Outstanding Pure DSD256 Downloads with some DXD thrown in...

[marty]

I'll get to some modern recordings pretty soon, but Audiocrack mentioned Mahler (whose music I love), so I thought that Horenstein's 1970 performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 3, recorded by Jerry Bruck deserved a mention. I'll get to other Mahler recordings sometime, but this one is special. First, it is an iconic performance well loved by audiophiles in the Bob Auger recording for Unicorn (released in the U.S. on Nonesuch). However, while this is the same performance, it is an entirely different and independent recording made during the same sessions.

Yes, it is PCM 192kHz, so not the usual DXD or DSD256 recommendation. However, it is a direct transfer from Jerry's session tapes assembled from transfers of those session tapes by Bob Witrak of HDTT and then edited and mastered by John Haley of Harmony Restorations, LLC. The reason it was not transferred at Bob's usual DSD256 and then mastered in DXD is practicality to actually assemble it all. The session tapes are 4 tracking channels. They had never before been assembled into a full playable tape, and John says they were like ribbons of confetti with segments of just minutes long as Horenstein would coach the players, play a bit, then stop, coach, then play a bit, then stop. And, Jerry did not leave a detailed road map for how all these session tape segments should fit together. Maddening to try to assemble it all by ear, then match to the LP to ensure the performance match to the final performance Horenstein had approved for issue. And dealing with double and greater file sizes to do all the assembly required just didn't seem like a manageable project. So, it was a trade-off. But, hearing this music directly from transfers of the session tapes is a remarkable listening experience.

If you like the Horenstein performance, then you really need to hear this Jerry Bruck recording of that performance. It is so vastly superior to the overly multi-miked sonic schmush (technical term) from Bob Auger released on Unicorn. For much more information about this release from HDTT from the original session tapes, see my review:
Horenstein's Mahler Third - Jerry Bruck's Excellent Recording from HDTT

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For those reading, THIS IS AN OPEN DISCUSSION. Feel free to add your own recommended recordings.

I've engaged the Horenstein M3 for many years and still don't understand why it is constantly referenced for either its musical interpretation or sonics. It came out on Unicorn/Nonesuch around 1970, which is about the same time as Bernstein's M3 appeared on Sony, and the comparison couldn't be more clear. Horenstein is frankly, not a particularly good Mahlerian conductor. His tempos are all very rigid and that just doesn't work for Mahler's music. And where are his tympani's-- on permanent lunch break? The flow and movement of tempos demanded in Mahler's music is however, a perfect hand in glove fit for Bernstein, which is one reason his M3 is so revered. I haven't missed not playing Horenstein's M3 in years as it's just not a strong performance. If I want a sonic spectacular as well as a balls to the wall interpretation that Mahler would love for performance elegance, great power, wonderful rubato and fabulous playing, I'll turn to Ivan Fischer's M3 on Channel Classics SACD. Check out the end of the first movement and try not to have a stroke. Just glorious!

 

[Rushton]

Ah, Marty... We'll just have to disagree about whether Horenstein is a good Mahler conductor. On the other hand, Ivan Fischer's recording of the Mahler Third Symphony on Channel Classics (released in 2017) is a recommendation with which I heartily agree. Not only is Ivan Fisher's performance outstanding, so is the recording by Jared Sacks. It is the modern recording I'd immediately recommend.



For those interested in the download file, the edit master is the DXD 24bit file, available HERE. So, enjoy it either in DXD, DSD64 or DSD256, depending on what may sound best in your system.

 

[Rushton]

Let me see... No, we didn't limit this 10-record recommendation set to classical music, so I'm going to offer a jazz recording recommendation. Recorded and released in Pure DSD256 by Jared Sacks on Just Listen Records, this is yet another very nice performance by Rembrandt Frerichs and his Rembrandt Trio. The performances are great and the recording is just downright gorgeous. Released in 2025, full review HERE.



