Monthly Archive: July 2006
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica”; Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 – Minnesota Orchestra/ Osmo Vanska – BIS
Some unique sonic discoveries in these exciting interpretations of the familiar symphonies
Fo4r Winds – Dick De Graaf, tenor and soprano saxes; Ty Burhoe, percussion; Mamdou Diabaté, kora; Moussa Diallo, bass guitar & vocals; Russial “Konkie” Halmeyer, steel drums; Inga Juuso, vocals – Turtle Records
Successful world music & jazz mix
Audio News for July 14, 2006
Wall Wart Warning; Thule Audio AV Processors Added to AMX Home Control Systems
Dorati conducts Ballet = DARGOMIZHSKY: Dances slaves et tziganes; D’ERLANGER: Les cents baisers; STRAVINSKY: Baiser de la fee; CHABRIER: Cotillon; BOCCHERINI: Scuola di ballo – London Philharmonic/ Antal Dorati – Dutton
A fine collection of lighter ballet music, recorded in 1939
Grant Geissman, guitar – Say That! – Futurism Records
Retro-looking package, but not retro-sounding modern jazz guitarist
“Flute Waves” (Flötenwellen) – The 14 Berlin Flutists (Die 14 Berliner Flötisten) – Transcriptions of music by HANDEL, RAVEL, VERDI, MOZART, MENDELSSOHN, BACH, MATTHUS, DINICU & MANCINI – DG Gold
A flutey fling in fine fettle and spatial surround
The Red Tent (1971)
True story of a 1928 polar expedition by dirigible and plane
MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor; Die Zauberfloete: Two Arias; Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor; Serenade No. 13 in G Major “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”; Serenade No. 10 in B-flat Major “Grand Partita” for Winds – Lipp/Lefebure/ Furtwaengler – EMI Classics
Two CDs of much-reissued Furtwaengler performances
RESPIGHI: Gli uccelli, Il Tramonto, Trittico botticelliano – Wroclaw Chamber Orchestra/ Michal Nesterowicz, conductor/ Ewa Podleś, contralto – Dux
Two colorful Respighi suites plus an orchestral song in Mahlerian style
Cash – Man in Black: Live in Denmark (1971)
Previously unreleased video of a show Cash did for Danish TV
SCHUBERT: 4 Impromptus, D. 935; Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major, D. 960 – Inon Barnatan, piano – Bridge
Barnatan is never at a loss for the poetry which suffuses every bar
Audio News for July 11, 2006
Philips Brings Wireless HDTV to the Connected Home; Audio Component Sales Recovering From Slump; Video Displays Continue to Get Larger
RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13; The Rock–Fantasia for Large Orchestra, Op. 7 – Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra/ Dmitri Kitaenko – Moscow Studio Archives
Heady sonic splendors characterize the composer’s first symphonic effort
Syriana (2005)
A thoughtful thriller asking “What is the price of oil?”
“Angel Dances” – The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic, with guests Jocelyn B. Smith, Markus Stockhausen & Members of the Berlin Radio Choir – EMI Classics
Sample the thrilling transcription of Debussy’s The Sunken Cathedral
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 – John Ogden, piano/ Halle Orchestra/ Sir John Barbirolli – BBC Legends
1963 & 1966 recordings by the virtuoso pianist
MAHLER: Songs of a Wayfarer; Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan;” – Christopher Maltman, baritone/ Philharmonia Orchestra/ Benjamin Zander – Telarc Multichannel SACD + Standard CD
First rate performance/recording, with many extras
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61; Romance in G Major, Op. 40; Romance in F Major, Op. 50 – Christian Tetzlaff, violin/ Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra/ David Zinman – Arte Nova
Old wine in a sparkling, heart-pounding, new bottle
WILLIAM WALTON: Symphony No. 1 – London Symphony Orchestra/ Sir Colin Davis – LSO Live
The British composer’s masterpiece, in masterful hi-res surround
TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 3 in G; STRAVINSKY: Divertimento (Ballet Suite from The Fairy’s Kiss) – Russian National Orchestra/ Vladimir Jurowski – PentaTone
Works of two Russian composers, connected by the music of Tchaikovsky
DVORAK: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104; THOMAS: Ritual Incantations – David Finckel, cello/ Taipei Symphony Orchestra/ Felix Chiu-Sen Chen – TSO
Lush accompaniment is provided to the cellist from the Emerson Quartet
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100; Death of Tybalt from Romeo and Juliet; Op. 64a; BRITTEN: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra/ Gennady Rozhdestvensky – BBC Legends
Blazing virtuosity in these performances from the 60s & 70s
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
