Monthly Archive: January 2014
JANACEK: The Cunning little Vixen (complete opera) x 2, Blu-rays (2013)
It’s not often a chance to review two releases of this opera comes about—and the differences in concept are quite revealing.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 – Budapest Festival Orch./ Ivan Fischer – Channel Classics
A reference performance and recording of one of the great Mahler Symphonies.
“Barefoot” = Piano Music of Chopin, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Adams, Hofman, Kupferman, Muczynski, & Wolfgang – Joanne Pearce Martin, p. – Yarlung Records
Pianist Joanne Pearce Martin shares her favorite music.
MOZART: Die Zauberflöte (complete opera), Blu-ray (2013)
This ghastly rendition, though presented in splendid sound and vivid Blu-ray, should never have been.
“BACH: Complete Solo Keyboard Concertos” – Julia Zilberquit, p./ Moscow Virtuosi/ Saulius Sondeckis – Warner Classics (2 CDs)
Zilberquit’s 2001 survey from Moscow of the Bach keyboard concertos retains its persuasive charm and (archaic) nobility of expression.
WEINBERG: Complete Sonatas and Works = 5 Sonatas for Violin and Piano; Sonatina in D Major; Rhapsody on Moldavian; Sonata No. 6; 3 Pieces – Linus Roth, violin/ Jose Gallardo, p. – Challenge Classics (3 CDs)
Linus Roth and Jose Gallardo assemble a comprehensive survey of the Weinberg chamber works for violin.
HAYDN: Op. 2 String Quartets, Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6 – Auryn Quartet/ Matthias Lingenfelderm & Jens Oppermann, violins/ Stewart Eaton, viola/ Andreas Arndt, cello – Tacet audio-only Blu-ray
Non-standard surround placement on this disc, but excellent performances and audio quality.
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor; Symphony No. 7 – Geza Anda, piano/ Cologne Radio-Sym. Orch./ Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Hans Knappertsbusch – Tahra
An opportunity to hear the late Geza Anda in concert with Hans Knappertsbusch in 1962.
Audio News for January 7, 2014
New York Times Favorite Classical Recordings of 2013; Best Jazz Discs of 2013; Benedictines of Mary Again Top Traditional Classical Album of 2013; Forecast of Growth of Sensors Industry; DEG Honors Industry’s Finest at CES 2014
Neil Swainson & Don Thompson – Tranquility – Cornerstone Records
A responsive duo who have a fluidity of empathy.
“English Music for Viola and Piano” = SIR ARTHUR BLISS: Sonata for Viola and Pianoforte; ARNOLD BAX: Sonata for Viola and Piano; RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Suite for Viola and Pianoforte – Christian Euler, viola/ Paul Rivinus, p. – MD&G Scene
Three lovely works by British composers for viola and piano.
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; Songs and Dances of Death; The Nursery – New Zealand Sym. Orch./ Peter Breiner – Naxos Pure Audio Blu-ray
New orchestrations of three important works by Mussorgsky, in Blu-ray hi-res.
Audio News for January 3, 2014
LG to Show UHD OLED TVs at CES; Worldwide Computer Monitor Shipments Rise in Q3; Wolf Cinema Has Three New Video Projectors; Celebrity Guests to Promote Latest Consumer Technologies at International CES
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77; 4 Hungarian Dances; BARTOK: Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Piano; Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Piano – Leonidas Kavakos, violin/ Peter Nagy, p./ Gewandhausorchester/Riccardo Chailly – Decca
Kavakos’ first Decca release features a potent, loftily mounted Brahms Concerto and a selection of “gypsy” salon works.
HAYDN: Missa in Angustiis (“Lord Nelson Mass”); Sym. No. 102 in B-flat – Mary Wilson, sop./ Abigail Fischer, mezzo-sop./ Keith Jameson, tenor/ Kevin Deas, bass-bar./ Boston Baroque/ Martin Pearlman – Linn
Not revelatory, but outstanding in every way; one of the best of the most modern recordings.
DENLER: “Portraits of Colorado” = An American Symphony No. 1; Six Variations for Violin and Piano – The Colorado Sym. and Chorus/ Scott O’Neil – Fresh
Pleasant impressions of Colorado, played and recorded well.
“Opera Baroque” box set – Les Arts Florissants, William Christie/ Ensemble 415, René Jacobs/ Concerto Vocale, René Jacobs/ Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier – Arkiv, et al. Harmonia mundi (39 CDs+3 DVDs)
A stunning collection that will keep you enthralled for the rest of your life.
“Cuatro” – SOR: Grand Solo; RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Capriccio Espagnol; ALBENIZ: Fantasie Espagnole; IAN KROUSE: Folias (Guitar Quartet No. 4) – Aquarelle Guitar Quartet – Chandos
A most enjoyable guitar quartet album of Spanish-flavored music.
Metallica – Through the Never (Music from the motion picture) – Blackened (Universal)
Heavy metal listeners get an ear-full on Metallica’s soundtrack.
Home Page for January 2014
Our January drawing/giveaway is for one of six hi-res Pure Audio Blu-rays from Sono Luminus plus a standard CD of the same program. The three albums are: Entendre, with the violin/cello duo in works of Kodaly, Ravel, Sousa, Halvorsen, Servais & Leonard, Inscape’s Sprung Rhythm—with a collection of works by three new American composers, and American Anthem—the Ying Quartet and guests album: works by Barber, Hanson and Thompson. It will be a random choice of the three for each of the six winners. All you need to do to be eligible is to register on our simple form this month; we will not share your email with anyone. The six lucky winners will be announced on our Editorial Page next month and you’ll find more details there this month. Our Best Discs of 2013 are published now.
Music of Life: Orchestral Masterworks of Karel Husa = Cello Concerto; Pastorale for Strings; Suite for Orchestra: Scenes from the “Trojan Women” – Paul York, cello/ University of Louisville Sym. Orch./ Kimcherie Lloyd – Ablaze Records
Husa’s music is always worth hearing, and these pieces are quite important.
“Winter Songs and other vocal works” = ROBERT PATERSON: Captcha; Winter Songs; Eating Variations; Thursday; Batter’s Box – Jesse Blumberg, bar./ Blair McMillen, p./ David Neal, bass-bar./ Robert Gardner, bar./ Nancy Allen Lundy, sop./ Dimitri Pittas, tenor/ American Modern Ensemble – American Modern Recordings
Subtle and intricate musical settings that truly define the words “art songs”.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
