Monthly Archive: September 2007
Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray (1992)
A lavish interpretation of the familiar vampire tale; could have better resolution
KODALY: Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello Op. 8; Duo for Violin and Cello Op. 7; BOTTERMUND-STARKER: Variations on a Theme by Paganini – Janos Starker, cello/ Josef Gingold, violin – TopMusic
Starker made the first recording of Op. 8 in 1948 and this is its only restored, complete version.
Brass of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – VAN OTTERLOO: Serenade; WOUD: The Call, the brass presented; GABRIELI: Canzon; HENZE: Ragtimes & Habaneras; WM. SCHMIDT: Variants with Solo Cadenzas for trumpet quartet; BOURGEOIS: Con. Grosso – RCO Live
A fascinating brass program of wide appeal
Reign Over Me, Blu-ray (2007)
A quietly moving and powerful film about male friendship
Audio News for September 29, 2007
103-inch 1080p Plasma Display; New Crestron Home Theater System; SRS Labs Introduces iWOW2 Audio Processing for Macs
VALENTIN SILVESTROV: Bagatellen und Serenaden = Bagatellen I-XIII – Silvestrov, piano; Elegie; Stille Musik; Abschiedsserenade – Munich Chamber Orchestra/ Christoph Poppen; Der Bote; Zwei Dialoge mit Nachwort – Alexei Lubimov, p./Poppen – ECM New Series
A special and unexpected treat is the opening suite of eight of his bagatelles performed by the composer himself.
Stefano Battaglia – Re: Pasolini – ECM Records
The theme is a musical interpretation of the Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini – not necessarily music for his specific films, but an interpretation of the late filmmaker’s life work
KAREL HUSA: Smetana Fanfare; Al Fresco; Concertino for Piano and Winds; Music for Prague – Momoko Gresham, piano/Illinois State University Wind Symphony/ Stephen Steele – Albany
Thoroughly professional performances and excellent sonics, recorded in live performance at the University.
BRAHMS: Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11; Serenade No. 2 in A Major, Op. 16 – Gewandhaus Orchester, Leipzig/ Kurt Masur – PentaTone Classics
Readings of outdoor Brahms from 1981 ingratiatingly remastered from Philips’ quad tapes for a glorious, summer day and summer evening, respectively.
HANDEL: Nine German Arias; Three Oboe Concertos – Carolyn Sampson, soprano/ The King’s Consort (Alexandra Bellamy, oboe/ Stephanie-Marie Degand, violin/ Jonathon Cohen, cello/ Lynda Sayce, theorbo/ Robert King, harpsichord and chamber organ) – Hyperion
Despite a few reservations, this is essential Handel, and the only game in town right now
The Best of Edgar Meyer – with Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O’Connor, Bela Fleck, Joshua Bell, Mike Marshall, St. Paul Chamber Orch./Hugh Wolff – Sony Classical
The crossover/under/sideways doublebassist/composer stretches ones ears in a variety of selections from past albums.
BOUZIGNAC: Motets – Sachsisches Vocalensemble/ Matthias Jung, conductor – Tacet
Unknown until now, and well worth the wait
Magical Flute of China: Portrait of Dizi Master Tang Jun Qiao – Tang Jun Qiao, Dizi (Chinese Bamboo Flute); Ying Hao Tong, Chinese Cymbalo; Shen Yi Wen, Piano – Channel Classics
While many performances of traditional Asian music may seem a chore to get through, this disc is anything but that.
ROSSINI: Complete Works for Piano, Vol. 8 – Paolo Giacometti, Piano – Channel Classics
Despite the rather trivial nature of their titles, these pieces are immensely entertaining, and are definitely the work of a masterful composer.
BUXTEHUDE: Complete Works for Organ, Vol. 5 – Bine Bryndorf, Organ – Dacapo
A tour-de-force in every respect – the performances are magnificent, and the multichannel surround recording is equally impressive.
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 4 and 7 – Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra – Philippe Herreweghe, Director – Talent
I’d prepared myself for more of an authentic instrument performance of these two symphonies, and was blown away by the totally modern sound emanating from the speakers.
STOCKHAUSEN: Stimmung – Theatre of Voices – Paul Hillier, Director – Harmonia Mundi
The performance consists of six singers, three males and three females, sitting in a circle, chanting, singing, humming, speaking and harmonizing through 51 iterations of a meditation in B-flat.
GRIEG: Choral Music – Grex Vocalis – 2L Music
This disc offers substantial proof that perhaps the classical world should re-evaluate Grieg’s place as a choral composer.
Underworld: Blu-ray (2003)
A film that will keep any sci-fi/fantasy fan thoroughly entertained for two-plus hours.
Audio News for September 26, 2007
Amazon Launches Digital Music Downloads; Art Tatum Featured in Second Zenph Studios Re-Performance; Two Massive TV Series Offered on DVD Sets
Black Book, Blu-ray (2007)
Unlike his earlier Soldier of Orange, this Verhoeven WWII feature concentrates on the German side
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – LAGQ Brazil – Telarc Multichannel
The very specific placement of the four guitarists across the front of the soundstage adds much interest to the music.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
