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

[Yuen A.]

Robert Schumann Symphonic Studies, Op. 13 Fantasie in C, Op. 17 Bunte Blätter, Op. 99 Arabeske, Op. 18 Mikhail Pletnev (piano) DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 477 057-2 SACD (A Relisten)

This is a very controversial recording. You will either love it or hate it. However, this is one of the most realistic recording of the Steinway D Grand Piano and Mikhail Pletnev is a great pianist. The sheer visceral and physical power of his performances are stunning and are faithfully captured and reproduced here. His tone is beguilingly beautiful and velvety. Via my updated DAC, I can hear an endless variety of colors, nuances and dynamics, including the attack, decay, sustain and release of each sound envelope.

 

[LL21]

His Mahler 2 was a good recording for SACDs. The Mahler 3 was poor. But on LPs performances were just much superior.

this is Klemperer
.

This is Mehta performance is average I don’t like the way he hurries towards the end of this clip

Thank you. Are the Mahlers the same piece in the first 3? Sound different on recording...did they sound different in real life?

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you. Are the Mahlers the same piece in the first 3? Sound different on recording...did they sound different in real life?

Yes they are the same - the Altec was the best.

The Sigma MAAT here is not fully optimised like the Kondo Sigma Vector system in my report.

The Natural Sound was high end Audio Note gear AN-J M10 preamp, S9 step up, AN Kegon 300b with western electric reissues, Electrocompaniet used to Biamp the woofers below 250 HZ, and finally subs below 75. It was good.

 

[LL21]

Yes they are the same - the Altec was the best.

The Sigma MAAT here is not fully optimised like the Kondo Sigma Vector system in my report.

The Natural Sound was high end Audio Note gear AN-J M10 preamp, S9 step up, AN Kegon 300b with western electric reissues, Electrocompaniet used to Biamp the woofers below 250 HZ, and finally subs below 75. It was good.

Thanks and interesting...the Altec recording seems to make things sound old fashioned, as if recorded in the 40s...by contrast the Sigma does not exhibit that. There are other observations about Sigma, but definitely not old fashioned.

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks and interesting...the Altec recording seems to make things sound old fashioned, as if recorded in the 40s...by contrast the Sigma does not exhibit that. There are other observations about Sigma, but definitely not old fashioned.

sigma MAAT is sounding like a audio system, the Altec is just flowing. The performance is from 60s

 

[LL21]

sigma MAAT is sounding like a audio system, the Altec is just flowing. The performance is from 60s

Yes, the Sigma feels a bit stiff...but the Altec sound feels 'rickety' in the recording like a 40s recording? Perhaps an aberration of playback.

 

[bonzo75]

Yes, the Sigma feels a bit stiff...but the Altec sound feels 'rickety' in the recording like a 40s recording? Perhaps an aberration of playback.

the turntable playback in the Sigma system is smoother and better, many that’s what you are hearing, not sure

 

[LL21]

the turntable playback in the Sigma system is smoother and better, many that’s what you are hearing, not sure

Thanks...could well be.

 

[Yuen A.]

SAINT-SAËNS Danse bacchanale from Samson et Delilah, Op 47 Le Rouet d’Omphale, 31Phaëton, Op 39 Danse macabre, Op 40 La Jeunesse d’Hercule, Op 50 Suite algérienne, Op 60 No 4, March militaire française La Princesse Jaune, overture, Op 30 Une nuit à Lisbonne, Op 63 Spartacus Marche du couronnemen , Op 117 Maya Iwabuchi (violin) (Danse macabre) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi CHSA 5104 SACD (A Relisten)

Wow, listen especially to the Danse Bacchanale from Samson et Delilah! It is so exciting and the recording is so realistic and alive and there is a natural bloom that is perfect for this piece. BBC Music rightly says: "This is pure pleasure. ... a collection of sparkling gems ...The RSNO is on top form, with shimmering strings, colourful woodwind and swaggering brass, full of wit, colour and joie de vivre."

 

[Yuen A.]

Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D major D.82, Symphony No. 3 in D major D.200, Symphony No. 7 (8) in B minor D.759 "Unfinished" Bamberger Symphoniker/Jonathan Nott Tudor 7141 SACD

To me, this recording of the Unfinished is the best of the best. The string playing is tender, lush and spacious and the tempi is great. There are subtle extra sustain on accented chords which I love. The opening is atmospheric and with measured tempo which is simply wonderful. The level of refinement and attention to detail is astonishing. Every note can be heard clearly and instrumental timbre is spot-on.

 

[Yuen A.]

Franz Schubert Symphony No. 8 (9) "The Great" Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Jonathan Nott Tudor Records 7144 SACD ​

"The Great" here is among the very best with lively tempos and impressive textural transparency. Here is a must-have that is refined and highly insightful.

