Monthly Archive: March 2016

BARTOK: Divertimento; Romanian Folk Dances; PIAZZOLLA: Les Cuatro Estaciones Portenas  – Konzerthaus Ch. Orch. Berlin/ Sayako Kusaka – CuGate Classics

BARTOK: Divertimento; Romanian Folk Dances; PIAZZOLLA: Les Cuatro Estaciones Portenas – Konzerthaus Ch. Orch. Berlin/ Sayako Kusaka – CuGate Classics

An interesting combination of composers on one disc. BARTOK: Divertimento for Strings; Romanian Folk Dances; PIAZZOLLA: Les Cuatro Estaciones Portenas  (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) – Konzerthaus Ch. Orch. Berlin/ Sayako Kusaka – CuGate Classics multichannel SACD CGCO12-2 (3/4/16) ****: The main selection here for me was the string orchestra arrangement of the Romanian […]

Audio News for March 29, 2016

Benefits of a Curved Screen HDTV – Almost none. Perhaps if you’re a single person sitting right in the center of the screen it might be nice, but it prevents good viewing from the sides and takes up more room, as well as being more expensive. It may be nice in some commercial theaters but […]

“Filament” = Works of DESSNER, MUHLY, LUX & GLASS – eighth blackbird – Cedille vinyl & CD

“Filament” = Works of DESSNER, MUHLY, LUX & GLASS – eighth blackbird – Cedille vinyl & CD

Fear not minimalism or new music—hear this with joy and gratitude. “Filament” = BRYCE DESSNER: Murder Ballades; NICO MUHLY: Doublespeak; SON LUX: To Love; This is My Line; PHILIP GLASS: Two Pages – eighth blackbird – Cedille CDR60000 157, vinyl & CD, 49:10, (7/08/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Chicago based Eighth Blackbird is absolutely one of […]

Fargo, Year Two, Blu-ray (2016)

Fargo, Year Two, Blu-ray (2016)

One reviewer says it’s an insult to call this a TV series; it’s a great ten-hour movie. Fargo, Year Two, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Patrick Wilson, Keith Carradine, Ted Danson, Jesse Plemmons, Kirsten Dunst, Jean Smart Studio: 20th Century Fox, 3 discs, 10 episodes (2/23/16) Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 1080i color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, […]

BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1; Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel – Claudio Arrau, p./ Bavarian Radio-Sym. Orch. /Rafael Kubelik – Praga Digitals

BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1; Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel – Claudio Arrau, p./ Bavarian Radio-Sym. Orch. /Rafael Kubelik – Praga Digitals

Claudio Arrau realizes Brahms in the grand manner, both in recital and with a spirited Bavarian ensemble.  Claudio Arrau plays JOHANNES BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1 in d minor, Op. 15; Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel, Op. 24 – Claudio Arrau, p./ Bavarian Radio-Sym. Orch. /Rafael Kubelik – Praga Digitals PRD/DSD 350 […]

“Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. –  Blue Griffin

“Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. – Blue Griffin

A talented piano/cello duo performs sonatas by Boëllmann , Dohnányi and Bridge. “Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. –  Blue Griffin BGR 359, 76:24 (Distr. by Albany) *****: The catalogue of works for cello and piano is not extensive, and yet these two musicians, […]

The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded – Routes – Strikezone

The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded – Routes – Strikezone

A jazz journey from two artists who’ve been there, done that. The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded – Routes [TrackList follows] – Strikezone 8813, 50:16 [2/5/16] ****: (Dave Stryker – guitar, co-producer; Steve Slagle – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone (track 2), flute (tracks 2, 6), horn arranger, co-producer; John Clark – French horn; Billy Drewes – tenor […]

Tom Collier, vibes – Across The Bridge – Origin

Tom Collier, vibes – Across The Bridge – Origin

Tom Collier – Across The Bridge – Origin  82703, 56:31 ****1/2: Seattle vibraphonist is masterful on his latest release. (Tom Collier – vibraphone, marimba; Larry Coryell – guitar; Bill Frisell – guitar; Dan Dean – bass, guitar; John Bishop – drums; Ted Poor – drums) Tom Collier’s career as a vibraphonist is unlike any other. […]

KVERNO: Credo – A Composer Portrait of Trond H.F. Kverno – Bergen Cathedral Choir/ Arnfinn Tobiassen, organ – LAWO

KVERNO: Credo – A Composer Portrait of Trond H.F. Kverno – Bergen Cathedral Choir/ Arnfinn Tobiassen, organ – LAWO

KVERNO: Credo – A Composer Portrait of Trond H.F. Kverno – Bergen Cathedral Choir/ Arnfinn Tobiassen, organ – LAWO multichannel SACD (5.0) LWC1091 (11/13/15) [Dist. by Naxos] ****: Inspiring and ethereal music by Norwegian composer Trond Kverno. The new SACD/CD from Bergen Cathedral Choir and organist Arnfinn Tobiassen is a tribute to Norwegian contemporary composer […]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite; RACHMANINOFF: Piano Con. 2 – both Philadelphia Orch. & Ormandy – HDTT audio-only Blu-rays

