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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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


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MA Sicong (1912-1987) Music for Violin and Piano Vol. 2 Hsiao-mei Ku (violin); Ning Lu (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570605 [64:56] [JW]

I think judicious selection is called for

Bruno MADERNA (1920-1973) Quadrivium, Aura, Biogramma NDR SO/Giuseppe Sinopoli, rec. 1979 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9190 [66:47] [RB]

As a good child of Darmstadt his music remains dissonant and uncompromising.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 1 Chicago SO/Bernard Haitink, rec. 2008 CSO-RESOUND CSOR 901 904 [57:39] [JQ]

A superbly played performance of Mahler’s First that is the product of long experience and deep understanding.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 7 Residentie O, The Hague/Neeme Järvi rec. 2009 CHANDOS CHSA5079 [70:10] [GD]

A radical reading in which the conductor presents the 7th Symphony as a logically structured work. 

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Adagios EMI CLASSICS 6087532 [76:11 + 78:36] [JLZ]

An opportunity for listeners to explore the Mahler Adagio through this excellent selection of outstanding performances.

Igor MARKEVITCH (1912 - 1983) Complete Orchestral Works - Vol. 6: La Taille de l'Homme Lucy Shelton (soprano) Arnhem PO/Christopher Lyndon-Gee rec. 1997 NAXOS 8.572156 [55:30] [BBr]

I am grateful to have anything by Markevitch made available. 

Simon MAYR (1763-1845) Te Deum see MOZART

Toshiro MAYUZUMI (b. 1929) Prelude see LUTOSLAWSKI

Arne MELLNÄS (1933-2002) Passages, Labyrinthos, Symphony 1 Swedish RSO/Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jörgen Pettersson (sax), Gothenburg SO/Marcello Viotti, Latvian National SO/Imants Resnis, rec. 1989, 1992, 2000 PHONO SUECIA PSCD 175 [62:15] [RB]

A Swedish Darmstadt scion’s take on dissonance.

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) String Quartets - Vol. 3 New Zealand String Qt rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570003 [68:52] [BW]

The completion of a recommendable series of recordings.

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto see Art of Ivry Gitlis

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Visions de l’Amen Sarah Rothenberg; Marilyn Nonken (pianos) rec. 2009 BRIDGE 9324 [48:53] [CC]

Ultimately, overall this version left me untouched - the exact reverse of the effect this piece should have. 

Vytautas MIŠKINIS (b. 1954) Thoughts of Psalms Kammerchor Consonare/Almut Stümke, rec. 2009 CARUS 83.459 [65:43] [WH]

A fine collection of sacred music from a modern Lithuanian master.

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Visions de L’Amen Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) En blanc et noir Ursula Oppens (piano I), Jerome Lowenthal (piano II) rec. 2009 CEDILLE RECORDS CDR 90000119 [60:51] [DC]

Top local selection – a massive canvas.

Federico MOMPOU (1893 - 1987) Piano Music - Volume 5 Jordi Masó (piano) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570956 [73:18] [BBr]

A delightful disk.

Stanislaw MONIUSZKO (1819-1872) Flis Iwona Socha (sop.) Boguslaw Bidzinski, Pawel Wolski (ten.) Leszek Skrla, Michal Partyka (bar.) Janusz Lewandowski (bass-bar.) Castle Opera Ch & O/Warcislaw Kunc, rec. 2009 DUX 0736 [55:38] [JS]

What makes this worth hearing is its strong folk influence. Some delightful moments if scarcely at the level of inspiration of his better known works.

Guido MORINI (b. 1959) Una Odissea, Una Iliade Marco Beasley (voice), Guido Morini (harpsichord, pno), Alfio Antico (tambourines, voice), Netherlands Blazers Ensemble, Hilliard Ensemble, rec. 2002/9 NBE CD010 & CD024 [61:21 & 68:15] [DC]

Effective and highly entertaining.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Fantasies, Rondo, Piano Sonatas Mordecai Shehori (piano) rec. 2009 CEMBAL D’AMOUR CD141 [69:22] [JW]

This fine selection shows a well balanced programmatic mind at work and finely recorded into the bargain as well. 

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Die Zauberflöte Helge Roswaenge (tenor) Tiana Lemnitz (soprano) Gerhard Hüsch (baritone) Irma Beilke (soprano) Favres Solisten Vereinigung; Berlin PO/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. 1937/8 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO045 [61:30 + 69:26] [GF]

This Beecham set should find an honoured place as an historic alternative in many a collection. 

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) (attrib.) Missa solemnis Simon MAYR (1763-1845) Te Deum Simon Mayr Ch, Ingolstadt Georgian CO/Franz Hauk, rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570926 [68:05] [BW]

Whether the Mass is by Mozart or not – and which Mozart? – this recording deserves a strong recommendation.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony 39 see BRAHMS

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Bassoon Concerto see Bassoon concertos

Carl ORFF (1895 – 1982) Carmina Burana Patricia Petibon (sop.) Hans-Werner Bunz (ten.) Christian Gerhaher (bar.) Bayerischen RSO & Ch/Daniel Harding rec. 2010 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8778 [61:31] [NB]

The great is the enemy of the merely good. On this showing this recording has many enemies.

Paul PACCIONE (b.1952) Our Beauties Are Not Ours Western Illinois University Singers/James Stegall rec. 2000-9 NEW WORLD RECORDS 80706-2 [57:02] [GPu]

An impressive, approachable collection, with a pleasing stylistic variety underpinned by a distinctive personality.

