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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.
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