Monthly Archive: March 2012
Editorial for April 2012
If you would like to be one of the six lucky AUDIOPHILE AUDITION readers receiving both Lancia remastered vinyl albums this month: the Ravel String Quartet and Gerry Mulligan’s Little Big Horn – you need to register Here using our simple non-intrusive email-protected form. Gerry Mulligan’s works on his LP cover big band, small combo and vocal performances, and both Dave Grusin and Michael Brecker are in his stellar lineup. The Guarneri’s recording of the lovely Ravel Quartet is a classic, and beautifully presented on vinyl. The half dozen fortunate winners (we’ll only select registrants who said they have a turntable system) will be announced here in May. Here are the four lucky winners of the 30-CD Brilliant Classics box set The Ultimate Piano Concerto Collection – our March drawing. Congratulations!: Peter Mahoney, Lake Hopatcong, NJ; Craig W. Hurst, Waukesha, WI; Min Sung Kim, Placentia, CA; Luis Reyes, NYC. [audaud-hr] EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, which aired for 13 1/2 years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations coast to coast. In September 1998 its web site for programming information was expanded to the present Internet publication. […]
SCHOENBERG: Gurrelieder; Verklaerte Nacht, Op. 4 – Soloists/ Edinburgh Royal Choral Union/ London Sym. Orch./ Leopold Stokowski – Guild
Stokowski stood virtually alone in conducting nearly all of Schoenberg’s orchestral music whilst the composer lived.
Audio News for March 30, 2012
Wireless Networks in the Home; Sony and Apple Tops in Harris Poll EquiTrend Study; Logitech Enters AirPlay Speaker Market; Decide.com Adds to Consumer Electronics Search Service
RONN YEDIDIA: Impromptu; Nocturne; World Dance; Poéme; Concertino; Farewell, Nathaniel – Soloists – Naxos
A delightful set of chamber works with strong ethnic influences.
‘Barbara Harbach, Vol. 7, Music for Strings’ – London Philharmonic Orch./ soloists/ David Angus – MSR
Very pleasant works, easy to absorb, no categories needed.
HONEGGER: Jeanne d’Arc au Bucher – Vera Zorina, narrator/ Frances Yeend & Carolyn Long, sop./ Martha Lipton, mezzo-soprano/ David Lloyd, tenor/ Kenneth Smith, bass-bar./ Temple University & St. Peter’s Boys' Choir/The Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy – Pristine
The 1952 performance of Honegger’s ardent oratorio benefits from the presence of Vera Zorina, who set the mark for devotional ardor in the title role.
Duster Bennett – Smiling Like I’m Happy – Blue Horizon/ Pure Pleasure Records (vinyl)
Duster possessed an uncanny ability to play harmonica, guitar and bass drum simultaneously.
Wes Montgomery – Echoes of Indiana Ave – Resonance Records (45 rpm vinyl)
The 45 rpm vinyl version of the historic Wes Montgomery recordings.
New Riders Of The Purple Sage – 17 Pine Avenue – Woodstock Records
New Riders Of The Purple Sage were a counterculture institution.
JOSEPH ACHRON: Complete Suites for Violin and Piano – Hagai Shaham, v./Arnon Erez, p. – Hyperion
Folk and ethnic energies from one of the world’s more under-rated violinist-composers.
Nina Simone – Nina Live At The Village Gate – Colpix (1962)/ Pure Pleasure Records (vinyl)
The legendary jazz performer’s 1961 Village Gate set is brilliant.
J. S. BACH: Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D Minor; C. P. E. BACH: Con. for Organ in G Major; JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH (attrib.): Con. for Piano – Pieter-Jan Belder, keyboards and cond. / Musica Amphion – Quintone
A good idea very well executed.
Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring – Friendly Fire – High Note
Blowing at Smoke – Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring
BACH: St. John Passion – Soloists/ Ricercar Consort/ Philippe Pierlot – Mirare (2 CDs)
The St. John Passion is always welcome—the music is ever inventive and ever new.
LENNOX BERKELEY: Trio; String Trio; Sonatina; Oboe Quartet; Suite – Tagore Strings/ Sarah Francis, oboe and Cor Anglais / Judith Fitton, flute and pic./ Michael Dussek, p. – Regis
There are a number of reasons to be thankful for this recording of Berkeley’s chamber music.
PHILIPP SCHONDORFF: 5 choral works; PHILLIPPE DE MONTE: 3 choral works – Cinquecento – Hyperion
Two more composers from the Renaissance well worth their salt.
HÉROLD: Four Piano Concertos – Angéline Poindepeyre, p./ WDR Radio Orch. Cologne/ Conrad van Alphen – Talent (2 CDs)
No masterworks here, but Hérold’s early Romanticism is charming, the performances and recording refined.
Gerry Mulligan Sextet – Live at Liederhalle Stuttgart – Jazz Haus SWR
Another winner in the series of German radio station recordings of visiting top U.S. jazz artists.
KORNGOLD: Piano Quintet in E Major; Sextet – Jennifer Stumm, viola/ Bartholomew La Follette, cello/ Kathryn Stott, p./ Doric String Q. – Chandos
Korngold was a child prodigy and fine operatic composer who became internationally famous for his Hollywood film scores.
Rzewski Plays Rzewski – The People United Will Never Be Defeated! (2007)
This work is certainly (with all its other qualities) a fantastic audiophile piano demo!
MORTON GOULD: Fanfare for Freedom; Saint Lawrence Suite; Jericho Rhapsody; Derivations; Symphony No. 4 – Stephanie Zelnick, clar./ U. of Kansas Wind Ens./ Scott Weiss – Naxos
This just might be the disc to get if you are looking for an introduction to Morton Gould.
Audio News for March 27, 2012
PlayStation 3 Rips SACDs; Samsung Doing Well in Down TV Market; Wi-Fi Interference Issues
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
