Unauthorized [Hybrid SACD]

Unauthorized [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000065AP1

Track Listings

1. Dear Miss Lucy

2. Misery

3. Lilly-110-140

4. When Kafka Was the Rage

5. Won Gon Du

6. Florida Time

7. Far Worse Off

8. Baby Who Are You?

9. Chicks

10. Voletta's

11. Still I Adore You

12. Kathmandu

13. China Tour

Tracks:

Promenade
Gnomus
Promenade
Il Vecchio Castello
Promenade
Tuileries
Bydlo
Promenade
Ballet Of The Chicks In Their Shells
Samuel Goldenburg And Schmuyle
The Marketplace At Limoges
Catacombae, Sepulchrum Romanum
Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
The Hut On Fowl's Legs
The Great Gate At Kiev
Marche Miniature (From Suite No. 1 In D-Minor, Op. 43)
A Night On Bald Mountain - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Prince Igor: Polovtsian March
Marche Slave
Colas Breugnon, Op. 24: Overture
Russian And Ludmilla: Overture - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Desert Island Disc!.......2007-06-20

This sacd is positively stunning. I am young. I was raised on gizmos, gadgets and hi-tech this and that...and for the life of me I can't understand how these engineers back in the 50's and 60's produced such astoundingly detailed recordings. With two or three mics for the hall and some tube equipment and wham...there you have it...a recording of impressively powerful pieces of music with enough separation and detail within the mix to keep the listener busy for hours and hours on end. That and the emotional wallop packed by this recording is second to none. Even if you have copies aplenty of Pictures, or Night on..., such as I do myself, please do not hesitate to pick up this recording as it is worth every dime. If you are looking for an interesting counterpoint to Reiner's reading of Pictures or Night pick of Jose Serebrier's recording on Naxos.

Great way to exercise.......2007-06-13

Such great music. Exercise and listening
to this one is a great combination.
Time seems to fly by and before you know
it. Times up!

Wow!.......2007-04-02

How can something older than me sound so good? The recording is top notch. Dont be fooled into thinking it is "just stereo", the ambience of symphony hall comes thru as though it were recorded in surround. Exquisite detail and perfect tempo. Timpani has realistic impact. And all the other music with Pictures makes this a real bargain!

Strauss and Mussorgsky.......2007-03-24

They sound good, without the 'edge' often associated with CDs. CDs are a Fourier Transform of the analog source - that is to say a subset of it.

Hybrid SACD Mussorgsky: Pirctures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain.......2007-01-14

Great value. Great performances. On my krell sacd player, I found small differences between the SACD layer and the regular. The recordings are outstanding. Consider the price and that this is a 2 lp set, this is a deal.

Average customer rating:

Music for Compline [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

William Byrd: Laudibus in sanctis
Music for Compline
Combattimento (W/Dvd)
Pilgrimage to Santiago
Lighten our Darkness

ASIN: B000LXSS5K
Release Date: 2007-02-13

From the label:

On its spectacular debut recording, the exciting young British vocal group stile antico presents a program of English Renaissance music associated with the office of Compline, the service that ends the monastic liturgical day. A who's-who of 16th-century British composers--including Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and John Sheppard--is represented here by hymns, antiphons, responsories, motets, and psalms: the occasion not only for music of intimacy, elegance, and reflection, but for flights of breathtaking canonic and contrapuntal invention and harmonic daring.

Stile Antico is an ensemble of young British singers, fast gaining recognition as one of the most original and exciting new voices in its field. In 2005 the group won the inaugural Audience Prize at the Early Music Network International Young Artists' Competition, drawing critical praise for its `wonderfully vivid singing' and `perfectly focused and ideally balanced voices.' Since this success, Stile Antico has appeared throughout the UK, including at the City of London, Lake District Summer Music and Beverley and East Riding Festivals; engagements for 2007 include the York Early Music Festival. The group has also collaborated with Sting on tour in his project Songs from the Labyrinth, performing lute songs by John Dowland.

