George Frideric Handel – Messiah, HWV 56 – Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (2015) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Сomposer: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Artist: Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Title: Handel – Messiah, HWV 56 (Foundling Hospital Version 1754)
Genre: Classical, Oratorio
Label: © Decca Music Group | Editions de L’Oiseau-Lyre
Release Date: 1980/2015
Recording Location: St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, 1979
Remastered by Paschal Byrne at Audio Archiving Company
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Length: 02:15:42
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 1053 kbps / 1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: English LPCM 2.0 / 96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit
Audio#2: English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 / 96 kHz / 2535 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)

Recordings like Christopher Hogwood’s Messiah are perfect vehicles for the debate of the authentic instrument movement in music. Especially here, since a work as well known to a wide general audience as the Messiah (the recordings of which number in the thousands) will get a number of varied reactions depending upon the performance.
Hogwood, although known to many as a “father” (of sorts) to the authentic movement in music, was actually the keyboardist in Neville Marriner’s Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields before leaving to form his own Academy of Ancient Music. He has done extensive scholarly research into the performance traditions of Baroque music, much of which has permanently altered many long-standing attitudes and traditions in music performance. The question remains, though: does all of this research and application contribute to a finished product that is communicative to an audience?
It seems likely, if based only on the impressive cast. Augmenting the Academy’s forces are tenor Paul Elliott, contralto Carolyn Watkinson, and sopranos Judy Nelson and Emma Kirkby. The Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, is equally impressive. For this recording, as is indicated in his extensive and thorough liner notes, Hogwood utilizes the 1754 Foundling Hospital version. Although it may be a surprising change for some listeners accustomed to the more “standard” versions, the re-creation of this performance is important in a number of ways, historically and artistically.
But from the opening bars of the overture, the atmosphere feels rushed. Harmonies are not given enough space or time to be heard and to blossom, and the atmosphere feels thin, grainy, cold, and dry. This seems hardly conducive to the rapture, passion, and magnificence depicted in Handel’s score. Everything seems too perfect and too pure, too lifeless and too little energy. An additional annoyance is that the balance of the harpsichord seems far above the orchestra, in some cases (the “Glory of the Lord,” for instance) even covering the singers when they dip into the lower registers.
These complaints are now almost cliché for those who consistently complain of Hogwood’s performance style; for better or worse this recording could serve well as evidence. Looking past these issues, however, one can find a number of beautiful moments throughout. It is precisely due to his approach with this music that Hogwood is able to draw some extraordinary changes of color when and where he wants to. For example, the first bars of “and He Shall Purify” are breathtaking; the organ is significantly exposed here for the first time and finally he releases the music in a way that seems to let it unravel. The vocal solos are good throughout, and Kirkby’s performance is notable for its suppleness and grace.
Keep in mind that this is a re-creative performance, designed to emulate the conditions of the performance at the Foundling Hospital. Unfortunately, in this case it also means that while the sound quality is certainly good, even though the playing and singing are exceptional, the performance itself may not draw you in. Years after its first release, this recording still leaves one cold, and if you desire a warm, emotional, and intimate performance you may do well to look elsewhere. For those who prefer something more austere, though, look no further. –C. Ryan Hill, AllMusic

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Hector Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique – London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev (2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Сomposer: Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Artist: London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev
Title: Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique
Genre: Classical
Label: © LSO Live
Release Date: 2014
Recording Location: 31st October 2013 & 14th November 2013 at Barbican, London, United Kingdom
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Length: 01:05:37 + 00:57:10 (video bonus)
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 950 kbps / 1920*1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Video (bonus): MPEG-4 AVC 21994 kbps / 1920*1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 192 kHz / 10490 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 6.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#2: English LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit
Audio#3 (bonus): English LPCM 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Valery Gergiev conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at the start of a much-anticipated Berlioz cycle. Here we have the Symphonie fantastique and the overture Waverley. Berlioz let his imagination run wild in this music, finding inspiration in all manner of sources, including his own turbulent personal life. His experience of powerful, unrequited love finds its expression in the emotionally charged Symphonie fantastique, the story of an artist’s ‘hopeless love’, complete with waltzes, witches and a hallucinogenic nightmare. There are few orchestras with the music of Berlioz more thoroughly in their blood than the LSO, and here Valery Gergiev brings to bear his opulent interpretation of this landmark piece.
***** ‘Gergiev came to the platform and launched a seemingly possessed LSO into some of the most thrilling Berlioz one could ever hope to hear. With utterly sincere lyricism from cor anglais Christine Pendrill alongside ear-splitting, monstrous brass fanfares, this was a performance which, whilst totally committed to Berlioz’s uncanny ideas, was just as original and brilliant as the man himself.’ –bachtrack.com
***** ‘Gergiev strode onto the stage to deliver a robust reading of Berlioz’s Waverley overture. With Gergiev’s awareness of colour and timbre, their performance made for enjoyable listening.’ –Music OMH
‘The March to the Scaffold’ went at a smart pace, with a chilling execution, and in an intensely dramatic ‘Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath’ the LSO, having already produced outstanding playing in the first four movements, achieved still greater heights of virtuosity, with the second violinists unusually permitted to show off their considerable paces at the front of the platform, opposite the firsts.’ –classicalsource.com

