Monthly Archive: January 2006
Raymonda Ballet by Glazunov (1989)
Colorful Bolshoi production with Glazunov’s conservative but also colorful music
WEBER: Overture to Oberon; BEETHOVEN: Egmont Overture; Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67; Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 – London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Klaus Tennstedt – BBC Legends
The German conductor prided intensity of expression over tonal exactitude
SCHUMANN: Papillons, Op. 2; Fantasiestuecke, Op. 12; Carnavel, Op. 9 – Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano – Hyperion
Hamelin captures the very essence of Schumann’s sensibility
The Magnificent Seven (1960) – DVD Collector’s Edition (2006)
One of the greatest and most influential western films of all time – a true epic worthy of its name
SCHUBERT: Fantasy in C “Wanderer” D 760; LISZT: 2nd Year – Italy – from “Années de pelerinage” – Luiza Borac, piano – Avie
Seemingly contrasting composers, but more in common than one would suppose
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
A must-see analysis and background on the biggest financial scandal ever, and can serve to prepare viewers who will be following the trials of Lay and Skilling
MENOTTI: Violin Concerto; Cantilena e Scherzo for harp and string quartet; Five Songs; Canti Della Lontananza – Ittai Shapira, violin/Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Sanderling (Violin Concerto)/ Vanbrugh Quartet/Gillian Tingay, harp – ASV
Relatively unknown tonal, melodic works from the opera specialist
Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
Robin Williams pulls out all the stops in portrayal of a Vietnam-era Armed Forces radio host
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique; Hungarian March; Trojan March; Corsair Overture; Roman Carnival Overture – Detroit Symphony Orchestra/ Paul Paray – Mercury Living Presence
In three channels; beats all the competition soundwise, and in the running performance-wise
MOZART: 4 Horn Concertos; Piano and Wind Quintet in E-flat Major, K. 452 – Dennis Brain, French horn/ Colin Horsley, piano/ Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble/ Philharmonia Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan – EMI Classic
No horn player has ever bested these classic recordings
LISZT: Annees de pelerinage, Suisse = Chapelle de Guillaume Tell; Au lac de Wallenstadt; Pastorale; Au bord d’une source; Orage; Vallee d’Obermann; Eclogue; Le mal du pays; Les cloches de Geneve; 3 Opera Paraphrases – Stephen Hough, p. – Hyperion
A significant contribution to Liszt interpretation
Altre Follie 1500-1750 – Works of ALBICASTRO, CABANILLES, CABEZON, CORBETTA, CORELLI, FALCONIERO, PICCININI, SANZ, STORACE, VIVALDI & ANONIMI – Manfredo Kraemer, v./Hesperion XXI/Jordi Savall – AliaVox
Beautifully packaged, played and recorded survey of various composers’ takes on the folk tune La Folia
OSVALDO GOLIJOV: Ayre; BERIO: Folk Songs for Voice and Seven Instruments – Dawn Upshaw, soprano/ The Andalusian Dogs (Ayre)/Instr. Sextet (Folk) – DGG
Unique pairing of two unique contemporary song cycles based on folk material
Sonos Digital Music Server: 2 ZonePlayer ZP100s & Sonos Controller CR100 – SRP: $1199
A good all-around distribution system for digital audio in a computer-savy home
Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra – 4 CD set from Music & Arts
Covers recordings between 1917 – 1977 from the most “audiophile” conductor in history
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9 – Berlin Philharmonic/ Simon Rattle – EMI
Fresh and truly magical interpretation of Schubert’s lengthy, Bruckneresque symphony
BACH: Violin Concerto BWV 1052 & Double Concertos for harpsichords, recorders, oboe and violin – Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin – Harmonia mundi
The Violin Concerto is a reconstruction of the original version of the D Minor keyboard concerto
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, 1781 = F major K377; E-flat major K380; C major K403; F major K376 – Andrew Manze, violin/Richard Egarr, fortepiano – Harmonia mundi
********MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH********
Audio News for January 10, 2006
Satellite Radio Expands; Wireless Wi-Fi Device Supports 5.1 Surround; Google May Get Into Home Electronics
MENDELSSOHN: String Octet; Piano Sextet – Prazak Quartet/Kocian Quartet/Jaromir Klepac, p./Jiri Hudec, doublebass – Praga Digitals
Unique coupling of two very melodic works from the composer’s teenage years.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – The Complete Fifth Season (2004-2005)
25 complete episodes without commercials will keep you enthralled with one of TV’s top-rated series
The Constant Gardener (2005)
Thriller, mystery & love story based on a John Le Carre novel
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
