Monthly Archive: August 2010
Poetes du Piano – Pascal Roge, piano – Onyx
This is the first Chopin ever recorded by this pianist.
Audio News for August 20, 2010
The First Two Blu-ray 3D Discs Issued; GefenTV HT Audio Processor; Adolescent Hearing Loss on the Rise; Squeezebox Touch
Ray Charles – The Genius Sings the Blues – Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs
A mono SACD reissue of some of his songs from the 50s.
Sophia Rei Koutsovitis – Sube Azul – World Village
The Argentine jazz vocalist has proven that she can mix pop and jazz with authentic folk music styling from her homeland.
Black Orpheus, Blu-ray (1959/2010)
All the participants are excellent, the cinematography captures the wild spirit of Carnival, and the wonderful music by Jobim and Bonfa is of course what launched the bossa nova craze.
John Mellencamp – No Better Than This – Rounder Records
Veteran folk singer excels with stripped down, populist songbook.
Hermann Abendroth Unissued Performances = BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto no. 4 in G Major; TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor – Branka Musulin, piano (Beethoven)/Guenther Kootz, piano (Tchai.)/Leipzig Radio-Symphony Orch. – Tahra
Two significant contributions to the Abendroth legacy are hereby unearthed.
Tango a Tango – Specials of Tango Argentina – Cuarteto Bando – Auris Subtilis Astor Piazzolla – The Cavatina Duo – Bridge
Two new CDs of “tango chamber music” of note.
BEETHOVEN: Overture to “Fidelio”; Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, “Eroica” – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Guenther Herbig – Royal Philharmonic Masterworks SCHUMANN: The Four Symphonies – RPO/ Grzegorz Nowak – RPO (2 CDs)
Here are two very good recordings that seem to find the Royal Philharmonic in competition with itself.
JVC DLA-HD950 Video Projector
A great product for those willing to spend the higher investment required for quality HD video projection.
Audio News for August 17, 2010
Electronics Sales Increase as Durables Sales Decrease; Blockbuster May Go Bust; Blu-Con Event To Be Highlighted by Avatar Makers; National 3D Demo Days in September; New E-Book Also Plays Music and Movies
CHOPIN: 24 Etudes, Op. 10 and Op. 25 – Irena Portenko, piano – Blue Griffin CD
A heroic effort, these well-recorded complete etudes are a mark of a superior talent paying homage to Chopin‘s 200th anniversary.
MOSCHELES: Hommage Characteristique a la Mémoire de Madame Malibran de Bériot, en Forme de Fantaisie; MENDELSSOHN: Nine Songs; Sonata in E Major; SCHUMANN: Variations on an Original Theme in E-Flat Major – Todd Crow, piano – MSR Classics
While most of these works are available elsewhere, Crow’s program seems an ideal way to hear them.
“Concertos for Corno da Caccia” = Works by ZELENKA, RATHGEBER, VIVALDI, FASCH & SPERGER – Ludwig Güttler & Kurt Sandau/Virtuosi Saxoniae – Berlin Classics
This nicely recorded disc is worth exploring—as long as, like me, you can enjoy well-executed departures from the absolutely authentic.
MICHAEL NYMAN: The Piano Concerto; On the Fiddle; Prospero’s Books – Peter Lawson, piano/ Royal Philharmonic/Jonathan Carney – Royal Philharmonic Masterworks Audiophile Collection
The RPM is to be congratulated for joining the many major symphony orchestras around the world who have launched their own record label and are doing well with it.
ALEXANDRE PIERRE FRANÇOIS BOËLY: Sonata in F minor for Piano Four Hands, Op. 17; Duo for Piano Four Hands, Op. 4; Quartet-Sonata for Piano Four Hands; Larghetto con moto (second version of Duo, Op. 4, second movement) – Laurent Martin and Betty Ho
The performances by Laurent Martin and Betty Hovette, playing on what sounds like a very grand Steinway piano, are infectious.
Dennis Kolen – Northeim Goldmine – Stockfish Records
Singer, songwriter from Rotterdam invokes muse of 1970’s folk rock scene.
REINHARD KEISER: Passion Oratorio According to St. Mark – Bernhard Hirtreiter, tenor I (Evangelist) / Hartmut Elbert, bass (Jesus) / Jochen Elbert, tenor II (Peter, Pilate) /Parthenia Vocal & Baroque Orch./Christian Brembneck – Christophorus
Lovers of Baroque choral music will want to hear this work.
Edition Fricsay Vol. XII = J. STRAUSS Waltzes – RIAS Symphonie-Orchester/Ferenc Fricsay – Audite
Tales of Old Vienna by way of Johann Strauss and his fervent acolyte Ferenc Fricsay.
Barbara Carroll Trio – Something to Live For (Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola / Jazz at Lincoln Center) – Harbinger Records
She fully supports Duke Ellington’s definition of Carroll being “beyond category.”
JOHN CAGE: Etudes Boreales; Harmonies; “10’40.3” – Friedrich Gauwerky, cello/Mark Knoop, piano – Wergo Records
A welcome survey of “whatever happens next” created by its greatest proponent.
CHOPIN: Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57; Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1; Tarantella in A-flat Major, Op. 43; Bolero in C Major, Op. 19; Rondo in C Minor, Op. 1 & others – Nikolai Demidenko, p. – Inst. Frederick Chopin
Another fine addition for the Chopin bicentennial, this recital features the gifted Demidenko in youthful works performed on an 1848 Pleyel.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
