Monthly Archive: November 2010
Audio News for November 9, 2010
SF Symphony Mahler Project Will Be on Vinyl; LA Opera “Recovered Voices” Series on Blu-ray & DVD; Dirac Dimensions Auto Audio Technology; Apple Buying Into Sony?
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker Suite; LLOBET: Four Catalan Folksongs; FAURE: Pavane; VIVALDI: Concerto in D for Lute, Two Violins & Basso Continuo RV 93; DELIBES: Flower Duet from Lakme – Modern Mandolin Quartet – Dorian
I don’t think I’ve enjoyed the over-played-at-this-season Nutcracker ever so much as this treatment by the Modern Mandolin Quartet.
Hair High (2010)
Animated Gothic comedy/romance/horror by Bill Plympton
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Complete Works for Piano Solo, Vol. 1 = Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus (20 Gazes on the Infant Jesus) – Markus Bellheim, piano – NEOS (2)
A terrific launch of the complete Messiaen piano music on SACD.
Alien Anthology 6-disc set, all Blu-ray (1979-1997/2010)
Although the first is the oldest, and with the smallest cast of characters, it still stands up as the best of the bunch.
Paul van Kempen = BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83; TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet–Fantasy Overture; MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D Major – Wilhelm Kempff, piano/van Kempen cond. – Tahra (2)
Tahra restores rare documents from Paul van Kempen, of interest to collectors of Kempff, Mahler, and the esteemed Dutch conductor himself.
Soft Machine – NDR Jazz Workshop-Hamburg, Germany 1973 – Cuneiform Records Rune
Britain’s mysterious fusion band resurfaces with powerful 1973 concert dual disc.
Ehud Asherie – Organic – Posi-Tone Records
Another name to add to the new B-3 groovers….
NIKOLAI KAPUSTIN: “2+2 4Kapustin” = Concerto for two piano and percussion Op. 104; Eight Concert Etudes Op. 40; Sonata 14 Op. 120; Paraphrase of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Manteca” for two pianos – Daniel del Pino & Ludmil Angelov, pianos – Non-Profit Music
Says Kapustin: “All my improvisation is written, of course, and they became much better…”
Nat “King” Cole – The Very Thought Of You – (with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra) – Capitol Records /Analogue Productions Nat "King" Cole – Love Is The Thing – (with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra) – Capitol Records/Analogue Productions
The overall quality of the 3-channel sound is stunning – demo level.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones – Blu-ray (1974/2010)
Those looking for Shine A Light-level picture and sound should be warned: This is a 70s concert film through and through even though a Blu-ray.
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor; Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor – Rachmaninov, piano/ Philadelphia Orchestra/ Leopold Stowkowski (No. 2)/Eugene Ormandy (No. 3) – RCA/Dutton/Vocalion
Best remastering yet of these classic early recordings.
MAGNARD: Symphony No. 3 in B-flat Minor, Op. 11; D’INDY: Symphony No. 1 in G Major on a French Mountain Air, Op. 25 – Robert Casadesus, piano/ Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet – Cascavelle
A particularly satisfying combination of Gallic scores from Swiss conducting master Ernest Ansermet, whose Edition continues in splendid form.
BIZET: Le docteur Miracle – Soloists/ Orchestra of Radio France / Bruno Amaducci – Opera d’Oro
This is an entertaining little opera in a very entertaining performance, but be forewarned: the sound is a big letdown.
J.S. BACH: The Six Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 – Kristof Barati, violin – Berlin Classic
A revelatory reading of the Bach oeuvre for solo violin, played and recorded in masterful fashion.
Connie Francis – 26 Greatest Hits (Audiophile Version) – Top Music International
Unusual career is highlighted in a lavish SACD release.
* TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 3 in G, Op. 55; STRAVINSKY: Divertimento “The Fairy’s Kiss” – Russian National Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski – PentaTone
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
Toy Story 3, 4-Disc Set, Blu-ray (2010)
The Pixar Animation Studio just can’t seem to fail, and the third Toy Story has been universally acclaimed as the best of them all.
ANTONIO SALIERI: Il mondo alla rovescia – Soloists/Orch. & Chorus of Arena de Verona/Federico Maria Sardelli – Dynamic (2 discs)
This recording should add further luster to Salieri’s image.
Tony Succar – Live At The Werheim Performing Arts Center – Mixtura Productions – DVD + CD
Latin percussion-driven music unites jazz with world culture.
Dan Adler – Back to the Bridge – Emdan
On Back to the Bridge, guitarist Dan Adler tries his hand at an organ/guitar/drums trio format with stimulating results.
Audio News for November 5, 2010
Panasonic to Offer Free 3D Avatar With Viera 3DTVs; Is Great Sound Being Wrecked by the Hi-Fi Industry?; Court Ban Sought for Violent Video Games; Daniel Barenboim Signs With DGG & Decca; Republicans and Democrats All Love Technology
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
