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RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) The
Complete Symphonies with sound samples 
New
York PO/Leonard Bernstein (1-7; 9-10) London SO/Leonard Bernstein
(8) Israel PO/Leonard Bernstein (DLVDE) rec.1960-68 SONY
CLASSICAL 88697 45369-2 [12 CDs] 
[TD]
Truly
something special ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911) Symphony
No. 1
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Jonathan Nott rec.
2006
TUDOR 7147 
[55:25][SV] 
No-nonsense
musicality and integrity ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony No.
7 Tonhalle Orchestra
Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2008
BMG-RCA RED SEAL 88697506502 [78:32][DM]
Revelatory,
but not without its flaws ... see Full
Review
Gustav MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Das Lied von der Erde
Waltraud Meier (mezzo); Siegfried Jerusalem (tenor) Chicago SO/Daniel
Barenboim rec. live, 1991
WARNER CLASSICS 2564 689747 [60:20] 
[ST]
Mahler
seen only from a safe distance ... see Full
Review
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Four Movements
Frankfurt
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi rec. 2007-8
VIRGIN CLASSICS 2165762 [70:16][RMo]
I
can find little to praise ... see Full
Review
Ursula
MAMLOK (b. 1923) Concertino,
2000 Notes, String Quartet 1, Haiku Settings, Oboe Concerto,
Designs, Woodwind Quintet
Odense SO/Scott Yoo, Garrick Ohlsson, Daedalus String Qt, Heinz Holliger
rec. 2007/8
BRIDGE 9291 [72:03]
[RB]
Dissonance
and clarity of thought ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Cello Concertos
Nos. 1 & 2 etc.
Raphael Wallfisch (cello); Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Jiří Bělohlávek
rec. 1991 CHANDOS CLASSICS
CHAN10547X [76:27][LW]
For
a disc of these works, this could hardly be bettered … see Full
Review
William
MATTHIAS (1934-1992) Zodiac Trio see Zodiac
Simon
MAYR (1763-1845) Tobiae
matrimonium
Simon Mayr Chorus & Ensemble/Franz Hauk
rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570752-53 [56.36 + 38.43][RH]
A
charming piece, charmingly performed ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
Complete Works for String Quartet
Leipzig String Quartet rec. 2000-6
MUSIKPRODUKTION DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM MDG3071571 [5 CDs:
54:10 + 68:05 + 66:43 + 60:20 + 70:29][JFL] 
A
most generous set ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Songs
and Duets - Vol. 4
Katherine Broderick (soprano); Hannah Morrison (soprano); Anna Grevelius
(mezzo); Finnur Bjarnason (tenor); Stephen Loges (baritone); Eugene
Asti (piano) rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67739 [67:17] 
[RW]
Warm-toned
singing ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Complete
Organ Sonatas William
Whitehead (organ) rec. 2009 CHANDOS
CHAN
10532 [72:09] [JS]
One
of the most important issues of this anniversary year ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Paulus Susan
Gritton (soprano); Jean Rigby (mezzo); Barry Banks (tenor);
Peter Coleman-Wright (bass);
BBC National Ch & O Wales/Richard Hickox
rec. 2000 CHANDOS
CHAN
10516(2)X [64:23 + 50:50] [JS]
Solid
if somewhat uncharismatic ... see Full
Review
Ernest John
MOERAN (1894-1950) Symphony in
G minor The
Hallé Orchestra/Leslie Heward rec. 1942
PRISTINE AUDIO PASC180 [43:25][RB]
More
than a historic document - endlessly fascinating ... see Full
Review
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) Madrigali
guerrieri et amorosi
Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt rec. 1980-4
WARNER DAS ALTE WERK 2564690525 [53:56][GF]
Remarkable
music and readings worthy of the music … see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Complete
String Quartets - Volume 2 American
String Qt rec. 1996/7 NIMBUS
NI 2533-55 [3 CDs: 69:25 + 76:20 + 73:27] [CC]
Not
first in my affections but earns a respected place there ...
see Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano
concertos 9, 10, 19, 20, 23, 24 & 27, Violin sonatas 21 & 32
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Violin Sonata 3 Clara Haskil
(piano) Arthur Grumiaux (violin) various orchestras & conductors,
rec. 1952-57 ANDROMEDA
ANDRCD9050 [4 CDs : 295:20]
[JS]
Immense
pleasure despite obvious limitations ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concertos
for Two and Three Pianos etc.
