Monthly Archive: April 2012
David Lean Directs Noel Coward = In Which We Serve; This Happy Breed; Blithe Spirit; Brief Encounter, Blu-ray (1942-45/2012)
A very complete overview of Coward’s film work as well as the British film industry during WWII.
New World Beat – After Carnival – Creative Digital Media
Metheny inspiration, Brazilian rhythms and contemporary fusion blend into a New World Beat.
MOZART: Sinfonia Concertante for Winds; Concerto for Flute and Harp – soloists/Orch. Mozart/ Claudio Abbado – DGG
Splendid Mozart from his 1778 sojourn to Paris, rendered in elated, ravishing figures by Claudio Abbado and his gifted, hand-picked ensemble.
"Darknesse Visible" = RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit; La Valse; ADES: Darknesse Visible; DEBUSSY: Suite bergamasque; BRITTEN (arr. Stevenson): Fantasy on Peter Grimes – Inon Barnatan, piano – Avie
Imagination and technical firepower converge in this recital by a gifted Israeli piano virtuoso, recorded in stunning sound.
DAVID LANG: ‘This Was Written by Hand’ = This Was Written by Hand; Cage; Spartan Arcs; Wed; Grind; Diet Coke; Cello; Wiggle; Beach – Andrew Zolinsky, p. – Cantaloupe
A very personal music sounds heartfelt.
Joe Chambers Moving Pictures Orchestra – Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola – Savant
Joe Chambers with a dream big band…
Audio News for April 6, 2012
Automatic Speaker Calibration Doesn’t Always Work; Pioneer Elite Receivers Add Control and Connectivity; Power Surges and Home Electronics
Eric Reed – The Baddest Monk – Savant
Monk in a swinging soulful quintet setting.
DOHNANYI: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3 – Aviv Quartet – Naxos
Erno von Dohnanyi’s two quartets find amiable and sympathetic readings by the talented Aviv Quartet, fiercely passionate and intelligent in these vigorous works.
Doors Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story Of L.A. Woman, Blu-ray (2012)
A riveting documentary about a legendary rock band.
HEINRICH SCHUTZ: St. Matthew Passion – Ars Nova Copenhagen/ Paul Hillier – DaCapo
A fitting conclusion to a memorable series.
Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions – Sony Legacy (2 CDs)
Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions – Sony Legacy (2 CDs) 133 min. *****: If you listen to The Pearl Sessions you may appreciate what a sterling favor the Full Tilt Boogie Band did for her by providing one special service to her: they shut up. Two years earlier Cheap Thrills, Janis’ breakout album with Big Brother and The Holding Company, was marred by Sam Andrews’ intrusive vocals. The man may have been a competent guitar player, but he could not sing. And when he tried to accompany Janis Joplin, it was like a mere mortal trying to upstage a goddess. This is apparent in the recent live release (Big Brother & The Holding Company – Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968), recorded a few months before Cheap Thrills. The outtake CD of The Pearl Sessions is precious. It’s filled with great comments by Joplin, like “Wait a minute, I don’t like him startin’ that slur so early,” “This is the last fuckin’ time I’m gonna do it!” and this gem, about some unnamed rock luminary: “No, he’s not even that great. He’s just a bore. He’s a nerd. I’m a groupie and I didn’t want to fuck him!” It […]
Amy Cervini – Digging You Digging Me – Anzic Records
Cervini’s CD is a tribute, paying homage to jazz vocalist and pianist Blossom Dearie.
Van Kempen conducts BEETHOVEN: Creatures of Prometheus: Overture and Ballet Music No. 8; Symphony No. 2; Symphony No. 5 – Dresden Philharmonic Orch./ Paul van Kempen – Pristine
Paul van Kempen’s Beethoven efforts from 1940-1941 receive glorious, even glamorous restoration that releases the visceral power of his musical vision.
Ian Hunter Band featuring Mick Ronson: Live At Rockpalast (2012)
Hunter and Ronson were a formidable duo in the annals of rock, and this is a valuable document of that collaboration.
FALLA: Nights in the Gardens of Spain; Cuatro piezas espanolas; Fantasia baetica; Homenaje; Pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas; Cancion; Nocturno; Mazurka; Serenata andaluza – Javier Perianes, p./ BBC Sym. Orch./ Joseph Pons – Harmonia mundi
A sensational recording of outstanding music.
SCHUBERT: Schwanengesang; Auf dem Strom; Die Sterne – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Paul Lewis, p./ Richard Watkins, horn – Harmonia mundi
The Schubertian trilogy is complete with this rousing rendition.
"Emmanuelle Bertrand: The Cello Speaks" – BRITTEN: Suite for Solo Cello, No. 3, Op. 87; GASPAR CASSADO: Suite for Solo Cello; PASCAL AMOYEL: Itinerance; KODALY: Suite for Solo Cello, Op. 8 – Harmonia mundi (CD+DVD)
A first-class traversal of some of the most important solo cello pieces in the literature.
SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet in A; “Trout Variations”; The Trout – Jan Vogler, cello/ Antti Siirala, piano/ Benjamin Schmid, violin/ Lars Anders Tomter, viola/ Janne Saksala, bass/ Erik Sollid, hardanger fiddle/ Stian Carstensen, accordion – Sony Classical
An excellent “Trout” but the disc is marred by lesser performer-takes on the music.
GRIEG: String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 27; BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115 – Joerg Widmann, clarinet/ Hagen Quartet – Myrios Classic
Intimate playing and gorgeous sonics combine to enshrine two visceral works from the chamber music medium in splendid emotional counterpoint.
“Souvenir, Pt. 1” = TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings in C; – NIELSEN: Suite for String Orch. – Trondheim Solistene – 2L (vinyl)
Exceptional string tone on these two lovely works on vinyl.
SZYMANOWSKI: Sym. No. 3 ‘Song of the Night;’ Sym. No. 4 ‘Symphonie Concertante’ – Soloists/ Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orch./ Antoni Wit – Naxos Audio-only Blu-ray
An important release, available on both audio-only Blu-ray and video DVD with 5.1 sound.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
