Monthly Archive: March 2009
DVORAK: Slavonic Dances–Complete; Carnival Overture, Op. 92 – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Vaclav Talich – Naxos
These vivacious and infinitely sympathetic readings of 1935 of the Dvorak Slavonic Dances feature the sublime artistry of Vaclav Talich, then at the peak of his form at the podium.
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio – What a Wonderful Trio! – First Impression Music DXD
Three different formats were used: 15ips 1/4-inch Studer open reel tape; ProTools 192K/24-bit digital; and the 352.8K/24-bit DXD mastering used for this bit-mapped Red Book CD release.
PROKOFIEV: Piano Transcriptions from Cinderella: 3 Pieces, Op. 95; 10 Pieces, Op. 97; 6 Pieces, Op. 102; Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 “Classical” – Temirzhan Yerzhanov, piano – Con Brio
A natural colorist, Prokofiev sets many of his Cinderella themes in various, multi-chromatic registers.
The Who, Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, Blu-ray (1970/2009)
The show’s a total blast to watch, and a real throwback to the hippie/sixties days.
J.S. BACH: The French Suites; Italian Concerto; Fantasia and Fugue – Francesco Cera, harpsichord – Arts
The instrument which Cera has chosen is somewhat unusual – an accurate copy constructed in 2006 after a French double-manual instrument of 1691.
Rescue Dawn, Blu-ray (2006)
The story of German-American pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale). Dieter’s plane was shot down over Laos at the start of the Vietnam War.
Phil Woods: The Children’s Suite (Inspired by the verses of A.A. Milne) Jazzed Media
The selections are a delight, beautifully capturing the simple appeal of Milne’s world.
Frank Macchia – Saxolollapalooza – Cacophony
The concept is basic but brilliantly achieved: throw six saxophone players together with a percussionist and book some studio time.
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Sally Hawkins is amazing and adorable as a very together elementary school teacher who has a penchant for understanding and helping people having rough times.
Audio News for March 13, 2009
Dolby Pro Logic Adds Height Dimension
JOHANN WILHELM WILMS: Sinfonie und Solokonzerte (Forgotten Treasures Vol. 4) = Clavier Concerto in C Major; Symphony in E Flat Major; Flute Concerto in D Major – Paolo Giacometti, hammerklavier/Martin Sandhoff, flute/ Cologne Academy/Michael Willens – ARS
The early Wilms concerto would fit right in with any program of Mozart piano concertos without taking a back seat.
Phonomena II Phono Preamplifier
Low noise floor, transparent reproduction, sensible cost.
Menuhin and Gendron = BRAHMS: Double Concerto in A Minor, Op. 102; BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 – Yehudi Menuhin, violin/Maurice Gendron, cello/Hephzibah Menuhin, piano/London Symphony Orchestra/Istvan Kertesz – BBC Legends
A rare treat, even for the most scrupulous collectors of historical performances: three esteemed principals and conductor, none of whom commercially inscribed the Beethoven concerto.
JOHANN FRIEDRICH FASCH: Six Concerti from Dresden and Darmstadt – il Gardellino – Accent
This was a very pleasant baroque music discovery for me.
Jazz at the Pawnshop – K2HD Mastering reissue, using 100K/24-bit mastering, 99.9999% silver CD. 2 Red Book CDs, 46:15, 42:02 – First Impression Music
In close A/B comparison tests, it actually betters the already excellent 4.0-channel surround sound SACD.
MILK, Blu-ray (2009)
Sean Penn shines in inhabiting the role of the first openly gay man elected to public office, and fully deserved the Oscar he received for his portrayal.
Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy = BACEWICZ: Concerto for String Orchestra; PENDERECKI: Concerto for Cello (viola) and Chamber Orchestra; KANCHELI: Valse Boston for Piano and Strings -Soloists /Chamber Orch. of Tychy – AUKSO/Marek Mos – BeArTon
The Concert Hall of the Katowice Music Academy has very fine acoustics, and the results on this superb SACD are excellent in both surround and in stereo.
2008 Mt. Hood Jazz Band + Combos – Doin’ The Best Deeds – Sea Breeze Vista
This college band has certainly done its best deeds on the CD.
“Dreamscape” = KEITH MERRILL BRADSHAW: Desertscape; JEFFREY HOOVER: September; Dreaming ROBERT FRUEHWALD: Terpsichore; Andy and Me – Michael Dean, clarinet/ Tyson Wunderlich, piano – [clarinetmike.com]
Probably for clarinetists or their fans only
Ataulfo Argenta = Zarzuela and Spanish Orchestral Music: Works of CHAP, CHUECA, BRETON, GURIDI, GRANADOS, ALBENIZ & TURINA – Medici Masters
There is a quintessentially Spanish sound to these recordings; although the two orchestras do not challenge their colleagues in Berlin or Vienna, the idiomatic playing overcomes any shortcoming in virtuosity.
BRAHMS by Furtwaengler = Haydn Variations, Op. 56; Symphony No. 1 in C Minor – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwaengler – Tahra
The sheer, formal might of the sonata-form process ending the symphony carries the players forward, the textures in constant, agitated locomotion, sweeping us to an inevitable, contrapuntal peroration, a world-historical moment.
PHIL KLINE: Around the World in a Daze – 2 DVDs, ten-movement work in DVD-Audio surround, DD 5.1 surround and PCM stereo, and DTS 5.1 surround. 2nd DVD: video with DTS & DD surround – “Meditation” + Phil Kline interviewed – Starkland
Kline is really more of a conceptual artist who works with spatial sounds than a new music composer.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
