Monthly Archive: June 2009
HAYDN: The Creation (in German) – Sally Matthew (Gabriel, Eva)/ Ian Bostridge (Uriel)/ Dietrich Henschel (Raphael, Adam)/ London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Colin Davis, conductor – LSO Live
The best modern edition in German to come around for years.
The Celtic Viol = Airs and Dances by O’Carolan, Simon Fraser, Niel Gow, James Macpheson, William Marshall, and traditional Irish and Scottish – Jordi Savall, treble viols/ Andrew Lawrence-King, Irish harp and psalterium – AliaVox
Savall goes Celtic—and the result are just as you might predict.
Michael Rabin Collection, Vol. 2 = Violin Works of BRAHMS, WIENIAWSKI, BRUCH, MENDELSSOHN, KREISLER, SAINT-SAENS, CRESTON, MASSENET, YSAYE, MILHAUD, others – Doremi (3 discs)
A second volume of rare and historic collaborations and solo work from Michael Rabin, the tragic American talent whom we lost much too early in a meteoric career, warrants our attention.
Clara Haskil, piano = Works of MOZART, BEETHOVEN, SCHUMANN – with RIAS Sym. Orch./Ferenc Fricsay – Audite (2 CDs)
Haskil’s ability to make a singing tone of the keyboard embodied her especial gift, which few have equaled or surpassed.
Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui – Siwan – ECM
Another interesting mix of world music and jazz, which adds an early classical music element.
Joey Peró – “Resonance” – self-published
The virtuoso trumpeter covers many contrasting styles in a potpourri of boundary-breaking music.
Scotty Barnhart – Say It Plain – DIG
The whole album is very well put together and a testament to the skills of trumpeter Barnhart.
VINCENT D’INDY: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 = Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 57; Tableaux de voyage, Op. 36; Karadec, Op. 34 – Iceland Symphony Orchestra/Rumon Gamba – Chandos
I had not heard Mr. Gamba in the first volume of D’Indy from Chandos, but this disc convinced me he knows what he is doing.
Three Violinists play BACH = Violin Concertos Nos. 1 in A Minor & 2 in E Major; Double Concerto in D Minor; Concerto for Violin and Oboe – Devy Erlih, violin/Henri Merckel, violin/Reinhold Barchet, violin/ Pro Arte Ch. Orch./Kurt Redel – Opus Kura
Quietly restored, devotional Bach, recommended to the adventurous who look backward for sweeter sounds.
RUED LANGGAARD: Messis – Flemming Dreisig, Copenhagen Cathedral Organ – DaCapo
One of the finest organ recordings I have heard; and with such rare and rewarding, largely romantic sounds, it is to be highly recommended.
MOZART: Piano Concertos No. 5 in D, KV 175; No. 8 in C, KV 246; No. 23 in A, KV 488 – Christian Zacharias, piano/ Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne – MDG
Volume five is here, and bring on the rest!
Fricsay: Music Transfigured – Remembering Ferenc Fricsay
Following his illness and operation, Fricsay was a changed man, one back from the grave, from a confrontation with the Infinite.
Woodstock – 3 Days of Peace and Music – 40th-Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition – Director’s Cut, Blu-ray (1969/2009)
The definitive disc reissue of this milestone event in the history of rock & roll.
HANDEL: Sonatas for Recorder and Harpsichord – Heiko ter Schegget, recorder/ Zvi Meniker, harpsichord – MDG
Yet another fine Handel recorder disc, this time in equally fine surround sound.
Inside Man, Blu-ray (2006/2009)
A bank heist thriller that keeps you guessing almost up to the very end.
Mordecai Shehori, piano, plays SCHUMANN and LISZT–The Poet and the Visionary = SCHUMANN: Arabeske in C Major; Widmung (arr. Liszt); Sonata in G Minor; LISZT: Harmonies du Soir; Saint Francis of Assisi Sermon of the Birds; Ballade No. 2 – Cembal d’amore
Shehori’s projects the dualisms that pervade these two Romantics’ perspectives of the artist and his response to worlds both natural and interior.
Clara Haskil, piano = MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 19; Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor (two perf.); SCHUMANN: Bunte Blaetter: 3 Pieces; Albumblatter; Abegg Variations; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4 – with RIAS Sym. Orch./Ferenc Fricsay – Audite (2 CDs)
Haskil’s ability to make a singing tone of the keyboard embodied her especial gift.
GOUE: Troisieme Quatour; Sonate pour violon et piano – Quatour Loewenguth/Alfred Loewenguth, violin/Francoise Doreau, piano – Azur Classical
A post-Romantic voice heavily indebted to the formalism of Franck and D‘Indy, with modal inclinations and strong, melodic aspirations.
ARENSKY: Violin Concerto in A minor; TANEYEV: Suite de concert – Ilya Gringolts, violin/ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Ilan Volkov, conductor – Hyperion
Another strong entry in Hyperion’s Romantic Violin Concerto series.
BACH: Toccata and Fugue in D minor; Prelude and Fugue in D; Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor; Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C; Fantasia and Fugue in G minor – Florence Mustric, organ – MSR
A snapshot of the pre-restoration sound of this 1956 German instrument—and Bach, for the most part, benefits.
SCHUBERT: Symphonies No. 1 in D; No. 3 in D; No 7(8) in B-minor – Bamberg Symphony/ Jonathan Nott, conductor – Tudor
The completion of the first SACD Schubert symphony series.
JACOB GADE: Jealousy = Jalousie; Leda and the Swan; Suite D’Amour; Rhapsodietta; Romanesca; Wedding at Himmelpind; Valse Capriccio; Copenhagen Life Waltz; Douces Secrets – Valse Lente – Odense Sym. Orch./Matthias Aeschbacher – DaCapo
Delightful light music, beautifully played and in sparkling surround sound.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
