![Nektar - Remember The Future (Deluxe Edition) (1973/2023) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2024/05/01/NjktMTk3MS5qcGVn.jpg)
Hidefumi Toki Quartet – Toki (1975) [Japan 2006]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 41:15 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 1,66 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 945 MB
Hidefumi Toki is one of the prominent alto saxophonists in Japan. Born in 1950, he had formal and classical musical education on clarinet in high school and saxophone in college. Although he eventually quit school to become a full-time jazz musician, some say that his classical training helped him acquire his beautiful tone. Recorded in 1975 for Three Blind Mice, this debut album featured his superb regular group at the time, a pianoless quartet including the incredible Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and an American expat Steve Jackson on drums.
Read more
Hui Fen Min, Blue Pipa Ensemble, Xiao Fen Min – The Gossamer Song (2004)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 62:05 minutes | Front, Scans NOT included | 3,69 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | 61:44 m | Scans NOT included | 1,3 GB
Features Stereo and Multichannel Surround Sound | First Impressions Music # FIM SACD 063
Madam Hui Fen Min is regarded as the most esteemed master of Erhu artistry in China. Over the years, Hui Fen Min has made many recordings for quite a few labels in China. In 2001, FIM had the privilege of producing her masterful album – River Of Sorrow. It has enjoyed numerous accolades and awards worldwide and is also one of the most successful and reputed titles hitherto in the FIM catalog. The pieces selected emerged as beautifully poetic and very much a reflection of Madam Min’s supreme artistry, especially the theme piece, “The Gossamer Song”. This piece is a palatial dance portraying the old myth of the love between a hero and the Moon’s Fairy. The celestial melody brings about a truly heavenly sensation to the listener.
Read more
Hidehiko Matsumoto Quartet – Sleepy (1976) [Japan 2006]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 43:31 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 1,76 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 975 MB
Winner of Swing Journal 2007 Best Engineering Award (in Reissue category)
Hidehiko “Sleepy” Matsumoto was one of the best jazz sax players in Japan. His nickname was given by an American soldier when he was playing in a US military camp after the war. A true giant on tenor and flute, his contributions to the jazz industry of Japan were many and recognized by many awards and honors.
This record, made in 1976 in a one-horn quartet setting, showcases Matsumoto’s brilliant playing on both tenor saxophone and flute. He is a true master of both instruments and it is a great pleasure to hear him beautifully recorded by the people of Three Blind Mice label. A masterpiece, with great sound.
Read more
Hideto Kanai Quintet – Concierto De Aranjuez (1978) [Japan 2006]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 39:09 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 1,58 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 876 MB
Bassist Hideto Kanai has been leading the progressive jazz scene in Japan since the 1960s (see Masayuki Takayanagi’s Ginparis Session), and this 1978 recording is considered as one of his major achievements. Kanai’s regular group, consisting of three young Japanese musicians and an American expat drummer Michael Reznikoff, recorded four long numbers – ranging from six to 13 minutes each – within just six hours. “Mr. Gabe” and “Silk Road” are original compositions by Kanai. The searching and experimental quality of their performance clearly shows that they have gone through the free jazz movement, but it is not totally atonal nor without structure.
Read more
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Leland Chen – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (2005)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:04:04 minutes | 3,4 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Membran
For a cost-cutter album of Felix Mendelssohn’s evergreen Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, and his brilliant incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61, this CD is a remarkably good deal, and newcomers to these essential Romantic works would do well to snap it up on sight. The vivid performance of the concerto by virtuoso violinist Leland Chen and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under Jane Glover, is transparent in line and crystal clear in all details, and listeners will be hard-pressed to find a more beautifully played or better sounding recording at the budget price. Similarly, the recording of A Midsummer Night’s Dream sparkles with bright timbres and scintillating rhythms, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra radiates light and warmth in its full-bodied ensemble sound, so the music comes across with absolute clarity and rich textures that are almost palpable in their immediacy. Originally released in 1996, this disc in the Tring’s Royal Philharmonic Collection audiophile series should find a place in any beginner’s growing collection and be equally welcome in many connoisseurs’ libraries.
