Monthly Archive: November 2012
RACHMANINOV: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 – Nikolai Lugansky, piano – Naive
Two convincing performances of the Rachmaninov piano sonatas, which receive their finest and most pearly realization since those by Alexis Weissenberg almost a generation ago.
Audio News for November 13, 2012
McIntosh Laboratory Added to Fine Sounds SpA; Two New PSB Speakers for Flat TVs; Parasound Adds DAC to Half-Rack Series; Netflix and YouTube Usage Rise; Dish Wins 1st Round In ‘AutoHop’ Suit
Uniko (2011)
A difficult-to-describe avant musical experience. Must be seen & heard to be believed.
“Playing With Fire” FRANK TICHELI: Postcard; San Antonio Dances; Symphony No. 2; Rest; Playing with Fire – Dallas Wind Symphony/ Jerry Junkin/ The Jim Cullum Jazz Band (added on Playing With Fire) – Reference Recordings
An interesting collection of all-American works in topflight world premiere recordings.
The Rolling Stones – Charlie is My Darling: Ireland 1965 – CDs/ LP/DVD/Blu-ray box set (1965/2012)
Reliving their Youth, The Rolling Stones in 1965 in a super deluxe box set.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major; Symphony No. 6 in D Major – Bournemouth Sym. Orch./ Jose Serebrier – Warner Classics
The Serebrier Dvorak cycle receives two new additions, both of which exult in glorious colors and sympathetic, even virtuosic, realizations.
Bill Evans, piano & Jim Hall, guitar – Undercurrent – United Artists (1962)/ Pure Pleasure Records (vinyl)
A terrific duo of guitar and piano, with rich and clean sonics spotlighting the very creative improvisations.
ORFF: Carmina Burana – Soloists/ St. Clement Danes Grammar School Boys Choir/London Sym. Orch. & Chorus/ André Previn (1974 EMI analog recording) Resonance Recording Hi-Q xrcd
Probably the best sound I’ve heard from an xrcd, but $50 for one CD?
The Chants of Mary – Gloriæ Dei Cantores Men’s Schola – Gloriæ Dei Cantores
A fine hi-res surround introduction to Gregorian Chant.
BACH: Four Harpsichord Concertos – F Major BWV 1057, G minor BWV 1058, d minor BWV 1052, A Major BWV 1055 – Retrospect/ Matthew Halls, harpsichord & dir. – Linn
A fine new SACD, which together with a previous one cover all seven Bach solo harpsichord concerti.
SMETANA: The Bartered Bride (complete opera) – Soloists/ BBC Singers/ BBC Sym. Orch./ Jiří Bělohlávek – Harmonia mundi (2 CDs)
If you are having only one, this new Bartered Bride is the one to have.
Lawrence of Arabia, Restored 50th Anniversary Edition, Blu-ray (1962/2012)
No wonder it won seven Oscars – now in the ultimate hi-def restoration, on Blu-ray only.
The Paul Winter Sextet – Count Me In: 1962-1963 – Living Music (2 CDs)
Paul Winter’s early years: from Latin America to JFK to Johnny Carson.
Georgy Tchaidze, piano – MEDTNER: 4 Skazki; PROKOFIEV: Sonata No. 4 in C Minor; MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition – Georgy Tchaidze, p. – Honens
A new Russian recital by the enormously gifted Tchaidze makes us consider him a serious rival for the laurels accorded his predecessor Richter.
![CORELLI: Opus 6: Concerti Grossi [TrackList follows] – The Avison Ensemble/ Pavlo Beznosiuk, dir. & violin – Linn (2 discs)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CorelliConcertiGrossiLinnSA2.jpg)
CORELLI: Opus 6: Concerti Grossi [TrackList follows] – The Avison Ensemble/ Pavlo Beznosiuk, dir. & violin – Linn (2 discs)
Takes top choice for the complete Opus 6 on SACD.
Audio News Nov. 9, 21012
Composer Elliott Carter Dies at 103; Vizio 21:9 Display Makes Consumer Reports’ List of Ten Standout Electronics Products; Heterogeneous System Architecture Foundation; Sony, Sharp and Panasonic All Report Significant Losses; Samsung To Revamp Corporate Identity; Sony Steps Into High-End Home Audio
HAILSTORK: ‘An American Port of Call’ = Symphony No. 1, Three Spirituals, An American Port of Call, Fanfare on ‘Amazing Grace’, Whitman’s Journey: 1. Launch out on Endless Seas – Kevin Deas, bar., Virginia Sym. Chorus, Virginia Sym. Orch., JoAnn Falletta – Naxos
An important American composer and orchestra you should know!
The Doors – Live At The Bowl ’68, Blu-ray (1968/2012)
A restored concert film adds to the mystique of a legendary rock band.
The Romantic Piano Concerto – Vol. 58 = PIXIS: Piano Concerto in C Major; Concertino in E-flat Major; THALBERG: Piano Concerto in F Minor – Tasmanian Sym. Orch. /Howard Shelley, p. and cond. – Hyperion
Quite a workout for any self-styled virtuoso, these showpieces by Pixis and Thalberg, the latter Liszt’s most admired rival as a keyboard phenomenon.
![RAMEAU: The Complete Harpsichord Works [TrackList follows] – Jory Vinikour, harpsichord – Sono Luminus (2 CDs) RAMEAU: Symphonies for two harpsichords (arr. of various instrumental pieces)[TrackList follows] – Pierre Hantaï & Skip Sempé, harpsichords – Mirare](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RAMEAU2-VinikourSymphonies.jpg)
RAMEAU: The Complete Harpsichord Works [TrackList follows] – Jory Vinikour, harpsichord – Sono Luminus (2 CDs) RAMEAU: Symphonies for two harpsichords (arr. of various instrumental pieces)[TrackList follows] – Pierre Hantaï & Skip Sempé, harpsichords – Mirare
These three CDs will set you up with all of the composer’s harpsichord music and then some.
IMOGEN HOLST: Mass in a; A Hymn to Christ; Three Psalms; Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow; Hello my fancy, whither wilt thou go?; BRITTEN (orch. by Imogen Holst): Rejoice in the Lamb – Harmonia mundi
An absolutely mandatory release by a woman quite underrated in her abilities.
HOWARD HANSON: Symphony No. 4, “Requiem”; Symphony No. 5, “Sinfonia sacra”; Elegy in Memory of Serge Koussevitzky; Dies Natalis – Seattle Sym./ Gerard Schwarz – Naxos
Fine recordings from the 1990s available at a lower price.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
