Monthly Archive: March 2017
Sing, animated Blu-ray (2017)
A bunch of animals save a dying theater with their acts. Sing, Blu-ray (2017) Voice-overs: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton Director: Garth Jennings Studio: Illuminations/ Universal 61180480 (3/21/17) [2 discs] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 widescreen HD color Audio: English DD multichannel 5.1, DD. 2.0 stereo, French DD 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Subtitles: French, Spanish All regions Extras: Three mini-movies (animated), Music video with Tori Kelly, The Best of Gunter, Character profiles, Ultraviolet, more… Length: 216 min. Rating: ****1/2 While not as great as the Pixar efforts, this family animated feature is great fun. Though the singing is really not the major part of the movie, there are 85 songs in it. The story line is better than most kid’s films and the various animal characters are a great surprise. Buster is the determined little koala bear who is struggling to save his theater. He sometimes stretches the truth, but his passion and optimism are contagious. His alligator office lady makes an error on the prize for a singing competition he distributes from $1000 to $100,00, and a huge line of hopeful animals come to try out the auditions. There is Rosita – a selfless homemaker […]
Leo Wright, sax – Blues Shout – Atlantic SD 1358 (1960)/ Pure Pleasure – vinyl
Leo Wright, sax – Blues Shout – Atlantic SD 1358 (1960)/ Pure Pleasure PPAN SD1358 (2017) stereo vinyl, 40:33 *****: Leo Wright’s auspicious debut is captured with a compelling vinyl re-mastering. (Leo Wright – alto saxophone, flute, arrangements; Harry Lookofsky – violin; Junior Nance – piano; Art Davis – doublebass; Charlie Persip – drums; Richard Williams – trumpet; Gigi Gryce – arrangements) Many jazz greats emerged from their days with Dizzy Gillespie. Charlie Parker, John Lewis, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, James Moody, Quincy Jones and Les Spann all participated in various combos with Gillespie. In 1959 a young Texan named Leo Wright took over for Spain. In the Army, Wright had developed an assortment of musical skills, playing jazz, big band and was part of the symphony. He became proficient on alto saxophone, clarinet and flute. While attending San Francisco State, he got to sit in with Dizzy. After several recordings as a sideman, he was signed to Atlantic Records as a frontman. Here, Wright would develop as an arranger, composer and instrumentalist. Wright’s brilliant Atlantic debut, Blues Shout has been re-mastered to 180-gram vinyl by Pure Pleasure Records. And this analog upgrade is worth it. Both sides […]
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in A Major, “Kreutzer”; Violin Sonata No. 6 in A Major – James Ehnes, v./ Andrew Armstrong, p. – Onyx
Two of Beethoven’s sonatas in A Major provide excitement and inventive poetry, played brilliantly by Ehnes and Armstrong. BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in A Major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer”; Violin Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1 – James Ehnes, v./ Andrew Armstrong, p. – Onyx 4170, 61:57 (3/24/17) [Distr. by HM/PIAS] ****: Recorded 15 January 2016 (A Major Sonata) and 7-8 December 2015 (“Kreutzer”), these two Beethoven sonatas proffer distinctly polar temperaments in the Bonn master – the 1802 A Major cast in a sunny, lyrically tender sensibility, while the 1803 Kreutzer has come to instantiate the turbulent, fiery nature of consummate passion. Ehnes opens with the “Kreutzer” Sonata, whose first measures indeed correspond to A Major but whose subsequent evolution well incorporates a minor. Beethoven conceded that the broad emotional canvas of the piece embraced the scope of a concerto, with three movements that occupy their own raison d’etre. Ehnes and his collaborator Armstrong each provide a balanced fury to the proceedings, which begin with Ehnes’ solo in multiple stops, Adagio sostenuto. The Presto carries both players forward with a sweeping gesture initiated by a small interval, E-F. True, an chorale-like episode in E Major (echoed in […]
