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New arrivals from the wonder that is mdt.co.uk

67.233.157.7
Posted on September 28, 2016 at 15:23:49
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 1339
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 Another great shipment from the folks at mdt.co.uk. Here are the highlights:





This is my favorite CD of at least the last six months. JFi and DM-S make a fantastic team and bring great beauty, passion and technique to these wonderful pieces. It's like what JFi said in the liner notes--the cello becomes the left hand of the violin. Excellent sound quality.





I really like these sonatas, especially the Grieg and the Stenhammar, and the Skride sisters work their magic to bring out the great beauty of these pieces. Again, the sound quality is excellent.





The new Arabella Steinbacher on Pentatone is a series of bon-bons for violin and orchestra. Excellent sonics and Ms. Steinbacher seems to be having a good time just letting her hair down for these virtuoso showpieces.





This release on Steinway & Sons is mostly a reissue of music released in 2011 on another label. I somehow managed to misplace the original release so I went for the new one. The new piece is the Balakirev Islamey. According to the liner notes, this piece was "recorded for Steinway Spirio October 6, 2015 on Steinway Model B (New York) 567568" and "Audio playback recorded on Steinway Model D (Hamburg) 519960 May 31, 2016." I guess this means that what I hear on the CD is the German playback from the recording made in New York. All I can say is that Ms. Parenski's Islamey is quite exciting.

The last two discs are of the fun variety. Both are new Copland releases.









The Chados disc is an SACD and is the second release in a Copland series with John Wilson conducting the BBC Philharmonic. I really liked the first disc, so the second was a must-buy. The performances are excellent, and the sonics make the Organ Symphony really stand out. The other lesser-known pieces are a pleasure to listen to. I especially liked the Short Symphony.

The other disc is part of the continuing Copland series with Leonard Slatkin and the Detroit Symphonly on Naxos. I had never heard Hear Ye! Hear Ye! before, and although it was okay I probably won't listen to it again. The Appalachian Spring ballet though is very good with excellent sound quality (most of the Detroit Symphony releases by Naxos have excellent sonics). My only complaint, also echoed by Classics Today, is that there is only one track for the whole 38 minute piece which might be a problem for some. I was reminded of the original release of the Dutoit/Ravel Daphnis et Chloe on CD so many years ago. Only one track for the whole ballet! What were they thinking?

 

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    ...
Thanks!, posted on September 28, 2016 at 17:52:13
slapshot
Audiophile

Posts: 2248
Joined: January 9, 2006
 I just purchased the first one on your list. Thanks for sharing.

 

How is The Lark Ascending? I've always like Bean's. Nt, posted on September 28, 2016 at 17:59:46
jdaniel@jps.net
 M

 

RE: How is The Lark Ascending? I've always like Bean's. Nt, posted on September 28, 2016 at 19:28:01
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 1339
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 It's good. It's sonically better than the new Pinchas Zukerman or the Hilary Hahn, but I think those two seem more flowing and passionate.

 

Wow! Nice haul!, posted on September 28, 2016 at 19:44:28
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 26423
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 Nice to see DM-S playing with a decent collaborator (J-Fi), rather than with Little Miss Prissy Pants! ;-)

As for Natasha's new CD, I have her old incarnation of it (when she was going through her "brunette phase" - LOL!), which didn't include the Balakirev. I'm mad that the new incarnation includes the extra work that's not on my disc. I'd MUCH rather hear Natasha play Islamey than that Brahms F-sharp minor Sonata or that Kahane piece, and she's possibly a pianist who has the ability to do justice to what Ravel thought was the hardest work in the piano repertoire. BTW, the whole time I knew Natasha, she was always a blonde - I guess now she's returning to her. . . uh. . . roots! ;-)

I saw that Chandos Copland SACD available as a multi-channel 24/96 download on The Classical Shop site. However, I think my next purchase from that site is going to be the Gurre-Lieder, also in multi-channel 24/96.



I have the earlier volume in that Naxos Slatkin/Detroit Copland series on a blu-ray audio disc. I thought it was great (in contrast to a lot of work that Slatkin has been doing recently), and I hope that this new Copland volume is similarly impressive. I also hope that the new volume which you got will also become available in the blu-ray audio format too, because, although Naxos does offer hi-rez downloads, they don't seem to offer multi-channel hi-rez downloads.

