Monthly Archive: September 2012
Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers – Recorded Live in Concert at Metropolis Studios, London – Convexe – (2 CDs + 1 DVD)
A retrospective focusing on Bill Nelson’s diverse musical career.
HONEGGER: Symphony No. 1 in C Major; Symphony No. 3 “Liturgique” – Sinfonieorchester Basel/ Dennis Russell Davies – SOB
The iconoclastic member of Le Six, Arthur Honegger, has two symphonies rife with 20th century angst, brilliantly realized by the Basel Symphony Orchestra.
BRAHMS: Serenade No. 2 in A Major; Serenade No. 1 in D Major – Philharmonia Baroque/ Nicholas McGegan – Philharmonia Baroque
On its own Philharmonia Baroque Productions label, the eponymous ensemble under conductor McGegan delivers deeply satisfying realizations of the Brahms Serenades.
A New Venetian Coronation 1595: Music by Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli – Gabrieli Consort and Players/ Paul McCreesh – Winged Lion Records
An excellent remake of an old favorite but I am not sure I’d discard the old one.
Samuel Barber, an American Romantic – Twelfth Night; To be sung on the water; The virgin martyrs; Let down the bars, O death; Reincarnations; A stopwatch and an ordinance map; Sure on this shining night; Agnus Dei; The Lovers; Easter Chorale – Matt Tresler, tenor/ Thomas Burritt, timpani/ Faith DeBow, p./ David Farwig, bar./ Ch. Orch./ Conspirare/ Craig Hella Johnson – Harmonia mundi
What a welcome release to have The Lovers among us again—and the rest is just very tasty gravy.
VIVALDI: Concerti con molti instromenti = The King’s Consort/ Robert King – Helios
A reissue from Hyperion from 1998 captures the sheer instrumental diversity and range of inventive colors master Vivaldi could concoct for his gifted players of the Ospedale della Pieta.
Audio News for September 28, 2012
Audio Over Wiring Already in the Home; Kent Nagano to Lead Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic; Wireless Streaming to Non-Bluetooth Systems; B & W Launch Wireless Music Systems
LUTOSLAWSKI Vocal Works: Chantefleurs et Chantefables; Les Espaces du sommeil; Paroles tissees; Sleep, sleep; Lacrimosa; Silesian Triptych – Lucy Crowe, sop./ Toby Spence, tenor/ Christopher Purves, bar./ BBC Sym. Orch./ Edward Gardner – Chandos
Chandos continues its highly-regarded Lutoslawski series…
AARRE MERIKANTO: Symphony No. 1 in b minor Op. 5; Symphony No. 3 – Turku Philharmonic Orch./ Petri Sakari – Alba
Two delightful Finnish symphonies, influenced by Sibelius but of a lighter and more zesty nature.
Leo Blech – Overtures and Dances = Works of MOZART, WEBER, CHERUBINI, AUBER, BRAHMS, GRIEG – London Sym. Orch. – Pristine
The Blech experience with the LSO from HMV in 1931 comes back to us in blazing, seamless sound and nothing less than brilliant execution.
The Blues Broads – Delta Groove Music CD + DVD
A smashing DVD and CD of some great blues and gospel from four gutsy ladies.
Children of Paradise, Blu-ray (1945/2012)
Regarded as one of the two or three greatest French films ever made, with lots of interesting bonus extras.
ANDREA LUCHESI: Piano Sonatas and Rondos – Roberto Plano – Concerto Classics
An undiscovered genius? Doubtful, but some might find these short works pleasing.
WILLIAM GRANT STILL: Symphony No. 2 in g, “Song of a New Race”; Symphony No. 3, “The Sunday Symphony”; Wood Notes – Fort Smith Sym./ John Jeter – Naxos
The third and final installment of an excellent series.
Sogno Barroco – Anne Sophie von Otter, mezzo-sop./ Sandrine Piau, sop./ Susanna Sundberg, contralto/ Ensemble Capella Mediterranea/ Leonardo Garcia Alarcon – Naïve
Von Otter explores the early baroque to great effect.
* TCHAIKOVSKY : Symphony No. 1 Op. 13, “Winter Daydreams;” The Snow Maiden (excerpts) – Gürzenich-Orchester Köln/ Dmitri Kitajenko – Oehms
********** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *********
Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony in a performance with breadth and depth.
Jamestown Concerto, American Music for Cello and Orchestra = WILLIAM PERRY: Jamestown Cello Concerto; WILLIAM SCHUMAN: A Song for Orpheus; VIRGIL THOMSON: Cello Concerto – Yehuda Hanani, c./ RTE National Sym. Orch. of Ireland/ William Eddins – Naxos
An exceptional disc of tremendous music, beautifully played and recorded—one of the best this year.
MEDTNER: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. I = Sonatina in G Minor; Sonata No. 1 in F Minor; Sonata-Reminiscenza in A Minor – Paul Stewart, p. – Grand Piano
First of a four-volume survey of Medtner’s sonata oeuvre, performed upon a Steinway Medtner himself played on in 1929.
ALFONSO REGA: L’olocausto (Sinfonia No. 4)– Orch. Cantelli/Costanzo Porta Choir/Heinrich Unterhofer – Alfonso Rega Music
Lofty premise but does not really fully engage the listener.
“Tongues of Fire” – CARL RUTTI: Concerto for Organ, Strings & Percussion; Tongues of Fire; ARENSKY: Variations on a theme of Tchaikovsky; POULENC: Concerto for Organ, Timpani & Strings in g – Guild
A worthwhile program of works for organ and orchestra, including the popular Poulenc Concerto.
Priest, Unrated 3D Blu-ray (2011)
A smashing 3D visual treat for fans of this type of genre action movie, but the plot needs work.
Audio News for September 25, 2012
Universal Purchase of EMI Approved; Philips Explores The Sound of Creation; Wireless AV in the Home