Monthly Archive: March 2012
Juhani Aaltonen and Heikki Sarmanto – Conversations – TUM
Collective improvisation and instinctual conversation by two of Finland’s finer jazz artists.
“Classica Española” Music of ALBENIZ, FALLA, GRANADOS & Others – septet – MDG Scene
All of this music involves the excitement and color of Spanish folk music.
“In Seven Days” = THOMAS ADES: In Seven Days; CONLON NANCARROW : Studies No. 6 & 7 – Signum Classics CD+DVD
The always interesting Ades in a fascinating multi-media work.
BORTKIEWICZ: Piano Works Vols. 1 & 5 – Jonni Somero, p. – FC Records (Finland) (2 CDs)
Volume 1 features works from early and late in Bortkiewicz’s career. This is a good idea; what I hear bodes well for the rest of the series, which amounts to eight volumes total.
BEETHOVEN: String Quintet in E-flat; String Quintet in C – The Nash Ens. – Hyperion
A fine reading of two underperformed early pieces that deserves a hearing.
Pierre Fournier, cello = in works of LALO, ST.-SAENS, DVORAK, CHOPIN, RIMSKY-KORSAKOV & GOUNOD – Doron Music
The “aristocratic” cellist Fournier delivers exemplary renditions of two concert staples and a handful of sweet remembrances in five encores.
* WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI = Orchestral Works II – Louis Lortie, p./ BBC Sym. Orch./ Edward Gardner – Chandos
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
The third volume of Muzyka Polska’s Lutoslawski series has probably the most listener appeal.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, Blu-ray (2011)
Recommended, even highly, though almost by default.
Cyprien Katsaris Live at the Schubertiade Festival = Works of SCHUBERT, TCHAIKOVSKY, WAGNER, MARCELLO – Piano 21 (2 CDs)
If audiences can claim Katsaris as the legitimate heir to Vladimir Horowitz, this recital well justifies that assertion.
Tony R Clef – Tuesday Afternoon – Big Round Records
YouTube guitarist hits all the right notes in a versatile solo album.
Audio News for March 9, 2012
NPR Music Free App; LG & Samsung Named Energy Star Partners of the Year; Universal Electronics Sues Universal Remote Control; C/NET Audio Myths
“Russian Fantasy” – Music for Two Pianos – MUSSORGSKY: Night on Bald Mt.; RACHMANINOFF: Suite No. 1; GLINKA: Valse-fantasie in b; SCRIABIN: Fantasy in a; BORODIN: Polovtsian Dances – Vladimir & Vovka Ashkenazy, pianos – Decca
The two Ashkenazys, father and son, in Russian music for two pianos.
Gewandhausorchester History Edition, Vol. I = R. STRAUSS: Festival Prelude for Organ & Orch.; D’ALBERT: Cello Concerto -HUMPERDINCK: Moorish Rhapsody – Hermann Abendroth, cond. – DRA (with book)
The hard-back 50-page booklet and remastered recordings from the legacy of conductor Hermann Abendroth are an ambitious production.
La Jetée & Sans Soleil, Blu-ray (1963/1983/2012)
The two masterpieces of independent French filmmaker/artist Chris Marker.
‘Regenesis – Music of Renewal’ = ANTHONY PLOG: Concerto 2010; ALFRED REED: Variations on a Theme of Wagner; DAVID MASLANKA: Symphony No. 8 – Texas Christian U. Wind Ens./Bobby R. Francis – Albany
Interesting new wind ensemble music ought to appeal to all band fans out there!
Beecham conducts works of WAGNER, DELIUS & SCHUBERT – Somm-Beacham
Irreplaceable live inscriptions from Sir Thomas Beecham fill major gaps in his immense and distinguished repertory.
The Essential PHILIP GLASS – Philip Glass/The Philip Glass Ens. /Michael Riesman/ various collaborators – Sony Classical (3 CDs)
An interesting compilation of Glass works, though without the symphonies, film scores and string quartets on a different label.
“A due Organi” – Works of VIVALDI, GABRIELI, GUSSAGO, GROSSI DA VIADANA, PASQUINI, HANDEL, TERRENI, ROSSINI & RUTTER – Rodolfo Bellatti & Nicola Cittadin – Gallo Organ Duets – Works of MOZART, LANGLAIS, CARLETON, MENDELSSOHN, TOMKINS, LEIGHTON & JOHNSTONE – Charles Harrison & David Leigh – Guild
Programs performed on two organs and organ duets.
Audio News for March 6, 2012
Latest Consumer Audio Show; New Inexpensive Audiophile Turntable; New Parasound Three-Channel Amp and Compact Units; Cambridge Audio New Network Music Player & DACs
Oliver Nelson Sextet – The Blues And The Abstract Truth (1961) – Impulse!/Speakers Corners vinyl
The best of Oliver Nelson’s compositions and arranging.
Chick Corea – The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet and Ch. Orch. – DGG (2 CDs)
Chick Corea provides something quite different from the norm.
RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances; Vocalise – Minnesota Orch./ Eiji Oue – Reference Recordings vinyl
An audiophile winner on all counts.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
