SPOTLIGHT The classical music general discussion thread

[4-earredwonder]

Check out the thread that @GOS started this morning: complete Beethoven symphonies for 35 bucks:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...thoven-complete-symphonies.35599/#post-760654

AmazonUS similarly has the set for $35.98 available as pre order and includes free s/h for Prime Members:

https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-National-Symphony-Orchestra/dp/B0CQ5JRFX7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3C43FVNPMAG9D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kzR76CvjTG1ul27N0E9w0nPLMmnsyNN8-8UWQ2c3WF-Uwd08MXGiZkd8pAILEOZktooaGbxsLTJbJKUmqcCp6uX9xW2fmpuL1V27fDmu2zUjKCGyp7XpgKXiwXRD3fjIqm52NojcgprfWBh1b97Db1lpvzoHCn3RR_fopfBaFAuLM5MwmOtQzD_7eAViR7LdPZnBWW6tkOnKGA6Irj_QUUtWB1z6aLx__5bbbKJOwEM.l1NBSXIY9KHydGhRpQg-g40_0X-h550Qj6PLmq4TT9Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=beethoven+the+complete+symphonies+national+symphony+orchestra&qid=1708805184&s=music&sprefix=beethoven+the+complete+symphonies+national+symphony+orchestra,popular,88&sr=1-2

 

[mkt]

A couple of new releases up at Audite, both available as 5.1 downloads (no sign of a physical release?). One also shows atmos files for download at a pretty modest price (11.50 euro), unclear which atmos format exactly
https://audite.de/en/product/CD/97814-sparks_of_spirit.html

and a preview at apple music

 

[ubertrout]

Seeing @ForagingRhino mention Finnadar in the Quadio thread reminded me that possibly the greatest recording of the Chopin Mazurkas ever made was on Finnadar by Andrzej Wąsowski, https://www.discogs.com/release/11413640-Chopin-Andrzej-Wasowski-51-Mazurkas. It's pretty hard to find now, any chance it could be released to streaming services?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

A couple of new releases up at Audite, both available as 5.1 downloads (no sign of a physical release?). One also shows atmos files for download at a pretty modest price (11.50 euro), unclear which atmos format exactly

12 channel, 24/48 WAV. Have not played it but I assume it is 7.1.4

 

[mkt]

Not atmos is my favorite atmos file format

 

[ForagingRhino]

Seeing @ForagingRhino mention Finnadar in the Quadio thread reminded me that possibly the greatest recording of the Chopin Mazurkas ever made was on Finnadar by Andrzej Wąsowski, https://www.discogs.com/release/11413640-Chopin-Andrzej-Wasowski-51-Mazurkas. It's pretty hard to find now, any chance it could be released to streaming services?

Looks like Concord owns that catalog now.

 

[mkt]

A couple of new releases up at Audite, both available as 5.1 downloads (no sign of a physical release?). One also shows atmos files for download at a pretty modest price (11.50 euro), unclear which atmos format exactly
https://audite.de/en/product/CD/97814-sparks_of_spirit.html

and a preview at apple music

12 channel, 24/48 WAV. Have not played it but I assume it is 7.1.4

After some delays with the download, it seems to be a 7.14 wav files with center, LFE, and rear surrounds that are silent (channels 3, 4, 7, and 8). A center channel always seems to me like a terrible thing to waste.

 

[mkt]

Seeing @ForagingRhino mention Finnadar in the Quadio thread reminded me that possibly the greatest recording of the Chopin Mazurkas ever made was on Finnadar by Andrzej Wąsowski, https://www.discogs.com/release/11413640-Chopin-Andrzej-Wasowski-51-Mazurkas. It's pretty hard to find now, any chance it could be released to streaming services?

I found a copy of the concord release at a library. Now streaming (locally)

 

[ubertrout]

I found a copy of the concord release at a library. Now streaming (locally)
View attachment 103144

Isn't it great? I don't know why it's so hard to find.

 

[humprof]

2L's next offering, Pax, slated for release April 4th, is finally available for pre-order at the label's online store. €31,50 shipped to the US. Not streaming yet.

https://www.2l.no/pages/album/174.html

(Here's the booklet.)

 

[mkt]

Another smaller label bought.
https://limelight-arts.com.au/news/uk-classical-label-chandos-sells-to-naxos-boss/

 

[humprof]

Another smaller label bought.
https://limelight-arts.com.au/news/uk-classical-label-chandos-sells-to-naxos-boss/

And one that has produced some fine multichannel recordings. Interesting that the buyer is not Naxos, but Naxos' founder.

