Berlin Archive
BERG: Lulu (David Robert Coleman completion) – DGG
A production for idiots, and a musical completion that spells disaster. ALBAN BERG: Lulu (complete opera, David Robert Coleman completion) Cast: Mojca Erdmann (Lulu)/ Deborah Polaski (Countess Geschwitz)/ Michael Volle (Jack the Ripper)/ Thomas Piffka (Alwa)/ Stephan Rügamer (Painter/Negro) Orch.: Staatskapelle Berlin/ Daniel Barenboim Director: Andrea Breth Studio: DGG 00440 073 4934 Video: 16:9 widescreen […]
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 […]
Bruno Walter – The Complete Columbia Acoustic Recordings – Works of MENDELSSOHN, BERLIOZ, WEBER, WAGNER, & R. STRAUSS – Pristine Audio
The earliest Bruno Walter records reveal a committed Romantic conductor in music in the German tradition. Bruno Walter – The Complete Columbia Acoustic Recordings – WEBER: Overture to Der Freischuetz; MENDELSSOHN: Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61; BERLIOZ: Menuet of the Will-o’-the-Wisps from La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24; WAGNER: Tristan und Isolde: […]
Erik Then-Bergh – The Complete Electrola and Deutsche Grammophone Recordings, 1938-1958 = Works of HANDEL, BEETHOVEN, BACH, SCHUMANN, CHOPIN & REGER – APR (2-CDs)
Mark Obert-Thorn and Appian Records restore Erik Then-Bergh to prominence. Erik Then-Bergh – The Complete Electrola and Deutsche Grammophone Recordings, 1938-1958 = HANDEL: Suite No. 4 in e minor; BACH (arr. BUSONI): Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in d, BWV 1004; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101; Bagatelles, Op. 33: Nos. […]
MAX REGER: The Complete Organ Works – Martin Schmeding, organ – Cybele 17 SACD set
The complete organ works of Reger on 16 binaural SACDs plus an interview. MAX REGER: The Complete Organ Works [TrackList follows] – Martin Schmeding, at 13 different historic Sauer & Walcker organs, Dom zu Berlin, Wiesbaden & elsewhere – 17 multichannel (binaural stereo channels) SACDs in gold-stamped collectors’ box – Vol. 17 is interview of […]
PUCCINI: La Boheme (complete opera), C Major Blu-ray (2016)
It’s hard to divorce this release from recent events. PUCCINI: La Boheme (complete opera), Blu-ray (2016) Performers: Daniela Dessì (Mimì)/ Fabio Armiliato (Rodolfo)/ Alessandro Luongo (Marcello)/ Alida Berti (Musetta)/ Federico Longhi (Schaunard)/ Marco Spotti (Colline)/ Angelo Nardinocchi (Benoit/Alcindoro)/ Ugo Tarquini (Parpignol)/ Marco Simonelli (Sergente dei doganieri)/ Jacopo Bianchini (Un doganiere)/ Orchestra and Choir of the […]
Bruckner: Symphonies 0-9 – var. orch./ Mario Venzago – CPO (10 CDs)
Interesting renditions of these works by one who has studied them deeply. ANTON BRUCKNER: Symphonies Nos. 0-9 – Tapiola Sinfonietta/Northern Sinfonia/Bern Sym. Orch./Basel Sym. Orch./Konzarthausorch. Berlin/Mario Venzago – CPO 555 023-2, 562:53 (ten CDs) plus PAL DVD “The Making of…” [Distr. by Naxos] (7/08/16) ***: First, let’s get this out of the way: the ‘bonus […]
Sommernachts Konzert 2016 (Summer Night Concert) = Music of BIZET, BERLIOZ, POULENC, SAINT-SAENS & others – Vienna Phil./ Bychkov – Sony
Semyon Bychkov leads the Vienna Philharmonic in a French program of colorful energy. B01DFY8L1M Sommernachts Konzert 2016 (Summer Night Concert) = BIZET: Farandole from L’Arlessienne Suite No. 2; BERLIOZ: Marche Hongroise from Le Damnation de Faust, Op. 24; POULENC: Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra; SAINT-SAENS: Finale from Le Carnaval des animaux; RAVEL: Daphnis et […]
Joe Henderson/Chick Corea etc. – Mirror, Mirror – MPS vinyl
Joe Henderson expands the vision on Mirror, Mirror… Joe Henderson/Chick Corea etc. – Mirror, Mirror – MPS 0210998MSW – vinyl (1980) ***: (Joe Henderson – tenor sax; Chick Corea – piano; Ron Carter – bass; Billy Higgins – drums) Joe Henderson, the iconic jazz tenor saxist, covered all bases. He could be deeply in the […]
BACH: St. John Passion (A ritualisation by Peter Sellars) – DVDs & Blu-ray (2014/16)
