Monthly Archive: October 2007
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major – Aachen Symphony Orchestra/Marcus Bosch – Coviello Classics
Definitely music for all those who love brass in their symphonies, with their pipe organ-like sonic explosions.
Edward Scissorhands, Blu-ray (1990)
A wonderfully imaginative Tim Burton take on the Frankenstein monster film.
Days of Heaven (1978)
One of the most beautifully-filmed features ever made for the wide screen.
The Hoax (2006)
The true story of the Clifford Irving Howard Hughes scam
“The Romantic Cello Concerto – 2” – ROBERT VOLKMANN: Cello Concerto; ALBERT DIETRICH: Cello Concerto; FRIEDRICH GERNSHEIM: Cello Concerto; ROBERT SCHUMANN: Cello Concerto in A Minor- Alban Gerhardt, cello/ Berlin Radio Sym./Hannu Lintu – Hyperion
Leave it to Hyperion to start a cello concerto series similar to their long-running and excellent piano concerto and violin concerto series.
Artur Rubinstein in BEETHOVEN, SAINT-SAENS, VILLA-LOBOS & CHOPIN – BBC Legends
The sheer serenity in making music at the keyboard convinces us every time that Rubinstein inhabits a league of his own.
Dean Schmidt – I Know Nothing – AO2 Records
One of the freshest mixes of Latin and Smooth Jazz I’ve heard in a long time.
George Gee and the Jump Jivin’ Wailers – If Dreams Come True – GJazz Records
Classic big band jazz for listenin’ and dancin’!
Upper Left Trio – Sell Your Soul Side – Origin Records
A fresh-sounding jazz trio worthy of a listen
Amy London, vocalist – When I Look In Your Eyes – Motema Music
This is a powerful voice exhibiting great musicianship, good pitch, swing, and a way with the lyrics that is most eloquent.
Audio News for October 30, 2007
MGM DVDs Honor 90th Anniversary of United Artists; Hi-Res Audio for the New Hi-Def DVD Formats; Consumer Warning on Electronic Products for Children
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 1 for piano, trumpet & strings; Concertino for Two Pianos; Piano Quintet – Martha Argerich, piano; Lily Zilberstein, piano; Sergei Nakariakov, trumpet; Orchestra of the Italian-Swiss Radio/Alexander Vedernikov – EMI
Another piece of evidence supporting my dictum that you cannot go wrong with any recording involving Martha Argerich.
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491; SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 – Evgeny Kissin, piano/London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis – EMI Classics
The happy realization of principles may become the preferred, contemporary version for many a Mozartean.
ALFVEN: Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 54; Andante Religioso, Op. 31 – Norrkoeping Symphony Orchestra/Niklas Willen – Naxos
The moody, turbulent music is scored along the lines of Bruckner and Mahler.
Gregory Partain, Vol. II = RACHMANINOV: 3 Preludes; SCARLATTI: 3 Preludes; BRAHMS: Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21, No. 1; BARNES: Toccata: Act of War; BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 23 in F Minor “Appassionata” – Gregory Partain, piano – MSR Classics
A thoughtful, controlled demonstration of fluent keyboard artistry.
“Three Centuries for Four Brass” – GERVAISE: Six Branles; ANTON SIMON: Quartet; ANDREA GABRIELI: Ricercare del primo tuono; BRUCE ADOLPH: Desperate Measures; HOVHANESS: Psalm; ROBERT STARER: Profiles in Brass – Metropolitan Brass Q. – MSR Classics
Metropolitan’s brass quartet had a different sound which was modeled more on the string quartet and early choral polyphony.
CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN: Concerto for solo piano; Troisième recueil de chants (Third Collection of Songs) – Marc-André Hamelin, piano – Hyperion
Hamelin is not fazed by the horrendous technical difficulties of much of Alkan’s piano music.
Gary Foster, woodwinds/Putter Smith, bass – Perfect Circularity – AJL Records
Two creative players getting together without any rhythm section
Fred Simon – Remember the River – Naim
Paul McCandless on reeds highlights this trio with all original compositions
The Other Side of the Mirror – Bob Dylan, Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965
Dylan at Newport: Protests to Plugging In
Mt. Hood Jazz Band and Combo 2007 – I’m Still Here – Sea Breeze
An amazingly good school jazz band
BRUCKNER: Mass in E Minor; Ave Maria; Locus iste; Christus factus est; Vexilla regis; Os iusti; Virga Jesse floruit; Pange lingua – Polyphony/ Britten Sinfonia/ Stephen Layton, conductor – Hyperion
Sparse, medieval, and compellingly beautiful performances
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
