Monthly Archive: December 2009
Viktor Merzhanov, piano = CHOPIN: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; LISZT: 6 Paganini Etudes; SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53 – Viktor Merzhanov, piano – APR
Transfers of 1951-1956 from Melodiya LPs by Viktor Merzhanov (b. 1919), the famed pupil of Samuil Feinberg.
RACHMANINOV: Trio elegiaque No. 1 in G Minor; TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50 – Lang Lang, piano/Mischa Maisky, cello/Vadim Repin, violin – DGG
Music superstars Vadim Repin and Lang Lang in a new light, one perhaps less flamboyant but more collaboratively musical, in concert with veteran Mischa Maisky.
CHARLES IVES: Holidays Symphony – Keeping Score series, Blu-ray (2009)
The third of the current series of San Francisco Symphony concert videos with documentary introductions.
Toto – Falling in Between Live, Blu-ray (2007)
Toto combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard rock, R & B, and Jazz in a 2007 concert at Le Zenith in Paris.
GRAZYNA BACEWICZ: Music for String Orchestra – Concerto for string orchestra; Sinfonietta for string orchestra; Symphony for string orchestra; Music for strings, trumpets and percussion – New London Orchestra / Ronald Corp – Hyperion
The earliest work on this excellent CD is the Sinfonietta, first performed in 1936 under Grzegorz Fitelberg not long after her return from Paris, and which receives its première recording here.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor – Gürzenich-Orchester Köln/ Markus Stenz, Oehms Classics
This début Mahler recording reveals that their Kapellmeister clearly has something provoking to communicate about Mahler. It started with the Fifth and it leaves one begging eagerly to find out what his remaining Mahler recordings will reveal.
TOMASO ALBINONI: Concerti a Cinque Op. 10 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 & 11) – Harmonia mundi/ Claudio Astronio – Arts
Albinoni tries to make use of many of the musical fads of the period, including soto voce passages for echo effects and/or in minor keys, triplets, and the beginnings of what was to be the “gallant” style.
TANEYEV: Violin Sonata (1911); Romance, Op. 26, No. 6 for Violin and Piano; Piano Music, 1874-1910 – Ivan Peshkov, violin/Olga Solovieva, piano – Naxos
This collection of unusual pieces from Sergey Taneyev reveals the elusive nature of his eclectic musical style.
GRProject (Gabriel Riesco Project) – Sculptures in Time (Tribute to Chillida) – WUC
A friendly jazz outing that showcases Riesco’s compositional talent, guitar skills and his leadership role.
Audio News for December 18, 2009
LG 23-inch Full HD 3D TV; Amazon Blu-ray Bargains; Panasonic to Invest in “Green Home” Plan; Handheld Display Market Cooking
Bill Frisell – Blues Dream Live (2009)
Frisell incorporates traditional jazz, folk, country, fusion, progressive jazz, post-bop and rock into his aesthetic and does so in a singular way.
ENESCU: Impressions of Childhood, Op. 28; SCHNITTKE: Violin Sonata No. 1; R. STRAUSS: Violin Sonata in E-flat, Op. 18 – Andreas Buschatz, violin/ Tahmina Feinstein, piano – NCA
Three seemingly incompatible composers joined on one disc in perfect accord.
The Mel Brooks Collection – Nine Films, Blu-ray (1970-1993/2009)
What a package! Comedy fans will go nuts over this lavish collection (SRP: $140) of some some of Brook’s best films.
SCHOENBERG: Piano Music (complete) – Hardy Rittner, piano – MD&G
Sound the alarm—a new Schoenberg piano disc!
FRANK MARTIN: Mass for Two Four-Part Mixed Choirs; KODALY: Missa Brevis for Mixed Choir and Organ; POULENC: 14 Litanies a la Vierge Noire – Max Hanft, organ/ Bavarian Radio Choir/ Peter Dijkstra – BR Classic
A fine effort from the Bavarian Radio Choristers, on their own label.
Inglourious Basterds, Special Edition, Blu-ray (2009)
Quentin Tarantino’s wacky re-write of how WWII might have ended early with the destruction of all the top Nazi brass including Hitler.
Audio News for December 15, 2009
2010 Could Be Big for Blu-ray; Wireless PC-to-TV Adapter Disappointment; DVD & Blu-ray Gift List; Google to Launch New Direct-Sell Phone
LEOS JANACEK: Orchestral Suites from the Opera, Volumes 2 & 3 – New Zealand Sym. orch./Peter Breiner – Naxos
Janacek sought in his operas more realism and connection with everyday life, and he had an expanded view of tonality, while leaning toward folk influences and modal structures.
The Busch Quartet = SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887; String Quartet No. 8 in B-flat Major, D. 112 – Busch String Quartet – Pristine Audio
Immaculately restored by Andrew Rose, the original HMV shellacs now shine without any of the surface swish that plagued the originals.
THE BEATLES REMASTERED 14-album Stereo Reissue Set Apple/Capitol/EMI
If you’re been resisting the Beatles Remastered in Stereo package and you’re an audiophile, you’re missing out on a memorable sonic experience.
The Stuyvesant Quartet = SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Quintet, Op. 57; BLOCH: String Quartet No. 1 – Vivian Rivkin, piano/Stuyvesant String Quartet – Historic-Recordings
Two historic performances from the Stuyvesant String Quartet, founded in 1938, playing contemporary music with a terrifying commitment.
HUBAY: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, “Concerto dramatique”; Scenes de la Csarda: No. 3, Op. 18; Scenes de la Csarda: “Hejre Kati”; Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major – Chloe Hanslip, violin/Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Mogrelia – Naxos
Hubay promulgated the czardas as his Hungarian dance of choice, especially as its gypsy sensibility appealed to Liszt and Johann Strauss.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
