Monthly Archive: June 2014
“Horizon 5 – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” = Anonymous/JAMES MACMILLAN: Hodie puer nascitur; DETLEV GLANERT: Insomnium; KLAAS DE VRIES: Providence; RICHARD RIJNVOS: Antarctique; KAIJA SAARIAHO: Circle Map – various conductors/Royal Concertgebouw – RCO Live
This really intriguing series may make you like modern music!
Julius Patzak sings SCHUBERT = Die Schoene Muellerin; Winterreise – Julius Patzak, tenor/ Michael Raucheisen, piano/ Joerg Demus, piano (D. 911) – Preiser (2 CDs)
Julius Patzak brings a Viennese pathos and authenticity to Schubert’s two major song cycles.
Art Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers – Prestige/Analogue Productions (mono SACD)
To call this group extraordinary is an understatement…
JOHN IRELAND: Songbook, Vol. 1 – Mark Stone, bar./ Sholto Kynoch, piano – Stone Records
How many Ireland song discs do you need? This is the first of four, and it is a fine one.
PATRICIA VAN NESS: Requiem; The Voice of the Tenth Muse – Ruth Cunningham, sop./ Sanford Sylvan, tenor/ Coro Allegro/ David Hodgkins – Navona
A Requiem fully worth the name, with an interesting coupling that will appeal to more specialized tastes.
MOZART: Requiem – Genia Kuhmeier, sop./ Bernarda Fink, contralto/ Mark Padmore, tenor/ Gerald Finley, bass/ Netherlands Radio Choir/ Royal Concertgebouw Orch./ Mariss Jansons – RCO Live
Fabulous sound and singing, a little bit of interpretative waywardness, but overall a contender in the Mozart Requiem surround sound sweepstakes.
* BRUCKNER: Symphonies No. 4 in E-flat, “Romantic” (1874 original version); No. 7 in E; No. 8 in c (1887 original version) – Bavarian State Orch./ Kent Nagano – Farao Pure Audio Blu-ray
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *************
A half-star corrective to last year’s release.
Audio News for June 17, 2014
Classical News; Music & CE Industries Supposed to “Bring Clarity to Definition of Hi-Res Audio”; BMW Offers B & O Edition Sound System in Their Individual Collection in the U.S.
BRUCKNER: Mass No. 3 – Bamberg Sym. /Robin Ticciati – Tudor Classics
A welcome addition to the Bruckner catalog in high-definition sound.
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Chamber Music – Kinsky Trio Prague/Pražák Quartet/various performers – Praga Digitals
Absolutely charming music in terrific performance.
Martha Argerich, Vol. 2 = LISZT: La Leggierezza in F Minor; PROKOFIEV: Piano Sonata No. 3; Toccata; Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-Flat Major; RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit; Sonatine – Martha Argerich, p. – Doremi
The Argentine Martha Argerich in youthful recital, 1957 and 1960, in works both colorful and virtuosic.
PAUL BEN-HAIM: Joram – Katharina Persicke, sop./ Carsten Suss, tenor/ Bernd Valentin, bar./ Miklos Sebestyen, bass/ Munich Motet Choir/ Israel Philharmonic Orch./ Hayko Siemens – Helicon Classics
An historical recording—Ben Haim’s last work before he left Germany, the one he felt was his greatest.
The Lego Movie: Everything is Awesome, 3D+2D Blu-ray+DVD+UV Copy (2014)
A spectacular and enjoyable animated feature for both kids and adults.
RESPIGHI: Brazilian Impressions – Orch. Philharmonique Royal De Liegè/ John Neschling – BIS
Respighi well-played and well-recorded.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A Major; Symphony No. 8 in F Major; Coriolan & Egmont Overtures; Symphony No. 8: Andante molto moto – cond. by Weingartner – Pristine Audio
Pristine issues the fourth installment of the 1927 Beethoven Centennial series, with Felix Weingartner.
Audio New for June 13, 2014
Formal Definition for Hi-Res Audio; Amazon Adds Ad-Free Music Streaming; Steinway & Sons’ First Orchestral Release
DANIEL ASIA: Symphony No. 5 “Of Songs and Psalms”; Nonet – Chris Pedro, bar./ Robert Swensen, tenor/ New Czech Song/ Pilsen Philharmonic/ Koji Kawamoto/ Czech Nonet – Summit
Asia’s music entices and inspires, while posing questions worth pondering.
PHILIP GLASS: String Quartets No. 2 “Company”, No. 3 “Mishima”, No. 4 “Buczak” & No. 5 – The Dublin Guitar Quartet – Orange Mt. Music“Sax Allemande – MENDELSSOHN & Friends” – 22 Songs Without Words (Arr. for sax trio & violin/cello/horn trio) – Farao Classics
Two of my personal favorite same-instrument groups on two discs.
PHILIP GLASS: String Quartets No. 2 “Company”, No. 3 “Mishima”, No. 4 “Buczak” & No. 5 – The Dublin Guitar Quartet – Orange Mt. Music“Sax Allemande – MENDELSSOHN & Friends” – 22 Songs Without Words (Arr. for sax trio & violin/cello/horn trio) – Farao Classics
Two of my personal favorite same-instrument groups on two discs.
SCHUBERT: The Late Piano Sonatas = Sonata in A Minor; Sonata in C Minor; Sonata in A Major; Sonata in B-flat Major – Paul Lewis, p. – Harmonia mundi (2 CDs)
Though recorded some twelve years apart, Paul Lewis remains consistent in his nobly introspective vision of the late Schubert sonatas.
“Akoka – Reframing Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time” = DAVID KRAKAUER: Akoka; MESSIAEN: Quatour Pour La Fin Du Temps; JOSH DOLGIN (‘So-called’): Meanwhile – David Krakauer, clarinet/Matt Haimovitz, cello/Jonathan Crow, v./Geoffrey Burleson, p. – Oxingale
Mostly quite interesting but a little weird.
Gregory Porter – Water – Motema Records (double-vinyl)Gregory Porter – Be Good – Motema Records (double-vinyl)
Two excellent vocal double-vinyls, one of which was our drawing back in February.