Monthly Archive: November 2011
DVORAK: Slavonic Dance in C; Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”; Czech Suite; Slavonic Dance in E Minor – Bournemouth Symphony/ Jose Serebrier – Warner Classics
Enthusiasm and sonic loveliness mark conductor Jose Serebrier’s latest traversal of Dvorak, a projected complete cycle of symphonies and symphonic poems.
Sir John Barbirolli conducts Gold and Silver = Opus Kura
Splendid fare in the lighter vein from Sir John Barbirolli and his well-honed Halle Orchestra, in vintage HMV and Pye inscriptions.
Stokowski conducts STRAVINSKY, HINDEMITH, HARTMANN, HANSON, HARRIS, HOVHANESS – Guild (2)
The eternal master of symphonic sounds and balances explores a series of colorful scores, 1943-1956, several world premieres or radio-broadcast debuts, typical of Stokowski.
Pound of Flesh (2011)
May seem like an exploitation flick but a quite interesting watch.
West Side Story – 50th Anniversary Edition, Blu-ray (3 discs) (1961/2011)
The Blu-ray version supports the reputation of West Side Story as the best Hollywood musical ever.
DEBUSSY: Vol. 5 – Pascal Roge & Ami Roge, pianos – Onyx
Pascal Roge and wife Ami Roge traverse some familiar and some new Debussy territory, exquisitely played and recorded.
Audio News for November 25, 2011
Nuforce DAC/Preamp; Samsung Black Friday Deals; Large-screen TVs Big at Costco; Recession Worries Reduced; Electronics Thefts on the Rise; Founders of Sennheiser and Extron Win Awards
“Divergence” – Modern Concerti for Strings – Soloists/ Warsaw Nat. Philharmonic – Navona
An entertaining program of three string concertos by living composers that receives inspiration from past classical music icons.
Dave Douglas & So Percussion – Greenleaf Portable Series Vol.Three: Bad Mango – Greenleaf
Dave Douglas turns his Bad Mango into a fittingly fruitful collaboration.
String Quartets by SHOSTAKOVICH and His Contemporaries = Pacifica String Q. – Cedille
Recordings by the Pacifica Quartet 2010-2011 reveal a deep sympathy for the Soviet music produced by two composers who had suffered “political” censure after 1948.
Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway – Live at Library of Congress – IPO
The duo provides some fresh and very enjoyable listening.
Jorge Bolet: His Earliest Recordings – APR (2 CDs)
The legendary Cuban virtuoso Jorge Bolet’s 1952-1953 inscriptions restored, and they reveal a polished artist of colossal technique and intelligent refinement.
ANNA THORVALDSDOTTIR: ‘Rhízōma’ = CAPU Ens., Iceland Sym./ Daniel Bjarnason – Innova
This interesting, complex music requires total concentration at least.
Sultans of String – Move – MCK
Sultans of String may not be easy to categorize, but they do afford a musical journey worth taking.
Beginners – Blu-ray (2011)
A touching and heartfelt story of relationships which is not afraid to veer off the usual Hollywood formulas.
PLATTI: Sonatas for Harpsichord (18) – Filippo Emanuele Ravizza – Concerto (4 CDs)
GIOVANNI BENEDETTO PLATTI: Sonatas for Harpsichord (18) – Filippo Emanuele Ravizza, harpsichord – Concerto Classics Vol. 1 thru 4 – Concerto Classics CD Box 2011 (Vol. 1=1 hr 11:04, Vol. 2=1 hr 15:33, Vol. 3=1 hr 5:51, Vol. 4=1 hr :39) [Distr. by Naxos] ****1/2: Platti was an important part of the 18th century musical […]
Wynton Marsalis Box Set – Swinging Into the 21st – Sony Legacy (11 CDs)
This is a fine collection of Marsalis’ “middle period” and a great demonstration of his high standards and extremely varied musical settings.
CHARLES IVES: Four Sonatas – Hilary Hahn violin; Valentina Lisitsa – DGG
A sparkling and committed performance of the anti-establishment music of Charles Ives.
Clemens Krauss conducts RICHARD STRAUSS: Also Sprach Zarathustra; Don Juan; Till Eulenspiegel – Vienna Philharmonic / Clemens Krauss – Pristine
Krauss seemed to have a special magic in the scores of Richard Strauss.
JEFF TALMAN: Nature of the Night Sky (2011) – New Domain Records
An astronomical sound installation done in the Bavarian forest—for headphone listening.
Audio News for November 22, 2011
LCD Display Shipments Rise 13%; Classical News; Global Loudspeakers Market to $4.5 Billion by 2017
Keith Jarrett, solo piano – Rio – ECM
May be the best Jarrett solo piano improvisation album since The Köln Concert.