Albéric MAGNARD (1865-1914) Hymne à la Justice (1902) [14.59] - Suite dans le Style Ancien (1889) [13.58] - Chant Funèbre (1895) [15.57] - Ouverture (1894) [12.29] - Hymne à Vénus (1904) [13.51] Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg/Mark Stringer - Rec. Luxembourg Conservatoire, 17-21 Sept 2001, DDD TIMPANI 1C1067 [72.03] [RB]

Much pleasingly inventive writing ... a surprising composer whose originality reaches out from these scores ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No. 9 in D Minor (1909-10) Berliner Philharmoniker/Claudio Abbado - Recorded in the Philharmonie, Berlin in September 1999 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 624-2 [81.03] [TD]

In playing and interpretation it takes its place among the finest and I recommend it warmly. … see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Piano Music Fantaisie et Toccata (1940) [18.03] Etudes and Polkas - Books 1-3 (1945) [34.02] Sonata (1954) [19.05] František Malý (piano) rec. Prague, 1995, 1999, DDD, AAD PANTON 81 1426-2 131 [71.35] [RB]

A worthy collection serving as a better than decent single disc introduction to Martinů's piano output. ... see Full Review

Bohuslav MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Julietta - A Dream-Book (1936-7) Lyrical Opera in three acts libretto by Martinů after play by Georges Neveux (1900-1983) Maria Tauberová (Julietta) Ivo Žídek (Michel) Chorus of the National Theatre, Prague/Milan Malý Orchestra of the National Theatre, Prague/Jaroslav Krombholc rec Domovina Studio, Prague, 2-8 Jan 1964, AAD SUPRAPHON 10 8176-2 613 [3CDs: 44.14; 60.36; 39.55] [RB]

Surreal music drama defying operatic convention, illuminated by Martinů's gorgeous yet poetically fastidious palette. ... see Full Review

Giuseppe MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Piano Quintet in C major, Op. 45 (1878) Piano Trio in C major, Op. 59 (1883) Mario Borciani (piano) Giovane Quartetto Italiano Rec: Tonstudio van Geest, Sandhausen/Heidelberg, 5-8 March 1992 CLAVES CD 50-9210 [74:42] [GL]

Accessible, bold and melodic … performed with enthusiasm and élan … see Full Review

Giuseppe MARTUCCI (1856-1909) Piano Quintet in C major (1878) [33.10] - Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936) Piano Quintet in F minor (1902) [15.29] Patrizia Prati (piano) - Quartetto di Venezia - rec. Lugano, Auditorium RTSI, 23-25 Oct 1992, DDD AURA 416-2 [47.31] [RB]

World premiere recordings of two splendid late romantic quintets. ... see Full Review

William Rhys MEEK (b. 1963) 'A fenland journey' - music for piano Winter moth; The wind in the reeds; Fireworks fair; Rosa; Waterland; The spire; The frozen fen; Cloudburst; Straw Bear; Queen Anne's Lace; From beneath The Plough; Page from a Christmas diary; Skating; The eight-sided lantern; The water machine; Churchyard moss; Mirror fields; Coltsfoot; Demoiselles; The Lapwing's nest; Rain on dark water; Sea purslane; Whirligig; Swans to roost; The 'copper fields': Gascoigne's way; While you slept. William Rhys Meek, piano Recorded at No Machine Studios, Wokingham, England 20^th March 2002. No catalogue number [41.51] [NH]

Music of landscapes, real and imagined, fans of the British pastoral tradition or the mellower side of minimalism ought to investigate forthwith … see Full Review

Melcher MELCHERS (1882-1961) Symphony in D minor Op. 19 (1924-25) [35.38] - Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 23 (1931) [32.35] - Johann Ullén (piano) Royal Stockholm PO/Mats Rondin - rec. Berwald Hall, Stockholm, 28-30 May 2001 (symphony); 3-5 June 2002 (concerto) DDD - Musica Sveciae series PHONO SUECIA PSCD 717 [68.13] [RB]