Working without a conductor, the members of Stile Antico rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing artistically to the musical result. Their repertoire ranges from the glorious legacy of the English Tudor composers to the works of the Flemish and Spanish schools and the music of the early Baroque. They are passionate about the need to communicate with their audiences, combining thoughtful programming with direct, expressive performances. They are also committed to developing their educational work, for which they have received generous funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
Average customer rating:

Scheherazade

Definitive SACD of Scheherazade - Outstanding!!!!

best recording I could find

Russian rousers!

Amazing Sound

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]

Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Ein Heldenleben [Hybrid SACD]

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Dvorák's New World Symphony and Other Orchestral Masterworks [Hybrid SACD]

Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0006PV5VC
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

The Sea And Sinbad's Ship
The Story Of The Kalender Prince
The Young Prince And The Young Princess
Festival Of Bagdad/The Sea/The Ship Goes To Pieces On A Rock Surmounted By A Bronze Warrior (Shipwreck)/Conclusion
Presto
Chinese March
Song Of The Nightingale
The Mechanical Nightingale
The Emperor's Displeasure At The Departure Of The real Nightingale
The Emperor's Sickroom
The Real Nightingale Returns To Thwart Death
Funeral March And Finale

Amazon.com

This is a classic recording of these two works, led with grand authority by Fritz Reiner. The Chicago's brass and wind section play gloriously throughout, and the final movement of Scheherazade (we learn from the original producer [1960] in an accompanying essay) was recorded in one take--an almost unheard-of feat. This fast movement is taken at breakneck speed, with no loss of clarity or power, with the strings in the hands of magicians. Stravinsky's Nightingale has never sounded so exotic, so bristling over with color, since this 1956(!) recording under Reiner, and the wonderful surprise with this new release of old material is the revamped sound: the original "Living Stereo" was a fantastic breakthrough in recording, and this new SACD format has returned the spatial relationships to something so "real" that it comes as close as I've ever heard to a true concert hall experience. Simply glorious. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Scheherazade.......2007-07-08

This specific performanace of this album is excellent. The musical content is excellent and is a real crowd pleaser that anyone would want to listen to frequently. The technical recording (Hybrid SACD) is muddy when played back on ordinary equipment. That is the loudest passages are truncated (i.e. made quieter) and the softest passes are truncaded (i.e. made louder). This assessment is made in comparision to my original vinyl LP of this same recording. Presumably to get the best audio from the CD recording you will need SACD playback equipment. If you don't have a decent copy of vinyl version I would highly recommend this CD.

Definitive SACD of Scheherazade - Outstanding!!!!.......2007-02-18

This multichannel SACD is recorded in the front 3 channels only, as this is what the technicians and their top notch analog equipment recorded more than 40 years ago. At that time the Chicago Symphony and conductor Fritz Reiner were both at the top of their game, and this recording has not been equalled to this day. Absolutely puts the listener in the middle of the ninth or tenth row, and provides the clean dynamic sound of the best recordings made today! This is the wonderful Scheherazade I grew up with, but much better because of SACD technology and my current audio system.

best recording I could find.......2007-01-19

I heard Scheherazade live with the NY Phil. The power of that full orchestra in Russian forte was something, but even more memorable was the beautiful violin played by the concert master. This recording manages to balance the two opposites sonically. Mr Bill

Russian rousers!.......2007-01-06

"The Song of the Nightingale" is not my favorite Stravinsky...it just doesn't work that well as a piece of music, especially when compared to the opera original. But Reiner makes it work somehow: the pacing is terrific and the playing as usual is razor-sharp. "Scheherazade" may be pretty tired by now but when you hear this performance it comes to life again and you realize why it has been such a popular score. Sure there are other ways to play it but this one is sensational...and the last movement was done in a single take!

Amazing Sound.......2006-09-19

Best Scheherazade I ever heard. The performace was exciting and touching. The SACD provides so much details and dynamics of the recording that it makes me really feel that I was there.

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

another gem
a real prodigy
WARHORSE!!!
Joshua Bell just keeps growing as musician...
Joshua Bell: a monster of the violin!

