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MENDELSSOHN: Syms. Nos. 1 & 4 – London Sym./Gardiner – LSO Live

MENDELSSOHN: Syms. Nos. 1 & 4 – London Sym./Gardiner – LSO Live

by | Jan 20, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

A vigorous and incisive Italian, with a fresh and even more exhilarating “First”. MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 1 in c, Op. 11; No. 4 in A, Op. 90 “Italian” (1833 version) – London Sym. Orch./ John Eliot Gardiner – LSO Live multichannel Pure Audio Blu-ray & SACD LSO0765 (2 discs, on audio-only Blu-ray), 62:11 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****: Mendelssohn’s tour of Europe from 1829-31 ended with a sojourn in Italy, where the 22-year-old immediately began writing a symphony that would reflect his experiences. It is easily the sunniest of all his compositions, though it did cause him heartache, so much so that he decided to revise it in 1834. But since it was never published in his lifetime, it is the earlier version commonly played today, and so Gardiner offers it here. I expected something rather on the quick side, and he does not disappoint. What is most surprising is the ability of the LSO to articulate some of the fast triplet passages in the first and last movements as clearly and cleanly as they do, a real tribute to the virtuosity of the orchestra. This is an exciting if predictable performance (there have been others in this mold as […]

MONDONVILLE: Trio Sonatas – Johannes Pramsohler/ Ens. Diderot – Audax

MONDONVILLE: Trio Sonatas – Johannes Pramsohler/ Ens. Diderot – Audax

by | Dec 18, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

MONDONVILLE: Trio Sonatas Op. 2 – Johannes Pramsohler/ Ensemble Diderot – Audax 13707, 67:22 (11/8/16) ****: World premier chamber music from the twilight era of the French Baroque led by researcher/performer Johannes Pramsohler. (Johannes Pramsohler- violin/ Roldan Bernabe – violin/ Kristen Huebner – transverse flute/ Gulrim Choi – baroque cello/ Philippe Grisvard – harpsichord) Johannes Pramsohler, the leader of Ensemble Diderot, has dedicated a couple of recent recordings to unknown or neglected works from the Baroque period. Early Music fans will certainly welcome the findings, especially as in this case, they consist of the most central chamber music of the time–the trio sonata–and are by a composer who is not at all a minor figure, Jean-Joseph Mondonville. How these pieces have lain about unnoticed is beyond me, for they are quite good. Mondonville was the director of the Concert Spirituel around the middle of the century and is known primarily as a composer of grand motets. His instrument, however, was the violin, which is the dominant voice the works under review here. Mr. Pramsohler plays a Rogeri 1713 baroque violin, which blends nicely with Roldan Bernabe’s 1992 instrument modelled on a period violin. In fact, it is occasionally hard to […]

MOZART: Piano Con. K.413-415 – Bezuidenhout, fortepiano/ Freiberger Baroque Orch./ HM

MOZART: Piano Con. K.413-415 – Bezuidenhout, fortepiano/ Freiberger Baroque Orch./ HM

by | Dec 9, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

MOZART: Piano Concertos K. 413, 414 & 415 – Kristian Bezuidenhout/ Freiburger Barockorchestra – Harmonia mundi 902218, 69:31 (9/16/16) ****: (Kristian Bezuidenhout; fortepiano/ Gottfriend von der Goltz, violin and director) Three bonhomous concertos which represent Mozart’s bid to win over the Vienna audience, played on period instruments. The three concertos under review here, K. 413-415, have a special place in Mozart’s career, and indeed in the birth of the modern world.  After years of onerous service under the patronage of the Archbishop in Salzburg, Mozart huffily relocated to Vienna, where he sought to finally establish his artistic and financial independence. In 1782, a year after the move, he announced in the paper the publication–and what is more important, the sale by subscription–of three new piano concertos. It was a carefully prepared campaign which completed his long passage from celebrity performer to ambitious client to independent entrepreneur. He knew his worth, but it still remained for him to convince his public, the Viennese bourgeoisie. By his own reckoning this public was divided into two classes. The amateurs (Liebhaber) and connoisseurs (Kenner). Thus Mozart remarked to his father in a letter that the concertos are “something between too easy and too difficult.” […]

