Monthly Archive: March 2009
SIR EUGENE GOOSSENS: Phantasy Concerto for piano and orchestra Op. 60; Symphony No. 1 Op. 58 – Howard Shelley, piano/Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox – Chandos
The Phantasy Concerto would probably do well in the concert halls today instead of the same tired old few piano concertos.
Audio News for March 10, 2009
Cheaper HDTV Options; Sony Laptops Feature SACD Recording; First Theatrical Movie Release with D-BOX
Johnny Cash’s America – Special 2-disc set: Full-length documentary DVD + Soundtrack CD – Columbia/Legacy
Even if you’re not a country music fan, this film is just as required viewing as the fine recent feature film on Cash.
Vinyl Accessories and Useful Tools for LP Playback – Part I
Beginning a series on useful products for the analog vinyl enthusiast.
Serenade = Music for Saxophone & Piano by M. ZACHARY JOHNSON: Adagio; Solitude; Serenade; Scherzo; Grand Sonata for alto sax & piano – Brian Horner, saxophone/Elizabeth Avery, piano – Sound Artist Records
A romantic yet modern tone is felt in all the works on the program.
Stephen Hough Recital = MENDELSSOHN: Variations serieuses; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 32; WEBER: Invitation to the Dance; CHOPIN: Two Waltzes; SAINT-SAENS: Valse nonchalante; CHABRIER: Feuillet; DEBUSSY: La plus que lente; LISZT: Two Waltzes – Hyperion
Intelligent and digitally gifted, Hough consistently likes to conceive his keyboard as an experiment-in-progress.
SHOSTAKOVICH Quartets, Vo. IV: String Quartet No. 10 in A-flat Major, Op. 118; String Quartet No. 12 in D-flat Major, Op. 133; String Quartet No. 14 in F-sharp Major, Op. 142 – Mandelring Quartett – Audite
In Quartet No. 14 Roland Glassl’s viola engages in some severe colloquy with fellows violin and cello in what one commentator calls “an extensive swan song of the world.”
Donnie Darko, Blu-ray Director’s Cut (2001)
The story is entirely unpredictable, and encompasses many different film categories – teenage/school angst, parodies of middle-class life, sci-fi, humor, horror, thriller, psychological.
Brass 5.1 = RESPIGHI: Suite from “Ancient Airs and Dances;” MASSON: Concerto for solo trumpet and brass quintet; BOHME: Brass Sextet; SCHNYDER: Brass Quintet; Sel. from “Little Songbook” – Reinhold Friedrich and Mannheim Brass Quintet – Coviello
Switching between the stereo and surround options of this SACD makes one wonder why anyone would invest in one of the several super-high-end two-channel-only SACD players.
Jeff “Tain” Watts – Watts – Dark Key Music
High voltage Watts
Aaron J Johnson – Songs of Our Fathers – Bubble Sun Records
A brilliant release that deserves your attention
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25; Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60 – The Nash Ensemble – Onyx
Probably the best Brahms chamber music disc I will hear all year.
Portland Jazz Festival – Somethin’ Else – Feb. 13-22, 2009
Very much alive and still kicking…..
Spellbound = GUBAIDULINA: …The Deceitful Face of Hope and of Despair; MARI TAKANO: Concerto for Flute; BEAMISH: Flute Concerto, “Callisto” – Sharon Bezaly, flute/ Gothenburg Sym./ Mario Venzago/ Swedish Chamber Orch./Martyn Brabbins – BIS
The magic playing of Sharon Bezaly holds us “Spellbound”
Emil Gilels = BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major; Eroica Variations; SCRIABIN: Etude, Op. 2, No. 1; Etude, Op. 8, No. 2; 5 Preludes, Op. 74; RAVEL: Jeux d’eau; Alborada del gracioso; POULENC: Pastourelle – Emil Gilels, piano – BBC Legends
A polished recital by veteran Russian pianist Emil Gilels given at Cheltenham Town Hall 1980 provides several exemplars of his personal style, much of which communicated a Francophile’s taste and refinement.
I’ve Loved You So Long, Blu-ray (2008)
This is a completely gripping drama and the slow blossoming of the Thomas character is beautifully handled by both the actress and filmmaker.
Hurricane on the Bayou, IMAX Blu-ray (2007)
A most moving and educational documentary which ties in the Katrina disaster to the need to replace the lost wetlands of Lousiana.
A Celebration of Leonard Bernstein (2008)
A superb program of music and information about the genius of Leonard Bernstein.
Sideways, Blu-ray (2004)
This is a thoroughly grown-up comedy from the same director who did Election and About Schmidt – both winners.
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper – You Don’t Have to Like Them Both – Red Beet Records
Moving and heartfelt music from two of Nashville’s rising stars of Americana.
Daniel Roth Plays the Cavaille-Coll Organ at Saint-Ouen – Daniel Roth, organ – JAV Recordings
This is truly an organ recital for the ages, and offers a tremendous education for the listener with regard to the Saint-Ouen and Cavaille-Coll organs.
SCHUBERT: Winterreise – Steve Davislim, tenor/ Anthony Romaniuk, piano – Melba
May be the best-sounding recording of Schubert’s most personal work on the market
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
