RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 3 
Michaela Schuster (alto) Kölner Dom & Oper Ch, Gürzenich
O Köln/Markus Stenz rec. 2010
OEHMS CLASSICS OC648 
[33:25 + 60:38] [JQ]
This
new Mahler Third deserves to be ranked with the best.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony 2
Jo Vincent (soprano); Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) Holland Festival
Chorus; Concertgebouw O/Otto Klemperer rec. 1951
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC265 [71:26] [JQ]
An
often electrifying account of Resurrection in a very successful transfer.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 9
Bavarian Radio SO/Bernard Haitink rec. 2011
BR KLASSIK 900113 [79:53] [MC]
A
compelling and deeply perceptive live account of Mahler 9 that ranks
alongside the finest.
Benedetto
MARCELLO (1686-1739)
Flute sonatas
Trio Legrenzi rec. 1990
NEWTON CLASSICS 8802123 [47:58 + 49:22] [GPu]
Disappointing
readings of interesting music.
Tomás
MARCO (b.1942) Symphonies 2, 8 & 9
Málaga PO/José Serebrier rec. 2010
NAXOS SPANISH CLASSICS 8.572684 [61:58] [Byz]
Inventive,
provocative Symphonies.
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony 4; Memorial to Lidice
see Kubelík
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Complete Solo Piano Works
Stefan
Irmer (piano) rec. 2011
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 618 1729-2 [79:43] [Byz]
Fairly
conservative but certainly not unimaginative or dull.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann
Simon MAYR (1763-1845) Concerto Bergamasco,
Keyboard Concerto, Trio Concertante
Natalie Schwaabe (flute and piccolo), Andrea Steinberg (clarinet and
basset horn) Bavarian Classical Players/Franz Hauk rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570927 [53:36] [DM]
Music
of lilt and loveliness, winningly played; a joyful discovery.
Peter
MAXWELL DAVIES (b.1934)
Symphony no.3, op.119 (1984) [57:48] *Cross Lane Fair, op.167
(1994) [14:52] *Mark Jordan (Northumbrian pipes); *Rob Lea (bodhrán)
BBC
Philharmonic/Peter Maxwell Davies rec. 1993/1994 DDD
NAXOS 8.572350 [72:40][Byz]
An almost essential purchase for everyone
interested in contemporary British music.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
Piano Trio op.49 in D minor (1839) [28:51] Piano Trio op.66 in C minor
(1845) [29:11]
ATOS Trio (Annette von Hehn (violin), Stefan Heinemeyer (cello), Thomas
Hoppe (piano)) rec. 2009,
CPO 777 505-2 [58:21] [OL]
This
is great music and the presentation is worthy of it.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) Complete Works for Cello and Piano
Luca Fiorentini (cello) Stefania Redaelli (piano) rec. 2012
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94368 [71:47] [SA]
A
sumptuous feast of a disc that I can’t imagine could be bettered.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto Henryk
WIENIAWSKI (1835-1880) Violin Concerto 2 Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Concerto for Two Violins
Igor
Oistrakh, David Oistrakh, Leipzig Gewandhaus O /Franz Konwitschny rec.
1956/57
BERLIN CLASSICS 0300350BC [64:03] [MC]
I
believe there are far superior recordings available of each work and
consequently I have doubts who this disc will appeal to.
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto see
San Francisco
Symphony at 100
Gian
Carlo MENOTTI (1911-2007) Goya
Plácido Domingo, Michelle Breedt, Iride Martinez, Vienna RSO/Emmanuel
Villaume rec. 2004
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101576 
[101:00] [GF]
Domingo
in splendid shape and this opera can’t fail to move appreciative
and sensitive opera lovers.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Et exspecto resurrectionem
mortuorum, Le tombeau resplendissant, Hymne
Orch Natl de Lyon/Jun Märkl rec. 2008-2010
NAXOS 8.572714 [65:55] [DM]
Crude
and shapeless; avoid.
