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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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]

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William Thomas McKINLEY (b.1934) Passacaglia see GIANNINI

Gustav MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 2 Maria Stader (soprano); Maureen Forrester (contralto) Westminster Ch, New York P-SO/Bruno Walter rec. 1957 MUSIC & ARTS CD-1199 [79:47] [JQ]

The best way to experience Walter’s interpretation of ‘Resurrection’ ... see Full Review

Joseph MARX (1882-1964) Orchestral Songs and Choral Works Christine Brewer (soprano); Trinity Boys Choir; Apollo Voices; BBC Symphony Chorus BBC Symphony Orchestra/Jiří Bělohlávek rec. 2008 CHANDOS CHAN10505 [71:33][JW]

Marx really does come alive here ... see Full Review

Joseph MARX (1882-1964) Eine Frühlingsmusik, Idylle, Feste Im Herbst Vienna RSO/Johannes Wildner rec. 2007 CPO 7773202 [63:06] [JW]

Good times for the Marx collector ... see Full Review

Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditations see PAGANINI

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Jules MASSENET (1842–1912) Manon Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918) La Demoiselle élue Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869) Les nuits d’été Orchestra and Chorus of the Théâtre National de l’Opéra Comique/Pierre Monteux rec. 1955 NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.111268-70 [3 CDs: 66.59 + 80.13 + 67.29][RMo]

At super-bargain price, these three discs are a steal ... see Full Review

Johann Simon MAYR (1763-1845) Fedra Capuine Chiaudani, Tomasz Zagorski, State Ch & O Braunschweig/Gerd Schaller rec. live, 2008 OEHMS CLASSICS OC920 [64.28 + 50.46] [RJF]

A very welcome addition to the sparse recorded catalogue of Mayr’s operas ... see Full Review

Johann MATTHESON (1681-1764) The Twelve Suites of 1714, Harmonisches Denckmal Colin Booth (harpsichord) rec. 2007 SOUNDBOARD SBCD208 [76:06 + 77:19] [JV]

Differentiated, lively, expressive … Mattheson is more than a name in history ... see Full Review

Alessandro MELANI (1639-1703) L’Europa, Requiem, Beatus vir, Magnificat Das Kleine Konzart/Hermann Max rec. D 2008  CPO 777 408-2 [75:45] [JW]

Fine sound caps this disc of obscurities ... see Full Review

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992) Chamber Works Matthew Schnellhorn (piano); soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra rec. 2008 SIGNUM SIGCD126 [66:38][CR] 

Stunning performances with wonderful sound ... see Full Review

Otto MORTENSEN (1907–1986) Songs Signe Asmussen (soprano); Jacob Naeslund Madsen (tenor); Christen Stubbe Teglbjaerg (piano) rec. 2008 DACAPO 8.224704 [63:57][GF]

A largely attractive acquaintance ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos 17 & 18 Lausanne CO/Christian Zacharias (piano)  rec. 2007 MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM  MDG 9401488-6 [58:15] [MG]

Quite laid back but well considered … repay repeated listening  … see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Zaide Wiener Akademie/Martin Haselböck rec. 2006 CPO 777281-2 [44:20 + 49:46][ST] 

It will serve but has too many inconsistencies ... see Full Review

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Operatic excerpts arranged for wind ensemble Die Zauberflöte, La Clemenza di Tito Saxonian Wind Academy rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570027 [72:16] [ST]

This disc brought me tremendous pleasure ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concerto for two pianos, Sinfonia concertante for Violin & viola Håvard Gimse, Vebjørn Anvik (pianos) Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Norwegian CO/Iona Brown (violin) rec. 1995/6 CHANDOS CHAN10507X [53:56] [DC]

A winner – puts the fon back into Sinfonia, takes the con out of Concertante ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Concertos 20 & 27 Clifford Curzon (piano) English CO/Benjamin Britten. rec. 1970 ESOTERIC ESD90014 [65:18] [JLa]

One of the most sublime and supreme accomplishments of the recording angel ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865–1931) The Complete Orchestral Music (vols. 1-4) Symphonies 1-6, Helios Overture, Paraphrase Nearer, my God, to Thee, Two songs: Silken Shoes on a Golden Last, ; Bow your Head, Oh Flower, Symphonic Rhapsody, Cupid & the Poet, Genrebillede, Ariel’s Song, Christmas at Home, Andante Tranquillo e Scherzo for String Orchestra Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Douglas Bostock CLASSICO CLASSCD296-299 [4 CDs: 66:40 + 66:27 + 63:54 + 71:37] [JLa]

Clarity, authenticity and an energy that does not exist without precision ... see Full Review

BARGAIN OF THE MONTH Carl August NIELSEN (1865 – 1931) The Symphonies Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra/Theodore Kuchar rec. 2005 BRILLIANT CLASSICS 92885 [3 CDs: 65:55 + 79:04 + 69:45] [JL]

