MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 in D minor. BACH-MAHLER: Orchestral Suite.
Petra Lang, mezzo-soprano; Prague Philharmonic Choir; Netherlands Children's Choir;
Royal Concertgebouw Orch/Riccardo Chailly, cond.
DECCA 470 652 (2 CDS) TT: 62:13 & 56:45 (5.1 channel)

This is perhaps the finest performance in Riccardo Chailly's Mahler recordings with the famed Dutch orchestra, and from a sonic standpoint among the best recordings made in the Concertgebouw. Brass and percussion are vividly presented with remarkable clarity and impact. The heavily-scored Bach suite is a plus. The two CDs sell for the price of one. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

BACH: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565. Toccata and Fugue in F, BWV 540. Toccata and Fugue in D mninor, BWV 538 "Dorian." Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564
E. Power Biggs, organist
SONY CLASSICAL SS 87983 (5.l channel)TT: 53:32

hese recordings were made in 1973 in the Freiburg Cathedral in Germany, a huge venue that containes four organs all of which can be played from one keyboard. Columbia (Sony) recorded E. Power Biggs' performances on separate tracks and now we have this organ sonic spectacular, each organ heard from a different corner—extraordinarily effective and with the deep low bass one expects from a large organ in resonant church acoustics. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

BERLIOZ: Requiem, Op. 5. MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D "Titan"
Charles Bressler, tenor; Utah Symphony Chorus and Orch/Maurice Abravanel, cond.
VANGUARD CLASSICS ATM CD 1506 (4 channel) TT: 61:23 & 71:57

This famous recording was made in 1969 in four channels and now it can be heard as originally recorded. It's thrilling to hear the brass in the Tuba mirum section of the Berlioz coming from the four corners of the listening area. The newer Telarc digital surround recording with of this music with Robert Spano and Atlanta forces has more impact, but in this Utah recording we have more space to the sound picture, highly appropriate for this music. Mahler's Symphony No. 1 is the filler; not one of the great Mahler Firsts but very well recorded. The two SACDs sell for the price of one. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35.
Nicolai Lugansky, pianist; Christian Tetzlaf, violinist; Russian National Orch/Kent Nagano, cond.
PENTATONE PTC 5186 022 TT: 67:52 (5 channel)

PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf. SAINT-SAËNS: Carnival of the Animals.
Polish Chamber Orch/Ladies Swing Quartet/Christopoh Ullrich & Jacqueline Allers-Ullrich, pianists/Moritz Stöpel, narrator
TACET SACD S114 TT: 72:01 (5.1 channel)

For a surround demonstration recording, this is hard to beat. Tacet believes in "Moving Real Surround Sound" and that's what is heard here. Various instruments are heard in discrete sound from varied speakers, and sometimes they move from one to another. Narration also moves about; it's intriguing to listen to. On the DVD version ((which has a total playing time of you can choose between English and German commentary, or just music only; on the SACD, because of the time limitations, commentary is only in English.

Latonia Moore, soprano; Nadja Michael, mezzo-soprano; Wiener Singverein;
Vienna Philharmonic Orch/Gilbert Kaplan, cond.
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 594 (2 disks) TT: 85:52 (5 channel)

MOZART: Rondo in E flat, KV 371. Horn Concerto in D, KV 386b. Horn Concerto in E Flat, KV 495.
Horn Concerto in E Flat, KV 447. Horn Concerto in E Flat, KV 417.

Alan Civil, horn; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner, cond.
PENTATONE PTC 5186 105 TT: 59:35 (4 channel)

This is one of Pentatone's RQR (Remastered Quadro Recordings) dating back to the '70s when Philips was experimenting with four channel recording. These are masterful performances of Mozart's horn concertos and the recorded sound extraordinarily effective. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

POPOV: Symphony No. 1, Op. 7. SHOSTAKOVICH: Theme and Variations, Op. 3.
London Symphony Orch/Leon Botstein, cond.
TELARC SACD 60642 TT: 65:24 (5.1 channel)

Telarc has made many magnificently-engineered recordings and this is among the very best. The symphony by Russian composer Gavril Popov is richly scored for a huge orchestra the sounds of which have been captured with uncommon clarity and impact. As in most Telarc surround recordings, the orchestra is in front with ambient sound from other speakers. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra. Dance Suite. Hungarian Peasant Songs
Hungarian National Philharmonic Orch/Zoltán Kocsis, cond.
HUNGAROTON HSACD 32187 TT: 62:31 (5.1 channel)

Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra has been a sonic showpiece ever since Fritz Reiner's RCA 1955 stereo recording—which has just been issued on an RCA Living Stereo SACD sounding better than ever. Here is a more gentle approach to the score with the first-rate Hungarian National Philharmonic directed by Zoltán Kocsis. The sound is remarkably natural and transparent. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor "Tragic"
San Francisco Symphony Orch/Michael Tilson Thomas, cond.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY 821936-0001 (2 disks) TT: 87:30 (5 channel)