The Blue Hour Sessions, Rembrandt Frerichs, Rembrandt Trio. Just Listen Records 2025 (Pure DSD256, Stereo)

And for a bonus pick, I'll double up and add a recommendation another Rembrandt Trio release, also in Pure DSD256, The Contemporary Fortepiano (2017). And yes, it is jazz. ;-) Review HERE.



The Contemporary Fortepiano, Rembrandt Frerichs Trio. Just Listen Records 2017 (Pure DSD256)

 

[Rushton]

Returning to classical, but this time chamber music for string quartet, I will suggest the Matangi's album, Outcast. Recorded by Bert van der Wolf and released in 2022, this is music of the 20th century, with a superb performance of Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 that rivals any other I've heard, along with string quartets by Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) and Valentin Silvestrov (b.1937). Full review HERE.



Outcast, Matangi. Northstar Recording 2022 (DXD, Stereo, MCh)

 

[Rushton]

And staying with chamber music from the 20th century for one more recommendation, this recording of Bartok's First and Second Sonatas for Violin and Piano is just scrumptious. Review HERE.



Bartók Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Márta Ábrahám and László Borbély. Hunnia Records 2024 (Pure DSD256, Stereo)

 

[Rushton]

My selection for my gathering of friends this week would continue with Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain and Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor in this outstanding performance by Judith Jáuregui (piano) and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Kaspar Zehnder conducting. This is a nice a performance of these works as any I know. And the recording? Oh, my. Utter transparency. Abundant detail. Extreme delicacy and nuance. A soundstage to die for. Unrestrained dynamics and immense power. Full review HERE,

The review includes links to download two free sample files comparing the DXD versus Pure DSD256 renders of the same track. The album was released in Pure DSD256 and was mixed purely in the DSD domain, so Pure DSD256-Direct Mixed as with all Eudora releases available through NativeDSD.



Homeland - Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor and De Falla's Noches en los Jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain), Judith Jáuregui (piano), Kaspar Zehnder, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León. Eudora Records 2024 (Pure DSD256, Stereo, MCh)

 

[Rushton]

Prokofiev, anyone? He is Ann's favorite composer and among my top three. I'm going to cheat here and recommend the Complete Symphonies by conductor James Gaffigan. He seems to have a pure affinity for Prokofiev and the Netherland Radio Philharmonic Orchestra plays superbly for him. Plus, the recordings by Bert van der Wolf are simply outstanding. Full review HERE.



The Symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev, James Gaffigan, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Challenge Records | Northstar Recording 2015, 2016, 2018 (DXD, DSD256, Stereo, MCh)

 

[Rushton]

And, now that I've touched on Prokofiev, I'd simply have to pull out one of the many superb recordings of Lt. Kije. And here I'd just have to move to Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony. And the album? Without a doubt it would be the excellent reissue from High Definition Tape Transfers in a transfer from two original RCA 2-track tapes released commercially in the mid-1950s. It is simply the best, most transparent digital release out there. Full review HERE.



Prokofiev Lieutenant Kije, Stravinsky Song of the Nightingale, Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 1958 2023 (DSD256, DXD)

Note that the included Stravinsky Song of the Nightingale is probably the better recording, sonically. It is a classic performance of the work -- it just never gets the same attention as the Lt. Kije.

And, that is all for right now. More in some later posts. We haven't yet gotten to the 10 albums to be pulled out for our listening group this week.

 

[Rushton]

To move things up to the 21st century, and because I'm listening to it again now for about the fourth time so I must like it, here are contemporary concerti by Karsten Brustad for different soloists. Very well performed, and a great recording by Thomas Wolden at Lawo Classics. Review HERE. This, at number 8, is called "stretching your boundaries."



Ylg, hof, Udjat! Concerts for soloists and orchestra by Karsten Brustad, Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Ingar Bergby, with Various Soloists. Lawo Classics 2025 (DXD 32-bit, Stereo)

 

[Audiocrack]

Prokofiev, anyone? He is Ann's favorite composer and among my top three. I'm going to cheat here and recommend the Complete Symphonies by conductor James Gaffigan. He seems to have a pure affinity for Prokofiev and the Netherland Radio Philharmonic Orchestra plays superbly for him. Plus, the recordings by Bert van der Wolf are simply outstanding. Full review HERE.

