Monthly Archive: February 2011
Audio News for February 11, 2011
JukeBlox Connectivity Platform Gets Two New Partnerships; Mirage Media Server Uses Cloud-based Storage; EnergyGuide Labels Coming to TVs in May; Consumer Reports Says Plasma 3DTVs Better Than LCDs
Allan Taylor – In The Groove – Stockfisch Records Metal Master vinyl
This Direct Metal Mastered, 180 gram LP is an audiophile dream come true
John Coltrane – Coltrane, Live At The Village Vanguard – Impulse Records/ ORG Ltd. Edition audiophile 45 rpm (2 discs)
A sophisticated re-mastering of the vintage 1961 live recording is dazzling.
The Decemberists – The King is Dead – Capitol Records
New music from the indie folk-rock group mixes in classic country sounds.
GLAZUNOV: Piano Sonata No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 74; Piano Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 75; LIADOV: Variations on a Polish Folk Theme, OP. 51; ARENSKY: Six Caprices, Op. 43 – Martin Cousin, piano – Somm
Martin Cousin–of “Shine” fame–offers some rare and elegant Russian piano scores for our delectation.
Steve Tibbetts – Compilation: Acoustibbetts/Elektrobitts/Exotibbetts v1.0 – Frammis (3 CDs)
A comprehensive three-CD set which showcases Steve Tibbetts’ many guitar milieus.
Duke Ellington – Such Sweet Thunder – Columbia/Pure Pleasure Records (audiophile LP)
Legendary American composer jazzed up Shakespeare.
EARL WILD: The Piano Music of Earl Wild – Xiayin Wang, Piano – Chandos
Not since Oscar Peterson performed “George Gershwin’s Song-Book” (from 1934) have there been so many intoxicating flourishes in those famous dozen.
Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble – Texas Flood – Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Vaughn proves himself to be a dedicated blues purveyor with some riveting covers.
Bizarre or baRock – Elizabeth Anderson – Move More Bizarre or baRock – Elizabeth Anderson – Move
Elizabeth Anderson has the reputation – at least in her native Australia – as the hottest and hippest harpsichordist around today.
Gavin Bryars, Petr Nalich, Sergey Taneyev: Season of Mists Soundtrack – GB Records
I guess you have to see the movie.
RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez; Invocacion y danza; GOSS: The Albeniz Concerto; ALBENIZ: Espana, Op. 165 (arr. Yang) – Xuefei Yang, guitar/ Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya/Eji Oue – EMI
Guitar virtuoso’s “Sketches of Spain” pay homage to Rodrigo and Albeniz in studied, brilliant colors.
“Joys, Mournings, and Battles: Music of DURUFLÉ AND ALAIN” = MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Suite; Prelude and Fugue on the Name of A.L.A.I.N.; JEHAN ALAIN: Three Dances – Christopher Houlihan, organ – Towerhill
This is a fine showcase for both the young performer and for an attractive American organ with a French accent.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 10 in F-sharp Major (first two movements); Symphony No. 3 in D Minor – Hildegard Roessl-Majdan, contralto/Wiener Saengerknaben/Wiener Symphoniker/F. Charles Adler – Music & Arts
Mahler from one of the composer’s original acolytes, and so it presents what might well have transpired in an authentic Mahler performance.
Audio News for February 8, 2011
BBC World Service Making Huge Cutbacks; Growth of Web-enabled Home Electronics; Growth of Wireless-Connectivity Chipsets; Best and Worst Electronic Holiday Gifts; Consumers More Optimistic and Spending More
* ANTONIN DVORAK: Symphony No. 7 in D minor Op. 70; Symphony No. 8 in G Major Op. 88 – Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/ Marin Alsop – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
******** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
The string section tone on both symphonies is especially rich and natural.
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys – Grand Isle
Mamou Playboys let the Bontemps roll.
FALLA: Three Cornered Hat; La Vida Breve: Interlude & Dance – Ansermet – ORG 45 rpm (2) “Espana” = RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Capriccio Espagnol; GRANADOS: Danze espanola No. 5; CHABRIER: Espana Rhapsody; MOSZKOWSKI: 5 Spanish Dances – Argenta – ORG 45 rpm (2)
For the first time I found 45 rpm vinyl virtually identical to 44.1/16 optical discs.
Genius Within – The Inner Life of Glenn Gould [Directors’ Cut] (2011)
One was left the impression from other films that Gould had no relationships with women, but this one clearly corrects that impression.
Great Pianists Volume 2 = MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major; LISZT: Don Juan Fantasy (two performances); R. STRAUSS: Burleske – Alexander Brailowsky, p./Boston Symphony Orch./Serge Koussevitzky (Mozart)/Shura Cherkassky/Rudolf Serkin – Guild
Four performances–with three pianists of distinct temperaments–recorded live between 1945 and 1958, each devoted to mainstream repertory.
HANS GÁL: The Complete String Quartets = Vol. 1: Quartet No. 1 in F Minor; Quartet No. 4 in B-flat Major; Improvisation, Variations, and Finale on a Mozart Theme; Quartet No. 2 in A Minor; Quartet No. 3 in b minor; 5 Intermezzi – Edinburgh Q. – Meridian
It’s good to see Hans Gál getting more of the attention he deserves these days.
Highlander, 2-Film Anniversary Collection, Blu-ray (1986-1990-2011)
Director Mulcahy and his producers never expected the first film to be so popular thruout the world since it didn’t do well in the U.S.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
