Resent articles by the "Sensible Sound" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:28:25 GMT360http://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Philharmonic+Ball%3a+Music+by+Johann+and+Josef+Strauss.-a0178450788
Philharmonic Ball: Music by Johann and Josef Strauss. Willi Boskovsky, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. LIM XR24 019.

In the booklet insert, Winston Ma, the owner and producer of the high-end label First Impression Music, tells us that friends encouraged him to "have at least one of Johann Strauss's Waltz albums from the Decca catalog since these are such famous recordings."...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mendelssohn%3a+Violin+Concerto+in+E+minor%3b+Bruch%3a+Romance+in+F+for...-a0178450787
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor; Bruch: Romance in F for viola and orchestra; Violin Concerto No. 1. Janine Jansen, violin; Riccardo Chailly, Gewandhausorchester. Decca B0007260-2.

It's hard to argue with success, especially when you're a virtuoso violinist and a beautiful woman like Janine Jansen. However, it's hard to tell just which quality Decca is selling here,...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mendelssohn%3a+Songs+Without+Words.-a0178450786
Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (selection), arranged for violin and piano by Friedrich Hermann. Alex Strauss, violin; Cord Garben, piano. Naxos 8.570213.

Even if you don't think you've ever heard any of Mendelssohn's piano works called Songs Without Words, the pieces in which he wrote down some musical ideas that he said could not be verbalized, you will undoubtedly...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mahler%3a+Symphony+No.+9%3b+Richard+Strauss%3a+Metamorphosen%3b+Death+and...-a0178450785
Mahler: Symphony No. 9; Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen; Death and Transfiguration. Otto Klemperer, New Philharmonia and Philharmonia Orchestras. EMI 0946 3 80003 2 7.

EMI issued this 1967 Mahler Ninth recording a few years back in their "Klemperer Legacy" series, but I never had the chance to buy or hear it. Which means I hadn't heard it since its old LP days and had...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mahler%3a+Symphony+No.+5.-a0178450784
Mahler: Symphony No. 5. James DePreist, London Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 8.557990.

A friend of mine was commenting recently on how the cost of the formerly budget-priced Naxos releases has inched to within a few dollars or what we normally regard as the mid-price range. It's true; as of this writing Naxos discs were selling at a list price of $8.99, which means their competition...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mahler%3a+Symphony+No.+1.-a0178450783
Mahler: Symphony No. 1. Sir Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Decca Originals 475 8230.

At the moment, my favorite Mahler First is still Sir Charles Mackerras's on EMI Eminence, but certainly this 1984 recording from another "Sir," Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony, can't be far behind. It has all the control, symphonic structure, intensity, and...]]>Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Krommer+and+Spohr%3a+Clarinet+Concertos.-a0178450782
Krommer and Spohr: Clarinet Concertos. Sabine Meyer and Julian Bliss, clarinets; Kenneth Sillito, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. EMI Classics 0946 3 79786 2 7.

Things begin in the lightest possible mood with Franz Krommer's Concerto for Two Clarinets (1815). The opening movement is as frothy as it could be, the two young clarinetists, Sabine Meyer and Julian...]]>