 

Ah yes, the Gurrelieder. Something's bugging me though...., posted on September 28, 2016 at 21:20:57
jdaniel@jps.net
 The Bergen, BBC and Minneapolis orchestras are class acts, but they seem to be recording All the Works of Everybody and pumping them out as fast as they can.

I listened to samples of the Gurrelieder and Alwyn Mellor seems a little flat on her first ecstatic high note: "Du sendest mir, around .57 seconds.
Am I hearing things?

She also adds a little annoying swell to damned every note, unless the sample is misleading.

Please give us a report ASAP.

 

Yeah, I listened to the excerpts too, but my touchstone is the final chorus, posted on September 28, 2016 at 23:57:56
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 26423
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 There's so much stuff going on in the texture of that final chorus that it's all but impossible to bring out the Haupstimme properly, and, just based on the lossy excerpts played through my computer speakers, it sounded to me as if Gardiner was really on top of things here in a section that can sound chaotic without the proper care! ;-)

Regardless, you'll have to take my report on the actual download cum grano salis (multi-channel vs. two-channel for one thing!).

 

RE: How is The Lark Ascending? I've always like Bean's. Nt, posted on September 29, 2016 at 06:42:59
PAR
 Hahn may be considered more flowing by some but she just isn't idiomatic. No nint in her playing of any relationship with English folk song or landscape. Still it's more palatable than her overly sentimentalised yet paradoxically unemotional Elgar on the same disc.

I find that as the Lark has become more internationalised it is now hardly treated as a rhapsody but more as a form of small violin concerto. Mistake.

Bean has the intent of the piece correct by evoking the George Meredith poem rather than treating it as a vehicle for virtuosity. He was a great ensemble player. When the Bean version was recorded in conjunction with the Boult traversal of the RVW Symphonies he was leader of the Philharmonia and not a brought in soloist.

Oh, before writing this I looked out my SACD copy of the Hahn and listened again to make sure that my negative view didn't require any revision.

 

Can't wait for your review. I wonder whatever happened to Gielen's? nt, posted on September 29, 2016 at 07:29:33
jdaniel@jps.net
 .

 

The two I have right now are Gielen's and Salonen's, posted on September 29, 2016 at 10:33:31
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 26423
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 The Gielen recording must have gone OOP - it can be had now at Amazon for a mere $116.93. But in any case, I prefer the Salonen recording even though the master is only 24/44.1. But the attraction of this new Chandos recording is that it's 24/96, and I want to have all those ultra high frequencies I'm entitled to, even though I can't hear them! ;-)

Come to think of it, I guess the Gielen recording may have had a 24/96 master too. (I don't know for sure.) Another 24/96 recording is the 2015 album on Hyperion with Markus Stenz and the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln. (Its 24/96 incarnation is only available on the Hyperion site AFAIK.) It exists only in two channels, but I wouldn't think that would be a problem for you. Who would have thought that we would have all this choice today - just in hi-rez, not to mention CD-rez?

 

I really like that Hugh Bean recording too, and yet. . . , posted on September 29, 2016 at 10:43:01
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 26423
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 . . . I remember when that recording was first issued in the 60's, some reviewers in the US criticized Bean for being too focused on technical perfection and not sensitive enough to the emotion! Well, I suppose it takes all kinds of listeners, but I agree with you and jdaniel that the Bean/Boult recording is magnificent.

BTW, you're right that performances of this work have become more internationalized these days, and I think a lot of the babe violinists (JJ, Lisa, J-Fi, et al.) have it in their repertoires - J-Fi even has a recording of it. I hope I won't cause a scandal by saying I prefer Bean's to hers! ;-)

 

Iona Brown, posted on September 29, 2016 at 13:36:40
briggs
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Connecticut
Joined: April 16, 2002
 I share your liking for Bean but would also suggest Iona Brown.

 

RE: New arrivals from the wonder that is mdt.co.uk, posted on September 29, 2016 at 16:29:48
Amphissa
Audiophile

Posts: 2717
Location: Zardoz
Joined: March 9, 2004
 What a varied and appealing collection you turned up. Thanks for posting them.