The romantic piano concerto for those who wish to avoid barnstormers and a Symphony played with emphatic virility.... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Olivier MESSIAEN (1908 – 1992) Des canyons aux étoiles ... (1971/4) Roger Muraro (piano); Jean-Jacques Justafé (horn); Francis Petit (xylorimba); Renaud Muzzolini (Glockenspiel) Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France/Myung-Whun Chung Recorded: Radio France, Salle Olivier Messiaen, July 2001 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 471 617-2 [47:52 + 44:15] [HC]

Impressive and often deeply moving … beautifully ecstatic … Chung has long demonstrated his empathy with Messiaen’s music … see Full Review

Arthur MEULEMANS (1884 – 1966) String Quartet No.2 (1932) - String Quartet No.3 (1933) - Piano Quintet (1946)^a - Herman MEULEMANS (1893 – 1965) Five Piano Pieces^b Stijn Kolacny (piano)^a; Steven Kolacny (piano)^b; Arriaga String Quartet - Recorded: St. Jozefscollege, Aarschot, April 1996 PHAEDRA 92011 [57:32] [HC]

Meulemans’ music in its lighter mood. … See Full Review

Meredith MONK (born 1942) Mercy Theo Bleckmann, Alison Easter, Katie Geissinger, Ching Gonzalez, Meredith Monk (voices); Allison Shiffin (voice, piano, synthesizer, viola, violin); John Hollenbeck (voice, percussion, melodica, piano); Bohdan Hilash (clarinets) - Recorded: Sorcerer Sound, New York, March 2002 ECM New Series 1879 (472 468-2) [57:23]

An unquestionably sincere and honest piece of music making superbly played and recorded … see Full Review

Ignaz MOSCHELES (1794-1870) - La Forza Op.31 No.1 [10.20] - La Tenerezza Op. 52 No.1 [6.48] - Four Divertimenti Op.82 [17.19] - Gigue Op.58 [4.45] - Pastorale Op.52 No.2 [3.12] - Sonata Concertante Op.44 (1819) [29.45] - Grande Etude Op.126 [3.23] Clive Conway (flute) - Christine Croshaw (piano) - Rec - no details supplied MERIDIAN CDE 84388 [76.03] [CF]

All tuneful music played expertly … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni K.527 - Giuseppe Taddei (Don Giovanni, baritone), Maria Curtis Verna (Donna Anna, soprano), Carla Gavazzi (Donna Elvira, soprano), Cesare Valletti (Don Ottavio, tenor), Antonio Zerbini (Il Commendatore, bass), Italo Tajo (Leporello, bass), Elda Ribetta (Zerlina, soprano), Vito Susco (Masetto, baritone) Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Torino della RAI/Max Rudolf - Recorded 28th June 1955, Turin CETRA OPERA COLLECTION, WARNER FONIT 0927 43561-2 [3 CDs: 54:48, 51:21, 56:58] [CH]

A recording that adds up to more than the sum of its considerable parts … opera buffs will want it for Taddei, Valletti and the little recorded Carla Gavazzi. … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756 - 1791) Piano Quartet in g, K 478 (1785) [24.17] - Piano Quartet in Eb, K 493 (1786) [28.20] Christian Zacharias, piano; Frank-Peter Zimmerman, violin - Tabea Zimmerman, viola; Tilmann Wick, cello. Recorded at Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele, Germany, November 1988 - Stereo LPCM AC-3 Digital 5.1 DTS digital 5.1 - PAL 4:3 No region code Format DVD-5 - Notes in English, German, and French TDK DV-PQWAM [60.00] [PS]

Fine performances of these great works, excellent sound, clear picture … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Requiem (1791) A Naxos Musical Journey Magdaléna Hajóssyová, Soprano Jaroslava Horská, Alto Jozef Kundlák, Tenor Peter Mikulás, Bass Vladimir Rusó, Organ Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus/Zdenek Kosler Digital Surround Audio (5.1) DVD International DVDI 1028 [54:17] [JL]

