Monthly Archive: January 2007
BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115; MOZART: Quintet Movement in B-flat Major, K. Anh. 91; GLAZOUNOV: Reverie Orentale, Op. 14, No. 2; SWEENEY: An Og-Mhadainn – Lesley Schatzberger, clarinet/ Fitzwilliam String Quartet – Linn
The luscious motifs from the string quartet blend perfectly with the clarinet in surround sound, whether in arioso or rocket passagework.
ELGAR: String Quartet in E minor; BRIDGE: Three Idylls; WALTON: String Quartet in A minor – Coull Quartet – Helios
Outstanding British String Quartets newly mined at a great price
SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana, Op. 16; Leaves of different colors, Op. 99; Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15; Forest Scenes (‘Haunted Spot’ & ‘Bird as Prophet’), Op. 82 – Evegeni Koroliov, piano – Tacet
A must-have release for all true lovers of Schumann
NIKOLAY ROSLAVETS: Chamber Symphony; In the hours of the New Moon – BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/ Ilan Volkov – Hyperion
A remarkable figure in Russian music in the early 20th century
Audio News for January 17, 2007
Is It a Bargain Because It’s Already Obsolete?, SRS TruSurround HD4 Expands in the TV Market; Passing of Two Jazz Artists
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet – Intuition – Dan Brubeck, drums/Chris Brubeck, fretless bass, bass trombone/Mike DeMicco, guitar/Taylor Eigsti, Piano/Pete Levin, organ – Koch
What a way to start the New Year – with spirit-lifting jazz!
MOZART: Klaviertrios, KV 10-15; Divertimento in B-flat Major, KV 254 – Abegg Trio – Tacet
A camaraderie in performance marks all of these exquisite, youthful gems.
GINASTERA: Panambí; Estancia (complete ballets) – Luis Gaeta, narrator & bass-baritone/London Symphony Orchestra/ Gisèle Ben-Dor – Naxos
This is the world premiere recording of both of his ballets in their entirety
Peter Primamore – Grancia – Blue Apples Music
The pianist/composer/arranger sought to create an organic music in Grancia, so everyone heard on each track was together in the studio at the same time, and only a few overdubs were made.
VARIOUS COMPOSERS = Strange Imaginary Animals – Eighth Blackbird – Cedille
If the 21st-century avantgarde tickles you, try on this CD.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete Quartets, Volume I = String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49; String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68; String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83 – Madelring Quartett – Audite
Heady, understated but passionate music, exquisitely played and recorded, a fine tribute to the composer’s centennial.
BRAHMS: Liebeslieder Waltzer, Op. 52; Gesaenge, Op. 17; Weltliche Gesaenge, Op. 42; Quartette, Op. 92; Gesaenge, Op. 104 – Monteverdi Choir/ John Eliot Gardiner – Philips
This reissue provides a rich series of tapestries and instrumental mixtures for multifarious choir groups
Caroline Dahl—Night House – GlobeRecords
A standout interpreter of old style boogie-woogie
HAYDN: The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross, Op. 51 – Michel Serres, narrator/ Quatuor Ysaye -Ysaye Record
An ambitious, grandly mounted production both visually and aurally
Dana Land, vocals – Servin’ It Up – Jen-Car Production
…an amazing quality of reminding you of now Chris Conner, now Ella, maybe Diana Krall, but not really sounding like any of them.
Audio News for January 13, 2007
More CES Roundup; CEA Industry Forecast; All 22 Mozart Operas on DVD
MOZART: Youth Symphonies, Vol. 4 = Sym. No. 6 in F K.43; Sym. No. 48 in D K.111/120; Sym. No. 50 in D K.161/163; Sym. No. 51 in D; Sym. no. 52 in C; Sym. No. 55 in F flat – Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Sir Neville Marriner – PentaTone RQR
Early symphonies yes, but Mozart’s early symphonies, and that makes a difference
Clara Rockmore’s Lost Theremin Album – Bridge Touch! Don’t Touch! Music for Theremin – Wergo
Theremin repertory both old and new – woo woo
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major; DEBUSSY: En blanc et noir; Berceuse heroique; Mazurka; FAURE: Trois Romances sans paroles; Mazurka – Germaine Thyssens-Valentin, piano/ Jeanne Manchon-Thais, piano (Debussy)/ Camerata Academia Salzburg/Paumgartner
The pianist recorded for the Ducretet-Thomson label and had a more rounded sound than many French keyboardists
Frank Vignola’s Gypsy Jazz Jam
A very loose backstage jam of a few guitarists
KURT WEILL-BERT BRECHT: The Seven Deadly Sins; Songs from The Berliner Requiem, Happy End, Mahagonny, and The Three-Penny Opera – Gisela May/Male quartet/Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra/Herbert Kegel – Berlin Classics Reference
Historic interpretations of music from Brecht-Weill collaborations
HAYDN: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 3: Nos. 82, 88 & 95 – Heidelberger Sinfoniker conducted by Thomas Fey – Hänssler
Getting Haydn’s orchestral mass moving is Fey’s supreme contribution here.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
