SPOTLIGHT The classical music general discussion thread

[RustyM]

It doesn't look like there's a general thread for discussing multichannel classical music, whether in this or that format, from this or that label, or with this or that many channels, etc, so I thought I'd start one myself so we can talk about the this and that of multichannel classical music. I'll start it off:

Ralph pointed me in the direction of this Sibelius 5-SACD/1-blu ray disc box set the other day and although I've yet to play the multichannel options (I play new music in stereo first to find out whether I like it and because I'm a Sibelius newbie, as it were, stereo options are up first), I'm coming to the conclusion that this might be the bargain the century as it's currently £20.24 delivered - that works out at £3.37 per disc! I have no reference as to whether the performances are good but I'm mighty impressed with what I've heard so far; I've got one more to disc to play before I play the multichannel options, whereupon I'll update the thread accordingly.

That's me - what about you? What have you bought, heard, enjoyed or disliked recently and/or over the years when it comes to multichannel classical music?

Oh, and fwiw, my favourite symphony is Mahler's 3rd as performed by Abbado-Lucerne Festival Orchestra as seen and heard on this blu ray in 5.1

Thank you for starting this thread. I would like to share with you what happened to me last week. I was listening to The Alan Parsons Project, Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe, and was captured by The Fall Of The House Of User: 1. Prelude. The DTS-HD 5.1 sounded so amazing that I thought I should investigate to see if some of my favorite classical pieces are on BR-A. I was happy to find Holst: The Planets with William Steinberg conductiong the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Richard Strauss' Also Spach Zarathustra is also included. Magnificent. I don't think there is a surround poll for this, but I would give it a 10. =)

 

[ubertrout]

Thank you for starting this thread. I would like to share with you what happened to me last week. I was listening to The Alan Parsons Project, Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe, and was captured by The Fall Of The House Of User: 1. Prelude. The DTS-HD 5.1 sounded so amazing that I thought I should investigate to see if some of my favorite classical pieces are on BR-A. I was happy to find Holst: The Planets with William Steinberg conductiong the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Richard Strauss' Also Spach Zarathustra is also included. Magnificent. I don't think there is a surround poll for this, but I would give it a 10. =)

It's available on blu-ray too. Great one: The Planets / Also sprach Zarathustra (1971) Quadraphonic Blu-ray Audio from DG. Shame they didn't include the Hindemith as quad bonus tracks though.

 

[relaxing]

What 2L release do people recommend to experience Atmos? I first came across 2L in Sound On Sound magazine, and they do seem like an interesting set-up: Mixing Atmos: Morten Lindberg

If you like choral music, Himmelrand is incredible. The compositions are interesting without being too far out there, and the detail in the recording is a delight. When the ensemble breathes together you hear the individual breaths across the heights.

 

[mkt]

A nice find in the Pentatone 50% off sale. Download in surround, does not seem to have been on SACD.
https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/mon-ami-mon-amour-french-repertoire-for-cello-and-piano/

 

[4-earredwonder]

Coming September 15th from CHANDOS on 2 Multi~CH SACDs ... The World Premiere COMPLETE East End Production of OKLAHOMA including all musical cues conducted by John Wilson. Also recorded in Dolby Atmos for streaming and/or a future BD~A release:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9511567--rodgers-hammerstein-oklahoma

 

[mkt]

Coming September 15th from CHANDOS on 2 Multi~CH SACDs ... The World Premiere COMPLETE East End Production of OKLAHOMA including all musical cues conducted by John Wilson. Also recorded in Dolby Atmos for streaming and/or a future BD~A release:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9511567--rodgers-hammerstein-oklahoma

Two tracks to preview in spatial audio

 

[ubertrout]

Got to do some listening this weekend! The Honeck recording of the Beethoven 6th Symphony and the Saint-Saens 4th Piano Concerto with Kantorow. Really enjoyed both - the Saint-Saens 4th Piano Concerto is one of my favorite classical indulgences anyway.

Also been listening - not in surround - to Hilary Hahn's new disc of the Ysaye solo violin sonatas. Great stuff.

 

[Blackwood]

I’m listening to this album this morning (not in surround, although I would think it’s in surround somewhere on Apple Music) and every time I hear the beginning of Clarinet Quintet K. 581, I immediately think of the final episode of M*A*S*H.

The musical plot line with Winchester throughout the episode and how it ended was very moving.

 

[Lute]

I watched a Classical music/travel program that went down the Danube river the other day. The part in Hungary was particularly interesting so I‘ve been enjoying some Bartok in Quad.

