Otmar
MÁCHA (1922-2006) The
Pure Virgin - Variations on a Czech Mediaeval
Song for violin and string orchestra (1997)
see Bodorova
Gustav
MAHLER
(1860-1911)
Symphony 1 
Tonhalle O Zurich/David Zinman rec. 2006
BMG-RCA 82876 871562 [61:43] 
[DM]
Attention
to detail and the wonderful ‘hear through’ quality ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Frank MARTIN (1890-1974) Polyptyque,
Maria-Triptychon, Passacaille Muriel
Cantoreggi (violin) Juliane Banse (soprano) German RPO/Christoph
Poppen
rec. 2006 ECM 2015 (173 3930) [57:57] 
[DC]
Looking
for that elusive ‘tingle factor’? ... see Full
Review
Bohuslav
MARTINŮ (1890-1959) Complete
works for violin and orchestra Vol. 3 Suite concertante
(both versions)
Rhapsody-Concerto Bohuslav Matoušek
(violin) Czech PO/Christopher Hogwood
rec. 2001-5 HYPERION CDA67673 [68:49] [DC]
Life
enhancing stuff ... see Full Review
William
MATHIAS
(1934-1992) String
Quartet No. 1 (single movement) op. 38 (1967)
String Quartet No. 2 op. 84 (1980-81) String
Quartet No. 3 op. 97 (1986)
Medea Quartet. rec. 1993. DDD
METIER MSVCD92005 [63:26] 
[RB]
Rooted
tonality spiced with dissonance. ... see Full
Review
Simon
MAYR (1763–1845) L'Amor
coniugale Cinzia
Rizzone (soprano) Francescantonio Bille (tenor) Wurttemburg
PO/Christopher Franklin
rec. live 2004 NAXOS 8.660198-99 [43.49
+ 39.08] [RH]
Not
a masterpiece but strong and interesting ... see Full
Review
Edward
MACDOWELL (1860-1908) Piano Concerto
No.2 in D minor Op.23 – movements 1 and 2
only (1888-89) [18:11] see
Stokowski
Simon
McENERY
(b. 1964)
The Resurrection
Imogen Roose (soprano), Carolyn Jackson (mezzo),
Declan Kelly (tenor), Dyfed Wyn Evans (baritone),
Daniel Cooke (piano) Salisbury Cathedral Ch,
Sarum O/David Halls rec. 2007
PRIORY PRCD1002 [66.44]
[RH]
A
fascinating and accessible work, one to which I will return in
the future. ... see Full Review
Colin
McPHEE (1900-1964) Tabuh-Tabuhan see HARRISON
Nicholas MAW
(b. 1935)
Sinfonia* (1966) [30:00]
John ADDISON
(1920-1998) Divertimento for Brass Quartet
op. 9 (1951) [8:17] John
GARDNER (b. 1917) Theme and Variations
for Brass Quartet op. 7 (1951) [9:55] Stephen
DODGSON (b. 1924) Sonata for Brass
Quintet (1963) [10:48] 
* English Chamber Symphony Orchestra/Norman
Del Mar Philip Jones Brass Ensemble rec. 1970/74
ADD.
LYRITA SRCD.307 [62:56]
[RB]
Performances
that are virtuosic in their brilliance of
despatch and in their poetry. ... see Full
Review
Nicholas MAW (b. 1935) Sonata
for Strings and Two Horns (1967) see HODDINOTT
Sir Peter MAXWELL DAVIES
(b. 1934) Psalm 124, Dove Star-Folded, Economies
of Scale, Ave Maris Stella
Gemini/Ian Mitchell rec. 2005/6
METIER MSV28503 [53.04]
[GH]
All
in all a deservedly high quality product delivered from the hands
of top musicians ... see Full
Review
Nicolai
MEDTNER (1880-1951) Sonate-Idylle,
Vergessene Weisen (Forgotten Melodies), Second Improvisation
Earl Wild (piano)
rec. 1988 IVORY CLASSICS
75003 [66:40][JW]
Wild
proves a formidable champion of Medtner’s music ... see Full
Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
String Quartets - Volume 1
Quartets 1, 4 & 6 New
Zealand String Quartet rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570001 [77:51] 
[DRD]
A
good introduction … nobody new to these works should feel short-changed
... see Full Review
Felix
MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Violin Concerto see BRUCH
Pierre MERCURE (1927-1966)
Kaléidoscope see DEBUSSY
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Boxed set La Transfiguration de Notre
Seigneur Jésus-Christ (1965-1969)
Visions de l’Amen (1943) Des
canyons aux étoiles .. etc.