Benson – In Flight – Warner Brothers
Benson – In Flight – Warner Brothers 0798 (1977)/Pure Pleasure (2017) stereo vinyl, 37:56 ****: Jazz guitarist’s foray into pop sounds great on re-mastered vinyl. (George Benson – guitar, vocals; Phil Upchurch – rhythm guitar; Ronnie Foster – electric piano, Mini-Moog; Jorge Dalto – clavinet, acoustic piano; Stanley Banks – bass; Harvey Mason – drums; Ralph MacDonald – percussion; Claus Ogerman – orchestra arrangements/conductor) As the rock era waned in the seventies, many other genres were waiting in the wings. Funk, punk, reggae and heavy metal emerged with an unexpected return to elaborate studio production. A lot of the inspiration for this came from the renewed interest in dance, especially the disco phenomenon. Artists gleefully jumped on the bandwagon, including jazz artists like George Benson. Benson came to prominence as a twenty-one year old guitarist with Jack McDuff. He eventually fronted his own band and recorded for CTI. But when he signed with Warner Brothers, he released the Grammy-winning album, Breezin’ , that including the hit crossover single, “Masquerade”. Now the veteran guitarist was a bona fide popular singer. This transition defined his future career path. Pure Pleasure Records has re-mastered Benson’s 1977 release In Flight to 180-gram vinyl. The […]
Frankenstein (ballet) (2017)
A surprising ballet version of the Frankenstein story. Frankenstein (ballet) (2017) Performers: The Royal Ballet Dancers: Federico Bonelli, Laura Morera, Steven McRae Director: Ross MacGibbon Studio: Opus Arte OA 1231 D (2/24/17) [Distr. by Naxos] Video: For 16:9 screens, anamorphic, color Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1 All regions Extras: Introduction, Casting the ballet, Lowell Liebermann (composer) and Liam Scarlet on the music, John Macfarlane on the design, Darcey Bussell in the studio with Scarlett & Morera Length: 144 min. Rating: ***** I actually enjoyed this new ballet version of the Frankenstein story, and pretty much understood all the movements on the screen, which is unusual for a modern ballet. The one thing I failed to understand was the role of the nasty grandmother. The music is tonal and quite appropriate to the story. The monster himself becomes a fulltime dancer in the second half and is rather good. The sets and costumes are excellent and the video is as good as a Blu-ray. —John Sunier
Audio News for March 13, 2017
Wolf Cinema Announces Series of 4K Video Projectors for the Home – This maker of high-performance home cinema projectors has announced the release of four 4K imaging home projectors. Three use the sixth-generation three-chip D-ILA light engine technologies; plus there is a flagship laser/phosphor 4K/UHD projector. All may stand alone or by mated with two Wolf Cinema eternal 4K video processors. They start at under $10,000 and the first three are traditional lamp-based editions, plus the high-output Blu-escent laser/phosphor flagship projector. Each model delivers the imaging prowess the company has become known for, on home theater screens up to 18 ft. in width. They all have full 18Gbps Ultra HD HDMI 2.0 inputs with HDCP 2.2 compatibility and increases in peak white performance up to 3200 ANSI lumens. The series delivers some of the most revealing black level performances in its class, full HDR10 imaging compatibility, multiple aspect ratio memories, custom factory gamut and gamma calibrations, and an all-metal chassis for improved thermal coefficients. Battery-Powered Speaker for Echo Dot Launches – Ninety7, a technology lifestyle company, has launched a unit to elevate Dot’s home automation capabilities. The VAUX allows second-generation Dot owners to set their Dot free and enjoy portability […]
Tango Under the Stars, Blu-ray (2016)
