Monthly Archive: April 2006
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Charming tale for children told in handsome artwork
BACH: Violin Sonata in A Major, BWV 1015; MOZART: Violin Sonata in E-flat, K. 481; BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in E-flat, Op. 12, No. 3; Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op. 23 – Zino Francescatti, violin/ Robert Casadesus, piano – Biddulph
Fine restorations featuring two leading artists of the 50s & 60s
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 1 “Winter Daydreams;” The Snow Maiden (Orchestral Excerpts); Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture – Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi – BIS
Melody-rich works in superb surround presentation
RICHARD WAGNER: Siegfried – Wolfgang Windgasssen, Astrid Varnay, Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger, Paul Kuen, Maria von Ilosvay, Joseph Greindl, Ilse Hollweg; Bayreuth 1955 /Joseph Keilberth – Testament
First issue of the first Bayreuth Wagner recordings in stereo
WAGNER program conducted by Hans Knappersbusch – Preiser
A 76-minute program of energetic and colorful Wagner interpretations by the great conductor
ALBENIZ: Leyenda; Terre Bermeja; GRANADOS: La Maja de Goya; Danza Espagnola; NIN-CULMELL: 6 Variations; RODRIGO: Zarabanda Lejana; FALLA: Homenaje; ORBON: Preludio y Danza; BOCCHERINI: Quintet No. 1 in D Major – Rey de Torre, g./Stuyvesant Q. – Bridge
Superb 1950 & 52 recordings in chaste classical style
Path to Epiphany (2005) Metaxas Concert Sampler
The main focus in these 19 selections by a variety of Australian performers is the purist original analog stereo audio
Chick Corea – Rendezvous in New York
10-DVD boxed set of 9 separate concerts with Corea
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 “Regenlied;” Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60 – Joseph Szigeti, violin/ Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano (Op. 78)/ Milton Katims, viola/ Paul Tortelier, cello/ Dame Myra Hess, piano – Biddulph
Long-awaited release of violinist Szigeti in Brahms works
Audio News for April 6, 2006
Jazz Returns to Network TV After 40 Years; DGG & Decca Launch Global Concert Hall; Digital 3D Movies Startup
“No Boundaries” – The 5 Browns = GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue; LECOUNA: Malaguena; COPLAND/DVORAK: Simple Gifts/Goin’ Home; NOVACEK: Full Stride Ahead Rag; LIEBERMANN: Gargoyles; LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6; LUTOSLAWSKI: Variations – RCA Red Seal
5 attractive brothers and sisters and 5 pianos = unmatched classical music PR vehicle
Tommaso Starace, alto & soprano sax – Plays the Photos of Elliott Erwitt (with Roger Beaujolais, vibes; Liam Noble, piano; Julian Bury, bass; Jim Hart, drums) – Frame
Unique concept of compositions inspired by great photographs – view them while you listen
King Kong (2005) – 2-Disc Special Edition
Jaw-dropping special effects epic of epic length
HANDEL: Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks – Aradia Ensemble/Kevin Mallon – Naxos
May be the last Naxos DVD-A
Audio News for April 3, 2006
Hearing Loss Due to iPod-Type Devices; Radio Shack Plunges; Sony Blu-ray Discs and Player Coming
BACH: Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, WTC I; Prelude and Fugue in G Major, WTC I; MOZART: Fantasia in D Minor; BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 2 in A Major; FRANCK: Prelude, Chorale, et Fugue; SCHUMANN: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 – Mieczyslaw Horszowski, p. – BBC Legends
1986 recordings, when the Polish virtuoso was 95
iPod Speaker Shootout: Apple iPod Hi-Fi vs. Altec-Lansing IM7
Not audiophile-level, but both produce impressive sound from any iPod
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor; SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor; SHOSTAKOVICH: Preludes and Fugues: No. 5 in D Major; No. 24 in D Minor – Emil Gilels, piano Paris Conservatory Orchestra/ Andre Cluytens – EMI Classics
Gilel’s tone and sonority continue to astonish
Paradise Lost – High-End Electronics at the Crossroad
Software and hardware challenges in today’s changing consumer electronics world
PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf; WAGNER: 2 Arias from Tannhauser; 2 Arias from Tristan und Isolde; 2 Arias from Die Walkuere; Siegrfried: “Nothung! Nothung!;” “Mime hiess ein muerrischer Zwerg” – Lauritz Melchior, tenor/ Chicago Sym./Reiner – Myto
Melchoir hams up “Peter” Victor Borge style
Editorial for April 2006
OUR APRIL DRAWING is for one of the brand new series of compact, high-pressure, high back-EMF, powered subwoofers from SUNFIRE. Designed by audio innovator Bob Carver, the new D-8 (pictured) boasts accurate low-bass performance in a compact cabinet only slightly larger than its 8-inch woofer. A 1000-watt RMS high-current amp powers the driver, and a 30-100Hz crossover with bypass makes it easy to match the sub with your main speakers. The lucky winner will be selected on May 1 from AUDIOPHILE AUDITION readers who register HERE or have already registered in the past. We’ll announce the winner in early May. The winner of last month’s MasterSource Bossa Nova speakers was Tim Bishop of Golden , CO. Congrats! Register Here for the Drawing Welcome to the web publication for audio, music and home theater, emphasizing hi-res and surround sound for music! AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, which aired for 13 1/2 years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations coast to coast. April 06 is our 86th issue and well into our seventh year! AUDIOPHILE AUDITION has moved away from monthly editions to an ongoing publishing schedule. All reviews are […]
❧ Play On ❧ One collector’s connections with the classics on records
Why listen to, collect, and fuss over music and sound gear? What is this all about? I reflect lots about this as I move through this life. Just what am I doing buying my 13th recording of the Vivaldi Four Seasons; 12th of Scheherazade; fifth of the Hindemith violin concerto? How can I spend thousands on this year’s preamp? “If Music be the food of Love.. play on ..Give me excess of it…” Let me tell you the Four Seasons I speak of. It is First Impressions Music SACD 052 recorded by the Sonatori de la Giosa Marca at San Viglia Italy, March 10th 1992. It is quite simply the most exciting, magnificently recorded unpredictable, spontaneous performance/recording of the overworked Vivaldi Four Seasons that I have encountered. It is quite literally “like a live performance” – evoking uncontrollable wows! along the way . Unpredictable? Yes this is one of the prime characteristics which hooked me 50 years ago on classical music. There are risks galore in this reading of The Four Seasons -risks comparable to throwing a change-up on a 3 and 2 count with the bases loaded. The violins not only chirp but also chirrup and chortle […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
