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Alphabetical Listing

PART 4
M-R

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]

Superbudget £5.99 or less Budget £6-7.99 Medium £8-10.99 Full price £11+
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Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Piano Concerto No. 2 Clara SCHUMANN (1819-1896) Piano Concerto Frederick Moyer (piano); Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra/Nayden Todorov JRI RECORDINGS J122 [50:22][JW]

An unusual concept ... see Full Review

MAGNARD (1865-1914) Symphony No. 3 see LISZT

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 6 London SO/Valery Gergiev rec. 2007 LSO LIVE LSO0661 [77:11]
Symphony 7 London SO/Valery Gergiev rec. 2008 LSO LIVE LSO0665 [71:55] [BW]

With both symphonies available inexpensively, they’re well worth a try ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Das Lied von der Erde Stuart Skelton (tenor); Thomas Hampson (baritone); San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas rec. 2007 SFS MEDIA 82193600192 [63:20][BW]

A very viable alternative to the best versions ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen; Kindertotenlieder Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856) Liederkreis, Op. 39 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone); Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe; Gerald Moore (piano) rec. 1952-5 NAXOS 8.111300 [69:19][JWi] 

An historic disc, a bargain and enjoyable ... see Full Review

Gian Francesco MALIPIERO (1882-1973) The Symphonies - Volume 1: Sinfonia del Mare; Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Antonio de Almeida rec. 1993 NAXOS 8.570878 [72:29][GH]

A huge journey of adventure - a very good place to start ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete works for violin and orchestra - Volume 4 Bohuslav Matoušek (violin); Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood rec. 2001-4 (H293) HYPERION CDA67674 [54:10][DC]

Your Martinů shelf has a gap which needs filling ... see Full Review

Billy MAYERL (1902-1959) A miscellany for solo piano Leslie De’Ath (piano) rec. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Faculty of Music, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, 24 November, 9 December 2007 DUTTON DIGITAL CDLX 7211 [76:44] [JW]

Always more in Mayerl’s musical soul than mere syncopation ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Incidental Music; Overtures: The Fair Melusine; Calm Sea and a Prosperous Voyage Staatskapelle Berlin/Günther Herbig & Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Kurt Masur BERLIN CLASSICS 0014342BC [65:16][GPJ] 

Distinguished performances in recordings of the highest standard ... see Full Review

Franz MIXA (1902-1994) Isländische Rhapsodie (1949) [15:05] Symphony No. 2 in A minor (1956) [32:53] Tritonus diabolus domitus (1977) [12:30] Donau Philharmonie Wien/Manfred Müssauer rec. Slowakische Staatsoper, February, June 2006. DDD ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9252 [60:33] [RB]

Gritty integrity felt in matte surfaces and a tragic undertow. ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Cristóbal de Morales (c.1500–1553) Missa Queramus cum pastoribus etc. Jean Mouton (before 1459–1522) Queramus cum pastoribus The Choir of Westminster Cathedral/James O’Donnell rec. 1992 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55276 [65:25][BW] 

Pretty close to perfection ... and at a budget price ... see Full Review

Paul MORAVEC (b. 1957) Chamber Symphony; Autumn Song; Cool Fire Musicians of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.559393 [45:30][DC]

Once heard, not to be forgotten ... see Full Review

Géza Anda Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano Concertos Nos. 16 & 17 Béla BARTÓK (1881–1945) Piano Concerto No. 2 Géza Anda (piano); English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Boulez rec. 1968-75 BBC LEGENDS BBCL42472 [80:59][BBr]

A reminder of what we lost with Anda’s untimely death ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K466 (1785) [32:08] Piano Sonata in C, K545 (1788) [10:34] Piano Concerto No.24 in C minor, K491 (1786) [32:06] Daniel Barenboim (piano and director)/English Chamber Orchestra rec, 1967 (K466), 1973 (K491) and 1985 (K545) ADD (Concertos)/DDD (Sonata) CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2282782 [75:23] [BBr]

Good to be able to welcome back these fine performances ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Flute Quartets Michala Petri (recorders); Carolin Widmann (violin); Ula Ulijona (viola); Marta Sudraba (cello) rec. 2007 OUR RECORDINGS 6.220570 [59:07][DC] 

