Monthly Archive: February 2015
TERRY RILEY: Dorian Reeds (for Brass) – Matt Starling, Flugelhorn & computers – DVD-A
Interesting but even outdoes Steve Reich in repetition.
Seven Wonders of the World – Cinerama, Blu-ray (1956/2015)
A now-dated but interesting resurrection of one of the original Cinerama films.
“Susan Merdinger – Soiree” = SCHUBERT: Sonata in B Major; BRAHMS: Two Rhapsodies; DEBUSSY: Estampes; LISZT: Concert Paraphrase on Verdi’s “Rigoletto”; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 – Susan Merdinger, piano – Sheridan Music
A genuinely honest virtuoso, Susan Merdinger impresses us with a recital set as a Romantic soiree in the grand style.
Russell Malone – Love Looks Good On You – HighNote
Russell Malone is an exhilarating guitarist leading a lively and melodic band.
Audio News for February 27, 2015
Clark Terry Dies; Oppo Releases Portable Headphone Amp/DAC; Target Expanding CE Pilot; Sears’ CE Strategy; LG Pricing Set on UHD OLED Displays
American Chamber Music – COPLAND: Sonata for violin and piano; IVES: Largo; BERNSTEIN: Trio for violin, cello and piano; CARTER: Elegy; BARBER: String Quartet in b – James Ehnes and Seattle Ch. Music Society – Onyx Classics
Masterworks of American chamber music played by superb instrumentalists.
Desire-Emile Inghelbrecht, Vol. 1 = RAVEL: Ma Mere l’Oye; DUKAS: L’Apprenti sorcier; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Flight of the Bumblebee; BORODIN: In the Steppes of Central Asia; Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances and Chorus of the Peasants – Orch. des Concerts Pasdeloup/ Desire-Emile Ingelbrecht – Yves St.-Laurent
The acknowledged master of the Debussy idiom finds equal sympathy for Ravel, Dukas, and some basic Russian repertory, here in potent restorations.
Leopold Stokowski = BRITTEN: Piano Concerto, Op. 13; ENESCU: Rumanian Rhapsody in A Major, Op. 11; DEBUSSY (Orch. Stokowski): The Engulfed Cathedral; BAUER: Sun Splendor; BORODIN: Dances of the Polovetzki Maidens – Jacques Abram, piano/ Philharmonic-Sym. Society of NY /Leopold Stokowski – Guild
The inimitable Stokowski leads the New York ensemble in concert performances that include thrilling readings of works new to his recorded legacy.
“Tre Voci” = TAKEMITSU: And then I knew ‘twas wind; DEBUSSY; Sonata for flute, viola and harp; GUBAIDULINA: Garten von Freuden und Traurigkeiten – Marina Piccinini, flute/Kim Kashkashian, viola/Sivan Magen, harp – ECM New Series
Mostly very good and somewhat dreamy.
Kendlinger Dirigert STRAUSS 2011 (Music of JOHANN STRAUSS II, JOSEF STRAUSS, JOHANN STRAUSS I) – Claudia Emà Camie, sop.; K&K Philharmoniker /Matthias Georg Kendlinger – DaCapo
An excellent selection of music by the Viennese Strauss family.
A Day in the Country (Partie de Campagne), Blu-ray (1936/2015)
A light little Jean Renoir film of only 41 minutes.
STRAVINSKY & GLAZUNOV conduct = STRAVINSKY: Petrushka – Ballet Suite; Pulcinella – Ballet Suite; GLAZUNOV: The Seasons – Ballet – Symphony Orch./ Walther Straram Concerts Orch. (Pulcinella)/ Igor Stravinsky/ Alexander Glazunov – Pristine Audio
Two Russian masters conduct their own works in excellent restorations from American and French sources.
GIOVANNI SGAMBATI: Piano Concerto; Cola di Rienzo overture; Berceuse-Rêverie – Francesco Caramiello, p. /Nuremberg Philharmonic / Fabrizio Ventura – Tactus
Fascinating, but at times tedious, examples from the Romantic era.
North American Jazz Alliance – The Montreal Sessions – Challenge
A well-executed and unabashedly attractive outing.
MAX BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 3 in D minor; Scottish Fantasy – Jack Liebeck, violin/ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion EMIL MŁYNARSKI: Violin Concerti No. 1 in D minor, Op. 11 & No. 2 in D major, Op. 16; ALEKSANDER ZARZYCKI: Introduction et Cracovienne in D major; Mazurka in G major – Eugene Ugorski, v. / BBC Scottish Sym. Orch. / Michal Dworzyński – Hyperion
Inspired romantic works for violin and orchestra that possess melodic gifts that inspire repeated hearings.
MAX BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 3 in D minor; Scottish Fantasy – Jack Liebeck, violin/ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion EMIL MŁYNARSKI: Violin Concerti No. 1 in D minor, Op. 11 & No. 2 in D major, Op. 16; ALEKSANDER ZARZYCKI: Introduction et Cracovienne in D major; Mazurka in G major – Eugene Ugorski, v. / BBC Scottish Sym. Orch. / Michal Dworzyński – Hyperion
Inspired romantic works for violin and orchestra that possess melodic gifts that inspire repeated hearings.
Audio News for February 24, 2015
Tiffen Team Gets Oscar; BenQ Ships Bluetooth Speaker with Electrostatic Technology; AV Dealer ProSource Schedules Summit Agenda; Sony Offers Four New Bluetooth Headphones; Sales of LPs Surge 49%
Chris Cortez – Top Secret [TrackList follows] – Blue Bamboo Music
Guitarist Chris Cortez: no secrets here, he’s an overt devotee of swinging jazz tradition.
Ian Sims and Divergent Paths – Conundrum [TrackList follows]
No puzzler here: post-bop jazz with a perceptive sense of poise and expertise.
NICO MUHLY: Cello Concerto; ERNEST BLOCH: Schelomo; Three Jewish Poems – Zuill Bailey, cello/Indianapolis Sym. Orch./Jun Märkl – Steinway & Sons
Features the virtuoso cello playing of Zuill Bailey.
Sokolov – The Salzburg Recital [TrackList follows] = Works of MOZART, CHOPIN, SCRIABIN, BACH, RAMEAU – DGG (2 CDs)
The Sokolov 2008 recital from Salzburg reveals a thoughtful, poetic artist whose repertory embraces a grand range of styles.
Porco Rosso, Blu-ray (1992/2015)
Another fine Studio Ghibli animation feature, one of its best.