A solid Naxos CD recording of the Requiem is recycled into a travelogue version for DVD. Stunning Austrian locations. … see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Flute Concerto (1925) [18.38] - Clarinet Concerto (1928) [23.17] - Helios Overture (1903) [10.03] - Pan and Syrinx (1918) [8.14] - Rhapsodic Overture (1927) [10.02] - Maskarade: Overture and Prelude to Act II (1905) [9.07] - Julius Baker (flute) - Stanley Drucker (clarinet) - New York PO/Leonard Bernstein (concertos) Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy (Helios, Pan, Rhapsodic Overture, Maskarade) - rec 1950s and 1960s, no precise recording data given, ADD SONY ESSENTIAL CLASSICS SBK87749 [79.01] [RB]

Recommendable for the rambunctious concertos. The smaller pieces are not quite the bonus you might have hoped for. … see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Violin Concerto Op 33 FS61 (1911) - Five Songs; Sang bag Ploven - Dengang Døden var I vente - I aften - Irmelin Rose - Min Pige er saa lys som Rav - Rued LANGGAARD (1893-1952) String Quartet No 3 (1924) - Saeka Matsuyama (violin) with The Odense Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jan Wagner - Lars Thodberg Bertelsen (baritone) and Frode Stengaard (piano) - The Miró String Quartet - Recorded during the Danish Wave Festival and during The Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, both held in New York in 1999. BRIDGE 9100 [61.47] [JW]

Much more than a souvenir of a competition or concert season this is an attractive disc in its own right, persuasively interpreted and pleasantly documented. … see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Violin Concerto (1911) [36.53] Clarinet Concerto (1928) [24.07] Little Suite (1888) [13.53] Henrik Hannisdal (violin) Kullervo Kojo (clarinet) Tim Ferchen (percussion) Norwegian Radio Orchestra/Terje Mikkelsen (violin concerto); Ari Rasilainen (suite) Finnish Radio SO/Jukka Pekka-Saraste (clarinet concerto) rec 1993-1998 Finlandia Records DDD WARNER APEX 0927-48311-2 [77.07] [RB]

Provocative and inspirational. ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphony No. 3 Sinfonia Espansiva (1911) [36.14] Symphony No. 4 Inextinguishable (1915) [35.31] BBC Scottish SO/Osmo Vänskä rec. City Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, 17-18 Mar 2002 (3); 5-6 May 2002 (4) DDD BIS BIS-CD-1209 [72.48]

Furious abandon in Espansiva. Good to excellent performances, extremely well engineered. ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphony No. 5 (1922) [34.48] - Symphony No. 6 (1925) [31.37] Finnish Radio SO/Jukka-Pekka Saraste - rec. Culture Hall, Helsinki, Sept 1997 (5); Sept 1999 (6) WARNER ELATUS 0927 49424-2 [66.27] [RB]

A sound, unglamorous and inexpensive introduction ... see Full Review

THE HISTORIC CARL NIELSEN COLLECTION: Vol. 1 Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies: 1 in g (1891-92) FS 16, 2 – "The Four Temperaments" (1901-02) FS 29, 3 – "Sinfonia Espansiva" (1910-11) FS 60, 4 – "The Inextinguishable" (1914-16) FS 76, 5 (1921-22) FS 97, 6 – "Sinfonia Semplice" (1924-25) FS 116 Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Erik Tuxen (1, 5), Launy Grøndahl (2), Thomas Jensen (3, 4, 6); soloists in no. 3: Kirsten Hermansen (soprano), Erik Sjøberg (baritone) Recorded June 26th 1957 (1), June 7th 1956 (2), June 20th 1959 (3), September 2nd 1952 (4), April 22nd 1955 (5), June 17th-19th 1952 (6) Recorded in Danish Radio Studio 1 (1-4, 6), Paris (5); nos. 1-5 live, 6 from a TONO recording DANACORD DACOCD 351-3 [3 CDs: 65:33+68:17+69:26] [CH]

