Monthly Archive: October 2008
Casino, Blu-ray (1995)
Though perhaps a bit overly long, it is surely one of the great mob/gangster films of all times.
Orson Welles’ Don Quixote
During the 50s and 60s Welles shot sporadically and financed himself his unique take on Cervantes’ great novel Don Quixote.
Horizon 1: Premieres 2007 = MORITZ EGGERT: Number 9 VI /COLIN MATTHEWS: Turning Point (2006) / THEO VERBEIJ: Lied for Trombone and Orchestra / DETLEV GLANERT: Theatrum Bestiarum – Jörgen van Rije, trombone/Royal Concertgebouw/Markus Stenz – RCA Live
This very welcome new release from RCO Live is subtitled “new sound spaces – an orchestra expands its horizons”
ELLIOTT CARTER: Cello Sonata; Figments 1 and 2; Enchanted Preludes; Scrivo in Vento; Gra; Con Leggerezza Pensosa; Fragments 1 and 2; Elegy – Johannes Martens Ensemble – 2L
Carter for the uninitiated, and well worth hearing.
Viven Los Congueros – LA Jazz Institute’s Big Band Fiesta
From Cuban Fire to Sketches of Spain
Audio News for October 21, 2008
Hollywood Lawsuit Against RealNetworks for DVD Copying Software; Pandora May Quit Due to Doubled Royalty Fees
WALTON: Facade Suite; LECOCQ: Mamzelle Angot ballet suite – Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden/Anatole Fistoulari – HDTT
Another in the 96K/24 bit DVD-R series of transfers, now in a larger case.
Kiss of the Spider Woman, Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray (1985)
The film’s powerful story takes place primarily in the dirty cell of a prison in a right-wing dictatorship.
BIBER: Fidicinium Sacro Profanum – David Plantier, violin and conductor/ Les plaisers du Parnasse – ZigZag
Sparkling Biber etched in great sound.
Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile – Deluxe Edition – Nonesuch Records CD + DVD
Innovative and energetic music from two of the best acoustic musicians of our times in a CD and DVD combo.
ANTON REICHA: Quintets No. 3 in E-flat, No. 4 in E-minor, op. 100 – Westwood Wind Quintet – Crystal
With this issue we have reached the halfway mark in the Westwood’s traversal of all 24.
GRIEG: Peer Gynt Suite; BIZET: Carmen Suite – London Symphony Orchestra/Oivin Fjeldstad (Grieg); New Phiharmonia orchestra/Charles Munch – HDTT
Two very familiar suites in the highest resolution 96K/24bit DVD-R form.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral”; Leonore Overture No. 2 – Kerstin Lindberg-Torlind, soprano/Else Jena, mezzo-sop./Eric Sjoeberg, tenor/Holger Byring, bass/Danish Radio Chorus/Danish Radio-Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Busch – Guild –
A no-nonsense, virtuoso account of the Beethoven Ninth from the baton of Fritz Busch, whose aggressive, driving approach will make auditors think of Toscanini.
Monster’s Ball, Blu-ray (2001)
Ebert pegged this one Best Film of the Year, and Halle Berry won an Oscar for it in the Best Actress category.
TANEYEV: String Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 31; String Trio in B Minor; String Trio in D Major – Leopold String Trio – Hyperion
Dark and nervous, the B minor string trio might be mistaken for a young Shostakovich in its modal, edgy and somber cast.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto No. 2 for Cello and Orchestra – BRITTEN – Suite No. 3 for Solo Cello – Pieter Wispelwey, cello /Sinfonietta Cracovia/ Jurjen Hempel – Channel Classics
These performances are near definitive, and with the incredibly good sound from Channel Classics, you’d be hard pressed to find a better coupling.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 4 – Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Bernard Haitink – CSO-Resound CD + DVD
The accompanying DVD presents the CSO’s series “Beyond The Score,” which features CSO principals and actors who narrate a travelogue of sorts.
MARTINU: Complete Music for Violin and Orchestra – Bohuslav Matousek, violin/ Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Christopher Hogwood – Hyperion
As with all of his output, I was immediately struck with how accessible and familiar the works rang.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Blu-ray (2008)
Another entry in the Indiana Jones series that is spectacular fun and doesn’t have Indy slowing down a bit in the many action scenes, even at age 65.
Brazilian Music Feature
Bossa nova is back and better then ever!
Ostad Elahi – Destinations: The Art of Oriental Tanbur Lute – Le Chant du Monde
To say that he’s a master of the instrument is an understatement, and those of you familiar with Eastern Indian music will find many similarities in the sonorities heard from the Tanbur.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Paul Desmond – On the Radio: Live 1956-57 – Acrobat Music
Another opportunity for fans of radio air shots of live jazz.