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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]
[Recommended recordings]

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Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 9 BBC Philharmonic/Kurt Sanderling rec. 1982 BBC LEGENDS BBCL42322 [79:42][JQ] 

A fine achievement and I’m delighted to see it restored to general circulation ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Gustav MAHLER (1860-1811) Symphony 10 Wiener Philharmoniker/Daniel Harding rec. 2007 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4777347 [78.00] [AOz]

A truly distinctive Mahler 10, to challenge and stimulate ... see Full Review

William MATHIAS (1934-1992) Symphony No.1 Op.31 (1966) [31:00] Symphony No.2 (Summer Music) Op.90 (1983) [28:17] BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra/William Mathias rec.1990. DDD NIMBUS NI 5260 [59.25] [RB]

William MATHIAS (1934-1992) Helios, Op. 76 (1977) [15.02] Oboe Concerto (1989) [16:26] Requiescat, Op. 79 (1977) [8.51] Symphony No. 3 (1991) [31:24] David Cowley (oboe) BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra/Grant Llewellyn rec. 1991/1992. DDD NIMBUS NI 5343 [72.22] [RB]

Bell-haunted spells, enchanted coinage and sturdy Celtic magic ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) String Quintet No. 2 in B flat, Op. 87 [31:57] String Quintet No. 1 in A, Op. 18 [33:02] Menuetto (original 3rd movement of Quintet No. 1) [5:26] Fine Arts Quartet (Ralph Evans (violin); Efim Boico (violin); Yuri Gandelsmam (viola); Wolfgang Laufer (cello)); Danilo Rossi (viola) rec. Il Bagno, Steinfurt, Germany, 21-24 March 2007. DDD NAXOS 8.570488 [70:23] [ST]

One can hardly imagine these works being given a more sympathetic reading ... see Full Review

Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Cello Concerto (1945) [30:30] Cello Sonata in A minor (1948) [25:11] Prelude for cello and piano (1944) [4:40] Peers Coetmore (cello) Eric Parkin (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult
rec. 1969/1971 ADD LYRITA SRCD.299 [60:25] [EMc]

Occasional insight and affectionate phrasing set at naught by sub-standard playing ... see Full Review

Ernest John MOERAN (1894-1950) Irish Love Song (1926) [3:29] Theme and Variations (1926) [12:18] On a May Morning (1921) [2:52] Three Fancies (Windmills; Elegy; Burlesque) (1922) [6:50] Summer Valley (1925) [5:20] Three Piano Pieces (The Lake Island; Autumn Woods; At the Horse Fair) (1919) [10:00] Gordon JACOB (1895-1984) Piano Sonata (1957) [19:23] Iris Loveridge (piano) rec. The Music Room, July 1958, May 1959 (Moeran); 26 June 1958 (Jacob). Mono. ADD. first issued on LP as RCS 3 (Moeran); RCS 2 (Jacob). LYRITA REAM.1103 [60:12] [RB]

Radiant heat and total absorption despite mono sound and tape hiss ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem; Die Mauerfreude; Masonic Funeral Music; Little Masonic Cantata rec. 1965-8 DECCA ELOQUENCE 4769781 [79:33][ST]

The Decca machine in its golden age … fantastic value for money. ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Overtures: Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Serenade “Eine Kleine Nachtmusiksee Furtwängler

Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Symphonies Nos. 15 & 27 Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1991-93, ALTO ALC1021 (Olympia OCD 741) [72:48] Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Symphonies Nos. 16 & 19 Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1970 & 1993 ALTO ALC1022 (Olympia OCD 742) [70:42][RB]

Fine recordings of fascinating unique repertoire at bargain price ... see Full Review

Johann Gottlieb NAUMANN (1741-1801) Betulia Liberata - oratorio in two parts (1796) Nele Gramß, Salomé Haller (sopranos); Hans Jörg Mammel, Markus Schäfer (tenors); Harry van der Kamp (bass); Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann Max rec. April 2004, Studio Stolbergstrasse, Cologne, Germany. DDD CPO 777 063-2 [47:21 + 48:10]

