rmo
Ralph Moore
Mahler: Symphony No 1 (Le Palais des Dégustateurs)
An erratic, unsettling account of a symphony which needs steadier, more coherent governance [RMo]
The recordings of Ewa Podleś
A survey by Ralph Moore
Brahms: Symphonies No.3-4 (Pristine Audio)
Romantic, free-flowing accounts somewhat compromised by indifferent sound and playing [RMo]
Shostakovich: Symphony No 2 & 5 (Chandos)
Storgårds’ more detached interpretative stance to both symphonies is valid and consistent but might be too cool for some tastes [RMo]
Gustav Mahler: Symphony 1, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Pristine Audio)
A highly satisfying and logical pairing, well-remastered and showcasing both Boult’s and Thebom’s eminence in Mahler [RMo]
Bizet: Carmen (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Two decent principal singers adrift in a sea of poor voices – a dispiriting issue [RMo]
Cilèa’s L’Arlesiana – A survey of the recordings
by Ralph Moore
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (Chandos)
A rather charmless, heavy-handed take on Dvořák’s famous two sets of dances [RMo]
Verdi: La traviata (ICA Classics)
(Déjà Review) An enormously subtle creation enshrined for posterity [RMo]
Strauss: Four Last Songs (Naxos)
(Déjà Review) A magnificent souvenir of perhaps the greatest Strauss soprano ever [RMo]
Puccini: La fanciulla del West (Walhall)
Tebaldi’s best Minnie, well-partnered, too – but in mono [RMo]
Giordano’s Fedora – A survey of the recordings
by Ralph Moore
Smetana, Dvořák & Suk: Bohemian Legacy (Challenge Classics)
A trio of Bohemian chamber works played with energy and passion [RMo]
Puccini: Orchestral Music (Chandos)
A succession of Romantic, richly scored melodies, exhibiting typically seductive Puccinian tropes [RMo]
Massenet: Songs With Orchestra – II (Bru Zane)
A charming anthology of mélodies featuring four fresh, young voices in beguilingly varied orchestral arrangements [RMo]
Fauré: Requiem (Château de Versailles Spectacles)
Unfortunately, rather underwhelming all round… [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No 10 (RCA Red Seal)
Zinman’s restraint tames the excesses of the Carpenter reconstruction but lacks impact [RMo]
R Strauss: Salome, Elektra (Pristine Audio)
Two iconic Met recordings newly revitalised in Ambient Stereo, something of a bargain [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No 10 (ATMA Classique)
Broad and relaxed, clearly articulated but without the contrasting fire and anguish of the best version [RMo]
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde & Vaughan Willams: Fantasia (Pristine Audio)
The frequent coughing and only intermittently satisfactory soloists make this a bit of a trial [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Hänssler Classic)
A dark horse account of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony to rival any other [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (Chandos)
A highly competent reading which lacks ferocity and excitement at key moments [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No 3 (Profil)
Another variant of Bruckner 3, as superbly played and in sound as naturalistic as could be hoped for [RMo]
JS Bach: Goldberg Variations (Decca)
If perfection exists in a recording of this greatest of Baroque solo instrument works, it is here [RMo]