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Turangalîla-Symphonie
Steven
Osborne (piano) Cynthia Millar (ondes martenot) Bergen PO/Juanjo Mena
rec. 2011
HYPERION CDA67816 [77:07] [NB]
A very strong case for being one of the finest all-round versions, but
at full price.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Symphony No. 36 in
C major, Linz, Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, Twelve Minuets,
K568
Louis Kentner (piano) London Mozart Players/Harry Blech rec. 1954, 1959,
1956 , ADD
FHR REMASTERS FHR15 [81:10] [MG]
Blech’s
Linz symphony is excellent and ahead of its time.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Clarinet Quintet in A, K581 (1789) [31:30] Ludwig
van BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) String Quartet No.10 in
E flat major, Op 74 Harp (1809) [30:26]
Ladislav Ružícka (clarinet) Martinu Quartet rec. January 2012, Domovina
Studio, Prague
ARCO DIVA UP 0150-2 131 [62:04] [JW]
This
is a fine coupling, and will give much pleasure.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Operas from the
Salzburg Festival 1966, 1982 & 2003
ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 521
[180:00 +189:00 +169:00] [RJF]
Outstanding
singing in three productions spread over thirty-seven years. They illustrate
changes in opera performance practice and production policy over that
time.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Die Zauberflöte
Suzie
LeBlanc, Christoph Genz, Stephan Genz, Isolde Siebert, Cornelius Hauptmann,
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken rec. 2001
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94239 [3 CDs: 157:41] [GF]
At
super-budget price, it can’t be faulted.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Die Zauberflöte, Symphony 39
Wilma Lipp, Irmgard Seefried. Anton Dermota, Josef Greindl, Erich Kunz,
Vienna State Opera Ch, Vienna PO, Berlin PO/Wilhelm Furtwängler
rec. 1944/51
PRISTINE AUDIO XR PACO 075A/B [3 CDs: 200:14] [MC]
I’m
unsure why anyone would choose these recordings over the many splendid,
superbly performed and excellently recorded alternatives.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Symphony 5
Elsie Morrison (soprano) Monica Sinclair (contralto) Alexander Young
(tenor) Marian Nowakowski (bass) BBC Chorus; Royal PO/Sir Thomas Beecham
rec. 1954-59
PRISTINE AUDIO PACO 076 [77:52] [JS]
For
Beecham enthusiasts this has always been a must, but in this much improved
re-mastering it should now have a much wider appeal.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH
Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures
at an Exhibition see Nobuyuki
Tsujii
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Night on Bald Mountain
see RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Robert
NELSON (b.
1941) Symphonic Scenes from A Room With a View, Two Spirituals,
Christmas Cantata
Debria Brown (soprano) Soloists of the Edythe Bates Old Moores Opera
Center; Moores School SO & Ch/Charles Hausmann; Franz Anton Krager
ALBANY
TROY381 [73:09] [WK]
Vocal
and operatic music from Houston by a composer who should be better known.
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) The Masterworks Vol.2: Chamber
and Instrumental Works
rec. 1981-2007
DACAPO 8.206003 [6 CDs: 394:16] [GD]
Nielsen's
music is excellently served here by Danish performers who really get
inside the music.
Michael
NYMAN (b.1944) Sangam
U. Shrinivas (mandolin) Rajan Misra, Sajan Misra, Ritesh & Rajnish
Misra (voices) Sanju Sahai (tabla) Michael Nyman Band/Michael Nyman
rec. 2002
MICHAEL NYMAN RECORDS MNRCD119 [59:26] [DC]
A
definite horizon-widener.
Johannes
OCKEGHEM (c.1410-1497) Requiem, Missa Mi-mi,
Missa prolationum, Alma Redemptoris mater
Hilliard Ens rec. 1984/88
VIRGIN VERITAS 6284922 [62.46 + 67.47] [EM-L]
The
music is glorious - inventive, uplifting, inspirational, yet there is
relatively little in the performances to hold one’s attention.
Norman
O’NEILL (1875-1934)
String Quartet, Piano Trio, Piano Quintet, Theme and Variations
Michael Dussek (piano) Bridge Qt rec. 2012,
EM RECORDS EMR CD005 [69:26] [GH]
This
disc is a must.
Giacomo
OREFICE (1865-1922) Chopin
Steven Harrison (tenor) Mariusz Godlewski (baritone) Ewa Vesin (soprano)
Gracjan Szymczak (piano) Wrocław Opera O, Ch & Children’s
Ch/Ewa Michnik rec. 2010
DUX 0775/6 [48:05 + 41:05] [GF]
For
inveterate collectors of Chopiniana and other collectors of curios.
