Monthly Archive: August 2009
DEBUSSY & RAVEL Music for Two Pianos = DEBUSSY: En blanc et noir; Jeux (poeme dansé); Lindaraja; RAVEL: Entre cloches; Rapsodie espagnole; La Valse – Vladimir & Vovka Ashkenazy, pianos – Decca
A delightful program of two-piano works by the impressionist composers.
Szymon Goldberg, violin, Vol. 1: Non-Commercial Recordings – Music & Arts (8 CDs)
Goldberg has traversed much of the canon of great violin literature in his extraordinarily fertile style.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67; Symphony No. 6 in F Major “Pastorale” Op. 68 – Tacet
Here is the DVD-Audio version of the disc we already reviewed in its SACD version.
GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from unfinished Symphony No. 10 – Solosts/Choruses/San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas – SF Sym. (2)
The latest addition to the SF Symphony SACD series is the composer’s most expansive effort.
ANTON BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 3 in D minor “Wagner Symphony” (Version 1873) – Bamberger Symphony/Jonathan Nott – Tudor
The many differing versions of Bruckner’s symphonies have created a “Babel of terminological confusion.”
Cello Concertos by BRUNO MANTOVANI & GILBERT AMY; PHILIPPE SCHOELLER: “The Eyes of the Wind” Concerto – Jean-Guihen Queyras, c./ Radio Sym. Saarbrucken/ Gunther Herbig./ Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra/ Alexander Briger/ Paris Orch./ Gilbert Amy – HM
Difficult, esoteric works for those who need the avant-garde.
Call to Freedom: The Music of a Great Nation – Spirit of America Band/ Ray E. Cramer, conductor – Paraclete
Come see what the kids are up to – a fine album of patriotic favorites.
Audio News For August 25, 2009
Netcaster Wins License Fees Ruling; Panasonic Blu-ray Player for Car; New Sony Wireless Line; Changes for Home Media Installers
A New Heaven = English Sacred Music – The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers – Decca
There is really nothing to complain about, this group being perhaps the foremost choral ensemble in the British Isles today, and one of the best in the world. Its recent Messiah blew me away.
Blech conducts TCHAIKOVSKY = Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64; Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48: Valse and Tema Russo; Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 (edited) – Berlin State Opera Orchestra/Leo Blech – Pristine Audio
Obert-Thorn happily resurrects the 1928-1930 Tchaikovsky inscriptions this fastidious conductor made for Electrola.
SAINT-SAENS: Today playing all his 1905 interpretations = Works of ST.-SAENS, BEETHOVEN, SCHUMANN & CHOPIN – St.-Saens, p. – Tacet
The redoubtable Saint-Saens performs his own and others’ music with a steadiness of temper and technique.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88; Carnival Overture, Op. 93; SUK: Serenade for Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 6 – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Vaclav Talich – Opus Kura
Vaclav Talich (1883-1961) was the illustrious conductor of the Czech Philharmonic.
State of Play, Blu-ray (2009)
An involving and suspenseful film for thinking adults.
L’Ecrit du Cri = Renaissance and 19th to 21st Century Songs – Ensemble Clement Janequin/ Dominique Visse, director & counter-tenor – Harmonia mundi
A neglected art form probably most suited for specialists.
BEETHOVEN/GRIFFITHS: The General; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5; Egmont (excerpts) – Maximilian Schell, narrator/ Adrianne Pieczonka, soprano/ OSM Chorus/ Montreal Symphony/ Kent Nagano, conductor – RCA
Beethoven the revolutionary? Not so fast…
Fred Jackson, tenor sax – Hootin’ ‘n Tootin’ – Blue Note/Analogue Productions/EMI
These players come out of rhythm n’ blues but are a hoot playing mainstream jazz.
SAMUEL BARBER: The Complete Piano Music = Sonata for Piano, Op. 26; Interlude No. 1; Nocturne, Op. 33; Ballade, Op. 46; Excursions, Op. 20 – John Browning, piano – Nimbus
The American composer’s keyboard legacy as played by his devoted acolyte.
Bach Family Motets = Music by J.C. BACH; J.M. BACH; J. BACH; J.L. BACH – Liz Kenny, theorbo/ Helen Gough, bass violin/ Keri Dexter, organ/ Choir of Clare College, Cambridge/ Timothy Brown – Brilliant
A trip down the Bach family tree, and uncovering quite a lot of talent.
“The Galant Bassoon” – Six Sonatas by TELEMANN, J.S. BACH & C.P.E. BACH – Matthew Wilkie, bassoon/Neal Peres Da Costa, harpsichord/ Kees Boersma, doublebass – Melba
The three instruments are clearly separated spatially on the soundstage but not so much as to destroy the musical sense.
Kurt Elling – Dedicated to you – Concord Jazz
The man can swing like crazy and is both a fearless improviser and creative wordsmith.
Mike Stern, guitar – Big Neighborhood – Heads Up
A sprawling collection of tunes that feature collaborations with a diverse group of A list musicians.
Audio News for August 21, 2009
Sony Dumps OLED Display Technology; Battery-Powered DAC and Headphone Amp; Plasma TV Growth; Toshiba Joins Blu-ray Disc Association; Speakercraft Enters AV Receiver Market; Samsung/Rovi Deal for New PVR
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
