Monthly Archive: December 2005
Gabriela Montero Piano Recital including 12 Improvisations
A powerful musical palette and a big temperatment from protege of Martha Argerich
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 – Walter Gieseking, piano/ Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Opus Kura
Tragic, emotional readings by Furtwaengler and Gieseking, recorded in Germany during WW II
MOZART: Complete Piano Sonatas, Volume 5 = Sonata in F Major, K. 547a; Sonata No. 17 in B-flat Major, K. 570; Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576; BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique” – Elizabeth Rich, piano – Connoisseur Society
Last in a series presenting the sonatas in a newly-researched edition
MOZART: Complete Keyboard Works, from ages 5 to 9 = Nannerl’s Notebook and the London Notebook – Lena Auerbach, piano – Arabesque
A rare look at the early genius of the composer, via 49 of his miniatures
MOZART: 27 Piano Concertos; 3 Harpsichord Concertos; 2 Rondos for Piano and Orchestra; 3 Sonatas by J. C. BACH – Derek Han, piano/Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Freeman; Pieter-Jan Belder, harpsichord – Brilliant Classics
11-disc boxed set for the Mozart Year, in derived surround sound
RICHARD STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben; Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (Suite for orchestra, Op. 60) – Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Simon Rattle – EMI Classics
An English take on Straussian ethos; at times sounds like Elgar
Billy Joel: My Lives – 4 CDs plus bonus DVD box set, Over five hours! – Columbia AC5K 93520
Previously unreleased tracks with demos, alternates, etc. plus a 64 page color booklet and special packaging
Loggins & Messina, Live: Sittin’ In Again at The Santa Barbara Bowl – Rhino
Reissue of a classic live recording by the great duo
PACHELBEL: Kanon et Gigue; HAYDN: Symphony No. 103 in E-flat Major “Drum Roll;” PAGANINI: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D; BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor – Christian Ferras, violin/ NWDR Sinfonieorchester, Hamburg/ Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt – TAHRA
Performances with the conductor at the height of his powers, 1952 & 1954
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1, Variations on a Theme by Handel – Bruno-Leonardo Gelber/Munich Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Franz-Paul Dekker – EMI
An exciting concerto performance of the mid 60s returned to the catalog
Prestige Profiles Modern Jazz Reissue Series
Ten treasures from the Golden Age of Jazz each come with different bonus compilation CDs
Emil Richards/ Joe Porcaro Allstar Big Band – “Odd Men In” – AIX Records DVD-A & V
Variety of audio options includes DVD-A, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1, 96K PCM stereo, “audience” and “stage” mixes, test tones
Audio News for December 27, 2006
Computer Industry in Yet Another Battle to Conquer Home Entertainment; New Interface Standard for PCs and Hi-Def Displays
Harp Music of CARLOS SALZEDO – “NightBreeze” – Short Stories in Music; Suite of Eight Dances, Prelude for a Drama; Preludes intimes; Variations on a Theme in Ancient Style – Sarah Schuster Ericsson, harp – Cambria
Audiophile-pleasing explorations on the concert harp
Virgil Fox, pipe organ – The Legacy Series, Command Performances Vol. IV – Organ Arts/Universal
Double-CD set with more serious program than Fox normally did, recorded originally on 35mm film
Bidu Sayao in program of opera arias from the 1940s
The Brazilian soprano is best known for her early recording of the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
CHOPIN: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; Prelude in C Sharp Minor, Op. 45; Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15; Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57; 4 Impromptus; Tarantelle in A-flat Major, Op. 43 – Alfred Cortot, piano – Naxos Historical
First entry in a five-CD survey of Chopin recordings by the French pianist dating back to the 1920s
Sa Chen, piano = CHOPIN: Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58; RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit; CURRIER: Scarlatti Cadences + Brainstorm; LISZT: Spanish Rhapsody; STRAVINSKY: Etude, Op. 7, No. 4 – Sa Chen, piano – Harmonia mundi
One of the leading young Chinese pianists and winner of the Crystal Award at the Van Cliburn Competition
Animusic 2 (2005)
Sequel to the unique music animation, now with widescreen and surround sound
J. S. BACH: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I – Rosalyn Tureck, piano – BBC Legends
Two-disc performances from the 70s by the high priestess of Bach on the piano
CHARPENTIER: Messe de Minuit pour Noël; Te Deum; Dixit Dominus – Soloists/ Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon – Naxos
Ten French Christmas carols are part of this Midnight Mass composed for Christmas 1694
MOZART: String Quartet No. 19 in C Major; HAYDN: String Quartet in C, Op. 74, No 1; String Quartet in G Major, Op. 77, No. 1; SCHUBERT: String Quartet-Movement in C Minor – Isidore Cohen, violin (Schubert)/ Juilliard String Quartet – Testament
The Juilliard presents an all-Viennese program from the late 1950s
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
