Monthly Archive: May 2012
BOCCHERINI: String Quartet in G Major; MOZART: String Quartet No. 17; BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 15 – Quartetto Italiano – ICA Classics
ICA proffers the appearance of Quartetto Italiano at Britain’s Royal Festival Hall, an evening of brilliant and profound music-making of the first order.
Billy Hart – All Our Reasons – ECM Records
An intellectual program of music driven by Billy Hart’s vigour.
“Mirror of Eternity” = ARAM KHATCHATURIAN: Flute Concerto; HOUTAF KHOURY: Mirror of Eternity; YEVHEN STANKOVYCH: Chamber Symphony No. 3 – Wissam Boustany, flute/Volodymyr Sirenko/National Sym. Orch. of Ukraine – Nimbus Records
Some little known gems from the Ukraine in very fine performances.
HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 60; SCHUMANN: Carnaval; LISZT: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca; Concert Paraphrase on Verdi’s Rigoletto; LEON KIRCHNER: Piano Sonata No. 1 – Young-Ah Tan, piano – MSR Classics
A varied program and a fine showcase for the considerable talents of Young-Ah Tan.
The Secret World of Arrietty, Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2012)
The Secret World of Arrietty, Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2012) Voices: Carol Burnett, Will Arnett. Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie Studio: Studio Ghibli/Disney 108558 [5/22/12] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, DD 2.0, French DD 5.1, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English ESL & SDH DD 2.0 Subtitles: English, French Extras: Original Japanese storyboards, Cecile Corbel music video “Arrietty’s Song”, Original Japanese Trailers & TV spots, Bridgit Mendler music video “Summertime”, “The Making of ‘Summertime’” Length: 95 minutes Rating: ***** This latest magical tale from Studio Ghibli was not directed by Miyazaki like most of their award-winning animations, but he did pen the story and supervised it. Like the others it features hand-drawn cel animation, which isn’t often seen in U.S. productions anymore. While not as perfect as Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke, Arrietty still has that magical Studio Ghibli feeling that makes all of their efforts the best animated family features in the world. Odd that they’re now being distributed and promoted by Disney, since aside from using the same hand-drawn style of the old classic Disney animations, they are totally different. There’s a wonderful sense of wonder in all the Studio Ghibli […]
Audio News for May 22, 2012
Dolby Enhances Their TrueHD Codec; Samsung & LG to Offer Dual View OLED TVs; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Donna Summers Die; Oregon Electronics Recycling
STRAVINSKY Performs STRAVINSKY = Petrushka Suite; The Firebird Suite; Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra – Igor Stravinsky, piano and cond./Walther Straram Concerts Orch. – Dutton
The composer conducts and performs at the keyboard in classic inscriptions of his music from London and Paris.
![Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze – Amanké Dionti [enhanced CD] – Motéma](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AmankeDionti.jpg)
Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze – Amanké Dionti [enhanced CD] – Motéma
Intimate music and social injustice share equal space on this African griot/jazz fusion effort.
ALAN HOVHANESS: From the Ends of the Earth – Gloriæ Dei Cantores/ Elizabeth C. Patterson – Gloriæ Dei Cantores
A long overdue survey of long overlooked music.
BRITTEN: Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings; Nocturne for tenor, seven obbligato instruments and strings; FINZI: Dies Natalis – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Stephen Bell, horn/ Britten Sinfonia/ Jacqueline Shave – Harmonia mundi
Excellent readings of Britten and Finzi that rank with the very best on record.
FÖRSTER: Three String Quartets – Authentic Quartet – Hungaroton
For chamber music lovers, this is excellent entertainment.
Mercury Living Presence: The Collector’s Edition – 51-CD boxed set
In either form, this is an audiophile’s dream collection!
Jascha Heifetz in works of BACH, VIEUXTEMPS & GRUENBERG – Dutton
An anomalous collection of Heifetz recordings, 1935-1946, displays his brilliant lyrical technique and burnished style to good effect.
Styx: Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight – Live, Blu-ray (2011)
An audience-pleasing run through two popular classic rock albums.
BACH: Overtures: Complete Orchestra Suites – Freiburg Baroque Orch./ Petra Müllejans & Gottfried von der Golta – Harmonia mundi (2 CDs)
The Freiburg Baroque continues its ever-expanding catalog for HM.
SAINT-SAENS: Complete Symphonies = Orch. de l'ORTF/ Jean Martinon – Brilliant Classics (2)
These inscriptions of 1972-75, originally recorded for EMI, are classics of their kind.
![“A Lindberg Extravaganza” = [TrackList follows] Christian Lindberg, trombone/Swedish Wind Ensemble/ Hans Ek – Bis](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LindberghExtravaganza.jpg)
“A Lindberg Extravaganza” = [TrackList follows] Christian Lindberg, trombone/Swedish Wind Ensemble/ Hans Ek – Bis
An “extravaganza” all right – especially for trombonists!
FRANÇOIS DEVIENNE Clarinet Sonatas – Wonkak Kim – Naxos The Complete Works for Clarinet of LOUIS CAHUZAC – Philippe Cuper and Philippe Olivier Devaux – Clarinet Classics
French clarinet works by an eighteenth-century composer and a twentieth-century composer who’s definitely of the old school.
“Diablo Verde” = FALLA: Suite populaire Espagnole; PIAZZOLLA: Jeanne y Paul; El Pnenultimo; Milonga sin Palabras; Milonga en Re; GASPAR CASSADÓ: Requiebros; Danse du Diable vert – Duo AcCello – Pilfink “Tango and Snow” – Folias Flute and Guitar Duo – Blue Griffin
Interesting CDs from two different duos, both with a Spanish slant.
Audio News for May 18, 2012
Ultra-D 3D Without Glasses Technology; Free Streaming of Tanglewood Concerts; Denon’s Networked AVR Trio
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 – New York Philharmonic/ Dimitri Mitropoulos – Archipel
A moment of emotional white heat from New York in 1960, with Dimitri Mitropoulos at the helm in Mahler’s last-completed symphony.
Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band – Eleven – Self-produced
A swinger from start to finish.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
