Percy Grainger, Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, Rolf Gupta – Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto (2009) [Blu-ray Audio / BDMV / 14.7 GB]

Album title:  Edvard Grieg – Piano Concerto
Composer: Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907)
Performer: Percy Grainger, piano; Kristiansand Symfoniorkester; Rolf Gupta, conductor; Edvard Grieg, piano; Øyvind Bjorå, violin; Rex Lawson, pianolist
Genre: Classical
Label: 2L (Lindberg Lyd)
Location: Kristiansand Cathedral, Norway
Release date: August 2009
Recording date: February 2009
Original source: Mastering in DXD (352.8kHz/24bit)
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: 01:07:00
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 84 kbps / 1080p / 24 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: DTS-HD MA 7.1 / 96 kHz / 8238 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#2: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 192 kHz / 12076 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#3: LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit
Size: 14,7 GB

The magic of a “time machine” brings Percy Grainger’s original performance back to life in this modern surround-sound recording with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rolf Gupta. Edvard Grieg himself bears witness to the validity and authenticity of Grainger’s interpretation through his own enthusiastic endorsement: “I had to become sixty-four years old to hear Norwegian piano music interpreted so understandingly and brilliantly. He breaks new ground for himself, for me, and for Norway. And then this enchanting, profound, serious, and childlike naturalness! What a joy to gain a young friend with such qualities!”

In 2007, conductor Rolf Gupta gave the first Norwegian performance of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with the legendary Australian pianist Percy Grainger (1882-1961) as the posthumous soloist. On this recording, the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra accompanies Grainger’s original and controversial interpretation of the concerto. In addition, the violinist Øyvind Bjorå and pianolist Rex Lawson perform Grieg’s Violin Sonata in C minor. The recording also includes a handful of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces, performed by the composer himself. Astonishingly, these performances have not been available to the public until now.

Two different instruments have facilitated Grainger’s and Grieg’s encounters with the KSO/Gupta in modern times. Grainger plays on a form of musical time machine, the Duo-Art reproducing piano, which is something like an analogue predecessor of the computer, powered by an electric suction pump, and controlled automatically by perforated rolls of paper. Grieg, on the other hand, has been restored to life by means of a foot-pedalled pianola, played by Rex Lawson. For this recording, both instruments were fitted in front of a Steinway concert grand piano and re-performed the playing of Grainger in 1921 and Grieg in 1906.

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Fred Jonny Berg – Flute Mystery (2009) [Blu-ray Audio / BDMV / 13.9 GB]

Album title: FLUTE MYSTERY
Composer: Fred Jonny Berg (1973 -)
Performer: Emily Beynon, flute; Catherine Beynon, harp; PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA; Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor
Genre: Classical
Label: 2L (Lindberg Lyd)
Location: Watford Colosseum, London, UK
Release date: May 2009
Recording date: January 2008
Original source: PCM 96kHz/24bit
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: 00:57:58
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 21928 kbps / 1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio #1: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 96 kHz / 6075 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio #2: LPCM 2.0 / 96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit
Size: 13,9 GB

Only the full symphony orchestra can impose the true emotional dynamics of the arctic nature. FLUTE MYSTERY is a collection of five orchestral works by composer Flint Juventino Beppe (AKA Fred Jonny Berg). In this distinctive and dynamic surround sound recording, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Emily & Catherine Beynon as soloists on flute & harp are conducted by the legendary Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Best Surround Sound Album 52nd GRAMMY Nominee

– Flute Mystery
– Warning Zero
– Pastorale
– Vicino alla Montagna
– Flute Concerto No.1

Vladimir Ashkenazy: I am very fond of Scandinavian mentality, the way people express themselves and their spiritual world. It has always been a very special treat for me to conduct and play Scandinavian music and it is a particular pleasure to introduce to the world a very talented Norwegian composer whose music in its own way is a genuine reflection of his world.

FJB’s music is often described as melodious, accessible and dramatic, yet with a highly original quality. Beppe himself tries to explain: It is really as simple as it is complicated – I breathe in what life has to offer, and breathe out what I have to offer life. I have given up trying to grasp what actually happens in the process from impression to expression. In his music Flint Juventino Beppe reveals himself as a person who has experienced that life consists of light and dark, but unlike the majority of us he approaches both with a similar undaunted decisiveness; it adds an extra quality to his music: the conviction of an eyewitness.

