Monthly Archive: January 2017

Audio News for January 31, 2017

Philip Glass is 80; But Some Classical Music Lovers Hate His Music – His productivity has been amazing: there are ten symphonies, 14 operas, seven string quartets, film scores, 20 piano studies, 11 concertos, and much else. He is also the greatest collaborator among composers since Stravinsky. One of the famous ones was with notorious Robert […]

BROSCHI, PORPORA & HANDEL: “Farinelli – A Portrait – Live in Bergen” – Anne Hallenberg/ Les Talens Lyriques/ Christophe Rousset – Aparte

BROSCHI, PORPORA & HANDEL: “Farinelli – A Portrait – Live in Bergen” – Anne Hallenberg/ Les Talens Lyriques/ Christophe Rousset – Aparte

BROSCHI, PORPORA & HANDEL: “Farinelli – A Portrait – Live in Bergen” – Anne Hallenberg/ Les Talens Lyriques/ Christophe Rousset – Aparte 117, 79:40 (2/17/17) ****: Most famous arias of the legendary castrato Farinelli sung by fine mezzo-soprano with two Handel arias as encores. Carlo Broschi, known to posterity as Farinelli, was a late and certainly […]

British Music – Conducted by Sir Charles Groves = ELGAR, DELIUS, VW, BRIAN, HOLST, WALTON, BRIDGE & Many Others – Warner Classics (24 CDs)

British Music – Conducted by Sir Charles Groves = ELGAR, DELIUS, VW, BRIAN, HOLST, WALTON, BRIDGE & Many Others – Warner Classics (24 CDs)

True to its advertisement, this set brings together a fine selection of British music led by a devoted practitioner of his craft. British Music – Sir Charles Groves = ELGAR: Nursery Suite; Funeral March from Grania amd Diaramid, Op. 42; Severn Suite, Op. 87; Caractacus, Op. 35: Complete Cantata; Woodland and Triumphal March; The Crown […]

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; A Night on Bald Mountain; TCHAIKOVSKY: Set. fr. Swan Lake – Vienna Philharmonic/ Dudamel – DGG

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; A Night on Bald Mountain; TCHAIKOVSKY: Set. fr. Swan Lake – Vienna Philharmonic/ Dudamel – DGG

Dudamel traverses familiar Russian territory, convincing and affectionate, but rarely with new insight.  MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; A Night on Bald Mountain; TCHAIKOVSKY: Waltz from Swan Lake, Op. 20 – Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Gustavo Dudamel – DGG 479 6297, 50:51 (12/2/16) [Distr. by Universal] ***:  Whenever a new recording emerges of an old chestnut, […]

Blue Canvas – Brandi Disterheft with Harold Mabern & Joe Farnsworth – Justin Time

Blue Canvas – Brandi Disterheft with Harold Mabern & Joe Farnsworth – Justin Time

Blue Canvas – Brandi Disterheft with Harold Mabern & Joe Farnsworth – Justin Time JUST 255-2, 44:55 ****: A smart and expressive release. (Brandi Disterheft – acoustic bass, cello, vocals; Harold Mabern – piano; Joe Farnsworth – drums) Guy Dixon, writing for Canada’s Globe & Mail on July 20,2009, offered the following headline: “It’s 3 […]

“French Music” – works of CHAUSSON: Sym. in B-flat; Poeme de L’Amour; DEBUSSY: Printemps – Praga Digitals

“French Music” – works of CHAUSSON: Sym. in B-flat; Poeme de L’Amour; DEBUSSY: Printemps – Praga Digitals

The colorful, Symbolist scores of Ernest Chausson receive classic accounts by Munch and Barbirolli. French Music = CHAUSSON: Symphony in B-flat Major, Op. 20; Poeme de L’Amour et de la Mer, Op .19; DEBUSSY: Printemps – Symphonic Suite – Kathleen Ferrier, contr./ Halle Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli/ Boston Sym. Orch./ Charles Munch (Chausson Symphony and […]

Talking Sticks (2016)

Talking Sticks (2016)

