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 the more flamboyant Virgil Fox. Biggs carefully researched the music he performed and helped bring the classical pipe organ back to attention. He also performed and recorded on the pedal harpsichord, including even a Scott Joplin album. He made many recordings which are prized by classical collectors, but few are still available. His “Glory of Gabrieli Vol. II” won a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Recording in 1969. Our favorite is the only one that was reissued from its SQ quad original on multichannel (4.0) SACD – Bach’s Four Great Toccatas & Fugues played from one console on four organs. Heroic Music was also released as an SQ LP, and it appears that sometime after its original release in 1962 on a single LP it was issued as a standard double-LP album (and later CD) totaling 69:41. This transfer was made from a prerecorded Columbia […]
“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
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