A wonderful evening of tango-related works in the Hollywood Bowl. Tango Under the Stars, Blu-ray (2016) Performers: Gustavo Dudamel and the Hollywood Bowl Orch./ Angel Romero, guitar/Lalo Schifrin/ Tango Buenos Aires Dancers/ Seth Asarnow, bandoneon Director: Michael Beyer Studio: C Major (Distr. by Naxos) [3/24/17] Program: LALO SCHIFRIN: Concerto for Guitar and Orch. No. 2; Concierto de la Amistad; GINASTERA: Four Dances from Estancia; PIAZZOLLA: Tangaso, La Muerte del Angel; Adios Nonino; Oblivion; Libertango Video: 1080i for 16:9 screens, HD colorAudio: DTS 5.1 Language: English, German, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, German, French, Spanish All regions Extras: Featurettes on Dudamel, Schifrin & Romero (19 min.) Length: 83 min. (total 102 min.) Rating: ***** This was a most invigorating evening at the Hollywood Bowl. Gustavo Dudamel is perfect as the conductor of the orchestra and the assemblage of this evening, which accents the colors, rhythms and passion of music by Piazzolla – the master of The New Tango – composer Lalo Schifrin, composer Ginastera, noted guitarist Angel Romero and the dancers of the authentic tango from Buenos Aires. Alberto Ginastera was Dudamel’s first teacher, and he has become an important 20th century classical composer of the Americas. Four of his exciting dances […]
![Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FuratusSA.jpg)
Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD
Music for trumpet and piano in sparkling sound. Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – Pure Audio Blu-ray – 5.1 surround + stereo + mShuttle /+ SACD multichannel and stereo – 2L-130, 53:10 ea. (2 discs) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Recorded in the accommodating acoustics of Sofienberg Church & Jar Church, Norway during 2012 and 2013, this recital of music for trumpet and piano by Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge impresses in its variety. The Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (From Holberg’s Time) by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was written in 1884 and comes across as a nineteenth-century take on eighteenth-century dance music. While it was conceived as a suite for a string orchestra, Grieg made that orchestration only after its original publication as a suite for piano. The arrangement here, for trumpet and piano, works remarkably well and gives plenty of opportunity for Antonsen to display his excellent technique. The arrangement of three songs by Kosaku Yamada (1886-1965) and Hardingtonar by Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) provide a more relaxed interlude of folk-music inspired works with some sensitive playing by the duo. The second and fourth parts […]
ADAM SCHOENBERG: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies – Kansas City Sym. /Michael Sterns – Reference Recordings
ADAM SCHOENBERG: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies – Kansas City Sym. /Michael Sterns – Reference Recordings multichannel 5.1 SACD RR-139, 64:58 (1/20/17) ****: American music by Schoenberg wonderfully recorded and performed. This CD/SACD from Reference Recordings contains newly recorded works by Adam Schoenberg (no relation to composer Arnold Schoenberg). Schoenberg has had a productive relationship with the Kansas City Symphony and conductor Michael Stern, so the disc contains some early works by Schoenberg and a work commissioned by the KCS. Schoenberg’s works are increasingly being played by American Symphony Orchestras. He has a unique voice, and audiences seem to be connecting to his music. The disc opens with Finding Rothko, written while Schoenberg was his doctoral program, studying with John Corigliano. It’s inspired by the Russian painter Mark Rothko, and this composition followed extensive study of the artist before it was set to music. American Symphony is the composer’s first post-graduation work. The symphony is upbeat, and while not patriotic in character, it was inspired by the 2008 election. Finally we have Picture Studies for Orchestra, commissioned by the Kansas Citians and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The orchestra wanted a Pictures at an Exhibition type piece, and Schoenberg […]
Mark Dresser Seven – Sedimental You – Trem Azul/Clean Feed
