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Edward
MacDOWELL (1860-1908) Hamlet, Ophelia see
Inspired by Shakespeare
and Hamlet
James
MacMILLAN (b. 1959) Choral music see LEIGHTON
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphony 2 Adriana Kučerová
(soprano) Christianne Stotijn (mezzo) 
London PO/Ch/Vladimir Jurowski rec. 2009
LPO-0054 [21:18 + 61:11]
[JQ]
There
are several recordings of this symphony that have stronger claims on
the attentions of collectors than this one.
Gustav
MAHLER (1860-1911) Symphonies 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 & 9
New
York PO, WD RO Köln, Vienna PO/ Dimitri Mitropoulos rec. 1956-60
MUSIC AND ARTS CD-1021 [6 CDs: 454:20] [JQ]
An
important and challenging set that deserves a place in any self-respecting
Mahler collection.
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911) The
Complete Symphonies London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt
Rec. 1977-1993 EMI CLASSICS 50999 0 94493 2 9 [16 CDs]
[RMo]
Integrity
and honesty of response in harmony with technical proficiency. Tennstedt's
place amongst the greatest interpreters of Mahler is secure.
Carlo
MARTELLI (b.1935) Symphony see JOUBERT
Destination
Paris Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) String Trios 1 & 2 Jean
FRANÇAIX (1912-1997) String Trio George
ENESCU (1881-1955) Aubade
Lendvai String Trio rec. 2009
STONE RECORDS 5060192780079 [55:50]
[SA]
A
rendezvous with the music of three unique musical voices.
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Songs Vol. 1
Jana Wallingerová (mezzo) Giorgio Koukl (piano) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572588 [79:28]
[WH]
Forty-one
songs at less than two minutes a song: a beautifully performed recital
that merits careful but selective listening.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Bohuslav MARTINŮ
(1890-1959)
Duo for violin and cello 1 see Duos
for Violin & Cello
Martín
MATALON (b.1958) Trames II, IV & VIII
Florence Cioccolani (piano) Maude Gratton (harpsichord) Eriko Minami
(marimba) Les Siècles/François Xavier Roth rec. 2008/09
ACTES SUD MUSICALES ASM059 [49:48]
[Byz]
Exciting
contemporary music that retains a recognisable direction, rhythms and
even bits of tune.
Olivier
MESSIAEN
(1908-1992)
Apparition de l'Eglise Eternelle (1932) [8:02] La Nativité
du Seigneur (1935) [57:08]
Jean-Pierre Lecaudey (organ) rec. 2002, DDD
PAVANE
ADW 7528 [65:10] 
[DM]
One
could carp about this detail or that but in toto this is a performance
of real stature; I’m thrilled to have it on my shelves.
Ludwig
MINKUS (1826-1917) La Bayadère
Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, Marianela Nuñez, Royal Opera House O/Valeriy
Ovsyanikov rec. 2009
OPUS ARTE OA1043D 
[167.00]
[MMB]
One
of the best productions of a classical ballet that the ROH has ever
staged or filmed.
Claudio
MONTEVERDI (1567-1643) L’Orfeo
Giovanni Sinimberghi, Uta Graf, Patricia Brinton, Die Wiener Singakademie,
Vienna SO/Paul Hindemith rec. 1954
MUSIC AND ARTS CD-1237 [56:20 + 52:39]
[JS]
I
listened dutifully but it is hard to greet this issue with more than
very muted enthusiasm.
Claudio
MONTEVERDI
(1567-1643) Vespro
della Beata Vergine (1610) L’Arpeggiata/Christina
Pluhar (theorbo) rec. 15-22 April 2010, Arsenal de Metz
VIRGIN CLASSICS
641994-2 [71.09 + DVD: 22.05] deluxe version
[GH]
Sheer
vitality and excitement. Beautifully recorded and presented.
Philip
MOORE (b. 1943) Awake Up My Glory - Choral and
organ music
Jonathan Vaughn (organ) Exon Singers/Matthew Owens rec. 2009
REGENT REGCD315 [71:15]
[JQ]
Philip
Moore’s expertly written and very attractive music has been well served
on this very welcome disc.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano
Concertos 1-4; Piano Concertos after J C Bach 1-3; Symphony 14
Malcolm Bilson (fortepiano) American Classical O/Thomas Crawford
NIMBUS NI 2579/80 [55:42 + 50:49]
[JS]
A
well presented selection, well played, clearly if closely recorded,
and offered at bargain price.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Divertimento in E flat major
K.563
Henning Kraggerud (violin) Lars Anders Tomter (viola) Christoph Richter
(cello) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.572258 [51:03]
[JS]
The
more I hear it the more I am convinced that the Divertimento K563 is
one of Mozart’s very greatest works.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756
- 1791) Complete Keyboard Works
Bart van Oort, Ursula Dütschler (fortepiano) rec. 1997-2005
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94198 [14 CDs: c.14 hrs]
[KM]
A
fine collection at a nice price, but I’m not overwhelmed by the
performances.
