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

[tima]

Esoteric ESSD-9002

As a vinylista I rarely post about digital media. I used to play and collect SACDs and still have my collection. One of the best SACDs I've heard is this Sibelius 1 remastered by Esoteric and released in 2009. Originally this is Decca SXL 6084 from 1964. I recall the Esoteric remasters were hot at one time and went for a premium - don't know where they stand today, but they continue being issued.

Sibelius ... a favorite - what else can one say.

See the Esoteric discography at the Discogs link below:

Esoteric Company

Japanese high-fidelity audio label. Releases both reissued recordings which are remastered using their proprietary process, as well as newly-recorded material utilizing high-quality DSD recording. Their primary focus is on the audiophile. Reissued releases on this label should also include the...

www.discogs.com

 

[tima]

Capriccio 49545

Another SACD offering I found top-notch is this 12 disc (12 symphony) set of Shosty symphonies recorded by Dmitri Kitajenko and the Gürzenich-Orchester from Cologne. German band with Russian conductor. Kitayenko was music director of the Moscow Philharmonic for many years and he know his Shostakovich. This set used to be somewhat hard to come by but today appears plentiful at discogs.

Try "The Year 1917" . If you like the bombastic side of Shosty, here is your piece -- it is indeed revolutionary. Step by ponderous step, the inexorable carapace of proletarian praxis rides athwart the imperial walker of historical inevitability. Listen for a chorus of growling trombones and giant bass drum-strikes in the final movement. There is no joy here, only the inevitable crush of synthesis, the sledgehammer of history delivered in huge dynamic swings of massive timpani whacks and cymbal clashes.

Dmitri Shostakovich, Dmitrij Kitajenko, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln - The Symphonies • Complete Recording

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2005 SACD release of "The Symphonies • Complete Recording" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

 

[Yuen A.]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111. Carol Rosenberger (piano) TopMusic 8001.2 SACD

Carol Rosenberger plays on a Bosendorfer Imperial Concert Grand. She plays with great dynamism, subtlety, expressiveness, emotion and without mannerism. The recording captures the Bosendorfer's distinctive sound with fullness and realism.

 

[Yuen A.]

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer. Channel Classics CCS SA 37016

This is a heartrending performance of Tchaikovsky's 6 Symphony. From bar one and down to the last pulses of the music, Fisher was emotionally honest here. Nothing was exaggerated. Via my sound system, the orchestral sounded like the real thing.

 

[Yuen A.]

Mozart Symphonies Vol. 6 Danish Radio Sinfonietta Adam Fischer (conductor)

Mozart: Symphony No. 19 in E-flat major K.132, Symphony No. 20 in D major K.133, Symphony No. 21 in A major K.134, Symphony No. 26 in E-flat major K.184 (161a) DRS 6.220541 SACD

The Danish Radio Sinfonietta virtuosic and dynamic performances here are breathtaking! Timbres are spot-on. Woodwind harmonies are beautiful and refined. Strings are crystalline, full, sweet, and resonant. Soundstage is huge. Images are life-size.

 

[Yuen A.]

Sergei Rachmaninov Symphony No 2 in E Minor, op.27; Vocalise No, 14, op. 34: Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Ivan Fischer Channel Classics 21604 SACD

Another great performance/recording of the Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2! Silky strings, airy woodwind and blaring brass.

 

[Yuen A.]

Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY The Sleeping Beauty – Ballet in a Prologue and Three Acts James Ehnes (violin); Robert DeMaine (cello); Johannes Wik (harp) Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Neeme Järvi Chandos 5113 (2 SACDs)

Wow, what an emotional 155 minutes of roller-coaster ride! Neeme Järvi was on steroids. This is a superb performance/recording. The soundstage is huge, wide, deep and utterly transparent. Orchestral texture and color sounded pure and lifelike. Hall ambience was realistically captured. Dynamics/slams/fortissimos were awesome, thrilling and effortless via my sound system.

 

[Yuen A.]

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Firebird Suite. Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer (Channel Classics 32112 SACD)​

A great demonstration disc! Amazing soundstaging and imaging. Astonishing tonal accuracy and lifelike dynamics. Exceptional details.

 

[Yuen A.]