Read more
The Avison Ensemble – Corelli: Concerti Grossi Op.6 (2012) [2xSACD]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 02:09:07 minutes | 7,12 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Linn Records
The UK’s leading period instrument ensemble, The Avison Ensemble, presents the first recording in their series celebrating the chamber music of Arcangelo Corelli.
Directed by Pavlo Beznosiuk the ensemble explores the inspirational works of the Italian composer, including a captivating interpretation of the much-loved Christmas Concerto.
Corelli: Opus 6: Concerti Grossi is the third album in The Avison Ensemble’s critically acclaimed series of recordings with Linn, and the first in their celebration of Corelli’s chamber music. Released to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of the composer the ensemble’s greatly anticipated set will explore the six opera of the eminent Italian’s chamber music: the concerti grossi, violin sonatas, chamber sonatas and church sonatas.
Linn Records
London’s Avison Ensemble, true to its name, has devoted itself mostly to recording works by lesser-known composers of the Baroque era. Arcangelo Corelli does not fit that classification, but his Op. 6 Concerti Grossi (not really a set, for they were composed at different times, for different purposes, and only published together) are better known in parts than as a whole, with the so-called “Christmas Concerto,” Op. 6/8, and its singsong pastoral idyll the best known of all. The Avison Ensemble has undertaken to record all of Corelli’s small-ensemble music. Some might prefer these pieces in smaller doses, but there’s also a lot to be gained by working one’s way through the whole group, which was popular enough to influence both Vivaldi and Handel, several decades later. Corelli’s writing is more contrapuntal than that of either of those composers, with many examples of his characteristic chains of suspensions. The Avison Ensemble under leader Pavlo Beznosiuk avoids the energetic attacks of contemporary Italian groups, with Beznosiuk cultivating a sweet, fluid sound. He makes the counterpoint clear but minimizes the solo-group contrast that is at the heart of the concerto grosso form. The end result is an hour or more of pleasant listening that doubtless possesses many of the virtues that made Corelli popular among the English in the first place, faithfully captured by Linn’s Super Audio recording.
James Manheim
Stefano Bollani – Ma L’Amore No (2019)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 00:52:05 minutes | 2,09 GB
Genre: Jazz | Publisher (label): Venus Records [VHGD-346]
Stefano Bollani started studying the piano at the age of six and made his professional debut at 15. After graduating from the music Conservatory in Florence in 1993 and a brief experience as a session musician in the pop world with Raf, Jovanotti and others he became an established jazz musician, playing on stages such as the Town Hall in New York, the Barbican in London, the Scala in Milan and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. He has enjoyed a collaboration with Enrico Rava since 1996, and throughout his career has worked with musicians like Richard Galliano, Bill Frisell, Gato Barbieri, Sol Gabetta, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny and Chick Corea.
Read more
Salvatore Accardo, Laura Manzini – Plays Paganini’s Guarneri Del Gesù 1742 (1995)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:14:32 minutes | 2,99 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Dynamic
Il Cannone Guarnerius of 1743 is a violin created by the Italian luthier Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri of Cremona (1698–1744).
Il Cannone is also known by the variants Il Cannone del Gesù, the Cannon, often appended with Guarneri del Gesù, the Guarneri trademark. The violin received its name from a former owner, the Italian violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840), because of its power and resonance. So associated is Paganini with Il Cannone that it is common for the violin to be referenced as Il Cannone, ex Paganini.
Paganini lost a valuable Antonio Amati violin as a result of his penchant for voracious gambling. He was given a neglected Guarneri violin, a gift from an amateur violinist and businessman. Paganini played on this instrument for the rest of his life, fondly calling it “my cannon violin,” referring to the explosive sound that he was able to make it produce. He bequeathed it to the city of Genoa, Italy upon his death, and it is now considered a national treasure.
When in need of repair, Il Cannone would be sent to the workshop of Jean Baptiste Vuillaume (1798–1875) in Paris, the greatest luthier of his day. Not only did Vuillaume repair the Guarnerius, but he also made an exact replica. The copy was so exact, that not even Paganini could distinguish one from the other. It was not until Paganini noticed subtle differences in tone that he could identify the original. Paganini presented the copy to his only student, Camillo Sivori, who would later bequeath the instrument to the Municipality of Genoa, where it now is exhibited with the original Il Cannone.
