French Archive
“Les Elements: Tempests, Storms, and Marine Festivals” = Music of LOCKE, MARAIS, RAMEAU, REBEL, TELEMANN & others – Jordi Savall – Alia Vox (2 discs)
A highly effective and illuminating concept album of thrilling dimensions. “Les Elements: Tempests, Storms, and Marine Festivals” = LOCKE: Music from The Tempest; MARAIS: Suite No. 4 “Airs pour les Matelots & les Tritons”; RAMEAU: Air pour les Zephirs (from Les Indes Galantes); Orage et air pour Boree (from Les Indes galantes); Tonnerre (from Hippolyte […]
GRANADOS: Piano Quintet; TURINA: Piano Quintet; Calliope – Javier Perianes, p./ Cuarteto Quiroga – Harmonia mundi
Perianes and company perform two captivating, often overlooked, piano quintets from Spain.
The American Friend, Blu-ray (1977/2016)
One of the best films by German director William Wenders. The American Friend, Blu-ray (1977/2016) Director: William Wenders Cast: Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer Studio: Wm. Wenders Foundation/Janus Films/The Criterion Collection 793 [1/12/16] (Distr. by Orange Media) Video: 1.66:1 for 16×9 screen, 1080p HD color Audio: German, English & French DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: […]
Quartets by FRANÇOIS DEVIENNE – Musica Reale – Channel Classics
FRANÇOIS DEVIENNE (1759-1803): Flute Quartets, Op. 66 , 1 and 3; Bassoon Quartets, Op. 73, 1 and 3 – Musica Reale – Channel Classics CCS SA 35415 SACD (11/3/15) [Dist. by Harmonia mundi] *****: For those who’ve forgotten their elementary music school textbooks, Françoise Devienne was a bassoonist, flutist and composer whose contemporaries were Mozart […]
GOUVY: “The Complete Symphonies” = Symphonies No. 1 – 6, etc. – cond. by Jacques Mercier – CPO (4 CDs)
LOUIS THÉODORE GOUVY: “The Complete Symphonies” = Symphonies No. 1 – 6; Fantaisie Symphonique; Symphony brève; Sinfonietta – Deutsche Radio Philharmonie/ Saarbrücken Kaiserlautern/Jacques Mercier – CPO 777-992-2 (4 CDs) [Distr. by Naxos](7/31/15) TT: 239:43 ***: Obscure to be sure but mostly worth the trip. If you’ve always wanted a set of the complete symphonies by […]
RAMEAU: The Sound of Light – Music from Les Fêtes d’Hébé, Zoroastre, Platée, Les Indes galantes, Les Boréades, Naïs, Hippolyte et Aricie, Castor et Pollux, Dardanus and Six concerts en sextuor – Nadine Koutcher, sop./ Alexei Svetov, bass / MusicAeterna Orch. & Choir/ Teodor Currentzis – Sony Classical
RAMEAU: The Sound of Light – Music from Les Fêtes d’Hébé, Zoroastre, Platée, Les Indes galantes, Les Boréades, Naïs, Hippolyte et Aricie, Castor et Pollux, Dardanus and Six concerts en sextuor – Nadine Koutcher, soprano/ Alexei Svetov, bass / MusicAeterna Orchestra & Choir/ Teodor Currentzis – Sony Classical 88875014502, 67 mins. (2/3/15) ****(*): A quick […]
“Music from the Reign of Francis I” – a combination of a bound book and 2 CDs
Sherlock Holmes Serial, Blu-ray (1916/2015)
A surpisingly enjoyable 1916 silent serial on Sherlock Holmes, beautifully restored.
Zarafa, Blu-ray (2015)
A wonderful French animation full of lots of exotic locations and animals.
William Walton London Concert, 1982, Blu-ray (2015)
Two of Walton’s most famous works from a 1982 performance with the composer present.
Rodolphe Raffalli En Concert (2015)
Spend 92 minutes enjoying this gypsy jazz trio at a little French bistro.
Devialet LE 120 Integrated Amplifier$6495
Right off the bat I was very impressed with the sound of the Devialet.
SAINT-SAENS: Chamber Music = Akane Makita, p./ Soloists of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia Rome – Brilliant Classics
Saint-Saens’ chamber works provide the Accademia soloists and Akane Makita with alluring, charming vehicles for their talents.
Shen Lu: Watercolor = PEIXUN: Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake; RAVEL: Miroirs; RACHMANINOV: Etudes Tableaux; DUN: Eight Memories in Watercolor – Shen Lu, p. – Steinway & Sons
Chinese virtuoso Shen Lu offers a series of watercolors cut from Hunan and Western sensibilities.
Double Feature: Jean De Florette & Manon of the Spring, Blu-ray (1986/2015)
A pair of wonderful French films, now on Blu-ray.
RAVEL: Trio in a minor; ERNEST CHAUSSON: Trio in g minor – Trio Solisti – Trio Solisti – Bridge
A brace of French piano trios, wonderfully played.
RAVEL: “Orchestal Works” = Le Tombeau de Couperin; Menuet antique; Ma mère l’oye; Valses nobles et sentimentale; Une barque sur l’océan – BSO /Seiji Ozawa – PentaTone
Another excellent addition to this important series.
Richter: The Enigma: A Film by Bruno Monsaingeon (1998/2014)
Bruno Monsaingeon addresses the mystery of Sviatoslav Richter, the pianist Glenn Gould called “a direct link from the composer to his listening audience.”
Monique Haas, Vol. 2 = SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana, Op. 16; MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor; DEBUSSY: Pour le Piano; BACH: Partita No. 2 – Monique Haas, piano – MeloClassic
A second MeloClassic recital from the inimitable Monique Haas confirms her authority in repertory old and new.
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (2015)
A concert performance of Umbrellas of Cherbourg with Michel Legrand conducting.
“La Clarinette Française” = Works for clarinet and piano by POULENCE, DEBUSSY, SAINT-SAENS, BLOCH, PIERNE & MILHAUD – Zig-Zag
Very good performances with a bit of novelty.
VERTOV – The Man With the Movie Camera and Other Newly-Restored Works, Blu-ray (1924-1934/2015)
The main film is one of the most important in the development of cinema and a must see.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
