Favourite CD's for sound staging, imaging, etc.
02-15-2004, 08:39 AM
#121
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Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: Alkan Esquisses, Op.63, Steven Osborne.
Label: Hyperion.
Charles-Valentin Alkan was an outstanding French virtuoso pianist of the 1800's.
Alkan's Esquisses Op. 63 appeared originally in 1861, and probably took him many years to compose the many different pieces that make up this composition. In fact, Alkan composed 48 short works, separated into 4 books, each book consisting of 12 short works. The total of all this work is his Esquisses Opus 63.
Steven Osborne is the solo pianist on this recording. Steven is one of Britain's most highly regarded pianists.
Steven says of Alkan's Esquisses, that he finds music of great character, integrity, humour and beauty.
A gorgeous recording.
Label: Hyperion.
Charles-Valentin Alkan was an outstanding French virtuoso pianist of the 1800's.
Alkan's Esquisses Op. 63 appeared originally in 1861, and probably took him many years to compose the many different pieces that make up this composition. In fact, Alkan composed 48 short works, separated into 4 books, each book consisting of 12 short works. The total of all this work is his Esquisses Opus 63.
Steven Osborne is the solo pianist on this recording. Steven is one of Britain's most highly regarded pianists.
Steven says of Alkan's Esquisses, that he finds music of great character, integrity, humour and beauty.
A gorgeous recording.
02-15-2004, 08:54 AM
#122
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Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: Shostakovich Symphony No. 11, London Symphony Orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich.
Label: LSO.
Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich. Rostropovich was a close personal friend of Shostakovich.
Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975).
Shostakovich's 11th symphony was written in 1957 to mark the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia.
A quote from the liner notes on this cd:
"Shostakovich's atmospheric 11th symphony recounts the events surrounding the first Russian Revolution of 1905 while reflecting on the brutality of the later Soviet regime. Its cinematic depiction of winter and cold and military might is utterly compelling and never more so than under the baton of the composer's friend Mstislav Rostropovich."
This cd was recorded live March 21, 22, 2002 in London England.
This is a gorgeous recording which goes through the many emotions that Shostakovich must have felt during his lifetime. The soft and sad passages are indeed very quiet, suddenly erupting ferociously with fire and anger.
Absolutely superb !!!!
Label: LSO.
Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich. Rostropovich was a close personal friend of Shostakovich.
Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975).
Shostakovich's 11th symphony was written in 1957 to mark the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia.
A quote from the liner notes on this cd:
"Shostakovich's atmospheric 11th symphony recounts the events surrounding the first Russian Revolution of 1905 while reflecting on the brutality of the later Soviet regime. Its cinematic depiction of winter and cold and military might is utterly compelling and never more so than under the baton of the composer's friend Mstislav Rostropovich."
This cd was recorded live March 21, 22, 2002 in London England.
This is a gorgeous recording which goes through the many emotions that Shostakovich must have felt during his lifetime. The soft and sad passages are indeed very quiet, suddenly erupting ferociously with fire and anger.
Absolutely superb !!!!
02-15-2004, 09:10 AM
#123
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Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: Karl Weigl, Symphony No. 5, APOCALYPTIC.
Label: BIS.
Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
Conductor: Thomas Sanderling.
Karl Ignaz Weigl was born in Vienna in 1881. When the ***** marched into Austria in 1938, Weigl saw the writing on the wall and emigrated to the USA, where he lived the remainder of his life, until 1949 in New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
Weigl's Fifth Symphony, the Apocalyptic, was written in 1945. He dedicated this symphony to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had died in 1945.
The always excellent Swedish record label, BIS, has done another excellent job in recording this symphonic work.
This recording took place on February 2000 and July 2001.
[ February 15, 2004, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
Label: BIS.
Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
Conductor: Thomas Sanderling.
Karl Ignaz Weigl was born in Vienna in 1881. When the ***** marched into Austria in 1938, Weigl saw the writing on the wall and emigrated to the USA, where he lived the remainder of his life, until 1949 in New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
Weigl's Fifth Symphony, the Apocalyptic, was written in 1945. He dedicated this symphony to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had died in 1945.
The always excellent Swedish record label, BIS, has done another excellent job in recording this symphonic work.
This recording took place on February 2000 and July 2001.
[ February 15, 2004, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
02-15-2004, 09:22 AM
#124
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Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: Nigel Kennedy, Vivaldi.
Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker.
Label: EMI Classics.
