PART 7
Misc M-Z

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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Médée furieuse (Medea's fury) Stéphanie d'Oustrac (mezzo); Amarillis rec. 2007 AMBROISIE AM157 [72:28][JV] 

Some good music but these performances too often lack expression ... see Full Review

Arthur Nikisch conducts Beethoven Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5; Egmont Overture Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826) Overtures: Oberon; Der Freischütz Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro – overture Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsody No.1 London Symphony Orchestra & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Arthur Nikisch rec. 1913-14 DUTTON CDBP9784 [74:42][JW]

A homogeneity of sound that to many will be very acceptable ... see Full Review

Nordic Voices Djåŋki daŋ Music by Lasse THORESEN (b.1945), Asbjørn SCHAATHUN (b.1961), Henrik ØDEGAARD (b.1951), David BRATLIE (b.1952), Cecilie ORE (b.1954) and Kåre KOLBERG (b.1936) Nordic Voices rec. 2008 AURORA ACD5055 [71:19][DC]

A fascinating programme by one of the best vocal ensembles on the planet ... see Full Review

Polyphonic Vespers for St. Michael's and St. Martin's Days Vespers for St. Michael's Day [13:01] Mass for St. Martin's Day [08:33] Vespers for St. Martin's Day [25:31] Schola Hungarica/Janka Szendrei, László Dobszay rec. June 2006, Our Lady Chapel, Archabbey of Pannonhalma, Hungary. DDD BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTRE RECORDS BMC CD 128 [47:06] [JV]

Broadens the picture of 16th century liturgical practice ... see Full Review

From the First Night of the Proms 1943 Announcements [2:59] National Anthem [1:06] Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1897) [11:43] Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.22 – second movement omitted (1868) [17:42] ¹ Georg Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Acis and Galatea – Love in her eyes sits playing (1718) [7:27] ² Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Symphony No. 5 in C Minor Op. 67 – first movement only (1807) [6:40] Lamar STRINGFIELD (1897-1959) A Negro Parade (1931) [9:29] Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Theme and Variations from Suite No.3 Op.55 (1884) [19:58] Moura Lympany (piano) ¹ Heddle Nash (tenor) ² London Philharmonic Orchestra/Henry Wood rec. live, Royal Albert Hall, London, 19 June 1943. ADD SOMMCD 076 [77:17] [JW]

Releases like this come as amazing surprises.... see Full Review

Romantic Residues James Gilchrist (tenor); Jaime Martin (flute); Alison Nicholls (harp) rec. November 2007 HYPERION CDA67725 [66:12][BBr] 

Must for all interested in contemporary British song ... see Full Review

Roma Triumphans Music by Luca MARENZIO (1553-1599), Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (1548-1611), Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (1525?-1594), Orazio BENEVOLI (1605-1672), Giovanni GIORGI (d.1762) and Vincenzo UGOLINI (1570-1638) Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal/Christopher Jackson rec. 2007 ATMA SACD22507 [61:32][GPu]

Not possessed of the highest in tonal beauty and intensity but it makes a rewarding listen … see Full Review

Blanche Selva – une promenade musicale César FRANCK (1822-1890) Violin Sonata Juli GARETTA Sardana Vincent d’INDY (1851-1931) Départ martinal, Danses rhythmiques Albert ROUSSEL (1869-1937) Suite: Sicilienne Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) Iberia: Triana Déodat de SEVERAC (1872 – 1921) En Vacances: Où l’on entend une veille boîte à musique Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Dolly suite: Berceuse Barcarolle Paul DUKAS (1865-1935) Variations, Interlude and Final Pianists: Blanche Selva, Vincent d’Indy, Lazare Lévy, Moriz Rosenthal, Georges de Lausnay, Anita Siegel, Babeth Leonet, Yvonne Lefébure rec. 1923-48 RCP 076 [74:17] [JW]

Fascinating material but misjudged transfers ... see Full Review

Viktor Simon (cello) Includes Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Don Quixote Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Tannhäuser (arr. Simon) Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975) Symphonies 1 & 15 (fragments arr. Simon) Viktor Simon (cello) I Boguslavsky (viola), M Chernyakhovsky (violin) Tchaikovsky SO of Moscow Radio/Genady Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir Fedoseyev. rec. 1963-2006 RELIEF CR991090 [65:22] [JW]