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Herbert von Karajan , Berliner Philharmoniker – Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien (1963/2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Title: Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien
Released: 1963
Genre: Classical
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
Artist: Gundula Janowitz (Soprano), Hilde Rössel Majdan (Contralto), Waldemar Kmentt (Tenor), Walter Berry (Bass), Wiener Singverein, Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

Issued: United States | Deutsche Grammophon
Duration: 6:02:27
Size: 15.11 GB

Technical Specs
Blu-ray
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec
1080i/AVC MPEG-4
Aspect Ratio(s)
TBA
Audio Formats
LPCM 2.0 (96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles/Captions
None
Supplements
None

Of the four Beethoven cycles which Karajan recorded over four decades, the present cycle is undoubtedly at the very top of the list. This cannot alone lie in the sumptuous sound which was both praised and criticized at the time. Rather more, in masterly fashion Karajan places more emphasis on the youthful freshness of the early symphonies, gets right to the heart of the drama in the Third, and allows the multi-layered Fourth to sound stringent and decisive. Powerfully yet without exaggerated, fateful relentlessness, the Fifth plows on towards its triumphant C major finale, while the filigree expansiveness of the Sixth ensures that it is not merely a sugary tonal painting. The Berlin Philharmonic present the Seventh and Eighth at a comparatively breezy pace, while never losing sight of the hidden depths of the score. Finally, we have the glorious sound of the agitated Ninth, sung by the stars of the day, whom the Maestro leads surely and safely – just as his orchestra – through the score.
Recorded: 1962 at Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, Germany.

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Rush – Fly By Night (1975/2015) [40th Anniversary] [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Title: Rush: Fly By Night
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock, Prog Rock, Hard Rock
Artist: Geddy Lee (Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Classical), Keyboards, Vocals), Alex Lifeson (Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)), Neil Peart (Drums, Percussion)

Issued: United States | Universal Music
Duration: 00:37:51
Size: 9.32 GB

Experience 96kHz 24-bit audiophile 5.1 surround sound and stereo on BluRay audio disc, Fly By Night was originally released in 1975 and was the first album to feature drummer Neil Peart, who also became the band’s lyricist. The singles included the title track and ‘Making Memories.’ Fly By Night reached #113 on the Billboard chart, going platinum in both the U.S. and Canada.

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Mando Diao: AElita (2014) [Limited Edition] [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]


Mando Diao released World’s First Pop Album in Auro-3D® Immersive Sound!

Title: Mando Diao: Ælita
Released: 2014
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Issued: Germany | Universal Music
Duration: 00:54:30

A lot has been written about Mando Diao; Sweden’s cockiest band, the endless touring, the international success, the fashion icons. The path from the first album “Bring’em In”, the pursing media feud with Kent, to having European radio’s most played song in 2009 has been a long and arduous adventure.
The statistics are an impressive resumé of productivity. Since 2002 Mando Diao has made 7 studio albums that have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The last album “Infruset” with the Swedish lyrics from poet Gustaf Fröding was a cultural phenomenon in Sweden, selling 4 x platinum and being number 1 for 17 weeks. In their career they have played more than 1500 concerts in more than 30 countries and are festival headliners across Europe. Their videos have become viral phenomena getting more than 7 million views on YouTube. They have release a B-side and a Greatest Hits collection and even an MTV Unplugged album and DVD. Many contemporary bands have come and gone but Mando Diao has continued to reach new heights and re-define popular music. (more…)

