Monthly Archive: December 2012
The Christopher Alpiar Quartet – The Jazz Expression – Behip
Post-Coltrane music which evokes a bygone but not forgotten era.
![The RIAS Second Viennese School Project [TrackList follows] – Soloists/ RIAS Choir & Orch/Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Radio-Sym./various cond. – Audite (4 CDs)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Audite2ndVienneseSet.jpg)
The RIAS Second Viennese School Project [TrackList follows] – Soloists/ RIAS Choir & Orch/Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Radio-Sym./various cond. – Audite (4 CDs)
Even after 100 years, the music of the Second Viennese School challenges and offends, our musical and intellectual complacency assaulted by sounds and textures testing the limits of our aesthetic prejudices.
OSIAS WILENSKI: “La Leyenda del Kakuy” = Soloists/Tapestry East – Navona Records
Pretty abstract, though interesting in its own way.
Bach and Beyond Part 1 = BACH: Partitas Nos. 2 & 3; YSAŸE: Sonata No. 2; KAIJA SAARIAHO: Nocturne; MISSY MAZZOU: Dissolve, O My Heart – Jennifer Koh, violin – Çedille
Koh arrives at Bach with a studied determination and vibrant affectation.
Rachel. The Music I Love – Rachel Podger, violin/ var. assisting artists – Channel Classics (2 CDs)
Such collections can often be frustrating—but not this one.
PAUL JUON (1872-1940): Sextet Op. 22 in C minor; Quintet Op. 44 in F major – Oliver Trendl, piano/ Thomas Grossenbacher, c. /Carmina Quartet – CPO
The Carmina and their colleagues unerringly locate the means to transition through to some extraordinary musical ecstasy.
British Music for Piano Duo = HOLST: In Memoriam William Morris; The Planets; ELGAR: Serenade in E Minor; BURY: Prelude and Fugue; BAINTON: Miniature Suite – Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow, pianists – Diversions
A reissue of the 1996 recital of Elgar and Holst that provides insight into the harmonic thinking of their popular orchestral works, as well as introduces us to several new pieces.
MICHAEL NYMAN, “Chamber Music Vol. 1 (Piano Trios 1992-2010)” = Poczatek; The Photography of Chance; Yellow Beach; Time Will Pronounce – The Fidelio Trio – MN Records MICHAEL NYMAN, “Chamber Music Vol. 2 (String Quartets 1 – 3)” – Balanescu Quartet – MN Records
Two new additions to the MN collection illustrate his eclectic talent.
BRAHMS: Viola Sonata in F Minor; SCHUBERT: “Arpeggione” Sonata in A Minor; FRANCK: Sonata for Violin and Piano (arr. for viola) – Tabea Zimmermann, viola/ Kirill Gerstein, p. – Myrios Classics
Zimmermann and Gerstein collaborate in Volume 2 of their Sonatas for Viola and Piano series, here a resonant exploration of three Romantic staples.
HANDEL: Saul (complete oratorio) – Soloists/ The Sixteen / Harry Christophers – Coro (3 CDs)
An excellent recording—and almost a great one—of Handel’s masterwork.
Total Recall, Blu-ray 2-Disc Set (2012)
One reviewer said this was “Better than the original!” I find him completely wrong.
CHARPENTIER: Le Malade imaginaire – Les Arts Florissants/ Wm. Christie – Harmonia mundi Gold
A well-deserved re-release of one of many of William Christie’s pioneering recordings.
"Terpsichore: Muse of the Dance" = Dances by Michael PRAETORIUS and William BRADE – Julien Martin, recorder/ Doron Sherwin, cornet/ Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orch./ Skip Sempé – Paradizo
Something like René Clemencic on French Harmonia mundi 30 years ago, but less wild and not quite as audiophile.
Albert Mangelsdorff Quintett – Legends Live – JazzHaus
A lively and accessible version of jazz.
MICHAEL NYMAN: ‘Sangam’ = Three Ways of Describing Rain; Compiling the Colours – Michael Nyman Ens./Misra vocal ens.– MN Records
Very interesting blend of cultures.
Claudio Scolari – Synthesis – Principal
Electronic washes, spooky melodica, cool trumpet: a different approach to synthesis.
Audio News for December 28, 2012
LG Upgrades HTiBs, Soundbars and Docking Speakers; Samsung and Ericsson Legal Battle; New NAD Home Theater Amp; PSB Launches Compact Sub
Best of the Year Discs for 2012
* = 12 Best Multichannel Discs of the Month CLASSICAL (Incl. HI-RES), CLASSICAL REISSUE & CL. VINYL ACHRON: Complete Suites for Violin and Piano – Shaham/Erez – Hyperion CDA 67841 VOLKMAR ANDREAE: Symphony in C Major, Op. 31; Notturno and Scherzo, Op. 30; Music for Orchestra, Op. 35; Kleine Suite, Op. 27 – Bournemouth Sym. Orch. / Marc Andreae – Guild GMCD 7377 ARNOLD: Overtures – London Philharmonic/ Malcom Arnold – Reference Recordings HRx 176.4/24bit files HR-48 * BACH: Sonatas No. 1 in b, BWV 1014; No. 3 in E, BWV 1016; in g, BWV 1020; in b, BWV 1030; in E-flat: Siciliana – Lara St. John, v./ Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp – Ancalagon SACD 139 BEETHOVEN: Diabelli Variations – Andreas Staier, fortepiano – Harmonia Mundi HMC 902091 * BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique; Ov. to Beatrice and Benedict – Scottish Ch. Orch./ Robin Ticciati – Linn SACD CKD 400 YORK BOWEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 – BBC Philharmonic/Sir Andrew Davis – Chandos 10670 BRAHMS: Sym. No. 1 – Furtwaengler/Hamburg Philh. – Tahra TAHRA FURT 2010 * BRITTEN: War Requiem – Soloists/ Choir of Eltham College/ London Sym. Chorus/ London Sym./Gianandrea Noseda – LSO Live SACD LSO0719 (2 discs) ALFREDO CASELLA: Concerto for Orchestra; War […]
Terry Trotter – I Play the Piano – AIX Blu-ray
Superbly performed and recorded solo piano jazz improvisations.
Canciones españolas = Works of FALLA, RODRIGO & GRANADOS – Bernarda Fink, mezzo – Harmonia mundi 902133
A primary recommendation for all who love Spanish sing, sung with love and evident affinity for the music.
Virgins, Vixens, & Viragos – Susan Graham, mezzo/ Malcolm Martineau, p. – Onyx
An exceptional song disc of great variety, and—rarely these days—thought.
Ahleuchatistas – Heads Full of Poison – Cuneiform Rune
A genre-bending instrumental duo which continues to defy expectations.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
