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Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.
5 
Tonhalle Orchestra
Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2007
SONY-BMG 88697314502 
[72:58][DM] 
Want
to rediscover this great symphony - you’ve come to the right place ...
see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 5 Royal Concertgebouw
O/Bernard Haitink rec. 1970
PENTATONE PTC5186 183
[70:55]
[BB]
Every
little detail, every line of musical argument, can be heard clearly
... see Full Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No 6 see BRUCKNER
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Das klagende Lied see
WAGNER
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Violin Concerto No. 2; Serenade
No. 2; Toccata e due canzoni
Isabelle Faust (violin); Cédric Tiberghien (piano); Prague Philharmonia/Jiří
Bělohlávek rec. 1996
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC901951 [62:54][RB]
A
powerful and valuable Martinů anthology ... see Full
Review
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Amica
Bratislava Chamber Choir; Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia/Manlio Benzi
rec. 2007 DYNAMIC CDS574
[78:06][CH]
Musically,
this may be a masterpiece. This performance
gives only a rough idea ... see Full
Review
Rupert Ignaz MAYR (1646-1712)
Confitebor tibi - Psalms, Motets, Concertos
Mechthild Bach (soprano), Eliabeth Popien (contralto), Hans Jörg Mammel
(tenor), Gotthold Schwarz (bass) Capella Weilburgensis vocalis, L'arpa
festante/Doris Hagel rec. 2006
HÄNSSLER PROFIL PH08022 [73:47] 
[JV]
An
interesting recording - overall good performances ... see Full
Review
Simon
MAYR (1763–1845) David in spelunca
Engaddi
Simon Mayr Chorus and Ensemble/Franz Hauk (harpsichord) rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570366-67 [43:40 + 50:43][GF] 
Lovers
of early Italian opera will be richly awarded ... see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY
(1809–1847) The Complete String Symphonies
Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Lev
Markiz rec. 1993-96
BIS BIS-SACD-1738
[4:15:55]
[GF]
Marvellous
music and virtuoso playing – more than four hours on one disc!
... see Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) The Complete
Solo Concertos
Various artists rec. 1994-8
BIS BISSACD1766
[255:55][DM]
Rare
sensitivity and intelligence ... a very desirable disc ... see Full
Review
Felix MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847) String Quintets Nos. 1 & 2
Fine Arts String
Quartet rec. 2007 NAXOS
8.570488 [70:23][TB]
Vibrant
and brilliantly played rewarding repertoire ... see Full
Review
Wim
MERTENS (b.1953)
9
albums:Clairière, With Usura, Maximizing the audience, Sonorous
Resonances, A man of no fortune & with a name to come, The Belly
Of An Architect, Educes me, After virtue, Motives for writing
EMI Classics [DC]
So,
you want to find out about Belgian Minimalism?
... see Full Review
Léon MINKUS
(1826-1917) Don Quixote
– ballet
Tchaikovsky Perm State Ballet; Shinsei Nihon Symphony Orchestra/Alexander
Sotnikov rec. 1992
VAI 4451 
[120:00][RM]
Enjoyably
captures on film a charismatic artist at the height of her powers ...
see Full Review
Stanisław
MORYTO (b.1947) Legnica Mass;
Missa Solemnis; Missa Brevis pro defunctis
Choir of the
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyńskiego; Zespół Instrumentów Dętych
Blaszanych/Kazinierz Szymonik rec. 2007
DUX 0571 [63:08][GPu]
Much
to admire in a rewarding and approachable trio of mass settings … see
Full Review
Ignaz
MOSCHELES (1794-1870)
Piano Concertos 2 & 4
Ian Hobson (piano & conductor) Sinfonia da Camera rec. 1998/9
ZEPHYR Z116-99 [60:42]
[RM]
Enjoyable
and interesting music, well performed ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Symphonies Nos. 35, 36 & 40
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra & Chicago
Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner rec. 1947-54
INSTITUTO DISCOGRAFICO ITALIANO IDIS6537 [63:41][BBr]
Performances
from the heart, given with fire and spirit ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Opera
Overtures; Sinfonia Concertante K364
Academy of St Martins-in-the-Fields/Neville Marriner rec. 1981-91
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 5218662 [71:51][BBr]
Certainly
won’t disappoint … a real bargain ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791) Violin Sonata
K378 Joseph HAYDN
(1732-1797) Piano Sonata No.39 Johannes
BRAHMS (1833-1897) Violin Sonata
No.1 Sviatoslav
Richter (piano); Oleg Kagan (violin) rec. 1982-5
ALTO RECORDS ALC1010 [62:04][SA]
A
disc to cherish … remastered to feel as fresh as if recorded yesterday
... see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Piano
Concertos 22 & 23 Daniel
Barenboim (piano and director)/English CO
rec. 1967-71 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE
5218682 [62:13] 
[BBr]
Performances
well worth having and at the price a real bargain ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Cosě fan
tutte
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Sir Charles Mackerras rec.