A timely jazz treatise of current events (and more). Mark Dresser Seven – Sedimental You [TrackList follows] – Trem Azul/Clean Feed CF385CD, 67:17 [12/9/16] ****: (Nicole Mitchell – soprano and alto flute; Michael Dessen – trombone; Marty Ehrlich – clarinet, bass clarinet; David Morales Boroff – violin; Joshua White – piano; Jim Black – drums, percussion; Mark Dresser – contrabass) Contrabassist Mark Dresser is a luminary in forward-thinking jazz. For ten years, he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, and has worked with Anthony Davis, Jane Ira Bloom, Tim Berne, John Zorn and scores of others. As a leader, he has released close to 15 recordings and done numerous other projects, which include new music for classic films, theater productions, commissioned performances, and he’s been on progressive jazz/improvisation labels such as Clean Feed, Tzadik, Cryptogramophone and more. Dresser’s latest is the 67-minute, seven-track Sedimental You, which showcases his septet: Dresser on contrabass; drummer Jim Black; trombonist Michael Dessen; violinist David Morales Boroff; clarinetist Marty Ehrlich; pianist Joshua White; and flutist Nicole Mitchell. Two things are paramount throughout Sedimental You. This is music conceived specifically for the seven instrumentalists, who bring substantial contributions and inventiveness. The other is the overt political […]
Daniel HERSKEDAL – The Roc – Edition
Daniel HERSKEDAL, tuba & bass trumpet – The Roc – Edition 1084, 48:12 (2/27/17) *****: (Daniel Herskedal – tuba and bass trumpet / Bergmund Waal Skaslien; viola/ Svante Henryson – cello and octobass/ Eyolf Dale – piano/ Helge Andreas Norbakken – percussion) Unprecedented musical journey with odd ensemble of Norwegian musicians led by tuba virtuoso Daniel Herskedal. If you wish to construct a fresh ensemble sound, start with subtraction. Permit neither saxophone nor drum-kit, and then do away with the guitars. Once done, you might end up with something like this band, composed of cello and bass trumpet/tuba, percussion and viola, its only concession to jazz conventions, the piano. It is an unusual ensemble. In a further confounding of one’s expectations, this group of Norwegian musicians embarks on a musical journey to the Middle East under the direction of tuba player/composer Daniel Herskedal. The title “The Roc” refers to a mythological bird which shows up in the folklore of Iran and Arabia. Marco Polo, a naturalist of a fanciful cast of mind added it to his bird life-list with a helpful description. “It was for all the world like an eagle, but one indeed of enormous size; so big in […]
Jasmine Lovell-Smith’s Towering Poppies – Yellow Red Blue – Paint Box
A musical trip which comprises flowers to kings to family to mountains. Jasmine Lovell-Smith’s Towering Poppies – Yellow Red Blue [TrackList follows] – Paint Box, 53:18 [11/4/16] ****: (Jasmine Lovell-Smith – soprano sax, producer; Josh Sinton – bass clarinet; Cat Toren – p.; Adam Hopkins – bass; Kate Gentile – drums; Cuarteto la Matraca: Elena Makhnev – v., Raúl Moreno – v., Rolando Vidal – viola, Jesús Gutiérrez – cello (tracks 3, 5, 7)) Soprano saxophonist Jasmine Lovell-Smith continues her musical journey with her 53-minute sophomore album, Yellow Red Blue, the follow-up to her 2012 debut, Fortune Songs. There’s an underlying international shade to the eight tunes (seven originals and a Joni Mitchell song), although it’s not overtly apparent. The material was penned in Wellington, New Zealand (the country where Lovell-Smith was raised and got her Bachelor of Music degree at Massey University), Brooklyn, NY (New York is where she formed her quintet, Towering Poppies), Middletown, CT (she received a Master of Arts in composition from Wesleyan University) and Morelia, Mexico (she lived in Mexico for a brief time). The music also has some light Mexican influences due to the inclusion of Cuarteto la Matraca (a string quartet) on three […]
Jeff RUPERT & Richard DREXLER – Imagination – MediaRupe
