Monthly Archive: February 2014
Audio News for February 18, 2014
Plasma TVs May Be Going Away; Paintable Acoustic Panels for the Home Theater Market; Another USC DAC/Headphone Amp Combo; Two New Studies Gauge Consumer Awareness, Interest and Purchase Intent for UHD TV
The Choral Sea: New music for soprano saxophone and piano = GABRIEL JACKSON: The Choral Sea; GRAHAM FITKIN: Gate; Glass; NIKKI ILES: Alma Venus; MARK-ANTHONY TURNAGE: Two Memorials; GAVIN BRYARS: Allegrasco – Sue McKenzie, sax/ Ingrid Sawers, p. – Delphian
Marvelous playing by two consummate artists, and the compositions are terrific.
TIKEY ZES: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom – Cappella Romana/ Alexander Lingas – Cappella Romana
An important, and no doubt controversial, recording of the highest quality.
BEETHOVEN: The Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 = Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major; Sonata No. 9 in E Major; Sonata No. 10 in G Major; Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata” – Steven Masi, p. – Concezio Productions
The Masi traversals of the Beethoven sonatas continue to captivate the imagination, while we delight in virtuoso performance.
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 6 cond. by Barenboim, Blu-ray (2014)
A lovely recording and performance of this worthwhile Bruckner Symphony.
Celibidache in Caracas 1956 = BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor; RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Judith Janes, p. (Beethoven)/ Albert Ferber, p. (Rachmaninov)/ Venezuela Sym. Orch./ Sergiu Celibidache – Archipel
Two “pirate” collaborations by the legendary Sergiu Celibidache involve some sonic deficiencies, but the musical rewards outweigh the drawbacks.
Angel: Sacred Anthems for Treble Voices = Saint Ignatius Loyola Children’s Choir/ Mary Huff, dir./ Nancianne Parrella, organ/ Michael Sheetz, p. – MSR Classics Cool of the Day: A Cappella Gems thru the Centuries = Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola/ Kent Trittle, Robert Reuter, dirs. – MSR Classics
A pair of fine choir CDs, both recorded at the same place in NYC.
Angel: Sacred Anthems for Treble Voices = Saint Ignatius Loyola Children’s Choir/ Mary Huff, dir./ Nancianne Parrella, organ/ Michael Sheetz, p. – MSR Classics Cool of the Day: A Cappella Gems thru the Centuries = Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola/ Kent Trittle, Robert Reuter, dirs. – MSR Classics
A pair of fine choir CDs, both recorded at the same place in NYC.
BRITTEN: Piano Concerto in D; SEIBER: To Poetry; BUSH: Voices of the Prophets – Peter Pears, tenor/ Noel Mewton-Wood, p./ London Sym. Orch./ Basil Cameron – Testament
Testament resurrects rare and powerful documents of Noel Mewton-Wood, the tragically short-lived Australian pianist of potent conviction and virtuoso temperament.
Bonnie & Clyde, Blu-ray (2014)
A disappointing TV miniseries version of the Depression-era outlaws.
The Amadeus Quartet Recordings, Vol. II = SCHUBERT String Quartets – Amadeus-Quartett – Audite (2 CDs)
Vol. 2 of a fine series by the Amadeus-Quartet.
“RAVEL: Intimate Masterpieces” = Introduction et Allegro; String Quartet in F Major; Chansons madécasses; Cinq mélodies populaires grecques – Yolanda Kondonassis, harp & others – Oberlin Music “Quintopia” = RAVEL: Ma mère l’oye; PERCY GRAINGER: Irish Tune from County Derry; Lisbon; Walking Tune; LYLE CHAN: Passage; Calcium Light Night; NIELSEN: Wind Quintet – New Sydney Wind Quintet
Two CDs offer intimate Ravel portraits. The disc from the New Sydney Wind Quintet is the perfect calling card for these fine musicians from Down Under.
“RAVEL: Intimate Masterpieces” = Introduction et Allegro; String Quartet in F Major; Chansons madécasses; Cinq mélodies populaires grecques – Yolanda Kondonassis, harp & others – Oberlin Music “Quintopia” = RAVEL: Ma mère l’oye; PERCY GRAINGER: Irish Tune from County Derry; Lisbon; Walking Tune; LYLE CHAN: Passage; Calcium Light Night; NIELSEN: Wind Quintet – New Sydney Wind Quintet
Two CDs offer intimate Ravel portraits. The disc from the New Sydney Wind Quintet is the perfect calling card for these fine musicians from Down Under.
George Cables – Icons & Influences – HighNote
A delightful trio recording showing a particular comprehension of jazz customs.
SZYMANOWSKI: 12 Etudes; Masques; 4 Etudes; Metopes: Trois Poemes – Cedric Tiberghien, p. – Hyperion
Cedric Tiberghien explores the multi-colored world of Szymanowski piano scores, voluptuous and passionately angular music.
Audio News for February 14, 2014
UHD-TV Problems; High End Movie Showings in the Home; New OTA TV Antenna from Winegard
SAINT-SAËNS: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor; La muse et le poète; Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor – Renaud Capuçon, v. /Gautier Capuçon, cello/ Orch. Philharmonique de Radio France /Lionel Bringuier – Erato
Good to excellent performances of Saint-Saëns standards, plus a beguiling rarity.
John Brown – Quiet Time – Brown Boulevard
A soulful journey from beginning to end…
Adam Unsworth, Byron Olson, John Vanore – Balance – Acoustical Concepts Records
Refreshing orchestral jazz featuring French horn in two settings…
BARTOK: Violin Concerto No. 2; PETER EÖTVÖS: Seven; GYÖRGY LIGETI: Violin Concerto – Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin/Frankfurt Radio Sym. Orch. /Ensemble Modern/Peter Eötvös – Naïve (2 CDs)
This strange combination will transport you emotionally to new territory.
Fifteen Shades Of Blue (Sampler) – Justin Time Records
Some tantalizing work from some top-notch performers.
DVORÁK: Symphony No. 6; The Water Goblin – Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg/ Marcus Bosch – Coviello Classics
A splendid performance and recording of a popular symphony and a less well-known tone poem.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