2007 (Sung in English)
CHANDOS CHAN3152 [3 CDs: 64:43 + 51:11 + 44:40][GF]
Highly
satisfying, lively conducting, accomplished singing-actors ... see Full
Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Songs
and Dances of Death Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Symphonic Dances
Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone); St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri
Temirkanov rec. 2004
WARNER CLASSICS 2564620502 [53:54][RB]
Incredibly
exciting, also cool .. but the songs are dark and sable ... see Full
Review
Modest
MUSSORGSKY (1839–1881)
Khovanshchina
Vladimir Ognovenko, Vladimir Galouzine, Robert Brubaker, Gran Teatre
del Liceu Ch & SO/Michael Boder rec. live 2007
OPUS ARTE OA0989D
[2 DVDs: 192:00]
[GF]
I
was deeply touched by this issue ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Symphonies
17 & 21, Salutatory Overture Russian
Federation Academic SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1991-3 ALTO
ALC1023 [77:14] [RB]
Fervent
music-making from Svetlanov and Myaskovsky ... see Full
Review
James NARES (1715-1783)
Eight Harpsichord Setts George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Suite in d minor
Julian Perkins (harpsichord) rec. 2007
AVIE
AV2152 [75:58][JV]
Fine
Lessons by Nares beautifully played on splendid harpsichords ... see
Full Review
Johann
Gottlieb NAUMANN (1741-1801)
La Passione di Gesů Cristo
Monica Bragadin (mezzo); Makoto Sakurada (tenor); Raffaele Giordani
(tenor); Alfredo Grandini (bass) Coro La Stagione Armonica, Padova e
del Veneto O/Sergio Balestracci rec. live 2006
CPO 777 365-2 [65:02 + 55:04]
[MS]
Not
an earth-shattering Passion but makes for pleasing listening ...
see Full Review
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
Nos. 1 & 6
Danish National Symphony
Orchestra/Michael Schřnwandt rec.
2000
NAXOS 8.570737
[67:47][LW]
Do
pick up a copy of this CD at your earliest
opportunity ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
Nos. 2 & 3
Danish National Symphony
Orchestra/Michael Schřnwandt rec.
1999
NAXOS 8.570738 [71:11][LW]
A
real bargain and the best way to have these symphonies at very affordable
cost ... see Full Review
Carl
NIELSEN Pan and Syrinx (Pastorale for Orchestra),
Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable"
CBSO Rattle see SIBELIUS Symphony 5
Sean
O'BOYLE (b.
1963) & William BARTON (b. 1981) Concerto
for Didgeridoo Sean O'BOYLE (b. 1963) Riversymphony William
Barton (didgeridoo) Willoughby Symphony Ch, Queensland O/Sean
O'Boyle
rec. 2002-07 ABC CLASSICS 476
6288 [42:58] [RB]
Pleasingly
wild, candidly indebted … an orator speaking from the distant past
... see Full Review
Ignacy
Jan PADEREWSKI (1860-1941) Piano
Concerto, Polish Fantasy Ian
Hobson, Sinfonia Varsovia/Jerzy Maksymiuk rec. 1995 ZEPHYR
Z122-02 [58:13] [RM]
Extremely
colourful playing of this grandly romantic concerto ... see Full
Review
Arvo
PÄRT (b.1935) Ode VI, Prayer after the Canon see Contemporary
Sacred Music from Estonia
Antonio
PASCULLI (1842-1924) Operatic
fantasias Ivan
Paisov (oboe); Natalia Shcherbakova (piano)
rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570567 [63:05] [GPu]
Some
brilliant oboe playing, but much of the music is finally rather
slight … see Full Review
Ian PARROTT
(b.1916) String Quartet No. 4 see
Wynne
Montague
PHILLIPS (1885-1969) Piano Concertos
Nos. 1 & 2 Victor HELY-HUTCHINSON
(1901-1947) The Young Idea
David Owen Norris (piano); BBC Concert Orchestra/Gavin Sutherland rec.