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Gaetano Donizetti – L’Elisir d’Amore – Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Bonynge (2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Сomposer: Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848)
Artist: Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Dominic Cossa, Spiro Malas, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Title: Donizetti – L’Elisir d’Amore
Genre: Classical, Opera
Label: © Decca Music Group
Release Date: 2014
Recorded: Kingsway Hall, London, January and June 1970
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Length: 02:20:20
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 3835 kbps / 1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 / 96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit
Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 / 96 kHz / 2680 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Size: 13.33 GB

Gaetano Donizetti’s most beloved comic opera, L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love) requires performers who not only can sing some of the most beautiful vocals that this composer ever penned but also who can deliver the perfect timing essential for comedy. This 1970 recording is another in the new Luciano Pavarotti series by Decca that has its 96kHz/24-bit remastered Blu-ray Pure Audio premiere. Once again, Pavarotti is teamed up with his frequent operatic partner, Dame Joan Sutherland, while her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge leads the English Chamber Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus.

Nemorino (literally “little nobody”) (Pavarotti) is a young rustic hopelessly in love with the rich Adina (Sutherland). A platoon arrives, led by dapper Sergeant Belcore (Dominic Cossa). He makes a play for Adina, offering her marriage that very day. The usually impetuous woman asks for time to reflect, while a jealous Nemorino stews. Dr. Dulcamara (Spiro Malas) enters and convinces Nemorino to buy his magic “elixir”  (actually cheap wine) that will make him irresistible to women. Meanwhile, Belcore has received orders to leave tomorrow so the wedding must be held immediately. Adina invites the entire village, excepting Nemorino who desperately asks Dulcamara for more elixir. To pay for it, he must enlist in Belcore’s company to get a signing bonus. The village girls get word that Nemorino’s rich uncle has died, leaving everything to the young man. They start making advances toward Nemorino who, unaware of his inheritance, thinks that the elixir is working its magic. Adina, seeing all this and hearing from Dulcamara how Nemorino sold his freedom, realizes that she really loves him. She buys back his enlistment papers as Nemorino learns of his good fortune.

Pavarotti and Sutherland were already masters of operatic comedy when this recording was produced and get brilliant support from the expert bel canto maestro, Richard Bonynge.

This Pure Audio disc has both LPCM 2.0 and Dolby TrueHD 2.0 options with relatively little audible difference between the, something probably due, at least in part, to the age of the master tapes and the fact that Dolby TrueHD and LPCM are, for all intents and purposes, theoretically one and the same. TrueHD is a lossless compression scheme that, upon conversion results in a one-to-one signal identical to the original PCM audio signal. Philip Siney was on the job again for Decca and his crew remastered the original tracks laid down by Kenneth Wilkinson and colleagues in Kingsway Hall, London. The two CDs are not as open and warm as the Pure Audio disc, but their remastering is noticeably better than the 1985 Red Book CDs that I already had in my collection. (more…)

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Ying Quartet: Schumann (2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Title: Ying Quartet: Schumann
Released: 2014
Genre: Classical, Instrumental
Artist: Ayano Ninomiya (Violin), Janet Ying (Violin), Phillip Ying (Viola), David Ying (Cello)

Issued: United States | Sono Luminus
Duration: 1:13:43

Technical Specs
Blu-ray
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec
1080i/AVC MPEG-4
Aspect Ratio(s)
TBA
Audio Formats
DTS-HD MA 7.1 (96 kHz / 9207 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (192 kHz / 12274 kbps / 24-bit)
LPCM 2.0 (192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles/Captions
None
Supplements
None