I like Natasha Parenski's CD as well. I also like the Skride's take on Stenhammar, who deserves a lot more attention than he gets.

I first encountered Muller-Schott when he recorded the Raff cello concertos way back in 2001. Not masterpieces musically, but he gave them a good turn. He's become pretty proficient, and prolific in the studio, with a long list of CDs to his credit. I've not yet heard this CD, but I'm sure that wifey (who is a cellist) will pick it up at some point.

"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)

 

RE: I really like that Hugh Bean recording too, and yet. . . , posted on September 30, 2016 at 03:21:14
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 1339
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 Through the magic of streaming via Tidal (also available from Amazon Music and Spotify) I was able to enjoy the Boult/Bean recording last night! It is quite wonderful. It is an idiomatic performance that seems less "slick" than the more recent performances of my experience. I had most of those Boult/Vaughan Williams recordings at one time so I don't know how I missed this. Oh, well. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

Have you steamed any of these via ClassicsOnlineHD?, posted on September 30, 2016 at 08:13:55
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 Be interested in hearing how the downloads compare.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: Just a burning sensation. nt, posted on September 30, 2016 at 10:48:58
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
.

"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

As long as there are no wrinkles..., posted on September 30, 2016 at 11:35:19
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 it's OK.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: Have you steamed any of these via ClassicsOnlineHD?, posted on September 30, 2016 at 12:46:33
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 1339
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 Everything except the Chandos Copland is on ClassicsOnline (search using the album title for the J-Fi disc (Duo Sessions)). I listen to streaming primarily via headphones on my iPod with Dragonfly Red so comparisons are difficult, but in general I've found that when I do play these streaming services (or USB drives) through my home system, the discs still sound better although if they took all of my discs away I could live with the streaming.

 

I do most of my streaming via MacBook Air ) Audio-gd Master 11 DAC/Headphone Amp ) HD-600..., posted on September 30, 2016 at 12:57:10
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 Also stream to the main system as well through a purpose built MacMini > Audio-gd Master 7 DAC.

REALLY like the sound of ClassiscOnlineHD but it's problematic moving from track to track, sometime with HUGE delays between tracks even with a GigaBit Fiber ISP and the MacMini hooked to a Gigabit Router.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Streaming it on QOBUZ now and yes..., posted on September 30, 2016 at 13:10:02
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

It certainly holds up well!





First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: I do most of my streaming via MacBook Air ) Audio-gd Master 11 DAC/Headphone Amp ) HD-600..., posted on September 30, 2016 at 13:57:57
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 1339
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 I believe their "gapless" implementation has become worse. I keep hoping that the folks who created the Tidal app for the LMS make one for the ClassicsOnline service.

 

I'll be attending RMAF this year..., posted on September 30, 2016 at 16:14:16
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 If I see John Swenson there I'll ask him if he can put in a good word for us Classical listeners.

My plans include a MicroRendu streaming in the future, which supports LMS.

I have the house wired with Cat-5e, a Gigabit Router in the garage feeding ethernet to most rooms of the house so I'm ready to go.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: I do most of my streaming via MacBook Air ) Audio-gd Master 11 DAC/Headphone Amp ) HD-600..., posted on October 1, 2016 at 10:19:10
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I have communicated to Classicsonlinehd about the problems you mention as well as telling them they do not do gapless playback, at least on my equipment. They totally deny any problems and always tell me I am the only one that has that problem. I do like there choice of recordings but Tidal has no problems for me
Alan

 

There is some kind of downloading that goes on between tracks..., posted on October 1, 2016 at 10:34:24
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 and with Gigabit Fiber and my Mac Mini hooked directly to the Gigabit router (400-600 mbps download speed) there should be no problems at my end.

But there is.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: Streaming it on QOBUZ now and yes..., posted on October 2, 2016 at 18:40:18
BubbaMike
Audiophile

Posts: 650
Location: Left Coast of the USA
Joined: January 4, 2002
 Just purchased it on Amazon. $7.50 or so.


When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it. ~ Bernard Bailey

 

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