Editorial Product Review: :These are 'live' recordings in more ways than one: not only were they made under concert conditions, with plenty of audience noise, but the pickup is uncommonly bright, conveying lots of reflected sound and stage ambiance. The Amadeus Quartet turns in dependably stylish, well-thought-out performances, though there's little here that's exceptional. Martin Lovett, the group's cellist, comes off as a weaker player than his colleagues in places, while the quartet's guiding spirit, first violinist Norbert Brainin, proves erratic when it comes to rhythm, though his pitch in these vintage 1960-71 airchecks is ...
Editorial Product Review: :The playing of The Raphael Ensemble is wonderfully polished, and the account these young musicians deliver has lots of voltage behind it. The opening is extremely atmospheric--hauntingly stark and subdued--but the climactic pages that come later in the piece have rarely been as intensely presented. Hyperion's 1990 recording is outstanding, and the coupling, Korngold's excellent D-major sextet, receives a marvelous performance from the group that rediscovered it. --Ted Libbey
Editorial Product Review: :This the fourth in Praga's series under the rubric of 'Czech Degenerate Music,' the term 'degenerate' being an ironic reference to the Nazi's perverse label for Jewish artists and musical styles that they deemed undesirable. Schulhoff died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1942; his music was largely forgotten until recently, when it became apparent that he was among the era's most talented composers. The 1924-1925 works here are neoclassical, with bracing touches of expressionistic angst and sardonic humor. Influences include jazz, Czech folk dance, Stravinsky, and modern French composers (Poulenc and ...
Editorial Product Review: :This the fourth in Praga's series under the rubric of 'Czech Degenerate Music,' the term 'degenerate' being an ironic reference to the Nazi's perverse label for Jewish artists and musical styles that they deemed undesirable. Schulhoff died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1942; his music was largely forgotten until recently, when it became apparent that he was among the era's most talented composers. The 1924-1925 works here are neoclassical, with bracing touches of expressionistic angst and sardonic humor. Influences include jazz, Czech folk dance, Stravinsky, and modern French composers (Poulenc and ...
Editorial Product Review: :This the fourth in Praga's series under the rubric of 'Czech Degenerate Music,' the term 'degenerate' being an ironic reference to the Nazi's perverse label for Jewish artists and musical styles that they deemed undesirable. Schulhoff died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1942; his music was largely forgotten until recently, when it became apparent that he was among the era's most talented composers. The 1924-1925 works here are neoclassical, with bracing touches of expressionistic angst and sardonic humor. Influences include jazz, Czech folk dance, Stravinsky, and modern French composers (Poulenc and ...
Editorial Product Review: :This the fourth in Praga's series under the rubric of 'Czech Degenerate Music,' the term 'degenerate' being an ironic reference to the Nazi's perverse label for Jewish artists and musical styles that they deemed undesirable. Schulhoff died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1942; his music was largely forgotten until recently, when it became apparent that he was among the era's most talented composers. The 1924-1925 works here are neoclassical, with bracing touches of expressionistic angst and sardonic humor. Influences include jazz, Czech folk dance, Stravinsky, and modern French composers (Poulenc and ...
On paper, the Mio DigiWalker P550 looks to be an attractive gadget for the mobile professional, combining the capabilities of a PDA and GPS into one device. However, its poor battery life and subpar navigation skills tell a different story.
Though it won't appeal to the masses quite yet, the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is a nice, portable device for on-the-go Web browsing, and it has some worthy upgrades.
Though it's expensive, the Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P delivers a great combination of business and entertainment features, long battery life, and unparalleled connectivity in an incredibly ultraportable package.