Monthly Archive: July 2008
Cedar Walton – Seasoned Wood – High Note Records
Overall programming is outstanding, the four Walton originals are very worthy, the selection of covers is superb and the arrangements are marvelous.
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring; Petrouchka (complete ballet) – London Symphony Orchestra/ Sir Eugene Goossens – Everest Records
First sampling of a new CD reissue series from the UK bringing back the excellent Everest series of the late 50s and early 60s.
PUCCINI: La Boheme (complete opera) – Norah Amsellem (Mimi)/ Marcus Haddock (Rodolfo)/ Georgia Jarman (Musetta)/ Fabio Capitanucci (Marcello)/ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Gwinnett Young Singers/ Robert Spano, conductor – Telarc
As a standalone effort there are wondrous moments, but too many side issues keep this one from entering the list of immortals.
CHOPIN: Mazurkas – Complete – Antonio Barbosa, piano – Centaur
I recommend the Barbosa mazurkas for their idiomatic, sensitive readings, often with more than a fiery touch of excitement.
Audio News for July 22, 2008
Hollywood Moves on 3D Effort; Inexpensive HD Radio; Audiophiles Abandoning CDs, Survey Claims; Three “Mummy” Blu-rays Street Today
The Good Fight (1984)
This stirring documentary fills in a part of our nation’s history in the 1930s that many don’t even know about.
Michael Moore & Fred Hersch – This We Know – Palmetto Records
The two have performed in various bands together, but this is their first duo recording stint.
Robert Casadesus, piano = MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor; Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major; WEBER: Konzertstueck in F Minor – Robert Casadesus, piano/Cologne Radio-Symphony Orchestra/George Szell/Romanus Hubertus (Weber) – Medici Masters
The fiery, variegated sonorities Casadesus evokes from his instrument are as spontaneous as they are flawless.
Ry Cooder – I, Flathead – Nonesuch
His third concept album, complete with a 104-page hardbound book that ties in with the songs.
Fernando Otero, piano – Pagina de Buenos Aires – Nonesuch
He employs tango as the starting point for an instrumental sound having the improvisatory thrill of jazz but within a more formal, often classical structure.
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in Recital
This luminary of the keyboard maintains a cult status proportionate to his immense color gifts, his special ability to defeat the percussive nature of the instrument and render interpretations of crystalline purity.
Jerry Bergonzi – “Tenor Talk” – Savant Records
Bergonzi is the modern day equivalent of Clifford Jordan and George Coleman.
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op.11 – Noel Mewton-Wood, piano / Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter Goehr – Pristine Audio
Hindemith said “If you want to hear my music played as it should be, you must hear it played by Mewton-Wood.”
Guila Bustabo, violin = BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61; DVORAK: Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53 – Concertgebouw Orchestra/Willem Mengelberg/NWDR Sinfonieorchester. Hamburg/Hans Schmidt-Isserdtedt (Dvorak) – Tahra
Among the more brilliant and tragic personalities in music stands violin virtuoso Guila Bustabo.
David Murray, sax/Mal Waldron, piano – Silence – Justin Time
This is a terrific duo with one of the most exciting saxists playing today – David Murray.
SIBELIUS: Kullervo – Symphonic Poem for soloists, chorus & orchestra – Soile Isokoski, soprano/Tommi Hakala, baritone/ YL Male Voice Choir/Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/ Leif Segerstam – Ondine
This is the next big Sibelius work Segerstam and his Helsinki Philharmonic have committed to SACD.
PHILIP GLASS: Waiting for the Barbarians (complete opera) – Richard Salter (Magistrate)/ Eugene Perry (Colonel Joll)/ Michael Tews (Warrant Officer Mandel)/ Erfurt Philharmonic Orchestra/ Erfurt Theater Opera Choir/Dennis Russell Davies – Orange Mt.
A serious theme, powerful libretto, and same old Glass.
Ahmad Jamal – It’s Magic – Dreyfus Jazz
Among the finest discs of his long and brilliant career.
Batman Begins, Blu-ray [Limited Edition Giftset] (2005)
Restores a more fearsome and grim Caped Crusader, and ignores the previous films.
Panamax MAX 5400-PM Home Theater Power Conditioner
Designed to eliminate common symptoms of contaminated AC power.
Ben Allison & Man Size Safe – Little Things Run the World – Palmetto Records
A very strong outing, further securing Ben Allison’s place in the current jazz Pantheon.
Charles Munch Conducts (1966)
Watching these performances of music by Brahms and Ravel, we see the suave, long line Munch commanded from a superbly articulated baton technique.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