Nothing less than a paradigm shift ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Chamber Music Vol. 2 Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano, Op. 9 (1895) [21:17] Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano, Op. 35 (1912) [20:39] Prelude, Theme and Variations for solo violin, Op. 48 (1923) [18:11] Preludio e Presto for solo violin, Op. 52 (1928) [11:43] Jon Gjesme (violin) (1-2); Jens Elvekjær (piano) (1-2); Tue Lautrup (violin) rec. November 2006, March 2007, The Black Diamond, The Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark DACAPO 8.226065 [71:50] [DM]

Music and musicianship of great skill. Investigate at once ... see Full Review

Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) Complete Piano Music Christina Bjørkøe (piano) rec. 2007 CPO 7774132 [66:12 + 67:29][DC]

A pianist with Nielsen under her skin – a real revelation ... see Full Review

Carl ORFF (1895-1982) Carmina Burana Laura Claycomb (soprano) Barry Banks (tenor) Christopher Maltman (baritone) Tiffin Boys’ Choir/Simon Toyne London Symphony Ch & O/Richard Hickox rec. live, 2007 CHANDOS CHSA5067 [60:37] [DM]

What has gone wrong here? ... see Full Review

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Violin concerto 1 Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Introduction and rondo capriccioso Jules MASSENET (1842-1912) Meditation Mariusz Patyra (violin) Sinfonia Varsovia/Johannes Wildner rec. 2004 DUX 0654 [56:18] [RMay]

Breathtaking virtuosity and real and intelligent musicality ... see Full Review

Sir Hubert PARRY (1848-1918) Violin Sonata etc. Erich Gruenberg (violin); Roger Vignoles (piano) rec. 1984 HYPERION HELIOS CDH55266 [59:30][EM] 

Wonderful works - music that should be better known ... see Full Review

Arvo PÄRT (b. 1953) Music for Unaccompanied Choir Elora Festival Singers/Noel Edison rec. 2006 NAXOS 8.570239 [57:26][EM] 

Luminous and intense ... see Full Review

Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Symphony No. 2; Sacred Works Various artists rec. 1972-83 EMI CLASSICS GEMINI 2176692 [73:23 + 60:18][DM] 

An enticing programme for newcomers and fans alike ... see Full Review

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Francis POULENC (1899–1963) Tel jour telle nuit, Chansons villageoises, La Fraicheur et le Feu see FAURÉ

Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Love for Three Oranges Suite, Symphonies 1 & 7 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) The Nutcracker Suite Philharmonia O/Nicolai Malko rec. 1955 CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3822292 [80:29] [SV]

Good to have these recordings readily available, and in stereo ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly (1904) [135.12] Angela Gheorghiu (soprano) Jonas Kaufmann  (tenor) Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia/Antonio Pappano rec.2008. DDD EMI CLASSICS 50999 2 64187 2 8 [62.04 + 73.08] [RMo]

Cause for celebration but does not supplant the Karajan ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Manon Lescaut - lyric drama in four acts based on the novel by Abbé Prévost (1892) Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet/James Levine rec. live, Metropolitan Opera, New York, 16 February 2008 EMI CLASSICS DVD 2 17420 9 [137:00] [IL]

A lavish production which I am confident you will enjoy. ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly Maria Callas (soprano); Coro & Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala Milano/Herbert von Karajan rec. 1955 EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 2127112 [63:39 + 75:03][AS] 

One of the greatest interpretations committed to disk ... see Full Review

Giacomo PUCCINI (1858 – 1924) Il trittico Tito Gobbi, Victoria de los Angeles, Ch & O Teatro dell’Opera di Roma/Vincenzo Bellezza, Tullio Serafin, Gabriele Santini rec. 1955-58 EMI CLASSICS GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 2127142 [3 CDs: 51:31 + 56:08 + 53:00] [GF]

Still the classic version ... see Full Review

Jean Pullois (?-1478) Flos de spina see BUSNOIS

RECORDING OF THE MONTH Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) Dido and Aeneas Choir & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Steven Devine rec. 2008 CHANDOS CHACONNE CHAN0757 [69:49][MG]

All round excellence, but the added music is controversial … see Full Review

Henry PURCELL (1659 – 1695) Dido and Aeneas (1689) Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) – Dido; Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) – Belinda; The Mermaid Singers and Orchestra/Geraint Jones rec. 15, 27-28 March 1952, English libretto enclosed Richard WAGNER (1813 – 1883) Götterdämmerung: Starke Scheite (Brünnhilde’s Immolation) [19:48] Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Philharmonia Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler rec. 26 March 1948 NIMBUS PRIMA VOCE NI 7956 [76:35] [GF]

Even die-hard purists should find a lot to admire in this historic issue ... see Full Review

Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA (b. 1928) Complete Works for Male Choir YL Male Voice Choir/Matti Hyökki rec. 2007 ONDINE ODE 1125-2D [47:07 + 52:01] [DM]

A worthy collection rather than an outstanding one ... see Full Review

Alan RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 2; Concerto for Two Pianos Geoffrey Tozer (piano), Tamara Anna Cisłowska (piano); London Philharmonic Orchestra/Matthias Bamert rec. 1992 CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN10339X [62:47][EM]

Sparkling and exuberant ... see Full Review

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

The more Reger, the better ... see Full Review

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) La Primavera, Quattro Liriche su poesie popolari armene, La Pentola Magica Slovak PCh, Slovak RSO/Adriano rec. 1991/4 NAXOS 8.570741 [79:20] [WK]

A re-release of two of Respighi’s lesser-known, but most interesting works ... see Full Review

Ferdinand RIES (1784-1838) Piano Sonatas and Sonatinas: Volume 1 Susan Kagan (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570796 [49:53][CC]

This is the beginning of what will clearly be a delightful, and useful, series ... see Full Review

Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) CD 1 [75:04] Antar – Symphonic Suite, Op. 9 [30:44] May Night – Overture [8:04] The Tale of Tsar Saltan – Suite, Op. 57 [20:27] (The Tsar’s Departure and Farewell; The Tsarina and her son afloat in the cask; The Three Wonders; The Flight of the Bumblebee - The Tale of Tsar Saltan) Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34 [15:16] CD 2 [66:42] Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36 [14:40] Christmas Eve – Suite [23:42] Dubinushka, Op. 62 [4:12] Sadko – A Musical Picture, Op. 5 [10:51] The Snow Maiden – Suite (Introduction; Danses des Oiseaux; Cortège; Danses des Bouffons) [12:36] Motet de Genève/Jacques Horneffer (Snow Maiden) L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, October 1952 (Capriccio Espagnol, mono); June 1954 (Antar); November 1956 (May Night, Tale of Tsar Saltan, Russian Easter Festival Overture); April 1957 (Flight of the Bumblebee, Sadko); May 1957 (Christmas Eve, Dubinushka); November 1957 (Snow Maiden). ADD. DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0827 [75:04 + 66:42]  
Nicolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Sheherazade Op. 35 [41:40]
Le Coq d’Or – Suite (King Dodon in his Palace 9:15; King Dodon on the Battlefield 4:29; King Dodon with Queen Shemakha 6:41; Marriage Feast and Lamentable End of King Dodon 6:32) Pierre Nerini (violin) Paris Conservatoire Orchestra/Ernest Ansermet 1-4 L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. La Maison de la Mutualité, Paris, France, September 1954 (Sheherazade); Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, October 1952 (Le Coq d’Or, mono). ADD DECCA ELOQUENCE 480 0081 [68:58] [RB]

Lower key Rimsky-Korsakov which may well suit you. Often very nicely recorded. ... see Full Review

Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) The Golden Cockerel Yefgeny Nesterenko, Elena Ustinova, All-Union Radio and Television Academic Grand Ch, Academic SO of Moscow State Philharmonic/Dmitri Kitaenko MELODIYA MELCD1001398 [57:42 + 65:06] [ST]

An impressive and enjoyable performance of a very worthy opera ... see Full Review

Pierre RODE (1774-1830) Violin Concertos 7, 10 & 13 Friedemann Eichhorn (violin) South West German RO, Kaiserlautern/Nicolás Pasquet rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570469 [58:00] [KS]

Light and breezy for a not so serious mindset ... see Full Review

Antonio ROSETTI (1750-1792) Jesus in Gethsemane; Halleluja - cantata; Salve Regina NDR Chor Mecklenburgisches Barockorchester 'Herzogliche HofKapelle'/Johannes Moesus rec. 2006 CPO 777254-2 [49:20 + 56:03] 

The hidden side of Rosetti's oeuvre - another CPO winner ... see Full Review

Gioacchino ROSSINI (1792-1868) Péchés de vieillesse - Volume VI Alessandro Marangoni (piano) rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.570766 [78:00][JS] 

Little more than a stopgap ... see Full Review

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792-1868) La gazza ladra Prague Chamber Choir; Orchestra Haydn Di Bolzano e Trento/Lu Jia rec. 2007 DYNAMIC 33567 [2DVDs: 201:00][RJF]

Good singing, but definitely a wacky production ... see Full Review

Christopher ROUSE (b. 1949) Iscariot, Clarinet Concerto, Symphony 1 Martin Fröst (clarinet) Royal Stockholm PO/Alan Gilbert rec. 2005/6 BIS BISCD1386 [62:35] [HC]

Splendid … a most welcome addition to Rouse’s growing discography ... see Full Review

Ludomir RÓŻYCKI (1884-1953) String Quartet in D minor see SZYMANOWSKI

 


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]
[last 5 days] [Recommended recordings]


 



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