Il Cannone is exhibited alongside other Paganini memorabilia within the Paganini room of the Palazzo Doria-Tursi, the Genoa town hall. The original violin is maintained in playable condition, and is taken out and played monthly by its curator. The Cannone was played each year by the winner of the Premio Paganini contest for young violinists, which sees the Italian city attracting the cream of the crop of young violin performers (since 2002 the contest has been held every two years). On occasion, Il Cannone is loaned to musicians for performance. In 1996, violinist Eduard Schmieder was invited and gave a recital on Il Cannone in Genoa at the Palazzo Ducale for the audience of 2000 (with pianist Valentina Lisitsa); on this rare occasion, a posthumous International Peace Prize ceremony was given by the Italian government to Yitzhak Rabin. Violinist Shlomo Mintz performed a special Il Cannone concert on Paganini’s violin with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra of the Netherlands, in 1997. In 1999, Eugene Fodor played Il Cannone at a special concert in San Francisco, California, USA. It was the farthest the violin had ever been from Italy. Conditions of its travel included a multimillion US dollar insurance policy and an armed escort of Italian police officers. This violin has been played several times by jazz violinist Regina Carter. Carter recorded an entire album with it, Paganini: After a Dream. In February 2006, Il Cannone was taken to London’s Royal Academy of Music, where it was displayed and played at a festival devoted to Paganini.
The violin was the subject of 2017 Documentary “Strad Style”, in which director Stefan Avalos follows manic-depressive violin-maker Daniel Houck in his dilapidated rural Ohio farm as he makes an Il Cannone replica for Razvan Stoica.
In 2019, the violin journeyed to Columbus, Ohio, for a one-week display at the Columbus Museum of Art under the auspices of the Columbus-Genoa sister cities relationship. Columbus Symphony concertmaster Joanna Frankel performed a single concert on the instrument.
Quadro Nuevo – End Of The Rainbow (2013/2015)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:16:35 minutes | 1,2 GB
Genre: Latin Jazz, Tango, Gypsy Jazz, Easy Listening | Publisher (label): Master Music – FMSA61722
The end of the rainbow is the place where you will find beauty without feeling the desire to own that beauty.
Passionate Tangos, captivating Arabesques, melodies from old Europe. Illustrated with an orchestra but still intimate.
Almost lost songs, which are worth saving from being forgotten. Magical musical treasures like Charles Trenets’ “Que reste-t-il de nos amours,” Peter Kreuders “Du gehst durch all meine Träume” and “Tango del Mare” by Carlo Buti.
Breathtaking is also the intensity of Astor Piazzollas’ Tango-hymne “Oblvion.” In addition there are multiple new compositions from Quadro Nuevo.
Contemporary arrangements create a balance between orchestra and soloists, which allow the playful virtuosos from Quadro Nuevo to improvise wildly and freely – a joint ride on the magical flying carpet to the end of the rainbow.
The orchestra of the NDR is one of the most world-renowned and for the CD it plays in a big constellation. The collaboration with Quadro Nuevo exists since 2010 and has been responsible for countless sold out concerts and multiple joint work periods.
Conductor Enrique Ugarte is leading the Basque national orchestra San Sebastian and he has arranged many famous film scores. Furthermore he tours as an accordion player with Giora Feidman and hence is ideally suited to work with musicians like Quadro Nuevo. Ugarte is considered as a lucky coincidence for the connection between orchestra and soloists.
Quadro Nuevo has been touring since 1996 and has played well over 2700 concerts in all parts of the world, including: Sydney, Montreal, Ottawa, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, New York, New Orleans, Mexico City, Peking, Seoul, Singapore, Tunis, Tel Aviv. From small Bavaria over the Alps to Porto, from Denmark to Ukraine, everywhere in Europe.
The CDs of Quadro Nuevo have received the German Jazz Award, climbed into the top ten of the Jazz and World music charts and have been awarded with the European price Golden Impala in Paris.
In the years of 2010 and 2011 the ensemble has been rewarded with the ECHO Jazz as best Live-Act of the year, the highest award from the “Deutscher Phonoverband.”
