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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]


Superbudget £5.99 or less Budget £6-7.99 Medium £8-10.99 Full price £11+ Download

Edward MacDOWELL (1860-1908) Hamlet, Ophelia see Inspired by Shakespeare and Hamlet

James MacMILLAN (b. 1959) Choral music see LEIGHTON

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 2 Adriana Kučerová (soprano) Christianne Stotijn (mezzo) London PO/Ch/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2009 LPO-0054 [21:18 + 61:11] [JQ]

There are several recordings of this symphony that have stronger claims on the attentions of collectors than this one.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphonies 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9 New York PO, WD RO Köln, Vienna PO/ Dimitri Mitropoulos rec. 1956-60 MUSIC AND ARTS CD-1021 [6 CDs: 454:20] [JQ]

An important and challenging set that deserves a place in any self-respecting Mahler collection.

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) The Complete Symphonies London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt Rec. 1977-1993 EMI CLASSICS 50999 0 94493 2 9 [16 CDs] [RMo]

Integrity and honesty of response in harmony with technical proficiency. Tennstedt's place amongst the greatest interpreters of Mahler is secure.

Carlo MARTELLI (b.1935) Symphony see JOUBERT

Destination Paris Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) String Trios 1 & 2 Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997) String Trio George ENESCU (1881-1955) Aubade Lendvai String Trio rec. 2009 STONE RECORDS 5060192780079 [55:50] [SA]

A rendezvous with the music of three unique musical voices.

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Songs Vol. 1 Jana Wallingerová (mezzo) Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572588 [79:28] [WH]

Forty-one songs at less than two minutes a song: a beautifully performed recital that merits careful but selective listening. 


RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Duo for violin and cello 1 see Duos for Violin & Cello

 

Martín MATALON (b.1958) Trames II, IV & VIII Florence Cioccolani (piano) Maude Gratton (harpsichord) Eriko Minami (marimba) Les Siècles/François Xavier Roth rec. 2008/09 ACTES SUD MUSICALES ASM059 [49:48] [Byz]

Exciting contemporary music that retains a recognisable direction, rhythms and even bits of tune.

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Apparition de l'Eglise Eternelle (1932) [8:02] La Nativité du Seigneur (1935) [57:08] Jean-Pierre Lecaudey (organ) rec. 2002, DDD
PAVANE ADW 7528 [65:10] [DM]

One could carp about this detail or that but in toto this is a performance of real stature; I’m thrilled to have it on my shelves.

Ludwig MINKUS (1826-1917) La Bayadère Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, Marianela Nuñez, Royal Opera House O/Valeriy Ovsyanikov rec. 2009 OPUS ARTE OA1043D [167.00] [MMB]

One of the best productions of a classical ballet that the ROH has ever staged or filmed.

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) L’Orfeo Giovanni Sinimberghi, Uta Graf, Patricia Brinton, Die Wiener Singakademie, Vienna SO/Paul Hindemith rec. 1954 MUSIC AND ARTS CD-1237 [56:20 + 52:39] [JS]

I listened dutifully but it is hard to greet this issue with more than very muted enthusiasm.

Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610) L’Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar (theorbo) rec. 15-22 April 2010, Arsenal de Metz VIRGIN CLASSICS 641994-2 [71.09 + DVD: 22.05] deluxe version [GH]

Sheer vitality and excitement. Beautifully recorded and presented.

Philip MOORE (b. 1943) Awake Up My Glory - Choral and organ music Jonathan Vaughn (organ) Exon Singers/Matthew Owens rec. 2009 REGENT REGCD315 [71:15] [JQ]

Philip Moore’s expertly written and very attractive music has been well served on this very welcome disc.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos 1-4; Piano Concertos after J C Bach 1-3; Symphony 14 Malcolm Bilson (fortepiano) American Classical O/Thomas Crawford NIMBUS NI 2579/80 [55:42 + 50:49] [JS]

A well presented selection, well played, clearly if closely recorded, and offered at bargain price.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Divertimento in E flat major K.563 Henning Kraggerud (violin) Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Christoph Richter (cello) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.572258 [51:03] [JS]

The more I hear it the more I am convinced that the Divertimento K563 is one of Mozart’s very greatest works.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Complete Keyboard Works Bart van Oort, Ursula Dütschler (fortepiano) rec. 1997-2005 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94198 [14 CDs: c.14 hrs] [KM]

