Classical Editor: Rob Barnett             Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com


PART 4
M to R

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]   
            

CURRENT CLASSICAL REVIEWS
see below

allow time to load

PREVIOUS CLASSICAL
CD REVIEWS

Editor Rob Barnett  

Search Previous Reviews

 FILM MUSIC
CD REVIEWS

Editor Ian Lace

BUY
your CDs on-line and benefit this site


COMPETITION

WIN
a CHANDOS CD
 New each month!

Current Reviews New entries are indicated by a rotating symbol.
Full list of reviewers and contributors here

Click
Here

Click
Here



PART 4
M to R

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc]   
             


ALPHABETICAL LISTING

Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Piano Concerto No. 1 (1882) Piano Concerto No. 2 (1885) Second Modern Suite (1881) Seta Tanyel (piano) BBC Scottish SO/Martyn Brabbins rec 14-15 Sept, 17 Dec 2000, Henry Wood Hall, London The Romantic Piano Concerto - Vol. 25 HYPERION CDA67165 [77.10] [RB]
Edward MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Piano Concerto No. 1 (1882) Piano Concerto No. 2 (1885) Witches Dance (1884) * Romance for cello and orchestra (1888) * Stephen Prutsman (piano) Aisling Drury Byrne (cello) National SO of Ireland/Arthur Fagen * world premiere recordings rec 13-14 Sept 1999, National Concert Hall, Dublin NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559049 [56.12][RB]

The playing on the Naxos is really exciting with Prutsman relishing every grand moment. The Hyperion will be commendable to anyone preferring Tanyel's more reflective approach.

MACDOWELL (1861-1908) Piano Sonata No. 1 Tragica (1892) [26.21] Piano Sonata No. 2 Eroica (1895) [24.53] Piano Sonata No. 3 Norse (1899) [17.54] Piano Sonata No. 4 Keltic (1900) [18.54] Woodland Sketches (1896) [25.10] Sea Pieces (1898) [20.44] Alan Mandel (piano) rec 4 & 7 Jan 1999, Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, Washington DC PHOENIX PHCD 148 2 CDs CD1 [72.14] CD2 [61.37] [RB]

Very highly commended both for repertoire and interpretation. Whether factually right or not I had the impression that Mandel knew these works. He certainly presents them with conviction.

MACDOWELL Suite No. 1, Op. 42, Suite No. 2, Op. 48 "Indian", Hamlet and Ophelia, Op. 22. Ulster Orchestra/Takuo Yuasa recorded 2-4/12/99, in the Ulster Hall, Belfast. DDD NAXOS 8.559075 [63.50] [AAS]

Expertly crafted music, occasional flashes of unexpected orchestral colour but of powerful musical argument there is little.

James MACMILLAN Mass, A New Song, Christus vincit, Gaudeamus in loci pace, Seinte Mari moder milde, A Child's Prayer, Changed Andrew Reid (organ) The Choir of Westminster Cathedral/Martin Baker HYPERION CDA 67219 [65:37] [SF]

Another triumph for Hyperion further establishing MacMillan as a unique and vital voice in British music making.

James MACMILLAN  Cello Sonata No.1; Angel; Lumen Christi; A Cecilian Variation; Fourteen Little Pictures; Kiss on Wood Raphael Wallfisch (cello) John York (piano) The Nash Ensemble
Black Box BBM1008 [63.00] [PGW]

A well balanced collection of Macmillan's chamber music - - the cello sonata and Fourteen Little Pictures deserve to achieve established places in recital repertoires

James MacMILLAN  Epiclesis - concerto for trumpet and orchestra (1993 revised 1998); Ninian - concerto for clarinet and orchestra (1996). John Wallace (trumpet) John Cushing (clarinet) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Alexander Lazarev. BIS-CD-1069 (DDD) (61.15) World premiere recordings. [DW]

Clarinet Concerto: wonderfully alive and liquid. Gripping stuff, but ...

MAHLER Symphony No.1 in D London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Georg Solti DECCA LEGENDS 4586222 [53.51] [TD]

A famous recording newly restored, but one that now leaves much unsaid.

MAHLER Symphony No.3 in D minor Iris Vermillion (Mezzo), Frauenchor der Sing-Akademie,
Frauenchor des Bremer Theaters, Tolzer Knabenchor, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Bremen/Gunter Neuhold Bella Musica - Antes Edition BM-CD 14.9005 [94.00] [TD]

Gunter Neuhold is a persuasive guide to a Mahler symphony, not without merit or interest, but in the last analysis not challenging enough to the greatest versions.

George MARSHALL-HALL (1862-1915) Symphony in E flat, Adagio from Symphony in C minor Queensland Theatre Orchestra/Warren Bebbington Recorded 1986 MOVE MD 3081 [46.36] [CF]

The Queensland Theatre Orchestra have a bright, forward sound and give a good account of Marshall-Hall's music, which is both attractive and memorable.

David MATTHEWS In the Dark Time; Chaconne   BBC Symphony Orchestra/Jac van Steen NMC D067 [47.28] [PGW]

You will certainly want to play these two major works, both underpinned by tonality, more than once, so no worry about short total timing.

MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Paulus (St Paul) Susan Gritton (soprano) Jean Rigby (mezzo  soprano) Barry Banks (tenor) Peter Coleman-Wright (bass) BBC National Chorus of Wales BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox Rec 5th May 2000, St David's Hall, Cardiff (live performance) CHANDOS CHAN9882 [2 discs: 115.13] [TB]

This under-rated and almost operatic score is well served by this new recording.

MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881) Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Lawrence Leonard) Two Interludes from Khovantschina Gopak from Sorochinsky Fair (orch. Liadov) Pictures from Crimea (orch. Walter Goehr) Scherzo in B flat (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov) A Tear-Drop (orch. Hans Kindler) Night on the Bald Mountain (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov) Tamas Ungar (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra - Geoffrey Simon Recorded London, 1986 (Night on the Bald Mountain) and 1992 CALA CACD 1030 [77:10] [HC]

All in all, a fine release of fairly well-known and loved pieces with, as a bonus, an unusual, though well worth having arrangement of Pictures.

MYASKOVSKY Sinfonietta Op 32 no. 2 SCHNITTKE Sonata no.1 for violin and chamber orchestra DENISOV Five Paganini caprices.   Stephan Arman (violin) I Musici de Montreal/Yuli Turovsky. CHANDOS CHAN 9891 (DDD) [60.29] [DW]

A marvellous and varied programme, challenging and soul-satisfying in immaculate performances and with a superior sound quality.

Conlon NANCARROW  Prelude;Three Studies; Blues.  George ANTHEIL  3 Sonatas & 2 Sonatinas.   Herbert Henck (piano) ECM New Series 1726 465 829-2 [38.50] [PGW]

Herbert Henck's latest release juxtaposes two important figures in American music history of (fairly) recent times. George Antheil's piano music brought him to public notice and caused a major riot in Paris. Conlon Nancarrow's enormous rhythmic demands proved insuperable to pianists of the day. Recommended, despite short measure at under 40 mins.

NIELSEN (1865-1931) Symphony no. 1, Symphony no. 6 'Sinfonia Semplice' Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Michael Schønwandt Rec March-July 2000, Danish Radio Concert Hall DACAPO 8.224169 (68.34) [TB]

Eminently satisfying performances, perhaps the best so far in the progressing Nielsen Dacapo series

Ib Nørholm Americana Op. 89 (1988) MacMoon Songs III Op. 154 (1999) Sjaelfuld Sommer Op.146 (1997) Three Songs (1988-1990) Fuglene Op.129 (1994) Vocal Group: Ars Nova Danish Chamber Players/Tamás Vetö Recorded November/December 1999 DACAPO 8.224168 [64.27] [JF]

Choral Music from one of Denmark's leading Twentieth Century composers. There is nothing on this disc to frighten away those petrified of modern music. Delius meets Tallis in the Barbershop. Beautiful!

Cecilie ORE Codex Tempore Cikada String Quartet & Oslo Sinfonietta/Christian Eggen Aurora ACD 4989

A mind blowing glimpse of another world. Overwhelming to hear, a CD which makes one ashamed to know so little of contemporary Norwegian music.

PENDERECKI (b. 1933) Selected Chamber Works String Trio, Prelude for Clarinet Solo, Per Slava for Cello Solo, Sonata for Violin and Piano, Cadenza for Viola Solo, Quartet for Clarinet and String Trio Deutsches Streichtrio, Eduard Brunner, Patrick O'Byrne CPO 999 730 [48.16] [PB]

I would recommend this disc if you want one volume of Penderecki's intense chamber music.

PISTON Quintet for Flute & String Quartet (1942) String Sextet (1964) Piano Quartet (1964) Piano Quintet (1949) James Boswell, Michele Walsh, Dimity Hall, Anthony Gault (violins); Theodore Kuchar, Randolph Kelly (violas); Judith Glyde, Carol Ou (cellos); Michael Gurt, Ian Monro (pianos); and Olga Shylayeva (flute) Recorded at Sir George Kneipp Auditorium, Townsville, Queensland, in July 1999 NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559071 [69:44]

Works splendidly performed and recorded. Strongly recommended to anyone who wishes to explore the highways and byways of American music

POWERS Fast Colours (1997) Double Sonata (1993) In Sunlight (1993) Quintet (1983) Another part of the island (1980) Psappha directed by Nicholas Kok Metier Sound and Vision MSV CD92038 DDD [72:28] [CT]

As a published composer producing scores as finely crafted as these this premiere Powers recording is long overdue but better late than never!

PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 58. Cello Concertino in G minor, Op. 132 (arr. Blok, cadenza Schnittke, realised Ivashkin). Alexander Ivashkin (cello); Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Valeri Polyansky. Chandos CHAN9890 [61.13] [DDD] [CC]

This is an outstanding disc which pays tribute to Prokofiev's fascination with the cello

Sergei RACHMANINOV Sonata for Piano and Cello in G minor, Op. 19 Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 Sergei PROKOFIEVSonata for Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 119 David Finckel (cello); Wu Han (piano) ARTISTLED 19901-2 [79:36] [SF]

David Finckel and Wu Han have set new standards in this repertoire. This ideal coupling would appear to be unique and the recording is superlative.

