Monthly Archive: June 2011
Stabat Mater, A Tribute to Pergolesi = Anna Netrebko, sop. & others (CD + Bonus DVD) – DGG
The CD half is really a win-win disc for all concerned, including listeners.
Edwin Fischer in two MOZART piano concertos, 3 BEETHOVEN Sonatas, Piano trios of BRAHMS & SCHUMANN – with Vienna Philharmonic Orch. – Orfeo (4 CDs)
Orfeo documents Edwin Fischer’s live appearances at the 1946-1954 Salzburg Festival as solo pianist and conductor, as well as in regally-performed chamber music.
JOHANNES ECCARD: Mass for Five Parts; Motets and Canticles – Norddeutscher Kammerchor/ Maria Jugensen, conductor – MD&G
The voices are presented in an affecting and effective manner that allows the blended sonorities to come through with powerful force and much presence.
R. STRAUSS: Don Juan, Op. 20; Metamorphosen for 23 Solo Strings; 9 Songs for Soprano and Piano – Joan Rodgers, soprano/ Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg/ Jan Latham-Koenig, conductor and piano – Avie
This all-Strauss disc features two youthful and gifted British artists in collaboration.
Five Play Jazz Quintet – Five of Hearts (2011) – Auraline Records
Their second album has really the same theme as the previous one with Laura Klein, the pianist-composer, stating their presentation is melodic heartfelt jazz that feeds your soul.
Seducing Time (2011)
The themes explored in these six videos concern such things as electronically-monitored and manipulated identities, the simulation of identities, surveillance, encryption, privacy and media manipulation.
“Concerti per Flauto del Signor VIVALDI ‘Giorno e Notte’” = Divox Antiqua
Vivaldi gets absolutely virtuoso treatment here, but the disc is let down by short playing time and less-than-stellar sonics.
LOUIS COUPERIN: Six Suites; Pavanne – Christophe Rousset, harpsichord – Aparté “Flores de música” – keyboard music by JUAN CABANILLES – Elisabeth Wright, harpsichord – Musica Ficta
A pair of discs to delight collectors who don’t subscribe to Sir Thomas Beecham’s too-graphic and inaccurate description of what harpsichords sound like.
Audio News for June 28, 2011
New Social Music Service Gives Control to Listener; Benchmark Tests Digital Audio Connection Between iPad and DAC1; Philips Previews HD Net Connect
People On Sunday, Blu-ray [1930/2011]
Made by young German filmmakers Robert Siomak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Billy Wilder and Fred Zinnemann, with a cast of nonprofessionals.
CHRISTOPHER SHULTIS “Devisadero” = Openings; Songs of Love and Longing; “a little light, in great darkness”; Devisadero – var. performers – Navona Recordings
Very pleasant listening by the New Mexico landscape.
Music of STEFAN WOLPE, Vol. 6 = Four Studies on Basic Rows; Three Pieces; Lied, Anrede, Hymnus, Strophe zarteste Bewegung; Two Pieces for Piano; Toccata; Studies for Piano, Part 1 & 2: Displaced Spaces; Palestinian Notebook; Songs – David Holzman – Bridge
Challenging music played with great authority and very well recorded. The question is how often will you want to return to it?
Elizabeth Hainen in Harp Concertos = ALVARS: Harp Concerto in G Minor; ALBRECHTSBERGER: Harp Concerto in C Major; SAINT-SAENS: Morceau de Concerto for Harp and Orchestra – Elizabeth Hainen, harp/Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra/Rossen Milanov – Avie
A very pretty lady plays very pretty music for the harp, much of it fit for — a Queen.
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata Nos. 1 & 2; Violin Sonata No. 3 – Albert Spalding, violin/Erno von Dohnanyi, p. – Pristine Audio
In a major coup for historic reissues, Mark Obert-Thorn returns the legendary Spalding-Dohnanyi complete Brahms Violin Sonatas to the active catalogue
Silvano Monasterios – Unconditional – Savant
Miami-based pianist Silvano Monasterios offers an enticing blend of moods incorporating Venezuelan folk rhythms with contemporary jazz.
Five Play Jazz Quintet – Five Play Jazz Quintet (2010) – Auraline Records
They have a message and it is great melodic modern jazz.
Constant Lambert, Vol. 2 = Music of DELIBES; MEYERBEER; CHABRIER; TCHAIKOVSKY – London Philharmonic /Constant Lambert – Historic-Recordings
Historic-Recordings reissues the famed Constant Lambert Tchaikovsky Fifth, and its legendary status proves well justified.
The New Gary Burton Quartet – Common Ground – Mack Avenue
Gary Burton and Julian Lage prove that guitar and vibes go great together. [A second opinion.]
New York, New York, Blu-ray (1977/2011)
During the musical numbers the film does shine with a wonderful recreation of the big band era.
SAINT-SAENS: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2 ; Sym. No. 3 “Organ”; other works – Vincent Dubois, organ/Orch. d’Ile de France/Yoel Levi – Cascavelle (2 CDs)
Yoel Levi ushers forth “redemptive” 2009 readings of the Saint-Saens symphonic legacy, captured in fine sound with a responsive French ensemble.
Sticks & Stones – Opus 3
“Bluegrass” music from the far north—Sweden, that is!
PIAZZOLLA: Tangos for Violin, Brass and Percussion = Quintetto de Ottoni e Percussioni della Toscana/Andrea Tacchi, v. – Naxos
The sound seems a bit more classically-oriented without the bandoneons, piano or string bass, but it is precise, skilled and often just as passionate as the standard tango quintet.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