Jeff RUPERT & Richard DREXLER – Imagination – MediaRupe 016 CD, 57:52 (1/2/17) ****: (Jeff Rupert; tenor sax/ Richard Drexler; piano) Two University of Central Florida instructors go deep into a mid-80s Stan Getz bag. It was John Coltrane himself who famously said of his contemporary/rival Stan Getz, “Let’s face it. We would all sound like that if we could.” As it turned out, Coltrane had the more numerous imitators and followers, yet the Getz sound has not lost its magic, nor has the critical esteem for his supreme lyrical gifts waned. They represent nearly unattainable ideals within the jazz tradition. Thus, it is all the more surprising to come upon an Orlando-based musician who has mastered down to the details this style and can pass for a persuasive facsimile of Mr. Getz himself on “Imagination,” a duet with fellow University of Central Florida music program instructor Richard Drexler. The live performance takes place at the White House, an Orlando institution founded by Cirque du Soleil musical director Benoit Glazer. In front of an appreciative crowd, Rupert steps up to the mike and delivers a most exacting personification of Getz at his best on “Without a Song.” Sustained notes contain […]
Petros KLAMPANIS, doublebass – Chroma – Motema
Petros KLAMPANIS – Chroma – Motema 219, 44: 34 (3/10/17) ***: (Petros Klampanis; bass/ Gilad Hekselman; guitar/ Shai Maestro; piano/ John Hadfield; drums/ Keita Ogawa; percussion/ Gokce Erem, Megan Gould, Eylem Basaldi, Migen Selman; violins/ Carrie Frey, Peter Kiral; violas/ Colin Stokes, Sam Quiggins; cello) Gilad Hekselman shines on original arrangements which involve heavy use of a string octet. I first encountered bassist Petros Klampanis on an excellent release by Israeli saxophonist, Oded Tzur, reviewed in Audiophile Audition. The pianist on that recording, the versatile Shai Maestro, appears once again on this recording by Klampanis. The key figure here, though, is Gilad Hekselman, the most persuasive Pat Metheny acolyte of his generation and a incomparable soloist in any context. The Israeli-born guitarist has the same combination of velocity and sweetness as Pat, but is perfectly capable of hitting a switch on his box and shredding with vehemence over thick textures as he does on Little Blue Sun. The material of Chroma is mostly composed and arranged by the bassist. The exceptions are a light and funky tune, “Shadows,” and a much extended version of Hekselman’s “Cosmic Patience” from his remarkable record, Homes. The expansiveness of this chart seems to have […]
Maya Rae, vocals – Sapphire Birds – CellarLive
Maya Rae – Sapphire Birds – CellarLive CL101818, 37:29 ***: A mature voice that shows promise. (Maya Rae – lead & background vocals; Miles Black – piano; André Lachance – acoustic bass; Joel Fountain – drums; Cory Weeds – tenor saxophone on 1/2/6/8/9; Vince Mai – trumpet 1/2/6/7/8/9) Precocious may be defined as “exhibiting mature qualities at an unusual early age”. This definition may indeed apply to singer Maya Rae, who at fourteen has a mature quality to her singing which she exhibits on her first CD release entitled Sapphire Birds. Backed by a sympathetic band, Rae has structured a set list that, for the most part, allows her to emphasize her strengths and minimizes her weakness. Opening with Meghan Trainor’s “Close Your Eyes”, the listener is immediately surprised by the depth and strength of Rae’s voice which certainly belies her age. Maya delivers a heartfelt rendition of this evocative number. Staying in the same vein, Rae delves into Linda Perry’s “Beautiful” and shows the colour she can bring from her voice. George Shearing’s “Lullaby Of Birdland” may not have been the best choice to delve into the jazz repertoire as it exposes Rae’s youth and vocal inexperience. Scat singing […]
Audio News for March 10, 2017
How Contemporary Composers Are Reinventing Classical Music – Composing classical music in 2017 is similar to how it was in 1817: You create a piece and hand it to someone else to play, often a large number of people you probably have never met. But audiences are increasing – a Canadian festival curator said “It seems to me more people are going to the orchestra now than 20 years ago, and new music concerts seem more popular – perhaps as a response to a desire for living arts…” A handful of composers have a foot in the pop music world and one in classical. The Canadian Symphony Orchestra performed with Inuit throat-singer/composer Tanja Tagaq a harrowing work titled Qiksaaktuq, about murdered and missing indigenous women. She straddles her own “punk/metal/experimental/strange” music and the classical realm. Members of the orchestra find entirely new ways to play their instruments, making sounds inspired by her uncommon range of singing tones and vocal effects. The CSO has create the New Creations Festival to give second performances of such worthy compositions, and more are sought by performers eager to tour them. New Rosewill Hi-Res Headphone Series – Their EX-500 ($60 retail) and EX-700 ($70 retail) […]
