) Queramus cum
pastoribus Choir
of Westminster Cathedral/James O’Donnell
rec. 1992 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55276 [65:25]
[BBr]
A
very exciting disk … some thrilling music ... see Full
Review
Jean MOUTON (before 1459 – 1522) Queramus cum
pastoribus see de
MORALES
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Complete
Songs
Ruth Ziesak (soprano); Lothar Odinius (tenor); Ulrich Eisenlohr (piano)
rec. 2006-7 NAXOS 8.557900-01
[53:40 + 43:07][GF]
No
one buying this set is likely to be disappointed ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) The Da Ponte
Operas:
Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro,
Don Giovanni
Netherlands CO, Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera/Ingo Metzmacher
OPUS ARTE
OA 3020BD [694:00]
[GF]
Convincing
acting and very good musically but controversial stagings ...
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem, ‘Great’ Mass Dame Felicity Lott, London Ph Ch & O/Franz Welser-Möst
rec. 1989 EMI
CLASSICS 5209492 [49.47 + 56:00] [DC]
Still
worth a look, but not one with which to replace your favourites.
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791)
Violin Concerto 5 Richard STRAUSS
(1864-1949) Symphonia Domestica
Deutsches SO Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec. 1996/8
AUDITE 97.535 [78:31] [MSJ]
An
amply satisfying performance ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Demofoonte
- Fragments of an Opera
Capella Coloniensis/Bruno
Weil rec. 2005
ARTS 47746-8
[47:37 + 46:29][DC]
A
new Mozart opera? Not quite, but nearly ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Die
Zauberflöte Chorus and Orchestra
of the Zurich Opera/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. 2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 004400734367 [125:00
(incl. Bonus: 44:00) + 101:00][JFL]
Wimpishly
sung and the production matches the singing ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756–1791)
Mitridate, re di Ponto
Bruce Ford, Ann Murray, Royal Opera House O/Paul Daniel rec. 1993
OPUS ARTE OAR3105D
[177.00] [RMcK]
A
thought provoking production of early Mozart excellently performed
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”,
Symphony 36 see HAYDN
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) A
Night on Bare Mountain (arr. Leopold Stokowski) Pictures
at an Exhibition (arr. Leopold Stokowski) Richard
WAGNER (1813-1883) Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg prelude José SEREBRIER (b. 1938) Symphony no.3 “Symphonie mystique” Georges BIZET (1838-1875) L’Arlésienne suite 2
(arr. Ernest Guiraud) Carole
Farley (soprano) National Youth O Spain/José Serebrier rec. live
2007 NAXOS
2.110230 [84:00]
[RM]
Very
impressive and certainly very well worth watching ... see Full
Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures
from an Exhibition (arr. Maurice Ravel) Night on a Bare Mountain;
Khovanshchina Prelude; Dance of the Persian Slaves; Sorochintsy
Fair: Gopak Mili Alexeyevich
BALAKIREV (1837-1910) Tamara
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. 1954-64
DECCA ELOQUENCE 4800047 [78:08][BW]
Not
a first choice Pictures but excellent value ... see Full
Review
Johann
Gottfried MÜTHEL
(1728-1788) Concertos and Chamber Music
Musica Alta Ripa
rec. 1988/92 MUSIKPRODUKTION
DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG3090452-2 [60:34 + 74:53] [DC]
An
excellent collection, filling some of that gap between baroque
and classical ... see Full Review
Juan
Gutiérrez de Padilla (c.
