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SACD

Zemlinsky Quartet – Antonin Dvorak: String Quartet No.8 in E major Op.80 B 57, DROBNOSTI (Miniatures), CYPRESSES (2013) [SACD / Praga Digitals – PRD/DSD 250 303]

adminMay 26, 2025 163 Views

Title: Zemlinsky Quartet – Antonin Dvorak: String Quartet No.8 in E major Op.80 B 57, DROBNOSTI (Miniatures), CYPRESSES (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

An anthology of chamber music by the author of the New World Symphony, which gathers lesser known pieces, mostly intimate, from a very ancient cultural background. They combine invention and also melancholy passages from a master of Czech chamber music. The Zemlinsky Quartet, like their elders, today the Pra áks, yesterday the Smetana Quartet, all from the City of Prague, sing ‘in their tree’.

hraudio

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SACD

Antonio Carlos Jobim – The Composer Of Desafinado Plays (1963) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2011] [SACD / Verve Records – UCGU-9021]

adminMay 26, 2025 153 Views

Title: Antonio Carlos Jobim – The Composer Of Desafinado Plays (1963) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2011]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Antonio Carlos Jobim’s first American album features a dozen songs, all destined to become standards, showcasing his remarkable compositional talent. Despite being out of practice, Jobim plays piano with minimalistic single notes and occasional chords, weaving long, undulating melodies with touches of jazz improvisation, executed with exquisite economy. Claus Ogerman’s arrangements introduce signature elements later prominent in their Creed Taylor-produced collaborations, including soaring solo flutes, sparse unison string lines blooming into lush harmonies, and flutes doubling Jobim’s piano chords with delicate precision. The album includes iconic tracks like “Desafinado,” “Corcovado,” “Chega de Saudade,” “The Girl From Ipanema,” “Meditation,” and “One Note Samba,” all of which appear in The Man From Ipanema set, making this a defining bossa nova masterpiece.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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SACD

Anton Heiller – J.S. Bach. Organ Works (2004) [SACD / Vanguard Classics – ATM-SC 1554]

adminMay 26, 2025 167 Views

Title: Anton Heiller – J.S. Bach. Organ Works (2004)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Anton Heiller (1923-1979) was one of the great organists of his time. He was also renowned as a keyboard improviser in the tradition of Bach himself, as evidenced in many of the recordings he made for Vanguard Classics. Vanguard Classics remade this collection of organ warhorses from J.S. Bach (1675-1750) in 2004, redoing their earlier failed stereo collection that originally included the Bach warhorse of all warhorses, the Tocatta and Fuuge in D minor BWV 565. Thankfully, Vangauard left it out of this collection. The Austrian organist Anton Heiller made this recording on Vangaurd HM 73 and it was also issued as Bach Guild BGS-70675. For the performance on this recording, he selected the organ at the St. Mary Church in Helsingborg in Sweden. It was previously available on CD in the Organ Works by Bach and other recordings of variable quality. This version is the best-sounding one yet, produced by Artemus Records, which purchased the Vanguard Classics line from Omega Records in 2003. A lengthy discussion on this is included in the well-written but difficult to read seven pages of notes that accompany this issue.

hraudio | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Wiener Philharmoniker & Carl Schuricht – Anton Bruckner – Symphony No. 8 & Symphony No. 9 (2012) [SACD / EMI Classics – 5 099995 598420]

adminMay 26, 2025 114 Views

Title: Wiener Philharmoniker & Carl Schuricht – Anton Bruckner – Symphony No. 8 & Symphony No. 9 (2012) {2x Hybrid-SACD}
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

As a passionate listener rather than a musician, I value music for the pleasure it brings, believing listeners are as vital as performers, and I find overly technical reviews by scholars less relevant than the emotional impact of a performance. This SACD, featuring Carl Schuricht conducting Bruckner’s Symphonies Nos. 8 and 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic, is a miracle of EMI’s remastering from 1961 and 1963 recordings, showcasing astonishing clarity despite the era’s razor-blade editing techniques. Schuricht, an old-fashioned conductor like Furtwängler or Klemperer, brings mastery to the Nowak Edition of the Eighth, taking liberties that enhance the performance, with fast yet detailed scherzos and deeply beautiful adagios. The Vienna Philharmonic performs at its peak, making this a must-have for Bruckner fans, whose music—far from the “symphonic boa-constrictor” Brahms criticized—is essential to understanding late 19th-century composers like Mahler and Sibelius.

hraudio | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Ann Mortifee – Into The Heart Of The Sangoma (2005) [SACD / Bongo Beat – 7 6700 01974 2 9]

adminMay 25, 2025 162 Views

Title: Ann Mortifee – Into The Heart Of The Sangoma (2005)
Genre: Rock, Africa Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ann Mortifee’s Into The Heart Of The Sangoma, her first album in over a decade, is a stunning musical and poetic journey inspired by a visit to a Zulu Sangoma in her South African homeland, showcasing her powerful four-octave voice. Born in South Africa and relocated to Canada due to her father’s anti-apartheid stance, Mortifee began performing at 16, mentored by Josh White Sr., and went on to star in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, co-host Both Sides Now, and perform in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Her diverse career includes composing for BBC TV, the National Film Board of Canada, and ballet companies, with her debut LP Baptism recorded at Abbey Road Studios for EMI. The album blends studio, live, and field recordings from a Zulu blood ceremony, reflecting her boundary-crossing artistry and experiences in Beirut and Calcutta, which also inspired her pioneering world music work Journey to Kairos. This riveting, empowering album solidifies Mortifee’s legacy as a singer, composer, and spiritual teacher.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Ann Hampton Callaway – Blues In The Night (2006) [SACD / Telarc – SACD-63641]

