Monthly Archive: June 2011
“Fantasies & Impromptus” – Music of PIERNE; SPOHR; SAINT-SAENS; FAURE; VERDALLE; SNOER; ROUSSEL & GLIERE – Lavina Meijer, harp – Channel Cl.
This includes the world premiere recordings of two totally forgotten composers for the harp – Snoer and Verdalle.
Dave Valentin – Pure Imagination – High Note
Dave Valentine is the most celebrated Latin flutist today.
BRAHMS: Complete Piano and Violin – Daniel Gaede, violin / Xuesu Liu, piano – Tacet
This disc is certainly a contender in the Brahms violin sonata sweepstakes.
Josef Krips Edition I = BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto; Coriolan Overture; Symphony No. 1 – Isaac Stern, violin/Orch. Nat. de la RTF/ Orchestre National de l’ORT (Op. 21) – Cascavelle
The first of a series devoted to Austrian maestro Josef Krips finds him in high gloss in works of Beethoven, ably assisted by a lucid Isaac Stern.
36th Precinct (2011)
This is French cop thriller which balances the often heavy action with tense scenes between the characters in their home and office life.
Audio News for June 10, 2011
Blu-ray Sales Start to Cover DVD Losses; Suit by Florida Dealer on Fixing LCD TV Pricing; Live Streaming Video Jazz Party This Saturday; Philadelphia Orchestra Struggles; OTA Reception Losing Viewers
High Resolution Technologies DACs Music Streamer IIx & Music Streamer Pro
HRT offers a range of small inexpensive USB-powered DACs that can provide great sound quality from your hi-res digital files and standard CDs.
Creating a PC-based Music Server with the High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer IIx
A stronger focus on HRTs entry-level DAC, with emphasis on creating a music server, digitizing CDs and downloading hi-res audio files.
LEE ACTOR: Concerto for Alto Sax and Orch. – Debra Richtmeyer, alto sax/Slovak Nat. Sym. Orch./Kirk Trevor; Dance Rhapsody; Celebration Ov. – Slovak Nat. Sym. Orch./Kirk Trevor; Con. for Horn & Orch. – Navona
Very pleasant discovery of a composer you should know!
SCHUMANN: The Three Piano Trios – Ilya Gringolts, violin / Peter Laul, p./ Dmitry Kouzov, cello – Onyx (2 CDs)
The complete Schumann trios played with Russian heart and soul.
ALBERTO GINASTERA: Cello Concertos = Cello Concerto No. 1; Cello Concerto No. 2 – Mark Kosower, cello/Bamberg Symphony/ Lothar Zagrosek – Naxos
Very important and demanding masterworks by Argentina ‘s most famous composer.
BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet in B Minor; REGER: Clarinet Quintet – Valery Gorokholinsky, clarinet/ New Russian Quartet – Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
Two ingratiating chamber works for clarinet quintet, but one may well be a “variation” of the other.
Esperanza Spalding – Chamber Music Society – Heads Up audiophile vinyl (2 discs)
Grammy award winning artist releases breakthrough album on vinyl.
Marty Williams – Long Time Comin’ – In Moon Bay Records
SF Bay Area jazz singer brings mellow sophistication to standard classics
SCHUMANN: Carnaval, Op. 9; Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 – Alessandra Ammara, piano – Arts Music
A wonderful performance of Davidsbündlertänze in big robust surround sound.
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 – Ewa Marczyk, violin solo/ Marek Marczyk, viola solo/ Warsaw Philharmonic/ Antoni Wit – Naxos Audio-only Blu-ray
The opening movement is full of sensual passion and power, and seems to show the influence of Scriabin, while its grandiose sound may remind one of Mahler.
Rubber, Blu-ray (2011)
When you think about it, there’s a number of very popular movies out there nowadays based on just as dumb a premise as a killer tire.
Audio News for June 7, 2011
3DTV Shipments Up 352%; New Samsung Streaming 3D Service; Electronics a Part of Today’s Auto Business
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 11; Piano Concerto No. 20; Piano Concerto No. 21 – Vassily Primakov, piano /Odense Symphony/ Simon Gaudenz – Bridge
Tumult and gaiety combine in these latest efforts in Primakov’s Mozart concertos survey – fine and energetic renditions.
Sanctum, Blu-ray (2011)
At the heart of the suspenseful action is the question of what each person must do in order to survive when faced with sudden life and death decisions at every juncture.
ANTON BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 0; March; Three Pieces – Beethoven Orch. Bonn/ Stefan Blunier – MDG Live
This is a most impressive performance, very well recorded, and the audience at the live concert hardly seems to be there.
DVORAK: String Sextet in A Major; Terzetto for 2 Violins and Viola; Terzetto for 2 Violins and Viola – Matthias Lingenfelder & Jens Oppermann, v./Stewart Eaton & Christian, Altenburger, viola/P. Demenga & Andreas Arndt, celli – Tacet
Eminently balanced and intoned with razor-sharp accuracy, these 2010 renditions of Dvorak’s largest chamber work and “household” trios prove enduring.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