Not just a film bio of Arthur Lipner but a trip around the earth viewing many aspects of mallet instruments worldwide. Talking Sticks (2016) Cast: Arthur Lipner, Gary Burton, Mike Mainieri, Vida Chenoweth, Bernard Woma and other top percussionists Studio: Living Arts Productions Video: for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD stereo Length: 63 min. […]

SOLER: Con. for Two Harpsichords & CHAMBONNIERES: 8 Harpsichord Suites – both Brilliant

SOLER: Con. for Two Harpsichords & CHAMBONNIERES: 8 Harpsichord Suites – both Brilliant

Two harpsichord collections of great note. ANTONIO SOLER: Six Concertos for Two Harpsichords – Agustin Alvarez & Eusebio Fernandez-Villacanas – Brilliant 95327, 57:09 (9/2/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: JACQUES CHAMPION DE CHAMBONNIERES: Eight Harpsichord Suites – Franz Silvestri, harpsichord – Brilliant 95339 (2 CDs) (10/28/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Soler studied with Domenico Scarlatti and […]

Deepwater Horizon, Blu-ray VR (2017)

Deepwater Horizon, Blu-ray VR (2017)

A very dramatic portrayal of the real-life worst oil spill accident ever. Deepwater Horizon, Blu-ray VR (2017) Cast: Kurt Russell, Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, James DuMount, Douglas M. Griffin, Joe Chrest, Kate Hudson, Gina Rodriquez Director: Peter Berg Based on story by: Matthew Sand Studio: Summit Entertainment/ Lionsgate (1/10/17) [2 discs] 4K Blu-ray Combo Pack […]

Gregory Porter (vocals) – Live In Berlin, Blu-ray + 2 CDs (2016)

Gregory Porter (vocals) – Live In Berlin, Blu-ray + 2 CDs (2016)

Soul/jazz singer releases a live performance Blu-ray. Gregory Porter – Live In Berlin, Blu-ray + 2 CDs (2016) Performers: Gregory Porter – vocals; Chip Crawford – piano; Jahmal Nichols – double bass; Emanuel; Harrold – drums; Tivon Pennicott – tenor saxophone Producer/Director: Jeremy Aziz Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment EVB335539 Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; PCM […]

BRAHMS: Violin Con. & Con. for Violin & Cello – Julia Fischer & others – PentaTone

BRAHMS: Violin Con. & Con. for Violin & Cello – Julia Fischer & others – PentaTone

Classic Yakov Kreizberg performances of Brahms from 2007 feature the truly-gifted Julia Fischer. BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77; Concerto in a minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 102 – Julia Fischer, violin/ Daniel Mueller-Schott, cello/ Netherlands Philharmonic Orch./ Yakov Kreizberg – PentaTone multichannel SACD PTC 5186 592, 72:59  (4/24/07) [Distr. by […]

“Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet” = by MILLS, CHATMAN, CHIHARA, & DAVID – Crystal

“Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet” = by MILLS, CHATMAN, CHIHARA, & DAVID – Crystal

Another great release from this dedicated husband and wife duo. “Double Concertos for Violin and Clarinet” = RICHARD MILLS: Duo Concertante; STEPHEN CHATMAN: Concerto for Clarinet, Violin and Orch.; PAUL CHIHARA: Love  Music: Concerto for Violin, Clarinet and Orch.; THOMAS CHRISTIAN DAVID: Sonate for Clarinet and Violin – Walter Verdehr, v./Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet/Taipei Sym. Orch./Richard […]

MODEST MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov (2016)

MODEST MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov (2016)

A good quality ‘realistic’ production worth investigating. MODEST MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov (2016)   Production: Sofia Opera, Bulgaria Performers: Martin Tsonev (Boris Godunov)/Mario Kratsev (Fyodor)/Irina Zhekova (Kseniya)/Sofia Opera Orchestra and Chorus/Konstantin Chudovski (cond.)/Plamen Kartaloff (stage director)/Stefan Mushatov (screen director) Studio: Dynamic [7/29/16] (Distr. by Naxos) Video: 1.33:1 color Audio: DTS-HD 5.1, PCM Stereo Subtitles: French, English, Italian, […]

