Monthly Archive: February 2006
MOZART: Great Piano Concertos Vol. III
Aptly infectious performances of three concertos for the Mozart Anniversary
“MA on SA” – Compilation of 32 tracks from the library of M•A Recordings, variety of solo and small ensemble performances
108+ minutes of stereo SACD plus 73+ minutes of 44.1 PCM stereo
BRAHMS: Four Ballades, Op. 10; Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79; Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35 – Nicholas Angelich, piano – Virgin Classics
Angelich demonstrates pianistic bravura in a well-balanced recording
Eavesdropper (2004)
Based on true events but taken to sci-fi lengths; perfect subject for audiophiles!
North Country (2005)
Fictionalized version of the first class-action sex harrassment lawsuit in the U.S.
Audio News for February 20, 2006
Audio Equipment Demand Rises; New IBM Chipset Promises Wireless Multimedia Components
FRANZ SCHUBERT: Octet in F Major Op. 166 for clarinet, horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass – Scharoun Ensemble Berlin – Tudor
Top players from the Berlin Philharmonic, playing the same work their ensemble performed at its first concert 23 years ago
Bob James, Live at Montreux (1985)
Six musicians intent on gettin’ it on onstage
Repo Man (1984), Collector’s Edition (2006)
The 80s cult classic complete with alien bodies, renegade scientists, shadowy government organizations, and men who steal cars for a living
BENJAMIN BRITTEN: A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (complete opera)
An inventively-staged and well-sung presentation of one of Britten’s lesser operas
SCHUBERT – The Carnegie Hall Concert by Evgeny Kissin & James Levine = Fantasie in F Minor; Allegro in A Minor “Lebensstürme;” Sonata in C D812 “Grand Duo;” Characteristic March No. 1 in D; Military March No. 1 – RCA Red Seal (2)
Piano Music for Four Hands performed brilliantly on two pianos
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 “Moonlight;” Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux;” Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique;” Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” – Artur Rubinstein
More 3-channel Living Stereo reissues in sound closest to the master tapes
R. STRAUSS: Romance in F Major; Cello Sonata in F Major, Op. 6; REGER: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 28; Petite Romance in D Major, Op. 79, No. 2 – Emmanuelle Bertrand, cello/ Pascal Amoyel, piano – Harmonia mundi
Two fine young musicians in unhackneyed cello/piano fare
MOZART: 3 Violin Concertos (K. 216, 218 and 219) – Andrew Manze, violin and leading The English Concert – Harmonia mundi
Authentic and endearing—what a Mozartian concept!
Wolfgang Schneiderhan plays = BRAHMS Violin Concerto (rec. 1940) and BACH Chaconne (rec. 1947) – Wolfgang Schneiderhan, violin/ Otto Schulhoff, piano (in encores by Saint-Saëns and Fibich). The Saxon State Orchestra/ Karl Böhm – Opus Kura
An important early Brahms concerto from Wolfgang Schneiderhan
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92; BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 – London Philharmonic/ Klaus Tennstedt – BBC Legends
A noble remembrance of this great conductor in two of his frequently-played works
MORTON FELDMAN: Complete Violin/Viola and Piano Works – Christina Fong, violin/viola; Paul Hersey, piano – OgreOgress Productions
Talk about “furniture music”…Feldman was doing it way before Brian Eno
Yehudi Menuhin: The Violin of the Century – A film by Bruno Monsaingeon
A remarkable over-two-hour extensive portrait of Menuhin’s long career
MOZART: Piano concertos 17 in G major, K. 453, and 20 in D minor, K. 466 – Piotr Anderszewski, piano and conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Virgin Classics
Anderszewski’s imposing Mozart adds to the list of indispensable piano concerto recordings
MOZART & MOLTER: Clarinet concertos – Kari Kriikku, clarinet in D & basset clarinet/ Tapiola Sinfonietta/ John Storgårds – Ondine
Even better than Benny Goodman, Kari Kriikku swings the classics!
MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 12 in F Major; SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major; BRAHMS: Intermezzo in B Minor; Intermezzo in C Major – Wilhelm Kempff, piano – BBC Legends
Lyric and tasteful recital from 1967 by the German pianist
Dee Dee Bridgewater – J’ai deux amours (with Marc Berthoumieux; Ira Coleman; Minino Garay, Louis Winsberg) – Sovereign Artists
Shades of Josephine Baker as Bridgewater honors her adopted city with a jazz-flavored Parisian cabaret program in French
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