This was the first release in Michael Tilson Thomas' San Francisco Symphony Mahler symphony series, recorded during a series of live performances in 2001. The sound is warm, broad and spacious but retains percussion impact. Unfortunately this recording occupies two full-priced SACDs. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F, Op. 102.
SHCHEDRIN: Piano Concerto No. 2
Marc-André Hamelin, pianist/BBC Scottish Symphony Orch/Andrew Litton, cond.
HYPERION SACDA 67425 TT: 63:13 (5.1 channel)

The two delightful Shostakovich piano concertos coupled with a fascinating concerto by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin. Hamelin plays magnificently, accompaniments could not be bettered, and the recorded sound is perfect; performers in front, ambient, warm sound from other speakers. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

GROFÉ: Mississippi Suite. Grand Canyon Suite. Niagara Falls Suite.
Bournemouth Symphony Orch/William T. Stromberg, cond.
NAXOS SACD 6.11002 TT: 67:46 (5.1 channel)

Excellent performances of colorful American classics played to perfection and recorded with rich orchestral textures and wide dynamic range typical of most recent Naxos recordings. Grofé's Niagara Falls Suite describes Thunder of the Waters and Power of Niagara in remarkable sonic terms. The SACD is mid-price, too. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

PROKOFIEV: Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78. MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition.
Lili Chookasian, contralto; Westminster Choir; New York Philharmonic/Thomas Schippers, cond.
SONY CLASSICAL SS 87711 TT: 74:07 (5 channel)

Two more older Columbia (Sony) recordings, the Prokofiev dating from 1961, the Mussorgsky from 1965, both recorded in the warm acoustics of New York's Manhattan Center. Now, in their SACD incarnation, they are resplendent sonically, with the orchestra in front, ambient sound from other speakers. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

BRITTEN: War Requiem, Op. 66. Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20. Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14.
Heather Harper, soprano; Philip Langridge, tenor; Martyn Hill, tenor; John Shirley-Quirk, bass-baritone; London Symphony Chorus and Orch/Richard Hickox, cond.
CHANDOS CHSA 5007 (2 disk) TT: 61:58 & 63:40 (5 channel)

Here's a sonic blockbuster from Chandos beautifully capturing the large chorus and orchestral forces. Performers are in front, ambient sound from other speakers. Impact from bass drum and percussion is wonderfully conveyed. Unfortunately, this set is two premium-priced SACDs. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

HOLST: The Planets, Op. 32.
St. Louis Symphony Orch/Walter Susskind, cond.
MOBILE FIDELITY USSACD 4005 TT: 49:40 (4 channel)

Another famous high-quality analog recording, this one dating from more than a quarter-century ago. The St. Louis Symphony gives a powerful performance, and engineers offer a wide stereo spread and have captured the subterranean organ pedal notes with uncommon fidelity. My SACD player reads this as 5 channels but it actually is only 4, left and right, front and rear. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

 

TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique." Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Orchestra of Paris/Seiji Ozawa, cond.
PENTATONE PTC 5186 107 TT: 68:49 (5 channel)

Here's another highly successful RQR recording from Pentatone, originally recorded in 1974. The original multi-channel recording sonically is spectacular; one might hope for a more dynamic interpretation than that provided by Ozawa, but as sound this is very satisfying—and it is a well-filled disk. For a more detailed review, click HERE.

 

LAGQ Latin
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
TELARC SACD 60593 TT: 69:02 (5.1 channel)

For a gentle display of surround sound, one could not go wrong with this delightful SACD featuring 10 colorful Latin-based pieces ending with music from Bizet's Carmen, and a Rodrigo arrangement, all in expert performances by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Each of the four players has his own "corner of the room" so to speak, and Telarc's CD booklet advises who is where for each track. Wonderful reproduction of gentle sounds—plus occasional flute and percussion.

PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 26. RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 30.
Mikhail Pletnev, pianist; Russian National Orch/Mstislav Rostropovich, cond.
DEUTSCHE GRAMOPHON 477 060 (2 disks) TT: 41:43 & 29:31 (5.1 channel)

Outstanding performances of two major piano concertos, Rachmaninoff's and Prokofiev's Thirds. Pletnev is magnificent in both works with strong support from the excellent orchestra and conductor Rostropovich. Unquestionably this is the finest Rachmaninoff Thirds on SACD. DG's sound is glorious with a bold well-balanced piano, rich orchestra, and wide dynamic range—one of the label's finest sonic achievements. There are two SACDs in this set which sells for the price of one.

BACH-SKROWACZEWSKI: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565. BACH-ORMANDY: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. BACH-LEINSDORF: Herzlich tut mich verlangen. BACH-WOOD: Suite No. 6. BACH-SARGENT: Air on the G String. BACH-BARBIROLLI: Sheep May Safely Graze. BACH-MITROPOULOS: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542. BACH-GUI: Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ. BACH-KLEMPERER: Bist du bei mir? BACH-DAMROSCH: A Mighty Fortress is our God.
BBC Philharmonic Orch/Leonard Slatkin, cond.
CHANDOS CHSA 5030 TT: 73:19 (5 channel)

This generously filled SACD contains music of Bach transcribed by conductors other than Leopold Stokowski. Skrowaczewski, Mitropoulos and Wood almost outdo Stokowski in flamboyance and heavy orchestration. Purists will shudder, but these make great listening. Slatkin's imaginative performances have been brilliantly recorded by Chandos; as usual with the label, the orchestra is in front, ambient sound from the rear.

DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"
Royal Concertgebouw Orch/Mariss Jansons, cond.
RCO LIVE 04002 TT: 41:21 (5 channel)

This is the first in a new series of live recordings by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on their own label. This New World was recorded June 6, 2003, one of the first concerts conducted by Jansons after being appointed Music Director of the Orchestra. The Dutch engineers have wonderfully captured the sound of this orchestra playing in their historic hall with remarkable presence and tonal weight. The only debit here is there is no filler; 42 minutes isn't much music for a full-priced SACD.

 

DVD AUDIO SURROUND SOUND

While the primary purpose of this list is to give information on outstanding SACD surround sound recordings, we're going to mention several DVD Audio disks that are quite remarkable. The DVD Audio format usually doesn't have a video program aside from information about audio format and tracks, although sometimes there are special features, pictures of performers and nature scenes, most of which I find useless. At any rate, the following are extraordinary:

STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40. Four Last Songs. Gitta-Maria Sjöberg, soprano; Odense Symphony Orch/Jan Wagner, cond. SILVERLINE DVD AUDIO 288119-9 5 channel TT: 72:20 Sonically this is a stunning achievement—wide range, remarkable clarity and rich orchestral textures, and superb performances as well. The soprano soloist in Four Last Songs is perfectly balanced with the orchestra. (see REVIEW). MAHLER: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat "Symphony of a Thousand" Jane Eaglen, Anne Schwanewims and Ruth Ziesak, sopranos; Sara Fulgoni and Anna Larsson, contraltos; Ben Heppener, tenor; Peter Mattei, baritone; Jan-Hendrick Rotering, bass; Netherlands Radio Choir; Prague Philharmonic Choir; Boys and girls of the Kathedrale Koor St. Bavo; Jongenskoor van het Sacramentskor, Breda; Royal Concertgebouw Orch/Riccardo Chailly, cond. DECCA DVD AUDIO B000 1498-19 TT: 82:14 (5.l channel) Mahler's gigantic symphony, which at its 1910 premiere apparently had enough choruses to justify the title "Symphony of a Thousand," is a challenge for recording engineers, mostly well-met by producer Andrew Cornwall and his staff. There probably were only about 400 in the chorus for the live performances that preceded this recording, but the sound still is big. There are some mightily impressive huge masses of sound to be heard here, with a big organ sound as well; the DVD issue is cleaner than the regular CD issue (see REVIEW).   STRAUSS: Alpine Symphony, Op. 64. Fanfare for the Vienna Philharmonic. Solemn Entry of the Knights of St. John. Vienna Philharmonic Orch/Seiji Ozawa, cond. PHILIPS DVD AUDIO B0003346 (5 channel) TT: 59:06 Strauss's massive heavily-orchestrated symphonic poem describing a trip through the Alps is given a glorious performance by the famed Vienna Philharmonic, and there's no question that this is one of the finest recordings ever made by Seiji Ozawa. It's a sonic knockout - for more comments, see REVIEW. Although recorded in 1996, it seems this recording has not been issued before and it is available only via DVD Audio. We have the dubious plus of getting to view one facial picture of Ozawa with some cherry blossoms behind him during the entire performance. I prefer to turn the TV monitor off, and you probably will do the same. This list will be amended from time to time as outstanding new surround sound recordings are issued. If you have any recommendations, please write to: bob@classicalcdreview.com While the purpose of this feature is to highlight the best of classical surround sound recordings, here are two non-classical releases that display the format in a very vivid way.   "Love's Silhouette" Pieces of a Dream HEADS UP HUSA 9071 TT: 68:23 (5 channel) The combo Pieces of a Dream with guests is heard playing 14 tunes in a variety of styles, from R&B to Jazz, including I Feel Like Singin', Tonight's the Night, Nice & Easy, Mystical Perception, Remembrance, Savoir Faire, Let's Roll and My Funny Valentine. The regular stereo version of this disk for some time was in the top ten of Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart. This SACD version offers terrific multi-channel effects, highly directional sound, impressive to sasy the least—the listener is surrounded by saxes, percussion and keyboard instruments coming from all corners. As a demo "pop" surround SACD, this is hard to beat. Generous playing time, too. "MONTY MEETS SLY AND ROBBIE"   TELARC SACD 63494 TT:  50:53 (5.1 channel) Monty Alexander (Yamaha grand piano, Melodica solos and rhythm), Sly Dunbar (drums, rhythm) and Robbie Shakespeare (bass) in a rather short program of jazzy, highly rhythmic showpieces including The In Crowd, Chameleon, People Make The World Go Round and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, recorded with wide separation between the performers, and engineering that takes full advantage of multi-channel recording.  Lots of heavy bass here, and vivid percussion.  It's unfortunate the playing time isn't longer!