Bruno Walter Rarities, Vol. 2 = Works of BERLIOZ, HANDEL, WAGNER, MOZART, WEBER – Pristine Audio
Mark Obert-Thorn adds more rare Bruno Walter recordings to supplement his three earlier installments. Bruno Walter Rarities, Vol. 2 = BERLIOZ: Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9; HANDEL: Concerto Grosso in b, Op. 6, No. 12; WAGNER: Parsifal: Act I Transformation Music; A Siegfried Idyll; MOZART: Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492 – Overture; Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”; WEBER: Der Freischuetz, Op. 77 Ov. – Berlin Philharmonic Orch. (Berlioz)/ Royal Philharmonic Orch. (Wagner)/ Mozart Festival Orch. (K. 492)/ British Sym. Orch. (K. 525)/ Paris Conservatory Orch. (Handel, Weber)/ Bruno Walter – Pristine Audio PASC 492, 72:28 [avail. in various formats from www.pristineclassical.com] ****: The recorded legacy (1923-1938) of Bruno Walter (1876-1962) enjoys further expansion in the CD format via the painstaking efforts of Mark Obert-Thorn, who restores several items – the Handel Concerto Grosso, in particular – once available through the Bruno Walter Society on LP, and the frisky 1928 Le Nozze di Figaro Overture, which makes its debut here. Essentially, Obert-Thorn’s tour takes us from Walter’s work in Berlin to his excursions to Britain and then flight to Paris, France to escape the Anschluss in Austria. Walter’s musical style maintains strong ties a […]
The Music of HARL MCDONALD Volume 3 = var. orch. & cond. – Pristine Audio
A series of non-commercial releases graces Vol. 3, devoted to the works of Harl McDonald. The Music of HARL MCDONALD Volume 3 = Violin Concerto; Elegy and Battle Hymn; Symphony No. 3 “A Tragic Cycle”; Builders of America (Washington and Lincoln) – Alexander Hilsberg, v./ Philadelphia Orch./ Eugene Ormandy/ Geroge Newton, bass-bar./ Indianapolis Sym. Orch./ Fabien Sevitzky (Elegy and Battle Hymn)/ Emelina De Vita. sop./ Philadelphia Orch. Chorus/ Musical Art Society of Camden/ Eugene Ormandy (Symphony)/ Claude Rains, narr./ Columbia Ch. Orch. and Chorus/ Harl McDonald (Builders of America) – Pristine Audio PASC 491, 79:13 [avail. in various formats from www.pristineclassical.com] *****: Whether the music of American composer, pianist, conductor, and administrator Harl McDonald (1899-1955) will endure remains debatable, but given his service to the Philadelphia Orchestra (1939-1955) and his devotion to the patriotic fervor of the period subsequent to Pearl Harbor, his work remains with us through the efforts of Pristine and audio restoration engineer Mark Obert-Thorn. Excepted from the 1953 studio session with actor Claude Rains from 26 April 1953, all of the performances on this disc derive from live broadcast performances. The Violin Concerto (1943) certainly warrants more frequent performances, given the virtuosic and ardently arioso reading […]
CHOPIN: 24 Preludes; SCHUMANN: Fantasie in C Major – Horacio Gutierrez, p. – Bridge
Noble and commanding, the Gutierrez renditions of two Romantic staples should bring repeated delights. CHOPIN: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; SCHUMANN: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17 – Horacio Gutierrez, p. – Bridge 9479, 65:56 (10/7/16) [Distr. by Albany] ****: Horatio Gutierrez (b. 1948) addresses (rec. 26-28 March 2015) two of the Romantic pillars of keyboard composition, the 1838 Chopin Preludes, and the 1839 Fantasie of Robert Schumann, works whose rhetoric and exalted gestures – along with the Liszt b minor Sonata – virtually embody the spirit of the age. The Chopin Preludes provide a kind of Rosetta Stone for the Romantic sensibility, 24 pieces in all the major and minor tonalities whose one concession to the Classical form lies in their following the circle of fifths. Chopin had taken a copy of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier with him to Majorca, and he studiously absorbed much of Bach’s concentrated lyricism and contrapuntal models, but he eschewed any additional component to his preludes: none of them attaches to an ensuing fugue or fantasia. Instead, the mighty drama Chopin effects lies within the core of each miniature – say, in the f-sharp minor – whose angry figures relent only in the last measures. True, […]
