- Marinski SACD, Gergiev, Matsuev (piano), Mariinsky Orchestra, Rachmaninov Concerto 3,
Rapsody on a theme by Paganini. Refined pianist and colorful orchestra, beautiful russian
melodies play with passion and long flowing musical lines.
- Pentatone SACD, Orchestre Philarmonique de Strasbourg, Albrecht, Dukas Sorcerer
Apprentice, Ravel ma mère l'oye and Koechkin les bandar-log. Gorgeous sound take with very
deep sound stage, delicate sound particularly in the upper harmonics.
- Pentatone, Pittsburgh Symphony, Janowski, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Roi Lear, again
another great sound take with fantastic woodwinds, the dies irae of the last mouvement is an
audiophile demo. Unfortunately the orchestra is not up to the sound take (stings in particular).
- Reference Recording, SACD, Britten's Young person's guide to the orchestra, Sinfonia da
requiem, Four sea interlude & Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, First Reference Recording,
multi-channel SACD. Beautiful music but the sound take is too diffuse for my taste.
- Pentatone SACD, Stravinsky, Momentum Mass, Symphonie des Psaumes, Choral-Variationnen,
Herreweghe, Royal Flemish. Fantastic recording of music too rarely played, bravo!
- Pentatone SACD, Beethoven 9th , Herreweghe, Royal Flemish. Strange same recording venue
and musicians than the Stravinsky, but the sound take is unfocused, the strings lack warmth,
Better in the last movement where the center is used for the voice (soloist in particular).
- BIS SACD, Kalevi Aho, Symphony no 12 (Luosto Symphony). Interesting music specifically
written for a surround performance, there is a front and a smaller back-orchestra and soloist
spread around the concert hall.
- BIS SACD, Brautigam piano, Parrot, Norrkoping, 5th concerto, Chorale fantasy. End of their
concertos cycle, another great sound take, good balance between piano and orchestra. The
chorus at the end of the fantasy is in front of the orchestra, the singers are in my listening room.
- BIS SACD, Tschaikovsky #1, Snow Maiden, Romeo and Juliet. Another somptuous sound take
by BIS, rich interpretation, magnificent strings (cello in particular).
- Pentatone SACD, Bartok Violin concerto 1 et 2, Steinbacher violin, Janowsky, Suisse Romande.
The violin can be charming, playful or acidic depending of what Bartok is asking.The orchestra
can be quiet or overwhelm like in the 3rd movement of the second concerto.
- BIS SACD, Villa Lobos Floresta do Amazonas, Neschling, Sao Paulo Symphony and chorus. I
like to discover rarer music, here in particular the three movement sung by Ann Korondi.
- Pentatone SACD, Korngold Symphonie en F sharp, Much ado about nothing, Albrecht,
Philarmonique de Strasbourg. Another discovery of a post-Mahler composer that went to
Holywood.
- Blu-ray TDK, Strauss Ariadne Auf Naxos, Von Dohnanyi, Zurich opera house
- Blu-ray TDK, Mozart La finta giardiniera, Harnoncourt, Orchestre 'La scintilla' on original
instruments. Mozart was only 18 years old, for me a first discovery of Mozart earlier operas.