Monthly Archive: January 2008
BACH: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988; Partita No. 5 in G Major, BWV 829: Praeludium; Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata BWV 147 – Tatiana Nikolayeva, piano – BBC Legends
Some of the best Bach playing I expect to hear in 2008.
Rent, Blu-ray (2005-2007)
A riveting filmic version of the hit Broadway rock opera
George Cables – You Don’t Know Me – (piano solos) – Kind of Blue
Cables pointed out “It’s just you, the piano, and your own thoughts and feelings.”
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” – Bavarian State Orchestra/Carlos KleiberOrfeo
Kleibers only known rendition of Beethoven’s Sixth, preserved on a cassette recorded by the conductor’s son.
WILLEM JETHS: Yellow Darkness – NorthWest Classics
A double-disc stereo-only package of fascinating new acoustic symphonic music
Audio News for January 29, 2008
Has the HD DVD Format Had It?; Tactile Technology – Beyond Subwoofers
David “Fathead” Newman – Diamondhead – HighNote Records
His wide-ranging versatility is demonstrated in the variety found in the nine tracks.
Life of Brian, the Immaculate Edition, Blu-ray (1979-2007)
Has the biblical comedy field in movies entirely to itself.
Paul McCartney – The Space Within US (2006)
If you’re a Paul fan I wouldn’t miss this one.
DEBUSSY: Deux Arabesques; Images–Books I-II; Children’s Corner Suite; Clair de Lune; L’Isle joyeuse – Simon Trpceski, piano – EMI Classics
Spend a lovely hour with Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski and the music of Claude Debussy.
ERNEST BLOCH: Piano Quintet No. 1; Piano Quintet No. 2; Night; Paysages; Two Pieces – Goldner String Quartet /Piers Lane, piano – Hyperion
The works reflect the essence of Jewish cultural heritage without directly quoting Jewish religious or folk songs.
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 Op. 100 in B-flat Major; Lt. Kijé Suite Op. 60 – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi – Telarc
One of the best 20th century symphonies, according to Järvi
NIELSEN & KALEVI AHO: Clarinet Concertos – Martin Frost, clarinet/ Lahti Symphony/ Osmo Vanska, conductor – BIS multichannel SACD 1463, 54:00 *****:
Great Nielsen, and a phenomenal debut of Kalevi Aho add up to one of the best releases of any kind for 2008
BACH: Aeolus Pacified, BWV 205; Let our mouth be full of laughter – Nancy Argenta (Pallas)/ Klaus Mertens (Aeolus)/ Claudia Iten (Pomona)/ Charles Daniels (Zephyrus), Rosa Dominguez, mezzo-soprano/ Swiss Radio Choir/I Barocchisti/ Diego Fasolis – Arts
More sunny Italian Bach in terrific performances
Clark Terry & The Young Titans of Jazz – Live at Marihans Jazzroom – Chiaroscuro Records
Energetic and virtuosic big band performances by young upcoming musicians led by a grand master of jazz, Clark Terry.
Audio News for January 25, 2008
NBC Offers Free Online HD; New HD Streaming Web Site; Initiative To Make HD Radio Accessible to the Hearing & Sight Impaired; DTS Launches Pseudo-Multichannel Technology
Santana – Hymns for Peace – Live at Monteux 2004, Blu-ray
A landmark concert, preserved in widescreen hi-def with hi-res surround
Blade Runner, 5-Disc Complete Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray (1982-2007)
A sci-fi classic perfect for HD display; comes with nine hours of extras!
BRAHMS: Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 120, No. 1; Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major, O. 120, No. 2 – Jon Manasse, clarinet/Jon Nakamatsu, piano – Harmonia mundi
Manasse and Nakamatsu explore the autumnal excursions of Brahms with lithe, albeit muscular hands.
Fernando Otero – Pagina de Buenos Aires – Nonesuch
I would say we have here the first really new music coming out of the tango mileau since Piazzolla’s!
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO: Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu – Heads Up Multichannel SACD LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO: Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu – Heads Up CD
Zulu music and singing incorporates rhythm, melody and harmony with voices, and classic syncopation with hand clapping, foot stomping, guttural noises and !Kliks.
HESKEL BRISMAN: Selected Works = Profiles; Sinfonia Breve; Andante Sostenuto; Cassandra’s Muse – Slovak Radio Sym. orch./Kirk Trevor; except Cassandra’s Muse – Moravian Philharmonic Orch./Vit Micka – MMC Recordings
Luigi Dallapiccola was his most notable teacher but he writes in a romantic and usually tonal-sounding style.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
