John Sunier Archive
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in a minor; MENDELSSOHN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in g minor; SCHUMANN: Carnaval – Ania Dorfmann, p./ Robin Hood Dell Orch. of Philadelphia/ Erich Leinsdorf – Pristine Audio
Russian pianist Ania Dorfmann enjoys a partial “resurrection” of her otherwise neglected legacy in a Pristine remastering.
*PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5; Scythian Suite – Bergen Phil. Orch./ Andrew Litton – BIS
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *************
A radiant performance of No. 5, and almost makes the Scythian Suite likeable.
R. STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben – Philharmonic Sym. Orch./ Carlos Paita – (Lodia) Carlos Paita Edition
These are forty-eight intense minutes of music!
James Brandon Lewis – Days of FreeMan [TrackList follows] – OKeh
Cutting edge jazz with hip-hop influences.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, “Titan” – Utah Sym./ Thierry Fischer – Reference Recordings
A very competitive issue done by superb partners on each side of the microphone, and is easily recommended.
MONTEVERDI: L’Orfeo (complete opera) – Montserrat Figueras (La Musica)/ Furio Zanasi (Orfeo) – La Capella Reial de Catalunya/ Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall – Alia Vox (2 discs)
At last a worthy SACD recording of this phenomenal score.
*PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in b-flat, Op. 100; Scythian Suite, Op. 20 – Bergen Phil. Orch./ Andrew Litton – BIS
A terrific issue which knocks off any number of other great recordings that preceded it.
James Brandon Lewis – Days of FreeMan [TrackList follows] – Okeh
This is cutting-edge jazz, alive with possibility, and teeming with verve.
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 16; MENDELSSOHN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in g minor; SCHUMANN: Carnaval – Ania Dorfmann, piano/ Robin Hood Dell Orch. of Philadelphia/ Erich Leinsdorf – Pristine
An Odessa-born piano virtuoso worthy of reissues.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, “Titan” – Utah Sym./ Thierry Fischer – Reference Recordings
Another stunning SACD issue from Reference, with a performance to boot.
Audio News for September 8, 2015
Chandos Not Into Digital Streaming; Sony’s Early PlayStation Could Save Your SACD Collection; Sony Has World’s First HDR UHD Video Projector
MONTEVERDI: L’Orfeo (complete opera) – Montserrat Figueras (La Musica) & other soloists/Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall – Alia Vox (2 discs)
MONTEVERDI: L’Orfeo (complete opera) – Montserrat Figueras (La Musica)/ Furio Zanasi (Orfeo)/ Arianna Savall (Euridice)/ Sara Mingardo (Messaggiera)/ Antonio Abete (Caronte)/ Cecile van de Sant (Speranza)/ Adriana Fernandez (Proserpina)/ La Capella Reial de Catalunya/ Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall – Alia Vox multichannel SACD AVSA 9911 (2 discs), 104:09 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****: […]
R. STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben – Philharmonic Sym. Orch./ Carlos Paita – (Lodia) Carlos Paita Edition
If the Strauss Ein Heldenleben warrants your full-dimensional sound reproduction, this live performance from Carlos Paita may fill the bill.
Abbey Lincoln – Sophisticated Abbey – HighNote
A great addition to the Abbey Lincoln discography.
STRAVINSKY: Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring); Petrouchka – four-hand-versions – Silver-Garburg Piano Duo – Berlin Classics – 2 vinyls
A terrific double-vinyl with two Stravinsky piano-four-hands classics.
Abbey Lincoln – Sophisticated Abbey – HighNote
A welcome addition to the Abbey Lincoln discography.
HAYDN: String Quartets: 6 Quartets; String Quartet in G Major; String Quartet in F Major; String Quartet in C Major, No. 3 “Bird”; HOFFSTETTER: Serenade – Alban Berg Q. – Warner Classics
This collection comes highly recommended, irreplaceable!
HAYDN: String Quartets = 6 Quartets; String Quartet in G Major; String Quartet in F Major; String Quartet in C Major, No. 3 “Bird”; HOFFSTETTER: Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 – Alban Berg Q. – Warner Classics (3 CDs)
Warner reinstates the exquisitely tailored Haydn performances inscribed by the Alban Berg Quartett.
Audio News for September 4, 2015
New Bose Headphones; DTS Is Buying iBiquity Digital; NBC Alarm Over Hearing Loss With Earbuds; Amazon Video Now Available to Prime Video Members
RAFF: String Quartet No. 2 in A Major; String Quartet No. 3 in e minor; String Quartet No. 4 in a minor; String Quartet No. 8 in C Major – Mannheimer Quartet – CPO
The gifted Mannheimer Quartet inscribed these under-rated, vivacious Raff works in 2006-2007.
The House of Mystery (La Maison du Mystere), (1921-23/2015)
A quite amazing 6 1/2 hour French silent serial.
CHOPIN: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Fantasy on Polish Airs; Krakowiak Concert Rondo; Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise; Variations – Oleg Marshev, p./ South Denmark Philharmonic/ David Porcelijn – Danacord (2 CDs)
All of Chopin’s music for piano with orchestra – on two discs!