Monthly Archive: September 2014
BACH: Partitas (BWV 825–830) – Igor Levit, piano – Sony Classical (2 CDs)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better modern traversal of the Partitas.
KALVEVI AHO: Concerto for Theremin & Chamber Orch., “Eight Seasons”; Concerto for Horn & Chamber Orch. – Carolina Eyck, theremin/ Annu Salminen, horn/ Lapland Ch. Orch./ John Storgards – BIS
There are few theremin concertos, so this SACD is of top interest to fans of the no-touching electronic instrument.
GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice (complete opera), Blu-ray (2014)
A beautifully captivating film of Gluck’s most famous work in its original guise.
SCRIABIN: Complete Etudes – Andrei Korobnikov, piano – Mirare
The Russian mystic and virtuoso Scriabin enjoys a devoted acolyte in Korobnikov, who surveys the etudes and the voluptuous Seventh Sonata.
Queen – Live at the Rainbow (1974/2014)
An excellent companion to Queen’s studio videos of later years.
GLIERE: Symphony No. 3 “Il’ya Muromets” – Buffalo Philharmonic Orch./ JoAnn Falletta – Naxos audio-only Blu-ray
May be the best available version of this colorful widescreen late romantic epic, certainly sonically.
VERDI: Otello (complete opera), Blu-ray (2014) ROSSINI: Otello (complete opera) (2014)
Two excellent performances of Otello that do both composers’ intentions justice.
VERDI: Otello (complete opera), Blu-ray (2014)ROSSINI: Otello (complete opera) (2014)
Two excellent performances of Otello that do both composers’ intentions justice.
Audio News for September 23, 2014
Radio Shack Trying to Avoid Bankruptcy; JVC Adds Four Waterproof Headphone Models; Marantz Premium Headphone Amp; Lexar Introduces Fastest UHS-II Memory Cards Available; Hi-Res Walkman for Those on the Move
Sergio Mendes – Magic – Okeh Records
The spirit of Brazilian rhythms is alive and well and up to date.
Ida Haendel – Prague Recordings 1957-1965 = Supraphon (5 CDs)
Supraphon’s generous tribute to Polish violin virtuoso Ida Haendel restores her Prague recordings and appearances, many of them superlative readings.
Piano Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Arabesque Duo – Centaur CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Complete Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Duo Pace Poli Cappelli – Brilliant Classics (2 CDs)
A pair of two-guitar albums of note.
Piano Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Arabesque Duo – Centaur CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Complete Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Duo Pace Poli Cappelli – Brilliant Classics (2 CDs)
A pair of two-guitar albums of note.
Ludwig Hoelscher, cello = Music of DVORAK, BACH, GRIEG & CHOPIN – Meloclassic
Two fine German performers who unfortunately supported the Nazis.
Led Bib – The People in Your Neighbourhood [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform
Led Bib: not quite rock, not quite jazz, but the best of both.
PROKOFIEV: Suite from the ballet Romeo and Juliet for two pianos (trans. by Arthur Ancelle); Suite from the ballet Cinderella for two pianos (trans. by Mikhail Pletnev) – Ludmila Berlinskaya & Arthur Ancelle, pianos – MelodiyaHERMAN GROENEWEGEN: 24 Preludes for Piano – Andrew Clark, piano
Suites for piano from Prokofiev and Herman Groenewegen.
PROKOFIEV: Suite from the ballet Romeo and Juliet for two pianos (trans. by Arthur Ancelle); Suite from the ballet Cinderella for two pianos (trans. by Mikhail Pletnev) – Ludmila Berlinskaya & Arthur Ancelle, pianos – MelodiyaHERMAN GROENEWEGEN: 24 Preludes for Piano – Andrew Clark, piano
Suites for piano from Prokofiev and Herman Groenewegen.
“Dumka” = Piano pieces by DVORAK, SUK, LISZT, BALAKIREV, TCHAIKOVSKY, LYSENKO & MARTINU – Avie
Pianist Lada Valesova finds a musical thread in the form of the dumka that connects the souls of Slavic composers.
Audio News for September 19, 2014
LSO Live Begins Releasing Audio-Only Blu-rays; CEA Adapts and Supports Wrong Use of 4K to Promote UHD; Yamaha Back In Computer Speaker Market; New Debate Between DisplayPort 1.3 and HDMI
SOFIA GUBAIDULINA: “Repentance” = Repentance; Serenade for solo guitar; Piano Sonata; Sotto voce – various performers/soloists – BIS
Very interesting collection of chamber works by this characteristically “dark”-sounding composer.
“Entartete Musik” = BERNHARD HEIDEN: Sonata; PAUL DESSAU: Suite; ERWIN DRESSEL: Bagatellen; ERWIN SCHULHOFF: Hot-Sonate; PAUL HINDEMITH: Sonata; WOLFGANG JACOBI: Sonata; HANS GAL: Suite; ERNST-LOTHAR von KNORR: Sonata – Duo Disecheis – Brilliant Classics (2-CDs)
Mostly interesting collection of some fairly obscure saxophone works.
“Entartete Musik” = BERNHARD HEIDEN: Sonata; PAUL DESSAU: Suite; ERWIN DRESSEL: Bagatellen; ERWIN SCHULHOFF: Hot-Sonate; PAUL HINDEMITH: Sonata; WOLFGANG JACOBI: Sonata; HANS GAL: Suite; ERNST-LOTHAR von KNORR: Sonata – Duo Disecheis – Brilliant Classics (2-CDs)
Mostly interesting collection of some fairly obscure saxophone works.