Monthly Archive: January 2008
Audio News for January 22, 2008
Randi vs. Expensive Speaker Cables Redux; Another Direct-to-TV-Sets Download Service; In-Car FM Transmitters for iPods Arouse FCC Concern; HDMI Problems, Cont.
GOTTFRIED AUGUST HOMILIUS: Passion Cantata – Monika Mauch, soprano/ Bogna Bartosz, alto/ Markus Brutscher, tenor/ Hans Christoph Begemann, bass/ Basle Madrigalists/ New Dusseldorf Court Music/ Fritz Naf – Carus
A wonderful rediscovery given a performance for the ages
Paul West / Mark Brown – Words & Music – OA2 Records
Some great original tunes from the versatile Seattle duo
ELGAR: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61; Serenade for Strings in E Minor, Op. 20 – James Ehnes, violin/ Philharmonia Orchestra/ Andrew Davis – Onyx
This inscription by Davis complements the Concerto in spirit and mode perfectly.
HANDEL, JOHANN SIGISMUND WEISS: Complete Oboe Sonatas – Concert Royal Cologne – Musicaphon
Oboist Schroter does a fairly good job in taming the beast in this finely recorded effort
TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20 – Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev – DGG
The audio-friendly realization proves lushly linear, more in the literalist tradition of Eugene Ormandy and Leopold Stokowski than of say, Leonard Bernstein.
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons, Op. 8; Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 12, No. 1, RV 317 – Sarah Chang, violin/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra – EMI Classics
Yet another slick, polished version, this time from sweet-toned Sarah Chang and the bright-spirited Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Family Guy Presents Blue Harvest (2007)
Yes another Star Wars spoof – for the 30th anniversary of the original movie
Family Album = BLAND: 6 preludes; RUDERS: New Rochelle Suite; LEON: Bailarin; STAROBIN: Three Places in New Rochelle; LANSKY: Semi-Suite – David Starobin, guitar/ Daniel Druckman, percussion – Bridge
Some new music here presented with flair and energy, all in the family
The Glenn Gould Trilogy – A Life – 1)The Idea of Music; 2) The Drop-Out; 3) The Quiet in the Studio – Audio documentaries in the style of Glenn Gould’s own CBC documentaries, by his biographer Michael Stegemann – Sony/BMG
The 3-CD set gives an intimate portrayal of the eccentric pianist’s life, recordings and philosophy
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in d minor – Measha Brueggergosman, soprano/ Kelly O’Connor, mezzo-soprano/ Frank Lopardo, tenor/ Rene Pape, bass/ Cleveland Orchestra/ Cleveland Orchestra Chorus/ Franz Welser-Most, conductor – DGG
Cleveland back with a vengeance, and it’s about time
VERDI: La Traviata (complete opera) – Bayerische Staatsoper/Bayerische Staatsorchester/Anja Harteros/Piotr Beczala/Paolo Gavanelli/Zubin Mehta – Farao Classics
This SACD was nominated for the 2007 Grammy Awards in the category “Best Recorded Opera” – rightly so I may add!
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major; Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major: Menuetto; MENDELSSOHN: Piano Concerto in A Minor (c. 1822); BRAHMS: Klavierstuecke: No. 1 in B Minor; No. 3 in C Major – Mieczyslaw Horszowski, piano with orch. – Arbiter
Fascinating peeks at repertoire this artist should have set down under commercial, professional conditions.
FRANZ LACHNER: Requiem in f-minor, Op. 146 – Marina Ulewicz, Ruby Hughes, sopranos/Roxana Constantinescu, alto/ Colin Balzer, Gerhard Werlitz, tenors/ Gunther Papendell, bass/ Augsburg Chamber Soloists/ Hermann Meyer, conductor – Carus
He wrote a lot – over 300 compositions – and his music generally speaking has many attractive moments.
Audio News for January 18, 2008
More Than Half of Gift Expenditures Went for Home Electronics; EMI Cutting One-Third of Jobs; Apple Launches Movie Download Service; iTunes Has a Rival
Michael Sheppard Plays = WILD: Fantasy on Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess; BARBER: The Daisies; St. Ita’s Vision; Nocturne; RODGERS: sel.; BOLCOM: Graceful Ghost Rag; CRUMB: Dream Images; CORIGLIANO: Etude Fantasy – Michael Sheppard, p. – Harmonia mundi
A intelligent, highly enjoyable recital, well worth your attention
Sérgio & Odair Assad, guitars – Jardim abandonado – Nonesuch
A winning collection with very wide appeal!
R. STRAUSS: An Alpine Symphony – Brunswick State Orchestra/ Jonas Alber, conductor – Coviello Classics
The fourth hi-res recording of this work, and a fine one
Lost: The Complete Third Season, 6 Blu-ray discs (2007)
Compared to the DVD version and ABC’s really good 720p HD broadcasts, the Blu-ray discs are a revelation to behold.
DUKAS: Ariane and Bluebeard (complete opera) – Lori Philips (Ariane)/ Patricia Bardon (La Nourrice)/ Peter Rose (Bluebeard)/ Laura Vlasak Nolen (Selysette)/ Ana James (Ygraine)/ Daphne Touchais (Melisande)/ Sarah-Jane Davies (Bellangere) – Telarc
At last Dukas’s only opera gets a champion reading—and it’s the only one out there
BARBER: Songs – Gerald Finley, baritone/ Julius Drake, piano/ Aronowitz Ensemble – Hyperion
A quality effort, though not as good as I was hoping
Laurent Korcia, violin – “Doubles Jeux” – Works of REINHARDT, RAVEL, DEBUSSY, BARTOK, KLEIN, LEGRAND, MASSENET Etc. – with assisting artists – Naive
An impressive collection of terrific “chamber music” – highly recommended!
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
