State-of-the-Art Recordings of Classical Works (SACDs)
- Thread starter Yuen A.
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My favorites are the Dialog and Epilog discs which are not SACD but are delightful re-imaginings of generally obscure Schubert.
speaking of obscure I have both the Dialog and Epilog along with Symphonies as a set (non-SACD) on the Tudor label.
Attachments
Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E minor Op. 95 "New World", Tchaikovsky "Romeo and Juliet" Fantasy Overture Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam/Yakov Kreizberg PentaTone PTC 5186 019 SACD (A Relisten)
Here, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra performance is nothing short of stunning and equally important is that the orchestra sounded (via my sound system) like the real thing in a resonant hall with a lifelike string tone and bursts of lifelike brass and percussion. The bassline also sounded realistic.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 in G major Op. 58 Piano Sonata in C sharp minor Op.27 No. 2 (Moonlight) Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major Op.110 Dejan Lazic (piano) Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti CHANNEL CLASSICS CCS SA 30511 SACD
Lazic's approach to the 4th piano concerto is a fresh and distinctive one and I love it! The first movement of the “Moonlight” sonata is exquisite, as is the piano sonata no. 31. The sound is first-rate, i.e., lifelike, and the Steinway D Concert Grand sparkle throughout the performances.
Johannes Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem Genia Kühmeier (soprano); Gerald Finley (bass) Netherlands Radio Choir Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Mariss Jansons RCO LIVE RCO15003 SACD (A Relisten)
This Ein Deutsches Requiem is among the very best. The recording is atmospheric. The soundscape is huge. The transparency of the Concertgebouw and the orchestra is amazing. Every strand is audible. The strings and woodwinds are luminous, emotive and heartrending.
Im Herbst Choral Works By Brahms & Schubert Det Norske Solistkor Grete Pedersen BIS 1869 SACD (A Relisten)
If you love choral works, this is a disc for you. The performances are superb. As for the sound quality, if you close your eyes, it is easy to think that you are listening to the real thing. Listening volume: very loud.
Franz Liszt Funérailles from Etudes d'éxécution transcendante Nos 10 & 11; Sonetti del Petrarca; Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre; Maurice Ravel Gaspard de la nuit. Yevgeny Sudbin, piano BIS 1828 SACD (A Relisten)
Wow, this disc is the most realistic recording of the Steinway Model D Concert Grand piano! Via my updated DAC, the reproduction of the grand piano here is indistinguishable from the real thing. Oddly, before the DAC update, I relegated this disc to the so-so category. Now, the dynamics, timbre, etc. are awesome, perfect! As to the performances, Sudbin virtuosity is amazing. His Liszt Funérailles is dazzling, breathless and vivid. Every note 'sing'!
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, Swan Lake Suite Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra (Nordnorsk Symfoniorkester) Christian Lindberg BIS 2018 SACD (A Relisten)
Wow, Christian Lindberg was on steroids. His rendering of the symphony is fresh, vivid, very dynamic and insightful. The strings players and the brass especially gave it their all. The sound is excellent. The soundscape is huge, transparent and detailed. Interestingly, previously and before the DAC firmware upgrade, I relegated this disc to the so-so category. However, this afternoon, my assessment is markedly different.
Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Andante Cantabile Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 Bruch Kol Nidrei Pieter Wispelwey, cello
Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen/Daniel Sepec, leader Channel Classics Catalogue No. CCSSA16501 SACD (A Relisten)
Here, the cello tone is rich and velvety and the recordings bring out a realistic sense of bow and strings. The performances are also excellent.
Attachments
Sergei Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 Sonata for Solo Violin in D major, Op.115 Arabella Steinbacher (violin) Russian National Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko PENTATONE CLASSICS PTC 5186 395 SACD
Wow, these recordings are hugely satisfying! The recordings are totally transparent, detailed, three-dimensional, vivid, palpable and yearning. The Stradivari violin shimmer. The virtuosity of the players and the explosion of passionate lyricism are everywhere evident.
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 4; Mass in G minor; Six Choral Songs. London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Richard Hickox. CHANDOS CHSA 5003 SACD
These are some of the most lifelike recordings ever produced! Here, the symphony No. 4, is one of the most exciting rendition of the work. "Better still is the sublime Mass in G minor‚ which receives a reading of ravishing liquidity and heartfelt radiance from Hickox’s handpicked a cappella group‚ and which‚ of all three works here‚ is obviously most ideally suited to the generous church acoustic." (Gramophone)
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, Allegro appassionato, Op. 70, Rhapsodie d'Auvergne, Op. 73, etc., Alexandre Kantorow (piano) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow BIS 2400 SACD
Alexandre Kantorow is a phenomenal pianist. His virtuosity is breathtaking! Listen especially to the piano concertos no. 2 and the Rhapsodie d'Auvergen. Here, the sounds is warm and resonant yet crystal clear.
Frédéric CHOPIN Piano Sonata No.2, Op. 35 Ballade No. 1, Op. 23 allade No. 2, Op. 38 Ballade No. 3, Op. 47
Ballade No. 4, Op. 52 Fantaisie, Op. 49 Angela Brownridge (piano) CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72728 SACD (A Relisten)
Gramophone rightly says: "Angela Brownridge's robust and colourful pianism will quickly quash anyone's mental image of Chopin as weak and tubercular." Yes, these performances are some of the most dynamic on disc! The sound is state-of-the-art.
MAURICE DURUFLÉ Requiem Op. 9, etc. The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. English Sinfonia, Bill Ives, director. (A Relisten)
Prior to updating my DAC firmware, I found this disc sounded veiled. But not today. It sounded lifelike!
ClassicsToday nicely summed up what I want to say about this disc: "This recording, which uses Duruflé’s 1961 version for choir, small orchestra, and organ, is authoritatively and affectingly sung, with some super solo work in the Pie Jesu from countertenor Magid El-Bushra, exquisite tenor sound and singing throughout, and sublime trebles, especially at the opening of the In Paradisum. And the appropriate atmosphere–contemplation, exaltation, prayer, and reassurance–is enhanced by the perfect balance of all the performing forces (not an easy task!) in a spacious, vibrant acoustic. It all adds up to one of the best Duruflé Requiems on disc."
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Denis Matsuev, piano. Mariinsky Orchestra/Valery Gergiev MAR 0599 SACD (A Relisten)
Wow, these are the most lifelike and dynamic recordings of the Rachmaninov/Prokofiev piano concerto no. 2 in my collection! However, before my DAC firmware update, it wasn't as lifelike and dynamic as now. Matsuev's performances here are stunning and dazzling!
Sergei Taneyev At the Reading of A Psalm cantata No. 2 St Petersburg Cappella Choir, Boys Choir of the Glinka Choral Academy, Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev PentaTone PTC5186 038 SACD
Wow, the performances here are world-class and the sound is lifelike. Thrilling!
I am mostly buying on Amazon or jpc. cdjapan for Sacds that are only distributed in Japan.
ebay or Discogs for out of print media.
ebay or Discogs for out of print media.
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