The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world. Now in its second decade as a quartet, the Quartet has established itself as an ensemble of the highest musical qualifications in its tours across the United States and abroad. Their performances regularly take place in many of the world’s most important concert halls, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. At the same time, the Quartet’s belief that concert music can also be a meaningful part of everyday life has also drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as the workplace, schools, juvenile prisons, and the White House. In fact, the Ying Quartet’s constant quest to explore the creative possibilities of the string quartet has led it to an unusually diverse array of musical projects and interests. As quartet-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music, the Ying Quartet maintains full time faculty positions in the String and Chamber Music Departments.
The three string quartets were all written in just a few weeks in the summer of 1842, and his writing for strings is, for better or worse, rather pianistic. It is unfortunate that some would dispatch the significance and beauty of these works so easily. Though there are passages and textures in the quartets that are clearly influenced by keyboard technique, this is glorious music. The imagination and wit, vitality and virtuosity, subtlety and nuance, and heartfelt yearning and emotion that are displayed throughout the quartets are enough to be as satisfying as any of Schumann’s music. Each one of them is a joy to perform.
Since all of the quartets were written in just a few short weeks, it is interesting to take them (Op. 41, Nos. 1, 2 and 3) as a set and consider the similarities and differences between each of the corresponding movements. For example, all three of the first movements are primarily gentle in nature and convey a sense of unfolding, though there are dynamic and energetic moments within. None of them begin with forceful, dramatic intensity to grab an audience; instead, Schumann uses an intimate quality and a sense of drawing the listener in to define the emotional world of these quartets. Two of the three first movements also end in a wonderfully quiet and peaceful way. (more…)

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Inscape – American Aggregate (2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Title: Inscape: American Aggregate
Released: 2014
Genre: Instrumental
Artist: Brandon Almagro (trumpet), Bryce Bunner (viola), Sarah D’Angelo (violin), Cara Fleck (harp), David George (bass), Benjamin Greanya (bassoon), Nicholas Hodges (violin & viola), Douglas Jameson (cello), Susanna Loewy (flute), Timothy McReynolds (piano), Rebecca Racusin (violin), Jessica Sammis (cello), Bethany Slater (oboe), Megan Yanik (viola), Richard Scerbo (Artistic Director), Evan Ross Solomon (Clarinet & Executive Director)

Issued: United States | Sono Luminus
Duration: 1:22:39

Technical Specs
Blu-ray
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc

Video Resolution / Codec
1080i / AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio (s)
TBA

Audio Formats
DTS-HD MA 7.1 (96 kHz / 8844 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (192 kHz / 12 268 kbps / 24-bit)
LPCM 2.0 (192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles / Captions
None

American Aggregate, the follow up to Inscape’s GRAMMY® nominated debut album Sprung Rhythm on the Sono Luminus label, explores the rich and varied sounds of American music in the 21st century. From the mechanized world of our cities to the natural beauty of our landscapes, from the sounds of jazz and rock to indigenous folk music, the picture of contemporary classical music is revealing and diverse. The works contained on this album reflect American culture, landscape, and environment as expressed through the distinctly American voices of seven young composers.

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Jeff Beck – Live In Tokyo (2014) [Blu-Ray to FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Jeff Beck – Live In Tokyo (2014)
FLAC(tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 91:57 minutes | 1,93 GB
Blu-Ray Rip | Sourced Track – LPCM 2.0 Stereo | No Art

Jeff Beck is undeniably one of the world s greatest guitar players. Technically brilliant, he is renowned for pushing musical boundaries and has excelled across many different genres from rock and jazz to pop and blues. Live In Tokyo was recorded at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan on April 9th this year. These Japanese dates were the first to feature Jeff Beck s new backing band of Jonathan Joseph (drums), Nicolas Meier (guitars) and Rhonda Smith (bass) and the setlist includes some material from his new, as yet unreleased, studio album. In contrast to Beck s previous visual releases, both filmed in small clubs, Live In Tokyo is filmed in a major concert arena and has a very different, more expansive feel. Jeff Beck is a true guitar legend and this show captures him at his very best. (more…)

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Zazie – Cyclo (2013) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Genre: Pop, Electronic
Year of publication: 2013
Publisher (label): Mercury / Universal
Country: France
Audio codec:
French LPCM 2.0 (96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit)
French DTS HD MA 2.0 (96 kHz / 3744 kbps / 24-bit)
French Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (96 kHz / 3120 kbps / 24-bit)
Type: BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Duration: 00:51:26

2013 BLU-RAY audio DVD eighth studio album from the French singer/songwriter. Please note that this product is compatible with Blu-ray players and includes only audio tracks. It is not compatible with standard CD players. Universal.


Tracklist:

01. Les contraires
02. Mobile homme
03. Je ne sais pas
04. Mademoiselle
05. Cyclo
06. Tout
07. Si tu viens
08. Temps plus vieux
09. 20 ans
10. Vienne la nuit
11. Ou allons-nous?

