Monthly Archive: May 2010
SCHUBERT: Die Winterreise – Werner Gura, tenor/ Christoph Berner, pianoforte – Harmonia mundi
Wow. This one surprises me and the results are stupendous
SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Four Lieder based on Poems by Melanie Barth, Op. 62; Moods and Contemplations, Op. 53; To My Woman, Op. 54; 10 Epigrams, Op. 562 lieder, Op. 43; 5 Lieder, Op. 52; 3 Lieder, Op. 59 – Markus Schafer, tenor/ Ernst Breidenbach, piano – NCA
A little-known composer proves his mettle in the—surprisingly—lieder world.
GUILLAUME MACHAUT: Le Remede de Fortune – Marc Mauillon, voice/ Vivabiancaluna Biffi, voice and viol/ Angelique Mauillon, Gothic harp/ Pierre Hamon, flutes and percussion/ Serge Goubioud, voice/ Emmanuel Vistorky, voice – Eloquentia
If you want one of Machaut’s most famous works, this is the only game in town.
OSWALD VON WOLKENSTEIN: Songs of Myself – Andreas Scholl, countertenor, baritone / Shield of Harmony – Harmonia mundi
Music of late-medieval Tyrolean poet and composer Oswald von Wolkenstein (c. 1376-1445).
VARIOUS COMPOSERS – Masterpieces of the Chinese Qin – Zhao Jiazhen, qin – Rhymoi
Entertaining and undeniably authentic music, without a trace of mawkish Western influence.
Traffic, Blu-ray + DVD on 1 disc (2000/2010)
A hard-hitting and emotional film carrying a strong documentary quality, which powerfully illustrates the huge challenges of the war on drugs.
MENDELSSOHN: 200th Anniversary Tribute – NBC Symphony/Arturo Toscanini – Guild (2 CDs)
Toscanini found the music of Mendelssohn–its light dexterity and suppleness of style–congenial to his own essentially lyric-dramatic spirit.
Lee Konitz – Solos, The Jazz Sessions (2010)
Lee Konitz – Jazz Standard Bearer
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 – Birgit Remmert / Prague Philharmonic Children's Choir /Czech Philharmonic Chorus / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra /Zdenek Mácal – Exton Octavia
This is as impressive an account of Mahler’s Third Symphony I have heard.
Sounds Sublime = The Essential Collection – The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers, conductor – Coro
Essential? Not this particular disc, but surely the releases from which the selections were taken.
PERGOLESI: Stabat Mater; Orfeo – Barbara Hendricks, soprano/ Ulrika Tenstam, mezzo-soprano/ Drottningholms Baroque Ensemble – Arte Verum
Hendricks returns to one of her favorites.
Sarah Manning – Dandelion Clock – Posi-Tone
In discovering her own voice in Jazz, Sarah Manning follows an unorthodox approach to expression.
“Crystal Dream” = Piano Pieces of ERIK SATIE & TAKASHI YOSHIMATSU – Pascal Rogé, piano – Octavia Records
An interesting mix of short impressionistic piano miniatures from East and West.
Alex Hargreaves, violin – Prelude – Adventure Music
Virtuosic and energetic music from one of acoustic music’s rising stars.
East Nashville Vol. 3: More Music From the Other Side – Red Beet Records
A superb sampling of songs and musicians from the other side of the tracks in Nashville.
Eric Brace & Last Train Home – Six Songs – Red Beet Records
A taste to whet your appetite from one of the best Americana bands around.
Jessica Molaskey – A Kiss to Build a Dream On – Arbors Records
Come for the infectiously joyous vocals; stay for the amazing jazz violin solos.
Audio News for May 4, 2010
More Labels Offering Hi-Res Downloads; Public War Between Apple’s Steve Jobs and Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen; Possible Help for Tinnitus Sufferers; CableCARD Controversy
CYRIL SCOTT: Piano Trios Nos. 1 and 2; Clarinet Trio; Clarinet Quintet; Cornish Boat Song – Gould Piano Trio/ Robert Plane, clarinet/ Mia Cooper, violin/ David Adams, viola – Chandos
An almost forgotten composer of great talent; eminently worth of attention.
John Fedchock NY Sextet – Live at the Red Sea Jazz Festival – Capri Records
Live from the Middle East.
Katchen LP Milestones = BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5; RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 – Julius Katchen, piano/New Symphony Orchestra/Anatole Fistoulari – Pristine Audio
Pristine Audio owner and engineer Andrew Rose resuscitates two milestone Katchen recordings from the London Decca archives.
Phil Woods Quintet – Gratitude (1986) – Denon (Japan)
Grateful for Gratitude.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
