British Archive
ELGAR: Symphony No. 2; Carissima; Mina; Chanson de Matin – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orch./Vasily Petrenko – Onyx Classics
A very worthwhile addition to the Elgar resurgence. EDWARD ELGAR: Symphony No. 2; Carissima; Mina; Chanson de Matin – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orch./Vasily Petrenko – Onyx Classics ONYX4165, 69:44 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] (3/24/17) ***1/2: Sir Edward Elgar wrote two symphonies, relatively late in life and they have a long history of fairly sparse performance. […]
The Handmaiden (2017)
An interesting plot-driven film with quite a twist. The Handmaiden (2017) Actors: Min-hee Kim, Jung-woo Ha, Tae Kim, Jin-woong Jo, Hae-suk Kim Director: Chan-wook Park Studio: Amazon Studios/ Sony Pictures Home Ent. 49278 (1/24/17) Video: 2.39:1 for 16:9 screens Audio: Korean DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Length: 145 min. Rating: ****1/2 The same […]
ELGAR: Enigma Variations; In the South, Carillon; etc. – BBC Scottish Sym. /Brabbins – Hyperion
Need another Enigma Variations? Listen to this one. ELGAR: Enigma Variations, Op. 36; In the South “Alassio”, Op. 50; Carillon, Op. 75; Une voix dans le desert, Op. 77; Le drapeau belge, Op. 79; Pleading, Op. 48 – Florence Daguerre de Hureaux, narrator/ Kate Royal, sop./ Yann Ghiro, clar./ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins […]
TCHAIKOVSKY: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major; String Quartet No. 3 in e-flat minor – The Heath Quartet – HM
Two Tchaikovsky quartets rife with passionate sincerity come to us from this British chamber ensemble. TCHAIKOVSKY: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11; String Quartet No. 3 in e-flat minor, Op. 30 – The Heath Quartet – Harmonia mundi HMU 907665, 66:24 (11/18/16) [Distr. by PIAS] ****: Tchaikovsky’s initiation into the string quartet […]
Blunt Talk series – Season 1, (2016)
A most interesting TV series and a quite different role for Patrick Stewart. Blunt Talk series – Season 1, (2016) Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jacki Weaver, Adrian Sarboroght, Richard Lewis Studio: Starz cable TV/ Anchor Bay ST63694 (8/30/16) (2 discs) Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD 5.1 Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH Extras: Inside […]
Emma Johnson, clarinet – “An English Fantasy” – Works of TODD, READE, DANKWORTH & HAWES – Nimbus Alliance
Charming new pieces played wonderfully! Emma Johnson, clarinet – “An English Fantasy” = WILL TODD: Concerto for Emma; PAUL READE: Suite from “A Victorian Kitchen Garden”; JOHN DANKWORTH: Clarinet Concerto – “The Woolrich”; PATRICK HAWES: Clarinet Concerto – with BBC Concert Orch./Philip Ellis – Nimbus Alliance NI6328 [Distr. by Naxos], 69:19 (8/12/16) ****: I have […]
The Night Manager (6 Episodes), Blu-ray (2016)
A really thrilling six-episode miniseries based on a John le Carré spy novel. The Night Manager (6 Episodes), Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman Director: Susanne Bier Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent. 47778 (8/30/16) [2 Blu-rays] Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, […]
Audio News for August 26, 2016
Sony Is Advertising a Hi-Res Turntable – There cannot be such a thing as a hi-res turntable. It may be designed to convert vinyl discs to audio files, but it is not therefore hi-res. Vinyl may often sound fantastic, but it is not hi-res and never will be. Post-iPod Players – Both new and experienced […]
“BUTTERWORTH: Orchestral Works – The Banks of Green Willow” – Kris Russman – BIS
“BUTTERWORTH: Orchestral Works – The Banks of Green Willow” A Shropshire Lad – six songs orchestrated by Kriss Russman · World première recording of the orchestrated version – James Rutherford (bari.); Two English Idylls; Suite for String Quartette arranged for string orchestra by Kriss Russman; world premiere recording of the orchestrated version; Love Blows As […]
Audio News for August 9, 2016
DEG Second Quartet Home Entertainment Report – Here are details from the second quarter 2016 Home Entertainment Report compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group for their members: Consumer spending on home entertainment products were up 6% from the year earlier. More than eight million UHD TVs have now been sold. Overall physical sales of Blu-ray […]
American Friends (1993)
