Archive for the ‘SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews’ Category
ALAN HOVHANESS: From the Ends of the Earth – Gloriæ Dei Cantores/ Elizabeth C. Patterson – Gloriæ Dei CantoresPublished on May 21, 2012
A long overdue survey of long overlooked music.
BRITTEN: Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings; Nocturne for tenor, seven obbligato instruments and strings; FINZI: Dies Natalis – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Stephen Bell, horn/ Britten Sinfonia/ Jacqueline Shave – Harmonia mundiPublished on May 21, 2012
Excellent readings of Britten and Finzi that rank with the very best on record.
JÖRG HERCHET: Das Geistliche Jahr: Four Cantatas – Meißner Kantorei 1961/ Ensemble vocal modern/ Christfried Brödel – querstand (SACD + CD)Published on May 17, 2012
This is important, often deeply disquieting, contemporary music.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2; RODION SHCHEDRIN: Piano Con. No. 5 – Denis Matsuev, p./ Mariinsky Orchestra/ Valery Gergiev – MariinskyPublished on May 17, 2012
A great match up for two disparate composers, with superb performances.
LASSE THORESEN: Himmelkvad (Vocal Sextet, Op. 42 and Helligkvad, Op. 19) – Berit Opheim Versto, vocalist/ Nordic Voices – 2L (Blu-ray + CD)Published on May 17, 2012
Involving and affective music that probes the soul and prods the emotions.
ARVO PÄRT: Creator Spiritus – Theatre of Voices/ Ars Nova Copenhagen/ Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, organ/ NYYD Quartet/ Paul Hillier – Harmonia mundiPublished on May 17, 2012
There have been a lot, but this is one of the very best of the recent Pärt releases.
* STRAVINSKY: Rite of Spring; Firebird Suite; Scherzo; Tango – Budapest Festival Orch./ Ivan Fischer – Channel ClassicsPublished on May 07, 2012
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
ZOLTAN KODALY: Hary Janos Suite; Dances of Galanta; 2 Arias from Hary Janos – London Sym. Orch./ Istvan Kertesz/ Olga Szonyi, sop. – Decca/HDTT 96/24 DVDPublished on May 05, 2012
Exciting Hungarian-flavored works in superb fidelity.
![“Alte Meister” = Works of MUFFAT, WALTHER, BUXTEHUDE, J.S. BACH, PACHELBEL, STRUNGK & KERIL in arr. by Karl Straube [TrackList follows] – MD&G Scene](http://audaud.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AlteMeisterSA.jpg "“Alte Meister” = Works of MUFFAT, WALTHER, BUXTEHUDE, J.S. BACH, PACHELBEL, STRUNGK & KERIL in arr. by Karl Straube [TrackList follows] – MD&G Scene")
“Alte Meister” = Works of MUFFAT, WALTHER, BUXTEHUDE, J.S. BACH, PACHELBEL, STRUNGK & KERIL in arr. by Karl Straube [TrackList follows] – MD&G ScenePublished on May 03, 2012
“Alte Meister” = Works of MUFFAT, WALTHER, BUXTEHUDE, J.S. BACH, PACHELBEL, STRUNGK & KERIL in arr. by Karl Straube [TrackList follows] – MD&G Scene multichannel (2+2+2) SACD MDG 946 1740-6, [Distr. by E1] 75:35 ****: This organ album is sort of like the Leopold Stokowski arrangements of familiar Bach works for full orchestra. Karl Straube [...]
WAGNER: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (complete opera) – Soloists/Rundfunk Sym., Berlin/ Marek Janowski – PentaTone (4 discs)Published on April 27, 2012
Excellent work from the chorus and orchestra, plus generally reliable singing from the soloists in this beautifully recorded Meistersinger.