Monthly Archive: November 2010
Sondheim! The Birthday Concert, Blu-ray (2010)
A memorable Broadway evening, wonderfully preserved on Blu-ray.
SCHUBERT Piano Duets = Allegro in A Minor “Lebensstuerme,” D. 947; Andantino varie in B Minor, D. 823, No. 2; Fugue in E Minor; Rondo in A Major, D. 951; Variations on an Original Theme; Fantasie in F Minor – Paul Lewis and Steven Osborne – Hyperion
Lewis and Osborne survey several profound examples of Schubert’s generous four-hand legacy.
Bryan Adams – Bare Bones – Decca Records
Canadian rocker comes alive with a strong acoustic set.
BACH: Violin Concertos in a, BWV1041; E, BVW 1042; G, BWV 1056b; Double Violin Concerto in d, BWV 1041 – Elmar Oliveira, violin/ Eva Gruesser, violin/ Arco Ensemble – Artek
Oliveira seems to have lost nothing, but is the overall conception behind these pieces really up to snuff?
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D – Tonkunstler-Orchester Niederosterreich/ Andres Orozco-Estrada, conductor – Preiser
Wow! The finest recording of this symphony I have ever heard, nearly matched by the interpretation—and from a completely unexpected source.
MICHAEL NYMAN: In Re Don Giovanni; Knowing the Ropes; Trysting Fields; Wedding Tango; Come Unto These Yellow Sands; If; Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds: The Heart Asks Pleasure First; Miranda; WOJTAROWICZ: Silence – Nyman/Motion Trio – Nyman
Message and medium are separate issues in this unusual collection of Nyman tunes.
The Nightingale and the Butterfly – Pamela Thorby, recorders/ Elizabeth Kenny, archlute, theorbo, baroque guitar – Linn
A great program, but there are some strange and unexpected issues.
Audio News for November 19, 2010
RoxioNow Delivers Dolby Digital Plus; Bernstein Complete Symphonies Set Released; Beatles’ Entire Catalog Finally Available Via iTunes; Composer Henryk M. Gorecki Dies in Katowice; Filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis Dies
Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, Blu-ray (1936/2010)
Right up there with Citizen Kane as one of the greatest American films ever.
HENDRIX – West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology – Sony Legacy Set (4 CDs + DVD)
Enough gold beneath the surface to satisfy the hard-core Hendrix fan.
BRAHMS: Complete Violin Sonatas = Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78; Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100; Violin Sonata No.3 in D Minor, Op. 108 – Stefan Jackiw, violin / Max Levinson, piano – Sony Music Korea
The current recording project featuring up-and-coming violinist Stefan Jackiw is an international affair.
Mindru Katz: Live! = LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major; TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23 – Mindru Katz, piano/Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra/Harold Byrns/Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Sergiu Comissiona – Cembal d’amour
More virile, impassioned collaborations from Israeli keyboard phenomenon Mindru Katz, whose Tchaikovsky Concerto may well surpass the Horowitz inscriptions.
Brendan James – Brendan James – Decca Records
Singer/songwriter breaks the sophomore jinx.
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 6 – Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Ivan Fischer – Channel Classics
Hits on all cylinders, and the performances are every bit the equal of the superb sound.
Playing For Change Live – Playing For Change Records/ Concord Music Group (DVD + CD)
Calling out around the world…time to dance in the streets!
Norah Jones – Featuring Norah Jones – Blue Note Records/EMI
Quintessential collaboration album works like a charm.
Audio News for November 16, 2010
Politicians in the Recent Election Sued for Infringement in Music Use; State-of-the-Art Music Server; Record Label Offers Multiple Formats; Yamaha Adds Pandora and iPhone/iPad Capabilities to AV Receiver
“FRANZ SCHUBERT: Piano Four Hands, Volume 1” = Trois Marches Militaires; Andantino Varié in B Minor; Duo in A Minor “Lebensstürme,”; Four Ländler; Fantasia in F Minor – Min Kwon and Robert Lehrbaumer, piano – MSR Classics
This first volume of Schubert’s piano-duet music is a good start though not all of the interpretations are equally effective.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35; CONUS: Violin Concerto in E Minor; SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, No. 1; KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 – Jascha Heifetz, violin/various – Naxos Historical
Epic and effective Romantic fare for violin legend Jascha Heifetz to play in his inimitable style.
Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins – Impulse!/Analogue Productions/Universal
The clarity of the two-channel SACD clearly places each player with air around them.
Art Pepper Quartet – Live at the Jazz Showcase 1977 – Art Pepper Music / Widows Taste Records
Downloadable Art…
BIZET: Symphony in C Major; Jeux d’enfants, Op. 22; Roma–Suite for Orchestra, No. 3 -Orchestre de Paris/Paavo Jarvi – Virgin Classics
The three works Jarvi performs constitute Bizet’s repute as a composer of orchestral works.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
