Monthly Archive: April 2010
Sherlock Holmes, Blu-ray + DVD/Digital Copy (2009)
An all-stops-out spectacular on the Sherlock Holmes theme that departs extensively from Doyle’s originals.
C.P.E. BACH: Cello Concerto in A Minor, Wq 170; Cello Concerto in B-flat Major, Wq 171; Cello Concerto in A Major, Wq 172 – Raphael Wallfisch, cello/Scottish Ensemble/Jonathan Morton – Nimbus
Recorded 21 April 2008 at the Caird Hall, Dundee, we have three elegant cello testimonials played in elegant fashion.
Black Bird = Works by SCHUMANN, KVANDAL, GRIEG, STRAVINSKY, HAALAND, MADSEN, ST.-SAENS, MORTENSEN – Fredrik Fors, clarinet – 2L
Though this disc features works from Germany, France, and Russian by way of Paris, it has a decidedly Scandinavian accent, which is fine.
VALENTIN SILVESTROV: Liturgical Chants; Two Spiritual Songs; Two Spiritual Chants; Two Psalms of David; Diptych; Alleluia – Kiev Chamber Choir/ Mykola Hobdych, conductor – ECM
Only later in life has Silvestrov turned his attention to choral music, and here specifically sacred choral music.
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons; JEAN-FERY REBEL: The Elements – Midori Seiler, violin/ Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin – Harmonia mundi
Rebel without a cause, no thanks to the Vivaldi.
NIELSEN: Symphony No.1; Saul and David: Prelude to Act 2 – London Symphony Orchestra /Andre Previn – Pristine
It is good to welcome back Andre Previn’s account from his early days with the LSO back to the catalogue.
Katsaris in Moscow: International Tchaikovsky Competition, 1970 = Works of CHOPIN, RACHMANINOFF, TCHAIKOVSKY, HAYDN, SHOSTAKOVICH
Selected excerpts from Cyprien Katsaris’ appearance at the 1970 International Tchaikovsky Competition, the scintillating wonder of a nineteen-year-old talent.
Univers Zero – Clivages – Cuneiform Rune
Univers Zero creates music for adventurous listeners who disdain simple categorizations of musical genres.
GLAZUNOV: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 55 “Heroic”; Symphony No. 7 in F Major, Op. 77 “Pastoral” – Moscow Radio Symphony/Nikolai Golovanov – Historic-Recordings
Nikolai Golovanov became famous, even notorious, for his superhuman energy and manic drive for the vast repertory he commanded.
Audio News for April 23, 2010
Vudu Offers Avatar With Extras; Nobel Prize for Physics; New Classical Music Site; More Audio Shows; BBC Proms for 2010
Quintessence Saxophone Quintet – VIVALDI’s Seasons (2008)
The quintet chose to create their own answer to the many different transcriptions and improvisations which have been based on Vivaldi’s popular set of violin concertos.
John Pizzarelli – Rockin’ in Rhythm (A Tribute to Duke Ellington) – Telarc
Just as did The Duke with the often unique members of his band, Piazzarelli crafted the arrangements and performances to fit the talents of the people on this date.
VILLA-LOBOS: 12 Etudes; 5 Preludes; Suite populaire bresilienne; Choros no. 1 – Pascal Boelis, guitar – Calliope
A rare disc indeed—the complete guitar music of Villa-Lobos.
HEINRICH BIBER: Mensa Sonora; Battalia – Baroque Band/ Garry Clarke, director – Cedille
The Bohemian Biber ended up in Mozart’s future Salzburg as deputy Kapellmeister, and it is from this time that these works make their appearance.
CHOPIN: Waltzes (complete); MOMPOU: Valse-Evocation – Alexandre Tharaud, piano – Harmonia mundi
If the only reason to record something is to do it differently, this disc fits the bill.
BRUBECK – Songs of Praise = Canticles; Ev’ry Christmas I Hear Bells; Sleep. Holy Infant, Sleep; Why We Sing at Christmas; Precious Gift His Wondrous Birth; The Commandments; Psalm 23; Credo; Benediction – Pacific Mozart Ens./ Quartet SF – Dorian
Brubeck the innovative jazz musician to Brubeck the choral master.
GLAZUNOV Orchestral Works Vol. 18 = Masquerade (Incidental Music); Two Pieces; Pas de caractére; Intermezzo – Russian Philharmonic/ Dmitry Yablonsky – Naxos GLAZUNOV Orchestral Works Vol. 19 = Les Ruses d’amour – Romanian State Orch./Andreescu – Naxos
These two discs bring us probably unfamiliar music of the composer, but are eminently worth hearing.
Jerome Rose plays BEETHOVEN Live in Concert
Jerome Rose has earned the sobriquet as “the last Romantic pianist,” which might even be true, given the mortality rate of our keyboard giants with roots to the early 20th Century.
Conductor Fritz Busch = MOZART: Serenade in D Major, K. 250 “Haffner”; SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, D. 485 – Peter Rybar, violin/Winterthur Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Busch – Guild
The energetic Fritz Busch enjoys a major addition to his relatively small recorded legacy with these 1949 readings, originally issued by the Concert Hall Society.
RAVEL: Piano Works = Valses nobles et sentimentales; Gaspard de la Nuit; Sonatine; La Valse – Romain Descharmes, piano – Audite
A fine selection of four great Ravel piano works, beautifully played by a young French pianist and presented in excellent surround sonics.
HAYDN: Six Symphonies – Vienna State Opera Orch./Winterthur Municipal Orch./Royal Philharmonic/Hermann Scherchen – Tahra (2 CDs)
Hermann Scherchen shares six of the 21 Haydn symphonies he inscribed, each a thoughtful and inspired reading of the Classical canon.
BACH: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Andreas Staier, harpsichord – Harmonia mundi CD + DVD
Hold on to your chair when listening to this one, a harpsichord like few others.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
