Monthly Archive: October 2010
BEETHOVEN: Quartet in E-flat, Op. 74, “Harp”; ARNE NORDHEIM: String Quartet 1956; BARTOK: Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85 – Engegard Quartet – 2L
An interesting mix of pieces that coexist quite nicely, in stunning sound.
Audio News for October 19, 2010
Home Entertainment Prices Tumble; False Claims of Power-Saving Gadget Exposed; New Fuji Camera Captures 3D Stills and Video; Delete All Files When Scrapping Computers or Home Electronics With Hard Drives
SZYMANOWSKI: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35; Symphony No. 3 “Song of the Night,” Op. 27 – Christian Tetzlaff, violin/Steve Divislim, tenor/ Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien/ Vienna Philharmonic/Pierre Boulez – DGG
Boulez enters the mesmeric, erotically charged world of Szymanowski, in which a daring harmonic language borrows from the ecstasies of Scriabin.
VIEUXTEMPS: Fantasia appassionata, Op. 35; Ballade et Polonaise, Op. 38; Fantasie Caprice, Op. 11; Greeting to America, Op. 56 – Misha Keylin, violin/Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Mogrelia – Naxos
Virtuoso Misha Keylin has made the music of Henri Vieuxtemps his special project, and these spectacular showpieces warrant our admiration.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Blu-ray + DVD (1978/2010)
Everything worked together to make this an unforgettable sci-fi/horror classic.
Hsu Research ULS-15 Subwoofer System
Its presence was a welcome addition to my system. I never had any problems and was never dissatisfied with its performance.
RACHMANINOV conducts RACHMANINOV = Isle of the Dead, Op. 29; Vocalise; Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 44 – Philadelphia Orchestra/Serge Rachmaninov – Naxos Historical
We tend to forget that Serge Rachmaninov possessed conducting skills on a par with his keyboard and compositional abilities.
Count Basie and the Kansas City 7 – Impulse/Universal/Analog Productions
There’s more variety of approach in these eight tracks than one typically gets in a Basie Big Band session.
Bach Keyboard Works set – Angela Hewitt, piano – Hyperion 15 CD set 44421/35
If you are thinking already about Christmas or Hanukkah presents for that classical music-loving friend or family member, this is the place I would start.
FERDINAND DAVID: Violin Concerto No. 4 in E Major, Op. 23; Violin Concerto No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 35; Andante and Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 16 – Hagai Shaham, violin/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion
Hagai Shaham delivers a fastidious and vivacious sympathy to the flow of figures, a real acolyte of an otherwise marginal repertory.
J.S. BACH: Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041; Violin Concerto in E Major BWV 1042; Concerto in G minor after BWV 1056; Violin Concerto in A Major after BWV 1055 – Rachel Podger, violin & director of Brecon Baroque /Bojan Cicic, violin/ Johannes Pramsohl
The violin tone – both of Podger and the rest of her Brecon Baroque – is rich and silky-smooth.
LALO SCHIFRIN: Romerias. plus music by Enrique Bevacqua, Alfredo Rugeles, Leo Brouwer, Gabriel Leo and Sabina Puccini – Sergio Puccini, guitar. Gabriel Leo, flute. Sabina Puccini, guitar. – Aleph Records
The entire program yields a rich landscape of how the classical guitar works when it’s written for by masters, and played with unique attention to each piece.
HAYDN: String Quartets, Op. 20 Nos. 1-6 – Daedalus Quartet – Bridge (2 CDs)
These works came at a critical juncture in Haydn’s life, during his Sturm und Drang period, which produced dark-hued, turbulently emotional symphonies.
Audio News for October 15, 2010
CEA Blasts NAB for Wanting to Make FM Tuners Government-mandated in Cellphones; CableCARD Rule Changes; Netflix Goes From Two-Channel to Surround Using Dolby Digital Plus; New Google and Apple TV Services May Hurt TV Stations and PVR Vendors
KITTY BRAZELTON: Ecclesiastes: A Modern Oratorio – Kitty Brazelton, voice, electronics, The Time Remaining Band – Innova
Strangely captivating reflection on well known scripture!
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS: Complete Solo Works for Guitar – Suite populaire bresilienne; Douze Etudes (1928); Cinq Preludes (1940); Choros No. 1 – Frank Bungarten, guitar – Multichannel SACD (2+2+2) MDG Gold
Villa-Lobos gave the guitar a popular and innovative repertory which is beautifully performed for us on this SACD.
Scott Amendola Trio – Lift – SAZi
On his new trio album, Lift, drummer Scott Amendola shows his full stylistic range, from funk to blues and beyond.
BACH: Inventions and Sinfonias BWV 772-801 – Peter Watchorn, harpsichord – Musica Omnia
Watchorn is among recent purveyors of Bach who seem to want to retire the image of the master as a high-powered counterpoint generator.
RAVEL: The Piano Concertos; Miroirs – Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano/The Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez – DGG
An exemplary pair of readings, especially given the Boulez penchant for articulate clarity in all parts.
IVES: String Quartet No. 1; String Quartet No. 2 – Juilliard String Quartet – Columbia/Sony Classical
Whatever subjective firmament Ives contemplates, it certainly challenges our more “placid” preconceptions.
Secretary, Blu-ray (2002/2010)
The secretary/boss relationship takes a turn that would give any human resource director the vapors.
George Duke – Déjà Vu – Heads Up International
Warning: Repeated exposure to fusion music could brighten your day.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