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King Crimson – Starless – 40th Anniversary Series (2014) [Super Deluxe Box Set, Disc No.23 & 24] 2BD, Blu-ray Audio 1080p AVC DTS-HD MA 5.1

Artist: King Crimson
Title: Starless – 40th Anniversary Series
Genre: Prog Rock, Jazz-Rock, Art Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Label: © Discipline Global Mobile | Panegyric Recordings
Release Date: 2014
Recorded: January 1974 at AIR Studios in London (studio tracks)
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: ~
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 2001 kbps / 1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 / 192 kHz / 6442 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 / 96 kHz / 1839 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 / 96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 96 kHz / 5629 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English LPCM 5.1 / 96 kHz / 13824 kbps / 24-bit

Personnel:
Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron, devices, electric piano
John Wetton – bass, vocals
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
David Cross – violin, viola, mellotron, electric piano

The blu-ray features:
– Blu-Ray Disc 1 features full lossless audio 24/192 transfers of material from the Glasgow & Zurich shows, freshly assembled & mastered from the original Great Deceiver mixes by David Singleton at DGM Soundworld in 2014 in LPCM stereo   
– Blu-Ray Disc 1 also features the Amsterdam show The Nightwatch, mixed by Steven Wilson & the George Chkiantz preparatory mix stereo in 24/96 High-resolution stereo & a 24/96 transfer of the original David Singleton/Robert Fripp mix of The Nightwatch   
– Blu-Ray Disc 2 features Starless & Bible Black in 5.1 Surround (DTS-HD MAS & LPCM 24/96) alongside new & original stereo masters of the album, a needledrop of an original vinyl pressing + audio extras   
– Blu-Ray Disc 2 also features the Quad mixes of material from the Mainz, Amsterdam & Pittsburgh concerts   
– Blu-Ray Disc 2 also features the ORTF Paris TV footage in a new hi-res transfer from the original source files

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Jan Gunnar Hoff: LIVING (2012) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Genre: Jazz, Piano
Country: Norway
Year of publication: 2012
Publisher (label): 2L
Catalog Number: 92
Audio Codec: DTS-HD MA 5.1
Bitrate audio: 192 kHz / 24-bit
Duration: 00:59:58
Source (releaser): 2L

BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec
1080i/AVC MPEG-4
Audio Formats
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (192 kHz / 12178 kbps / 24-bit)
LPCM 2.0 (192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit)

LIVING is Jan Gunnar Hoff’s first solo piano album. His personal blend of different styles and influences is presented in its purest form – simply music. Some of Hoff’s pieces are meditative and expressive, while others have a strong rhythmic nerve, creating contrast and variation in the programme.
Jan Gunnar Hoff has worked extensively as a bandleader and jazz artist since 1992, developing a distinctive musical style. His band with a.o. Audun Kleive and Bjørn Kjellemyr had its breakthrough at Vossa Jazz 1995 and later played at the London Jazz festival, Molde Int. Jazz festival and several major festivals and venues in Scandinavia.
Hoff’s jazz compositions have been performed in collaborations with Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Alex Acuña, Maria Joao, Mathias Eick and many others. He has made a number of albums in his own name and has composed 180 works for different ensembles. Hoff is also teaching as a professor at the Universities of Tromso and Kristiansand.
As a sideman Hoff has contributed to numerous recordings in different genres. He was the arranger and ensemble leader of Quiet Winter Night, Grammy-nominated for Best Surround Sound in 2013, an album where he successfully merges elements of jazz, folk and popular music.
Hoff’s collaboration with 2L and Morten Lindberg is continued on LIVING. This is a solo piano journey that carries Hoff’s artistic identity further into his own musical terrain, enhanced by the crystal clear recording from Sofienberg Church in Oslo.
‘Hoff’s writing and playing possesses an almost pop-like clarity and concision, but with a far richer vernacular.’ John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com (more…)

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Jane Ira Bloom – Sixteen Sunsets (2013) [Blu-Ray Audio to FLAC 24-96]

Jane Ira Bloom – Sixteen Sunsets (2013)
FLAC(tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 77:48 minutes | 1,41 GB
Blu-Ray Audio Rip | Sourced Track – LPCM 2.0 Stereo | No Art

Award winning soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom has always had a special feeling for ballad performances. So much so that she has now finally released: Sixteen Sunsets, a beautiful new recording featuring expressive interpretations from the American Songbook along with five compelling slow tempo original compositions. (more…)

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Antonín Dvorák: Slavonic Dances (1999) Blu-ray 1080p AVC DTS-HD 2.0