 

[hesavary]

Hi All,
A great thank you to Yuen for sharing all these treasures. Really very nice suggestions. Lot of musical pleasure to discover these superb recordings.

 

[Yuen A.]

Antonio Vivaldi 8 Concerti per violino Salvatore Accardo (violin) I Musici PentaTone PTC 5186 130 SACD (Remastered Quadro Recording) ​

This recording is worth acquiring if you like Vivaldi. Salvatore Accardo and I Musici performed superbly. The recording is three dimensional, detailed, airy, and transparent.

 

[Yuen A.]

Vivaldi Concertos for the Emperor The English Concert Andrew Manze Harmonia Mundi 907332 (Violin Concerto No. 2 in C major RV 189; Violin Concerto No. 10 "L'amoroso" in E major RV 271; Violin Concerto No. 3 in C minor RV 202; Violin Concerto No. 7 in C major RV 183; Violin Concerto No. 11 "Il favorito" in E minor RV 277; Violin Concerto No. 4 in F major RV 286)

The fast movements are breathtaking and exhilarating. The sound is true-to-life and the soundstage is huge. The string tone is ravishingly beautiful. Micro details and the dynamics are amazing. Gramophone says: "The violin-playing from Andrew Manze is of an extremely high order: rhythms beautifully springy, articulation clear and precise, intonation perfect, great refinement in the shaping of phrases, and a real command of the logic of the music. The orchestral support is strong and energetic, the recorded quality first rate."

 

[LL21]

View attachment 126101
Vivaldi Concertos for the Emperor The English Concert Andrew Manze Harmonia Mundi 907332 (Violin Concerto No. 2 in C major RV 189; Violin Concerto No. 10 "L'amoroso" in E major RV 271; Violin Concerto No. 3 in C minor RV 202; Violin Concerto No. 7 in C major RV 183; Violin Concerto No. 11 "Il favorito" in E minor RV 277; Violin Concerto No. 4 in F major RV 286)

The fast movements are breathtaking and exhilarating. The sound is true-to-life and the soundstage is huge. The string tone is ravishingly beautiful. Micro details and the dynamics are amazing. Gramophone says: "The violin-playing from Andrew Manze is of an extremely high order: rhythms beautifully springy, articulation clear and precise, intonation perfect, great refinement in the shaping of phrases, and a real command of the logic of the music. The orchestral support is strong and energetic, the recorded quality first rate."

Agree...I like Andrew Manze's work a lot, and also agree it tends to sound great as well.

 

[Yuen A.]

Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps, L'Oiseau de Feu Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Igor Stravinsky (conductor) Sony Classical 89062 SACD

This DSD remastering is superb and the sound has lifelike clarity and spaciousness with the sense of listening to a real orchestra in a world-class concert hall. The soundscape and imaging are excellent. Instrumental timbre is spot-on, especially the percussion and brass which sounded like the real thing. Dynamics seem to be unlimited via my sound system. The performances by the Columbia Symphony/Stravinsky are among the very best.

 

[Yuen A.]

Stravinsky L'Oiseau de Feu (The Firebird), Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Mariss Jansons (conductor) RCO 08002 SACD (A Relisten)

Wow, these are the most nuance, thrilling, visceral and dynamic performances/recordings of the Firebird and Rite of Spring. The soundscape is huge, deep, spacious, and realistic. Instrumental timbre is exquisite. Jansons' Rite of Spring via my updated DAC was utterly ruthless, raw, barbaric, yet perfectly executed!

 

[Birdwatcher]

If you like the recordings of Schubert symphonies with Jonathan Nott, you should buy this complete edition. A wonderful double size, long box with big booklet for low price. A very nice edition of this astonishing project.
I have just received it and will listen on the weekend.

https://www.discogs.com/release/13624498-Schubert-Bamberger-Symphoniker-Bayerische-Staatsphilharmonie-Jonathan-Nott-Symphonien-18-Dialog-Epil

 

[Yuen A.]

Dvorak Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 The Golden Spinning Wheel Op.109 Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam/Yakov Kreizberg PENTATONE CLASSICS 5186 082 SACD

Yakov Kreizberg’s reading of the 7th symphony is lyrical, detailed, refreshing and dynamic. His tempo is graceful. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra was in top form - expressive and refined. The recording is at the state-of-the-art.

 

[Yuen A.]

George Gershwin Piano Concerto in F Rhapsody in Blue Second Rhapsody I Got Rhythm Variations for Piano and Orchestra Freddy Kempf (piano) Bergen Philharmonic/Andrew Litton BIS-SACD-1940 (A Relisten)

This is the jazziest, liveliest, and most improvisatory Gershwin ever! Kempf and the Bergen Philharmonic dazzle. Listen especially to the Second Rhapsody and I Got Rhythm. The piano and orchestra sounded rich, lifelike and three dimensional.