Monthly Archive: December 2006
FRANCOIS COUPERIN: Lecons de Tenebres for One and Two Voices; MARAIS: The Human Voice (Piece de violes, book II); VISEE: Transcription of Les Sylvains – Johannette Zomer, Anne Grimm, sopranos/ La Sfera Armoniosa/ Mike Fentross, leader – Channel Classics
A quiet, affecting reading of three intimate settings
Leonard Bernstein Plays & Conducts Mozart
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453; Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, K. 543
CPE BACH: Symphonies 1- 4; Cello Concerto in A – Alison McGillivray, cello /The English Concert conducted by Andrew Manze – Harmonia mundi
Another stunning success for Andrew Manze the conductor
SIR ARTHUR BLISS: A Colour Symphony; Concerto for Violin and Orchestra – Lydia Mordkovitch, violin/ BBC National Orchestra of Wales/ Richard Hickox – Chandos
The composer explored the heraldic nature of four colors i his symphony
The Band from Utopia (1994/2005) A Tribute to the Music of FRANK ZAPPA
Band is made up of all former Zappa band members
“Kiri Sings Karl” – Kiri Te Kanawa in Songs of Mystery & Enchantment Composed & Arranged by KARL JENKINS – London Symphony Orchestra and guest artists – EMI
A quite amazing musical collaboration
MOZART: Flute Quartet K. 285; Clarinet Quintet K. 581; Quintet for Piano and Winds K. 452; Adagio for Cor Anglais and Strings K. 580a – Ensemble 360 – ASV Gold
A brilliant debut disc (all Mozart, too) from a bushy-tailed new British ensemble.
MAURO GIULIANI: Guitar Concerto No. 1 in A; RODRIGO: Concierto Madrigal for Two Guitars and Orchestra; Sones en la Giralda – Pepe Romero & Angel Romero, guitars/ Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Sir Neville Marriner – PentaTone Classics
Two tuneful and captivating guitar concertos in four-channel surround
RAVEL: Valses nobles et sentimentales; Le tombeau de Couperin; Mother Goose Suite; The Enchanted Flute; Piece en forme de habanera – Windscape wind quintet – MSR Classics
Who would know Ravel didn’t write these works originally for wind quintet?
MOZART: The Magic Flute (complete opera)
Highly colorful animated paintings describe the story of the opera visually
Leonard Bernstein conducts BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D minor
A moving and expressive performance from Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83; MOZART: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, K. 543 – Edwin Fischer, piano/ Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Opus Kura
The conductor is at the peak of his control and musical acumen
Hungarian Violin Sonatas = DOHNANYI: Violin Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 21; HUBAY: Sonata Romantique in D, Op. 22; GOLDMARK: Violin Sonata in D, Op. 25 – Peter Csaba, violin/ Peter Frankl, piano – Praga
The surround sound format does not lose the essential intimacy of much of these beguiling works
GOTTSCHALK: Music for Piano = Deuxieme Banjo, Op. 82; Solitude, Op. 65; Souvenir de la Havane; Le Chant du Martyr; Manchega; La Savane; Union – Lambert Orkis, 1865 Chickering Concert Grand -Bridge
Great stuff, wonderfully mounted
Audio News for December 4, 2006
Majority of Consumers Have Never Heard Good Audio; Wireless iDock Introduced; Wireless Module Claims Superiority to Bluetooth
FRANCK: Symphony in D minor; CHAUSSON: Symphony In B-flat Op. 20 – Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/ Marek Janowski – PentaTone
Sensible pairing of two cyclical works in transparent surround
Frank Sinatra – “Vegas” – Frank Sinatra, vocals; with various orchestras – Reprise boxed set
4 CDs + video DVD + illustrated book
Barb Jungr – Walking in the Sun – Barb Jungr, vocals; Jenny Carr, piano; Jessica Lauren, harmonicas and organ; Steve Watts, bass; Roy Dodds, drums; Gabriella Swallow, cello; Eric Bibb, guitars – Linn
Jungr makes just about every song in this stunning assortment her own
The Griller Quartet Plays English Rarities = BAX: String Quartet No. 1 in G Major; GIBBS: String Quartet, Op. 73; MACONCHY: Quintet for Oboe and Strings; CUNDELL: String Quartet in C, Op. 27 – Helen Gaskell, oboe/ Griller String Quartet – Dutton
An unusual collection of British talent in these 1941 discings
LISZT: 6 Grandes Etudes de Paganini; Trois Etudes de Concert; Zwei Konzertetueden – Erika Haase, piano – Tacet
The works shimmer in magisterial harmony and convey atmosphere to spare.
Editorial for December 2006
Welcome to Adobe GoLive 6 Our monthly drawing for December is Brilliant Classics’ 170-CD anthology of Mozart’s Complete Works. The independent Dutch label put the set together from their own catalog and also licensed works from other labels. The New York Times raved about the collection and over 200,000 copies have been sold in France alone. The quality of performances and recordings is high. On December 31st we will draw the name of one winning Audiophile Audition reader who Registered Here on our site, the collection will be shipped to that person. The winner whose name we drew for the ZVOX 325 one-box surround sound system for November is Rita Singleton, Reno, NV. Congratulations! Register Here for the Current Drawing Undernourished Ears – Guest Editorial Chuck Hansen was almost shivering with obvious delight as he wrote the following to the editor in a recent e-mail. My lovely niece, a newly-minted nurse of 1 year and member of the iPod generation, stopped by to see us while I was checking out the Parasound Zamp. I sat her down to listen to my system. Once I explained what to listen for, she could easily pick out the difference in […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
