Monthly Archive: December 2007
MOZART: Divertimento in E-flat Major, K. 563; VIVALDI: The Four Seasons, Op. 8 – David Nadien, violin/Emanuel Vardi, viola/ Jascha Silberstein, cello/Kapp Sinfonietta/ Igor Kipnis, harpsichord/ Emanuel Vardi conducting (Vivaldi) – Cembal d’amour
Another sparkling addition to the legacy of violinist David Nadien.
R. STRAUSS: Don Juan, Op. 20; MOZART: Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200; STRAVINSKY: The Firebird Suite – Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Karl Bohm – Audite
A rather voluptuous reading of the Richard Strauss Don Juan
ROUSE: Karolju; LUTOSLAWSKI: Polish Christmas Carols; RODRIGO: Retablo de Navidad – Julia Doyle, soprano/ Anna Stephany, mezzo-soprano/ Philharmonia Chorus/ BBC Symphony Orchestra/ David Zinman, conductor – RCA
“Karolju” does prove a worthy addition to the Christmas canon while not setting the world on fire.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Hodie; Fantasia on Christmas Carols – Janice Watson, soprano/ Peter Hoare, tenor/ Stephen Gadd, baritone/ Guildford Choral Society/ St. Catherine’s School Middle Chamber Choir/ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/ Hilary Davan Wetton – Naxos
The narration for VW’s musical Christmas story is provided by the children’s choir.
Canadian Brass “Seen and Heard” – CD of some of their shorter hits (see below); DVD “Canadian Brass Home Movies” – Concert – Philips Special Edition CD + DVD
We see the popular brass quintet in action, as well as get to know them better via bit of their home movies.
“Missa” – Missa Luba – Troubadours of King Baudouin/Guido Haazen; ARIEL REMIREZ: Misa Criolla – Jose Carreras/Coral Salve de Laredo/Choral Society of Bilbao/Jose Luis Ocejo; Misa Flamenca – Maitea Choir/Coro Easo/Torregrosa + Missa Luba film – Philips
All three folk masses plus a color film of the Missa Luba on a separate DVD
British Viola Concertos = WALTON: Viola Concerto; BEAMISH: Viola Concerto No. 1; BRITTEN: Lachrymae – Tatjana Masurenko, viola/ NDR Radio Philharmonic/ Garry Walker, conductor – Coviello Classics
Walton was all of 26 when he fashioned this terrific work, full of “modern” tendencies while remaining in the emotional provenance of the romantics.
CARISSIMI: Jonas; Dixit Dominus; Magnificat; Judicium Extremum – Capella Angelica/ Lautten Compagney/ Wolfgang Katschner, conductor – Coviello Classics
In the Dixit Dominus and Magnificat we are able to ascertain what a fine composer Carissimi is, to admire his renaissance/early baroque style and the lovely and sensitive lines with which he envelops the text.
MARTINU: Flute and Violin Concerto; Duo Concertante for Two Violins; Concerto for Two Violins – Janne Thomsen, flute/ Bohuslav Matousek, violin/ Regis Pasquier, violin/ Jennifer Koh, violin – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Christopher Hogwood – Hyperion
Every time I return to Martinu there is sense of profoundly life-affirming philosophy flowing through the speakers.
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major; Symphony No. 8 in B Minor “Unfinished” – Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch/ Philharmonia Orchestra of London/Artur Rodzinski (Unfinished) – HDTT CD-R 134
A pair of viscerally exciting Schubert inscriptions, given the almost polar opposition of the conductors’ personalities.
David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana – Jewish/Cuban musical mash-up – DB Works
Turns out there are a number of shared things between the two seemingly disparate musical cultures
Alfred Cortot: The Late Recordings, Volume 3 = CHOPIN: Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat; Nocturne No. 4; Nocturne No. 7; 3 Etudes; 3 Nouvelles Etudes; Barcarolle; Prelude No. 15; Berceuse, Waltzes; MENDELSSOHN: Variations – Appian Recordings
These late inscriptions of Chopin by Alfred Cortot both celebrate and exacerbate his repute as a colorist and often shoddy practitioner of his art.
Pepe Romero, guitar – Flamenco – with Chano Lobato, Maria Magdalena, Paco Romero – Philips/FIM
First entire album using the new K2 HD process – full of explosive musical sounds.
Audio News for December 14, 2008
Flawed Listening Test of MP3 Samples
Stokowski Conducts = TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet – Fantasy Overture; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A Major
The great conductor in action with Swiss musicians in 1969.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray
The entire film is opulent and overstuffed in a Victorian manner – it’s a Dracula with all the stops out.
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major; Clarinet Concerto in A Major; Wind Serenade in B-flat Major, K. 361–excerpts; Brief talk on Mozart by Talich – Jiri Novak, violin/Vladimir Riha, clarinet/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vaclav Talich – Suprahon
Mozart recordings from 1954 and 1955 under the legendary Vaclav Talich provide the unity of musical effect for this marvelous restoration.
“Reges Terrae: Music from the Time of Charles V” = Works of MANCHCOURT, MORALES, CLEMENS NON PAPA, GUERRERO, GOMBERT – Nordic Voices – Chandos
A richly woven tapestry of great composers and their music in the royal court of Charles V
Yoko Miwa Trio – Canopy of Stars – Polystar Jazz Library
A sophisticated melodic approach, delivered with great sensitivity
Spike Jones, The Legend – Classic TV
Great fun and makes up magnificently for the previous lack of Spike’s musical mayhem on DVD
BRUCE CALE: Cello Concerto; Valleys & Mountains Suite; Violin Concerto – David Pereira, cello/ Helen Donaldson, soprano/ Leonard Dommett, violin/ Queensland Sym./ Max McBride, Patrick Thomas, conductors/ Tasmanian Sym./Dobbs Frank – Tall Poppies
A composer of great beauty of somewhat sameness, in a relatively lackluster presentation.
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto; LINDBERG: Violin Concerto – Lisa Batiashvili, violin/ Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Sakari Oramo, conductor – Sony Classical
Fans of quality new music will have to have this magnificent concerto by Lindberg, but the Sibelius can’t stand the heat from other recordings.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
