Sacd Debussy

Valery Gergiev’s 1st recording of French music on the LSO Live label, Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Boléro, Pavane – Gergiev was characterised by an unexpected affinity for this music & a warmth of expression not usually associated with this conductor. This follow-up issue confirms Gergiev’s credentials as a Francophile conductor (as do his recent meticulous performances of the music of Henri Dutilleux at the Barbican.

This hybrid SACD contains stereo and 4.0 multi-channel audio and I think it's fantastic!
Tomita was 83 when he re-arranged and re-mixed his Kosmos album for SACD. I think it’s remarkable that he was still working, but I feel I must reluctantly share why you may want to skip this one…

Excellently recorded recital from Brilliant Classics. The piano and violin are ideally balanced in a warm acoustic of exactly the right size. The piano also sounds perfect, rich and full…

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.

On this rendition of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, Tomita takes the Russian composer’s music into the galaxy of component Moog synths, a Roland space echo unit that will surely phase shift you across the universe, along with a guitar and other period electronic gear. As unique as Tomita's idiom has been, this transcription stays a little closer to our solar system with his trademark spacy and phasey treatments working best on the slower pieces.

One of the more satisfying classical/synthesizer debuts, Snowflakes Are Dancing works on its own terms as a piece of music. As well, the album succeeds as an interpretation of several Debussy compositions (including “Clair de Lune” and “Arabesque No. 1″). Debussy’s atmospheric compositions are naturals to receive the Tomita treatment and despite a few moments of interstellar cheesiness worthy of Star Hustler, Tomita’s debut is an intriguing proto-synthesizer-pop record.
The sonics of the SACD are unquestionably outstanding. Well worth re-purchasing these versions.