A very late specimen of a Metastasio-based oratorio - Max directs a strong cast ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt rec. 2000 NAXOS 8.570737 [67:47][DM]

Schønwandt brings an air of authority to this music that’s impossible to ignore ... see Full Review

Hans OTTE (1926-2007) Stundenbuch (Book of Hours) Roger Woodward (piano) rec. 2006 CELESTIAL HARMONIES 13259 [57:06][JW]

Arrested time, a profoundly involving sense of spiritual density ... see Full Review

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin Concertos 2 & 4 Michael Jelden, Vogtland-Philharmonie, Greiz-Reichenbach/Stefan Fraas rec. 2004 EDITION HERA HERA02115 [60:02] [SV]

Full, firm-bowed … melodies really sing … a nice swing and lilt ... see Full Review

Giovanni PAISIELLO (1740–1816) La Serva Padrona Tiziano Bracci, Gabriella Colecchia, O del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania/Zuccarini rec. 2004 FABULA CLASSICA FAB602 [69.00] [RMc]

A modest price for this appealing performance ... see Full Review

Jean PAPINEAU-COUTURE (1916-2000) Fantaisie pour quintette à vent see Petite Suite Maritime 

Giovanni Pierluigi de PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594) Missa Benedicta es; Missa nasce la gioja mia see Josquin des PRÉS

Lorenzo PALOMO (b.1938) Cantos del alma; Sinfonía a Granada City of Granada Orchestra/Jean-Jacques Kantorow rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570420 [57:59][GPu]

Sinfonía a Granada never less than colourful, Cantos des alma genuinely moving … see Full Review

Paul PATTERSON (b. 1947) Duologue for oboe and piano see From Hafiz to Firewing (and Beyond)

William PERRY (b.1930) Music for Mark Twain films Various Orchestras/William Perry rec. 1980–1986 NAXOS 8.570200 [70:16][BBr]

Small beer indeed ... see Full Review

Alina PIECHOWSKA-PASCAL (b. 1958?) Musique pour la Paix (“Music for Peace”) Alina Piechowska-Pascal (piano, voice, Tibetan singing bowls); Florence Angelloz de la Gauthiere (piccolo, soprano flute, alto flute, bass flute); Barbara Marcinkowska (cello) rec. 1995 QUANTUM QM6956 [64:32][MJ]

Ascension from relentless gestural to graceful and meaningful ... see Full Review

Ildebrando PIZZETTI (1880–1968) Assassinio nella cattedrale (Murder in the Cathedral) (1958) Ruggero Raimondi (bass) – The Archbishop (Thomas Becket)Coro di voci bianche del Conservatorio Piccinni di Bari; Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari/Piergiorgio Morandi Filmed in the Basilica di San Nicola, Bari,2006 DECCA 074 3253 [84:00] [GF]

A harsh but fascinating opera and here a worthy tribute to Raimondi ... see Full Review

Vicente PRADAL (b. 1957) El Diván del Tamarit (Lorca songs) Vicente Pradal (voice); Servane Solana (voice); Alberto García (voice); Rafael Pradal (piano); Emmanuel Joussemet (cello); Hélène Arntzen (saxophone); Renaud García-Fons (double-bass); Edouard Coquard (percussion); Paloma Pradal (voice); Luis Rigou (kena) rec. 2008 VIRGIN CLASSICS 5190332 [44:36] [RB]

The music glowers with an unwavering stare reaching across the centuries ... see Full Review

Plainchant: Benedicta es Josquin des PRÉS (c.1440-1521) Benedicta es Giovanni Pierluigi de PALESTRINA (c.1525-1594) Missa Benedicta es; Missa nasce la gioja mia The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 1981-6 GIMELL gImse402 [75:28][BW]

A recommendable alternative to purchasing these excellent performances on CD ... see Full Review

Francis POULENC ( 1899-1963) Litanies à la Vierge Noire see Salve Regina

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Josquin des PRÉS (c.1440-1521) Missa Sine Nomine; Missa ad Fugam The Tallis Scholars/Peter Phillips rec. 2007 GIMELL CD and DOWNLOAD CDGIM039 [69:12][BW] 

