Monthly Archive: May 2009
GILES VIGNEAULT and BRUNO FECTEAU: Grand Mass – Suzie Leblanc, soprano/ Daniel Taylor (counter-tenor)/ Antoine Belanger, tenor/ Olivier Laquerre, bass-baritone/ Quebec Chorus and Symphony Orchestra/ Richard Lee, conductor – CBC
Horrible production values mar what could have been a winning disc.
MIECZYSLAW KARLOWICZ: Symphony in E Minor “Rebirth” Op. 7 – Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Jerzy Salwarowski – Dux
A beautiful little-known symphony expressing the beauty the composer found in nature.
Valkyrie, Blu-ray (2008)
There were from 17 to 42 different attempts on Hitler’s life, beginning back in the 1920s, and the Valkyrie (Anglicization of the German Die Walküre) Plot was the final one.
Audio News for Mary 22, 2009
Explore Internet Radio; Zenph Art Tatum SACD Nominated for Award; How Electronics Industry Can Flourish in a Down Economy
Edition Ferenc Fricsay, Vol. VIII = MOZART: Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail – Anton Dermota, tenor/Sari Barabas, soprano/Rita Streich. soprano/Helmut Krebs, tenor/Josef Greindl, bass/ Ernst Dernberg, speaker/RIAS Kammerchor/RIAS Sym. – Audite
This Abduction from the Seraglio enjoys that fluid resonance with which we associate the best of Fricsay’s idiosyncratic, generous Mozart style.
Mike Clinco – Neon – Whaling City Sound
An agile amalgam of contemporary and smooth jazz, rock influences, and some Latin inclinations.
Radio Romanista – Kal – Asphalt Tango
A new face of gypsy music.
ANDRE MATHIEU: Piano Concerto No. 4 in E minor; Ballet Scenes; Four Songs for Choir and Orchestra – Alain Lefevre, piano/Tucson Symphony Orchestra/George Hanson/Tucson Symphony Orch. Chorus/Bruce Chamberlain – Analekta
A surpassingly lovely piano concerto with a fascinating story of its origin.
Shura Cherkassky, piano = MENDELSSOHN: Andante and Rondo capriccioso in E Major, Op. 14; SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959; SCHUMANN: Carnaval, Op. 9; Der Kontrabandiste, Op. 74, No. 10; TCHAIKOVSKY: Cradle Song in A-flat Minor – BBC Legends
Ever the Cheshire Cat in music, Cherkassky seems more concerned with touch, left-hand articulation, and dynamic coloration than with logistics and architecture.
A Company of Voices (2009)
One of the most uplifting concerts I have ever seen or heard
GORDON GETTY: The White Election – Lisa Delan, soprano/ Fritz Steinegger, piano – Pentatone
An interesting cycle for sure, even moments of real inspiration, but a little uneven, given here in great sound and acceptable performances.
Andrea Fultz – The German Projekt – German Songs from the 20s & 30s – andreafultz.com
A captivating update to mostly Brecht songs from the Weimar Republic period.
A Company of Voices = Conspirare in Concert – Bion Tsang, cello/ Thomas Burritt, percussion/ Craig Hella Johnson, conductor – Harmonia mundi
One of the most uplifting concerts I have ever heard.
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 (9) in C, D 944 “The Great” – Bamberger Symphony/ Jonathan Nott, conductor – Tudor
Nott and company come fully into their own, and they create a reading that is wholly competitive with any of the greats I have listed.
“Originis” Live From Brazil – SERGIO ASSAD: Concerto Originis; GINASTERA-ASSAD: Three Argentine Dances; PIAZZOLLA-ASSAD: Milonga per tre; Auscencias; CLARICE ASSAD: Three Sketches – Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg and the Assad Brothers – NSS Music
A unique trio blending Italian and Brazilian influences.
HAYDN: Nine Piano Trios – Beaux Arts Trio – Pentatone RQR (2)
This two-disc set, priced as a single, comes at bargain price, and has given me enormous pleasure over the last few weeks.
Audio News for May 19, 2009
Chicago Symphony to Release More SACDs; Panasonic Announces Blu-ray Portable; Height and Width Channels Added to 5.1 Surround
DEBUSSY: String Quartet; Syrinx; Cello Sonata; Violin Sonata; Flute, Viola, and Harp Sonata – Sigiswald Kuijken & Veronica Kuijken, v./ Sara Kuijken, viola/ Wieland Kuijken, cello/ Barthold Kuijken, flute/ Piet Kuijken, p./ Sophie Hallunck, harp – Arcana
Revelatory? Not quite, but definitely eye-opening.
J. S. BACH: Solo Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3 (transcribed Korhonen) – Timo Korhonen, guitar – Ondine
An interesting and well-conceived new reading of the masterpieces.
CORELLI: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 “Christmas”; PACHELBEL: Kanon in D; RICCIOTTI: Concertino No. 2; GLUCK: Chaconne – Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra/Karl Munchinger – HDTT
Formidable listening, as Munchinger was one of the vanguard conductors of the neo-Baroque movement.
Mordecai Shehori: The Celebrated New York Concerts, Vol. 4 =Works of HAYDN, SCHUBERT, RACHMANINOV, MOZAFRT LISZT – Cembal d’amour
This fourth volume by Mordecai Shehori (b. 1946) extends his recorded discography by some important works.
Tony Bennett and Bill Evans – The Complete Recordings – Fantasy
I highly recommend this, especially for Tony Bennett fans that may have never heard of Bill Evans.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