A fine collection at a nice price, but I’m not overwhelmed by the performances.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Arias Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (bass-baritone) O del Teatro Regio di Torino/Gianandrea Noseda rec. 2010 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9297 [60:45] [GF]

One of the most thrilling bass recitals that has come my way.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro Cesare Siepi (bass) Roberta Peters (soprano) Ezio Flagello (bass) Regina Resnik (mezzo) Mildred Miller (mezzo) Kim Borg (bass) Ch & O Met Op New York/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1961 SONY CLASSICS 88697 853102 [3 CDs: 155:59] [JS]

This poorly presented set has been a sad disappointment.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonatas 10, 11, 12 & 14 Maria João Pires (piano) rec. 1974 REGIS RRC1345 [76:06] [JW]

Easeful, fluent, legato-rich and clement performances avoiding a sense of drama and inner contrast in favour of emollient gentility.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Coronation Mass see HAYDN

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) German Dances, Contredances see BRAHMS

Oscar NEDBAL (1874-1930) Die Winzerbraut (The Vineyard Bride) - Operette in drei Akten (1913) [99:58] Soloists Chor und Orchester des Musik Theater Schönbrunn/Herbert Mogg rec. 2010 CPO 777 629-2 [99:58] [NB]

A fine addition to CPO’s catalogue of operetta rarities and perhaps the start of Nedbal’s overdue reassessment.

Michael NYMAN Composer in Progress Silvia Beck (director) ARTHAUS MUSIK 101483 [52:00] [KM]

This documentary doesn’t go very deep but gives a nice glimpse of the career and music of one of the most interesting of contemporary composers.

Giovanni Antonio PANDOLFI MEALLI (1629 - after 1679) Violin sonatas Gunar Letzbor (violin) Ars Antiqua Austria rec. 2010 ARCANA A 360 [56:15] [JV]

Letzbor’s playing is admirable, but the performance as a whole is marred by exaggerations in the tempi and the scoring of the basso continuo. 

Alfredo PIATTI (1822-1901) Capriccio sopra un tema della Niobe di Pacini Dodici Capricci Soo Bae (cello) rec. 2008 NAXOS 8.570782 [54:16] [BR]

A real treat for fans of the cello: solo works imaginatively written and impeccably played.

Jacques OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann see Domingo

Arvo PäRT (b.1935) L’Abbé Agathon Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Oratorio de Noël Pärt: Anna Maria Chiuri (mezzo); Bologna Cello Project; Saint-Saëns: Stefania Donzelli (soprano); Kamelia Kader (mezzo); Isabella Conti (alto); Patrizio Saudelli (tenor): Lucio Mauti (baritone); Mario Ciferri (organ) Coro Colombati Città di Pergola; Orchestra da Camera delle Marche/Roberto Molinelli rec. 2008/10 SHEVA SH036 [51:55]

One of those very individual discs that sticks in the memory and demands immediate replay.

Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) spiegel im spiegel see INNER VOICE

Ástor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Tangos for Violin, Brass and Percussion Quintet Andrea Tacchi (violin), Quintetto di Ottoni e Percussioni della Toscana rec. 2009, DDD NAXOS 8.572611 [64:09] [OL]

For seasoned fans as well as novices.

Encuentro Ástor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Camorra I-II-III, Contrabajissimo Gustavo BEYTELMANN (b.1945) Encuentro, Otras voces, El desaparecido Quatuor Caliente rec. 2010 ÆON AECD1107 [64:21] [OL]

Advanced Nuevo Tango, for those who want to dig deeper. 

Cole PORTER (1891-1964) A Tribute to Cole Porter Wilfried Van den Brande (bass baritone) J. Machtel Qtet, Nuremberg SO/Dirk M. Baert rec. 2009/10 SWELLS PRODUCTIONS [5 CDs: 220:54] [IL]

A welcome celebration of a great 20th century compositional talent by 21st century artists.

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) Voyage à Paris Felicity Lott (soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor) Richard Jackson (baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 1984 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55366 [67:46] [Byz]

Lott sings very well in French: husky, lovely in her upper register and with 'controlled abandon' where necessary.

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Romeo and Juliet Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Boris Gruzin rec. 2007 DECCA 074 3336 [138:00] [DM]

Nureyev and Fonteyn will always be iconic but this is in another league entirely. 

