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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]

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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 ... see Full Review

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]

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 ... see Full Review

High standards but it’s not made clear that this is danced to an older recording ... see Full Review

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]
[Recommended recordings]


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