Monthly Archive: January 2011
WAGNER: Orchestral Works Volumes 1 and 2 – Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/ Edo de Waart, conductor – Exton 2 Multichannel SACDs, 78 min. OVCL-00153 (Vol. 1); 68 min. OVCL-00198 (Vol. 2)
The performances are first rate; the more rapidly-paced overtures are played with plenty of gusto, and the slower numbers are given beautifully expressive readings.
RAVEL: The Piano Concertos; Mirors – Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano/ The Cleveland Orchestra/Pierre Boulez – DGG
Ravel’s two piano concertos are given stodgy performances, missing the atmosphere and spirit of these masterpieces.
Mark Weinstein – Jazz Brasil – Jazzheads Holly Hofmann – Flutopia – Azica
A pair of winners for fans of jazz flute.
Duran Duran – Notorious (Remastered) – EMI (2 CDs + 1 DVD)
Getting a fresh remastered version of their hits is essential in the pop icons musical library.
Jim Pearce – I’m In The Twilight Of A Mediocre Career – Oak Avenue Publishing Jim Pearce – Prairie Dog Ballet – Oak Avenue Publishing
This jazz is simply too much fun.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” – Florence Kopleff, soprano/ Phyllis Curtin, contralto/ Donald Gramm, tenor/John McCollum, bass/ CSO Chorus and Chicago symphony Orchestra /Fritz Reiner -HDTT
Propulsion and nervous excitement mark the 1961 Fritz Reiner Beethoven Ninth, remastered in audiophile fidelity.
Audio News for January 25, 2011
Used Smartphone Market Grows; LCD Inventory Builds as TV Sales Slow; High-End Audio Makers Embracing AirPlay; Dolby Refines PC Audio
Meeting of the Spirits – Matt Haimovitz, cello & Uccello (with John McLaughlin, Matt Wilson, Jan Jarczyk) – Oxingale Records
Another innovative album pushing the boundaries between classical and jazz.
Meeting of the Spirits – Matt Haimovitz, cello & Uccello (with John McLaughlin, Matt Wilson, Jan Jarczyk) – Oxingale Records
Uccello is Haimovitz’ all-cello ensemble (eight when he joins them).
STEVEN MACKEY: ‘Dreamhouse’ – Rinde Eckert, architect/ Synergy Vocals/Catch Electric Guitar Quartet /Boston Modern Orchestra Project/Gil Rose – BMOP
It may require a dream or two to completely live in this house.
Shauli Einav – Opus One – Plus Loin
A debut from a saxophonist with plenty to say who knows how to say it.
BRAHMS: Academic Festival Overture; Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73; DELIUS: North Country Sketches – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham – Pristine Audio
Beecham himself gave the premier of the 1914 Delius North Country Sketches in May 1915.
SNL Classic Collection – The Best of John Belushi (2010)
This compilation should please most of the many fans of the late Belushi.
Ray, Blu-ray (2004/2011)
Many have observed that Jamie Foxx did such a fantastic job portraying Ray Charles in this biopic that he almost seems to be channeling him.
“Heroic Music” for Organ, Brass and Percussion – E. Power Biggs, organ/ The New England Brass Ensemble – Columbia/ Sony Classical/HDTT
“Heroic Music” for Organ, Brass and Percussion – E. Power Biggs, organ/ The New England Brass Ensemble – [TrackList below] Columbia/Sony Classical/HDTT HQCD218 [avail. in five different formats at https://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/], 31:02 *****: E. Power Biggs was one of the two famous concert organists and recording artists in the 50s and 60s – the other was […]
“Images” – The Budapest Jazz Orchestra Meets Kalman Olah – Hungaroton
Some of the tracks get into a highly intellectual modern jazz bag, but the feeling of the blues is nearly always constant.
FRANZ SCHMIDT: Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano, Left Hand and Orchestra; Piano Concerto in E-flat Major for Piano, Left Hand and Orchestra – Markus Becker, piano/ NDR Radiophilharmonie/ Eiji Oue – CPO
Pianist, cellist, composer, and pedagogue, Franz Schmidt studied with Anton Bruckner and Theodor Leschetizky, and worked with Gustav Mahler.
REVUELTAS: La Coronela; Itinerarios; Colorines – English Chamber Orchestra/ Santa Barbara Symphony/ Gisele Ben-Dor – Naxos
Revueltas left behind a quirky, radically charged, nationalistic body of work that even today astounds as it entertains.
BACH: Sonata in e, BWV 1034; Sonata in C, BWV 1033; Sonata in E, BWV 1035; Trio Sonata in c, BWV 1079 – Joshua Smith, flute/ Jory Vinikour, harpsichord/ Ann Marie Morgan, baroque cello/ Allison Guest Edberg, baroque violin – Delos
Volume 2 proves the equal of the first in this fine new recording.
ARAM KHACHATURIAN: Highlights from ‘Gayane’, Highlights from ‘Spartacus’, Highlights from ‘Masquerade’– Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/ Yuri Simonov – Royal Philharmonic Masterworks audiophile collection
Excellent performances of works you know you’ve heard somewhere!
“Beyond” – Buddhist and Christian Prayers – Tina Turner, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Regula Curti – New Earth Records
The readings by Turner are especially moving.
Audio News for January 21, 2010
Classical Webcasters Who Have Ceased Operation; Changing Classical Broadcasting Picture; Eight Track Museum Opens