Monthly Archive: December 2012
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor – Vienna Philharmonic/ Sergiu Celibidache – Wiener Symphoniker
A rare document from the Vienna Symphony archives, a reading by a still-developing Sergiu Celibidache in the Brahms C Minor Symphony, a reading of more persuasion than sheer epic power.
Mighty Sam McClain – Give It Up To Love; Sledgehammer Blues BluesQuest (compilation); Sledgehammer Blues
Two great introductions to some modern blues artists with superlative SACD recordings.
Color Me Obsessed – A Film about The Replacements (2011)
Made by fans for fans and covering the entire history of the Minneapolis-based band The Replacements.
GEORGE W. CHADWICK: Adonais: Elegiac Ov.; Cleopatra; A Pastoral Prelude; Sinfonietta in D Major – BBC Concert Orch./ Keith Lockhart – Dutton Epoch
With three premiere recordings, this is mostly the unknown George W. Chadwick. As a dedicated Chadwickian, it makes me very happy.
BERLIOZ: Le Corsaire Ov.; Sinfonie fantastique; Un bal Alt. version with cornet obbligato – Orchestre National de Lyon/ Leonard Slatkin – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
Slatkin captures the romantic longing and ardor of the score rather than accentuates its pictorialism—a valid approach and it works.
Piano, Bass and Drums – AIX Records DVD-Audio and DVD-Video – AIX
A fine jazz piano trio video and audio, with various options.
BACH: Partita No. 2 in C Minor; Toccata in C Miunor; Partita No. 6 in E Minor – David Fray, p. – Virgin Classics
Solid technique and exuberant temperament complement each other in Fray’s new realization of Bach’s challenging partitas and virtuoso toccata.
The Gents Vocal Ensemble do GERSHWIN – Channel Classics
A definite change of pace for this classical choral music vocal group.
HUGO DISTLER: Harpsichord Concerto; Stage Music to “King Bluebeard” – Huguette Dreyfus, harpsichord/ German Bach Soloists/ Martin Stephanie, cond./ Katharina Wingen, sop./ Stefan Livland, tenor/ New Brandenburg Philharmonic/ Stefan Malzew – Musicaphon
A life self-cut tragically short still exudes the fragrance of some top-notch works.
“Birdcage: 73’20.958” for a Composer (2012)
Weirdly interesting and mostly for John Cage fanatics.
DE FALLA: Nights in the Gardens of Spain; La Vida Breve – Interlude and Dance No. 1; The Three-Cornered Hat – Clara Haskil, p. (1-3)/ Concerts Lamoureux/ Igor Markevitch/ Teresa Berganza, mezzo (5-12)/ Suisse Romande Orch./ Ernest Ansermet (4-12) – Praga Digitals
A fine hi-res pairing of two classic Falla works, featuring pianist Clara Haskil on one and mezzo Teresa Berganza on the other.
Roberta Donnay and the Prohibition Mob Band – A Little Sugar – Motéma
Prohibition-era music which is more than just mere nostalgia.
Audio News for December 11, 2012
Dave Brubeck Dies; Olive Media Trio of Hard-Drive Music Systems; Iogear 3D Complete +; Web Photos to Samsung TVs via Woven Apps
“Tango Rhapsody” – Karin Lechner & Sergio Tiempo, pianos (with Orch. della Svizzera Italiana/ Jacek Kaspszyk in Tango Rhapsody) – Avanti SACD+DVD
An unusual combination of SACD concert plus DVD of the most spectacular selection.
SANJUÁN: Castilla; Liturgia Negra – Basque National Orch. /Andrés Orozco-Estrada – Claves
Music from a Basque composer who lived until 1976,
Duran Duran – Live 2011, Blu-ray (2012)
A recent, expertly videotaped, live concert by the long-rrunning Duran Duran.
CHOPIN: 12 Etudes, Op. 10 and 12 Etudes; Trois Nouvelles Etude for the "Methode des Methodes" – Mordecai Shehori, p. – Cembal d'amour
An edition of the Chopin Etudes that seeks “truth and poetry,” the Shehori version should stand as a testament to scholarship and musical devotion at its highest level.
UP, Blu-ray – 5-Disc 3D Combo Pack (2009/2012)
A terrific animated feature for the entire family, with the added fillip of 3D.
ČIURLIONIS: In the Forest; The Sea; De Profundis – Lithuanian National Sym. Orch. and Kaunas State Choir/Juozas Domarkas. Cond. – Northern Flowers
Three interesting works from a Lithuanian Romantic-era composer who lived until 1911.
The Edie Adams Christmas Album – with Ernie Kovacs – Omnivore Records
Nostalgia lovers have a precious gem from the early 1950s in the form of the Edie Adams Christmas Album, especially as a momento of her work with Ernie Kovacs.
The Columbia BEETHOVEN Centennial Symphony Series, Vol. 1 = Symphony No. 1 in C Major; Symphony No. 2 in D Major; Leonore Overture No. 3 in C Major – Sir Thomas Beecham & Sir Henry J. Wood, cond. – Pristine Audio
Pristine begins its cycle of the 1927 Beethoven Centennial recordings, featuring a manic interpretation of the D Major Symphony under Sir Thomas Beecham.
JOSEF SUK: A Summer’s Tale; Prague – BBC Sym. Orch./ Jiri Belohlavek – Chandos
Two colorful Czech symphonic poems in hi-res surround.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
