Monthly Archive: November 2005
A High-Resolution Audio Experience – Aix Records Video & Audio Sampler, 29 tracks, 11 videos, two different mixes, test tones & system setup info (contents listed below) – AIX
14 Gigs of hi-res & hi-def digital music audio and video, sampling a variety of genres
FRANCK: Symphony in D Minor; SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 “Organ” USSR State Symphony Orchestra/ Evgeny Svetlanov – Scribendum
Spectacular early 80s performances in spacious sound
BEETHOVEN: String Quartets, Vol. 2 of 4 – Op. 59 Nos. 1 – 3; Quartet in E Flat Major Op. 74 – Auryn Quartet – Tacet DVD-A & DVD-V
The listener joins the string quartet – they are situated all around you and can even move if you wish…
The Ultimate Isaac Hayes – “Can You Dig It?” – Stax 2 CD + Bonus DVD set
32 tracks of prime Hayes from 1968-77, but original lengthy tune versions edited down
Audio News for November 18, 2005
Sony Recalls Copy-Protected CDs; Hi-Def DVD Battle, Cont.; Mercedes-Benz to Make Sirius Satellite a Standard Feature
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 14 in C# Minor, Op. 131; SCHUBERT: No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 “Death and the Maiden” – Juilliard String Quartet – Testament
An emphasis on the counterpoint in these c. 1960 recordings by the distinguished quartet
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65 – London Symphony Orchestra/ Mstislav Rostropovich – LSO Live
Epic but grim work in a brilliant surround recording
RAVEL: Miroirs; Gaspard de la Nuit; Le Tombeau de Couperin – David Korevaar, piano – MSR
Tasteful Ravel interpretations in tender piano sonics
OVER THE HILLS – AND FAR AWAY – Kristiansand Blåseensemble conducted by Bjørn Sagstad – 2L
Refreshing program of marches of a different sort from this Norwegian label
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50; BRAHMS: Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40 – Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin/ Antonio Meneses, cello/ John Cerminaro, French horn Cecile Licad, piano – EMI
Impassioned treatments of both works led by violinist Salerno-Sonnenberg in l993
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro for String Quartet and Strings, Op. 47; Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Engima”; BRITTEN: Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8 – Heather Harper, soprano/ London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink – LPO
Historical rarities from the mid-1980s with Haitink conducting
The Who DVD Package (2005)
3 DVDs, including live stage productions of Tommy and Quadrophenia
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 “Pathetique”; Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32 – Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/ Neeme Jarvi – BIS
Two classics in lovely performances in hi-res surround
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major “Romantic” – Stuttgart Radio-Symphony Orchestra/ Carl Schuricht – Hanssler
Well-recorded 1955 performances by an old world Bruckner expert
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Fine Diana Ross performance as Billie Holiday in this Hollywood biopic
BERLIOZ: Requiem Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts) – Charles Bressler, tenor/ Univ. of Utah Civic Chorale/ Univ. of Utah A Capella Choir/ Utah Symphony Orchestra/ Maurice Abravanel – Vanguard/Classic Records
The best-known classical work designed for surround sound, in four different formats at once!
BEETHOVEN: Early Vienna Sonatas = Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2. No. 1; Sonata in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2; Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3; Sonata No. 19 in Minor; Sonata No. 20 in Major – Ronald Brautigan, fortepiano – BIS
The lighter sound of the fortepiano suits these earlier Beethoven sonatas, especially in hi-res surround
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major, D. 125; Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D. 417 “Tragic” – Bamberger Symphoniker/ Jonathan Nott – Tudor
Lithe and light redictions of two Schubert symphonies in sparkling surround sound
Audio News for November 15, 2005
Martin Logan Acquired by ShoreView; Disney and Dolby Launch Digital 3D Movies; Nielsen/DTS Survey Affirms Home Theater Growth; Physical Therapy for Your Ears
SCHUBERT: 4 Impromptus, D. 899; 4 Impromptus, D. 935 – Chiao Ying Chang, piano – Audite
Stylish readings of familiar Schubert works by Taiwan pianist
BRAHMS: Paganini Variations, Op. 35; Handel Variations, Op. 24; Schumann Variations, Op. 9 – Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy, piano – Brilliant Classics
Virtuoso hi-res performances of three Brahms works in variation form
Theremin – GRAINGER: Free Music #1, MARTINU: Fantasia, SCHILLINGER: Melody, Mouvement, WILCKENS: Dance in the Moon, ACHRON: Improvisation, KAVINA: Suite, In Whims of the Wind, ANTUNES: Mixolydia, Komarov: Voice of the Theremin – Lydia Kavina – Mode
Varied program from the world’s leading thereminist
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
