Naxos Classical SACDs:
Jakob Gade, Mozart Flute Quartets, Spotless Rose, Georg Philipp Telemann,
Tansman Symphonies, Melchior Schildt & Peter Morhard’s Complete Organ Works
DSD 2.0/DSD
5.1/Extras/Music:
Jakob
Gabe’s Jealousy - Suites, Tangos, and
Waltzes performed by the Odense Symphony Orchestra B+/A-/B-/B+
Mozart’s Flute Quartet’s performed by Michala Petri,
Carolin Widmann, Ula Ulijona, and Marta Sudraba
B+/A-/B-/B
Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin
Mary performed by
the Phoenix Chorale B+/A-/B-/B-
Georg Philipp Telemann:
Kapitänsmusik 1724 B+/A-/B-/B-
Tansman Symphonies Vol 3:
Symphonies 2 & 3 Quartre Mouvements performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra B+/A-/B-/B-
Melchior Schildt & Peter
Morchard’s Complete Organ Works performed by Friedhelm Flamme B+/A-/B-/A-
Sometimes
it is so hard as a classical music fan to determine what recordings to
buy. There are just so many! Unfortunately because so much classical music
is public domain there are dozens of generic labels out there that put out poor
quality recordings. This certainly does
not engage new listeners and help them to appreciate the art whatsoever. This is why certain labels have been known
around the world for their quality and Naxos is without a doubt one of the
premier classical music labels/distributors and continues to live by high
standards. The label has even helped
support the SACD format and even though it will probably only remain a niche
format for audiophiles around the world, that does not stop their dedication to
put out a superior product. This recent
batch of six SACD’s should have just about any classical music lover drooling
at the mouth.
First,
let me talk about the audio quality for these discs. All of these titles are Hybrid SACD’s, which
means that they have three layers to them.
The first is a standard CD layer that will play on any machine, although
they tend to sound even better than normal CD’s. The second layer is the Direct Stream Digital
(DSD) mix, which is presented in stereo 2.0.
Then the third layer is the DSD 5.1 mix or sometimes 5.0 mix that plays
the album in multi-channel. For playback
of these discs I used my Parasound Halo D3 Universal player connected to a
Parasound Halo A3 amp and PSB Platinum T6 towers. Through this setup I was able to do A/B/C
comparisons with all of the discs comparing each layer to one another.
Overall
the CD layers were as expected the weakest of the three and upon comparison it
was evident that the compressed PCM audio for the CD layer just couldn’t handle
the range that the DSD tracks could. In
particular on the Complete Organ Works
SACD it was noticeable how the CD layer cut off the upper and lower registers
making the sound seem forced, whereas the DSD layers felt more relaxed and
allowed the sound to pass through with ease.
Since an organ has the ability to handle a wide dynamic range of
frequencies it’s amazing how the DSD tracks were faithful in reproducing a very
life-like and live-like expression of the tracks. In comparing the DSD 2.0 mixes to the DSD
5.1/5.0 mixes the biggest difference here really comes down to preference. Purists really seem to like and enjoy
standard 2.0 mixes, which in high-end systems will often work. However, the multi-channel mixes here fare
well too as they offer a more ambient-like feel. More often than not the front soundstage is
the more predominate force on these discs with the surround channels used only
in subtle ways that make sense. Often
times surround channels are misused, especially when it comes to music, but not
the case here as the mixes are intelligently managed and only had that third
dimension when necessary to create a more encompassed feel.
The other
great thing about these particular six titles is that each of them are unique
in their own way and provide a wide gamut of material that will allow for a
variety of expressions and tones on your system. Choral pieces, orchestral pieces, organ
works, and vocal pieces are all different in their presentation and these
SACD’s capture them in true form. Again
with regards to the Complete Organ Works
disc the mix has a more ‘airy’ type of presentation that gives the listener
that true organ like expression, because an organ moves air, this mix allows
that to happen. The mix, especially the
DSD mixes, feel like a pumping action is happening, but yet the sound is also
smooth and deliberate. The Mozart Flute Quartet’s on the other
hand is more lively and cutting in it’s presentation, which is certainly more
characteristic of the tonal qualities of the flute, which cut through the mix
in a sharper way. The choral and vocal
sections on their respective discs are more relaxed, warm, and smooth in their
presentation and again the DSD tracks are able to capture that where the CD
layer falls short.
There
just are not enough words to really express just how fantastic these mixes are,
and just how superior they are to the CD counterparts. Thankfully there are still companies
dedicated to issuing material on SACD and we hope that trend continues, even if
it never does fully blossom into a mainstream format.
Jealousy – Suites, Tangos, and
Waltzes is a
terrific disc that people who love the old overture-type orchestrations often
heard in movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood. With the big crescendos and emotional swells
the disc demonstrates the best that SACD has to offer in terms of fidelity in
both high and low end. This is a great selection of material to get anyone
acquainted with the Danish composer/violinists work.
