Monthly Archive: September 2014
Audio News for September 30, 2014
The Film Detective to Release 10-20 Restored Classic Films Monthly; Sony Hi-Res Promotion Campaign Features “Cheek to Cheek” Album; DirecTV Shareholders Support Merger With AT&T; Three Onkyo AVRs Get Dolby Atmos Updates; Petra Adds NuVo Distributed Audio
Bobby Hutcherson – Total Eclipse – Blue Note (vinyl reissue)
The Blue Note remastering is a definite sonic improvement over the ‘60s original LP.
Ginette Nuveu (Studio Recordings) = R. STRAUSS, CHOPIN, GLUCK, SUK, TARTINI Etc. – Opus Kura
The French genius of the violin died too early, but her collected studio recordings testify to an immortal talent.
VERDI: I Vespri Siciliani (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
Far better than most, with terrific sound and fine video, this Vespri is well worth the effort.
VERDI: Attila (complete opera), Blu-ray (2013)
A production that relies solely on the excellence of the title role.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugene Onegin (complete opera), Blu-ray (2014)
A fine new production from the Met Live in HD, a little silliness aside.
ADAM: Giselle – Ballet Suite, ed. BUESSER; TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker ballet Suite – Orch. du Theatre National De L’Opera Paris/ Richard Blareau/ Royal Philharmonic Orch./ George Weldon – Guild
Congenial performances of 1953 and 1960, of two ballet staples make a pleasant hour of listening, but visceral music these are not.
BEETHOVEN: Complete String Quartets – Tokyo String Quartet – Harmonia mundi (8 SACDs)
How does the Tokyo String Quartet handle these works? With utmost aplomb, guided by an uncanny degree of inspirational talent.
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major; BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D Major – Bronislaw Huberman, violin/ Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ George Szell/ New York Philharmonic Orch./ Artur Rodzinski – Pristine
Andrew Rose restores Bronislaw Huberman renditions of the two great violin concertos in the canon, and the results should mesmerize us forever.
Jane Bunnett And Maqueque – Justin Time
A reflective album filled with musical adventure.
Travis & Fripp – Discretion [TrackList follows] – Panegyric (DVD-A & CD)
Fascinating hi-res ambient music tracks, plus a standard CD.
“Gala from Berlin – Grand Finales”, Blu-ray (1999/2014)
A New Year’s celebration focusing on finales, entertaining but significant especially because of the 2000 Millennium celebration.
DUKAS: Ariane et Barbe-bleue (complete opera), Blu-ray (2013)
The music is extraordinary if a little long, the singing radiant, but can the overloaded monochromatic sets be tolerated for two hours?
SATIE: “Satie Slowly” [TrackList follows] = Philip Corner, piano – Unseen Worlds SATIE Orchestrated by Michel Decoust [TrackList follows] – Orchestre Régional de Basse-Normandie/ Jean-Pierre Wallez – Skarbo
Satie for piano, but very slowly, and also for orchestra.
SATIE: “Satie Slowly” [TrackList follows] = Philip Corner, piano – Unseen Worlds SATIE Orchestrated by Michel Decoust [TrackList follows] – Orchestre Régional de Basse-Normandie/ Jean-Pierre Wallez – Skarbo
Satie for piano, but very slowly, and also for orchestra.
MEDTNER plays MEDTNER: Vol. 1 = Eight Fairy Tales; Three Novellas; Festive Dance; Spring; Morning Song; Tragic Sonata; Joyful Dance – Nikolai Medtner, piano – Melodiya
Composer-pianist Nikolai Medtner appears in historic performances of his own works, idiosyncratic and brilliant in every sense.
LEOS JANACEK: Chamber Works = Idyll for Strings; Suite for two violins, viola, cello and double bass; Znelka I. – Sonnet for Four violins; String Quartet No. 1 ‘The Kreutzer Sonata” – The Wroclaw Ch. Orch. Leopoldinum/ Ernst Kovacic – DUX
Janacek’s Early Chamber Works and Quartet No. 1 arranged for string orchestra.
Audio News for September 26, 2014
Conductor Christopher Hogwood Dies; Audio Podcasts May Be Next Big Content Marketing Trend; A New Standard for Multichannel Codecs
PUCCINI: Turandot (complete opera), Blu-ray (2013)
A sumptuously recorded video presentation that falters at a critical juncture.
Stacey Kent – The Changing Lights – Warner Bros./Pure Pleasure
This album is definitely demonstration quality, and Stacey is an excellent vocalist.
Fripp & Eno – Live in Paris 28/5/75 – (Robert Fripp & Brian Eno, guitar, tapes & electronics) – Opal Ltd./DGM
Three CDs at a bargain price, but only real fans will think it’s worth it.
Yuri Temirkanov conducts Rachmaninov and Rimsky-Korsakov, Blu-ray (2014)
Very good performances and good but not great audio.