Monthly Archive: April 2013
“Colliding Objects: Music by DAVID KECHLEY” = Dancing; Design and Construction; Untimely Passages; Available Light; Colliding Objects – Innova
Colorful, engaging. David Kechley’s music may not give you a lot to cogitate on, but it is certainly ear-tickling.
The Rolling Stones Under Review (1975-1983) – The Ronnie Wood Years (Pt. 1) (2012)
A documentary of interest to those not dyed-in-the-wool Stones fans.
Audio News for April 9, 2013
Roger Ebert Dies at Age 70; Symphony Disconnect in Minneapolis-St. Paul; Opera in a Strip Club; Internet Radio Up and AM/FM Down in Survey of Youth; Panasonic Plasma Displays Not Cancelled Yet
BRUCKNER: Complete Symphonies – Aachen Symphony Orch./ Marcus Bosch – Coviello Classics (10-disc set)
The first SACD recording of the complete symphonies is a rousing success for the most part.
VIKTOR ULLMANN: Complete Piano Sonatas; Menuett (Totentanz) – Jean Golan, p. – Steinway & Sons (2 CDs)
Highly individual music, conveyed with power and conviction.
ALEXANDER BERNE: ‘Self Referentials, Volumes 1 & 2’ – Alexander Berne & The Abandoned Orchestra– Innova Records – Innova (2 CDs)
Impossible to describe but must hear.
Al Thompson, Jr. – City Mainstream – Alcalgar
An unknown keyboardist reveals his penchant for urban music.
Monsieur Verdoux, Blu-ray (1947/2013)
Chaplin departed entirely from his Tramp character for this fully-talkie black comedy about a Bluebeard.
WIENIAWSKI: Violin Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp Minor; CONUS: Violin Concerto; VIEUXTEMPS: Fantasia appassionata in G Minor – Soo-Hyun Parkl, violin/ Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz/ Nicholas Milton – Onyx
In an auspicious debut album Soo-Hyun Park performs some fresh Romantic repertory without the clichés that bravura virtuosos too often seek.
SCHOECK: Variation Sonata for Violin and Piano; Violin Sonata in D Major; Violin Sonata in E Major – Ursula Bagdasarjanz, violin/ Gisela Schoeck, p. – Gallo
Volume two of the survey of Othmar Schoeck’s violin works enjoys the artful collaboration of two well matched musicians, including violinist Bagdasarjanz and the composer’s daughter at the keyboard.
Zero Dark Thirty, Blu-ray (2013)
Another successful thriller based on an incident where we already know how it turned out, and it’s still very effective.
Audio News for April 5, 2013
B & O Adds Spotify to BeoSound 5 Music System; Polk, Definitive & Boom Part of New Division; Triad Upgrades Their In-Wall Sub; Dolby Atmos Surround for Home Theater?
BELA BARTOK: Kossuth; Concerto for Orchestra; Romanian Folk Dances – ORF Radio Sym. Orch. Vienna/ Cornelius Meister – RSO/CPO
Not the top SACD version the Concerto for Orchestra, but an interesting release anyway.
MESSIAEN: Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus: Selections – Evan Hirsch, piano – MSR Classics
An excellent performance of selections from Messiaen’s masterpiece. Even if you have Vingt regards complete on disc, you may want to consider this fine rendition.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 in D Major – Los Angeles Philharmonic/ Gustavo Dudamel – DGG (2 CDs)
Recorded live at a concert from February 2012, this is Gustavo Dudamel’s first CD with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
“Two Souls” = KHACHATURIAN: Violin Concerto in D Minor; BARBER: Violin Concerto in A Minor; Adagio for Strings – Mikhail Simonyan, v./ London Sym. Orch./ Kristjan Jarvi – DGG
Youthful violin virtuoso Mikhail Simonyan displays his affection for two distinct characters in his musical make-up, Armenian and American, and Kristjan Jarvi adds his own passions.
“Piano Duets” = Works of BRAHMS, MENDELSSOHN, MOZART, SCHUBERT, FALLA, RAVEL, LUTOSLAWSKI – Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano duo – Orfeo
Generally, a very fine debut album from these talented twins.
“Leclair & His Rivals” = LOUIS-GABRIEL GUILLEMAIN: Sonata No. IV in A Major; JEAN-BAPTISTE CARDONNE: Sonata No. III; JEAN-PIERRE GUIGNON: Sonata in C minor; JACQUES DUPHLY: Pieces de Clavecin: Ouverture; La de Mary; Chaconne; JEAN-MARIE LECLAIR: Sonata No. XII – Leila Schayegh, Baroque violin/ Jörg Halubek, harpsichord – Pan Classics
Maybe the title’s a little misleading, but this is nonetheless a stylish and stylishly-played recital.
Lionel Belmondo Trio Plays European Standards – b Flat DiscographSwing 39 Quartet – Entre deux tours (World Gypsy Jazz) – WGJ
Discs demonstrating two distinctively European approaches to jazz.
RAVEL: Menuet Antique; Alborada del Gracioso; Concerto in D for the Left Hand; FALLA: Nights in the Gardens of Spain; Three-Cornered Hat: 3 Dances – Michel Block, piano/ Sinfonia da Camera/ Ian Hobson – Zephyr
Zephyr restores a wonderful, colorful 1998 concert of Ravel and Falla, two “Spanish” masters by temperament bonded by the magical craft of the late Michel Block.
Audio News for April 2, 2013
Music Radio App Just for Jazz; Samsung’s 85-inch 4K TV Now Available; Gibson Buys Majority Stake in Teac; Definitive Recalls Some Subs Due to Shock Hazard
CARL NIELSEN: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 – Lucy Hall, sop./ Marcus Farnsworth, bari./ London Symphony Orch./ Sir Colin Davis – LSO Live
Two of the top Nielsen symphonies, completing the Davis Nielsen symphony cycle on SACD.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
