Universal Archive
Preghiera — RACHMANINOV Piano Trios – Gidon Kremer, Geidre Dirvanauskaite, Daniil Trifonov – DGG
A rich tribute to the composer Rachmaninoff, his piano trios as rendered by Kremer, Trifonov, and Dirvanauskaite.
Ray Chen – The Golden Age – Decca
The Golden Age—Ray Chen plays works by Kreisler, Bruch, Debussy, Gershwin, Scott, and others. Ray Chen (violin), Julien Quentin (piano), London Philharmonic Orchestra, dir. Robert Trevino; Made in Berlin (quartet)—Decca 483-3852—53:26, *****: The promise of music from the “Golden Age” of violinists—namely by the likes of violinists such as Kreisler, Heifetz, and Joachim and composers […]
JANACEK: Glagolitic Mass; Sinfonietta; Taras Bulba; The Fiddler’s Child – Jiri Belohlavek – Decca
The music of Leos Janacek makes a sensational impression under the guidance of Jiri Belohlavek.
Keith Jarrett – The Köln Concert – ECM
This is a stunning vinyl upgrade of a remarkable jazz piano album.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony Nos. 4 & 11 – Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Andris Nelsons – DGG
A Shostakovich cycle of special merit, the Nelsons performances of symphonies 4 and 11 bring the BSO to fever pitch. SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43; Symphony No. 11 in G minor, Op. 103 “The Year 1905” – Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Andris Nelsons – DGG B0028595-02 (2 CDs) 64:24; 62:59 (7/6/18) [Distr. […]
DEBUSSY: Images, Books I-II; Children’s Corner; Suite bergamasque; L’Isle joyeuse – Seong-Jin Cho, piano – DGG
Seong-Jin Cho’s Debussy recital for DGG confirms his place in the Debussy tradition set by Gieseking and Michelangeli. DEBUSSY: Images, Books I-II; Children’s Corner; Suite bergamasque; L’Isle joyeuse – Seong-Jin Cho, piano – DGG 479 8308, 72:47 (11/17/17) [Distr. by Universal] *****: South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho (b. 1994) recently appeared for the Steinway Society […]
Sing, animated Blu-ray (2017)
A bunch of animals save a dying theater with their acts. Sing, Blu-ray (2017) Voice-overs: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton Director: Garth Jennings Studio: Illuminations/ Universal 61180480 (3/21/17) [2 discs] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 widescreen HD color Audio: English DD multichannel 5.1, DD. 2.0 stereo, French DD 5.1, Spanish DD […]
Audio News for January 13, 2017
Things Alexa Cannot Yet Do – The shortfall of Alexa’s IFTT integration is the lack of any actions whatsoever. You cannot complete a task for have Alexa play a tune. You must divide every command into its own statement – no trying to get Alexa to do more than one thing at a time. There […]
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major; Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major – The Cleveland Orch./ Mitsuko Uchida, p. and cond. – Decca
Pianist-director Uchida instills both pomp and poetry into her latest survey of the Mozart concertos. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453; Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 – The Cleveland Orch./ Mitsuko Uchida, piano and cond. – Decca 483 0716, 67:23 (10/28/16) [Distr. by Universal] **** : Piano […]
Snowden (Oliver Stone), Blu-ray (2016)
A gripping political thriller as Oliver Stone can make. Snowden (Oliver Stone), Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Tom Wilkinson, Zachary Quinto Director: Oliver Stone Studio: Open Road/ Universal Studios Home Ent. 55176941 (12/27/16) 2 discs Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 5.1 Subtitles: English […]
Audio News for December 20, 2016
Audio Issue with Google Pixel Smartphones – All Google Pixel XL smartphones, when you crank up the volume to one of the last three volume settings, produce a static distortion. Not heard on other smartphones. Google doesn’t seem to know about the problem. DEG Hi-Res Audio Pavillion at CES – The Digital Entertainment Group will […]
MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, (The Marriage of Figaro) (complete opera) – DGG (3)