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite; RACHMANINOFF: Piano Con. 2 – both Philadelphia Orch. & Ormandy – HDTT audio-only Blu-rays

Two potboilers in proper quadraphonic surround sound on Blu-ray. TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite – Philadelphia Orch./ Eugene Ormandy – from RCA Quad 4-track tape 1972 – HDTT audio-only Blu-ray (4.0 & 2.0) DTS-HD MA ****: RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Artur Rubinstein, p. / Philadelphia Orch./ Eugene Ormandy – from RCA Quad 4-track tape […]

STRAVINSKY conducts STRAVINSKY: L’Histoire du Soldat; Dumbarton Oaks & others – Pristine Audio

STRAVINSKY conducts STRAVINSKY: L’Histoire du Soldat; Dumbarton Oaks & others – Pristine Audio

For Stravinsky enthusiasts, this disc fills an essential gap otherwise omitted in the recorded legacies accumulated over the years.  STRAVINSKY conducts STRAVINSKY: L’Histoire du Soldat Suite; Violin Concerto in D Major; Jeu de Cartes; Dumbarton Oaks Concerto for Chamber Orchestra in E-flat Major – Marcel Darrieux, violin/ Emil Godeau, clarinet/ Gustave Dherin, bassoon/ Eugene Foveau, […]

DELIUS: Violin Con.; BRITTEN: Violin Con.; MILFORD: Darkly Thrush – Royal Scottish & Philharmonia Orch. – Dutton Epoch

DELIUS: Violin Con.; BRITTEN: Violin Con.; MILFORD: Darkly Thrush – Royal Scottish & Philharmonia Orch. – Dutton Epoch

FREDERICK DELIUS: Violin Concerto; BENJAMIN BRITTEN: Violin Concerto; ROBIN MILFORD: The Darkling Thrush – Royal Scottish Nat. Orch. /David Lloyd-Jones, cond./ Philharmonia Orch./ Nicholas Collon, cond./ Phillippe Graffin, violin – Dutton Epoch stereo-only SACD CDLX 7320,  68:46 (9/11/15) [Dist. by Harmonia mundi] ****: Two familiar English works and a very worthwhile world premier. English label […]

Audio News for March 22, 2016

Federal Trade Commission Warns Android Developers Who Spay on User’s TV Habits; Best Cables for Audio & Video Gear; Classical Music and TV Commercials; Canadian Travelers Never Leave Home Without Their Electronics; VR Video Gaming Is Getting Very Real

MOZART: Requiem, Soloists /Dunedin Consort/ John Butt – Linn vinyl

MOZART: Requiem, Soloists /Dunedin Consort/ John Butt – Linn vinyl

MOZART: Requiem K. 626 (reconstruction of the first performance) – Joanne Lunn, sop./ Rowan Hellier, alto/Thomas Hobbs, tenor/ Matthew Brook, bass-bar./Dunedin Consort/ John Butt – Linn vinyl CKH 549, 47 mins. (7-10-15) (Dist. by Naxos) *****: Trying to replicate the sound of the premiere performance of the work in the 18th century. There are more than […]

Bob Gluck, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Christopher Dean Sullivan – Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band – FMR

Bob Gluck, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Christopher Dean Sullivan – Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band – FMR

Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi period reassessed. Bob Gluck, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Christopher Dean Sullivan – Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band [TrackList follows] – FMR CD398-0915, 63:17 [2/1/16] ***1/2: (Bob Gluck – piano, electronics, arranger (except track 4), co-producer; Jabali Billy Hart – drums; Mganga Eddie Henderson – trumpet; Christopher Dean Sullivan – […]

Bill Frisell – When You Wish Upon a Star – OKeh/Sony Music – OKeh/Sony

Bill Frisell – When You Wish Upon a Star – OKeh/Sony Music – OKeh/Sony

The magic of movies and television as heard via Bill Frisell’s imagination. Bill Frisell – When You Wish Upon a Star [TrackList follows] – OKeh/Sony Music Masterworks 88875142212, 63:26 [1/29/16] ****1/2: (Bill Frisell – electric and acoustic guitar, arranger; Petra Haden – voice; Eyvind Kang – viola; Thomas Morgan – bass; Rudy Royston – drums, […]

Jussi Björling: Copenhagen Concert & Voice of Firestone B’cast – JSP Records

Jussi Björling: Copenhagen Concert & Voice of Firestone B’cast – JSP Records

Vocal enthusiasts may well rejoice that a previously unreleased tape of Jussi Bjoerling appears, from 1959. 
 Jussi Björling: Copenhagen Concert – Jussi Bjoerling, tenor/ Bertil Bokstedt (piano) – The Voice of Firestone 1952 Broadcast – Jussi Bjoerling, tenor/ Orch. & Chorus/ Howard Barlow (rec. live, Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen, 15 October 1959; NBC studio, Rockefeller […]