“Testament” = BACH: Complete Sonatas and Partitas – Rachel Barton Pine, v. – Avie – 2 CDs

“Testament” = BACH: Complete Sonatas and Partitas – Rachel Barton Pine, v. – Avie – 2 CDs

by | Sep 8, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

Rachel Barton Pine finally gives us the whole enchilada, and a fine feast it is. “Testament” = BACH: Complete Sonatas and Partitas – Rachel Barton Pine, violin – Avie AV2360 (2 CDs), 125:34 *****: I was a little surprised to see Rachel Barton Pine for the second time on the Avie label (the first was Mozart concertos), but a quick note from the artist confirmed her absolute commitment—indeed, entrenchment—in the Cedille universe. Avie, of course, operates on an artist-ownership model, and has released some truly spectacular recordings since their inception in 2002. Count this among them.  Rachel Barton Pine has been playing these pieces for years, often all in one evening, and decided that the time had come to put her thoughts on the music down on silver disc. It is indeed a “testament” to her own judgment that she waited as long as she did in order to have a comprehensive and integral sense of what her vision is all about. Barton Pine is no stranger to period performance and theory, having released a number of recordings precisely employing these techniques, but here she manages a hybrid approach, using her standard Guarneri del Gesu violin with a baroque bow. […]

*********** BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies – Karajan ********** DGG audio-only Blu-ray

*********** BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies – Karajan ********** DGG audio-only Blu-ray

by | Aug 16, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

This magnificent set finally available in the format it deserves—and we can afford. * BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies (1963); Rehearsal of the Ninth Sym. – Berlin PO/ Herbert von Karajan – DGG Pure Audio Blu-ray stereo 00289 479 5977 (1 disc), 6+ hours [Distr. by Universal] *****: It’s almost impossible to give this set anything but five stars. My own history with it is quite emotional. In 1973 I was just beginning a record collection, something that morphed into a lifelong passion, and the fame of Karajan’s set, already 11 years old, was irresistible and emphatic—I had to have it, my first recordings of any of the Beethoven symphonies. So once I saved up the money—about fifteen dollars for this impressive LP set at the time—I settled into the two-week period that the record store said it would take for arrival. The moment pushed forward and I was as excited as if Karajan himself was coming to see me. Providence would prove the event somewhat mixed and dicey, however. My girlfriend, with whom I had just enjoyed a weekend at the beach with her family, decided precipitously on the following Monday evening, to break up with me! Needless to say, […]

Crimson Peak, Blu-ray (2016)

Crimson Peak, Blu-ray (2016)

by | Mar 5, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A Gothic romance masterpiece from Guillermo del Toro, set in the early 20th century. Crimson Peak, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Hessican Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam Director: Guillermo del Toro Studio: Universal Home Entertainment 61163118 (2/9/16) [2 discs] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 7.1, DTS Headphone 2.0, English DD 5.1 & 2.0, French or Spanish DTS-HD 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Subtitles: French, Spanish, English SDH All Regions Extras: On Blu-ray only: “I Remember Crimson Peak,” Primer on Gothic romance, Hand-tailored Gothic, A Living Thing, Crimson phantoms; On DVD disc: Commentary track with del Toro, Deleted scenes, “Beware of Crimson Peak,” “The Light and Dark of Crimson Peak” Length: 238 min. Rating: **** This del Toro effort is full of his usual clockwork gadgets, blood, ghosts and strange little insects. The latter are often moths which constantly flutter all over the place. However the complications of turn-of-the-century costuming and life keeps the director on course for most of the film. The preview pegs it as a horror film, but it’s really more of a Gothic romance/mystery. Edith is an aspiring novelist, sheltered by an older wealthy industrialist/widower. She falls for a seductive stranger, Thomas […]