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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]
[Recommended recordings]

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Gustav MAHLER (1860–1911) Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen; Kindertotenlieder Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Liederkreis, Op. 39 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone); Various accompanists rec. 1952-5 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111300 [69:19][GF]

A special treat to hear him in his early blossoming ... see Full Review

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Rückert-Lieder see Richard STRAUSS

Pierre de MANCHICOURT (c.1510-1564) Missa ‘Cuidez vous que Dieu nous faille’ etc. The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2005 HYPERION CDA67604 [67:16][BW]

Another neglected composer receives his due ... see Full Review

Marie-Martin MARCEL (1769-1861) Nocturne en quintetto; Deux trios sur des thèmes de Mozart; Nouvelle grande sonate Rachel Talitman (harp) HARP AND COMPANY CD505012 [55:12][DB] 

Delightful performances of rarely-heard pieces … see Full Review

Joseph MARX (1882-1964) Piano Music Tonya Lemoh (piano) rec. 2006 CHANDOS CHAN10479 [54:38][WK]

Marx presented with flow and serenity, sureness of touch and clarity ... see Full Review

Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Cavalleria Rusticana Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) I Pagliacci Plácido Domingo; Beppe Union of Japan Professional Choruses NHK Symphony Orchestra/Oliviero de Fabritiis rec. 1976 VAI 4438 [158:02][RM] 

Domingo fans and all lovers of fine singing should seek this out ... see Full Review

Nicholas MAW (b 1935) Sinfonia (1966) [30:00] John ADDISON (1920–1998) Divertimento for brass quintet, op.9 (1951) [8:17] John GARDNER (b 1917) Theme and Variations for brass quartet, op.7 (1951) [9:55] Stephen DODGSON (b 1924) Sonata for brass quintet (1963) [10:48] English Chamber Orchestra/Norman del Mar and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. rec. 1970/1974 LYRITA SRCD 307 [62:56]  [BBr]

Full marks for this enterprising series of re–issues ... see Full Review

George Frederick McKAY (1899-1970) Epoch: An American Dance Symphony University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra/John Nardolillo rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.559330 [62:52][WK] 

Another side of McKay … not the “classic” American 1930s symphony ... see Full Review

Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) The Symphonies - Vol.2 String Symphonies 7 & 12, Symphony 4 Heidelberger Sinfoniker/Thomas Fey rec. 2007 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC CD 98.281 [68:55] [TP]

Fey is a fine conductor. Would that I could say the same about his Mendelssohn ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Cristóbal de MORALES (c.1500-1553) Magnificat etc. The Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2007 HYPERION CDA67694 [72.39][GH] 

I knew that I would like this disc almost from the start ... see Full Review

Paul MORAVEC (b. 1957) Chamber Symphony; Autumn Song; Cool Fire Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival rec. 2007 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559393 [45:30][KS] 

Superbly crafted music by a composer refreshingly addicted to a good tune ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 22 Jonathan Biss (piano); Orpheus Chamber Orchestra rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 2172702 [61:07][KS] 

Thoughtful and transcendent playing. A winner on all counts ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-91) Chamber Music for Winds Various artists rec. 1988-96 EMI CLASSICS TRIPLE 2153052 [3CDs: 71:46 + 73:38 + 60:34][BW]

Attractive performances of attractive music, attractively priced ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don Giovanni Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House/Karl Böhm rec. 1957 WEST HILL RADIO ARCHIVE WHRA6011 [3 CDs: 75.37 + 79.03 + 20.46][RH]

Historical curiosity only ... see Full Review

Georg MUFFAT (1653-1704) Auserlesene Instrumentalmusik Holland Baroque Society/Matthew Halls rec. 2007 CHANNEL CLASSICS CCSSA27408 [64:26][JV]

An eloquent and passionate plea for Muffat’s splendid music ... see Full Review

Adrian MUNSEY (b. 1947) Requiem, Theme from Images of Nature, The Right Words, Faraway Place, The Distance Between, Broadwell, Beautiful Earth, The Sky Inside, I Would Lay Down My Life for You, Voice of an Angel, I’ve Been Praying, Faraway Place City of Prague PO/Paul Bateman, John Bell and Nic Raine; English Sinfonia/Geoffrey Alexander; Janice Graham (violin), English Studio Orchestra/Geoffrey Alexander; Elin Manahan Thomas, Keedie, Treorchy Male Choir, London Studio Players/Paul Bateman rec. 2005-8 MUSIC INFINITY INS109 [47:00] [BBr]

Very approachable and most enjoyable ... see Full Review

Modest MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) orch. Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Pictures at an Exhibition Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Symphony No. 4 Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse/Tugan Sokhiev rec. 2006 NAÏVE V5068 [76:20][SV] 

