Monthly Archive: May 2010
Azar Lawrence – Mystic Journey – Furthermore
Azar Lawrence brings the past into the present on his Coltrane-inspired album Mystic Journey.
Marc Cary – Focus Trio: Live 2009 – Motéma
Pianist Marc Cary keeps things fresh and lively on his new live trio album.
BACH: Partita No. 2 in d, BWV 1004; Sonata No. 3 in C, BWV 1005; Partita No. 3 in E, BWV 1006 – Isabelle Faust, solo violin – Harmonia mundi
Faust goes Baroque with a decidedly fine effort.
Dan Pratt Organ Quartet – Toe the Line – Posi-Tone Records
Traditional jazz gets a modern sound.
J.S. BACH: Leipzig Chorales – Craig F. Humber, organ – MD&G – 2 discs
A fine collection of the Great 18, in sumptuous sound.
GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice – Ewa Podleś, contralto / Ana Rodrigo and Elena de la Merced, sopranos /Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid/Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia / Peter Maag – Arts Music
Ewa Podleś is probably the raison d’etre for this recording, if not for the live performance from which it is taken.
Walkabout, Blu-ray (1971/2010)
Walkabout qualifies as one of the greatest films ever made in my estimation.
Audio News for May 25, 2010
Google Launches Marriage Between TV and the Internet; Mishagosh Over iPhone Prototypes; Sharp Has 3D Camera for Mobile Devices; Deadline for Media Reform
John Coltrane – The World According To John Coltrane (2010)
An incisive glimpse into a genius’ pursuit of music, spirituality, and the world condition.
Beethoven: Fidelio (complete opera), Blu-ray (2010)
Rather muffled sound for Blu-ray and not the highest image resolution either.
THEODORE DUBOIS: Solemn Mass of St. Remi; Mass of Deliverance – Maria Knapik, soprano/ Marc Boucher, baritone/ New World Philharmonic Choir/St. Therese Chanters/ Ottawa Classical Choir/Tremblant Choir/ New World Philharmonic Orch./ Michel Brousseau – Atma
A neglected composer resurrected by a family discovery.
* BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 in E Major (Ed. Leopold Nowak) – Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi – Sony/BMG Red Seal
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
[Separate review of standard CD issue below]
Tabea Zimmermann, Solo Viola: REGER 3 Suites for Solo Viola, Op. 131d. J.S. BACH: Suites for Solo Viola (adapted from Solo Cello Suites 1 & 2) – Tabea Zimmermann, viola – Myrios Classics
Zimmermann’s playing is regal and full-bodied throughout, with a feline underside that colors and shapes the musical line.
BLOCH: Schelomo–Hebrew Rhapsody; Avodath hakodesh–Sacred Service; Concerto grosso No. 1; Violin Concerto; Suites 1 and 2 for Solo Violin – with Rostrropovich/Menuhin/Bernstein/Abravanel/Marriner – EMI Classics (2 CDs)
Swiss-born composer and pedagogue Ernest Bloch fused a strong French and German tradition to his ethnic Jewish identity to create music of consistently vivid color and character.
J.S. BACH: Goldberg Variations – Aapo Häkkinen, harpsichord – Alba
The harpsichord has a lot of beauty in the lower middle and bass registers.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 60; SUK: Sokol March, Op. 35c; Serenade for Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 6 – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Vaclav Talich – Naxos Historical
Obert-Thorn’s transfers of these HMV shellacs prove quiet and consistently rewarding to the collector of orchestral documents engraved by past masters.
Bing Crosby – Bing On Broadway – Collectors’ Choice Music Bing Crosby – Seasons – Collectors’ Choice Music
1) America’s favorite crooner offers a variety of Broadway standards in a brand new collection of rare material.
2) The great crooner’s final album and last recordings are released.
Sarah Vaughn – The Divine One (2010)
A jazz pioneer and her impact on the American culture.
In Celebration of the Piano: An All-Star Tribute to the Steinway
This video, narrated by Van Cliburn, celebrates the making of the 500,000th Steinway.
Benz Micro Gullwing SLR Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
If you are wondering whether there is any reason or benefit to going above the $1500 range for a cartridge the answer is: “absolutely.”
K-19: The Widowmaker, Blu-ray (2002/2010)
This gripping action drama is based on a real-life disaster aboard a Soviet nuclear submarine during the Cold War.
Ivan Moravec: Live in Brussels = Works of BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS, CHOPIN – Supraphon
Live from Brussels, an exquisite recital: with Moravec, there are no “miniatures.”
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
