Monthly Archive: September 2017

Serge PROKOFIEV: Cinderella, Blu-ray & DVD (2017)

Serge PROKOFIEV: Cinderella, Blu-ray & DVD (2017)

This would make a great introduction to Prokofiev’s ballets! Serge PROKOFIEV: Cinderella, Blu-ray & DVD (2017) Cast: Mariinsky Ballet Theater Director and Principal Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Music: Orchestra of the Mariinsky Ballet Theater Conductor: Valery Gergiev Stage Director: Yuri Fateev Studio: Mariinsky, Bluray & DVD [9/18/2015] TV Directors: Antoine Perset & Vincent Massip Run Time: […]

MARTINŮ: Variations on a Theme of Rossini; Ariette; Seven Arabesques; Suite Miniature; Nocturnes; Variations on a Slovakian Theme ‒ Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello / Sun Min Kim, piano ‒ Navona

MARTINŮ: Variations on a Theme of Rossini; Ariette; Seven Arabesques; Suite Miniature; Nocturnes; Variations on a Slovakian Theme ‒ Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello / Sun Min Kim, piano ‒ Navona

“Small Storms: A Collection of Short Pieces by BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ = Variations on a Theme of Rossini, H. 290; Ariette for Cello and Piano, H. 188B; Seven Arabesques for Cello and Piano H. 201; Suite Miniature for Cello and Piano, H. 192; Nocturnes for Cello and Piano, H. 189; Variations on a Slovakian Theme, H. […]

AUDIO NEWS for September 13, 2017 

Major Labels Talk Hi-Res Audio — From music downloads to physical formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio, hi-res audio has always been a sort of niche for audiophile music fans. The three major labels—Sony, Universal and Warner Music—hope to change that and give hi-res audio mass-market appeal. The tech film MQA was also on the […]

JAN JIRÁSEK: Parallel Worlds ‒ JITRO Czech Girls Choir / Michal Chrobák, piano / Pavel Plašil, percussion / Jan Jirásek, scissors / Jiřį Skopal ‒ Navona 

JAN JIRÁSEK: Parallel Worlds ‒ JITRO Czech Girls Choir / Michal Chrobák, piano / Pavel Plašil, percussion / Jan Jirásek, scissors / Jiřį Skopal ‒ Navona 

JAN JIRÁSEK: Parallel Worlds = Missa Propria; Si, vis amaria, ama; Mondi Paralleli; King Lavra ‒ JITRO Czech Girls Choir / Michal Chrobák, piano / Pavel Plašil, percussion / Jan Jirásek, scissors / Jiřį Skopal ‒ Navona Records NV6101 [distrib. by Naxos]; 60:00 (6/9/17) ***1/2  Some interesting music that recalls both Ligeti and Pärt, yet […]

Ossy Renardy: The Complete Remington Recordings = PAGANINI: Caprices; FRANCK: Sonata in A Major; RAVEL: Violin Sonata No. 2 – Ossy Renardy, violin/ Eugene Helmer, piano/ Eugene List, piano – Pristine Audio

Ossy Renardy: The Complete Remington Recordings = PAGANINI: Caprices; FRANCK: Sonata in A Major; RAVEL: Violin Sonata No. 2 – Ossy Renardy, violin/ Eugene Helmer, piano/ Eugene List, piano – Pristine Audio

Ossy Renardy: The Complete Remington Recordings = PAGANINI: Caprices, Op. 1 (arr. F. David); FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; RAVEL: Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major – Ossy Renardy, violin/ Eugene Helmer, piano/ Eugene List, piano (Franck & Ravel) – Pristine Audio PACM 103 (2 CDs) TT: 1:49:22 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: The short-lived Austrian […]

Gaudi – Magnetic – RareNoise 

Gaudi – Magnetic – RareNoise 

Gaudi – Magnetic [TrackList and Recording Artists follow] – RareNoise RNR080, 52:21 [6/30/17] ****: A voyage into modern neo-dub. When most DJs, producers or other musicians raid a label’s catalog for sounds, the result is often a remix album or some kind of mishmash hybrid. When electronica/dub reggae artist Gaudi was given the opportunity to […]

BEETHOVEN: String Quintet. Piano Quartet. Grosse Fuge – Budapest String Quartet / Walter Trampler, viola/ Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano – Praga Digitals

BEETHOVEN: String Quintet. Piano Quartet. Grosse Fuge – Budapest String Quartet / Walter Trampler, viola/ Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano – Praga Digitals

BEETHOVEN: String Quintet, Op. 29. Piano Quartet Op. 16. Grosse Fuge Op. 133 (1965, 1962, 1961) – Budapest String Quartet  / Walter Trampler, viola / Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano – Praga Digitals PRD 250381, 74:17 (9/8/17) ***: On a nostalgic disc devoted to important recordings by the fabled Budapest Quartet of tangentially curious, early and late […]

George & Geoff HAZELRIGG: Songs We Like

George & Geoff HAZELRIGG: Songs We Like

George & Geoff HAZELRIGG: Songs We Like – 61740, 40:31 (9/12/17) *****: (George Hazelrigg: piano/ Geoff Hazelrigg: bass/ John O’Reilly, Jr: drums) Taste and invention carry the day, rather than nostalgia, in an inspired set of rock-themed charts for a well integrated piano trio.  The title and cover photo of the Hazelrigg brothers’ debut jazz […]

Mordecai Shehori: The Celebrated New York Concerts, Vol. 12 = Works by HANDEL; BEETHOVEN; CHOPIN;  SCHUBERT; LISZT – Mordecai Shehori, piano – Cembal d’amour 

Mordecai Shehori: The Celebrated New York Concerts, Vol. 12 = Works by HANDEL; BEETHOVEN; CHOPIN;  SCHUBERT; LISZT – Mordecai Shehori, piano – Cembal d’amour 

