Monthly Archive: September 2010
Alex Sipiagin – Generations – Criss Cross Jazz
Crossing generations.
Tamas Vasary plays SCHUMANN = Carnaval, Op. 9; Romance in F-sharp Major, Op. 28, No. 2; Fanatsie in C Major, Op. 17; Kinderszenen, Op. 15 – Tamas Vasary, piano – Hungaraton
Veteran Hungarian virtuoso Tamas Vasary proffers Schumann staples in performances of special merit.
Baritone Hermann Uhde = HANDEL: Julius Caesar: “Aus der Brandung Gefarhen”; WEBER: Der Freischuetz: 2 Arias; VERDI: Rigoletto: 2 Arias; BIZET: “Euren Toast kann ich wohl erwiden” – others – Preiser
“…stage singers like Hermann Uhde deserve the greatest appreciation: they uplift the opera to the highest level of musical drama.”
Jacob Melchior – It’s About Time – self-released
Drummer Jacob Melchior provides a swinging, traditional trio outing on his latest release, It’s About Time.
Metamorphosis = BARTOK: Quartet No. 4; LIGETI: Quartet No. 1, “Metamorphoses nocturnes”; KURTAG: 12 Microludes for String Quartet, “Hommage a Andras Mihaly” – Casals Quartet – Harmonia mundi
Excellent concept album that draws great contrasts and similarities among these varied works.
MARC-ANDRE HAMELIN: Etudes in all the minor keys; Con intimissimo sentimento; Theme and Variations ‘Cathy’s Variations’ – Hyperion
This superb long-awaited collection of études by Marc-André Hamelin is as musically satisfying as it is virtuosic.
Francis Leleux, oboe – RICHARD STRAUSS. Oboe Concerto, Op. 144; Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments, Op. 7; Suite for 13 Wind Instruments, Op. 4 – Francois Leleux, oboe – Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Harding – Ensemble Bastille – Sony/BMG
Delectable and lyrical works for winds from the early and late periods of Richard Strauss.
MESSIAEN: Visions de L'Amen; DEBUSSY: En Blanc et Noir – Ursula Oppens and Jerome Lowenthal, pianos – Cedille Records
Like most of his other works, “Visions”are composed in massive sound blocks without much development or continuity.
FALLA: Nights in the Gardens of Spain; 3 Dances from The 3-Cornered Hat; Interlude and Dance from La Vida Breve – Robert Casadesus, piano/New York Philharmonic/Dimitri Mitropoulos – Pristine Audio
The pungency and feverish articulation of the parts (of Nights) swells into a passionate evocation of the three sections, making the concerted piece a distant cousin of Debussy’s La Mer.
American Beauty, Blu-ray (1999/2010)
Truly one of the greatest American feature films ever, American Beauty won five Academy Awards in 1999.
Jacqui Dankworth – Back to You – Top Music Ultra Disc stereo-only SACD UD-SACD8937.2; Sound ****1/2 Music ***½:
Jacqui is English jazz/pop singer with an impressive pedigree – the daughter of jazz musician/composer John Dankworth.
Ikkyu’s Dream: Solo Piano Reflections – Philip Swanson, piano – MSR
An improvisational album of no little skill and often quite beautiful.
Carl Cleves & Parissa Bouas – Out Of Australia – Stockfisch Records
Musical travelogue is distinguished by stunning vocals and unique instrumentation.
STÅLE KLEIBERG: Requiem for the Victims of Nazi Persecution – Noémi Kiss, soprano / Catherine King, mezzo-soprano / Christian Hilz, bar. /Choirs of Washington National Cathedral / Washington National Cathedral Chamber Orch. / Michael McCarthy – WNC
The parallels between Britten’s War Requiem and Norwegian composer Ståle Kleiberg’s Requiem seem clear.
Audio News for September 24, 2010
Spectrum Coalition Launched by Tech Industry; New Anti-Piracy Device for Film Industry Professionals; Smart Wi-Fi System; Major TV Vendors Concerned About Discounts and Giveaways
The Art of the Violin = CORELLI: Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 (complete); VIVALDI: Concert for the Prince of Poland; REBEL: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 3-9; MOZART: Violin Concertos 3-5, K. 216, 218, 219 – Andrew Manze, violin and conductor – Harmonia mundi (5 CDs)
Harmonia mundi continues its laudable practice of re-releasing fabulous recordings in boxed sets.
DEBUSSY: Quartet in g, Op. 10; DUTILLEUX: Quartet, “Ainsi la nuit”; RAVEL: Quartet in F – Arcanto Quartet – Harmonia mundi
Two solid readings, and one which is outstanding, mark this fine disc.
JOSÉ MANUEL LÓPEZ LÓPEZ: Concierto para piano y orquestra; Concierto para violín y orquestra; Movimientos para dos pianos y orquestra – Alberto Rosado and Juan Carlos Garvayo, piano / Ernst Kovacic, violin / Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin /Johannes
Spanish composer López López takes us back to that ruggedly individualistic period of the late 50s and early 60s, when composers said, in effect, the public be damned
MOZART: Die Zauberflote (complete opera) = Soloists/RIAS Chamber Choir/ Academie fur Alte Musik Berlin/ Rene Jacobs, conductor – Harmonia mundi (3 CDs set)
Think you know this sublime opera? Think again…
“Oshtali: Music for String Quartet” = Works by Chickasaw Student Composers –Ethel Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, percussion and piano – Thunderbird Records
This is a CD with almost as much variety as there are contributors.
PHILIP GLASS: Orphée (complete opera) – The Portland Opera /Portland Opera Orchestra/ soloists/Anne Mason, conductor – Orange Mountain
One of Glass’s best operas pays homage to Cocteau as well as to Greek mythology.
Greg Lewis – Organ Monk – self released
Greg Lewis pays homage to Thelonious Monk with a Hammond B-3 organ excursion.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
