Monthly Archive: March 2008
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453; Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 – Norwegian Chamber Orchestra/Leif Ove Andnes, piano and conductor – EMI Classics
The indefatigable Leif Ove Andnes assumes the mantle of the late Edwin Fischer–quite literally, having adopted Fischer’s arrangement of Beethoven’s cadenza for K. 466.
SIBELIUS: Pelleas et Melisande–Incidental Music, Op. 46; The Oceanides–Symphonic Poem, Op. 73; Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105; Tapiola, Op. 112 – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham – EMI Great Recordings of the Century
If anyone were a self-appointed guardian of Sibelius’ tonal treasures, it was the inimitable Sir Thomas Beecham.
Antonio Gaudi (1984)
The BBC documentary is simply fascinating, filling in many details about the architect which you don’t get from Teshigahara’s striking art film.
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Cello Concerto in A Minor. Op. 129; BLOCH: Shlomo–Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra – Leonard Rose, cello/New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein; Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy (Bloch) – HDTT
Culled from 4-track prerecorded CBS tapes, this restoration features two classic performances by the legendary cellist Leonard Rose.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36; RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13; PROKOFIEV: Ode to the End of the War, Op. 105 – BBC Symphony Orchestra/Gennady Rozhdestvensky – BBC Legends
By the last chord, the Royal Albert Hall audience is already in paroxysms of pleasure.
Bamboo – John Kaizan Neptune, shakuhachi, with Arakawa Band – EMI Music/First Impression Music
Amazing new sounds from both the simple bamboo flute, and from FIM’s K2 HD Mastering process.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Sonatas No. 1 in C, Op. 12; Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 61; Ten Aphorisms, Op. 13; Dances of the Dolls – Melvin Chen, piano – Bridge
This essential survey of Shostakovich keyboard works reveals Melvin Chen as an articulate spokesman for modernism.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21; Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” – Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vanska – BIS
Enter Vanska’s tonal world and be refreshed in a Pastoral of uncommon beauty.
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”; GERSHWIN: Piano Concerto in F Major – Shura Cherkassky, piano/ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/ Ronald Zollman/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Vernon Handley (Gershwin) – BBC Legends
More sensational music performances from the late Ukrainian keyboard colorist Shura Cherkassky.
The Kite Runner (2007)
This was one of the most moving and touching films of the past year.
WAGNER: Opera Overtures and Preludes = The Flying Dutchman–Overture; Lohengrin–Prelude, Act I; Parsifal: Prelude, Act I and Good Friday Spell; Siegfried Idyll; BRAHMS: Academic Festival Ov. – Boston Sym. Orch,/ Serge Koussevitzky – Naxos Historical
Rich and variegated music-making throughout, typical of the rounded orchestral sheen Kousseivtzky commanded.
Audio News for March 25, 2008
Chesky Records Launches Hi-Res Downloads; Higher-res Historical Reissues
Enchanted, Blu-ray (2007)
Disney playfully pokes fun at itself and its beloved animated classics throughout the movie.
Celibidache Conducts Prokofiev & R. Strauss (1970)
A rare television moment from Rumanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache (1912-1996)
Michael Blake Sextet – Amor De Cosmos – Songlines
Interesting avant material from Michael Blake
Dave Corbus – Sound Down – Jazzed Media
Another winner from the Jazzed Media label
FALLA: El amor brujo (Love the Magician); GRANADOS: Intermezzo from “Goyescas;” RAVEL: Pavane pour une infante défunte, Alborada del Gracioso – Nati Mistral, soprano/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Rafael Frühbeck De Burgos – Decca/First Impression Music
Another K2 HD reissue which somehow achieves higher resolution with the CD 44.1K standard
STEVE REICH: Music for 18 Musicians – Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble/Bill Ryan – Innova
What an unexpected musical and audiophile treat!
Whit Williams’ Now’s the Time Big Band – MAMA Records
A hard-charging big band
SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44; DVORAK: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 – Artur Schnabel, piano/Pro Arte Quartet – Music & Arts
For 1934, musical miracles of their kind that still sing at every measure.
BRAHMS: Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Op. 56a; SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, “Tragic”; R. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks – Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Otto Klemperer – Music & Arts
These muscular renditions of Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss testify to the kind of sinewy discipline Otto Klemperer could elicit from an ensemble.
The Gift of Music (1993/2007)
An Intimate 1993 Portrait of Leonard Bernstein, narrated by Lauren Bacall
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
