Monthly Archive: May 2008
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: “The Mystical Colors of Christ” – Sel. from Meditations sur le Mystere, L’Ascension, La Nativite du Seigneur & Messe de la Pentecote – SharonRose Pfeiffer, James E. Jordan, and David Chalmers, organists – Gloria dei Artes
Marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of French composer Olivier Messiaen with a sampling of his musical legacy for the pipe organ.
The Lovers (1958)
Malle’s follow-up to Elevator to the Gallows, which also starred Moreau (and a score by Miles Davis)
The Company, Blu-ray (2008)
Michael Keaton chain-smokes RJ Reynolds’ entire manufacturing output of tobacco in his tireless search for the Soviet mole.
JOSQUIN DES PRES: Missa Sine nominee; Missa Ad fugam (plus revisions) – Tallis Scholars/ Peter Phillips, conductor – Gimell
Solid performances from the most consistent choral group around today
MICHAEL GORDON: Van Gogh – Sarah Chalfy, soprano/ Matthew Hensrud, tenor/ Clay Greenberg, bass/ Alarm Will Sound/ Alan Pierson, conductor – Cantaloupe
A lot of Philip Glass’s complex minimalism techniques, yet the piece is absent the same composer’s sense of structure.
RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 8, “The Journey”; Manhattan Trilogy; Apotheosis – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/ Pietari Inkinen, conductor – Naxos
The third CD recording of this wonderful composer’s latest symphony
TIPPETT: A Child of Our Time – Ute Selbig, soprano/ Nora Gubisch, contralto/ Jerry Hadley, tenor/ Robert Holl, baritone/ Dresden Staatskapelle/ Colin Davis, conductor – Hanssler Profil
Interesting as an historical document – and for a broadcast, very impressive sound.
DONIZETTI: Imelda de’Lambertazzi (complete opera) – Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Nicole Cabell/James Westman/Mássimo Giordano/ Frank Lopardo/Brindley Sherratt/Mark Elder – Operara Rara
A highly recommended recording of a “lost” opera and a must for Verdi connoisseurs as well; kudos to Opera Rara for the great open surround sound.
RESPIGHI: The Pines of Rome; Brazilian Impressions; ROSSINI: La Boutique fantasque (arr. Respighi) – Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera cond. – MediciArts
Galleria keeps it all moving sweetly and buoyantly, never too serious for its own good but all for our renewable delectation.
Willem Mengelberg Conducts = GLUCK: Alceste Overture; SCHUBERT: Rosamunde Overture; Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 “The Great” – Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Willem Mengelberg – Opus Kura
Mengelberg’s was a musical kingdom answerable only to himself. Wickedly compelling!
RAVEL: Bolero; BORODIN: Music from “Kismet;” BIZET: Suites from “Carmen”; ALBENIZ-ARBOS: Fete-Dieu a Seville, from “Iberia” – Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel – Telarc
The newest in the long-running Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops series of SACDs is another sonic blockbuster.
* SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 47 (1937); Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok Op. 127 (1967) – Philadelphia Orchestra/Christoph Eschenbach; Yvonne Naef, mezzo/Juliette Kang, violin/Hai-Ye Ni, cello/Eschenbach, piano – Ondine
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
Benchmark DAC1 2-Channel 192K/24-bit D-to-A Converter
Enhances playback quality of all but the very highest-end CD players.
BIZET: Symphony in C Major; L’Arlesienne Suites; DEBUSSY (orch. Caplet): Children’s Corner Suite – Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski – Cala
Many thanks to the Leopold Stokowski Society for their promotion of these fine recordings, remastered pungently.
Audio News for May 9, 2008
New TV Display Category: Laser; Criterion Collection to Issue Blu-rays; Pristine Classical Adds Audio Streaming Services
Philip Catherine – Guitars Two – Dreyfus Jazz
This new CD is the first unaccompanied solo album of his career and may be one of his best.
MSJO – Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra – Harriet Tubman (jazz oratorio) – Noir Records
A full-fledged, original and very compelling jazz oratorio, with swinging instrumental big-band numbers.
SCRIABIN: The Poem of Ecstasy Op. 54; AMIROV: Azerbaijan Mugam – Houston Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski – Classic Records
2 discs: CD + DualDisc DVD with both 2 & 3-channel DVD-Audio one side and both 2 & 3-channel Dolby Digital on other side
The Roger Davidson Trio – Bom Dia – Soundbrush Records
Davidson’s tunes are varied and interesting; they don’t fall into the one-note samba bag.
The Beauty of Two = GRIEG: Cello Sonata, Op. 36; HINDEMITH: Viola Sonata, No. 4, Op. 11; POULENC: Flute Sonata; MARTINU: Cello Sonata No. 3 – The Kennedy Center Chamber Players (David Hardy, cello/ Daniel Foster, viola/ Toshiko Kohno, flute/ Lambert Orkis
Do familiarize yourself with these works, as Orkis and company take us on a fascinating and rewarding journey.
Famous MENDELSSOHN Recordings = Symphony No. 4 in A Major “Italian”; Piano Concerto no. 1 in G Minor; Symphony No. 5, “Reformation” – Halle Orchestra/Harty (Italian)/Ania Dorfman, piano/ London Sym./Goehr (Con.)/Paris Conser. Orch./Munch – Dutton
Vintage Mendelssohn performances assembled under one roof, as it were.
STEVE NIEVE: Welcome to the Voice (complete opera) – Sting (Dionysos)/ Robert Wyatt (The Friend)/ Elvis Costello (Chief of Police)/ Barbara Bonney (Opera Singer)/ Sara Fulgoni (Ghost of Carmen)/Steve Nieve (piano/Moog)/Sting (elec. bass)/Brodsky Q. – DGG
Though DGG has given everyone involved excellent sound, this work does not come close to meeting the hype set for it.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