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2 min read

Alyn Cosker – Lyn’s Une (2009) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 338]

Alyn Cosker - Lyn's Une (2009)

Title: Alyn Cosker – Lyn’s Une (2009)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Alyn Cosker, a dynamic force in the Scottish jazz scene, won the 2009 Scottish Jazz Awards for Best Drummer. His debut album, Lyn’s Une (2009, Linn Records), showcases his versatile, chameleon-like style, blending jazz, rock, funk, Latin, and Celtic influences. The album’s original compositions, mostly penned by Cosker, reflect his rhythmic ingenuity and passion. Featuring top Scottish talents like Ross Hamilton (bass), Jason Rebello (piano), and Paul Towndrow (saxophones), the album bursts with virtuosic, spirited performances. Other contributors include Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone), Ryan Quigley (trumpet), David Dunsmuir (guitar), and vocalist Maureen McMullan. The title Lyn’s Une stems from a computer error, misnaming “Alyn’s Tune,” adding a quirky charm. Tracks range from intricate ballads like “Unannounced” to brassy, funk-driven numbers like “Twitter and Bisted,” written to unite the full ensemble with humor. At 78 minutes, the ambitious album occasionally sprawls but shines with standout moments, such as Rebello’s lyrical piano and Dunsmuir’s Scofield-inspired guitar. Recorded in just two days, its SACD quality enhances the vibrant, varied sound. Lyn’s Une marks Cosker as a formidable drummer and promising composer, earning praise from figures like Joe Locke for his “smokin’” talent.

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2 min read

Allan Taylor – Leaving At Dawn (2009) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4057.2]

Allan Taylor - Leaving At Dawn (2009)

Title: Allan Taylor – Leaving At Dawn (2009)
Genre: Folk, Acoustic
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor’s Leaving at Dawn (2009), his 20th album, marks a return to his folk-inflected troubadour style, per fRoots. A consummate songwriter, Taylor delivers quintessential work with warm vocals and intricate guitar, maintaining themes of love and place. Written mostly between 2001 and 2007, the songs blend simple yet literate language with universal truths, reflecting on love (Lay Soft on Your Pillow) and locales (Provence). Standouts include the traditional-style Firefly, the poignant The Almost Man (a tribute to his father), and Red on Green, a translated WW1 love letter. The album’s state-of-the-art SACD recording, praised by The Living Tradition, offers stunning clarity and rich textures from instruments like accordion, banjo, and fretless bass. Taylor’s narrative power subtly weaves stories, evoking specific times and situations, with The Last of the Privateers as a full narrative ballad. The album balances reflective melancholy with optimism, encapsulated in lines about following a “golden star.” Its acoustic settings, rooted in folk, feature magnificent guitars and empathetic contributions from a small ensemble. Leaving at Dawn is considered one of Taylor’s finest, drawing listeners with its quality writing, singing, and spacious production. Taylor acknowledges the influence of British and Irish traditional songs, evident in the album’s folk essence.

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2 min read

Allan Taylor, Gottinger Symphonie Orchester – There Was A Time (2016) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.9015.2]

Allan Taylor, Gottinger Symphonie Orchester - There Was A Time (2016)

Title: Allan Taylor, Gottinger Symphonie Orchester – There Was A Time (2016)
Genre: Folk
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor, born in Brighton in 1945, is a revered troubadour known for his literate songwriting and vivid chronicles of unsung lives over a 40-year career. He has performed regularly at the Folkest festival in Spilimbergo, Italy, often in Piazza Castello, near Udine. In 2013, Italian composer Valter Sivilotti arranged Taylor’s songs for a special orchestral concert at the festival. Günter Pauler of Stockfisch Records, inspired by demo recordings, proposed producing an SACD featuring Taylor with a symphony orchestra. The Göttinger Symphonie Orchester, led by conductor Christoph-Mathias Mueller, was hired for the recording in Göttingen. Sivilotti’s arrangements, empathetic to Taylor’s songs, enhanced their emotional depth in an orchestral setting. Taylor praised the technical and artistic expertise of Stockfisch Records in creating the album. The SACD, Allan Taylor: There Was a Time (2016), reimagines songs from his catalog, some decades old. The recording session was a successful collaboration, showcasing Sivilotti’s creativity and Taylor’s timeless material. This orchestral project offers listeners a fresh, majestic take on Taylor’s introspective folk repertoire.

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2 min read

Allan Taylor – All Is One (2013) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4078.2]

Allan Taylor - All Is One (2013)

Title: Allan Taylor – All Is One (2013)
Genre: Folk, World, Country
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor’s All Is One (2013, Stockfisch Records) reflects the wisdom of a seasoned troubadour nearing 70, delivering a profound yet understated philosophical statement. After overcoming a severe shoulder dysfunction that halted his guitar playing, Taylor returned to the studio without framing the album as a dramatic comeback, staying true to his contemplative style. Unlike his earlier works about physical journeys across countries and hotel rooms, this album delves deeper, exploring time and unity, with the title track embodying this shift. Begun in 2004 and completed years later, “All Is One” weaves lyrics of old guitars and closing doors into a subtle blend of dance and march rhythms, avoiding sentimental resignation. A continuation of his 2009 album Leaving at Dawn, it amplifies themes of movement through time rather than space. Taylor’s warm baritone and sensitive Martin guitar work, supported by sparse instrumentation like fretless bass and flute, create a crystalline soundscape, though some may find the compositions monotonous, prioritizing sonic purity over musical complexity. The SACD’s exceptional sound quality, a hallmark of Stockfisch Records, enhances the introspective mood, making it ideal for reflective listening.