For those who want to get under the skin of the music these recordings are a necessary supplement to the modern cycles. … see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Piano Music Chaconne Op. 32 (1916) [9.18] Suite - Den Luciferiske Op. 45 (1920) [20.50] Three Piano Pieces Op. 59 (1928) [10.03] Five Piano Pieces Op. 3 (1890) [7.27] Humoreske-bagateller Op. 11 (1897) [4.53] Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) rec. 27-31 Mar 1995, St George's, Brandon Hill, DDD VIRGIN CLASSICS 7243 5 62040 2 7 [54.23] [RB]

Alive with sturdy fantasy. ... see Full Review

Ludolf NIELSEN (1876-1939) String Quartet No. 2 in C minor Op. 5 (1904) [30.39] String Quartet No. 3 in C major Op. 41 (1920) [26.10] Aros Quartet rec. Studio 2, Radiohuset, Danmarks Radio, 10-14 Dec 2000 DDD CPO 999 698-2 [56.52] [RB]

Ludolf Nielsen engaging with the sharper emotions. Wonderful playing by the Aros. ... see Full Review

Michael NYMAN (b.1944) Facing Goya – An opera in four acts (2000) - Libretto by Victoria Hardie - Craniometrist 1/ Eugenicist/Art Critic1/Microbiologist – Winnie Bowe (soprano) - Craniometry Assistant 2/Art Critic 2/Genetic Research Doctor – Marie Angel (soprano) - Art Banker/Widow – Hilary Summers (contralto) -
Craniometry Assistant 2/Eugenicist/Art Critic 3/ Chief Executive of a Bio-Tech Company – Harry Nicoll (tenor) - Craniometrist 2/Art Critic 4/Genetic Academic/Goya – Omar Ebrahim (baritone) Michael Nyman Band/Michael Nyman -
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, June 2001, March and May 2002 and Snake Ranch, May 2002 DDD WARNER CLASSICS 0927 45342-2 [2 CDs -71’56/ 61’54] [TH]

One is left with the nagging sense that this really is for Nyman aficionados only. … see Full Review

George ONSLOW (1784-1853) String Quartets Vol. 3 - String Quartet No.4 Op.8/1 in C minor (1817) [19.58] - Largo - Allegro agitato; Adagio; Minuetto. Allegretto; Finale. Presto - String Quartet No.25 Op.50 in B flat major (1836) [26.41] - Allegro moderato; Scherzo. Vivace assai; Andante grazioso; Finale. Allegro vivace - String Quartet No.20 Op.46/2 in F major (1834) [26.26] - Allegro; Andante. Sostenuto semplice; Menuetto. Vivace; Allegro vivace e scherzo Mandelring Quartet - rec Studio Karlsruhe, Germany, 12-15 December 2000 CPO 999 793-2 [73.01] [CF]

CPO are on to a winner. … see Full Review

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Complete Violin Concertos - Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor (1829/30) [31.49] Allegro maestoso [16.39] - Adagio flessibile con sentimento [4.41] - Rondo galante: Andantino gaio [10.29] - Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 6 (1817) [34.51] Allegro maestoso [19.59] - Adagio espressivo [5.13] - Rondo: Allegro spirituoso [9.39] - Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor [47.55] Allegro maestoso [18.55] - Andante un poco sostenuto [8.35] - Rondo [10.25] - Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor Op. 7 (1826) [31.03] Allegro maestoso [15.24] - Adagio [6.57] - Rondo à la clochette [8.42] - Violin Concerto No. 3 in E major (c. 1826) [36.45] Introduzione. Andantino - Allegro marziale [17.31] - Adagio. Cantabile spianato [7.10] - Polacca. Andantino vivace [12.04] - Violin Concerto No. 6 in E minor Op. posth. [39.05] Risoluto [20.38] - Adagio [6.57] - Rondò ossia Polonese [11.30] - Alexandre Dubach (violin) Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo - Michel Sasson/Lawrence Foster (conductors) - rec at the Opera or Congress Hall, Monte Carlo between December 1991and November 1994 CLAVES CD 50 - 9800/3 3cds [214.17] [CF]