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The Symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev, James Gaffigan, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Challenge Records | Northstar Recording 2015, 2016, 2018 (DXD, DSD256, Stereo, MCh)

These Prokofiev recordings of Bert van der Wolf indeed sound awesome; for years now they belong to my favourite (large) orchestral recordings. Actually all these recordings (in dxd mode) sound so impressive that I kept listening to them and while doing so I started to appreciate Prokofiev as a composer much more than I had done before.

Now that you have included these recordings I need to choose some other great sounding files of large orchestral pieces.

 

[Audiocrack]

Debussy and Ravel belong to my favourite composers. So when Bert van der Wolf recorded two beautiful orchestral pieces - one of each of these composers - I was naturally thrilled. And guess what: I was not dissappointed! I (clearly) prefer the dxd mode of this recording to the dsd 256 mode (I have both available and compared them carefully).

Here is a link: https://spiritofturtle.com/products...TPei664aiY7kJZyFpWLpPd9ZU5vDHpfeK4HSkzH7sYTs_

 

[Rushton]

Debussy and Ravel belong to my favourite composers. So when Bert van der Wolf recorded two beautiful orchestral pieces - one of each of these composers - I was naturally thrilled. And guess what: I was not dissappointed! I (clearly) prefer the dxd mode of this recording to the dsd 256 mode (I have both available and compared them carefully).

Here is a link: https://spiritofturtle.com/products...TPei664aiY7kJZyFpWLpPd9ZU5vDHpfeK4HSkzH7sYTs_

Yes, very nice performances and an excellent recording. I, too, listen to this in its DXD edit master iteration, as I do with all of Bert's DXD original format recordings. Good recommendation!



By the way, have you noted who the recording assistant is on the Ravel? Brendon Heinst. We all start somewhere.

 

[Audiocrack]

Yes, very nice performances and an excellent recording. I, too, listen to this in its DXD edit master iteration, as I do with all of Bert's DXD original format recordings. Good recommendation!

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By the way, have you noted who the recording assistant is on the Ravel? Brendon Heinst. We all start somewhere.

Yes I knew that Brendon Heinst had cooperated (as a sort of apprentice I presume) with Bert van der Wolf. Apparently Brendon learned a lot because in my view he is currently one of the most gifted recording engineers on our planet. What a pity that TRPRK - being a (very) small recording company - does not seem to be in a position to record some of our beloved large orchestral pieces.

 

[Rushton]

What a pity that TRPRK - being a (very) small recording company - does not seem to be in a position to record some of our beloved large orchestral pieces.

Yes, and I'm not sure that is where Brendon's interests lie. He seems to really enjoy the relationships he has with the solo and small ensemble performers. It is a niche for him.

Tom Peeters (Cobra Records) has always been in a similar position. Of the many, many albums he's released, I think he has only a single orchestral recording (Tauno Marttinen Concertos, COBRA0041). It is a stunner, but the only one. On the other hand, Tom regularly finds himself doing independent contract work for other labels, and here he gets into more recordings of orchestra since the financials are being footed by that larger label.

 

[Audiocrack]

Yes, and I'm not sure that is where Brendon's interests lie. He seems to really enjoy the relationships he has with the solo and small ensemble performers. It is a niche for him.

Tom Peeters (Cobra Records) has always been in a similar position. Of the many, many albums he's released, I think he has only a single orchestral recording (Tauno Marttinen Concertos, COBRA0041). It is a stunner, but the only one. On the other hand, Tom regularly finds himself doing independent contract work for other labels, and here he gets into more recordings of orchestra since the financials are being footed by that larger label.

You are most likely right as regards Brendon’s real interest. But indeed - like Ben Peeters and Bert van der Wolf - hopefully he will be hired some day by a larger recording company to record some ‘mainstream’ classical pieces.

