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Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras – Zoltan Kodaly: Dances of Galanta / Bela Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste, Divertimento (2004)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:12:56 + 01:09:38 minutes | 4,04 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Linn Records – CKD 234
“Mackerras’ superb interpretation shows how Bartуk was opening up a world of possibilities for the orchestra.” ~ Daily Telegraph
Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta is one of the genuine masterpieces of the 20th century music. It is performed by 2 string orchestras left and right on the stage with the piano, harp, celesta and a battery of various percussion instruments in the middle (piano is a percussion instrument in this case, and harp is part of the ‘strings’). This set-up presents ideal opportunity for surround recording, and Linn take much advantage of it, while not sacrificing sonic quality for 2-channel stereo.
The Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta receives one of the best performances this reviewer has heard as does his All sections of the orchestra make fine contributions, particularly the brass and woodwind sections. The image of the orchestra still has depth and strings woodwinds and brass groups each have clearly delineated space from front to back. All the complex rhythms are well recorded, and sound very sharp and well defined. The second movement of the music for strings, percussions and celesta is the best example of this.
The Bartok Divertimento from 1939 is an example of a mature work written on the cusp of war and at a time when Bartok was starting to clarify and simplify his language which incorporated a range of folk influences from Hungary and the surrounding countries. Unlike the Kodaly piece, this is very idiomatic of the mature Bartok and could not have been written by anyone else.
Kodaly’s beloved Dances of Galentai is a fascinating and beautiful piece, and Mackerras makes such a fine impression with this work that should be available in more orchestras’ repertoire. The slow opening dances with lusciousness and rhythmic flexibility, and the woodwind solos are exceptional. The dances are memories of Kodaly’s childhood and the Mackerras really emphasizes the childish and magical side to this music.
“A sonic triumph” — Hi-Fi News
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New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras – Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (2004)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz | Time – 37:14 minutes | 1,47 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Front Cover | © Vanguard Classics XVAN1504D64
Most audiophiles, when they think of classical records, treasure the true classic labels: RCA, Mercury, Everest, Decca and Vanguard. Thinking in terms of the Mt. Rushmore of classical labels, Vanguard holds a place of preeminence on that peak. These are gorgeous recordings. And now, remastered from the original analog tapes (and when available, from the original 3-track masters!) in the stunning clarity and life-like vividness of DSD, these Vanguard Classics files will be a cornerstone of any classical collection.
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Khovanshchina Prelude were recorded on eight tracks, placing the listener at the center of the orchestra, with strings (left), horns, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, trumpets and harps arrayed left to right on the front three channels and the timpani/percussion, strings (right), trombones, tuba, bass drum/percussion arrayed left to right on the rear channels.
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Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Sir Charles Mackerras – Mozart Symphonies 38 – 41 (2008)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 02:19:22 minutes | 2,37 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records
This recording was named BBC Music Magazine’s one of ‘5 Essential Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’ by BBC Music Magazine in 2012 as well as being a winner at the 2009 Classical BRIT Awards (Critics’ Award 2009) and the 2009 BBC Music Magazine Awards (Disc of the Year Award and Orchestral Award) In their original review BBC Music Magazine stated: These performances are so exhilarating that I listened to all four symphonies straight through at a first hearing, mesmerised by the variety and intensity of the music itself, sounding here completely fresh, and the virtually flawless renderings by the excellent Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Sir Charles Mackerras at his most penetrating.’ This eagerly anticipated addition to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra series sees Mozart specialist Sir Charles Mackerras deliver a truly memorable recording of Mozart’s four last symphonies. This recording was named BBC Music Magazine’s one of ‘5 Essential Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’ by BBC Music Magazine in 2012 as well as being a winner at the 2009 Classical BRIT Awards(Critics Award 2009)and the 2009 BBC Music Magazine Awards(Disc of the Year Award and Orchestral Award).In their original review BBC Music Magazine stated: These performances are so exhilarating that I listened to all four symphonies straight through at a first hearing, mesmerised by the variety and intensity of the music itself, sounding here completely fresh, and the virtually flawless renderings by the excellent Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Sir Charles Mackerras at his most penetrating.’ This much-loved recording has received many awards and plaudits since its release in 2008: Best Classical Record of 2008. The Sunday Times. Best Classical Record of 2008. HMV Choice. A disc of the year. BBC Radio 3’s CD Review. A disc of the year. BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. A disc of the year. Classic FM’s The New CD Show. Gramophone Recommended. Gramophone. Classical CD of the Week. The Sunday Times. Orchestral Disc of the Month. BBC Music Magazine. Album of the Month. HiFi News.
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