Monthly Archive: August 2011
Audio News for August 30, 2011
CEDIA Expo-USA Sept. 7 thru 11; Paradigm Readies their Value Series for CEDIA; Parasound Debuts Zphono-USB Preamp; Steve Jobs Resigns; Procella Readies LCR Speaker and Subwoofer for CEDIA
PONCHIELLI: Fantasy on Motifs from La Traviata for Trumpet; Euphonium Concerto; Trumpet Concerto; Gran Capriccio for Oboe; Trumpet Concerto – MD&G
This could easily fill a gap on many shelves—but why the arrangements?
"Other Love Songs" = BRAHMS: Liebeslieder Walzer; HOUGH: Other Love Songs – Linn
Another Liebeslieder? You bet, and this one is very welcome!
Percy Grainger: The Complete 78-rpm Solo Recordings, 1908-1945 – APR (5 CDs)
Australia’s musical lion has ample representation in these five discs, a testament to a brilliant virtuoso and an audacious, iconoclastic thinker.
Antico • Moderno = Renaissance Madrigals Embellished – Soloists/ Capriccio Stravagante – Paradizo
Beautifully realized versions of ancient madrigals that revives an old art form—and on a wonderful new label.
Ravel Meets Gershwin (2011)
A highly successful crossover/pops concert; everyone in the Philharmonie seems to have a ball.
Claire Daly Quintet – Mary Joyce Project: Nothing to Lose – Daly Bread Records
An Alaskan adventuress who epitomized the pioneer spirit is the focus of an equally adventurous jazz album.
Mary Lou Williams — At Rick’s Café Americain — Storyville
Williams was a prolific composer and arranger for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, a trusted artistic adviser to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis, as well as composer of a Catholic jazz mass.
Orpheus, Blu-ray (1950/2011)
Essential Jean Cocteau classic film which gives the ancient Orpheus myth a dream/nightmare type of modern setting.
LEO BROUWER: The String Quartets; String Trio – The Havana String Quartet – Zoho Classix
The Havana Quartet, founded by Brouwer in 1980, has this music in their fingers and soul.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Ready for Confetti – ALOS
Austin country artist Robert Earl Keen ranges from road tales to outlaw sagas to family portraits on his latest album.
BRAHMS: Piano Quartets 1 & 3 – Milander Quartet – Avie
Tempestuous Brahms that lacks only a last degree of understanding.
Czech Chamber Music = JOSEF FOERSTER; VITEZSLAV NOVAK; JANACEK; FIBICH – Kinsky Trio Prague – Praga Digitals
A delightful collection of fine Czech chamber music, showing varied aspects of the Bohemian nationalist school.
Nigel Waddington – Bigger Pictures – Cala Records
Not really jazz, it’s a bit of many things: easy listening, a little rock, some pump it up funk.
"Stories" = Works of BERIO; JOHN CAGE; JACKSON MAC LOW; ROGER MARSH; SHELDON FRANK; CATHY BERBERIAN – Theatre of Voices/ Paul Hillier – Harmonia mundi
Interesting, unusual, and often mesmerizing. But is any of it even music?
Eugene Goossens: London Recordings Vol. 1 = BALAKIREV; TCHAIKOVSKY; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV; BORODIN – New Symphony Orch. (Balakirev)/ London Philharmonic/Goossens – Historical-Recordings
Virtually peerless interpretations of Russian music by the Eugene Goossens who at this period, 1930-1938, still enjoyed an unsullied distinction for orchestral flair.
HANDEL: Theodora (complete oratorio), Blu-ray (2011)
This production raises more questions than it answers.
MOZART: Piano Sonatas (complete) – Robert Silverman, piano – IsoMike (7 SACDs)
Blazingly beautiful recordings in sound that is simply top-of-the-line.
* BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor; other works – Vadim Gluzman, violin / Sandis Šteinbergs, v. / Maxim Rysanov & Ilze Klava, viola / Reinis Birznieks, cello / Bergen Philharmonic/Andrew Litton – BIS
****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******
This recording of Bruch’s celebrated First Concerto goes straight to the head of the class. The composer’s lovely Romance and Quintet are classy discmates.
RAVEL: Trio in A Minor; Sonata – Jamie Laredo, violin/Jeffrey Solow, cello/Ruth Laredo, piano/Leslie Parnas, cello – Sony
Wonderful neo-Classical Ravel from the mid-1970s Marlboro musicians who made musically alert ensemble together.
CRAIG MADDEN MORRIS: “Dreams” = Violin Concerto; Piano Trio; Dream Songs; Cello Rhapsody; Tropical Dances – Ravello
Pleasant enough chamber music might require more listening.
“Climate Changes” = Music of POULENC; DEBUSSY; JACQUELINE FONTYN; MESSIAEN; Bonus DVD: DEBUSSY – Jan Pas, cello/ Stefano Vimara, p. – Evil Penguin CD + DVD
A fine recital of mostly essential pieces…well, almost.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