Audio News for March 7, 2017
New Study Shows States Offering Best Online Privacy – comparitech.com based their study on 24 key criteria, and Delaware was found to be the most private state due to laws requiring the government to dispose of customer data after a set period of time, protect the privacy of e-readers and library data, and protect employee privacy that helped the state. California, Utah and Arkansas were the second most private states. Wyoming, South Dakota and Alaska were ranked as some of the worst states for online privacy. A spokesperson said “No state is perfect, but at least all levels of the US government allow citizens to fortify their online security at will.” Global Home Audio Speaker Market Increases 16% from 2015 – The new report from Research and Markets shows the home audio market worth $19.5 billion in 2016, and showing a 16% increase over 2015. Revenues are projected to continue growing over the next five years. New technologies are being embraced to develop new categories such as multi-room speakers and ultra-thin smart TVs driving a need for sound bars. Sensors are expected to impact market growth in the near future. LG Electronics of South Korea to Spend $250 Million to […]
Solace, Blu-ray (2017)
Hopkins plays a consultant with psychic powers to solve a series of murders. Solace, Blu-ray (2017) Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell, Matt Gerald Director: Afonso Poyart Studio: Lionsgate Premiere (3/14/17) Video: 2.40:1 1080p for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: Commentary track with director, “Visions and Voices: The making of Solace,” featurette, Trailer gallery Length: 102 min. Rating: ***** This is a thrilling and well-done tale of a brilliant retired psychic who is hired by a younger friend on the FBI force investigating a series of three bodies with identical wounds, cryptic notes and no other evidence. At first the woman involved in the team doesn’t believe him, but he proves to her conclusively that he can see the past and future. He also sees what will happen to each of the people close to him. It turns out that all who have been murdered by the serial murderer – who is a step ahead of the psychic – have some sort of terrible physical ailment which they will shortly die of and he is supposedly saving them all the suffering involved. The killer’s mission almost […]
Moonlight, Blu-ray (2016)
A very moving feature about the life of a young black man. Moonlight, Blu-ray (2016) Actors: Denzel Washington, Russell Hornsby, Mahershala Ali, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo Studio: A21/ Pastel/ Lionsgate (3/14/7) Video: 2.39:1 1080p HD color for 16:9 screens Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Extras: Audio commentary with director Barry Jenkins, “Ensemble of Emotion” – The Making of Moonlight, The Music of Moonlight, “Cruel Beauty” – Filming in Miami, Ultraviolet digital HD Length: 138 min. Rating: ****1/2 In this feature nominated for eight Academy Awards (but which many think is over-rated), the life of the young man, Chiron, called “Black” in the second part, is divided into three parts, played by three different actors: at age 11, 17 and in his 20s. The actors look not alike at all. It’s a story of human connection and self-discovery in the life of a young black man growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami, with great performances from the ensemble around him. But some reviewers have thought the whole film was a waste of time and money. Chiron is brought up as a youngster by a generally good man who also happens to be a drug dealer. […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
