Monthly Archive: December 2011
The Simpsons – The 14th Season, Blu-ray Set (2002-2003/2011)
Another winning season of The Simpsons, which never seems to run out of gas after all these years.
Audio News for December 13, 2011
Ridley Scott on Blu-ray, 3D, Etc.; Unique Hi-End Speaker Avoids Parallel Surfaces; Using Game Consoles to Connect TVs to Internet; Lionsgate to Release Over 100 Movies Via CreateSpace
HAYDN: String Quartets Op. 71 Nos. 1–3, “Apponyi” – Takács Q. – Hyperion HAYDN: String Quartets Op. 74 Nos. 1–3, “Apponyi” – Takács Q. – Hyperion
These recordings of the six “Apponyi” Quartets is a success on every score—the start of a Haydn series by the Takács on Hyperion?
Guido Cantelli conducts TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo & Juliet Ov.; Sym. No. 5 – Pristine
Guido Cantelli delivers Tchaikovsky performances with potent vigor and a degree of elegance that testifies to his classical adherence to form even in the midst of theatrical passion.
Yes – Symphonic Live, Blu-ray
Yes – Symphonic Live, Blu-ray Studio: Eagle Vision Entertainment EE333829 Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 1080i HD color Audio: DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo Extras: “Dreamtime Documentary;” “Don’t Go” video Length: 194 minutes Rating: Sound ** Video **** The band was formed in 1968 and has gone through multiple lineups of members. The concert was recorded in 2002 in Amsterdam, Holland. They play with the European Festival Orchestra under the wand of Wilhelm Keitel. They are considered a progressive rock group with leanings toward psychedelic sound. To me it sort of leans to a new age sound. They are known for their musical playing and their harmonies. Most of their hits are performed on this album, of which I’ve only heard a couple of the songs before. I looked them up on allmusic.com and was surprised by how many albums they have charted. They have 5 Top-10 albums on Billboard’s Top 200 list over the years. The reason that they are probably not that well known is that they have only had one top ten hit. They do have a very loyal following of fans. The song I like the best is “I’ve Seen All The […]
Guitar Passions – Sharon Isbin & friends – Sony Classical
A most successful crossover approach for the eminent guitarist.
Our Idiot Brother, Blu-ray (2011)
Our Idiot Brother, Blu-ray (2011) Starring: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones Director: Jesse Peretz Studio: The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay Entertainment Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 1080p HD Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish Extras: Audio commentary with director Jesse Peretz; The Making of “Our Idiot Brother”; three deleted/extended scenes; alternate ending; trailers Length: 90 minutes Movie Rating: **** Video Quality: **** Audio Quality: ***1/2 Ned (Paul Rudd) is a good-natured but overly-trusting, organic farmer. Ned is tricked into selling weed to an on-duty, uniformed police officer and is then sent to jail. After being let out on probation, Ned’s girlfriend kicks him off her organic farm (his home for the past three years) and also won’t allow Ned to take his beloved dog, Willie Nelson, with him. With no where else to go, Ned turns to his mom and three sisters for help. He is then tossed from one sister’s home to the next and is a constant source of frustration for them during his stay with each. While his sisters initially believe that Ned is an idiot, they eventually discover that he is sweet, thoughtful, loving […]
Michael Feinstein – We Dreamed These Days – DuckHole Records
America’s crooner releases orchestral ballad project.
Steve Howe’s Remedy Live (2011)
Veteran rocker steps out of the past.
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathetique”; Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”; Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata” – Shuann Chai, fortepiano – Postern Park
Young virtuoso Chai offers three of Beethoven’s most familiar keyboard sonatas on her contemporary instrument of choice in fine sound.
Bernstein, Goldings, Stewart – Live at Smalls – SmallsLive
The Hammond B-3 renaissance continues….
Mike DiRubbo and Larry Willis – Four Hands, One Heart – Ksanti Records
A fine debut release for a new label….
Chico Hamilton – Revelation – Joyous Shout
The drum master still on a roll (like Gerald Wilson)….
The Debt, Blu-ray (2011)
A well-done spy thriller which moves between two time periods in the story of three Israeli Mossad agents assigned to bring a Nazi war criminal to trial in Israel.
“An Italian in Vienna: Duos by MAURO GIULIANI” = Grand Duo Concertante; Sérénade in G Major; Grande Sérénade; Gran Duetto Concertante – Louise Schulman, viola/ Bill Zito, guitar – Sono Luminus
Giuliani’s works for flute and guitar played by a viola-guitar duo? Why not?
Jazz Delights (2005) – Opus 3 Jazz Delights Vol. II (2011) – Opus 3
Two jazz sampler SACDs from Swedish label Opus 3.
* “Music for a Time of War” = IVES: The Unanswered Question; JOHN ADAMS: The Wound-Dresser; BRITTEN: Sinfonia da Requiem; VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 4 – The Oregon Sym./ Carlos Kalmar – PentaTone Classics
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *********
A superb first new SACD with PentaTone for the Oregon Symphony.
“Cuando muere el sol” = Music by SEBASTIAN DURON and others – Musica ficta
A once-famous composer resurrected in fine fashion.
Audio News for December 9, 2011
Audiophile Concerns Over Lossless Audio Codecs Sounding Worse Than Uncompressed; Melba Recordings Joins Labels Offering Hi-Res Audio Downloads; Dongle Transforms iDevices Into Universal Remote; World’s Loudest iPhone/iPod Dock at January CES
BRAHMS: Piano Trio No. 1; SMETANA: Piano Trio in G – Yael Weiss, p./ Mark Kaplan, violin/ Clancy Newman, cello – Bridge
These two works each came to be in relation to a tragic circumstance.
STEFAN WEISMAN: Darkling – Maeve Hoglund, sop./ Hai-Chinn, mezzo/ Jon Garrison, tenor/ Mark Uhlemann, bass-bar./ Tom Chiu & Philip Payton, v./ Kenji Bunch, viola/ Raman Ramakrishnan, cello/ spoken voices – Albany
An intense, passionate work that ranks as a noble failure.
BACH: Goldberg Variations – Ito Ema, p. – MA Recordings DVD-ROM BACH: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 2 & 3 – Martin Zeller, c. – MA Recordings DVD-ROM
Bach in hi-res on DVD-ROMs.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
