Monthly Archive: February 2008
The Last Concertos = MOZART: Piano Concerto No 27; Clarinet Concerto – Andreas Staier, fortepiano/ Lorenzo Coppola, clarinet/ Freiburg Baroque Orchestra/ Gottfired von der Goltz, conductor – Harmonia mundi
A successful end to a trilogy of discs devoted to Mozart’s outstanding wind and orchestra works
Audio News for February 15, 2008
Ethernet Becoming Central to Advanced Digital Homes; Consumer Electronics in Australia; LG Launches Two Home Theater Systems
RATHGEBER: Mass 12, “Messe von Muri”, op. 12; Six Concertos from “Chelys Sonora”, op. 6; TELONIUS: Concerto 13 – Cappella Murensis/ Johannes Strobl, conductor/ Ensemble Arcimboldo/ Thilo Hirsch – Audite
A fine recording of an esoteric composer, recently unearthed in Switzerland
Joe Beck & John Abercrombie, guitars – Coincidence – Whaling City Sound
A duo session full of terrific ideas that combine a basis in roots music with a modern slant on the music.
Gone Baby Gone, Blu-ray (2008)
Many would agree that his achievement in this sometimes difficult-to-view but hard-hitting drama surpasses any of Affleck’s movie roles as an actor.
SORABJI: Un Nido di scatole; Djamî; St. Bertrand de Comminges (He was Laughing in the Tower) – Jonathan Powell, piano – Altarus
All 88 keys always get a thorough working-out with any Sorabji piano piece.
MAHLER: “Titan” – a Tone Poem in Symphonic Form (Hamburg Version (1893) of the First Symphony); ROTT: Suite for Orchestra in E Major – Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra/ Anthony Hermus – Acousence Classics
A dual-disc sort of release, with a 96K option on DVD, but without a video component.
* BRAHMS: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Marek Janowski – PentaTone Classics
******** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
Across The Universe, Blu-ray (2008)
Had I seen this movie in the seventies it would have been undeniably life-changing.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Blu-ray (2007)
Surpasses the action-laden, but often mechanical, “Dead Man’s Chest”
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter”; Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 “Haffner” – Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/ Eugen Jochum – HDTT
The HDTT processing of the original precorded tape throws every note into pungent relief, a superior transfer of a classic rendition.
Alfredo Naranjo – Y El Guajeo – Cacao Musica
His sound reminds me of one of my favorites from the 1950s – Cal Tjader
Audio News for February 12, 2008
Selected 2008 Grammy Awards Winners
BOCCHERINI MADRID – Ophélie Gallard, cello and direction/ Rolf Lislevand, guitar/ Sandrine Piau, soprano/ Pulcinella chamber music group – Naive DualDisc
Spanish-influenced works of Boccherini plus two video documentaries on Gallard’s ensemble and their recording of the works.
BAX: Tintagel; Mediterranean; Symphony No. 2 in E Minor; ANTILL: Corroboree–Ballet Suite; GOOSSENS: Tam O’Shanter, Op. 17a – Various orchestras cond. by Sir Eugene Goossens – Dutton
Goossens, both as composer and conductor, earned a knighthood for his services to Australian music-making.
CHOPIN: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; 3 Nouvelles Etudes; Prelude in A-flat Major; Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45; MOMPOU: Musica callada No. 15; Prelude No. 9; El lago – Alexandre Tharaud, piano – Harmonia mundi
Moravec–and now Tharaud–remind us how much of the Romantic keyboard rhetoric the Preludes subsume.
SCHUBERT: Piano Works for Four Hands, Vol. 5 = “Grand Duo” in C Major, D. 812; Four Laendler, D. 814; Variations on an Original Theme, D. 813; Six Grandes Marches and Trios, D. 819, Nos. 2 and 3 – Allan Schiller, piano/John Humphreys, piano – Naxos
This pungent set of Schubert 4-hand staples captures the sensibility of the Schubertiads to warmly transparent effect.
Maceo Parker – Roots and Grooves – Heads Up
Maceo & big band: Tribute to Ray Charles & a journey back to funk
Larry Willis – The Offering – High Note
A pianist for all seasons/styles
OPPO Digital HM-31 HDMI Switcher
Not enough HDMI inputs? Here’s a solution.
Hello Mr. Paganini = PAGANINI: Non piu mesta; Caprice No. 24, op. 1; Variations on “God Save the King”; Cantabile; Nel cor piu non mi sento; Le Streghe; La Campanella; I Palpiti – Ning Feng, violin/ Thomas Hoppe, piano – Channel of China
A fine introduction to a new talent playing formidable music with grace and affection
STRAVINSKY: Jeu de cartes; Danses concertantes; Scenes de Ballet; Variations; Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra – Mark Wait, p./ Philharmonia/ Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble/ Orchestra of St. Luke’s/ London Philharmonic/ Robert Craft – Naxos
A formidable collection from one who knew the composer better than anyone else
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
