Monthly Archive: June 2007
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, short piano pieces & lieder – Leif Ove Andnes & Ian Bostridge – EMI
Every note, however truncated, is pure beauty, played by a loving pair of Schubert acolytes.
Tweeter Surrounds from Diffractionbegone
The idea of tweeter surrounds is to soak up and quiet diffraction effects caused by speaker enclosures in the area adjacent to dome tweeters
Ganelin Trio Priority – Live (2005-2006)
The free jazz trio is back with the top saxist in Lithuanian jazz and a versatile German drummer, and continuing its unique position in European improvisational music.
Audio News for June 16, 2007
Conflicting Approaches to the All-Digital Home; Alienware HD Entertainment Center Launched; Panasonic Launches Wireless Surround Speakers
ANTHEIL: The Complete Works for String Quartet = Lithuanian Night; 3 String Quartets; Six Little Pieces for String Quartet – Del Sol String Quartet – Other Minds Records
A diverse collection of string works by the “bad boy” of classical music
HEINRICH SCHUTZ: Opus ultimum (Schwanegesang) – Collegium Vocale Gent/ Concerto Palatino/ Philippe Herreweghe, conductor – Harmonia mundi
An incandescent reading of a newly reconstructed swan song by an ancient master
SCHUBERT: Schwanegesang – Werner Gura, tenor/ Christoph Berner, piano – Harmonia mundi
Fine singing in a no-nonsense manner, though just misses the top rank
EERO HAMEENNIEMI: Symphony No. 3 in C; Viola Concerto – Tommi Aalto, viola/ Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Sakari Oramo, Hannu Lintu, conductors – Alba
Nicely crafted new music that deserves repeated hearings
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 3 (Reloaded) – European Philharmonic Orchestra/Peter Jan Marthé – Preiser Records
Marthé feels that the Third awakens emotions which we surpress in our daily lives, and that they include the demonic as well as the angelic.
DAVE BRUBECK -The Best of the Dave Brubeck Quartet – Concord Jazz/Telarc
Several of the pieces on the first disc are tributes to jazz greats, like Dizzy’s Dream, Black and Blue (Fats Waller), and Big Bad Basie.
MOZART: Five Violin Concertos; Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, K. 543 – Camerata Salzburg/ Leonidas Kavakos, violin and conductor – Sony Classical
Kavakos packs a supremely clean, sweet tone, reminiscent of Isaac Stern in his better days.
Steve Smith and Vital Information – Vitalization – Hudson Music
Two tracks of konnakol here – South Indian vocal percussion
*”Lachrimae Caravaggio” – Compositions by Jordi Savall and Improvisations by Le Concert des Nations & Hesperion XXI incl. Andrew Lawrence-King, harp, and Ferran Savall, voice – Alia Vox
****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH **********
A concert program on the age and art of the 17th century painter Caravaggio
Dino Saluzzi & Anja Lechner (bandoneon & cello) – Ojos Negros – ECM
One of the most difficult recordings yet to decide in which of our genre categories this should go!
Chicago, Blu-ray (2002/2007)
If you’re a fan of Hollywood musicals you couldn’t go wrong with this splashy, sexy winner of six Academy Awards.
The Black Crowes – Freak’n’Roll, Live in San Francisco, Blu-ray (2005)
If you’re a huge fan, this disc is a no-brainer; the DTS soundtrack provided the most immersive concert experience
Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Live in Memphis, Blu-ray (2005)
Overall, the package is a must-have for fans, and quite entertaining for the rest of us.
Stomp The Yard, Blu-ray (2006)
It’s hard to argue with a good story line that includes a lot of fresh faces, even if that story follows the well-worn path of the classic underdog tale.
Closer, Blu-ray (2004)
The strong acting will elicit your response and provide the kind of escapism we go to the movies for anyway. Highly recommended.
Cruel Intentions, Blu-ray (1999)
‘Cruel Intentions’ is a modern twist on the classic ‘Dangerous Liaisons’
Blood & Chocolate, Blu-ray (2007)
If you’re a fan of the film, this is definitely the version to own; otherwise, it’s probably just a rental.
Claire Martin: He Never Mentioned Love (Remembering Shirley Horn) – Claire Martin, vocals – with Gareth Williams, piano; Clark Tracey, drums; Laurence Cottle, bass; Steve Watts, double bass – Linn Records
As with all of Clair Martin’s albums, the level of musicianship is beyond reproach, and the glory of the music shows through
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
