Monthly Archive: April 2009
HAYDN: Three String Quartets, Op. 71 – Auryn Quartet – Tacet
The flip side of the Opus 74 quartets appears, equally virtuous.
Todd Coolman – Perfect Strangers – ArtistShare
All of the original material was submitted to Coolman’s website, from an open call for compositions via his Internet-based learning community project.
Audio News for April 14, 2009
Multi-Room AV Users Support the Technology; “Retail Radio” in Restaurants and Shops; Constant Firmware Updating Hampers Blu-ray
GINASTERA: The Lamentations of Jeremiah; SCHNITTKE: Concerto for Choir – Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola/ Kent Tritle, director – MSR
Two remarkable discoveries of the highest order.
LORIN MAAZEL: 1984 (2008)
New opera based on George Orwell’s book.
ELLIOTT CARTER: Oppens plays Carter – Ursula Oppens, piano – Cedille
Elliott Carter’s piano music, no matter how often you listen to it, never seems familiar, is often shocking, and is always unexpected.
Never Say Never Again, Collector’s Edition (1983)
While some of the actors are inappropriate, Connery is at the center of this film, and it’s great to see him looking so good and offering a contrast to the very different Bond we see in current features.
David Leonhardt Trio – Explorations – Big Bang Records
The David Leonhardt Trio presents an excellent collection of genuinely enjoyable traditional jazz with just enough modern touches to appeal to a broader pop culture audience.
RICHARD WAGNER: Tristan & Isolde an orchestral passion (orchestral version by Henk de Vlieger) – Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen/Antony Hermus – Acousence DVD + FLAC
Just as Wagner was, de Vlieger is a master of emotions and I think of his music and the other three in his tetralogy as real musical masterpieces.
JOSEF SUK: Asrael, Symphony for Large orchestra in C minor, Op. 27 – Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Ashkenazy – Ondine
The work was engendered by the demise of the two people closest to Suk – fellow composer Dvorak and his daughter Otylka.
Peter Warlock – Some Little Joy (2005)
The Anglo-Welsh composer and music critic did his music criticism under his actual name Philip Heseltine, but usually used the pseudonym Peter Warlock for his music.
ESA-PEKKA SALONEN: Helix for orchestra; Dichotomie for piano solo; Piano Concerto – Yefim Bronfman, piano/Los Angeles Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen – DGG
The concerto is a celebration of a musical friendship between the two musicians. It possesses complex contemporary harmonic design but overall is Romantic in feeling.
CYRIL SCOTT: Lotus Land – Complete Piano Music, Vol. Five [TrackList below] – Leslie De’Ath, piano/with Anya Alexeyev, piano – Dutton Epoch
Altogether nine CDs of the composer’s piano music have now been released by Dutton, comprising 191 tracks, 125 of which are first recordings.
RICHARD STRAUSS: The Last Concerts = Don Juan, Op. 20; Burleske in d Minor; Sinfonia domestica, Op. 53; Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28 – Alfred Blumen, piano/Philharmonia Orchestra/BBC Symphony Orchestra (Till)/Richard Strauss – Testament
The bill for the Philharmonia Orchestra concert for 19 October 1947 advertised the “Personal Appearance of Richard Strauss: The Greatest Living Composer and Conductor.”
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15; MOZART: Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 333 – Solomon, piano/RAI Turin Orchestra/Lorin Maazel – Guild
Solomon’s crystalline technique and superb rhythmic sense made him to British keyboard playing what Lipatti conveyed to the Rumanian school.
Edition Ferenc Fricsay Vol. VII = MOZART: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201; Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, K. 543; Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 – RIAS Symphonie Orchester/Ferenc Fricsay – Audite
[Sym. No. 40:] This is Mozart conducted by Ernest Hemingway, recalling that man can be destroyed but not defeated.
ARVO PAART: In principio; La Sindone; Cecilia vergine romana; Da pacem Domine; Mein Weg; Fur Lennart in Memoriam — Tonu Kaljuste, conductor/ Estonian National Symphony Orchetsra/ Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Tallinn Chamber Orchestra — ECM
This is a terrific album that is sure to please Part fans and will delight anyone just coming to this unique composer’s music.
TERRY RILEY: In C – Carnegie Hall Presents – Sony Classical
This celebrates the 40th anniversary of the LP of the piece of new music that launched the entire minimalist genre.
Martha Argerich Plays Mozart – Live from Tokyo (2009)
A special concert honoring the teacher of the Argentine pianist, the great Friedrich Gulda, who passed away in 2000.
Vinnie Cutro & New York City Soundscape – Sakura – Royal Music Ensemble Records
The ten tracks on Sakura display a command of straightforward, mainstream jazz with a post-bop demeanor.
Barney McAll – Flashbacks – Extra-Celestial/Scrootable Labs
Flashbacks is a masterful achievement that reveals an engaging verve, and sophisticated yet earthy compositions.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60 – London Philharmonic/Georg Solti – Pristine Audio
A “sleeper” album conscientiously awakened by Andrew Rose and his XR remastering process.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
