Monthly Archive: April 2007
Bullitt, Blu-ray (1968)
Includes a masterful documentary in hi-def widescreen and surround all about movie editing
Chicken Little, Blu-ray (2005)
The plot revolves around a very grown-up pop psychology idea concerning improved communication between father and son
Boult Conducts BBC, Volume 2 = WEBER: Der Freischutz; BRAHMS: Tragic Overture; 3 Hungarian Dances; WAGNER: Overture to Die Meistersinger; Prelude to Tristan und Isolde; BERLIOZ: Roman Carnival; SIBELIUS: Oceanides – BBC Sym./Sir Adrian Boult – Dutton
This is a virtuoso ensemble led by a polished conductor whose legacy continues to reveal his versatility of musical styles.
Masters of the Lute – JOHN DOWLAND, GIOVANNI GIERALOMO, ALESSANDRO PICCININI, ROBERT DE VISEE, FRANZ VON BIBER – Matthew Wadsworth, lute & theorbo – Channel Classics
The sound is even better than that given Sting’s lutenist accompanist on his recent much-promoted recording of lute songs.
RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Mother Goose Suite – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/Bernard Haitink [Bolero – Rotterdam Philharmonic/Edo de Waart] – PentaTone Classics
The dynamic range if extremely wide, and few would miss the center channel in these four-channel recordings.
RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT: Partita; Reflections on a Sixteenth Century Tune; Songs Before Sleep; Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song – Jonathon Lemalu, baritone/ Paul Watkins, cello/ Philharmonia Orchestra/ Richard Hickox, conductor — Chandos Records
Hickox shows his usual sympathy and understanding for all things English; a tremendously enjoyable release.
RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT: Words and Music – Richard Rodney Bennett, piano and vocals – Chandos Records
His style is almost a cross between Noel Coward and Bobby Short
Hiromi’s Sonicbloom – Time Control – Telarc
Her compelling keyboard work and many original compositions have earned a top place for her in jazz keyboardists today.
Audio News for April 4, 2007
Apple & EMI Offer Hi-Res Copyright-Free Downloads;
Beatles Music May Finally Be Available to Download; Classical Is Big in China; Clarinetist Ton Scott Dead at 85
GERSHWIN: Piano Concerto in F; Rhapsody in Blue; Cuban Overture – Jon Nakamatsu, piano/ Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra/ Jeff Tyzik – Harmonia mundi
The Rhapsody sounds fresher and more cheeky than I’ve heard from most other recordings.
Kriya – Alba multichannel SACD
Talk about crossover! A mix of East Indian, Finnish, and Irish if I’m not mistaken
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano – “Aria” – Opera Without Words – Music of SAINT-SAENS, R. STRAUSS, PUCCINI, KORNGOLD, J. STRAUSS II, BELLINI, GLUCK & WAGNER – Decca
Transcriptions of operatic arias are the theme for his new album
Vizio P50HDTV10A 50” Plasma Television
A tremendous value – to better this set’s features you’d literally have to spend twice as much or more.
MOZART: Serenades (March K. 189. Serenade K. 185. Rondo in C, K. 373. Adagio in E, K. 261. Rondo Concertante in Bb, K. 269. Divertimento, K. 113) – Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Janiczek – Linn
The performances are alert, full-blooded and irresistibly engaging; and the sound is brilliant, whether in conventional stereo or SACD.
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – The Hidden Land – 2-sided disc with CD one side and 48K PCM Stereo other side, plus 3 video performances – Columbia
I’m giving this DualDisc four stars strictly due to the continually creative music of all sorts coming from Bela Fleck plus the clever and humorous short film on the band – not for the DualDisc format
HANDEL: Concerti grossi Op. 3; Sonata a 5 – Academy of Ancient Music/ Richard Egarr – Harmonia mundi
The richness of texture and timbre in these works is more advanced than most music of the period.
Editorial for April 2007
Welcome to Adobe GoLive 6 The scale of this 160-CD Bach project from Brilliant Classics, which we are awarding this month, was immense. For example, 200 cantatas had to be recorded in 15 months, all under a single conductor. In addition to the cantatas, the set has all of the other sacred vocal works of Bach, all his orchestral works – including the exciting Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites, his chamber music, solo instrumental works such as the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Cello Suites, and the works for pipe organ. Both performances and recorded quality are on a very high level. Although Brilliant is a budget label, the recordings licensed from other labels would alone exceed the cost of this set if bought separately. For a very detailed review of the Bach set Go Here. At the end of April we will draw the names and addresses of two Audiophile Audition readers who have Registered Here on our site and they will be shipped the Bach sets. And the winners of the $96 Johnny Hodges Verve Small Groups 6-CD Set for our March drawing were: Nina Wright, Eaton, NY; William Kollins, Olney, MD; Charlie Post, Brooklyn, NY; Robert […]
M:I: 3 (Blu-ray 2-Disc Set) (2006)
An entertaining storyline, numerous special features and a splendid audio/video presentation
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Blu-ray) (1991)
A sci-fi classic, chock full of classic lines, car chases, explosions, and special effects – and now enhanced resolution.
Open Season (Blu-ray Disc, Animation) (2006)
An above-average animated film I would compare to the likes of ‘Ice Age’ and ‘Over the Hedge’.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
