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TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 – Suite from the Ballet – Philharmonia Orch./ Efrem Kurtz – Hi-Q Records

TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 – Suite from the Ballet – Philharmonia Orch./ Efrem Kurtz – Hi-Q Records

by | Aug 19, 2016 | Classical Reissue Reviews

The 1958 classic Nutcracker excerpts assume a new audiophile guise in this issue from Hi-Q Records. TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 – Suite from the Ballet – Philharmonia Orch./ Efrem Kurtz – Hi-Q Records xrcd24 HIQXRCD51, 60:00 (6/24/16) [Distr. by Warner Classics] ****: The Nutcracker – Suite From The Ballet is performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and conducted by the well-known Russian conductor Efrem Kurtz. Kurtz had already been a familiar name with the Philharmonia to the record collector of the 1950s, and he embarked upon a series of Tchaikovsky ballet recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra for EMI in 1958. A tall, imposing figure – he often dispensed with a podium – Efrem Kurtz had studied with Glazunov and Tcherepnin and was a pupil of Arthur Nikisch. Kurtz had a broad symphonic and operatic repertory and conducted the premieres of works by Copland, Barber, Walton, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Khachaturian. He remained most highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian music. Of this Nutcracker in the original review in The Gramophone of November 1958, R. F. remarked: “The orchestral quality is superb, and the dynamic contrasts tremendous. If you can hear the opening pizzicato notes of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, the […]

BOYER: Symphony No. 1 and Fanfares and Overtures – London Phil./ Boyer – Naxos

BOYER: Symphony No. 1 and Fanfares and Overtures – London Phil./ Boyer – Naxos

by | Apr 24, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

BOYER: Symphony No. 1 and Fanfares and Overtures (TrackList follows) – London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Peter Boyer – Guest Leader: Simon Blends – Naxos 8.559769 – TT: 55:14 (2/25/14) ****: Interesting contemporary music well played and nicely recorded. Peter Boyer is one of the most frequently performed American orchestral composers of our current milieu.  Among his notable works is his Grammy-nominated Ellis Island: The Dream of America.  About this disc, Boyer has written:“The five works included on this recording represent a cross-section of my orchestral music. Three Olympians reflects my interest in mythology and history. Often I have received invitations to compose music for celebratory concerts, and three of the works included here—Silver Fanfare, Festivities and Celebration Overture—were created for such occasions.” The disc also contains Boyer’s Symphony No. 1. Boyer has made a career in composition, and he has been prolific in films and televisions. The fanfares that open the disc are fine, but I think musically fall into Boyer’s ‘sound’ for his radio and TV compositions. The Symphony No. 1 is quite a bit more interesting, and is dedicated to the memory of Leonard Bernstein. The Symphony has an ‘American’ sound to it, it is a very assured composition, […]

Editorial for September 2015

Editorial for September 2015

by | Sep 1, 2015 | Editorial

For September our free drawing is for three copies of the 3-CD boxed set The Perlman Sound – a selection of items from the new complete 59-CD comprehensive set of everything the famous violinist has recorded for Warner, EMI and Teldec over 30 years. Some of his collaborations with the world’s greatest orchestras and soloists are included, including Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn. All the analog recordings have been remastered in 96K/24-bit digital format at Abbey Road Studios and the designs reflect the original jackets. All you have to do to be considered as the winner of this set is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form (and be sure to list your accurate address and email address). The three lucky winners will be announced in this space next month. The lucky winner of the 53-CD Mercury Living Presence Vol. 3 set from Decca/Universal – our August free giveaway – is Joe Higday of Leawood, KS. Congrats – you have a lot of great listening there! [audaud-hr] EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years […]

Editorial for September 2015

Editorial for September 2015

by | Sep 1, 2015 | Editorial

For September our free drawing is for three copies of the 3-CD boxed set The Perlman Sound – a selection of items from the new complete 59-CD comprehensive set of everything the famous violinist has recorded for Warner, EMI and Teldec over 30 years. Some of his collaborations with the world’s greatest orchestras and soloists are included, including Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn. All the analog recordings have been remastered in 96K/24-bit digital format at Abbey Road Studios and designs reflect the original jackets. All you have to do to be considered as the winner of this huge set is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form (and be sure to list your accurate address and email address). The lucky winners will be announced in this space next month. The three lucky winners of The Perlman Sound boxed set are: James Strange, Bellevue WA; David Hollingsworth, Fayetteville NC; and Robert Rosenman, Deerfield Beach FL.