 

[ubertrout]

And one that has produced some fine multichannel recordings. Interesting that the buyer is not Naxos, but Naxos' founder.

Apparently the goal is to keep them as independent as possible. A lot of these labels have older founders looking to retire.

 

[4-earredwonder]

AmazonUS similarly has the set for $35.98 available as pre order and includes free s/h for Prime Members:

https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-National-Symphony-Orchestra/dp/B0CQ5JRFX7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3C43FVNPMAG9D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kzR76CvjTG1ul27N0E9w0nPLMmnsyNN8-8UWQ2c3WF-Uwd08MXGiZkd8pAILEOZktooaGbxsLTJbJKUmqcCp6uX9xW2fmpuL1V27fDmu2zUjKCGyp7XpgKXiwXRD3fjIqm52NojcgprfWBh1b97Db1lpvzoHCn3RR_fopfBaFAuLM5MwmOtQzD_7eAViR7LdPZnBWW6tkOnKGA6Irj_QUUtWB1z6aLx__5bbbKJOwEM.l1NBSXIY9KHydGhRpQg-g40_0X-h550Qj6PLmq4TT9Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=beethoven+the+complete+symphonies+national+symphony+orchestra&qid=1708805184&s=music&sprefix=beethoven+the+complete+symphonies+national+symphony+orchestra,popular,88&sr=1-2

I just saved $10 by cancelling my order with Amazon US and ordering through Deep Discount with their current 15% off coupon INSANE

https://www.deepdiscount.com/beethoven-complete-symphonies/810038861326

Not bad for 5 Multi~CH SACDs and 2 BD~A Atmos discs, I'd say!

But in order to get the 15% off you do have to purchase 2 in stock items ..which for me wasn't too difficult! Also received free s/h!

 

[ubertrout]

Listing to an older Naxos DVD-Audio. One of those pieces that really needs to be heard on big speakers. The Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 that followed was also excellent.

 

[mkt]

2L's next offering, Pax, slated for release April 4th, is finally available for pre-order at the label's online store. €31,50 shipped to the US. Not streaming yet.

https://www.2l.no/pages/album/174.html

(Here's the booklet.)

And streaming now

 

[4-earredwonder]

Another glorious interpretation of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on the Erato Label [hybrid Stereo SACD] performed by young French guitarist Thibaut Garcia with the Orchestre National Du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by British conductor Ben Glassberg.

Also included are four solo pieces by Regino Sáinz de la Maza, the guitarist who gave the premiere of the Concierto de Aranjuez in 1940, Alexander Tansman's Musique de Cour and Robert De Visée's Suite in A Minor

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCS-13848

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=thibault garcia aranjuez you tube&mid=7A273933784B5C8989327A273933784B5C898932&ajaxhist=0

 

[mkt]

Now available for download at Audite in atmos (in wav files)

https://audite.de/en/product/CD/97827-j.s_bach_trio_sonatas.html
EDIT 13-channel wav with some sort of atmos info too.

 

[humprof]

Michael Gordon, "8": coming out mid-April on Cantaloupe Music.

This is tragic. "The eight cellists of Cello Octet Amsterdam are positioned in a circle, and the passages they play travel around the circle in both directions, call-and-response style. If you're in the middle of the circle, you can hear the dimensionality and perspective of the sound clearly. When listening closely to the recording, you can hear the bass notes traveling in space independently of the melody line."

Made for surround, right? But when I inquired, the label told me that regrettably, they couldn't afford a 5.1 mix. I love Gordon's music, and I'll get it anyway. But damn...

Again: Michael Gordon is one of my favorite contemporary composers. So many of his works--not just 8, but also The Unchanging Sea, Natural History, Decasia, his opera The Carbon Copy Building with cartoonist Ben Katchor--would lend themselves to imaginative surround mixes. Starting Sunday, April 14th, he and the group Mantra Percussion will be exploring the resonant & immersive qualities of several public spaces in New York City, in a series of free performances of 8. Lucky New Yorkers! Here's a preview article by Joshua Barone from Friday's Times ("gift" version, good for 30 days, for those stymied by the paywall). Great photos!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/arts/music/michael-gordon-timber-resonant-spaces.html

 

[mkt]

Now out on SACD & download

https://spiritofturtle.com/products...-the-swan-the-den-bosch-choirbooks-vol-4-sacd