Monthly Archive: June 2008
The Jacques Loussier Trio Play Bach – 1989 Munich Concert
Bach’s music seems to be forgiving of every sort of of reformulation, but Loussier really has done something unique here.
Audio News for June 13, 2008
SRS Labs Penetration of Global Flat Screen Market; Vizio MPEG-2 Suit; Live Classical Music has New Home on the Net
ALBERT ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 3 in G minor Op. 42; The Spider’s Feast (complete ballet) – Orchestre de Paris/Christoph Eschenbach – Ondine
Eschenbach has already recorded the other three Roussel symphonies, and has earned praise for them.
There Will Be Blood, Blu-ray (2007)
A blistering look at the beginning of the oil industry seen through the life of an oil man – now in HD
SCHOENBERG: Brettl-Lieder (Cabaret Songs); Pierrot Lunaire – Jennifer Goltz, soprano/ Gayle Blankenburg, piano/ Inauthentica – MSR
The idea of pairing the wonderful Pierrot Lunaire with these songs is a stroke of genius.
HAYDN: String Quartets Nos. 1 – 6, Op. 20, “Sun” – Pellegrini Quartet – CPO
Those wanting the personal and gritty side of Haydn will find much to admire in the performances.
Von Schweikert Audio Visiun Universal Center Speaker
The first center channel speaker with Universal Timbre Matching
Company, A Musical Comedy, Blu-ray (2007)
Bobby is a perpetual bachelor celebrating his 35th birthday with all of his married friends and some of his girlfriends.
Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1990)
It would be difficult to find a finer performance than that of De Larrocha and Dutoit.
ELGAR: Cello Concerto in E Minor; BRAHMS: Double Concerto in A Minor; DEBUSSY: Cello Sonata – Paul Tortelier, cello/Yan Pascal Tortelier, violin/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult (Elgar)/Sir John Pritchard/Ernest Lush, p. – BBC Legends
The BBC archives give us three discreet concerts, of which the Elgar Cello Concerto with Boult at the Royal Festival Hall proceeds with sizzling acuity.
A Bridge Too Far, Blu-ray (2008)
Very little went as planned – both in the actual invasion and in the filmic epic on the subject.
Clifford Curzon: The BBC Piano Recitals (1959 & 1968)
Curzon plays the Schumann suite-ode to childhood quite directly, without mannerism, his wrists quite high above the keys.
Monty Alexander plays the songs of Tony Bennett – The Good Life – Chesky
Monty loves singers, and one of his mother’s favorite songs was Bennett’s “Because of You.”
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43; Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82 – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (No. 2)/Halle Orchestra/Sir John Barbirolli – Testament
The Fifth is a superbly controlled realization in which the Halle winds and strings seem to deliver every nuanced gesture their conductor demands.
FRANZ SCHMIDT: Das Buch Mit Sieben Siegeln (The Book of Seven Seals) – Wiener Singverein/ Tonkünstler-Orchester/ Kristjan Järvi – Chandos
This piece is a must for those who are devoted to sacred choral music.
CHARLES IVES: The Three Orchestral Sets = No. 1 – Three Places in New England; No. 2; No. 3 – Malmo Sym. Orch. & Ch. Chorus/James Sinclair – Naxos
This is the world premiere recording of the Set No. 3 – recently reconstructed by two Ives experts.
SCHUBERT: Fantasy in F minor for piano duet; Andantino varié in B minor for piano duet; MOZART: Sonata in D Major for two pianos K 448 – Katia and Marielle Labeque, pianos – KML Recordings
The Lebeques are so precise in their execution that another recording I sampled for comparison sounded downright sloppy!
Patmore Lewis, violin – Rillito River Project – LEWIS: Elemental Flow; R. STRAUSS: Sonata in E flat Major for Violin & Piano; ZYMANOWSKI: The Fountain of Arethusa; ALAN SEIDLER: Sonata for Violin & Piano – YouGlobalEntertainment
The opening world/classical/New Age selection has a special connection to a desert area near Tucson, AZ.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” – Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra /Andrew Manze – Harmonia mundi
This excellent disc is as full-bodied as they come, and offers an insightful interpretation in the guise of a “concept” album of sorts.
SCHUBERT: String Quartet in G; String Trios in B Flat Major – the Prazak Quartet and the Beethoven Trio – Praga Digitals
The Prazak Quartet is one of the finest chamber ensembles of our generation.
HANDEL: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 – Academy of Ancient Music /Richard Egarr, organ, harpsichord and direction – Harmonia mundi
A well-recorded, extremely well-played and historically informed performance by organist/conductor Richard Egarr.
Audio News for June 10, 2008
Blu-ray Audio-Only Demo Disc; Toshiba Profits Sink; Big Budgets at the Met
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