2008 DUTTON EPOCH CDLX7206
[69:18][RB]
Crackling
with the brio and energy of a live event ...
see Full Review
Ástor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Includes Milonga del Ángel, Verano Porteńo, María
de Buenos Aires Suite
Enrique Moratalla (vocals); Maria Rey-Joly (soprano); Horacio Ferrer
(reciter, sung and spoken texts); Versus Ensemble rec. 2006/7
NAXOS 8.570523 [52:15]
[DW]
I
found the whole experience rather enjoyable ... see Full
Review
Daniel
PINKHAM (1923-2006) Serenades;
Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4; Sonata No. 3 for organ
James David Christie (organ); London SO/James Sedares rec. 1994
KOCH INTERNATIONAL
CLASSICS 371792 [48:07][RB]
Two
stern(ish) symphonies flanked by two entertaining concertante works
... see Full Review
Carlo
Alberto PIZZINI (1905–1981) Al
Piemonte; Scherzo in stile classico per orchestra; Il
poema delle Dolomiti; Sarabanda per archi, Omaggio a Corelli;
Grotte di postumia; Strapaese
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Alberto Pizzini rec. 1955-6
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111317 [62:10][BBr]
Pizzini
seems to have found it impossible to escape his teacher’s influence
... see Full Review
Francis
POULENC (1899–1962) Piano
Concerto; Concert champętre;
Organ Concerto; Concerto
for 2 pianos; Aubade; Sinfonietta
City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox
rec. 1988-90
VIRGIN CLASSICS 5220452 [69:23 + 68:09][BBr]
These
performances are very musical and enjoyable ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano
Concertos 1-5, Overture on Jewish Themes, Visions
fugitives Michel
Béroff (piano) Michel Portal (clarinet) Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Kurt
Masur, Parrenin Quartet rec. 1974/81 EMI
CLASSICS GEMINI 5176292 [72:03 + 75:56] [SH]
Béroff
with Masur is as good as it gets, especially in such a pure ADD
recording ... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858–1924) La
Bohème (1896) Norma Fantini, D’Annunzio Lombard, Massimiliano
Pisapia Children’s Choir,
Orchestra and Chorus of Festival Puccini/Stewart Robertson rec. 2007
DYNAMIC 33564 [118:00]
[GF]
A
feast for eye as well as ear! ... see Full
Review
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Sonnatas
of Three & Four Parts Risa
Browder, Catherine Mackintosh (violin); Purcell Quartet rec. 1987/88 CHANDOS 
CHAN8591,
8663 & 8763 [50:55 + 53:20 + 62:53]
Little known but very attractive music in excellent performances,
well recorded ... see Full Review
Henry PURCELL
(1659-1695) Dido and Aeneas
Kirsten Flagstad (soprano); The Mermaid Singers and Orchestra/Geraint
Jones rec. 1952 EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 5096902 [64:00][MG]
This
Dido’s range of expression and nuance makes the disc indispensable …
see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1945) Symphony
2 Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Capriccio
Espagnol Rotterdam
PO/Edo de Waart
rec. 1976 PENTATONE CLASSICS
PTC5186
153 [70:35] [DM]
Musically
and sonically perverse. Avoid ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphonic Dances see
MUSSORGSKY
Einojuhani
RAUTAVAARA (b.1928)
Apotheosis, Manhattan Trilogy, Symphony 8
New Zealand SO/Pietari Inkinen rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570069 [56:12]
[CR]
An
enjoyable disc with some excellent playing ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Orchestral works see DEBUSSY
Maurice
RAVEL (1875–1937) Piano Concerto see
SCHUBERT
Alan
RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Piano
Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Concerto for Two
Pianos and Orchestra
Geoffrey Tozer (piano); Tamara Cislowska (piano);
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Matthias Bamert
rec. 1992
CHANDOS CHAN10339X
[60:28][BW]
One
of three excellent versions of these concertos – go for at least one
... see Full Review
Steve REICH (b.1936)
Vermont Counterpoint; Eight Lines; New York Counterpoint; Four
Organs Philip GLASS (b.1937)
Façades; Company
Various artists rec. 1973-96
EMI CLASSICS AMERICAN CLASSICS 2066242 [79:45][RB]
An
attractive choice even if Four Organs may drive you to distraction ...
see Full Review
Ferdinand
RIES (1784-1838) Piano
Concertos - Volume 2 Swedish National Airs with Variations,
Introduction and Polonaise, Piano Concerto in C sharp
minor Christopher
Hinterhuber,
Gävle SO/Uwe Grodd rec. 2006 NAXOS
8.557844 [60:27] [JW]
All
round excellence ... see Full
Review
Nicolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Capriccio Espagnol see RACHMANINOV
George
ROCHBERG (1918-2005) Symphony
1 Saarbrücken
RSO/Christopher Lyndon-Gee rec. 2004 NAXOS
8.559214 [64:15] [BB]
Fans
of the twentieth-century symphony should consider this essential
... see Full Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Julius RÖNTGEN
(1855-1932) Aus Goethes Faust
Machteld Baumans, Marcel Beekman, Dennis Wilgenhof, Nationale Reisopera
Enschede Ch, Netherlands SO/David Porcelijn rec. 2007
CPO 777 311-2 [60:34]
[RB]
Extraordinary
work … totally beguiling freshness of romantic
invention ... see Full
Review
Joseph-Guy
ROPARTZ (1864-1955) The
String Quartets - Volume 3
Quatuor Stanislas rec.
