Monthly Archive: May 2008
Kapell Rediscovered: The Australian Broadcasts – 2-CD set
Collectors will listen to it often, in spite of the sonic defects that make some moments almost unbearable.
What’s Going On – The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye Greatest Hits – Live in ’76, (2-DVD Collector’s Edition)
The Troubled Genius of Marvin Gaye
Audio News for May 27, 2008
Asian Electronics Stocks Down; Asian Electronics Firms Based in San Diego; Executives – Turn Your Blackberry Into a Universal Remote; Free CD-Quality Album Download Sampler
ALEXANDRE DENEREAZ: At Tutankhamen’s Tomb; The Dream; Scenes from Circus Life – Volgograd Symphony Orchestra/ Emmanuel Siffert – Gallo
In a country with almost 100% Caucasian population, the circus was the only opportunity to see people of different races.
BRUCH: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46; MASSENET: Meditation from Thais – Michael Ludwig, violin/Virginia Symphony/JoAnn Falletta – Hampton Roads Classics
Falletta tries for the lush side of orchestral Romanticism, a la Ormandy, and she elicits a clear, homogeneous, warm sound.
ALAN RAWSTHORNE: Practical Cats; Street Corner Overture; Madame Chrysantheme Ballet Suite; Theme, Variations & Finale; Medieval Diptych for baritone & orchestra; Coronation Overture – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/David Lloyd-Jones – Dutton
“Practical Cats'” settings varied depending on the personality of the particular cat being described.
Cherkassky = PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16; SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35; CHASINS: 3 Chinese Pieces; POULENC: Toccata; STRAVINSKY: Circus Polka; BEETHOVEN: Bagatelle in G Minor – Medici Arts
Sparkling runs and wicked, percussive riffs alternate lyrical outpourings with bold, saucy strokes and motor propulsion.
National Treasure 2 – Book of Secrets, Blu-ray (2008)
Treasure hunter Gates is back in this sequel, trying to clear the name of his great grandfather who has been implicated in the assassination of Lincoln.
National Treasure, Blu-ray (2007)
The story not only becomes a thrill-ride of a treasure hunt, but also a race to save the most precious document of American history from the bad guys.
Piano Archives: Arturo Benedetti Michelangelo = SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major; RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 40; CHOPIN: Waltz – Tahra
Push your Best of the Year CDs over one entry to the right!
Battle of Britain, Blu-ray (1969/2007)
The cast of the film consists of most of the top names in British films of the period.
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 – Royal Flemish Philharmonic/ Philippe Herreweghe, conductor – Pentatone
The start of a new complete set that will be worth collecting
Christ lag in Todesbanden = SCHEIDEMANN, TUNDER, BOHM, BACH; WECKMANN: Praeambulum primi toni a 5; BUXTEHUDE: Praeludium in C; BRUHNS: Praeludium in G; BACH: Sonata in C; Toccata and Fugue in F – Johannes Strobl, Organ – Audite
Rafter-shaking sound with heaven-shaking music make for a great experience
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major – BBC Philharmonic/ Kurt Sanderling – BBC Classics
From the opening movement, Sanderling reveals a kinship with an older form of Mahler interpretation.
Fritz Reiner = PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf; MOZART: The Impraesario– Overture; SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor; TCHAIKOVSKY: Marche Miniature; DEBUSSY: Fetes; BACH: Fugue in G Minor – NBC Sym./NY Philharmonic/ Chicago Sym. – Guild
The sound actually seems to improve as the music (briskly) proceeds, the audience heartily moved by Reiner’s frenzied energy.
Miles From India – Various Artists – Times Square Records (2 CDs)
Takes Miles’ music to a place it only visited once or twice, and it makes you wish it had gone there more.
The Bassface Swing Trio – Tribute to Cole Porter – Stockfisch
A hi-res stereo encore from the Bassface Trio to their first Stockfisch album, a tribute to George Gershwin
Audio News for May 23, 2008
Netflix Offers Hi-Speed Streaming of Movies; Blu-ray Profile Problems; Gimell Launches Surround Downloads
CNY (Central New York) Jazz Orchestra – Then, Now & Again – CNY Jazz Orchestra CD + DVD
Sounds like a first rate big band on the CD, never mind the DVD.
ALBERT ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 2; Bacchus et Ariane ballet suites Nos. 1 & 2 – Orchestre de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach – Ondine ALBERT ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 2; Pour une fete de printemps; Suite in F – Royal Scottish Nat. Orch./Stéphane Deneve – Naxos
Both fine versions; choice dependent on filler selections
“Legends of Jazz” Showcase, Blu-ray (2006)
Now those of us equipped for Blu-ray playback can luxuriate in both the enhanced images and surround sound
Goldring NS1000 Active Noise Reduction Headphones
They really do their job, but phones without the noise reduction circuitry can produce better sound for less money.