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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]


Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphonies 2, 4 & 5, Lieder aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1892-1901) Christine Oelze (soprano) Michael Volle (baritone) Gürzenich O Köln/Markus Stenz OEHMS CLASSICS OC 647 [21:42 + 60:35] OC 649 [54:50] OC 650 [68:03] OC 657 [61:28] oas [JQ]

Markus Stenz’s Mahler cycle will be worth keeping a careful eye on as it progresses.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 5 Pittsburgh SO/Manfred Honeck rec. 2011 EXTON OVCL-00460 [73:38] [DM]

Nearly but not quite; a decent Fifth, superbly recorded. 

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 9 Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester/Claudio Abbado rec. 2004 EUROARTS 205 4004 [84:00] [DM]

A no-hoper, thanks to appalling sonics. 


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder see Love and Longing

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Sapho Renée Doria (soprano) Gines Sirera (tenor) SO de la Garde Républicaine/Roger Boutry rec. 1978 MALIBRAN CDRG 199 [67:26 + 62:02] [ST]

All things considered this is a release for die-hard Massenet fans only. 

Peter MAXWELL DAVIES (b.1934) Symphony 1, Mavis in Las Vegas BBC Philharmonic/Peter Maxwell Davies rec. 1994/7 NAXOS 8.572348 [68:03] [Byz]

The Symphony becomes more accessible and alluring with every reacquaintance. 

Sir Peter MAXWELL DAVIES (b. 1934) Symphonies 4 & 5 Scottish Chamber O/Philharmonia O†/Peter Maxwell Davies rec. 1990-1994 NAXOS 8.572351 [69:12] [MS]

Reissues at an attractive price of the authoritative performances of two striking symphonic works. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Elijah Rosemary Joshua (soprano) Sarah Connolly (mezzo) Gabrieli Cons; Wroclaw Philh Ch; Gabrieli Young Singers Scheme; Gabrieli Players/Paul McCreesh rec. 2011-2012 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD300 [68:30 + 67:28] [JQ]

A marvellous recording of Elijah. 

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Romances Mischa Elman (violin) rec. 1931-51 PRISTINE AUDIO PASC 339 [75:31] [JW]

Elman fanciers can fill some gaps here. 

Saverio MERCADANTE (1795-1870) Flute concerto Albert Franz DOPPLER (1821-1883) Andante and Rondo' Duetto hongrois Mieczysław KARŁOWICZ (1876-1909) Serenade for Strings Łukasz Długosz, Agata Kielar-Długosz (flutes) Elbląg CO/Marzena Diakun, Marcin Sompoliński rec. 2011 DUX 0868 [61:24] [JW]

I rather admire the bizarre nature of this collection. 

Xavier MONTSALVATGE (1912 - 2002) Partita 1958, Cinco Canciones Negras, Calidoscopi simfònic, Simfonia da Rèquiem Clara Mouriz (mezzo) Ruby Hughes (soprano) BBC Philh/Juanjo Mena rec. 2011 CHANDOS CHAN 10735 [68:00] [HC]

A splendid introduction to Montsalvatge's world and a superb centenary release.

Xavier MONTSALVATGE (1912-2002) El CD del Centenari COLUMNA MÚSICA 1CM0296 [76:45] [Byz]

A generous compilation from the back catalogue. A Montsalvatge taster for the centenary of his birth and the decennary of his death. 

Jean MOUTON (bef. 1459-1522) Missa Dictes moy toutes voz pensées [38:18]; Quis dabit oculos? [8:35]; Ave Maria – benedicta tu [2:11]; Salva me, Domine [2:31]; Ave Maria - virgo serena [9:33]; Nesciens mater [4:54] Loyset COMPČRE (c1454-1518) Dictes moy toutes voz pensées [1:50] The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. Merton College Chapel, Oxford. DDD Original texts, English, French, German translations included GIMELL GIMCD047 [67:54] [JQ]

A disc of exceptional quality, proving conclusively that the music of Jean Mouton is worthy of a wide audience.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Duos Bjarne BRUSTAD (1895-1978) Capricii Johan HALVORSEN (1864-1935) Passacaglia on a theme of Handel Elise Båtnes (violin) Henninge Båtnes Landaas (viola) rec. 2011 LAWO CLASSICS LWC 1028 [57:08] [JW]

Speed, bite, character, warmth and technical command. A well balanced programme.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le nozze di Figaro Teddy Tahu-Rhodes, Taryn Fiebig, Sian Pendry, Peter Coleman-Wright, Opera Australia Chorus, Australian Opera and Ballet O/Patrick Summers rec. live, 2010 OPERA AUSTRALIA OPOZ56002BD [183.00] [MM-B]

Not a memorable production but certainly likeable. 

