Monthly Archive: December 2006
Odyssey 5 – Complete Series [19 episodes] (2002)
Promising sci-fi series with Peter Weller loses focus near end and has no conclusion
Art School Confidential (2005)
Odd mix of comedy and dark plot elements
LISZT: Piano Sonata in B Minor; 6 Paganini Etudes – George-Emmanuel Lazaridis, piano – Linn
Makes us wonder if Lazaridis, and not Arcady Volodos, is the natural successor to Horowitz’ Liszt.
BRITTEN: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10; Lachrymae: Reflections on a Song of Dowland, Op. 48a; Simple Symphony, Op. 4 – Malcolm Allison, viola/ London Festival Orchestra/ Ross Pople – Arte Nova
Recent reissue captures some idiomatic performances of essential Britten repertory.
The Brand New Opry/Another Time – AIX Records
This feature-laden double-sided DVD has hi-res DVD-Audio on one side and more AV information on the DVD-Video side
Audio – The Movie (2006)
Math-free introductory video course on the basics of audio
Natalie Cole – Leavin’
Cover tunes of artists both in R&B and other genres
Aida (complete opera) (1953)
50s opera motion picture with Sophia Loren onscreen voicing Renata Tebaldi
FURRER: Fama (2004/05) – Isabelle Menke, speaker/ Eva Furrer, contrabass flute/ Bernhard Zachhuber, bass clarinet/ Manfred Spitaler, bass clarinet/ Klangforum Wien/ Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart/ Beat Furrer, conductor – Kairos
Odd expressionistic avantgarde surround sound opera in German and other gutteral sounds
The Carl Verheyen Band – Take One Step – AIX Records
Another option-packed DVD plus separate CD
MOZART: 3 Harpsichord Concertos – D major KV 107,1, G major KV 107,2 & E flat major KV 107,3; J. C. BACH: Quintet in D major; Sonata in C minor for harpsichord Op. 17,2 – Le Parnasse Musical/Tatjana Vorobjova, harpsichord – Amati
Mozart’s first steps toward his 27 piano concertos was arranging works of other composers into keyboard concertos
Audio News for December 23, 2006
Home Theater Big at Upcoming CES; Keeping Home Theater Simple; Rhapsody Music Service in More Audio Products
DEBUSSY: 12 Etudes for Piano; Suite bergamasque; Etude retrouvee; Suite bergamasque No. 2: Masques; D’un cahier d’esquisses; L’Isle joyeuse – Bennett Lerner, piano – Bridge
Gorgeous ideas by the French genius who still dominates modern musical thought.
Claudio Arrau plays BEETHOVEN, MOZART, SCHUBERT, LISZT, BALAKIREV, CHOPIN & SCHUMANN – Philips Stein Legends (2 CDs)
Inscriptions from 1928 through 1980 reveal both his fierce prowess and his large, Romantic temperament
LOUIS ANDRIESSEN: Writing to Vermeer (complete opera) – Susan Narucki, soprano/ Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano/ Barbara Hannigan, soprano/ De Nederlandse Opera/ Schoenberg Ensemble/ Asko Ensemble/ Reinbert De Leeuw, conductor – Nonesuch (2 CDs)
Musically holds its own with any new opera I can think of, mixing lyrical elements of Floyd with rhythms and harmonies of Britten
Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker: Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 – Uptown Records Flashback Series
If I could rate this album any higher I would!
Toph-E & The Pussycats: Live in Detroit – M’Bubba Music
Somewhat experimental blues/fusion/funk/rhythm n’ blues sound
SZYMANOWSKI: Harnasie – Iwona Sobotka/Katarina Karnéus/ Timothy Robinson/ cond. by Sir Simon Rattle – EMI
Vivid, exciting, and achingly lyrical, sometimes all at once
BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14a & Harold in Italie, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach
This enchanted reading of Berlioz’ sensational “First Symphony” is musically pointed and great fun
CARL DAVIS: Aladdin Ballet – Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra/Carl Davis – Naxos
Created as an alternative to the ever-present holiday Nutcracker Ballet
Waltz Time (1945)
DVD cover promotes tenor Richard Tauber but he is only heard in two short numbers
Noir: The Dark Side of Hollywood – Five Classics From the Studio Vaults
Kino Video boxed set of five from the late 1940s
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
