Monthly Archive: February 2007
RICHARD STRAUSS: Don Quixote, Op. 35 – Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character; Don Juan – Antonio Janigro, cello (Quixote)/Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner – RCA Red Seal Living Stereo
Janigro’s instrument has a rich golden sound which is heard to best advantage in the several passages where the orchestra remains in the background
Audio News for February 14, 2007
Grammy Awards Picks
Billy Strayhorn – Piano Passion – with Michel Gaudry, doublebass/Paris String Quartet/ Paris Blue Notes/ Duke Ellington/ Wendell Marshall, doublebass – Storyville
These were just about the only recordings issued during Strayhorn’s lifetime under his own name.
Chie Imaizumi – Unfailing Kindness – Capri
An exciting new jazz composer leaps on the scene
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100; TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet–Fantasy Overture in B Minor – Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra/ Thomas Sanderling – Audite
The huge orchestral forces and diverse coloration of Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony make it a natural vehicle for the surround sound medium.
Arcam DV137 Universal DVD player
Classy-looking universal DVD player upscales standard DVDs for highest definition
WILLIAM BOLCOM: Violin Sonatas = First Sonata; Second Sonata; Third Sonata “Sonata Stramba”; Fourth Sonata – Solomia Soroka, violin/ Arthur Greene, piano – Naxos
Bolcom has a penchant for combining abstract musical forms with those bearing descriptive or thematic titles.
BRUCH: Scottish Fantasia; HINDEMITH: Violin Concerto (1939) – David Oistrakh, violin/ London Symphony Orchestra/ (1) Jascha Horenstein/ (2) Paul Hindemith – Decca/First Impression Music
During George Bernard Shaw’s stint as a music reviewer, he observed that this Fantasia was superior to both of Bruch’s actual violin concertos.
Baden Powell, guitar – Tempo de Musica – (2 CDs) Iris Music
The wide range of selections, going back as far as 1960, shows the many musical interests of the guitarist.
Babel (2006)
This deeply gripping and emotional film is already regarded as one of the finest of last year and a real think piece.
TIPPETT: Piano Sonatas 1-3 – Peter Donohoe, piano – Naxos
Michael Tippett maintained a clear musical interest in traditional forms, especially the art of variation.
Les Pommes de ma Douche – On N’est pas là pour se faire engueuler – Le Chant du Monde
The fact that The Pommes are not just slavishly imitating the Django Reinhardt style and tunes is clearly demonstrated by the first track of the CD
WAGNER: Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod; TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 “Pathetique” – Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Wagner)/ Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vaclav Talich – Talich Special Edition 8 Supraphon
A sheer tapestry of sound, inflamed, phantasmal, erupts, as though Talich knew this would be his only testament in this musical style.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
There seems to be nothing dated about the movie at all
Mario Adnet – Jobim Jazz – Adventure Music/Adnet Musica
A terrific blend of the composer’s creations, but focusing on brass arrangements with a very Brazilian slant to them.
“Russian Nights” – Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel – Telarc
The newest in the long-running and highly successful Kunzel/Cincinnati series on Telarc is the 83rd recording the pops conductor has done for the label
Audio News for February 10, 2007
Apple’s Steve Jobs Urges Dropping Copyright Protection; HDMI Education and Certification Effort; Alternative Spectrum Allocation Proposal Attacked
“Solos de Concours” French Music for Trumpet and Piano – Works of SAINT-SAENS, SCHMITT, CHARLIER, RUEFF, GAUBERT, BALAY, BITSCH, CHAILLEUX – Hannes Läubin, trumpet/ Lukas Maria Kuen, piano – Audite
The trumpet produces some identifiable sound reflections in the venue, preserved in the surround option.
Tierney Sutton Band – On The Other Side – Tierney Sutton, vocals/Christian Jacob, piano/ Kevin Axt, bass/Trey Henry, bass/ Ray Brinker, drums/ special guest artist: Jack Sheldon, trumpet & vocal – Telarc
Kudos to Tierney for some really fine singing, working the lyrics, working her side men; and kudos to the band for really tight playing without any padding.
“Heifetz Double Concertos” = BACH: Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins; MOZART: Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat; BRAHMS: Concerto in A Minor – Jascha Heifetz & Erich Friedman, violins/ Wm. Primrose, viola/ Gregor Piatigorsky, cello – RCA Living Stereo
Brings together three different double concertos and about twice as much music as on the original LP releases
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: A Viennese Evening (1963)
If actress Zsa-Zsa Gabor had been blessed with operatic talent, she would have been Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
The Skylighters – The Skylighters – Red Beet Records
Thoroughly enjoyable country-alt music with masterful vocals and breathtaking instrumentals.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