Johann PACHELBEL (1653-1706) Clavier Music Vol. 2 Franz Raml (organ, harpsichord) rec. 2008 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG614 1553-2 [60:56] [JV]

The second disc of two containing a survey of Pachelbel's keyboard music - good performances on beautiful instruments.

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) 24 Caprices for solo violin Julia Fischer (violin) rec. 2008/9 DECCA 478 2274 [79:42] [DC]

Paganini imaginatively re-discovered.

Roxanna PANUFNIK (b. 1968) Spirit of the Saints David Terry (organ), London Oratory School Schola/Lee Ward (director/organ), rec. 2008-9 REGENT REGCD293 [54:23] [JQ]

Music that is worthwhile and very enjoyable in good performances.

Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) Spiegel im spiegel, Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinushka, Fur Alina, Mozart-Adagio Benjamin Hudson (violin, viola) Sebastian Klinger (cello) Jürgen Kruse (piano) rec. 2006 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9170 [46:55] [RB]

Short playing time but if you have a weakness for Pärt in chamber format then you cannot go wrong with this disc.

Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) The Very Best of Arvo Pärt Vasari Singers/Jeremy Backhouse, Tasmin Little, Martin Roscoe, Ch King's College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury, Estonian National SO/Paavo Järvi, Chilingirian Qt, rec. 1977-2002 EMI CLASSICS 6294432 [77:15 + 78:51] [RB]

I did not have high hopes of a set called "The Very Best of Arvo Pärt". In fact it does very well indeed.

Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Pilgrim's Song Chamber Choir Voces Musicales, Tallinn Sinfonietta/Risto Joost rec. 2009 ESTONIAN RECORD PRODUCTIONS ERP2309 [59:11] [GD]

So, happy birthday to Arvo Pärt. This is as good a present as he could want.

Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Symphony 4, Kanon pokajanen Los Angeles PO/Esa-Pekka Salonen, Estonian PCh. Choir/Tönu Kaljuste, rec. 1997/2009 ECM NEW SERIES 2160 (4763957) [49:59] [RB]

A composer whose stock-in-trade is sincerity, who will not retreat into complexity and who retains allegiance to tonality. Should find a ready audience.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Credo, Cantata in honorem Almæ Matris Universitatis Iagellonicæ sescentos abhinc annos fundatæ Iwona Hossa, Aga Mikolaj (sop.) Ewa Wolak (alto) Rafal Bartminski (ten.) Remigiusz Lukomski (bass) Warsaw Boys’ Ch, Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit, rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572032 [56:27] [BW]

Music which matches power and contemplation with performances to match.

Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b.1933) Quartetto per Archi see LUTOSLAWSKI

Hans PFITZNER (1869-1949) Violin Sonata see WALTER

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Best Tangos Aquiles Delle-Vigne (piano) rec. 1989 NAXOS 8.572331 [63:46]  [BBr]

It’s a bargain! 

Dariusz PRZYBYLSKI (b.1984) Works for Orchestra Janusz Wawrowski (violin), Jadwiga Kotnowska (flute) AUSKO CO/Marek Mos; The Polish Sinfonia Iuventus O/Krzysztof Slowinski rec. 2009 DUX 0721 [67:42] [DC]

Another artistic revolution about to hit Europe?

Henri RABAUD (1873-1949) Marouf sauvetier du Caire, La procession nocturne see CHARPENTIER

Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA (b. 1928) Before the Icons, A Tapestry of Life Helsinki PO/Leif Segerstam, rec. 2006/9 ONDINE ODE1149-2 [49.37] [DC]

Deserving of a lasting place in contemporary repertoire.

Franz REIZENSTEIN Prologue, Variations and Finale, Three Pieces see RUBBRA

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Concerto in modo misolidio, Fontane di Roma, Olli Mustonen (piano) Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo rec. 2009 ONDINE ODE11652 [53:48] [RB]

Looking for a tasty high romantic piano concerto? This will suit very well indeed.

Johan Helmich ROMAN (1694-1758) Drottningholmsmusiken Helsingborg SO/Andrew Manze rec. 2010 BIS BIS-CD1602 [70:04] [GPu]

An attractive recording of Roman’s graceful wedding music.

Lauro ROSSI (1810-1885) Cleopatra Dimitra Theodossiou; Alessandro Liberatore; Coro Lirico Marchigiano ‘V. Bellini’ Marchigiana PO/David Crescenzi rec. 2008 NAXOS 2.110279 [114:56] [BW]

My operatic Discovery of the Month.

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868) L’Italiana in Algeri Lorenzo Regazzo, Ruth Gonzalez, Transylvania State PCh, Virtuosi Brunensis/Alberto Zedda, rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.660284-5 [68:57 + 67:17] [GD]

A living embodiment of the continuing Italian tradition of opera buffa.

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il Barbiere di Siviglia Agnes Baltsa (mezzo) Thomas Allen (baritone) Francisco Araiza (tenor) Robert Lloyd (bass) Ambrosia Opera Ch, ASMF/Neville Marriner rec. 1982 DECCA 478 2497 [68:49 + 79.19] [RMo]

Very good value, even if there is no libretto. 

Gioachino ROSSINI (1892-1868) (attrib) Bassoon Concerto see Bassoon concertos

Edmund RUBBRA Violin sonata 2 Lennox BERKELEY Violin Sonatina, Theme and Variations Franz REIZENSTEIN Prologue, Variations and Finale, Three Pieces Frederick Grinke, Max Rostal (violin), Edmund Rubbra, Lennox Berkeley, Franz Reizenstein (piano) rec. 1945/54 DUTTON EPOCH HISTORIC CDLX7232 [70:45] [RB]

Dutton's technical flair and artistic acumen is renowned and is fully engaged here.


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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 



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