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Alphabetical Listing

PART 4
M-R

[Click here for the most recent reviews (last five days)]
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]
[Recommended recordings]

 

Price symbols (used in reviews from Friday 14th onwards)
Superbudget £5.99 or less Budget £6-7.99 Medium £8-10.99 Full price £11+


James MacMILLAN (b. 1959) Tenebrae - New Choral Music of James MacMillan: Strathclyde Motets; Tenebrae Responses; Missa Brevis Capella Nova/Alan Tavener rec. 2007 LINN CKD301 [70.19][GH]

A real joy and full of expression with a superbly balanced rich, creamy quality ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Elizabeth MACONCHY (1907–1994) Music for Voices BBC Singers/Odaline de la Martinez rec. 2007 LORELT LNT127 [79:57][HC]

Dedication and immaculate singing of these fine, demanding and rewarding works ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860–1911) Symphony No.6 Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Mark Wigglesworth rec. 2006 ABC CLASSICS 4766220 [2 CDs: 82:14][BBr]

A great conductor. Power, insight and intelligence show in this performance ... see Full Review

John MARSH (1752-1828) Symphonies Nos. 2, 6-8; Conversation Symphony London Mozart Players/Matthias Bamert rec. 2006 CHANDOS CHAN10458 [64:05][JS]

With such rich colours to play with Marsh is able to produce wonderfully imaginative effects ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony No. 4; Estampes; Le Départ National Orchestra of Belgium/Walter Weller rec. 2007 FUGA LIBERA FUG531 [61:46][DC]

A refreshing view on these works ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete works for violin and orchestra - Vol.2 Concerto da camera H285 (1941) [26:16] Concerto for violin, piano and orchestra H342 (1953) [27:46] Czech Rhapsody H307A (1945) [10:28] Bohuslav (violin) Karel Košárek (piano) Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood rec. 2004 HYPERION CDA67672 [64:35] [DC]

This release comes highly recommended to Martinů fans and enthusiasts for good music everywhere. ... see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Scènes Alsaciennes (1881) see Paysages

Jules MASSENET (1842–1912) Manon Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu/Victor Pablo Pérez rec. 2007 VIRGIN CLASSICS 50506897 (2 DVDs) [175:00][GF]

A lavish period costume production, superb acting and singing ... see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Manon Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ch & O Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels/Antonio Pappano rec. 2000 EMI CLASSICS 3818422 [3 CDs] [ED]

Brings out passion without losing sight of the Gallic roots ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Symphonies Nos. 3-5; Overtures New Philharmonia Orchestra/Riccardo Muti, Moshe Atzmon rec. 1974-9 EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 3817882 [76:27 + 74:52][SV]

Even at "twofer" pricing, I can't see anyone getting the present set just for four overtures ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto see BRAHMS

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Fire and Ashes Includes Lagrime d'amante al sepolcro dell'amata, Tirsi e Clori I Fagiolini/Robert Hollingworth rec. 2007 CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN0749 [78:55] [MS]

A practised yet relaxed polish to a pleasing cross-section of Monteverdi’s secular madrigals ... see Full Review

David MORGAN Violin Concerto see FRICKER

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony No. 29 in A major K201 [21:16] William ALWYN (1905-1985) Symphony No. 3 (1956) [31:09] Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Symphonic Dances [24:57] BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham (Mozart; Alwyn) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham (Grieg) rec. Royal Festival Hall, London, 10 Oct 1956 (Mozart; Alwyn); Studio 1, Maida Vale, 25 Dec 1955 (Grieg). mono. ADD SOMM-BEECHAM 23 [77:47] [RB]

The most broodingly intense and splenetic Alwyn 3 I have heard. Not to be missed ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Concerto No. 3 Violin Masterclass: Maxim Vengerov (violin), Márta Déak (violin student), Tadashi Imai (piano) rec. 2007 MMF 005 [48.00][MM-B]

Illustrates the difficulty of becoming a concert violinist and how much hard work and effort are involved ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Complete Piano Trios Trio Stradivari rec. 2005/6 CPO 7772732 [69:38 + 54:26] [JFL]