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [Hybrid SACD]
Joshua Bell , Michael Tilson Thomas , and Berliner Philharmoniker
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Romance of the Violin
Voice of the Violin
The Essential Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy
Ladies in Lavender

ASIN: B000AY9OHQ
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35
I. Allegro moderato Album Version 19:32
II. Canzonetta. Andante
III. Finale. Allegro vivacissimo
Mtation in D minor, Op. 42, No. 1
Danse russe from Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Act III

Customer Reviews:

another gem.......2007-06-20

Stunning sound, great performance of an old "warhorse"; it's nice to see some fresh young talent in the world of classical music; Netrebko has done it for opera and Bell is doing it here

a real prodigy.......2007-05-21

Having seen and heard Joshua Bell in concert this recording confirms once more the sheer beauty of his plyaing.

WARHORSE!!!.......2007-03-20

El unico concierto para violin y orquesta de Tchaikovsky interpretado por Bell y la Filarmonica de Berlin, logra todo lo que el compositor queria transmitir, bravura, lirismo, romanticismo e intimidad. Cierto es que hay muchas versiones, grandes violinistas lo han hecho antes, Heifetz, Mutter, Perlman, Milstein, etc.... Y cada uno tiene su belleza, este tambien la tiene, ayudado ademas por las ultimas tecnicas de grabacion para darle un muy buen sonido. Recomendable.

Joshua Bell just keeps growing as musician..........2007-01-09

Joshua Bell astounds me every time I hear him play. I would not have ranked him '5' when I first started hearing him, but now he has grown so much as a musician, I couldn't rank him any less.

Joshua Bell: a monster of the violin! .......2006-12-19

Nine days ago we were exception witnesses when here in Caracas had the chance to watch this acclaimed violinist playing Tchaikovsky ` s Violin Concerto under the prestigious baton of Gustavo Dudamel. The sumptuous vibrato and the bright thrills literally loaded the Hall with this magic team.

Bell reminded me to Ivry Gitlis but with major poetry , which is by itself major words, because as all of us know about the grandiloquence of that extraordinary violinist.

An unforgettable concert supported by Rimski Korsakov orchestral works that culminated with an overwhelming ovation around this giant of the violin. Joshua Bell has entered into the reduced pantheon of violin's colossus.

There is no doubt about it.

The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

a good collection of classical music.
As Good As It Gets
Great performances and sound

The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]
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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0002TKFS6
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

No. 1, Op. 23 in G Minor
No. 2, Op. 38 in F
No. 3, Op. 47 in A-Flat
No. 4, Op. 52 in F Minor
No. 1, Op. 20 in B Minor
No. 2, Op. 31 in B-Flat Minor
No. 3, Op. 39 in C-Sharp Minor
No. 4, Op. 54 in E

Customer Reviews:

a good collection of classical music........2007-01-10

If you enjoy piano music, you should have this CD.

As Good As It Gets.......2006-03-24

Rubinstein was in his prime when these versions of the Chopin Ballades and Scherzos were recorded in 1959. Curiously, although this was his third version of the Scherzos, he had never before recorded the Ballades.

Rubinstein was temperamentally well suited to these works, moreso than in the Mazurkas and Preludes. The narrative aspect of the Ballades suited his intuitive sense of structure well. At this point in his career, Rubinstein had known these pieces for six decades. It is no wonder, therefore, that he performs them more convincingly than, say, Kissin does on his recent recording.

The Scherzos are outright virtuoso works. Rubinstein would occasionally perform all four in concert, back-to-back. Any other pianist would have been exhasted by the effort. Not Rubinstein, who posessed a seemingly inexaustable reserve of energy. The pianist is just as on top of these pieces, technically, as any of his colleagues, and much more attuned to them musically.

The sound, made from original three channel tapes produced by RCA's legendary Jack Pfeiffer, is spectacular in this new SACD edition--sounding every bit as lifelike as the best of today's digital recordings.

This is the one to get!