Track
Listing
Jalousie, Tango Tsigane
Leda and the Swan, Legende D’Amour
Suite D’Amour
Rhapsodietta
Romanesca, Tango
Wedding at Himmelpind, Rustic
Suite
Valse Capriccio
Copenhagen Life, Waltz
Douces Secrets, Valse Lente
Next up
is Mozart’s Flute Quartet’s, which
most people are probably familiar with to some extent, although this recording
pulls together the Quartet in D Major
(K285), Quartet in G Major (K285a), Quartet in C Major (K285b), and Quartet in A Major (K298). At the time of Mozart’s life the Flute was
becoming one of the more mainstream instruments of it’s time as it was portable
and was far superior in terms of capability to the recorder. Mozart, along with many other composers of
the time, began writing more complex pieces as well since prior to this the
arrangements were mostly for solo playing or chamber music. The flute would eventually make its way as a
permanent staple in the classic orchestral arrangements.
This
particular selection gives us a great glimpse into the new ways that the flute
was being integrated and supplies us with four very different arrangements that
Mozart would write during very different sections of his life. Some of those times would be joyful while
others were more sorrowful and that translates into his compositions.
Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin
Mary is a
fantastic selection of hymns performed by the Phoenix Chorale under the
direction of Charles Bruffy. This
particular SACD truly captures a variety of pieces here as we have some more
modern hymns as well as more classic hymns from the 19th
century.
Track
Listing
Splendid Jewel – by Stephen Paulus
A Hymn to the Virgin – by Benjamin Britten
Three Latin Motets – by Cecilia McDowall
A Spotless Rose – by Herbert Howells
Two Marian Pieces – by Javier Busto
Three Liturgical Motets – by Healey Willan
Electa – by Jean Belmont Ford
Both the
Tansman and the Telemann discs exemplify some of the best in orchestral works
and it would be great to have the complete works from these individuals on SACD
sometime as well. Some people are less
familiar with these two composers, but these two entries quickly familiarize
anyone with their abilities even as secondary composers and would rightfully be
considered minor players in the world of classical music. This however does not diminish the quality of
the work, but rather the influence of the work.
Regardless of popularity their accomplishments as artists can be fully
revealed now on SACD and it’s always a delight to get material like this to
bring fresh life to classical ears.
Tansman’s
symphonies are performed here by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the
direction of Wilma Smith, with tracks 1-4 dedicated to Symphony #2, from 1926
and running nearly 27 minutes in length.
Quatre Mouvements pur orchestre
occupies tracks 5-9 and reflects Tansman’s later career from 1967/68. Tracks 10-13 are dedicated to the Symphonie concertante (Symphony #3),
which runs just over 25-minutes and was released 5 years after the 2nd
installment in 1931.
Telemann’s
Kapitänsmusik is broken down into two sections, the first 14 tracks comprise of
the Oratorio entitled Freuet euch Herrn,
ihr Gerechten and runs a total of 28-minutes. The second half of the disc (starting with
track 15) is the Serenata Geliebter
Aufenthalt beglückter Stille, which runs a staggering 50-minutes in
length.
The Complete Organ Works of Melchior Schildt and Peter
Morhard are broken into two halves as well, the first half occupies the first
14 tracks and runs 33-minutes, while the second half is dedicated to Morhard’s
work and runs a total of 36-minutes. All
of the work is accomplished with musical mastery by Friedhelm Flamme on the
organ Gerhard-von-Holy-orgel, which is picture on the SACD/CD insert, it was
built in 1710/1711 and not only looks magnificent, but as this disc proves,
sounds amazing as well. Here you truly
get a sense of the air flow that is happening as well as hearing the
performance as you can hear the pedal work and handstops being activated. There
is a history segment inside the insert on the organ and the building history of
St. Bartholamew’s Church in Dornum, which is a great informative piece as
well.
We look
forward to covering other great titles in the future and cannot express enough
how this small sampling of discs gives the listener a full sense of a live performance
as best offered within the home environment.
Your classical appetite will certainly be quenched with these titles
alone, but it’s hard to fully quench a classical hunger for long!
Also
check out our coverage of other classical SACDs:
Fidelis Wave
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/396/Fidelis+Classical+SACDs+(three
Ravel - Bolero
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/425/Ravel+-+Bolero+(SACD/Mobile+Fidelity)
Ivan The Terrible
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2537/Prokofiev+-+Ivan+The+Terrible:+Leo
As well
as these DVD-Audios:
Handel - Messiah
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/334/Handel%27s+Messiah+(DTS+DVD-Audio
DTS Label Wave
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3484/DTS+Classical+Music+Discs+(Mozart
- Nate Goss