Can be recommended on just about every level ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Epistle Sonatas The King’s Consort/Robert King rec. 1989 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55314 [59:37] [GPu]

Relatively neglected Mozart, played with vivacity and intelligence … see Full Review

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][MM-B]

I thoroughly enjoyed this recital ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) A Mozart Gala from the Salzburg Festival Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Harding. rec. 2006 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 004400734430 [93:00][BW] 

Not the most essential Mozart but a recommendable souvenir of a notable occasion ... see Full Review

Modest Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrations compiled by Leonard Slatkin) Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No. 1 Peng Peng (piano); Chorus and Orchestra of the Nashville Symphony/Leonard Slatkin rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570716 [57:14][IL] 

An eclectic collection, colourful and often arresting ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Clarinet Concerto (1928) [23:59] Kalevi AHO (b. 1949) Clarinet Concerto (2005) [29:07] Martin Fröst (clarinet) Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. May 2004, Sibelius Hall, Lahti, Finland (Nielsen); June 2006, Ristinkirkko, Lahti (Aho) BIS SACD 1463 [54:00] [DM]

Aho’s sound-world is chockful of delight ... see Full Review

Carl ORFF (1895–1982) Carmina Burana Rundfunkchor & Rundfunksinfonieorchester Leipzig/Herbert Kegel rec. 1960 BERLIN CLASSICS 0014372BC [58:36][GF]

Far from negligible ... holds its own against more starry constellations ... see Full Review

Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Cadenza for violin solo see CWOJDZIŇSKI

Mario PILATI (1903-1938) Concerto for Orchestra; Three Pieces for Orchestra; Suite for Strings and Piano; By the Cradle Tomáš Nemec (piano); Slovak Symphony Orchestra/Adriano rec. 2000-1 NAXOS 8.570873 [61:16][GPU]

A minor Italian composer well served … perhaps of specialist interest … see Full Review

Nicola PORPORA (1686-1768) Cantatas for Soprano Elena Cecchi Fedi (soprano); Auser Musici/Carlo Ipata rec. 2006 HYPERION CDA67621 [55:20][GPu]

Vivid, engaged performances appealing to all who love Italian baroque cantatas ... see Full Review

Hieronymus PRAETORIUS (1560-1629) San Marco in Hamburg Weser-Renaissance Bremen/Manfred Cordes rec. 2007 CPO 7772452 [65:11][MS]

A sensitive survey of music in an idiom both approachable and forthright ... see Full Review

Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Symphonies Gürzenich-Orchestra Cologne/Dimitrij Kitajenko rec. 2005-7 PHOENIX EDITION 135 [5 CDs: 48:07 + 76:23 + 66:55 + 45:06 + 45:14][GPJ]

Takes up a distinguished position in the Prokofiev catalogue ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 etc. Itzhak Perlman (violin); BBC Symphony Orchestra/Gennady Rozhdestvensky rec. 1976-80 EMI CLASSICS 2081182 [64:39][WK] 

Considered a classic but marred by variance of playing and recording ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphony-Concerto; Cello Sonata Han-Na Chang (cello); London Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Pappano rec. 2002 EMI CLASSICS 5181892 [61.41][TH] 

Not to be missed at this price ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Sinfonia Concertante; Cello Sonata Mstislav Rostropovich (cello); Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Sanderling rec. 1954-6 MONOPOLE MONO022 [61:52][EMc]

Overall, interesting but could have been so much better ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)  Peter and the Wolf Jean SIBELIUS (1865–1957)  Symphony No. 2 Edvard GRIEG (1865–1907)  The Last Spring Eleanor Roosevelt (narrator); Boston Symphony Orchestra/Serge Koussevitzky rec. 1950 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111290 [72:42][BBr] 

Should be on every record shelf ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) La bohème (1896) Mirella Freni (soprano) – Mimi; Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) – Rodolfo); Elizabeth Harwood (soprano) – Musetta; Rolando Panerai (baritone) – Marcello; Gianni Maffeo (baritone) – Schaunard; Nicolai Ghiaurov (bass) – Colline; Michel Sénéchal (tenor) – Benoit; Alcindoro; Gernot Pietsch (tenor) – Parpignol; Hans-Dietrich Pohl (bass) – Customs official; Hans-Dieter Appelt (bass) – Customs sergeant Schöneberger Sängerknaben; Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin Berliner Philharmoniker/Herbert von Karajan rec. Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, October 1972 Italian libretto and English, German and French translations enclosed Includes bonus CD: Mirella Freni in conversation with Catherine Bott DECCA 478 0254 [54:37 + 55:46] [GF]

