Monthly Archive: December 2013
Craig Yaremko Organ Trio – CYO3 – OA2 Records
A snappy and occasionally sparkly album.
Concierto Barroco (2013)
A pleasant video concert of unusual early Baroque works by a sextet.
“Dreamtiger – East-West Encounters” = COLIN McPHEE: Balinese Ceremonial Music; DOUGLAS YOUNG: Trajet/Inter/Lignes; OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Canteyodjaya; GEORGE CRUMB: Vox Balaenae – Dreamtiger – Cameo Classics
Some audio archeology is required but mostly worth it.
Deep Purple – The Audio Fidelity Collection (4 CDs)
Heavy metal pioneers flex their muscles.
BACH: “Bach Concertos” = Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Concerto for Violin and Oboe; 2 Violin Sonatas – Janine Jansen and friends – Decca
A most agreeable collection of Bach’s chamber music.
Les Fils du Vent (2012/2013)
A fascinating documentary on gypsy jazz and the Romani culture.
SCHUBERT: Octet in F Major – Gaudier Ensemble – Helios
The Helios reissue of the Gaudier Ensemble Schubert Octet deserves to be heard and re-heard, a real tour de force performance of a work of unconquerable spirit.
Audio News for December 24, 2013
Holiday Electronics Sales Up 27%; LG Audio to Expand Multi-room Wireless and Sound Plates; The Threat of TV Tipovers; Google Chromecast Dongle a Major Irritant for TV Stations and Manufacturers
MAHLER: Symphony No. 7 in E Minor – Berlin Philharmonic/ Michael Gielen – Testament
Some remarkable playing from the post-Karajan Berlin Philharmonic in the music of Mahler, led by an energized, even demonized, Michael Gielen.
HINDEMITH: Konzertmusik for Brass and Strings; Symphony ‘Mathis der Maler’; Symphonic Metamorphosis after Themes by Carl Maria von Weber – BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Robbins – Hyperion
Great new rendition of the “essential” Hindemith.
Bill Evans Trio – Trio ’65 – Verve (1965)/ Original Recordings Group (45 rpm double vinyl)
Considered among the top albums pianist Bill Evans ever recorded.
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major; Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major – Lars Vogt, p./ Frankfurt Radio Sym. Orch./ Paavo Jarvi – Cavi-Music
Thoroughly refreshed thoughts from Vogt and Jarvi on two of Mozart’s late piano concertos add a touch of elegant heroism and refined intimacy to these familiar works.
Walter Gieseking – The Complete Homocord Recordings and Rarities = Works of BACH, CHOPIN, LISZT, DEBUSSY, D. SCARLATTI, POULENC, MOZART ETC. – APR (2 CDs)
This historical assemblage of Walter Gieseking’s early recordings should prove seminal in any discussion of his monumental contribution to the art of the keyboard.
KARAINDROU: “Concert in Athens” = Excerpts from various works – Kim Kashkashian, viola/ Jan Garbarek, tenor saxophone/ Vangelis Christopoulos, oboe/ Eleni Karaindrou, piano/Camerata Orch./Alexandros Myrat – ECM New Series
Beautiful music; so much better than just “film scores.”
LISZT: Ellens Gesang III; Ballade No. 2; VERDI (arr. Liszt): Aida: Danza sacra e duetto finale; Rondeau fantastique sur un theme espagnol; Gute Nacht; Des Maedchens Klage; Erlkoenig; Der Mueller und der Bach; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 – Valentina Lisitsa, p. – Decca
Valentina Lisitsa assures her repute in the Liszt-performers annals with some spectacular entries, including the “impossible” rondo de bravura after a Spanish zarzuela.
Jeremy Pelt – Fast Forward, Jeremy – High Note
January coming up, time for another Jeremy Pelt release…
Frank Wess – Magic 201 – IPO Recordings
More sublime music from Frank Wess…
The Soviet Experience = Vol. IV – SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets 13, 14, 15; SCHNITTKE: String Quartet 3 – Pacifica Quartet—Cedille (2 CDs)
The Pacifica Quartet completes their Shostakovich cycle—adding Schnittke’s Third Quartet—in performances that express the essence of Russian music in the 20th century.
R. STRAUSS: Also Sprach Z.; Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks; Don Juan – Berlin Philharmonic Orch./ Gustavo Dudamel – DGG
A standard Richard Strauss symphonic-poem package, impressively mounted and recorded in gorgeous sound and production values to sell its charismatic conductor.
Bloody Daughter, documentary & concert, Blu-ray (2013)
A close-up documentary on one of the greatest living pianists, plus a concert performance.
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in B-flat Major; Impromptu in C Minor; Impromptu in A-flat Major – Nina Kavtaradze, p. – Danacord
Not for the faint of heart, Kavtaradze’s Schubert exerts resonant power, but some may find her approach aggressive and dramatically inflated.
Duane Allman – Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective Encore Edition – Rounder Records/ Rhino
The brightest flame extinguished far too early…
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
