SPOTLIGHT The classical music general discussion thread

[mwhealton]

I have been really enjoying these two SACDs the last couple of days. (Ambient only, but pretty rich in spatial content). They are live recordings and the music is lively and fun!

 

[humprof]

I have been really enjoying these two SACDs the last couple of days. (Ambient only, but pretty rich in spatial content). They are live recordings and the music is lively and fun!
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I like those discs, too, especially the second one. If you're an Adams fan, you might also enjoy this Berlin Philharmonic set:

https://www.berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com/john-adams-edition.html?___store=rec_en
The most discrete mix of an Adams piece I've heard, though, is on this OOP disc with Kristian Jarvi conducting:

https://www.discogs.com/John-Adams-...ds-Opera-Shifting-Landscapes/release/12638811

 

[mwhealton]

I like those discs, too, especially the second one. If you're an Adams fan, you might also enjoy this Berlin Philharmonic set:

https://www.berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com/john-adams-edition.html?___store=rec_en
The most discrete mix of an Adams piece I've heard, though, is on this OOP disc with Kristian Jarvi conducting:

https://www.discogs.com/John-Adams-...ds-Opera-Shifting-Landscapes/release/12638811

Thanks for those recommendations, humprof. I'm on a hiatus of acquiring new disks at the moment, but will add them to my 'records to order' bookmark file.

 

[mwhealton]

Moving through some of the recent new recordings I've gotten through various comments on this thread, here is a really interesting keeper. I don't know if has been discussed someplace (a quick search didn't bring up much of value).
H e (a) r by Nordic Affect. Sono Luminus. It is highly discrete. And truly (for me) surprising in what a string trio + harpsichord + voices can do when approached in a contemporary way.

https://www.sonoluminus.com/store/h-e-a-r
Does anyone have impressions on it? I'd love to hear! (ok, that is a groaner of a pun, but I'm serious)

 

[humprof]

Moving through some of the recent new recordings I've gotten through various comments on this thread, here is a really interesting keeper. I don't know if has been discussed someplace (a quick search didn't bring up much of value).
H e (a) r by Nordic Affect. Sono Luminus. It is highly discrete. And truly (for me) surprising in what a string trio + harpsichord + voices can do when approached in a contemporary way.
View attachment 47711

https://www.sonoluminus.com/store/h-e-a-r
Does anyone have impressions on it? I'd love to hear! (ok, that is a groaner of a pun, but I'm serious)

Agreed. Some of the pieces--maybe even the album's overall conceit--are a bit...recherché. But others are quietly moving. And the sound is just stellar, and utterly immersive.

I'll also say that I love both the ensemble (Nordic Affect) and the contemporary Icelandic composers they favor. During the Sono Luminus sale, I picked up their two previous albums on that label, Clockworking and Raindamage. (There's one more, Aerial, on Deutsche Grammophon, and four others on smaller labels.) They're just as compelling, and they sound fabulous. Sadly, they're RBCD's, but if the pieces on them had multichannel mixes, they'd sound at least as good as those on H e (a) r. I haven't yet tried upmixing with my AVR's "Atmos" setting.

P.S.: Spotify | Soundcloud

 

[humprof]

Cross-posting here (and in the Bernstein thread) for the benefit of Lenny fans who didn't see the "Sales and Discount Codes" thread:

This week's sale title (under $10 US) at eClassical is a new recording of Leonard Bernstein's 1st & 2d symphonies by the Arctic Philharmonic under Christian Lindberg. BIS's surround mixes are pretty much always just ambience-in-the-rears, but sometimes it's "Big Ambience."

https://www.eclassical.com/conductors/lindberg-christian/bernstein-symphonies-nos-1-2.html

 

[4-earredwonder]

During Acoustic Sounds recent 50% off sale, I couldn't resist this 2 SACD Set from RCA'S LIVING STEREO Series with the inclusion of Rhapsodie Espagnole from Decca. The Sonics [in STEREO] are ravishing and IMO, ALL the AP Living Stereo SACD remasters better the original SONY/RCA Living Stereo SACDs.

 

[humprof]

For you classical listeners with legacy playback equipment: there's a lot of four NM quad LPs on eBay right now for $10:

• Mahler, Kindertotenlieder & Symphony No. 10 Adagio (Bernstein/Israel & NYPhil; Columbia)
• Dvorak, Cello Concerto (Lyn Harrell, Levine/LSO; RCA)
• Varese, Offrandes,etc. (Weisberg, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble; Nonesuch)
• Elgar, Symphony No. 1 (Barenboim, LSO; Columbia)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Classical-...vorak-Mahler-Bernstein-Barenboim/254514814858

 

[mwhealton]

Seeking recommendations..

