Monthly Archive: March 2016
The Walk (A True Story), Blu-ray 3D (2016)
Am amazing acted, feature version of the previous Man On Wire documentary. The 3D version is not for acrophobics. The Walk (A True Story), Blu-ray 3D (2016) Director: Robert Zemeckis Cast: Benedict Samuel, Ben Kingsley, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Schwartz & others Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 46397 (1/5/16) [2 discs] Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9, 1080p […]
KURTAG: Kafka Fragmente – Caroline Melzer, sop./Nurit Stark, v. – BIS
KURTAG: Kafka Fragmente – Caroline Melzer, sop./Nurit Stark, v. – BIS-2175, 58:08 multichannel SACD (Dist. by Naxos) *****: Challenging these pieces may be, but if you buy this SACD, it will give you gooseflesh if you listen closely. Those famous works by Franz Kafka that you read in school? Not his best. The Trial, that […]
FELIX WEINGARTNER: Complete Symphonies. Symphonies 1 – 7 & Symphonic Works – CPO (7 discs)
FELIX WEINGARTNER: Complete Symphonies. Symphonies 1 – 7 and Symphonic Works [Details follow] – Maya Boog, sop./ Franziska Gottwald, alto/ Rolf Romei, tenor /Christopher Bolduc, bar./ Babette Mondry, organ/ Czech Philharmonic Choir Brünn/ Symphonieorchester Basel/ Marko Letonja – CPO multichannel SACD, 777 938-2, TT: 38 hr. 18 min. (7 SACDs) [Distrib. by Naxos] ****: This […]
Yehudi Menuhin – The First Concerto Recordings 1931/32 = BRUCH & ELGAR – Pristine Audio
Mark Obert-Thorn revives the first two concerto performances by the youthful master Yehudi Menuhin – still astonishing. Yehudi Menuhin – The First Concerto Recordings 1931/32 = BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor, Op. 26; ELGAR: Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 61 – Yehudi Menuhin, violin/ London Sym. Orch./ Sir Landon Ronald & […]
The Good Dinosaur, Blu-ray (2016)
Another fine family animated film from Pixar. The Good Dinosaur, Blu-ray (2016) Director: Pater Sohn Voice-overs: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Sam Elliott etc. Studio: Pixar/ Walt Disney Studios 132197 (2/23/16) [Also avail. in 3D!] Video: 2.30:1 for 16:9, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD HA 5.1, French DD 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Dubbed: French and […]
Secret in Their Eyes, Blu-ray (2016)
A great thriller with Julia Roberts in a very different role. Secret in Their Eyes, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Chiwetel Eijofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts Director & writer: Billy Ray Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 64176457 (2/23/16) 2 discs Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 5.1 Subtitles: French, Spanish, […]
Editorial Page for March 2016
Our lavish March drawing is for “Opera baroque” – a 39-DVD plus 4-CDs boxed set from Harmonia mundi consisting of over 47 hours of wonderful music, with top soloists and such directors as René Jacobs & William Christie. 17 complete operas are included in the set. This is a set you will treasure for a lifetime. […]
Harry “Sweets” Edison – Sweetenings – Roulette (1958) /Pure Pleasure – vinyl
Harry “Sweets” Edison – Sweetenings – Roulette SR 52023 (1958)/Pure Pleasure PPAN R52023 (2015), 32:46 mono vinyl ****: (Harry “Sweets” Edison – trumpet; Jimmy Forrest – tenor saxophone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Kenny Drew – piano; Joe Benjamin – doublebass; Charlie Persip – drums) Harry “Sweets” Edison enjoyed three careers. He came to initial prominence […]
BRAHMS: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 & 3; Four Hungarian Dances – Leonid Kogan, v./ Andrei Mytnik, p. – Archipel
Impassioned, fiery Brahms from Leonid Kogan in live performance warrants our unqualified admiration. BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78; Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100; Violin Sonata No. 3 in d minor, Op. 108; Four Hungarian Dances – Leonid Kogan, v./ Andrei Mytnik, p. – Archipel ARPCD 0355, […]
Groundhogs – Scratching The Surface – Liberty /Parlophone /Pure Pleasure – vinyl
Groundhogs – Scratching The Surface – Liberty /Parlophone LBS 83199/Pure Pleasure PPAN LBS 83199 stereo vinyl, 44:03 ****: Obscure British band’s debut is released on audiophile vinyl. (Tony McPhee – guitar, vocals; Steve Rye – harmonica vocals; Pete Cruikshank – bass; Ken Pustelnik – drums) British Blues developed into a marketable brand in the 1960s. […]
BACH: Goldberg Variations – Alexandre Tharaud, p. – Erato/Warner Classics + video DVD
BACH: Goldberg Variations – Alexandre Tharaud, piano – Erato/Warner Classics 0825646051779, 75:13 + video DVD (16:9), PCM stereo (12/4/15) *****: After a slow, elegant, spaced-out Aria theme, relentlessly hip Alexandre Tharaud proceeds to give a freewheeling 21st century piano virtuoso’s bird’s eye view of the Goldberg Variations. Whatever the attitudes he adopts as he proceeds […]
BERNARD HERRMANN : The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann – Nat. Philharmonia Orch. – HDTT
Bernard Herrmann film scores in startling surround sound! BERNARD HERRMANN : The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann – Journey to the Center of the Earth; The 7th Voyage of Sinbad; The Day The Earth Stood Still; Fahrenheit 451 – National Philharmonic Orch./ Bernard Herrmann – HDTT [various formats including hi-res 4.0 Surround Blu-ray audio […]
Elvis Costello – Detour – Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Blu-ray (2016)
Elvis Costello – Detour – Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Blu-ray (2016) New wave auteur goes solo with forty years of worthwhile material. Cast: Elvis Costello with Larkin Poe (Rebecca and Megan Lovell) Studio: Eagle Vision EVB335309 Director: Joss Crowley Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1; PCM 2.0 Stereo Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9, 1080i HD Color Length: […]
JEAN MARTINON Conducts Music by IBERT, SAINT-SAENS & BERLIOZ – Paris Conservatoire Orch. – HDTT
Celebrating Jean Martinon’s Decca legacy in fine transfers from commercial reel tapes. Jean Martinon Conducts Music by IBERT, SAINT-SAENS & BERLIOZ – Paris Conservatoire Orch. – HDTT [various formats including hi-res PCM & DSD from www.highdeftapetransfers.com] (This one is DSD 64) 53:34 *****: This splendid compilation of Decca recordings made with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra under […]
Ferit Odman – Dameronia With Strings – Equinox Music – vinyl
Ferit Odman – Dameronia With Strings – Equinox Music EMLP0002, 42:12 stereo vinyl ****1/2: Drummer puts together a masterful tribute to a great jazz composer. (Ferit Odman – drums; Terell Stafford – trumpet; Danny Grissett – piano; Peter Washington – bass; Antoine Silverman – violin, concertmaster; Diane Montoe – violin, concertmaster; Tamara DeMent – violin; […]
Audio News for March 1, 2016
Home Theater Built Out of Snow; Mighty Audio on Kickstarter Brings Offline Spotify Playback; B&O Meets ESS for Highest Audio Quality on LG Smartphones; New Smartphone Warns You If Electronics Are Overheating; A Great Year for Downloading Audiophiles
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
