Monthly Archive: October 2015
Audio News for October 30, 2015
Two New Hi-Res TEAC Components; Pioneer Hi-Res Audio Portable; Object-Based Audio Items at CEDIA; Cirrus Logic Breaks the Platform Model with New Codec; Sennheiser 9.1-channel Immersive Audio Technology
B. HERRMANN: Music from Citizen Kane et al. – National Philharmonic Orch. / Charles Gerhardt – HDTT (192/24 download of open reel)
Charles Gerhardt’s classic collection of music by Bernard Herrmann makes a very welcome return.
MICHAEL TORKE: Miami Grands – Miami Piano Circle/ Georgi Danchev – Ecstatic
Another slightly outrageous but entertaining piece from this unique composer.
Rotor DR1, Blu-ray (2015)
An interesting post-apocalyptical sci-fi film made originally in ten pieces for the Internet by drone fans.
FRANZ WAXMAN = The Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman – Nat. Philharmonic Orch. / Charles Gerhardt – HDTT
A highly recommended part of the cream of Hollywood music history.
“Pablo Neruda: The Poet Sings” = DONALD GRANTHAM: La canción desesperada; SHAWN KIRCHNER: Tu sangre en la mía, Soneto 53; Tu voz, Soneto 52; CARY RATCLIFF: Ode to Common Things – Conspirare/ Conspirare Ch. Players/ Craig Hella Johnson – Harmonia mundi
Three composers saddle up to ride Neruda’s always attractive and very tricky poetry.
Audio News for October 27, 2015
Technicolor to Reintroduce RCA Brand to Millennials; Consumer Perception of Microsoft’s CE products on the Upswing; Classical News; New Plex Media Player
KHACHATURIAN: Violin Concerto in d minor; Piano Concerto in D-flat Major; Three Dances from Gayaneh – Ruggiero Ricci, violin/ Moura Lympany, p./ London Philharmonic Orch./ London Sym. Orch./ Anatole Fistoulari – Guild
Anatole Fistoulari receives star treatment as an accompanying conductor of two virtuosic concertos by Armenian Aram Khachaturian.
Stokowski Conducts SIBELIUS = Finlandia; The Swan of Tuonela; Valse Triste; Berceuse from The Tempest; Sym. No. 7 in C Major – Jascha Heifetz, v./ Philadelphia Orch./ All-American Youth Symphony – Guild
The polished relationship between composer Stokowski and composer Sibelius finds revived interest in the Violin Concerto.
Jurassic World 3D Blu-ray (2015)
Dinosaurs run after people. People run for cover. in 3D.
PROKOFIEV: The Story of a Real Man – Soloists, Chorus and Orch. of the USSR State Academic Bolshoi Th./Mark Ermler – Melodiya (2 CDs)
Mostly a curiosity from the early days of the USSR.
Ascension (2015)
An interesting 3-part Syfy channel TV series which is really only partly sci-fi.
“Midgard” – Traditional and Viking melodies – Mandragore – Big Round
Very entertaining and authentic sounding time trip.
Kenny Burrell – The Road to Love – High Note
The ever-dependable Kenny Burrell’s new CD issue…
Dr. John – The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974 – Omnivore
Such a night… 22 righteous tracks from the inimitable Dr. John…
Audio News for October 23, 2015
Sonos’ “Next Big Thing”; Libratone Returns with Mini Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Speakers; Best Buy Offers Free Holiday Shipping; Amazon Q3 Sales and Earnings Soar; Launch of ‘All-Digital, All-Touch’ Superstore
BRAHMS: Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) – Mariss Jansons / Concertgebouw Orch./ Soloists / Netherlands Radio Choir – RCO Live
A very worthwhile addition to the Brahms catalog.
Vol. 2 from Romantic pianist Jascha Spivakovksy offers a diversity of musical styles, each approached as passionately and reverently.
Vol. 2 from Romantic pianist Jascha Spivakovksy offers a diversity of musical styles, each approached as passionately and reverently.
Rothko Chapel – Works of ERIK SATIE, MORTON FELDMAN, CAGE – Kim Kashkashian/ Sarah Rothenberg/ Steven Schick – ECM New Series
A maddening very contemporary session unless you’re heavily into Feldman.
HAYDN: Symphonies 31, 70 and 101 – Robin Ticciati / Scottish Chamber Orch. – Linn
A fresh approach to playing and recording Haydn.
Lang Lang in Paris = CHOPIN: Scherzo No. 1 in b minor; Scherzo No. 2 in b-flat minor; Scherzo No. 3 in c-sharp Minor; Scherzo No. 4 in E Major; TCHAIKOVSKY: The Months – Lang Lang, p. – Sony
Music by Chopin and Tchaikovsky provides the debonair Lang Lang with natural vehicles for his keyboard showmanship.
* GABRIELI: 16 works [TrackList follows]; WILLIAMS: Music for Brass – National Brass Ensemble – Oberlin Music
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
For all with multichannel SACD playback and fascinated with the originator of antiphonal music.