Monthly Archive: June 2017
MAHLER : Symphony No 2 – Heather Harper (sop) / Helen Watts (mezzo) / London SO and chorus / Georg Solti – HDTT
MAHLER : Symphony No 2 – Heather Harper (sop) / Helen Watts (mezzo) / London Symphony Chorus / London SO / Georg Solti – HDTT [various formats including hi-res PCM & DSD from www.highdeftapetransfers.com] [Reviewed from DSD64 files] TT: 80:34 ****: A historic recording of Mahler’s Second Symphony under Solti’s baton, now “resurrected” with HDTT! Georg Solti (1912-1997) recorded prolifically for Decca from 1947 until the end of his life, and featured both as pianist and conductor. The pinnacle of his achievement was, perhaps, his recording of Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen though recordings vie for that top spot including a sublime reading of Elgar’s Symphony No 1. His recordings of symphonies of Mahler began in Amsterdam during February 1961, setting down with the Concertgebouw Orchestra a very fine account of Symphony No 4. During early 1964, he set down a still highly regarded recording of Symphony No 1, this time with the London Symphony Orchestra captured in the equally legendary acoustics of Kingsway Hall. It was there in Kingsway Hall on 21, 23-26 May1966, that the London Symphony Orchestra assembled again for this classic recording of Symphony No 2. They were joined by two first-class soloists, Heather Harper and Helen […]
HÉROLD-LANCHBERY: La Fille Mal Gardée – Orch. of the Royal Opera House / John Lanchbery – HDTT
HÉROLD-LANCHBERY: La Fille Mal Gardée – Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / John Lanchbery – HDTT [various formats including hi-res PCM & DSD from www.highdeftapetransfers.com] [Reviewed from DSD64 files] TT: 50:41***** A well-loved classic reappears in a first-class transfer. La fille mal gardée (“The badly supervised girl”) began life in Paris mere moments before the start of the French Revolution, though not under that title. That was assumed in 1791 when the ballet came to London and the original music whose parts survive seems to have been loathed by the theatre orchestra. Hérold’s music didn’t make an appearance until 1828 when the ballet became part of the repertoire of the Paris Opera. Frederick Ashton revived the ballet for a new production in 1960 and engaged John Lanchbery to make an arrangement of Hérold’s music. Thus was born something of a hit, with revival after revival, and with this Decca disc of excerpts never out of the catalogue in one form or another since its release in 1962. Set down on 27 February 1962 in Kingsway Hall, London, produced by Ray Minshull with Arthur Lilley as recording engineer, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden under […]
Keith Oxman – East of the Village – Capri
Keith Oxman – East of the Village [TrackList follows] – Capri 74145-2, 60:36 [2/17/17] ****: Bringing back soulful 1960s organ jazz with a few modern twists. (Keith Oxman – tenor saxophone; Jeff Jenkins – Hammond B3 organ, mixing, mastering; Todd Reid – drums) Big thumbs up to Denver-based tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman and his organ trio for a swinging good time on their newest release, the hour-long East of the Village. From start to finish, the ten tracks (seven covers and three originals) bring poise, polish and precision to a tribute to classic 1960s soul jazz. Oxman typically uses a piano, sax and bass configuration, but recently he began exploring a more soul-drenched approach and the result is one of the best soul-jazz efforts of the year. Rather than relying solely on well-known standards from the Great American Songbook, or oft-done jazz touchstones, Oxman, Hammond B3 organist Jeff Jenkins (who has worked with Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman, Bobby Hutcherson and John Abercrombie) and drummer Todd Reid (his credits include Mose Allison, Richie Cole, Curtis Fuller and Red Holloway) utilize relatively unknown material in their set list. So, while the soulful sound might have some sense of familiarity […]
Tribute to Piatagorsky = BRAHMS: Double Concerto; SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto; BLOCH: Schelomo – Gregor Piatagorsky (cello) / Nathan Milstein (vln.) – Praga Digitals