Great performances and sound.......2004-11-28

Highly recommended. Rubinstein's performances of the Ballades are lyrical, and the Scherzos exciting. The difference with previous issues is the SACD sound, which adds just that much more realism, the sense that the sound is "truer." A wonderful disc both artistically and sonically.

Concord Records SACD Sampler 1 (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)

Average customer rating:

Good Music
very good sound
voices in the room
Excelent
Good jazz SACD sampler

Concord Records SACD Sampler 1 (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Telarc & Heads Up SACD Sampler 5 (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)

ASIN: B0000BWVCO
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Beija-Flor - The Jim Hall Quartet
Come With Me - Tania Maria
Straighten Up And Fly Right - Rosemary Clooney
Watermelon Man - Poncho Sanchez With Special Guest Mongo Santamaria
Listen Here - The Gene Harris Quartet
My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More - Carmen McRae
Airegin - Tito Puente
Blood Count - The Stan Getz Quartet
Love Walked In - Mel Torme, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
Serengeti - Cal Tjader
In Walked Bud - Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers
O Nosso Amor - The Charlie Byrd Trio With Special Guest Ken Peplowski
Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year - Michael Feinstein With The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Good Music.......2007-06-08

I rate 5 star for the music, 5 star for sound quality and 4 star for surround mix. I'm not disappoint when listen to this album, each track on this album is very well selected.

I enjoy even when I listen with red book player. The CD layer also very good when compare to SACD layer.

One of my favorite album.

very good sound.......2007-01-03

I am very pleasure when I heard this SACD, all the sound is clear and the multichannel works like a different instruments places around my room.

voices in the room .......2006-03-14

Nice jazz sampler should appeal to most tastes in mainstream jazz since it's not too funky or free-style. What's the real kicker here is the SACD quality. Certainly not what I would call a great test cd but still good for amazing friends with the detailed sonics and tight bass lines and realistic voices in the room effects.

Excelent.......2006-01-02

very good compilation.
sound quality on SACD is first rate.

Good jazz SACD sampler.......2005-06-06

I'm not a jazz fan, but purchased this SACD for testing the performance of my new SACD & DVDA player. I own a lot of DVD audio discs, but this one is my first SACD.
Sound is good and well separated on the analogue 6 channel output designed for playing such a disc. But the music taste of the disc producer is strictly a jazz taste which doesn't meet that of a lot of music listeners. Beija-Flor, Come with me and Watermelon man are fantastic.
As a conclusion, it's a reliable SACD sampler but not comparable to DVDA which has almost the same sound fidelity, and include further videos, lyrics, photos and interviews.

Strauss: Josephslegende, Op.63 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Strauss: Josephslegende, Op.63 [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Channel Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva

ASIN: B000O75VJO
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Piano Concertos by Beethoven & Schumann [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Piano Concertos by Beethoven & Schumann [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance

ASIN: B000QEIM8M
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Allegro affettuoso
in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Rondo: Allegro (Redbook Stereo) 7. Piano
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Allegro (2007 SACD
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Adagio un poco mosso
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Rondo: Allegro (2007
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Allegro affettuoso (5.1 Surround
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso (5.1
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54; Allegro vivace (5.1 Surround Mix)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Allegro (5.1 Surround
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Adagio un poco mosso
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"; Rondo: Allegro (5.1
"Emperor"; Adagio un poco mosso (Redbook Stereo) 6. Piano Concerto No.

