Monthly Archive: August 2009
GRIEG: Works for Piano, Vol. 10 = Book V, Op. 54; Book VI, Op. 57; Book VII, Op. 62 – Antonio Pompa-Baldi, piano – Centaur
The lovely Notturno, as played in liquid, limpid style by Pompa-Baldi, suggests that he should have received the 2001 Gold Medal at the Cliburn Competition.
DVORAK: The Piano Trios = Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat Op. 21; Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor Op. 26; Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor Op. 65; Piano Trio No. 4 (Dumky) Op. 90 – Guarneri Trio Prague – Praga Digitals
The Guarneri Trio perform with consummate style and idiom, their long association showing in clear architecture and superb ensemble.
PER NORGARD: Symphonies No. 3 and 7 – Danish National Vocal Ensemble/ Danish National Choir/ Danish National Symphony Orchestra/ Thomas Dausgaard, conductor – DaCapo
Denmark’s National composer in works of genuine excellence.
Jeremy Udden – Plainville – Fresh Sound New Talent
An interesting excursion into folk-country-jazz.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Blu-ray – 2 discs (2006/2009)
The exceptionally well done documentary feature (also in hi-res!) offers tons of insight into the performances and the stage direction of this incredible performance.
Oran Etkin – Kelenia – Motéma Music
The music on this disc represents a decade’s worth of working and playing with African musicians in the U.S. and Mali.
Matt Wilson Quartet – That’s Gonna Leave a Mark – Palmetto Records
Effective dual-lead sax quartet jazz from fun-loving Matt Wilson
Steve Kuhn Trio with Joe Lovano – Mostly Coltrane – ECM
A marvelous effort that eloquently establishes and displays Kuhn’s enthusiasm and empathy for Coltrane.
SCRIABIN: The Complete Etudes = Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 2, No. 1; 12 Etudes, Op. 8; Eight Etudes, OP. 42; Etude, OP. 49, No. 1; Etude, Op. 56, No. 4; 3 Etudes, Op. 65 – Garrick Ohlsson, piano – Bridge
Ohlsson commands the huge tonal palette Scriabin demands as well as the requisite poetry that often assumes a mystical or solipsistic dimension.
City Brass Stuttgart – DANIEL SCHNYDER: CUBAC – Bach in Cuba; J. STRAUSS: Johann Strauss Operetta Medley; GOUNOD: A Cross Section of the opera Faust; VON SUPPE: Light Cavalry Overture; LOEWE: Suite from My Fair Lady – Coviello Classics
With 14 players, it’s not your usual brass quintet setup.
Georges Enescu: The Columbia Recordings = Works of CHAUSSON, CORELLI, PUGNANI, HANDEL & ENESCU – Opus Kura
Enescu can still laugh at his own esoteric sources and make great music besides.
Audio News for August 11, 2009
China’s Home Theater Market; Blu-ray Probable in Next Macs; Radio Shack Becomes The Shack; DivX Signs Up Two More Studios
BEETHOVEN Late Quartets, Vol. 1 – String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131; String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135 – Cypress String Quartet – Hewlett Foundation
The Cypress’ approach suggests a “revisionist” Beethoven from a modern perspective that still shares much with the groundbreaking path instituted by the Busch Quartet three generations ago.
Piotr Anderszewski at Carnegie Hall – BACH: Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826; SCHUMANN: Faschingsschwank aus Wien; JANACEK: V mlhách (In the mists); BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major – BARTOK: Three Hungarian Folksongs – Virgin Classics (2)
An extraordinary performance by a courageous young virtuoso who plays as if he had forsaken all for his art.
BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 3 – Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor Op. 2/1, Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major Op. 2/2, Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major Op. 2/3 – Igor Tchetuev, p. – Caro Mitis
I look forward not only to the next volume, but the completion of this project.
The Baroque Beatles Book, Rediscovered and Edited by Joshua Rifkin cond. the Baroque Ensemble of the Merseyside Kammermusikgesellschaft (All songs by LENNON & McCARTNEY) – Nonesuch
The producers wanted to take advantage right away of the current explosion of public interest in both the Beatles and in Baroque music in 1965.
Seabrook Power Plant – Seabrook Power Plant – Loyal Label
Listening to this is like being nailed to the wall in a straitjacket while a Black Sabbath 45 RPM single is played at 33 RPM. (Referring to one track…)
Louis Kentner: The Pioneering LISZT Recordings, Vol. 2 = Soiree de Vienne No. 6; 3 Paganini Etudes; La leggierezza; Gnomeinreigen; Liebestraum No. 3; Feux-Follets; Venezia e Napoli; R.W.-Venezia; En reve–Nocturne; Czardas macabre; MEYERBEER sel. – APR
Whether the piano becomes a xylophone, cimbalom, or drum corps depends on the relative sarcasm of the auditor, but there is no denying Kentner’s relentless technique.
Jack Cortner Big Band – Sound Check – Jazzed Media
Cortner and Stamm back again with a stellar big band.
Alvin Queen – Mighty Long Way – Justin Time/Enja
35+ years and still groovin…
Bud Shank Quartet – Fascinating Rhythms – Jazzed Media
Swan song for a life well lived….
Aurelia Saxophone Quartet – French Saxophones – DEBUSSY: Quartet in G minor; RAVEL: Quartet in F Major; ROUSSEL: Quartet in D Major; Works of BOZZA, DESENCLOS, FRANCAIX, RIVIER, SCHMITT & PIERNE – Challenge Classics (2)
Nearly 130 minutes of music for sax quartet, highlighted by glorious transcriptions of the Debussy and Ravel string quartets.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