2007
TIMPANI 1C1121 [59:32][RB]
The
last piece in the jigsaw of Ropartz's string
quartets ... see Full Review
Ćmilian
Rosengart
(1757-1810) Te Deum Laudamus: Sacred
Choral Music Orpheus
Vokalensemble; Ars Antiqua Austria/Jürgen Essl rec. 2007
CARUS 83.427 [56:31]
[BW]
No
neglected masterpieces, but attractive music, well performed and
recorded ... see Full Review
Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) Péchés
de vieillesse (1857-68) Volume VII "Album de Chaumière"
(complete) [99:20]: Gymnastique d’écartement [7:18]; Prélude
fugassé [5:17]; Petite polka chinoise [5:44]; Petite
valse de boudoir [4:57]; Prélude inoffensif [10:18];
Petite valse "L’huile de Ricin" [10:22]; Un profond
sommeil [6:20]; Un réveil en sursaut [7:41]; Plein
chant chinois [6:02]; Un cauchemar [12:01]; Valse boiteuse
[6:01]; Une pensée à Florence [10:25]; Marche
[6:53] Volume IX "Album pour piano, violon, violoncelle,
harmonium et cor" (excerpts) [23:37]: Mélodie
candide [4:50]; La savoie aimante [7:49]; Chansonette
[4:36]; Impromptu tarantellisé [6:20]
Alessandro Marangoni (piano) rec.2006. DDD Booklet in English and German;
pianist biography in English only
NAXOS 8.570590-91 [57.58 + 64.59]
[MMB]
Excellent
recording of Rossini’s neglected but wonderful
piano music ... see
Full Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il
Turco in Italia
Prague Chamber Choir; Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano
e Trento/Antonello Allemandi rec. 2007
DYNAMIC
CDS566/1-2 [77:20+79:36][JS]
A
performance which is enjoyable and worthy of this delightful opera ...
see Full Review
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) Il barbiere di
Siviglia; La Cenerentola; Le Comte Ory
The Glyndebourne Chorus London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sylvain Cambreling;
Donato Renzetti; Andrew Davis rec. 1981-97
WARNER ENTERTAINMENT 50-51442-7848-2
[3 discs: 154:00 + 151:00 + 142:00][RJF]
The
excellent Comte Ory is the icing on the cake of this mid-price collection
... see Full Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Gioacchino ROSSINI
(1792-1868) L’Inganno Felice
Czech Chamber Soloists Brno/Alberto Zedda rec. 2005
NAXOS OPERA CLASSICS 8.660233-34 [51.21 + 34.17][RJF]
A
excellent and welcome addition to the burgeoning Naxos Rossini catalogue
... see Full Review
Miklós
RÓZSA (1907-1995) Violin Concerto; Sinfonia
Concertante
Anastasia Khitruk (violin); Andrey Tchekmazov (cello); Russian Philharmonic
Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570350 [65:40][DW]
Two
dramatic and idiomatic concertos in full-blooded performances ... see
Full Review
Albert
ROUSSEL (1869-1937)
Symphony
No. 1 op. 7 Le Poème de la Forêt (1904-6) [41:48]
Symphony No. 4 op. 35 (1934) [24:55]
Orchestre de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach rec. Conservatoire de Paris,
July 2005 ONDINE ODE
1092-2 [66:53]
Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Bacchus et Ariane (1931)
op. 43, Suite No. 1 [17:09]; Suite No. 2 [18:51] Symphony No. 2 op.
23 (1919-21) [41:37] Orchestre
de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach rec. Théâtre Mogador, Paris,
Feb 2005 (Bacchus); Conservatoire de Paris, July 2005 (2)
ONDINE ODE 1065-2 [77:58]
Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Symphony No. 3 op. 42 (1929-30)
[26:14] Le Festin d'araignée op. 17 - complete ballet
(1912) [33:14] Orchestre
de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach rec. live Théâtre Mogador,
Paris, Mar 2005 (3); Conservatoire de Paris, July 2005 (Festin)
ONDINE ODE 1107-2 [59:41]
[RB]
An
easy full price choice - poetically done in
every aspect ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937)
Symphony No. 2; Pour une fęte de printemps; Suite in F
Royal Scottish
National Orchestra/Stéphane Denčve rec. 2006-7
NAXOS 8.570529 [68:43][LW]
Superb
performances and the recorded sound at an economic price ... 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]
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