REGER (1873-1916) Clarinet Quintet in A major Op.146 (1909) String Quartet in Eb major Op. 109 (1915) Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet) Philharmonia Quartett Berlin Rec. 19th-22nd April 1999 Kleiner Sendesaal SFB, Berlin. NAXOS 8.554510 [72.18] [TB]

Performance idiomatic and sensitive, recording excellent. At bargain price, there is no reason for collectors to hesitate.

ROMBERG (1767-1821) Flute Quintets, Opus 41 Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Vladislav Brunner, flute;Viktor Simcisko, violin ;Milan Teleckj, viola; Jan Cut, viola ; Juraj Alexander, cello NAXOS 8.554765 [73.30] [AB]

Three very attractive flute quintets composed by a contemporary of Beethoven, tuneful and well constructed. Well played and recorded.

Arnold ROSNER (1945-) String Quartet No. 2 (1963) String Quartet No. 3 (1965 rev 1992) String Quartet No. 5 (1977) Duet for violas (1991) Ad Hoc String Quartet  Mark Ottesen (second viola) rec 28-30 May 1994, Evanston , Illinois ALBANY TROY 210 [66.32] [RB]

Music of communicative tunefulness, distinctive and sincere chiming well with that of RVW, Ravel and Hovhaness.

Arnold ROSNER (1945-) Of Numbers and of Bells (1983) Horn Sonata (1979) Cello Sonata No. 1 (1968 rev 1977) Nightstone - Three Setting from The Song of Songs (1979) Timothy Hester and Nancy Weems (pianos) Heidi Garson (horn); Yolanda Liepa (piano) Maxine Neuman (cello); Joan Stein (piano) Randolph Lacy (ten); Timothy Hester (piano) ALBANY TROY 163 [67.13] [RB]

Rosner the modal melodist is his own man and patently writes with the force of creative compulsion. Though no facsimile of either composer, if you like Hovhaness or RVW you must hear Rosner.

Arnold ROSNER (b. 1945) Concerto Grosso No. 1 (1974) Five Meditations for cor anglais, harp and strings (1967) Prelude to Act 2 - The Chronicle of Nine for full orchestra (1984) A Gentle Musicke for flute and strings (1969) Magnificat for mixed chorus, solo tenor and alto, two trumpets, two trombones (1979) rec. all works except Magnificat: Jerusalem SO/David Amos; Nahum Zaidel (flute) in Gentle Musicke; Mina  Seidman-Haas (cor anglais); Irena Kessler (harp) in Meditations. rec. Magnificat: Choir of Cathedral Church of St Paul/Clarion Brass, San Diego all ADD except Magnificat - DDD all world premiere recordings LAUREL RECORD LR-849-CD [66.20] [RB]

Arnold Rosner is an imposing presence and it is imperative that his opera The Chronicle of Nine is performed complete. Meantime there are two other all-Rosner CDs in the pipeline: one orchestral, the other chamber. As yet we have no date for issue nor a firm indication of which company will be issuing them.

Edmund RUBBRA (1901-1986) Piano Trio in One Movement (1950) Meditazioni sopra 'Cœurs Désolés' (1949) Phantasy for two violins and piano (1927) Oboe Sonata (1958) Suite The Buddha [arr Adrian Cruft] (1947) Piano Trio No. 2 (1960s) Duo for cor anglais and piano (1980) The Endymion Ensemble rec All Saints Church, East Finchley, London, 3-5 April 2000 DUTTON CDLX 7106 [77.01] [RB]

Advocacy of the finest stamp from Dutton and the Endymion. Long may this series continue. I am now looking forward to the Dutton violin sonatas disc and will report further.

[Part 1 New]  [Part 2 A-B] [Part 3 C-L]
[Part 4 M-R]  [Part 5 S-Y] [Part 6 Misc] 
 


Classical Editor: Rob Barnett,  Reviewers: Rob Barnett, Ian Lace, Len Mullenger, and:  Richard Adams, Colin Anderson, Arthur Baker, Grace Barber, Terry Barfoot,  Peter Bates, Marc Bridle, Arthur Butterworth, Colin Clarke, Paul Conway, Gary Dalkin, Andy Daly, Tony Duggan, Harry Downey,  Christopher Fifield, Lewis Foreman, Simon Foster, John France, Julian Hellaby, Christopher Howell, Simon Jenner, Stephen Lloyd,   Kirk McElhearn, Gwyn Parry-Jones, John Phillips, John Quinn, Ailís Ní Ríain, Humphrey Smith, Philip Scowcroft, Adrian Smith, Colin Scott-Sutherland, Andrew Seivewright, Paul Serotsky, Christopher Thomas, Richard Walker, Richard Whitehouse, Jonathan Woolf, Peter Grahame Woolf, David Wright. A complete list of contributors can be seen here


Disclaimer

Any opinions expressed in reviews or articles on this site are those of the author and  do not necessarily represent the views of the site owner, Len Mullenger or the Editors.  Reviewers and authors retain copyright in their work unless it has been paid for or commissioned by the site owner.

Return to Front page