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James
MacMILLAN (b. 1959) Three Interludes from “The Sacrifice”
(2007) [14:28] Quickening (1998) [45:37] 
The Hilliard Ensemble City of Birmingham Symphony
Youth Chorus City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus/Simon
Halsey BBC Philharmonic/James MacMillan
rec. Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester,
3 March 2007 and 22 February 2008.
CHANDOS SACD CHSA 5072 
[60:05]
[KS]
Challenging
new music worthy of repeated hearing. ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony
6 Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Metamorphosen
New PO/John Barbirolli rec. 1967
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 2126902 [48:41
+ 62:44] [JFL]
Barbirolli’s
most interesting Mahler recording ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860–1911) Symphony
8 Christine
Brewer, Soile Isokoski,
London SCh
City of Birmingham SO & Ch/Sir Simon Rattle
rec. live, 2004 EMI CLASSICS
2285292 [77.36] [AS]
A
superb rendition of a great masterpiece well captured ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 4 see MOZART
Frank
MARTIN (1890-1974) Polyptyque
– Six Images de la Passion du Christ; Maria-Triptychon;
Passacaille
German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Christoph Poppen rec.
2006 ECM NEW SERIES
ECM2015 1733930 [57:57][BW]
Frank
Martin would be justly proud ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959) Nipponari
– Seven songs to Japanese lyrical poetry for female voice and small
orchestra (The Blue Hour; Old Age; A Memory; Life in Dreams; Footsteps
in the Snow; A Look Back; By the Sacred Lake) H68 (1912) [21:35] Magic
Nights (Kouzelné noci) – Three songs to Chinese
texts for soprano and orchestra H119 (In a Foreign Land; Untouched by
Spring; The Mysterious Flute) (words by Li Tai-Po, Chang Yo-Su, transl.
Hans Bethge) (1918) [15:19] Czech Rhapsody (Česká
rapsodie)* – Cantata for baritone, mixed choir, organ and orchestra
H118 (1918) [36:11] Dagmar
Pecková (soprano); Ľubica Rybárska (soprano); Ivan Kusnjer (baritone)
Kühn Mixed Choir/Pavel Kühn Prague Symphony Orchestra/Jiří Bělohlávek
Rhapsody rec. 1985/1988 . DDD
SUPRAPHON SU 3956-2 [73:23]
[RB]
Delightful
early Martinů – fragile beauty and patriotic fervour ... see Full
Review
Joseph
MARX (1882-1964) Eine
Frühlingsmusik; Idylle; Feste Im Herbst Radio-Symphonieorchester
Wien/Johannes Wildner rec. 2007 CPO
7773202 [63:06] [RB]
Three
lush but lucid nature portraits ... see Full
Review
Pietro
MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
Zanetto
Denia Mazzola Gavazzeni (soprano) Romina Basso (mezzo) Savona SO/Bruno
Aprea Includes recital by Gavazzeni & interviews rec. live, 2003
KICCO CLASSIC KCOU9005
[c.91:00]
[CH]
A
stopgap to hint that there could be a really fine opera awaiting
discovery ... see Full
Review
Colin
MATTHEWS (b. 1946) Pluto – The Renewer see HOLST
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Felix
MENDELSSOHN
(1809-1847)
Complete Symphonies New Philharmonia Chorus, Helen Donath
(soprano), Rotraud Hansmann (soprano), Waldemar Kmentt (tenor) New
Philharmonia
Orchestra and Chorus,Wolfgang Sawallisch rec. 1967 Licensed from Decca
Complete String Symphonies
Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Lev Markiz rec. 1994-1996, Licensed from BIS
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93777 [07:32:00]
[ST]
Unmissable.
