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BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Complete Symphonies Collector's Edition 
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein See review for full details
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 8668 [11 CDs: 746:00]
[ST]
A
hugely dynamic achievement that deserves to be appreciated, warts and
all. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911)
Symphony 7
Royal Concertgebouw O/Bernard Haitink rec. 1983,
HDTT HDCD190 [77:10]
[JZ]
A
fine concert performance and a recording of artisan quality … see
Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860–1911) Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen see SCHUBERT
Gian
Francesco MALIPIERO
(1883-1973)
The Symphonies - Volume 4
Symphony 7, Sinfonia in un tempo, Sinfonia per Antigenida
Moscow SO/Antonio de Almeida rec. 1993
NAXOS 8.570881 [68.41]
[GH]
I
am quite drawn to the music but can’t quite get involved ... see
Full Review
Igor
MARKEVITCH (1912 – 1983) Partita, Le Paradis
Perdu Lucy
Shelton (sop.), Sarah Walker (mezzo), Jon Garrison (ten.),
Martijn van den Hoek (pio); Netherlands Concert Ch., Arnhem
PO/Christopher Lyndon-Gee, rec. 1997 & 1999 NAXOS
8.570773 [75:37] [HC]
A
very fine recording of Partita and a useful, if somewhat imperfect
rendering of Markevitch’s large-scale oratorio … see Full
Review
Yannis
MARKOPOULOS (b.1939) Pyrrichios
Dance 13, Shapes in Motion, Triptych, Concerto-Rhapsody Marc
Grauwels (flute); Dimitri Papatheodorou (piano); Zacharias Spyridakis
(Cretan lyre) Brussels Virtuosi/Iannis Leonidakis, Flanders Opera
SO/Edwig Abrath
rec. 2003/7 NAXOS
GREEK
CLASSICS 8.572237 [73:21] [OL]
Beautiful,
though sometimes predictable ... see Full
Review
Julian
MARSHALL
Out of the Darkness Gavin BRYARS
(b.1943) The Garden Chapel Arvo
PÄRT (b.1935) Spiegel im Spiegel
Melanie Pappenheim (mezzo); Sophie Harris (cello); Lucy Railton (cello);
Ian Belton (piano, keyboard) School House 6 Ens/Howard Moody rec. 2009
MMC
101 [61:33] [CR]
I
could listen to this for hours ... see Full
Review
Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974) Ballade see Ballade
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890
- 1959) Piano
Concertos 3 & 5,
Piano Concertino Giorgio
Koukl (piano)
Bohuslav Martinů PO, Zlín/Arthur Fagen
rec. 2008 NAXOS
8.572206 [77:37] [BBr]
This
issue will give a lot of pleasure … see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Symphony
2 see DVOŘÁK
Jules
MASSENET (1842-1912) Thaïs Renée
Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Metropolitan Opera Ch & O/Jesus
López-Cobos
rec. live 2008 DECCA
0743355 
[138:00] [RMay]
Fleming
is entirely convincing as a flirtatious and seductive courtesan
for whom even a monk might risk his soul. She looks as if she is
genuinely enjoying her role ... see Full
Review
William
MATHIAS (1934-1992) Symphony No.1 see JOUBERT
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Concertos
1 & 2 for two pianos Joshua
Pierce and Dorothy Jonas (pianos)
Slovak State PO/Bystrìk Režucha
rec. 1995 MSR
CLASSICS
MS 1330 [70:27] [JS]
Something
a little relentless here … see Full
Review
Ole-Henrik
MOE (b.
1964) Vent
Litt Lenger Arditti
Quartet, Ole-Henrik Moe (violin) rec. 2009 AURORA ACD
5054 [37:51] [CR]
Highly
modern … highly exciting … left me wanting more ... see Full
Review
Stanislaw
MONIUSZKO (1819 – 1872) 14 Lieder see
Katarzyna Dondalska
Cristóbal
de MORALES (c.1500-c.1553)
Gregorian Chant Gabrieli
Consort and Players; Paul McCreesh rec.1995 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 93904 [76:17] [MS]
Music
as it might have been heard in late sixteenth century Toledo
in the context of other liturgical music. The singing and playing
is of the highest order ... see Full
Review
Finn
MORTENSEN (1922-1983)
Sonata, Op.7 see Norwegian
Imperatives
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Mitridate,
Re di Ponto Henriette
Bonde-Hansen, Maria Fontosh, Danish Radio Sinfonietta/Adam
Fischer, rec. 2002 DRS
6.220580-82 [3 CDs: 68:23 + 56:51 + 42:30] 
[ST]
A
good job from Fischer, but the competition pips him to the post ...
