Hybrid Strings

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony 6 in B minor "Pathétique" Op. 74
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Daniele Gatti
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,98 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,21 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Harmonia Mundi USA # HMU 807394 | Country/Year: Europe 2006
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

…The detail and clarity of the engineering, plus the spacious, airy overall spectrum of the recording (made at the famous Watford Colosseum), cements the conclusion that it is still possible to make a classic Tchaikovsky symphony recording that listeners are likely to enjoy decades in the future, just as recordings made decades ago—Wilhelm Furtwängler's (on Naxos and EMI), or Bernstein's and Mravinsky's second recordings (both on DG)—are today. Recording Of The Month.

Johann Sebastian Bach - The Six Brandenburg Concertos
Academy Of Ancient Music / Richard Egarr
PS3 SACD ISO: 4,80 GB (2.0/5.0) | EAC Rip, FLAC LOG & CUE: 476 MB (2.0) | 24B/88,2kHz FLAC (2.0): 1,70 GB | Lossless Artwork: 238 MB | Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Harmonia Mundi HMU 807461.62 | Country/Year: Europe 2009 | Genre: Chamber Music | Hoster: Filepost/Filefactory

There's no shortage of mainstream orchestral versions of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, but period ensembles usually play them as works for chamber orchestra, with their string sections pared down. In Richard Egarr's historically informed performances with the Academy of Ancient Music, the strings are limited to single instruments per part, much as Bach likely expected and probably got, if these concertos were actually played in his day…

Dmitri Shostakovich - The Symphonies: Symphony 13
Gürzenich-Orchester Köln / Dmitrij Kitajenko
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,55 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,01 GB | Full Artwork
Label/Cat#: Capriccio # SACD71-038 | Country/Year: Germany 2005 | 5% Recovery Info
Genre: Classical | Style: Early 20th Century, Contemporary

"Moving, intelligent, and sometimes powerful singing by the bass soloist throughout. Good chorus. Chimes are chillingly reproduced, as are some of the other percussion effects (for instance the woodblock in "In the Store"). Excellent tuba playing in "Fears"." ~sa-cd.net

César Franck: Symphony / Igor Stravinsky: Pétrouchka
Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Boston Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,00 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,28 GB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA Red Seal "Living Stereo" # 82876-67897-2 | Country/Year: Europe 2005, recorded 1959/1961
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Early 20th Century

"…An amazing SACD. As interpretations, both of these are in a class of their own, the Franck having strong claims of being the best ever performance of this greatest French late romantic orchestral work. Almost certainly they will never be equalled let alone bettered on SACD." ~SA-CD.net

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Mandelring Quartett - Complete Chamber Music For Strings Vol. 1
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,57 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,27 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: audite # 92.656 SACD | Country/Year: Germany 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Classicism, Romantic, Chamber Music

"…The observations of the dynamic markings are scrupulous and add greatly to the excitement as they seem to be able plumb ever greater tonal depths at either end of the dynamic spectrum. Perhaps most impressive of all is the respect shown by the Mandelring's for the unnumbered quartet of 1823, which although written some 2 years prior to the great octet shows the rapidly growing style of the young Mendelssohn. They play it with the same professionalism and joy that characterises their other performances…" ~sa-cd.net

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Mandelring Quartett - Complete Chamber Music For Strings Vol. 1
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,57 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,27 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: audite # 92.656 SACD | Country/Year: Germany 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Classicism, Romantic, Chamber Music

"…The observations of the dynamic markings are scrupulous and add greatly to the excitement as they seem to be able plumb ever greater tonal depths at either end of the dynamic spectrum. Perhaps most impressive of all is the respect shown by the Mandelring's for the unnumbered quartet of 1823, which although written some 2 years prior to the great octet shows the rapidly growing style of the young Mendelssohn. They play it with the same professionalism and joy that characterises their other performances…" ~sa-cd.net

Bela Bartók - Concerto For Orchestra / Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta / Hungarian Sketches
Fritz Reiner - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 3,27 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,44 GB | Partial Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA "Living Stereo" # 82876 61390 2 | Country/Year: Europe 2004
Genre: Classical | Style: Modern, Early 20th Century

…Even if you aren't a Bartok fan, the price is very attractive and makes it all the more worthwhile to add this to your SA-CD Library!

Dmitri Shostakovich - The Symphonies: Symphony 8
Gürzenich-Orchester Köln / Dmitrij Kitajenko
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 4,00 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,08 GB | Full Artwork
Label/Cat#: Capriccio # SACD71-013 | Country/Year: Germany 2004 | 5% Recovery Info
Genre: Classical | Style: Early 20th Century, Contemporary

"Icy cold I. II and III are powerful. Rostropovich's recording also has great sound, and perhaps a little more character. Sanderling's stereo SA-CD is a very good performance but no competition sonically." ~SA-CD.net