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Alphabetical Listing

PART 7
Misc. M-Z

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]



RECORDING OF THE MONTH A Musical Journey - Norway Featuring music of Edvard Grieg NAXOS 2.110274 [55.57] [RJF]

A winner for all lovers of Grieg’s music, and his captivating country, alongside spectacular photography. 

Musical Journeys: Italy - A tour of Tuscany, Umbria and Rome with music by Felix Bartholdy MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Kenneth Jean Reissue – originally released in 1991. NAXOS DVD 2.110276 [57:47] [IL]

Much wasted opportunity.

Musica Vaticana Vincenzo UGOLINI (1570-1638) Missa Beata es Virgo Maria Giuseppe Ottavio PITONI (1657-1743) Dixit Dominus [9.40] Giovanni de MACQUE (c.1550-1614) Ave Regina Caelorum (publ.1596) Orazio BENEVOLI (1605-1672) Motets Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal/Christopher Jackson rec. 2009 ATMA CLASSIQUE ACD2 2508 [57.05] [GH]

A bit of a mixed bag but certainly worth exploring. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH A Musical Odyssey in St Petersburg Renée Fleming (soprano) Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) Ivari Ulja, Olga Kern (piano) State Hermitage O/Constantine Orbelian rec. 2009 DECCA 074 3383 [91:00 + 23:00 (bonus)] [RJF]

A must for every lover of fine singing in wonderful venues in a magnificent city. 

My First Lullaby Album NAXOS 8.578213 [71:52] [Byz]

All the music is fairly slow and gentle, which may send young listeners to sleep before intended!

My First Violin Album Various performers rec. no details given. DDD NAXOS 8.578215 [76:44] [Byz]

This programme is probably catchy enough to get the young listener off to an enthusiastic start.

Orchestral Excursions - Works by Marga RICHTER (b. 1926) Howard HARRIS (1945-1996) Renata Knific (violin) Pamela Frame (cello) Robert Weirich (piano) Gilbert Sabitzer (alto saxophone) Carinthian Saxophone Qt; Polish Radio Ntl SO/Joel Suben rec. 2004 LEONARDA LE351 [73:21] [RB]

Harris all synergy, conflict and slinky wonderment; Richter: grand, glittering, flightily prim, imperiously urgent and serene in its oratory.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Orlando Furioso Madrigals on the poem by Ludovico Ariosto La Compagnia del Madrigale/Giuseppe Maletto rec. 2009/10 ARCANA A363 [69:49]  [JV]

The repertoire on this disc is of supreme quality, and so are the performances. 

Otro Mundo WARNER CLASSICS & JAZZ 5186543652 [73:52 + 74:12] [EML]

“The best music from around the world” is a misnomer, to say the least.

Paris 1200: Pérotin and Léonin - Chant and Polyphony from 12th Century France Lionheart (Jeffrey Johnson, Lawrence Lipnik, Kurt-Owen Richards, John Olund, Richard Porterfield, Stephen Rosser) rec. 1997. DDD NIMBUS NI 5547 [73:54] [Byz]

Lionheart's a fine a cappella ensemble … attentive articulation, clarity of tone, and splendid team ethic.

Paysages Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Ariettes oubliées Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Poèmes pour Mi Susanna Philips (soprano) Myra Huang (piano) rec. 2010 BRIDGE 9356 [54:09] [WH]

A big voice in French music, successfully managed by this young American soprano.

Paz, Salam and Shalom Canticum Novum/Emmanuel Bardon rec. 2010 AMBRONAY AMY033 [75.31]  [RH]

Thoughtful and engaging. 

Nilla Pierrou & en Stradivarius rec. 1974-93 OAK GROVE CD 2027 [3 CDs: 231:47] [JW]

I enjoyed this box, and its contents reflect well on an honest and broadminded musician.

Precipitando  Alban BERG (1885-1935) Piano sonata Leos JANACEK (1854-1928) V mlhách (In the mists) Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Piano sonata Dénes Várjon (piano) rec. 2011 ECM NEW SERIES 2247 [58:00] [DC]

Highly intelligent, and with a sprinkling of lustre. 

The Renaissance of Italian Music EMI CLASSICS 0887892 [77:30 + 76:28] [Byz]

A nice little investment for loved ones with a growing interest in this magnificent era.

