rmo

Ralph Moore

giordano fedora malibran

Giordano: Fedora (Malibran-Music)

A powerful, idiomatic vintage recording of an unjustly neglected opera with some fascinating bonuses [RMo]

Bach: Suites for Solo Cello (Sono Luminus)

A fleet yet sonorous and profound account of these masterworks, played without repeats and delightfully absorbing [RMo]

tchaikovsky symphony reference

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 (Reference Recordings)

An enterprising pairing of two works given thrilling, gripping performances and sound [RMo]

Bruckner: Symphony No.8 (Alpha)

An oddly bland and inconsistent account which in no sense challenges established favourite recordings [RMo]

Elgar britten CKD729

Elgar: Violin Concerto (Linn Records)

A superb rendering of Britten’s orchestral suite and a fine account of Elgar’s violin concerto which nonetheless does not rival favourite versions [RMo]

Halevy La Juive Malibran MR575

Halévy: La Juive (Malibran)

A compilation of superb recordings by some of the finest voices in this neglected opera [RMo]

pertile columbia malibran

Aureliano Pertile (tenor) Disques Columbia (Malibran-Music)

A compilation demonstrating the versatility and musicality of Toscanini’s favourite tenor [RMo]

verdi falstaff pristine

Verdi: Falstaff (Pristine Audio)

Pristine revitalises another indispensable gramophone classic but the improvement over the RCA issue is only marginal [RMo]

Spontini: La Vestale (Bru Zane)

Far from ideal, but on balance the best of the French versions and its appeal is enhanced by excellent sound and conducting [RMo]

Leoncavallo’s Zazà

A survey by Ralph Moore

Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (Pentatone)

In no way does this new recording displace its illustrious predecessors except in terms of the clarity of its digital sound [RMo]

Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (Oehms Classics)

Another fine but essentially redundant issue in this Mahler series [RMo]

Handel: Water & Fire (Pentatone)

Handel’s grand outdoor showpieces reduced in scale to intimate chamber works [RMo]

Refice Cecilia CDS796702

Refice: Cecilia (Dynamic)

Excellent orchestral playing, choral singing and conducting compromised by sub-par solo voices and thus a missed opportunity [RMo]

schubert stimme der liebe somm

Schubert: Stimme der Liebe (SOMM Recordings)

A charming anthology collected in tribute to a master interpreter of Schubert Lieder [RMo]

Bellini’s I puritani

A survey by Ralph Moore

bruckner book carragan

Anton Bruckner: Eleven Symphonies (Bruckner Society of America)

A highly informative and accessible guide through the thickets of Bruckner scholarship [RMo]

Handel serse CKD709

Handel: Serse (Linn)

Highlights the variety of Handel’s invention and showcases a superb lead singer [RMo]

Byrd Mass for-5 Voices Park Hyperion CDA68416

Byrd: Mass for Five Voices (Hyperion)

A refined, intimate, impeccably sung and recorded collection of Byrd at his most reserved and doleful [RMo]

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde – An Orchestral Passion (Oehms Classics)

A brisk and brusque compendium of the main Tristan themes for the impatient, would-be Wagnerian [RMo]

Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Works (Chandos)

Strikingly vivid and thrilling accounts of some of Tchaikovsky’s most atmospheric narrative tone poems [RMo]

Rossini Elisabetta regina London Philharmonic Opera Rara ORC22

Rossini: Elisabetta regina d’Inghilterra (Opera Rara)

An interesting alternative to the older Philips set, with another excellent cast [RMo]

bruckner symphony two pianos high definition tape transfers

Bruckner: Symphony 9 for 2 Pianos (High Definition Tape Transfers)

A highly successful transcription embracing a wide variety of moods and colours [RMo]

farrenc syms 5419752210

Farrenc: Symphonies (Erato)

Stimulating, approachable and highly varied music.