Monthly Archive: January 2012
BACH: English Suite No. 3; GINASTERA: Sonata No. 1; MEHMARI: Grande Baiao de Concerto; RACHMANINOV: Sonata No. 2 – Simone Leitao, piano – MSR
An impressive array of colors in bravura style by the young Brazilian virtuoso captured in studio recital in Miami, 2011.
Jimmy Owens – The Monk Project – IPO Recordings
Two NEA Jazz Masters + Monk = a bluesy septet tribute.
Audio News for January 17, 2012
UltraViolet Support Grows; Vizio Introduces 21:9 HD Displays; CES Demo of First Compatible Active-shutter 3D Glasses; B&O Launches New Products
Heritage Blues Orchestra – And Still I Rise – Raisin’ Music
Modern blues is alive and well.
OLAV ANTON THOMMESSEN: Veslemoy synsk – Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo-sop./ Nils Anders Mortensen, p. – 2L Audio-only Blu-ray + 2 SACDs
A fascinating exploration into Grieg and poet Arne Garborg.
WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor; Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major; Concertino for Clarinet and Orch. – Karl-Heinz Steffens, clarinet / Bamberg Sym./ Radoslaw Szulc – Tudor
Fine performances of these classics in outstanding SACD sound.
Brittni Paiva – Living Ukulele
Documentary on 23 year old ukulele virtuoso is revelatory.
YORK BOWEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 – BBC Philharmonic/Sir Andrew Davis – Chandos
Two early symphonies by the ‘English Rachmaninoff’ reveal his melodic and orchestral sophistication in magnificent performances, recorded in luminous sound.
BARTÓK: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Viola Concerto – James Ehnes, violin/ BBC Philharmonic Orch./ Gianandrea Noseda – Chandos
Ehnes focuses on the lyrical and intellectual aspects of the music.
Narcisco Yepes: The Beginning of a Legend = Guitar works of RODRIGO, RAMEAU, DE VISEE, SCARLATTI, BACH, MILAND, SANZ – IDIS
Early recordings by the splendid guitar virtuoso Yepes, who evoked controversy about his cool demeanor but never about his flawless technical mastery.
Deep Purple With Orchestra – Live At Montreux 2011
Original heavy metal legends march on.
Mildred Pierce – The HBO Miniseries – DVD/Blu-ray Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-rays and 2 DVDs)
Remake of the Forties classic is still topical.
PADEREWSKI: Piano Concerto in a; Polish Fantasy – Kevin Kenner, p./ Orch. of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Bialystok/ Marci Nalecz-Niesiolowski – Dux
Two Paderewski large concert works from American piano virtuoso Kevin Kenner.
ALLEN BONDE: ‘Sound Spectrum’ = 9 works – soloists/Moravian Philharmonic – Navona
Buoyant, exuberant and fun – why not?
Lorraine Feather – Tales of the Unusual – Jazzed Media
Yet another CD from the highly-regarded lyricist/composer/singer.
Cowboys & Aliens, Blu-ray (2011)
A most entertaining and original mashup of two enduring filmic plot lines which have never been combined before.
NINO ROTA: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Il Gattopardo suite – Friedrich Kleinhapl, cello/ Philharmonisches Orch. Augsburg/ Dirk Kaftan – Ars Produktion
Rota was so well-known for his countless film scores that his other music has been ignored until recently.
STEVE REICH: WTC 9/11; Mallet Quartet; Dance Patterns – Kronos Quartet/So Percussion, 2 vibes/2 xylophones – Nonesuch CD + DVD
I find WTC 9/11 the most effective musical composition yet on the subject of 9/11.
MOZART: Piano Sonatas K. 280, 331, 333 – Aldo Ciccolini – La Dolce Volta
Stunning sound on these new Mozart recordings by the 85-year-old Aldo Ciccolini.
FRANZ SCHREKER: Irrelohe (Complete Opera) – Soloists/Theater Bonn Chorus & Orch./Stefan Blunier -MD&G multichannel SACD (2+2+2)
Schreker’s Irrelohe is one wild ride. Climb aboard, hold on tight, and enjoy!
Bridesmaids – Blu-ray (2011)
Satirical comedy about weddings is one of the funniest movies of 2011.
Hanson: American Music, Volume 4 = Works of HARRIS, GRIFFES & BARBER – Eastman-Rochester/Howard Hanson – Pristine
Volume 4 of the Hanson survey of American scores makes visceral points in two large works, but finds no less mastery in the ‘impressionist’ scores of Griffes.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
