Monthly Archive: September 2008
Fifty Years of Everest and Some Reminiscences
In the only two and a half years of its existence Everest produced an enviable number of gems.
BRUCH: Symphonies No. 1, Op. 28; No. 2, Op. 36; No. 3, Op. 51; Violin Concerto No. 2; Concert Piece for Violin and Orchestra; Swedish Dances – Ursula Schoch, violin/ New Westphalian Philharmonic Orchestra/ Johannes Wildner – EBS (3 discs)
Definitely a release to fill an important gap, in sound to die for.
Heroes, Season One, Blu-ray 5-Disc Set (2008) Heroes, Season Two, Blu-ray 4-Disc Set (2008)
For the true fan, these packages are incredibly comprehensive, and offer a really interesting (if lengthy) viewing experience.
BOTTESINI: Concertino in C minor; Duo Concertante; Passioni amorose; Prelude to Ero e Leandro; Sinfonia from Il diavolo della notte, Overture from Ali Baba; Elégie – Thomas Martin & Franco Petracchi, doublebasses/LSO/Petracchi & Metthew Gibson – Naxos
The doublebass composer and virtuoso was considered at the time the Paganini of the doublebass and was also a renowned conductor who traveled the world performing.
Artur Rubinstein = BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”; BRAHMS: Intermezzo in B-flat Minor; SCHUMANN: Carnaval; CHOPIN: Ballade No. 1; Etude in E Minor; LISZT: Hungarian Rhap. No. 12; VILLA-LOBOS sel. – MediciArts
No doubt that we receive our money’s worth from this glorious recital by an inflamed Artur Rubinstein.
88 Minutes, Blu-ray (2007)
A very suspenseful thriller which doesn’t rely on a lot of extravagant special effects.
Bill Evans – Live in ’64 -’75
Eleven years with the legendary Bill Evans: a study in concentration.
Cannonball Adderley Sextet – Live in ’63
Videos of the prime time Adderley sextet.
ERNST KRENEK: Five Piano Pieces; Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 4; George Washington Variations; Echoes from Austria; Foxtrott – Mikhail Korzhev, piano – Phoenix Edition
Korzhev seems to have an affinity for the composer’s special style.
SCHUBERT: Schwanengesang; Die Taubenpost; Herbst; Der Winterabend – Robert Holl, bass-baritone/ Roger Vignoles, piano – Hyperion
This “cycle” has definitely stood the test of time as one of the greatest ever composed.
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, Rondo in A Minor; Concerto in E-flat for 2 Pianos and Orchestra – Artur Schnabel, piano/Karl Ulrich Schnabel, piano (K. 365)/ London Symphony Orchestra/John Barbirolli/Adrian Boult (K.365) – Naxos Historical
Virtuoso and pedagogue Artur Schnabel maintains his status as a great interpreter of the Viennese tradition.
BIBER: Rosenkranz Sonatas – Riccardo Minasi, violin / Bizzarrie Armoniche – Arts
One of the 17th Century’s richest gems and this recording of them is recommended most highly.
Audio News for September 12, 2008
Steinway and Danish Hi-End Manufacturer Join Forces; HD Radio Capability Part of More Home Entertainment Systems; LG Introduces Blu-ray Player with Netflix Movie Streaming; SIM2 and Entertainment Experience Join Forces to Provide “Better Than Blu” HT System
John Hicks, piano/Buster Williams, bass/Louis Hayes, drums – On the Wings of an Eagle – Chesky Records
Hick’s own As Bird Fly is one of the two tunes which seem to tie in with the album title – a last-recording tribute to the great John Hicks.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Blu-ray (2008)
Quentin Tarantino’s filmic world comes from kung fu, westerns, film noir and exploitation movies.
Taj Mahal – Maestro – Heads Up
Sounds as fresh today as he did on his debut back in 1968.
Michel Portal – Birdwatcher – Sunnyside
One of Europe’s under-recognized musical treasures records the disc of his life.
Rudresh Mahanthappa – Kinsmen – Pi Recordings
May be the best East Indian/jazz hybrid ever recorded.
Richard Bona – Bona Makes You Sweat – Decca
A live offering well recorded may be the best way to listen to this gifted musician.
DELLER. Folk Songs and Ballads – Alfred Deller, counter-tenor/ The Deller Consort/ Desmond Dupré, lute – Volume 1 of 6. Vanguard Classics (8 discs)
Now I know where Joan Baez got many of her early folk songs!
MARIO PILATI: Concerto for Orchestra in C Major; Three Pieces for Orchestra; Suite for Strings and Piano; By the Cradle – Tomas Nemec, piano/Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Adriano – Naxos
Probably the composer’s major composition, the concerto is optimistic in tone and full of joy.
MOZART: Don Giovanni, Blu-ray (2008)
For me the big star here was Marcos Fink’s wonderful portrayal of the put-upon Leporello.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