Whirling Dance - Works for Flute and Traditional Chinese Orchestra
CHUNG YIU-KWONG - Whirling Dance; Flute Concerto
MA SHUI-LONG - Bamboo Flute Concerto
TRADITIONAL - Various Chinese Melodies
Sharon Bezaly, flute / Chung Yiu-Kwong, conductor / Taipei Chinese Orchestra
BIS SACD-1759

East meets West. World class performance by flautist, Sharon Bezaly. Three-dimensional soundstage. Awesome sound. The drums in particular sounded real and resonant!

 

[Yuen A.]

Only possible? Really. What about all the other hi end forum member sysytems on WBF? I guess I will pass on your recommends since I do not have your gear listed above. However I might reconsider since I listen to the message and not the messenger.

Hi, Yes, this observation is based on my personal experiences via a particular upgrading path I took. However, I notice that a quite a sizeable number of audiophile has similar observation also. Having said that, I am not implying that only this particular sound system can achieved this level of sound quality.

 

[Yuen A.]

Alison Chaney (soprano) Ola Gjeilo (piano) Ted Belledin (tenor saxophone)
Phoenix Chorale/Charles Bruffy Harrington String Quartet
CHANDOS CHSA 5100 SACD

Ecstatic and emotive choral works by Ola Gjeilo. The Phoenix Chorale performs superbly. However, I do not like the piano part of the first track (The Ground). The rest of the tracks are great.

 

[Tuckers]

Any good Wagner works qualify?

 

[Argonaut]

Any good Wagner works qualify?

Wagner: The Golden Ring (SACD review)

Wagner: The Golden Ring (SACD review) Great Scenes from Der Ring Des Nibelungen. Various singers; Georg Solti, Vienna Philharmonic. Decca SACD 485 336

classicalcandor.blogspot.com

 

[Yuen A.]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92; Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri Overture Budapest Festival Orchestra/Iván Fischer Channel Classics CCSSA 25207 SACD

The Seventh here ranks among the best ever recorded. Listen especially to the Allegro con brio (track 4). The finale is tremendously exciting and exhausting!

Listen also to the Rossini's Overture. A short (8 mins) demonstration quality piece. Absolutely amazing! Awesome dynamics/fortissimos/transients/ bassline/timbre accuracy/purity via my sound system! Amazing control and precision by the Budapest players. Everything here sounded like the real thing. Play loudly. (Listening volume: -19dB of the maximum volume)

 

[Tuckers]

Wagner: The Golden Ring (SACD review)

Wagner: The Golden Ring (SACD review) Great Scenes from Der Ring Des Nibelungen. Various singers; Georg Solti, Vienna Philharmonic. Decca SACD 485 336

classicalcandor.blogspot.com

WOW! One of the most dynamic/uncompressed recordings I've heard!!! A+++

 

[Argonaut]

WOW! One of the most dynamic/uncompressed recordings I've heard!!! A+++

I am pleased that you like it

 

[Yuen A.]

Beethoven Symphony #5 in C minor, Op. 67 Symphony #7 in A Major, Op. 92

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Manfred Honeck
Reference Recordings FR-718 SACD​

To me, this is the best performance/recording of Beethoven Symphony No. 5. Period. Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra fresh approach has enabled us to listen to this work anew. The sound is weighty. The soundstage is huge. Fortissimos/dynamics are awesome. The strings, woodwinds and brass are magnificent.

 

[Yuen A.]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 Brahms: Symphony No. 2 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons RCO 05002 SACD​

Another great sounding recording - naturally warm and weighty, just like the real thing (the baseline especially)!

 

[Yuen A.]

Johann Sebastian Bach Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (arr. Dmitry Sitkovetsky) Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Gould HARMONIA MUNDI 807633 SACD

This is a beautiful and emotive piece of work by Bach. The Britten Sinfonia performs superbly. This DSD recording is amazingly detailed and focused. The string instruments sounded tangible and real!

 

[Yuen A.]

JS Bach: Oboe Concertos Alexei Ogrintchouk (oboe/director), Alina Ibragimova (violin) Swedish Chamber Orchestra BIS SACD1769​

Wonderful and masterful performances of J. S. Bach's works by Alexei Ogrintchouk. Beautifully and expressively phrased. The recording is superb. The soundstage is huge and wide (wall to wall) and hall ambience is well captured here.