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertone, Violin Concerto 5 Piero Toso (violin) Orch di Padova e del Veneto/Christian Joseph Saccon (violin) rec. 2007 WIDE CLASIQUE WCL 134 [56:00 + DVD 58:00] [JW]

Scrutiny and admiration are very evident. 

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Homage: the Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn Alexander String Quartet (Zakarias Grafilo (violin), Frederick Lifsitz (violin), Paul Yarbrough (viola), Sandy Wilson (cello)) rec. 2003/2004. DDD FOGHORN CLASSICS CD-1985 [3 CDs: 61:49 + 56:05 + 66:16] [Byz]

Immaculate professionalism … huge and telling ensemble experience, instrumental mastery practically faultless … Classical elegance and textural clarity.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concerto 17 see Dohnányi in London

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Symphony 35 see BRUCKNER

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) String Quartet 17 see BEETHOVEN

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies 2 & 3 Erin Morley (soprano), Joshua Hopkins (baritone) New York Philharmonic/Alan Gilbert rec.2011/ 2012 DACAPO 6.220623 [72:23] [JL]

Performances and the sound of a lifetime.

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Violin Concerto see TCHAIKOVSKY


RECORDING OF THE MONTH
 
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphony 3 see BRAHMS

 

Vitezslav NOVÁK (1870-1949) In the Tatras (1902) [17.10] South Bohemian Suite (1937) [30.04] Eight Nocturnes for voice and orchestra Op. 39 (1908) [29.28] Daniela Straková (soprano) Carlsbad Symphony Orchestra/Douglas Bostock rec. 1998 ALTO ALC 1199 [76.42] [GH]

Hooked on Novák since the 1970s. This budget price collection is a compulsive purchase.

Norman O'NEILL (1875-1934) String Quartet; Piano Trio; Piano Quintet; Theme and Variations for piano trio Bridge Quartet, Michael Dussek (piano) rec. 2012 EM RECORDS EMR CD005 [73.22] [MC]

Welcome discoveries and the performances do the music full justice. 

Carl ORFF (1895-1982) Trionfi Ruth-Margaret Pütz (soprano) Donald Grobe (tenors) Der Tölzer Knabenchor/Cologne Radio SO & Ch/Ferdinand Leitner rec. 1974 ACANTA 233584 [3 CDs: 139:45]  [NB]

Mirrors the music itself - fascinating yet flawed. 

Giovanni PACINI (1796-1867) L’ultimo giorno di Pompei Raul Gimenez (tenor) Iano Tamar (soprano) Nicolas Revenq (baritone) Bratislava Chamber Ch, O Teatro Bellini Catania/Giuliano Capella rec. 1996 DYNAMIC CDS 729/1-2 [76.46 + 75.35] [PCG]

A good impression of Pacini with all faults and felicities well portrayed and in focus. 

Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594) Masses, Motets, Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet, Stabat Mater Pro Cantione Antiqua/Mark Brown rec. 1987-90 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94266 [5 CDs: 336:17] [Byz]

Great purity and transcendental beauty. 

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings PARRY (1848-1918) Te Deum, The Birds of Aristophanes Suite, The Glories of Our Blood and State, Magnificat Amanda Roocroft (soprano) BBC Ntl Ch & O Wales/Neeme Järvi rec. 2012 CHANDOS CHAN10740 [75:15] [JF]

A moving tribute to one of Britain great composers. 

Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Hymne an den heiligen Adalbert, Song of Cherubim, Canticum canticorum Salomonis, Kosmogonia, Strophen Olga Pasichnyk (soprano) Rafał Bartmiński (tenor) Tomasz Konieczny (bass) Warsaw PO & Ch/Antoni Wit rec. 2008-10 NAXOS 8.572481 [57:18] [MC]

Impressively performed and well recorded. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Seppo POHJOLA (b. 1965) Symphonies 1 & 2 Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo rec. 2010/11 ALBA ABCD339 [60:49] [DM]

Cracking pieces, superbly played; a demonstration disc too. 

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Symphonies, Scythian Suite Czech PO/Zdeněk Košler rec. 1973-1982 SUPRAPHON SU 4093-2 [4 CDs: 271:15] [NB]

Too much of a mixed bag to deserve a ringing endorsement. 

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Sonata 2 Alfred SCHNITTKE (1934-1998) Suite in the Old Style Leonid NIKOLAYEV (1878-1942) Violin Sonata Chavdar Parashkevov (violin) Natasha Kislenko (piano) rec. 2010 CHAVDAR MUSIC [60:25] [SA]

As a disc of violin sonatas this is extremely enjoyable.

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Symphonies 5 & 6 Finnish RSO/Sakari Oramo rec. 2010/11 ONDINE ODE1181-2 [79:47] [TB]

The Sixth makes the stronger impression here. 

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Ballet and opera transcriptions Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) rec. 1995 DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 3605 [59:42] [DM]

Vintage Vladimir; an hour of sheer delight.

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Boheme – opera in four acts (1896) [117:00] Rodolfo - Ji-Min Park Mimi - Takesha Meshé Kizart Australian Opera Chorus Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra/Shao-Chia Lü rec. 2011 OPERA AUSTRALIA BLU-RAY DISC OPOZ56018BD [117:00] [RMay]

And, yes, I too cried at the end.

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca Maria Callas (soprano) Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor) Tito Gobbi (baritone) Ch & O of La Scala, Milan/Victor de Sabata rec. 1953 PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 080 [72:03 + 35:54] [JS]

I have had considerable pleasure from this re-mastering. 

Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) Piano Works Vol. 1: Frühlingsboten, Drei Klavier-Soli, Fantaisie in B Tra Nguyen (piano) rec. 2011 GRAND PIANO GP602 [76:47] [Byz]

Interpretations that will long serve as a yardstick against which future performers must measure themselves. 

Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) Piano Works 2: Fantasie-Sonate, Variationen über ein Originalthema, Vier Klavierstücke Tra Nguyen (piano) rec. 2011 GRAND PIANO GP612 [63:07]  [Byz]

The gold standard by which future performers of Raff will be judged. 

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA (b. 1928) Cello Concerto 2, Percussion Concerto, Modificata Truls Mørk (cello) Colin Currie (percussion) Helsinki PO/John Storgårds rec. 2011 ONDINE ODE 1178-2 [62:16] [DM]

Bravo, bravo and thrice bravo; my disc of the year. 


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Shéhérazade see Love and Longing

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto in G major see Saint-Saens

RECORDING OF THE MONTH  Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’occasione fa il ladro Elizaveta Martirosyan, Fanie Antonelou, Gianpiero Ruggeri, Mauro Utzeri, Württemberg PO/Antonino Fogliani rec. 2005 NAXOS 8.660314-15 [45:22 + 42:11] [JS]

An idiomatic and joyous performance of this strangely neglected work.

Hans ROTT (1858-1884) String Quartet in C minor see BRUCKNER

Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Symphony 4 State SO of Russia/Igor Golovchin rec. 1993 DELOS DRD2012 [65:24] [NB]

Can I go back to sleep now please? 

Poul RUDERS (b. 1949) Offred Suite, Tundra, Symphony 3 Dreamcatcher Susanna Phillips (soprano) Odense SO/Scott Yoo rec. 2012 BRIDGE 9382 [51:48] [HC]

Volume 8 of Bridge's Ruders edition: two substantial works that deserve wider exposure.

John RUTTER (b. 1945) The Tewkesbury Collection Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum/Benjamin Nicholas; Carleton Etherington (organ); Gavin Wells (trumpet); Juliet Tomlinson (cello); Alexandra Lowdon (oboe) rec. 2011, 2012, DDD English texts included DELPHIAN DCD34107 [70:10] [JQ]

Despite one or two reservations there’s much to enjoy here in a varied and enjoyable programme.


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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