Mordecai Shehori: The Celebrated New York Concerts, Vol. 12 = HANDEL: Chaconne in G Major, G. 229; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 17 in d minor, Op. 31, No. 2 “The Tempest”; CHOPIN: Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60; Polonaise in f-sharp minor, Op. 44; SCHUBERT (arr. Liszt): Staendchen; LISZT: Legend No. 2 “Saint Francis of […]

Jü – Summa – RareNoise

Jü – Summa – RareNoise

Jü – Summa [TrackList follows] – RareNoise RNR074, 53:31 [3/31/17] ****: Metal and jazz-influenced improvisation as only Jü can do it. (Àdàm Mészáros – guitar, kalimba, percussion; Ernö Hock – bass guitar, bass ukulele, percussion; Andràs Halmos – drums, bell, kalimba; Kjetil Møster – tenor saxophone (track 5); Bálint Bolcsó – electronics (track 5)) There […]

The Hot Club of San Francisco – John Paul George & Django – HCL ; Thelonius Monk – Criss-Cross – Columbia  

The Hot Club of San Francisco – John Paul George & Django – HCL ; Thelonius Monk – Criss-Cross – Columbia  

Two Vinyl LPs—The Beatles in gypsy jazz and Monk’s second and terrific album; contains his big hits. The Hot Club of San Francisco – John Paul George & Django – HCL 27041 33 1/3 vinyl ****:  Thelonius Monk – Criss-Cross – Columbia CS 8838 (1963)/Pure Pleasure Records 33 1/3 vinyl re-master (2017)****:  Although they are […]

Editorial for September 2017

Editorial for September 2017

The acts of Martin Luther, now half a millennium ago, marked the beginning of the Reformation Movement.  The results were profound and far-reaching, with influenced society, politics, and the arts for centuries, and are still being felt today.  Next month marks the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, and is being honored with two rich CDs […]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Manfred Symphony – Czech Philharmonic/ Semyon Bychkov – Decca

TCHAIKOVSKY: Manfred Symphony – Czech Philharmonic/ Semyon Bychkov – Decca

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony in B Minor after Byron’s “Manfred,” Op. 58 – Czech Philharmonic/ Semyon Bychkov – Decca 483 2320, 59:19 (8/25/17) [Distr. by Universal] ****: Tchaikovsky epic symphonic-poem receives a dedicated performance in this ongoing project by Semyon Bychkov. Tchaikovsky, much like Berlioz, found a poetic, kindred spirit in the work of George Gordon, Lord […]

CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Piano Works – Alfonso Soldano, piano – Divine Art

CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Piano Works – Alfonso Soldano, piano – Divine Art

CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO Piano Works = Notturno in Hollywood; Alt Wien, Rapsodia Viennese, Op. 30; Vitalba e Biancospino, flaba silvana, Op. 21; Cantico, Op. 19; Sonatina Zoologica, Op. 187; Film Etudes, Op. 67; Cielo di Settembre, Op. 1; Piedigrotta 1924 – Rapsodia Napolitana, Op. 32 – Alfonso Soldano, piano – Divine Art dda 25152, 74:19 (9/15/17) [Distr. […]

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symph. No. 5; BARBER: Adagio for Strings – Pittsburgh Symph. Orch./ Manfred Honeck – Reference Recordings 

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symph. No. 5; BARBER: Adagio for Strings – Pittsburgh Symph. Orch./ Manfred Honeck – Reference Recordings 

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony. No. 5 in d, Op. 47; BARBER: Adagio for Strings – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/ Manfred Honeck – Reference Recordings multichannel SACD FR-724SACD, 60:17 [Distr. by Naxos] *****: A breathtaking release of crushing power. One thing struck me as odd when I received this recording—what in the world is Honeck doing coupling the Barber […]

AUDIO NEWS FOR WEEK OF SEPT. 4TH – BY JOHN SUNIER

Audio News Is Back – We hereby return to the Audio News feature, but only once a week instead of two… John Sunier Use of MQA Has Widened – At the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin it was announced the MQA technology will be enbedded in products from the follwing: LG, Sony Pioneer, Onkyo, […]

Spencer Myer – William Bolcom Piano Rags – Steinway And Sons

Spencer Myer – William Bolcom Piano Rags – Steinway And Sons

Spencer Myer – William Bolcom Piano Rags – Steinway And Sons 30041, 71:44 ****1/2: Pianist offers superb homage to modern-era Ragtime composer! (Spencer Myer – piano) The peak era of Ragtime was 1895-19i8. The genre was known for its unusual (at the time) syncopated tempo structure developed from African music.. This represented a polyrhythmic modification […]

Marcus Trio – Peace For Beethoven

Marcus Trio – Peace For Beethoven

Marcus Trio – Peace For Beethoven – 59:49 ****1/2: This is a great jazzy Beethoven tribute!  (Lenny Marcus – piano; bass, flute, synthesizer; Rick Eckberg – double bass, six-string bass; Larry Scott – drums; Vladimir Espinosa – percussion; Tom Artwork – flute) The Lenny Marcus Trio garnered critical recognition for The Jazz Of Beethoven. Pianist […]

Machine Mass – Machine Mass Plays Hendrix – MoonJune Records

Machine Mass – Machine Mass Plays Hendrix – MoonJune Records

Machine Mass – Machine Mass Plays Hendrix – MoonJune Records MJR 084, 59:27 ****: Updated technical shout-out to a true rock legend!  (Michel Delville – guitar, Roland GR09, loops, stylophone, electronics, samples; Tony Bianco – drums, percussion; Antoine Guenet – keyboards, synth, acoustic piano) It would have been difficult to predict the ascension of Jimi […]