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
- Wilhelm Strienz (bass); Helge Roswaenge (tenor); Walter Grossman
(bass); Ernst Fabbry (tenor); Erna Berger; Tiana Lemnitz ;
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham rec. November 1937-8
ADD
NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7827/8 [62:17 + 69:23]
[MC]
This
is indispensable for any opera collector or lover of great music. Sparkles
and delights … see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
3 & 6, Ruth
Güldbæk
(soprano);
Eric Sjøberg (baritone) Danish State RSO/John Frandsen, Thomas Jensen
rec. 1946-55 DUTTON
CDBP9796 [62:12] [RB]
Jensen:
sheer delight in intricacy and joyously precise; Frandsen: powerful
with mordant accentuation of rhythmic impact and idyllically understated
pastoral warmth ... see Full Review
Joaquín
NIN
(1879 – 1949) The Piano Music
Martin Jones (piano) rec. 2006/7, DDD
NIMBUS NI 5851 [67:15]
[JW]
This
sumptuous and wide-ranging recital ... see Full
Review
Pehr
Henrik NORDGREN (1944 – 2008) Symphonies 7 & 8,
Summer Music Turku
PO/Juha Kangas rec. 2007-8 ALBA
ABCD288 [60:55] [HC]
Nordgren’s
last symphonies in superb performances and recording … see Full
Review
Jan
NOVÁK (1921-1984) Philharmonic
Dances see DVOŘÁK
Carl
ORFF
(1895 – 1981) Carmina Burana (1934)
[64.25] Ann Archibald (soprano); John Graham-Hall (tenor); Peter Sidhom
(baritone)
Boys of the Temple Church Choir, London; The Royal Choral Society Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra/Richard Cooke rec. circa 2000
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9155 [64.25]
A
strong performance but in a crowded market this CD doesn't quite make
it. … see Full Review
Juan
Gutiêrrez de PADILLA (c.1590-1664) Lamentations for
Maundy Thursday see VICTORIA
Sir
Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Hypatia see ALWYN
Arvo
PÄRT (b.1935) Spiegel im Spiegel see
MARSHALL
Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Sacred Works - Volume
2 Missa S. Emidio, Salve Regina in F min., Laudate
pueri Dominum, Manca la guida al pie Veronica
Cangemi, Rachel Harnisch (sop.), Teresa Romano (mezzo), Sara
Mingardo (alto), Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera & Orch.
Mozart/Claudio Abbado, rec. 2009 DEUTSCHE
GRAMMOPHON ARCHIV 477 8463 [72.49] [GH]
Subtle
and beautiful … most sensitively accompanied by Abbado ... see Full
Review
Gregor PIATIGORSKY (1903-1976) Var.
on a Theme of Paganini see POPPER
Gabriel
PIERNÉ (1863 - 1937) Cello sonata, Expansion,
Caprice see French
Cello Sonatas
David
POPPER (1843-1913) Suite for Cello & Piano,
Three Pieces, Im Walde, Gregor PIATIGORSKY (1903-1976) Var.
on a Theme of Paganini Wendy
Warner (cello), Eileen Buck (pno) rec. 2007-8 CEDILLE
RECORDS CDR 90000 111 [79:15] [BR]
Music
by cellists for cellists, played with love … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Francis
POULENC (1899 - 1963) Sacred choral works see RUTTER
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Organ Concerto see HAYDN
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891–1953) Symphony 1 Claude
DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Ibéria (from Images) Camille
SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) Danse Macabre Richard
STRAUSS (1864–1949) Don Juan NBC
SO/Arturo Toscanini, rec. 1950 PRISTINE
AUDIO PASC 208 [57:53] [BBr]
If
Toscanini’s your bag then this is for you … see Full
Review
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Flute
sonata
2 see Music
in Motion
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Turandot (Highlights) Eva
Turner, Giovanni Martinelli, ROH Ch, London PO/John Barbirolli
rec. 1929/37 BARBIROLLI
SOCIETY SJB1032 [74:05] [RB]
Pulse-racing … absolutely
hair-raising ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Edition Vol. 4 - Instrumental
Music rec.
1965-95 WARNER
CLASSICS 2564691390 [5 CDs: 308:44] [JW]
Clearly
has elements that appeal more than others. ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Johann Joachim QUANTZ (1697-1773) Flute
Sonatas Verena
Fischer (transverse flute); Klaus-Dieter Brandt (Baroque cello);
Léon Berben (harpsichord)
rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.557805 [63:28] [CR]
A
lovely disc … enjoyable and of real quality from beginning
to end ... see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOFF
(1873-1943)
Symphony 1, Isle of the Dead
Moscow State SO/Pavel Kogan rec. 1990
ALTO ALC1032 [67:16]
[RMay]
Most
impressive ... see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943)
Piano Concertos 2 & 3
Simon Trpceski (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily
Petrenko rec. 2009
AVIE AV2192 [75:48]
[JQ]
A
fine achievement ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Symphonic Dances, The
Isle of the Dead, The Rock
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2008/9 AVIE
AV2188 [70:09]
[NB]
Not
the final word on either of the two main works but a valid and passionate
vision ... see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV
(1873 - 1943) Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
(1910) [96.11] Protodeacon - Father Andre Papkov (bass) Celebrant
– David Adams (tenor) Second Celebrant – Todd E. Berry (bass)
Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy rec. St. John's Center, Kansas City,
Missouri, 12–15 October 1995
NIMBUS NI 5497/8 [41.26 + 53.45]
[RH]
Even
if you like this account I would recommend getting another which responds
more positively to the drama and vigour of Rachmaninov's setting. ...