Derek Han, Wu Han, Peter Asimov (pianos); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Massimo
Quarta rec. 2008 RPO
SP018 [64:24][ST]
Will
satisfy anyone who wants to get to know these marvellous works ... see
Full Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Mozart
from Glyndebourne 75th anniversary issue rec.
1983-95 NVC ARTS 5186534022
[4 DVDs
188:00+176.00+181:00+50:00] [RJF]
A
wonderful Figaro alongside an abysmal Don Giovanni and a traditional
Mozart opera seria ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) The
Mozart Wind Collection Clarinet Concerto, Horn Concerto
4, Divertimento, Flute Concerto 1, Oboe Concerto, Bassoon Michael
Whight (clarinet); Martin Owen (horn); Andrew Nicholson (flute);
John Anderson (oboe); Daniel Jemison (bassoon) Royal PO/Nicholas
Cleobury rec. 2005 ROYAL
PHILHARMONIC RPO SP 005 [61.59 + 60.02] [SP]
Generally
good ... see Full Review
Thea
MUSGRAVE (b. 1928) Turbulent
Landscapes etc.
Various artists rec. 1998-2007
NMC D153 [69.01][GH]
Superb
music wonderfully performed and recorded ... see Full
Review
John
MUSTO
(b. 1954) Songs
Amy Burton (soprano); Patrick Mason (baritone); John Musto, Michael
Barrett (piano) rec. 2007
BRIDGE 9286 [58:29]
[WH]
A
fascinating synthesis of American music and poetry, beautifully
performed … see Full Review
Carl
NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphonies
Nos. 4 & 5 Danish
National Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt rec.
1999
NAXOS 8.570739 [75:03][LW]
An
especially fine Fourth … see Full Review
Pehr Henrik NORDGREN
(1944-2008)
Taivaanvalot
Merja Wirkkala (soprano); Anssi Hirvonen (tenor); Ritva Talvitie (bowed
lyre) Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Ch; Kaustinen Children’s Ch,
Folk O; Ostrobothnian CO/Juha Kangas rec. live, 1999
ALBA ABCD269 [53:44]
[HC]
One
of Nordgren’s greatest achievements in a splendid performance … see Full
Review
Michael
NYMAN (b. 1944) Yamamoto
Perpetuo for Solo Flute
Andy Findon (flute) rec.
2008 AMF02
[37:00][CR]
Well
worth exploring for rhythmical, technical and musical challenges ...
see Full Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Orphée
aux Enfers Choeur
et Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse/Michel Plasson rec. 1978
EMI CLASSICS 3951332 [68:49 + 71:18][J-PJ]
Singers
who know how to sing Offenbach and to act it ... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les Brigands
Choeur et
Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon/John Eliot Gardiner rec. 1988
EMI CLASSICS 3951132 [44:31 + 60:32][ST]
Shaping
up for a top recommendation ... see Full
Review
Krzysztof PENDERECKI
(b.1933)
Music for Chamber Orchestra
Sinfonia Varsovia O/Krzysztof Penderecki rec. 2008
DUX 0678 [62:54]
[DC]
Penderecki’s “best
of the most gorgeous bits from ...” ... see Full
Review
Dominique PHINOT
(c.1510-1561) Missa Si bona suscepimus
etc. Claudin de SERMISY (1490-1562)
Si bona suscepimus
Brabant Ensemble/Stephen Rice rec. 2008
HYPERION CDA67696 [74.13][GH]
Another
significant musical discovery by a leading choral group ... see Full
Review
Ástor
PIAZZOLLA
(1921–1992) The Piazzolla Project
Jacques Ammon (piano); Artemis Quartet rec.