Bert for example recently recorded for the Naive label Ravel’s piano concerto in G as well as Ravel’s piano concerto for the left hand. See:

The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra / Anja Bihlmaier

The Spirit of Turtle

spiritofturtle.com

 

[Audiocrack]

In comparison to JS Bach the composer Buxtehude is much less well known nowadays. However, the latter’s Membra Jesu Nostri is a glorious piece of music. LAWO recorded this piece in dxd / 32 bit. It is a beautiful recording of beautiful music performed / sung beautifully:

Membra Jesu Nostri - NativeDSD Music

Membra Jesu Nostri was composed in 1680 and is one of Buxtehude’s most performed works, loved by audiences and musicians alike. Buxtehude dedicated it to his good friend and colleague Gustav Düben, a musician and later court music director at the Swedish court, as well as organist at the German...

www.nativedsd.com

 

[surfing_dude]

I wonder if some day, we'll ever get to see DSD's of rock/blues albums...?
There are so many great albums with great dynamics that deserve a tape transfer.
Examples: Roxy music Avalon, Steely Dan (Most of their catalog), The police albums, Stevie Ray- Couldn't stand the weather, etc, etc...

 

[ferenc_k]

Jared Sacks (Channel Classics) and Tom Peeters (Cobra Records) and Robert Hunka (Hunnia Records) have made the same shifts to DSD256. First doing their tracking channels in DSD256 with mixing in DXD, and now shifting their mastering process to release in Pure DSD256.

Just for the sake of historical precision, let me tell you that I am the one who convinced Robert Hunka to make DSD256 recordings, as the first few My Reel Club® DSD256 recordings were made with the Merging Pyramix/Hapi set I provided, and I organized the live recordings with audience as well. The first recording was made in August 2019 (László Borbély, solo piano), and the second in December (The Gabor Varga Quartet). There were three others made in early 2020 with audience, but COVID stopped us. We even sent the invitation for the Gabi Rynveld (Siltech, Crystal Cable) solo piano public recording, but we could not make it because of the restrictions. Later, I withdrew the rights from Hunnia Records to publish the recordings as My Reel Club recordings.

Thanks for your reviews, really nice to read them.

Ferenc

 

[Rushton]

Just for the sake of historical precision, let me tell you that I am the one who convinced Robert Hunka to make DSD256 recordings, as the first few My Reel Club® DSD256 recordings were made with the Merging Pyramix/Hapi set I provided, and I organized the live recordings with audience as well. The first recording was made in August 2019 (László Borbély, solo piano), and the second in December (The Gabor Varga Quartet). There were three others made in early 2020 with audience, but COVID stopped us. We even sent the invitation for the Gabi Rynveld (Siltech, Crystal Cable) solo piano public recording, but we could not make it because of the restrictions. Later, I withdrew the rights from Hunnia Records to publish the recordings as My Reel Club recordings.

Thanks for your reviews, really nice to read them.

Ferenc

Frerenc, your first few releases on My Reel Club were an eye-opener. And I loved your concept of inviting a small audience to these live performance recordings and then providing each audience member with a copy of the recording that they could then re-play at home. What an educational process!

 

[Audiocrack]

Bela Bartok is of those composers I am sometimes ‘struggling’ with: for example I find some of his string quartets (still) hard to ‘understand’ although at the same time very intriguing cq fascinating. However, I really love Bartok’s four Orchestral pieces as well as his Concerto for orchestra. And I am seriously impressed with the performance of these splendid orchestral pieces with Karina Canellakis as conductor, while Pentatone’s recording - the ‘veteran’ Everett Porter was the recording engineer - in dxd / 24 bit is very impressive as well:

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra - NativeDSD Music

2023 NativeDSD Album of the Year – Classical Orchestral Karina Canellakis offers the first fruit of her exclusive Pentatone collaboration with a recording of Bartók’s 4 Orchestral Pieces and Concerto for Orchestra, together with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, of which she is the...

www.nativedsd.com