Invest with confidence. ... see
Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) String Quartet
Op.80 Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Piano Quintet
James Tocco (piano); Alexander String Quartet
FOGHORN CLASSICS ASQ1983 [57:35][JW]
A
rewarding brace of performances ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) A
Tribute to Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy 9 Songs
without Words, Rondo Capriccioso, Variations
Sérieuses, Piano Concerto in A minor Liebrecht
Vanbeckevoort (piano) Camerata Con Cor(d)e String O/Alain Roelant
rec. 2008 PHAEDRA
CLASSICS 292019 [70:27]
[MC]
Splendid
playing promises much for a future that looks exceedingly rosy
... see Full Review
Johann
MATTHESON
(1681-1764) Keyboard Suites
Colin Booth (harpsichord) rec. 2007
SOUNDBOARD SBCD208 [76:06 + 77:19] [BW]
Attractive
music spanning varied moods, well played and recorded ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567–1643) Vespro
della Beata Vergine Arnold
Schoenberg Choir; Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
rec. 1986 DAS
ALTE WERK 2564694648 [45.47 + 49.03][RH]
Entirely
fails to convince ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang Amadeus
MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphonies 29, 35 & 38-41
Philharmonia O, New PO/Otto Klemperer rec. 1956-65
EMI
CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 3458102
[79:00 + 75:29] [SV]
A
necessary counterweight to lighter, chamber-scaled performances
... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade
K203, Colloredo; Divertimento K251 etc.
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Janiczek (violin) rec. 2008
LINN RECORDS CKD320
[64:05][MG]
Sheer,
straightforward enjoyment … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Serenade
for 13 wind instruments, “Gran Partita” Alban
BERG (1885-1935) Chamber Concerto
Mitsuko Uchida (piano); Christian Tetzlaff (violin); Ensemble Intercontemporain/Pierre
Boulez rec. 2008 DECCA
4780316 [79:49][MSJ]
Intriguingly
paired Mozart and Berg ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Late
Piano Sonatas
Zeynep Ucbasaran (piano) rec. 2008
EROICA JDT3404 [58:11 & 60:16] [CH]
Excellent
overall, but K.333 and K.570 are exceptional ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail
Laura Aikin, Edgaras
Montvidas, Netherlands CO/Constantinos Carydis rec. live, 2008
OPUS ARTE OA1003D
[214:00] [ST]
A
Seraglio to make you think ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Don
Giovanni Overture Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony 4
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano) BBC Nthn SO/Kurt Sanderling rec. 1978
BBC LEGENDS BBCL42482 [60:40] [JQ]
Admirers
of Mahler or of Kurt Sanderling should hear this CD ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze
di Figaro
Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Vittorio Gui rec. 1953
EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 2126812 [3 CDs: 70:43
+ 73:08 + 76:14][GF]
A
classic set that is worth anyone’s money ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Donna - Opera and Concert Arias
Diana Damrau (soprano) Le Cercle de L’Harmonie/Jérémie Rhorer rec. 2008
VIRGIN CLASSICS 2120232
[73:21] [GF]
Some
reservations but there is a lot to admire here ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1891) Piano Sonatas see
HAYDN
Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Symphonies
Nos. 23 & 24 Russian Federation
Academic SO/Evgeny Svetlanov rec. 1991-93 ALTO
ALC1024 [72:36] [RB]
Two
wartime symphonies – one stirringly heroic; the other folksy
... see Full Review
Johann
NESTROY (1801-1862) and Carl
BINDER (1816-1860) Tannhäuser in
80 Minuten Robert
Meyer (actor and singer); Neue Wiener Concert Schrammeln rec.
2008 PHOENIX
EDITION 804 [85:00][GF]
A
highly entertaining performance ... see Full
Review
Jacques OFFENBACH
(1819-1880) La Belle Hélène
Les Musiciens du Louvre/Marc Minkowski rec. 2000
ARTHAUS 107000
[127:00 (opera); 26:00 (interviews)] [ST]
Tremendous
fun ... see Full Review
George
ONSLOW (1784-1853) Violin Sonatas
Op. 16 Nos. 1-3
Ilia Korol (violin); Norbert Zeilberger (fortepiano) rec. 2007
CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72196 [75:24][MC]
Rare
Onslow … fascinating and splendidly performed ... see Full
Review
Alexandër
PEÇI The Broken Song Mariana
Leka (soprano); Rovena Kureta (soprano); Rikard Ljarja (speaker); Ensemble
Spectrum; AMRA Ensemble/Zhani Ciko rec. 2000, DDD LABOR
RECORDS LAB 7065 [57:39] [BBr]
Insufficient
musical interest here ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano
Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 Béla
BARTÓK (1881-1945) Piano
Concerto No. 3
Martha Argerich (piano);
Orchestre Symphonique de
Montréal/Charles Dutoit rec.