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 [Special Edition] [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Worth every Penny !
Over all very good, in places great
smoothed out edges
Solid live performances, great sound, but a little identity crisis?
This latest Beethoven Symphonies cycle is not that great

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 [Special Edition] [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Lso Live UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Vivaldi: Four Seasons [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000GUJYRE
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Marcia Funebre: Adagio Assi
Scherzo And Trio: Allegro Vivace
Finale: Allegro Molto
Leonore Overture No.2

Tracks:

Adagio-Allegro Vivace
Adagio
Allegro Vivace
Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
Allegretto Scherzando
Tempo Di Menuetto
Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Andante Con Moto
Allegro
Allegro
Adagio Molto-Allegro Con Brio
Anadante Cantabile Con Moto
Menuetto & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace
Adagio-Allegro Molto E Vivace

Tracks:

Erwachen Heiterer Gefuhle Bei Der Ankunft Auf Dem Lande (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
Szene Am Bach (Andante Molto Mosso)
Lustiges Zusammensein Der Landleute (Allegro)
Gewitter, Sturm (Allegro)
Hirtengesang-Frohe, Dankbare Gefuhle Nach Sem Sturm (Allegretto)
Adagio Molto-Allegro Con Brio
Larghetto
Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
Allegro Molto - Tim Hugh

Tracks:

Poco Sostenuto-Vivace
Allegretto
Presto
Allegro Con Brio
Allegro - Tim Hugh
Largo - Tim Hugh
Rondo Alla Polacca - Tim Hugh

Tracks:

Allegro Ma Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso - London Symphony Chorus
Scherzo: Molto Vivace - London Symphony Chorus
Adagio Molto E Cantabile - London Symphony Chorus
Presto-Allegro Ma Non Troppo-Vivace-Adagio Cantabile - London Symphony Chorus

Amazon.com

Haitink's integral set of Beethoven Symphonies with the London Symphony has none of the stodginess that sometimes afflicted his earlier recordings with the Concertgebouw. His restudy of the works, and the presence of concert audiences translate into faster tempos, sharper accents, wider dynamic range and an overall sense of energy that imbue these nine masterpieces. Here, the Classic style is wed to Romantic expressivity but not to Romantic excess, Competition is abundant, ranging from Toscanini, Furtwängler, and the 1963 von Karajan to recent sets from the sometimes hyperkinetic Vanska, the more traditional Abbado, and the insightful Barenboim. But this new Haitink set, available in hybrid SACD/CD, is a solid contender.

The early First and Second symphonies benefit from Haitink's leaner, more vivacious approach. The Eroica also sounds fresher. Its slow movement is still a funeral march, but moves a hair faster this time, just enough to be the difference between a pace that drags and a pace that flows and retains interest. In the outer movements, there's a new spring to the rhythms and clarity in orchestral balances, and this Eroica has the cumulative intensity to make its full effect. Haitink's Fourth is in a grander mold than we usually hear. While never overblown, it has some of the wider scope and heroism of the odd-numbered symphonies. Like the Eroica, it is rhythmically vigorous and the prominent tympani and brass make an impact that sweeps the listener along. The Fifth can suffer from over-exposure but here it has a variety of tonal colors, tempos, and dynamics that make it seem newly minted while no less grand. The propulsive finale, with its pounding tympani and expertly played journey to transcendence, is especially memorable.

The Sixth, the Pastorale, has that same feeling, its flowing tempos and skillful interpretive choices make this one of the best Sixths since Böhm's, with plenty of excitement in the Storm and warmth in the final movement. The Seventh gets a buoyant reading, predominately lyrical without neglecting its powerful rhythms. The driven final movement is exhilarating without being hectic. The Eighth is often considered the slightest of the Nine but Haitink's brisk tempos make it dance and swagger; the lyrical sections played with engaging warmth. As for the Ninth, it is miles ahead of Haitink's earlier versions. The harmonic mist that opens the work is well delineated, the contrasts within movements carefully marked, the Scherzo bursting with energy, the incomparable Adagio sings at a more fluid tempo, the choral final movement as good as any in the catalogue, its structure crystal clear under Haitink's baton. The major filler in the set is the often scorned Triple Concerto, which gets a performance of warm lyricism that can only elevate its status.

