Monthly Archive: May 2010
Rosario Giuliani – Lennie’s Pennies – Dreyfuss Jazz
On his latest sojourn, Lennie’s Pennies, Rosario Giuliani proves his versatility as saxophonist, composer, interpreter and leader.
Organissimo – Alive and Kickin’! – Big O Records
Michigan’s favorite soul-jazz group releases their first live CD.
FRANCK: Les Sept Paroles de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ sur la Croix; GOUNOD: Sept Paroles du Christ sur la Croix – Soloists/ Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne/Michel Corboz – Mirare
These choral rarities present us with something like archaic Romanticism in music.
Audio News for May 21, 2010
Newport and Barcelona Jazz Festivals Join Forces; Prof. Sennheiser Dies; Grace Launches Wi-Fi Tuner with Pandora; Silent Film on Louis Armstrong With Wynton Marsalis Live Score; Video Games Taking a Hit
HAYDN: String Quartets Volume 2 = String Quartets Op. 2 Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6 – Auryn Quartet – Tacet
As with other installments in Auryn’s Haydn quartet series, this becomes an instant benchmark.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, “Choral”; Leonore Overture No. 3 in C – Edith Oldrup, soprano/Else Brems, mezzo-soprano/Thyge Thygesen, tenor/Holger Byrding, bass/Danish Radio Choir/ Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Nicolai Malko – Danacord
A powerful example of the kind of discipline Malko achieved in league with colleague Fritz Busch in molding the Danish Radio Symphony.
STRAVINSKY: Monumentum (1960); Pro Gesualdo di Venosa ad CD Annum; Mass; Symphony of Psalms; BACH/STRAVINSKY: Choral Variations on German carol “Von Himmel hoch” – Collegium Vocale Gent /Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orch. /Philippe Herreweghe – Pentatone
Stravinsky’s neo-classical works include some of his most powerful religious music; those presented here appearing in a well thought out programme.
ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK – Symphonic Works Vol. 1 – Nocturne; Tragic Overture; Heroic Overture; Katyn Epitaph; A Procession for Peace; Harmony. Sulwia Mierzejewska, solo violin. Polish Radio Symphony/Lukasz Borowicz. CPO
An impressive sampling of a twentieth century Polish composer whose music responds emotionally and dramatically to the events of his life.
ALBERT ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 4, Op. 53; Rapsodie flamande (Flemish Rhapsody), Op. 56; Petite suite, Op. 39; Concert pour petit orchestre, Op. 34; Sinfonietta, Op. 52 – Royal Scottish National Orchestra /Stéphane Denève – Naxos
A winning fourth volume in Naxos’s series of Roussel’s orchestral music from Scotland.
Wartime Music, Volume 8 = GAVRIIL POPOV: Symphony No. 3 “Heroic” for a Large String Orch.; Symphonic Aria for Cello and String Orch. – Dmitry Khrychov, cello / St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orch. / Alexander Titov – Northern Flowers
The Third Symphony is obviously the work of a talented, thinking composer, not a mere apparatchik despite the Communist party’s best efforts to rehabilitate him.
Timothy Andres, piano – Shy and Mighty – 10 pieces for one and two pianos (with David Kaplan, p.) – Nonesuch
Andres has a fresh new and creative take on music which is worlds different from the usual “cross-over” effort.
RODION SHCHEDRIN: Concertos for Orchestra Nos. 4 and 5; Kristallene Gusti – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Karabits – Naxos
A master 20th century Russian composer takes us on a colorful journey through his beloved homeland.
ZYGMUNT NOSKOWSKI: Orchestral Works Vol. 1: Morskie Oko (1875); Symphony No. 1 in A major; Pan Zolzikiewicz Overture – National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Slawek Wroblewski (Symphony), Gabriel Chmura (Morskie Oko), and Zygmunt Rychert – Sterling
A pioneering Polish symphony from the neglected Noskowski.
“Vibraphon, Orgel-Skulptur und Schlagwerk” = Works of BACH, MILAN, VIVALDI, SOR, COCHEREZU, GLENTWORTH, RIETHMULLER, GENSMER – Albrect Volz, vibes & percussion/ Ulrich Weissert, organ – Cornetto
This mixture and combination of works for organ, vibraphone and percussion celebrates not only the building of this instrument, but also the artists’ performing together for twenty years; the overall result is a rewarding and entertaining recital.
BACH: Six Organ Sonatas, BWV 525-530 – Christopher Wrench, organ – Melba
Simply wonderful, in works that are mandatory for any collection.
DEREK BERMEL: Voices – Derek Bermel, clarinet/ Boston Modern Orchestra Project/ Gil Rose, conductor – BMOP Sound
The CD showcases multiple styles and influences and succeeds in presenting him as an individualist composer.
Pablo Menendez & Mezcla – I’ll See You In Cuba – Zoho
Not your typical Afro-Cuban or Buena Vista-style jazz album.
GEOFFREY BURGON: Viola Concerto, “Ghosts of the Dance”; Merciless Beauty; Cello Concerto – Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano/ Philip Dukes, viola/ Josephine Knight, cello/ City of London Sinfonia/ Rumon Gamba, conductor – Chandos
Two terrific concertos and a song cycle for the ages in this remarkable offering.
Thibaudet plays GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue (orch. Grofe); “I Got Rhythm Variations”; Piano Concerto in F (orch. Grofe) – Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano/Steven Barta, clarinet/Andrew Balio, trumpet/Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop – Decca
Jean-Yves Thibaudet has resurrected the 1924 jazz band version of the Rhapsody in Blue and give us a hearty addition to the Gershwin legacy.
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in C minor; Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Hungarian Dances No. 14 – Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Ivan Fischer – Channel Classics
Perhaps not the last word but should appeal to collectors of Brahms Firsts for a number of fine qualities.
Sam Cooke – Night Beat – (1962) RCA/Sony/Analogue Productions
An incomparable soul voice in audiophile sound quality.
SCHUMANN – Blumentück, Op. 19; Sonata for Piano No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 11; Kreisleriana, Op. 16; Arabeske, Op. 18 –Yury Martynov, piano – Caro Mitis
The program is an interesting one, mixing popular with not-so-popular piano music by Schumann, and it runs nearly 80 minutes.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