1997
EMI CLASSICS 2285312 [70:12][LW]
Cause
for celebration ... see Full
Review
Sergey
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Lieutenant
Kije suite, Dreams, Andante, Autumnal, The Stone Flower suite Scottish
Ntl O/Neeme Järvi
rec. 1985/9 CHANDOS CHAN10481X [78:42]
[TH]
Another
excellent budget reissue … very desirable ... see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891 – 1953) Ode to the End of the War see RIMSKY–KORSAKOV
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) My Puccini
- Angela Gheorghiu
Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) rec. 1999-2004
EMI CLASSICS
2174412 [75:26 + 66:44][RJF]
Well
if not uniformly outstandingly sung ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La
Bohème Giuseppe
Di Stefano, Maria Callas, Ch & O Teatro alla Scala di Milano/Antonino
Votto
rec. 1956 NAXOS 8.111332-33 [79.02
+ 76.23] [RMo]
A
lot of great music on offer here ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Turandot Maria
Callas, Eugenio Fernandi, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ch & O
Teatro alla Scala di Milano/Tullio Serafin
rec. 1957 NAXOS 8.111334-35 [77:26
+ 41:16] [RMo]
First
choice remains with the Mehta ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Mr Henry Purcell’s Most Admirable Composures
James Bowman (counter-tenor) The King’s Consort/Robert King rec. Radley
College, Oxfordshire, England, 9-10 April, 1988. DDD. Texts included.
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55303
[57:55]
[BW]
Hard
to imagine this music better interpreted ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Henry
PURCELL
(1659-1695) Complete
Sacred Music – Anthems, Services and Devotional Songs Full contents
at the end of the review Booklet with notes and texts.
HYPERION CDS44141-51 [11 CDs: 738:56]
[BW]
An
essential purchase for Purcell year and well beyond ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and
Aeneas Collegium Musicum 90/Richard Hickox rec. 1995
WARNER 882223
[55:58]
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and Aeneas Aeneas
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin/Attilio Cremonesi rec. 2005
ARTHAUS MUSIK 101311
[97:53][MG]
Hickox:
sensitive but sober, Cremonesi: vibrant but the choreography
dominates … see Full Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Piano
Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano); Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Antonio Pappano
rec. 2005 EMI CLASSICS
5181842 [58:30][JW]
Powerfully
shaped readings – rewarding and enticing ... see Full
Review
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873 – 1943) Symphony 1 see RIMSKY–KORSAKOV
Jean-Philippe
RAMEAU (1683-1764)
Castor et Pollux
Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera; Les Talens Lyriques/Christophe Rousset
rec. 2008
OPUS ARTE OA0999D
[2 DVDs: 155:00][BW]
Everything
here is just about right ... see Full
Review
Rolf
RIEHM (b. 1937)
1.Aprikosenbäume gibt es, aprikosenbäume gibt es (2004) [29:27] 2. Ahi
bocca, ahi lingua (1991/1994) [16:15] 3. Schlaf, schlaf, John Donne...
(1997) [19:20] Theo Nabicht
(bass clarinet); Ensemble Ascolta (1); Hilliard Ensemble (2); Ensemble
Recherche (3). rec. Kleine Sendesaal des WDR, Köln, 19, 21 December
2006 (1), and 24 April 1994 (2). Experimentalstudio Freiburg, 26 March
1998 (3). CYBELE SACD
860.701 [65:04]
[DC]
Attracted
by the promise of apricot sweetness - this can be bitter fruit. ...
see Full Review
Ferdinand RIES
(1784-1838)
Die Könige in Israel
Nele Gramß, Gerhild Romberger, Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert/Hermann
Max rec. 2005 CPO 777
221-2
[53:33 + 56:20] [JV]
Musically
enthralling oratorio in an outstanding performance ... see Full
Review
Nikolai
RIMSKY–KORSAKOV (1844 – 1908) Russian
Easter Festival Overture Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873 – 1943) Symphony 1 Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891 – 1953) Ode to the End of the War BBC
SO/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
rec. 1978/79 BBC LEGENDS BBCL42332 [68:46]
[BBr]
He
brought out the very best in his players ... see Full
Review
Edwin
ROXBURGH (b.
1937) Oboe Music Study
1, Aulodie,
Images, Eclissi, Antares, Elegy,
Cantilena Christopher Redgate
(oboe, oboe
d’amore); Stephen Robbings (piano)
Ensemble Exposé/Roger Redgate
rec. 2008 METIER MSV28508 [66:08]
[HC]
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