Audiophile Audition Archive
Nobel Prize Concert with violinist Joshua Bell, Blu-ray (2011)
Bell is simply sensational.
Claudio Roditi – Bons Amigos – Resonance Records
On Bons Amigos, trumpeter/Flugelhornist Claudio Roditi shows how valuable it is to have different kinds of “good friends.”
Trumpet Panoply = Works of ARUTIUNIAN; HUMMEL; TARTINI; RICHARD PEASLEE – John Holt, trumpet & flugelhorn/ UNT – Crystal
An unusual program, with some very fine playing from the soloist. The downside is a performance of a classic—the Hummel Concerto—that simply can’t compete.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Ready for Confetti – ALOS
Austin country artist Robert Earl Keen ranges from road tales to outlaw sagas to family portraits on his latest album.
BRAHMS: Piano Quartets 1 & 3 – Milander Quartet – Avie
Tempestuous Brahms that lacks only a last degree of understanding.
Czech Chamber Music = JOSEF FOERSTER; VITEZSLAV NOVAK; JANACEK; FIBICH – Kinsky Trio Prague – Praga Digitals
A delightful collection of fine Czech chamber music, showing varied aspects of the Bohemian nationalist school.
Nigel Waddington – Bigger Pictures – Cala Records
Not really jazz, it’s a bit of many things: easy listening, a little rock, some pump it up funk.
"Stories" = Works of BERIO; JOHN CAGE; JACKSON MAC LOW; ROGER MARSH; SHELDON FRANK; CATHY BERBERIAN – Theatre of Voices/ Paul Hillier – Harmonia mundi
Interesting, unusual, and often mesmerizing. But is any of it even music?
Eugene Goossens: London Recordings Vol. 1 = BALAKIREV; TCHAIKOVSKY; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV; BORODIN – New Symphony Orch. (Balakirev)/ London Philharmonic/Goossens – Historical-Recordings
Virtually peerless interpretations of Russian music by the Eugene Goossens who at this period, 1930-1938, still enjoyed an unsullied distinction for orchestral flair.
HANDEL: Theodora (complete oratorio), Blu-ray (2011)
This production raises more questions than it answers.
MOZART: Piano Sonatas (complete) – Robert Silverman, piano – IsoMike (7 SACDs)
Blazingly beautiful recordings in sound that is simply top-of-the-line.
* BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor; other works – Vadim Gluzman, violin / Sandis Šteinbergs, v. / Maxim Rysanov & Ilze Klava, viola / Reinis Birznieks, cello / Bergen Philharmonic/Andrew Litton – BIS
****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******
This recording of Bruch’s celebrated First Concerto goes straight to the head of the class. The composer’s lovely Romance and Quintet are classy discmates.
RAVEL: Trio in A Minor; Sonata – Jamie Laredo, violin/Jeffrey Solow, cello/Ruth Laredo, piano/Leslie Parnas, cello – Sony
Wonderful neo-Classical Ravel from the mid-1970s Marlboro musicians who made musically alert ensemble together.
CRAIG MADDEN MORRIS: “Dreams” = Violin Concerto; Piano Trio; Dream Songs; Cello Rhapsody; Tropical Dances – Ravello
Pleasant enough chamber music might require more listening.
“Climate Changes” = Music of POULENC; DEBUSSY; JACQUELINE FONTYN; MESSIAEN; Bonus DVD: DEBUSSY – Jan Pas, cello/ Stefano Vimara, p. – Evil Penguin CD + DVD
A fine recital of mostly essential pieces…well, almost.
Harmonia Caelestis = Works of BACH & MOZART — soloists/Strings of the RSO Stuttgart/ Budapest Strings/ Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn/ Jörg Faerber – Bayer Records
Homegrown production values, but musicianly performances of works for oboe and chamber orchestra.
SCHUBERT: Nacht und Traume – Matthis Goerne, baritone/ Alexander Schmalcz, piano – Harmonia mundi
Volume 5 lives up to expectations.
BRAHMS: Complete Piano Music Vol. 3 – Late Piano Works = Fantasien, Op. 116; Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117; Klavierstücke, Op. 118; Klavierstücke, Op. 119 – Hardy Rittner, piano – MD&G
It’s instructive and pleasurable to hear these works played on instruments Brahms would have known first-hand; the quieter, gentler pieces fare best.
Renolds Jazz Orchestra – Three Penny Opera (KURT WEILL) Live in Aarau – Shanti Records
A very European jazz project—an instrumental jazz version of the music from Kurt Weill’s Three Penny Opera.
ELLIOTT MILES McKINLEY: String Quartet No.4, String Quartet No.5, String Quartet No. 6 – The Martinů Quartet – Navona Records
Great new quartets with a modern jazzy feel!
The George Lernis Jazz Quartet – Shapes of Nature [9/1/11] – self-released
A noticeable debut with compositional creativity and imbued with potential.
Art I Facts – Great Performances From 40 Years of Jazz at NEC- New England Conservatory
Revisiting some of the terrific student/faculty performances over the years.