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

[Yuen A.]

Prokofiev: Sonata for Flute and Piano Op. 94, Schubert: Variations "Trockne Blumen" D.802, Dutilleux: Sonatina, Jolivet: Chant de Linos
Sharon Bezaly (flute) Ronald Brautigam (piano) BIS-SACD-1429

Wow, Bezaly plays seductively here while Brautigam has a mix of passion and power. As flute recordings go, these recordings really does capture the velvet and steel of the instrument.

 

[Yuen A.]

Verdi Messa Da Requiem Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Riccardo Muti Chicago Symphony Chorus, Duane Wolfe directing; Barbara Frittoli, Olga Borodina, Mario Zeffiri and Ildar Abdrazakov (vocal soloists) CSO-Resound CSOR 901 1008 SACD (A Relisten)

This is the best and the most insightful, dynamic, effortless, transparent, heartbreaking, atmospheric and nuance recording of the Verdi Messa Da Requiem in my collection! The soundscape is immense. The orchestra, chorus and soloists sounded real and three-dimensional. It imparts a you-are-there feeling. Play very loud.

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[Yuen A.]

Robert Schummann Symphonies No. 1 & 2 Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Lawrence Foster PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 326 SACD

A wonderful interpretation, performance and recording of the Symphony No. 1 by Lawrence Foster and the Czech Philharmonic. The sound is lifelike, airy and resonant.

 

[Yuen A.]

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor & Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Denis Matsuev (piano)
The Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev MARIINSKY MAR 0548 SACD (A Relisten)

Wow, probably the best performances/recordings of the piano concertos nos. 1 & 2. The orchestra and the piano sounded like the real thing!

 

[Yuen A.]

Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto no.1 in B flat minor op.23 Nikolai Karlovich MEDTNER Piano Concerto no.1 in C minor op.33
Liebliches Kind!, from Nine Goethe Songs op.6 (transcribed for solo piano by Yevgeny Sudbin) Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) Sāo Paulo Symphony Orchestra/John Neschling BIS SACD-1588

A world-class performance by Neschling/Sāo Paulo Symphony. Sudbin's playing was stunning, virtuosic and sensitive. Via my sound system, the orchestra and piano sounded real!

 

[Yuen A.]

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique", Dumka The Philadelphia Orchestra Christoph Eschenbach Ondine ODE 1131-5 SACD (A Relisten)

I was not impressed with this performance/recording prior to updating my DAC. However, my impression has changed. The performance now has tremendous energy, power, drama and passion. The Philadelphia Orchestra plays superbly (this is among the finest and most expressive playing). The double basses have tremendous weight and presence. Play loud.

 

[Yuen A.]

Wagner Two Symphonies, Huldigungsmarsch, Overture to Rienzi, Kaisermarsch Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi CHANDOS CHSA 5097 SACD

Wow, this disc is among the most lifelike, transparent, dynamic, nuanced, airy, resonant, timbrally rich and accurate DSD recording! Listen especially to tract 7 & 8. The performances are world-class and are very enjoyable. Play very loud.

 

[jeffreybehr]

View attachment 133205
Wagner Two Symphonies, Huldigungsmarsch, Overture to Rienzi, Kaisermarsch Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi CHANDOS CHSA 5097 SACD

Wow, this disc is among the most lifelike, transparent, dynamic, nuanced, airy, resonant, timbrally rich and accurate DSD recording! Listen especially to tract 7 & 8. The performances are world-class and are very enjoyable. Play very loud.

CHANDOS records in 96/24 PCM, one of the things I hate about them...massed strings seldom sound any good.. But I own lots of these recordings for the music!

 

[Birdwatcher]

I have this recording available in a dsd 64 file. This is indeed a great piano recording: both piano’s ‘tinkle’ in a very lifelike way. Top notch sound.

If you hear two pianos, then something is wrong in your system. ;-)
This is a recording with piano duo, not for two pianos! So please don’t search for the second piano, there is just one!

 

[Audiocrack]

If you hear two pianos, then something is wrong in your system. ;-)
This is a recording with piano duo, not for two pianos! So please don’t search for the second piano, there is just one!

