Monthly Archive: December 2014
Audio News for December 23, 2014
“The Road to 4K” Panel at January CES; Russound Adds Spotify Service; Walmart Lowest in CE Prices According to Report; LG to Enter Wireless Multiroom Market
Robert Moore – Outta My Soul – Reference Recordings
Stylish jazz and soul from a gifted musician!
Fireworks – Barbara Nissman, piano = D. SCARLATTI: 3 Sonatas; BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor; DEBUSSY: Masques; La fille aux cheveux de lin; La soiree dans Grenade; Feux d’artifice; LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 – Barbara Nissman, p. – Three Oranges
A potent entry from Barbara Nissman’s new label, the aptly named disc shimmers and flames with digital bravura and imaginative sensibility.
CAROL BARNETT: Treasures from the Archives [TrackList follows] – Soloists/ Women’s Choir/Sandra Snow – Navona
Solid, effective choral writing that lacks the last bit of creativity compared to today’s choral masters.
Christian Ferras, violin = BACH: Solo Sonatas No. 2 and No. 3; TARTINI: Violin Sonata in G Minor, “Devil’s Trill”; MOZART: Violin Sonata in A Major – Christian Ferras, v./ Pierre Barbizet, p. – MeloClassic
Various concerts recorded by Hessian Radio 1956-1960 remind us of the rarified art of Christian Ferras, a great but tragic artist.
DVORAK: Requiem – Christian Libor, sop/Ewa Wolak, alto/ Daniel Kirch, tenor; Janusz Monarcha, bass/Warsaw Philharmonic Orch. & Choir/ Antoni Wit – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
One of only two hi-res surround versions of this lovely work.
MONTEVERDI: Madrigali Volume 2, Mantova (Excerpts from Books IV, V, VI) – Les Arts Florissants/ Paul Agnew – Les Arts Florissant
Though I’d rather have these folks give us all nine books, the offering is still a fine one.
NIGEL ARMSTRONG, v. — BARTOK, BACH & MOZART: Works for Violin; Nigel Armstrong, violin / Sir Neville Marriner with the Colburn Orch. – Yarlung
Electric performances by wunderkind Nigel Armstrong.
AUGUST ENNA: Overture “Cleopatra”; Violin Con. in D major; Symphonic Fantasy – Kathrin Rabus, violin/NDR Radiophilharmonie/Hermann Bäumer – CPO
Some nice works that have a ring of familiarity.
MACMILLAN: Tenebrae; Strathclyde Motets; Introit; Missa Brevis – Cappella Nova/ Alan Tavener – Linn Echo
A rehash of a great one.
MOZART & GRIEG Piano Concertos – Andreas Domjanic, p. /Württembergische Philharmonic of Reutlingen /Johannes Klumpp – ARS
A brilliant piano performance wrapped in a lovely 5.1 recording.
Duke Jordan Trio – So Nice Duke – TBM Records (1982)/ MasterMusic (2014) xrcd24
Hi-res digital recording reinvigorates a thirty-year-old jazz set.
“A Harvest Home” – Cantus – Cantus
A warm fire with music that kindles warm hearts—what more could you want.
HANDEL: Jephtha (complete opera) – Soloists/ The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers – Coro (3 CDs)
A worthy effort, but not quite up to the classic Gardiner version on Philips.
“Eastern Impressions” = SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Violin Sonata Op. 94bis; LEOS JANACEK: Violin Sonata; BELA BARTOK: Rhapsody No. 1; PANCHO VLADIGEROV: Bulgarian Rhapsody “Vardar” – Kathrin ten Hagen, v./ Christina Wright-Ivanova, p. – ARS ****:
An enjoyable collection of violin works performed by a spectacular violinist.
“Christ the Saviour Cathedral Moscow: New Liturgical Chant of the Russian Orthodox Church” [TrackList follows] – Moscow Patriarch Choir/ Tolkachev – Christophorus
A most surprising release—knocking the cobwebs off the antiquities. “Christ the Saviour Cathedral Moscow: New Liturgical Chant of the Russian Orthodox Church”
BACH: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Blu-ray (2014)
The kickoff to Gardiner’s Bach Pilgrimage captured in splendid video and sound.
SCHULHOFF: Suite Dansante en jazz; 11 Inventions; Sonata No. 3; Partita for Clavier – Michal Tal, p. – Centaur
The “Lost Generation” composer Edwin Schulhoff finds conscientious readings of his piano music from Israeli artist Michal Tal.
BACH: Brandenburg Concertos 1 – 6 – Concerto Köln – Berlin Classics (2 CDs)
Infectious new performances by Concerto Köln worth hearing.
MOZART: Piano Concertos No. 12 in A & No. 23 in A – Marianna Shirinyan, p./ Odense Sym. Orch./ Scott Yoo – Bridge
Every facet of this recording is simply outstanding. We need much, much more from this source.
Kenny Clarke 1948-50 – Classics Records
Kenny Clarke changed the style of jazz drumming.
Omer Avital – New Song – Motema
Omer Avital – a jazz bassist for all seasons (and all regions…)