NAÏVE
- DISQUES MONTAIGNE MO 782179 6CDs
[531:07]
[DC]
Some
of Messiaen’s biggest and best, brilliantly
performed, at bargain price. ... see Full
Review
Robin MILFORD
(1903–1959)
Piano Music and Songs
Phillida Bannister (alto); Raphael Terroni
(piano) rec. 2005/2006. DDD first recordings
TOCCATA TOCC0009 [78:29]
[RB]
Milford's
lyric pastels ...A gentle muse. ... see Full
Review
Ernest
John Moeran
(1894-1950)
Cello Concerto, Cello Sonata, Prelude for
cello and piano
Peers Coetmore (cello); Eric Parkin (piano)
London PO/Sir Adrian Boult rec. 1969
LYRITA SRCD.299 [60:25]
[JF]
A
concern for structure and a warm, lyrical tone ... see Full
Review
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Lionel MONKTON (1861-1924) Songs from the Shows
Catherine Bott (soprano); Richard Suart (baritone); New
London Light Opera Chorus; New London Orchestra/Ronald Corp
rec. 2007
HYPERION CDA67654 [77:31][IL]
A
wonderful old-fashioned treat ... see Full
Review
David
MORGAN (1933-1988) Violin
concerto
see FRICKER
RECORDING
OF THE MONTH Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor K491 (1786)
[30:42] Piano Concerto No 25 in C K503 (1786)
[32:25] Fantasia in D minor K397 (1782) [6:22]
Imogen Cooper (piano & director)/Northern
Sinfonia; Bradley Creswick rec. 2007
AVIE AV2175 [70:00]
[JS]
One
of my favourite discs of these concertos ...
see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Concerto for two pianos;
Sonata in F major for piano duet; Sonata in D major for two pianos
Earl Wild and
Zaidee Parkinson (pianos); National Philharmonic Orchestra/Richard Dufallo
rec. 1975 IVORY CLASSICS
76002 [71:00][JW]
Performances
of energy, drama and enjoyable finesse ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART
(1756-1791) Complete String Quartets - Volume
1
American String Quartet (Peter Winograd (violin); Laurie Carney (violin);
Daniel Avshalomov (viola); David Geber (cello)) rec. 1994-96, exact
dates and locations not given.
NIMBUS NI 2508-10 [3 CDs: 58:15 + 68:58 + 59:36]
[DC]
Performances
with no discernible weakness ... see Full
Review
Wolfgang
Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791) Le nozze
di Figaro
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden/Antonio
Pappano rec. 2006
OPUS ARTE OA0990D 
[2 DVDs: 202:00][GF]
Excellent
singing and acting … this is the real thing – and still up to date ...
see Full Review
Nikolai
MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950)
Cello Concerto
see ELGAR
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931) The
Collector’s Edition: Symphonies, Concertos, Overtures,
Choral works and piano solos EMI
CLASSICS COLLECTORS EDITION
5194292 [7 CDs: 521:07] [RB]
Go
for it: splendid performances radiating an aptly wild and woolly
imagination coupled with great attention to mood and instrumental
detail ... see Full Review
Emmanuel
NUNES (b.1941)
Litanies
du feu et de la mer (1969) [24.07] Litanies
du feu et de la mer (1973) [20.51] Rudolf
KELTERBORN (b. 1931) Piano Pieces
1-6 (2001-4)* [32.44] See
Siang Wong (piano) rec. Zürich, April
2003, April 2005 *world premiere recording
GUILD GMCD 7318 [76.03]
[AO]
Listen
to this disc and you’ll hear how beautiful
new music can be. ... see Full
Review
Jacques
OFFENBACH (1819-1880) La
Périchole
Chorus of the Grand-Théâtre, Geneva; Suisse Romande
Orchestra/Marc Soustrot
GALA GL100786 [78:58 + 79:20][JS]
Especially
welcome even if it cannot be regarded as an unqualified success ...
see Full Review
Hisato
OHZAWA (1907-1953) Piano
Concerto 2, Symphony 2 Ekaterina
Saranceva (piano) Russian PO/Dimitry Yablonsky
rec. 2006 NAXOS JAPANESE CLASSICS
8.570177 [62:53] [DM]
Musically
and sonically: nul points ... see Full
Review
Nicoló
PAGANINI
(1782-1840) 24
Caprices Op. 1:
Eliot Fisk (guitar) rec.1991,
NIMBUS NI 2505 [79:21]
[ZT]
Giovanni
Battista PERGOLESI (1710-1736) Stabat
Mater Alessandro SCARLATTI (1660-1725)
Stabat Mater
Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini rec. 1998
NAÏVE OP30441 [79:39][GPu]
Historically
instructive and moving, these two settings from Naples get outstanding
performances … see Full Review
Astor
PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Tango Sensations
Casal Quartett
rec. 2003 SOLO MUSICA
SM106 [71:41][GF]
It
is always fascinating to make discoveries off the beaten track ... see
Full Review
Serge
PROKOFIEV
(1891-1953) Cinq
Mélodies Op. 35 (1920)[15.20] Classical Symphony Op.