At his best in the Mussorgsky-Ravel ... see Full Review

Modest Petrovich MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition Alexander Nikolayevich SCRIABIN (1872-1915) Vers la flamme, Five Preludes, Sonata 5 Mikahil ARKADIEV (b.1958) Sonata brevis, Eine Kleine Zaubermusik Mikhail Arkadiev (piano) rec. Moscow, 1994 CLASSICAL PIANO ASSEMBLY RCD30108 [75:14] [JW]

The accent is on the performer-composer ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Complete Symphonies and Orchestral Works USSR State Symphony Orchestra & Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1965-1994 WARNER CLASSICS 2564 69689-8 [16 CDs: c. 21:30:00][RB]

Wondrous works, at minimal price (and presentation) – not to be missed ... see Full Review

Per NØRGÅRD (b. 1932) String Quartets 7-10 Kroger Quartet rec. 2006/7 DACAPO 8.226059 [70:54] [HC]

Quite strong stuff but well worth the effort ... see Full Review

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin Concerto No. 1 see BRUCH

William PERRY (b. 1930) Jamestown Concerto William SCHUMAN (1910-1992) A Song of Orpheus Virgil THOMSON (1896-1989) Cello Concerto Yehuda Hanani (cello) RTÉ Ntl SO/William Eddins rec. 2007 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559344 [72:09] [DM]

Well worth hearing for the Schuman and Thomson ... see Full Review

Wayne PETERSON (b.1927) String Quartets Nos. 1-3 Alexander String Quartet rec. 2006 FOGHORN CLASSICS CD1994 [60:55][JW]

An engaging discovery for chamber enthusiasts ... see Full Review

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891-1953) Cinderella Agnès Letestu Paris Opera Ballet, Paris Opera O/Koen Kessels rec. live 2008 OPUS ARTE OA0997D [2 DVDs: 360:05] [WK]

A sumptuous package ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Manon Lescaut Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra/James Levine rec. 2008 EMI CLASSICS 2174209 [137:00][RJF]

The superb TV picture cannot compensate for the singing of the 1980 cast in the same production ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858–1924) Tosca Renata Scotto – Tosca; Placido Domingo – Cavaradossi; Philharmonia Orchestra/James Levine rec. 1980 EMI CLASSICS 2088272 [46:08 + 70:11][GF]

Hardly a first choice but has a great deal to offer ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Il tabarro Tito Gobbi (baritone) – Michele; Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Vincenzo Bellezza rec. 1955 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111307 [73:25][GF]

As good a version of Il tabarro as one is ever likely to come across ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Soprano arias Amarilli Nizza (soprano) Orchestra of the Dvořák Theatre of Ostrava/Gianluca Martinenghi, except tracks 15-17, recorded live with Orchestra of the Arturo Toscanini Foundation of Parma/Julian Reynolds rec. 2007 Italian texts enclosed DYNAMIC CDS 595 [75:48] [GF]

A bit uneven but constantly thrilling to hear ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Bohème Angela Gheorghiu, Ramón Vargas The Metropolitan Opera O & Ch/Nicola Luisotti rec. live,2008 EMI CLASSICS 2174179 [136:00] [IL]

I cannot fault this production ... see Full Review

Jean PULLOIS (d. 1478) Flos de spina see BUSNOIS

Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Prelude in C sharp minor Arthur Rubinstein (piano); NBC Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir Golschmann & Philharmonia Orchestra/Walter Susskind rec. 1946-50 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111289 [55:54][JW] 

Intensely dramatic, sometimes uncomfortably so ... see Full Review

Fountains Maurice RAVEL (1875–1937) Jeux d’eau, Pavane pour une infante defunte, Miroirs Claude DEBUSSY (1862–1918) Suite Bergamasque,Les soirs illuminés par l’ardeur du charbon Pour le Piano John Chen (piano) rec. 2006 ABC CLASSICS 476 6834 [71:29] [BBr]

A very enjoyable disk in every way ... see Full Review

Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937) Violin Sonata see FRANCK

Max REGER (1873-1916) Piano Quartet Op. 133; String Trio Op. 141b Aperto Piano Quartet rec. 2002-7 NAXOS 8.570786 [59:52][KS] 

Rich harmonies and virtuoso piano writing make for a good listen ... see Full Review

Nikolay Adreyevich RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Piano Concerto see KABALEVSKY

François ROSSÉ (b. 1945) Double Croixsens Radek Knop (piano and saxophones) rec. 2002 QUANTUM QM7025 [54:08][MSJ] 

Vaulting over clichés onto an expressive plane ... see Full Review

Frank ROTHKAMM (b. 1965) Opus Spongebobicum Frank Rothkamm (computer generated piano) FLUX RECORDS no catalogue number [36:47][DC]

Very silly indeed; or brilliant – depending on your attitude or gullibility ... 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]


 



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