Charles
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) An English Suite see
FINZI
Charles
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918)
Lady Radnor's Suite see BUTTERWORTH
Krzysztof
PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Fonogrammi, The Awakening
of Jacob, Anaklasis, De natura sonoris I, Partita, Horn Concerto
Winterreise
Urszula Janik (flute) Jennifer Montone (horn) Elżbieta Stefańska
(harpsichord) Warsaw PO/Antoni Wit rec. 2008 -2010
NAXOS 8.572482 [68:52] [LW]
Wit
continues his Penderecki cycle with groundbreaking works and the more
recent Horn Concerto.
Johann
Christoph PEPUSCH (1667 - 1752) Concertos and
Overtures for London
Mark Baigent (oboe) Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet) Sally Holman (bassoon)
Tassilo Erhardt (violin) Kinga Gáborjáni (cello) The Harmonious
Society of Tickle-fiddle Gentlemen/Robert Rawson rec. 2010
RAMÉE RAM 1109 [59:16] [JV]
A
most enjoyable disc.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) The Year 1941, Symphony 5
São Paulo SO/Marin Alsop rec. 2011
NAXOS 8.573029 [59:48] [JQ]
An
auspicious launch of Marin Alsop’s Prokofiev symphony cycle in
São Paulo.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) The Great Operas
rec. 1937-1958
REGIS RRC 9011 [13 CDs: c.14:00:00] [PCG]
We
must be grateful for the opportunity to acquire these recordings in
such a convenient format and at such a reasonable cost.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858
- 1924) Tosca
Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armiliato, Claudio Sgura, Ch & O Teatro
Carlo Felice/Marco Boemi rec. 2010
ARTHAUS MUSIC 101 594
[140:00] [GF]
Readers
looking for a revolutionary interpretation need not bother but everybody
else won’t be disappointed.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Il Trittico
O & Ch of the Royal Op Hse Covent Garden/Antonio Pappano rec. 2011
OPUS
ARTE OA1070D DVD
[181:00] [ST]
A
wonderful addition to the discography.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Tosca see
BIZET
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1 &
4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Noriko Ogawa (piano) Malmö SO/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 1998
BIS-CD-975 [81:44] [CH]
This
disc raises questions that will only be answered by new recordings from
the artist.
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony 2
Melbourne Symphony/Tadaaki Otaka rec. 2010
ABC CLASSICS 476 4842 [61:49] [BR]
A
reading at nearly the highest level which must have made a marvellous
concert. Definitely far more than I expected.
Joachim
RAFF (1822-1882)
Grande Sonate, Piano Suite
Adrian Ruiz (piano) rec. 1971/2011
GENESIS GCD118 [67:45] [Byz]
Everyone with a love of fine music will like what they hear here.
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Pavane pour une Infante Défunte
see TCHAIKOVSKY
Maurice
RAVEL (1875 – 1937) Shéhérazade
see Berlioz
Jean
RICHAFORT (c.1480-after 1547) Missa pro defunctis
Josquin DES PREZ (c.1450/55-1521)
Miserere mei, Deus
Cinquecento rec. 2010
HYPERION CDA67959 [70:00] [DC]
Sublime
inspiration from start to finish.
Nikolay
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Le Coq d’Or
Albert
Schagidullin (bass-baritone) Barry Banks (tenor) Olga Trifonova (soprano)
Yuri Maria Saenz (soprano) Ch Mariinsky Theatre, Orchestre de Paris/Kent
Nagano
ARTHAUS MUSIK 
108 053 [108:00] [DM]
Flashes
of inspiration; otherwise disappointing.
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
Scheherazade Modest MUSSORGSKY
(1839-1881) Night on Bald Mountain Aram
KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Gayane
Czech Philharmonic/Zdenek Chalabala rec. 1953/5
SUPRAPHON SU 4094-2 [56:41 + 51:57] [BR]
Chalabala
remains the least-known of the great Czech conductors, but this two
disc introduction shows him at his absolute finest. Top-rank.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Scala di Seta
Daniele Zanfardino (tenor)Olga Peretyatko (soprano) Paolo Bordogna (baritone)
Haydn O di Bolzano e Trento/Claudio Scimone rec. 2009
OPUS ARTE OA1075D
[105:00 + 22:00 (documentary)] [JS]
One
should perhaps be grateful that this exists at all and some enthusiasm
is due for the quality of the musical performance.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868)
Overtures see VERDI
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