RECORDING OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Arias
Ildebrando d’Arcangelo (bass-baritone) O del Teatro Regio di Torino/Gianandrea
Noseda rec. 2010
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 9297 [60:45] [GF]
One
of the most thrilling bass recitals that has come my way.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Le Nozze di Figaro
Cesare
Siepi (bass) Roberta Peters (soprano) Ezio Flagello (bass) Regina Resnik
(mezzo) Mildred Miller (mezzo) Kim Borg (bass) Ch & O Met Op New
York/Erich Leinsdorf rec. 1961
SONY CLASSICS 88697 853102 [3 CDs: 155:59]
[JS]
This
poorly presented set has been a sad disappointment.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Sonatas 10, 11, 12 &
14 Maria
João Pires (piano) rec. 1974
REGIS RRC1345 [76:06]
[JW]
Easeful,
fluent, legato-rich and clement performances avoiding a sense of drama
and inner contrast in favour of emollient gentility.
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Coronation Mass
see HAYDN
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) German Dances, Contredances
see BRAHMS
Oscar
NEDBAL
(1874-1930) Die Winzerbraut (The Vineyard
Bride) - Operette in drei Akten (1913) [99:58] Soloists
Chor und Orchester des Musik Theater Schönbrunn/Herbert Mogg rec. 2010
CPO
777 629-2 [99:58]
[NB]
A
fine addition to CPO’s catalogue of operetta rarities and perhaps the
start of Nedbal’s overdue reassessment.
Michael
NYMAN Composer in Progress
Silvia Beck (director)
ARTHAUS MUSIK
101483 [52:00] [KM]
This
documentary doesn’t go very deep but gives a nice glimpse of the career
and music of one of the most interesting of contemporary composers.
Giovanni
Antonio PANDOLFI MEALLI (1629 - after 1679) Violin
sonatas
Gunar Letzbor (violin) Ars Antiqua Austria rec. 2010
ARCANA A 360 [56:15]
[JV]
Letzbor’s
playing is admirable, but the performance as a whole is marred by exaggerations
in the tempi and the scoring of the basso continuo.
Alfredo
PIATTI (1822-1901)
Capriccio sopra un tema della Niobe di Pacini Dodici Capricci
Soo
Bae (cello) rec. 2008
NAXOS 8.570782 [54:16]
[BR]
A
real treat for fans of the cello: solo works imaginatively written and
impeccably played.
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) Les Contes d’Hoffmann
see Domingo
Arvo
PäRT
(b.1935) L’Abbé
Agathon Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Oratorio de Noël
Pärt: Anna Maria Chiuri (mezzo); Bologna Cello Project; Saint-Saëns:
Stefania Donzelli (soprano); Kamelia Kader (mezzo); Isabella Conti (alto);
Patrizio Saudelli (tenor): Lucio Mauti (baritone); Mario Ciferri (organ)
Coro Colombati Città di Pergola; Orchestra da Camera delle Marche/Roberto
Molinelli rec. 2008/10
SHEVA SH036 [51:55]
One
of those very individual discs that sticks in the memory and demands
immediate replay.
Arvo
PÄRT (b. 1935) spiegel im spiegel
see INNER VOICE
Ástor
PIAZZOLLA
(1921-1992)
Tangos for Violin, Brass and Percussion Quintet
Andrea Tacchi (violin), Quintetto di Ottoni e Percussioni della Toscana
rec. 2009, DDD
NAXOS 8.572611 [64:09]
[OL]
For
seasoned fans as well as novices.
Encuentro
Ástor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Camorra I-II-III, Contrabajissimo
Gustavo BEYTELMANN (b.1945) Encuentro,
Otras voces, El desaparecido
Quatuor Caliente rec. 2010
ÆON AECD1107 [64:21]
[OL]
Advanced
Nuevo Tango, for those who want to dig deeper.
Cole
PORTER (1891-1964) A Tribute to Cole Porter
Wilfried
Van den Brande (bass baritone) J. Machtel Qtet, Nuremberg SO/Dirk M.
Baert rec. 2009/10
SWELLS PRODUCTIONS [5 CDs: 220:54] [IL]
A
welcome celebration of a great 20th century compositional
talent by 21st century artists.
Francis
POULENC (1899-1963) Voyage à Paris
Felicity Lott (soprano) Ann Murray (mezzo) Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
Richard Jackson (baritone) Graham Johnson (piano) rec. 1984
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55366 [67:46] [Byz]
Lott
sings very well in French: husky, lovely in her upper register and with
'controlled abandon' where necessary.
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergey PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953)
Romeo and Juliet
Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta, Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Boris Gruzin rec.
2007
DECCA 074 3336 
[138:00]
[DM]
Nureyev
and Fonteyn will always be iconic but this is in another league entirely.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) La Boheme, Tosca,
Madama Butterfly
rec. 2004/07
DYNAMIC 33684 [3 DVDs:
372:00] [RJF]
Two
imaginative productions rather averagely sung and one incomprehensible,
one graced with a well sung and acted heroine.
