Monthly Archive: February 2010
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini – Testament (2 CDs)
Giulini’s patient exploitation of colors, his genuine capacity to find lyricism and song even in Bruckner’s occasionally stolid vehemence, gives us a Bruckner Eighth for the ages.
MAHLER: Symphony No 4; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen – Margaret Ritchie (soprano), Eugenia Zareska (mezzo-soprano) / Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Eduard van Beinum – Beulah
Here we have another fine restoration of one rarity and one star in Decca’s post-war catalogue.
HANDEL: Acis and Galatea – Soloists/ Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra/ Martin Haselbock, conductor – NCA (2 SACDs)
This exemplary recording is a superb realization of Handel’s wondrous pastoral opera.
Mostly Other People Do the Killing – Forty Fort – Hot Cup
They dub themselves bebop terrorists, although judging by the results of the group’s fourth effort, Forty Fort, they are closer in spirit to jazz anarchists.
Argerich plays CHOPIN = Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23; Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 10, No. 4; 5 Mazurkas; Nocturne in Major, Op. 15, No. 1; Nocturne in E-flat Major, OP. 55, No. 2; 3 Mazurkas; Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor – Martha Argerich, p. – DGG
Previously unpublished early performances by Argentinian virtuoso Martha Argerich, the entire recital has already become indispensable to her imposing legacy.
Sir Adrian Boult = English Music: ARNOLD: 8 English Dances; BAX: Tintagel; ELGAR: 3 Bavarian Dances; Chanson de Matin; Chanson de nuit; HOLST: The Perfect Fool; BUTTERWORTH: A Shropshire Lad; Green Willow; WALTON: Siesta – London Phil./Boult – Pristine
Much of reputation for his interpretations of English music is due in part to these fine Decca recordings from 1954.
HAYDN: The Complete String Quartets Vol.1 of 14 – Op. 1 Nos.1 – 6 – Auryn String Quartet – single Tacet DVD-A
These exemplary performances on a single high-resolution DVD-A provide strong advocacy for the earliest Haydn string quartets.
JOACHIM RAFF: Suite for Piano and Orchestra Op. 200; Die Eifersüchtigen – Overture; König Alfred – Overture; Dornröschen – Vorspiel; Samson – Vorspiel 3 act /Tra Nguyen, piano / The Symphony Orchestra of Norrlands Opera /Roland Kluttig – Sterling
Raff’s star may not shine as brightly as it did during his lifetime, and productions of this high quality do very well to introduce such well-crafted writing to the catalogue.
PETER CROSSLEY-HOLLAND: Symphony in D; GOOSSENS: Variations on ‘Cadet Rousselle’; JOHN IRELAND: Merry Andrew; Bagatelle; Cavatina; Elegiac Meditation; The Holy Boy; Two Salon Pieces – Soloists/Royal Scottish National Orch./Martin Yates – Dutton
A fine series continues with music of a lesser light.
JOSE BEVIA: Symphony No. 1; Sonde el Viento Nos Lieve; Three Enigmas; Trio for Flute, Viola and Harp – Moravian Philharmonic Orch. & soloists/Vit Micka – MSR
This is a disc of a young composer who is experimenting with his musical skills, looking for a niche to call his own.
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA: Suite de Lorca; Cancion de nuestro tiempo; Canticum Mariae virginis; Magnificat; Our joyful’st feast; Halavan himmean alla; Die erste Elegie – Schola Cantorum of Oxford/ James Burton – Hyperion
Essential listening for all—only a fool will ignore this disc.
MENDELSSOHN: Concertos for Two Pianos, No. 1 in E, No. 2 in A-Flat – Joshua Pierce. Piano/ Dorothy Jonas, piano/ Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra/ Bystrik Rezucha – MSR
Young and brilliant Mendelssohn that only slightly seems a little unsubstantial.
“Cross Over U.S.A.” – Claude Bolling, piano & arrangements, with Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute/Guy Touvron, trumpet/harp/guitar/violin/cello/doublebass – Frémeaux & Associates
Bolling decided to have these jazz/classical arrangements celebrate various American cities and states – hence the album’s title.
Bach & Friends, 2010
There have been other filmed documentaries on Bach, but this is the best I’ve ever seen.
RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé (complete ballet music) – Boston Symphony Orchestra/Tanglewood Festival Chorus/James Levine – BSO Classics
This one bests the two previous BSO hi-res recordings of Daphnis et Chloé in many different areas.
Hommage a CHOPIN = Works of BALAKIREV, BENDEL, BUSONI, GRIEG, TCHAIKOVSKY, MOMPOU, GODOWSKY & others – Jonathan Plowright, piano – Hyperion
How did conductor Wilhelm Furtwaengler so aptly put it: there is Bach, Beethoven–and then there is–Chopin!
Audio News for February 12, 2010
Classical Recording Artists Top Billboard Charts with Few Sales; British Jazzman Johnny Dankworth Dies; New Application Redefines TV-on-the-go; Computers vs. Old-Fashioned Audio; LG Profits Rise Over Fourfold
JOHN ADAMS: Nixon in China – Soloists/ Opera Colorado Chorus/ Colorado Symphony Orch./ Marin Alsop, conductor – Naxos (3 CDs)
Marin Alsop conducts a brilliantly realized performance of John Adams’ opera Nixon in China.
Myine Ira Wi-Fi Internet Radio Tuner
A good choice for those wanting to add Internet station reception to their home audio or AV system, without spending much and with only a minimum of space taken up.
RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloe–Suite No. 2; Valses Nobles et Sentimentales; La Valse; Ma Mere L’Oye–Suite – Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra/Yannick Nezet-Seguin – EMI Classics
In 2008 the French-Canadian conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin succeeded Valery Gergiev as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
JOHN GAY/BENJAMIN BRITTEN: The Beggar's Opera – Soloists/City of London Sinfonia/ Christian Curnyn, conductor – Chandos (2 CDs)
This recording makes a strong case for Benjamin Britten’s version of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera.
MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49; Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66 – Yo-Yo Ma, cello/Itzhak Perlman, violin/Emanuel Ax, piano – Sony
The new “Million Dollar Trio” presents a lustrous Mendelssohn album as their first inspired offering as part of the composer’s bicentennial celebrations.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