 

[ubertrout]

I watched a Classical music/travel program that went down the Danube river the other day. The part in Hungary was particularly interesting so I‘ve been enjoying some Bartok in Quad.

View attachment 95487

I recall this disc being transferred at an extremely low level, not sure if that's right. Needs the volume way up. I think it was Pentatone's last quad issue and it may have been done in a somewhat perfunctory way.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Watching Michael Fremer's recent interview conducted in UMG's IRON MOUNTAIN underground vaults, I was struck when he came across some ANGEL Records and casually exclaimed that Capitol/EMI was incapable of releasing decent LP pressings during that period when Angel released literally hundreds of 'poorly pressed' SQ encoded vinyl. I thought it was my rinky dink turntable of that period when each Angel SQ LP I placed on it was rife with horrible ticks and pops making the disc almost unplayable. And after returning dozens of them to my local record store for 'replacements' I was only met with MORE of the SAME. And Fremer did admit .... the recordings themselves were sonically stunning ...it's the poor replication on vinyl that was suspect.

Now that WARNER owns the EMI/Angel Classical label and is NOW embarking on releasing their Rock/Pop/Jazz QUAD catalogue on Pure Audio BD~A in 192/24 resolution, am wishing and hoping that Warner's classical division will eventually do the same for its abundant and exquisite ANGEL SQ back catalogue.

Quadraphonic Discography "Classical Recordings - Complete List" [look under ANGEL]

 

[Lute]

I recall this disc being transferred at an extremely low level, not sure if that's right. Needs the volume way up. I think it was Pentatone's last quad issue and it may have been done in a somewhat perfunctory way.

Yeah, you definitely need to turn this one up. I wonder if it had something to do with the way it was recorded. Nevertheless, it still sounds good IMO. And it’s great to have the rears given more than just ambience. The deep soundstage sets off these atmospheric pieces of Bartok nicely.

In a different vein, I recently picked up “Seicento Stravagante” released by BIS. It’s a collection of early music for cornetto and harpsichord/organ. The performance is excellent but I feel recording was a little close-miked and the rears only provide weak ambience. It almost sounds like a 2-ch recording, which is a pity since the cornetto and organ really do bloom well in a large, spacious venue.

 

[mkt]

NEW Multi~CH SACD release from Reference Recordings. Release date May 12th [3 SACDs]

• 

My order from Presto arrived today, pre-ordered in April
Ripping now.

 

[mkt]

A couple of new Pentatone surround releases in time to take advantage of their 50% off summer sale
https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/bartok-piano-concertos/https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/de-hartmann-cello-concerto/

 

[humprof]

Not really the right place for this, but I'm afraid if I put it in the "Auction" forum, none of the likely buyers would see it. I recently did a variation on the classic "GOS" move, namely: I placed an order at Presto Music and accidentally put two copies of the same disc in my basket. I've really enjoyed the Signum Quartett's "Schubert" series; Lebensmuth, released in May, is the third and last volume. (It's a stereo CD, not hybrid multi-channel SACD.) If anyone is interested in an unopened copy, please DM me; I'll gladly unload my spare for what I paid for it--$16.75--and I'll cover the postage.
https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/schubert-lebensmuth/

 

[gene_stl]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/05/apple-buys-swedish-classical-record-label.html

 

[humprof]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/05/apple-buys-swedish-classical-record-label.html

Holy cats! Well, Bissie recently turned 80, and nothing lasts forever. He says "that the entire personnel of BIS, including me, have been retained." We shall see. I wonder if the deal allows them to continue to run eClassical--and if eClassical will also continue to offer sale prices on new releases, etc.?
https://www.bis.se/

 

[mkt]

Huge! My library looks like this

Hoping for the best, expecting ...

 

[Blackwood]

It’s not clear to me reading either link if this means an end of disc-based BIS titles in the future.

I don’t see Apple wanting to get into the physical media business.

 

[ubertrout]

Holy cats! Well, Bissie recently turned 80, and nothing lasts forever. He says "that the entire personnel of BIS, including me, have been retained." We shall see. I wonder if the deal allows them to continue to run eClassical--and if eClassical will also continue to offer sale prices on new releases, etc.?
https://www.bis.se/

Wow, it makes sense I guess. BIS is going to continue operating in the short term normally I suspect, but longer term I imagine there will be a major shift. I'm glad we got great stuff from them for so long.