State-of-the-Art Recordings of Classical Works (SACDs)

Jean SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor Op.47 (1903 revised 1905) Serenade in G minor Op.69b Christian SINDING Violin Concerto No.1 in A major Op.45 Romance in D major Op.100 Henning Kraggerud (violin) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Bjarte Engeset (NAXOS 6.110056 SACD) A Relisten

These are wonderful recordings! Transparent, lifelike, dynamic, rich, melancholic but beautiful. The soundscape is immense and three-dimensional. ClassicsToday says: "Henning Kraggerud is a risk-taker, which mostly is a good thing. In the Sibelius he plays with tremendous intensity and feeling, particularly in the extremely fleet finale, which, thanks to Bjarte Engeset’s pinpoint precision, lacks nothing in rhythmic clarity (note the rhythm in the strings and timpani at the outset). Elsewhere, such as the first-movement cadenza, or the climax toward the end of the slow movement, Kraggerud’s passionate take on the music makes it sound as though life and death issues really are at stake, despite some roughness of tone now and again. It’s a distinctive performance, made only more attractive by the presence of the Serenade in G minor. The Christian Sinding Violin Concerto also is delightful–decidedly Nordic in feeling, fresh as a spring day, and not a note too long."

Franz LISZT Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat major, S.124, R.455, Piano Concerto No.2 in A major, S.125 Totentanz (Dance of death or Dance macabre), Paraphrase on the ‘Dies irae’ for piano and orchestra, S.126, R.457 Arnaldo Cohen (piano) São Paulo Symphony Orchestra/John Neschling (BIS-SACD-1530) A Relisten

Today is the first time I played this album via my upgraded DAC and it was like listening to a totally new recording. What is more, these recordings/performances of the Liszt's piano concertos are now the best in my collection. The soundscape is really huge (wall to wall and floor to ceiling) and alive. Previously, I found the sound quality of these recordings just so-so. ClassicsToday says: "before we give a disc a 10/10 rating we often consult to see if we agree. ... When it comes to repertoire very frequently recorded, such as the Liszt piano concertos, we often try to be extra careful, to be particularly clear about our reasons for awarding a new release our highest accolade. In this particular case, I had an extensive discussion with my colleague Christophe Huss, who operates CTFrance.com. We both agreed that these performances were unusually excellent, with Christophe a bit more enthusiastic about them than I was. Clearly, Arnaldo Cohen is an exceptional Liszt pianist; he tackles all three works with consummate virtuosity and intelligence. Rapid passagework, such as the scherzo section of Piano Concerto No. 1, truly sparkles. The cadenzas in Totentanz are brilliant without turning noisy or vulgar. The Second Concerto possesses a rare cogency arising primarily from Cohen’s ability to inflect a phrase without slowing down for effect or sacrificing the long arc of melody."

Johannes BRAHMS Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 Jonathan Plowright (piano)
(BIS-SACD-2047)

This is exactly how a Steinway D should sound like (a powerful resonant sound, with deep bass, sparkling, crystal-clear high notes, and a greater variety of tone, color and richness) and you got it all in these recordings! This is also one of the finest performances of the piano sonata no. 3.