Monthly Archive: March 2016
“Vienna New Year’s Concert 2016”: Music by STOLZ, ZIEHRER, WALDTEUFEL, HELLMESBERGER and The STRAUSSES =- Vienna Philharmonic/ Jansons – Sony Classical
“Vienna New Year’s Concert 2016”: Music by STOLZ, ZIEHRER, WALDTEUFEL, HELLMESBERGER and The STRAUSSES – Vienna Philharmonic/ Mariss Jansons – Sony Classical 88875174802, 112 mins (2 CDs) (1/22/16) *****: One of the best of the New Year’s Concert series. This is one of the best in the long history of Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concerts, […]
BRAHMS: Sonata in f minor for 2 Pianos; Variations on a Theme by Haydn – Eleonora Spina & Michele Benignetti, pianos – Brilliant Classics
BRAHMS: Sonata in f minor for Two Pianos, Op. 34b; Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56b – Eleonora Spina & Michele Benignetti, pianos – Brilliant Classics 94956, 60:22 (7/31/15) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Two of the Brahms orchestral works have their alternate egos realized in glowing terms on two pianos. This first disc […]
DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata in g; Cello Sonata in d; Flute, Viola, and Harp Sonata; Syrinx for Solo Flute – Boston Sym. Ch. Players – Pentatone
An outstanding release wonderfully brought back to life. DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata in g; Cello Sonata in d; Flute, Viola, and Harp Sonata; Syrinx for Solo Flute – Boston Sym. Ch. Players – Pentatone multichannel SACD (4.0) PTC 5186 226, 46:11 [Distr. by Naxos] *****: For those of you who don’t remember, the Boston Symphony Chamber […]
Piotr Szewczyk, solo violin – “Violin Futura” – Navona (2 discs)
Piotr Szewczyk, “Violin Futura”, Thirty-three commissioned works from composers around the world [TrackList follows] – Piotr Szewczyk, solo violin – Navona NV6028 [Distr. by Parma], TT: 101:22, (two CDs) (2/12/16) ***: Very impressive violin work in a cutting-edge but nearly exhausting collection. Nearly exhausting is this modern solo violin collection both for the incredible talent […]
“Mezzotints” = STALE KLEIBERG: String Quartet No. 2; Ruf und Nachklang (piano); Ashes (violin solo); Piano Trio No 2; Violin and Cello Sonata; Sonanze e cadenza – Soloists – 2L Blu-ray & SACD
Hard to describe, but once you listen, easy to understand. “Mezzotints” = STALE KLEIBERG: String Quartet No. 2; Ruf und Nachklang (piano); Ashes (violin solo); Piano Trio No 2; Violin and Cello Sonata; Sonanze e cadenza (violin and piano) – Marianne Thorsen, violin/ Oyvind Gimse, cello/ Bard Monsen, violin/ Ole Wuttudal, viola/ Jorgen Larsen, piano […]
MOZART: Flute & Harp Concerto; Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds – Soloists/Oslo Philharmonic/Buribayev & Enegard – LAWO
MOZART: Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C Major, K. 299; Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-Flat Major, K297B – Per Flemström, flute / Birgitte Volan Håvik, harp / Pavel Sokolov, clarinet/ Per Hannisdal, bassoon/ Inger Besserudhagen, horn/ Oslo Philharmonic Orch./ Alan Buribayev (K. 299) / Arvid Enegård (K. 297B) – LAWO Classics […]
The Doug Webb Quartet – Sets the Standard – VSOP & The American Jazz Quintet – Gulf Coast Jazz – Wade in the Water – VSOP
Two new releases from V.S.O.P Records to recommend… The Doug Webb Quartet – Sets the Standard – VSOP 128CD, 59:10 (3/18/16) ****: (Doug Webb – tenor sax, soprano sax; stritch; Alan Broadbent – piano; Putter Smith – bass; Paul Kreibich – drums) The American Jazz Quintet – Gulf Coast Jazz – Wade in the Water […]
DVORAK: Stabat Mater – Soloists/Radio Sym. & Choir of Bavarian Radio/ Mariss Janssons – BR Klassik
This live performance maintains an air of piety and devotion requisite to its powerful musical occasion. DVORAK: Stabat Mater, Op. 58 – Erin Wall, sop./ Minoko Fujimura, mezzo-sop./ Christian Elsner, tenor/ Liang Li, bass/ Choir of the Bavarian Radio/ Bavarian Radio Sym. Orch./ Mariss Janssons – BR Klassik 900142, 77:55 [Distr. by Naxos] (1/8/16) *****: […]
KATI AGÓCS: The Debrecen Passion & other works – Soloists/BMOP/Rose – BMOP
KATI AGÓCS: The Debrecen Passion; Requiem Fragments; By the Streams of Babylon; Like Treasure Hidden in a Field; Vessel – Kati Agócs, sop./Lisa Bielawa, sop./Katherine Growdon, mezzo-sop./Margot Rood, sop./Sonja Tengblad, sop./ Lorelei Ensemble/Boston Modern Orchestra Project /Gil Rose – BMOP Sound 1046, 57:00 multichannel SACD (2/02/16) ****: More outstanding vocal work from this emerging contemporary […]
Audio News for March 11, 2016
Sonos Announces Layoffs and Readjustments; Tom Sachs Turns a Speaker Into Anything; Amazon Prime Video Could Have VR Upgrade Soon; Touch-Free Typing Project at Google
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 – Vadym Kholodenko p./ Fort Worth Sym./ Miguel Harth-Bedoya – Harmonia mundi
