Monthly Archive: May 2011
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in f, op. 36; Romeo and Juliet – Russian National Orchestra/ Mikhail Pletnev, conductor – PentaTone
Readers, you have no idea how surprised I am at myself seeing those five stars in the header.
ISAAC ALBENIZ: Spanish Music for Classical Guitar – David Russell, guitar – Telarc
Another winner for Russell—could there be another Grammy in the works?
R. STRAUSS: Elektra–Final Scene; Ariadne auf Naxos – Soloists/Royal Philharmonic Chorus & Orch./Sir Thomas Beecham – Naxos
Beecham’s 1947 inscriptions of two Strauss opera finales proves eminently sensitive to the composer’s vision.
Howard Alden: I Remember Django – Arbors
A modern master acknowledges his antecedents.
Peter Tosh – Equal Rights (Columbia/Legacy Edition) Peter Tosh – Legalize It (Columbia/Legacy Edition)
Thirty-five years ago, Peter Tosh, perhaps naively, imagined his music had the power to transform society.
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto; Piano Trio No. 5 “Ghost” – Louis Zimmermann, violin/Orch. conducted by Charles Woodhouse – Historic-Recordings
An Old-World performance–the first electrical inscription–of the Beethoven Violin Concerto from Mengelberg’s concertmaster proves captivating on its own terms.
JOHN ADAMS: Son of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet – International Contemporary Ens./ John Adams/ St. Lawrence String Quartet – Nonesuch
Two new works from American composer John Adams brings an entertaining and energetic chamber symphony and a string quartet that recalls his early minimalistic roots.
Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris, Blu-ray (1972/2011)
A majestic exploration of the theme of spacemen dealing with unknown and different forms of intelligence.
Audio News for May 24, 2011
New 3D Technology from Samsung & RealD; New York City Opera May Fold; Tech Problems Dog Met Opera Wagner Productions; George Solti’s Archive Given to Harvard Music Library; HP Pavillion Desktop PCs Offer Surround Sound; Brazil Now a Global Center for Consumer Electronics
Mimi Fox – Live At The Palladium (2011)
Jazz guitar takes flight in scintillating DVD performances.
Ivry Gitlis, violin = Violin Concertos of SIBELIUS, BRAHMS; PAGANINI; HINDEMITH; LEIBOWITZ- var. performers – Doremi (2 CDs + DVD)
A legendary superstar among violinists, a prodigy whose distinctive tone and blazing energy immediately identify his personal style.
Gerald Wilson Orchestra – Legacy – Mack Avenue
One of our last living legends continues to shine…
Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian – Live at Birdland – ECM
Beyond a dream band…
Bob Gluck Trio – Returning – FMR Records
Pianist Bob Gluck expands his jazz trio ideas on his latest project.
David Gibson – End of the Tunnel – Posi-tone
Gibson and Gold shine on a “groove centric” release.
Evan Weiss – Math or Magic – Inner Circle Music
Trumpeter Evan Weiss tries to balance knowledge (i.e., math) and creativity (or magic) on his large ensemble debut album.
“The 18th Century American Overture” = By JAMES HEWITT; BENJAMIN CARR; REINAGLE; – Sinfonia Finlandia/Patrick Gallois – Naxos
Performances that are fun, unstuffy, but respectful of the composers’ intentions.
BACH: St. Matthew Passion – Solosts/ The Netherlands Bach Society/ Kampen Boys Choir/ Jos van Veldhoven – Channel Classics (3 SACDs)
Channel Classics’ surround-sound recording of the Passion is an artistic and sonic experience of the first order.
MARIN MARAIS: Pieces de Viole from Five Books, 1686, 1701, 1711, 1717, 1725 – Jordi Savall, basse de viole etc. – Alia Vox
An absolute requirement for anyone who is a fan of this composer—it doesn’t get any better, and the newly minted surround sound is fantastic.
FRED HO: ‘Deadly She Wolf – Assassin at Armageddon’, music & concept by Fred Ho; ‘Momma’s Song’ – music & concept by Fred Ho – Fred Ho Ens. – Innova
For those who like very abstract jazz and also Manga comics this may be for you.
Beethoven’s Fifth. A Rediscovery (2010)
Rediscovery, reinterpretation, getting back to Beethovenian basics, or a lot of hot air? You decide.
BRAHMS: Works for Cello and Piano – Zuill Bailey, cello/ Awadagin Pratt, piano – Telarc
A happy combination of passion and lyrical ensemble marks this all-Brahms cello recital as a disc of decisive power.