Monthly Archive: February 2018
FELIX DRAESEKE = Orchestral Works Vol. 1 & 2: Symphony in G; Symphonia tragica; Piano Concerto; Gudrun Overture; Symphonic Prologue to Penthesilea, Op. 50 – Claudius Tanski, p/ Wuppertal Sym. Orch./ George Hanson – MDG
Nicely priced rerun for some obscure music. FELIX DRAESEKE = Orchestral Works Vol. 1 & 2: Symphony in G, Op. 12; Symphonia tragica, Op. 40; Piano Concerto in E-flat, Op. 36; Gudrun Overture; Symphonic Prologue to Penthesilea, Op. 50 – Claudius Tanski, p/ Wuppertal Sym. Orch./ George Hanson – MDG 335 2018 (2 CDs), 73:01 […]
HANDEL: Concerti a Due Cori – Freiburger Barockorchester/ Gottfried von der Goltz and Petra Muellejans – Harmonia mundi
The aural delights abound in Handel’s settings for duo-wind choirs, rendered expertly by the Freiburg ensemble. HANDEL: Concerti a Due Cori = F Major, HWV 334; B-flat Major, HWV 332; F Major, HWV 333 – Freiburger Barockorchester/ Gottfried von der Goltz and Petra Muellejans – Harmonia mundi HMM 905272, 48:54 (2/9/18) ****: Handel had a […]
Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York – Fukushima – Libra
Never forget. Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York – Fukushima – Libra 214-044 57:34 [12/15/17] ****: (Satoko Fujii – conductor, composer; Oscar Noriega – alto saxophone; Ellery Eskelin, Tony Malaby – tenor saxophone; Andy Laster – baritone saxophone; Dave Ballou, Herb Robertson, Natsuki Tamura – trumpet; Joey Sellers, Joe Fiedler, Curtis Hasselbring – trombone; Nels Cline […]
In the Weeds: Music for Wind Quintet by Bernstein, D’Rivera, Kutnowski, Piazzolla, & Titlebaum—Ventus Machina—MSR Classics
In the Weeds: Music for Wind Quintet. Music by Bernstein, D’Rivera, Kutnowski, Piazzolla, & Titlebaum—Ventus Machina (Karin Aurell, Christie Goodwin, James Kalyn, Ulises Aragon, and Patrick Bolduc—MSR Classics MS1633—61:00, ****1/2: Ventus Machina is the name of a wind quintet of music professionals from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada. The format isn’t assured, like […]
LISZT: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 2; Petrarch Sonnets; Tannhauser Overture – Jorge Bolet, piano/ Lawrence Foster/ Edo de Waart – Audite
A restored series of RIAS appearances by Jorge Bolet will delight and astound in his thorough grasp of the Liszt style. LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major; Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major; Annees de Pelerinage, Deuxieme Annee: 3 Petrarch Sonnets; Overture to Tannhauser – Jorge Bolet, piano/ Radio Symphony-Orchestra Berlin/ Lawrence […]
“A Beethoven Odyssey”, Vol. 5 = Piano Sonatas, Nos. 5, 6, 7 & 10 – James Brawn, p. – MSR Classics
The journey continues, and a superb one it is. “A Beethoven Odyssey”, Vol. 5 = Piano Sonatas: No. 5 in c, Op. 10/1; No. 6 in F, Op. 10/2; No. 7 in D, Op. 10/3; No. 10 in G, Op. 14/2 – James Brawn, p. – MSR Classics MS 1469, 71:12 *****: It’s been two […]
Jascha Spivakovsky: Bach to Bloch, Vol. IV = Works for Solo Piano by BACH; BEETHOVEN; CHOPIN; SCHUMANN – Jascha Spivakovsky, piano – Pristine Audio
The fourth installment of the Spivakovky Edition revels in the Romantic ethos of composer and performer. Jascha Spivakovsky: Bach to Bloch, Vol. IV = BACH: Fantasia in c minor, BWV 906; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110; CHOPIN: Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major, Op. 29; Etude in c minor, Op. […]
SIBELIUS: Symphony Nos. 5, 6, & 7 – Philharmonia Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan – Praga Digitals
The last three of the Sibelius symphonies vibrate with a clarity and intensity peculiarly Karajan’s. SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82; Symphony No. 6 in d minor, Op. 104; Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105 – Philharmonia Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan – Praga Digitals PRD 250 355, 77:30 [Distr. by […]
SMETANA: String Quartet No. 1 & No. 2; Piano Trio – Prazak Quartet/ Nathalia Milstein, piano – Praga Digitals
Intense and masterfully performed, these three Smetana chamber music staples enjoy fiercely passionate renderings. SMETANA: String Quartet No. 1 in e minor “From My Life”; String Quartet No. 2 in d minor; Piano Trio in g minor, Op. 15 – Prazak Quartet/ Nathalia Milstein, piano – Praga Digitals PRD/DSD 350 151, 75:53 (2/16/18) [Distr. by […]
Isaac Hayes — Shaft, Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses — Triple Release!