Simon the orchestral protagonist and transcriber ... see Full Review

Simple Gifts - King’s Singers 40^th Birthday Arrangements of Folk melodies and popular songs rec.2007/8 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD 121 [48.46] [GH]

Absolutely superb. Balance and tuning are miraculous. Just the right atmosphere ... see Full Review

Solomon – The Master Pianist -Compendium BEETHOVEN, GRIEG, SCHUMANN, BRAHMS, TCHAIKOVSKY, SCARLATTI, BUSONI, MOZART, LISZT, SCRIABIN, BLISS rec. 1943-46 EMI CLASSICS ICON 2 06102 2 [7CDs] [JW]

Noble, characterful and poetic musicianship ... see Full Review

Solo Rumores Arturo MÁRQUEZ (b.1950) Solo RumoresMarcela RODRÍGUEZ (b.1951) Entre las ramas rotasRamón MONTES DE OCA (1953-2006) Ecos del llanoJuan Fernando DURÁN (b.1963) Entonces el cielo se adueñó de la nocheHilda PAREDES (b.1958) Sobre un páramo sin vocesJoaquín Gutiérrez HERAS (b.1927) Canto lejanoPaul BARKER (b.1956) Pedro’s ProgressLaurie ALTMAN (b.1956) Pedro’s StoryAlex SHAPIRO (b.1962) LuvinaZulema DE LA CRUZ (b.1958) Arenoso Silvia BERG (b.1958) Dobles del Páramo Ana Cervantes (piano) rec. August 2007 QUINDECIM RECORDINGS 186 [66:06] [GPu]

An intriguing and rewarding CD of new music played with commanding intensity … see Full Review

Songs of Innocence Trad. (arr. Benjamin Britten) I wonder as I wander Trad. (arr. Charles Ives) In the mornin’ Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Diaphenia, The Owl, Witches Song, Chamber Music V, The Rainbow, The Oxen, Little Sir William Michael Berkeley (b.1948) Cradle Song Peter Warlock (1894-1930) The bayly berith the bell away William Boyce (1710-1779) (arr. Elizabeth Poston) Tell me, lovely shepherd Michael Flanders (1922-1975) and Donald SWANN (1923-1994) (arr. Andrew Plant) The Slow Train Trad. (arr. Benjamin Britten) Ca’ the yowes George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) (arr. Maurice Jacobson) Silent Worship Charles Wood (1866-1926) Who is Silvia Trad. arr. Andrew Plant Caleno custere me Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Dirge for Fidele Roger Quilter (1877-1953) Summer Sunset Charles Ives Slow March Benjamin Britten Tom Bowling John Jeffries Matthew, Mark, Luke & John Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003) My bed is a boat Samuel Barber (1913-1976) Sure on this shining night Malcolm WILLIAMSON Sweet and low Andrew Swait (treble); James Bowman (counter-tenor); Andrew Plant (piano) rec. 2007 SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD128 [61:48] [JF]

Well written and well presented music at its best ... see Full Review

Sound the Trumpet William CORBETT (d.1748) Suite in D major [14:20] Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Symphonies Gottfried FINGER (d.1730) Sonatas William CROFT (1678-1727) Overture John ECCLES (1668-1733) Suite John BARRETT (d.1719) Sonata James PAISIBLE (d.1721) Sonata Mark Bennett, Michael Laird (trumpet); Frank de Bruine (oboe); Judy Tarling (violin) The Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman rec. 1995 HELIOS CDH55258 [70:31] [GPu]

An enjoyable, and instructive, sampler of early English trumpet music now reissued … see Full Review

The Story of British Classical Music see review for details NAXOS 8.558193-94 [78:20 + 79:02] [EM]

Eclectic choice of works and wonderfully comprehensive, well-written booklet ... see Full Review

