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16 more great sounding classical SACDs

Posted by Russell (A) on April 5, 2006 at 23:26:05

In Reply to: Great Sounding SACDs posted by macdaddie on April 4, 2006 at 20:22:46:

I don't disagree with Teresa's choices below (I've got most of them, and they are indeed fabulous), but I feel I should add these favorites of mine to the mix as well:

Mahler: Sym 6 – Fischer (Channel Classics)
The best recording of a symphony orchestra I’ve heard. It also helps that the performance is superb.

Grieg: Sigurd Jorsalfar – Ruud (BIS)
Forget the rest of the disc (which is total fluff to my ears)--it’s track 11 (the funeral march for somebody-or-other) that’s the real stunner musically and sonically. After the Fischer Mahler 6th, the most impressive recording of a symphony orchestra I've heard. Absolutely staggering dynamics.

Mahler: Sym 9 – Tilson Thomas (SFS)
IMO the best of MTT’s Mahler cycle so far, both for performance and sound quality.

Mahler: Sym 2 – Slatkin (Telarc)
One of more successful of the ‘historic’ Telarc SoundStream reissues on SACD, this one has opened up tremendously to reveal a recording of great depth, richness, and transparency.

Schubert: Piano Sonatas – Volodos (Sony)
A wonderfully solid and rich solo piano recording, beautifully played.

Hartke: Tituli/Cathedral in the Thrashing Rain – Hilliard Ensemble (ECM)
Contemporary a capella vocals recorded with eerie realism.

"The Gents" (Channel Classics)
Another eerily realistic a capella vocal recording, but with more 'accessible' music than the Hartke (which might tax your patience!).

Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite/Copland: Billy the Kid/Rodeo – Gould (RCA)
The Grand Canyon Suite in particular sounds especially wonderful. Together with the Gershwin below, the best sounding of all the Living Stereo SACDs, IMO.

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/American in Paris/Concerto in F – Wild/Fiedler (RCA)
Classic performances and terrific recorded sound, particularly the Concerto in F and the 'I Got Rhythm' variations.

Britten: Cello Suites – Wispelwey (Channel Classics)
Warm and rich solo cello sound, recorded with an up-close perspective. Somewhat austere works, but ultimately rewarding.

Yo-Yo Ma: Solo (Sony)
Another wonderful solo cello disc, no less wonderfully recorded than the Britten, but with the cello set back somewhat in a beautiful acoustic.

Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat suite & other chamber works – Jarvi (PentaTone)
Fabulously natural, 3-dimensional recording, with a room-rattling bass drum.

Handel: Organ Concertos – Chorzempa/Schroder (PentaTone)
Sprightly performances recorded in a beautiful acoustic. These concertos are spread over 4 discs; if you can get only one, get Volume 2.

“Shifting Landscapes” (Music of John Adams and Lepo Sumera) (CCn’C)
The Adams works are well-known, but it’s the Sumera work that’s the most captivating, IMO. Stunningly recorded by the Polyhymnia team.

Enstrom: Immeasurable Traces (Phono Suecia)
Avant-garde music never sounded this good!

Beethoven: Cello/Piano Sonatas – Wispelwey/Lazic (Channel Classics)
Vibrant, bracing performances captured in warm, rich sound.

Russell

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