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2 min read

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014) [SACD / BIS – BIS-2110 SACD ]

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg - Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014)

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson was a dedicated symphonist, composing 15 symphonies after his unfinished Symphony No. 1 (1951), plus a fragment of another by his death in 1980. Apart from six non-symphonic works, he nearly always had a symphony in progress. The gap before Symphony No. 4 was likely due to the poor reception of Symphony No. 3’s 1956 premiere. Unlike the four-movement Symphony No. 3, No. 4 adopts a single-movement structure, a format Pettersson favored after his Symphony No. 2. Symphony No. 4 features long, chorale-like passages alongside modernist elements, possibly reflecting his mother’s religious songs. Pettersson dedicated the work to his mother, noting in his journal her embodiment of goodness. Symphony No. 16, composed in 1979 for saxophonist Frederick L. Hemke, includes a prominent alto saxophone solo. Its “jazz-scented” slow section follows a frenetic opening, resolving in a tonal, peaceful conclusion. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, joined by saxophonist Jörgen Pettersson, deliver a critically acclaimed performance. Their recording continues their celebrated cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, showcasing the works’ stylistic duality and emotional depth.

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1 min read

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013) [SACD / BIS – BIS-SACD-2038]

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg - Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013)

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson composed his Ninth Symphony in 1970, following the triumphant 1968 premiere of his Seventh under Antal Dorati. This success brought him greater recognition, but his health worsened, leading to a nine-month hospitalization after completing the Ninth. The symphony, his longest at 65–80 minutes, is a single-movement work depicting an extended struggle toward harmony. Pettersson believed fighting through a symphony’s challenges should ultimately yield consonance, even if it takes hours. In the Ninth, harmony is achieved in the final two chords, forming a plagal “Amen” cadence in F major. The work is more concise in its resolution than his other symphonies. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, completing their BIS cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, have earned critical acclaim. Their recording of the Sixth Symphony was praised for capturing Pettersson’s dark atmosphere and pacing its climaxes superbly. The Ninth continues their empathetic interpretation of his singular musical vision. This release is a fitting capstone to their acclaimed series.

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1 min read

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015) [SACD / BIS – BIS-2190 SACD]

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg - Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015)

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson focused almost exclusively on symphonies from 1951 until his death in 1980, despite the genre’s declining popularity. Called “the last symphonist” in 1960s Sweden, he completed his Symphony No. 13 in 1976 for the Bergen Festival’s 25th anniversary. Its complexity delayed the premiere until 1978, and it wasn’t performed in Sweden until 2014 by Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. The single-movement work blends atonal and tonal styles, a hallmark of Pettersson’s music. It features allusions to composers like Beethoven and Shostakovich, including the latter’s D-S-C-H cryptogram. The symphony showcases Pettersson’s commitment to the genre’s expressive potential. Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra have a strong affinity for Pettersson’s music, evident across their recordings. This performance highlights their deepening connection to his challenging, large-scale works.

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1 min read

Allan Holdsworth – All Night Wrong (2002) [SACD / SMEJ – XSGP 1]

Allan Holdsworth - All Night Wrong (2002)

Title: Allan Holdsworth – All Night Wrong (2002)
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played a variety of musical styles spanning a period of more than four decades, but is best known for his work in jazz fusion. All Night Wrong is Allan Holdsworth’s first official live album, released in 2002 through Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

Allan Holdsworth, a renowned guitarist, performs live in Japan in 2002 with his trio. The trio includes drummer Chad Wackerman and bassist Jimmy Johnson, longtime collaborators. Both Wackerman and Johnson excel at complex time signatures and odd-metered rhythms. Their powerful playing provides a solid foundation for Holdsworth’s virtuosic guitar work. The album, impeccably recorded, captures Holdsworth’s signature legato riffs and jazzy chord voicings. He weaves delicate sound textures alongside dynamic, climactic solos. The trio blends nuance with controlled intensity, elevating the performance. The recording showcases their ability to navigate intricate musical structures. It ranks among Holdsworth’s finest works, delighting his dedicated fanbase. The live setting highlights the trio’s synergy and technical prowess.

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1 min read