An element of honest rawness that might be found gripping and intimate ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Nine Variations on a Minuet by Duport see TCHAIKOVSKY

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Complete songs Sophie Karthäuser (soprano), Stephan Loges (baritone), Eugene Asti (piano) rec. 2007 CYPRES CYP1650 [41:07 + 40:30][GF]

Don’t throw away your old Schwarzkopf, Seefried, Streich or Ameling records but try this as a superbly youthful and fresh alternative. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem KV 626 Maria Stader, Chicago SO & Ch/Bruno Walter rec. live 1958 ISTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS6533 [JS]

Certainly worth sampling even if in the end you may not be convinced ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Entführung aus dem Serail Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham rec 1956 EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3932612 [77:10 + 69:02][CC]

At this price, it seems inconceivable not to snap it up ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865–1931) Maskarade Stephen Milling, Susanne Resmark, Niels Jörgen Riis, Royal Danish Opera Ch & O/Michael Schønwandt rec. live 2006 DACAPO 2.110407 [GF]

One of the finest 20th century operas and this production is one of the most hilarious comedies I have seen ... see Full Review

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Complete Chamber Music rec. 1992-2007 DYNAMIC CDS 553/1-10 [10 CDs] [MC]

These rarely encountered chamber music scores on this splendid set are certainly worthy of investigation ... see Full Review

Giovanni PAISIELLO (1740-1816) La Passione di Gesù Cristo Coro della Radio Svizzeria, I Barocchisti/Diego Fasolis rec. 2001 CPO 7772572 [57:23 + 38:40][JV]

An opera with a religious subject rather than an oratorio - this performance reveals this work's strengths in a most convincing way ... see Full Review

Robert PARSONS (c.1530–1572) First Great Service Voces Cantabiles/Barnaby Smith rec. 8 Feb 2007, St. Jude on the Hill, Hampstead; 9 Feb 2007, All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak NAXOS 8.570451 [69.44][RH]

Enthusiasm, lively vividness and fine musicality ... see Full Review

Giovanni Benedetto PLATTI (1697-1763) Sonata No.1 in D major (1742) [13:15] Sonata No.2 in C major (1742) [15:21] Sonata No.3 in F major (1742) [13:17] Sonata No.4 in G minor (1742) [13:28] Sonata No.5 in C minor (1742) [15:31] Filippo Emanuele Ravizza (harpsichord) rec. Spring 2006, Studio Bartok, Bernareggio, Milan CONCERTO CD 2026 [71:04] [GPu]

Platti is a composer worth getting to know and here are some dashing (if uneven) sonatas, played with passion and handsomely recorded … see Full Review

POLDOWSKI (Régine WIENIAWSKI) (1879–1932) Mélodies Élise Gäbele (soprano), Philippe Riga (piano) rec. 2006 MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE MEW0741 [GF]

Well crafted and agreeable but hardly forgotten masterpieces; pleasing enough for listeners with a liking for impressionism” ... see Full Review

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Gloria, Salve regina, Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence, Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, Exultate Deo Susan Gritton (soprano), Polyphony, Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Britten Sinfonia/Stephen Layton rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67623 [54:37] [BBr]

A success from start to finish ... see Full Review

John POWELL (1882-1963) Early Piano Works Nicholas Ross (piano) rec. 3-4 January 2006, Louisiana State University Recital Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Text by the performer included CENTAUR RECORDS CRC 2828 [65:23] [WK]

Rediscovered works from a major figure of the early days of American music, excellently revived. ... see Full Review

Sergey Sergeyevich PROKOFIEV (1881-1953) Symphony 5, Lieutenant Kijé suite Cincinnati SO/Paavo Järvi rec. 2007 TELARC CD-80683 [64:25] [DM]

This simply isn’t a front runner ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Toscanini: Complete Puccini Recordings La Bohème, Manon Lescaut Jan Peerce, Licia Albanese, Mafalda Favero, NBC SO & Ch, La Scala Ch & O/Arturo Toscanini rec. 1946-49 ISTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS 6530/31 [2 CDs] [GF]

