Monthly Archive: November 2007
GLENN GOULD: The Radio Artist – Glenn Gould, producer – 5 CD set from CBC Records
Not once does Glenn Gould play the piano on this boxed set.
A Consommer De Préférence – élevé en plein air – homerecords.be
Klezmer, circus music, Kurt Weill, gypsy jazz, tango, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and a theater pit band are some of the influences in this wild little aggregation.
Frank Kimbrough, solo piano – Air – Palmetto Recordings
I hear a very thoughtful simplicity in his approach similar to Paul Bley’s.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique;” Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – Paavo Jarvi, conductor – Telarc
The orchestra occupies an exceptionally wide and deep soundstage. Very highly recommended.
BRAHMS: String Sextet No. 1; ADOLF BUSCH: String Sextet in G – Koln String Sextet – Marc Aurel Edition
This is chamber music-making at its very best!
ELGAR: Enigma Variations; Introduction & Allegro – London Symphony Orchestra – Sir Colin Davis, conductor – LSO Live
It makes up for in quality its shortcomings in quantity. Highly recommended.
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 – Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal – Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor – ATMA
This disc possesses all of the requisite tension and release that is the very essence of Bruckner, and the recording is incredible.
RAVEL: Orchestrations of works by Debussy, Chabrier, Schumann and Mussorgsky – Royal Flemish Philharmonic – Daniele Callegari, conductor – Talent
An entertaining selection of orchestral bonbons, it takes the focus away from Ravel’s orchestrations of his own compositions.
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 3 and 8 – German Chamber Philharmonic, Bremen – Paavo Jarvi, conductor – Sony/BMG
The historically-informed presentation of these works proves, if anything, that the chamber approach to Beethoven can be both enjoyable and enlightening.
Ana Moura: Para Alem Da Saudade – Ana Moura, vocals; Custodio Castelo, Portuguese guitar; Jorge Fernando, guitar; Filipe Larsen, bass – World Village
Ana Moura and her supporting musicians offer compelling presentations of songs that deal with love and loss, and of course, the sea.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade in C; Works for Cello and String Orchestra; ARENSKY: Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky – Southwest German Chamber Orchestra – David Geringas, cello and director – EBS Recordings
The Red Book CD offers superb sound, and captures an excellent representation of the recorded acoustic.
R. STRAUSS: Burleske in D Minor; SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Carnaval, Op. 9 – Claudio Arrau, piano/Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Desire Defauw (Strauss)/Detroit Symphony Orchestra/ Karl Kreuger (Schumann) – Naxos Historical
The third in the Naxos series devoted to Claudio Arrau brings us the firebrand side of his immense talents.
“Echoes – Classic Works Transformed” – Re-imagingings by DAVID SCHIFF, BRIGHT SHENG, DAVID STOCK, JOHN HARBISON, SAMUEL JONES, AARON KERNIS & GERARD SCHWARZ – Seattle Sym./Schwarz – Hear Music
Starbuck’s first classical CD collection should have wide appeal, even to non-classical listeners
MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat, KV 282; Piano Sonata No. 9 in D, KV 311; Piano Sonata No. 10 in C, KV 330; Rondo in A minor, KV 511; Ten Variations on “Unser dummer Pobel”, KV 455 – Atsuko Seki, piano – Divox
Ms. Seki is a lady in possession of a soft, gossamer touch and impeccable Mozartian line.
BRAHMS: Fantasies, op. 116; Three Intermezzi, op. 117; Piano Pieces, op. 118; Piano Pieces, op. 119 – Elisabeth Leonskaja, piano – MDG
All of the later piano music by Brahms on one huge, jam-packed disc in Super Audio!
BRUCKNER: Motets – Eva Danhelova, soprano/ Pavla Zborilova, alto/ Petr Julicek, tenor/ Jiri Vydra, Jaroslav Zouhar, Pavel Vydra, trombones/ Martin Jakubicek, organ/ Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno/ Petr Fiala, conductor – MDG
Meditative and serene majesty, in spacious and well balanced surround
Chinatown – Special Collector’s Edition (1974)
Roger Ebert says it’s a tour-de-force; agreed.
FRANCK: Complete Vocal Works with Organ, Vol. 1 – Soloists/ Fabrice Pierre, harp/ Amandine Lecras, cello/ Rodrigo Favaro, double-bass/ Diego Innocenzi, organ/ Children’s choir/Lyon Soloists/Bernard Tetu – Aeolus
Proof positive that this composer is so much more than the D minor symphony and chromatic organ pieces
ARNE NORDHEIM: Colorazione; Five Kryptofonier; Link; The First Butterfly – Cikada Duo/ Ake Parmerud, electronics/ Elisabeth Holmertz, soprano – 2L
A modernist hangover that will have a limited audience, though it sure sounds great!
P.D.Q. BACH & PETER SCHICKELE – “The Jekyll & Hyde Tour” – Long Live The King; Four Next-To-Last Songs; String Quartet in F major “The Moose”; Two Rounds; Two more rounds; Two Songs; Songs from Shakespeare; Listen Here, Tyrannosaurus Rex – Telarc
PDQ and his discoverer are back again after a 12-year absence and this time it’s live
GIUSEPPE SAMMARTINI: Sonatas for Recorder and Bass Continuo – Maurice Steger, recorders & director – Harmonia Mundi
Off-the-beaten-track Baroque featuring virtuoso recorder playing
Audio News for November 27, 2007
Webcasters Got a Square Deal on Royalties; DGG Opens Their Own Web Shop
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