The playing of the London Symphony is phenomenal, especially since these are live recordings. The violins' tone glows with radiance, their precise articulation helps make the rhythms energetic, the winds are uniformly excellent, the brass sleekly powerful, the potent percussion authoritative in climaxes. If a criticism can be made it would be that bass lines are sometimes weaker than desirable, perhaps a function of engineering that varies in clarity from disc to disc but is never less than good. In sum, a major addition to the Beethoven Symphony discography. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Worth every Penny !.......2007-06-25

I finally listened to every symphony after 2 weeks. I have to say, every performance sounded quite prestine. I especially enjoyed the 6th and the 9th.
I agree with one reviewer in that the first movement of the 5th seemed a tad fast. Honestly thats the only complaint I have of this collection. If you enjoy classical music and appreciate high fidelity music, this is a must have !

Over all very good, in places great.......2007-04-10

These recordings have outstanding sound quality, as other reviewers have said. None of them are less than worthwhile, and I think the rendition of the Eroica is sensational, the best I've heard. The 9th is also among the best. The 5th, though, is not in the same class. Another reviewer has commented on the tempo of the first movement, which I agree is too fast; unfortunately, so is much of the rest of the piece. (Bernstein's 1990 recording with the Vienna Philharmonic is much better.) Still, no one could fault the LSO's playing, or the sound. Worth the money for the Eroica and the 9th alone.

smoothed out edges.......2007-03-03

Unlike some other recordings of Beethoven's work, this compilation permeates the composer's will and presents a series of golden renditions. The assembly of London musicians is in top form (which is usual for them) and they seem motivated to convey all nuances throughout. For those who long to use these compositions for peace of mind, feel assured that that peace will indeed come.

Solid live performances, great sound, but a little identity crisis?.......2007-02-27

[This review refers to non-Hydrid SACD versions of these performances]

When I first listened through this cycle I was impressed and rated it 5-stars. I remain impressed, but something about these performances bothers me, a sort of unevenness that is overcome on first listen by the excitement. So I am re-reviewing with a 4-star rating.

I do not think, as some have suggested, that these are per se "historically informed performances" (what performance isn't historically informed, after all?). I would describe them as having (on balance) an updated traditional approach which benefits from generally well-balanced orchestral forces, brisk tempi, modest levels of conductor-induced drama and nuance, and remarkable sound quality that lets all the facets of the music shine through (the tympani occasionally jump out a bit too far for my tastes, as if they're perched on the conductor's podium). However, Haitink's cadences in these live recordings seems a little uneven to me, distracting ever so slightly from the natural momentum.

I found myself thinking that the the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the 5th (at least in places) sound a bit like HIP performances, but the others (notably the 4th, which has a surprisingly big sound and broad, sweeping lines) sound like relatively brisk "big-band" treatments. Maybe that is simply Beethoven's music changing and not Haitink's interpretations, but I doubt it. I can't decide whether the legendary conductor is 1) pandering to HIP enthusiasts with a little extra speed here and there, 2) just can't decide how Beethoven in general ought to be played, or 3) is simply giving each symphony it's own identity (as he sees it). Those who love Haitink will presume the latter, and they might be right.

The Zinman cycle with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich is currently my favorite -- I love the lean, wiry energy and brisk but controlled tempi Zinman delivers on modern instruments with a small orchestra -- and at this point I find myself judging everything against it. I am also very fond of the late Gunter Wand's forthright readings with the NDR. At present, despite my newfound reservations, this Haitink cycle would probably be my third choice, a step or two ahead of Harnoncourt/COE. I also think this cycle would work out well for anyone who finds merit in both HIP and traditional approaches and just can't decide. This is a big orchestra sound energetically delivered with small orchestra transparency.

If you don't need SACD, this collection can be purchased as a set from a leading download site for less than a single SACD disc. Getting sleepy?

This latest Beethoven Symphonies cycle is not that great .......2007-02-13

I already have 2 sets of Beethoven symphonies cycle, Karajan, released 12/6/2005, and Gardiner, released September 20, 1994, and many other individuals. Then I pruchased this set because of reviews in Amazon here and nomination of Grammy 2007. After listening to some of them(No,3,5,9), I would say they are not that fantastic. The No.5 sounds strange in paticular comparing others. It seemed played in different pace from others. Then the overall recording quality is rather poor. "SACD" in here is somewhat misleading. The live recording is more challanging than in studio. But SFS still could achieve well balanced and refined recording in live. Its Mahler NO.7 won Grammy classical award this year. However, I dont know it was recorded in live or studio.

