Monthly Archive: October 2012
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E Minor; The Hebrides Ov.; Violin Concerto in D Minor – Alina Ibragimova, v./ Orch. of the Age of Enlightenment/ Vladimir Jurowski – Hyperion
The familiar Mendelssohn staples receive their due, but the early Concerto in D Minor receives as pure a reading as we are likely to hear.
Steve Kuhn Trio – "Life's Magic" – Sunnyside Communications
A reissue from a great 1987 live session at the Village Vanguard, NYC.
BACH: The Four Orchestral Suites – Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall – Alia Vox (2 discs)
Excellent performances from a noted Baroque specialist and his band. The reengineered surround sound is impressive, too, if somewhat over-resonant.
Mercy And Grand – The Music Of Tom Waits And Kathleen Brennan – GB Records
An unusual gypsy take on Tom Waits.
Mindru Katz plays BEETHOVEN = Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, “Tempest”; Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, “Hammerklavier” – Mindru Katz, p. – Cembal d’amour
A Beethoven journey in the Horowitz style, except that master never dared these terrible beauties that Katz executes with masterly passion.
VIVALDI: "Venetian Dreams" = 6 Concerti, Op. 10; Sonata a 4 al Santo Sepolcro in E-flat Major; Concerto for Strings in G Minor – Matthias Maute, recorder and traverso /REBEL /Joerg-Michael Schwartz – Bridge
More from committed Vivaldi specialists REBEL, the 1991 ensemble whose music-making remains energetic, provocative and authentic, at once.
GIUSEPPE SAMMARTINI: Organ Concertos Op. 9 = Concerto I in A Major; Concerto II in F Major; Concerto III in G Major; Concerto IV in B-flat Major – Enrico Zanovello, organ/ Archicembalo Ens. – Discantica
A worthy addition to the Sammartini discography.
Bronislav Gimpel, violin = Works of SIBELIUS, SZYMANOWSKI, WIENIAWSKI, SCHUBERT, MENDELSSOHN & Others – Various artists – Audite (3 CDs)
The Ukraninian violinist was among the finest virtuosis on his instrument. A 3-CD reissue package.
ADAM: Giselle (complete ballet), Blu-ray (2012)
A first class Giselle video in every way.
Various artists – Adventure Music: Ten Years (Sampler) – Adventure Music (3 CDs)
The Adventure Music label: from Brazilian music to folk and beyond.
WEBER: Concerto for Clarinet and Orch. No. 1 in F Minor; Ov. to “Oberon”; Ov. “Beherrscher der Geister,”; Concertino for Clarinet and Orch. – Martin Spangenberg, clar. and cond. / Orchester M18 – MD&G WEBER Wind Concertos = Concerto for Clarinet and Orch. No. 1; Bassoon Concerto; Horn Concertino in E Minor; Concertino for Clarinet and Orch. in C Minor – Maximiliano Martín, clarinet/ Peter Whelen, bassoon/ Alec Frank-Gemmill, horn/ Scottish Ch. Orch. / Alexander Janiczek – Linn
Fine performances all, but I’m giving the edge of these two to Spanenberg, who’s a kinder, gentler performer in the clarinet concerti.
Duduka Da Fonseca Quintet – Samba Jazz/Jazz Samba – Anzic Records
Duduka Da Fonseca set his goal high on this album for the fusing of samba jazz with jazz samba and more than successfully fulfilled it.
Janel & Anthony – Where Is Home – Cuneiform Records Paul Avgerinos – Lovers – Round Sky Music
A pair of flowing ambient-area CDs of interest; one more experimental than the other.
SCHUBERT: Wanderer Fantasy D 760, Impromptus D 935, Impromptus D 899 – Viviana Sofronitsky, fortepiano – Cavi Music
The famous Wanderer Fantasy on a fortepiano of the period.
Audio News for October 5, 2012
Naxos Releases First Exclusive Hi-Res Downloads; Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, Oct. 12-14; Salk Sound Reestablishes Fried Speakers Line
“David Shifrin and Friends” – AARON COPLAND: Sextet for Clarinet, Piano and String Quartet; STEPHEN HARTKE: The Horse with the Lavender Eye; AARON JAY KERNIS: Trio in Red; ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH: Concerto for Clarinet and Ch. Orch.– David Shifrin, clarinet/Ch. Music Northwest – Delos Records
A winning collection that should appeal to clarinetists and chamber music lovers.
MOZART: Piano Concertos No. 12 K. 414; No. 26 K. 537 – Christian Zacharias, piano and cond. the Lausanne Ch, Orch. – MDG
The conclusion of the second complete Mozart Piano Concerto cycle with Christian Zacharias.
Arrau and Brahms: The Two Romantics (1984/2011)
Arrau’s triumphant return to Chile after 17 years absence.
Audio News for October 2, 2012
Samsung Pushing Hard to Launch OLED displays; CEA Supports FCC Adoption of NPRM; Bowers & Wilkins and Maserati in Partnership; SVS Downsizes High-Power Sub
POUL RUDERS: ‘Music of Poul Ruders, Vol. 8‘ = POUL RUDERS – Offred Suite (from the opera, The Handmaid’s Tale), Tundra (Hommage á Jean Sibelius), Symphony No. 3, ‘Dreamcatcher’ – Susanna Phillips, sop./Odense Sym. Orch./Scott Yoo – Bridge
Another interesting addition to an important series.
VERDI: Otello (complete opera) (1962/2012)
Of undoubted historical interest, and very well sung, but for specialists only.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand” – Live from Caracas (2012)
An astounding concert that surpassed even the “Symphony of a Thousand” subtitle for Mahler’s odd choral-symphonic creation.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