25 (1926) [14.32] Concertino for cello and orchestra Op. 132
(1953) Rodion SHCHEDRIN (b. 1932) Parabola
Concertante for cello with strings and timpani (2001) [16.27]
Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Southbank Sinfonia/Simon Over rec. 2007
NIMBUS NI 5816 [66.05]
[GH]
Wallfisch
is in marvellous form and obviously has a
rapport with this music ... see Full
Review
Serge
PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Suite
from The Love of Three Oranges Op.33a
(1921) Stokowsi
see
review
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695)
Theatre Music - Volume 1 Amphytrion, The Gordion Knot
Unty’d, Circe
Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon rec. 2006
NAXOS 8.570149 [59:32]
[MS]
A
pleasing and pleasingly played selection performed with style and a
certain detachment ... see Full
Review
Henry
PURCELL (1659-1695) Victorious
love: Songs
Carolyn Sampson (soprano) rec. St Paul’s Church rec. 2006
BIS BISSACD1536 
[71:40][MG]
A
fine flowing line, great virtuoso technique
yet also expressive feeling … see Full
Review
Phillip RAMEY
(b.
1939) Piano Music, Volume
2: 1966-2007
Mirian Conti (piano) rec. 2007. DDD first
recordings; all made in the presence of the
composer
TOCCATA TOCC0077 [64:00]
[RB]
American
dissonance tracing lineage to Prokofiev and
Bartók ... see Full
Review
Shulamit RAN
(b. 1949) Legends; Violin
Concerto Ittai
Shapira (violin); Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim &
BBC Concert Orchestra/Charles Hazlewood rec. 2003-6
ALBANY TROY970 [52:18][RB]
Brilliance
and vulnerable humanity ... see Full Review
Alan RAWSTHORNE
(1905-1971) Street Corner Overture, Madame
Chrysanthème, Practical Cats, Theme, Variations and Finale, Medieval
Diptych, Coronation Overture
Simon Callow, Jeremy Huw Williams, Royal Liverpool PO/David Lloyd-Jones
rec. 2007 DUTTON EPOCH
CDLX7203 [72:35]
[RB]
Excellent
performances and recordings … fills gaps in the Rawsthorne discography
with panache ... see Full
Review
Alan
RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Quartet for clarinet, violin, viola
and cello see BERKELEY
Ottorino RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
The Pines of Rome, Impressioni brasiliane Gioachino
ROSSINI (1792-1868) La Boutique fantasque (arr./orch.
Respighi) Philharmonia
O/Alceo Galliera rec. 1955-59
MEDICI ARTS MM0222 [73:19]
[KS]
Famous
performances nicely mastered and packaged for this outstanding
compilation ... see Full Review
Christian
Heinrich RINCK (1770–1846) Sacred
Works Collegium
vocale Siegen/Ulrich Stötzell
rec. 2006 HÄNSSLER CLASSIC
CD98.262 [40.24] [RH]
Fascinating,
confident, stylish performances of Lutheran music from the early
19th century ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Joaquín RODRIGO (1902-1999)
Concierto de Aranjuez Toru
TAKEMITSU (1930-1996) To the Edge of Dream
Malcolm ARNOLD (1931-2006) Guitar
Concerto Julian
Bream (guitar); City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle rec.
1990-2 EMI CLASSICS
CDC 7546612 
[58:16][OW]
Bream’s
input pushes this disc way into the category of ‘sublime’... see Full
Review
Aemilian
ROSENGART
(1757–1810)
Te Deum laudamus and other sacred works
Orpheus Vokalensemble, Ars Antiqua Austria/Jurgen Essl rec. 2007
CARUS 83.427 [56.31]
[RH]
Charming
pieces in winning performances ... see Full
Review
BARGAIN
OF THE MONTH Edmund Rubbra (1901-1986) Song
of the Soul, Four Mediæval Latin Lyrics, Inscape, Veni, creator Spiritus, Advent
Cantata Stephen
Varcoe, ASMF Ch, City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox rec.
1999 CHANDOS
DOWNLOAD 
(CHAN9847) [56:21] [BW]
Even
if you have never yet downloaded anything, do make the effort to
obtain this wonderful recording ... see Full
Review
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