Monthly Archive: January 2009
The Clayton Brothers – Brother to Brother – ArtistShare
A tribute to family and great jazz of the recent past.
FAURE: Ballade, Op. 19; Mazurka, Op. 32; 4 Waltz-Caprices; 9 Preludes, Op. 103 – Jean-Claude Pennetier, piano – Mirare
Pianist Pelletier brings a vivid, relaxed, and wonderfully flexible panache to this most intimate of keyboard composers.
Gianluigi Trovesi all’opera – Profumo di Violetta – ECM
This is to me the most interesting release ECM has offered in years.
Eliane Elias – Bossa Nova Stories – with orch. arr. & conducted by Rob Mathes – Blue Note Eliane Elias – Something For You (Eliane Elias sings & plays Bill Evans) – Blue Note
Elias’ latest two CDs are both winners for the Brazilian-born singer-pianist.
The Loeki Files – Amsterdam Loeki Stardust (Recorder) Quartet and friends, 1978-2008 – Channel Classics CD + DVD
A 30-year aural and visual sampler of the world’s leading recorder quartet
Audio News for January 13, 2009
Blu-ray and HDMI Promise Exciting Acceptance of Hi-Res Surround; The Tape Project Announces Second Release Series; CEA 2009 Forecast
Day Watch, Blu-ray (2006/09)
The sequel to the Russian film “Night Watch” is felt to be superior to the original.
LOUIS SPOHR: String Sextet in C major Op. 140; Nonet in F major Op. 31 – Camerata Freden – Tacet
A virtuoso performance rich in the string and woodwind colors and textures that demonstrate the merits of a high-quality sound system.
Jim Hall and Bill Frisell – Hemispheres – ArtistShare
Two generations of jazz guitar come together on an incomparable collaboration.
FAURE: Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15; Piano Quartet No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 45 – Adaskin String Trio/Sally Pinkas, piano – MSR
After these ferociously gorgeous Faure readings, I want to know the performers better.
PS Audio GCPH Phono Preamplifier
Definitely worth your consideration if looking to spend around $1000 on a phono preamp.
MAGNUS LINDBERG: Sculpture for Orchestra; Campana in Aria for horn and orchestra; Concerto for Orchestra – Esa Tapani, horn/ Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra /Sakari Oramo – Ondine
One of the most intriguing and challenging discs I’ve heard in a long time.
MOZART: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 = Agnes Giebel, soprano/Vera Soukoupova, alto/Georg Jelden, tenor/Heinz Rehfuss, bass/Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Czech Choir/Karel Ancerl – Tahra
This special disc–in stereo and “present“ sound–boasts the only preserved inscription of the Mozart Requiem led by Karel Ancerl.
HANDEL: Messiah (complete); Bonus disc from other Coro recordings – Carolyn Sampson, soprano/ Catherine Wyn-Rogers, alto/ Mark Padmore, tenor/ Christopher Purves, baritone/ The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers, conductor – Coro
A period-instrument Messiah for the ages!
Music@Menlo Live: Season 6 (2008): The Unfolding of Music II – (5 CDs box set)
The music-making is very generous, coming from the hearts of musicians who not only care about the music they play but enjoy it as well.
FAURE: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 63; DEBUSSY: 12 Preludes, Book I; Prelude No. 7, Book II “La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune”; RAVEL: Laideronette–Empress of the Pagodas, from Mother Goose; Sonatine – Mindru Katz, piano – Cembal d’amour
Kudos to pianist-producer-editor Mordecai Shehori for the perfect homage to his distinguished teacher and musical mentor, Mindru Katz.
Victor Hugo in Music = Songs by SAINT-SAENS, LISZT, HAHN, FAURE, LALO, LACOMB, VIDAL – Konstantin Wolff, bass-baritone/ Trung Sam, piano – Harmonia mundi
Great concept, wonderful unknown music, and a rich-toned singer. How can you go wrong?
JOHN TAVENER: Ex Maria Virginie; Birthday Sleep; O, Do Not Move; A Nativity; Marienhymne; O Thou Gentle Light; Angels – James McVinnie & Simon Thomas Jacobs, organ/ Stefan Berkieta, baritone/ Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/ Timothy Brown – Naxos
A new Tavener album, but is he overplaying his hand?
RAMEAU: “La Pantomime” – Harpsichord Pieces – Skip Sempé and Olivier Fortin, harpsichords – Paradizo CD + DVD
A pleasure to see the two harpsichordists in action and the lovely 18th century instruments.
MEIRA WARSHAUER: Shachrit; Like Streams in the Desert; Ahavah – Stephanie Gregory, soprano/ Jennifer Hines, mezzo-soprano/ Michael Hendrick, tenor/ Carol Potter, narrator/ Slovak Philharmonic Chorus and Radio Orchestra/ Kirk Trevor, conductor – Albany
An unusual collection from a talented composer who finds inspiration in her Jewish roots
SAARIAHO: Notes on Light; Orion; Mirage – Karita Mattila, soprano/ Anssi Karttunen, cello/ Orchestre de Paris/ Christoph Eschenbach, conductor – Ondine
Tough going here, but the composer’s fans will be quite satisfied
SCHUBERT: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, D. 898; Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, D. 929 – Wu Han, piano/Philip Setzer, violin/David Finckel, cello – ArtistLed
These miraculous works transcend either joy or pathos and occupy the space of quasars and black holes, the stuff of new galaxies.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