One of the greatest opera recordings of all time! ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème Angela Gheorghiu – Mimi; Ramón Vargas – Rodolfo; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Children’s Chorus/Nicola Luisotti rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 2174179 [120:45][ST]

Fantastic sound … wallow in the classic production styles of the old school ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) La bohème Jussi Björling, Bidú Sayão, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Giuseppe Antonicelli rec. live 1948 Manon Lescaut (1893) Jussi Björling, Licia Albanese, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Dimitri Mitropoulos rec. live 1956 WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVES WHRA-6020 [4 CDs: 54:33 + 55:31 + 66:48 + 69:07] [GF]

True Björling fans need this set as well ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Madama Butterfly Victoria de los Angeles (soprano); The Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Gianandrea Gavazzeni rec. 1954 NAXOS 8.111291-2 [69:16 + 57:12][GF]

Should be in every decent Puccini collection ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Madama Butterfly Orchestra e Coro Città Lirica/Placido Domingo rec. 2004 DYNAMIC CDS 599/1-2 [65:42 + 72:32][GF]

Of interest for Daniela Dessi’s deeply probing reading of the title role ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Rondine Venezia Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro La Fenice/Carlo Rizzi rec. 2008 ARTHAUS MUSIK 101329 [106:00][IL]

The coolness of the audience applause says it all ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Puccini from Verona: Tosca; Turandot; Madama Butterfly Various artists rec. 1983-4 NVC ARTS 5051442863727 [3 DVDs: 382:00][ST]

A good representation of Verona’s Stand-and-Sing style ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 – 1943) Complete Songs Joan Rodgers (soprano), Maria Popescu (mezzo), Alexandre Naoumenko (tenor), Sergei Leiferkus (bass) Howard Shelley (piano) rec. St. Michael’s Church, Highgate, London. 1994-95 Russian texts enclosed. Translations available at this site: BRILLIANT CLASSICS 8531 [3 CDs: 76:01 + 71:54 + 68:00] [GF]

Not the last word in Rachmaninov singing but at the price an enticing bait ... see Full Review

Wenzel Ludwig Edler VON RADOLT (1667-1716) Viennese Lute Concertos Hubert Hoffmann, Sven Schwannberger, Klaus Köb (lute); Ars Antiqua Austria/Gunar Letzbor CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72291 [77:59][JV] 

Wonderful performances of remarkable pieces by an Austrian aristocrat ... see Full Review

Priaulx RAINIER (1903-1986) Cello Concerto see ELGAR

Phillip RAMEY (b. 1939) Piano Music - Volume Two: 1966-2007 Mirian Conti (piano) rec. 29-31 October 2007 Patrych Sound Studios, Bronx, New York TOCCATA CLASSICS TOCC 0077 [64:00] [DB]

Authoritative performances of works in the spirit of Shchedrin and Prokofiev. … see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) La Valse; Ma Mère l’Oye; Pavane pour une Infante Défunte; Boléro Berlin Symphony Orchestra/Günther Herbig rec. 1979 BERLIN CLASSICS 0014382BC [52:15][GPJ] 

Excellent performances ... see Full Review

Franz REIZENSTEIN (1911-1968) Piano music see York Bowen

Andreas ROMBERG (1767-1821) Der Messias Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. 2007 CPO 777 328-2 [64:20] [JV]

A fine performance of an unknown oratorio in an early romantic idiom ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Overtures Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini rec. 1956-1964 EMI CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 2282812 [70:47][TP] 

An attractive proposition indeed ... see Full Review

Alec ROTH (b. 1948) Songs in Time of War etc. Mark Padmore (tenor); Philippe Honoré (violin); Alison Nicholls (harp); Morgan Szymanski (guitar) rec. 2007 SIGNUM SIGCD124 [62:03][BBr]

Not to be missed by anyone interested in English song ... see Full Review

Kazimierz ROZBICKI (b. 1932) Fading Raptures see CWOJDZIŇSKI

Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) Cello Sonata in G minor see ELGAR


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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