Interesting as an historical document but hardly a first choice for a library recording ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Turandot (1926) Callas, Fernandi, Schwarzkopf /Tullio Serafin rec. 1957, EMI GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5096832 [77:18 + 41:11] [EMc]

Dynamically paced and thoroughly idiomatic ... see Full Revie

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Caprice Bohémien, Symphonies 1-3, Mélodie, Polichinelle Ntl SO Ireland/Alexander Anissimov rec. 1996/7 NAXOS 8.503191 [3 CDs] [IB]

Naxos are up against it in the Rachmaninov symphony stakes ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Ma mère l’Oye; Les Sites auriculaires; Boléro Maurice RAVEL, attributed to F Dante Pilade “Fermo” Marchetti (1876–1940) arranged by Anthony Goldstone Fascination (Valse tzigane) see GERSHWIN

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Cello see BERKELEY

Igor RAYKHELSON (b. 1961) Little Symphony for Strings in G minor (2005) [18:27]; Reflections for Violin, Viola and Strings (2003) [9:53] Adagio for Viola and Strings (2002) [5:58]; Jazz Suite for Viola, Saxophone and Orchestra (1989) [31:38] Yuri Bashmet (viola, conductor); Elena Revich (violin); Igor Butman (saxophone); Igor Raykhelson (piano); Yuro Golubev (double bass); Eduard Zizak (drums); Moscow Soloists rec. 2005-2007 TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0055 [66:58] [CR]

An interesting disc, with some lovely moments … worthy of exploration ... see Full Review

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Vetrate di chiesa (Church Windows) (1925) [24:59] Impressioni brasiliane (Brazilian Impressions) (1927-28) [19:06] Rossiniana: Suite for Orchestra (1925) [21:06] Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta rec. Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York, 20-21 March 2006 NAXOS 8.557711 [65:26] [CT]

A delightful exploration of three of Respighi’s lesser-known orchestral works, performed with consummate artistry ... see Full Review

Joseph Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Organ Works - Volume 6 Sonatas 14-16 Wolfgang Rübsam rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570313 [BW]

Well considered performances of music which needs and receives time to make its point ... see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez, Sones en la Giralda, Concierto para una fiesta Kaori Muraji (guitar) Galicia SO/Victor Pablo Perez rec. 2007 DECCA 4780076 [63:33] [ZT]

A very good recording slightly compromised by the sonic recording quality of the soloist ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792–1868) Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816) Luigi Alva (tenor) – Conte d’Almaviva; Melchiorre Luise (bass) – Bartolo; Maria Callas (soprano) – Rosina; Tito Gobbi (baritone) – Figaro; Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (bass) – Basilio; Pierluigi Latinucci (bass) – Fiorello); Anna Maria Canali (soprano) – Berta; Giuseppe Nessi (tenor) – Un Ufficiale Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. live, 1956 HÄNSSLER PROFIL PHO 8015 [72:58 + 67:43] [GF]

There is really little positive to say about it but inveterate Callas fans will still want it, I suppose ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792–1868) La Donna del Lago Prague Chamber Choir; Tubingen Festival Band; SWR Radio Orchestra Kaiserslautern/Alberto Zedda rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.660235-36 [73.29 + 73.26][RH]

At Naxos prices you can afford to experiment and this is a good set with which to experiment ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Mosè in Egitto San Pietro a Majella Chorus, Naples; Wildbad Wind Band; Württemburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Antonino Fogliani rec. 2006 NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660220-221 [75.44 + 60.54][RJF]

Although never less than adequate, this bargain priced version from Naxos does not compete with the 1991 Philips recording at mid-price ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Mose in Egitto Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra/Antonio Fogliani rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.660220-21 [75:44 + 60:54][NdV]

A wide range of vocal color and varied dynamics embodied in a rich vocal style that would delight Rossini ... see Full Review

 

 


[Click here for the most recent reviews (last five days)]
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]
[Recommended recordings]


 



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