Nigel Kennedy is a young violinist who has studied the works of Antonio Vivaldi almost all his life and on this cd, when he plays Vivaldi's compositions (THE FOUR SEASONS), along with some of the members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, the resuslts are very exciting to listen to!!! The dynamic range of this recording is very wide and there is alot going on.
Recorded during April 2002 in the Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin Germany.
Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker.
Label: EMI Classics.
Nigel Kennedy is a young violinist who has studied the works of Antonio Vivaldi almost all his life and on this cd, when he plays Vivaldi's compositions (THE FOUR SEASONS), along with some of the members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, the resuslts are very exciting to listen to!!! The dynamic range of this recording is very wide and there is alot going on.
Recorded during April 2002 in the Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin Germany.
02-15-2004, 09:30 AM
#125
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Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: la bele marie, Songs to the Virgin from 13th-century France.
Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
Label: Harmonia Mundi.
The Anonymous 4 is a grouping of four(duh) beautiful women who have perfected their vocal chords, and when they sing as an ensemble, they are sooooo in sync with each other.
This recording is a collection of 13th century French songs dedicated to the virgin Mary, sung in Latin.
The always excellent sound quality record label, Harmonia Mundi, has done a superb job recording these four ladies' voices.
The music is soft and alluring. Their refined singing voices will pull you right into the recording. There is no sub-bass or mid-bass on this cd. Only your tweeters and especially your midrange drivers will be excercised on this recording.
The Anonymous 4 are: Susan Hellauer, Jacqueline Horner, Marsha Genesky, and Johanna Maira Rose.
An impeccably clean recording!!!!!!
[ February 15, 2004, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
Ensemble: Anonymous 4.
Label: Harmonia Mundi.
The Anonymous 4 is a grouping of four(duh) beautiful women who have perfected their vocal chords, and when they sing as an ensemble, they are sooooo in sync with each other.
This recording is a collection of 13th century French songs dedicated to the virgin Mary, sung in Latin.
The always excellent sound quality record label, Harmonia Mundi, has done a superb job recording these four ladies' voices.
The music is soft and alluring. Their refined singing voices will pull you right into the recording. There is no sub-bass or mid-bass on this cd. Only your tweeters and especially your midrange drivers will be excercised on this recording.
The Anonymous 4 are: Susan Hellauer, Jacqueline Horner, Marsha Genesky, and Johanna Maira Rose.
An impeccably clean recording!!!!!!
[ February 15, 2004, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
02-15-2004, 09:43 AM
#126
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
Title: SOMETHIN' ELSE, CANNON BALL ADDERLEY.
Label: Blue Note.
A wonderful jazz recording with Miles Davis (trumpet), Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), Hank Jones (piano), Sam Jones (bass), and Art Blakey (drums).
It was originally recorded on March 9, 1958 at the Van Gelder Sudio in New Jersey. It was remastered in 1998 by Rudy Van Gelder (the original recording engineer). All transfers from analog to digital were made at 24 bit resolution.
The result is an amazing recording with very little tape hiss, almost none to speak of. This is a rather loud recording and all of your speakers, from your subwoofers to your tweeters will be used in full force, so get ready !!!!!
Fast paced and exciting to listen to.
The sound quality is very good.
Label: Blue Note.
A wonderful jazz recording with Miles Davis (trumpet), Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), Hank Jones (piano), Sam Jones (bass), and Art Blakey (drums).
It was originally recorded on March 9, 1958 at the Van Gelder Sudio in New Jersey. It was remastered in 1998 by Rudy Van Gelder (the original recording engineer). All transfers from analog to digital were made at 24 bit resolution.
The result is an amazing recording with very little tape hiss, almost none to speak of. This is a rather loud recording and all of your speakers, from your subwoofers to your tweeters will be used in full force, so get ready !!!!!
Fast paced and exciting to listen to.
The sound quality is very good.
02-18-2004, 11:17 AM
#127
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
CD Title: Geirr Tveitt, Piano Concerto No.4, Aurora Borealis.
Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Conductor: Bjarte Engeset.
Label: NAXOS.
Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) is a lesser known composer of Norwegian origin. His works are mostly not very well known, but are nevertheless very beautiful, inspiring, heavily textured, and symphonic. He followed somewhat in the footsteps of a much more popular Norwegian composer, Johann Sibelius, but was still very original with his compositions. All of Tveitt's musical works have to do with mother nature and her various elements.
This cd was recorded from Jan. 7-12, 2001 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fantastic engineering by NAXOS has provided for an excellent sound quality recording.
Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Conductor: Bjarte Engeset.
Label: NAXOS.
Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) is a lesser known composer of Norwegian origin. His works are mostly not very well known, but are nevertheless very beautiful, inspiring, heavily textured, and symphonic. He followed somewhat in the footsteps of a much more popular Norwegian composer, Johann Sibelius, but was still very original with his compositions. All of Tveitt's musical works have to do with mother nature and her various elements.
This cd was recorded from Jan. 7-12, 2001 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fantastic engineering by NAXOS has provided for an excellent sound quality recording.
02-18-2004, 11:30 AM
#128
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
CD Title: Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, with Martha Argerich. Prokofiev (Piano Concertos Nos. 1&3), Bartok (Piano Concerto No.3).
Ensemble: Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal.
Conductor: Charles Dutoit.
Martha Argerich: Piano.
Label: EMI CLASSICS.
Martha Argerich is an exceptional pianist who specializes in Prokofiev's compositions. Her experience shows her off very well on this fine recording with l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, with Charles Dutoit on the podium. On this cd, Martha also plays the works of Bela Bartok, a Hungarian composer.
Sergei Prokofiev himself was a highly gifted musician and a virtuoso pianist.
Recording took place at L'Eglise de St. Eustache, Montreal, during October 1997.
A beautiful recording.
[ February 18, 2004, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
Ensemble: Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal.
Conductor: Charles Dutoit.
Martha Argerich: Piano.
Label: EMI CLASSICS.
Martha Argerich is an exceptional pianist who specializes in Prokofiev's compositions. Her experience shows her off very well on this fine recording with l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, with Charles Dutoit on the podium. On this cd, Martha also plays the works of Bela Bartok, a Hungarian composer.
Sergei Prokofiev himself was a highly gifted musician and a virtuoso pianist.
Recording took place at L'Eglise de St. Eustache, Montreal, during October 1997.
A beautiful recording.
[ February 18, 2004, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Keith ]
02-18-2004, 11:40 AM
#129
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
CD Title: RACHMANINOFF.
Ensemble: Minnesota Orchestra.
Conductor: Eiji Oue.
Label: REFERENCE RECORDINGS.
Keith O'Johnson, the owner and founder of REFERENCE RECORDINGS, has done an immaculate job with this recording. It is exemplary of what a fine recording should sound like.
A stellar performance by the Minnesota Orchestra led by their conductor Eiji Oue, gives us several works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, such as: Symphonic dances, Vocalise, and Etudes-tableaux.
Recorded: May 31 - June 1, 2001, at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gorgeous stuff !!!!
Ensemble: Minnesota Orchestra.
Conductor: Eiji Oue.
Label: REFERENCE RECORDINGS.
Keith O'Johnson, the owner and founder of REFERENCE RECORDINGS, has done an immaculate job with this recording. It is exemplary of what a fine recording should sound like.
A stellar performance by the Minnesota Orchestra led by their conductor Eiji Oue, gives us several works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, such as: Symphonic dances, Vocalise, and Etudes-tableaux.
Recorded: May 31 - June 1, 2001, at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gorgeous stuff !!!!
02-18-2004, 11:53 AM
#130
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 871
CD Title: Romantic Pieces, Dvorak, Janacek, Smetana.
Label: Analekta.
Violinist: James Ehnes.
Pianist: Eduard Laurel.
Well, what can I say that I haven't already said about Ehnes. He is by far the best violinist in the world currently (he is a Canadian) [img]graemlins/cf2.gif[/img] and this 2 cd set with accompaniment by Eduard Laurel on piano is just icing on the cake.
Ehnes and Laurel take on the various compositions of Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904), Leos Janacek(1854-1928), and Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884).
Analekta, is an excellent Canadian record label, which puts out incredible sound quality recordings. This cd release is no exception, as all the details can be heard assuming you have a decent stereo system (car or home).
Recorded: Sept. 2 -5, 2003 in Quebec. Recording, editing and mastering all done in 24 bit.
Label: Analekta.
Violinist: James Ehnes.
Pianist: Eduard Laurel.
Well, what can I say that I haven't already said about Ehnes. He is by far the best violinist in the world currently (he is a Canadian) [img]graemlins/cf2.gif[/img] and this 2 cd set with accompaniment by Eduard Laurel on piano is just icing on the cake.
Ehnes and Laurel take on the various compositions of Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904), Leos Janacek(1854-1928), and Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884).
Analekta, is an excellent Canadian record label, which puts out incredible sound quality recordings. This cd release is no exception, as all the details can be heard assuming you have a decent stereo system (car or home).
Recorded: Sept. 2 -5, 2003 in Quebec. Recording, editing and mastering all done in 24 bit.
