Monthly Archive: January 2013
MIKLÓS RÓZSA: Violin Concerto; Concerto for String Orchestra; Theme, Variations and Finale – Jennifer Pike, violin/ BBC Philharmonic/ Rumon Gamba – Chandos
These very fine works will remind you of Bartok and are worth your time.
SCHUMANN: Piano Trio No. 2; Kinderszenen; Piano Quartet – The Benvenue Fortepiano Trio/ Adam LaMotte, viola – Avie
Schumann realized by period instrument achieves a delicate balance between the concert hall and the intimate salon.
MENDELSSOHN: L’œuvre pour violoncello et piano = Sonata No. 2; Variations concertantes; Albumblatt; Song without Words; Sonata No. 1 – Gary Hoffman, c. / David Selig, piano – la dolce volta
The complete works, including Mendelssohn’s greatest sonata (No. 2) for any instrument. A top recommendation is impossible, but these are fine performances in top-notch sound.
Avatar, Blu-ray 3D (2009/2012)
Still the best 3D feature film so far when viewed on 3D Blu-ray in the home.
HANSON: Symphony No. 2, “Romantic”; Symphony No. 4, “Requiem”; Elegy in Memory of Serge Koussevitsky – Jena Philharmonic Orch. / David Montgomery – Arte Nova JAMES COHN: Symphony No. 3 in G Minor; Miniatures for Orch.; Symphony No. 4 in A Major; Symphony No. 8 in C Major – Slovak Radio Sym. Orch./ Kirk Trevor – MSR Classics
Two fine but rather different American composers are showcased on these recordings. The much less familiar James Cohn gets more compelling advocacy here.
Barry Romberg’s Random Access – Crab People – Romhog romhog
What do Paul Motian, Led Zeppelin, the South Park TV show and crustaceans have in common? They are all part of Barry Romberg’s ongoing eclectic Random Access project.
HAYDN: “Apponyi” Quartets Op. 71 – Prazak Quartet – Praga Digitals
Three high-energy Haydn quartets in transparent SACD multichannel audio.
Audio News for January 29, 2013
Bose Celebrates 30 Years in Autosound; Rockford Fosgate Steps Up Car-Audio Awareness in Youth; Alpine Readies New Products; History of Car Stereo
CAVALLI: La Didone (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
Want to know what post-Monteverdi sounds like? Look no further.
“Capriccio di Bravura” = Works of BOTTESINI for doublebass – Rick Stotijn/ Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Thompson – Channel Classics
As well as a doublebass virtuoso, Bottesini was a celebrated opera composer and conductor in his day. You can tell that right away from the music on this program.
FRED SIMON: Remember the River – Fred Simon – piano; Paul McCandless – English horn, oboe , sop. sax, bass clarinet, pennywhistle; Steve Rodby – doublebass – Naim Sundog – Insofar – Arthur Jeffes – piano, dulcitone, Rhodes; Oli Langford, violin & ring modulator; James O. Lisle, Fender (tr. 14) – Editions Penguin
A pair of interesting duos: a keyboard plus another solo instrument.
SZYMANOWSKI: Piano Works, Vol. 2 = Fantasia in C; Masques – Three Pieces for Piano; Mazurkas 1-4; Two Mazurkas – Anu Vehvilainen, p. – Alba
The piano music of Karol Szymanowski offers a series of challenges to the interpreter, much of which derives from having to balance the composer’s programmatic and nationalistic impulses with the technical demands.
“Bach and Before” – Works of PEZEL, BACH, PRAETORIOUS, GESUALDO, CORELLI, FUX, Etc. – New York Brass Quintet Vol. 1 (from LPs) – Mentor Music
An interesting reissue of brass music from some earlier LPs.
![“Percussion Direct” [TrackList follows] – Groove Note 45 rpm Direct Discs (2)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PercussionDirectDiscLP.jpg)
“Percussion Direct” [TrackList follows] – Groove Note 45 rpm Direct Discs (2)
A 45 rpm direct disc! Analog audiophiles will drool over this one.
Emanuel Ax: Variations = BEETHOVEN: “Eroica” Variations and Fugue; HAYDN: Variations in F Minor; SCHUMANN: Symphonic Etudes – Emanuel Ax, p. – Sony Classical
Emanuel Ax renders three sets of variations in contrasting styles with verve, aplomb, and a love of the keyboard that make for special listening.
‘Pasión Poética – Buenos Aires hora cero’ = Music of ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (arr. Marcelo Nisinman) and others – Saxismtango (TrackList follows) – Solo Musica
Probably what an Argentine coffee house sounds like.
“KORNGOLD: Werke für Violine & Klavier” = Schneemann; Caprice Fantastique; Marietta’s Lied; Mädchen im Brautgemach; Holzapfel und Schlehwein; Gartenszene; Mummenschanz; Tanzlied des Pierrot; String Sextet – Daniel Gaede, v./ Xuesu Liu, p./ Philharmonic String Sextet Berlin – Phil. Harmonie
Korngold is not one of my favorites, but his String Sextet is. It receives an atmospheric performance here and is joined by some beautifully played salon music from the young composer.
“Harp Dances” – Floradela Sacchi, harp – works of SALZEDO, GRANADOS, LECUONA, ALBENIZ & RODRIGO – Decca “If Brahms Wrote for Harp” – 11 Intermezzi & a Rhapsodie – Tisha Murvihill – self
Two entrancing solo harp CDs of interest.
“Gallery” – MICHAEL G. CUNNINGHAM: 3 Ballets and The Gastein Masterwork – Prague Radio Orch./ Moravian Philharmonic/St. Petersburg State Sym./Petr Vronsky/ Vladimir Lande/Robert Ian Winstin – Navona
Three ballets based on very different source material.
WAGNER: Lohengrin (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
Need a definition of “strange Wagner”? You’ve found it here!
AC Timba Jazz – Neurosis, Blu-ray (2012)
Cuban jazz sounds dynamic on Blu-ray audio.
“One: Chamber Music of Kurt Rohde” – KURT ROHDE: Violin Concertino; One: One; Double Trouble; 4 Remixes – Soloists/Left Coast Ens./ Empyrean Ens. – Innova
Edgy, as expected of Innova releases, but in a chamber music confine, with deep lyricism.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
