Monthly Archive: September 2010
French Flute Chamber Music = MARCEL TOURNIER: Suite, Op. 34; FLORENT SCHMITT: Suite en rocaille, Op. 84; GABRIEL PIERNE: Variations libres et finale; JEAN FRANCAIX: Quintet; ALBERT ROUSSEL: Serenade, Op. 30 – Mirage Quintet – Naxos
Though falling under impressionist influence, the composers on this album prove quite divergent in style and intent—and a joy to hear.
Dinu Lipatti: Last Recital at Besancon = BACH: Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major; MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor; SCHUBERT: Impromptu No 3 in G-flat Major, No. 3; Impromptu No. 2 in E-flat Major; CHOPIN: 13 Waltzes – Opus Kura
Opus Kura restores the famed Lipatti last recital in the original context which made it a legend.
KARL AMADEUS HARTMANN: Das Klavierwerk = Kleine Suite I; Kleine Suite II; Toccata; Fugue; Sonatina; First Sonata; Sonata “27 April 1945” – Benedikt Koehlen, piano – Telos Music
Koehlen has the ability to address Hartmann’s steeliest and rapidest passages with a fearless concentration that is commendable, nor does he slight the dark brooding of Hartmann’s slow movements.
ALUN HODDINOTT: The Sun, The Great Luminary of the Universe = Night Music; Variants for Orchestra; Sinfoniettas 1 & 3; The Sun, The Great Luminary – London Symphony Orchestra/Norman del Mar and David Atherton/ New Philharmonia/David Atherton – Lyrita
Another great-sounding Lyrita reissue of orchestral music by the English composer Alun Hoddinott.
STEVE REICH: Double Sextet; 2 x 5 – Eighth Blackbird/Bang on a Can – Nonesuch
Reich at first demurred from the project, saying he usually worked with multiples of identical instruments, or at least pairs.
LEOS JANACEK: Sinfonietta for Orchestra; Taras Bulba (Rhapsody for Orchestra); Suite from the Opera “The Cunning Vixen” (arr. Jilek) – Bamberger Symphony/Jonathan Nott – Tudor
A fine collection of the very distinctive orchestral music of Janacek.
Audio News for September 21, 2010
Sony & Disney Partner to Promote 3D; LG Aims to Raise LCD Sales 40% Next Year; Philips and Broadcom Partner to Offer Bluetooth Remotes
“My Mexican Soul” = MONCAYO: Huapango; CAMPA: Melody.; CASTRO: Intermezzo from Atzimba; HYIZAR: Imágenes; PONCE: Concierto del Sur; ROSAS Over the Waves; MARQUEZ: Danzon 2; REVUELTAS: Sensemayá; CHAVEZ: El Tropico; others – Alondra de la Parra – Sony (2)
Celebrating the 2010 Mexican Bicentennial with samples of 200 years of Mexican classical music.
SCHUBERT: 3 Impromptus, D. 946; Menuett and Trio in A, D. 334; Andante in C, D. 29; Piano Piece in A, D. 604; Adagio in B, D. 612; 17 German Dances, D. 366; Variations on a Theme by Anselm Huttenbrenner, D. 576 – Joshua Pierce, piano – MSR
I find his playing gossamer and direct, veering neither to the right nor to the left in terms of romantic emphasis.
J.S. BACH: Four Concertos for Harpsichords and Orch. = Fritz Neumeyer/Lily Berger/Konrad Burr/ Ilse Urbuteit/Ch. Orch. of the Saar/Karl Ristenpart – HDTT
Baroque specialist Karl Ristenpart returns in augmented sound to engage in Bach’s larger compositions for multiple claviers.
Marc Ribot, solo guitar – Silent Movies – Pi
Guitarist Marc Ribot goes cinematic on his new album, Silent Movies.
Lena Horne – The Essential Lena Horne – Sony Legacy
American icon shines on luminous career retrospective.
Janeane Garofalo – If You Will, Blu-ray (2010)
Garofalo may be on Blu but thankfully avoids being too blue.
“Live at Punkt” – Gavin Bryars Ensemble = GAVIN BRYARS: Selections from “Lauda” – Anna Maria Friman, sop./John Potter, tenor/Morgan Goff, viola/Nick Cooper, cello/Gavin Bryars, doublebass – GB Records
Ethereal beauty that comes from two different senses of time.
Stokowski Chicago Debut Concerts = BACH: Four Chorale-Preludes; SZABELSKI: Toccata; SHOSTAKOVICH: Prelude in E-flat Minor; PROKOFIEV: Three Scenes from Romeo and Juliet; TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite; GLIERE: Ilya Muromets Sym. – Pristine Audio (2 CDs)
These discs recapture the first appearances of Leopold Stokowski with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in 1958.
Taylor Eigsti – Daylight at Midnight – Concord Jazz
Eigsti admits he could spend all day cheerfully performing standards.
MOZART: Mass in C minor – Gillian Keith, soprano/ Tove Dahlberg, mezzo-soprano/ Thomas Cooley, tenor/ Nathan Berg, baritone/ Handel and Haydn Society/ Harry Christophers, conductor – Coro
Nicely-sized period band in Boston tackles Mozart’s greatest mass to fine effect.
SIBELIUS: Valse Triste, Op. 44:1 (2 versions); Impromptu in b, Op. 5:5; 10 Pieces, Op. 58; 5 Pieces, Op. 85; 5 Pieces romantiques, Op. 101; 5 Esquisses, Op. 114 – Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano – Triton
An outstanding issue of some less-than-great music in icy clear sound.
Irene Kral – Second Chance – Jazzed Media
A rare and special vocal find….
VORISEK: 8 Rhapsodies from Op. 1; SCHUBERT: 4 Impromptus, D. 899 – Gerlint Boettcher, piano – Ars Musici
Musical connection between the Czech and Austrian schools of thought, poetically realized by a young enthusiast.
“Neapolitan Flute Concertos” = GIUSEPPE DE MAJO: Flute Concerto; GENNARO RAVA: Flute Concerto in B Minor; TOMMASO PROTA: Flute Concerto; NICCOLÒ JOMMELLI: Flute Concerto; ANTONIO PALELLA: Flute Concerto No. 2 – Carlo Ipata, flute/Auser Musici – Hyperion
This disc may not be indispensible for most music lovers, but it represents such fine all-around musical values that it will enhance any collection.
Audio News for September 17, 2010
SRS TruSurround HD to be Installed in European TV Displays; Bryston Introduces Digital Music Player and Processor; Three Pro Manufacturers Collaborate on Optimized Home Audio Solutions; Dolby Debuts Audio Description Service
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