Beside the numerous CDs, the group also released a 224 pages autobiographic roadbook titled: “Grand Voyage.”
Read more
Musica Amphion, Pieter-Jan Belder – Corelli: Concerti Grossi Op.6 (2006) [2xSACD]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 02:10:26 minutes | 7,95 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Brilliant Classics
Corelli is best known for this work. He gave this genre an enormous boost and was an example for composers like Handel. This complete set of 12 lively concerti is played by the Dutch ensemble Musica Amphion on period instruments. Its founder Pieter-Jan Belder conducts from the harpsichord.
This issue is of exceptional quality. The ensemble gives full-blooded performances which are matched by pleasantly warm but very clear acoustics.
Martin Radeck, Johann Steffens, Johann Nicolaus Hanff – Northern German Organ Baroque Vol. 4 – Complete Organ Works – Friedhelm Flamme (2007)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:08:40 minutes | 3,3 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): CPO (Classic Produktion Osnabrück)
Friedhelm Flamme interprets these astonishingly imaginative and inventive pieces on the organ of “St. Cosmas and St. Damian” in Bockhorn, built in 1721/22; this is today the best-preserved instrument by the organ builder Christian Vater.
Read more
Liza Ferschtman – Franck, Debussy, Tchaikovsky (2005)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 / 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 01:08:40 minutes | 3,92 GB
Genre: Classical | Publisher (label): Brilliant Classics
Liza Ferschtman
Dutch violinist Liza Ferschtman is known for her passionate performances, interesting programs and communicative qualities on stage. She is equally at home on the concert stage with concertos, chamber music, recitals and solo works. In 2006 she received the highest accolade awarded to a musician in the Netherlands, the Dutch Music Prize.
Born into a family of Russian musicians, Liza Ferschtman was constantly surrounded by music. One of her earliest major influences was the violinist Philipp Hirschhorn, a close family friend. She received her formal training from Herman Krebbers at the Amsterdam Conservatory, Ida Kavafian at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and David Takeno in London.
In recent years Liza Ferschtman has performed with all significant Dutch Orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw and the Rotterdam Philhamonic. She has been soloist of the Orchestre National de Belgique, European Union Youth Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, Bremen Philharmonic, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Prague, Malmö Symphony, and Bergen Philharmonic. Conductors she has worked with include Stephan Blunier, Frans Bruggen, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Claus Peter Flor, Neeme Järvi, Yakov Kreizberg, Zdenek Macal, Jun Maerkl, Gianandrea Noseda, Marc Soustrot, Leonard Slatkin, Thomas Sondergard, Karl-Heinz Steffens, Mario Venzago and Jaap van Zweden.
Leonidas Kavakos – Accustic Arts (2008)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz | Time – 00:59:15 minutes | 2,34 GB | Genre: Classical
Source: SACD | Artwork: Front cover | © Top Music International (Japan)
Violin master Kavacos performed 12 famous violin pieces with the Guanelli famous violin from 1742, showing extraordinary skills and the mellow tone of the famous violin!
The Greek violinist Kavacos was the winner of the 36th (1988) International Competition of Paganini in Italy, which not only made him a professional violinist, but also able to use the famous piano that Paganini once loved, the Guanelli violin “Jesus” in 1742. This collection of Kavakos violin masterpieces recorded in Delos, mastered by Top Music, shows the audiophilic nature of the recording, you can hear the solid and pure timbre of Kavakos, as well as the “pine scent” at your fingertips, and a satisfactory sense of extension, these parts are even more prominent than the original Version of Delos, and it is definitely a rare classic string sketch. The emergence of this SACD, which sets the standard for violin test pieces, can be said to be the index work of the new generation of violin test pieces.
Audiophiles are well aware that a good violin recording is one of the essential treasures for testing the effectiveness of equipment. This album is a test disc created by Tianle Company for the German super audiophile equipment brand – Accustic Arts, and its excellent measured performance can be imagined. Coupled with Leonidas’ first-class skills, excellent texture of the famous violin, and highly realistic reproduction of the recording production technology, “Leonidas Cavacos Best Music Portfolio” is undoubtedly a good choice for classical fans and enthusiasts alike.