1590-1664) Streams of Tears The
Sixteen/Harry Christophers
rec. 2007 CORO COR16059 [67:25]
[BW]
Another
excellent offering from The Sixteen ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Pierre Danican PHILIDOR
(1681-1731) Suittes pour hautbois
L'Assemblée des Honnestes Curieux rec. 2007
ZIGZAG TERRITOIRES ZZT080203 [65:09][JV]
Suites
by a member of the Philidor family in brilliant and exciting performances
... see Full Review
David
POHLE (1624–1695) Wie der Hirsch
schreyet – Musica Sacra
L'arpa festante/Rien Voskuilen rec. 2004
CARUS 83.413 [64:31][JV]
An
important and enjoyable addition to the catalogue ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Peter and the Wolf Jean
SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Symphony 2 Edvard
GRIEG (1843-1907)The Last Spring
Eleanor Roosevelt (narrator) Boston SO/Serge Koussevitzky rec. 1950
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111290
[72:42] [RM]
Expertly
graded and controlled, certainly exciting ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) DVD1:
Cinderella Les Ballets de Monte Carlo; Choreography by
Jean-Christophe Maillot
Cleveland Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy
rec. 1999 (choreographed ballet) 1983 (soundtrack)
DVD2: Documentary Portrait
of Bernice Coppieters
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 0734410 [2DVDs:
111:53 + 73:18][TB]
High
standards but it’s not made clear that this is danced to an older recording
... see Full Review
Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sonatas for
Violin and Piano Nos.1 & 2; Five Melodies
Gidon Kremer (violin); Martha Argerich (piano) rec. 1991
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777434 [64:52][TH]
Extremely
rewarding … this disc puts itself firmly back in the front line
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La
Bohème
Anna Netrebko (soprano); Rolando Villazón (tenor); Symphonieorchester
des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Bertrand de Billy rec.
2007
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4776600 [52:36 + 52:52][IL]
Compares
favourably with the best of all previous La Bohèmes ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Songs and Lute
works see DOWLAND
George QUINCY
Pocahontas, at the Court of
King James I; Choctaw Diaries
The Queen’s
Chamber Band; The Bronx Chamber Ensemble
LYRICHORD LYRCD6009 [51:03][BBr]
I
shan’t be reaching for this CD again, in an hurry ... see Full
Review
Max
REGER
(1873-1916)
Piano Trio, Largo from Trio, Largo from Suite Im alten
Stil Hyperion Trio
rec. 2007 THOROFON CTH2546
[60:31] [JW]
A
fine case is made for the big Trio ... see
Full Review
Composers
at the Piano -
Bowen
and Reizenstein
Sergio
RENDINE (b
1954) Symphony
No.1 (2006) [34:28] Symphony No.2, Andorrana
(2007) [26:43]
Orquestra Nacional Classica d’Andorra (ONCA)/Marzio
Conti rec. 1-2 December 2007 (Symphony No.1),
21-22 October 2007 (Symphony No.2), Auditori
Nacional d’Andorra a Ordino, Principat d’Andorra
DDD
NAXOS 8.572039 [61:11]
[BBr]
Tonal,
brilliantly orchestrated, easily assimilated,
wildly enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Alessandro
ROLLA (1757-1841) Duo Concertant in C minor see
SPOHR
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Songs
and Duets Soirées musicales, Péchés de vieillesse Miah
Persson (soprano); Stella Doufexis (mezzo); Bruce Ford (tenor);
Roger Vignoles (piano)
rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67647 [78.59]
[MM-B]
Delightful
and enjoyable performances … pleasing and distinguished ... see Full
Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Stabat Mater
see VERDI
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il Turco
in Italia Orchestra
Haydn di Bolzano e Trento/Antonello Allemandi rec. 2007
DYNAMIC CDS5661-2 [77.20 + 79.36][RH]
Live
… a capable but not inspirational cast ... see Full
Review
Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Trio for
flute, viola and cello, Two Poems by Ronsard for soprano
and flute, Elpénor for flute and string quartet
see DEBUSSY
Joseph RYELANDT
(1870–1965) Piano Quintet; Adagio; String Quartet
No.2; Andante “Ach Tjanne” and Variations
Jozef de Beenhouwer (piano); Joost Magerman (double bass); Spiegel String
Quartet rec. 2007
PHAEDRA PH92055 [57:59][HC]
Warmly
lyrical, melodic and deeply sincere music ... see Full
Review
Click
for alphabetical listings by composer:
[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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