American Friends (1993) Cast: Michael Palin, Alfred Molina Director: Tristram Powell Producers: Patrick Cassavetti and Steve Abbott Screenplay: Michael Palin Studio: MGM (2/16/16) Video: for 16:9 screens Audio: PCM Stereo Language: English, no subtitles All regions Length: 96:00 Rating: ***1/2 “And now, for something completely different.” I couldn’t resist the analogy. It is doubtful […]
“British, Now!” (Works of BRITTEN, BERKELEY, BRYARS & NYMAN) – Dogma Ch. Orch./Mikhail Gurewitsch – Audio Max
A nice chamber orchestra disc in surround of British music from four composers. “British, Now!” BRITTEN: Simple Sym.; BERKELEY: Antiphone for Strings; BRYARS: In Nomine; NYMAN: When Ingrid Met Capa – Dogma Ch. Orch./ Mikhail Gurewitsch – Audio Max (D&G) 912 1944-6, 48:52 multichannel SACD [4/29/16] (2+2+2) ****: This enjoyable program was inspired by the […]
Phronesis – Parallax – Edition EDN
Jazz which covers food to fish, astronomy to harmonization. Phronesis – Parallax [TrackList follows] Edition EDN 1070 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] 56:47 [4/8/16] ****: (Jasper Høiby – doublebass; Ivo Neame – piano; Anton Eger – drums) Pan-European trio Phronesis escalates an atmosphere of adventure, veered jazz and interplayed imagination on sixth album overall—and fourth for […]
Lullaby of Birdland – The Shearing Touch, Blu-ray (1994/2016)
A fine documentary rather than just a concert performance by the artist. Lullaby of Birdland – The Shearing Touch, Blu-ray (1994/2016) Cast: George Shearing, piano & vocals Director: Jill Marshall Studio: Monarda/ ArtHaus Musik [3/25/16] (Distr. by Naxos) Video: 4:3 color, 1080i HD color & b&w Audio: English PCM stereo Subtitles: English, German, French No […]
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Smash Hits – Reprise (1969) / Sony Legacy – vinyl
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Smash Hits – Reprise (1969)/ Sony Legacy (2016) 8898303081, 44:3 stereo vinyl [6/10/16] ****: Vinyl reissue shows why Hendrix was the greatest rock guitarist in history! (Jimi Hendrix – guitar, piano, vocals; Mitch Mitchell – drums, backing vocals; Noel Redding – bass, backing vocals) As new guitar heroes have emerged […]
“Cesko” – Works of SCHULHOFF, & DVORAK – Ragazze Q. – Channel Classics
“Česko” = ERWIN SCHULHOFF: String Quartet No. 1; DVOŘÁK: String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106; SCHULHOFF: Esquisses de jazz (arr. Leonard Evers) – Ragazze Quartet – Channel Classics multichannel SACD CCS SA 36815, 65:00 [Distr. Harmonia mundi] (5/15/15) ****: A very attractive program of Bohemian yin and yang. The “young Dutch/British” Ragzze […]
Groundhogs – Scratching The Surface – Liberty /Parlophone /Pure Pleasure – vinyl
Groundhogs – Scratching The Surface – Liberty /Parlophone LBS 83199/Pure Pleasure PPAN LBS 83199 stereo vinyl, 44:03 ****: Obscure British band’s debut is released on audiophile vinyl. (Tony McPhee – guitar, vocals; Steve Rye – harmonica vocals; Pete Cruikshank – bass; Ken Pustelnik – drums) British Blues developed into a marketable brand in the 1960s. […]
“Dawn and Twilight: The First and Last Violin Sonatas of Cyril Scott” = CYRIL SCOTT: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 4 – Andrew Kirkman, p./ Clipper Erickson, v – Affetto
“Dawn and Twilight: The First and Last Violin Sonatas of Cyril Scott” = CYRIL SCOTT: Violin Sonata No. 1 (original version); Violin Sonata No. 4 – Andrew Kirkman, p./ Clipper Erickson, v – Affetto AF1504 56:20 (11/13/15) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Music by a little-known British composer worthy of an extended listen. Cyril Scott is […]
Lener Quartet – in quartets of HAYDN, MOZART, MENDELSSOHN & DVORAK – Opus Kura
Opus Kura revives the heralded Lener Quartet recordings of Mozart, Haydn, and Dvorak. Lener Quartet – HAYDN: String Quartet No. 17 in F Major, Op. 3, No. 5; MENDELSSOHN: Canzonetta from String Quartet, Op. 12; MOZART: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K. 370; DVORAK: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 – Leon Goossens, oboe/ […]
Tim Garland – Return To The Fire – Edition Records
British musician captures the pure spirit of jazz.
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta; The Miraculous Mandarin – London Sym. Orch. /Sir Georg Solti – HDTT 192/24 download
Wonderful Bartók from the Kingsway Hall in 1963.
HAVERGAL BRIAN: Symphonies 6, 28, 29, and 31—New Russia State Sym. Orch. /Alexander Walker — Naxos
A brief survey of the large symphonic output of an eclectic English composer.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
