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MAHLER Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor Junge Deutsche Philharmonie Conducted by Rudolf Barshai Laurel Records Laurel-905 [69:33] [TD]
If you buy only one new Mahler recording this year make sure it's this one. Versions of Mahler symphonies of this calibre arrive very seldom. It is the finest recording of the Fifth Symphony currently available.
MAHLER Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Kindertotenlieder*, 5 Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn+, 5 Rückert Lieder+ Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone) Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe* with Daniel Barenboim (piano)+ EMI Great Recordings of the Century CDM 5675562 [TD] [JP]
An essential disc for admirers of Fischer-Dieskau, Furtwängler and Mahler.
David MATTHEWS (b.1943) In The Dark Time Op.38 (1984-5) Chaconne Op.43 (1986-7) BBCSO/Jac Van Steen NMC DO67 [47:28] [GH]
Anyone who can appreciate music of warmth, power and communication will enjoy this CD.
NICHOLAS MAW: A RECENT DISCOGRAPHY AND MUSIC REVIEW by Hubert Culot
Some time after the premiere of the complete work, a recording of Odyssey was released by EMI and this superb recording and performance seem to have somewhat rekindled interest in Maw's music which apparently flowed more easily from his pen.
McEWEN Violin Sonatas No. 2; No. 5 Sonata-Fantasia & No 6 Prince Charlie - A Scottish Fantasia Olivier Charlier (violin); Geoffrey Tozer (piano) rec 16/17 March 2000 Potton Hall, Suffolk CHANDOS CHAN 9880 [62:43] [RB]
The Auld Alliance much in evidence in this glorious first traversal on disc through the McEwen chamber music.
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Sonata in B flat major, opus 106, Variations Sérieuses in D minor, opus 54, Fantaisies, opus 16, Fantasia in F sharp minor, opus 28 "sonata écossaise' Matthias Kirschnereit (piano) Rec 17-19 April 2000, Cologne ARTE NOVA 74321 76808 2 (59.16) [TB]
Matthias Kirschnereit is a very talented pianist, and the Arte Nova engineers have captured his Mendelssohn performances in atmospheric and truthful sound. This disc will do much to enhance his reputation beyond Germany, where he is already known as one of the leading pianists of the younger generation, although he has toured widely in Europe and Australia.
MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Catalogue d'Oiseaux Martin Zehn (piano) ARTE NOVA CLASSICS (3 Discs) 74321 72122 2 [DDD CD 1 60:37 CD 2 46:32 CD 3 44:47] [CT]
Zehn and Arte Nova allow little opportunity for the listener to revel in the reverberations of Messiaen's unique and colourful sound world.
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) and his Contemporaries. Madrigals by MONTEVERDI, Gesualdo, Wilbye, Gibbons, Morley Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner Regis RRC 1035 [58 mins] [PGW]
John Eliot Gardiner's first recording from 1967, re-released on CD, is a historic/ical document of considerable importance.
MOZART The complete piano concertos Recorded 1961-1969 Camerata Academica des Salzburger Mozarteums/Géza Anda Collectors' edition DG 469 510-2 (8 CDs) [609.46] [CF]
This boxed-set is material for a desert island sojourn of any duration. Enjoy them.
MOZART Oboe Concerto in C, K.314 Franz Vinzenz KROMMER Oboe Concerto in F, op.37, Oboe Concerto in F, op.52 Sarah Francis (oboe), London Mozart Players/Howard Shelley Hyperion Helios CDH55080 [60' 51"] [CH]
The Mozart is perhaps better known as the 2nd Flute Concerto. Performances and recordings are excellent and those attracted by the programme need not hesitate.
MOZART Piano Quartet in g, K.478* Piano Quartet in E flat, K.493* Rondo, K.511 Arthur Rubinstein (pianoforte), Members of the Guarneri Quartet* Recorded 1971* and 1959 BMG RCA Red Seal 09026 63075-2 [64' 36"] [CH]
It isn't exactly Mozart but the Olympian calm of its unflappable easy-going outer movements and warmly flowing slow movements is a wonderful listening experience in its way.
MOZART Piano Sonatas: 6 in D, K284, 11 to 17, K331, K332, K333, K457, K533, K545 and K570 Klara Wurtz (piano). REGIS RECORDS RRC 2037 (DDD) 2 CDs [77. 33 and 70.49] [DW]
Here is that rare joy! Mozart played with life, vibrancy and sheer excitement along with an exquisiteness that is so beautiful and rare that I do not know what to say. It would be a mistake for genuine music lovers not to buy this set.
MOZART Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) Helge Roswaenge, Tiana Lemnitz, Gerhard Hüsch, Erna Berger, Wilhelm Strienz, Favres Solisten Vereinigung, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham Recorded in 1937 & 1938. Production and audio restoration by Mark Obert-Thorn NAXOS Historical 8.110127-28 [130.12] [TD]
There are a number of CD versions of this recording available. I see no reason why this one should not be first choice. In terms of price and availability it couldn't be bettered.
Paul MÜLLER-ZÜRICH (1898-1993) Viola Concerto, Six Piano Pieces, Violin Sonata, Trio (basset-horn, viola and cello), Quartet (violin, clarinet, cello and piano) Gerhard Wieser (viola)
Swiss Radio Orchestra, Beromünster/Edmond de Stoutz Andrew Zolinsky (piano) Roland Roberts (violin) Alan Hacker (clarinet) Miranda Davis (viola) Oliver Gledhill (cello) GUILD GMCD 7194 [79.26] [SJ] [RB]The first conspectus of Müller-Zürich's skilful and usually neo-Baroque music. Viola Concerto well worth hearing. Piano Quartet especially strong.