adminMay 25, 2025 202 Views

Title: Ann Hampton Callaway – Blues In The Night (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ann Hampton Callaway, an award-winning songwriter and jazz vocalist with a distinctive low alto voice and rich, butterscotchy tone, delivers a captivating album blending originals and standards, performed with a small combo featuring Christian McBride and Lewis Nash, and the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra. The big-band tracks, arranged by Tommy Newsom, shine brightly, with Callaway’s original “Swingin’ Away the Blues” opening powerfully and her intimate “Blue Moon” maintaining the momentum. The album mixes tender ballads like “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” and “Willow Weep for Me” with vibrant uptempo numbers like her defiant “Hip to Be Happy,” all infused with a smoldering, torchy quality that revitalizes standards and elevates her originals. Highly recommended for its fresh energy and emotional depth.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Wiener Philharmoniker, John Williams – John Williams live in Vienna [2 SACDs] (2020/2021) [SACD / Deutsche Grammophon – UCGG-9194/5]

adminMay 25, 2025 203 Views

Title: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Wiener Philharmoniker, John Williams – John Williams live in Vienna [2 SACDs] (2020/2021)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

The album John Williams Live in Vienna captures a miraculous concert featuring all performances and John Williams’ MC, released in Japan as an SA-CD hybrid converted from 96/24 DSD. With 25 Grammy Awards, 5 Academy Awards, 5 Emmys, and 4 Golden Globes, John Williams has been a Hollywood film music legend for over 50 years. This album includes iconic scores from Star Wars, Raiders, Jurassic Park, E.T., and Jaws, beloved across generations. Recorded with top-tier performance and cutting-edge technology, it showcases Williams’ debut conducting the Vienna Philharmonic on January 18-19, 2020. This historic event brought film music to Vienna’s Musikverein Golden Hall, home of the New Year’s Concert. Performed by the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic, the concert blends popular entertainment with classical tradition. The audience’s standing ovation and the musicians’ passionate performance highlight the event’s intensity. This recording captures a landmark moment where modern entertainment meets timeless artistry. The electrifying live atmosphere reflects the enthusiasm of both performers and listeners. A must-have for fans of film music and classical excellence.

hraudio | universal-music.co.jp | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Anne-Sophie Mutter – Tchaikovsky, Korngold: Violin Concertos (2014) [SACD / Deutsche Grammophon – 474 874-2]

adminMay 25, 2025 202 Views

Title: Anne-Sophie Mutter – Tchaikovsky, Korngold: Violin Concertos (2014)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

Anne-Sophie Mutter’s second recording of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in 20 years, influenced by her work with contemporary music, features an abrasive tone, aggressive technique, and a forceful interpretation that treats the tender concerto with raw intensity, showcasing her virtuosity but bordering on willful or wrongful execution. In contrast, her performance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto, conducted by André Previn, is a triumph, with Previn’s sensitive conducting clarifying the structure and allowing Korngold’s neo-Romantic lines to sing and soar within a cogent framework. Mutter’s playing here is subtle, tasteful, and beautiful, free of contemporary music’s influence, resulting in one of the most compelling performances of the work ever recorded. Deutsche Grammophon’s transparent sound with slight reverberation enhances this persuasive rendition.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Anne-Sophie Mutter – Carmen Fantasie (1992/2005) [SACD / Deutsche Grammophon – 477 572-1]

adminMay 25, 2025 184 Views

Title: Anne-Sophie Mutter – Carmen Fantasie (1992/2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Anne-Sophie Mutter obviously had fun making this disc. In the quiet pieces (Massenet, Ysaÿe, Fauré) which serve as interludes, she plays with her usual exquisite taste. In the showpieces, though, she goes to town, sliding, scooping, exaggerating, & letting all the stops out. The gypsy inflection she uses in Ravel’s Tzigane & Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen is delicious. Even a ridiculous orchestral arrangement of Tartini’s Devil’s Trill Sonata is more amusing than offensive. With James Levine & the Berlin Philharmonic providing uncommonly alert & powerful support, & Deutsche Grammophon’s realistic sound, this disc is a real treat for violin lovers.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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SACD

Anne-Sophie Mutter – Beethoven: Violin Sonatas 5, 9 (2002) [SACD / Deutsche Grammophon – 471-641-2]

adminMay 25, 2025 182 Views

Title: Anne-Sophie Mutter – Beethoven: Violin Sonatas 5, 9 (2002)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This SACD transfer of Anne-Sophie Mutter’s Beethoven violin sonatas, taken from a series of live recordings from 1998, does not transcend the questionable interpretations. In each of these famous sonatas, Mutter takes excessive liberties with respect to dynamics and phrasing, and while some listeners may appreciate the thought and care she puts into these readings, it sounds as if she is trying a bit too hard to be “musical”. For example, just before the exposition repeat of the “Spring” sonata, several instances of disproportionate agogic pauses, inconsistent use of vibrato, random adherences to sforzando markings, and a sporadic disregard for (or recasting of) dynamics combine to produce an overly fussy performance that lacks momentum and a sense of direction.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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