Monthly Archive: November 2015
SHOSTAKOVICH (arr. Rudolf Barshai): Chamber Symphonies, Op. 110a; Op. 49a; Op. 118a – The Dmitri Ensemble/ Graham Ross – Harmonia mundi
Interesting adaptations, but I prefer the originals.
PROKOKIEV: Violin Concerto No. 2 in g minor; Sonata for 2 Violins in C Major; Solo Violin Sonata in D Major – Viktoria Mullova, v./ Tedi Papavrami, v. /Frankfurt Radio Sym. Orch./ Paavo Jarvi – Onyx
Live performances of Mullova’s Prokofiev violin repertory convince us of her pungent authority.
Mose Allison, American Legend – Live In California – Ibis
A singer/pianist with a gift for unpretentious playfulness and curiosity.
Ant-Man, Blu-ray 3D (2015)
One of the best super-hero films from Marvel, and 3D too.
Lenny Kravitz – Just Let Go Live, Blu-ray (2015)
Talented musician conquers many genres…and in high definition.
Eight Christmas SACD and CDs of Interest
Eight worthwhile discs of Christmas music to brighten your holidays.
Audio News for November 20, 2015
Control4 Distributes Audio; Sonos Offers App to Adjust Sound on Various Speakers; New Feature Allows Creating, Remaking and Remixing Audio on Short Videos; Controlling Things With Your Mind?; New Apple TV
Piano In The House – Adventure Music
Outstanding performances that help inform the interesting musical polyglot that is Brazil.
Jerry Garcia/ David Grisman – Acoustic Disc (1991) /Mobile Fidelity
Hi-resolution revitalizes Grateful Dead icon and mandolin virtuoso collaboration.
ORNSTEIN: Piano Quintet; String Quartet No. 2—Marc-Andre Hamelin, p./Pacifica Q.—Hyperion
Wildly dramatic and lyrical chamber music from an American original.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronouned ‘Leh-‘Nerd ‘Skin-‘Nerd – Live from Jacksonville at The Florida Theatre – Blu-ray (2015)
Southern Rock at its best, on Blu-ray.
What’s Going On/Taste – Live at Isle Of Wight – Blu-ray (2015)
The last show by a top rock group and great guitarist, Rory Gallagher.
SHOSTAKOVICH: The Symphonies (Complete) – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orch./ Vasily Petrenko – Naxos
Magnificent, thrilling performances given expressive, idiomatic readings by a formidable young conductor.
Mostly Other People Do the Killing – Mauch Chunk [TrackList follows] – Hot Cup
Ursine inspiration along with a Jim Thorpe homage? Must be more fun from Mostly Other People Do the Killing.
Zarafa, Blu-ray (2015)
A wonderful French animation full of lots of exotic locations and animals.
MOZART: Bassoon Concerto; Clarinet Concerto – Ole Kristian Dahl, bassoon/Thorsten Johanns, clarinet/WDR Sym. Orch./Karl-Heinz Steffens, Eivind Aadland – Lawo Classics
Worthy additions to an already large list of options.
Bob Dylan – The Best Of The Cutting Edge 1965-1966/ The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 – Columbia/Legacy – 3 vinyls+2 CDs
A phenomenal glimpse into a transformative songwriter’s mind!
Pat Martino, guitar – East! – Prestige/ Mobile Fidelity
Terrific fidelity on this stereo SACD remastering of a classic Martino guitar session.
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2 in D Major; Symphony No. 7 in A Major – Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Karl Bohm – Orfeo
The 1980 concert from the Grand Festival House in Salzburg features the veteran Karl Bohm in Beethoven symphonies.
RESPIGHI: Metamorphoseon; Ballata delle Gnomidi; Queen of Sheba, Suite – Orch. Philharmonique Royal de Liege/ John Neschling – BIS
Three colorfully-orchestrated works from the Italian composer who studied with Rimsky-Korsakov.
Egon Petri – The Complete Columbia and Electrola Solo and Concerto Recordings, 1929-1951 = Works oF BACH, BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS, BUSONI, FRANCK, CHOPIN, LISZT, SCHUBERT, GLUCK, TCHAIKOVSKY – APR (7 CDS)
Mark Obert-Thorn re-assembles the Egon Petri legacy.
LUDOVICO EINAUDI: In a Time Lapse [Tracklist follows] – Var. soloists, Daniel Hope, v./ Orchestra I Virtuosi Italiani/ Einaudi – Ponderosa(/br)LUDOVICO EINAUDI: Elements [Tracklist follows] – Var. soloists & Einaudi – Ponderosa
Two releases from the Italian New Age composer.