An unsettling visual version of questionable value, but high musical marks. BACH: St. John Passion (A ritualisation by Peter Sellars) – DVDs & Blu-ray (2014/16) Performers: Mark Padmore (Evangelist)/ Camilla Tilling (sop.)/ Magdalena Kožená (mezzo)/ Topi Lehtipuu (tenor)/ Christian Gerhaher (bari.)/ Roderick Williams (Jesus)/ Berliner Philharmoniker/ Rundfunkchor Berlin/ Simon Rattle Director: Peter Sellars Studio: Berliner […]
“STRAVINSKY in 4 Deals” = Violin Con.; Jeu de cartes; Movements – Soloists/Stravinsky – Praga Digitals
This album serves as a microcosm of Stravinsky’s evolving musical styles, in four performances expertly restored. “STRAVINSKY in 4 Deals” = Violin Concerto in D; Pulcinella – Suite; Jeu de cartes; Movements for Piano and Orchestra – David Oistrakh, violin/ Concerts Lamoureux/ Bernard Haitink/ Philharmonia Orch./ Otto Klemperer/ Bavarian Radio-Sym. Orch./ Igor Stravinsky/ Margrit Weber, […]
“MAHLER Rarities” = Symphony No. 2 in c minor “Resurrection”: Andante moderato; Sym. No. 4 – Soloists/ Hilversum Radio Philharmonic/ Paul van Kempen – Pristine Audio
The Mahler legacy adds two rare documents of innate interest to the history of recorded sound. “MAHLER Rarities” = Symphony No. 2 in c minor “Resurrection”: Andante moderato only; Sym. No. 4 in G Major – Cadillac Sym. Orch./ Arnold Schoenberg (Sym. No. 2)/ Corry Bijster, sop./ Hilversum Radio Philharmonic Orch./ Paul van Kempen – […]
HANDEL: Water Music – Akademie fuer Alte Musik Berlin – Harmonia mundi
Even with a plethora of Water Music recordings from which to choose, this rendition fulfills our musical and poetic expectations brilliantly. HANDEL: Water Music, HWV 348-50 – Akademie fuer Alte Musik Berlin – Harmonia mundi HMC 902216, 48:36 (2/5/16) ****: Ever since I first auditioned Yehudi Menuhin’s EMI performance of the Handel Water Music with […]
“Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. – Blue Griffin
A talented piano/cello duo performs sonatas by Boëllmann , Dohnányi and Bridge. “Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. – Blue Griffin BGR 359, 76:24 (Distr. by Albany) *****: The catalogue of works for cello and piano is not extensive, and yet these two musicians, […]
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in c minor; Sym. No. 6 in F Major; “Pastoral”; Sym. No. 8 in F Major; Leonore Ov. No. 3; SCHUBERT: Sym. No. 8 “Unfinished” – Berlin State Opera Orch./Vienna Philharmonic – Pristine Audio (2 CDs)
Franz Schalk’s complete recorded legacy reveals a Viennese musician thoroughly familiar with the repertory he champions.
Nelsova plays Concertos, Sonatas, & Suites for Cello by BACH, BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS, BOCCHERINI, SCHUMANN, DVORAK, MILHAUD, & KABALEVSKY – Audite (4 CDs)
Russian-Canadian cello virtuoso Zara Nelsova’s appearances at RIAS prove poetic and volatile.
“Venice, The Golden Age” – Oboe Concerti by VIVALDI, PORTA, MARCELLO and others – Xenia Löffler, oboe /Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin – Harmonia mundi
The very best Italian baroque oboe concertos.
Geza Anda – The Telefunken Recordings = SCHUMANN: Carnaval; Symphonic Etudes; BACH: Partita No. 2 in c minor; HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 23; MOZART: Piano Sonata in D – Geza Anda, p. – Audite
Geza Anda has a gap in his discography filled in this generous selection of Telefunken inscriptions, 1950-1951.
Audio News for June 19, 2015
Sleep – An Eight-Hour Work Intended to Put Listener to Sleep; Panasonic Joins “Netflix Recommended” 4K TVs; Toshiba Goes 4K With New Notebooks; RDA Gets a Boost
Rosl Schmid, piano = BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19; WEBER: Konzertstueck in F Minor, Op. 79; R. STRAUSS: Burleske in D Minor – with various German orch. – MeloClassic
Long-forgotten Rosl Schmid emerges with blistering intensity in three staples from the grand German repertory.
“Gala from Berlin – Grand Finales”, Blu-ray (1999/2014)
A New Year’s celebration focusing on finales, entertaining but significant especially because of the 2000 Millennium celebration.
Ludwig Hoelscher, cello = Music of DVORAK, BACH, GRIEG & CHOPIN – Meloclassic
Two fine German performers who unfortunately supported the Nazis.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