Giacomo
PUCCINI (1858-1924) Madama Butterfly
Raffaella Angeletti, Massimiliano Pisapia, Fondazione O Regionale Delle
Marche/Daniele Callegari rec. 2009
UNITEL/C MAJOR 706304
[137:00] [RF]
A
naturalistic production well realised with the participants doing justice
to Puccini’s creation.
Uljas
PULKKIS (b. 1975) On the Crest of Waves, Tales of
Joy, Passion and Love, Vernal Bloom
Kari Kriikku (clarinet) Gabriel Suovanen (baritone) Tampere PO/Hannu
Lintu rec. 2010/2011
ONDINE ODE 1176-2 [62:37]
[HC]
Splendid
performances in magnificent a recording of this attractive music.
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Songs and Sacred Arias
The Deller Consort rec. 1959
REGIS RRC1366 [74:58] [JW]
A
nostalgic and well transferred recital.
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Sergei
RAKHMANINOV
(1873-1943) The
piano Concertos Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Rhapsody
on a Theme of Paganini,
John Lill (piano) BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki Otaka rec.
1993-1996. DDD
NIMBUS NI 1720 [3 CDs: 64:37 + 71:53 + 71:17]
[JQ RB]
Consistently
satisfying performances that reveal Rachmaninov’s music to the listener
faithfully and without unnecessary ostentation. [JQ] An evocative synthesis
of ursine majesty and razory melancholy. [RB]
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Sergei RACHMANINOV
(1873-1943) Piano Concertos 1 & 4 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Simon
Trpceski (piano) Royal Liverpool PO/Vasily Petrenko rec. 2009-2011
AVIE AV2191 [77:09]
[JQ]
If
you haven’t already sampled this fine partnership of Trpceski and Petrenko
in Rachmaninov, don’t delay any longer!
Sergei
RACHMANINOV (1873-1943) Symphonies 1-3, Symphonic Movement,
Vocalise
Royal Scottish Ntl O/Owain Arwel Hughes rec. 2001
BIS-CD-1665/66 [3 CDs: 199:51] [SV]
The
texture and tone are consistently light and melodramatic surges and
swells are eschewed.
Maurice
RAVEL (1875-1937) Miroirs see SCHUMANN
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Organ Works - Vol. 11:
Twelve Pieces; Thirteen Chorale Preludes
Hans-Jürgen Kaiser (organ) rec. 2010
NAXOS 8.572466 [59:36]
[GD]
It
is going to take a recording with more impact than this one to win the
composer many new converts.
Max
REGER (1873-1916) Variations and Fugue on a theme of Mozart
see BRAHMS
Jay
REISE (b.1950) **The River Within - Violin Concerto
see To the point
Ottorino
RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Quartetto Dorico, Violin sonata, Six Pieces
Quartetto della Scala rec. 2011
CONCERTO CD 2060 [77:52] [IL]
A
worthy collection of less well-known Respighi chamber pieces performed
with virtuosity and vivacity.
Joseph
Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Clarinet Sonata see
BRAHMS
Terry
RILEY (1685-1750)
In C
Salt Lake Electric Ens rec. 2010
SALT LAKE ELECTRIC ENSEMBLE SLEE001 [65:56] [DC]
Fascinating
and successful project.
Nikolai
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908) Scheherazade see
Russian
Ballet Music
George
ROCHBERG
(1918-2005) Sonata for Viola and Piano (1979) [19:36] see INNER
VOICE
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Venezia
Johann ROSENMÜLLER
(1619-1684) Sonatas Giovanni LEGRENZI
(1626-1690) Sonatas Alessandro STRADELLA
(1639-1682) Sinfonias
Rare Fruits Council/Manfredo Kraemer rec. 2010
AMBRONAY AMY028 [81.53]
[GH]
Not
just a disc for specialists. Exemplary musicianship, breath-taking virtuosity
and superb presentation. Sheer musical pleasure.
Gioacchino
ROSSINI (1792 – 1868) La cambiale di matrimonio
Vito
Priante, Julija Samsonova, Daniele Zanfardino, Württemberg PO/Christopher
Franklin rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.660302 [71.36]
[RH]
Lively
and involving … a fine addition to the expanding list of Rossini operas
on Naxos.
Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) L’italiana in Algeri
Simone Alaimo (buffa bass) Jeanette Fischer (soprano) Anthony Smith
(bass) Bruce Ford (tenor) Jennifer Larmore (mezzo) Alessandro Corbelli
(buffa baritone) O & Ch Paris Opera/Bruno Campanella rec. 1998
ARTHAUS MUSIK
107 127 [148:00] [RJF]
Larmore’s
singing together with a fine acting cast rescue this production from
slapstick and one can just about see the difference between Rossini’s
opera giocosa and a farsa.
Andrew
RUDIN (b.1939) *Canto di Ritorno - Concerto, for violin
and small orchestra see To
the point
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