The only thing missing after each is the roar of applause from an adoring audience, for that’s what Paganini would have been expecting. … see Full Review

PIANO TRIOS Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) The Four Seasons (version for Piano Trio by J. Bragato) Daniel SCHNYDER (b.1961) Piano Trio (1999/2000)Charles IVES (1874-1954) Piano Trio (1904/1911) Zürcher Klaviertrio (Gabriel Adorján, violin; Joël Marosi, cello; Christiane Frucht, piano) Recorded at the Grosser Sendesaal/Funkhaus WDR, Cologne, February 27^th - March 2^nd 2001. CLAVES CD 50-2106 [72.21] [NH]

An imaginative, varied but also logically constructed recital, containing at least one truly essential piece … see Full Review

David POPPER (1843-1913) Romantic Cello Favourites Janos Starker (cello) Shigeo Neriki (piano) rec Musical Arts Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 9-11 May 1988 DELOS DE 3065 [74.09] [CF]

Highly enjoyable from start to finish, and a must for cellists, of course. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Ballade, Opus 15 (1912) - Five Melodies, Opus 35b (1925) - Sonata for cello and piano, Opus 119 (1949) - Sonata for solo cello (completed Blok), Opus 133 (1953) - Waltz from The Stone Flower, Opus 118, (arr. Piatigorsky) - March from The Love for Three Oranges, Opus 33, (arr. Piatigorsky) - Adagio from Cinderella, Opus 97 (1944) Raphael Wallfisch (cello), John York (piano) - Recorded 8 July 1998, St George's Brandon Hill, Bristol (Ballade, Sonatas); 30 July 1999, Potton Hall Suffolk, (Melodies, Waltz, March, Adagio) BLACK BOX BBM 1027 [65.21] [TB]

Wonderfully entertaining, very well played … a particularly successful disc. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano sonatas, Vol. 2 - Sonata No. 1, Opus 1 (1909) - Sonata No. 3, Opus 28 (1917) - Sonata No. 5, Opus 38/135 (1923/1952) - Sonata No. 7, Opus 83 (1942) - Tales of an Old Grandmother, Opus 31 (1918) - Four Pieces, Opus 32 (1918) Peter Dimitriew (piano) - Recorded October-November 2001, Moscow State Broadcasting and Recording House ARTE NOVA 74321 93316 2 [74.12] [TB]

This well-filled CD … extremely good value … such dedicated performances. … see Full Review

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Story of a Real Man Op. 117 (1948) An Opera composed in four acts, re-arranged in three acts by M Mendelson-Prokofieva Libretto by S.S. Prokofiev and M. Mendelson-Prokofieva Based on the novel by Boris Polevoy Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre/Mark Ermler
rec. studio, 1961, Moscow, based on 1960 Bolshoi Theatre production CHANDOS CHAN 10002(2) [CD1: Act 1: 39.28 + CD2: Acts 2 and 3: 73.21] [RB]

