Monthly Archive: February 2011
Arrau with Szell Live from Carnegie Hall = Works of BEETHOVEN; CHOPIN; R. STRAUSS; WEBER; LISZT- Arrau, p./NY Phil./George Szell – West Hill Radio
A series of superheated musical moments, each informed by the intellectual and digital bravado Arrau could produce, especially when accompanied by an expert orchestral interpreter on the scale of a George Szell.
George Michael – Faith – Epic Records/Legacy Recordings (2-CD reissue)
Reissue of 1987 album establishes a pop legend.
Conrad Herwig, trombone – The Latin Side of Herbie Hancock with Eddie Palmieri & Randy Brecker – Half Note Records
Herbie Hancock’s compositions never sounded so good.
Thelma & Louise, 20th Anniversary, Blu-ray (1991/2011)
The often heartbreaking chick flick road movie sees its first Blu-ray appearance here two decades after the adventurous twosome first hit the big screens.
Joe Lovano & Us Five – Bird Songs – Blue Note/EMI
Not just the usual redoing of his adventurous and often complex songbook, but an approach to Parker’s tunes – as the New York Times said – “as a springboard rather than an altar.”
Audio News for February 22, 2011
Ultimate Electronics Chains Closes; Detroit Symphony Orchestra Season Suspended; Things Looking Up for Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop New Music Director Position; Father of the 5 Browns Guilty of Abuse; Reference Recordings Grammy Win for Best Surround Album; Criterion Collection Joins Hulu Plus
The Passing of the Year = Songs of ERIC WHITACRE; JONATHAN DOVE; MORTEN LAURIDSEN; BELMONT-FORD – Joshua Copleland – MSR
You like choral music? Well here’s some really good stuff…
Arturo Toscanini = Works of VIVALDI; MOZART; BRAHMS; WAGNER – NBC Sym. – Guild
The Alpha and Omega of Toscanini’s NBC tenure, demonstrating the visceral authority of his musical conceptions that mesmerized generations of audiophiles.
Anthony Branker & Ascent – Dance Music – Origin
Dance music that also tugs at the heart.
R. STRAUSS: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 5; MOZART: Piano Sonata in F Major, K. 332; SCHUMANN: Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22 – Jon Sigurdsson, piano – Polarfonia
Some heady and accomplished music-making in three sonatas of disparate styles, with each receiving a romantic’s sensibility in sturdy sound.
“Chaconne” = Works of FRESCOBALDI, CABANILLES, STORACE,COUPERIN, KERLL, PURCELL, LIGETI, MUFFACT, FISCHER, HANDEL, FORQUERAY & others – Rinaldo Alessandrini, harpsichord – Naïve
A program that manages to educate, uplift, and entertain—a pretty good deal.
The Benoît Delbecq Trio – The Sixth Jump – Songlines
Adventurous jazz with African and European influences which has a condensed energy.
The Band – Rock Of Ages – Capitol Records/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Reissue of New Year’s live set is brilliant on SACD.
Miles Davis – Bitches Brew Live – Columbia/Sony Legacy Recordings
This new CD captures rare live performances of genre-bending jazz.
The Crystals – Da Doo Ron Ron: The Very Best of the Crystals – Phil Spector Records/Sony Legacy
They’re sweet and intense and over quick, much like a cherry cordial or an Atomic Fireball.
Amarcord, Blu-ray (1973/2011)
Fellini’s youth in his provincial town, but funneled thru the filmmaker’s usual carnivalesque fantasy world.
J. GADE: Waltzes, Tangos, and Cinema Music – Christian Westergaard, piano – DaCapo
Christian Westergaard explores the dance and film-score legacy of Jacob Gade, whose Tango Jalousie has long rendered him a singular success.
BOCCHERINI: Sei sonate di cembalo e violino obbligato, Op. 5 – Jacques Ogg, harpsichord / Emilio Moreno, violin – Glossa
Ardent and engaged performances of engaging early music by Boccherini.
KAWAI SHIU “Unassuming Music” – Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music/ Kawai Shiu – Ablaze Records
A fascinating and demanding collection of works by an impressive new composer!
“Inscapes” = MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG: Piano Trio, Op. 24; SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 8; Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67 – Trio Voce – Con Brio Recordings
Quite a program, well executed, but you’ll have to tinker some with the volume control to get manageable listening levels.
Audio News for February 18, 2011
Revenue Sharing by Webcasters and Record Labels; New Streaming Subscription Music Service; Component Audio Resurgent Market; George Shearing Dies at Age 91
Alexander Kitschin conducts = TCHAIKOVSKY: Ov. “1812,”; Symphony No. 5; GLAZUNOV: Stenka Razin – Ural Cossacks Choir/Berlin Philharmonic Orch./Berlin State Opera Orch. /Alexander Kitschin – Pristine
An obscure conductor emerges with a passion and resonant personality that commands our full attention in the music of Tchaikovsky.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
