Monthly Archive: July 2010
Edition Karl Bohm VIII = R. STRAUSS: Don Juan, Op. 20; Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64; Suite of Waltzes from Der Rosenkavalier, Act III – RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester/Karl Bohm – Audite
Classic, “definitive” Richard Strauss from his most devoted acolyte, Karl Bohm.
MOZART: Sonata in D Major for Piano and Violin KV 306/300l; Sonata in E Minor for Piano and Violin KV 304/300c; Sonata in G Major for Piano and Violin KV 379/373a – Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya, pianoforte / Sergei Filchenko, violin – Caro Mitis
If you normally shy away from the fortepiano, a recording such as this might just change your mind. Today, it’s a brave new world for performances on authentic instrument.
ALFREDO CASELLA: Symphony No. 3, Op. 63; Italia, Op. 11 – WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln / Alun Francis – CPO
Having studied in Paris with Gabriel Fauré and later fallen under the influence of Strauss and Mahler, Casella was a long time coming to his own unique style – a hard-edged neoclassicism with more than a tinge of Latinate lyricism.
Jon Gold – Brazil Confidential – Zoho Music
The music, while divergent and layered, expresses both intricacy and passion with a resolute vision.
Friedrich Gulda, Zum 80: For His 80th Birthday = BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15; Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58; 4 Bagatelles from Op. 126 – Vienna Symphony Orchestra/Friedrich Gulda piano and conductor – Music & Arts
Early recordings from the legacy of Friedrich Gulda, who would extend his classical gifts into crossover music and jazz ensembles.
Ken Russell at the BBC (3-DVD set) (1968/2008)
Titles: Elgar; The Debussy Film; Always on Sunday (Rousseau); Isadora:The Biggest Dancer in the World; Dante’s Inferno (Rossetti); Song of Summer (Delius)
MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet in A Minor, Opus 13. Octet, Op. 20; SCHUBERT: Quartettsazt in C Minor, D. 703 – Afiara String Quartet (with the Alexander String Quartet in Octet) – Foghorn Classics
Why Mendelssohn is currently being out of favor is strange to see.
Sid Selvidge – I Should Be Blue – Archer Records
Veteran performer releases his 8th solo album.
Audio News for July 13, 2010
New Blackberry Will Play 1080p Video; LG Looks at Google TV; 3D TVs Use More Power Than 2D TVs; Samsung Growth Hurting Sony; AV Streaming Options for Mobile Users; Jamcast – New Music-Streaming Service
RICHARD STRAUSS: Enoch Arden, Op. 38 – David Ripley, speaker / Chad R. Bowles, piano – JRI Recordings
It’s strange that the composer whose literary-based works often embrace irony and satire should have chosen as his subject this tale dripping with Victorian sentimentality.
MORTON GOULD: Concerto for Orchestra; Interplay; American Symphonettes 2 & 3; Chorale and Fugue in Jazz – Findlay Cockrell, piano / Albany Symphony Orchestra / David Alan Miller – Albany
Fizzing rhythms from Morton Gould in an excellent release from Albany.
“Sonidos Latinos: Guitar Music of Latin America” – David Russell, guitar – Telarc
A must for guitar buffs, this recording should give pleasure to a wider audience as well.
CARLO GESUALDO/DAVID CHEVALLIER: Gesualdo Variations: Les Madrigaux Imaginaires du Prince Assassin – Christophe Monniot, saxophones / Guillaume Roy, viola / Dominique Pifarély, violin /David Chevallier, guitars / members of A Sei Voci – Zig-Zag
The musicianship on display is proficient to the nth degree, and some of the results are quite interesting, but overall, this is not my cup of espresso.
Alfred Hertz Vol. 4 – Complete San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Recordings / Ossip Gabrilowitsch Detroit Symphony Recordings = RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, KREISLER, GLAZOUNOV, BRAHMS, GLUCK, CHABRIER, TCHIKOVSKY Etc. – Pristine
The Alfred Hertz legacy with the SFSO is here complete, augmented by recordings from the Detroit Symphony’s first maestro.
Chamber Music Palisades Concert: SHOSTAKOVICH, DEBUSSY & BROCKMAN – AIX
The Blu-ray version of the DVD we reviewed in 2008 in our DualDisc section, now on a single enhanced disc instead of two.
Matthew Kaminski – Taking My Time – Chicken Coop Records
There appears to be a surge of Hammond B3 in the new jazz community.
"Britten's Orchestra" = BENJAMIN BRITTEN: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra; Sinfonia da requiem; Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from “Peter Grimes” – Kansas City Symphony/Michael Stern – Reference Recordings
Only the third SACD from the longtime audiophile label.
Three Audio Tweaks = AudioPrism Ground Control FIM Formula Eight Disc Enhancement Mat Cardas RCA & XLR Protective Caps
Three Tweaks laughed at by some, but praised heartily by others.
Dr. Lonnie Smith – Spiral – Palmetto
Tops on the jazz radio charts and deserves it for a great B3 Trio CD.
Audio News for July 9, 2010
MP3 Classical CDs Issued; Computer Sales Up In Spite of Recession; Anthem Announces First Line of Receivers; Grace Digital Updates Their iPhone Radio App; Electronics and Appliance Breakdown Coverage
OFFENBACH: Vert-Vert (operetta) – soloists/Philharmonia Orch./David Parry – Opera Rara (2 CDs)
If you enjoy Offenbach’s more famous operettas, you really should give Vert-Vert a try.
Clarinet Pizzazz – Works of BILL DOUGLAS, MONK, GILLESPIE, JOHN WILLIAMS, ELLINGTON, GERSHWIN etc. – Hal & Lynn Fryer, clarinets – Clarinet Artistry
A delightful crossover collection featuring two clarinets and piano, with two more added for some selections.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