A vivid account of how this work first emerged into the world: fallible, damaged, but salty, emotional and valiant. ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphonies and Piano Concertos - The EMI Classics Recordings with the St Petersburg PO conducted by Mariss Jansons - CD1: Symphony No. 1 (1895) [46.11] - The Isle of the Dead (1909) [19.47] - CD2: Symphony No. 2 (1906) [54.33] - Scherzo in D minor (1887) [5.29] - Vocalise (1912) [6.57] - CD3: Symphony No. 3 (1936) [37.35] - Symphonic Dances (1940) [34.32] - CD4: Piano Concerto No. 1 (1891) [28.14] - Piano Concerto No. 4 (1926)[26.30] (with both 1941 and 1926 versions of finale) - CD5: Piotr TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 [34.47] - RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 (1900) [35.28] - CD6: Piano Concerto No. 3 (1909) [41.44] - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (1933) [24.41] - Mikhail Rudy (piano) St Petersburg (Leningrad) PO/Mariss Jansons - rec Philharmonic Hall, St Petersburg, Dec 1990 (CD5); Sept 1992 (CD3, CD6); Sept 1993 (CD2, CD4); Jan 1998 (CD1) DDD EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 75510 2 1 [65.58+67.13+72.17+65.01+70.40+66.11] [RB]

Good to outstanding readings with only the first and last of the concertos being rather lack-lustre ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony No. 2 in E minor (1905) [58.14] Sinfonia Varsovia/Jose Cura rec 3-4 December 2001, Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio, Polish Radio. AVIE AV0022 [58.14] [RB]

Truly great Rachmaninov playing ... furious and tender ... see Full Review

Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphony No. 2 in E minor (1905) [67.21] Philharmonia/Kurt Sanderling rec. St Barnabas Church, Mitcham, Surrey, Apr 1989 WARNER CLASSICS APEX 0927 49044 2 [67.21] [RB]

An extremely good and tenderly expansive version let down a little by the too leisurely finale. ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Miroirs (1904-5), Gaspard de la Nuit (1908), Pièce en forme de Habanera (1907) (Maurice Dumesnil), Pavane pour une Infante défunte (1899), Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn (1909), La Valse (1919-20) (arr. Himy) Eric Himy (piano) - Rec: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY, 7^th-9^th May 2002 IVORY CLASSICS 64405-72009 [73’50"] [CH]

A few of the smaller pieces are attractively done but the major works are unrecommendable. … see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999) Cello Concerto - Concerto in Modo Galante (1949) [26.09] - Violin Concerto - Concierto de Estio (1944) [21.39] - Cello Concerto - Concierto como un divertimento (1981) [26.06] - Cançoneta for violin and orchestra (1923) [3.39] - Asier Polo (cello) - Mikhail Ovrutsky (violin) Castille y Léon SO/Max Bragado-Darman - rec Valladolid, July, Nov 2001, DDD - Complete Orchestral Works: Vol. 3 NAXOS 8.555840 [77.33] [RB]

A cracking collection of music outside the Guitar ghetto. Go for it. You will not be sorry. ... see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999) - Concierto de Aranjuez (1940) [21.41] - Concierto Andaluz (1967) [25.10] - Concierto Madrigal (1968) [31.53] Dale Kavanagh (guitar) - Amadeus Guitar Duo - Eden-Stell Guitar Duo - Internationale Philharmonie - Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie - conductor: Horst-Hans Bäcker - rec: 25-28 Sept 1999, Tonstudio Teije van Geest, Freiherr-von-Fritsch-Kaserne, Hannover, Germany. DDD HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.349 [78.25] [RB]

Large as life: contemplation, elegance, passion. ... see Full Review

Joaquín RODRIGO (1901-1999) Piano Concerto (rev. Achúcarro) (1942 rev 1996) [30.29] - Preludio para un poema a la Alhambra (1928) [7.36] - Música para un jardín (1935) [11.11] - Homenaje a la tempranica (1939) [5.34] - Juglares (1923) [5.26] Daniel Ligorio Ferrandiz (piano) - Castille y León SO/Max Bragado-Darman - rec Valladolid, July, Nov, 2001, DDD - Complete Orchestral Works: Vol. 4 NAXOS 8.557101 [60.17] [RB]

An attractive collection of music whose strengths lie in the small orchestral works and the superb Largo of the concerto. ... see Full Review