Rise Heart Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Light out of darkness, O salutaris hostia 1-3 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958) Five Mystical Songs Sir Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Hear my words, ye people Ben Cooper (baritone) George Castle (organ) Worcester Cathedral Chamber Ch/Stephen Shellard rec. 2011 REGENT REGCD369 [78:27] [JQ]

An enjoyable disc but it faces strong competition, especially in Five Mystical Songs. 

Russian Adagios - excerpts by TCHAIKOVSKY, RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, GLAZUNOV, KHACHATURIAN, PROKOFIEV, KHRENNIKOV and MIASKOVSKY Russian State SO/Yevgeny Svetlanov BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9238 [72:46] [Byz]

Luxurious, almost outrageous tempi … spine-tingling stuff.

The Scottish Viola – A Tribute to Watson Forbes Martin Outram (viola)
Julian Rolton (piano) rec. 2011, NIMBUS ALLIANCE NI 6180 [68:13] [JW]

A really worthwhile salute to a splendid musician.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Songs of the Baltic Sea National Youth Choir of Great Britain/Mike Brewer rec. 2010 DELPHIAN DCD34052 [76:59] [JQ]

A disc that confirms and enhances the National Youth Choir’s reputation for excellence and enterprise.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH A Song of Farewell Music of Mourning and Consolation Gabrieli Consort/Paul McCreesh 2009 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD281 [75:56] [JQ]

A disc of great distinction.

Songbook Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum/Benjamin Nicholas; Helen Porter (piano) Carleton Etherington (organ) rec. 2010 DELPHIAN DCD34097 [66:42] [EM]

On the whole something of a missed opportunity.

Sounds of Defiance - Works by Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Joseph ACHRON (1886-1943) Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Arvo PÄRT (b.1935) Yevgeni Kutik (violin) Timothy Bozarth (piano) rec. 2011
MARQUIS MAR 81429 [68:18] [SA]

A disc of lasting value that sheds light on works that are heard far too infrequently.

Leopold Stokowski: Symphonic Transcriptions Vol 2 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) plus PALESTRINA, BYRD, CLARKE, BOCCHERINI, MATTHESON, HAYDN Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/José Serebrier rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572050 [64:59] [SV]

Reproducing all the liquid and sensuous colors of Stokowski's brilliant palette … excellent value.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sublime Discourses The Complete Instrumental Music of John Milton and Martin Peerson Fretwork; Michael Chance (alto) Sophie Yates (virginals) rec. 2009/10 REGENT RECORDS REGCD341 [61:34] [JV]

This disc should receive the full attention of all who are interested in the music of the English renaissance.

Michal Szymanowski - piano recital Ignacy Jan PADEREWSKI, Fryderyk CHOPIN, Karol SZYMANOWSKI Michal Szymanowski (piano) rec. May 2011, CD ACCORD ACD 170-2 [66:50] [JW]

An attractive first disc.

The Flute King - Works by Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788) Franz BENDA (1709-1786) FREDERICK II of Prussia (1712-1786) Johann Joachim QUANTZ (1697-1773) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) ANNA AMALIA of Prussia (1723-1787) Johann Friedrich AGRICOLA (1720-1774) Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Kammerakademie Potsdam, Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) Jonathan Manson (cello) Matthew Truscott (violin) rec. 2011 EMI CLASSICS 50999 0 84220 2 6 [67:56 + 78:29] [JW]

I have nothing but praise for selection, performances and concept.

The Olympic Experience - 19 tracks of Winning Music Various orchestras, choirs and soloists WARNER CLASSICS 2564 66702-4 [72:20] [Byz]

More Falirakian than Olympian.

Tragédiennes 3 Les Héroïnes Romantiques Véronique Gens (soprano) Les Talens Lyriques/Christophe Rousset rec. 2011 VIRGIN CLASSICS 0709272 [67:49] [CH]

A major project from a major artist.

A Treasury of German Baroque Music Works by Quantz, Telemann & Pachelbel The Hanoverian Ensemble rec. 2009 MSR CLASSICS MS 1380 [64:32] [JV]

Makes for pleasurable listening, but is not exactly engrossing.

Works for Flute by 20th Century Wrocław Composers Grzegorz Olkiewicz (flute) Mirosław Gąsieniec, Teresa Worońko, Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska, Andrzej Jungiewicz (piano) rec. 1992-93 DUX 0826 [59:19] [Byz]

An ultimately rewarding programme. 

A Year at York York Minster Ch/Robert Sharpe David Pipe (organ) rec. 2011 REGENT REGCD368 [76:54] [JQ]

A very interesting programme, splendidly executed, tracing the Church’s year in music. 


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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