Monthly Archive: December 2012
NoBailarás – Sin Pecado Concebido (Born Without Sin) (2012)
Probably only for tango and Spanish-conversant fans, the production and songs are handicapped by a lack of translations.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 8; RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G; D’INDY: Symphony on a French Mt. Air – Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer, p./ Boston Sym. Orch./ Charles Munch – Pristine Audio
Besides two classic French scores restored from RCA, Pristine bequeaths us a fine performance of the Vaughan Williams Eighth Symphony “live” in its Boston premier.
PHILIP GLASS: The Passion of Ramakrishna – Pacific Sym./ Pacific Chorale and soloists/Carl St. Clair – Orange Mt.
Mostly moving work is a sort of Hindu requiem.
HENRI DUTILLEUX, “Orchestral Works II” = Symphony No.1; Tout un monde lointain; Timbres, Espace, Mouvement ou “La Nuit Etoilee” – Bordeaux Aquitaine Nat. Orch./Hans Graf – Arte Nova
Great introduction to this fascinating composer.
Men in Black 3, Blu-ray 3D (2012)
Men in Black 3, Blu-ray 3D (2012) Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin Director: Barry Sonnenfeld Studio: Sony Pictures 40287 [11/30/12] 3 Discs: 3D, Blu-ray, DVD Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD 3D Audio: English or French DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1, English 2.0 audio descriptive track Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish Extras: “Partners in Time: The Making of MIB 3,” Gag reel, “Back in Time” music video, Spot the Alien game, “The Evolution of Cool: MIB 1960s vs. Today,” “Keeping It Surreal: The Visual FX of MIB 3,” Scene investigations, Progression reels, (In 3D) = “The Case of Boris the Animal: The 3D Models of MIB 3,” & “Converting to 3D” featurette, Ultraviolet Length: 106 minutes Rating: ****½ It wasn’t until I was preparing this review that I noticed there was an extra on these discs about its conversion to 3D. I had thought it was shot in 3D, but perhaps that explains some of the scenes looking a bit washed out. However, in general the 3D effects were very good, as was the 3D conversion of Titanic. Also, it’s nice to have two of the extras in 3D; often all the extras to 3D […]
WEBER: Piano Quartet in B-flat Major; 6 Sonatas – Isabelle Faust, violin/Boris Faust, viola/ Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, cello/ Alexander Melnikov, fortepiano – Harmonia mundi
Violin virtuoso Isabelle Faust and her devoted coterie explore that “wayward” Romantic Carl Maria von Weber with suave aplomb, introducing to Weber’s neglected Piano Quartet.
Motian Sickness: The Music of Paul Motian – For the Love of Sarah – Grizzley Music
The music, character and spirit of late drummer Paul Motian carries on.
DVORAK: String Quintet in E-flat Major; String Sextet in A Major – The Raphael Ensemble – Helios
This reissue of the 1989 bears all of its original charm, two lucid and affectionate readings of inventive string ensemble works by the wonderful Dvorak.
JOHN CAGE: Imaginary Landscape No. 1-5; Sixteen Dances – Ensemble Prometeo/Marco Angius, dir. & cond. – Stradivarius
Vintage Cage performed very well.
Audio News for December 25, 2012
2011 Nielsen Sales Totals; Classical News; Barco Acquires Stake in Projectiondesign; Escort Dongle Accesses Free Mobile-DTV on Apple Devices
Hal Galper Trio – Airegin Revisited – Origin Records
An animated and unique offering.
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A Minor; LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1; Hungarian Fantasia; LULLY: Gavotte en rondeau; D. SCARLATTI: Sonata in D Major "La Chasse" – Georges Cziffra, p./ Orch. Nat. de l'ORTF/ Georges Tzipine (Grieg)/ Andre Cluytens – ICA Classics
The ever-dynamic Georges Cziffra wears his Romantic mantle in vivacious, eccentrically marvelous renditions of Grieg and Cziffra’s kindred spirit, Liszt.
SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major; DVORAK: Piano Quintet in A Major – Elias String Q./ Jonathan Biss, p. – Onyx
Two landmarks of the Romantic piano quintet medium played with intelligent and fervent vigor by Jonathan Biss and his youthful Elias Quartet collaborators.
Trilogy of Life (The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales, Arabian Nights), Blu-ray (1971-1974/2012)
A bawdy and controversial depiction of tales from Boccaccio and Chaucer plus the Arabian Nights, in three films.
Pete Escovedo – Live From Stern Grove – Concord Picante
A high energy outing from a Latin Jazz master.
Weber Iago, solo piano – Piano Masters Series Vol. 3 – Adventure Music Gordon Lee – This Path – OA2 Records
Two fine jazz piano CDs of interest.
“Arp-Schnitger-Orgel Norden Vol. 3” = Works of SCHEIDT, BACH, MOZART, BOHN, BUXTEHUDE – Luchterhandt & Janssen, organs – MD&G
All in all, an excellent introduction to what must be an imposing instrument in both sight and sound.
DEBUSSY: Preludes, Books I & II – Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano – DGG
Aerial acrobatics and pensive evocations of natural and Classical beauty abound in Aimard’s new reading of the 24 Debussy Preludes.
Audio News for December 21, 2012
Cassettes Coming Back; Neural Surround; Wireless Technology To Be Focus of 2013 CES
Daniel Humair – Sweet & Sour- Laborie Records
Not for the faint of heart.
French Fantasy = DEBUSSY: Beau Soir; Violin Sonata in G Minor; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; SAINT-SAENS: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor – Maria Bachmann, violin/ Adam Neiman, p. – Bridge
Bachmann and Neiman deliver a conservative French program of rhythmic flair and constant melodic invention.
Pavane = DEBUSSY: Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque); Préludes – Book 1: No. 8, La fille aux cheveux de lin; DUBUGNON: Incantatio; FAURE: Après un rêve; Élégie in C minor; Romance in A major; Pavane; RAVEL: Pavane pour une infante défunte – Maxim Rysanov, viola/ Ashley Wass, p. – BIS
It will lull you off to dreamland, but what a way to go!
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