Arnold ROSNER (b.1945) Millennium Overture [6.34] - A Sephardic Rhapsody [16.15] - Concerto for Two Trumpets, Strings and Timpani [21.53] - The Tragedy of Queen Jane (1980) [30.15] Altoona SO/Nicholas Palmer - Owensboro SO/Nicholas Palmer - rec 2001? Mishler Theater, Altoona, Pennsylvania (overture; rhapsody); RiverPark Center, Owensboro, Kentucky (concerto; Tragedy) DDD ALBANY TROY 548 [74.55] [RB]

Packs a powerful emotional punch ... instantly recognisable, with its glowering and gaunt brass ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) L’Italiana in Algeri - complete - (1816) - Gunther von Kannen (bass) Mustafa - Nuccia Focile (soprano) Elvira - Susan McLean ((mezzo soprano) Zulima - Rudolph A. Hartmann (bass) Ali - Robert Gambill (tenor) Lindoro - Doris Soffel (contralto) Isabella - Enric Serra (bass) Taddeo - Bulgarian Male Chorus, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart conducted by Ralf Weikert - Stage Direction by Michael Hampe, Video Direction by Claus Viller - recorded at the 1987 Schwetzingen Festival (DVD) ARTHAUS 100 120 [148 minutes] [JP]

Great fun, beautifully sung, played recorded and filmed – excellent value … see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792 - 1868) Il Barbiere di Siviglia - complete - (1816); Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo soprano) - Rosina; David Kuebler (tenor) - Count Almaviva; Gino Quilico (baritone) - Figaro; Carlos Feller (bass) - Bartolo; Robert Lloyd (bass) - Basilio; Klaus Bruch (tenor) - Fiorillo; Edith Kertesz-Gabry (soprano) - Bertha; Paul Kappeler (bass) - Ambrogio; Chorus of Cologne City Opera Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart/Gabriele Ferro - Stage Direction by Michael Hampe, Video Direction by Claus Viller - recorded at the 1988 Schwetzingen Festival (DVD) ARTHAUS 100090 [157 minutes] [JP]

Anyone buying this DVD is in for a treat. … see Full Review

Miklós RÓZSA (1907-1995) String Quartet No. 1 Op. 22 (1950) [27.35] - String Quartet No. 2 Op. 38 (1981) [22.51] - Rhapsody for cello and piano Op. 3 (1929) [16.27] Pro Arte Quartet - Parry Karp (cello) - Howard Karp (piano) - rec Laurel Studio, Los Angeles, 1987?, DDD LAUREL RECORD LR-842CD [66.58]

Warmly recommended ... the unflinching closeness of the recording may put some off but that would be their loss ... see Full Review

Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) - String Quartet No. 1 (1933-34 rev 1946) [19.56] - String Quartet No. 3 (1963) [20.37] - Improvisation for unaccompanied cello (1964) [6.11] - Cello Sonata (1946) [24.25] Michael Dussek (piano) - Dante Quartet - rec. Henry Wood Hall, London, 14-17 Apr 2002. DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7123 [71.41] Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) String Quartet No. 2 (1951) [23.42] - String Quartet No. 4 (1975-77) [15.03] - Lyric Movement for String Quartet and Piano (1929, rev 1946) [10.30] - Meditations on a Byzantine Hymn O Quande in Cruce (1962) [10.25] Michael Dussek (piano) - Dante Quartet - rec. Maltings, Snape, 14-16 May 2001. DDD DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7114 [59.13]

Rubbra the sombre lyricist at ease in the chamber music medium that suited his serious unadorned style so well. ... see Full Review

Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894) Symphony No. 4 "Dramatic" (1874) Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra (Košice)/Robert Stankovsky - Recorded in the House of Arts, Košice, Slovakia. 25-31 March 1990 DDD - Originally issued as Marco Polo 8.223319 NAXOS 8.555979 [65:44] [KS]

Nothing seat rumbling or earth shattering. … see Full Review

 

 

[Detailed listing (last two days)]
[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]
Revolving notes from clipart.com

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