Monthly Archive: July 2012
REBIKOV: Piano Works = Jouni Somero, piano – FC Records
Moody, autumnal character pieces from Vladimir Rebikov confirm his status as a miniaturist in the style of Grieg and Scriabin
Brazilian Trio – Constelação – Mótema
The Brazilian Trio offers another winning set list of Brazilian-influenced jazz.
Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado, with Groucho Marx (1960/2012)
Finally, we get to see the 1960 Bell Telephone Hour telecast of the Mikado with Groucho Marx.
“Diabelli Variations” – Andreas Staier, fortepiano – Harmonia mundi
Nothing less than revelatory.
HANDEL: Esther (First reconstructable version, Cannons, 1720) – voices of people on treat / Dunedin Consort/ John Butt, director – Linn
Always room for a new Esther, and this one meets the mark.
WAGNER: Parsifal (complete opera) – Christian Elsner (Parsifal)/ Michelle DeYoung (Kundry)/ Franz-Josef Selig (Gurnemanz)/ Evgeny Nikitin (Amfortas)/ Berlin Radio Choir and Sym. Orch./ Marek Janowski – PentaTone
So how does this Parsifal stack up to Gergiev? Very well, thank you…for the most part.
Audio News for July 20, 2012
Classical News; CEA 2012 Demo Days; Wireless Connections in New Sony AVR; Enhanced Audio Promised by DTS Partnership with Samsung
FRANCK: Chamber Works = Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2; Grand Fantasia; Andantino Quietoso – Mariana Sibu, violin/ Ruxandra Colan, violin/ Mihai Dancila, c./ Mihail Sarbu, p. – Dynamic
An assemblage of Cesar Franck’s early chamber music oeuvre reveals a spirit much in sympathy with lyrical melodists Mendelssohn and Schubert .
“Diamonds in a Haystack” = ARNO BABAJANIAN: Piano Trio in F-sharp Minor; JEAN FRANCAIX: Trio; PAUL SCHOENFIELD: Café Music –Trio Solis – MSR Classics
All in the same century! A disparate program of piano trios from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Arturo O’Farrill, solo piano – The Noguichi Sessions – Zoho Music
Solo piano session inspired by the sculptures of Isamu Noguchi at his gallery.
Pink Floyd – The Story Of Wish You Were Here – Blu-ray (2012)
Pink Floyd: The Story Of Wish You Were Here is a worthwhile companion piece to the album.
DELIBES: Sylvia & Coppélia Suites – San Francisco Ballet Orch./ Martin West – Reference Recordings HRx 176.4K/24-bit WAV audio files
Definitely a major sonic upgrade over the standard CD version of these ballets.
Born on the Fourth of July, Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy (1989-2012)
An amazing acting job from Tom Cruise, and Oliver Stone’s over-the-top approach is perfect here.
Single Petal of a Rose – Duke Ellington Legacy, with special guest Houston Person – Renma Recordings
The spirit of Ellington remains strong, and the whole multi-generational group of players seem to having great fun.
CORELLI: Twelve Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 – Trio Corelli – Bridge (2 discs) “Affettuso” = Works of SCHUBERT-PIANI, GEMINIANI & HANDEL – trio w/ Emilio Percan, v. – Onyx
Music by Corelli and his followers, including a real find: Giovanni Antonio Piani.
J.S. BACH: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 – Don Freund, piano – Navona Records (2 CDs + 1 DVD)
Don Freund has decoded complex elements in Bach’s piano writing and is now sharing these with his listeners.
“Harpsichord Music for a Thin Place” – Paul Cienniwa – Whaling City Sound
A thoughtful program of 16 quieter, non-hackneyed and not melancholy harpsichord pieces.
Audio News for July 17, 2012
Deep Purple’s Jon Lord Dies; 40% of UKers Can’t Recall When They Last Bought a CD; Bose Has Two New VideoWave II Systems; Mobile DTV to Increase TV Viewership
Don Cherry – Organic Music Society (1973) – Caprice/Caprice Reissue Series
Don Cherry and Organic Music Society: a living, breathing multicultural, multi-instrumental portrait.
DVORAK: Zigeunerlieder = Gypsy Melodies; Moravian Duets; Biblical Songs – Genia Kühmeier, sop./ Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano/ Christoph Berner, p. – Harmonia mundi
A fine Dvorak lieder album conveyed with spirit and understanding.
* BRITTEN: War Requiem – Sabina Cvilak, sop./ Ian Bostridge, tenor/ Simon Keenlyside, bar./ Choir of Eltham College/ London Sym. Chorus & Sym. Orch. /Gianandrea Noseda – LSO Live (2 discs)
************ MUTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH **************
50 years after the premiere we are treated to an outstanding performance, proving that the War Requiem is still relevant.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor; BERG: Lulu Suite – Mary Lindzey, sop. (Berg)/ Hildegarde Ruetgers, mezzo (Mahler)/ Choeurs de L’ORTF/ Maitrese de l’ORTF/ Orch. National de l’ORTF/ Jean Martinon – Cascavelle (2 CDs)
Two live performances explore French maestro Jean Martinon’s rarely documented fascination with Austro-German repertory, in music by Mahler and Berg.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