A fine mid-course addition to what is proving an excellent series. MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, K492 (complete opera) – Thomas Hampson (Conte)/ Sonya Yoncheva (Contessa)/ Angela Brower (Cherubino)/ Christiane Karg (Susanna)/ Luca Pisaroni (Figaro)/ Maurizio Muraro (Bartolo)/ Anne Sofie von Otter (Marcellina)/ Philippe Sly (Antonio)/ Regula Mühlemann (Barbarina)/ Rolando Villazón (Basilio)/ Jean-Paul Fouchécourt (Don […]
“Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG (2 CDs)
A fine follow-up to the Grammified first release. “Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG 479 5201 (2 CDs), 76:44, 80:54 [Distr. by Universal] ****: It’s very nice to hear the BSO back on DGG. It’s […]
Audio News for September 9, 2016
Everything by Mozart Gets 200-CD Set – Decca Classics has now released a massive 200-disc box set for Mozart completlists. DGG also participated in the Universal Music Group release titled Mozart 225: The New Complete Edition, which arrives late next month. It contains all his symphonies, concertos and all 22 operas plus a newly-discovered composition. […]
Gilels in Seattle = Works of BEETHOVEN, CHOPIN, PROKOFIEV, RAVEL, DEBUSSY, STRAVINSKY & BACH – DGG
DGG restores a colossal recital from the Russian legend Gilels. Gilels in Seattle = BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”; CHOPIN: Variations on “La ci darem la mano,” Op. 2; PROKOFIEV: Piano Sonata No. 3 in a minor, Op. 28; Visions fugitives, Op. 22 – excerpts; DEBUSSY: Images, Book I; RAVEL: […]
Martha Argerich Early Recordings (Works of MOZART, BEETHOVEN, PROKOFIEV, RAVEL – DGG (2 discs)
Youthful studio recordings by Martha Argerich provide admirers with several important works added to her discography. Martha Argerich – Early Recordings = MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3; PROKOFIEV: Toccata, Op. 11; Piano Sonata No. 3 in a […]
Triple 9, Blu-ray (2016)
An enjoyable action-thriller with a lot of top stars. Triple 9, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie Director: John Hillcoat Studio: Universal Home Ent. 55179078 [5/31/16] Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 1080i HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 2.0 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French Extras: Deleted Scenes, “Under the Gun,” “An […]
Audio News for June 17, 2016
70% of Music Bought in Sweden is Streamed – Sweden is also the home of Spotify, considered the world leader in the wireless streaming field. Streamed music in Sweden has risen from 57% in 2012 to 70% today. Sales of music overall grew by 12% in the first half of 2016 and have been rising […]
HAYDN: Symphonies Nos. 78, 79, 80 & 81 – Accademia Bizantina/ Ottavio Dantone – Decca (2 CDs)
Beautifully recorded and rendered, these original instrument realizations of rare Haydn symphonies do everyone honor. HAYDN: Symphony No. 78 in c; Symphony No. 79 in F Major; Symphony No. 80 in d; Symphony No. 81 in G Major – Accademia Bizantina/ Ottavio Dantone – Decca 478 8837 (2 CDs), 54:20, 55:10 (2/12/16) [Distr. by Universal] […]
Audio News for May 24, 2016
Facebook Bought VR Audio Firm Two Big Ears and is Making Tech Free to Developers – Facebook and parent company Oculus have announced they will make the new technology free as part of the Facebook 360 Spatial Workshop. Two Big Ears said their mission is to make VR audio succeed across all devices and platforms […]
CHOPIN: Four Ballades; Berceuse in D-flat Major; Four Mazurkas – Yundi Li, piano – DGG
Yundi’s Chopin recital surveys the epic, the poetic, and the intimate with grace and stylistic security. CHOPIN: Four Ballades; Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57; Four Mazurkas, Op. 17 – Yundi Li, piano – DGG 481 2443, 56:00 (2/26/16) [Distr. by Universal] ****: Having become the first Chinese performer ever to win the prestigious Chopin […]
ELGAR: Symphony No. 1 in A-flat Major – Staatskapelle Berlin/ Daniel Barenboim – Decca
Daniel Barenboim revisits the Elgar Symphony No. 1 with fertile and heroic results. ELGAR: Symphony No. 1 in A-flat Major, Op. 55 – Staatskapelle Berlin/ Daniel Barenboim – Decca 478 9353, 51:26 (3/11/16) [Distr. by Universal] ****: Sometimes lauded as “England’s first symphony,” the 1908 Symphony No. 1 in A-flat Major of Sir Edward Elgar […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
