Monthly Archive: February 2007
BYRD: Laudibus in sanctis = selections from Cantiones Sacrae (1591) and Gradualia (1605) – The Cardinall’s Musick/ Andrew Carwood, conductor – Hyperion
The Cardinall’s Musick Byrd Edition alive once again
“Spain” = FALLA: El amor brujo; The Three-Corned Hat; La vida breve: Interlude & Dance; ALBÉNIZ: Iberia – Triana; Fête-Dieu à Seville; Navarra; GRANADOS: Intermezzo from Goyescas – Leontyne Price, sop./ Chicago Sym./Fritz Reiner – RCA Living Stereo
A classic three-channel Reiner album is finally heard as recorded originally in 1958
The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience – DGBX – Acoustic Disc
Traditional bluegrass sounds from an acoustic innovator.
Julian Bream – Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar = VILLA-LOBOS: Choros No. 1, Etude in F Minor, Prelude in E minor; TORROBA: Madrones; TURINA: Homage to Tarrega , Fandanguillo; ALBENIZ: Suite espanola; FALLA: Homenaje – Julian Bream, guitar – RCA
A legendary recording of Spanish guitar music by one of the masters of both that instrument and of the lute
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15; Tragic Overture, Op. 81 Erik Then-Bergh, piano/ Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Karel Ancerl – Supraphon
Spirited, heated Brahms on a large-scale, old-school style.
Pianist Claudio Arrau Plays
MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111
Audio News for February 7, 2006
Sony Now Making/Selling iPod Accessories; The iPod Vehicle Challenge; U.S. Production of AV Equipment Up 23%; AMD’s Live Home Cinema Plans Slammed; LG Selling Home Networking in China
LOUIS MASSONNEAU: Three Quartets for Oboe and String Trio – No. 1 in F major; No. 2 in B-flat major; No. 3 in C major – Andrea Gosling, oboe/Ensemble Piu – Audite
Throughout, the four instruments fit together with equal emphasis, making for a pleasant alternative to the standard string quartet form.
SCHUMANN: Humoreske, Op. 20; Stuecke in Fughettenform, Op. 126: Nos. 1, 4, 7; Impromptus on a Theme by Clara Wieck, Op. 5; Theme and Variations “Geistervariations,” WoO 24; Phantasiestuecke, Op. 111, No. 2 – Yael Weiss, piano – Koch
Sensitive, scholarly renditions of alternative Schumann repertory, each a labor of love.
Three Piano Concerti = LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1; SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concerto No. 2; PADEREWSKI: Piano Concerto in A Minor – Simon Barere, piano/ Reginald Paul, piano/ Jesus Maria Sanroma, piano (various orch.) – Symposium Records
Connected via being old and rare, the various sources do display some noise, flutter & wow
BACH: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6; Concerto in A minor – Duilio Glafetti, violin/ Thomas Mueller and Raul Diaz, natural horns/ Maurice Steger and Stefano Bet, recorders/ Emiliano Rodolfi, oboe/ Francesco Cera, hrpsd./ Diego Fasolis, cond. – Arts (2 discs)
A pair of happy discs for the Bach audiophile, high flying in every bar.
GRIEG: Norwegian Dances, Op. 35; Symphonic Dances, Op. 64; Lyric Suite, Op. 54 – Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/ Ole Kristian Ruud – BIS
The orchestra’s (and the recording’s!) dynamic range on The March of the Dwarfs is really amazing.
Stefano Bollani – Piano Solo – ECM
The emotional range is wide, the harmonies often unexpected, and there is a strong sense of structure
The Collected Shorts of Jan Svankmajer
His films combine puppets, humans, various objects, cut-ups, stop-motion animation, live action, sculpture, clay, and funereal wit
Green For Danger (1946)
Buzzing V-1s, hospital drama, murder mystery, and bumbling detective, all in the same film…
MONTEVERDI: Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (from Eighth Book of Madrigals); Arie e duetti – Rolando Villazon, tenor/ Patrizia Ciofi, soprano/ Topi Lehtipuu, tenor/ Le Concert d’Astree/ Emmanuelle Haim, conductor – Virgin Classics
A fiery new reading of a confirmed Book VIII masterpiece
Audio News for February 3, 2007
Magnetic Tape Still Being Made; Bands Rally for Digital Freedom; Sonny Rollins and Steve Reich To Receive Polar Music Prize
SCHUBERT: Complete Works for Violin & Piano – Arnold Steinhardt, violin/ Seymour Lipkkin, piano – Newport Classic
Their most impressive work on this collection is their rendition of Schubert’s deceptively titled Sonatinas.
Carly Simon – Into White – Columbia
The light and airy, classically influenced, mostly acoustic backing reminded me of some of Judy Colllins early albums.
DVORAK: In Nature’s Realm; Carnival Overture; Othello Overture; Waltzes for String Orchestra; No. 4 in D (two versions); Polonaise in E-flat Major; Polonaise from Act II, Rusalka – Prague Soloists Orch. & Czech Philharmonic/ Vaclav Talich – Supraphon
A class restoration sonically of music performed by this monumental artist
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 141; Suite from The Age of Gold, Op. 22a – Russian Federal Orchestra/ Vakhtang Jordania – Angelok
Eminently colorful, vivacious music, expertly played and recorded.
Sonny Rollins Plus 4 – Prestige RVG Remasters
This was a spectacular session, and it’s never sounded better
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
