Monthly Archive: September 2013
“English Royal Funeral Music” = Works of PURCELL, TOMPKINS, MORLEY, WEELKES, PAISIBLE & TOLLETTE – Ricercar
Powerful performances of this solemn, affecting music.
MEDTNER: Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Minor “Sonata Epica”; Violin Sonata No. 1 in B Minor – Chloe Hanslip, violin/ Igor Tchetuev, p. – Hyperion
In a beautifully mounted recording from 18-20 February 2012, Hanslipo and Tchetuev realize two of Medtner’s ‘autobiographical’ violin sonatas, each a work of devout individualism.
ELGAR: Cello Concerto in E Minor; TCHAIKOVSKY: Rococo Variations; DVORAK: Rondo in G Minor; Silent Woods – Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello/ BBC Sym. Orch./ Jiri Belohlavek – Harmonia mundi
The passionate young cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras and Jiri Belohlavek combine for a second disc, one that extols in loving terms the virtues of Elgar, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky.
Aperion Verus Grand Bookshelf Speakers, SRP: $699 pr.
A fine example of reasonably-priced bookshelf loudspeakers.
DEBUSSY: “Orchestral Works Vol. II” = Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; Images; La Boite a joujoux (The Toy Box) – Rosenthal & Ansermet cond. – Praga Digitals
A nice addition to the Debussy Images already available on SACD.
![“PERCY GRAINGER: Works for Large Chorus and Orchestra” [TrackList follows] = Melbourne Sym./ Andrew Davis – Chandos](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GraingerLargeChorusSA.jpg)
“PERCY GRAINGER: Works for Large Chorus and Orchestra” [TrackList follows] = Melbourne Sym./ Andrew Davis – Chandos
Here, for your delectation, are the works of Percy Grainger the litterateur and student of folk culture. Grainger the musical experimenter is far less in evidence.
VIVALDI: La Senna festeggiante – Yetzabel Arias Fernandez/ Martin Oro/ Sergio Foresti/ La Risonanza/ Fabio Bonizzoni, harpsichord & cond. – Glossa
An excellent reading of some outstanding Vivaldi, a rarely recorded work that nevertheless has gotten a lot of performances worldwide.
Judith Zaimont – Eternal Evolution – Navona
New works from a master of chamber music.
![“Nine Notes That Shook the World” [TrackList follows] – Ronn McFarlane & Mindy Rosenfeld – various Renaissance, Celtic & Baroque instruments – (Sono Luminus audio-only Blu-ray & CD)](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Nine-NotesBLUx.jpg)
“Nine Notes That Shook the World” [TrackList follows] – Ronn McFarlane & Mindy Rosenfeld – various Renaissance, Celtic & Baroque instruments – (Sono Luminus audio-only Blu-ray & CD)
Again intimate music receives the regal treatment and benefits greatly by it.
“The Sea” = Songs of DEBUSSY, FAURE, SCHUBERT – Henk Neven, baritone – Onyx
Fine song singing is hard to beat, and Nevens proves himself among the best.
GORECKI: Choral Music = Euntes ibant et flebant; Lobgesang; Totus Tuus; Salve, Sidus, Polonorum; Amen – Nat. Youth Choir of Great Britain / Mike Brewer – Delphian
A wondrous disc all around, spotlighting music that deserves the widest exposure.
Audio News for September 6, 2013
New Approach From Intel for the “Cord Cutters”; Sony and CEA Beat the Drum for Hi-Res Audio; Worst-Sounding Audio Products
MOZART: Piano Concertos No. 12 in A; No. 13 in C; No. 14 in E-flat – Anne-Marie McDermott, p./ Calder Quartet/ David J. Grossman, bass – Bridge
First impressions aside, this is some really superb pianism.
BACH: Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello – Mary Constanza, c. – MSR Classics
Your reaction to these exceptionally clean readings depends on how you like your Bach.
“POULENC: Organ Concerto” = Works of POULENC, WIDOR, VITALI, BOULANGER & HALLEY – Wm. Neil organ/others/Eclipse Ch. Orch. – MSR Classics
A concert celebrating a grand church organ loses something in translation from live event to recording. But if this eccentric program appeals, go for it!
BEETHOVEN: The Piano Sonatas Vol. 1 = Sonata No. 15 in D Major “Pastoral”; Sonata No. 25 in G Major; Sonata No. 8 in C Minor “Pathétique”; Sonata No. 28 in A Major – Steven Masi, p. – Concezio
The first volume in Steven Masi’s Beethoven project is uneven but has strengths enough to suggest that very good things should follow.
BARTÓK: String Quartet No. 1; String Quartet No. 3; String Quartet No. 5 – Euclid Quartet – Artek
There’s always room for one more excellent interpretation of Bartók’s great music for string quartet.
“Howard Hanson: An American Romantic” = Concerto for Organ, Harp and String Orchestra; Nymphs and Satyr Ballet Suite; Concerto de Camera in C for piano and string quartet; Two Yuletide Pieces for Piano; Four Pieces for Chorus – var. performers – Albany/HDTT
A fine collection of chamber works by the leading American Romantic composer Howard Hanson.
* SIR EUGENE GOOSSENS Works, Vol. 2 – Melbourne Sym./ Sir Andrew Davis – Chandos
************** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
A cross-section of works from this composer/conductor, who in his earlier works was influenced by Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky.
No Place On Earth, Blu-ray (2013)
A very emotionally-moving contribution to Holocaust cinema.
MARTIN SCHLUMPF: “Streams” = Mouvements; Waves; Streams – var. performers – Navona
A very unique style that is immediately interesting.
Blue Cranes – Swim – Cuneiform (CD or vinyl)
Alternative jazz for independently-inclined listeners.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
