Monthly Archive: August 2013
JOHN ADAMS: Nixon in China (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
At long last here it is—the definitive Nixon in China!
CHABRIER: Integrale pour Piano 2 et 4 Mains – Bruno Canino & Bertrand Giraud, pianos – Anima (2 CDs)
One of the more delectable of keyboard collections of 2013, we have here music by a true original of the keyboard. [A second and more detailed opinion on this already-reviewed CD.]
Clifford Curzon, piano = MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, K. 595; SCHUBERT: 4 Impromptus, D. 899; Moment musicaux in F Minor, D. 780, No. 3 – Clifford Curzon, p./ London Philharmonic Orch./ Sir Adrian Boult – Testament
A splicing of two Clifford appearances in Britain forms the perfect combination of Mozart and Schubert, a true balance of salon intimacy and concert-hall bravura.
GLUCK: Iphigenie en Aulide & Iphigenie en Tauride, Blu-ray (2013)
Odd settings, but excellent singing. And it’s nice to have both operas in one set.
Oskar Fried = LISZT: Les Preludes; STRAVINSKY: The Firebird Suite; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade – Berlin Philharmonic Orch./ Oskar Fried – Pristine Audio
Oskar Fried was the Michael Powell of the conducting world, a supreme colorist whose appeal to the ear never ceases to ravish.
Christian McBride Trio – Out Here – Mack Avenue
An album filled with upbeat concepts from a gorgeous trio.
Audio News for August 23, 2013
The Two “Fix Everything in 2013” Hi-Res Music Service Projects
The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour (2013)
Beach Boys buyers should be wary.
Otto Klemperer = BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major; SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” – New Philharmonia Orch./ Otto Klemperer – Testament (2 CDs)
The opportunity to display Klemperer’s capacity for monumental and transcendent architecture in Bruckner and Schubert renders a Royal Festival Hall audience in 1967 spellbound.
Shane, Blu-ray (1953/2013)
A classic western lovingly restored for Blu-ray.
Audio News for August 20, 2013
Beatles Still Among Music’s Highest Earners; NAS Study on Violent Video Games; Plasma Display Burn-In; Restaurants and Bars Getting Too Loud
J.S. BACH: “100 Years of Humanity: Albert Schweitzer in Lambarene 1913-2013” = Chorale Preludes and other Organ Pieces – Calmus Vocal Ensemble/ Ullrich Bohme, organ/ Albert Schweitzer, organ (1 sel.) – Rondeau Production
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer’s opening his hospital in Africa.
Chris Campbell / Grant Cutler – Schooldays Over – Innova (45 rpm vinyl)
A 45 rpm 12″ effort, but not necessarily appealing to all audiophiles with good turntables.
“Nova” = Works of PHILLIP SCHROEDER; VERA IVANOVA; MARK ENGEBRETSON; CHAN JI KIM; LEONARD MARK LEWIS; ALEKSANDER STERNFELD-DUNN; PIOTR SZEWCZYK & ALAN CHAN – Society of Composers, Inc./var. performers – Navona
Nice variety of styles and some composers you might not know.
ROBERT GROSLOT: Robert Groslot Conducts his Music for Concert Band = Concerto for Saxophone; Concerto for Euphonium; Concerto for Piccolo; Concerto for Marimba; Achaé, la docile Amie – Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides/ Groslot – Groslot Music
A good survey of the concert band music of Robert Groslot.
“Desmond Blue” – Paul Desmond with Strings – RCA Victor/Pure Pleasure (vinyl)
Desmond fans with turntables will have to have this one.
BIZET: Symphony in C; Jeux D’Enfants; Variations chromatiques – San Francisco Ballet Orch./ Martin West – Reference Recordings
Three most enjoyable Bizet works; two of them quite unique.
Matt Kane Trio – Suit Up! – Bounce-Step
Matt Kane: well-outfitted to showcase his Kansas City roots.
Carl Schuricht and Clara Haskil perform BEETHOVEN = Prometheus Overture; Piano Concerto No. 4; Coriolan Overture; Symphony No. 2 – Clara Haskil, p./ London Philharmonic/ Eduard van Beinum/ Carlo Zecchi (Con.)/ The National Sym. Orch./ Reginald Goodall (Coriolan)/ L’Orch. de la Suisse Romande/ Carl Schuricht – Dutton
Romanian pianist Clara Haskil honed a select number of works to personal perfection.
The Moody Blues – Timeless Flight – Universal Music (4 CDs)
4 CD box set of the Moodies is not a bad place to start rediscovering the band
GOUVY: Works for Two Pianos = Sonata for Two Pianos; Scherzo; Lilli Bullero; March; Fantasie for Two Pianos; Divertissement – Laurent Martin & Carole Dubois, pianos – Ligia CHABRIER: Complete Solo Piano Works and 4 Works for 4 Hands – Bruno Canino & Bertrand Giraud, pianos – Anima Records (2 CDs)
A pair of delightful two-piano CDs by French and half-French composers.
Otto Klemperer = BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major; BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique; MOZART: Le Nozzi di Figaro Ov. – Yehudi Menuhin, v./ New Philharmonia Orch./ Otto Klemperer – Testament (2 CDs)
The concert from Royal Albert Hall finds Klemperer and Menuhin in sweet collaboration in Beethoven, and Klemperer himself in monumental form in the wild Berlioz symphony.