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 – Vadym Kholodenko p./ Fort Worth Sym./ Miguel Harth-Bedoya – Harmonia mundi multichannel SACD HMU-807631, 57:03 (2/5/16) **** (performance) **1/2 (recording): A dynamic performance of two Prokofiev concertos with disappointing recorded sound. Winner of the gold medal in the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Vadym Kholodenko has […]
SCHUMANN: Phantasie in C Major, Op. 17; BRAHMS: Ten Intermezzi – Iskander Zakirov, p. – Blue Griffin
Kindred Romantic spirits Schumann and Brahms provide the lyric and passionate content of Zakirov’s recital. SCHUMANN: Phantasie in C Major, Op. 17; BRAHMS: Ten Intermezzi – Iskander Zakirov, p. – Blue Griffin BGR 387, 64:38 (1/5/16) [Distr. by Albany] ****: Iskander Zakirov was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to a family of professional musicians. He started […]
Paris Belongs To Us, Blu-ray (1961/2016)
A supposed first in the French New Wave, but not a classic. Paris Belongs To Us, Blu-ray (1961/2016) Cast: Betty Schneider, Jean-Claude Brialy Director: Jacques Rivette Studio: MK2/ Janus Films/The Criterion Collection 802 (3/8/16) Video: 1.37:1 for 4:3 display, 1080p HD black & white Audio: French, PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: New interview with Richard […]
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra – All My Yesterdays – Resonance (2 CDs)
Celebrating fifty years, and counting, of powerful Monday night big band jazz at the Village Vanguard… Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra – All My Yesterdays – Resonance HCD 2023 – 2 CDs, 48:47, 77:11 (1966) ****1/2: (CD 1- 2/7/66: Thad Jones- trumpet, Flugelhorn, arranger & conductor; Hank Jones- piano; Sam Herman – guitar, percussion; Richard Davis […]
Gerry Mulligan – The Emarcy Sextet Recordings – Mosaic – 5 vinyls
Sixty years later, a dream front line still dazzles… Gerry Mulligan – The Emarcy Sextet Recordings – Mosaic Records MRLP 3008 – 5 vinyl mono box set – 1955-1956 ****1/2: (Gerry Mulligan – baritone saxophone, piano; Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone, piano; Zoot Sims – tenor saxophone; Jon Eardley or Don Ferrara – trumpet; Peck […]
Florian Hoefner Group – Luminosity – Origin
Musical storytelling which mixes compositional originality with instrumental brilliance. Florian Hoefner Group – Luminosity [TrackList follows] – Origin 82706, 54:28 [1/15/16] ****: (Seamus Blake – tenor and soprano saxophone; Florian Hoefner – piano; Sam Anning – bass; Peter Kronreif – drums) Stepping outside one’s comfort zone is a time-honored tradition in jazz. Pianist Florian Hoefner—born […]
Benjamin Beilman, v. – Spectrum = Works of SCHUBERT, JANACEK, STRAVINSKY & KREISLER – Warner Classics
Benjamin Beillman’s “Spectrum” displays a fine virtuoso talent in a variety of persuasive styles. Benjamin Beilman – Spectrum = SCHUBERT: Violin Sonata in A Major, D. 574 “Grand Duo”; JANACEK: Sonata for Violin and Piano; STRAVINSKY: Divertimento for V. & P.; KREISLER: Viennese Rhapsodic Fantasietta – Benjamin Beilman, v./ Yekwon Sunwoo, p. – Warner Classics […]
Audio News for March 8, 2016
New LG VR Headset Competes With Samsung; Steps for a Better Whole-House Audio System; Some Grammy Results
Crimson Peak, Blu-ray (2016)
A Gothic romance masterpiece from Guillermo del Toro, set in the early 20th century. Crimson Peak, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Hessican Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam Director: Guillermo del Toro Studio: Universal Home Entertainment 61163118 (2/9/16) [2 discs] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 7.1, DTS Headphone 2.0, English […]
“Cesko” – Works of SCHULHOFF, & DVORAK – Ragazze Q. – Channel Classics
“Česko” = ERWIN SCHULHOFF: String Quartet No. 1; DVOŘÁK: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106; SCHULHOFF: Esquisses de jazz (arr. Leonard Evers) – Ragazze Quartet – Channel Classics multichannel SACD CCS SA 36815, 65:00 [Distr. Harmonia mundi] (5/15/15) ****: A very attractive program of Bohemian yin and yang. The “young Dutch/British” Ragzze […]
Audio News for March 4, 2016
Black Violin Breaks Stereotypes of Classical and Race; DVIGear UHD Multiviewer Switcher/Scaler Allows Various Presentation Environments; Microsoft’s Xbox Chief Says Their Games Console Will Be Upgraded Regularly – Like Other Digital Products; Smart Audio Provides Automated Audio Production for Telecasters; The Economic Times of India Recommends Eight Tech Upgrades
Noah’s Ark (2016)
Not the best Noah movie, but enjoyable nevertheless… Noah’s Ark (2016) Cast: David Thelfall, Joanne Whalley, Nico Mirallegro Director: Kenneth Glenaan Studio: Cinedigm GP5049 (2/2/16) Video: Enhanced for 16:9 1080i HD color Audio: Englsh DD stereo Length: 88 min. Rating: ***1/2 There are other Noah movies which may be better that this one but I […]