Audiophile Audition is proud to present a three-fold re-release of music by Isaac Hayes… Isaac Hayes – Hot Buttered Soul – Enterprise/Stax ENS 1001 (1969)/Craft/Concord Music Group CR00034 (2018) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 45:24 *****: Soul and popular music are re-imagined by Stax veteran on terrific Craft records update. (Isaac Hayes – vocals, keyboards; Marvell Thomas […]
BACH: Keyboard Partita No.2 in C minor; Italian Concerto; The Well-Tempered Clavier (selections); Chaconne (trans. Busoni) – Simone Leitao, p – MSR Classics
Leitao is a marvelous Bachian, proven in every measure. BACH: Keyboard Partita No.2 in C minor, BWV 826; Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971; Selections from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II; Chaconne from Violin Partita No.2, BWV 1004 (trans. Busoni) – Simone Leitao, p – MSR Classics 1665, 57:24 *****: Simone Leitao […]
BEETHOVEN: Septet Op. 20; STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel einmal anders! – OSM Chamber Soloists/ Andrew Wan – Analekta
The Chamber Society of Montreal makes pure magic of Beethoven’s Septet and an arrangement of Richard Strauss. BEETHOVEN: Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20/R. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel einmal anders! – OSM Chamber Soloists/ Andrew Wan – Analekta AN 2 8788, 50:00 (3/16/18) [Distr. by E1] ****: Beethoven composed his Septet in 1799, much as a […]
BEETHOVEN: Symphony Nos. 1 & 6 – Orchestre National de l’O.R.T.F./ Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Serge Koussevitzky – Pristine
The Beethoven “Nine” with Serge Koussevitzky conducting has become a recorded reality! BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21; Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” – Orchestre National de l’O.R.T.F./ Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Serge Koussevitzky – Pristine Audio PASC 522, 59:55 [www.pristineclassical.com] *****: Ask, and ye shall receive! In […]
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata Op. 101; BRAHMS: Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79; SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – Alexander Beridze, piano – NY Classics
A Romantic recital by pianist and philanthropist Alexander Beridze warrants our attention. BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101; BRAHMS: Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79; SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – Alexander Beridze, piano – NY Classics NYC 11.12.2014, 65:00 (11/12/14) [www.newyorkpianofestival.com] ****: A native of the Republic of Georgia, Alexander Beridze (b. 1980) […]
Wes Montgomery – Wes Montgomery In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recordings – Resonance Records
Wes Montgomery – Wes Montgomery In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recordings – Resonance Records HCD-2032 (2-CD box), 102:47 ****1/2 (Wes Montgomery – guitar; Harold Mabern – piano; Arthur Harper Jr. – double bass; Jimmy Lovelace – drums; with special guest Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone) In November, Resonance Records released a rare live recording of […]
Streams and Podcasts, 16 Feb 2018
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, we celebrate conductor Victor Desarzens, who led the ensemble from 1942 to1973. Of the many highlights of his career, Desarzens is to be particularly noted for his re-vitalization of baroque music as well as championing contemporary composers. The show will feature works by Bach, […]
Sam Dees – The Show Must Go On – Atlantic
Re-mastered vinyl shines a light on a lesser-known soul talent! Sam Dees – The Show Must Go On – Atlantic SD 18134 (1975)/Pure Pleasure Records PPAN 0698 (2018) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 38:04 ****1/2: (Sam Dees – vocals; Glen Woods – guitar; David Camon – bass; Sherman “Fats” Carson – drums) There may not be a […]
Edgar Steinitz: Roots Unknown – OA2 Records
A striking meeting of Latin Sephardic traditional music and jazzy Klezmer. Edgar Steinitz: Roots Unknown – OA2 Records – 45:40 (1/19/18) ****½ ; (Edgar Steinitz; clarinets/ Bonnie Birch; accordion/ Jeff Busch; percussion; Julian Smedley; violin, viola/ Wayne Porter; drums/ David Friesen; Hemage bass/ Jay Thomas; flugelhorn, tenor sax, flute, trumpet) By day, jazz clarinetist Edgar […]
FRANK MARTIN: Music for Winds—MSR Classics
A lost Suite from a pageant by Frank Martin is melodic and rhythmically incisive. FRANK MARTIN: Music for Winds—Concerto pour les instruments a vent et le piano—Concert Suite from Ein Totentanz zu Basel im Jahre 1943—Zwischen Rhone Und Rhein—Massachusetts Chamber Players/Matthew Westgate—MSR Classics, MS1602, 53:28, ****: In 2016 I reviewed a recording of Swiss composer […]
Freddie Hubbard – First Light – CTI 6013 (1971) – Pure Pleasure Records (2017)
This vinyl recording is a wonderful addition to any jazz library. Freddie Hubbard – First Light – CTI 6013 (1971)/Pure Pleasure Records (2017) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 33:32 ****1/2: (Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, flugelhorn; Jack DeJohnette – drums; Ron Carter – bass; Richard Wyands – piano; George Benson – guitar; Airto Moreira – percussion; Phil Kraus […]
George ONSLOW: String Quintet, Piano Sextet – Ma’alot Quintet / Markus Becker (piano) / Nabil Shehata (bass) – DG Gold Hybrid
Nicely performed and recorded music from an obscure composer now returning to some popularity. George Onslow: Quintet Op. 81; Sextet Op. 30 – Ma’alot Quintet with pianist Markus Becker and double bass Nabil Shehata. DG Gold Hybrid SACD MDG 903 2012-6 (2/23/18) TT: 56:02 You’ll be forgiven if the name George Onslow doesn’t leap into […]
In Tune – The Oscar Peterson Trio + The Singers Unlimited – MPS
In Tune – The Oscar Peterson Trio + The Singers Unlimited – MPS 0212401MSW 32:29****: ( Oscar Peterson Trio : Oscar Peterson – piano; Jiri Mraz – bass; Louis Hayes – drums; The Singers Unlimited : Gene Puerling; Don Shelton; Len Dresslar; Bonnie Herman ) Between 1963 and 1968 and belatedly in 1995 Oscar […]