Tribute to Piatagorsky = BRAHMS: Double Concerto in a minor, Op. 102; SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in a minor, Op. 33; BLOCH: Schelomo – Rhapsody – Gregor Piatagorsky, cello/ Nathan Milstein, violin/ Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia/ Fritz Reiner/ Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Charles Munch (Bloch) – Praga Digitals PRD 250 368, 70:56 (6/9/17) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] ****: The Old-World cello virtuoso Piatagorsky plies his glamorous trade in three repertory staples. This assemblage of classic performances, 1950-1967, of famed Russian cellist Gregor Piatagorsky (1903-1976) easily demonstrates his glorious tone and consummate technique, which found natural expression in his chosen repertory. Certainly, prior to the appearance of Mstislav Rostropovich on the international concert stage, Piatagorsky dominated as the leading representative of his ‘school’ of musicianship. While the document of the Brahms Double Concerto from Philadelphia (29 June1951) – incorrectly attributed to NYC and the RCA studio orchestra – allows us to hear his work with compatriot Nathan Milstein (1904-1992), we unfortunately possess no recordings of the piano trio that included Vladimir Horowitz. Despite Milstein’s often-cited dislike of the music of Brahms, he distinguishes himself consistently in performance, his having agreed to set down the Double Concerto in tribute to […]
Duo Sabil = Zabad: “Twilight Tide” – HM
Duo Sabil = Zabad: “Twilight Tide” – Harmonia Mundi 905279, 62:11 (3/30/17) ****½: (Ahmad Al Kathib, oud/ Elie Koury; bouzouki/ Youssef Hbeisch, percussion/ Hubert Dupont; bass) An original take on the traditional forms of Arabic music by an ensemble with tremendous aesthetic poise and technical polish. In traditional Arabic music, the fretless lute, or ‘oud, is restricted to its role of accompaniment to the singer. It was inevitable, given the lively temperament of the instrument that it would, with the cross-fertilization of jazz, aspire to instrumental independence. Many of our readers will recall the novelty of these first East-West introductions. Ahmed Abdul-Malik’s, (bassist with Thelonious Monk) “Sahara Jazz” brought the ‘oud as well as African percussion and exotic instruments such as the kanun into the bebop culture of the late ‘50s. In 1967, Hamza El Din, likewise, brought the Sudanese ‘oud traditional into happy confluence with an improvisational sensibility, with a modestly jazzy bass and singing backing his mellifluous lute playing. It was not until the late ‘80s and 90’s that the lute found not one but two monumental realizations as a fully independent instrument on par with its jazz and classical rivals. These two towering achievements appeared on the iconic […]
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – 2 CD edition – 1967 – Apple/ Parlorphone
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – 2 CD edition – 1967 – Apple/ Parlorphone B0026524-02 (CD1 39:49, CD2 60:29) ****1/2: A welcome 50 year reunion of Sgt. Peppers with surprises… (John Lennon – guitars, piano; Paul McCartney – bass, guitars, piano; George Harrison – guitars; Ringo Starr – drums) The 50th anniversary release of a stereo remastered Sgt. Peppers is a cause for celebration. Imagine that you are seeing a long lost friend (who is bringing surprises) after many years apart. It is rare when reality exceeds your expectations. The sequel seldom matches the original. However, in the case of a stereo remastered Sgt. Peppers, the advances in remastering capabilities over the last five decades can help a masterpiece be improved. When The Beatles released Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band fifty years ago, it struck a strong chord with the public. The Beatles had sworn off touring and were ready to concentrate on working on more advanced pop music in the studio aided by producer, George Martin. McCartney states in the anniversary liner notes that the Sgt. Peppers Band concept would be an alter ego of The Beatles. It was time to expand their horizons. […]
Audio News 4 June 2017
Audio News 4 June 2017 LG Releases new Sound Bar, enhancing Cinematic Experience — matched with the LG Super UHD and OLED TVs, superb picture quality with high quality sound fidelity. LG SJ9, SJ8, SJ7. SF Jazz Festival Starts Next Week! 35th Annual Jazz Festival, a defining event in the world of Jazz. Some 43 concerts over the course of two weeks, five different venues. Jazz enthusiasts everywhere, if you are in the Bay Area, not to be missed. More info https://sfjazz.org/events/35sfjf. Hi-res Music Production… Standards? Recommendations? — Yes, there is the Recording Academy Producers and Engineers Wing of Grammy, striving for common approaches to the different demands in the recording industry. For some behind-the-scenes about hi-res technology, it is worth exploring here: https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/producers-and-engineers/guidelines. Streaming Radio Shows — now no longer exotic, the ‘Net provides a rich medium for sharing top-flight shows across the globe, previously limited to an audience within reach by radio. One to consider is the Music Treasury, hosted from Stanford University every Sunday evening, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Pacific West Coast Time. To listen, here is the link: Music Treasury
