Monthly Archive: October 2009
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas (complete) – Isabelle Faust, violin/ Alexander Melnikov, piano – Harmonia mundi
A well though out set with fabulous playing and some real revelations.
Audio News for October 30, 2009
New Stereophile-Sponsored Audio Show Coming; Django’s 100th Birthday; Wireless Power Charging Coming; HP Launches Online-Streaming Home Server
Anita O’Day, Live in ’63 & ’70 (2009) (Jazz Icons IV series)
O’Day was a one-of-a-kind vocalist who was described by fellow musicians as “first of all a musician and then a singer.”
Art Farmer – Live in 1964 – (Jazz Icons IV Series)
Superb video quality on Art Farmer 1964 Jazz Icons DVD.
Coleman Hawkins – Live in ’62 & ’64 – (Jazz Icons IV series)
Rare video of the Father of the Tenor Sax.
Claire Martin – A Modern Art – Linn Records
A remarkably enjoyable new album, easily confirming Claire Martin’s place as First Lady of British Jazz.
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto in D Minor, OP. 47; ELGAR: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61 – Ida Haendel, violin/City of Birmingham Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle – Testament
The legendary Ida Haendel performs two staples from her imposing repertory, and she realizes them brilliantly.
ELGAR: Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1; Chanson de Matin; GOUNOD: Ballet Music from Faust; GRIEG: Norwegian Dances; Peer Gynt Suite No. 2; BACH: Sleepers Awake (arr. Bantock) – City of Birmingham Orchestra/George Weldon – Historic-Recordings
With Sleepers Awake Weldon is in the Stokowski mode, and that comparison sells itself.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Trios No. 1 in C minor Op. 8, and No. 2 in E minor Op. 67; Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor Op. 40 – Rachmaninov Trio Moscow – Tudor
The three works reflect interesting stages in the composer’s life and are given superb performances by the trio of Russian artists.
Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty, Blu-ray (2006/2009)
For lovers of classical music and ballet, this is a must have, and for the uninitiated – well, prepare to be wowed by the overall spectacle!
Echo – Glory of GABRIELI = SCHEIDT: Echo; G. GABRIELI: Canzon septimi toni; Sonata pian e forte; 5 Canzons & Canzonas; MONTEVERDI: Suite for L’Orfeo – The Canadian Brass – Opening Day Ent. Group
A magnificent program of spatial Renaissance brass music performed by brass players who are probably far better, and playing on greatly improved instruments to those available in 16th century Venice.
Bob Marley, Stations Of The Cross (DVD + CD, 2009)
This film is only for die-hard fans and completists.
Jason Aldean – Wide Open Live & More!, Blu-ray (2009)
A talent to be reckoned with, and I fully expect we’ll hear much more from him in the near future.
Wagner, Gotterdammerung, Blu-ray (2008/2009)
The music here is to die for; Wagner’s leitmotif’s are so artfully crafted, and some of the finest music throughout the entire Ring takes place here.
Trio Leandro = DEBUSSY: Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp; CHITI: Prelude d’Automne; GENZMER: Trio for Flute, Viola and Harp; LAVRY: Suite Concertante; JOLIVET: Petite Suite – Andrea Soldan, viola/ Lena Fitoussi, harp/ Robert Buchwald, flute – NCA
The Trio Leandro formed around the instrumentation of the lovely Debussy Sonata performed here, and to play other works composed for or transcribed for the same trio combination.
Danish Violin Concertos, Vol. 1 = Works by Schall, Gade, Grøndahl, Frøhlich, Hartmann, Wellejus – Kai Laursen, violin /Aalborg S.O. / Jens Schrøder, Alf Sjøen / South Jutland S.O. /Carl von Garaguly – Danacord (2)
Volume 1 contains a pair each of classical concertos, romantic concertos and more recently written ones.
Battlestar Galactica – The Plan, Blu-ray (2009)
The idea is to fill in the story of how the Cylons planned to destroy the humans who had enslaved them, but from the Cylons’ viewpoint.
MONTEVERDI: L’incoronazione di Poppea (complete opera) (2009)
Another Glyndebourne winner, the third production of this opera in its history.
BENJAMIN BRITTEN = Unknown Britten – Les Illuminations (with three new songs); Rondo Concertante; In memoriam Dennis Brain; Untitled Fragment; Variations; Movements for a Clarinet Concerto – Soloists/Northern Sinfonia/Thomas Zehetmair – NMC
This CD contains much more than a postscript or shavings from a workbench and is a superb project superbly accomplished.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A Minor – New Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir John Barbirolli – Testament
A performance that makes us reckon Barbirolli as among the great Mahler votaries.
CHRISTOPH SCHAFFRATH: Overture in A Major for string and continuo; Flute Concerto in E Minor for transverse flute; Symphony No. XIII in G minor; Harpsichord Concerto in E Flat Major – Soloists/HandelFestspiel Orch. Halle/Howard Arman – NCA
Christoph Schaffrath was harpsichordist and composer to Frederick II and also played in the Dresden Court Kapelle (orchestra).
Eminem Live From New York City, Blu-ray (2005/2009)
His newer work may not be this critic’s style, but Eminem continues to resonate on a real emotional level with thousands if not millions of fans.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
