Monthly Archive: December 2008
Jarhead, Blu-ray (2008)
It conveys the ridiculousness of war from the eyes of the soldiers, who eventually ship out from Saudi Arabia without having fired a shot.
Audio News for December 5, 2008
A Comprehensive Home Electronics Service Plan; Most Expensive Speakers Yet?; Home Theater Suggestions from Installers; Pioneer Increases Blu-ray Storage from 50GB to 400GB
Vladimir Horowitz, Welte-Mignon rolls 1926 – RACHMANINOFF: 3 Preludes; HOROWITZ: Moment exotique; BIZET-HOROWITZ: Carmen Fantasie; LISZT: Liebesbotschat, Valse oubliée; LISZT-BUSONI: Figaro Fantasie; BACH-BUSONI: 2 works; CHOPIN: Mazurkas & Etudes – Tacet
These are the original 1926 piano rolls which Horowitz cut, and the equipment has been newly tuned to a T by the leading expert on the Welte-Mignon system.
Firefly – The Complete Series, Blu-ray (2002/2008)
The demise of the innovative series – with three of these original 14 episodes not even aired – was evidently premature.
FRANK MARTIN Concertos = Polyptyque for violin solo and two small string orchestras; Passacaille for Strings: Andante; Concerto for Clavecin – Willi Zimmermann, violin/Rudolf Scheidegger, harpsichord/ Musikkolegium Winterthur/Jac van Steen – MDG
This orchestra may be the oldest chamber ensemble in the world, dating back to 1629!
Wayne Wallace – The Nature of the Beat – Patois Records
The music exudes a kind of joyousness. Wayne Wallace represents a high point of Latin jazz.
Joe Ascione Quarter – Movin’ Up – Arbors Jazz
Straight-ahead jazz of very high accomplishment
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61; The Creatures of Prometheus–Excerpts, Op. 43 – Alfredo Campoli, violin/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/John Pritchard/Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch (Prometheus) – HDTT
Campoli remained a steady, productive artist for British Decca for many years; his Beethoven performance derives from a HMV World Club 4-track tape.
Ricardo Silveira – Noite Clara – Adventure Music
What at first seems a rather ordinary excursion into Brazilian jazz eventually yields rich musical rewards
* DURUFLE: Requiem*(3rd version for choir, small orchestra and organ); Quatre motets sur des themes gregoriens; Messe Cum Jubilo**; 4 pieces for organ – Fugue, Prélude, Chant donné, Méditation — Soloists/Choir/English Sinfonia/Bill Ives – Harmonia mundi
******* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
The recording is spacious, yet clear, the small orchestra in the Requiem well balanced. The voices sound entirely natural, the soloists not closely miked.
George Szell Conducts – Cleveland Orchestra “Live in Tokyo” = WEBER: “Oberon” Overture / MOZART:, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 / SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 / BERLIOZ: Rakoczy March from “The Damnation of Faust,” Op. 24 – Sony Japan
This SACD is evidence for the very high quality of playing of the Cleveland and of Szell’s conducting, and the reputation Szell had for his orchestra’s tight ensemble.
Mark Colby – Reflections – Origin Records
A modern master of the tenor saxophone reflects on a long and fruitful career
Rod Stewart – The Definitive Rod Stewart – Warner Brothers (2 CDs + DVD)
If you want definitive Rod Stewart, this Warner Brothers package comes up short.
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic – Dawn of the Cycads: The Complete Ace of Hearts Recordings (1983-1987) – Cuneiform (2 CDs)
Few bands have successfully straddled modern classical music and rock as well as the Birdsongs of the Mesozoic have done.
The Pyongyang Concert, Blu-ray (2008)
This enlightening and entertaining disc easily ranks among my best of the year.
Tori Amos – Live At Montreux 1991/1992, Blu-ray (2008)
Rare early footage from Tori Amos live at Montreux
Richter = HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 44 in F Major; PROKOFIEV: Piano Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14; Legend, Op. 12, No. 6; 10 Visions fugitives, Op. 22; Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major, Op. 84 – Sviatoslav Richter, piano – BBC Legends
Richter = HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 44 in F Major; PROKOFIEV: Piano Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14; Legend, Op. 12, No. 6; 10 Visions fugitives, Op. 22; Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major, Op. 84 – Sviatoslav Richter, piao BBC Legends BBCL 4245-2, 75:37 [Distrib. By Koch] ****: The Royal Festival Hall recital of 8 July 1961 marks the British debut of Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997), who begins with the relatively rare 1776 F Major Sonata of Joseph Haydn, one of nineteen Richter committed to his programs in the course of his career. In spite of his rather percussive approach, the Haydn achieves a combination of bright militancy and restrained introspection, especially in the second movement, an Adagio of poised inwardness, The opening movement begins in the manner of a march but soon becomes an acrobatic two-part invention. Richter takes all repeats in the final movement, a Tempo di minuetto that luxuriates in pearly trills and lyrical swagger – despite the persistent coughing of the audience, as though they were auditioning for Violetta in La Traviata. The Prokofiev D Minor Sonata (1912) always provided a calling-card for Richter, which along with No. 6, he became closely identified, […]
Audio News for December 2, 2008
Seven Home Theater System Suggestions; Conductor Richard Hickox Dies; GRAMMY Museum Features Many Multimedia Displays
Russell Gunn – Love Stories – HighNote
Can jazz and hip-hop be successfully combined? Yes, if you’re Russell Gunn.
Michael Higgins – The Moon and the Lady Dancing
Simple, understated music that uncannily plants itself in one’s musical memory
The Third Man, Blu-ray Special Edition (1949/2008)
One of the first Blu-ray releases from the Cadillac of film reissue specialists.
“Sonatas & Meditations” – DAVID ANDERSON: Sonata for Doublebass and Piano; LUIS PRADO: Three Meditations for Doublebass and Piano; BOISMORTIER: Sonata in D Major, Op. 50, No. 3 – Jeremy Kurtz, doublebass & others – self
Kurtz has a rich cello-like tone and his instrument is perfectly captured in the first rate recordings.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