Copland Before the LP (1928-1949) = Song and Pieces for Piano, Violin, Cello – Aaron COPLAND, Leo Smit (p.) / Ivor Karman, Jacques Gordon, Louis Kaufman (vln.) / David Freed (c.) / Ethel Luening (sop.) – Parnassus
Copland Before the LP (1928-1949) = Le chat et la souris; Piano Variations; Vitebsk; Two Pieces for Violin and Piano; Vocalise; Danzon Cubano; Sonata for Violin and Piano; Two Pieces for Violin and Piano; Four Piano Blues – Aaron Copland, piano/ Leo Smit, piano/ Ivor Karman, violin/ David Freed, cello/ Jacques Gordon, violin/ Ethel Luening, soprano/ Louis Kaufman, violin – Parnassus PACD 96057, 76:29 (6/20/17) [Distr. by Alliance] ****: Composer Aaron Copland reveals his equally potent gifts at the keyboard in these rare restorations from Parnassus. Executive Producer Leslie Gerber, in association with Restoration Engineer Mark Obert-Thorn issues some rare documents from the legacy of American classical composer Aaron Copland, each of which testifies to Copland’s strong, even imposing, keyboard technique. The earliest of these sound documents, an Ampico piano roll (1928) of a Scherzo humoristique of 1920, not only benefits from a remarkably quiet restoration, but it certifies the influence of the Parisian, Nadia Boulanger influence at work in Copland’s sensibility. The mood changes abruptly for Copland’s rendition of Piano Variations, a work set in his “craggy, granite period” (rec. 2 April 1935). This “severe” and “bleak” piece based on four notes still rattles listeners, its theme and twenty […]
Martin Myhre OLSEN: “Modes for All Eternity” and “Lonely Creatures” – AMP and Øra Fonogram
Martin Myhre OLSEN & Wako & Oslo Strings = Modes for All Eternity – AMP Music, 43:39 (1/20/17) ****½: Martin Myrhe OLSEN & MMM Ensemble = Lonely Creatures – Øra Fonogram, 48:50, (4/1/16) ***½: Two bright concept albums featuring small jazz ensembles exploring musical territory of wide visual and literary reference. I suspect that the students walking through the hallways of the Trondheim Musical Conservatory in Norway are nearly interchangeable with the gifted youngsters at Berklee or the Manhattan Conservatory, for the level of musical culture in Scandinavia is very high indeed. Indeed, these musicians have a significant advantage in that jazz is more widely appreciated by the mainstream, fostering a visible and widespread self-sustaining musical culture in clubs and public venues. That does not mean that Norwegian musicians have much exposure to audiences such as our readers on this side of the pond. Thus it is a happy sail sighted on the horizon bearing new music from that part of the world. Under review here are two projects led by Martin Myhre Olsen featuring original compositions played by two different octets, the first named Wako & Oslo Strings and the second MMO. This record takes its title from the five-part […]
“A Couple of Men from 1810” = piano music SCHUMANN and CHOPIN – Findlay Cockerel (p.) – Albany Records
A Couple of Men from 1810 – piano music of Robert Schumann and Frédéric Chopin – Findlay Cockrell, piano – Albany Records TROY1601/02 – 2 CDs (74:42, 78:02) *****: Double CD of well selected and well played piano music by two giants of the Romantic Era who share a birth-year (1810) – Schumann and Chopin. Though born in the same year, Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) was three months younger than Frédéric Chopin (1810 – 1849), and both died tragically young. Chopin has a much richer reputation as a composer for piano, whereas Schumann’s is more rounded, with symphonies, lieder, an opera and chamber works among his compositions. But Schumann’s work is heard on the first of the two discs here, perhaps because he wrote more in “groupings” or sets of short pieces, easier to list and catalog. The first Schumann collection performed here is Fantasiestück (or Fantasy Pieces) Op. 12, a collection of eight pieces, each under five minutes, and each with an expressive title ( in contrast to Chopin’s more generic ones – waltz, étude, prelude). They literally and musically take us on a journey of imagination – e.g. Aufschwung – soaring, Taumes Wirren – dream’s confusion, Grillen – […]
Arrigo BOITO: Mefistofele, Blu-ray (2016)