see Full Review
Camden
REEVES (1974) Night
Descending Gemini
(Ian Mitchell (bass clarinet) Caroline Balding (violin) Robin
Michael (cello) Clive Williamson (piano) Alison Wells (mezzo)
rec. 2007 CADENZA
MUSIC CACD0807 [45:08] [NB]
Did
not engage my emotions ... see Full
Review
Johannes
REGIS (c.1425-1496) Sacred
choral works The
Clerks/Edward Wickham
rec. 2008 MUSIQUE
EN
WALLONIE MEW0848/9 [67:57 + 58:36] [GPu]
A
first chance to hear, well-recorded and beautifully sung, all the
music of an important figure … see Full
Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Pini di Roma, Fontane di Roma
Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) arr.
Ottorino RESPIGHI La Boutique Fantasque
L’Orchestre de Suisse Romande/LSO/Ernest Ansermet, rec. 1963 & 1950
DECCA
ELOQUENCE 480 0024 [69:44]
[JS]
An
enjoyable and valuable recording … another really worthwhile Ansermet
resurrection … see Full Review
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Belkis Paul
HINDEMITH (1895-1963) Symphonic Metamorphosis Florent
SCHMITT (1870-1958) The
Tragedy of Salome Borusan
Istanbul PO/Sascha Goetzel rec. 2009 ONYX
4048 [77:32] [IL]
For
those seeking exotic and erotic thrills this can hardly fail
... see Full Review
Emil
Nikolaus von REZNICEK
(1860 – 1945) String Quartet No.1 in C sharp minor (1921)
[29:10] Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD
(1897 – 1957) String Quartet No.1 in A major Op.16 (1922/3) [33:33]
Franz
Schubert Quartett, Wien rec. 1996
NIMBUS NI 5506 [62:58]
Franz SCHMIDT (1874 – 1939) String
Quartet in A major (1925) [38:42] String Quartet in G major (1929) [38:56]
Franz
Schubert Quartett, Wien rec.1995
NIMBUS NI 5467 [77:53]
[NB]
Quality
of repertoire, performance, engineering and presentation … see Full
Review
George
ROCHBERG
(b. 1917)
String Quartets Nos. 3-6
Concord String Quartet rec. 1970s, ADD
NEW WORLD 80551-2 [76:01 + 59:23]
[RB]
Four
grand and deeply moving string quartets. Their power may surprise you
in ways you had not expected. ... see Full
Review
Old
Rococo - The life of Gioacchino Rossini rec.
1992 NVC
ARTS 50-51865-6018-2-1 [83:00] [RJF]
An
often-frustrating introduction to the life and works of one of Italy’s
greatest composers ... see Full Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Overtures: La
Gazza Ladra, La Scala di Seta, Il Signor Bruschino, Il Barbiere di Siviglia,
Il Turco in Italia, L’Italiana in Algeri, Semiramide, Guillaume Tell
RPO/Enrique
Batiz, State of Mexico SO/Enrique Batiz
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93994 [70:03]
[JS]
Guaranteed
to bring a smile to your face … see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792
- 1868) La
Cenerentola Joyce
DiDonato (mezzo) Juan Diego Flórez (tenor) Gran Teatre del
Liceu Ch & SO/Patrick Summers
rec. 2008 DECCA/UNITEL
CLASSICA 074 3305 [2
DVDs: 179:00] [RMK]
Splendid
escapism … An enchanting romantic bubble of joy ... see Full
Review
Nino
ROTA
(1911–1979)
piano music
Michelangelo Carbonara (piano) rec. 26–28 November 2008, Studio Barzan,
Milan. DDD
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 9097 [62:47]
[BBr]
Splendid
music played with an unaffected and easy manner … see Full
Review
Edmund
RUBBRA
(1901-1986) String Quartets 1-4, Lyric Movement,
Meditations on a Byzantine Hymn, Improvisation for unaccompanied
cello, Cello Sonata
Michael Dussek (piano) with Dante Quartet (Krysia Osostowicz (violin);
Matthew Truscott (violin); Judith Busbridge (viola); Pierre Doumenge
(cello)) rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 14-17 April 2002
DUTTON EPOCH LXBOX 2010 [71.41 + 59.13]
[RB]
Rubbra
the sombre and sincere lyricist in chamber music that suited his serious
and unadorned style so well. ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH John RUTTER (b.1945) Gloria Leonard
BERNSTEIN (1918 - 1990) Chichester Psalms Francis
POULENC (1899 - 1963) Quatre petites Prières
de Saint François d'Assise,
Litanies à la Vierge Noire Ch
Clare College Cambridge, Corydon Singers/Matthew Best
rec. 1995 BRILLIANT
CLASSICS 9087 [60:04] [BBr]
Don’t
miss it on any account … see Full
Review
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