Monthly Archive: July 2007
Cori Spezzati – Venetian Polychoral Music of G. GABRIELI, A. GABRIELI, STRIGGIO, WILLAERT, GRABBE, NIELSEN, PEDERSON, MERVLO – Chamber Choir of Europe/ Nicol Matt, conductor – Brilliant Classics
Even if you have a fat and sated Venetian collection already at home, if you love SACD you simply must acquire this disc
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36; Five Excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty Ballet, Op. 66 – Philharmonia Orchestra/ Herbert von Karajan – Opus Kura
This reading demands a tipped hat, an acknowledgement that a master technician was at work, one who paid fine homage to Tchaikovsky.
“The Art of the Recorder” – Works of WILLIAM BABELL, JOHN BASTON, DIOGENIO BIGAGLIA, GIOVANNI BONONCINI, NICOLAS CHEDEVILLE, VIVALDI et al. – Michala Petri, Recorder, with Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/George Malcolm & Graham Sheen – Decca (4 CDs)
Marvel at the sheer skill of Petri, who can flawlessly produce crystalline demi-semiquavers without even blinking.
SHOSTAKOVICH: The Works for Piano Solo = Piano Sonata No. 1; Piano Sonata No. 2; 24 Preludes and Fugues; Aphorisms; 24 Preludes; Dances of the Dolls; 3 Fantastic Dances; Preludes (1920-1921); Polka – Caroline Weichert, piano – Universal Music (4 CDs)
A massive, thoughtful and variegated collection of music to be ingested slowly and affectionately.
Renaissance (Paris 2054), (2007)
Its unique visual style and presentation is the main calling card for this sci-fi crime thriller
ERICH ZEISL: Piano Concerto in C Major; Pierrot in the Flasche – ballet suite – Gottlieb Wallisch, piano/Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Johannes Wildner – CPO
A mix of lyrical, modal melodies and harmonies and often catchy dance rhythms – flowing out of his Hebraic background.
Gypsy Caravan – Music In and Inspired by the film – with Taraf de Haidouks, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Maharaja, Antonio el Pipa Flamenco Co., Esma Redzepova – World Village/Harmonia mundi
23 examples of the diverse Roma musical culture; a world music ear-opener
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23; SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35 – Denis Matsuev, piano/ St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/ Yuri Temirkanov – RCA Red Seal
Now the world’s most famous piano concerto has another young titan in Denis Matsuev
David Sills, tenor sax – Green – Origin Records
A win-win proposition
Rudolf Serkin plays BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109; Diabelli Variations, Op. 120 – Rudolf Serkin, piano – Music & Arts
Serkin, whatever his limitations as a “percussive pianist,” thought deeply about the works he performed.
Mel Martin/Benny Carter Quintet – Just Friends – Jazzed Media
A welcome reprise of more Mel Martin and the master, Benny Carter
N Glenn Davis – A Different View – Jazzed Media
From Cleveland to Boston and back
The Bob Florence Limited Edition – Eternal Licks & Grooves – MAMA
More West Coast big band sounds from Bob Florence
RACHMANINOV: Music for Two Pianos = Symphonic Dances, Op. 45; Suite No. 2, Op. 17; Suite No. 1, Op. 5 – Peter Donohoe and Martin Roscoe, pianos – Naxos
A gorgeous disc, one that reminds me how much I miss my first musical duo for this grand music, Vronsky and Babin.
Carlos Barbosa-Lima, guitar – O Boto – Guitar Concertos and solo pieces by HANDEL, CORDERO, PUJOL, CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO, MADRIGUERA, YASUI & JOBIM – with The Sofia Soloists/Plamen Djorov cond. – Zoho
A sort of travelogue of Portuguese music involving the guitar, traveling from its home country to the New World
Audio News for July 14, 2007
Tweeter Goes Into Bankruptcy; Maximizing Retail Environments with 3D; Texas Instruments Announces Audio Innovations in New Chips
Kent Welton – Guitara Acoustica – Pandit Press Music
The instrument is a type of guitar, electronically-treated on some tracks and sounding more like a Spanish guitar or even a lute on others.
SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD: Wind Chamber Music = Wind Quintet; Three Shanties; Suite Bourgeoise – East Winds – Naxos
Five of the witty wind works received their world premiere recordings here
The Venetian Brass Album – Works of A. & G. GABRIELI, GUAMI, DA CORREGGIO, ANTEGNATI, FRESCOBALDI, CHILESE BARTOLINO, LAPPI & PETER SACCO – Members of the Los Angles Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – Crystal Records
A mysteriously ancient sort of sound yet in some ways very modern and almost avant garde.
MOZART at Eight = Sonatas for Keyboard and Flute, K. 10-15 – Carol Wincenc, flute/ Gena Raps, piano – Naxos
I do recall how hauntingly Rampal played this movement, simply because Wincenc does the same.
Michael Brecker and sextet – Pilgrimage – Heads Up
The SACD version of the final recording by the preeminent jazz saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker, who died January 13
Emil Gilels, piano, In Recital
An eminently tasteful recital of Mozart, Schumann, and Beethoven that reveals his prowess that had matured into elegance and musical finesse.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
