By A Thread Season 2

The annual "MILCHBAR" selection presents the finest chill-out vibes as a soundtrack for the perfect sunset by the sea. This year, Blank & Jones have invited artists from all over the world to contribute to this magical journey: Ibiza residents George Solar (La Torre) and Ken Fan (Café Del Mar), Brit JIM from Crazy P., long-term Danish friends The Swan and The Lake as well as Jacob Gurevitsch and from France Jpye and Alma Este, who contribute a stunning adaptation of Daft Punk's "Something About You".

Franz Schreker - Irrelohe, Opera In 3 Acts
Beethoven Orchester Bonn / Stefan Blunier / Chor und Extrachor des Theater Bonn
SACD ISOs: 7,05 GB (Stereo + MCH DSD) | FLAC @ 24bit/88.2kHz: 2,09 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Rec. Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Live" # 937 1687-6 | Country/Year: Germany 2011
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Late Romantic

…The vivid MDG recording is slightly distanced, so the volume needs to be increased considerably for its fine qualities to become evident. Balances between voices and orchestra are excellent, and for those listening in multi-channel the surround speakers have been used to great effect for the off-stage brass, distant bells and chorus in the Act 3 cataclysmic immolation of Irrelohe castle. There is no applause or audience noise but the movement of singers on the stage is clearly defined with very few extraneous sounds being captured by the microphones. This is the latest addition to the Schrecker discography and will be welcomed by all admirers of the composer and can be confidently recommended.

Franz Schreker - Irrelohe, Opera In 3 Acts
Beethoven Orchester Bonn / Stefan Blunier / Chor und Extrachor des Theater Bonn
SACD ISOs: 7,05 GB (Stereo + MCH DSD) | FLAC @ 24bit/88.2kHz: 2,09 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Rec. Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Live" # 937 1687-6 | Country/Year: Germany 2011
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Late Romantic

…The vivid MDG recording is slightly distanced, so the volume needs to be increased considerably for its fine qualities to become evident. Balances between voices and orchestra are excellent, and for those listening in multi-channel the surround speakers have been used to great effect for the off-stage brass, distant bells and chorus in the Act 3 cataclysmic immolation of Irrelohe castle. There is no applause or audience noise but the movement of singers on the stage is clearly defined with very few extraneous sounds being captured by the microphones. This is the latest addition to the Schrecker discography and will be welcomed by all admirers of the composer and can be confidently recommended.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Fritz Reiner - Vienna
Works by Carl Maria von Weber; Johann Jr., Josef & Richard Strauss
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,20 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,40 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA Red Seal "Living Stereo" # 82876-71615-2 | Country/Year: Europe 2005, 1957/1960
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Various, Orchestral, Waltz

…On this release Reiner and his orchestra are in glorious form. The quality of these Strauss family waltzes can survive even the most inept amateur and hand-organ grinder. In the hands of Reiner, however, the waltzes sound marvellous and are a real joy. Reiner was conducting in Vienna as early as 1915 and one can clearly hear that the Viennese stamp of authenticity is attached to these performances. The spirit of Vienna is also perpetuated with the Chicago Symphony having several Vienna-trained members at the time of these recordings. Reiner is able effortlessly to adapt to the contrasting moods and fast-changing tempos. He manages to deliver real excitement and an anticipation of what is to come next. He knows how to obtain the slight buoyancy on the second beat, an almost inaudible accent after an almost inaudible pause…

Hideo Harada - Schumann: Fantasia, Kreisleriana, Arabeske
SACD ISO (2.0/5.0): 3,59 GB | 24B/88,2kHz FLAC (2.0): 1,16 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Audite # 92.577 SACD | Country/Year: Germany 2010
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Piano

…Overall, Audite's Schumann: Fantasia; Kreisleriana; Arabeske is an excellent choice for these standard works whether one is coming to them for the first time or has sipped at this particular fount for many a season.

Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 (9) in C major D.944 "Great" / Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 88
Berliner Philharmoniker / Wilhelm Furtwängler
SACD ISO (Single Layer/Mono): 3,05 GB | 24B/88,2kHz FLAC: 766 MB | Full Artwork: 80 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Deutsche Grammophon, Universal Music LLC # UCGG-9019 | Country/Year: Japan 2011 (Germany 1951)
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School, Historical Recording

"SHM-SACD (Super High Material SACD) is the ultimate Super Audio CD that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution. These discs are made with polycarbonate developed for the screen of the liquid crystal display. As it has a higher transparency, players can read the signal more faithfully. Also, it excels in fluidity, which enables you to cast a more accurate pit. What works wonders for a low resolution format such as CD should offer even greater sonic improvements in a real high resolution format such as SACD."