If you can ignore the tedious staging, the singing is good. Arrigo BOITO: Mefistofele, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: René Pape, Joseph Calleja, Kristine Opolais, Karine Babajanyan. Music: Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Chorus and Children’s Chorus of the Bayerische Staatsoper. Conductor: Omer Meir Wellber Director: Roland Schwab Studio: Unitel. Blue-ray. [l1/18/16] Run Time: 140 minutes Video: 1.77:1 Color. Audio: Dolby, NTSC, Stereo Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese Extras: None Rating: ***½ Half a century ago in high school, I took my first girlfriend to my first opera recital. We heard the Chinese bass-baritone Yi-Kwei Sze (1915-1994) sing. From Mefistofele he performed the lively and bizarre aria “Son spirito che nega.” (“This is the spirit of denial.”) I had never heard whistling in an aria before, and was so impressed I vowed to see the entire opera soon. Alas, it was not to be for a very long time. This is mostly because Mefistofele is so overshadowed by Gounod’s Faust (which cherry-picks Goethe’s Faust) that it is nowhere near the repertoire. Still, I had great hopes for this recording. Alas, they were (mostly) unfounded. Arrigo Boito is best known for the libretti of Otello and Falstaff, which he wrote for Verdi. His […]
Cello Effect = Works by PROKOFIEV, PUCCINI, RACHMANINOFF, etc. – Rastrelli Cello Quartet – GENUIN
Cello Effect – Works by PROKOFIEV, PUCCINI, RACHMANINOFF, JOBIM, HANDY, BRUBECK, ANDERSON, DESMOND, TCHAIKOVSKY – Rastrelli Cello Quartet – GENUIN GEN15364 – 53:45 **** A Cello Quartet performs a wide variety of short classics transcribed and arranged by one of its members. One may wonder why anyone would want to listen to four cellos (celli?) playing together. This album gives a partial answer. Indeed when the founder of the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, Kim Kraftzoff asked the person who would eventually transcribe all the selections on this disc, and would join the quartet as a player, Sergio Drabkin responded “No one will be able to listen to four cellos for more than ten minutes!” The pair got around the issue by arranging pieces for this recording, none of which is longer than 5 minutes, 10 seconds. The Rastrelli Cello Quartet was formed in 2002 by Kraftzoff in St. Petersburg where he teaches, when he asked two of his students , and Drabkin, to join him. He took the Quartet’s name from Bartholomeo Rastrelli, the eighteenth century Italian architect commissioned to build the massive buildings that formed the streetscape of the new Russian capital. The first five tracks are an ambitious set […]
Jazz in the Space Age – George Russell, Bill Evans – American Decca
Jazz in the Space Age – George Russell and his orchestra featuring Bill Evans – American Decca/HDTT DVD-Audio, 42:49 [admin@highdeftapetransfers.com]: A great album to have finally in better sonics. [Hal McKusick (tracks: 2, 5), Walt Levinsky (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Bass – Milt Hinton; Composed By – George Russell; Drums – Charlie Persip (tracks: 2, 5), Don Lamond (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); French Horn – Jimmy Buffington (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6), Howard Collins (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Piano – Bill Evans, Paul Bley (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Tenor Saxophone – David Young (4) (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer (tracks: 2, 5), Dave Baker (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6), Frank Rehak (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6); Trumpet – Alan Kieger (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6), Ernie Royal (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6), Mark “Marky” Markowitz (tracks: 2, 5)] It’s good to have this 1960 album in excellent sonics for the first time. Instead of the usual 7-1/2 ips commercial pre-recorded tape, this one was transferred by HDTT from a 15-ips-two-track reel for even […]
NAPRAVNIK: Chamber Music = Piano Trios; Piano Pieces – Spyros Piano Trio – MDG
NAPRAVNIK: Chamber Music = Piano Trio in g minor, Op. 24; Piano Pieces, Op. 84: Melancolie, No. 3 (arr. Spyros Trio and Myroslav Krill); Piano Trio in d minor, 62 – Spyros Piano Trio – MDG multichannel SACD 903 1996-6, 69:32 (3/31/17) [Distr. by eOne] ****: Noted more for his conducting legacy, composer Eduard Napravnik’s piano trios deserve wider acclaim. Eduard Napravnik (1839-1916) maintains a solid reputation in both his native Czechoslovakia and his adopted country Russia, especially for his extensive work, 1869-1879 with the Maryinsky Theatre, where, serving as principal conductor, he led 4000 operatic performances, among them 500 of Glinka’s A Life for the Czar. Napravnik’s affection for and loyalty to the music of other composers eventually encroached on his own creativity, and he stopped writing his own music – some 200 published works – after 1906. The quality of his orchestra-building became no less spectacular, and both Felix Mottl and Gustav Mahler praised Maryinsky chorus and orchestra for their thorough preparation for performances led by these guests, each of whom compared the ensembles favorably to the Vienna Philharmonic. The Spyros Piano Trio – Bartek Niziol, violin; Denis Severin, cello; and Tatiana Korsunskaya, piano – present the complete […]