Paul Hindemith is one of my favorite composers of the 20th century. Among the works, I have been exploring his symphony/suite 'Mathis de Maler'. The performance I orginally fell in love with is the Blomstedt San Francisco Symphony recording (which also includes Symphonic Metamorphoses and Trauermusik). This recording is my go-to reference for these works and I've been looking especially for a multichannel recording that could match. (A Dutton-Vocalion remaster would be pretty wonderful I think). This one:
https://www.discogs.com/Hindemith-S...osis-Trauermu/release/7015521#images/18654879
The disks I have so far don't quite work. The Yoel Levi Atlanta Symphony recording is just to lethargic and hides the brass and percussion sections, and the Neschling Sao Paulo has the tempos but seems to be less distinctive in resolving the various instruments - maybe because of the hall and distant microphone placement. Also the brass and bass is again pushed down in the mix, almost as though Neschling is thinking of a 19th century traditional orchestral balance. Neither of these recordings have the 'bite' into the strings as well, which helps give Mathis der Maler (and the Metamorphoses) their drive and punch.

Edit: My first was exposure to Hindemith was learning part of the clarinet sonata in high school. Maybe that also influences how I hear his music - it is pretty angular and percussive in many places. That would be great to have in a well-done performance and multichannel recording as well.

Any thoughts of other multichannel recordings of Mathis der Maler to consider?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I make this suggestion with uncertainty because it is fast, brash and intense. Perhaps to much so. Give it a shot.

 

[mwhealton]

I make this suggestion with uncertainty because it is fast, brash and intense. Perhaps to much so. Give it a shot.

Thanks! I'll give that one a try. From the brief samples on Pentatone it is fast, but not a reason to not check it out...

 

[humprof]

I just ordered Lost Voices from Hagia Sophia from Capella Romana. It uses acoustic synthesis to produce a multichannel mix (including Atmos channels apparently) to recreate the acoustic of Hagia Sophia. We'll see how it works out. The release has a stereo CD and a Bluray with multichannel , etc. Musically, Capella Romana specializes in less well-known Eastern Christian chant and choral music.

This Saturday, May 2nd, Cappella Romana are livestreaming one of their "Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia" concerts (recorded at Stanford last year, I think). Details here:

https://mailchi.mp/cappellaromana.o...eam-saturdays-performance-328091?e=9cbd8e1256

 

[mwhealton]

This Saturday, May 2nd, Cappella Romana are livestreaming one of their "Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia" concerts (recorded at Stanford last year, I think). Details here:

https://mailchi.mp/cappellaromana.o...eam-saturdays-performance-328091?e=9cbd8e1256

Thank you for posting the link. I was planning to myself - glad you got it out there faster!

 

[humprof]

Lynn Harrell - R.I.P.

His death was "unexpected." Am I right in thinking that of his mid-70s output on RCA, only the Dvorak cello concerto is quad?

 

[ubertrout]

Apparently this came out in the fall and I just missed it. Anyone have thoughts on the mix? I'd note we also have Kleiber's recording of Traviata on MCH SACD:

 

[humprof]

Apparently this came out in the fall and I just missed it. Anyone have thoughts on the mix? I'd note we also have Kleiber's recording of Traviata on MCH SACD:

I thought Traviata was stereo only?

The HR Audio gents don't think much of Rebroff's Orlovsky, although they say kind (but vague) things about the sound.

 

[ubertrout]

I thought Traviata was stereo only?

The HR Audio gents don't think much of Rebroff's Orlovsky, although they say kind (but vague) things about the sound.

Pretty sure it's in surround, and the discussion reflects that: SA-CD.net - Verdi: La Traviata - Kleiber

 

[humprof]

Pretty sure it's in surround, and the discussion reflects that: SA-CD.net - Verdi: La Traviata - Kleiber

Interesting--I wasn't aware of that earlier SACD. I was going by what I could find on the web about the 2017 Blu-Ray:

 

[humprof]

I wonder if the difference between this and some of the other DG reissues is that this one may never have had a legitimate multichannel mix to begin with? The "surround" logo on the cover of the 2004 SACD looks suspiciously like Dolby Surround, so it's possible that DG just slapped together a processed 5.1 mix. Just speculating of course. I can't find anyone who comments in any detail on the surround mix.

 

[ubertrout]

I wonder if the difference between this and some of the other DG reissues is that this one may never have had a legitimate multichannel mix to begin with? The "surround" logo on the cover of the 2004 SACD looks suspiciously like Dolby Surround, so it's possible that DG just slapped together a processed 5.1 mix. Just speculating of course. I can't find anyone who comments in any detail on the surround mix.

I have it but this really isn't the time to play an opera loud all the way through given that my partner has been stuck with me for 2+ months at this point. It's not that expensive at least...

Edit to add: I don't think it's fake - DG's surround choices were overwhelmingly recordings made in the mid-70s, when we've heard they were recording everything for quad, even if they didn't release the results. The waveforms I look at are generally the quad channels at full volume and a quiet center channel, likely fake and just to say it's remixed. I don't recall hearing anything unique in that center channel either FWIW.