2004-8
VIRGIN CLASSICS 2672920 [59:52][NB]
Great
if lacking the last drop of deliriously authentic passion ... see Full
Review
Ildebrando
PIZZETTI (1880-1968) Orchestral
Music BBC Scottish
Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä rec. 1998
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55329 [76:03][BBr]
A
bargain not to be missed … see Full
Review
Ildebrando
PIZZETTI (1880-1968) Orchestral
Music
Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra/Myron Michailidis rec. January
2008 NAXOS 8.572013
[69:15][BBr]
A
really good introduction to this neglected composer … see Full
Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Symphony No.1 in D Major, Op.25 'Classical' (1916-1917) [13:92]
Symphony No.1 in D Major, Op.25 'Classical'* (1916-1917)
[13:98] Symphony No.5 in B Flat Major, Op.100 (1944) [40:37] Symphony
No.6 in E Flat Major, Op.111 (1945-1947) [39:75]
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra*/L'Orchestre de la Suisse
Romande/Ernest Ansermet rec. October 1951 (Symphony No.6), February
1961 (Symphony No.1: OSR); April 1964 (Symphony No.5), Victoria Hall,
Geneva, Switzerland; June 1953 (Symphony No.1: PCO), Maison de la Mutualité,
Paris, France. ADD
DECCA ELOQUENCE 4800834 [55:13+56:26]
[PL]
If
the Ansermet-Prokofiev link has never crossed your mind - think again!
... see Full Review
Sergei
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Piano Concertos
Nos. 2 & 3
Yevgeny Kissin (piano); Philharmonia Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy rec.
2008 EMI CLASSICS 2645362
[61:48][DM]
Below
par recording, uninspired playing ... see Full
Review
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Suor Angelica
Victoria de los
Angeles (soprano); Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Tullio Serafin
rec. 1957 NAXOS HISTORICAL
8.111328 [56:52][BW]
Still
easily able to hold its own ... see Full
Review
Giacomo PUCCINI
(1858-1924)
La rondine
Svetla Vassileva, Maya Dashuk, Puccini Festival Ch & O/Alberto Veronesi
rec. 2007 NAXOS 8.660253-54
[68:28 + 34:10]
[NB]
Bafflingly
poor performance of under-appreciated Puccini gem ... see Full
Review
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Piano Trio Franz
SCHUBERT (1797-1828) Piano Trio No. 2
Icicle Creek Piano Trio rec. 2008
CON BRIO RECORDINGS CBR28453 [68:13][JW]
A
less high calorific approach ...
congenial performances ... see Full
Review
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Organ Works
Vol. 9
Josef Still (organ) rec.
2008
NAXOS 8.570454 [69:17][JFL]
Emblematic,
not only or always in a good way ... see Full
Review
Aribert
REIMANN (b.1936) Sonata for Piano;
Spektren; Variations for Piano
Matthew Rubenstein (piano) rec. 2008
CPO 777236-2 [69:00][RB]
Tough
music strongly presented ... see Full
Review
Joseph
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Organ
Works - Volume 7
Wolfgang Rübsam (Sauer organ, Fulda Cathedral) rec. 2007
NAXOS 8.570314 [74:43][BW]
A
worthy successor to the earlier volumes ... see Full
Review
Johan
Helmich ROMAN (1694-1758) The
Swedish Virtuoso
Maria Lindal (violin); Mats Klingfors (flute); REBaroque/Maria
Lindal rec. 2008
PROPRIUS PRCD2044 [57:47][GF]
In
every respect a superb disc ... see Full
Review
Johan Helmich ROMAN
(1694-1758) Twelve
Flute Sonatas
Verena Fischer (transverse flute); Klaus-Dieter Brandt (cello); Léon
Berben (harpsichord) rec. 2007-8
NAXOS 8.570492-93 [75:11 + 70:42][JV]
These
first-rate sonatas by Roman with close to ideal interpreters ... see Full
Review
Arnold
ROSNER (b.
1945) Piano Music Piano Sonatas
1-3, Etz Chaim
Donna Amato (piano) rec. 2008
ALBANY TROY1119 [59:31]
[RB]
A
position of equipoise between dignity and eloquence ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Nino ROTA (1911-1979) Symphonies
1 & 2 Filarmonica ’900
del Teatro Regio di Torino/Marzio Conti
rec. 2005/6 CHANDOS CHAN10546 [61:57] [DJB]
The
best non-mainstream works I have heard in a long while ... 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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