Richard Strauss Conducts Der Rosenkavalier Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) Der Rosenkavalier Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Die Zauberflöte - overture Christoph Williabald von GLUCK (1714-1787) Iphigénie en Aulis - overture Peter CORNELIUS (1824-1874) Der Barbier von Bagdad – overture Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Der Fliegende Holländer – overture Tristan and Isolde - prelude Berlin PO/Richard Strauss rec. 1926-41 DUTTON CDBP9785 [75:07] [JW]

A splendid release ... see Full Review

The Study of Love: French songs and motets of the 14th century Gothic Voices/Christopher Page rec. 1992 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55295 [60:09][BW] 

For the confirmed medievalist ... see Full Review

Surprised by beauty – Minimalism in choral music Gavin BRYARS (b. 1943) And so ended Kant’s travelling in this world Arvo PÄRT (b. 1935) The Beatitudes Ruth LOMON (b. 1930) Transport William DUCKWORTH (b. 1943) Southern Harmony William WALKER (1809-1875) Selection from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion Boston Secession/Jane Ring Frank rec. 2007 BOSTON SECESSION BRAVO0720 [51.08] [RH]

Strong performances …. if the mix of works appeals look no further ... see Full Review

Gerhard Taschner (violin) Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Violin Concerto Aram KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978) Violin Concerto Pablo de SARASATE (1844-1908) Carmen Fantasy rec. 1953-6 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG 642 1508-2 [73:39] [JW]

Lightly bowed and curiously undemonstrative ... see Full Review

Tango Romances Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Four Seasons of Buenos Aires José BRAGATO (b.1915) Milontan Devich Trio rec. 2007 CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72178 [52:46] [GPu]

Nuevo tango meets classical piano trio – and the encounter is a generally happy one … see Full Review

A tribute to Boris Tchaikovsky Boris TCHAIKOVSKY (1925 – 1996) Sextet, Passacaglia and Fugue, Anyuta – Suite Petr KLIMOV (b. 1970) Little Fantasy Moments Musicaux Stanislav PROKUDIN (b. 1970) Three Nocturnes Alexey VERSHININ (b. 1964) Two Pieces Ksenia PRASSOLOVA (b. 1970) Five Canons Andrey GOLOVIN (b. 1950) The Spring Song Anton PRISCHEPA (b. 1983) The Two rec. 2002-6 RELIEF CR991091 [75:41] [HC]

Well worth exploring ... see Full Review

Renate Tebaldi - Voice of Gold Arias by Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, Cilea and Catalani - see review for details rec. 1952-56 REGIS RRC1297 [73.59]

Ideal for anyone unfamiliar with Tebaldi in all her youthful prime ... see Full Review

Tortelier Sir Edward ELGAR (1857-1934) Cello Concerto Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Double Concerto Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) Cello Sonata Paul Tortelier (cello); various accompanists rec. 1959-74 BBC LEGENDS BBCL42362 [71:59][JQ]

An excellent reminder of the artistry of Paul Tortelier ... see Full Review

Trio Lignum - Trialog Johannes OCKEGHEM (c.1426-1495) Missa sine nomine Zsolt SEREI (b.1954) Dream Drawings József SÁRI (b.1935) Trialogue Thomas TALLIS (c.1505-1585) Felix namque Csaba Klenyán (clarinet); Lajos Rozmán (clarinet); György Lakatos (bassoon); Ildikó Vékony (cimbalom) rec. 2006-7 BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTRE BMCCD127 [62:10][GPu]

Out of the ordinary, intriguing and mostly satisfying … see Full Review

 

BOOK REVIEWS

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Discover Classical Music of the 20^th Century by David McCleery ISBN: 978-1843792376 Published: 2008 Paperback format 224 pp. NAXOS BOOKS [MM-B]

An insightful simple guide to a period of great change in music ... see Full Review

Sir Arthur Sullivan’s Grand Opera ‘Ivanhoe’ and its Theatrical and Musical Precursors by Jeff S. Dailey Edwin Mellon Press ISBN 978 0 7734 5068 4 220 pp. £69.95 [RW]

A fascinating read, thoroughly researched and with a clear style. ... see Full Review

 

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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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