Audio News for January 27, 2017

End-To-End Multilingual Streaming Solution –  Osprey Video has partnered with Belgium-based streaming company Streamovations. to present videos in multiple languages thru a single turnkey system based on software certified to work with Osprey Video hardware. They wanted to develop a system so that any organization could accomplish its streaming goals, since many need to share […]

Donny McCaslin – Beyond Now – Motéma

Donny McCaslin – Beyond Now – Motéma

Now is the time for saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Donny McCaslin – Beyond Now [TrackList follows] – Motéma MTA-CD-211, 62:57 [10/14/16] *****: (Donny McCaslin – tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute, clarinet; Jason Lindner – keyboards; Tim Lefebvre – electric bass; Mark Guiliana – drums; Jeff Taylor – vocals (track 2); David Binney – additional synths, vocals […]

STRAVINSKY: The Firebird; NIKOLAEV: The Sinewaveland – Homage to Jimi Hendrix – Seattle Sym. Orch./Ludovic Morlot – Seattle Symphony Media

STRAVINSKY: The Firebird; NIKOLAEV: The Sinewaveland – Homage to Jimi Hendrix – Seattle Sym. Orch./Ludovic Morlot – Seattle Symphony Media

A magnificent Firebird in state of the art CD sound. STRAVINSKY: The Firebird; NIKOLAEV: The Sinewaveland – Homage to Jimi Hendrix – Seattle Sym. Orch./Ludovic Morlot – Seattle Symphony Media SSM1014, 58:32 *****: This CD is another example of the superb recordings and performances that have become a signature of the Seattle Symphony’s recordings under […]

WEINBERG: Suite for Orchestra; Symphony No. 17, ‘Memory’ – Siberian State Sym. Orch./Vladimir Lande – Naxos

WEINBERG: Suite for Orchestra; Symphony No. 17, ‘Memory’ – Siberian State Sym. Orch./Vladimir Lande – Naxos

A great addition to an important series. MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG: Suite for Orchestra; Symphony No. 17, ‘Memory’ – Siberian State Sym. Orch./Vladimir Lande – Naxos 8.573565, 64:49 (10/14/16) ****: I think it is a very good thing that the music of Polish composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg is now getting a fair amount of attention thanks to the […]

SHOSTAKOVICH: Sym. No. 10; encores – Texas Music Fest. Orch./ Mei-Ann Chen – HDTT

SHOSTAKOVICH: Sym. No. 10; encores – Texas Music Fest. Orch./ Mei-Ann Chen – HDTT

Written just after the death of Stalin, the composer stated that this symphony is about the Stalinist era, but others disagree. SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10; AN-LUN HUANG:: Sebei Dance No. 2 “Lantern Festival”; RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; CHOPIN: Etude Op. 27/7 – Texas Music Festival Orch./ Mei-Ann Chen; (Extras:) Moores School Sym. […]

Audio News for January 24, 2017

“Stream the Studio” Campaign Announced by DEG Voice and Music Industry – The organizations will support the expansion of the current hi-res audio download market into studio quality hi-res streaming. Representatives from Rhapsody, Pandora and HD Tracks expressed their enthusiasm for this. They hinted at more advanced optional features in the future. The expansion of […]

STEVEN STUCKY: Rhapsodies; American Muse; Concerto for Orch. – BMOP/Sanford Sylvan – Naxos

STEVEN STUCKY: Rhapsodies; American Muse; Concerto for Orch. – BMOP/Sanford Sylvan – Naxos

This important American composer left a rich legacy you should get to know. STEVEN STUCKY: Rhapsodies; American Muse; Concerto for Orchestra – Boston Modern Orch. Project/Sanford Sylvan, bari./Gil Rose – BMOP multichannel SACD 1050, 56:34  (11/15/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: The gifted American composer Steven Stucky just passed away last year and fortunately he left […]