rmo
Ralph Moore
Bruckner: Symphony 8 (Fontec)
Another decent performance blighted by the conductor’s very audible vocal intrusions [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 2 (Profil)
A thoroughly commendable and consistent account of the most popular version of Bruckner’s Second Symphony [RMo]
Flotow: Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2, Overtures (cpo)
Melodious, undemanding but always skilful and enjoyable light music [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 1 (Capriccio)
A tight, driven account of Bruckner’s First Symphony which is a success even if I still prefer Schaller’s version [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No 7 (BR Klassik)
Haitink displays remarkable consistency in this grand and spacious account [RMo]
Elgar: Orchestral Works (LSO Live)
Best avoided – there are many far superior options [RMo]
Charpentier’s Louise
by Ralph Moore
Beethoven: Symphonies No. 1-3 (ABC Classics)
Breathlessly executed – flashy, but no interpretative nuance [RMo]
Wagner: Die Walküre (Sterling)
Fine conducting and orchestral playing and an impressive Brünnhilde – but compromised by a poor Siegmund and a weak Wotan [RMo]
Bruckner: 10 Symphonies (Gramola)
Grand, broad, live performances of Bruckner’s symphonies now collected in a box set [RMo]
Mahler: Symphony No 8 (BIS)
A stunner of a Mahler Eighth, one of the best since Solti’s classic account [RMo]
Cherubini: Medea (Pristine Audio)
Pristine’s revitalising of the sound here goes a long way towards countering any criticism of Callas’ sole studio recording of Medea [RMo]
More Recordings from Robert Massard’s Discography
by Ralph Moore
Mozart: Requiem (ICA Classics)
A Mozart Requiem which need not detain us … [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 1 (Gramola)
Ballot completes his survey of Bruckner’s symphonies with another highly individual reading employing daringly extended tempi [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (BR Klassik)
Two disappointingly tame live performances [RMo]
Bruckner: Symphony No 5 (Capriccio)
A beautifully played recording of the Fifth Symphony for those who like their Bruckner a little leaner and faster with variations of tempi strongly contrasted [RMo]
Bach: Cello Suites (Artway Records and Claves)
Two fine new accounts of Bach’s cello suites but the Artway issue is clearly preferable [RMo]
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht (DUX)
Intermittently good, but inconsistent and not outstanding [RMo]
Berlioz: Herminie, Les nuits d’été, Cléopâtre (Arte Verum)
Impressive live performances by a singer of surprising vocal endurance but they don’t stand up against the best [RMo]
Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus
by Ralph Moore
Wolf-Ferrari: I quatro rusteghi (Rubicon)
An odd and at times rather sharp-edged and disconcerting satirical comedy [RMo]
Flotow’s Martha
by Ralph Moore
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (High Definition Tape Transfer)
Kudos to these Texan forces for a first-class Alexander Nevsky reproduced in superb surround-sound [RMo]
