Monthly Archive: March 2014
“French Music for Winds, Twentieth-Century Wind Quintets” = Music by IBERT, JOLIVET, MILHAUD, RAVEL, TAFFANEL, BARBER, HINDEMITH, LIGETI, VERESS AND ZEMLINKSY [TrackList follows] – Les Vents Francais – Warner Classics (2 CDs)
Les Vents Francais (The French Winds) is a truly gifted ensemble.
The John Lurie National Orchestra – The Invention of Animals – Amulet Records
Archival John Lurie material showcases his 1990s-era trio work.
Daniel Barenboim New Year’s Concert 2014 = Music by the STRAUSS family; also HELLMESBERGER: Viellebchen Polka; R. STRAUSS: Mondscheinmusik aus Capriccio; LANNER: Die Romantiker Walzer; DELIBES: Pizzicati from Sylvia – Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Daniel Barenboim – Sony Classical (2 CDs)
The high spirits and the excellent ensemble sparkle at the 2014 New Year’s Concert, which has everything but the actual champagne.
CLARE FISCHER: After the Rain – Suite for Cello and String Orchestra; Time Piece; Bachludes I & II – Cecilia Tsan, cello/ Concertmasters: Assa Drori and Gerald Vinci – Clare Fisher Productions
Emotional music from a composer who made contributions in almost every musical form.
STALE KLEIBERG: David and Bathsheba – Soloists/ Trondheim Sym. Vocal Ens. / Trondheim Sym. Orch./ Tõnu Kaljuste – 2L Pure Audio Blu-ray & SACD
A piece from an accomplished composer that treats a revered subject with great dignity and perception.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 – Columbia Sym. Orch./ Bruno Walter – HDTT DVD-R
One of Walter’s finest recordings in enhanced hi-res sonics.
SCHUMANN: Carnaval; Piano Sonata No. 2 in G Minor; Papillons – Jon Nakamatsu, p. – Harmonia mundi
Nakamatsu’s Schumann triptych well serves his poetic virtuosity; will Schumann enthusiasts require another traversal?
Coleman Hawkins encounters Ben Webster [TrackList follows] – Analogue Productions/ Universal Music
The vinyl version has it over this SA reissue in the bass end.
“La Passion” – Roby Lakatos & Ensemble – Live at the Sydney Opera House [TrackList follows] – Avanti Classic (2 SACDs)
An amazing gypsy violinist who mixes classical, jazz and Hungarian gypsy music.
MOZART: Serenade in B flat Major “Gran Partita”; Fantasia in F minor – Stuttgart Winds – Tacet
Magnificent performance and real surround in hi-res on Blu-ray.
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor = Yevgeny Sudbin, p./ Minnesota Orch./ Osmo Vänskä – BIS
Sudbin has pianistic talent to burn.
Audio News for March 28, 2014
Onkyo Adds HDMI 2.0 and “4K” Video to Multichannel Receivers; Increased Consumer Confidence; D-Link Has Wi-Fi Extender; Sharp Universal Player Transmits Hi-Res Audio and HD Video Wirelessly
Matt Newton – Within Reach – FTM
A harmonically interesting and stylishly nimble release.
Composing America = ADAMS: 5 Pages from Book of Alleged Dances; BOLCOM: Billy in the Darbies; COPLAND: Two Pieces for String Quartet; MORAVEC: Piano Quintet—Stephen Salters, bar./ Jeremy Denk, p. /Yousif Sheronick, percussion—Lark Quartet—Bridge
An entertaining and superbly performed collection of four chamber works that reflect the diversity and complexity of American music.
“Miraculous Metamorphoses” = HINDEMITH: Symphonic Metamorphosis; PROKOFIEV: The Love for Three Oranges Suite; BARTOK: The Miraculous Mandarin Suite – Kansas City Sym./ Michael Stern – Reference Recordings
This is a fine trio of modern masterpieces; Bartok described his work as “hellish.”
BERLIOZ: Romeo et Juliette Symphony – Prague Festival Orch. and Choir and Soloists/ Carlos Paita – Lodia Music Int. (2 CDs)
An inflamed, virtually “anonymous” performance by Carlos Paita of Berlioz’s most ravishing score, this 1978 incarnation may prove a Romantic’s dream-version.
John Clayton Parlor Series Vol. 1 (With Gerald Clayton) – Artist Share
Great jazz chemistry between two family members.
Channel Master OTA HD-DVR+ RecorderSRP: $250
The best current cut-the-cord option if you receive good OTA TV where you are.
Channel Master OTA HD-DVR+ RecorderSRP: $250
The best current cut-the-cord option if you receive good OTA TV where you are.
FRANCESCA ARNONE: Games of Light; CHARLES KOECHLIN: Les Chants De Nectaire; WILLIAM ALYWN: Divertimento for Solo Flute; MIKLOS ROZSA: Sonata for Solo Flute; ARTHUR WILLNER: Sonate Für Flöte Alleinm – MSR
A worthwhile excursion into contemporary flute music.
BACH: Lutheran Masses, Vol. 1 = Mass in g; Mass in F; Cantata No. 102, “Lord, Your eyes look for faith!” – The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers – CORO
Fine renditions of these late parodies, with the advantage of the cantata originals as well.
Lent at Ephesus [TrackList follows] – Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles – Decca
Another recording that strikes one as the genuine spiritual article.