Akiko Suwanai: Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (2022) 5.0 SACD

[McCrutchy]

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09F9WPXJC/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09F9DKG9J/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UCGD-9086https://www.universal-music.co.jp/akiko-suwanai/products/ucgd-9086/
Universal Music Japan have just released Akiko Suwanai's (諏訪内晶子) Johann Sebastian Bach: The Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo (J.S.バッハ：無伴奏ヴァイオリン・ソナタ＆パルティータ) (2022) on Hybrid Stereo / 5.0 Multichannel SACD.

This new release, which seems to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Akiko Suwanai's first CD release, comes in two editions. The standard edition is an Ultimate High Quality CD (UHQCD), which is simply another type of standard redbook CD. However, the First Press Limited Edition of the album is a Hybrid SACD, with liner notes (presumably only in Japanese), different cover art and what seems to be a slipcover. Until now, I had assumed it would be stereo only, since most Japanese SACDs do not have surround sound, but an upload of the back cover at Amazon.co.jp confirms that a 5.0 track is included:



Here are two video clips UMJ has uploaded to promote the release:

 

[ubertrout]

Her previous MCH SACD effort is about 20 years old too! I like it a lot, for those who don't mind a more traditional surround mix.

At the same time, I'm a little wary of this release - it's literally a single instrument. I guess the 5.0 mix might give a decent sense of air and the room but it's not the same draw.