Monthly Archive: August 2010
PENDERECKI: Violin Concerto No. 1; Horn Concerto (world premiere) – Robert Kabara, violin/ Radovan Vlatkovic, horn/ Sinfonietta Cracovia/ Krzystof Penderecki, conductor – Channel Classics
Two works of the “new” Penderecki, but see how much different he is from 2007.
The New World = Creole Folias – Montserrat Figueras, soprano/ Tembembe Ensamble Continuo/ La Capella Reial de Catalunya/ Hesperion XXI/ Jordi Savall, conductor – Alia Vox
Savall hits the Caribbean—what would we do without him?
Audio News for August 13, 2010
Naxos Takes Over Warner Classics Distribution; Netflix Adds Big-Name Movies to its Online Service; Panasonic Acquiring of Sanyo Hits a Snag; An Exceptional HTiB System; Sam’s Club to Upgrade Stores to Wi-Fi by November
Billy Bang – Prayer for Peace – TUM Records
On Prayer for Peace, jazz violinist Billy Bang moves from pre-bop swing to slowly moving free jazz while he reflects on his abiding thoughts on violence, war and conflict.
Cindy Blackman – Another Lifetime – Four Quarters Entertainment
Tribute to fusion legend showcases an impeccable talent with artistic diligence
Crumb, Blu-ray (1995/2010)
Altogether a most elucidating documentary, especially with the extras and commentary track.
BACH: Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo No. 1 in D minor; Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord and Strings in A minor; VIVALDI: Two Concertos for Violin and Strings in D – I Musici – PentaTone
Both three-movement concertos are given glorious performances by I Musici, with Accardo as the soloist.
Chie Imaizumi – A Time of New Beginnings – Capri Records
Something special….
Reiner Rarities = MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture; Scherzo; Nocturne; Intermezzo; Wedding March; GLUCK: Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orfeo ed Eurydice; LISZT: Totentanz; TCHAIKOVSKY: 5 Waltzes – Pristine Audio
The brilliant and sometimes ferocious Fritz Reiner in exquisite gems that generally elude his standard discography.
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (with special guest, Jimmy Heath) – The Endless Search – Origin Records
Honoring both the past and present.
Dave Wilson Quartet – Spiral – Summit
On Spiral, saxophonist Dave Wilson proves two things: he is a top-notch composer and he has a talent for choosing idiosyncratic cover tunes.
Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto – Take Your Pick – 335 Records
Veteran fusion guitarist joins forces with Japanese rock legend…with good reason.
Backhaus plays BEETHOVEN = Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastoral”; Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3; Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”; Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major – Wilhelm Backhaus, piano – Audite
Backhaus stands as among the most consistently satisfying of all Beethoven interpreters in the epic mold.
Audio News for August 10, 2010
Not the Best Place to Buy Speakers; USB Mikes for Consumers Thriving; HDMI Audio Quality & Daisy-Chaining; Video Music Moving to Blu-ray
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in F, Op. 135; SCHUMANN: String Quartets: No. 1 in a, Op. 41; No. 2 in F, Op. 41 (first version); + DVD Performance of Op. 135 and interview with Peter Gulke on Beethoven and Schumann (16:9 color) – Beethoven Quartet – MD&G
A great concept that this quartet has embarked on, but the performances are a letdown.
MAHLER: Symphonic Poem in Two Parts “Titan” (Hamburg Version (1893) of the First Symphony) – Netherlands Symphony Orchestra/ Jan Willem de Vriend, conductor – Challenge Classics
One of the best recordings of this immature symphony to have appeared, and on SACD to boot.
James “Blood” Ulmer – Solos: The Jazz Sessions (2010)
This particular Solos: The Jazz Sessions offers an intimate look at James “Blood” Ulmer’s music and ideas.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 4 in G – Christiane Oelze, soprano/ Gurzenich Orchestra Cologne/ Markus Stenz, conductor – Oehms
Different than most, even wayward at times, but very convincing in the end.
MOZART: Piano Trios: Divertimento in B-flat Major; Trio in E Major; Trio in C Major; Trio in G Major – Byron Schenkman, p./Gabriela Diaz, v./ Alexei Yupanqui Gonzales, cello – Centaur
Happy and spirited, these four trios embrace much of Mozart’s development in the piano trio form.
PAGANINI: 24 Caprices for solo violin, arranged by William Zinn for string quartet – Wihan Quartet (Jan Schulmeister and Leoš Čepický, violins. Jiří Žigmund, viola. Aleš Kaspřík, cello) – Nimbus Alliance
Musical surprises abound.
ANTON REICHA: Woodwind Quintets, Volume 3 – Quintet in B-flat Major; Quintet in F Major – Westwood Wind Quintet – Crystal “Sextuor à vent” = Works of HEIDEN, HINDEMITH, DUBOIS, ROSSINI, ARNOLD, BACH, others – Pittel, sax/Westwood Wind Quintet – Crystal
With the rerelease of the selections making up the album Sextuor à vent, the Westwood Quintet of the Reicha years comes into competition with its younger self, and the Westwood of the 60s and 70s wins, hands down.
Jessica Williams, piano – Touch – Origin Records
The piano is no longer a percussion instrument for her – she sees it as foremost a symphonic stringed instrument with an enormous palette of colors.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