Max RICHTER, “Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works” – Max Richter (p. / synth.) /Deutsches Filmorch. /Robert Ziegler – DG
Max RICHTER, “Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works” – Max Richter, piano, synthesizer/Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg/Robert Ziegler – Deutsche Grammaphon 00289 479 6952, 67:24, (11/11/16) ****: Absolutely beautiful music that should not be taken lightly. The German born American composer-violinist Max Richter writes overtly emotional and beautiful music that some websites have taken to categorize as ‘neo-classical.’ In the music industry’s obsession with categories and the desire to create them, this means – I guess – music that it is not quite ‘pop/easy listening’ (another wonderfully obtuse term that is presumed to be the opposite of ‘difficult to listen to’) and not quite ‘classical.’ Regardless, his music holds great appeal for a large number of listeners and for good reason. I first became familiar with Richter’s work with his “recomposed” Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and his atmospheric Sleep. Subscription TV fans may know his absolutely lovely but creepy score to the equally provocative but unsettling show “The Leftovers.” The Woolf Works presented here is the composer’s arrangement of the three sections to a Royal Ballet production based on three novels from the iconic and cult-like British novelist/essayist Virginia Woolf. The three sections – and the books from which they derive their inspiration – […]
Mari Nobre – Live And Alive: From Gershwin To Jobim – Chrome Records
Mari Nobre – Live And Alive: From Gershwin To Jobim – Chrome Records 45:29 ***: A musical journey worth taking ( Mari Nobre – vocals; Leo Nobre – bass; Justo Almario – sax & flute; Angelo Metz – acoustic & electric guitar; Sandro Feliciano – drums; Daniel Szabo – piano) In this brief but charming live recording, Italian-born singer Mari Nobre demonstrates her vocal dexterity and her facility in English, Portuguese and Spanish, as she runs through a session of primarily Latin and American standards under the title Live And Alive. The opening track is an Antonio Carlos Jobim bossa “Chega De Saudade” ( No More Blues) which establishes the affecting tone of the recital with the acoustic guitar of Angelo Metz sets frame on which Nobre begins her wordless entrée to the tune. Once established, the number swings out in true bossa fashion with an infectious lilt. The segue is to Benny Golson’s “Whisper Not” and it is a lucid and straightforward interpretation of this jazz classic. Both pianist Daniel Szabo and tenor saxophonist Justo Almario dig in with well thought-out solos. Although the album’s sub-title indicates that the song selections run from Gershwin To Jobim, there is […]
Editorial for June 2017
For our June free drawing we have the great Stabat Mater collection by Brilliant Classics! The text of Stabat Mater Dolorosa, a hymn to the Virgin Mary, is attributed to Jacopo Todi (1230‐ 1306). It is a lamentation upon the tragic fate of Mary, bewailing the suffering and death of her son Jesus Christ at the cross. This outpouring of grief and loss is of universal human appeal and has inspired many composers throughout history, writing music of the most heart wrenching beauty. There are some 23 versions of the Stabat mater in this 14 CD set, including that most famous version by Pergolesi, along with a range of composers from the Baroque through the 20th century… ending with Arvo Pärt’s moving rendering of this theme. Included are the original Stabat Mater text and liner notes written by Philip Borg‐Wheeler specially for this. A worthy successor to the successful Brilliant Classics REQUIEM collection (BC95104). All you need to do to enter the drawing is simply click on the Register To Win banner on the Home Page and fill out the few fields we request. The lucky winner of the set will be announced here next month. Detailed information about this Stabat Mater […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