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly rec. 2004/07 DYNAMIC 33684 [3 DVDs: 372:00] [RJF]

Two imaginative productions rather averagely sung and one incomprehensible, one graced with a well sung and acted heroine.

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly Raffaella Angeletti, Massimiliano Pisapia, Fondazione O Regionale Delle Marche/Daniele Callegari rec. 2009 UNITEL/C MAJOR 706304 [137:00] [RF]

A naturalistic production well realised with the participants doing justice to Puccini’s creation.

Uljas PULKKIS (b. 1975) On the Crest of Waves, Tales of Joy, Passion and Love, Vernal Bloom Kari Kriikku (clarinet) Gabriel Suovanen (baritone) Tampere PO/Hannu Lintu rec. 2010/2011 ONDINE ODE 1176-2 [62:37] [HC]

Splendid performances in magnificent a recording of this attractive music.

Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Songs and Sacred Arias The Deller Consort rec. 1959 REGIS RRC1366 [74:58] [JW]

A nostalgic and well transferred recital.

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Sergei RAKHMANINOV (1873-1943) The piano Concertos Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, John Lill (piano) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki Otaka rec. 1993-1996. DDD NIMBUS NI 1720 [3 CDs: 64:37 + 71:53 + 71:17] [JQ RB]

Consistently satisfying performances that reveal Rachmaninov’s music to the listener faithfully and without unnecessary ostentation. [JQ] An evocative synthesis of ursine majesty and razory melancholy. [RB]

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1 & 4 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Simon Trpceski (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009-2011 AVIE AV2191 [77:09] [JQ]

If you haven’t already sampled this fine partnership of Trpceski and Petrenko in Rachmaninov, don’t delay any longer!

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphonies 1-3, Symphonic Movement, Vocalise Royal Scottish Ntl O/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 2001 BIS-CD-1665/66 [3 CDs: 199:51] [SV]

The texture and tone are consistently light and melodramatic surges and swells are eschewed.

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Miroirs see SCHUMANN

Max REGER (1873-1916) Organ Works - Vol. 11: Twelve Pieces; Thirteen Chorale Preludes Hans-Jürgen Kaiser (organ) rec. 2010 NAXOS 8.572466 [59:36] [GD]

It is going to take a recording with more impact than this one to win the composer many new converts.

Max REGER (1873-1916) Variations and Fugue on a theme of Mozart see BRAHMS

Jay REISE (b.1950) **The River Within - Violin Concerto see To the point

Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Quartetto Dorico, Violin sonata, Six Pieces Quartetto della Scala rec. 2011 CONCERTO CD 2060 [77:52] [IL]

A worthy collection of less well-known Respighi chamber pieces performed with virtuosity and vivacity.

Joseph Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Clarinet Sonata see BRAHMS

Terry RILEY (1685-1750) In C Salt Lake Electric Ens rec. 2010 SALT LAKE ELECTRIC ENSEMBLE SLEE001 [65:56] [DC]

Fascinating and successful project. 

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade see Russian Ballet Music

George ROCHBERG (1918-2005) Sonata for Viola and Piano (1979) [19:36] see INNER VOICE

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Venezia Johann ROSENMÜLLER (1619-1684) Sonatas Giovanni LEGRENZI (1626-1690) Sonatas Alessandro STRADELLA (1639-1682) Sinfonias Rare Fruits Council/Manfredo Kraemer rec. 2010 AMBRONAY AMY028 [81.53] [GH]

Not just a disc for specialists. Exemplary musicianship, breath-taking virtuosity and superb presentation. Sheer musical pleasure.

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792 – 1868) La cambiale di matrimonio Vito Priante, Julija Samsonova, Daniele Zanfardino, Württemberg PO/Christopher Franklin rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.660302 [71.36] [RH]

Lively and involving … a fine addition to the expanding list of Rossini operas on Naxos.

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’italiana in Algeri Simone Alaimo (buffa bass) Jeanette Fischer (soprano) Anthony Smith (bass) Bruce Ford (tenor) Jennifer Larmore (mezzo) Alessandro Corbelli (buffa baritone) O & Ch Paris Opera/Bruno Campanella rec. 1998 ARTHAUS MUSIK 107 127 [148:00] [RJF]

Larmore’s singing together with a fine acting cast rescue this production from slapstick and one can just about see the difference between Rossini’s opera giocosa and a farsa.

Andrew RUDIN (b.1939) *Canto di Ritorno - Concerto, for violin and small orchestra see To the point


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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