Gösta NYSTROEM (1890-1966) The Tempest Prelude (1934) Songs by the Sea (1943) Sinfonia del Mare (1948) Charlotte Hellekant (mezzo) Swedish Radio Choir (female section) Swedish RSO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, 4-5 Dec 1997 (Del Mare); 10-14 Jan 2000 Musica Sveciae Modern Classics series PHONO SUECIA PSCD 709 [71.20] [RB]
Superbly recorded. If you are to have one collection of Nystroem this must be it. Everything is poignantly clear and registers boldly. The symphony is one of Sweden's (and the world's) national treasures.
PONCHIELLI (1834-1886) La Gioconda - Opera in Four Acts Giannina Arangi-Lombardi, Ebe Stignani, Camilla Rota, Alessandro Granda, Gaetano Viviani, Corrado Zambelli Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Lorenzo Molajoli & arias by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi sung by Arangi-Lombardi
(orchestras and conductors unidentified) La Gioconda recorded in Milan 10th- 30th September 1931. Arias recorded on various dates between 1926 and 1933 NAXOS (Great Opera Recordings Series) 8.110112-14 3 CDs [169:21] [GP-J]A fascinating issue for 'canary-fanciers' being at the same time a convincing account of a great and still underrated opera.
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Violin Concerto 2 in G Minor, Op 63 with Serge Koussevitsky; Boston SO (rec. 20/12/1937, Symphony Hall, Boston) Louis GRUENBERG (1884-1964) Violin Concerto, Op 47 Jascha HEIFETZ (1901-87) with Pierre Monteux; San Francisco SO rec. 17/12/1945, War Memorial Opera House Naxos 8.110942 [62.12] [SJ]
Lacking any recording of No. 1, the Prokofiev 2 is suitably coupled with the Gruenberg. Naxos don't always manage this, but when they do - as in the Elgar/Walton, it makes purchase mandatory.
PROKOFIEV Love for Three Oranges Soloists, Kirov Chorus and Orchestra Conducted by Valery Gergiev PHILIPS 462 913-2 [101.58] [SF]
This release has been anticipated with understandable impatience and enthusiasm. Make no mistake the wait has been thoroughly worthwhile, this is as fine a recording of Prokofiev's most popular operatic masterpiece as one could imagine.
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Aleko. Vassily Gerello (baritone) Aleko; Olga Guryakova (soprano) Zemfira; Vsevolod Grivnov (tenor) The Young Gypsy; Mikhail Kit (bass) The Old Gypsy; Yurlov Capella; Moscow Chamber Orchestra/Constantine Orbelian. Includes Pushkin's Poem, 'The Gypsies' read in English by Michael York and in Russian by Vassily Lanovoy. Delos DE3269 [two discs] [127'46] [CC]
For anyone who has yet to hear this piece, it may come as something of a revelation. Rachmaninov's Russian roots are at their clearest. The baritone Vassily Gerello is an intensely musical Aleko, providing a beautifully sung Cavatina. The preceding Scene by the Cradle (with Olga Guryakova as Zemfira) is positively heart-melting.
RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Works for Organ, vol. 3 Organ Sonata 8 in E minor Op 132 [26.31] Organ Sonata 9 in B fat minor, Op 142 [28.19] Ten Trios Op 49 [18.47] Wolfgang Rübsaum Organ of Fulda Cathedral rec. Fulda Cathedral, Germany, 15. 2. 99/27. 6. 99 Naxos 8.554549 [73.38] [SJ]
Essential for all Rheinbergerians, though Inning is worth investigating on less duplicated discs. Vol. 3 is perhaps the best place to start.
Niels ROSING-SCHOW (b.1954) Archipel des solitudes for mezzo soprano, choir and orchestra* Windshapes (1992) for winds, harp, piano and percussion+ Hanne Fischer (mezzo-soprano) Danish National Radio SO/Leif Segerstam * recorded Copenhagen Dec 1995 + recorded Copenhagen Sept 1999 DA CAPO 8.224163 [53.19] [GP-J] [AS]
Rosing-Schow's music is new to me, so I have to say that, despite my reservations about Archipel, overall I was excited by this disc.
Miklos RÓZSA Tripartita (1972) Morton GOULD Folk Suite (1938) Gian Carlo MENOTTI Triplo Concerto a Tre (1970) Marc LAVRY Emek - symphonic poem (1936) LSO/David Amos KLEOS CLASSICS KL5103 [72.59] [RB]
Shake off the familiar with this lyrical torte of Middle European and American ingredients.
ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC ON NAXOS
Edmund RUBBRA Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Op.65; Missa in Honorem Sancti Dominici Op.66 ; Tenebrae Nocturnes Op.72 ; Missa Cantuariensis Op.59. Prelude and fugue on a theme of Cyril Scott for organ Op.69; Meditation for Organ Op.79. Choir of St. John's College Cambridge/Christopher Robinson
Robert Houssart (Organ) NAXOS 8.555255 [65.48] [GH]The choir is in excellent form, the music superbly handled and the recording clear and evocative. Another gem in this Rubbra centenary year
RUBBRA Five Motets; Four Carols; Missa á 3; Lauda Sion; The Beatitudes; Five Madrigals; Two Madrigals; Mass in Honour of St Teresa of Avila. Voces Sacrae/Judy Martin. ASV CD DCA 1093. [66.44] [PC]
Two CDs of marvellously eloquent and committed choral performances. They will delight and refresh staunch Rubbra fans and enrich those yet to be converted
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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett, Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and: Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot, Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey, Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd, John Phillips, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Christopher Thomas, Richard Whitehouse, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here