I like Beethoven No.9 very much, not this one though. Try Osmo Vanska, released 10/24/2006. Its excellent performance and SACD recording even surpasses the Karajan.

Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

the definitive Tchaikovsky version
Legendary performances in sound that shows what's going on
Heifetz deserves this new technology

Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009U55RE
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Customer Reviews:

the definitive Tchaikovsky version.......2007-02-19

To me this simply is the Tchaikovsky version to have, particularly in the now improved sound quality. Probably the same could not be said about the Brahms, but the Tchaikovsky alone is well worth the cost of the SACD.

Legendary performances in sound that shows what's going on.......2006-05-01

While I believe the Brahms violin concerton is the "Emporer" of violin concertos -- principally for its well-developed architecture -- I never cared much for Heifitz's version of the concerto. Although his early stereo recording with the Chicago Symphony and Reiner was played up to his standard, I always thought their collaboration produced an impatient recording, as if they couldn't get it finished quickly enough.

What a difference SACD makes! Now, when I listen to this work, I have a much different reaction. Hearing Heifitz located on the stage just a few steps from where Reiner is leading his band, this now sounds to me more impassioned than ever before, as if the chemistry between the two highly driven performers and the virtuoso orchestra resulted in a fast reading that was driven by a burning passion and not impatience.

So what happened; does the SACD recording show a different reality or did I just get older and appreciate the greatness of these performers more in my maturity?

I think both things happened. I know I appreciate Heifitz a lot more in SACD than I ever did in stereo and the sound on this SACD -- especially when I listen with headphones -- brings dimension to the recording that never existed before. It also shows the level of detail Reiner required from his orchestra and its ability to meet his technical demands.

I enjoyed the Tchaikovksy concerto that is mated with the Brahms here but less so. The chemistry doesn't seem to be the same between the partners, who were both high profile literalits in mid 20th century. Their collective insistence on literalism probably took some of the Slavic character away from the Tchaikovsky concerto, making it another top European concerto from the late Romantic period instead of an individual opus.

I listened to Heifitz's SACD recording of the Sibelius concerto after hearing the Tchaikovksy. There, Heifitz delivered a more characterful and intense performance that projected the icy Scandanavian nature of the composer. This is the element I think the Tchaikovsky concerto lacks -- the overwhelming passion of the emotionally charged and conflicted Russian composer.

Still, this is a great CD replicated in up to the minute super audio sound that usesof all three forward speakers without surround sound. RCA tells us in its technical packaging that the third speaker is a come and go proposition in SACD reissues because that's the way they were recorded. I noticed the middle channel in use every time I got next to the speaker in this recording.

This should appeal to music historians, fans of the two concertos, musicologists and audiophiles that want to know what three-channel recordings sounded like in the early days of stereo. Even this slight misgiving I have about the Tchaikovsky, this CD powerfully appeals to me.

Heifetz deserves this new technology.......2006-01-30

The violini is the most difficult instrument to record, and when digital sound came in during the Eighties, music lovers were dismayed by the edgy, glassy harshness of violin recordings, both solo and orchestral. Compared to the warmer, more natural sound of the best LPs, the advent of CDs was a huge step backward. Upgrades into 20-bit and 24-bit technology improved matters somewhat, but only now, with SACD, are we back to violin recordings that don't make you wince.

This classic pairing of Brahms and Tchaikovsky concertos with Heifetz and Reiner was always in good sound, despite the early recording dates, 1955 and 1957 respectively (the Tchaikovsky being the far superior one sonically). I bought this hybrid SACD to play in normal two-channel CD format, and it is impeccable. There is still a hint of wiriness in Heifetz's tone in the Brahms, but the Tchaikovsky sounds completely natural. Heifetz is far from my favorite violinist, but he deserves the best sound possible, and for the time being at least, he has it.

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