Monthly Archive: November 2015
Audio News for November 13, 2015
Audio Cassettes Are Not Dead; Packaging for Ultra HD Blu-ray Announced
GIYA KANCHELI: “Chiaroscuro” = Chiaroscuro; Twilight – Gidon Kremer, v./Patricia Kopatchinskaja, v./Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer – ECM New Series
More beautiful and pensive music from this unassuming composer.
Bruno Walter Rarities: American Columbia Recordings, 1941-1955 = MOZART, SCHUBERT, J. STRAUSS, BRAHMS, DVORAK, MENDELSSOHN – Pristine Audio
Bruno Walter leads several East Coast ensembles in repertory to which he brings an excited, intelligent energy, the performances long overlooked.
Pat Metheny – The Unity Sessions, Blu-ray (2015)
The Grammy-winning guitarist creates an artistic vision.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 7 cond. by Chailly, Blu-ray (2015)
A thrilling performance of Mahler’s most debated symphony.
William Walton London Concert, 1982, Blu-ray (2015)
Two of Walton’s most famous works from a 1982 performance with the composer present.
Audio News for November 10, 2015
Important Audio News; Hi-Def TV Concerns; Classical Music House Call
Russian Piano Music for Four Hands = GLINKA: Kamarinskaya; Valse-Fantasie in B Minor; Capriccio on Russian Themes; Trot de Cavalerie Nos. 1-2; Polka Initiale in B-flat Major; TCHAIKOVSKY: 50 Russian Folk Songs – Cyprien Katsaris & Alexander Ghindin, piano – Piano 21
The spirit of Russian music is well served in this four hand collection of Glinka and Tchaikovsky.
Shadows of Sirius – Music by BRYANT, PUCKETT and MACKEY/ U. of Texas Wind Ensemble/Jerry F. Junkin – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
A superb surround recording of contemporary wind band music.
Darts and Arrows – Altamira [TrackList follows] – ears&eyes
Taking aim at genre-less improvisational music.
Beat the Devil, Blu-ray (1953/2015)
One of the great films directed by John Huston – an enjoyable restoration.
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 54; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major – Annie Fischer, p./Philharmonia Orch./ Carlo Maria Giulini (Schumann)/ Leon Fleisher, p./ Swiss Festival Orch./ George Szell – Audite
Two singular pianists make their debut as the Lucerne Festival, 1960 and 1962, with eminently musical results.
“Shiksa” [TrackList follows] – Lara St. John, violin/ Matt Herskowitz, piano – Ancalagon
St. John scores again with an unusual but utterly engrossing recital.
Rodolphe Raffalli En Concert (2015)
Spend 92 minutes enjoying this gypsy jazz trio at a little French bistro.
* BEETHOVEN: Sym. No. 5 in c; & No. 7 in A – Pittsburgh Sym. Orch./ Manfred Honeck – Reference Recordings
*********** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
Superb in all respects. Simply superb.
Toy Story – That Time Forgot, Blu-ray (2015)
Only 22 minutes and a bit of a let-down from the previous excellent Toy Story videos.
Duke Ellington – Ellington At Newport – Columbia / Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – vinyl
A true jazz icon makes history at the Newport Jazz Festival.
NIELSEN: Maskarade (complete opera) – Soloists/ Danish National Sym. Orch. & Chor./ Michael Schonwandt – Dacapo (2 discs)
Nielsen’s seminal operatic masterpiece gets the recording it deserves, excellent on all fronts.
Yes – Fragile [TrackList follows] – CD & audio-only Blu-ray Atlantic/ Panegyric
The latest reissue of the Fragile album by Yes! is on audio-only Blu-ray but the earlier DVD-A is slightly better.
Audio News for November 6, 2015
Mohu Expands Into Audio with BeBox; Smart Homes Skew Young; Older Households Buy More Devices; Will Smart Homes Soon Be As Common As Smartphones?; ViewSonic Ships Two Sub-$1200 HD Video Projectors
Tim Garland – Return To The Fire – Edition Records
British musician captures the pure spirit of jazz.
Devialet LE 120 Integrated Amplifier$6495
Right off the bat I was very impressed with the sound of the Devialet.