Monthly Archive: July 2012
SCHOENBERG: Pierrot lunaire; Suite – Alda Caiello, sop./ Prazak Quartet members and friends – Praga Digitals
The first surround sound Pierrot is a very good one.
Audio News for July 6, 2012
Dolby Atmos = The Next Step in Theatrical Surround; Samsung/Microsoft Computer is More Than Touchscreen; Sound Mixing Rules
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1; Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Three Hungarian Dances – Vienna Phil. Orch./ Wilhelm Furtwangler – Pristine Audio
Excellent restoration of an important Furtwangler recording. (Even available in ambient stereo if you want.)
HAYDN: The Creation – Amanda Forsythe (sop.)/ Keith Jameson (tenor)/ Kevin Deas (bass-bar.)/ Boston Baroque/ Martin Pearlman – Linn
The third, and easily the best, SACD release of this magnificent work.
MARTIN SCHLUMPF, “Summer Circle” = December Rains; Clarinet Trio; Summer Circle – Karolina Rojahn, p./Rane Moore, clar./Rafael Popper-Kaiser, cello/Cory Smythe, p./Krypton Quartet – Navona Records
Very engaging, somewhat eclectic new chamber music from Switzerland!
Hot Club of Detroit – Junction – Mack Avenue: Pearl Django – Eleven – Modern Hot Records:
Two new and very worth-hearing gypsy jazz CDs.
RACHMANINOFF: The Rock; The Isle of the Dead; SCRIABIN: Symphony No. 5, “Prometheus, The Poem of Fire,” – Andreas Boyde, p./ Kay Johannsen, organ/ Philharmonia Choir Stuttgart/ Stuttgart Philharmonic/ Gabriel Feltz – Dreyer-Gaido
Very dramatic performances and great hi-res surround.
DVOŘÁK: Piano Concerto in G Minor; GRIEG: Piano Concerto; SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto – Sviatoslav Richter, p./ Bavarian State Orch. Munich/ Carlos Kleiber (Dvořák)/ Monte Carlo Nat. Opera Orch./ Lovro von Matačić – EMI Signature Collection (2 discs)
Good to have this available again, but has some problems.
R. STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra; LIGETI: Atmophéres; MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C Major “Jupiter” – Stuttgart Philharmonic/ Gabriel Feltz/ Kay Johnannson, organ – RadioBremen/Dreyer-Gaido
A DTS Surround CD plus a standard CD – not a format normally offered anymore.
HEROLD-LANCHBERY: La Fille Mal Gardée (excerpts from the ballet) – Orch. of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/ John Lanchbery – Decca/Universal/Original Recordings Group (2-45 rpm vinyls)
An early 19th century ballet in ultimate analog sonics for your high-end turntable.
Ben Webster and Associates – Verve/Universal (1959)/ Original Recordings Group (2-45 rpm vinyls)
Look and listen to that front line of saxes!
HEINRICH SCHÜTZ: Musikalische Exequien, SWV 279-281; Ich bin die Auferstehung, SWV 464; Grimmige Gruft, SWV 52; Gutes und Barmherzigkeit, SWV 95; Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt, SWV 94; Das ist je gewißlich wahr, SWV 277; O meine Seel, warum bist du betrübet?, SWV 419 – soloists/Dresden Kammerchor/ Hans-Christoph Rademann – Carus
A fine continuation of an ongoing series that promises to set a very high bar.
SCHUMANN: Complete Violin Sonatas – Ulf Wallin, violin/ Roland Pöntinen, piano – BIS
This is the best reading of these Schumann works I have ever heard.
A Bridge of Dreams = LOU HARRISON: Mass for St. Cecilia’s Day; ROSS EDWARDS: Sacred Kingfisher Psalms; JACK BODY: 5 Lullabies; LIU SOLA & KEVIN CROSSLEY-HOLLAND: The Seafarer; ANNE BOYD: As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams – Andrew Lawrence-King, psaltery and harp/ Ars Nova Copenhagen/ Paul Hillier – DaCapo
Hillier continues his penchant for excellent recitals in superb sonics.
Breathbox – Antti Paalanen, 3-row button accordion – Sibarecords
For a fresh change of pace when cobwebs need to be cleared out.
RAMEAU: Pieces de clavecin en concerts – Aapo Häkkinen, harpsichord/ Petri Tapio Mattson, v./ Mikko Perkola, viola da gamba – Alba
The second SACD recording of these wonderful works.
Return To Forever – The Mothership Returns – Eagle Records (2 CDs + 1 DVD)
Seminal fusion group releases an exciting live CD + DVD package.
BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56; Incidental Music to Goethe’s Egmont, Op. 84 – Trio Wanderer/ Anja Harteros, sop./ Konrad Beikircher, narr./ Guerzenicher-Orch. Koelner Philharmoniker/ James Conlon – Harmonia mundi
Harmonia mundi revives two sterling Beethoven renditions, each a testament to conductor Conlon’s range and sensitivity, supported by the peerless Trio Wanderer.
TOLIBKHON SHAKHIDI: Ballet music & Clarinet Concerto = London & Mariinsky Theatre Syms./Valery Gergiev – Melodiya
Exotic and exciting music from Tajikistan, in excellent fidelity.
BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No. 3; Symphony No. 7 in A – San Francisco Sym./ Michael Tilson Thomas – SFS Media
The second of the Beethoven Symphonies series from the SF Symphony is superb.
Audio News for July 3, 2012
SiriusXM Adding Google TV App This Year; Polk 40th Anniversary; Vizio Has First 21:9 HDTV; Classical News
Puss In Boots, Blu-ray 3D+2D+DVD+Digital Copy (2012)
Funnier than the Shrek sequels from the same studio.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