THE SOUND SOLUTION OF HIGH FIDELITY PURE AUDIO
A Physical high Quality Pure Audio format, using existing Blu-ray technology
No video content just pure high quality audio
Content navigated using the remote control of your Blu-ray player
Product behaves just like a normal CD.
Audio offered in full DTS, PCM and Dolby Surround where available

WHY SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE?
Here are some consumer reviews following the initial launch of pop titles in December 2012
Record companies listen up: THIS is the future of physical music. More please!
The sound is better than the SACD s that were released about a decade ago. The clarity is phenomenal.
Hope more albums come out in this format, because this is the way to go.
It s awesome….never sounded so good!
Fantastic, it s about time that there were some quality audio Blu-ray discs

THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DURATION CAPACITY
7 hours + (CD Audio is 80 minutes)

CAPACITY
50 Gigabytes (CD Audio is 0.65 Gigabytes)

FORMATS
HD Formats 2.1/5.1
PCM Non-Compressed
DTS HD Master Audio
Doby True HD
(CD Audio is PCM limited to 44.1khx 2.0)

SAMPLING FREQUENCY
96Khz to 192khz
96.000 mini information per second
(CD Audio is 16 bits = 65,546 possible values)

DYNAMIC
144 Decibels
(CD Audio is 96 Decibels)

BITRATE
21.5 Megabits/sec
(CD Audio is 1.5 Megabits/sec)

8 Slavonic Dances, Op.46
01. No.1 in C (Presto) 4:06
02. No.2 in E minor (Allegretto scherzando) 4:45
03. No.3 in A flat (Poco allegro) 3:51
04. No.4 in F (Tempo di minuetto) 6:05
05. No.5 in A (Allegro vivace) 3:15
06. No.6 in D (Allegretto scherzando) 4:56
07. No.7 in C minor (Allegro assai) 3:25
08. No.8 in G minor (Presto) 4:11

8 Slavonic Dances, Op.72
09. No.1 in B (Molto vivace) 4:13
10. No.2 in E minor (Allegretto grazioso) 6:00
11. No.3 in F (Allegro) 3:24
12. No.4 in D flat (Allegretto grazioso) 4:45
13. No.5 in B flat minor (Poco adagio) 2:41
14. No.6 in B flat (Moderato, quasi minuetto) 3:32
15. No.7 in C (Allegro vivace) 3:12
16. No.8 in A flat (Lento grazioso, ma non troppo, quasi tempo di valse) 6:44

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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites (1961/1965) Blu-ray 1080p AVC DTS-HD 2.0

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky excelled at every form of composition but was particularly adept at orchestral music. His tone poems, concerti and symphonies are all basic repertoire compositions but it’s in the great ballet scores ‘Swan Lake,’ ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ and ‘Nutcracker,’ where we encounter the essence of Tchaikovsky’s genius. The ballets are models of brilliant orchestration, melodic invention and dramatic excellence. Most listeners are familiar with the ballets through the brief orchestral suites heard on this recording.

Herbert Von Karajan was one of the great conductors in all of music. On this recording, part of Decca’s Legendary Performers series, he leads the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s ballet suites. The recording lives up to its name with Von Karajan spotlighting the delightful orchestral details and drama in the scores. The orchestra plays with sumptuous tone and a keen sense of drama. Kudos to the Decca engineers for providing warm, natural sound.

Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite
1. 1. Scene – Swan Theme 2:37
2. 2. Valse in A 7:04
3. 3. Danse des petits cygnes 1:29
4. 4. Scene* 6:32
5. 5a. Danse Hongroise 3:36
6. 6b. Final Scene 4:15

Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a
7. 1. Miniature Overture 3:33
8. March 2:37
9. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy 1:34
10. Russian Dance (Trepak) 1:04
11. Arabian Dance (Coffee) 2:57
12. Chinese Dance (Tea) 1:14
13. Dance of the Reed-Pipes (Merlitons) 2:32
14. 3. Waltz of the Flowers 5:57

The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66 – Suite
15. Introduction and Lilac Fairy (Prologue) 5:15
16. Pas d’action (Adagio) (Act 1) 6:31
17. Pas de Caractère (Puss in Boots) (Act 3) 2:01
18. Panorama (Act 2) 3:32
19. Waltz (Act 1) 4:11

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