All in Music

Beethoven: The Symphonies—Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Steinberg

Beethoven: The Symphonies—Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Steinberg

James Norris
Music

William Steinberg (1899–1978) was a conductor much loved and respected by musicians with a clear and concise beat and an unassuming manner who was much in demand from the world’s leading orchestras and soloists for much of the 20th Century. His recordings with Heifetz, Milstein and Firkusny are among the best to be found anywhere and have stood the test of time for over 60 years in the catalogue.

He held conductorships in London and Boston and founded the Israel Philharmonic with Hubermann, but it was as the successor to his earlier teacher and friend Klemperer in Pittsburgh which cemented his fame and reputation.

Green—Hiroshi Yoshimura

Green—Hiroshi Yoshimura

Maxwell Geiger
Music

Too often ‘ambient music’ is defined by what it lacks. Describing it as music without standard melody, rhythm and structure provides a cursory reference point to pop and classical music for the unfamiliar. Unfortunately this overlooks the many truly engaging ambient records which contain creative, nuanced and powerful artist statements.

GREEN, the recently remastered and reissued ambient classic by Hiroshi Yoshimura, is one such record. Like a lot of ambient music, GREEN is mellow enough for heavy rotation while logging mandated work-from-home hours but it stands up to deeper listening as well.

Streaming the Classics/The Dream of Gerontius—Elgar

Streaming the Classics/The Dream of Gerontius—Elgar

James Norris
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Easy to find Classical Mono LPs that should be in your collection

Easy to find Classical Mono LPs that should be in your collection

Anthony Kershaw
Music

Notice, I didn’t write ‘cheap’.

Forthcoming, a classical part 2 and matching jazz/popular posts. All LPs are available at Discogs, in good shape and for a variety of prices. Too expensive (Furtwängler/Eroica!)? Use Discogs as a starting point for a search. And, don’t forget garage sales & record shows where mono magic money has not yet reached.

The images link to a Discogs or Ebay for sale post. Audiophilia has no affiliation with Discogs, Ebay or the original for sale posters. Proceed at your own risk. If you search around, you may find some real bargains. I lucked out in my mono search.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5–Currentzis

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5–Currentzis

James Norris
Music

Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 is probably the most well known piece of classical music in the world, or at least the first four notes. It was used as a wartime victory sign and as the definitive idea of ”fate“ in a musical capacity knocking on the door. After this, however, the remaining thirty five minutes of it are sometimes glossed over and the effects and orchestration of the work which terrified listeners on its first hearing is now taken for granted in a world which has since heard The Rite of Spring and music of the Second Viennese school.

Greek conductor/actor Teodor Currentzis has a reputation for analysing and deconstructing the score to its component parts and has both exhilarated and generated the ire of audiences and critics around the world. However, many grudgingly admit to having a unique musical experience which some loudly protest they don't want again. This has resulted in record sales not seen since the days of Karajan.

Streaming the Classics/Requiem—Verdi

Streaming the Classics/Requiem—Verdi

Charles Brown
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Streaming the Classics/Concerto for Orchestra—Bartók

Streaming the Classics/Concerto for Orchestra—Bartók

Anthony Kershaw
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas—Igor Levit

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas—Igor Levit

Anthony Kershaw
Music

These complete recordings of Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas are always welcome, especially this year during the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth.

Although listening and reviewing a nine disc set may seem daunting or even onerous, when it’s the greatest set of music in the Western canon, no problem. And when executed by one of the world’s leading and most interesting pianists, the task less so.

Streaming the Classics/The Firebird—Stravinsky

Streaming the Classics/The Firebird—Stravinsky

Anthony Kershaw
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Streaming the Classics 7/Mahler 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Streaming the Classics 7/Mahler 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Charles Brown
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Martin Vatter—Homeland

Martin Vatter—Homeland

Anthony Kershaw
Music

Martin Vatter is a German pianist/composer playing and writing in the New Age genre. New Age music is often described as optimistic, life affirming and relaxing. Not Muzak. And definitely not Muzak in the case of this gifted German artist.

Musically, the twelve tracks of his latest recording, Homeland include titles such as ‘Exciting’, ‘Soulful Moments’, ‘Forgotten Love’ and ‘Your Tears Will Dry’. The titles, if compared to the greatest art works, could be considered of one focus. But don’t let that bias put you off listening to this lovely, musical album.

Streaming the Classics 6/Bruckner 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Streaming the Classics 6/Bruckner 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Anthony Kershaw
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

The Power of the Orchestra—Analogue Productions 200g vinyl reissue

The Power of the Orchestra—Analogue Productions 200g vinyl reissue

Anthony Kershaw
Music

For audiophiles of all stripes, The Power of the Orchestra, a 1962 Kingsway RCA, produced by Charles Gerhardt and engineered by Kenneth Wilkinson, is the stuff of legends.

A top ten classical vinyl on most lists.

Gerhardt probably came up with the cool name—he was one of the most enlightened musicians/producers working at the time—but in reality, it’s simply a recording of Mussorgsky’s two best loved works, Night on Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition.

Mahler: Symphony No. 3–Adam Fischer/Düsseldorfer Symphoniker

Mahler: Symphony No. 3–Adam Fischer/Düsseldorfer Symphoniker

Charles Brown
Music

Yet one more performance of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony for one’s library, a symphony ranked 10th out of 20 of the greatest symphonies in the canon by 151 British conductors in a BBC Music Magazine poll of 2016.

Maestro Adam Fischer, appointed Principal Conductor in 2015, leads the forces of the Dusseldorfer Symphoniker, contralto Anna Larsson, with the fine choral assistance from the Women’s Choir of the Städtischer Musikverein zu Düsseldorf and the Clara-Schumann Jugendchores.

​The CD was released by CAvi on October 13th, 2018 with the recording done in the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Germany between November 9th and the 13th of 2017. If the recording is any indication of acoustic excellence, the Tonhalle is a very impressive venue for this fine orchestra.

Streaming the Classics 5/Elgar: Symphony No. 1

Streaming the Classics 5/Elgar: Symphony No. 1

James Norris
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on either Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Streaming the Classics/4—Brahms: The 4 Symphonies—Box Sets

Streaming the Classics/4—Brahms: The 4 Symphonies—Box Sets

Audiophilia Staff
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Streaming the Classics—3/Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Streaming the Classics—3/Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Audiophilia Staff
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Streaming the Classics—2/Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies—Box Sets

Streaming the Classics—2/Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies—Box Sets

Audiophilia Staff
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

New series—Streaming the Classics—1/Holst: The Planets

New series—Streaming the Classics—1/Holst: The Planets

Audiophilia Staff
Music

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

  1. Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi.

  2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

  3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Mahler: Symphony No. 9–Herbert Blomstedt/Bamberger Symphoniker

Mahler: Symphony No. 9–Herbert Blomstedt/Bamberger Symphoniker

Anthony Kershaw
Music

How does a medieval Bavarian town of 70,000 have an orchestra this good?

It doesn’t hurt that one of the great maestros, Herbert Blomstedt (92 this month), is on the podium. Blomstedt is the Honorary Conductor of the Bamberger Symphoniker. For the past few years, Blomstedt has been busy conducting in Berlin, Dresden, a few miles south of Bamberg in Munich, and other major musical centres. So, good for Bamberg that they keep enticing the great man back to what is a provincial German town.

The orchestra, formed shortly after the war in 1946, was originally made up of Czech expatriates. Many believe Bohemian style cultivates a unique sound to this day. I’m not sure about that. The players sound to me of international standard and must be living an idyllic life in a beautiful Bavarian town where they make music and teach. Nice, if you can get it.

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