You are completely right: wrote my reaction too quickly and should have written: both players tinkle in a very lifelike way.

 

[Yuen A.]

LANG LANG: HAYDN SONATA E MAJOR, RACHMANINOFF SONATA No. 2 in B FLAT MINOR, BRAHMS SIX PIECES Op.118, Tchaikovsky Dumka, Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor, Islamey (Oriental Fantasy) Telarc SACD 60524 (A Relisten)

This is one of the most lifelike piano recording! The piano has tremendous weight and presence. Even the applause at the end of each selection sounded so real.

 

[Yuen A.]

Chopin Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, op. 35; 12 Etudes, op. 10; Barcarolle, op. 60. Nelson Freire (piano) Decca 475 6617 SACD (A multi-channel 96 kHz/24 bit PCM recording) (A Relisten)

Before updating my DAC, I found these performances lacking frisson and brilliance. But not today. It now sounded thrilling and alive!

 

[Yuen A.]

Sergei PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 100 Denis Matsuev (piano)
Mariinsky Orchestra/Valery Gergiev MARIINSKY 0549 SACD (A Relisten)

Wow, this is one of the most enjoyable discs I have heard recently! The climaxes are thrilling, the woodwinds are enchanting, and the strings shimmer. The visceral impact of the percussion is astonishing. "The bass drum sounds like earth-shaking artillery, the cymbals like bursting shells; the effect is hair-raising." The piano and orchestra have tremendous presence. The mad dash to the finish has never been done better in the 5th symphony! Play loud.

 

[Yuen A.]

Elgar/Payne Symphony No 3; Pomp and Circumstance March No 6; So Many True Princesses, Adrian Partington Singers/BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox Chandos CHSA 5057 SACD

The sound is spectacular with a huge soundscape and a wonderful sense of spaciousness and transparency. Instrument timbre is spot-on. The performances are world-class.

 

[Yuen A.]

Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D major Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Bernard Haitink CSO-RESOUND 901 904 SACD (A Relisten)

The sound has great weight and power. The wonderful main theme is beautifully done, extremely delicate. The playing has great refinement and emotion. When the opening tumult returns it’s thrilling. The finale has grandeur.

 

[Yuen A.]

Weber Symphony No.2 in C major, Andante e Rondo Ungarese for bassoon and orchestra Concerto in F major for Bassoon and Orchestra, Symphony No.1 in C major, Jaakko Luoma (bassoon) Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow BIS-SACD-1620

A very lifelike, dynamic, colorful, detailed and transparent recording of the Weber symphonies.

 

[Yuen A.]

VERDI Requiem - Amara, Forrester, Tucker, London (soloists) Philadelphia Orchestra/Westminster Choir/Eugene Ormandy - Sony Classical SACD SS 707

The soundscape is huge! The voices have amazing presence. The bass drum is powerful, deep and resonant. Dynamics and transients are explosive and without distortion. The four soloists are in top form and Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra deliver both the drama and the lyricism of this very impressive work!

 

[Yuen A.]

Rachmaninov Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3, Constantin Scherbakov (piano), Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky, Naxos 6.110013 SACD (A Relisten)

To me, this is the best version of the Rachmaninov 2. The piano has awesome presence, the sound is sweet and rich, dynamics are stunning, and the orchestral climaxes have clarity and impact.

 

[Yuen A.]

Lavinia Meijer, Harp, Fantasies and Impromptus by Spohr, Fauré, Pierné, Saint-Saëns, Roussel and Glière. Channel Classics SA 31711 SACD

These recordings of the harp are some of the most realistic. "Her tone is luscious and richly expressive - she captures every particle of nuance in the music."

 

[Yuen A.]

Three Choral Suites: Ben-Hur / Quo Vadis / King of Kings Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Erich Kunzel Telarc SACD 60631 (A Relisten)​

Wow, this is a very enjoyable disc! The soundscape is immense and the recording captures the brass instruments, the strings and the percussion perfectly. It is also totally transparent, lifelike, very dynamic and effortless. Play very loud.

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