Monthly Archive: April 2011
BACH: Seven Motets = Vocalconsort Berlin/Marcus Creed – Harmonia mundi
The special genre of Bach motets receives a devotional, sonically brilliant rendition in these 2010 performances.
Jerry Bergonzi – Three for All – Savant
Top-notch jazz from an under-appreciated sax player.
Eli Degibri – Israeli Song – Anzic Records
Eli Degibri records an album with his musical heroes and enjoys himself immensely in the process.
Noah Preminger – Before The Rain – Palmetto
Noah Preminger’s sophomore album offers a glimpse of the continued possibilities for the genre as a whole.
J.S. BACH: Cantatas and Arias = Cantata No. 199; Cantata No. 51 – Elizabeth Watt, sop./Eng. Concert/Harry Bicket – Harmonia mundi
Bach performance in fine hands with the new generation.
“TCHAIKOVSKY & Shakespeare” = TCHAIKOVSKY: Hamlet: Fantasy Overture; The Tempest; Romeo and Juliet: Overture Fantasy – Simón Bolívar Sym. Orch. of Venezuela / Gustavo Dudamel – DGG
An excellent Tempest and respectable versions of the other tone poems. Not a first choice but very listenable.
Virtuoso Faceoff = HEINRICH BIBER: Sonata in A; Sonata in c; Sonata in D; GEORG MUFFAT: Toccata II; Toccata VII; Passacaglia in g; Sonata in D – Alba
Two once-highly acclaimed musicians in the same locale are paired up again.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Del McCoury Band – American Legacies – McCoury Music and Preservation Hall Recordings
On American Legacies, bluegrass and jazz come together with stellar results.
Black Swan, Blu-ray + Digital Copy (2010)
Black Swan was easily one of the best movies of 2010 and is worthy addition to any Blu-ray collection.
Sir Thomas Beecham – French Music = Works of BERLIOZ, BIZET, DEBUSSY, DELIBES, CHABRIER, FRANCK, MASSENET, LALO, SAINT-SAENS etc. – EMI (6 CDs)
Beecham’s work in French music reveals why the epithet “Le Grand Baton” so well suited his natural brio and panache in this colorful repertoire.
Audio News for April 12, 2011
Roku XD Launches at Best Buy; Rare Instrument Dealer in Jail; Broadband a Selling Point in New Homes; Polk Offers Wireless Digital Home Theater Audio System; Airfoil 4.0.2 for Mac App
SCHUMANN: Album for the Young – Alessandra Ammara, piano – Arts
There is always room for a new recording of this wonderful score, and Ammara goes right to the top of the list—and the sound is fantastic.
Fiddler On The Roof, 40th Anniversary 2-Disc Set, Blu-ray (1971/2011)
One of the very best film musicals you could find, and 40 years later it still stands as a masterpiece.
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto; String Sextet No. 2 – Var. soloists – HM
Isabelle Faust juxtaposes how Brahms works in masterly fashion, the Concerto in revisionist style, while the Sextet basks in romantic conceits.
“Simply Strings” = BARTOK: Divertimento for Strings; JANACEK: Suite for Strings; SIBELIUS: Impromtu nach Nos. 5 & 6; BRITTEN: Simple Symphony – Württemberg Ch. Orch. Heilbronn/ Ruben Gazarian – Bayer
The program of works by four composers is well balanced.
Eric Alexander – Don’t Follow the Crowd – High Note
I can predict while peeling the plastic from the jewel case, that I’m in for an enjoyable ride – pure professionalism…
Jared Gold – All Wrapped Up – Posi-Tone
Some golden moments….
BOGUSLAW FURTOK (b. 1967): Quartets 2 & 5 for doublebass quartet; Three Pieces for Four Basses – The Flying Basses – Zuk Records
Composer Furtok has provided music of a very high class (i.e., tonal), indeed.
LISZT: From the Cradle to the Grave; Three Funeral Odes; Two Episodes from Lenau’s Faust – BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Glasgow Singers/Ilan Volkov – Hyperion
A darker mortality-conscious Liszt provided in rich tones from conductor Ilan Volkov, including the Lenau’s Faust episodes presented as the composer preferred.
* LOUIS SPOHR: String Sextet in C Major Op. 140; Nonet in F Major Op. 31 – Camerata Freden – Tacet DVD-A
***** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******
In the early 19th century Louis Spohr was considered one of the most brilliant composer-musicians.
Eric Reed – The Dancing Monk – Savant Records
A fitting tribute to the master.
Audio News for April 8, 2011
Larger Royalties for Older Artists; Improved 3D Telecast Technology; New Universal Vinyl Distribution; Home Electronics Offset Home Efficiency Gains
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
