Monthly Archive: August 2006
MENDELSSOHN: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26; Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 “Scottish”; SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61 – NBC Symphony Orchestra/ Arturo Toscanini – Testament
So Italianate it’s Mendelssohn by way of Verdi
FILM NOIR CLASSIC COLLECTION
Package of five Warner Bros. classics with noir documentary and optional commentary tracks
Carlos Barbosa-Lima – Carioca – Zoho Records
A gorgeous recording from a sublime Latin-inflected jazz guitarist
Nina Simone – Silk & Soul – RCA/Legacy
Smooth and sensuous sounds from the High Priestess of Soul in 1967
Nina Simone Sings the Blues – RCA/Legacy
A powerful 1967 landmark reissue from the High Priestess of Soul
PASTORAL CLASSICS – Music for a Summer’s Day – Various artists – Chandos (2 CDs)
English sensibilities about beauty and world-class playing and sound
CLEMENTI: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 40, No. 3; Piano Sonata in F Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 5; Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 24, No. 2; Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 40, No. 2 – Nikolai Demidenko, piano – Helios
Strong piano performances and strong piano sound in piano music admired by Beethoven
Audio News for August 4, 2006
Consumer Electronics for Back to School to Top $3.1 Billion; New High End Speaker System Features Images of Great Jazz Musicians; Warner Bros. Gives Up on Classical; Warner Bros. Video Filesharing Deal
STRAVINSKY: Concerto for Two Piano Soloists (1935); JOHN ADAMS: Hallelujah Junction for two pianos (1998); PIERRE BOULEZ: Structures – Deuxieme Livre (1961) – Pianoduo (Gerard Bouwhuis & Cees van Zeeland) – Turtle
A spectrum of 20th-century music for two pianos in superb surround sound
Pioneer Elite Universal DVD Player DV-79AVi
Pioneer’s flagship player plays it all with Elite elan
KHACHATURIAN: Gayne Ballet Suite – London Symphony Orchestra/ Anatole Fistoulari – Everest 35mm mag film recording reissued as Classic Records
Separate standard CD + DVD with standard Dolby Digital 3-channel one side and DVD-A 3-channel the other
Jessica Williams, solo piano – Billy’s Theme – Origin Records
A tribute to fellow pianist Dr. Billy Taylor
Yes – 9012Live (1985)
Incorporates creative video art with a sense of humor
Brad Mehldau Trio – House On Hill (Brad Mehldau, piano; Larry Grenadier, bass; Jorge Rossy, drums) – Nonesuch
Nine originals Mehldau wrote especially for his trio
CHARPENTIER: Te Deum; Grand Office des Morts – Les Arts Florissants/ Soloists / Wm. Christie, cond. – Virgin Classics
Glorious liturgical music in powerful performances; soloists seem to float in space
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61; Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60 – Erich Roehn, violin/ Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Opus Kura
WWII-period broadcast recordings by Furtwaengler
SAINT-SAENS Chamber Music = Septet in E flat major; Tarentelle in A minor; Bassoon Sonata in G major; Piano Quartet in B flat major; Piano Quintet in A minor; Oboe Sonata in D major; Clarinet Sonata in E flat major; Caprice – Nash Ens. – Hyperion
A variety of imaginative chamber works from a most prolific composer
Jerry Bergonzi, Tenor Sax – Tenor of the Times – Savant
A Robust Tenor for Our Times
BT – This Binary Universe – DTS Entertainment
Seven short animated, often abstract films, mated with electronic music in surround
Audio News for August 1, 2006
Apple Could Capture the Home AV Market; iTunes’ European Woes; Tips on Burning Optical Discs
Editorial for August 2006
Welcome to Adobe GoLive 6 This month’s drawing is a brand new issue from MVD Entertainment Group = DUKE ELLINGTON – EARLY TRACKS FROM THE MASTER OF SWING. The Duke not only had a career of over a half century but was very photogenic, prompting the making of many motion picture “Soundies” and roles in Hollywood films. The 80-minute DVD includes such hits as Take the A Train, Fly Me to the Moon, Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, Sophisticated Lady, Symphony in Black, Cottontail, Black and Tan Fantasy, I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good, C Jam Blues. [We just reviewed it HERE.] To be considered in the drawing for a half dozen of these DVDs we’ll be sending out the end of August, Register Here. The winners of our July drawing for the Miles Davis Prestige 3-disc Set were Deena Quilty of Farmington CT, Ron Greenlee of San Luis Obispo CA, Patrick Mucka of North Potomac MD, Jeffrey Canaday of Springfield IL, and Ira Aspiz of Huntington Beach CA. Register Here for the Current Drawing General Editorial Welcome to the web publication for audio, music and home theater, emphasizing hi-res and surround sound for music! […]
Jessica Williams, Piano – Live at Yoshi’s, Volumes 1 & 2 – MaxJazz Piano Series
Two More Brilliant Live CD Issues From Jessica Williams
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
