Monthly Archive: October 2007
Eddie Daniels – Homecoming – Live at the Iridium – IPO (2 CDs)
A Homecoming for Clarinetist Eddie Daniels
KROMMER: Concerto for Two Clarinets; SPOHR: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 2 & 4 – Sabine Meyer & Julian Bliss, clarinets/ Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/ Kenneth Sillito – EMI
Three off-beaten-tracks clarinet concertos in superb performances and sonics
The Horace Silver Songbook – Funky Pieces of Silver – The Composer Collection Vol. 1 – HighNote
Several different combos pay their musical respects to jazz light Horace Silver in a compelling compilation
Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele – Hula Girls (soundtrack) – With ensemble & vocalists – Hitchhike Records
No tourist-type Hawaiian music here – just Jake’s amazing ukulele playing and his tuneful score for this Japanese film
“From the Bach Notebook” – J. S. BACH: Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, BWV 1007 – 1012, transcribed for harp – Victoria Drake, harp – Well-Tempered Productions
The suites are a revelation on the concert harp and quite different from the cello originals
Armando Ghitalla – A Trumpet Legacy – Trumpet Concertos by WILLIAM PERRY, PONCHIELLI, J.M. MOLTER, OSKAR BÖHME – Armando Ghitalla, trumpet/Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/William Perry (cond. Cappella Istropolitana in Molter concerto only) – Premier/Bridge
One of the greatest trumpet virtuosi of the 20th century
Leif Ove Andsnes, Ballad for Edvard Grieg – Leif Ove Andsnes, piano – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Mariss Jansons – EMI
The recordings are all uniformly superb; I dare say the Piano Concerto is darn well near-definitive.
Maria Callas, The One And Only – Maria Callas, soprano/ various orchestras and conductors – EMI
This is a two-disc set for those who are mostly interested in hearing Maria Callas, in her prime, in uniformly superb sound.
Angela Gheorghiu Live From La Scala – Angela Gheorghiu, soprano/ Jeff Cohen, piano – EMI
The applause is darn-near deafening, but you do get a great sense of the immense atmosphere that is La Scala.
J.S. BACH: Lute Works, Volume 1 – Paul O’Dette, Baroque Lute – Harmonia mundi
Labeled as Volume 1, that means there’s likely more of this remarkably enjoyable music to come.
VIVALDI: Double Concertos – Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin/ Georg Kallweit & Midori Seiler, directors – Harmonia mundi
Passing this energetic collection by would be a serious mistake indeed
Flanders Recorder Quartet – Banchetto Musicale – Works of SCHEIN, BACH, TARQUINIO MERULA, VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, PIET SWERTS, JAN VAN DER ROOST, ANON & FRANS GEYSEN – Aeolus
Inspired by the concept of the musical banquet, which was very popular in the courts of Europe and the homes of the wealthy in the 16th thru 18th centuries.
“Le Temple du Goût” – 18th Century Music from Italy and France – Works of CHEDEVILLE, MANCINI, BOISMORTIER, VALENTINE, PHILIDOR & ANON. – Rubato Appassionato Trio – M•A Recordings
The natural acoustics surrounding the trio are a result of the recording venue, a cathedral in Barcelona.
Sergio & Odair Assad, guitarists – Jardim abandonado – Nonesuch
A fresh and inviting two-guitar version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is by far the longest work in the program.
HAYDN: String Quartets op. 20, No. 3; Op. 74, No. 1; Op. 76, No. 1 – The Amsterdam String Quartet – Channel Classics
There is simply too much invention, fire, and confounding musical aptitude in these works to dismiss as anything but the summit of the literature.
Herbert von Karajan conducts opera intermezzi & overtures of HUMPERDINCK, MASCAGNI, OFFENBACH, LEONCAVALLO, DODALY, PUCCINI, STRAUSS, BIZET, MASSENET, MOUSSORGSKY, GRANADOS & VERDI – Philharmonia/Karajan – Opus Kura
A stunning tribute to a homogeneous, aesthetic concept that almost defies emotional involvement.
MOZART: Harmoniemusik from his late operas – Wind Soloists of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen – Coviello
Tunes from Mozart’s last five operas were arranged by Andreas N. Tarkmann for a wind instruments ensemble (sextet and/or octet) consisting of oboes, flutes, clarinets, bassoons and one double bass.
Audio News for October 18, 2007
Brief Report on Rocky Mt. Audio Fest
This Is K2 HD Sound! – Sampler with various artists – First Impression Music
First demo of the latest audiophile process which achieves amazing transparency in the standard 44.1K/16-bit format
BACH: Missae Breves BWV 233-236 – Cantus Cölln/ Konrad Junghanel – Harmonia mundi
Superb readings of these rarely-recorded pieces
TCHAIKOVSKY: Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70; Serenade in C Major for Strings, Op. 48 – Wuerttembergerisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn/ Ruben Gazarian – Bayer Records
Fervid renditions of both the sextet and serenade in full string complement.
Eric Alexander – Temple of Olympic Zeus – High Note
No longer a young lion, now a true veteran
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
