Monthly Archive: September 2012
JAMES MACMILLAN: Jubilate Deo; Serenity; Magnificat and Nunc dimittis; Magnificat; Nunc dimittis; Tremunt videntes angeli; On Love; … here in hiding …; Give me justice; The Lamb has come for us from the House of David; Le tombeau de Georges Rouault – Jonathan Vaughn, organ/ Wells Cathedral Choir/ Matthew Owens – Hyperion
An interesting compilation that fails to live up to the considerable expectations when considering this composer.
The Songs of Brahms 4 – Robert Holl, bass-baritone/ Graham Johnson, piano – Hyperion
Not the most vocally sophisticated performances, but they certainly hit you in the gut.
GLAZOUNOV; LEFANU; MEYER: Saxophone Concertos – John-Edward Kelly, alto sax – Netherlands Radio Ch. Philharmonic/John-Edward Kelly & Micha Hamel, cond. – Neos
Three saxophone concertos, Glazounov’s classic, and two modern compositions, demonstrate musical chemistry between the alto saxophone and a string orchestra.
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”; Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 – Mitsuko Uchida, piano & cond./ The Cleveland Orchestra – Decca
Conducting Mozart concertos from the piano has a long and honored tradition.
Audio News for September 18, 2012
45rpm Vinyl Reissues of Gerhardt Film Score Series; Americans Replace TVs Every Seven Years; Obama’s Tweet Might Save American Orchestras?; New Oppo Decks in December
SAINT-SAENS: Piano Quartet in B-flat Major; JONGEN: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major – Quatour Gabriel – Anima
Two relatively obscure Gallic masterworks in the piano quartet medium make bold display pieces for these musicians, graduates of the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D – Israel Philharmonic Orch./ Leonard Bernstein – Helicon (2 CDs)
A shocker of a recording from an unexpected source. Mahlerians and Bernstein fans will have to have it.
LISZT: The Complete Songs, Vol. 2 – Angelika Kirchschlager, mezzo-sop./ Julius Drake, piano – Hyperion
Volume 2 spins around in fine form with Angelika Kirchschlager sounding just fine.
"Bach Drama" = Cantata No. 201, “Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde”; Cantata No. 205, “Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft”; Cantata No. 213, “Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen” – soloists/Namur Ch. Choir/Les Agremens/Leonardo G. Alarcon – Ambronay (2 CDs+DVD)
A lively and joyous presentation of some of Bach’s more energetic secular cantatas.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Blu-ray 3D 5-Disc Combo Pack (2011)
Good 3D fun for fans of the franchise; for the rest of us it’s Argggh…
Marcus Miller – Renaissance – Concord Jazz
A significant release for jazz-funk aficionados.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3; Overture to “The Creatures of Prometheus”; Overture to “Egmont” – Simon Bolivar Sym. Orch. of Venezuela/ Gustavo Dudamel – DGG
Thrilling stuff, but the mysteries of the symphony are not probed to any significant degree.
R. STRAUSS: Also Sprach Zarathustra; Burleske in D Minor for Piano and Orch. – Byron Janis, p./ Chicago Sym. Orch./ Fritz Reiner – HDTT
The 1962 Reiner Zarathustra still dazzles and thrills, especially in its new HDTT incarnation; and the Janis Burleske gives us 20 minutes of explosive dynamite.
Audio News for September 14, 2012
Princeton Professor Says Two-Speaker Surround Possible; Dolby Digital Plus Delivers Audio for UltraViolet
‘Invocations’ = CHRISTOPHER BONO: Invocation No.1 (Exhaust), Invocation No. 2 (Fish, Father, Phoenix), Invocation No.3 (Sunday Stills the Willow), The Missing, Invocation No.2 (reprise) – various ens. – Our Silent Canvas
Tranquil, interesting music from a very eclectic new voice.
SUK: Piano Quartet in A Minor; Four Pieces for Violin & Piano; Piano Quintet in G Minor – The Nash Ensemble – Helios
Josef Suk’s chamber music strikes out on its own melodic path in these captivating works, brilliantly performed by the Nash Ensemble in 2003.
![“Solution: Spectacular Reference Disc” [TrackList follows] – 13 excerpts from Delos Records – Top Music](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SolutionTopMusicSA.jpg)
“Solution: Spectacular Reference Disc” [TrackList follows] – 13 excerpts from Delos Records – Top Music
A reference sampler SACD with good sound but not one of the best.
MAHLER: Kindertotenlieder (arr. Riehn); Quartettsatz; Lieder einen fahrenden Gesellen; BUSONI: Berceuse élégiaque – Sara Mingardo, contr./ soloists/ Musici Aurei/ Luigi Piovano, cello & cond. – Eloquentia
Well done—but necessary?
Kurt Elling, vocals – 1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project – Concord Records
A smart and daring listening experience.
Songs of Smaller Creatures and Other American Choral Works = ABBIE BETINIS: Toward Sunshine, Toward Freedom: Songs of Smaller Creatures; LEE KESSELMAN: Buzzings; ERIC WHITACRE: When David Heard; Sleep; STACY GARROP: Sonnets of Desire, Longing, and Whimsy; DAVID DEL TREDICI: Acrostic Song from “Final Alice”; NED ROREM: 7 Motets; PAUL CRABTREE: 5 Romantic Miniatures – Grant Park Chorus/ Christopher Bell – Cedille
An enchanting disc of great variety performed beautifully.
Joy Road Sampler, From the Complete Works of Pepper Adams – Selections from Volumes 1-5 – Motema Records
Honoring the great baritone saxophonist, Pepper Adams….
“Antonio Lysy at the Broad” Music from Argentina – Ginastera: Pampeana No. 2; Triste; SCHIFRIN: Pampas; PIAZZOLLA: Le Grand Tango; Oblivion – Antonio Lysy, cello/Bryan Pezzone, p./ Pablo Motta, bass/ The Capitol Ens. – Yarlung Records
A fascinating program on vinyl of Argentine works featuring the cello.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