Superb performances of little-known but splendid works ... see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concerto No. 2 Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto Yundi Li (piano); Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa rec. 2007 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4776593 [51:14][MC]

A performer thoroughly inside the music providing excitement, drama and affecting emotion ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Popular Puccini: Tosca, Boheme, Butterfly - films of Puccini’s most popular Operas in one box DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 073 4417 [363:00][AB]

Classic films which despite minor faults are up with the best ... see Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Theatre Music - Volume 1 Amphytrion, Sir Barnaby Whigg, The Gordian Knot Unty’d, Circe Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570149 [59:32] [MG]

Lively performances of a good cross-section of Purcell’s theatre music … see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 (1900-1) [32:26] Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (1909) [38:23] Stephen Hough (piano) Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Litton rec. in concert, McDermott Concert Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, April-May 2004 HYPERION CDA 67649 [70:54] [SV]

Hough's indelible pianism earns this disc a library niche ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Piano Concerto “no.5” (Symphony no.2, arr. Alexander Warenberg) Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy (piano); Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra/Theodor Kuchar rec. 2007 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 8900 [42:24][RM]

I hate oysters – but I loved this disc! ... see Full Review

Joseph Joachim RAFF (1822-1882) La fée d’amour, morceau caractéristique; Suite for solo violin and orchestra; Violin Concerto No. 1 Tobias Ringborg (violin); Symphony Orchestra of Norrlands Opera/Andrea Quinn rec. 2007 STERLING CDS10752 [76:52][RB] 

Delicacy, dash and romantic fluency in the Bruch-Mendelssohn heritage ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto see PROKOFIEV

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Concerto see Scherchen

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Quartet for clarinet, violin, viola and cello see BERKELEY

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Pini di Roma, La Boutique Fantasque, Impressioni brasiliane Philharmonia O/Alceo Galliera rec. 1955-59 MEDICI  MM0222 [73:19] [CH]

The ubiquitous “accompanying conductor” emerges on his own account as a skilled but slightly anonymous practitioner ... see Full Review

Knudage RIISAGER (1897-1974) Benzin; Til Apollon, Lysets Gud; Archaeopteryx Danish National SO/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 2007 DACAPO 6.220527 [70:23] [RB]

The evocation of primeval sounds ... see Full Review

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Piano Concerto see KABALEVSKY

Julius RÖNTGEN (1855-1932) Chamber Music: Right through the Bone Artists of the Royal Conservatory of Canada rec. 2007 BMG-RCA RED SEAL 88697158372 [73.12][GH]

Wonderfully warm, committed and utterly convincing. A fascinating disc ... see Full Review

Ned ROREM (b. 1923) Piano Concerto 2, Cello Concerto Simon Mulligan (piano); Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) Royal Scottish Ntl O/José Serebrier rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.559315 [59:18] [JQ]

Be stimulated and entertained by these two fine works ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’Italiana in Algeri: Sinfonia see BEETHOVEN

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Complete Piano Music - Vol. 1 Péchés de vieillesse, Vols VII & IX Alessandro Marangoni (piano) rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570590-91 [57:58 + 64:59] [DC]

Start collecting Rossini’s ‘Sins’ right here ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Cambiale Di Matrimonio Orchestra Haydn Di Bolzano E Trento/Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli rec. 2006 NAXOS 2.110228 [83:13][RJF]

Naxos carries its tradition of Rossini recordings onto DVD ... see Full Review

Christopher ROUSE (b. 1949) Symphony No. 2 (1994) [26:52] Flute Concerto (1993) [31:15] Phaethon (1986) [8:00] Carol Wincenc (flute) Houston Symphony/Christoph Eschenbach rec. Jones Symphony Hall, Houston, Texas, 24 September, 1 October 1996. DDD TELARC CD-80452 [65:29] [RB]

Rhythmic adrenaline ... a lyric reflective melancholia ... see Full Review

 


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]
[Recommended recordings]


iametric opposites: with my tongue ever-so-slightly in my cheek, I could say that Partch



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